Patents Examined by Leo T. Hinze
  • Patent number: 11440312
    Abstract: Recess printing units are usable for printing on a substrate and using associated methods for operation. The recess printing units comprise an intaglio printing cylinder, which provides an image-forming pattern of recesses on its circumference; and an inking unit for applying ink to the pattern of recesses that are provided on the intaglio printing cylinder. The inking unit comprises a first inking unit cylinder which has, in a region of its lateral surface, recesses corresponding to the recesses in the intaglio printing cylinder and to which recesses ink can be supplied by an ink application device in the region of an application point lying on the circumference of the first inking unit cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Alain Jufer, Johannes Schaede, Volkmar Schwitzky, Ralf Sokol, Alain Würsch, Daniel Chassot
  • Patent number: 11433661
    Abstract: A flexographic printing press for printing a substrate web comprises at least one printing unit and at least one central cylinder. A plurality of printing couples are arranged around the periphery of the at least one central cylinder. A horizontally aligned dryer unit, having at least one guide element, is arranged above the printing unit in a vertical direction. The at least one horizontally aligned dryer unit has at least two dryer sections with one dryer section being arranged separated from the next dryer section by at least one diverting assembly. The at least one flexographic printing press has at least one roll unwinder and at least one roll winder. The at least one roll unwinder and the at least one roll winder are arranged on opposite sides of the at least one central cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventor: Stefano Magnone
  • Patent number: 11435239
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (100) for estimating (150) a temporally variable measurement variable of a system, in particular a temperature in a vessel (24), preferably in a food processor (10) for the at least partially automatic preparation of food, wherein at least one measurement information (210.1) is determined by means of a measurement (130), which measurement information differs, at least depending on at least one system parameter (230), from the true value of the measurement variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventor: Wenjie Yan
  • Patent number: 11428248
    Abstract: A monitoring device and a method for determining operating health of a pressure medium operated device. The monitoring device is configured for processing input measuring data relating to operation of the pressure medium operated device. An operating condition value is determined in the monitoring device, where after the operating condition value is compared to an input reference data in order to determine current operating health. The reference data is determined by utilizing strength analysis, which is executed for a design model of the associated pressure medium operated device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: HYDROLINE OY
    Inventors: Manu Leinonen, Harri Paltemaa
  • Patent number: 11420436
    Abstract: A device (10) for fastening a doctor blade (3) to a doctor blade (1) chamber body (2) comprising: at least one clamping flange (11) configured to press the doctor blade (3) onto the doctor blade (1) chamber body (2), at least a first fastener (20), and at least one second fastener (30), wherein the first fastener (20) comprises at least a first retaining section (21) having an upper end (21a) and a lower end (21b), a second section (22) different from the first retaining section (21), and wherein the second fastener (30) comprises at least a first portion (31) having at least one retaining element (34a), a second portion (32) having at least one retaining element (34b), an intermediate portion (33) devoid of retaining element and arranged between the first portion (31) and the second portion (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Bobst Lyon
    Inventors: Rene Bazin, Philippe Fleury, Julien Mattrand
  • Patent number: 11420437
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device having a two-component drip edge. One side of the drip edge is formed by a material having an attractive behavior with respect to a liquid and the opposite side of the drip edge is formed from a material having a repulsive behavior with respect to the liquid. This design yields an improved drip effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventor: Sebastian Meisinger
  • Patent number: 11413859
    Abstract: A ductor roll assembly for use in an ink station assembly of a can decorator for communicating ink from a fountain roll to a distributor roll. The ductor roll assembly having a roll portion including an elongated axial member and a plurality of segments selectively disposed on and around the axial member axially adjacent each other for rotation about a rotation axis. The plurality of segments includes: a number of ink transfer segments, each ink transfer segment having an ink transfer surface disposed at a first radial distance from the rotation axis and structured to transfer ink between a corresponding axial portion of a fountain roll and a corresponding axial portion of a distributor roll; and a number of spacer segments having a second outer diameter less than the first outer diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLC
    Inventors: Karl Scott Fleischer, Bryon Lee Kajfosz
  • Patent number: 11413858
    Abstract: An ink recovery pipe comprises: an inflow port for receiving ink from an ink reservoir, and disposed at a position close to a first machine frame; and an outflow port for discharging ink into an ink container, and disposed at a position close to a second machine frame. A first restriction device is disposed at a position downstream of the inflow por. A first coupling part is configured to couple a high-pressure air generation part with the ink recovery pipe at a position downstream of the first restriction device. A first high-pressure air control device is configured to stop supply of high-pressure air to the ink recovery pipe, while ink is supplied to the ink reservoir, and supply the high-pressure air to the ink recovery pipe, after start of an ink recovery operation of recovering ink from the ink reservoir after completion of supply of ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA ISOWA
    Inventor: Yusuke Tozuka
  • Patent number: 11390066
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling the curing degree of at least one at least partially cured ink and/or varnish printed on a substrate, which comprises cutting at least one sample from an area of the printed substrate, placing and incubating it in a solvent, in which at least one of the at least one extractable compound is soluble, and removing it from the solvent to obtain a solvent extract; quantitatively measuring a spectroscopic characteristic of the solvent extract; comparing the measured numeric value of the spectroscopic characteristic with a reference value of the spectroscopic characteristic for the same area of the printed substrate; and outputting a result, wherein the reference value of the spectroscopic characteristic for the same area of the printed substrate has been obtained by the use of an empirical model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: HUBERGROUP DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Carina Soetebier, Alexander Blasek, Christian Kaindl, Taner Bicer
  • Patent number: 11390068
    Abstract: An application unit includes an application mechanism having an application cylinder, a forme cylinder, and a supply roller, along with a positioning device. The positioning device has a linear guide and the application unit has a magazine for supply rollers, preferably located below the application mechanism, the magazine having magazine receptacles each for receiving one supply roller. The magazine has a repositioning device, by the use of which the magazine receptacles can be placed in different magazines positions. By the use of the positioning device, a supply roller can be moved along a linear roller positioning path, one end of which is identical to a supply position and the other end of which is identical to a magazine position of the magazine that is configured as a change position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Andreas Bernard, Kristina Freisinger, Lars Keil, Volker Rauh
  • Patent number: 11390064
    Abstract: A printing press and a method for producing security products or security intermediate products comprises a feed device for feeding unprinted printing substrate into the printing press. Multiple printing couples print the unprinted printing substrate in an indirect planographic or in a letterpress printing method in one or more printing nips. In a conveyor line, between the feed device and the first printing nip located in the printing substrate path, at least one inspection device, which is embodied as a transmissive inspection device, is provided for inspecting the as yet unprinted printing substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Stefan Bauer, Thomas Kersten, Patrick Kress, Johannes Schaede, Volkmar Schwitzky, Thomas Türke, Daniel Ziegler
  • Patent number: 11383509
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods of decorating exterior surfaces of metallic containers are provided. More specifically, the present disclosure provides a novel metering roller for an inking assembly of a decorator. An adjustment mechanism is operable to move the metering roller to a first ink transfer position during a decoration run. In the first ink transfer position, the metering roller receives ink from an ink roller without contacting the ink roller. In one embodiment, during the production run, the metering roller is in contact with and transfers ink to a transfer roller. When the decoration run stops, the adjustment mechanism can move the metering roller to a second dwell position such that the metering roller does not receive ink from the ink roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: BALL CORPORATION
    Inventors: John D. Efner, Kurt J. Holland
  • Patent number: 11376840
    Abstract: Examples of the preferred embodiments use printed content (e.g., halftones, difference in grayscale or darkness) to determine thickness of fountain solution applied by a fountain solution applicator on an imaging member surface and/or determine image forming device real-time image forming modifications for subsequent printings. For example, in real-time during the printing of a print job, a sensor may measure halftones or grayscale differences between printed content and non-printed content of a current printing on print substrate. Based on this measurement of printed content output from the image forming device, the image forming device may adjust image forming (e.g., fountain solution deposition flow rate, imaging member rotation speed) to reach or maintain a preferred fountain solution thickness on the imaging member surface for subsequent (e.g., next) printings of the print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph C. Sheflin, Jack T. Lestrange, Anthony S. Condello, Palghat S. Ramesh, Brian M. Balthasar
  • Patent number: 11376839
    Abstract: Examples of the preferred embodiments use an ink quantity metric (e.g., lightness L*, darkness, image density, line width) of printed content to determine thickness of fountain solution applied by a fountain solution applicator on an imaging member surface and/or determine image forming device real-time image forming modifications for subsequent printings. For example, in real-time during the printing of a print job, a sensor (e.g., spectrometer) may measure the ink quantity metric of the current printing on print substrate. Based on this measurement of printed content output from the image forming device, the image forming device may adjust image forming (e.g., fountain solution deposition flow rate) to reach or maintain a preferred fountain solution thickness on the imaging member surface for subsequent (e.g., next) printings of the print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Martin L. Frachioni, Christopher Mieney, David A. Vankouwenberg, David M. Gurak, Stuart A. Schweid
  • Patent number: 11358386
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for measuring the varnish film thickness of a printed article by obtaining the film thickness of varnish on a sheet (1) on which a pattern is printed on a base thereof with ink and the pattern is coated with the varnish, wherein a metal foil (1c) having a smooth surface is attached to the base of the sheet (1), and the film thickness of the varnish coated directly over the metal foil (1c) is detected with a spectral interference-type film thickness meter (81) so as to determine whether the film thickness of the varnish is acceptable or not on the basis of the results detected by the spectral interference-type film thickness meter (81).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: KOMORI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Numauchi
  • Patent number: 11345138
    Abstract: A flexographic printing unit is provided for a sheet along a printing line, including a plurality of printing assemblies, each including a printing roller apt to include a printing block, automatic and programmable movement apparatus for the printing rollers, apt to distance at least one of the printing rollers from the printing line during the printing procedure, so that the printing roller does not print the sheet, wherein each of the printing assemblies includes a structure fixed to the floor, at least one frame, which is movable with respect to the structure fixed to the floor, including at least one printing roller and apt to be moved by the displacement apparatus and damping apparatus arranged between the frame and a fixed point so as to damp the movement of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: ENGICO S.R.L.
    Inventor: Rinaldo Benzoni
  • Patent number: 11325411
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a printing blanket including an elastic body that can be repeatedly used by removing a sheet is provided. According to the above of the present invention, the printing blanket includes an elastic body and a sheet bonded to the elastic body and performs printing by pressing the sheet against a printing object surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SHUHOU CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kouji Muraoka
  • Patent number: 11318733
    Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of determining the amount of fountain solution employed in a digital offset lithography printing system. Fountain solution thickness is determined from diagnostic images that are printed and analyzed using the existing Image Based Controls (IBC). An analysis of the density of solids, halftones, and background as a function of the fountain solution control parameter is performed to decide on the appropriate level of fountain solution. A latitude window of control parameters is then derived for which the digital offset lithography printing system in operation minimizes the undesirable effects of too much or too little fountain solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Hirsch, David C. Craig, Mark C. Petropoulos, Eliud Robles Flores
  • Patent number: 11305572
    Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of determining the amount of fountain solution employed in a digital offset lithography printing system. Fountain solution thickness is determined by examining optical density of some halftone or solid patch versus laser current level. The apparatus and method uses a variable current signal to dither or perturb the laser imaging system to irradiate a fountain solution layer to create patches at different laser current levels. An aptly programmed controller then process optical density measurements to indirectly estimate fountain solution level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David C. Craig, Mark J. Hirsch, Mark C. Petropoulos, Eliud Robles Flores
  • Patent number: 11298934
    Abstract: A print registration system for a beverage can decorator includes an axial registration system and a circumferential registration system. Each registration system is independent and includes a slider that is translated by a motorized lead screw. Axial movement of the axial registration slider is transmitted to axial adjustment of the plate cylinder by a mechanical connection between the axial registration slider and the plate cylinder shaft. Translation of the circumferential registration slider is transmitted to a helical gear mounted to the plate cylinder shaft such that the plate cylinder shaft is rotated by the movement of the circumferential registration slider upon engagement of the helical driven gear with a stationary drive gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Egerton, Michael Jonathan Coates, Daren Blake, Michael Halstead, Damien Bailey