Patents by Inventor Erwin Muller

Erwin Muller 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: 8369982
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for inserting, collecting or collating a plurality of flexible, planar products, preferably printed products, wherein the device (10, 10a, 10b) comprises a product collection unit (12, 12a), a first processing unit (14, 14?), and a second processing unit (16, 16?, 16?) for the synchronized processing, for example feeding, of products. The product collection unit (14, 14?) comprises a main drive controller (18), which is operatively connected to a main drive (20, 20?) for driving a conveying means (22). The first processing unit (14, 14?) comprises a first drive controller (24, 24?), which is operatively connected to a first drive (26, 26?, 26?), and the second processing unit (16, 16?, 16?) comprises a second drive controller (28, 28?, 28?), which is operatively connected to a second drive (30, 30?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Erwin Müller
  • Patent number: 8348048
    Abstract: A deflection mechanism (1) for a conveying system including a central member (5) with a rolling element (20) that revolves around the central member (5). The rolling element (2) has a plurality of guided rolls (3) which roll within a raceway (13) of the central member (5). The shape of the central member (5) is adjustable such that a deflection angle of the deflection mechanism (1) can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: WRH Walter Reist Holding AG
    Inventors: Marco DeAngelis, Erwin Muller
  • Patent number: 8245611
    Abstract: A method for transporting two-dimensional, flexible products, in particular printed products, such as newspapers and magazines or parts thereof, with which the product is conveyed from one gripper of a conveyor device, freely held along a conveyor path at least in regions, and the product grasped by the gripper at the edge which is not to be cut, on the conveyor path, is brought into active connection with cutting means of a cutting station in a manner such that at least one edge of the product is cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventors: Heinz Möckli, Erwin Müller
  • Patent number: 8177056
    Abstract: A drive has a drive unit, wherein the drive unit includes a central body, a drive means, and a driven means circulating around the central body. Conveyor means or objects to be conveyed are able to be conveyed in a driven section of the drive unit along a conveyor path by way of the driven means. The driven means is mounted with respect to the central body by means of a roller body which circulates around the central body in an orbital track. To this end, the driven means rolls on the central body via rollers of the roller body and thereby the roller body transmits radial pressure forces to the central body. The driven means is driven directly by the drive means. The roller body itself is not driven directly by the drive means, but rather it is moved along solely by the rolling of the driven means on the roller body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: WRH Walter Reist Holding AG
    Inventor: Erwin Muller
  • Patent number: 8162132
    Abstract: A deflection apparatus for a conveying system has a central body with a roller body which circulates around the central body, wherein the roller body has a multiplicity of rollers which are guided with play and roll in a roller track of the central body wherein the deflection apparatus forms an independent structural unit which can be assembled, dismantled and transported as a unit, and thus can be installed as an independent structural unit in order to deflect a conveying means in a conveying system. The deflection apparatus is preferably configured in a lightweight design, having rollers made from plastic and the central body made from plastic or aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: WRH Walter Reist Holding AG
    Inventor: Erwin Muller
  • Patent number: 8079463
    Abstract: A conveying device (100) according to the invention includes several conveying bodies (102), which roll on a guidance (101) via several rolls (3), wherein the rolls (3) are connected and mutually distanced by means of a flexible connecting body (9) The conveying bodies (102) include means (103; 104, 105) for mutual support, which prevent a movement of the conveying bodies (102) out of the guidance (101). A connecting body (9) and allocated rolls (3) form a roll body (2), wherein the roll body (2), on average, includes two or less than two rolls (3) per conveying body (102). A roll body (2) for a conveying device (100) includes a plurality of rolls (3) mutually connected in a linear manner, wherein the rolls (3) are mutually connected and distanced by means of a flexible and in particular also elastic connecting body (9). In a preferred embodiment, the connecting body (9) may be bent in at least two directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: WRH Walter Reist Holding AG
    Inventors: Walter Reist, Erwin Muller
  • Publication number: 20110289757
    Abstract: A conveying device (100) according to the invention includes several conveying bodies (102), which roll on a guidance (101) via several rolls (3), wherein the rolls (3) are connected and mutually distanced by means of a flexible connecting body (9). The conveying bodies (102) include means (103; 104, 105) for mutual support, which prevent a movement of the conveying bodies (102) out of the guidance (101). A connecting body (9) and allocated rolls (3) form a roll body (2), wherein the roll body (2), on average, includes two or less than two rolls (3) per conveying body (102). A roll body (2) for a conveying device (100) includes a plurality of rolls (3) mutually connected in a linear manner, wherein the rolls (3) are mutually connected and distanced by means of a flexible and in particular also elastic connecting body (9). In a preferred embodiment, the connecting body (9) may be bent in at least two directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: WRH WALTER REIST HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Walter Reist, Erwin Müller
  • Publication number: 20110214545
    Abstract: A device for cutting flexible, two-dimensional products. The device including a first and a second cutting means (5, 12), between which the two-dimensional products (2) may be cut essentially by way of an impulse cut. A method is also put forward for cutting by way of the impulse cut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: Ferag AG
    Inventors: Heinz Möckli, Erwin Müller
  • Publication number: 20110155535
    Abstract: A conveying device (100) according to the invention includes several conveying bodies (102), which roll on a guidance (101) via several rolls (3), wherein the rolls (3) are connected and mutually distanced by means of a flexible connecting body (9) The conveying bodies (102) include means (103; 104, 105) for mutual support, which prevent a movement of the conveying bodies (102) out of the guidance (101). A connecting body (9) and allocated rolls (3) form a roll body (2), wherein the roll body (2), on average, includes two or less than two rolls (3) per conveying body (102). A roll body (2) for a conveying device (100) includes a plurality of rolls (3) mutually connected in a linear manner, wherein the rolls (3) are mutually connected and distanced by means of a flexible and in particular also elastic connecting body (9). In a preferred embodiment, the connecting body (9) may be bent in at least two directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: WRH WALTER REIST HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Walter Reist, Erwin Müller
  • Patent number: 7938389
    Abstract: Printed products produced by assembling on saddle-shaped supports are conveyed onwards lying on the supports and during this conveyance are processed in the area of their fold line between a tool acting from outside and a counter-tool acting from inside, i.e., from the supported side. For being processed, the printed products are lifted off from the saddle line of the supports by the counter-tools, such that a relative movement between the saddle-shaped support and the counter-tool does not deform or damage the printed products. Through this measure it becomes possible to design the circuit of the supports and the circuit of the counter-tools largely independent of one another. The supports or their saddle lines respectively, for example, are able to move through the processing zone in a straight line, while the distal ends of the counter tools circulate on a round circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Erwin Müller
  • Patent number: 7918331
    Abstract: A conveying device (100) according to the invention includes several conveying bodies (102), which roll on a guidance (101) via several rolls (3), wherein the rolls (3) are connected and mutually distanced by means of a flexible connecting body (9). The conveying bodies (102) include means (103; 104, 105) for mutual support, which prevent a movement of the conveying bodies (102) out of the guidance (101). A connecting body (9) and allocated rolls (3) form a roll body (2), wherein the roll body (2), on average, includes two or less than two rolls (3) per conveying body (102). A roll body (2) for a conveying device (100) includes a plurality of rolls (3) mutually connected in a linear manner, wherein the rolls (3) are mutually connected and distanced by means of a flexible and in particular also elastic connecting body (9). In a preferred embodiment, the connecting body (9) may be bent in at least two directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: WRH Walter Reist Holding AG
    Inventors: Walter Reist, Erwin Müller
  • Publication number: 20100294626
    Abstract: A deflection apparatus (1) for a conveying system has a central body (5) with a roller body (2) which circulates around the central body (5), wherein the roller body (2) has a multiplicity of rollers (3) which are guided with play and roll in a roller track (13) of the central body (5), wherein the deflection apparatus (1) forms an independent structural unit which can be assembled, dismantled and transported as a unit, and thus can be installed as an independent structural unit in order to deflect a conveying means (20, 40) in a conveying system. The deflection apparatus (1) is preferably configured in a lightweight design, having rollers (3) made from plastic and the central body (5) made from plastic or aluminium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: WRH Walter Reist Holding AG
    Inventor: Erwin Muller
  • Publication number: 20100270132
    Abstract: A drive has a drive unit, wherein the drive unit includes a central body, a drive means, and a driven means circulating around the central body. Conveyor means or objects to be conveyed are able to be conveyed in a driven section of the drive unit along a conveyor path by way of the driven means. The driven means is mounted with respect to the central body by means of a roller body which circulates around the central body in an orbital track. To this end, the driven means rolls on the central body via rollers of the roller body and thereby the roller body transmits radial pressure forces to the central body. The driven means is driven directly by the drive means. The roller body itself is not driven directly by the drive means, but rather it is moved along solely by the rolling of the driven means on the roller body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: WRH WALTER REIST HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Erwin Muller
  • Publication number: 20100263993
    Abstract: A deflection mechanism (1) for a conveying system including a central member (5) with a rolling element (20) that revolves around the central member (5). The rolling element (2) has a plurality of guided rolls (3) which roll within a raceway (13) of the central member (5). The shape of the central member (5) is adjustable such that a deflection angle of the deflection mechanism (1) can be adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: WRH WALTER REIST HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Marco DeAngelis, Erwin Muller
  • Publication number: 20100200363
    Abstract: A system for combining groups of flat objects includes a matrix-like arrangement of a plurality of group conveyors and a plurality of feed conveyors disposed above the group conveyors, wherein all conveyors are operated continuously and the operation of all group conveyors and all feed conveyors is rigidly coupled. At feed points, which are regions in which a feed conveyor crosses over a group conveyor, group conveyors and feed conveyors are rectified. Both the group conveyors and the feed conveyors can be returned, and the steps for receiving objects by the feed conveyors, for transferring the objects to the group conveyors, and for transferring groups to a removing conveyor or further processing station are strictly synchronized and are selectively performed or suppressed in a controlled manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: FERAG AG
    Inventor: Erwin Muller
  • Publication number: 20100138033
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for inserting, collecting or collating a plurality of flexible, planar products, preferably printed products, wherein the device (10, 10a, 10b) comprises a product collection unit (12, 12a), a first processing unit (14, 14?), and a second processing unit (16, 16?, 16?) for the synchronized processing, for example feeding, of products. The product collection unit (14, 14?) comprises a main drive controller (18), which is operatively connected to a main drive (20, 20?) for driving a conveying means (22). The first processing unit (14, 14?) comprises a first drive controller (24, 24?), which is operatively connected to a first drive (26, 26?, 26?), and the second processing unit (16, 16?, 16?) comprises a second drive controller (28, 28?, 28?), which is operatively connected to a second drive (30, 30?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventor: Erwin Müller
  • Patent number: 7677559
    Abstract: The apparatus 10 has a conveyor 12 which may be configured as a multiple tape conveyor and the working section 14 of which, which is driven in a conveying direction (F), forms a supporting face 16 for the printed products 18 which accumulate in an overlapping formation (S). An aligning plate 66 is situated on each side of the conveyor 12. The working section 14 of the conveyor can be deflected out of a conveying plane by means of a switching means 34, in order, in particular for the aligning of thin printed products 18 with few pages, to form a bend 62 in the products which reinforces them transversely with respect to the conveying direction (F) so that they can be laterally shifted into alignment by the aligning plates without damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Erwin Müller
  • Publication number: 20100025189
    Abstract: A method and a device are provided for combining overlapping flows (S1, S2) of flat products (10, 20), particularly of printed products, to common product flows (P3). The products (10, 20) from the first or second overlapping flows (S1, S2) are received by an intermediate conveyor (50), and transported to a first product flow (P1), or a second product flow (P2), by means of the intermediate conveyor (50). The distance (d) of the product flows (P1, P2) is successively reduced so that the product flows (P1, P2) form the common product flow (P3). The products (10, 20) are conveyed at least directly before combining the product flows (P1, P2) such that a space (12, 22) is located at least between the groups of products (10, 20) within the first, or within the second product flow (P1, P2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: FERAG AG
    Inventor: Erwin Muller
  • Patent number: 7644913
    Abstract: For supplying individual quantities of flat and in particular diverse part products to a serial further processing, the part products are arranged in a row of part product groups (7) in a preparatory step carried out before the supply step (e.g. supplementation), and the row (2) is fashioned into a “first-in-last-out” storage formation, such as a roll (5). Within the row (2) the part products or the part product groups (7) overlap or are spaced from each other. For stabilizing the part product groups (7), adhesion between the part products within the groups may be enhanced; for stabilizing the storage formation, the part product groups (7) may be reversibly connected to each other. For supplying the groups to the serial further processing, which may succeed the preparatory step at any time or place, the storage formation is dissolved and the part product groups are supplied to the further processing directly from the storage formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Erwin Muller
  • Patent number: 7556248
    Abstract: In order to produce final printed products (14) in the same compartment (12), a first product for insertion (22) is inserted into a first folded printed product (10), and a second product for insertion (28) is inserted into a second folded printed product (24). The printed products (10, 24) are displaced in the direction of the folds (16), and as a result each of the printed products (10, 24) has an edge section (26) projecting beyond the other printed product. This permits fault-free, simple access to each of the printed products (10, 24) in order to open and insert the products for insertion (22, 28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventors: Erwin Müller, Markus Felix