Patents by Inventor Andreas Dickhoff

Andreas Dickhoff has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6625407
    Abstract: A cantilever drum-mounting apparatus adapted for use in a document printer/copier having a housing having: an opening therein; a carriage movably mounted within the opening and adapted to receive, retain and rotatably support an axle of a drum; and a plurality of guide mechanisms, rotatably mounted on the carriage and engageable with opposing outer surface of the housing, for limiting movement of the carriage to a direction substantially normal to the axis for drum rotation. Preferably, movement of the carriage is controlled by the actuator of an air cylinder that cooperates with one or more reference surfaces within the housing opening to locate the drum axle at a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: James D. Shifley, Gregory L. Kowalski, Andreas Dickhoff, Andreas G. Nagy
  • Patent number: 6615722
    Abstract: A cylinder with a functional layer (23) and with a supporting body (1), which passes through the cylinder. On the supporting body (1), a sleeve that accommodates the functional layer (23) is supported at ends (2, 5). The supporting body (1) is for its part accommodated on supporting elements (10, 11, 13) provided on the frame side. The cylinder sleeve (3) that accommodates the functional layer (23) can be centered in relation to the axis of rotation (8) by centering faces (6, 7) formed at the ends (2, 5). One end of the cylinder can be exposed at the supporting element (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Nex Press Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Wolfgang Heinrich Alberstadt, Christian Compera, Andreas Dickhoff, Karlheinz Groeninger, Gregory Kowalski, James Shifley
  • Patent number: 6549745
    Abstract: Controlling image defects related to transfer or fusing of toner images in an electrostatographic machine, wherein engagement between an operational surface of a toner image bearing member or fusing member and an operational surface of another member forming a nip is adjusted using an engagement adjustment device in order to reduce or eliminate image defects relating to an overdrive or underdrive associated with the nip. The engagement adjustment device provides a preselected amount of overdrive or underdrive between a toner image bearing member or fusing member and a receiver member, which preselected amount includes zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: John W. May, David J. Quesnel, Andreas Dickhoff, Donald S. Rimai, Thomas N. Tombs
  • Patent number: 6511063
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting and delivering individual sheets (14) within a final processing unit (11) downstream from a printing or copying unit (10). In the final processing unit (11) an input transport roller pair (15) is followed by a sheet transport track (18) having a stop surface (20) for lateral registration of the sheets (14) passing through, a working delivery surface (24) having a stop surface (22) for end-surface registration of the sheets (14) being arranged at the end of the sheet transport track (18). Arranged after the working delivery surface (24) is a final delivery container for the individual sheets or sheet stacks, which extends at a 90° angle to the sheet transport track (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Dickhoff, Helmut Domes, Andreas Schweizer, Reinhard Weltz
  • Publication number: 20020191357
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for provision of a power supply that combines the advantages of current regulation with voltage limitation to enable corona chargers that can be run at higher current regulated set points for lower resistance sheets. The voltage limit will protect against arcing when high resistance media is used. This wider operation window can be provided without the need to track sheet types in the process and shift the operating set points, which would result in much more complicated machine control algorithms. The regulation and limit reference controls retain the ability of changing the operating set points of the power supply, such that it can be adapted to alternate physical configurations of the discharging system and the printing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Dickhoff, Charles H. Hasenauer
  • Publication number: 20020186990
    Abstract: A device (2, 3) for charging and/or discharging of printing media (7) in printing presses and copiers, with at least one corona wire (5, 5′), as well as a guiding device (1) for printing media (7) with bridging members (11, 12, 13), which bridge the interior of the discharging device and/or charging device (2, 3) in the transport direction (10), whereby the guiding device (1) has, below the bridging members (11, 12, 13) on the side turned toward at least one corona wire (5, 5′), slim guide fingers (18, 18′), which extend into the border areas (14, 14′) of the device (1) parallel to at least one corona wire (5, 5′) and from the side outside the surfaces covered by the printing media suppress the thickest ion flow, which is directed to the printing media (7) for discharging of the printing media (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventor: Andreas Dickhoff
  • Publication number: 20020114650
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling image defects related to transfer of toner images in an electrostatographic machine. An engagement between an operational surface of a toner image bearing member and an operational surface of another member forming a transfer nip is adjusted using an engagement adjustment device in order to reduce or eliminate image defects relating to an overdrive or underdrive associated with the nip. A transfer nip for transferring a toner image may include two rollers supported by parallel shafts coaxial with each roller, the shafts separated by a controllable distance of separation and the engagement in the nip being controllably adjustable by an engagement adjustment device to increase or decrease the distance of separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: John W. May, David J. Quesnel, Andreas Dickhoff, Donald S. Rimai, Thomas N. Tombs
  • Publication number: 20020063376
    Abstract: It is a device for alignment of stock, such as a sheet of paper or a film, in the transport path of a printing machine, especially in the transport path between a storage container for the stock and the print station or the print station and finishing devices, such as stitching and binding devices and collecting or stacking containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Andreas Dickhoff, Helmut Domes, Andreas Schweizer, Reinhard Weltz
  • Publication number: 20020003971
    Abstract: A cantilever drum-mounting apparatus adapted for use in a document printer/copier having a housing having: an opening therein; a carriage movably mounted within the opening and adapted to receive, retain and rotatably support an axle of a drum; and a plurality of guide mechanisms, rotatably mounted on the carriage and engageable with opposing outer surface of the housing, for limiting movement of the carriage to a direction substantially normal to the axis for drum rotation. Preferably, movement of the carriage is controlled by the actuator of an air cylinder that cooperates with one or more reference surfaces within the housing opening to locate the drum axle at a desired position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Applicant: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: James D. Shifley, Gregory L. Kowalski, Andreas Dickhoff, Andreas G. Nagy
  • Patent number: 6328250
    Abstract: An apparatus for mounting corona wires in a corona charger comprises a wire dispenser pen with an inner wall forming a hollow shaft adapted to receive the wire; and a support structure attached to the wire dispenser pen. The support structure is adapted to receive a spool of wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Nexpress Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Andreas Dickhoff
  • Publication number: 20010042476
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cylinder with a functional layer (23) and with a supporting body (1), which passes through the cylinder. On the supporting body (1), a sleeve that accommodates the functional layer (23) is supported at ends (2, 5, 25). The supporting body (1) is for its part accommodated on supporting elements (10, 11, 13) provided on the frame side. The cylinder sleeve (3) that accommodates the functional layer (23) can be centered in relation to the axis of rotation (8) by centering faces (6, 7) formed at the ends (2, 5, 25). One end of the cylinder can be exposed at the supporting element (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Applicant: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Wolfgang Heinrich Alberstadt, Christian Compera, Andreas Dickhoff, Karlheinz Groeninger, Gregory Kowalski, James Shifley
  • Patent number: 6303933
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising: (i) a corona charger housing including at least two cavities; (ii) a corona wire strung across the housing, the corona wire having at least one end located in one of the cavities; and (iii) a pin at least partially located inside one of the cavities, the pin fixedly securing the end of corona wire inside the cavity. A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes (i) a corona charger housing including at least two cavities; (ii) a corona wire having two ends, the corona wire being strung across the housing, the corona wire having each of its ends located in one of the cavities; (iii) pins at least partially located inside the cavities. The pins fixedly secure the ends of corona wire inside the cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Nexpress Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Andreas Dickhoff
  • Patent number: 6294782
    Abstract: An apparatus for a corona wire housing comprising a continuous piece of corona wire mounted in a serpentine fashion around multiple pulleys with a single tension spring tensioning the continuous piece of corona wire and fixed terminals supporting the ends of the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Nexpress Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Andreas Dickhoff
  • Patent number: 6259873
    Abstract: A cantilever drum-mounting apparatus adapted for use in a document printer/copier comprises: (i) a housing having an opening therein; (ii) a carriage movably mounted within the opening and adapted to receive, retain and rotatably support an axle of a drum; and (iii) a plurality of guide rollers, rotatably mounted on the carriage and engageable with opposing outer surface of the housing, for limiting movement of the carriage to a direction substantially normal to the axis for drum rotation. Preferably, movement of the carriage is controlled by the actuator of an air cylinder that cooperates with one or more reference surfaces within the housing opening to locate the drum axle at a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: James D. Shifley, Gregory L. Kowalski, Andreas Dickhoff, Andreas G. Nagy
  • Patent number: 6142466
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus having means for delivering, depositing, and aligning individual sheets (S) in a collecting tray (7) to form at least one sheet stack (8) from sheets collected one on top of another, the collecting tray of which has a depositing surface (70) with at least one front delimiter (71) against which the sheets are aligned, and having a holddown element (3) resting on the sheet stack, wherein the alignment means (1) for aligning a topmost delivered sheet (S) are drivable by a drive unit (6) and the alignment means are movable together with the holddown element relative to the stack in the stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Inventor: Andreas Dickhoff
  • Patent number: 6108504
    Abstract: A corona charger includes a housing; a corona wire; and a wire replenisher located in the housing, the wire replenisher includes (i) a reversible motor; (ii) a rotatable shaft driven by the motor; (iii) a supply spool supporting a length of the corona wire; (iv) a tension mechanism tensioning corona wire supplied by the supply spool; and (v) a take-up spool located on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Andreas Dickhoff
  • Patent number: 5996876
    Abstract: A stapling device has a holddown element, a staple forming member, and a staple driving means, which are guided linearly and are movable perpendicular to the upper side of a sheet stack to be stapled.A first pressure spring with a lower spring force is associated with the holddown element. A second pressure spring whose spring force is greater than that of the first pressure spring, is associated with the staple forming member. A third pressure spring is associated with the staple driving means, its spring force being greater than that of the second pressure spring. The pressure springs are arranged with identical working directions perpendicular to the upper side of the sheet stack.The first pressure spring is arranged in preloaded fashion between the holddown element and the staple forming member. The second pressure spring is arranged in preloaded fashion between the staple forming member and the staple driving means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Andreas Dickhoff, Helmut Domes, Reinhard Weltz
  • Patent number: 5992842
    Abstract: A transport roller unit, which has a plurality of rollers arranged next to one another on a bearing shaft, rests against the transport rollers of a transport roller pair. The rollers are mounted independently rotatably on bearing bushings that are joined positively to the bearing shaft. The rollers are associated with a first and a second roller group, of which the first roller group is mounted, offset by an amount (x), eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pressure roller unit. The second roller group is mounted offset, by the same amount (x) in the opposite direction to the rollers of the first roller group, eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pressure roller unit. The rollers are arranged in such a way that of each two rollers arranged next to one another, one is associated with the first roller group and one with the second roller group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Andreas Dickhoff
  • Patent number: 5980444
    Abstract: A pivotedly mounted pressure roller unit, associated with which is a folding roller pair, is arranged on the transport path of a sheet to be folded. The pressure roller unit has a first and a second roller group, having rollers offset alternatingly eccentrically with respect to one another and mounted in independently rotatable fashion, which coact with the folding rolls in such a way that simultaneously, the rollers of the first roller group can be laid nonpositively against the one folding roller, and the rollers of the other roller group against the other folding roller. The transport speed (v.sub.2) of the folding rolls can be reduced to a lower transport speed (v.sub.1), thus causing a transport roller pair driven at an unchanging transport speed to bulge the sheet into an arc prior to entry into the folding rolls. By pivoting the pressure roller unit against the folding rolls, the arc and the trailing end of the sheet are transported simultaneously by the pressure roller unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Andreas Dickhoff
  • Patent number: 5921455
    Abstract: A stapling device has a stapler and a staple wire cassette detachably attached directly thereto, in which the leading end of the wire emerging from the staple wire cassette terminates directly in the working region of the stapler. The stapler has a base member serving as a staple-forming and holddown element, on which a driver and a sleeve are guided linearly so as to engage in telescoping fashion within one another, and are movable perpendicular to the upper side of a sheet stack. Compression springs of different spring forces, having the same working direction, engage on the base member, the driver, and the sleeve. The stapler is acted upon by a drive system which is movable in the working direction of the compression springs. The compression springs are associated with the base member, the driver, and the sleeve, and arranged in preloaded fashion thereon, in such a way that upon actuation of the stapler, a force-controlled drive occurs in an operationally correct sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Andreas Dickhoff