Patents by Inventor Hans-Reiner Hoffmann

Hans-Reiner Hoffmann 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: 10072925
    Abstract: A method and device for detection of rotated segments in a continuous multi-segment rod transferred in a machine used in tobacco industry. A signal of an error of the shape of said continuous multi-segment rod is generated, the rod including a plurality of segments arranged one after another in a common wrapping, in which the rod that is transferred in a direction along its axis is simultaneously scanned by optical sensors, the directions of scanning of the optical sensors being oriented at an angle other than 90° to each other. The rod diameter is measured by repeated scans such that the shortest segment of the rod is scanned at least once, the results of the scans being compared with a predetermined reference value, and each difference between the results of the scans and the predetermined value is converted into the signal of the error of shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL TOBACCO MACHINERY POLAND SP. Z O.O.
    Inventor: Hans-Reiner Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 9332785
    Abstract: After the start of manufacturing, the control system provisionally calculates a cutting moment necessary to obtain a proper length of the filter rod and compares it with the basic static relationship calculated earlier, after which it makes a gradual adjustment of the cutting moment in relation to the calculated basic static relationship and determines an averaged cutting point of a filter roller considering the information about actual dimensions of the segments and their actual positioning in the roller, conveyed by a sensor. During manufacturing, the averaged cutting point is compared by the control system with the cutting moment and, in order to keep the length tolerance of the filter rod, dynamically corrected considering the information about the segments currently conveyed by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: INT'L TOBACCO MACHINERY POLAND SP. ZO.O
    Inventor: Hans-Reiner Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20160091301
    Abstract: Method and device for detection of rotated segments in a continuous multi-segment rod transferred in a machine used in tobacco industry, the method including generating a signal of an error of the shape of said continuous multi-segment rod (CR1, CR1?), the rod (CR1, CR1?) comprising a plurality of segments (2, 3, 4) arranged one after another in a common wrapping, in which the rod (CR1, CR1?) that is transferred in a direction along its axis is simultaneously scanned by means of at least two optical sensors (5), the directions of scanning of the two optical sensors (5) being oriented at an angle other than 90° to each other. The diameter of the rod (CR1, CR1?) is measured by repeated scannings at such a frequency that the shortest segment of the rod (CR1, CR1?) is scanned at least once, the results of the scannings being compared with a predetermined reference value, and each difference between any of the results of the scannings and the predetermined value is converted into the signal of the error of shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventor: Hans-Reiner HOFFMANN
  • Patent number: 9198461
    Abstract: A method of compensation of momentary lack of filter segments in a manufacturing line of multi-segment filters used in tobacco industry, when an occurrence of a gap on a path feeding out sets of filter segments of a flute of a cutting drum, caused by the lack of a filter rod in the flute of the drum, the operation of units before the gap is slowed down, with simultaneous acceleration of the operation of units behind the gap, until the moment of elimination of the gap. A delivery unit having the form of a gripper holding a set of filter segments after taking it over from a out-feeding unit, a sensor detecting the lack of a filter rod in the flute of the drum is situated, in the zone of the out-feeding path for sets of filter segments at least one second sensor confirming readings of the first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: INT'L TOBACCO MACHINERY POLAND SP. Z O.O
    Inventor: Hans-Reiner Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8991587
    Abstract: Setting of reciprocal position of filter segments (3) delivered from multiple modules (1) of a machine for manufacturing filters is accomplished by registering the position and the length of a segment (3) from each module (1) on a carrier element (2) of a grouping unit when the filter manufacturing process is switched off, after which the reciprocal position of the segments (3) and the length between the segments (3) are set. The said operations may be accomplished by means of a sensor (4), the registering element (12) or by mapping the relative positions of adjacent segments (3) in the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: International Tobacco Machinery Poland SP. Z O.O
    Inventor: Hans-Reiner Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20130123085
    Abstract: Before the start of manufacturing of filter rods (6) from a filter roller moving together with a format tape (1), information regarding a segment (3) to be cut, the length of the filter rod (6), the sequence of segments (3) in the rod (6) and a constant distance between a feeding unit (2) and a cutting head (5) is entered into a control system, after which the control system calculates a basic static electronic relationship between drive systems of a servomotor (8) of the feeding unit (2) and a servomotor (9) of the cutting head (5) considering a drive system of a servomotor (10) of the format tape (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL TOBACCO MACHINERY POLAND SP. Z O.O.
    Inventor: Hans-Reiner Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20130037379
    Abstract: Setting of reciprocal position of filter segments (3) delivered from multiple modules (1) of a machine for manufacturing filters is accomplished by registering the position and the length of a segment (3) from each module (1) on a carrier element (2) of a grouping unit when the filter manufacturing process is switched off, after which the reciprocal position of the segments (3) and the length between the segments (3) are set. The said operations may be accomplished by means of a sensor (4), the registering element (12) or by mapping the relative positions of adjacent segments (3) in the control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL TOBACCO MACHINERY POLAND SP. Z O.O
    Inventor: Hans-Reiner Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20130029821
    Abstract: The method consists in that in case of occurrence of a gap (12) on a path (9) feeding out sets of filter segments (5) of a flute (6) of a cutting drum (3), caused by lack of a filter rod in a flute (6), the operation of the units situated before the gap (12) is slowed down, with simultaneous acceleration of the operation of the units situated behind the gap (12), until the moment of elimination of the gap (12), the lack of a filter rod in the flute (6) being detected by means of sensors (13, 14), and the process of compensation beginning at the moment when the set of segments (5) guided by the pusher (8) of the out-feeding unit (7), being before the gap (12) is taken over by a delivery unit (H), and ends at the moment of elimination of the gap (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL TOBACCO MACHINERY POLAND Sp.z.o.o.
    Inventor: Hans-Reiner Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8317010
    Abstract: Transfer system cooperating with a machine for producing tobacco and filter product rods having a rod receiving unit, a cutting head, and a control system. The machine enables adjustment of the length of the produced rods, whereby the rod receiving unit of the transfer system is synchronized with the cutting head by the control system. The transfer system is situated between the machine for producing rods and a machine for further processing or transmitting the rods. A rejection unit is provided for rejecting the rods outside the transfer system during the synchronization of the rod receiving unit of the transfer system with the cutting head after a new length is entered into the control system. The rejection unit is located between the cutting head of the machine and the rod receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp. z.o.o.
    Inventors: Michael Riedel, Hans-Reiner Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20100236893
    Abstract: Transfer system 10 cooperating with a machine 11 for producing tobacco product and filter rods 3, comprising a cutting head 2 synchronized with a rod receiving unit 9 of the transfer system and enabling adjustment of the length of the produced rods, the transfer system 10 being situated between the machine 11 for producing the rods and a machine 12 for further processing or transmitting the rods. The transfer system according to the invention comprises a rejection unit for rejecting the rods outside the transfer system. Method of transferring rods in a transfer system of a machine for producing tobacco product and filter rods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Michael Riedel, Hans-Reiner Hoffmann