Patents by Inventor Alfred Zollner

Alfred Zollner 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: 11878512
    Abstract: In a method for fixing a print good in a printing system, the print good is a substrate printed to with ink, and the print speed of the print good is initially determined. Air heated to a predetermined temperature is then blown onto the print good. The heated air is supplied with a volumetric flow rate that is adjusted depending on the print speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Production Printing Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Bernhard Hochwind, Georg Landmesser, Alfred Zollner
  • Publication number: 20220242143
    Abstract: In a method for fixing a print good in a printing system, the print good is a substrate printed to with ink, and the print speed of the print good is initially determined. Air heated to a predetermined temperature is then blown onto the print good. The heated air is supplied with a volumetric flow rate that is adjusted depending on the print speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: Canon Production Printing Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Bernhard Hochwind, Georg Landmesser, Alfred Zollner
  • Patent number: 9031426
    Abstract: In a method or digital printer to print a recording material with toner particles applied with a liquid developer, toner concentration of the liquid developer is determined via measurement with aid of ultrasonic pulses. At least one ultrasonic pulse is generated by discharging an ultrasound emitter charged with a charge voltage. The ultrasonic pulse permeates the liquid developer and is received by an ultrasound receiver which generates a reception signal corresponding to the received ultrasonic pulse. With a control device, the charge voltage is regulated to a value such that a representative value of the reception signal corresponds to a predetermined desired value. The toner concentration is determined from the regulated charge voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Océ Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Zollner, Alfons Ritzer, Martin Berg, Attila Bogdan
  • Patent number: 8879939
    Abstract: In a method to operate a digital printer having multiple developer stations operated with liquid developer, and wherein a number of the developer stations participating in printing is dependent on a respective print operating mode, liquid developer is supplied from a mixing container to at least one of the developer stations. With a regulatory device a fill level of liquid developer in the mixing container is kept substantially constant depending on the print operating mode. A desired different operating value is provided for the fill level for the regulatory device depending on the operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Océ Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Zollner, Franz Kastner
  • Publication number: 20130272734
    Abstract: In a method or digital printer to print a recording material with toner particles applied with a liquid developer, toner concentration of the liquid developer is determined via measurement with aid of ultrasonic pulses. At least one ultrasonic pulse is generated by discharging an ultrasound emitter charged with a charge voltage. The ultrasonic pulse permeates the liquid developer and is received by an ultrasound receiver which generates a reception signal corresponding to the received ultrasonic pulse. With a control device, the charge voltage is regulated to a value such that a representative value of the reception signal corresponds to a predetermined desired value. The toner concentration is determined from the regulated charge voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Alfred Zollner, Alfons Ritzer, Martin Berg, Attila Bogdan
  • Publication number: 20130272733
    Abstract: In a method to operate a digital printer having multiple developer stations operated with liquid developer, and wherein a number of the developer stations participating in printing is dependent on a respective print operating mode, liquid developer is supplied from a mixing container to at least one of the developer stations. With a regulatory device a fill level of liquid developer in the mixing container is kept substantially constant depending on the print operating mode. A desired different operating value is provided for the fill level for the regulatory device depending on the operating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Alfred Zollner, Franz Kastner
  • Patent number: 8509638
    Abstract: In a method or system for regulation of real values of toner concentration and fill level in a mixing unit to predetermined desired values in a developer station of an electrographic printing apparatus, the real value of the toner concentration in the mixing unit is adjusted with a first control unit by supplying toner concentrate from a first reservoir. A desired toner concentrate value is determined from the predetermined desired values of the toner concentration and the fill level. A real concentrate value is also determined from the real values of the toner concentration and the fill level measured in the mixing unit. With the first control unit, a feed of toner concentrate into the mixing container is regulated depending on a difference between the real toner concentrate value and the desired toner concentrate value. The real value of the fill level in the mixing unit is also adjusted with a second control unit by supplying carrier fluid from a second reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: OcéPrinting Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Alfred Zollner
  • Patent number: 8384403
    Abstract: In a system or method to detect an electrical potential and layer thickness of a layer of toner particles in a printer or copier, a measurement arrangement is provided having a first electrode and at least one second electrode situated opposite the first electrode. An intermediate image carrier is provided on a surface of which a toner image is generated. A drive unit drives the intermediate image carrier so that its surface is directed past the first electrode situated opposite the surface. An evaluation unit is electrically connected with the first electrode. The evaluation unit detects an electrical current flowing between the first electrode and the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit determines an electrical charge of toner particles arranged in a detection region in a first measurement procedure with aid of the detected current. The evaluation unit also determines the layer thickness of the layer of toner particles in an inked region via at least one second measurement procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Océ Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Zollner, Markus Jeschonek
  • Patent number: 8224195
    Abstract: In a method to control a development process and an electrographic process, at least one developer station inks a latent image on a carrier with a toner. The toner is extracted from a mixture of toner and toner particles and wherein first toner is supplied to the mixture. A characteristic value is determined for a status of the mixture from a model calculation in which a toner exchange rate and an operating aging rate are linked. The development process is at least one of monitored, controlled, or regulated depending on the characteristic value. Also in a related method for controlling a development process, a characteristic value is determined for a status of the mixture from a model calculation in which a change of a toner consumption rate for the toner within a time interval during operation of the developer station and a time constant are taken into account. At least one of monitoring, controlling, or regulating the development process depends on the characteristic value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Zollner, Markus Jeschonek
  • Publication number: 20110286757
    Abstract: In a method or system for regulation of real values of toner concentration and fill level in a mixing unit to predetermined desired values in a developer station of an electrographic printing apparatus, the real value of the toner concentration in the mixing unit is adjusted with a first control unit by supplying toner concentrate from a first reservoir. A desired toner concentrate value is determined from the predetermined desired values of the toner concentration and the fill level. A real concentrate value is also determined from the real values of the toner concentration and the fill level measured in the mixing unit. With the first control unit, a feed of toner concentrate into the mixing container is regulated depending on a difference between the real toner concentrate value and the desired toner concentrate value. The real value of the fill level in the mixing unit is also adjusted with a second control unit by supplying carrier fluid from a second reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Alfred Zollner
  • Publication number: 20100321047
    Abstract: In a system or method to detect an electrical potential and layer thickness of a layer of toner particles in a printer or copier, a measurement arrangement is provided having a first electrode and at least one second electrode situated opposite the first electrode. An intermediate image carrier is provided on a surface of which a toner image is generated. A drive unit drives the intermediate image carrier so that its surface is directed past the first electrode situated opposite the surface. An evaluation unit is electrically connected with the first electrode. The evaluation unit detects an electrical current flowing between the first electrode and the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit determines an electrical charge of toner particles arranged in a detection region in a first measurement procedure with aid of the detected current. The evaluation unit also determines the layer thickness of the layer of toner particles in an inked region via at least one second measurement procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Alfred Zollner, Markus Jeschonek
  • Publication number: 20100046971
    Abstract: In a method to control a development process and an electrographic process, at least one developer station inks a latent image on a carrier with a toner. The toner is extracted from a mixture of toner and toner particles and wherein first toner is supplied to the mixture. A characteristic value is determined for a status of the mixture from a model calculation in which a toner exchange rate and an operating aging rate are linked. The development process is at least one of monitored, controlled, or regulated depending on the characteristic value. Also in a related method for controlling a development process, a characteristic value is determined for a status of the mixture from a model calculation in which a change of a toner consumption rate for the toner within a time interval during operation of the developer station and a time constant are taken into account. At least one of monitoring, controlling, or regulating the development process depends on the characteristic value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: OCÉ PRINTING SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Alfred Zollner, Markus Jeschonek
  • Patent number: 7433613
    Abstract: In a method and system for setting toner concentration of a toner particle-carrier particle mixture in a developer station for development of a latent charge image on a carrier, a sensor is arranged in the developer station measuring the toner concentration. Toner feed in the developer station is adjusted. A current consumption value is determined for toner particles. From the toner concentration measured with the sensor and from the toner consumption value, a toner concentration is calculated at a location in the developer station at which the toner is extracted. A calculated toner concentration at the toner extraction location is input as a control variable used to adjust toner feed so that the calculated toner concentration approaches a desired value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Zollner, Bernhard Hochwind, Wolfgang Schullerus, Volkhard Maess, Hans-Detlef Groeger, Peter Möstl
  • Publication number: 20060269303
    Abstract: In a method and system for setting toner concentration of a toner particle—carrier particle mixture in a developer station for development of a latent charge image on a carrier, a sensor is arranged in the developer station measuring the toner concentration. Toner feed in the developer station is adjusted. A current consumption value is determined for toner particles. From the toner concentration measured with the sensor and from the toner consumption value, a toner concentration is calculated at a location in the developer station at which the toner is extracted. A calculated toner concentration at the toner extraction location is input as a control variable used to adjust toner feed so that the calculated toner concentration approaches a desired value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Alfred Zollner, Bernhard Hochwind, Wolfgang Schullerus, Volkhard Maess, Hans-Detlef Groeger, Peter Mostl
  • Publication number: 20060099000
    Abstract: In a method or apparatus for control of a point in time of a measurement of toner concentration in a developer mixture comprising toner and carrier, and wherein the developer mixture is mixed by a bucket roller provided with buckets, a toner concentration sensor is arranged for measurement of the toner concentration. Magnet bars are provided on the buckets, which magnet bars are interrupted in a region of the toner concentration sensor except for one of the magnet bars which is uninterrupted. The toner concentration sensor emits a sensor signal that exhibits a first pulse-shaped spike upon passage of the uninterrupted magnet bar and which has a larger amplitude compared to further pulse-spikes of smaller amplitude upon passage of the interrupted magnet bars. The sensor signal indicates the toner concentration between the pulse-shaped spikes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Stefan Franzl, Florian Kofferlein, Stefan Krieger, Peter Mostl, Alfred Zollner
  • Patent number: 6771913
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for acquiring the nature of a toner particle layer in a printer or copier. An apparatus and a method are also provided for acquiring the moisture content of a carrier material in a printer or copier. A toner particle layer is transported forward between two capacitor plates arranged next to one another and a cooperating electrode. In a first switch status, the first and the second capacitor plate are charged with voltages opposite one another. In a second switch status, the first and the second capacitor plate are electrically connected to one another, whereby the remaining charge is identified and conclusions about the nature of the toner layer are drawn therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Jeschonek, Peter Möstl, Wolfgang Schullerus, Alfred Zollner
  • Publication number: 20030091355
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for acquiring the nature of a toner particle layer in a printer or copier. An apparatus and a method are also provided for acquiring the moisture content of a carrier material in a printer or copier. A toner particle layer is transported forward between two capacitor plates arranged next to one another and a cooperating electrode. In a first switch status, the first and the second capacitor plate are charged with voltages opposite one another. In a second switch status, the first and the second capacitor plate are electrically connected to one another, whereby the remaining charge is identified and conclusions about the nature of the toner layer are drawn therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Markus Jeschonek, Peter Mostl, Wolfgang Schullerus, Alfred Zollner
  • Patent number: 6286925
    Abstract: The printhead has a multitude of adjacently arranged channels with piezo-electrical shear converters. The impulse form for activation of the converters—depending upon the number of simultaneously activated neighboring channels—is changed in such manner that the exit velocity of the ink droplets is constant. This makes it possible to obtain a better print image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Pelikan Produktions AG
    Inventors: Joachim Heinzl, Alfred Zollner, Peter Möstl, Gerhard Beurer, Joachim Kretschmer
  • Patent number: 5886716
    Abstract: Variation of ink droplet velocity and droplet mass in thermal ink-jet print heads having at least one primary heater element is achieved by means of a circuit for generating time-shifted heating pulses. The heater element structure is such that there is at least one secondary heater element in addition to and physically separated from each primary heater element. The circuit for generating time-shifted heating pulses for the primary and secondary heater elements applies those pulses in such a way that a vapor bubble has already formed in the printing fluid on the secondary heater element at the point at which a vapor bubble starts to form in the printing fluid on the primary heater element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joachim Heinzl, Bernhard Hochwind, Alfred Zollner
  • Patent number: 5502471
    Abstract: An electrothermal ink jet print head is constructed in layer structure, wherein the expansion direction of the ink vapor bubble is directed opposite to the ink-ejection direction. Each ink channel (16) of the ink jet print head is supplied with ink by flow throttles for a highest degree of effectiveness. For this purpose, a cover plate (1) is furnished with openings (2). The openings (2) join into an ink storage container. The openings (2) are connected with recess openings (25) to the ink channel (16) in the chip (11). Selectively, the recess openings (25) can be furnished in the chip (11) or in the cover plate (1). A method is provided for producing the recess openings (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Ernst Obermeier, Joachim Heinzl, Peter Krause, Bernhard Hochwind, Alfred Zollner