Patents by Inventor Alex Wehrli

Alex Wehrli 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).

  • Patent number: 11820094
    Abstract: The invention relates to a powder press (1) for producing a pressed article from a material that can be pressed, having a press frame (10), an upper and/or lower punch assembly (14) and a die assembly, which define a molding cavity, into which the material that can be pressed can be introduced, and an electric drive unit (12) which is operatively connected to the punch assemblies (14) and/or the die assembly, wherein, in order to mold the pressed article, the punch assemblies (14) and the die assembly can be moved relative to each other along a pressing axis (18) and pressed against each other by means of the electric drive unit (12). Furthermore, the operative connection between the electric drive unit (12) and one of the punch assemblies (14) comprises a toggle lever drive (16) which moves the punch assembly (14) into a pressing end position along the pressing axis (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Osterwalder AG
    Inventors: Alex Wehrli, Michael Sollberger, Curdin Maissen, Roland Hänni
  • Publication number: 20210016534
    Abstract: The invention relates to a powder press (1) for producing a pressed article from a material that can be pressed, having a press frame (10), an upper and/or lower punch assembly (14) and a die assembly, which define a molding cavity, into which the material that can be pressed can be introduced, and an electric drive unit (12) which is operatively connected to the punch assemblies (14) and/or the die assembly, wherein, in order to mold the pressed article, the punch assemblies (14) and the die assembly can be moved relative to each other along a pressing axis (18) and pressed against each other by means of the electric drive unit (12). Furthermore, the operative connection between the electric drive unit (12) and one of the punch assemblies (14) comprises a toggle lever drive (16) which moves the punch assembly (14) into a pressing end position along the pressing axis (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Alex WEHRLI, Michael SOLLBERGER, Curdin MAISSEN, Roland HÄNNI
  • Publication number: 20200391466
    Abstract: The invention relates to a press device (100) for a powder press (1) for producing pellets from a compressible material, wherein the powder press (1) comprises a press frame (2) that has an upper and a lower frame portion, an upper and/or lower punch arrangement (3) which each comprise a tool, and a die arrangement (4), which define a mold cavity into which the compressible material is introducible, and a drive unit (5) that is operatively connected to the punch arrangement (3) and/or the die arrangement (4), wherein, in order to form the pellet, the upper and/or lower punch arrangement (3) and the die arrangement (4) are movable relative to one another along a pressing axis (6) by means of the drive unit (5) and are able to be pressed against one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Eric LUGINBÜHL, Basil KAMBLI, Mischa KINDLER, Michael SOLLBERGER, Peter KUNZ, Alex WEHRLI
  • Patent number: 10682782
    Abstract: In an apparatus and a method for stripping/pushing out a punched grid and for ejecting a blanked part from a die in a precision blanking press, the force of stripping/pushing out and ejection can be adjusted independent of the knife-edged ring force and the counterstay counteracting force while reducing the mass of the knife-edged ring and counterstay pistons, increasing the stripping/pushing and ejection speeds, and at the same time simplifying the hydraulic circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Feintool International Holding AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ruedi Honegger, Andreas Walther, Alex Wehrli
  • Patent number: 10500628
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for reducing the cutting impact in a hydraulically-driven precision blanking press, the force necessary to reduce the cutting impact as a counterforce is generated directly in the pressure chamber of the drive piston such that the counterforce acts directly on the cutting punch and so that the design of the press can be simplified, costs can be reduced, no additional external hydraulic-mechanical means for reducing the cutting impact are needed, and so that the loads on the press and the die can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Feintool International Holding AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ruedi Honegger, Andreas Walther, Alex Wehrli
  • Patent number: 10479040
    Abstract: In an apparatus and a method for controlling the primary drive of a hydraulically driven fine blanking press, the hydraulic circuit is simplified due to the elimination of hydraulic tubes, and the amount of hydraulic fluid is reduced, while increasing the number of strokes and achieving a simple design for the press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Feintool International Holding AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ruedi Honegger, Andreas Walther, Alex Wehrli
  • Patent number: 10081046
    Abstract: The invention relates to a precision blanking press including a top, a base and tie rods and columns that operatively connect the top and the base. The precision blanking press has a press frame with a high stiffness, low mass and simple design, the press allowing the transfer of higher cutting forces during fine blanking while safely eliminating axial play between adjustment elements and at the same time improving the operational safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Feintool International Holding AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ruedi Honegger, Andreas Walther, Alex Wehrli
  • Publication number: 20170129000
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for reducing the cutting impact in a hydraulically-driven precision blanking press, the force necessary to reduce the cutting impact as a counterforce is generated directly in the pressure chamber of the drive piston such that the counterforce acts directly on the cutting punch and so that the design of the press can be simplified, costs can be reduced, no additional external hydraulic-mechanical means for reducing the cutting impact are needed, and so that the loads on the press and the die can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Hans-Ruedi HONEGGER, Andreas WALTHER, Alex WEHRLI
  • Publication number: 20170120551
    Abstract: In an apparatus and a method for controlling the primary drive of a hydraulically driven fine blanking press, the hydraulic circuit is simplified due to the elimination of hydraulic tubes, and the amount of hydraulic fluid is reduced, while increasing the number of strokes and achieving a simple design for the press.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Hans-Ruedi HONEGGER, Andreas WALTHER, Alex WEHRLI
  • Publication number: 20170008186
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for stripping away/pushing out a punched grid/internally formed part and ejecting a blanked part in a precision blanking press. The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for stripping/pushing out a punched grid and for ejecting a blanked part from a die in a precision blanking press, wherein the force of stripping/pushing out and ejection can be adjusted independent of the knife-edged ring force and the counterstay force while reducing the mass of the knife-edged ring and counterstay pistons, increasing the stripping/pushing and ejection speeds, and at the same time simplifying the hydraulic circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Hans-Ruedi HONEGGER, Andreas WALTHER, Alex WEHRLI
  • Publication number: 20170008062
    Abstract: The invention relates to a precision blanking press comprising a top, a base and tie rods and columns that connect the top and the base non-positively. The object of the invention is to provide a precision blanking press characterized by a press frame with a high stiffness, low mass and simple design, the press allowing the transfer of higher cutting forces during fine blanking while safely eliminating the axial play between the adjustment elements and at the same time improving the operational safety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Hans-Ruedi HONEGGER, Andreas WALTHER, Alex WEHRLI
  • Publication number: 20130302456
    Abstract: A powder press for producing a pressed piece from a powdered material, with a frame, a punch arrangement, and a die arrangement, which defines a die cavity into which the powdered material is fillable. To form the pressed piece, the punch arrangement and the die arrangement are movable relative to one another along a press stroke axis Z-Z; are pressible against each other; and one or both contains a linking element connected to two driving means, as well as a die plate and/or punch plate guided on guiding means along the stroke direction Z-Z and connected to the linking element. The driving means are each connected to the linking element by means of a flexible connecting means which lie on a first straight line X-X which is orthogonal to the press stroke axis Z-Z.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: OSTERWALDER AG
    Inventor: Alex Wehrli
  • Patent number: 8523550
    Abstract: A powder press for producing a metal powder compact comprises an upper punch arrangement and a lower punch arrangement (1) which accommodates the die arrangement (3) which forms the mold cavity (8) into which the metal powder is filled, whereupon the pressing process is carried out. The lower punch arrangement (1) is equipped with a plate (2) on which the die arrangement (3) is placed and to which plate (2) cross pressing devices (4) are fastened. Each cross pressing device (4) is equipped with a cross pressing punch (5) that can be linearly driven by a drive unit and that can be pressed into and retracted out of the mold cavity (8) in the cross pressing direction through an opening (6) in the die (7) which is essentially perpendicular to the pressing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Osterwalder AG
    Inventors: Alex Wehrli, Daniel Meier, Beat Straub
  • Publication number: 20110027400
    Abstract: A powder press for producing a metal powder compact comprises an upper punch arrangement and a lower punch arrangement (1) which accommodates the die arrangement (3) which forms the mold cavity (8) into which the metal powder is filled, whereupon the pressing process is carried out. The lower punch arrangement (1) is equipped with a plate (2) on which the die arrangement (3) is placed and to which plate (2) cross pressing devices (4) are fastened. Each cross pressing device (4) is equipped with a cross pressing punch (5) that can be linearly driven by a drive unit and that can be pressed into and retracted out of the mold cavity (8) in the cross pressing direction through an opening (6) in the die (7) which is essentially perpendicular to the pressing direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: Osterwalder AG
    Inventors: Alex Wehrli, Daniel Meier, Beat Straub
  • Patent number: 5802221
    Abstract: Punched and bent parts (1, 2, 3), manufactured by non-cutting shaping, are assembled to a rigid box by using exclusively mutual riveting, optionally in part also spot welding, of the material of the punched and bent parts, thus without any additional material requirements. The parts (13) serving for bearing the steering shaft (15) are high precision pieces also obtained by non-cutting shaping. A very efficient, high precision manufacturing is thus achieved free from any finishing treatment and without auxiliary means for the connection of the punched and bent parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Styner & Bienz AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Luthi, Alex Wehrli, Hans Johr