David John Coons

US Patent:

6682241, Jan 27, 2004

Filed:

Feb 21, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/080139

Inventors:

David E. Coons - Webster NY
Steven J. Sparer - Rochester NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B41J 2902

US Classification:

400692, 400207, 400208, 400242, 4006931

Abstract:

A method and apparatus of loading a thermal ribbon having dye into a cassette assembly of a thermal printer apparatus includes a cassette assembly for storing a thermal ribbon having dye. The thermal ribbon includes a supply ribbon core having a supply of the thermal ribbon wound thereon as a roll and a take-up ribbon core. The cassette assembly includes a supply ribbon support for supporting the supply ribbon core and a take-up ribbon support for supporting the take-up ribbon core. The cassette assembly is removed from the apparatus and then mounted upon a loading aid. The loading aid is mounted on the apparatus and supports the cassette assembly so that the cassette assembly extends outwardly of the printer apparatus to facilitate loading of the supply ribbon core and take-up ribbon core on the cassette assembly. A leader portion of the thermal ribbon extends from an outer convolution of the roll with a leading end portion of the leader portion being attached to the take-up ribbon core and a double sided tape being attached to the leader portion so as to adhesively couple the leader portion to the outer convolution of the roll.

US Patent:

6744455, Jun 1, 2004

Filed:

Feb 21, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/080115

Inventors:

David E. Coons - Webster NY
Frederic J. Sturgis - Pittsford NY
Raymond Maynard - Wakefield RI
David A. Johnson - Rochester NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B41J 238

US Classification:

347189

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for recording image information on a moving receiver media at a thermal print station features a ribbon cassette assembly that stores a thermal ribbon having dye, the thermal ribbon being supported as a supply role and take-up role on the ribbon cassette assembly, the ribbon cassette assembly including a wall structure defining a plenum chamber. Air under pressure is provided to the plenum chamber. An elongated thermal print head is positioned in engagement with the thermal ribbon; and recording elements on the thermal print head are directed along a main scan direction. The print head has associated therewith a heat sink that includes a series of parallel fins arranged along the length of the print head and the fins are oriented at least generally perpendicular to the main scan direction of printing. Cooling air flows from the wall structure, which structure extends in the direction of elongation of the print head. The wall structure has one or more openings along the direction of elongation, the cooling air being directed generally to sweep in the direction of the fins so that the cooling air advances generally in a direction generally parallel to the advancement direction of the receiver media at the printing station.

US Patent:

6759369, Jul 6, 2004

Filed:

Aug 7, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/213991

Inventors:

William H. Simpson - Pittsford NY
David A. Johnson - Rochester NY
Cobb S. Goff - Webster NY
David E. Coons - Webster NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B41M 5035

US Classification:

503227, 156235

Abstract:

Disclosed is a thermal dye transfer print bearing a protective overlayer comprising a polymeric binder containing dispersed heat expandable microspheres wherein the expandable microspheres have been selectively expanded in a predetermined pattern and a process for making same. The resulting prints bear a predetermined texture pattern in the protective overlayer.

US Patent:

7271935, Sep 18, 2007

Filed:

Feb 10, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/352056

Inventors:

David E. Coons - Webster NY, US
Stuart G. Evans - Rochester NY, US
Michael L. Moore - Brockport NY, US
Charles S. Christ - Rochester NY, US

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B41B 15/00
G06F 15/00

US Classification:

358 21, 358 19

Abstract:

Printers and methods for operating a printer are provided. One method comprises receiving a print order associated with image data for use in printing a plurality images; converting the image data into actions to print the plurality of images on a receiver medium with print adjacent areas between the printed images, the converting being performed in accordance with printer settings; printing a first set of color patches in the print adjacent areas when the each of the first set of calibration color patches can be printed in the print adjacent areas; printing a second set of color patches in the print adjacent areas when each of the first set of color patches cannot be printed in the print adjacent areas; and sensing the color of each printed color patch and recalibrating the printer settings based upon the sensed colors.

US Patent:

7907290, Mar 15, 2011

Filed:

Dec 23, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/317922

Inventors:

Robert F. Mindler - Churchville NY, US
David E. Coons - Webster NY, US

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

G06K 15/00

US Classification:

358 112

Abstract:

A printer and method for operating a printer are provided that prints using a receiver medium having a rolled portion with an outermost layer from which an unrolled portion extends to a print engine. The method comprises: sensing a condition indicating the receiver medium may have been contacted by other than a component of the printer or by a donor material applied by the print engine; measuring an aspect of the receiver medium indicative of the circumferential length of the outermost layer; determining a circumferential length of the receiver medium based upon the measured aspect of the rolled portion of the receiver medium; determining an exclusion length of the receiver medium based upon the determined circumferential length and a travel distance that is a representation of a length of the unrolled portion between the rolled portion and the print engine; and automatically advancing the receiver medium by the exclusion length.