...Chester Carlson was a patent agent who tired of having to make multiple copies of patent applications using the only duplication method available at the time: carbon paper. In 1959 he came up with a new copying system and took it to IBM for evaluation. The "experts" at IBM determined potential sales to be only 5,000 units because people wouldn't want to use a bulky machine when they had carbon paper. Carlson's invention was the xerography process, the company founded on the system is Xerox.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7292131 | Heat-sensitive switch and a heat-sensitive switch assembling method A heat-sensitive switch includes a first terminal, a second terminal away from the first terminal, a reverse spring reversing at a set temperature and having an opening part and positioned between the first and second terminals, and a junction spring positioned betw... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7026907 | Thermal protector A thermal protector includes a partition wall which encloses an arrangement portion of a movable contact and a fixed contact from three sides. The partition wall is adjacent the contacts in a range that does not inhibit the opening/closing operations of the contacts... | 04/11/2006 |
| 6597273 | Thermal protector A thermal projector includes a switching mechanism section having a fixed contact, a movable contact disposed so as to face the fixed contact. There are first and second external connection terminals projecting sideward and connected electrically to the f... | 07/22/2003 |
| 6515571 | Thermal protector A thermal protector is configured so that a raised portion 23 and a lowered portion 27 with the attachment face of a movable contact 21 being the reference are provided at the rear of and close to the movable contact 21 on a movable plate 20, and a tongue... | 02/04/2003 |
| 6448883 | Switch having an end of service position in its open state A switch has a temperature-dependent switching mechanism with a stationary contact element; a movable contact element coacting with the stationary contact element; and a bimetallic element, having a predetermined functional service life, that as a functio... | 09/10/2002 |
| 6396381 | Thermal protector The central portion of a movable plate 40 is cut into a U shape to form a tongue 43 provided along the longitudinal axis of the movable plate 40, the tongue 43 is brought into close contact with an upper electrode face 31 of a heating resistor 30, a lower... | 05/28/2002 |
| 6091316 | Switch having a temperature-dependent switching mechanism A switch is described, having a housing 12 which receives a temperature-dependent switching mechanism 11 and which has a first housing part 15 on whose inner base 25 a first electrode 24 connected to a first external terminal 23 is arranged, as well as a ... | 07/18/2000 |
| 6078246 | Snap acting thermal switches and method of assembling and adjusting thermal switches A method and apparatus for setting striker pin length and armature spring force in a thermal switch. An armature support structure is deformed in order to adjust armature spring force with the result of a spring force which remains constant over time and ... | 06/20/2000 |
| 6064295 | Temperature-dependent switch having a bimetallic switching mechanism A temperature-dependent switch (10) comprises a bimetallic switching mechanism (12) that is arranged in a housing (11) having a first housing part (14) made of insulating material and a second housing part (17). The bimetallic switching mechanism (12) is ... | 05/16/2000 |
| 6054916 | Switch having a temperature-dependent switching mechanism A switch has a housing which receives a temperature-dependent switching mechanism and comprises a lower part on whose inner bottom a first countercontact for the switching mechanism is arranged, and a cover part, closing off the lower part, on whose inner... | 04/25/2000 |
| 6031447 | Switch having a temperature-dependent switching mechanism A switch has a housing 12 which receives a temperature-dependent switching mechanism 11, a first housing part 15 on whose inner base 25 a first electrode 24 connected to a first external terminal 23 is arranged, and a second housing part 14, closing off t... | 02/29/2000 |
| 5903210 | Temperature-dependent switch having an electrically conductive spring disk with integral movable contact A temperature-dependent switch has first and second external terminals arranged at an electrically conductive lower housing part and an insulating cover part, respectively. Within said lower housing part there is arranged a temperature-dependent switching... | 05/11/1999 |
| 5894260 | Thermal sensing bi-metal trip actuator for a circuit breaker An actuator (144) for initiating a trip of a circuit breaker. Load current passes through a conductor (66) that is electrically coupled to a contact arm (56) by a braid (62). A thermally responsive bi-metal (64) has a first end portion which is disposed a... | 04/13/1999 |
| 5864279 | Temperature-dependent switch with a retaining bracket An apparatus (10) for protecting an electrical device (11) from overtemperature comprises a temperature-dependent switch (22) with a housing (23) on whose base (28) a first connecting contact (51) is provided. A second connecting contact is provided on th... | 01/26/1999 |
| 5847637 | Thermally responsive switch with a magnetic member A thermal protector includes a bimetal plate which is prevented from being vibrated by a magnetic field produced by a transformer or a motor. A member made of magnetic material is disposed in the vicinity of the bimetal plate. The fixed member for loosely... | 12/08/1998 |
| 5847636 | Heat motor operated load regulating switch assembly A user adjustable switching controller for duty cycle regulating flow of current to an electrical load such as a resistance heater, particularly for cooking appliances. A load current switch, when closed by a user operated cam also energizes a heat motor ... | 12/08/1998 |
| 5844465 | Temperature compensated time-delay switch A time-delay switch responsive to a sensor 36 having a temperature compensation feature including bimetallic creep-type strip elements (10, 11). Additionally, the switch has an alarm function (A) with a manual reset button (9).... | 12/01/1998 |
| 5796327 | Thermally responsive electrical switches A thermally-responsive current-sensitive switch having a molded plastic body containing first and second terminals in the form of metal stampings and having an internal chamber wherein a leaf spring and a snap-acting bimetallic blade of the same shape are... | 08/18/1998 |
| 5790010 | Means for actuating a snap-acting M-blade An electrical switch incorporating a snap-acting M-blade is actuated by a lever requiring a low actuation force and is actuated by a bridge engaging a critical region of the M-blade's double-loop end to provide an extremely low differential. Together, the... | 08/04/1998 |
| 5696479 | Energy regulators An energy regulator includes a pivotally mounted, U-shaped bimetallic element, one limb of which acts as an actuator for a microswitch arm, which is pivotally mounted to one end thereof. The other limb acts as a compensating bimetal and has a cam follower... | 12/09/1997 |
| 5670930 | Temperature-dependent switch A temperature-dependent switch (10) to close or open an electric circuit depending on the temperature of a bimetallic part (26) comprises an electrically conductive housing (12) with an underside (13). An electrically conductive cover (16) is provided to ... | 09/23/1997 |
| 5604338 | Temperature adjusting low pressure sensor A temperature compensating low pressure sensor for verifying loss of gas from an inflator of a vehicle restraint safety system. The sensor includes a housing and a pressure diaphragm in communication with the fluid in the inflator. A temperature sensitive... | 02/18/1997 |
| 5483216 | Fixing assembly of a temperature responsive element and its fixing method A fixing method and assembly of a temperature responsive element capable of detecting variation in temperature of discharge cooling medium of a compressor exactly and rapidly and preventing the compressor from being burned. A through hole is formed in a c... | 01/09/1996 |
| 5320162 | Single pole double throw thermostat for narrow range temperature regulation A thermostat is disclosed having a bimetallic strip actuating a single pole, double throw switch, one throw to sense temperatures below the lower limit of a set point range and the other throw to sense temperatures above the upper limit of the set point r... | 06/14/1994 |
| 5159308 | Thermostatic switch and contact arm therefor A thermostatic switch has a contact arm which is adapted for reducing contact pressure and maximizing wiping action between fixed and movable contacts. The switch includes a housing, a pair of terminals mounted in the housing, a resilient contact arm conn... | 10/27/1992 |
| 5043690 | Balanced snap action thermal actuator A thermal actuator utilizes a bimetallic snap action member such as a disc to actuate a member such as the armature of a switch to effect opening and closing of the switch. A resilient biasing member, such as an elongated curved spring member or a compres... | 08/27/1991 |
| 4646054 | Thermal switch A thermal switch for breaking an electrical circuit to prevent overheating s described. The thermal switch includes a bimetallic thermocouple in the form of a snap disc and a leaf spring. The leaf spring supports an electrical contact. When the leaf spring... | 02/24/1987 |
| 4528541 | Bimetal controlled snap disc thermal switch In a bimetal controlled snap disc thermal switch for controlling the heating current to an electrical heating member, the switch including: a support plate arranged to be in thermal communication with the member; a bimetal snap disc which rests against th... | 07/09/1985 |