Patents by Inventor Gunter Stephan

Gunter Stephan 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: 6644195
    Abstract: A method of adjusting an air guide system having various actuators, in a sheet-fed printing machine, includes the method steps of providing characteristic curves containing conveying parameters which are critical for sheet conveyance, plotted against a printing machine-specific parameter, and which are optimal for sheet-specific parameters; storing the characteristic curves in a memory; feeding the actual sheet-specific and printing machine-specific data of a print job to a CPU; accessing by the CPU the characteristic curve which is optimal for the actual data from the memory; outputting the appropriate commands to the individual actuators; and, if necessary, providing operator intervention; and a device for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Günter Stephan
  • Publication number: 20030205153
    Abstract: A sheet-fed rotary printing press has at least one unit which includes an impression cylinder and an additional cylinder assigned to the impression cylinder. The impression cylinder and the additional cylinder are relatively adjustable a spaced distance from one another. A sheet guiding device is disposed on the additional cylinder for keeping sheets of printing material, which have been transported by the impression cylinder past the additional cylinder, away from the additional cylinder, once the spaced distance between the impression cylinder and the additional cylinder has been set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Wadlinger, Rudolf Leib, Gunter Stephan
  • Patent number: 6640707
    Abstract: In a device for guiding sheets in a sheet-fed apparatus, preferably, a rotary printing press, sheet guide elements that are charged with blasted air are disposed at the sheet guide cylinder, and the air blast nozzles include a combination of conventional free jet nozzles and throttled nozzles, which are independently charged with different pressure levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Eckart Frankenberger, Michael Gieser, Christian Görbing, Peter Hachmann, Karl-Heinz Helmstädter, Christian Hieb, Ruben Schmitt, Günter Stephan
  • Patent number: 6631784
    Abstract: A device for reducing the noise emissions of a machine for printing flat material, wherein flat material is transportable across an impression cylinder, comprising at least one muffling element disposed across a portion of a transport path of the flat material extending along the impression cylinder, directly behind or downline from a nip, as viewed in the direction of the transport path, and at a spaced distance from the impression cylinder; and a machine including the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Drucksmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Christian Hieb, Daniel Conzelmann, Günter Stephan
  • Patent number: 6612236
    Abstract: A sheet transport cylinder in a machine that processes sheets of printing material includes air nozzles for sheet formats of the printing-material sheets. The printing-material sheets are dimensioned from a minimum format up to a maximum format. The sheet transport cylinder is distinguished by the fact that the air nozzles are throttled air nozzles disposed to be matched to the minimum format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Eckart Frankenberger, Michael Gieser, Peter Hachmann, Karl-Heinz Helmstädter, Christian Hieb, Ruben Schmitt, Günter Stephan
  • Patent number: 6612235
    Abstract: A guiding device in a machine for processing sheets of printing material includes unthrottled air nozzles for contact-free guidance of the sheets, and throttled air nozzles arranged at locations which are prone to contact by the sheets; and a machine for processing sheets of printing material and a sheet-fed rotary printing machine, respectively, having the guiding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Eckart Frankenberger, Michael Gieser, Christian Görbing, Peter Hachmann, Karl-Heinz Helmstädter, Christian Hieb, Ruben Schmitt, Günter Stephan
  • Publication number: 20030121433
    Abstract: A sheet-fed rotary printing press for selective recto printing and recto and verso printing includes a three-drum reversing device having three cylinders cooperatively disposed behind one another between respective impression cylinders of two adjacent printing units. The three cylinders include one at least double-size transfer cylinder, one at least double-size storage drum, and one at least single-size reversing drum. Grippers prescribe a circular periphery of the transfer cylinder. The transfer cylinder has an outer contour smaller than the circular periphery prescribed by the grippers of the transfer cylinder. Other grippers prescribe a circular periphery of the reversing drum. The reversing drum has an outer contour smaller than the circular periphery prescribed by the grippers of the reversing drum. A method of operating the three-drum reversing device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Helmstadter, Hans Peter Boguhn, Hans-Peter Hiltwein, Gunter Stephan
  • Patent number: 6581928
    Abstract: The sheet guide device for machines that process sheets of printing material, such as a sheet-fed rotary printing machine, has a first guide element which has a supporting face inclined transversely with respect to the transport direction of the sheets of printing material. The supporting face supports side edges of the sheets of printing material. The guide element is mounted such that it can be adjusted with an adjusting device in the form of a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Günter Stephan
  • Patent number: 6571706
    Abstract: A method for two-sided printing of a sheet of printing material having a front side and a rear side, in a sheet-fed rotary printing press, wherein the front side is cleaned before being printed, includes also cleaning the rear side of the sheet before printing thereon; and a sheet-fed rotary printing press for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Daniel Conzelmann, Karl-Heinz Seefried, Günter Stephan
  • Publication number: 20030019377
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for reversing sheet material in a sheet-processing machine having at least two printing units, a reversing drum with a gripper system, and an impression cylinder that can be operated as a storage drum in perfecting mode and to which a further gripper system for one edge of the sheet material is assigned. In perfecting mode, one of the edges of the sheet material is gripped at an angular offset before the transfer centerline between the reversing drum and the storage drum, before the edge of the sheet material fixed to the storage drum is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Gunter Stephan, Karl-Heinz Helmstadter, Eckart Frankenberger, Hans-Peter Hiltwein
  • Patent number: 6490974
    Abstract: A sheet-guiding device has a sheet-guiding element for a sheet-fed printing machine having an impression cylinder and a further cylinder adjacent thereto, the sheet-guiding element being disposed for guiding a sheet transported by the impression cylinder when the further cylinder is set-off from the impression cylinder. The further cylinder includes a cylinder selected from the group thereof consisting of an applicator cylinder for applying ink or varnish, respectively, to a sheet lying on the impression cylinder, and a tool cylinder for applying a finishing step to a sheet lying on the impression cylinder. The sheet-guiding element is disposed separately from the further cylinder and covers an impression zone of the impression cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Wadlinger, Werner König, Rudolf Leib, Günter Stephan
  • Publication number: 20020139262
    Abstract: Provided, in combination, is a device for turning sheet-like material, with an impression cylinder for guiding the sheet-like material, the impression cylinder being preceded by a first transfer cylinder and followed by a second transfer cylinder, the sheet-like material being receivable on an outer jacket surface of the impression cylinder so as to be printable by a third transfer cylinder, and further included are a storage device, and a device for imparting a deformation in the sheet-like material during entry thereof into the storage device and while the sheet-like material is gripped at an edge thereof; and a printing unit and a multicolor rotary printing machine, respectively, provided with the combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Gunter Stephan
  • Patent number: 6457407
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a cylinder in a printing machine includes, in a first step, rotating a first cylinder into a rotary position wherein a cylinder gap formed in the first cylinder is directed towards a second cylinder of the printing machine and, in a second step, displacing one of the two cylinders, with the second cylinder dipping into the cylinder gap; and a printing machine for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Rodolf Leib, Günter Stephan
  • Publication number: 20020112624
    Abstract: A device for separating copies of a flat sheet material mutually adjacently conveyed on paths defining a common wedge-shaped region, one of the copies of the flat sheet material passing over in a transfer region to the respective path whereon the other of the copies is conveyed, includes a guiding device for maintaining a separation of the copies, said guiding device being accommodated in the wedge-shaped region; and a printing unit, a rotary printing machine and a multicolor rotary printing machine, respectively, having such a separating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: Gunter Stephan
  • Publication number: 20020096068
    Abstract: A machine for processing sheets, in particular a sheet-fed rotary printing machine, includes a transporting cylinder for transporting the sheets and having air nozzles disposed offset in relation to one another in a direction other than an axis-parallel direction of the transporting cylinder, and having a directing configuration for directing the sheets and having air nozzles, the configuration being assigned to the transporting cylinder. The machine is distinguished in that the air nozzles include throttled air nozzles and unthrottled air nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Eckart Frankenberger, Michael Gieser, Christian Gorbing, Peter Hachmann, Karl-Heinz Helmstadter, Christian Hieb, Ruben Schmitt, Gunter Stephan
  • Publication number: 20020092432
    Abstract: In a sheet-processing rotary printing machine operatable in recto printing and recto/verso printing modes, there is provided a device for reversing sheets, which includes a transfer drum bounded by two sheet-guiding cylinders, a reversing/storage drum and an additional transport element assigned to the transfer drum, the transfer drum being drivable in opposite directions of rotation in the recto printing and the recto/verso printing modes, and gripper systems actable in both directions of rotation of the transfer drum, the gripper systems being accommodated on an imaginary jacket surface of the transfer drum; a printing unit including the components of the device; and the printing machine being a multicolor printing machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventor: Gunter Stephan
  • Publication number: 20020078842
    Abstract: A guiding device in a machine for processing sheets of printing material includes unthrottled air nozzles for contact-free guidance of the sheets, and throttled air nozzles arranged at locations which are prone to contact by the sheets; and a machine for processing sheets of printing material and a sheet-fed rotary printing machine, respectively, having the guiding device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Eckart Frankenberger, Michael Gieser, Christian Gorbing, Peter Hachmann, Karl-Heinz Helmstadter, Christian Hieb, Ruben Schmitt, Gunter Stephan
  • Publication number: 20020070493
    Abstract: In a device for reducing the frictional force between a guiding or carrying element for sheets in a sheet-processing machine, in particular rotary printing machines, guiding and carrying elements acted upon by throttled blowing air include a sheet surface, orifices fluidically connected to a hollow interior, and a throttle disposed in the hollow interior. The elements are to be connected to an air source for blowing air out through the orifices and for generating an air cushion between a sheet and the sheet surface. Each of the orifices is preceded by the throttle with respect to a direction of air from the air source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Uwe Fischer, Eckart Frankenberger, Michael Gieser, Christian Gorbing, Peter Hachmann, Karl-Heinz Helmstadter, Christian Hieb, Ruben Schmitt, Gunter Stephan
  • Publication number: 20020069773
    Abstract: A device for turning sheet-like material from a printed side onto an unprinted side uses an impression cylinder which guides the sheet-like material and which is preceded by a transfer cylinder and followed by a further transfer cylinder. The sheet-like, flexurally rigid material is received on the outer surface of the impression cylinder and can be printed with a transmission cylinder. In the gusset between the outer surfaces of the impression cylinder and the preceding transfer cylinder, a contactlessly acting throw-on device is provided which forces the sheet-like material into a curved position corresponding to the curvature of the outer surface of the impression cylinder such that the sheet-like material is curved even in the gusset region. A printing press and a multicolor rotary printing press are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventor: Gunter Stephan
  • Publication number: 20020060422
    Abstract: A smoothing device includes guide surface sections for a flat printing material whose leading edge is pulled in a direction of travel over the guide surface sections. The guide surface sections have openings which communicate with throttling ducts that are pressurized with compressed air during operation. The guide surface sections form a smoothing notch and have air passage openings which communicate with a flow duct. The air passage openings are configured to cause pressure conditions when there is an air throughflow during operation such that the flat printing material forms a bead projecting into the smoothing notch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Eckart Frankenberger, Michael Gieser, Peter Hachmann, Karl-Heinz Helmstadter, Christian Hieb, Ruben Schmitt, Gunter Stephan