Patents by Inventor Heinz Focke

Heinz Focke 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: 7684889
    Abstract: A production and packaging installation with a control arrangement (33) and production units having respectively adjustable mechanisms, such as, a (cigarette-) production machine (maker 10), a packaging machine (packer 11), possibly a film-wrapping machine (12), possibly a multipacker (13) and possibly a carton packer (cartoner 14), for the production and ready-to-dispatch packaging of, in the first instance, products—cigarettes and cigarette packs—of a first type and, thereafter, products of a second type each comprising starting materials, such as paper blanks, film and the like, and also specifies the control arrangement itself and a method of controlling the line, it being the case that at least a first set of parameters (61) associated with products of the first type and a second set of parameters (62) associated with products of the second type are stored in a selectable manner in a memory of the control arrangement (33) and, upon selection of a set of parameters (61, 62), a manipulated variable for adj
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Doris Focke, legal representative, Jürgen Focke, legal representative, Kurt Meyer, Thomas Tengen
  • Patent number: 7669387
    Abstract: Transponders are used for identifying objects such as packaging, packaging material or machines and machine elements and are attached to the object to be identified. The transponders contain data which are provided by an electronic write unit and which can be recognized by a read unit. The transponders are provided in a concealed manner on the machines, machine parts, etc. or are embedded in the machine part, for example, inside a recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Jurgen Focke, legal representative, Doris Focke, legal representative, Tobias Jacobi, Gisbert Engel
  • Patent number: 7588143
    Abstract: A cuboidal cigarette pack of the hinge-lid-box type (10) is enclosed by an outer wrapper made of film. The latter has a tear-open thread (24) which extends obliquely or diagonally in the region of a front wall (14) and rear wall (15) and merges into side walls (16, 17) via arcuate regions. This allows optimum opening and removal of the outer wrapper with the aid of the tear-open thread (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Jurgen Focke, legal representative, Doris Focke, legal representative, Martin Stiller, Gisbert Engel, Karsten Krone
  • Patent number: 7584758
    Abstract: A distributor or hopper is part of a cigarette production machine and serves for dressing the tobacco in the provision of a continuous tobacco strand. An integral part of a distributor is a metering system which prepares the tobacco for the production of the tobacco strand. To separate out undesirable constituents, such as foreign bodies, stalks or ribs, from the tobacco, at least one sifter (15) is provided. The latter precedes the metering system of the distributor in the working direction, in particular is arranged outside the distributor, so that sifted tobacco is introduced into the distributor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Doris Focke, legal representative, Jürgen Focke, legal representative, Ralf Barkmann, Alfred Drenguis, Frauke Illigner, Reinhard Hoppe, Tobias Jacobi, Christina Ott, Remo Schulz, Michael Wegmann
  • Patent number: 7475525
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing packs (23) from at least two partial packs (25, 26) to form one groups of packs (21, 22) each of especially cuboid (cigarette) packs (20), a one-piece blank (24) being folded along (embossed) fold lines (46, 47) around the groups of packs (21, 22) in such a way that mutually facing inner walls (27) of the partial packs (25, 26) are folded in between the groups of packs (21, 22) in a V shape. According to the invention, the substantially flat blank (24) is conveyed along a blank path (36) and, during the transport, is at least partially upset in such a way that the inner walls (27) are folded in a V shape along fold lines (46) arranged transversely with respect to the transport direction. The invention also relates to a corresponding device for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)
    Inventors: Doris Focke, legal representative, Jürgen Focke, legal representative, Harald Freudenberg, Holger Broek, Heinz Focke
  • Patent number: 7455176
    Abstract: A cigarette pack of the hinge-lid-box type is provided with predominantly or fully rounded side walls (19, 20) and lid side walls (24, 25). The side walls here are made up of a plurality of rounded regions with different radii, and also with a planar central side strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)
    Inventors: Doris Focke, legal representative, Jürgen Focke, legal representative, Viktor Hein, Reinhard Lohmann, Hans Schönberger, Heinz Focke
  • Patent number: 7438183
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cigarette pack of the hinge-lid type comprising an opening (36) configured in the lower section of the front face, namely in a front wall (12) of the pack. A marking (38), applied to the inner wrapper for identifying the product, is visible through said opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)
    Inventors: Doris Focke, legal representative, Jürgen Focke, legal representative, Valeri Goncharenko, Henry Buse, Heinz Focke
  • Patent number: 7344024
    Abstract: In the case of a (soft) pack for cigarettes, the blank (10) made of paper or similar material is provided, adjacent to an end wall (16), with a multi-layered folding strip (21) running all the way round. In order that inner layers can be connected to outer, covering layers via glue—spot of glue (20)—a round cutout (29) made by punching is provided, the spot of glue (20) being positioned in the region of said cutout. A special feature is constituted by the production of blanks (10) for such a pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)
    Inventors: Jürgen Focke, legal representative, Hans-Jürgen Bretthauer, Henry Buse, Heinz Focke
  • Patent number: 7331451
    Abstract: A cuboidal cigarette pack with a large-surface-area pack side, namely rear side (13), is provided with a blank (23), which serves as a printing carrier, in the region of this rear side (13). The blank is positioned between an outer wrapper (19) of film and the pack (10). A top region of the blank (23) is connected to a detachable top part of the outer wrapper, namely a film cap (22), and is also removed when the pack (10) is opened for the first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Focke & Co., (GmbH & Co. KG)
    Inventors: Jurgen Focke, legal representative, Doris Focke, legal representative, Irmin Steinkamp, Heinz Focke
  • Patent number: 7296579
    Abstract: In the production of filter-tipped cigarettes (25), an apparatus (filter attachment machine) is used, which consists of a main cylinder (10) and a plurality of assigned further cylinders. The elements of the filter-tipped cigarettes (25), specifically a tobacco rod (15) or part-rods (16, 17), filter pieces (21), cigarette units (23), and the filter-tipped cigarettes (25) produced therefrom are transported by the main cylinder (10), with the exception that part-rods (16, 17) displaced at a distance from one another and with a filter piece (21) inserted for the attachment of a wrapping paper (22) are transported and connected to one another outside the main cylinder (10), so that one-piece cigarette units (23) are returned to the main cylinder (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Frank Beckmann, Christina Kunig
  • Patent number: 7275438
    Abstract: In order to check a material web (12), in particular a film web, with regard to the correct arrangement of a tear-off strip (11) extending in the longitudinal direction of the material web (12), ultrasonic transmitters are used, specifically an ultrasonic transmitter (11) on the one hand and an ultrasonic receiver (19) on the other hand. The sensors are arranged on opposite sides of the material web (12) in such a way that, if appropriate, focused ultrasonic waves are aimed specifically at the region of the tear-off strip (11). If a tear-off strip (11) is missing, an appropriate signal is generated by the ultrasonic receiver (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)
    Inventors: Doris Focke, legal representative, Jürgen Focke, legal representative, Michael Czarnotta, Heinz Focke, deceased
  • Patent number: 7273145
    Abstract: A cigarette pack with a shell (10) and slide (11), the range of movement of the slide (11) within the shell (10) is limited, in particular by stops formed, on the one hand, on a stop tab (30) and, on the other hand, by a recess (34) in the shell (10). The stops help to define a closed position of the slide (11) and an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Inventors: Doris Focke, legal representative, Jurgen Focke, legal representative, Hans-Jurgen Bretthauer, Karsten Mutschall, Heinz Focke, deceased
  • Patent number: 7234696
    Abstract: For producing (cigarettes) packs (10) with a coupon positioned between the pack and outer wrapper made of film, the coupons are supplied to a packaging machine for the outer wrapper and are transported in the region of the packaging machine by a coupon conveyor (17). The coupons pass into the region of a feeder (20) and are applied by the latter to a free top side (13) of the packs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)
    Inventors: Jurgen Focke, legal representative, Doris Focke, legal representative, Stephan Bachner, Jens Schmidt, Heinz Focke, deceased
  • Patent number: 7222626
    Abstract: The invention specifies a production and/or packaging installation containing a performance-limiting means, and also specifies the method of operating the same, with the result that this installation can be sold to a purchaser with a certain performance capability guaranteed and only the guaranteed performance level can be retrieved, measures for reducing the performance level of the installation being taken or initiated in the event of manipulation for increasing the performance level or for bypassing the performance-limiting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)
    Inventors: Jürgen Focke, legal representative, Doris Focke, legal representative, Hartmut Olbrich, Cord Schröder, Heinz Focke, deceased
  • Patent number: 7216755
    Abstract: For the production of cigarette groups (11) having a formation comprising a plurality of vertical rows of cigarettes (10) arranged one beside the other, after pushing a corresponding number of cigarettes (10) out of shafts (13) of a cigarette magazine (12), a transverse displacement of the cigarettes (10) is required in order to arrange same in a tightly packed or saddle configuration. At least marginal push rods (18) for pushing the cigarettes (10) out of the shafts (13) of the cigarette magazine (12) can be displaced transversely together with the cigarettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co., KG)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, deceased, Doris Focke, legal representative, Jürgen Focke, legal representative, Hermann Blome, Heido Spöring, Jürgen Tempel
  • Patent number: 7200978
    Abstract: Process for producing packs made of thin cardboard with an outer wrapper made of shrink-wrap film. Folding tabs of the outer wrapper are connected to one another by full-surface-area heat sealing. The shrink-wrapping process for the outer wrapper may be initiated as a result. In order to ensure a correct form of the outer wrapper, the folding tabs, prior to the full-surface-area sealing operation, are connected to one another by a tack seal, with small, limited sealing surface areas, and are then sealed over the full surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Martin Stiller
  • Publication number: 20070071305
    Abstract: Transponders are used for identifying objects such as packaging, packaging material or machines and machine elements and are attached to the object to be identified. The transponders contain data which are provided by an electronic write unit and which can be recognized by a read unit. The transponders are provided in a concealed manner on the machines, machine parts, etc. or are embedded in the machine part, for example, inside a recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Jurgen Focke, Doris Focke, Tobias Jacobi, Gisbert Engel
  • Patent number: 7185658
    Abstract: During the production of cigarettes, but in particular in the region of a cigarette-packaging machine, a comparatively large amount of tobacco accumulates as waste. This is specifically removed by arranging suction-extraction elements and/or conveying-away elements for tobacco particles (19) in the region of elements and subassemblies of the machines with increased accumulation of tobacco. The air with tobacco particles (19) which has been extracted by suction is led through a tobacco separator (45), which has a separating element (48) for receiving the tobacco particles. From time to time, these are removed from the tobacco separator (45) and recycled into the production process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Martin Stiller
  • Patent number: 7179215
    Abstract: In the production of packs with outer wrappers which have a tear-open strip (12), the latter of continuous material strips (18), for the purpose of severing the tear-open strips (12), are provided with printing, markings (24), etc. Moreover, the film webs (13) from which the outer wrappers are made also are preferably provided with markings, printing or printed marks (25). Sensing elements help to detect the relative positions of the tear-open strip (12) and the film webs (13) on account of the printing and the drive of the film web (13) and/or of the material strip (18) is controlled accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Martin Stiller, Johann Köster, Gerhard Westermann
  • Publication number: 20070000211
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing packs (23) from at least two partial packs (25, 26) to form one groups of packs (21, 22) each of especially cuboid (cigarette) packs (20), a one-piece blank (24) being folded along (embossed) fold lines (46, 47) around the groups of packs (21, 22) in such a way that mutually facing inner walls (27) of the partial packs (25, 26) are folded in between the groups of packs (21, 22) in a V shape. According to the invention, the substantially flat blank (24) is conveyed along a blank path (36) and, during the transport, is at least partially upset in such a way that the inner walls (27) are folded in a V shape along fold lines (46) arranged transversely with respect to the transport direction. The invention also relates to a corresponding device for carrying out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Harald Freudenberg, Holger Broek