Patents by Inventor André Witzmann

André Witzmann 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).

  • Publication number: 20260125306
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for separating a glass element from a glass strand. The invention further relates to a glass element and to a bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Publication date: May 7, 2026
    Applicant: Schott AG
    Inventors: Christoph Bäumler, Reiner Artmann, André Witzmann, Ulla Trinks, Volker Trinks, Stephan Tratzky
  • Publication number: 20260097987
    Abstract: A glass tube for pharmaceutical containers and a process for the production of a glass tube are provided. The glass tubes have low alkali leachability and are devoid of a lamp ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2025
    Publication date: April 9, 2026
    Applicant: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Stephan Tratzky, André Witzmann, Volker Trinks
  • Publication number: 20260092772
    Abstract: A method for measuring at least one cross-sectional dimension of a cylindrical hollow body having a wall surrounding a lumen, a longitudinal axis, an inner surface and an outer surface includes: directing a light beam along a travel path from an interferometric device towards the outer surface, such that at least intermittently at least a portion of the light beam hits the outer surface of the hollow body; receiving a portion of light reflected at the outer surface and receiving a portion of light reflected at the inner surface along the travel path at the interferometric device; obtaining at least one cross-sectional dimension of the hollow body based on an interferometric measurement of the portion of light reflected at the outer surface and/or the portion of light reflected at the inner surface; and varying an orientation of the travel path of the light beam towards the hollow body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2025
    Publication date: April 2, 2026
    Applicant: Schott AG
    Inventors: Alexander Hecht, Andreas Veres, André Witzmann, Thomas Hofbeck
  • Patent number: 12590025
    Abstract: A method for processing glass elements is provided. The method includes introducing a perforation line for parting a glass element introduced into the glass element during or after a hot processing process at an elevated temperature of at least 100° C. Spaced-apart filamentary flaws are introduced into the glass element along the predetermined course of the perforation line by a pulsed laser beam of an ultrashort pulse laser, and, during or after the introduction of the filamentary flaws, the glass element is cooled down so as to produce a temperature gradient, which induces a mechanical stress at the filamentary flaws, whereby the breaking force required for parting the glass element along the perforation line is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2026
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Andreas Ortner, Ulla Trinks, Fabian Wagner, Carsten Etz, Daniela Seiler, Michael Kluge, Peter Czepelka, Frank-Thomas Lentes, André Witzmann, Reiner Artmann
  • Publication number: 20260028263
    Abstract: A method for producing a hollow glass body product includes: providing a hollow glass body having an outer surface; forming the hollow glass body product so as to have a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being sealed by a first bottom and the second end portion being sealed by a second bottom; and laser-based irradiating of the hollow glass body with focused laser radiation to produce a plurality of spaced apart filamentary defects in a predetermined arrangement pattern in the outer surface of at least the first end portion, thereby generating a plurality of open passages connecting an interior of the hollow glass body to the outer surface thereof by at least part of the filamentary defects. A diameter of the passages is sized to be less than 50 micrometers and a plurality of the open passages provide gaseous communication to the interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2025
    Publication date: January 29, 2026
    Applicant: Schott AG
    Inventors: André Witzmann, Fabian Wagner
  • Patent number: 12522532
    Abstract: A glass tube for pharmaceutical containers and a process for the production of a glass tube are provided. The glass tubes have low alkali leachability and are devoid of a lamp ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2026
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Stephan Tratzky, André Witzmann, Volker Trinks
  • Publication number: 20250382214
    Abstract: A method for obtaining cut elongated glass elements includes: providing a continuous elongated glass element; continuously measuring one or more geometric parameters of the continuous elongated glass element to obtain one or more continuous geometric parameters; cutting the continuous elongated glass element to obtain cut elongated glass elements; measuring one or more geometric parameters at one or more points along a rotation axis of one or more of the cut elongated glass elements to obtain one or more individual geometric parameters; and connecting the one or more of the continuous geometric parameters with the one or more of the individual geometric parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2025
    Publication date: December 18, 2025
    Applicant: Schott AG
    Inventors: André Witzmann, Ulla Trinks
  • Patent number: 12441650
    Abstract: A bundle includes five or more cut elongated glass elements. Each cut elongated glass element includes a first end, a cylindrical portion, and a second end. At least one of the following equations is fulfilled: i) (Icenter(max)?Icenter(min))/Icenter(mean)?4.0×10?2 [?m/?m]; or ii) (Icontinuous(max)?Icontinuous(min))/Icenter(mean)?4.0×10?2 [?m/?m]. Icenter(max) is a maximum center inner diameter of the cylindrical portions of all cut elongated glass elements; Icenter(min) is a minimum center inner diameter of the cylindrical portion of all cut elongated glass elements; Icenter(mean) is a mean of inner diameters at a center of the cylindrical portions of all cut elongated glass elements; Icontinuous(max) is a maximum continuous inner diameter of the cylindrical portion of any single cut elongated glass element; and Icontinuous(min) is a minimum continuous inner diameter of the cylindrical portion of the single cut elongated glass element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2025
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: André Witzmann, Ulla Trinks
  • Patent number: 12441648
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for producing a hollow glass body product including a hollow glass body having an outer surface with a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being sealed by a first bottom and the second end portion being sealed by a second bottom. A plurality of spaced apart filamentary defects are provided in the outer surface and at least part of the filamentary defects form open passages connecting an interior of the hollow glass body to the outer surface thereof. Each individual passage has a diameter in the micrometer range between more than 0 micrometers and less than 50 micrometers. A plurality of the micrometer range-sized open passages provides a total cross-sectional area sufficiently large for venting and/or pressure equalization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2025
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: André Witzmann, Fabian Wagner
  • Publication number: 20250122113
    Abstract: A process for producing a glass tube includes: applying a glass melt onto an outer surface of a rotating conical mandrel by guiding the glass melt from a feed tank through an outlet, the glass melt forming a strand of molten glass that flows from the outlet onto the outer surface; forming a hollow glass melt body on the conical mandrel; drawing the hollow glass melt body from the conical mandrel in a predetermined direction toward a front end for forming a glass tube, the outer surface having a wetting zone where the strand of molten glass first contacts the conical mandrel, the wetting zone being at a vertical distance from the outlet and a vertical movement of the conical mandrel is monitored; reducing vertical movement of the conical mandrel; cooling the hollow glass melt body; and cutting the cooled glass melt body into glass tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2024
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Applicant: Schott AG
    Inventors: André Witzmann, Volker Trinks, Thomas Lenz
  • Patent number: 12240777
    Abstract: At least one glass tube has an azimuthal wall thickness deviation WTD of not more than 6.0%, the azimuthal wall thickness deviation being determined based on a lowest wall thickness value and a highest wall thickness value measured within a cross-section of the at least one glass tube, the azimuthal wall thickness deviation WTD being calculated according to the following formula: W ? ? T ? ? D = 100 - ( lowest ? ? wall ? ? thickness ? ? value highest ? ? wall ? ? thickness ? ? value * 100 ) ? ? % .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: André Witzmann, Volker Trinks, Thomas Lenz
  • Patent number: 12181270
    Abstract: An inspection device for a cylindrical body, a bundle of cylindrical bodies having improved straightness, and methods of inspecting are provided. The inspection device includes a transport device, a rotation device, and a measuring device. The transport device moves the cylindrical body relative to the measuring device. The rotation device and the transport device rotate the cylindrical body while the cylindrical body is moving relative to the measuring device. The measuring device measures the cylindrical body while the cylindrical body is moving relative to the measuring device and while the cylindrical body is rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: André Witzmann, Armin Eisner, Robert Witkowski
  • Patent number: 12043561
    Abstract: A glass tube element having a hollow cylindrical section with a shell having an outer diameter is provided. A first ratio is a difference value to a mean value. The difference value is a difference of a minimal and maximal value of the outer diameter. The mean value is a mean of the minimal and maximal values. A sub-section having a start, an end, and a distance of 1 meter measured along a straight line from the start to the end and intersecting with a center axis of the sub-section at the start and the end. The sub-section having, for every point of the center axis, a shortest distance to the straight line. A second ratio of a specific distance to 1 meter, the specific distance being defined as a largest of all shortest distances. A product of the first and second ratio is smaller than 4×10?6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Volker Trinks, André Witzmann
  • Patent number: 11975999
    Abstract: A method for further processing of a glass tube semi-finished product includes: providing the glass tube semi-finished product, along with tube-specific data for the glass tube semi-finished product; reading the tube-specific data for the glass tube semi-finished product; and further processing of the glass tube semi-finished product including a step of thermal forming carried out at least in sections. At least one process parameter during the further processing of the glass tube semi-finished product including the step of thermal forming carried out at least in sections is controlled as a function of the tube-specific data for the glass tube semi-finished product. In this way, the further processing can be matched more efficiently to the particular characteristics of a glass tube semi-finished product to be processed or a particular subsection thereof, and the relevant characteristics of the particular glass tube semi-finished product do not need to be measured again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: André Witzmann, Andreas Wirth, Ulla Trinks
  • Publication number: 20240110646
    Abstract: A cleaning system for cleaning the inside of a glass element with a fluid includes a nozzle head including a cleaning opening for releasing a part of the fluid and pointing in a first direction and a pressure balancing opening for releasing a part of the fluid and pointing in a second direction. Two half spaces including a first one and a second one are separated by a plane which is perpendicular to a center axis of the nozzle head. A first direction vector of the first direction points in a direction at least one of towards the first half space or away from the second half space. A second direction vector of the second direction points in a direction at least one of towards the second half space or away from the first half space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Schott AG
    Inventors: André Witzmann, Ulla Trinks, Reiner Artmann
  • Patent number: 11872188
    Abstract: A glass tube semi-finished product or a hollow glass product manufactured from the glass tube semi-finished product is provided with a first marking with information regarding origin and manufacture of the glass tube semi-finished product and a second marking, the information of which second marking is linked to the information of the first marking, so as to enable a determination regarding authenticity of the glass tube semi-finished product, origin of the glass tube semi-finished product, and/or origin of an apparatus with which the first and/or second marking was generated on the glass tube semi-finished product. The first marking is a marking that is produced at temperatures above the transformation temperature of the glass in a counterfeit-proof manner. The combination of two markings provides a high level of protection against counterfeiting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: André Witzmann, Ulla Trinks, Reinhard Männl
  • Publication number: 20230265003
    Abstract: A glass tube element having a hollow cylindrical section with a shell having an outer diameter is provided. A first ratio is a difference value to a mean value. The difference value is a difference of a minimal and maximal value of the outer diameter. The mean value is a mean of the minimal and maximal values. A sub-section having a start, an end, and a distance of 1 meter measured along a straight line from the start to the end and intersecting with a center axis of the sub-section at the start and the end. The sub-section having, for every point of the center axis, a shortest distance to the straight line. A second ratio of a specific distance to 1 meter, the specific distance being defined as a largest of all shortest distances. A product of the first and second ratio is smaller than 4×10?6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Volker Trinks, André Witzmann
  • Patent number: 11673823
    Abstract: A glass tube element having a hollow cylindrical section with a shell having an outer diameter is provided. A first ratio is a difference value to a mean value. The difference value is a difference of a minimal and maximal value of the outer diameter. The mean value is a mean of the minimal and maximal values. A sub-section having a start, an end, and a distance of 1 meter measured along a straight line from the start to the end and intersecting with a center axis of the sub-section at the start and the end. The sub-section having, for every point of the center axis, a shortest distance to the straight line. A second ratio of a specific distance to 1 meter, the specific distance being defined as a largest of all shortest distances. A product of the first and second ratio is smaller than 4×10?6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Volker Trinks, André Witzmann
  • Publication number: 20230167013
    Abstract: A glass tube for pharmaceutical containers and a process for the production of a glass tube are provided. The glass tubes have low alkali leachability and are devoid of a lamp ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Stephan Tratzky, André Witzmann, Volker Trinks
  • Patent number: 11614181
    Abstract: A glass tube element having hollow cylindrical section that has a shell enclosing a lumen and extends along a main extension and an optical delay of a light ray. The shell has a surface facing away from the lumen. The optical delay has values that all fall within a range having a size of between 3 and 30 nm. The optical delay being an optical measurement of the glass tube element by the light ray extending along a measurement path in a direction of perpendicular to the main extension and tangent to a surface of the shell. The measurement path touches the surface for different measurements at different positions each having a different azimuth angle within a cylindrical coordinate system fixedly attached to the glass tube element and having an origin on a center axis of the glass tube element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Volker Trinks, André Witzmann