Patents by Inventor Frank Herre

Frank Herre 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: 11440035
    Abstract: An application device for the application in series of a paint or other coating compositions to motor vehicle bodies or add-on parts thereof has a nozzle print head which contains a plurality of nozzles arranged, for example, in one or more rows, which apply the coating composition to the surface to be coated as continuous jets or individual drops. The nozzle print head is arranged on a multi-axis coating robot. In contrast to application devices of this type known hitherto, the coating composition consists of at least two components which are to be mixed together, such as, for example, 2K paint, which are fed to the nozzle print head via separate supply lines for jointly supplying the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Dürr Systems AG
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Fritz, Benjamin Wöhr, Marcus Kleiner, Moritz Bubek, Timo Beyl, Frank Herre, Steffen Sotzny
  • Publication number: 20220266285
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a painting installation for painting components with a paint, in particular for painting motor vehicle body components, with a paint booth and an application device, in particular a print head, arranged in the paint booth, for applying the paint to the component located inside the paint booth, the application device operating essentially without overspray, so that the paint applied by the application device essentially completely on the component to be coated without overspray deposits. The disclosure provides that no paint separation is arranged below the first paint booth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Fritz, Benjamin Wöhr, Marcus Kleiner, Moritz Bubek, Timo Beyl, Frank Herre, Steffen Sotzny
  • Publication number: 20220226850
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for programming a program-controlled coating robot for coating components. A robot path is preset and application parameters observed by the applicator are also preset based on real coating operation during movement along the robot path. There is a virtual determination of a coating result for the predetermined robot path and the predetermined application parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Nolte, Frank Herre, Christoph Heckeler
  • Publication number: 20220214670
    Abstract: In order to provide a checking facility for checking workpieces and also a treatment facility for treating workpieces, which enable efficient and reliable quality optimisation, it is proposed that workpiece parameters are detected, for example by means of an automatic checking station, and a workpiece-specific data set is created on this basis and/or from facility parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Frank Herre, Michael Zabel, Dietmar Wieland, Sören Wehler
  • Publication number: 20220214671
    Abstract: In order to provide a method for analysing quality deficiencies of workpieces, preferably vehicle bodies and/or vehicle attachment parts, in particular after and/or whilst passing through a production process in industrial-method plants, preferably after and/or whilst passing through a painting process in painting plants, by means of which method quality deficiencies can be avoided and/or by means of which method quality deficiency causes in the production process can be determined, avoided and/or remedied, it is proposed in accordance with the invention that the method comprises the following steps: creating a workpiece-specific data set, uniquely assigned to a workpiece, at the start of a production process, in particular at the start of a painting process and/or creating a workpiece-carrier-specific data set, uniquely assigned to a workpiece carrier, at the start of a production process, in particular at the start of a painting process; supplementing the workpiece-specific data set while a workpiece is
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Simon Alt, Jan-Philipp Schuh, Ralf Schurer, Markus Hummel, Jens Berner, Jens Häcker, Thomas Hezel, Frank Herre, Michael Zabel, Dietmar Wieland, Philipp Oetinger, Robin Heim
  • Publication number: 20220212218
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a coating method for coating a component (e.g. motor vehicle body component) with a coating agent (e.g. paint), that includes steps of Defining a pattern on the component surface of the component to be coated, the pattern being a surface area outlined by a contour, and areal coating of the component surface with the coating agent within the contour, sharp-edged coating of the component surface with a coating agent along at least a portion of the contour of the pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Fritz, Benjamin Wöhr, Jerome Lavallée, Moritz Bubek, Timo Beyl, Daniel Tandler, Tobias Berndt, Frank Herre, Steffen Sotzny
  • Publication number: 20220161290
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a bell plate for a rotary atomizer for applying a coating agent (e.g. paint) to a component (e.g. motor vehicle body component). The bell plate according to the disclosure comprises a metallic base body and a transponder which can be read out wirelessly and is integrated in the bell plate. The disclosure provides that the transponder is arranged on the front side in the base body or is embedded in the outer outer circumferential surface of the bell plate, which facilitates the read-out of the transponder. Furthermore, the disclosure comprises a suitably adapted atomizer cleaning device having an antenna for reading out the transponder in the bell plate. Finally, the disclosure also comprises a correspondingly adapted operating method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Buck, Kevin Preuss, Michael Baumann, Frank Herre, Bernhard Seiz, Hans-Jürgen Nolte, Daniel Luz
  • Patent number: 11338312
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a printhead for the application of a coating agent to a component, in particular for painting a vehicle body component with a paint. The disclosure provides that the printhead is designed in such a way that it enables a color change during coating operation and can be rinsed with a rinsing agent during a color change in order to rinse out coating agent residues from the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Dürr Systems AG
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Fritz, Benjamin Wöhr, Marcus Kleiner, Moritz Bubek, Timo Beyl, Frank Herre, Steffen Sotzny
  • Patent number: 11298717
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an application device for applying an application medium onto a component, preferably for application of a coating onto a motor vehicle body component. The application device includes a print head for preferably serial and/or permanent application of the application medium, wherein the print head has: a nozzle plate, at least one nozzle in the nozzle plate in order to discharge the application medium, at least one valve element, which is movable relative to the nozzle plate, for control of the application medium discharge through the at least one nozzle, wherein the at least one movable valve element closes the at least one nozzle in a closing position and releases it in an opening position, and at least one drive for moving the at least one valve element. The application device is characterised in particular in that it includes at least one temperature control apparatus for reducing heating of the at least one drive during application of the application medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Dürr Systems AG
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Fritz, Benjamin Wöhr, Marcus Kleiner, Moritz Bubek, Timo Beyl, Frank Herre, Steffen Sotzny
  • Publication number: 20220080445
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a coating method and a corresponding coating device for coating components with a nozzle applicator with several nozzles, in particular for painting motor vehicle body components. The disclosure provides that the nozzle applicator is flexibly controlled during the coating method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Fritz, Benjamin Wöhr, Marcus Kleiner, Moritz Bubek, Timo Beyl, Frank Herre, Steffen Sotzny
  • Publication number: 20220072570
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns an applicator (e.g. print head) for applying a coating agent (e.g. paint) to a component (e.g. motor vehicle body component), having a nozzle chamber with a plurality of nozzles for dispensing the coating agent in the form of continuous jets or droplets, the coating agent flowing during operation through the nozzle chamber to the nozzles so that the nozzle chamber is filled with the coating agent during operation. The print head further comprises a plurality of slidable valve needles associated with the individual nozzles and selectively opening or closing the respective nozzle depending on the position of the valve needles. Furthermore, the print head according to the disclosure contains an actuator chamber for receiving actuators for displacing the valve needles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Fritz, Benjamin Wöhr, Marcus Kleiner, Mortiz Bubek, Timo Beyl, Frank Herre, Steffen Sotzny, Daniel Tandler, Tobias Berndt
  • Patent number: 11267013
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an application device for applying an application medium onto a component, preferably for application of a coating onto a motor vehicle body component. The application device includes a print head for preferably serial and/or permanent application of the application medium, wherein the print head has: a nozzle plate, at least one nozzle in the nozzle plate in order to discharge the application medium, at least one valve element, which is movable relative to the nozzle plate, for control of the application medium discharge through the at least one nozzle, wherein the at least one movable valve element closes the at least one nozzle in a closing position and releases it in an opening position, and at least one drive for moving the at least one valve element. The application device is characterised in particular in that it includes at least one temperature control apparatus for reducing heating of the at least one drive during application of the application medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Dürr Systems AG
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Fritz, Benjamin Wöhr, Marcus Kleiner, Moritz Bubek, Timo Beyl, Frank Herre, Steffen Sotzny
  • Publication number: 20220040719
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a cleaning device for cleaning an application device which, in operation, applies at least one coating agent jet of a coating agent (e.g. paint) to a component (e.g. motor vehicle body component). The disclosure provides that a jet checking device is integrated into the cleaning device for checking the coating agent jet emitted by the application device, so that the cleaning device forms a structural unit with the jet checking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Fritz, Benjamin Wöhr, Jerome Lavallée, Moritz Bubek, Timo Beyl, Frank Herre, Steffen Sotzny, Daniel Tandler, Tobias Berndt, Georg Sommer
  • Publication number: 20220040715
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns an applicator, in particular a printhead, for applying a coating agent, in particular a paint, to a component, in particular to a motor vehicle body component or an attachment for a motor vehicle body component, having a plurality of nozzles for applying the coating agent in the form of a coating agent jet, and a plurality of coating agent valves for controlling the release of the coating agent through the individual nozzles, and having a plurality of electrically controllable actuators for controlling the coating agent valves. The disclosure provides that a control circuit for electrically controlling the actuators is integrated in the applicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Fritz, Benjamin Wöhr, Marcus Kleiner, Mortiz Bubek, Timo Beyl, Frank Herre, Steffen Sotzny, Daniel Tandler, Tobias Berndt, Andreas Geiger
  • Patent number: 11241889
    Abstract: Exemplary coating devices and exemplary coating methods for coating components with a coating agent, e.g., for painting motor vehicle body components with a paint, are disclosed. An exemplary coating device comprises an application device that applies the coating agent. The application device may include a paint head that discharges the coating agent out of at least one coating agent nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: DÜRR SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Herre, Hans-Georg Fritz, Steffen Wesselky
  • Patent number: 11207698
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns an applicator (e.g. print head) for applying a coating agent (e.g. paint) to a component (e.g. motor vehicle body component), having a nozzle chamber with a plurality of nozzles for dispensing the coating agent in the form of continuous jets or droplets, the coating agent flowing during operation through the nozzle chamber to the nozzles so that the nozzle chamber is filled with the coating agent during operation. The print head further comprises a plurality of slidable valve needles associated with the individual nozzles and selectively opening or closing the respective nozzle depending on the position of the valve needles. Furthermore, the print head according to the disclosure contains an actuator chamber for receiving actuators for displacing the valve needles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Dürr Systems AG
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Fritz, Benjamin Wöhr, Marcus Kleiner, Mortiz Bubek, Timo Beyl, Frank Herre, Steffen Sotzny, Daniel Tandler, Tobias Berndt
  • Patent number: 11203030
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a coating method and a corresponding coating device for coating components with a nozzle applicator with several nozzles, in particular for painting motor vehicle body components. The disclosure provides that the nozzle applicator is flexibly controlled during the coating method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Dürr Systems AG
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Fritz, Benjamin Wöhr, Marcus Kleiner, Moritz Bubek, Timo Beyl, Frank Herre, Steffen Sotzny
  • Publication number: 20210379620
    Abstract: Applying a coating medium may include: emission of a coating medium jet from an application device and positioning the application device relative to the component with a particular application distance between the application device and the component, so that the coating medium jet impacts on the component and coats the component. The application distance (d) can be smaller than the disintegration distance of the coating medium jet, so that the coating medium jet impacts with its continuous region on the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Fritz, Benjamin Wohr, Marcus Kleiner, Timo Beyl, Frank Herre
  • Patent number: 11167297
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a print head for applying a coating agent to a component, in particular for applying a paint to a motor vehicle body component, having a nozzle plate, a nozzle in the nozzle plate for dispensing the coating agent, and a valve element movable relative to the nozzle plate for controlling the release of coating agent through the nozzle, the movable valve element closing the nozzle in a closed position, whereas the movable valve element releases the nozzle in an opened position, and having a seal for sealing the nozzle with respect to the movable valve element in the closed position of the valve element. The disclosure provides that the seal is not designed as an elastomer insert on the valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Dürr Systems AG
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Fritz, Benjamin Wöhr, Marcus Kleiner, Moritz Bubek, Timo Beyl, Frank Herre, Steffen Sotzny
  • Patent number: 11167308
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a printhead for applying a coating agent to a component, in particular for applying a paint to a motor vehicle body component, having at least one outlet opening for dispensing the coating agent, a coating agent supply for supplying the coating agent to the outlet opening, a movable valve element, the valve element in the closed position closes the outlet opening, whereas the valve element in the open position opens the outlet opening, and with a valve actuator for moving the valve element between the opening position and the closed position. The disclosure additionally provides for a flexible membrane which separates the valve actuator from the coating agent supply, the actuator side of the membrane facing the valve actuator and the coating agent side of the membrane being exposed to the coating agent in the coating agent supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Dürr Systems AG
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Fritz, Benjamin Wöhr, Marcus Kleiner, Moritz Bubek, Timo Beyl, Frank Herre, Steffen Sotzny