Patents by Inventor Christian Pfau

Christian Pfau 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: 11951552
    Abstract: An induction heating device for a shrink-clamping and/or unshrink-unclamping of tools into and/or out of tool holders has an induction heating unit with at least one first inductor and at least one second inductor, which is preferably realized separately from the first inductor, wherein the first inductor and the second inductor are configured to respectively expand at least a portion, in particular different portions, of the tool holder by inductive heating in a shrink-clamping and/or unshrink-unclamping process, and has an electric supply unit, wherein the inductors are configured to output respectively different energies to different subregions of a tool holder, which are in a heating operating respectively encompassed by the inductors, as one of the inductors has more windings than the other inductor, in particular by at least 10%, preferably by at least 20% and preferentially by at least 30% more windings, and/or as the electric supply unit is at least configured to operate the first inductor and the sec
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: E. ZOLLER GMBH & CO. KG EINSTELL-UND MESSGERÄTE, KARL SCHUESSLER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Zoller, Christian Pfau, Klaus Schuessler
  • Patent number: 11628531
    Abstract: A tool presetting and/or tool measuring apparatus device includes a carrier unit and a spindle unit, in particular motor spindle unit, which is supported by the carrier unit, which is at least configured for a rotation of an object inserted in the spindle unit, in particular a tool and/or a tool holder, around a spindle axis of the spindle unit and which comprises at least one drive unit for generating the rotation movement of the object, wherein the spindle unit includes a coupling unit which is configured, in particular for the purpose of changing a maximally achievable spindle torque, to drive the spindle unit in at least two differing modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: E. ZOLLER GMBH & CO. KG EINSTELL-UND MESSGERÄTE
    Inventors: Alexander Zoller, Christian Pfau, Florian Huck
  • Patent number: 11498176
    Abstract: An automated tool clamping device, in particular a fully automated tool clamping device is configured for a clamping-in of at least one tool in a tool chuck by a tightening of a union nut of the tool chuck and/or for a declamping of the tool out of the tool chuck by a release of the union nut, and comprises a clamp element, which is at least configured to generate a connection, in particular a clamp connection, with the union nut of the tool chuck, and comprises a torque receiving element, which is at least configured to receive at least a large portion of a torque occurring during a tool clamping process, in particular during a tool clamping-in process and/or a tool declamping process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: E. ZOLLER GMBH & CO. KG EINSTELL-UND MESSGERÄTE
    Inventors: Alexander Zoller, Christian Pfau, Florian Huck
  • Publication number: 20220201812
    Abstract: An induction heating device for a shrink-clamping and/or unshrink-unclamping of tools into and/or out of a tool holder, includes an induction heating unit having at least one induction coil configured to thermally expand at least a portion of a tool holder arranged in a receiving region of the induction heating unit, and includes at least one magnetic flux conducting unit for a conduction of a magnetic flux generated by the induction coil, having at least one magnetic flux conducting element, preferably supported movably relative to the receiving region and implemented at least to a large extent of a ferrite material, and includes a sleeve element, arranged on the magnetic flux conducting element and covers the magnetic flux conducting element on at least one side of the magnetic flux conducting element that faces toward the receiving region in at least one operating state of the magnetic flux conducting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Alexander ZOLLER, Christian PFAU
  • Patent number: 11366452
    Abstract: A method for transmitting at least one tool presetting data set of a machining tool that is stored on an, in particular electronic, storage medium, at least one tool measuring data set of the machining tool that is stored on an, in particular electronic, storage medium and/or at least one tool processing data set of the machining tool that is stored on an, in particular electronic, storage medium to a machine tool that is controlled via Computerized Numerical Control [CNC machine tool], with a data communication unit, wherein in a tool delivery step at least the machining tool is delivered to the CNC machine tool and wherein in a tool identification step the delivered machining tool is identified via a tool identification unit, which is in particular allocated to the CNC machine tool, the method including a read-out step, which is in particular situated temporally after the tool identification step, in which at least the tool presetting data set of the machining tool, the tool measuring data set of the machin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: E. ZOLLER GMBH & CO. KG EINSTELL-UND MESSGERÄTE
    Inventors: Alexander Zoller, Christian Pfau
  • Publication number: 20220161379
    Abstract: A loading device for a loading of an installation, in particular a multi-clamping and measuring and/or presetting station for tools and/or tool holders, and/or a machine tool, in particular includes at least one handling robot, having at least tool holders and/or tool assemblies, having a rollable undercarriage unit and having a storage unit, arranged on the rollable undercarriage unit, for a storage of the tool holders and/or of the tool assemblies, wherein the storage unit has at least one holding device at least for an oblique-positioned holding of the tool holders and/or of the tool assemblies relative to a put-up direction of the storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Alexander ZOLLER, Christian PFAU
  • Publication number: 20220097189
    Abstract: A reprocessing apparatus (54), in particular a cleaning and/or preserving apparatus, for tools (10), tool holders (12) and/or tool units (14) is proposed, with at least one reprocessing unit (16), in particular for a reprocessing of used and/or contaminated tools (10), tool holders (12) and/or tool units (14), with at least one holding unit (18) for an exchangeable holding of the tools (10), tool holders (12) and/or tool units (14), and with at least one handling unit (20) which is configured, for an execution of a cleaning process on the tools (10), tool holders (12) and/or tool units (14), to bring the holding unit (18) and at least one cleaning region (22) of the reprocessing unit (16) together in an at least semiautomated manner, and after execution of the cleaning process, to remove the holding unit (18) and the cleaning region (22) of the reprocessing unit (16) from each other in an at least semiautomated manner, and/or after execution of the cleaning process, to bring the holding unit (18) and at least
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Alexander Zoller, Christian Pfau, Andreas Reichardt
  • Patent number: 11241761
    Abstract: A shrink-clamping and/or unshrink-unclamping station for tools, for an at least largely automated shrink-clamping and/or unshrink-unclamping of tools into and/or from tool holders includes an induction heating unit and a cooling unit. The cooling unit can in an automated manner be brought into a heat-conductive contact with a tool holder previously heated by the induction heating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: E. ZOLLER GMBH & CO. KG EINSTELL-UND MESSGERÄTE
    Inventors: Alexander Zoller, Christian Pfau
  • Publication number: 20210379673
    Abstract: A shrink-clamping cooling device at least for an, in particular contour-independent, tempering of tool holders and/or tools, which were in particular heated previously, with at least one cooling container, which forms a receiving space for receiving at least one tool unit comprising a tool holder and a tool, and with at least one climate-control apparatus, which is configured for essentially tempering, preferably actively cooling, a cooling gas or cooling gas mixture, in particular cooling air, which is contained in the receiving space of the cooling container, and/or a cooling gas or cooling gas mixture, in particular cooling air, fed to the receiving space of the cooling container, for the purpose of cooling the tool unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Alexander Zoller, Christian Pfau, Georges Pappas
  • Publication number: 20210252606
    Abstract: An induction heating device for a shrink-clamping and/or unshrink-unclamping of tools into and/or out of tool holders has an induction heating unit with at least one first inductor and at least one second inductor, which is preferably realized separately from the first inductor, wherein the first inductor and the second inductor are configured to respectively expand at least a portion, in particular different portions, of the tool holder by inductor heating in a shrink-clamping and/or unshrink-unclamping process, and has an electric supply unit, wherein the inductors are configured to output respectively different energies to different subregions of a tool holder, which are in a heating operation respectively encompassed by the inductors, as one of the inductors has more windings than the other inductor, in particular by at least 10%, preferably by at least 20% and preferentially by at least 30% more windings, and/or as the electric supply unit is at least configured to operate the first inductor and the s
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Alexander ZOLLER, Christian PFAU, Klaus SCHUESSLER
  • Publication number: 20210240162
    Abstract: A method for transmitting at least one tool presetting data set of a machining tool that is stored on an, in particular electronic, storage medium, at least one tool measuring data set of the machining tool that is stored on an, in particular electronic, storage medium and/or at least one tool processing data set of the machining tool that is stored on an, in particular electronic, storage medium to a machine tool that is controlled via Computerized Numerical Control [CNC machine tool], with a data communication unit, wherein in a tool delivery step at least the machining tool is delivered to the CNC machine tool and wherein in a tool identification step the delivered machining tool is identified via a tool identification unit, which is in particular allocated to the CNC machine tool, the method including a read-out step, which is in particular situated temporally after the tool identification step, in which at least the tool presetting data set of the machining tool, the tool measuring data set of the machin
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Alexander ZOLLER, Christian PFAU
  • Publication number: 20210195703
    Abstract: An induction heating device for a shrink-clamping and/or unshrink-unclamping of tools into and/or out of a tool holder, includes: an induction heating unit comprising one induction coil configured, in a shrink-clamping and/or unshrink-unclamping process, to heat-expand a portion of a tool holder arranged in a receiving region of the induction heating unit; magnetic flux conducting unit comprising one magnetic flux conducting element for conduction of magnetic flux generated by the induction coil; and a bearing unit configured for a movable support of the magnetic flux conducting element, wherein a large portion of all points of the magnetic flux conducting element each have a respective movement path predetermined partially by the bearing unit, wherein each of the movement paths has an essential movement component oriented perpendicularly to a radial direction of the receiving region and at the same time perpendicularly to an axial direction of the receiving region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Alexander ZOLLER, Christian PFAU
  • Publication number: 20210060718
    Abstract: A tool presetting and/or tool measuring apparatus device includes a carrier unit and a spindle unit, in particular motor spindle unit, which is supported by the carrier unit, which is at least configured for a rotation of an object inserted in the spindle unit, in particular a tool and/or a tool holder, around a spindle axis of the spindle unit and which comprises at least one drive unit for generating the rotation movement of the object the spindle unit includes a coupling unit which is configured, in particular for the purpose of changing a maximally achievable spindle torque, to drive the spindle unit in at least two differing modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Alexander ZOLLER, Christian PFAU, Florian HUCK
  • Publication number: 20200323045
    Abstract: An induction heating device for a shrink-clamping and/or unshrink-unclamping of tools into and/or from tool holders, in particular an induction heating unit of a shrink-clamping and/or unshrink-unclamping station for tools, comprises an induction heating unit comprising at least one induction coil which is configured to expand, by heating, at least a portion of the tool holder during a shrink-clamping and/or unshrink-unclamping process, and includes at least one shielding unit which is at least configured for a shielding of an induction magnetic field generated by the induction heating unit at least substantially at least in an axial direction of the induction coil, wherein the induction heating unit and the shielding unit form structural units which can be operatively decoupled from each other and can thus be moved relative to each other at least in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Alexander ZOLLER, Christian PFAU
  • Publication number: 20200316730
    Abstract: A shrink-clamping and/or unshrink-unclamping station for tools, for an at least largely automated shrink-clamping and/or unshrink-unclamping of tools into and/or from tool holders includes an induction heating unit and a cooling unit. The cooling unit can in an automated manner be brought into a heat-conductive contact with a tool holder previously heated by the induction heating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Alexander ZOLLER, Christian Pfau
  • Publication number: 20200323049
    Abstract: A method for a heating of a tool holder by means of an induction heating device for the purpose of a shrink-clamping and/or unshrink-unclamping of tools into and/or from tool holders includes an induction heating unit having at least one, preferably exclusively one, induction coil and is configured to expand by heating at least a portion of the tool holder, in particular at least a clamping region of the tool holder, in a shrink-clamping process or in an unshrink-unclamping process, and the induction coil is moved during an induction heating process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Alexander ZOLLER, Christian PFAU
  • Patent number: 10710233
    Abstract: A tool insert and/or tool holder insert, in particular tool storage insert and/or tool holder storage insert, has at least one base body, includes at least one receiving region, in particular at least in part as an opening, in the base body, for receiving at least in part at least one tool and/or at least one tool holder, and has at least one contact element, which is arranged at least in part inside the receiving region, in particular projecting into the receiving region, for the purpose of contacting mounting of the tool and/or of the tool holder, and includes side walls, which complement one another and extend, in particular parallel to a receiving direction of the receiving region, on at least two opposite outside surfaces of the base body, which are configured to engage at least in part with side walls of further tool inserts and/or tool holder inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: E. ZOLLER GMBH & CO. KG EINSTELL—UND MESSGERÄTE
    Inventors: Alexander Zoller, Christian Pfau
  • Publication number: 20200094420
    Abstract: A gripper device includes at least one gripper unit which is at least designed to, in at least one work step, grip and/or move a tool and/or a tool holder with at least one tool, and at least one protective unit, which is designed to at least substantially encompass at least a work region of the tool at least in part during the work step. The protective unit is fastened, at least in part during the work step, at least to the gripper unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Alexander ZOLLER, Christian PFAU
  • Publication number: 20200030929
    Abstract: An automated tool clamping device, in particular a fully automated tool clamping device is configured for a clamping-in of at least one tool in a tool chuck by a tightening of a union nut of the tool chuck and/or for a declamping of the tool out of the tool chuck by a release of the union nut, and comprises a clamp element, which is at least configured to generate a connection, in particular a clamp connection, with the union nut of the tool chuck, and comprises a torque receiving element, which is at least configured to receive at least a large portion of a torque occurring during a tool clamping process, in particular during a tool clamping-in process and/or a tool declamping process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Alexander ZOLLER, Christian PFAU, Florian HUCK
  • Publication number: 20190224839
    Abstract: A tool insert and/or tool holder insert, in particular tool storage insert and/or tool holder storage insert, has at least one base body, includes at least one receiving region, in particular at least in part as an opening, in the base body, for receiving at least in part at least one tool and/or at least one tool holder, and has at least one contact element, which is arranged at least in part inside the receiving region, in particular projecting into the receiving region, for the purpose of contacting mounting of the tool and/or of the tool holder, and includes side walls, which complement one another and extend, in particular parallel to a receiving direction of the receiving region, on at least two opposite outside surfaces of the base body, which are configured to engage at least in part with side walls of further tool inserts and/or tool holder inserts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Alexander ZOLLER, Christian PFAU