Alan S Campbell

US Patent:

6356726, Mar 12, 2002

Filed:

Jun 15, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/594871

Inventors:

Alan Stirling Campbell - Lexington KY
Gary Allen Denton - Lexington KY
Gregory Lawrence Ream - Lexington KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G03G 2100

US Classification:

399128, 399107

Abstract:

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive drum and a transfer roll-positioned adjacent to and defining a nip with the drum. An image substrate travels through the nip in an advance direction. A toner cartridge assembly is positioned in association with the drum and above the image substrate. A pre-transfer erase assembly having a light emitting outlet is positioned between the toner cartridge assembly and the image substrate. The light emitting outlet is directed toward the drum.

US Patent:

6466763, Oct 15, 2002

Filed:

Apr 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/551804

Inventors:

Alan Stirling Campbell - Lexington KY
Paul Douglas Horrall - Lexington KY
James John Molloy - Lexington KY
Franklin Joseph Palumbo - Nicholasville KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G03G 2112

US Classification:

399360

Abstract:

A waste toner removal device for transporting toner from a photoconductive drum within an image-forming apparatus. The invention includes a waste toner reservoir having outer walls forming an interior chamber for housing toner removed from the photoconductive drum. An opening is positioned within the outer walls into the interior chamber forming an upper chamber section extending above the opening and a lower chamber section extending below the opening. An auger extends along the photoconductive drum and unobstructed into the opening of the waste toner reservoir. The auger includes helical blades extending outward for moving the toner from the photoconductive drum into the waste toner reservoir. A pumping cylinder having a generally cylindrical shape extends around the auger adjacent to the waste toner reservoir. The diameter of the pumping cylinder is approximately equal to the helical blades wherein rotation of the auger creates a pumping action for moving toner into the said upper and lower chamber sections.

US Patent:

6510291, Jan 21, 2003

Filed:

Apr 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/838353

Inventors:

Alan Stirling Campbell - Lexington KY
Jarrett Clark Gayne - Lexington KY
William Dale Smith - Georgetown KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G03G 1508

US Classification:

399 27, 399260, 399263

Abstract:

A device and method for storing toner within an image forming apparatus having an upper reservoir and a lower reservoir. A sensor paddle is positioned within the lower reservoir for determining a toner level within the lower reservoir. The sensor paddle rotates within an angular displacement from a fall point to a toner rest point. The device and method further includes a drive gear for rotating the sensor paddle, and a cam mechanism positioned adjacent to the drive gear. The cam mechanism is connected to the sensor paddle and has a cam angular displacement relative to the drive gear about equal to the sensor paddle angular displacement. A pawl having at least one opening is mounted on at least one post extending axially outward from the drive gear and includes a boss positioned within the cam track. Upon a predetermined angular displacement of the sensor paddle, the boss moves along the cam track resulting in the pawl radially extending outward from the drive gear and contacting a toner supply mechanism for transferring toner from the upper reservoir to the lower reservoir.

US Patent:

6560418, May 6, 2003

Filed:

Mar 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/802564

Inventors:

Alan Stirling Campbell - Lexington KY
Gary Allen Denton - Lexington KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G03G 1500

US Classification:

399 49, 399 46

Abstract:

A method of calibrating a multi-color electrophotographic machine having an image bearing surface includes forming toner patches of cyan, magenta, and yellow solid areas individually and in superimposed combination to form a series of single layer and multi-layer test patches. Light is emitted onto these single and multi-layer test patches. The amount of light that is reflected off of each test patch is measured. Light is also emitted onto a bare section of the image-bearing surface. The bare section has substantially no toner thereon. An amount of light that is reflected off of the bare section is measured. The step of measuring an amount of light reflected off single layer solid area test patches is repeated for a series of laser power and developer bias conditions. A laser power and/or a developer bias is adjusted dependent upon each of the three measuring steps.

US Patent:

7277111, Oct 2, 2007

Filed:

Jan 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/046038

Inventors:

Alan S. Campbell - Lexington KY, US
Cary P. Ravitz - Lexington KY, US
John P. Richey - Lexington KY, US

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

B41J 2/435
B41J 2/47
B41J 2/455

US Classification:

347235, 347232, 347233, 347234

Abstract:

An electrophotographic device comprises a printhead having at least one laser associated with a corresponding photoconductive surface. Where multiple laser beams are associated with the same photoconductive surface, the laser beams are spaced a predetermined distance from one another in a process direction, which is orthogonal to a scan direction in which the laser beams are swept. The electrophotographic device operates at one of at least two image transfer rates. A controller in the electrophotographic device selectively directs image data to the printhead based, at least in part, upon the selected image transfer rate, the facet resolution, and/or the desired output image resolution. The print speed can thus be adjusted over a relatively wide range.

US Patent:

7379682, May 27, 2008

Filed:

Sep 30, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/240217

Inventors:

Alan Stirling Campbell - Lexington KY, US
Cary Patterson Ravitz - Lexington KY, US

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G03G 15/00

US Classification:

399 49, 399 51

Abstract:

Control circuitry associated with an electrophotographic imaging device is adapted to operate in conjunction with a sensor to adjust operating parameters, including an imaging power. The sensor detects a reflectivity of a developed image and the control circuitry uses this detected information and information related to reflectivity of the underlying surface and the developing toner to determine whether the developed image is produced as desired. The control circuitry adjusts imaging power in response to a comparison between the detected reflectivity and a target reflectivity. In one embodiment, a predetermined halftone pattern is developed over a range of imaging powers and an optimum operating point is determined from the iterations. A predictive model may be generated based on many data points to select imaging power based on optimized surface potentials.

US Patent:

7398025, Jul 8, 2008

Filed:

May 11, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/126814

Inventors:

Alan Stirling Campbell - Lexington KY, US
Cary Patterson Ravitz - Lexington KY, US

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

G03G 15/00

US Classification:

399 49, 399 51, 399 55, 399 66

Abstract:

Control circuitry associated with an electrophotographic imaging device is adapted to operate in conjunction with a sensor to adjust a difference in electrical bias between a photoconductive surface and an associated roller. The sensor detects a reflectance or luminosity of a developed image and the control circuitry uses this detected information and information related to reflectance or luminosity of the underlying surface and the developing toner to determine whether the developed image is produced as desired. The control circuitry adjusts the difference in electrical bias between the photoconductive surface and an associated roller in response to a comparison between the detected and desired images. In one embodiment, a predetermined test pattern is developed over a range of electrical bias differences and an optimum operating point is determined from the iterations.

US Patent:

7710441, May 4, 2010

Filed:

Mar 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/384535

Inventors:

Alan S. Campbell - Lexington KY, US
David B. Langer - Lexington KY, US
David A. Schneider - Lexington KY, US

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

B41J 2/385
B41J 2/47
B41J 27/00

US Classification:

347134, 347239, 347255, 347261

Abstract:

An imaging system comprises a laser source for emitting a beam, a photoconductive surface, a scanning device and a controller. The controller designates at least a first part and a second part of each line of image data, corresponding to a first part and a second part of each associated sweep of the beam. The laser source is modulated based upon the first part of the line of image data during the first part of a first one of the associated sweeps of the beam. The laser source is not modulated according to image data for the second part of the first one of the sweeps. During the first part of a second one of the associated sweeps of the beam, the laser source is not modulated based upon image data. However, the laser source is modulated based upon the second part of the line of image data during the second part of the second one of the sweeps.