Patents Assigned to Koenig & Bauer AG
  • Patent number: 12629933
    Abstract: Examples include a printing unit, which has at least one first tool-dependent printing nip formed by a pair of cooperating rotational bodies. The printing unit includes, downstream from the first tool-dependent printing nip, along a transport path provided for a transport of substrate, at least one first alignment cylinder and at least one first non-impact printing position, to which at least one first print head is assigned. The printing unit further includes, downstream from the first non-impact printing position, along the transport path provided for the transport of substrate, at least one first curing device having a first curing area assigned thereto. Additionally, in the region of the first non-impact printing position, the transport path provided for the transport of substrate is defined by the first alignment cylinder or a rotational transport body arranged directly upstream from the first alignment cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Angèle Monney, Michael Müller, Emmanuel Thony
  • Patent number: 12623451
    Abstract: Examples relate to a sheet-fed rotary printing machine including a coating unit, which includes an impression cylinder and a further cylinder forming a contact zone therewith. The coating unit comprises a charging device for electrostatically fixing sheets on the impression cylinder, which includes an electrode unit that is directed toward the outer cylindrical surface of the impression cylinder. A charging core zone includes a region of an outer cylinder surface of the impression cylinder that is located next to the electrode unit. The charging core zone is arranged downstream from the contact zone and upstream from a transfer point leading away from the impression cylinder. An electrode of the electrode unit has a minimum first distance with respect to the impression cylinder of between 4 mm and 13 mm and a minimum second distance with respect to the further cylinder of between 4 mm and n 35 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2026
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Heinz Michael Koch, Philipp Hoyer, Ulrich Köhler, Wolfgang Schubert, Stefan Singer
  • Patent number: 12502882
    Abstract: Examples include a sheet processing machine to which a transport path is assigned for transporting sheets. The sheet processing machine includes an application device with an application point for applying material to the sheets. A cooling device including a cooling cylinder is arranged along the transport path, downstream from the application point. An inspection transport body is arranged along the transport path, downstream from the cooling cylinder, and has a sensor device of an inspection unit aligned therewith. Examples further include a sheet-fed printing machine with a simultaneous double printing unit and an application point. A curing device with an LED UV radiation source is arranged downstream from the application point and includes two curing units for drying two opposite sides of sheets. A cooling device of the curing device includes a cooling element with a line system, and the cooling section is arranged downstream from the curing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2025
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Stefan Bauer, Tobias Diehm, Patrick Kreß, Jean-Baptiste Lanternier, Johannes Schweers, Sylwia Szczukiewicz, Thomas Türke
  • Patent number: 12420545
    Abstract: Examples include a device for aligning magnetic or magnetizable particles contained in a coating agent applied to one side of a web-format or sheet-format substrate. An alignment device comprises one or more magnetic elements that, during normal operation, are fixed to a frame at the transport path and, in a working position, enter into magnetic interaction with magnetic or magnetizable particles on the substrate guided past the device along the transport path. The one or more magnetic elements are arranged at a carrier that extends transversely to the transport direction over a working width provided for processing the substrate. The carrier is mounted, on both sides, in or at a respective guide and can be moved in or at the guide, together with the one or more magnetic elements, along a movement path from the working position into a makeready position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2025
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Tobias Diehm, Michael Müller
  • Patent number: 12384144
    Abstract: Examples include a cylinder having a holding means around the circumference and by which a substrate sheet can be picked up and held during rotation of the cylinder over a rotation angle range between when the substrate sheet is received and is transferred downstream. A rotary union includes a rotor rotating along with the cylinder which, at an end face, is arranged with a stator that does not rotate during regular operation. A vacuum pressure can be applied via the rotary union to suction openings provided around the circumference of the cylinder while running through an active rotation angle phase of the cylinder. The rotary union can be set in terms of a size of a passage angle sector determining the size of the active rotation angle phase and/or in terms of a position of the passage angle sector determining the position of the active rotation angle phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventor: Björn Kriege
  • Patent number: 12365108
    Abstract: Examples include a pile cutting apparatus including a cutting device for cutting a sheet pile, with a front pile bearing surface, a rear pile bearing surface, and a cutting gap arranged therebetween. A table plane contains the front pile bearing surface. The cutting device further includes a movable upper blade, a lower blade including a cutting edge, and a cutting aid for fixing sheet piles that is upstream from the upper blade along a transport path for transporting sheet piles. A movable support element has a contact surface for supporting sheets and is movable between a support position and a disposal position. The contact surface, when the support element is arranged in the support position, is arranged in and/or beneath the table plane, and is closer to the cutting edge when the support element is in the support position than when the support element is in the disposal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Stephan Häupel, Martin Palme
  • Patent number: 12358744
    Abstract: Examples include activating at least one alignment segment of a processing machine. The at least one alignment segment is arranged before at least one processing unit of the processing machine that is activated. The at least one alignment segment includes a plurality of transport sections following one another in the transport direction. At least two transport sections, following one another in the transport direction, each have a basic position and at least one adjustment position. The at least one adjustment position in each case is offset relative to the basic position in the transverse direction. At least one transport section of the transport sections is axially adjusted. At least one dedicated drive axially adjusts the at least one transport section of the transport sections, and the at least one dedicated drive is designed as a direct drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Bastian Deppisch, Bernd Masuch, Torsten Müller
  • Patent number: 12358013
    Abstract: Examples include a device for coating a carrier substrate with a powdered material. The device includes an application unit having a first roller and a second roller which, at a nip thereof, form a first gap through which a powder mixture can be conveyed to form a dry film. A counter-pressure roller, together with the second roller or another roller arranged between the counter-pressure roller and the second roller, forms a second gap through which the carrier substrate to be coated can be guided for having the dry film applied to the carrier substrate. The first gap between the first and second rollers can be adjusted based on a position-based positioning drive by being set to a constant and/or defined gap width, and the second gap can be adjusted based on a force-based positioning drive, and can be set to a constant and/or defined contact force or linear force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventor: Claus Bolza-Schünemann
  • Patent number: 12358276
    Abstract: Examples include a cylinder for aligning magnetic or magnetizable particles contained in a coating agent on a substrate. In the region of the outer circumference of the cylinder, in a matrix-like manner, a number of magnetic elements that provide magnetic fields are arranged in n rows extending in an axially parallel manner and in m columns extending in the circumferential direction. Additionally, suction elements with suction openings pointing outwards are also arranged in the circumferential region. A plurality or all of the magnetic elements are arranged one behind the other and are each combined with at least one assigned suction element in respective modular units as action units in a plurality or all of the columns of magnetic elements. The action units can be positioned in each case independently of the other action units in the circumferential direction and/or can be detached from the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Tobias Diehm, Michael Müller, Emmanuel Thony
  • Patent number: 12351427
    Abstract: Examples include a processing machine for processing a substrate. At least one alignment segment is arranged before at least one processing unit of the processing machine. The at least one alignment segment includes a plurality of transport sections following one another in the transport direction. The at least one alignment segment includes a dedicated drive for axially adjusting at least one of the transport section. The at least one transport section includes at least one first transport sub-section and at least one second transport sub-section in the transverse direction. The first transport sub-section and the second transport sub-section are drivable relative to one another at differing speeds in the circumferential direction. The alignment segment includes a transport section that includes the dedicated drive for axially adjusting the transport section and the transport sub-sections that can be driven relative to one another at differing speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Andreas Bernard, Karl Schäfer, Thomas Schneider
  • Patent number: 12340648
    Abstract: Examples include authenticating a banknote having at least one printed area on a substrate thereof. An optoelectronic capturing device captures the at least one printed area on respective substrates of each of a plurality of copies of the same type of banknote to be authenticated and provides raw image data to a processor unit for visualizing the respective captured printed areas as an image on a display device connected to the processor unit. The processor unit partitions the respective image into a plurality of regions of interest (ROIs) and selectively provides different features for authentication of the certain type of banknote from the raw image data of each of the ROIs. Different selected features each form different classification models and authentication of a banknote to be presently authenticated is carried out using a plurality of classification models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Helene Dörksen, Eugen Gillich, Baris Gün Sürmeli
  • Patent number: 12325225
    Abstract: Examples include a cylinder for aligning magnetic or magnetizable particles contained in a coating agent on a substrate in a region of an outer circumference of the cylinder in a matrix-like manner. A number of n×m magnetic elements (where n, m are integers>1) that provide magnetic fields are arranged in n rows extending in an axially parallel manner and in m columns extending in a circumferential direction. At least two magnetic elements are provided one behind the other in the same column, disposed at magnetic element carriers that differ from one another, and can be positioned on the cylinder in the circumferential direction independently of one another. The at least two magnetic elements are mounted so as to be adjustable relative to the magnetic element carrier carrying the magnetic element in the circumferential direction within an adjustment range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Tobias Diehm, Michael Müller, Emmanuel Thony
  • Patent number: 12291018
    Abstract: Examples include a die-cutting unit that includes a device for changing a die-cutting cylinder. The die-cutting unit includes at least one die-cutting cylinder and at least one anvil cylinder. The die-cutting cylinder is arranged in a die-cutting position for die-cutting, and the at least one die-cutting cylinder is exchangeable for at least one other die-cutting cylinder by means of the device for changing the die-cutting cylinder. A shortest straight connecting line between the axis of rotation of the die-cutting cylinder in the die-cutting position and the axis of rotation of the die-cutting cylinder in the move-out position is inclined less than 30 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane. Further, a shortest straight connecting line between the axis of rotation of the die-cutting cylinder in the move-out position and a maintenance position is inclined less than 30 degrees with respect to a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Michael Held, Alexander Soller
  • Patent number: 12291017
    Abstract: Examples include a cylinder for aligning magnetic or magnetizable particles contained in a coating agent on a substrate. In the region of the outer circumference of the cylinder, magnetic elements are arranged in n rows extending axially and in m columns extending circumferentially. At least two magnetic elements are provided one behind the other in the same column, mounted as a group at a shared carrier element and can be varied with respect to their axial position at the cylinder, collectively and independently of the magnetic elements of an adjoining column. The at least two magnetic elements of the same column are arranged at respective magnetic element carriers that can be positioned at the shared carrier element independently of one another in the circumferential direction and/or can be detached from the carrier element and/or are adjustable in the axial direction within an adjustment range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Tobias Diehm, Michael Müller, Emmanuel Thony
  • Patent number: 12269259
    Abstract: Examples include a machine assembly for conveying sheet-format substrates, including a first belt conveyor and a second belt conveyor. These belt conveyors each have a continuously circulating transport belt and are arranged one after another in the transport direction of the substrates conveyed on the respective transport belt. The substrate to be transferred from the first belt conveyor to the second belt conveyor is lifted off the transport belt of the first belt conveyor by means of an air current generated by a lifting nozzle and an opposing air current generated by a counter-nozzle. The substrate to be transferred remains fixed until its transfer by the vacuum pressure generated by a suction chamber of the first belt conveyor. This suction chamber fixing the substrate is arranged close to the lifting region. Examples also relate to a printing machine comprising this machine assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Heinz Michael Koch, Philipp Hoyer, Volker Kessler, Annemarie Koch, Stefan Quentin
  • Patent number: 12269286
    Abstract: A security document includes a substrate having a transparent window formed in the substrate. A micro-optical structure including microlenses is arranged on one side of the substrate. A first print image is arranged on the other side of the substrate, opposite the micro-optical structure, and includes image elements having a dot size or line thickness smaller than a lens width of the microlenses. A layer is arranged on part of the first print image on the side facing away from the micro-optical structure. A second print image is arranged on the layer, facing away from the micro-optical structure, and so that the second print image can be brought into alignment with the micro-optical structure after folding the substrate at a bending line so that the second print image, or at least a piece of information contained therein, becomes visible and/or recognizable when viewed from a direction of the micro-optical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Arnaud Crassous, Robert Stewart, Robert Stierman
  • Patent number: 12263670
    Abstract: Examples include a printing unit having a first tool-dependent printing nip formed by a pair of cooperating rotational bodies. The printing unit includes, along a transport path, downstream from the first tool-dependent printing nip, a first alignment cylinder and a first non-impact printing position to which at least one first print head is assigned. The printing unit further includes, along the transport path, downstream from the first non-impact printing position, a first curing device having a first curing area assigned thereto. The printing unit, downstream from the at least one first alignment cylinder, including at least one second alignment cylinder and a second non-impact printing position, to which a second print head is assigned. The printing unit, downstream from the second non-impact printing position, comprising a second curing device having a second curing area assigned thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Angèle Monney, Michael Müller, Emmanuel Thony
  • Patent number: 12227021
    Abstract: Examples include a security document having a substrate with a transparent window. In the region of the transparent window, a micro-optical structure including microlenses is arranged on one side of the substrate and a first print image is arranged on the other side of the substrate, opposite the micro-optical structure. A layer covers at least a section of the first print image. The layer allows electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in the range of 380 nm to 780 nm to pass with a transparency in a range between 10% and 90%. The transparency gradually varies over a planar extension of the layer. A second print image is arranged on the layer in such a way that the second print image, or at least a piece of information contained therein, can be brought into alignment with the micro-optical structure after carrying out a folding process and becomes visible and/or recognizable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Arnaud Crassous, Robert Stewart, Robert Stierman
  • Patent number: 12202284
    Abstract: A printing machine includes a print head that prints on an article that rotates during printing. A printing width of the print head extends over a section of a length of the article and longitudinally in relation to a longitudinal axis of the article. An orthogonal coordinate system has an origin at a center of mass of the print head, with longitudinal, transverse, and vertical axes. A plurality of the print heads print on the article and are arranged in a row longitudinally in relation to the axis of rotation of the article. The ink ejected by the printing nozzles of the print heads is situated in the same printing plane. The direction of the ink ejected is oriented perpendicularly to the surface of the article. Multiple different printing planes are provided with respect to the surface of the article. Directly adjacent printing planes create a V-shaped formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Gerald Jeretzky, Volker Steffen
  • Patent number: 12195300
    Abstract: A processing machine includes at least one further processing unit following at least one processing unit configured as an application unit in a transport direction of a substrate. At least one transport unit is arranged between the at least one processing unit configured as an application unit and the at least one succeeding processing unit. The at least one transport unit includes a plurality of transport elements arranged one behind the other in the transport direction. The plurality of transport elements are individually axially adjustable, or the plurality of transport elements are groupwise axially adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Bastian Deppisch, Torsten Müller, Bernd Masuch