Patents by Inventor Frank Herzog

Frank Herzog 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: 20180029349
    Abstract: The invention relates to a powder module (1) for an apparatus for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects, comprising: a powder chamber (2) limiting a powder room (3) that can be filled with powdered construction material, a carrying device (4) arranged in the powder room (3), limiting the powder room (3) at the bottom and movably supported relative to the powder chamber (2), and a drive device (5) for generating a force setting the carrying device (4) in motion relative to the powder chamber (2), wherein the drive device (5) comprises at least two separate adjustment units (6a, 6b), that especially are coupled for movement, with at least one, especially cylindrical, adjustment element (7a, 7b), wherein each adjustment element (7a, 7b) is movably supported relative to a respective housing element (8a, 8b) of the respective adjustment unit (6a, 6b) between a first end position and a second end position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: CL SCHUTZRECHTSVERWALTUNGS GMBH
    Inventors: Frank HERZOG, Frank SCHÖDEL, Florian BECHMANN
  • Publication number: 20180029294
    Abstract: The invention relates to a powder chamber table assembly (1) for a powder module, especially a construction module, of an apparatus for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects, comprising at least two components or component groups to be sealed to each other especially in terms of the intrusion of powdered construction material, wherein the at least two components or component groups are sealed to each other by at least one sealing element (9), wherein the sealing element (9) is formed of or comprises a high temperature resistant silicone material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: CL SCHUTZRECHTSVERWALTUNGS GMBH
    Inventors: Frank HERZOG, Frank Schödel, Florian Bechmann
  • Publication number: 20180029295
    Abstract: The invention relates to a construction chamber (1) for an apparatus for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects, comprising a construction chamber base body (2) which limits a construction volume (4) forming a construction room (3), wherein the construction chamber base body (2) is formed segmented in several construction chamber base body segments (2a, 2b) that can be attached or are attached to each other forming the construction chamber base body (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: CL SCHUTZRECHTSVERWALTUNGS GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Herzog, Florian Bechmann, Frank Schõdel
  • Publication number: 20180029348
    Abstract: A powder module (1) for an apparatus for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects, comprising a powder chamber (2) limiting a powder room (3) that can be filled with powdered construction material, a carrying device (4) arranged in the powder room (3), limiting the powder room (3) at the bottom, movably supported relative to the powder chamber (2), and a position detection device (6), which is provided for the detection of the position of the carrying device (4), wherein the position detection device (6) is formed as or at least comprises a cable pull sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: CL SCHUTZRECHTSVERWALTUNGS GMBH
    Inventors: Frank HERZOG, Frank SCHÖDEL, Florian BECHMANN
  • Publication number: 20170368757
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing three-dimensional components (14) by successively solidifying layers of a powder construction material (9) which can be solidified by means of electromagnetic radiation (18), in particular bundled radiation such as laser radiation or electron radiation, at the locations corresponding to the respective cross-section of the component (14), in particular an SLM (selective laser melting) or SLS (selective laser sintering) method. A device (1) comprising a support device (7), the height of which can be adjusted within a construction chamber (6), is provided for supporting the component (14), comprising a coating device (12) for applying layers of the construction material (9) onto the support device or onto a previously formed layer and comprising an irradiating device (15) for irradiating layers of the construction material (9) in some regions in order to solidify the layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: CL SCHUTZRECHTSVERWALTUNGS GMBH
    Inventor: Frank HERZOG
  • Publication number: 20170368640
    Abstract: Device for the additive production of three-dimensional components (2), namely a laser melting device or laser sintering device, in which a component (2) is produced by successive solidifying of individual layers (3) made from solidifiable construction material, by the effect of radiation (4), through melting of the construction material (5), wherein the dimensions and/or temperature of the melt area (6) generated by a point-shaped or line-shaped energy input can be captured by a sensor device (8) of a process monitoring system, and sensor values for evaluation of a component quality can be deduced therefrom, wherein the radiation (9) created by the melt area and used for the generation of the sensor values passes through the scanner used for the melt energy input, and is guided from there to the sensor device (8) of the process monitoring system, wherein an optical focus tracking device (20) is arranged in the radiation path used for generation of the sensor values between the scanner (10) and the sensor dev
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: CL SCHUTZRECHTSVERWALTUNGS GMBH
    Inventors: Frank HERZOG, Florian BECHMANN, Tobias BOKKES, Fabian ZEULNER
  • Publication number: 20170334134
    Abstract: The invention relates to a production system 1 for simultaneous additive manufacturing of several components 2 using selective laser sintering or laser melting methods, wherein in at least one production processing section 3 at least two construction apparatuses in the form of SLM and/or SLS apparatuses 4 are provided, each having at least one construction container 5 that can be removed from a process chamber of the apparatuses, at least one removal station 6 for extracting a finished component 2 from a construction container 5, at least one post-processing station 7 for thermal and/or mechanical surface post-treatment of finished removed components 2, and at least one storage section 8 for storing the components 2, wherein a production system control unit 10 to which the construction apparatuses 4, the removal station 6 and the post-processing stations 7 are connected to, and which is formed for controlling the apparatuses or stations as well as for requesting the operating status and the temporal availabil
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: CL SCHUTZRECHTSVERWAL TUNGS GMBH
    Inventor: Frank HERZOG
  • Publication number: 20170320264
    Abstract: A method for controlling the exposure of a selective laser sintering or laser melting apparatus. The method includes providing a selective laser sintering apparatus or laser melting apparatus that uses successive solidification of layers of a powder-type construction material that can be solidified using radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Applicant: CL SCHUTZRECHTSVERWALTUNGS GMBH
    Inventors: Frank HERZOG, Florian BECHMANN, Markus LIPPERT, Johanna WINDFELDER
  • Publication number: 20170274592
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing three-dimensional objects by successive solidification of layers of a construction material that can be solidified using radiation on the positions corresponding to the respective cross-section of the object, comprising a construction chamber in which a carrying device for carrying the object is arranged with a height adjustable carrier, a radiation device for radiating layers of the construction material at positions corresponding to the respective cross-section of the object, and an image acquisition device for acquiring at least one image data record representing the construction chamber, wherein in the construction chamber at least one position mark for calibrating the image acquisition device is present. In addition, the invention relates to a method for performing a calibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: CL SCHUTZRECHTSVERWALTUNGS GMBH
    Inventors: Frank HERZOG, Florian BECHMANN, Fabian ZEULNER, Tobias BOKKES, Marie-Christin EBERT
  • Publication number: 20170274455
    Abstract: A method for producing a three-dimensional object by successive solidification of layers of a powder-type construction material that can be solidified using radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: CL Schutzrechtungs GmbH
    Inventor: Frank HERZOG
  • Publication number: 20170087770
    Abstract: A device for the additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects from powdery construction material by introducing radiation energy, in particular a laser sintering and/or laser melting device, comprising at least one housing having a process chamber, in which process chamber a construction space or an exchangeable container having a vertically movable construction platform is arranged, to which construction platform the powdery construction material provided for solidification by radiation energy can be applied, characterized by a memory chip, which can be removed from the process chamber of the device with the exchangeable container and/or the constructed object and which can be read out by an electronic reading device and on which production data, which belong to the additive manufacturing process, and/or subsequent processing steps and/or processing stations for automatically controlling processing apparatuses and/or transport paths and/or storage positions and/or data from controlling active elements
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: CL SCHUTZRECHTSVERWALTUNGS GMBH
    Inventor: Frank HERZOG
  • Publication number: 20170057558
    Abstract: A body node for connecting shell-shaped body structures, of a vehicle, the body node having: a first connecting flange for connection to a first shell-shaped body structure, a second connecting flange for connection to a second shell-shaped body structure, a third connecting flange for connection to a third shell-shaped body structure, and a connecting structure rigidly connecting the connecting flanges with each other and, for example, forming a monolithic body with the connecting flanges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicants: EDAG Engineering GmbH, LZN Laser Zentrum Nord GmbH, Concept Laser GmbH, BLM S.P.A.
    Inventors: Martin HILLEBRECHT, Michael SCHMIDT, Eric FRITZSCHE, Frank BREITENBACH, Claus EMMELMANN, Frank HERZOG, Sergio RASO
  • Publication number: 20160271884
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional component by an electron-beam, laser-sintering or laser-melting process, in which the component is created by successively solidifying predetermined portions of individual layers of building material that can be solidified by being exposed to the effect of an electron-beam or laser-beam source (2) by melting on the building material, wherein thermographic data records are recorded during the production of the layers, respectively characterizing a temperature profile of at least certain portions of the respective layer, and the irradiation of the layers takes place by means of an electron beam or laser beam (3), which is controlled on the basis of the recorded thermographic data records in such a way that a largely homogeneous temperature profile is produced, wherein, to irradiate an upper layer, a focal point (4) of the electron beam or laser beam (3) is guided along a scanning path (17), which is chosen on the basis of the data record charac
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: CL SCHUTZRECHTSVERWALTUNGS GMBH
    Inventor: Frank HERZOG
  • Publication number: 20150367453
    Abstract: A method for assessing the structural quality of three-dimensional components which are produced by laser sintering or laser melting. The component is produced by the successive solidification of individual layers of a construction material solidified by the action of radiation, by sintering or fusing the construction material. The fusion region is captured by a sensor device and sensor values for evaluating the quality of the component are derived therefrom. The sensor values with the co-ordinate values which localize the sensor values in the component are stored with a division of the calculated sensor values into values which are critical to the structural quality of the component and non-critical values to said quality and with a representation of those values critical to the structural quality of the component as to their distance from a reference point lying or arranged in the region of the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicant: CL SCHUTZRECHTSVERWALTUNGS GMBH
    Inventor: Frank HERZOG
  • Publication number: 20150336330
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for producing three-dimensional objects (12) by successive solidification of layers of a construction material (9, 10) that can be solidified by radiation at the locations corresponding to the respective cross-section of the object (12), said device having a housing, a construction chamber (4) accommodated therein, a dosing chamber (2, 3), an application device (11) for applying layers of the construction material (9, 10) and a conveying element (13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 37, 38) for transporting the construction material (9, 10), wherein at least two conveying elements (13, 17, 21; 14, 18, 22) are provided for transporting different construction materials (9, 10), said conveying elements comprising separate feed lines (37, 38) to at least one dosing chamber (2, 3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: CL Schutzrechtsverwaltungs GmbH
    Inventor: Frank HERZOG
  • Publication number: 20130168902
    Abstract: A method for producing a three-dimensional component by means of a laser melting process, in which the component is produced by consecutively solidifying individual layers made of building material by melting the building material, wherein said building material can be solidified by the action of radiation, wherein the melting area produced by a punctiform and/or linear energy input is detected by a sensor device and sensor values are derived therefrom in order to evaluate the component quality. The sensor values detected in order to evaluate the component quality are stored together with the coordinate values that locate the sensor values in the component and are displayed by means of a visualization unit in two- and/or multi-dimensional representation with respect to the detection location of the sensor values in the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicants: KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN, CL SCHUTZRECHTSVERWALTUNGS GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Herzog, Florian Bechmann, Sebastian Berumen, Jean Pierre Kruth, Tom Craeghs
  • Patent number: 7661544
    Abstract: A boat is provided for stacking semiconductor wafers vertically in processes in which low friction deposits may coat wafer supporting surfaces. In carbon processes, for example, low friction coatings can form that allow the wafers to slip sideways in the boat, leaving them sufficiently out of alignment to cause wafer breakage in handling. Typical boats for these processes having vertical legs, typically three or four in number, in which aligned notches support each of the wafers. The slots provide enough clearance around the edge of the wafer to facilitate loading and unloading of the wafers without wafer damage, as long as the wafers remain centered. For low friction process environments, each notch is provided with a shallow recess on which the edge of a wafer can rest. The recess adds a low step close to the wafer edge that resists horizontal sliding movement of the wafer. Wafers are loaded by inserting them into the boat in a plane spaced above the steps, then lowered onto the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Frank Herzog
  • Publication number: 20080185308
    Abstract: A boat is provided for stacking semiconductor wafers vertically in processes in which low friction deposits may coat wafer supporting surfaces. In carbon processes, for example, low friction coatings can form that allow the wafers to slip sideways in the boat, leaving them sufficiently out of alignment to cause wafer breakage in handling. Typical boats for these processes having vertical legs, typically three or four in number, in which aligned notches support each of the wafers. The slots provide enough clearance around the edge of the wafer to facilitate loading and unloading of the wafers without wafer damage, as long as the wafers remain centered. For low friction process environments, each notch is provided with a shallow recess on which the edge of a wafer can rest. The recess adds a low step close to the wafer edge that resists horizontal sliding movement of the wafer. Wafers are loaded by inserting them into the boat in a plane spaced above the steps, then lowered onto the recesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Frank Herzog
  • Patent number: 7261550
    Abstract: A metal workpiece is formed of a pre-manufactured lower part and an upper piece which is placed thereon using a metal powder sintering process, preferably laser sintering. The lower part is a partial workpiece which is made of a solid piece of metal shaped by machining, forming a ready-to-use workpiece in conjunction with the upper part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: CL Schutzrechtsverwaltung GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Herzog
  • Publication number: 20050142024
    Abstract: A method for producing three-dimensional sintered work pieces, in particular a stereo lithography method for application in a laser sinter machine, in which a sinter material, in particular liquid, pasty, powder or granular sinter material is applied in layers from a reservoir onto a backing and heated by partial irradiation of prescribed individual sections such that the components of the sinter material are combined to give the work piece by partial or complete fusion in regions dependent on the irradiation. The serially irradiated individual sections have a separation from each other, greater than or at least equal to average diameter of the individual sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Inventor: Frank Herzog