Patents by Inventor Hans Butterfass

Hans Butterfass 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: 8418611
    Abstract: A printing unit contains a dampening unit and an inking unit which includes a screen roller with a circumference and an ink applicator roller with a circumference and a gap having an arc length or curve length, the ink applicator roller resting against the screen roller. The circumference of the screen roller and the circumference of the ink applicator roller and the arc length or curve length of the gap are dimensioned in predetermined proportions relative to each other so as to avoid ghosting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schoenberger, Dieter Schaffrath, Hans Butterfass
  • Publication number: 20110132214
    Abstract: A printing unit contains a dampening unit and an inking unit which includes a screen roller with a circumference and an ink applicator roller with a circumference and a gap having an arc length or curve length, the ink applicator roller resting against the screen roller. The circumference of the screen roller and the circumference of the ink applicator roller and the arc length or curve length of the gap are dimensioned in predetermined proportions relative to each other so as to avoid ghosting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG
    Inventors: WOLFGANG SCHOENBERGER, DIETER SCHAFFRATH, HANS BUTTERFASS
  • Publication number: 20080105143
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for turning a sheet during its transport through a printing press permit improved printing results as a result of improved sheet guidance. A sheet is tautened following a transfer from a first transport device to a second transport device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG
    Inventors: Hans Butterfass, Daniel Conzelmann, Peter Hachmann, Arno Junger, Markus Kramer
  • Patent number: 7261292
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for feeding sheets to a sheet-processing machine, the leading edge of the sheet is smoothed before the grippers are closed by further transport into the sheet-processing machine. A curvature or bend in the sheet transport direction is imparted to the sheet. The feed table has, in its feeder region, a curvature in the sheet transport direction, against which curvature the sheet leading edge is laid with the aid of pneumatic or mechanical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Hans Butterfass, Wolfgang Dolz, Hendrik Frank, Andreas Henn, Markus Möhringer
  • Patent number: 7115889
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for sensing the position of an edge of a stock being feed to a printing press is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a light source, utilizing the light source to illuminate with planar radiation a preselected area of the stock, and a preselected area adjacent to the stock, and further providing a retro-reflecting surface on at least a portion of the preselected area adjacent to the stock illuminated by the light source. According to a feature of the present invention, a measuring device is provided and utilized to measure radiation reflected by the retro-reflecting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Torsten Koker, Hans Butterfass, Wolfgang Dolz, Andeas Henn, Tobias Mueller
  • Publication number: 20050017205
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for sensing the position of an edge of a stock being feed to a printing press is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a light source, utilizing the light source to illuminate with planar radiation a preselected area of the stock, and a preselected area adjacent to the stock, and further providing a retro-reflecting surface on at least a portion of the preselected area adjacent to the stock illuminated by the light source. According to a feature of the present invention, a measuring device is provided and utilized to measure radiation reflected by the retro-reflecting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Applicant: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Torsten Koker, Hans Butterfass, Wolfgang Dolz, Andeas Henn, Tobias Mueller
  • Publication number: 20040201166
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for feeding sheets to a sheet-processing machine, the leading edge of the sheet is smoothed before the grippers are closed by further transport into the sheet-processing machine. A curvature or bend in the sheet transport direction is imparted to the sheet. The feed table has, in its feeder region, a curvature in the sheet transport direction, against which curvature the sheet leading edge is laid with the aid of pneumatic or mechanical devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: Hans Butterfass, Wolfgang Dolz, Hendrik Frank, Andreas Henn, Markus Mohringer
  • Patent number: 6616114
    Abstract: A flexible bearing bar includes a flexurally soft tensile member carrying, on one side thereof, a multiplicity of compressive elements disposed successively in series and formed with respective contact surfaces, said tensile member being supportable on two supports, and said contact surfaces being subjectible to a load acting between said supports, from said compressive elements in a direction towards said tensile member for keeping said contact surfaces, respectively, in contact with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Erich Zahn, Michael Bantlin, Hans Butterfass
  • Patent number: 6561509
    Abstract: A method is proposed for measuring thickness and detecting double and missing sheets during the sheet feed to a sheet-processing machine, such as a sheet-fed printing machine. A corresponding monitoring apparatus has one or more sensing elements above or beneath the sheet stream. The sensing element can be displaced, with an actuating device having an actuating drive, in the direction towards and away from the sheet stream. The actuating drive has at least one piezoelectric actuator or it is formed by the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Peter Kettenmann, Hans Butterfass, Carsten Huschle, Robert Müller, Thomas Wolf, Martin Reuter
  • Patent number: 6533269
    Abstract: A method and device for aligning stacked or piled sheets in a feeder of a sheet-processing machine, wherein a sheet to be separated is pivotable about a vertical axis extending at least approximately orthogonally to a transport direction of the sheet, as viewed in the transport direction thereof, in order to correct a skewed position of a leading edge thereof relative to at least one front lay. The method further includes determining, relative to the front lay, a skewed position of sheets oncoming at the front lay or resting at the top of the sheet pile, and displacing, transversely or approximately transversely to the transport direction, either the sheet pile, before the sheet is lifted therefrom, or the sheet lifted off the sheet pile, depending upon the determined skewed position, over a displacement distance that is of such length that, after the skewed-position correction, there is a defined spaced distance between a side edge of the sheet and at least one side lay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Hans Butterfass, Wolfgang Dolz, Jürgen Zeltner
  • Patent number: 6446959
    Abstract: A device for aligning sheets laterally on a feed table of a sheet-processing machine, having a side stop, includes a suction pull nozzle movable transversely to a sheet transport direction and being formed with a plurality of suction openings, the suction openings being distributed so that the number of suction openings arranged in the sheet transport direction becomes greater in a transverse direction towards the side stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen A.G.
    Inventors: Hans Butterfass, Markus Möhringer, Markus Röper
  • Publication number: 20020060420
    Abstract: A method is proposed for measuring thickness and detecting double and missing sheets during the sheet feed to a sheet-processing machine, such as a sheet-fed printing machine. A corresponding monitoring apparatus has one or more sensing elements above or beneath the sheet stream. The sensing element can be displaced, with an actuating device having an actuating drive, in the direction towards and away from the sheet stream. The actuating drive has at least one piezoelectric actuator or it is formed by the latter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Peter Kettenmann, Hans Butterfass, Carsten Huschle, Robert Muller, Thomas Wolf, Martin Reuter
  • Publication number: 20010006273
    Abstract: A method and device for aligning stacked or piled sheets in a feeder of a sheet-processing machine, wherein a sheet to be separated is pivotable about a vertical axis extending at least approximately orthogonally to a transport direction of the sheet, as viewed in the transport direction thereof, in order to correct a skewed position of a leading edge thereof relative to at least one front lay. The method further includes determining, relative to the front lay, a skewed position of sheets oncoming at the front lay or resting at the top of the sheet pile, and displacing, transversely or approximately transversely to the transport direction, either the sheet pile, before the sheet is lifted therefrom, or the sheet lifted off the sheet pile, depending upon the determined skewed position, over a displacement distance that is of such length that, after the skewed-position correction, there is a defined spaced distance between a side edge of the sheet and at least one side lay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Hans Butterfass, Wolfgang Dolz, Jurgen Zeltner
  • Publication number: 20010006274
    Abstract: A device for aligning sheets laterally on a feed table of a sheet-processing machine, having a side stop, includes a suction pull nozzle movable transversely to a sheet transport direction and being formed with a plurality of suction openings, the suction openings being distributed so that the number of suction openings arranged in the sheet transport direction becomes greater in a transverse direction towards the side stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Hans Butterfass, Markus Mohringer, Markus Roper