Patents Assigned to Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
  • Patent number: 10086623
    Abstract: A device for circulating an ink supply to at least one inkjet print head includes at least two components that are different than the inkjet print head and through which ink flows, such as a pump and a valve for the ink. At least one ink line is connected between the components. At least one section of the ink line is embodied as a channel in a plate. The device advantageously has a compact construction and is easy to clean and service. The device has a high degree of reliability since the number of hose lines is advantageously reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Ratjen, Joerg-Achim Fischer, Claudia Harbs, Ingmar Nitsch
  • Patent number: 10000055
    Abstract: A method of operating a sheet-fed printing press includes storing various print jobs and/or associated setting values and process steps in a memory device to set up the printing press upon a job change. A computer implements or suggests settings or process steps of the printing press for a print job based on the job data of a print job and/or as a result of inputs by the operator. Before or immediately after a print job is completed, the computer generates a query requesting inputs that determine if the same print job requires further passes and if so, which passes are required and, based on the information input therein, implements only those settings on the printing press and/or initiates or suggests only those process steps that are necessary for the subsequent pass of the sheets that have already been printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG
    Inventor: Stephan Ehrhardt
  • Patent number: 9996775
    Abstract: A method for configuring the further processing of printing substrates in a digital printing machine includes modifying settings for configuring the further processing while the machine is in operation. The settings of the further processing are created by using a configuration program running on a control unit of the digital printing machine. The modified settings have an effect on at least one region to be further processed on the printing substrate and the settings are printed onto the printing substrate so as to be allocated to a corresponding region to be further processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Bernd Sitzmann, Rolf Kuendgen, Patrick Roth, Rainer Hofmann, Michael Postels
  • Patent number: 9969195
    Abstract: A method and a device are provided for measuring the contamination of a transparent covering of a plate having LED emitters which are cooled individually or in groups by cooling units. The temperatures of the individual or grouped cooling units are measured and conclusions about contamination are drawn from a comparison of the temperatures with one another. An inkjet printing machine and an offset printing press having the device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Oliver Gottschalt, Michael Kohlmann
  • Patent number: 9953435
    Abstract: A method is provided for checking an image inspection system having a camera system with a camera, an illumination apparatus for targeted illumination of a printing substrate, an image processing computer, and a main computer, for quality control of products of a printing substrate processing machine by using the main computer. A reference image is entered and transmitted to the main computer, a current printing image recorded by the camera system is transmitted to the image processing computer, a partial image in a suitable region of the current printing image, not being printed with printing image data, is selected in the image processing computer, the partial image is analyzed by comparison with the reference image in the image processing computer, and the inspection system is assessed based on the analysis of the partial image by the main computer and any defects of the inspection system being found are indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Immanuel Fergen, Frank Soltwedel, Frank Schumann
  • Patent number: 9937734
    Abstract: A method for the indirect application of printing liquid onto a printing material provides an intermediate carrier, preferably a circulating belt, a liquid conditioning medium including a first substance applied onto the intermediate carrier and a printing liquid, in particular an inkjet ink, including a second substance applied onto the conditioning medium on the intermediate carrier. The printing liquid is situated as droplets or a layer substantially on the conditioning medium and the droplets or the layer form a contact region on their underside with the conditioning medium. The printing liquid is heated, preferably by way of a dryer and the printing liquid is transferred from the intermediate carrier onto the printing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Bernard Beier, Martin Greive, Peter Hachmann, Axel Hauck, Rolf Kuendgen, Albert Maul, Rolf Mueller, Heiner Pitz, Achim Scheurer, Matthias Schloerholz, Michael Schwandt
  • Patent number: 9931848
    Abstract: A digital printing machine includes a printing material transport device, an inkjet print head having a nozzle plate, and a capping element. The inkjet print head is adjustable into a first print head position relative to the capping element and the capping element is adjustable into a capping position relative to the inkjet print head. The capping element temporarily covers the nozzle plate when the inkjet print head is in the first print head position and the capping element is simultaneously in the capping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Mueller, Jochen Renner, Matthias Zapf, Ralf Steinmetz, Michael Oestreicher, Burkhard Wolf, Manfred Haeussler, David Ehrbar
  • Patent number: 9898690
    Abstract: A device controls at least one of a machine, a color measurement device or an inspection system of the graphic arts industry. The device contains a control console that has at least one screen for displaying at least one of machine information, color information or image information. The control console includes a plurality of sensors for detecting gestures of an operator who operates the machine, the color measurement device or the inspection system via the control console.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Winfried Berg, Dieter Hauck, Edelbert Koenig
  • Patent number: 9889644
    Abstract: A method for printing on sheets in an inkjet process using nozzles includes transporting the sheets on a drum. When the nozzles are actuated by a computer, banding defects are compensated for and the computer factors in or takes into consideration thermal properties of the drum as it actuates the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Peter Hachmann
  • Patent number: 9889675
    Abstract: A digital printing machine color control method includes printing test images onto substrates, measuring substrates using a measuring device, comparing actual color values on substrates and saved color setpoints of test images using a controller, calculating differences between color setpoints and actual color values on substrates using the controller, upon exceeding acceptable deviations between color setpoints and actual color values, modifying solid or halftone values by a factor using the controller, repeating printing test images using test image halftone values corrected by the factor and measuring new actual color values using the measuring device, comparing actual color values newly printed using corrected values and saved color setpoints of test images using the controller, calculating differences between newly printed actual color values and saved color setpoints of test images using the controller, and printing print jobs if differences between new actual color values and color setpoints are below
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Nikolaus Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 9892502
    Abstract: A digital image inspection method checks printing material processing machine products by recording digital printed partial images using recording devices and combining partial images in an image processing computer forming a digital overall image causing abutment edges at an overlap. The computer inspects the digital overall image and transmits a result to a machine control computer. The computer creates a new image, only containing detected edges, using edge detection methods after combining partial images forming a digital overall image. The computer uses known positions of abutment edges of recording devices to create a further new image only containing regions with abutment edges of recording devices. The computer overlays the new images, providing a resultant image containing only edges along abutment edges of recording devices. The computer applies the resultant image to the digital overall image, defining masking zones in the resultant digital overall image not being checked by image inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Frank Schumann
  • Patent number: 9878548
    Abstract: A digital printing machine includes at least one print head for inkjet printing, a drum for transporting printing material, and a spittoon for collecting ink coming from the print head. The drum has a mounting for the spittoon. The spittoon includes a support and an absorber fixed thereto. The absorber is quasi flush with the outer circumference of the drum, and the support and the absorber together form a replaceable disposable unit. A spittoon for use in a digital printing machine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Daniel Conzelmann, Wolfgang Dolz, Thomas Schmidt, Peter Thoma
  • Patent number: 9878485
    Abstract: For the production of embossed microstructures in radiation-curing materials, use is made of a micro embossing form fixed to a reflective or scattering cylinder surface. Via a press nip, the micro embossing form comes into contact with the substrate guided over a cylinder or a deflection roller. The radiation-curing material is acted on in one or both pockets, before or after the press nip, with radiation which penetrates into the press nip by reflection or scattering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Edgar Doersam, Thorsten Euler, Immanuel Fergen, Martin Haas, Evgeny Kurmakaev, Martin Schmitt-Lewen, Joachim Sonnenschein
  • Patent number: 9878564
    Abstract: A digital printing machine includes a printing bar for inkjet printing. The printing bar is mounted to be movable into a working position and into a retracted position. An adjustable roll and a spring-mounted roll form a first assembly and are disposed opposite one another. A rail forms a second assembly and is located between the adjustable roll and the spring-mounted roll when the printing bar is in the working position and is not located between the adjustable roll and the spring-mounted roll when the printing bar is in the retracted position. One of the two assemblies is disposed on the printing bar and the other of the two assemblies is separate from the printing bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Mueller, Burkhard Wolf, Jochen Renner, Matthias Zapf, David Ehrbar, Markus Moehringer, Ralf Steinmetz, Manfred Haeussler
  • Patent number: 9870186
    Abstract: A method displays documentation about a machine on a preferably portable display device. The method is distinguished by the fact that the display device communicates with the machine via a data link. The portable display device communicates with the machine via a data link and the documentation contains partial items of documentation. The states of the machine are registered by a computer of the machine, and that the parts of the documentation matching the registered machine states are selected automatically and displayed on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Eckhard Herzberger
  • Patent number: 9846087
    Abstract: A device for measuring the temperature in a conductor includes at least one temperature sensor emitting a signal having a frequency changing due to a temperature change. The signals of the temperature sensor are transported through the conductor and the signals are inductively or capacitively coupled out of the conductor and into an evaluation unit for measuring the temperature through coupling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Michael Krueger, Josef Reiter, Andreas Schulz, Thomas Wolf
  • Patent number: 9848093
    Abstract: A method for identifying print control elements for quality data acquisition includes encoding position information in a human-readable identification code, encoding specific print job information and the human-readable identification code in a machine-readable data code, positioning the codes alongside their associated print control element on a printing substrate, photographing the printed print control element and adjacent machine-readable data code using information from adjacent identification code, and processing data with a mobile communication device having a camera function and communications interface. Image data produced are exporting to a support computer via the communications interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Georg Ratz
  • Patent number: 9840083
    Abstract: A method for damping pressure peaks in an ink line of an inkjet printer includes connecting the line to a chamber divided by a diaphragm into an air-filled first space and an ink-filled second space, connecting the first space to an air-filled buffer, connecting the buffer to an air pump, a) pumping air into the first space until freeing the chamber of ink and the diaphragm rests on a chamber wall or tension in the diaphragm begins rising substantially linearly, then b) pumping air out of the first space until filling the chamber with ink and the diaphragm rests on a chamber wall or tension of the diaphragm begins rising substantially linearly, while determining the number of pump cycles, then c) pumping air into the first space while passing through substantially half of the determined pump cycles. Steps a and b may be reversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Ratjen, Joerg-Achim Fischer
  • Patent number: 9833990
    Abstract: A method for inkjet printing an image onto a curved region of an object surface includes applying a screen of ink drops to the region to create print dots, calculating the screen using a computer and generating and applying ink drops to the region using a print head having nozzles on a nozzle surface. The steps include a) providing data representing the print image, b) providing or calculating data representing the region, c) providing or calculating path data on paths for the print head or object, d) calculating application locations of ink drops using data from steps b) and c), e) calculating data based on tiling the region using data from step d), f) calibrating tone values using data from step e), g) screening the print image using data from step f), and h) printing the screened image onto the region. A device implementing the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Rupprecht, Michael Fuener, Tobias Mueller
  • Patent number: 9815296
    Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature of a sheet in a printing machine includes measuring initial temperatures in zones on the sheet. Segments of an emitter are actuated in different ways as a function of the measured initial temperatures for irradiating cooler zones to a greater extent and warmer zones to a lesser extent or not at all. A common final temperature or at least a homogenization of the temperature is therefore achieved in the zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Mueller, Alexander Knabe, Rolf Mueller, Kai Oskar Mueller, Peter Hachmann, Michael Gieser, Wolfgang Dolz, Thomas Schmidt