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).

  • Process and apparatus for producing (large) packs
    Patent number: 6397567
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for introducing elongate, in particular cylindrical, articles, namely packs (10), into a carton (15). The packs (10) arrive individually, and at a spacing from one another, on a feed conveyor (18) and are pushed off from the latter transversely, by a pack pusher (26), into a collecting station (19). Layers (17) comprising a plurality of packs (10) located one beside the other are formed in said collecting station. The layers (17) are then raised one after the other and introduced into a grouping subassembly in order to form groups (16) comprising a plurality of layers. In each case one group, in turn, is pushed into a carton (15) which is open on at least one side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & CO)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Wolfgang Heinzig
  • Process and apparatus for producing packs with an outer wrapper as well as reel unit
    Publication number: 20020065181
    Abstract: In the production of packs with outer wrappers which have a tear-open strip (12), the latter or 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) are preferably provided with markings, printing or printed marks (25). Sensing elements help to detect the relative positions on account of said printing and the drive of the film web (13) and/or of the material strip (18) is controlled accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Martin Stiller, Johann Koster, Gerhard Westermann
  • Foldable material (cigarette) packaging
    Patent number: 6390290
    Abstract: A soft-carton-type cigarette pack made from a one-piece blank of paper or the like. A base wall is reinforced by a double-layered design of base tabs and, in addition, is provided with a reinforcing strip which runs around the inside. An opening aid is provided, in interaction with a Z-fold, in the region of an end wall. An exposed grip tab can be gripped for the purpose of removing a tear-open flap, bounded by perforation lines, in the region of the end wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Henry Buse
  • Apparatus for producing bundle packages for cigarettes
    Publication number: 20020050118
    Abstract: Apparatus for producing cuboid-shaped (cigarette) packages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Reinhard Lohmann
  • Flip-top box for cigarettes
    Patent number: 6360943
    Abstract: Hinge-lid boxes usually comprise a box part (10) and a lid (11) connected in an articulated manner thereto. In the region of a box front wall (15) and lid front wall (19), the box part (10) and lid (11) form transversely directed closure edges, namely a lid closure edge (33) and mating closure edge (34). These closure edges are of V-shaped design with different angles between the associated edge legs (37, 38 and 39, 40, respectively), with the result that a V-shaped or arrowhead-like opening (43) is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Jürgen Focke, Henry Buse
  • Method and apparatus for the inspection of objects
    Publication number: 20020033942
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the inspection of objects, such as cigarette packs (10), with respect to the proper positioning of blanks placed upon them, such as band strips (12), by means of an inspection means (39). Known inspection means have the disadvantage that they are very expensive. The invention provides a cost-efficient alternative. To this end, blanks are illuminated laterally at one or more border edges (22) while the inspection means (39) scans the blank (12) at an essentially frontal aspect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Michael Czarnotta, Dietrich Below
  • Packaging machine, in particular for cigarettes
    Patent number: 6357201
    Abstract: Packaging machine, in particular for cigarettes, having subassemblies and elements for handling packaging material and cigarettes. In order to reduce the outlay on servicing for the packaging machine, the practice, in the region where dust and material particles occur to a pronounced extent, is for air to be extracted constantly or temporarily by suction, the particles being carried along in the process. Furthermore, particles adhering to articles, in particular to material webs, may be processed mechanically, in particular by brushes (41, 42), in order for particles to be detached and extracted by suction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Martin Stiller
  • Hinge-lid pack for cigarettes
    Patent number: 6343691
    Abstract: Hinge-lid packs are normally comprised of a lower pack part (10) and a lid (11) which is pivotably connected thereto. The hinge-lid pack is designed such as to have a hexagonal cross-section with beveled front edges (30, 31) of the pack part (10) and the lid (11), thereby forming chamfers (34, 35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Henry Buse
  • Cigarette pack and process and apparatus for producing the same
    Patent number: 6341474
    Abstract: Cigarette pack of the soft-carton type, comprising an inner blank and an outer blank (12) which is designed in the form of a carton and is made of paper or the like. Folding tabs of the outer blank (12) , namely side tabs (18, 19) and folding tabs (20, 21) of the base wall, are connected to one another by adhesive bonding. For this purpose, hot-melt adhesive is applied in a precisely positioned manner in the region of a continuous material web for producing the outer blanks (12), to be precise the adhesive is applied as rectangular or square side applications of glue (27) and base applications of glue (28). Thereafter, the outer blanks (12) are severed from the material web and are processed in the customary manner in the region of a folding turret. In this case, the applications of glue are activated by heat before, during or after folding of the relevant folding tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Focke & Co., (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Henry Buse
  • Apparatus for handling blanks in packaging machines
    Publication number: 20020000690
    Abstract: For removing blanks (10) from a blanks magazine (14, 15) a transfer roller (18, 19) is employed which grips the blank (10) with a suction head (20) and takes it along its circumference. The transfer roller (18, 19) must be moved back and forth along a linear path of movement below the blanks magazine (14, 15) by rotating about its own axis. This movement is driven by a crank gear—crank arm (24) and strut (26)—which are directly, i.e. by means of a swivel arm (28), connected to the transfer roller (18, 19). A differential gear (23) acts to produce a linear movement of the transfer rollers (18, 19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Helmut Granz
  • Apparatus for producing reciprocating movements
    Patent number: 6328152
    Abstract: Apparatus or gear mechanism for producing linear movements for pushers, carry-along elements and similar elements, in particular during reciprocating movement. The pushers (24, 25) are connected to a gear mechanism (33), in the case of which use is made exclusively of rotating or circulating elements. Each pusher (24, 25) is connected to a lever (37) which is moved by the gear mechanism such that the connection of the lever (37) to the pusher (24, 25) is moved exclusively on a rectilinear path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Burkard Roesler
  • Apparatus for producing products, and method of controlling such apparatus
    Publication number: 20010049568
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for producing products and a method of controlling such an apparatus, having a programmable logic controller—PLC—an axis control system, for controlling axes, and a visualization system for displaying processes and/or process parameters. In known apparatus of this type, the PLC, the axis control system and the visualization system are implemented in physically self-contained appliances. Linking these components requires a great deal of effort both during construction and during operation of the apparatus. The data interchange between the components requires an “overhead” in order to ensure the communication between the components. This is disadvantageous. The invention therefore seeks to improve such manufacturing apparatus and control methods in that the PLC, the axis control system and the visualization system run on a common physical appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Stephan Schroter, Denis Murnikow
  • Device for handling objects
    Patent number: 6325591
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for handling objects to package the same. The handling device comprises a lifting head (17) placed in an extension arm (16) having multiple levers (59, 60, 61), with ends (62, 67) placed on linear drives (63, 68) that can be independently controlled and are flexibly interconnected to the opposite ends (65, 69). The displacement of the linear drives (63, 68) makes it possible to move back and forth the ends (62, 67) of the levers (59, 60, 61) that are flexibly connected to the linear drives (63, 68), thereby enabling the ends (62, 65, 67, 69) of the levers (59, 60, 61) to pivot. These pivotal movements allow the lifting head (17) that is placed on the extension arm (16) to move up and down in a vertical direction and back and forth in a horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Hanfried Kerle, Wolfgang Gropp
  • Hinge-lid box for cigarettes
    Patent number: 6311834
    Abstract: A hinge-lid box for cigarettes has a box part (10) and a lid (11). Hinge-lid boxes have, because of their design or structure, four vertical edges. These edges have a particular design, ie., two vertical edges are designed as rounded edges (24, 25), and the two other edges as angular edges (26, 27) with a rectangular cross-section. The rounded edges (24, 25) can be located in the area of one and the same side wall (14/19) or be in diagonally opposite positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Dieter Neuber
  • Process and apparatus for producing packs
    Patent number: 6308492
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for producing packs, in particular cigarette packs. A change in the type of pack makes it necessary for the operators carefully to provide the correct packaging material assigned to the new type of pack. In practice, this change of material often takes place incorrectly. The invention avoid errors when the type of pack is changed in that markings, which are assigned to packaging material of different designs and are provided on the packaging material and/or the carrier thereof, in particular on a core of the reel, and/or the pack, are used to identify the packaging material and to check it for correct assignment in relation to the type of pack which is to be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Henry Buse, Gisbert Engel
  • Process and apparatus for providing codings on ( cigarette ) packs
    Publication number: 20010032932
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for providing codings on (cigarette) packs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Martin Stiller, Jens Schmidt, Ralph Sgodzai
  • Hinged-lid box for cigarettes
    Patent number: 6302322
    Abstract: A single-piece hinged-lid cigarette box which has a collar (12) connected to a main section (33), in the area of a front panel (13) of the box, by tabs (34, 35), the collar being part of the single-piece box. A front panel (30) of the collar is provided with recesses (41, 42) in order to avoid a multi-layer structure in the area of the tabs (34, 35) which are folded into a Z shape (34, 35). At least partial areas of the folded tabs (34, 35) fit into these recesses (41, 42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Henry Buse
  • Lifting device (pallet device) with pivotal arm
    Patent number: 6290448
    Abstract: Lifting device, in particular a pallet device (10), comprising a pivotal arm (19) at the free end of which in the area of a controllable rotary mount (42) is mounted a separate support element for a lifting head (43), i.e. a pivotal support arm (46) at the free end of which the lifting head (43) is rotary mounted, and the rotary movements of the lifting head (43) are carried out by an operating cylinder (49), preferably with two end positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Pavel Livotov
  • Package for individual packs and process and apparatus for producing same
    Patent number: 6283363
    Abstract: In the production of packages made of relatively rigid packaging material, e.g. cardboard, it is not possible to directly fold the blank around the pack contents, if the pack contents are composed of articles which may not be mechanically strained, as for example, soft packs. A folding sleeve (47) which can be moved together with the pack contents makes it possible to fold a cardboard blank (28) around the pack contents. The folding sleeve (47) surrounding the pack contents absorbs the mechanical strain occurring in the folding process. Before completing the package, the folding sleeve (47) is pulled out of the region of the pack contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventor: Heinz Focke
  • Cigarette pack
    Patent number: D448888
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Focke & Co (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Henry Buse