Patents by Inventor Holger Ratz

Holger Ratz 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: 8323162
    Abstract: An inclined position of a product, leaving a nip between two folding rollers of a longitudinal folding machine, is corrected. The product is pressed into the nip between the rollers by a folding blade that can be moved up and down relative to a folding table. The product thus leaves the nip between the rollers and is transported in a direction of transport. The time of passage of a leading or a trailing edge of a product is detected at two measurement points which are spaced apart from each other and which are arranged transversely to the direction of transport of the product to be folded. Based on the times of passage that are detected by the two measurement points, and on commutation and/or data processing techniques, a deviation between a time offset detected during the passage of the corresponding product edge at the two measurement points, and a nominal time offset, is determined and analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Markus Wilhelm Decker, Klaus Friederich, Christof Horst Höger, Holger Ratz, Gerd Weiler
  • Patent number: 8251882
    Abstract: A longitudinal folding machine comprises a folding blade and a folding table. The folding blade is driven with a cyclical frequency relative to one or more elements of a web-processing machine, or relative to a flow of incoming products. The entry of a leading edge of products is detected at a first measurement point. A relative phase position between the movement of the folding blade and the phase position of the elements and/or the phase position of the flow of products is modified by one of a control and a regulation device to adjust a contact point of the folding blade with the products to be folded. The relative phase position is modified such that the leading edges of the products to be folded are maintained at a distance from the measurement point on the delivery route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Markus Wilhelm Decker, Klaus Friederich, Christof Horst Höger, Holger Ratz, Gerd Weiler
  • Publication number: 20120035040
    Abstract: An inclined position of a product, leaving a nip between two folding rollers of a longitudinal folding machine, is corrected. The product is pressed into the nip between the rollers by a folding blade that can be moved up and down relative to a folding table. The product thus leaves the nip between the rollers and is transported in a direction of transport. The time of passage of a leading or a trailing edge of a product is detected at two measurement points which are spaced apart from each other and which are arranged transversely to the direction of transport of the product to be folded. Based on the times of passage that are detected by the two measurement points, and on commutation and/or data processing techniques, a deviation between a time offset detected during the passage of the corresponding product edge at the two measurement points, and a nominal time offset, is determined and analyzed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Markus Wilhelm Decker, Klaus Friederich, Christof Horst Höger, Holger Ratz, Gerd Weiler
  • Publication number: 20120035032
    Abstract: A longitudinal folding machine comprises a folding blade and a folding table. The folding blade is driven with a cyclical frequency, in a synchronized manner relative to one or more elements of a web-processing machine, which is located upstream of the longitudinal folding machine, or relative to a flow of incoming products. The entry of a leading edge of products is detected at a first measurement point on the delivery route of the folding table. A relative phase position between the movement of the folding blade and the phase position of the elements mounted upstream and/or the phase position of the flow of products is deliberately modified by the use of one of a control and a regulation device in order to adjust a contact point of the folding blade with the products to be folded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Markus Wilhelm Decker, Klaus Friederich, Christof Horst Höger, Holger Ratz, Gerd Weiler
  • Patent number: 7707917
    Abstract: A web is fed into a sheet severer prior to its entry into a subsequent processing stage. The sheets, which have been severed from the web are then cut into required product sections in a cross-cutter which is associated with this subsequent processing stage. In order to achieve an accurately registered severing process, using the sheet severer, it is triggered by a signal which represents the phase position of the cross-cutter. The sheet severer is thus phase-correlated in relation to the phase position of the cross-cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Holger Ratz
  • Patent number: 7575545
    Abstract: A system comprises alternative processing sections for use in the further processing of products. A separator, at which a transport section is divided into several alternative transport sections for the further processing of products in processing stages, is provided. A sensor, that detects the phasing of the products, is located upstream of the separator. A request from the sensor acts on a drive which actuates the separator through a control device. A further sensor, which detects the product phasing, is located on each of the at least two transport sections. This further sensor is connected to a drive for the processing stage served by respective ones of the separate transport sections. The drive of each such processing stage is controlled independently of the drive for the respective transport section by a suitable control unit which takes into consideration the detected product phasing for the associated transport section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Holger Ratz
  • Patent number: 7442158
    Abstract: A folding apparatus includes at least a first folding cylinder and a second, folding jaw cylinder. A third measuring cylinder is also provided. The measuring cylinder is usable to cut product sections or signatures of a determined length L from an endless web. The first cylinder is embodied, in one embodiment, as an engaging cylinder, and as a second embodiment as a puncture cylinder. In both embodiments, the product section or signatures which are produced, have the same length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Holger Ratz, Rudolf Stäb
  • Publication number: 20080257122
    Abstract: A web is fed into a sheet severer prior to its entry into a subsequent processing stage. The sheets, which have been severed from the web are then cut into required product sections in a cross-cutter which is associated with this subsequent processing stage. In order to achieve an accurately registered severing process, using the sheet severer, it is triggered by a signal which represents the phase position of the cross-cutter. The sheet severer is thus phase-correlated in relation to the phase position of the cross-cutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventor: Holger Ratz
  • Patent number: 7390292
    Abstract: A puncture or gripper cylinder is provided with at least one puncture strip that is provided with gripper pins or point needles. These pins are extendable from the cylinder to puncture and to grip a signature. At least one deflector is carried on the puncture cylinder and is extendable and retractable with respect to a surface of the cylinder. The deflector, when it is extended at least temporarily shields the signature from subsequent pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Held, Sebastian Alois Prüm, Holger Ratz
  • Publication number: 20070273087
    Abstract: A system comprises alternative processing sections for use in the further processing of products. A separator, at which a transport section is divided into several alternative transport sections for the further processing of products in processing stages, is provided. A sensor, that detects the phasing of the products, is located upstream of the separator. A request from the sensor acts on a drive which actuates the separator through a control device. A further sensor, which detects the product phasing, is located on each of the at least two transport sections. This further sensor is connected to a drive for the processing stage served by respective ones of the separate transport sections. The drive of each such processing stage is controlled independently of the drive for the respective transport section by a suitable control unit which takes into consideration the detected product phasing for the associated transport section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventor: Holger Ratz
  • Publication number: 20070167305
    Abstract: A folding apparatus includes at least a first folding cylinder and a second, folding jaw cylinder. A third measuring cylinder is also provided. The measuring cylinder is usable to cut product sections or signatures of a determined length L from an endless web. The first cylinder is embodied, in one embodiment, as an engaging cylinder, and as a second embodiment as a puncture cylinder. In both embodiments, the product section or signatures which are produced, have the same length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Holger Ratz, Rudolf Stab
  • Publication number: 20070062392
    Abstract: Flat objects are distributed by a device which includes a transport section that is used to transport a stream of flat objects to be distributed, and a plurality of sequentially arranged paddle wheels or delivery fans, each of which has at least one component that is configured to receive an object from the transport section. Each paddle wheel delivers its object to a distribution point. The paddle wheels can be rotated, with respect to each other, to provide a phase shift which permits each of a number of objects, which corresponds to the number of paddle wheels in the sequence, to be received by a compartment of a different one of the number of paddle wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventor: Holger Ratz
  • Patent number: 7168697
    Abstract: A device that is usable for delivering printed products includes two bucket or paddle wheels that can rotate about two different axes of rotation. Each bucket or paddle wheel includes a plurality of scoop-type elements that can receive printed products from a first or a second product flow. A gripper chain is guided around the two different axes of rotation. Grippers are arranged on the gripper chain and can grip and printed products received in the scoop-type element to thereby remove the product from the scoop. At least one device that will open the grippers, for release of the printed products held by the grippers, is arranged along the path of travel of the gripper chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Holger Ratz
  • Publication number: 20060191432
    Abstract: A puncture or gripper cylinder is provided with at least one puncture strip that is provided with gripper pins or point needles. These pins are extendable from the cylinder to puncture and to grip a signature. At least one deflector is carried on the puncture cylinder and is extendable and retractable with respect to a surface of the cylinder. The deflector, when it is extended at least temporarily shields the signature from subsequent pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Held, Sebastian Prum, Holger Ratz
  • Publication number: 20060180433
    Abstract: Please add the Abstract of the Disclosure as set forth on the separate accompanying sheet. That Abstract of the Disclosure is essentially the same, in content, as the Abstract which is a part of the published PCT application WO 2004/069704A2. No new matter is being presented by the addition of this Abstract of the Disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: Udo Ferino, Holger Ratz
  • Publication number: 20050104271
    Abstract: A device that is usable for delivering printed products includes two bucket or paddle wheels that can rotate about two different axes of rotation. Each bucket or paddle wheel includes a plurality of scoop-type elements that can receive printed products from a first or a second product flow. A gripper chain is guided around the two different axes of rotation. Grippers are arranged on the gripper chain and can grip and printed products received in the scoop-type element to thereby remove the product from the scoop. At least one device that will open the grippers, for release of the printed products held by the grippers, is arranged along the path of travel of the gripper chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventor: Holger Ratz
  • Patent number: 6237751
    Abstract: A clamping claw assembly is secured to an endless transport device, such as a chain conveyor. A fixed clamping jaw is engaged by a movable clamping jaw to secure a product placed between the two. The movable clamping jaw is carried by a lever arm which is movable by an actuating lever. The actuating lever is biased by a tension spring between stable open and closed positions, through a dead center position. The movable clamping jaw is in a locked condition when it is in its closed position due to the force applied by the tension spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Holger Ratz
  • Patent number: 6220427
    Abstract: A displaceable conveyor is used to convey selected printed products to different destination points. A reversing device is positioned intermediate the different destination points and a rigid guide track. A partial guide path connects the reversing device with the rigid guide track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Holger Ratz, Rudolf Stäb
  • Patent number: 6213461
    Abstract: Printed products are guided from an infeed to a delivery belt by a plurality of partially overlapping paddle blades. The paddle blades are secured to an endless carrier such as a chain or a toothed belt. The printed products are deposited on the delivery belt in a smooth, gentle manner as they slip out of the pockets defined by the adjacent overlapping paddles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Holger Ratz, Rudolf Stäb
  • Patent number: 6179111
    Abstract: Folded signatures are delivered to a paddle wheel and then are transported to a plurality of distribution points by a gripper chain with a plurality of grippers. A controllable switching unit is provided at each distribution point in the form of a rotatable cam disk with switching cams. The rotatable cam disk at each distribution point is caused to rotate by an individual motor at a controlled speed and time. The speed of rotation of each cam disk can be greater than the speed of travel of the gripper chain so that the point of release of each signature can be accurately controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Holger Ratz