Patents by Inventor Gary J. Laatsch

Gary J. Laatsch 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: 6572097
    Abstract: A signature slow-down section in a folder of a printing press for slowing down signatures is provided. The folder is driven by a folder drive mechanism and the signature slow-down section includes a frame, a slow-down mechanism supported by the frame, and a motor connected to the slow-down mechanism for rotatably driving the slow-down mechanism separately from the folder drive mechanism. The motor is selectively operable to drive the slow-down mechanism at a speed in response to the position of the signatures relative to the slow-down mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Quad/Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Ingermar S. d'Agrella, Eric L. Kuhne, Gary J. Laatsch, John M. Neary, Karl P. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 6394445
    Abstract: An apparatus for decelerating signatures moving in tandem fashion through sheet processing equipment is provided. A pair of counter-rotating cams lying in general face-to-face relation along a travel path of the signatures reach into the travel path of the signatures to effectively grab the trailing end of each signature so as to decrease the speed of each signature as the signature continues or to further processing equipment in the sheet handling system. Also provided is a guide assembly which increases control over the signatures during the decelerating process and during transport of the signatures to further downstream processing equipment. The guide assembly includes grooved rollers which act as pulleys for belts near the exit stream of the slow-down equipment, wherein the protruding segments between belt grooves act to push the signatures away from the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Quad/Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Ingermar S. d'Agrella, Eric L. Kuhne, Gary J. Laatsch, John M. Neary, Karl P. Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20020043757
    Abstract: An apparatus for decelerating signatures moving in tandem fashion through sheet processing equipment is provided. A pair of counter-rotating cams lying in general face-to-face relation along a travel path of the signatures reach into the travel path of the signatures to effectively grab the trailing end of each signature so as to decrease the speed of each signature as the signature continues or to further processing equipment in the sheet handling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Applicant: Quad/Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Ingermar S. d'Agrella, Eric L. Kuhne, Gary J. Laatsch, John M. Neary, Karl P. Schaefer