Patents by Inventor Reto Knaak
Reto Knaak 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).
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Patent number: 11904398Abstract: A high-speed reciprocating wire cutting process in which a wire electrode is transported and precisely guided across a machining area by means of a wire traveling circuit, whereas the cutting process is conducted by repeatedly: (a) running the wire electrode in a first direction until a first reciprocation position, (b) stopping and inverting the traveling direction of the wire electrode, (c) running the wire electrode in a second direction until a second reciprocation position, and (d) stopping and inverting the traveling direction of the wire electrode.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2021Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Agie Charmilles SAInventors: Reto Knaak, Enrico Costi, Roberto Feola, Niccolò Ferrazzi
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Patent number: 11772177Abstract: High-speed wire electrochemical-discharge cutting method (HS-WECDM), in which a work piece is processed by means of a wire electrode, in which consecutive negative polarity pulses are applied at said wire electrode, thereby at least partially developing discrete electrical discharges, wherein the method further includes, applying positive polarity pulses at the wire electrode between the negative pulses, and that an ignition occurring with each positive polarity pulse is immediately detected, and that the positive polarity pulses are immediately interrupted.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Inventors: Marco Taborelli, Reto Knaak
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Publication number: 20220040775Abstract: High-speed wire electrochemical-discharge cutting method (HS-WECDM), in which a work piece is processed by means of a wire electrode, in which consecutive negative polarity pulses are applied at said wire electrode, thereby at least partially developing discrete electrical discharges, wherein the method further includes, applying positive polarity pulses at the wire electrode between the negative pulses, and that an ignition occurring with each positive polarity pulse is immediately detected, and that the positive polarity pulses are immediately interrupted.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2021Publication date: February 10, 2022Inventors: Marco TABORELLI, Reto KNAAK
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Publication number: 20220001473Abstract: A high-speed reciprocating wire cutting process in which a wire electrode is transported and precisely guided across a machining area by means of a wire traveling circuit, whereas the cutting process is conducted by repeatedly: running the wire electrode in a first direction until a first reciprocation position, stopping and inverting the traveling direction of the wire electrode, running the wire electrode in a second direction until a second reciprocation position, stopping and inverting the traveling direction of the wire electrode. A cutting process interruption sequence is carried out if a cutting process monitoring reveals that the cutting process must be interrupted, whereas the cutting process interruption sequence includes to continue the cutting process until the first or the second wire electrode reciprocation position, and to pause or to stop said cutting process at the wire reciprocation position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Reto Knaak, Enrico Costi, Roberto Feola, Niccolò Ferrazzi
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Patent number: 8792566Abstract: An expansion of known serial data links, for example ETHERNET, published in IEEE802.3, for directly transmitting random events without having to carry out synchronization with a clock signal or having to wait for a cyclical transmission time. Two different, random events are represented using two differently coded individual pulses and are transmitted in an event-controlled manner. A jitter-free latency of 45 ns between the event and its reception is possible over a line length of 8 m, for example. The expansion is particularly suitable for the short, digital data links between a node and a plurality of modules, as are required in modern electrical discharge machines, machine tools and similar electronic systems.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2012Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: AGIE Charmilles SAInventors: Ernst Buehler, Reto Knaak, Rino D'Amario
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Patent number: 8369980Abstract: A method of operating a machine tool, e.g., an electrical discharge machine, and a machine tool system with a machine, e.g. an electrical discharge machine, for machining a workpiece may include numerous configurable modules (DRIVE; GEN; CONTROL) to perform at least one of controlling, monitoring and carrying out of the machining of a workpiece. The modules (DRIVE; GEN; CONTROL) are arranged on the machine and are linked by a data network to a node for at least one of sending data to the node and receiving data from the node.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2006Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignees: AGIE SA, Charmilles Technologies SAInventors: Ernst Buhler, Franck Besson, Rino D'Amario, Nicola Giandomenico, Reto Knaak, Rosario Lombardo, Marco Boccadoro
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Publication number: 20120243620Abstract: An expansion of known serial data links, for example ETHERNET, published in IEEE802.3, for directly transmitting random events without having to carry out synchronization with a clock signal or having to wait for a cyclical transmission time. Two different, random events are represented using two differently coded individual pulses and are transmitted in an event-controlled manner. A jitter-free latency of 45 ns between the event and its reception is possible over a line length of 8 m, for example. The expansion is particularly suitable for the short, digital data links between a node and a plurality of modules, as are required in modern electrical discharge machines, machine tools and similar electronic systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2012Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: AGIE CHARMILLES SAInventors: Ernst Buehler, Reto Knaak, Rino D'Amario
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Patent number: 7948758Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit board unit and a method for production thereof. The circuit board unit comprises a circuit board topmost laminate with conductive tracks on the upper side for mounting surface-mountable devices. The circuit board topmost laminate features a thickness dimensioned such that the anticipated heat dissipated by the surface-mountable devices is transported from the upper side to the underside of the circuit board laminate to good effect. The circuit board unit further comprises an electrically insulating laminate arranged under the circuit board topmost laminate, inserts made of a material with good heat conductivity and electrical insulation embedded in the electrically insulating laminate at sites below surface-mountable devices with high heat dissipation, and a cooling plate arranged below the electrically insulating laminate and the inserts.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2007Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignees: Agie Charmilles SA, Charmilles Technologies SAInventors: Ernst Bühler, Rino D'Amario, Reto Knaak
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Patent number: 7947918Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a generator for generating a time sequence of discharge pulses separated from each other by pulse pauses for electrical discharge machining. At least two pulse capacitors are discharged each in the form of a partial pulse into the spark gap for forming together a discharge pulse. A discharge pulse having a predetermined waveform is selected from a plurality of discharge pulses having differing predetermined waveforms. The discharge of the at least two pulse capacitors is controlled such that the selected discharge pulse is generated with the predetermined waveform.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2006Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignees: Agie Charmilles SA, Charmilles Technologies SAInventors: Ernst Buhler, Franck Besson, Rino D'Amario, Nicola Giandomenico, Reto Knaak
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Patent number: 7816620Abstract: The invention relates to a method and generator for generating a time sequence of EDM pulses having a predefined ignition voltage for electrical discharge machining. An AC voltage is generated from a DC voltage, furnished by a bipolar current source. The AC voltage is applied to an isolating transformer disposed between the bipolar current source and the spark gap. A first pulse capacitor is charged by the bipolar current source to a voltage corresponding to the ignition voltage. The ignition voltage provided by the isolating transformer is switched with a selected polarity to the spark gap.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2006Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignees: Agie Charmilles SA, Charmilles Technologies SAInventors: Ernst Buhler, Franck Besson, Rino D'Amario, Nicola Giandomenico, Reto Knaak
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Patent number: 7812277Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a generator for generating a time sequence of discharge pulses for EDM machining wherein a pulse capacitor (22) for generating the discharge pulse is charged with a charging voltage (U_chrg) and then discharged into the spark gap. The pulse capacitor (22) after being discharged is recharged with a charging voltage (U_chrg) having the same polarity as that of the residual voltage (U_end) remaining at the pulse capacitor (22) after its discharge. Thereafter, the pulse capacitor (22) is discharged with a discharge pulse into the spark gap, wherein the polarity of the discharge pulse is independent of the polarity of the charging voltage (U_chrg) at the pulse capacitor (22) after its recharge.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2006Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignees: Agie Charmilles SA, Charmilles Technologies SAInventors: Ernst Buhler, Franck Besson, Rino D'Amario, Nicola Giandomenico, Reto Knaak
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Publication number: 20080160246Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit board unit and a method for production thereof. The circuit board unit comprises a circuit board topmost laminate with conductive tracks on the upper side for mounting surface-mountable devices. The circuit board topmost laminate features a thickness dimensioned such that the anticipated heat dissipated by the surface-mountable devices is transported from the upper side to the underside of the circuit board laminate to good effect. The circuit board unit further comprises an electrically insulating laminate arranged under the circuit board topmost laminate, inserts made of a material with good heat conductivity and electrical insulation embedded in the electrically insulating laminate at sites below surface-mountable devices with high heat dissipation, and a cooling plate arranged below the electrically insulating laminate and the inserts.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2007Publication date: July 3, 2008Inventors: Ernst Buhler, Rino D'Amario, Reto Knaak
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Publication number: 20070039929Abstract: The invention relates to a method and generator for generating a time sequence of EDM pulses having a predefined ignition voltage for electrical discharge machining. An AC voltage is generated from a DC voltage, furnished by a bipolar current source. The AC voltage is applied to an isolating transformer disposed between the bipolar current source and the spark gap. A first pulse capacitor is charged by the bipolar current source to a voltage corresponding to the ignition voltage. The ignition voltage provided by the isolating transformer is switched with a selected polarity to the spark gap.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2006Publication date: February 22, 2007Inventors: Ernst Buhler, Franck Besson, Rino D'Amario, Nicola Giandomenico, Reto Knaak
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Publication number: 20070023399Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a generator for generating a time sequence of discharge pulses for EDM machining wherein a pulse capacitor (22) for generating the discharge pulse is charged with a charging voltage (U_chrg) and then discharged into the spark gap. The pulse capacitor (22) after being discharged is recharged with a charging voltage (U_chrg) having the same polarity as that of the residual voltage (U_end) remaining at the pulse capacitor (22) after its discharge. Thereafter, the pulse capacitor (22) is discharged with a discharge pulse into the spark gap, wherein the polarity of the discharge pulse is independent of the polarity of the charging voltage (U_chrg) at the pulse capacitor (22) after its recharge.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2006Publication date: February 1, 2007Inventors: Ernst Buhler, Franck Besson, Rino D'Amario, Nicola Giandomenico, Reto Knaak
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Publication number: 20070027570Abstract: The invention provides a method of operating a machine tool, e.g., an electrical discharge machine (4), and a machine tool system comprising a machine (4) for machining a workpiece wherein at least one of controlling, monitoring and carrying out of the machining of the workpiece is performed by a plurality of configurable modules (DRIVE; GEN; CONTROL), said modules (DRIVE; GEN; CONTROL) are arranged on the machine (4), and said modules (DRIVE; GEN; CONTROL) are so linked by a data network (6) to a node (5) for at least one of sending data to said node (5) and receiving data from said node (5).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2006Publication date: February 1, 2007Applicants: AGIE SA, CHARMILLES TECHNOLOGIES SAInventors: Ernst Buhler, Franck Besson, Rino D'Amario, Nicola Giandomenico, Reto Knaak, Rosario Lombardo, Marco Boccadoro
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Publication number: 20070023400Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a generator for generating a time sequence of discharge pulses separated from each other by pulse pauses for electrical discharge machining. At least two pulse capacitors are discharged each in the form of a partial pulse into the spark gap for forming together a discharge pulse. A discharge pulse having a predetermined waveform is selected from a plurality of discharge pulses having differing predetermined waveforms. The discharge of the at least two pulse capacitors is controlled such that the selected discharge pulse is generated with the predetermined waveform.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2006Publication date: February 1, 2007Inventors: Ernst Buhler, Franck Besson, Rino D'Amario, Nicola Giandomenico, Reto Knaak
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Patent number: 6933457Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrical discharge machining of a workpiece wherein an erosion pulse is applied on the tool electrode. During the time of the erosion pulse the voltage (Ue) set on the electrode is acquired, and the erosion pulse is interrupted, after an asymptotic behavior of the acquired voltage (Ue) or a value derived therefrom has been acquired. Before the interruption of the erosion pulse an increase of current may occur.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2004Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Agie SAInventors: Marco Boccadoro, Reto Knaak, Stefano Bonini
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Publication number: 20040222195Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrical discharge machining of a workpiece wherein an erosion pulse is applied on the tool electrode. During the time of the erosion pulse the voltage (Ue) set on the electrode is acquired, and the erosion pulse is interrupted, after an asymptotic behavior of the acquired voltage (Ue) or a value derived therefrom has been acquired. Before the interruption of the erosion pulse an increase of current may occur.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2004Publication date: November 11, 2004Inventors: Marco Boccadoro, Reto Knaak, Stefano Bonini