Patents by Inventor Gerald Erik Hauptmann

Gerald Erik Hauptmann 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: 8507046
    Abstract: A method of creating a fluid layer in the micrometer range includes transferring a fluid between substrates and forming a fluid layer. A surface energy of a first substrate releasing the fluid is higher than a surface energy of a fluid on the first substrate to create a first fluid deposit on the first substrate. A surface energy of a second substrate accepting the fluid is lower than a surface energy of a fluid on the second substrate to create a second fluid deposit on the second substrate that is reduced as compared to the first fluid deposit. A surface energy of a third substrate accepting the fluid is higher than a surface energy of a fluid on the third substrate to create a substantially homogeneous third fluid deposit on the third substrate that forms the fluid layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michaela Agari, Bernard Beier, Gerald Erik Hauptmann, Gerd Junghans, Ralf Kissel, Andreas Rupprecht, Joachim Sonnenschein
  • Publication number: 20110244143
    Abstract: A method of creating a fluid layer in the micrometer range includes transferring a fluid between substrates and forming a fluid layer. A surface energy of a first substrate releasing the fluid is higher than a surface energy of a fluid on the first substrate to create a first fluid deposit on the first substrate. A surface energy of a second substrate accepting the fluid is lower than a surface energy of a fluid on the second substrate to create a second fluid deposit on the second substrate that is reduced as compared to the first fluid deposit, A surface energy of a third substrate accepting the fluid is higher than a surface energy of a fluid on the third substrate to create a substantially homogeneous third fluid deposit on the third substrate that forms the fluid layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Michaela Agari, Bernard Beier, Gerald Erik Hauptmann, Gerd Junghans, Ralf Kissel, Andreas Rupprecht, Joachim Sonnenschein
  • Publication number: 20110104394
    Abstract: A process for the permanent multicolor painting of a product, e.g. a body part, includes defining a first region, a first location within the first region and a second location within the first region but different from the first location, on the surface of the product. The surface is provided with a first release layer, at least in the first region and the first release layer is exposed to electromagnetic radiation, e.g. IR radiation, at the first location but not at the second location. The surface is provided with a first layer of paint at least at the first location. The first layer of paint is fixed, at least at the first location. Alternatively, the first release layer is applied at least at the second location but not at the first location, so that an exposure to electromagnetic energy at the first location can be omitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG
    Inventors: BERNARD BEIER, GERALD ERIK HAUPTMANN, HEINER PITZ, MATTHIAS SCHLÖRHOLZ
  • Patent number: 7841278
    Abstract: A method for treating a re-imageable printing form includes surface modifying a surface of the printing form acting as a printing area in a nanoscopic range by chemically functionalizing the surface through covering with molecules, in particular amphiphilic molecules or polymers. The printing form is subjected to a primary process of imaging by laser radiation, and subjected to a primary process of application of at least one lithographic fluid, for example dampening solution, printing ink and/or varnish. The molecules are fixed in image regions by the primary process of imaging. The molecules are removed in non-image regions substantially by at least one primary process different than the application of printing ink, in particular by imaging, application of dampening solution or chemical developing. An apparatus for treating a re-imageable printing form, a machine for processing printing material and a method for treating a surface contacting printing material, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Matthias Schlörholz, Martin Gutfleisch, Harald Latzel, Michaela Hoffmann, Gerald Erik Hauptmann, Uwe Tessmann
  • Patent number: 7704590
    Abstract: Imageable printing forms are irradiated by radiant energy corresponding to the image information, the energy being absorbed in the printing form. The energy coupled in this manner is available for patterning the printing form surface. A printing form having a plurality of substantially planar functional zones, which have at least one informational zone that is modifiable in accordance with image information and an absorption zone for absorbing energy from a radiation is distinguished in that a buffer zone is provided which differs at least partially from the absorption zone, receives energy from the absorption zone, and releases energy to the informational zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Bernd Vosseler, Martin Gutfleisch, Gerald Erik Hauptmann
  • Publication number: 20090056579
    Abstract: A print substrate-contacting element having an ink-repellent coating on a surface of a microstructured carrier is described, the coating including at least one derivative of an amphiphilic organic compound whose polar region has an acidic character. A method for coating a surface of a microstructured carrier of a print substrate-contacting element is distinguished by the application of an amount of substance, which includes at least one derivative of an amphiphilic organic compound whose polar region has an acidic character, by treating the surface with an alcoholic solution of the amount of substance. The print substrate-contacting element can very advantageously be the surface of a back-pressure cylinder in a print substrate-processing machine, in particular in a printing press. The coating method can be carried out in a print substrate-processing machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Bertold Gruetzmacher, Martin Gutfleisch, Gerald Erik Hauptmann, Gerhard Peiter
  • Publication number: 20080160450
    Abstract: A method for treating a re-imageable printing form includes surface modifying a surface of the printing form acting as a printing area in a nanoscopic range by chemically functionalizing the surface through covering with molecules, in particular amphiphilic molecules or polymers. The printing form is subjected to a primary process of imaging by laser radiation, and subjected to a primary process of application of at least one lithographic fluid, for example dampening solution, printing ink and/or varnish. The molecules are fixed in image regions by the primary process of imaging. The molecules are removed in non-image regions substantially by at least one primary process different than the application of printing ink, in particular by imaging, application of dampening solution or chemical developing. An apparatus for treating a re-imageable printing form, a machine for processing printing material and a method for treating a surface contacting printing material, are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG
    Inventors: Matthias Schlorholz, Martin Gutfleisch, Harald Latzel, Michaela Hoffmann, Gerald Erik Hauptmann, Uwe Tessmann
  • Publication number: 20070234913
    Abstract: A drive for a rotary printing press makes a reliable transmission of high torques possible and, with low structural expenditure, setting of the phase in the main drive gear train. In the drive for a rotary printing press, two adjacent transfer drums are mounted with shaft journals in side walls, a gearwheel of the gearwheel mechanism is disposed fixedly in terms of rotation on the shaft journals and the gearwheels are not in direct engagement with one another. The gearwheels of the adjacent transfer drums are permanently in engagement in each case with one intermediate gear. The gearwheels of the adjacent transfer drums and the intermediate gears are kept at a spacing from one another in each case with one lever. The intermediate gears are kept at a spacing in each case from one another with a coupler. The coupler can be disconnected and the engagement of the teeth of the intermediate gears can be canceled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Roland Angert, Jens Friedrichs, Christian Gorbing, Gerald Erik Hauptmann, Michael Kruger, Olaf Lorenz, Markus Mohringer, Frank Schaum, Thomas Schmidt, Martin Seipel, Volker Weindel
  • Patent number: 7092664
    Abstract: A digital printing or copying machine (1) is proposed for the one-sided or double-sided printing onto a substrate (5), using at least one toner. The machine (1) includes at least one fixation device (3) for fixing the toner image on the substrate (5). The fixation device (3) has at least one heating device (13) for melting the toner image, past which the substrate (5) can be taken. The machine (1) is distinguished by a guide device (17) for the free floating movement of the substrate (5) in the effective range of the heating device (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Gerhard Bartscher, Knut Behnke, Dirk Dobrindt, Gerald Erik Hauptmann, Hans-Otto Krause, Frank-Michael Morgenweck, Kai-Uwe Preissig, Domingo Rohde, Detlef Schulze-Hagenest, Peter-Alexander Püschner
  • Patent number: 6851366
    Abstract: Presented is a reusable printing form including a printing area that has a metal oxide surface, in particular a native oxidized titanium surface, which is treated with at least one amphiphilic organic compound whose polar region has an acidic character. In an advantageous embodiment, n-heptadecanyl hydroxamic acid {CH3-(CH2)16-C(O)—NH—OH} and/or n-octadecanyl phosphonic acid {CH3-(CH2)17-P(O)—(OH)2} is used. Also described is a method for imaging a reusable printing form. The reusable printing form can be used for offset printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Martin Gutfleisch, Gerald Erik Hauptmann, Harald Latzel, Gerhard Peiter
  • Patent number: 6779444
    Abstract: A process for producing a printing form includes forming a multiplicity of blind holes opening into a surface of a spatial or three-dimensional structure of the printing form, the blind holes serving for receiving a medium therein, and providing a propellant in the printing form for assisting in expelling the medium from the blind holes. A printing form produced by the process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Gerald Erik Hauptmann, Uwe Ernst, Tobias Müller, Bernd Vosseler
  • Patent number: 6740462
    Abstract: A method for fixation of toner on a carrier or printing stock wherein the printing stock with toner is exposed to at least one radiation pulse or radiation flash of electromagnetic radiation and heated for melting of the toner, and a toner having a sharp transition from its solid to liquid state when heated is used. The toner is preferably characterized by the ratio of the value of the elastic modulus G', at the reference temperature value calculated from the initial temperature at the beginning of the glass transition of the toner plus 50° C., to the value of the elastic modulus G' at the initial temperature itself, is less than 10−5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Gerhard Bartscher, Detlef Schulze-Hagenest, Gerald Erik Hauptmann, Frank-Michael Morgenweck, Domingo Rohde, Dinesh Tyagi
  • Publication number: 20040090516
    Abstract: A print substrate-contacting element having an ink-repellent coating on a surface of a microstructured carrier is described, the coating including at least one derivative of an amphiphilic organic compound whose polar region has an acidic character. A method for coating a surface of a microstructured carrier of a print substrate-contacting element is distinguished by the application of an amount of substance, which includes at least one derivative of an amphiphilic organic compound whose polar region has an acidic character, by treating the surface with an alcoholic solution of the amount of substance. The print substrate-contacting element can very advantageously be the surface of a back-pressure cylinder in a print substrate-processing machine, in particular in a printing press. The coating method can be carried out in a print substrate-processing machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Bertold Gruetzmacher, Martin Gutfleisch, Gerald Erik Hauptmann, Gerhard Peiter
  • Patent number: 6697598
    Abstract: A process for heating at least one second material layer (2), especially a toner layer which has been transferred to an image receiver substrate. Energy delivery from electromagnetic and/or acoustic waves (5) is incident from a first material layer (1) at an angle of incidence (&agr;) relative to the normal (7) of the second material layer (2). The angle of incidence (&agr;) is chosen such that the energy delivery which causes at least the heating of the second material layer (2) takes place at least predominantly via the quantum tunnel effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Gerald Erik Hauptmann
  • Publication number: 20040007146
    Abstract: Presented is a reusable printing form including a printing area that has a metal oxide surface, in particular a native oxidized titanium surface, which is treated with at least one amphiphilic organic compound whose polar region has an acidic character. In an advantageous embodiment, n-heptadecanyl hydroxamic acid {CH3—(CH2)16—C(O)—NH—OH} and/or n-octadecanyl phosphonic acid {CH3—(CH2)17—P(O)—(OH)2} is used. Also described is a method for imaging a reusable printing form. The reusable printing form can be used for offset printing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Martin Gutfleisch, Gerald Erik Hauptmann, Harald Latzel, Gerhard Peiter
  • Patent number: 6608986
    Abstract: A digital printing or copying machine (1), and a process which can be carried out with it, for one-sided or double-sided printing of a substrate (5) using at least one toner are proposed. The machine (1) includes at least one fixing device (3) for fixing of a toner image (29) on the substrate (5), having at least one heater (21, 23) for melting the toner image (29), past which the substrate (5) can be guided by a transport device (11) which has one or more transport elements (29, 63 to 71). The machine (1) is characterized in that the heater (21, 23) has at least two melt areas (31, 33, 43 to 47) on the substrate (5) which viewed in the substrate transport direction (15) are arranged in succession and laterally offset to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Gerhard Bartscher, Gerald Erik Hauptmann, Frank-Michael Morgenweck, Kai-Uwe Preissig, Peter-Alexander Püschner, Domingo Rohde
  • Patent number: 6587665
    Abstract: Digital printers or copier machines (1) and processes to be performed using them, for fixing a toner image (5) transferred onto an image-carrier substrate (9), are proposed. One of the processes is characterized in that to fuse the toner particles, at least two electromagnetic radiation pulses are applied in a time-delayed manner onto the same area of the image-carrier substrate (9) and each one individual radiation pulse being in a range from 0.5 J/cm2 to 5 J/cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Gerhard Bartscher, Gerald Erik Hauptmann, Frank-Michael Morgenweck, Domingo Rohde, Detlef Schulze-Hagenest
  • Patent number: 6587667
    Abstract: A deformation device for bending a flexible substrate, being transported by a transport device, into a curved arc shape, thereby taking the flexible substrate out of contact with the transport device, prior to the flexible substrate being transported past a fixing device. As a result, any previously fixed toner on the side of the flexible substrate adjacent to the transport device will not be negatively affected during fixing of toner on the other side of the flexible substrate. The deformation device includes at least two converging guide rails with a wedge-shaped guide element and at least one air nozzle between the guide rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Gerald Erik Hauptmann
  • Patent number: 6549746
    Abstract: A process for printing and/or coating of a substrate, especially of paper or cardboard, is proposed. The process calls for at least one toner layer (1) to be transferred to the substrate and fixed on it, the surface (3) of a gloss variation device (5) acting at least in sections on at least one fixed toner layer (1), or one toner layer (1) in the course of being fixed, in order to influence the gloss of the fixed toner layer (1). In the process, depending on the gloss to be achieved, the force with which the surface (3) of the gloss variation device (5) acts on at least one toner layer (1) and/or at least one property of the surface (3) of the gloss variation device (5) is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Gerald Erik Hauptmann
  • Publication number: 20030025241
    Abstract: A process for producing a printing form includes forming a multiplicity of blind holes opening into a surface of a spatial or three-dimensional structure of the printing form, the blind holes serving for receiving a medium therein, and providing a propellant in the printing form for assisting in expelling the medium from the blind holes. A printing form produced by the process is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Gerald Erik Hauptmann, Uwe Ernst, Tobias Muller, Bernd Vosseler