James E Pickering

US Patent:

7025450, Apr 11, 2006

Filed:

Dec 9, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/731705

Inventors:

Timothy J. Wojcik - Rochester NY, US
Arthur M. Gooray - Penfield NY, US
James E. Pickering - Bloomfield NY, US
James A. Reczek - Rochester NY, US
Hwei-Ling Yau - Rochester NY, US
Po-Jen Shih - Webster NY, US
Simon Yandila - Rochester NY, US
Charles F. Scaglione - Bergen NY, US
Kwok-Leung Yip - Webster NY, US

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B41J 29/00
B41J 2/01

US Classification:

347102, 347101, 347104, 347108

Abstract:

A recording element printing and treating system and method are provided. The system includes a printhead for dispensing a liquid comprising a carrier onto a recording element. A carrier removal station positioned downstream from the printhead removes a predetermined percentage of carrier present in the recording element. A converting station positioned downstream from the carrier removal station increases a durability characteristic of the recording element. In one embodiment, printing, carrier removal, and converting are accomplished in a single unit. In an alternative embodiment, printing is accomplished in a stand alone unit while carrier removal and converting are accomplished in a second stand alone unit. In this alternative embodiment, transfer of the recording element can be accomplished automatically using a mechanical device or manually by a system user.

US Patent:

8454137, Jun 4, 2013

Filed:

Dec 21, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/974025

Inventors:

Brian G. Price - Pittsford NY, US
James Edward Pickering - Bloomfield NY, US
Joseph W. Hoff - Fairport NY, US

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B41J 2/175
B41J 2/17

US Classification:

347 85, 347 84, 347 86

Abstract:

An ink tank including a reservoir for holding ink, the reservoir including a flexible wall for adjusting an internal volume of the reservoir; a biasing element for applying a force to the flexible wall that tends to increase the internal volume of the reservoir; an ink supply port for delivering ink from the reservoir to a printhead; and a breather element, at least a portion of which is disposed inside the reservoir, including a capillary material in contact with ink in the reservoir, wherein the breather element is configured to allow air to enter the reservoir in response to an internal pressure of the reservoir being less than atmospheric pressure outside the ink tank by an amount that is related to a property of the biasing element and a capillary pressure of the breather element.

US Patent:

20020130909, Sep 19, 2002

Filed:

Mar 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/811703

Inventors:

Timothy Wojcik - Rochester NY, US
James Pickering - Bloomfield NY, US

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company

International Classification:

B41J003/00

US Classification:

347/002000

Abstract:

For an inkjet printer system having an internal paper supply roll () and a printhead carriage () for printing images on paper () from the paper supply roll (), a paper handling system () for producing variable sized printed paper () is disclosed. The paper handling system () comprises a rotary drum () having a tube-shaped outer surface () with a plurality of cutter notches () predisposed at predetermined locations. The paper handling system () further comprises a paper feeder (), a lead edge clamp () and a retractable cutting blade (). Utilizing motorized means, the rotary drum () is first caused to rotate the paper () to a printing position. At the completion of printing, the rotary drum () is then caused to rotate the paper () to a cutting position. The paper () is then cut by the retractable cutting blade () with respect to the image area and the length of paper () desired, which is variable

US Patent:

20110148996, Jun 23, 2011

Filed:

Dec 21, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/642885

Inventors:

Douglas E. Kucmerowski - Brockport NY, US
James E. Pickering - Bloomfield NY, US
Joseph W. Hoff - Fairport NY, US
Kevin J. O'Leary - Rochester NY, US
Steven L. Moore - Dansville NY, US

International Classification:

B41J 2/17

US Classification:

347 84

Abstract:

A method of filling an ink tank with ink for use with a printer, the method includes the steps of providing or obtaining an ink tank which ink tank includes both an ink supply port and an ink fill port that are enclosed within a rim that extends outwardly from the ink tank; providing an ink fill tube connected to a source of ink; connecting the ink fill tube to the ink fill port; flowing ink from the source of ink through the ink fill tube to the ink tank; removing excess air from the ink tank; and withdrawing the ink fill tube from the ink fill port.

US Patent:

20120151738, Jun 21, 2012

Filed:

Dec 21, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/974038

Inventors:

Brian G. Price - Pittsford NY, US
James E. Pickering - Bloomfield NY, US
Joseph W. Hoff - Fairport NY, US

International Classification:

B23P 11/00
B23P 17/00

US Classification:

29428, 295271

Abstract:

A method for forming an ink tank for an inkjet printhead, the method includes providing a housing including a back wall, a side wall extending from the back wall, and an ink supply port for providing ink to the inkjet printhead; providing a convex-shaped flexible wall including a peripheral bonding region; inserting a first capillary member into the housing, the first capillary member including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; inserting a spring into the housing such that a first portion of the spring contacts the back wall; affixing the peripheral bonding region of the flexible wall to an edge of the side wall of the housing to form a reservoir for holding ink; removing air from the reservoir such that the flexible wall is drawn toward the back wall; and adding liquid ink to the reservoir such that the liquid ink contacts the first surface of the first capillary member and such that air from outside the housing contacts the second surface of the first capillary member.

US Patent:

60422092, Mar 28, 2000

Filed:

Jul 28, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/901181

Inventors:

Gilbert A. Hawkins - Mendon NY
Werner Fassler - Rochester NY
Charles D. DeBoer - Palmyra NY
James E. Pickering - Holcomb NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B41J 2938

US Classification:

347 6

Abstract:

A microfluidic printing apparatus including at least one ink reservoir; a structure defining a plurality of chambers arranged so that the chambers form an array with each chamber being arranged to form an ink pixel; a plurality of microchannels connecting the reservoir to a chamber; a plurality of microfluidic pumps each being associated with a single microchannel for supplying ink from an ink reservoir through a microchannel for delivery to a particular chamber; and a structure for controlling the starting times of the microfluidic pumps and the time of separation of the receiver from the ink chambers so that the correct amount of ink is delivered from each chamber to each pixel on the receiver.

US Patent:

59108134, Jun 8, 1999

Filed:

Apr 30, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/846692

Inventors:

Werner Fassler - Rochester NY
Charles D. DeBoer - Palmyra NY
James E. Pickering - Holcomb NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B41J 25308

US Classification:

347215

Abstract:

Apparatus having an array of print heads for transmitting energy to a colorant donor element to cause colorant to transfer to produce color filter array patterns in an image-receiving layer of a color filter array includes a structure for locating the colorant donor element and the image-receiving layer a precise sublimation gap G from the image-receiving layer surface; and for maintaining this sublimation gap G to compensate for dimensional variations in the image-receiving layer.

US Patent:

59866799, Nov 16, 1999

Filed:

Jul 31, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/904090

Inventors:

Werner Fassler - Rochester NY
James E. Pickering - Holcomb NY
Charles D. DeBoer - Palmyra NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B41J 2005

US Classification:

3461401

Abstract:

A microfluidic printing apparatus includes at least one ink reservoir; a moveable plate having a plurality of delivery chambers in an array each for forming an ink pixel, and a plurality of microchannels connecting the reservoir to a delivery chamber; and a plurality of microfluidic pumps each being associated with a single microchannel for supplying ink to particular delivery chambers. The moveable plate moves between different positions for permitting the delivery chambers for sequentially delivering ink from an associated microchannel into its associated delivery chamber to control the amount of ink delivered to each delivery chamber; and a computer for controlling the microfluidic pumps and the movement of the moveable shutter plate for causing the correct amount of ink to be conveyed into each delivery chamber.