Patents Assigned to Hunkeler AG
  • Patent number: 10202247
    Abstract: A device for separating printed products out of a stack, the device including a feed device which defines a substantially horizontal plane, a first stop element which is arranged on a mounting support as well as a transfer device which defines a substantially horizontal plane, wherein the feed device moves the stack against the first stop element, wherein the transfer device accepts and transfers the bottommost printed product out of the stack from the feed device, wherein the feed device includes a vacuum conveyor, by means of which the bottom surface of the bottommost printed product is sucked up at least in portions, as well as to a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: HUNKELER AG
    Inventors: Kurt Graber, Lukas Wullschleger, Daniel Häfliger
  • Patent number: 10137718
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing printed products, in particular softcover books, with integrated cover, where method includes at least the steps: printing of paper web or individually supplied paper sheets, preferably by means of digital printing; single or multiple folding and cutting of paper web to form signatures or else single or multiple folding of paper sheets to form signatures; stacking of signatures to form signature stack with at least one top and one bottom signature; folding open top sheet of top signature or else bottom sheet of bottom signature and applying an adhesive layer in at least area of folded-open sheet, which is intended to include at least spine and/or an area of signature stack adjacent to spine; and turning over sheet folded open and provided with adhesive layer around spine of signature stack, so that cover for printed product is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: HUNKELER AG
    Inventors: Franz Hunkeler, Kurt Graber, Christian Schär
  • Patent number: 10093513
    Abstract: An apparatus for folding sheets or sheet stacks, including at least two folding/transport rollers, transport device and knife, the transport device defining transport plane E for sheets or sheet stacks fed in transport direction R, knife being movable substantially perpendicularly to and through transport plane E, folding/transport rollers being arranged above transport plane E, oppositely on both sides of knife, axis of rotation A of folding/transport rollers extending substantially perpendicularly to transport plane E, and at least two folding/transport rollers each having, at their end facing toward transport plane E, rounded portion, such that narrowing gap S is formed between the at least two folding/transport rollers, into which gap sheets or sheet stacks can be introduced by means of knife so as to be folded there and at same time conveyed away in transport direction R, and to corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: HUNKELER AG
    Inventors: Kurt Graber, Friedrich Faulhaber
  • Publication number: 20170341453
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing printed products, in particular softcover books, with integrated cover, where method includes at least the steps: printing of paper web or individually supplied paper sheets, preferably by means of digital printing; single or multiple folding and cutting of paper web to form signatures or else single or multiple folding of paper sheets to form signatures; stacking of signatures to form signature stack with at least one top and one bottom signature; folding open top sheet of top signature or else bottom sheet of bottom signature and applying an adhesive layer in at least area of folded-open sheet, which is intended to include at least spine and/or an area of signature stack adjacent to spine; and turning over sheet folded open and provided with adhesive layer around spine of signature stack, so that cover for printed product is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: HUNKELER AG
    Inventors: Franz HUNKELER, Kurt GRABER, Christian SCHÄR
  • Publication number: 20170197797
    Abstract: A device for separating printed products out of a stack, the device including a feed device which defines a substantially horizontal plane, a first stop element which is arranged on a mounting support as well as a transfer device which defines a substantially horizontal plane, wherein the feed device moves the stack against the first stop element, wherein the transfer device accepts and transfers the bottommost printed product out of the stack from the feed device, wherein the feed device includes a vacuum conveyor, by means of which the bottom surface of the bottommost printed product is sucked up at least in portions, as well as to a corresponding method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Applicant: HUNKELER AG
    Inventors: Kurt GRABER, Lukas WULLSCHLEGER, Daniel HÄFLIGER
  • Patent number: 9555659
    Abstract: In a material web which is printed in a digital printing station and moved in an advancement direction, a first material-web strand, which is formed by at least one printed material-web portion, is combined with a second material-web strand, which is formed by two printed material-web portions, by folding. The two material-web strands are connected to one another by an adhesive. Subproducts are then severed from the thus interconnected material-web strands by cross-cutting. These subproducts comprise a first printed sheet, severed from the first material-web strand, and a second printed sheet, connected to the first printed sheet and severed from the second material-web strand. The subproducts are then positioned one upon the other to form a stack, the subproducts being connected to one another by an adhesive in the region of the subsequent folding line. The stacked subproducts are then folded about a folding line to form an end product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: HUNKELER AG
    Inventors: Franz Hunkeler, Erich Hodel
  • Publication number: 20160244291
    Abstract: An apparatus for folding sheets or sheet stacks, including at least two folding/transport rollers, transport device and knife, the transport device defining transport plane E for sheets or sheet stacks fed in transport direction R, knife being movable substantially perpendicularly to and through transport plane E, folding/transport rollers being arranged above transport plane E, oppositely on both sides of knife, axis of rotation A of folding/transport rollers extending substantially perpendicularly to transport plane E, and at least two folding/transport rollers each having, at their end facing toward transport plane E, rounded portion, such that narrowing gap S is formed between the at least two folding/transport rollers, into which gap sheets or sheet stacks can be introduced by means of knife so as to be folded there and at same time conveyed away in transport direction R, and to corresponding method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: HUNKELER AG
    Inventors: Kurt GRABER, Friedrich FAULHABER
  • Patent number: 9278460
    Abstract: In a cylindrical knife holder rotatable about its longitudinal axis, at least one groove is present. The groove extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the knife holder. Inserted exchangeably in this groove is a perforating knife, the perforating edge of which protrudes over the peripheral surface of the knife holder. The perforating knife, which can be clamped in the groove by a releasable clamping device, is supported, at its end lying opposite the perforating edge, on a stop element disposed in the groove. The stop element rests on supporting elements distributed over the length of the groove, which are adjustable in directions running transversely to the longitudinal extent of the groove. The supporting elements define the once set radial position of the perforating knife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: HUNKELER AG
    Inventors: Andre Meznaric, Toni Egli
  • Patent number: 9073303
    Abstract: A method of processing sheets of different formats, including feeding the sheets of different formats in a feeding direction one behind the other, and at a certain feeding speed, to at least two collecting drums, the at least two collecting drums each having cylindrical lateral surfaces, driving each of the at least two collecting drums about a respective axis of rotation at a circumferential speed, the circumferential speed corresponding to the feeding speed of the sheets, temporarily securing at least some of the sheets on one of the at least two collecting drums to form a sheet stack, detaching the sheet stack from the at least one of the at least two collecting drums, and bringing together the sheets or the sheet stack detached from the at least one of the at least two collecting drums with sheets or a sheet stack detached from another one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: HUNKELER AG
    Inventors: Toni Egli, Stephan Riedel
  • Patent number: 8960659
    Abstract: In a first step, in a printed material web (1) moved in a feed direction, a first material web part (5) which is formed by a material web section (1a)is folded against the rest of the material web (6) that is formed from two material web portions (1b, 1c)).In the region of a connecting line (2b) extending between neighbouring material web sections (1b, 1c) the two material web parts (5,6) are connected to one another by a means of a bonding adhesive. In a subsequent step the material web (1) is folded again along a line (2b) extending between two neighbouring material web sections. (1b, 1c)All material web sections (1a, 1b, 1c) lie above one another. Subsequently, multi-page sub-products (11), the pages (12a, 12b, 12c) of which are connected to one another in the region of the spine (13) of the sub-product, are separated from the twice-folded material web (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hunkeler AG
    Inventors: Franz Hunkeler, Kurt Graber
  • Patent number: 8920298
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of moving printed material web includes two processing arrangements arranged one above the other that are optional in operation. A material web is processed either in the upper, first processing arrangement or in the lower, second processing arrangement. In the processing section belonging to the first processing arrangement, the material web is folded about a line parallel to its advancement direction. In the processing section belonging to the second processing arrangement, the material web is separated, along a line parallel to its advancement direction, into two material-web strands, which are then positioned one above the other. The two processing sections having in common a pair of braking rollers and a pair of drawing rollers and also a longitudinal-cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hunkeler AG
    Inventors: Jakob Gerhard, Martin Gfeller
  • Patent number: 8910551
    Abstract: In order to punch a moving material web there are two punching units present, which are arranged one after another in the direction of movement of the material web. Each punching unit has two punching tools, which interact with a rotatably mounted back-pressure cylinder that can be driven. The punching tools are arranged on a rotatably mounted drive shaft that can be driven, and their position can be adjusted in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the latter and locked in various working positions. Each punching tool has a cylindrical base, to the periphery of which a punching strip which is provided with at least one punching shape is fixed such that it can be replaced. The drive shafts can be driven independently of the associated back-pressure cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Hunkeler AG
    Inventors: Thomas Schürch, André Meznaric
  • Publication number: 20140353958
    Abstract: In a material web which is printed in a digital printing station and moved in an advancement direction, a first material-web strand, which is formed by at least one printed material-web portion, is combined with a second material-web strand, which is formed by two printed material-web portions, by folding. The two material-web strands are connected to one another by an adhesive. Subproducts are then severed from the thus interconnected material-web strands by cross-cutting. These subproducts comprise a first printed sheet, severed from the first material-web strand, and a second printed sheet, connected to the first printed sheet and severed from the second material-web strand. The subproducts are then positioned one upon the other to form a stack, the subproducts being connected to one another by an adhesive in the region of the subsequent folding line. The stacked subproducts are then folded about a folding line to form an end product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: HUNKELER AG
    Inventors: Franz HUNKELER, Erich HODEL
  • Patent number: 8871047
    Abstract: In a material web which is printed in a digital printing station and moved in an advancement direction, a first material-web strand, which is formed by at least one printed material-web portion, is combined with a second material-web strand, which is formed by two printed material-web portions, by folding. The two material-web strands are connected to one another by an adhesive. Subproducts are then severed from the thus interconnected material-web strands by cross-cutting. These subproducts comprise a first printed sheet, severed from the first material-web strand, and a second printed sheet, connected to the first printed sheet and severed from the second material-web strand. The subproducts are then positioned one upon the other to form a stack, the subproducts being connected to one another by an adhesive in the region of the subsequent folding line. The stacked subproducts are then folded about a folding line to form an end product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Hunkeler AG
    Inventors: Franz Hunkeler, Erich Hodel
  • Publication number: 20140306439
    Abstract: In a first step, in a printed material web moved in a feed direction, a first material web part formed by a material web section is folded against the rest of the material web that is formed from two material web portions. In the region of a connecting line extending between neighbouring material web sections the two material web parts are connected by a bonding adhesive. In a subsequent step the material web is folded again along a line extending between two neighbouring material web sections. All material web sections lie above one another. Subsequently, multi-page sub-products, the pages of which are connected to one another in the region of the spine of the sub-product, are separated from the twice-folded material web. The sub-products are placed on top of one another to form a stack and connected to one another in the region of the spine by a bonding adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: HUNKELER AG
    Inventors: Franz Hunkeler, Kurt Graber
  • Publication number: 20140183809
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing sheets of different formats, the apparatus including a feeding device that feed sheets of different formats in a feeding direction one behind the other, and at a certain conveying speed, at least two collecting drums disposed downstream of the feeding device, the at least two collecting drums having cylindrical lateral surfaces that rotate about an axis of rotation, securing means for temporarily securing the fed sheets on a circumference of the at least two collecting drums, a drive device that drives the collecting drums in rotation at a circumferential speed that corresponds to the conveying speed of the feeding device, and a sensing device for sensing the sheets of different formats moving past is arranged along the conveying path and senses the leading edge of the sheets of different formats, as seen in the feeding direction, or markings applied to the sheets of different formats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: HUNKELER AG
    Inventors: Toni EGLI, Stephan RIEDEL
  • Publication number: 20140183808
    Abstract: A method of processing sheets of different formats, including feeding the sheets of different formats in a feeding direction one behind the other, and at a certain feeding speed, to at least two collecting drums, the at least two collecting drums each having cylindrical lateral surfaces, driving each of the at least two collecting drums about a respective axis of rotation at a circumferential speed, the circumferential speed corresponding to the feeding speed of the sheets, temporarily securing at least some of the sheets on one of the at least two collecting drums to form a sheet stack, detaching the sheet stack from the at least one of the at least two collecting drums, and bringing together the sheets or the sheet stack detached from the at least one of the at least two collecting drums with sheets or a sheet stack detached from another one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: HUNKELER AG
    Inventors: Toni EGLI, Stephan RIEDEL
  • Patent number: 8708326
    Abstract: Sheets of different formats, i.e. of different format lengths, are transported in a feeding direction one behind the other; and at a certain conveying speed, to at least two collecting drums, which have essentially cylindrical lateral surfaces. Each of these collecting drums is driven about an axis of rotation at a circumferential speed, which corresponds essentially to the feeding speed of the sheets. The first incoming sheet is secured temporarily on one of the collecting drums, while the following, second sheet is secured temporarily on the other collecting drum. At a suitable point in time, the two sheets secured on the collecting drums are detached from the collecting drums and brought together with the third fed sheet to form a sub-product or end product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Hunkeler AG
    Inventors: Toni Egli, Stephan Riedel
  • Patent number: 8709190
    Abstract: In order to form stacks, of which each forms a book block, folded sheets are provided with an adhesive application or layer of adhesive before they are placed on one another. Said adhesive application is applied to the sheets adjacent to the folded edge of said sheets and extends in the direction of said folded edge which comes to lie in the spine of the book block. The adhesive can be applied as a continuous track or as a track which is interrupted multiple times, or else in a punctiform manner. The sheets are joined to one another in the stack by means of said adhesive application, with the result that they maintain their position within the stack during further transport of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Hunkeler AG
    Inventors: Franz Hunkeler, Kurt Graber
  • Patent number: 8480553
    Abstract: In order to form two longitudinal folds in a material web, there are two plow folding units which extend in the vertical direction and are arranged behind one another in the movement direction of the material web. Each of the plow folding units has two guide elements for the material web, which guide elements are arranged in the manner of a gable or saddle roof. The guide elements are arranged behind one another in the movement direction of the material web and enclose a folding angle between them. The folding angle between the guide elements of the second plow folding unit which is arranged downstream of the first plow folding unit has a magnitude of at least 100°, preferably of at least 140°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Hunkeler AG
    Inventors: Jakob Gerhard, Martin Gfeller