Hewlett-packard Company

Phogenix Imaging LLC

Eastman-kodak Company

Sergio Escobedo

Scott Dennis

Peter G Hwang

Daniel R Dwyer

Jeffrey G Bingham

Raymond C Sherman

Kevin D O'Hara

Todd Michael Gaasch

Donald R Bloyer

Matthew B Clark

Eric S Schuh

Corlene M Ankrum

Henry Young Chin

William H Schwiebert

Juan Bautista Belon

Mark H Hoeveler

Jeremy F Mayer

Disclosed is an embosser for producing matte finish photographs from a glossy finish photograph. The embosser receives a sheet of glossy prints as generated by an inkjet printer with a clear laminate over the print to protect the inkjet generated photographic image. Pressure and embossing rollers biased to spaced apart positions within the embosser are selectively operable to move one against the other to create a nip through which the laminated print passes. At the option of an operator the laminated print may be allowed to pass between the spaced apart rollers undisturbed thereby generating a glossy photograph. At the option of the operator the rollers are moved one against the other to create the nip so that passage of the print now results in an embossment of the lamination thereby producing a matte finish photograph. Also disclosed is a method for alternatively generating a glossy or matte finish print and a matte finished print wherein the matte finish is formed in situ.

Apparatus for applying a matte finish to photographs and article

Disclosed is a buffer disposed to receive cut sheets from a first workstation operating at a first slower speed, deskew the sheets and deliver them to a second workstation operating at a second faster speed. The buffer has a guide defining a path of travel extending from driven inlet rollers at a buffer inlet to driven exit rollers adjacent a buffer exit. The guide includes a trap that opens to accommodate a service loop formed of the cut sheet that is longer than the path of travel. The inlet rollers are driven at the first slower speed to move cut sheets into the buffer and up to the exit rollers and the exit rollers are selectively driven at the second faster speed to deliver cut sheets to the second workstation. The exit rollers are located at an elevation above the inlet rollers and this orientation together with the opening of the trap provides for a vertical separation between the trailing edge of a first cut sheet and the leading edge of a second cut sheet to insure there is non contact spacing between the sheets moving through the buffer.

Buffer with service loop and method

Disclosed is a buffer disposed to receive cut sheets from a first workstation operating at a first slower speed, deskew the sheets and deliver them to a second workstation operating at a second faster speed. The buffer has a guide defining a path of travel extending from a drive roller at a buffer inlet to a deskewing roller adjacent a buffer exit. The guide includes a trap that opens to accommodate a service loop formed of the cut sheet that is longer than the path of travel. The drive roller is driven at the first slower speed to move cut sheets into the buffer and up to the deskewing rollers and the deskewing roller is selectively driven at the second faster speed to deliver cut sheets to the second workstation. The deskewing roll is located at an elevation above the drive roller and this orientation together with the opening of the trap provides for a vertical separation between the trailing edge of a first cut sheet and the leading edge of a second cut sheet to insure there is non contact spacing between the sheets moving through the buffer.

Inkjet printer with fixed sheet feeder and window access door

A shuttle system transfers an ink-jet pen between a carriage and a shuttle access location on a printer front panel. When a pen load button is pushed, the shuttle will move to an access position. In the access position, the shuttle will open a door and come beyond the front face of the printer. This allows the user to drop the pen(s) into place on the shuttle. Then when the button is pushed again, the pen shuttle will transfer the pens back into the printer, with the door closing, and automatically loads the pen(s) into the printer carriage without manual user intervention. The pen shuttle will then move to a rest position for normal printer operation. If the pen load button is pressed again, the pen shuttle moves back to the carriage and unloads the pen(s) automatically. The pen shuttle again opens the access door and presents the pens to the user. The shuttle has pen wipers and capping structures mounted for movement with the shuttle, allowing for pen service functions to be performed without the need for an additional service station.

Automatic ink-jet pen loading/unloading

Inkjet printer with photographic media supply tray, fixed sheet feeder, and window access door

Printer

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Sergio Escobedo