Patents by Inventor Jurgen Francke

Jurgen Francke 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: 20230204394
    Abstract: A sensor module for a rail vehicle contains a box-like module housing with a housing wall having a front opening. It further has one or more environment sensors arranged in the module housing for acquiring environment data that can be perceived through the front opening. Moreover, it contains one or more front windows, which have in each case one window pane, which closes the front opening. As a result, the integration of environment sensors into rail vehicles, in particular for high-speed operation, can be optimized. A rail vehicle ideally contains such a sensor module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Jürgen Francke, Jan Gräfing, Andreas Krutz, Thomas Waechter
  • Patent number: 8710380
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method weigh an object, in particular a flat item of mail, during transport. A conveying device having an endless conveying belt and a counterpart conveying element is able to temporarily grip an object in a clamping region and to transport it in a transporting direction. Weighing scales are able to weigh the object while the object is gripped in a clamping region. The damping element is configured to damp vibrations of an object gripped in the clamping region. The damping element has a surface which is curved in the transporting direction. The endless conveying belt is guided in such a way around the curved surface that the endless conveying belt rests areally against the curved surface in a damping region and the endless conveying belt and the counterpart conveying element are configured to guide the object gripped in the clamping region past the curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jürgen Francke
  • Publication number: 20110192656
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method weigh an object, in particular a flat item of mail, during transport. A conveying device having an endless conveying belt and a counterpart conveying element is able to temporarily grip an object in a clamping region and to transport it in a transporting direction. Weighing scales are able to weigh the object while the object is gripped in a clamping region. The damping element is configured to damp vibrations of an object gripped in the clamping region. The damping element has a surface which is curved in the transporting direction. The endless conveying belt is guided in such a way around the curved surface that the endless conveying belt rests areally against the curved surface in a damping region and the endless conveying belt and the counterpart conveying element are configured to guide the object gripped in the clamping region past the curved surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Jürgen Francke
  • Publication number: 20090294337
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating flat mail items includes two transport devices for transporting two independently mobile stacks of mail items to an extraction device for extracting mail items from both stacks of mail items and supplying the mail items to a transport run. A single-component extraction element of the extraction device is provided for extracting mail items from the two stacks of mail items. An economical device for separating flat mail items from both stacks of mail items can be obtained, and the device generates a continuous flow of mail items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Jürgen Francke
  • Patent number: 6899155
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device that is provided with a pressing and applying drum (17) which is driven during start-stop operation and is used for applying the labels (16) to flat objects (20) that are transported along a conveying path. A label strip (1) having a bend that matches the receiving drum surface is pushed onto the side of the pressing and applying drum (17) with the adhesive side thereof facing towards the outside and vertically in relation to the transport plane of the flat objects (20) by means of a label conveying and cutting device (4), whereby said side faces away from the objects (20). The portion which is situated on the stationary pressing and applying drum (17) is cut off by means of a cutter device that is adapted to the bend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jürgen Francke, Frank Voss
  • Patent number: 6845799
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device that is provided with a pressing and applying drum (17) which is driven during start-stop operation in a controlled manner and is used for applying the labels (16) to flat objects (20) which are transported along a conveying path. The aim of the invention is to transport said objects (20) past the pressing and applying drum. Said drum is provided with a first casing region (23) which receives labels and has a circular bend. The centre of the circle is situated within the rotational axis. The drum is also provided with a second casing region (24). The surface of said second casing region is displaced towards the inside to such an extend that the second casing region (24) cannot touch the objects in a disturbing manner. The two casing regions (23, 24) are connected to one another by means of transition areas (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jürgen Francke, Frank Voss
  • Patent number: 6737633
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for detecting overlapping mail pieces wherein a lead mail piece edge is diverted from the regular conveyance and a light barrier is used to detect if another mail piece follows. Specifically, the diverted mail piece may break or interrupt a light barrier thereby triggering a counter which determines the time between the interruption and subsequent interruption. If the time is less than that required for the diverted mail piece to pass the light barrier, then an overlapping mail piece is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens AG
    Inventor: Jürgen Francke
  • Publication number: 20030168178
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device that is provided with a pressing and applying drum (17) which is driven during start-stop operation and is used for applying the labels (16) to flat objects (20) that are transported along a conveying path. A label strip (1) having a bend that matches the receiving drum surface is pushed onto the side of the pressing and applying drum (17) with the adhesive side thereof facing towards the outside and vertically in relation to the transport plane of the flat objects (20) by means of a label conveying and cutting device (4), whereby said side faces away from the objects (20). The portion which is situated on the stationary pressing and applying drum (17) is cut off by means of a cutter device that is adapted to the bend.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Jurgen Francke, Frank Voss
  • Publication number: 20030159784
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device that is provided with a pressing and applying drum (17) which is driven during start-stop operation in a controlled manner and is used for applying the labels (16) to flat objects (20) which are transported along a conveying path. The aim of the invention is to transport said objects (20) past the pressing and applying drum. Said drum is provided with a first casing region (23) which receives labels and has a circular bend. The centre of the circle is situated within the rotational axis. The drum is also provided with a second casing region (24). The surface of said second casing region is displaced towards the inside to such an extend that the second casing region (24) cannot touch the objects in a disturbing manner. The two casing regions (23, 24) are connected to one another by means of transition areas (25).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Jurgen Francke, Frank Voss
  • Publication number: 20030071200
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for detecting overlapping mail pieces wherein a lead mail piece edge is diverted from the regular conveyance and a light barrier is used to detect if another mail piece follows. Specifically, the diverted mail piece may break or interrupt a light barrier thereby triggering a counter which determines the time between the interruption and subsequent interruption. If the time is less than that required for the diverted mail piece to pass the light barrier, then an overlapping mail piece is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventor: Jurgen Francke
  • Patent number: 5876028
    Abstract: In a device for stacking flat letters having a separating mechanism and a stacking mechanism between which the letters are stacked, the stacking mechanism capable of moving in the stacking direction along a stacking surface, and a transport path that is formed by endless vertical belts guided by way of rollers, between which belts the letters are conveyed from a loading station to the stacking mechanism, it is provided that the stacking surface has a horizontal concave curvature with respect to the side on which the transport path is located, and that the belts are deflected in the region of the transport path by a plurality of deflecting rollers that are disposed on a curve adapted to the curvature of the stacking surface in such a way that the transport path has a curvature adapted to that of the stacking surface, in the region of the transport path, the belts being disposed between the stacking surface and the deflecting rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jurgen Francke, Peter Bretschneider