Paul Rosenthal Erickson

US Patent:

53694295, Nov 29, 1994

Filed:

Oct 20, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/139576

Inventors:

Paul E. Erickson - Prior Lake MN

Assignee:

LaserMaster Corporation - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

B41J 2175

US Classification:

347 7

Abstract:

A continuous ink refill system for an ink jet printer that uses disposable ink jet cartridges having a first predetermined ink capacity includes an ink reservoir that is external to a print carriage on which the disposable ink jet cartridges are mounted. The ink reservoir contains a second predetermined ink capacity that continuously refills an ink container within the disposable ink jet cartridge by a passive pressure differential between the disposable ink jet cartridge and the ink reservoir. The disposable ink jet cartridge is removably mountable in the print carriage and is a self-contained unit having a print head and an ink supply container maintained at a sub-atmospheric pressure that supplies the first quantity of ink to the print head. The ink reservoir storing the second quantity of ink that replenishes the ink supply container is limited to some multiple of the first quantity of ink above which said print head does not reliably operate. Tubing connects the ink supply container to the ink reservoir for transporting ink between the two by means of capillary action.

US Patent:

55394884, Jul 23, 1996

Filed:

Mar 16, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/403228

Inventors:

Paul Erickson - Prior Lake MN
David Shelander - Roseville MN
Paul Richardson - Bloomington MN
John Evers - Fridley MN

Assignee:

Lucht, Inc. - Bloomington MN

International Classification:

G03B 1502

US Classification:

324129

Abstract:

A rotary shutter for controlling an optical path and including a rotating disk having an opening. A sensor monitor is representative of disk rotation, while a blocking element is selectively positioned within and without the optical path dependent upon the angular position of the disk and the desire to expose the light sensitive medium.

US Patent:

56297270, May 13, 1997

Filed:

Feb 21, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/604401

Inventors:

Paul E. Erickson - Prior Lake MN

International Classification:

B41J 2175

US Classification:

347 85

Abstract:

A continuous ink refill system for an ink jet printer that uses disposable ink jet cartridges having a first predetermined ink capacity includes an ink reservoir that is external to a print carriage on which the disposable ink jet cartridges are mounted. The ink reservoir contains a second predetermined ink capacity that continuously refills an ink container within the disposable ink jet cartridge by a passive pressure differential between the disposable ink jet cartridge and the ink reservoir. The disposable ink jet cartridge is removably mountable in the print carriage and is a self-contained unit having a print head and an ink supply container maintained at a negative pressure that supplies the first quantity of ink to the print head. The ink reservoir storing the second quantity of ink that replenishes the ink supply container is limited to some multiple of the first quantity of ink above which said print head does not reliably operate. Tubing connects the ink supply container to the ink reservoir for transporting ink between the two by means of capillary action.

US Patent:

57901503, Aug 4, 1998

Filed:

Feb 17, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/197966

Inventors:

Steven L. Lidke - Brooklyn Park MN
Paul R. Erickson - Prior Lake MN
Jeff D. Pagel - Inver Grove Heights MN

Assignee:

Colorspan Corporation - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

B41J 215
B41J 2300
B41J 221

US Classification:

347 41

Abstract:

A printer controller for an ink jet printer controls a print head to selectively print only a portion of the print dots at pixels locations in a print swath during each pass of a print carriage across a print medium. At least four passes are made before the print medium is advanced to a new print swath. The portion of the pixel locations for each pass are chosen such that no pixel location to be printed on that pass is orthogonally or diagonally adjacent to any other pixel location to be printed in the same pass. To improve linear print speed, the print carriage is moved across the print medium at a speed that is greater than a maximum firing rate for the print head divided by a print dot density for the ink jet printer.

US Patent:

59697296, Oct 19, 1999

Filed:

Apr 20, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/425107

Inventors:

Paul R. Erickson - Prior Lake MN
David H. Bennefeld - Ramsey MN
John P. Novotny - Burnsville MN

Assignee:

Colorspan Corporation - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

B41J 2938
B41J 29393

US Classification:

347 9

Abstract:

An ink on demand type ink jet head energization system is provided to drive ink out of a nozzle in the head. The head contains at least one nozzle for discharging ink. The power applied to the nozzle is modified to include a noise component. By providing a driving voltage which varies between firings, the head produces ink droplets which differ in size between firings. Preferably, the voltage is randomly or pseudo-randomly varied over a range of from 50 to 100% of maximum voltage, and a new voltage is provided for each successive firing of the head. This variation of drive voltage produces ink dots which randomly vary in size at a rate too dense to be perceived by a viewer, and successfully reduces perceived artifacts in the printed output.

US Patent:

58051830, Sep 8, 1998

Filed:

Nov 10, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/337074

Inventors:

Steven L. Lidke - Chaska MN
Jeff D. Pagel - Inver Grove Heights MN
Paul R. Erickson - Prior Lake MN

Assignee:

LaserMaster Corporation - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

B41J 2145
B41J 2938

US Classification:

347 41

Abstract:

A scanning head ink jet printer utilizes variable paper advance interlacing. The printer includes a plurality of heads each having a plurality of rows of uniformly spaced ink jets which print different colors. A printing medium is advanced in a series of non-uniform distances (d. sub. 1, d. sub. 2, d. sub. 3, d. sub. 4) the sum of which is equal to the total number of uniformly-spaced ink jets (n) of one of the colors times the uniform spacing (s) of one pixel row from an adjacent pixel row. In a specific embodiment, a total advance of the printing medium is equal to the total number of uniformly-serial spaced ink jets of one color is 48, the spacing is four pixels, and the non-uniform distances include 49, 49, 45 and 49 pixels.

US Patent:

53673280, Nov 22, 1994

Filed:

Apr 22, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/231275

Inventors:

Paul R. Erickson - Prior Lake MN

Assignee:

LaserMaster Corporation - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

B41J 2175

US Classification:

347 7

Abstract:

An ink refill system is provided for an ink jet printer having a print carriage that traverses across a print medium and is adapted to receive one or more ink jet cartridges. The ink refill system includes a disposable ink jet cartridge removably mountable in the print carriage and constructed as a self-contained unit that includes a print head and an ink supply container that stores a first quantity of liquid ink at a given subatmospheric pressure hydrodynamic condition. An ink reservoir external to the print carriage stores a second quantity of ink for replenishing the first quantity of ink in the ink supply container. Flexible supply tubing couples the ink reservoir to the ink supply container to supply ink from the second quantity of ink to the first quantity of ink during operation of the ink jet printer as the print carriage traverses across the print medium. A mechanism for refilling the ink supply container of the ink jet cartridge from the external ink reservoir during operation of the ink jet printer as the print carriage traverses across the print medium operates such that the refilling of the ink supply container is accomplished in a manner that preserves the negative pressure hydrodynamic condition of the ink jet cartridge.

US Patent:

55922023, Jan 7, 1997

Filed:

Nov 10, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/337080

Inventors:

Paul R. Erickson - Prior Lake MN

Assignee:

Laser Master Corporation - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

G01D 1516

US Classification:

347 37

Abstract:

A scanning head ink jet printer prints at high-speed to produce large format output of graphics quality. The printer utilizes variable paper advance interlacing, which allows high speed, full coverage printing with a variety of saber angles. Several series of variable paper advances can be used to optimally correct potential banding problems in the image. The printer utilizes multiple print heads mounted on a single carriage. The multiple print head system allows for higher ink delivery rates than possible on prior art printers. Bi-directional printing allows even faster output, and several adjustments can be made to address the order of ink laydown. The printer utilizes a new calibration pattern wherein different frequencies of marks are printed by different colored ink jets. The marks can be easily analyzed to determine proper calibration setting between jets. The carriage rides on a single rail having upper and lower v-shaped roller tread surfaces.