Patents Assigned to Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
  • Patent number: 12138939
    Abstract: A device for adjusting a printing head includes a step-by-step switching mechanism, an actuator for shifting the step-by-step switching mechanism, and a locking disk supported for rotation. A first shifting tongue is provided for incrementally rotating the locking disk in a first direction of rotation. The first shifting tongue has two elongated holes for guidance purposes, one of which has a lateral recess. It is thus possible to adjust printing heads with a high degree of accuracy while saving time and costs. The device is preferably implemented in industrial inkjet printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Andreas Müller
  • Patent number: 12139351
    Abstract: A stack of products is moved using a robot. The robot has an articulated arm and grippers on the articulated arm to grip the stack of products. The stack of products is selectively turned in the depositing scheme. Two grippers are used in the method and, upon the deposit, the grippers are removed from the stack of products in the horizontal and in two directions perpendicular to one another. It is possible to move and selectively deposit stacks of product in a turned or unturned orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Herbert Ackermann, Udo Ganter, Martin Haupt-Terlau, Joachim Krumma, Gerhard Lubberger
  • Patent number: 12084578
    Abstract: Radiation-curable compositions of Pigment Violet 23 are described which can be used advantageously in UV inks for inkjet printing machines. Soiling containing such UV inks, especially within inkjet printing machines, can be removed particularly easily in a contactless procedure with conventional cleaners. The radiation-curable compositions described contain at least one modified Pigment Violet 23 which carries at least one polar functional group of the formula (I): —X-E?? (I) where X is a bridging group and E is a polar molecule radical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Paul, Peter Hachmann, Christoph Michel, Els Mannekens
  • Patent number: 12083808
    Abstract: A printing method includes determining a master machine setting by using a master substrate, printing a first test print including test fields, and using a first combination of printing fluid and master substrate, recording test fields of the first test print, and computationally determining and storing a first setting value for a first machine setting as the master setting. Printing a print job is prepared by changing the substrate to a second combination of printing fluid and substrate, printing a second test print including test fields, and using the second combination of printing fluid, substrate and master setting, recording the test fields of the second test print, and computationally determining and storing a second setting value for a second machine setting, the second setting value defined relative to the master setting. The print job is printed by using the second combination of printing fluid, substrate and second machine setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Petra Svoboda, Nikolaus Pfeiffer, Stefan Bollmann
  • Patent number: 12055379
    Abstract: A device for measuring elevations of a surface of a rotary body embodied as a cylinder, roller, sleeve, plate or flexographic printing plate for graphic industry machines includes a first motor for rotating the rotary body about an axis of rotation and a measuring device for contactless measurement which is part of or integrated into a mounter for printing plates. The measuring device allows the printing forme to be measured and analyzed to check mounting quality and to detect diameter differences. The measuring device preferably further includes a reference object, such as a wire tautened in an axially parallel direction, a second motor and, if desired, a further second motor for adjusting the measuring device and/or the reference object in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The device provides a fast way of measuring the elevations, such as flexographic print dots, with great accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Werner Schwab
  • Patent number: 12030300
    Abstract: A printing machine for printing on a printing substrate web includes a plurality of inline flexographic printing units which are disposed in a plane accessible to an operator of the machine. Each one of the two flexographic printing units of a respective duplex printing station includes a respective impression cylinder and a dryer disposed between the two impression cylinders along a path of web travel of the web of printing substrate. A method of operating the printing machine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Werner Schwab, Hans Schadl
  • Patent number: 12028500
    Abstract: A method transforms color values of a first device-dependent color space into the color values of a second device-dependent color space so that the visual impression of the color represented in the two-color spaces is essentially identical. The transformation of the color values combines at least one absolute rendering intent and at least one relative rendering intent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Tobias Laubmann, Hauke Thomsen, Stefan Bollmann, Stefan Schenk
  • Patent number: 11952232
    Abstract: A method moves a stack of products by a robot. The robot has an articulated arm and at least one gripper disposed on the articulated arm to grip the stack of printed products and the stack of products selectively being turned. The method includes pivoting the stack of products through an effective angle ?1< >180° and subsequently pivoting the stack through an effective angle ?2=180°??1 or pivoting the stack back through an effective angle ?2=??1. This method of moving stacks of products is performed in an automated way and in particular of depositing them in a turned or unturned arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Herbert Ackermann, Udo Ganter, Martin Haupt-Terlau, Joachim Krumma, Gerhard Lubberger
  • Patent number: 11908126
    Abstract: A method of controlling the quality of printed products by using a computer includes always producing multiple printed products with at least partially identical image content in a printing machine in a course of a print job to be completed. The multiple printed products are recorded by at least one image sensor and are sent to the computer as digital image data. The computer examines and assesses the digital image data in an image inspection process to find print defects and to sort out printed products that have been found to be unusable. The computer assesses the identical image content of the digital image data of at least two consecutive printed products and only takes into consideration such detected print defects that are present on the at least two assessed consecutive printed products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Frank Soltwedel, Frank Schumann, Sascha Epp, Volker Felzen
  • Patent number: 11890861
    Abstract: A method of curing radiation-curable coatings in printing machines using UV light includes using the same light source or sources for the pinning and final curing operations in two different modes of operation suitable for pinning and for completely curing. The light sources are preferably gas-discharge lamps, in particular xenon flash lamps. A printing machine and a method for using at least one gas-discharge lamp are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Matthias Schloerholz, Michael Kohlmann
  • Patent number: 11886755
    Abstract: A method prepares a print job for a printing operation and includes providing at least one first data set associated with the print job and multiple reference data sets associated with reference jobs. The method is characterized in that it contains the steps of providing multiple mutually complementary data sets for each one of a plurality of reference jobs, automatically filtering the reference data sets of the plurality of reference jobs to provide at least one second data set, and using the second data set in the printing operation as a replacement of or an addition to the at least one first data set. The method provides a way of manufacturing high-quality printed products while saving time, e.g. makeready time for the printing operation, and costs, e.g. caused by unusable prints or low-quality prints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Sascha Epp, Nick Trabold
  • Patent number: 11878505
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a distributor roller of a printing press, the phase position of at least one reversal point of the distributor roller is changed automatically during the ongoing printing. A change is made to the phase position for every specified number of revolutions of a plate cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Michael Dischinger, Peter Heiler, Martin Mayer, Michael Postels, Michael Ruck
  • Patent number: 11865830
    Abstract: A method of operating flexographic printing presses having an impression cylinder, printing cylinder carrying a sleeve with a flexographic printing forme or cylinder, uses a sensor adjusting print register of the printing forme or cylinder relative to a further printing forme or cylinder and/or adjusts color density and/or implements color inspection. An image of the sleeve surface with printing forme is recorded by a camera and processed before printing, locating a register mark and/or a color measurement field in terms of x-y positions. A sensor automatically moves for recording the register mark to the y-position of the register mark before adjusting to record the register mark and/or a sensor moves for recording the color measurement field to the y-position of the color measurement field before adjusting to record the color measurement field. Cost-efficient, high-quality industrial printing and further automation is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Werner Schwab
  • Patent number: 11850877
    Abstract: A printed product is produced by providing a substrate, producing at least one interlayer on the substrate, printing a printed image onto the interlayer, and forming a barrier layer on the printed image. The barrier layer is provided on the printed image by applying a barrier composition to at least one carrier, at least partially drying the barrier layer and transferring it to the printed image. Preferred substrates have an acidic precoat layer as an interlayer. Such substrates can then be varnished with glossy varnishes, to achieve particularly high gloss values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Martin Schmitt-Lewen, Heike Gute, Thorsten Euler
  • Patent number: 11841272
    Abstract: A method of adapting a Lab setpoint color value of multicolored printed products, wherein a special color is replaced by process colors using an ICC color profile. A measurement point that is assigned to the replaced special color on the printed product is metrologically acquired using a color measuring system and a Lab actual color value of the measurement point is calculated. The ICC color profile or a standardized ICC color profile is used for computing the color composition of the Lab setpoint color value from the participating process colors. Changes of the layer thicknesses of the participating process colors are ascertained to achieve a predetermined Lab setpoint color value of the measurement point using a digital tool or a digital model. The participating process colors are adapted using the ascertained changes of their layer thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Nikolaus Pfeiffer, Stefan Schenk, Bernd Utter, Michael Hansen
  • Patent number: 11840059
    Abstract: A device for measuring a surface or elevations of the surface of a rotary body provided as a cylinder, a roller, a sleeve, or a plate for a graphic industry machine, includes a first motor for rotating the rotary body about an axis of rotation and a measuring device including at least one radiation source, at least one area scan camera, and at least one computer used to take contactless measurements on the surface which is permanently sticky and/or compressible and/or porous and therefore difficult to measure. The measuring device uses a virtual reference object saved on the computer to determine the concentricity of the rotary body on the basis of the measurement results. A system including the measuring device and a flexographic printing press is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Werner Schwab
  • Patent number: 11827030
    Abstract: A device that prints with ink includes an ink reservoir for ink and an arrangement of multiple printing elements, for instance printing heads. The printing elements are identical with one another, they generate ink drops, and they are supplied in parallel with ink from a joint supply line. A further element, which is different from the printing element and which is controllable in terms of its ink flow, for instance a pump, is supplied with ink in parallel with the printing elements by the same supply line. Undesirable hydrostatic pressure changes in the ink are reduced as much as possible, or even eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Joerg-Achim Fischer
  • Patent number: 11752775
    Abstract: A method for determining print defects in a printing operation carried out on an inkjet printing machine for processing a print job includes using a camera system to record and digitize printed products generated during the printing operation, feeding the camera image having been thus generated to a detection algorithm on the computer, alerting a machine control unit when print defects are found, and ejecting the printed product through a waste ejector if necessary. The detection algorithm separates color separations of the camera images, detects the print defects in the color separations, links images of the individual color separations to form a candidate image, filters the candidate image, enters the remaining detected print defects into a list, and forwards the list to the machine control unit of the printing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Jan Krieger, Frank Schumann
  • Patent number: 11752760
    Abstract: A method of printing improved printed products using defect-free printing machine nozzles and compensated defective nozzles includes printing products and a test chart with test fields onto a transported substrate, the test fields having tonal values, every test field including an unprinted line from a nonactivated, nonprinting nozzle compensated by a neighboring nozzle having a compensation value, pairs of tonal value and compensation value being specified and used for the chart, recording an image of the chart, computer-analyzing the image and determining the compensation value. Every pair of tonal value and compensation value is used multiple times in the chart and a corresponding number of spaced apart test fields is created. A characteristic value representing test field homogeneity and determining compensation value quality is assigned to every measuring field. The best characteristic value regarding a specified criterion and the compensation value is determined for every tonal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Tita, Hans Köhler
  • Patent number: 11752756
    Abstract: A method of operating a flexographic printing press having a printing cylinder carrying a sleeve with at least one flexographic printing forme or a flexographic printing cylinder, and an impression cylinder, includes adjusting contact pressure between the printing cylinder or the flexographic printing cylinder and the impression cylinder by motor. The adjustment is made in an automated way as a function of a dot density of the flexographic printing forme, i.e. of a location-dependent density of printing elevations on the flexographic printing forme or data computationally derived therefrom. A cost-efficient way of producing high-quality prints in an industrial flexographic printing process is thus provided. In addition, the method advantageously provides further automation of the printing process. A flexographic printing press, a flexographic printing press system, and a flexographic printing forme or sleeve for a flexographic printing forme are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Werner Schwab