Robert D Samples

US Patent:

6692107, Feb 17, 2004

Filed:

May 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/865924

Inventors:

Michael D. Lattuca - Lexington KY
James P. Harden - Lexington KY
Larry S. Foster - Lexington KY
Frank M. Hughes - Paris KY
Darren W. Tosh - Lexington KY
Michael S. Leiter - Lexington KY
Benjamin A. Askren - Lexington KY
David A. Ward - Lexington KY
Brian D. Smith - Lexington KY
Robert A. Samples - Lexington KY
Donn D. Bryant - Lexington KY
Paul D. Horrall - Lexington KY
David M. Cseledy - Lexington KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

B41J 214

US Classification:

347 49, 347 37

Abstract:

The invention relates to an ink cartridge body which is removably mountable in a printer carriage area of an ink jet printer and an alignment and latching mechanism for the ink cartridge body. The printer carriage area includes at least first and second spaced-apart elongate guide rails and the ink cartridge body includes a printhead and at least two bearing points at predetermined locations on the ink cartridge body, each of the bearing points disposed on the cartridge body for separately engaging at least one of the elongate guide rails for aligning and maintaining the printhead in a predetermined orientation relative to the print media in the printer. The invention substantially reduces the number of parts and tolerances thereof required for aligning a printhead relative to a print media by directly aligning the cartridge body rather than the carrier in the carriage area of the printer.

US Patent:

6296349, Oct 2, 2001

Filed:

Dec 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/466717

Inventors:

Robert Samples - Lexington KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

B41J 205
B41J 201

US Classification:

347 58

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus are provided for aligning a TAB circuit on first and second intersecting surfaces of a print head. The methods comprise aligning a chip portion of the TAB circuit on the first surface and applying a progressive force along the contact pad portion of the TAB circuit to align the contact pad portion on the second surface of the print head. The apparatus comprise a machine for aligning the chip portion of the TAB circuit on the first surface and roller for applying a progressive force along the contact pad portion of the TAB circuit to align the contact pad portion on the second surface.

US Patent:

62674722, Jul 31, 2001

Filed:

Jun 19, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/100070

Inventors:

Colin Geoffrey Maher - Lexington KY
Ashok Murthy - Lexington KY
Darrin Wayne Oliver - Lexington KY
Robert Allen Samples - Lexington KY
Jeanne Marie Saldanha Singh - Lexington KY
Carl Edmond Sullivan - Versailles KY

Assignee:

Lexmark International, Inc. - Lexington KY

International Classification:

B41J 205

US Classification:

347 65

Abstract:

A heater chip module is provided comprising a carrier adapted to be secured directly to an ink-filled container, at least one heater chip having a base coupled to the carrier, and at least one nozzle plate coupled to the heater chip. The carrier includes inner side walls and a support section which together define an inner cavity. An edge feed heater chip is coupled to the carrier support section. The heater chip includes side walls. The support section includes first and second passages which define first and second paths for ink to travel from the container to the inner cavity. The inner cavity and the heater chip are sized such that a first side wall of the heater chip is spaced from a first inner side wall of the carrier and a second side wall of the heater chip is spaced from a second inner side wall of the carrier. A nozzle plate is coupled to the heater chip and the carrier. The nozzle plate has a width such that the nozzle plate extends over an outer surface of the carrier.