Patents by Inventor Christian Hieb

Christian Hieb 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: 10882336
    Abstract: A method prints and dries a substrate where ink containing water and pigment is printed onto the substrate in an inkjet printing process. The substrate has an initial moisture content and absorbs at least water of the ink, causing the moisture content of the substrate to rise. Radiation selectively acting on the water molecules is applied in a first drying step and then radiation selectively acting on the pigment is applied in a second drying step in such a way that after completion of the two drying steps, the water of the applied ink has essentially completely evaporated and the substrate has essentially reattained its initial moisture content. In this manner optimum drying of substrates to which ink has been applied occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schoenberger, Peter Hachmann, Markus Moehringer, Uwe Ernst, Christian Hieb, Thomas Schmidt, Rolf Mueller, Michael Sauer
  • Publication number: 20190329570
    Abstract: A method prints and dries a substrate where ink containing water and pigment is printed onto the substrate in an inkjet printing process. The substrate has an initial moisture content and absorbs at least water of the ink, causing the moisture content of the substrate to rise. Radiation selectively acting on the water molecules is applied in a first drying step and then radiation selectively acting on the pigment is applied in a second drying step in such a way that after completion of the two drying steps, the water of the applied ink has essentially completely evaporated and the substrate has essentially reattained its initial moisture content. In this manner optimum drying of substrates to which ink has been applied occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: WOLFGANG SCHOENBERGER, PETER HACHMANN, MARKUS MOEHRINGER, UWE ERNST, CHRISTIAN HIEB, THOMAS SCHMIDT, ROLF MUELLER, MICHAEL SAUER
  • Patent number: 7942402
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding sheets to a sheet processing machine smoothes out and fixes a sheet through the use of a suction groove disposed transversely relative to a sheet transport direction, before the sheet is gripped by an onward transport device. A sheet-fed rotary printing press having the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Jens Forche, Christian Hieb
  • Publication number: 20080164649
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding sheets to a sheet processing machine smoothes out and fixes a sheet through the use of a suction groove disposed transversely relative to a sheet transport direction, before the sheet is gripped by an onward transport device. A sheet-fed rotary printing press having the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG
    Inventors: Jens Forche, Christian Hieb
  • Patent number: 7219889
    Abstract: A sheet-processing machine, particularly a rotary printing press, includes a blast-air supply system and a pneumatic sheet-guiding device connected thereto. The sheet-guiding device has a sheet-guiding surface formed with air passage openings and serves for having the sheets dragged thereover in a sheet travel direction. The air passage openings serve for expelling sheet-carrying air flows during operation. The sheet-guiding device further includes flow ducts for aligning sheet-carrying air flows. The air passage openings in the sheet guiding surface form opening cross-sections of the flow ducts in the form of slots having a length which is many times greater than the width thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Peter Hachmann, Christian Hieb, Sven Kerpe, Günter Stephan, Ralf Weiser, Thorsten Eckart, Karl-Heinz Helmstädter
  • Patent number: 7150456
    Abstract: A machine processing printing-material sheets contains a first sheet transport drum and a second sheet transport drum disposed immediately after the first sheet transport drum in a sheet transport direction. The first sheet transport drum has gripper systems which describe a gripper flight circle during its rotation and a drum profile deviating substantially from a circular shape with outer contour regions running between the gripper systems and set back from the gripper flight circle. The second sheet transport drum has a sheet support surface with pneumatic grooves formed therein. The sheet support surface is composed of a first and second comb segments each with segment prongs. The pneumatic grooves are introduced into the segment prongs of at least one of the comb segments. The pneumatic grooves are preferably introduced both into the segment prongs of the first comb segment and into the segment prongs of the second comb segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Markus Gerstenberger, Christian Hieb, Karl-Heinz Helmstädter, Raimund Schröder, Thorsten Eckart
  • Publication number: 20040084837
    Abstract: A machine processing printing-material sheets contains a first sheet transport drum and a second sheet transport drum disposed immediately after the first sheet transport drum in a sheet transport direction. The first sheet transport drum has gripper systems which describe a gripper flight circle during its rotation and a drum profile deviating substantially from a circular shape with outer contour regions running between the gripper systems and set back from the gripper flight circle. The second sheet transport drum has a sheet support surface with pneumatic grooves formed therein. The sheet support surface is composed of a first and second comb segments each with segment prongs. The pneumatic grooves are introduced into the segment prongs of at least one of the comb segments. The pneumatic grooves are preferably introduced both into the segment prongs of the first comb segment and into the segment prongs of the second comb segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Markus Gerstenberger, Christian Hieb, Karl-Heinz Helmstadter, Raimund Schroder, Thorsten Eckart
  • Patent number: 6729615
    Abstract: A sheet decurler for smoothing sheets in a sheet-processing rotary printing press includes a suction chamber provided with a connection for connecting the suction chamber to a suction source, and a smoothing notch communicating with the chamber. The smoothing notch is disposed in such a way that sheets are drawable thereover. The suction chamber is constructed as a sound muffler or silencer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Heidleberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Rocco Luongo, Christian Hieb
  • Publication number: 20040080102
    Abstract: A sheet-processing machine, particularly a rotary printing press, includes a blast-air supply system and a pneumatic sheet-guiding device connected thereto. The sheet-guiding device has a sheet-guiding surface formed with air passage openings and serves for having the sheets dragged thereover in a sheet travel direction. The air passage openings serve for expelling sheet-carrying air flows during operation. The sheet-guiding device further includes flow ducts for aligning sheet-carrying air flows. The air passage openings in the sheet guiding surface form opening cross-sections of the flow ducts in the form of slots having a length which is many times greater than the width thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: Peter Hachimann, Christian Hieb, Sven Kerpe, Gunter Stephan, Ralf Weiser, Thorsten Eckart, Karl-Heinz Helmstadter
  • Patent number: 6679173
    Abstract: A method of tempering a printing press with a circulating tempering medium includes regulating a temperature of the tempering medium. The temperature at a first measurement location is measured for purposes of control during production printing by the printing press. The temperature at a second measurement location is measured during a tempering phase of the printing press preceding production printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Henn, Jörg Heuschkel, Christian Hieb, Martin Mayer
  • Patent number: 6662722
    Abstract: A machine for processing sheets, in particular a sheet-fed rotary printing machine, includes a transporting cylinder for transporting the sheets and having air nozzles disposed offset in relation to one another in a direction other than an axis-parallel direction of the transporting cylinder, and having a directing configuration for directing the sheets and having air nozzles, the configuration being assigned to the transporting cylinder. The machine is distinguished in that the air nozzles include throttled air nozzles and unthrottled air nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Eckart Frankenberger, Michael Gieser, Christian Gorbing, Peter Hachmann, Karl-Heinz Helmstädter, Christian Hieb, Ruben Schmitt, Günter Stephan
  • Patent number: 6663550
    Abstract: A smoothing device includes guide surface sections for a flat printing material whose leading edge is pulled in a direction of travel over the guide surface sections. The guide surface sections have openings which communicate with throttling ducts that are pressurized with compressed air during operation. The guide surface sections form a smoothing notch and have air passage openings which communicate with a flow duct. The air passage openings are configured to cause pressure conditions when there is an air throughflow during operation such that the flat printing material forms a bead projecting into the smoothing notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Eckart Frankenberger, Michael Gieser, Peter Hachmann, Karl-Heinz Helmstädter, Christian Hieb, Ruben Schmitt, Günter Stephan
  • Patent number: 6659456
    Abstract: Provided in a sheet-fed printing machine is a sheet transport drum, including a first comb segment and a second comb segment, the second comb segment being mounted so as to be rotatable relative to the first comb segment for providing an adjustment to a format length corresponding with that of a printing-material sheet, the comb segments being formed of prongs having interspaces therebetween, and at least one covering provided for covering the interspaces between the prongs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Christian Hieb
  • Patent number: 6659446
    Abstract: In a device for reducing the frictional force between a guiding or carrying element for sheets in a sheet-processing machine, in particular rotary printing machines, guiding and carrying elements acted upon by throttled blowing air include a sheet surface, orifices fluidically connected to a hollow interior, and a throttle disposed in the hollow interior. The elements are to be connected to an air source for blowing air out through the orifices and for generating an air cushion between a sheet and the sheet surface. Each of the orifices is preceded by the throttle with respect to a direction of air from the air source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Uwe Fischer, Eckart Frankenberger, Michael Gieser, Christian Görbing, Peter Hachmann, Karl-Heinz Helmstädter, Christian Hieb, Ruben Schmitt, Günter Stephan
  • Patent number: 6648326
    Abstract: A delivery for a machine for processing flat printing materials, includes a sheet guide surface with suction openings opening into the sheet guide surface, a suction chamber communicating with the suction openings, and a sheet conveyor for gripping a respective sheet at an edge thereof extending in a sheet-conveying direction and for dragging the respective sheet over the sheet guide surface, the suction chamber being formed as a throttling duct; a machine for processing flat printing materials including the delivery; and a sheet-processing printing machine including the delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Christian Hieb
  • Patent number: 6640707
    Abstract: In a device for guiding sheets in a sheet-fed apparatus, preferably, a rotary printing press, sheet guide elements that are charged with blasted air are disposed at the sheet guide cylinder, and the air blast nozzles include a combination of conventional free jet nozzles and throttled nozzles, which are independently charged with different pressure levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Eckart Frankenberger, Michael Gieser, Christian Görbing, Peter Hachmann, Karl-Heinz Helmstädter, Christian Hieb, Ruben Schmitt, Günter Stephan
  • Patent number: 6631784
    Abstract: A device for reducing the noise emissions of a machine for printing flat material, wherein flat material is transportable across an impression cylinder, comprising at least one muffling element disposed across a portion of a transport path of the flat material extending along the impression cylinder, directly behind or downline from a nip, as viewed in the direction of the transport path, and at a spaced distance from the impression cylinder; and a machine including the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Drucksmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Christian Hieb, Daniel Conzelmann, Günter Stephan
  • Publication number: 20030177931
    Abstract: A method of tempering a printing press with a circulating tempering medium includes regulating a temperature of the tempering medium. The temperature at a first measurement location is measured for purposes of control during production printing by the printing press. The temperature at a second measurement location is measured during a tempering phase of the printing press preceding production printing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Andreas Henn, Jorg Heuschkel, Christian Hieb, Martin Mayer
  • Patent number: 6612235
    Abstract: A guiding device in a machine for processing sheets of printing material includes unthrottled air nozzles for contact-free guidance of the sheets, and throttled air nozzles arranged at locations which are prone to contact by the sheets; and a machine for processing sheets of printing material and a sheet-fed rotary printing machine, respectively, having the guiding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Eckart Frankenberger, Michael Gieser, Christian Görbing, Peter Hachmann, Karl-Heinz Helmstädter, Christian Hieb, Ruben Schmitt, Günter Stephan
  • Patent number: 6612236
    Abstract: A sheet transport cylinder in a machine that processes sheets of printing material includes air nozzles for sheet formats of the printing-material sheets. The printing-material sheets are dimensioned from a minimum format up to a maximum format. The sheet transport cylinder is distinguished by the fact that the air nozzles are throttled air nozzles disposed to be matched to the minimum format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Eckart Frankenberger, Michael Gieser, Peter Hachmann, Karl-Heinz Helmstädter, Christian Hieb, Ruben Schmitt, Günter Stephan