Patents by Inventor Elmar Schafers

Elmar Schafers 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).

  • Publication number: 20240176323
    Abstract: Compensation parameters are determined and define a compensation signal intended to compensate for a disturbance that occurs during operation of a control target. The control target is controlled during operation by a servo drive control device designed to generate the compensation signal based on the compensation parameters when the disturbance occurs in order to reduce a subsequent fault that can be attributed to the disturbance. A first test parameter set is provided. The servo drive control device performs an operating process in which the disturbance occurs. The servo drive control device generates a first test compensation signal based on the first test parameter set when performing the operating process and receives a first measurement signal as feedback. A first error signal is determined from the first measurement signal. The compensation parameters are determined by a substitution model that maps error signals to compensation signals and uses the first error signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johannes Popp, ELMAR SCHÄFERS
  • Patent number: 11898616
    Abstract: A machine tool includes a machine element, an active vibration damper arranged on a region of the machine tool for damping a vibration of the machine element, and a vibration sensor facility arranged to detect the vibration of the machine element at a first point and at a second point of the machine tool, with the vibration of the machine element to be detected being smaller at the second point than at the first point. The active vibration damper is designed to damp the vibration of the machine element as a function of a variation between a first actual value detected by the vibration sensor facility at the first point and a second actual value detected by the vibration sensor facility at the second point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jochen Bretschneider, Elmar Schäfers, Torsten Schür
  • Publication number: 20230330799
    Abstract: A machine tool includes a machine element and a vibration damper arranged on the machine element to damp a vibration mode that occurs during operation of the machine tool and is manifested at a tool center point of the machine tool and at a point of the machine element. The vibration damper is arranged on the point of the machine element, with the vibration mode having a vibration antinode at the point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: JOCHEN BRETSCHNEIDER, TORSTEN SCHÜR, ELMAR SCHÄFERS
  • Patent number: 11689114
    Abstract: A control facility for a DC link converter includes a power regulator, which determines, based on an actual power determined at least partially at the feed converter, a power-based desired moment component for a kinetic energy store. The invention also relates to a DC link converter controlled by the control facility and to a forming machine, such as a press, with a DC link converter controlled by the control facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Bernd Dietz, Gerald Reichl, Elmar Schäfers
  • Patent number: 11396192
    Abstract: A digital web printing press, control apparatus and method for operating the digital web printing press includes selecting a frequency for actuating a digital printing head at the frequency to output printing ink onto a print web, wherein a specified conveying speed for conveying the print web is ascertained based on the selected frequency and printing data, a motor driving a first roller and/or a motor driving a second roller is controlled based on the specified conveying speed such that the print web between the first roller and the second roller is conveyed at the specified conveying speed and the digital printing head at the selected frequency and activated based on the printing data such that the digital printing head is advantageously actuated at a selected, fixed frequency, and such that complex dynamic actuation of the digital printing head and an associated measurement and control system are eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Bernhard Dirsch, Philipp Rost, Elmar Schäfers
  • Publication number: 20220190689
    Abstract: A machine tool includes a machine control unit to output control signals to drives for machine elements. A tool which machines a workpiece is thereby moved relative to the workpiece in a position-controlled manner. Arranged in a first region of one machine element is an active vibration damper to damp vibration in a second region of the machine elements as the workpiece is machined by the tool. In order to detect the vibration, a first sensor is arranged in the first region of the machine element and a second sensor is arranged on another machine element or in a different region of the one machine element. Actual values detected by the first and second sensors and corresponding target values are supplied to a dual controller which determines on the basis of these values, a resulting manipulated variable for the active vibration damper and actuates the active vibration damper accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: JOCHEN BRETSCHNEIDER, UWE LADRA, ELMAR SCHÄFERS, TORSTEN SCHÜR
  • Patent number: 11353843
    Abstract: An actuator of a machine is controlled by a control device with a controller structure in a normal operating mode and a special operating mode. The control device determines from a position setpoint value and a position actual value a control signal for the actuator. In the normal operating mode, the setpoint values are determined using a utility program, and in the special operating mode by a system program that is different from the normal operating program. In the special operating mode, a frequency characteristic for the actuator is determined on the basis of the sequence of setpoint values and associated actual values, and an evaluation for the actuator and/or of the controller structure is performed using the frequency characteristic and parameters of the controller structure. Depending on the evaluation, a message is transmitted to an operator of the machine or to a computing device over a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Alexander Kubik, Philipp Rost, Elmar Schäfers, Torsten Schür, Stephen J. Yutkowitz
  • Patent number: 11325216
    Abstract: A machine tool includes a first machine element movable in a travel direction and having first and second side faces. The first and second side faces of the first machine element run parallel to the travel direction and are oriented at a right angle to each other. The first machine element is moved in the travel direction in a guideway of a second machine element by a drive unit in a positionally controlled manner. The machine tool further includes first and second vibration dampers which are oriented at a right angle to the travel direction and configured to dampen vibrations of the first machine element in respective vibration directions. At least one of the first and second vibration dampers is oriented to solely dampen a vibration in a vibration direction that is neither parallel to the first side face nor parallel to the second side face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jochen Bretschneider, Uwe Ladra, Elmar Schäfers, Torsten Schür
  • Patent number: 11267073
    Abstract: In a method for guiding a cutting head in relation to a material, a position and a speed of the cutting head are set by means of a drive unit depending on a desired position value and a desired speed value established by an interpolator unit, a control signal for the drive unit is determined, a distance between the cutting head and the material is determined with a distance sensor, and a corresponding distance signal is provided. The distance signal is compared with a predetermined comparison distance to yield a distance-control signal, and the control signal for the drive unit is additionally determined dependent upon a distance-control signal. The comparison distance is subtracted from the distance signal and the difference is superimposed on the actual position signal, which is delayed by a first time period, wherefrom the distance-control signal is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Forster, Klaus Geissdörfer, Carsten Hamm, Elmar Schäfers
  • Patent number: 11269309
    Abstract: An analysis unit and method for determining at least one forming process characteristic of a servo press includes the steps of determining a torque profile of a motor of the servo press, wherein the torque profile belongs to a first cycle of the servo press and wherein the first cycle describes a forming process without an item to be processed by the servo press, determining a torque profile of the motor of the servo press, wherein the torque profile belongs to a second cycle of the servo press and wherein the second cycle describes a forming process with an item to be processed by the servo press, and comparing the torque profile belonging to the first cycle with the torque profile belonging to the second cycle to ascertain the at least one forming process characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Dietz, Gerald Reichl, Elmar Schäfers, Tina Stöckel
  • Publication number: 20210404530
    Abstract: A machine tool includes a machine element, an active vibration damper arranged on a region of the machine tool for damping a vibration of the machine element, and a vibration sensor facility arranged to detect the vibration of the machine element at a first point and at a second point of the machine tool, with the vibration of the machine element to be detected being smaller at the second point than at the first point. The active vibration damper is designed to damp the vibration of the machine element as a function of a variation between a first actual value detected by the vibration sensor facility at the first point and a second actual value detected by the vibration sensor facility at the second point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: JOCHEN BRETSCHNEIDER, ELMAR SCHÄFERS, TORSTEN SCHÜR
  • Patent number: 11204595
    Abstract: A control device of a machine tool includes a position controller and a model of a position-controlled axis. The position controller receives a position setpoint value, a corresponding actual position value and a compensation value; determines therefrom a resulting value; determines based on the resulting value an actuating signal; and outputs the actuating signal to the position-controlled axis. The position and/or the orientation of the tool relative to the workpiece are adjusted based on the actuating signal. A sequence of successive control errors is stored, in a storage device and read out sequentially in accordance with a sequence of the position setpoint values and supplied to the model. The model determines from the read-out control error a respective compensation value which is then supplied to the position controller, while simulating the mechanically dynamic behavior of the position-controlled axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Philipp Rost, Elmar Schäfers, Jürgen Reiser
  • Publication number: 20210316393
    Abstract: In a method for guiding a cutting head in relation to a material, a position and a speed of the cutting head are set by means of a drive unit depending on a desired position value and a desired speed value established by an interpolator unit, a control signal for the drive unit is determined, a distance between the cutting head and the material is determined with a distance sensor, and a corresponding distance signal is provided. The distance signal is compared with a predetermined comparison distance to yield a distance-control signal, and the control signal for the drive unit is additionally determined dependent upon a distance-control signal. The comparison distance is subtracted from the distance signal and the difference is superimposed on the actual position signal, which is delayed by a first time period, wherefrom the distance-control signal is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: GERHARD FORSTER, KLAUS GEISSDÖRFER, CARSTEN HAMM, ELMAR SCHÄFERS
  • Publication number: 20210313899
    Abstract: A control facility for a DC link converter includes a power regulator, which determines, based on an actual power determined at least partially at the feed converter, a power-based desired moment component for a kinetic energy store. The invention also relates to a DC link converter controlled by the control facility and to a forming machine, such as a press, with a DC link converter controlled by the control facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Dietz, GERALD REICHL, ELMAR SCHÄFERS
  • Patent number: 11029663
    Abstract: A method and a device operating according to the method automatically generate a control program designed for diagnostic purposes of a production machine or machine tool. The control program is generated using freely selectable parameters and/or machine-specific parameters by an algorithm which defines a movement profile. The movement profile incorporates at least one test run for at least one axis of the respective production machine or machine tool, wherein the at least one test run produces an axis excitation which is suitable for determining at least one mechatronic characteristic variable of the respective axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Markus Stephan Haschka, Elmar Schäfers, Torsten Schür
  • Publication number: 20200307264
    Abstract: A digital web printing press, control apparatus and method for operating the digital web printing press includes selecting a frequency for actuating a digital printing head at the frequency to output printing ink onto a print web, wherein a specified conveying speed for conveying the print web is ascertained based on the selected frequency and printing data, a motor driving a first roller and/or a motor driving a second roller is controlled based on the specified conveying speed such that the print web between the first roller and the second roller is conveyed at the specified conveying speed and the digital printing head at the selected frequency and activated based on the printing data such that the digital printing head is advantageously actuated at a selected, fixed frequency, and such that complex dynamic actuation of the digital printing head and an associated measurement and control system are eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Bernhard DIRSCH, Philipp ROST, Elmar SCHÄFERS
  • Publication number: 20200301395
    Abstract: A method and a device operating according to the method automatically generate a control program designed for diagnostic purposes of a production machine or machine tool. The control program is generated using freely selectable parameters and/or machine-specific parameters by an algorithm which defines a movement profile. The movement profile incorporates at least one test run for at least one axis of the respective production machine or machine tool, wherein the at least one test run produces an axis excitation which is suitable for determining at least one mechatronic characteristic variable of the respective axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Markus Stephan Haschka, Elmar Schäfers, Torsten Schür
  • Publication number: 20200290166
    Abstract: A machine tool includes a first machine element movable in a travel direction and having first and second side faces. The first and second side faces of the first machine element run parallel to the travel direction and are oriented at a right angle to each other. The first machine element is moved in the travel direction in a guideway of a second machine element by a drive unit in a positionally controlled manner. The machine tool further includes first and second vibration dampers which are oriented at a right angle to the travel direction and configured to dampen vibrations of the first machine element in respective vibration directions. At least one of the first and second vibration dampers is oriented to solely dampen a vibration in a vibration direction that is neither parallel to the first side face nor parallel to the second side face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jochen BRETSCHNEIDER, Uwe LADRA, Elmar SCHAFERS, Torsten SCHOR
  • Publication number: 20200192326
    Abstract: An actuator of a machine is controlled by a control device with a controller structure in a normal operating mode and a special operating mode. The control device determines from a position setpoint value and a position actual value a control signal for the actuator. In the normal operating mode, the setpoint values are determined using a utility program, and in the special operating mode by a system program that is different from the normal operating program. In the special operating mode, a frequency characteristic for the actuator is determined on the basis of the sequence of setpoint values and associated actual values, and an evaluation for the actuator and/or of the controller structure is performed using the frequency characteristic and parameters of the controller structure. Depending on the evaluation, a message is transmitted to an operator of the machine or to a computing device over a network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Alexander Kubik, Philipp Rost, Elmar Schäfers, Torsten Schür, Stephen J. Yutkowitz
  • Patent number: 10684605
    Abstract: A control device for a machine, with at least one axis, is configured to accept first parameters and to render a first general technological problem as a first specific technological problem. The control device is configured to determine once in advance, for a sequence of values of a position or a temporal derivation of the position of the axis of the machine, a number of variables assigned to the respective value, to solve the first specific technological problem in an optimum way. The control device is configured to store the assigned variables in a memory and, after the storage of the assigned variables, is configured to accept a first execution command. Based upon the first execution command, it is configured to output the sequence of values to the axis and during output, is configured to activate the machine in accordance with the number of variables assigned to the respective value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Carsten Hamm, Hartmut Linke, Thomas Puchtler, Gerald Reichl, Elmar Schäfers, Matthias Teuchert