Patents by Inventor Jens Forche

Jens Forche 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: 11247496
    Abstract: A device for controlling the printing operation in an inkjet printing machine includes at least one inkjet print head disposed at an adjustable distance from a substrate to be printed on. A device receives a print job and a bad sheet sensor has a trigger threshold. A machine control unit adjusts the distance between the inkjet print head and the substrate to be printed on as well as the trigger threshold of the bad sheet sensor before or after the printing operation as a function of a received print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Steffen Neeb, Nicklas Raymond Norrick, Andreas Henn, Jens Forche
  • Patent number: 10625499
    Abstract: A method for detecting and compensating for defective print heads in an inkjet printing machine uses a computer to analyze printing nozzle test charts and/or area coverage elements to obtain characteristic values of individual printing nozzles in a print head, to calculate the failure probabilities of these printing nozzles on the basis of thresholds, and to compensate for a printing nozzle that exceeds a specified failure probability. The computer uses the individual failure probabilities of the individual printing nozzles in a print head to calculate the failure probability of the print head and initiates compensation measures as a function of the calculation. The thresholds correspond to a multi-dimensional characteristic value threshold based on which the computer calculates the failure probability of a printing nozzle by using an algorithm including kernel density estimation through a multidimensional distribution function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Steffen Neeb, Nicklas Raymond Norrick, Andreas Henn, Jens Forche, Andreas Fehlner
  • Patent number: 10603900
    Abstract: A method detects defective print nozzles in an inkjet printing machine by a computer. In a first phase within the context of a print job, print nozzle test patterns are printed beside a subject on a printing substrate. These print nozzle test patterns are then digitized by an image sensor and sent to the computer, where they are analyzed by the computer to determine the current state of the print nozzles, including defective print nozzles. After the first phase, the print nozzle test patterns are modified by the computer on the basis of the current state of the print nozzles and, in a second phase, the modified print nozzle test patterns are printed, digitized and evaluated by the computer with regard to the determination of the current state of the print nozzles and defective print nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Fehlner, Thomas Wolf, Andreas Henn, Steffen Neeb, Nicklas Raymond Norrick, Jens Forche
  • Publication number: 20200094594
    Abstract: A device for controlling the printing operation in an inkjet printing machine includes at least one inkjet print head disposed at an adjustable distance from a substrate to be printed on. A device receives a print job and a bad sheet sensor has a trigger threshold. A machine control unit adjusts the distance between the inkjet print head and the substrate to be printed on as well as the trigger threshold of the bad sheet sensor before or after the printing operation as a function of a received print job.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: STEFFEN NEEB, NICKLAS RAYMOND NORRICK, ANDREAS HENN, JENS FORCHE
  • Patent number: 10596806
    Abstract: A method for detecting and compensating for defective printing nozzles in an ink jet printing machine by using a computer includes printing printing nozzle test charts next to an actual print in a production run, subsequently recording and digitizing the printed printing nozzle test charts by using at least one image sensor, evaluating recorded test charts and, based thereon, defining characteristic values for all printing nozzles contributing to the printed printing nozzle test charts by using the computer, calculating a failure probability for every contributing printing nozzle based on the determined characteristic values by applying a statistical prediction model using the computer, and switching off and compensating for all printing nozzles exceeding a first defined threshold for the calculated failure probability. A printing operation is then carried out on the ink jet printing machine with printing nozzle compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Steffen Neeb, Nicklas Raymond Norrick, Andreas Henn, Andreas Fehlner, Thomas Wolf, Jens Forche
  • Publication number: 20200016889
    Abstract: A method for detecting and compensating for defective print heads in an inkjet printing machine uses a computer to analyze printing nozzle test charts and/or area coverage elements to obtain characteristic values of individual printing nozzles in a print head, to calculate the failure probabilities of these printing nozzles on the basis of thresholds, and to compensate for a printing nozzle that exceeds a specified failure probability. The computer uses the individual failure probabilities of the individual printing nozzles in a print head to calculate the failure probability of the print head and initiates compensation measures as a function of the calculation. The thresholds correspond to a multi-dimensional characteristic value threshold based on which the computer calculates the failure probability of a printing nozzle by using an algorithm including kernel density estimation through a multidimensional distribution function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: STEFFEN NEEB, NICKLAS RAYMOND NORRICK, ANDREAS HENN, JENS FORCHE, ANDREAS FEHLNER
  • Publication number: 20200009876
    Abstract: A method detects defective printing nozzles in an inkjet printing machine by a computer. The method includes printing a printing nozzle test chart for detection purposes, recording the printing nozzle test chart by use of at least one image sensor, and analyzing the recorded printing nozzle test chart by the computer to identify defective printing nozzles. To create the printing nozzle test chart, every printing nozzle prints a surface, and the computer determines the centroid of every surface to analyze the recorded printing nozzle test chart and for all surfaces compares the actual position of the determined centroid to the respective target position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: STEFFEN NEEB, NICKLAS RAYMOND NORRICK, ANDREAS HENN, JENS FORCHE
  • Publication number: 20190160809
    Abstract: A method for detecting and compensating for defective printing nozzles in an ink jet printing machine by using a computer includes printing printing nozzle test charts next to an actual print in a production run, subsequently recording and digitizing the printed printing nozzle test charts by using at least one image sensor, evaluating recorded test charts and, based thereon, defining characteristic values for all printing nozzles contributing to the printed printing nozzle test charts by using the computer, calculating a failure probability for every contributing printing nozzle based on the determined characteristic values by applying a statistical prediction model using the computer, and switching off and compensating for all printing nozzles exceeding a first defined threshold for the calculated failure probability. A printing operation is then carried out on the ink jet printing machine with printing nozzle compensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: STEFFEN NEEB, NICKLAS RAYMOND NORRICK, ANDREAS HENN, ANDREAS FEHLNER, THOMAS WOLF, JENS FORCHE
  • Publication number: 20190152219
    Abstract: A method detects defective print nozzles in an inkjet printing machine by a computer. In a first phase within the context of a print job, print nozzle test patterns are printed beside a subject on a printing substrate. These print nozzle test patterns are then digitized by an image sensor and sent to the computer, where they are analyzed by the computer to determine the current state of the print nozzles, including defective print nozzles. After the first phase, the print nozzle test patterns are modified by the computer on the basis of the current state of the print nozzles and, in a second phase, the modified print nozzle test patterns are printed, digitized and evaluated by the computer with regard to the determination of the current state of the print nozzles and defective print nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: ANDREAS FEHLNER, THOMAS WOLF, ANDREAS HENN, STEFFEN NEEB, NICKLAS RAYMOND NORRICK, JENS FORCHE
  • Patent number: 7942402
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding sheets to a sheet processing machine smoothes out and fixes a sheet through the use of a suction groove disposed transversely relative to a sheet transport direction, before the sheet is gripped by an onward transport device. A sheet-fed rotary printing press having the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Jens Forche, Christian Hieb
  • Patent number: 7574958
    Abstract: In a sheet gripper, a dimensionally stable base material and an elastic clamping surface material are connected to each other in a form-fitting manner. The elastic clamping surface material functions as a clamping surface of the sheet gripper. This forms a sheet gripper having a long service life and is easy manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Jens Forche, Karl-Heinz Helmstädter, Hans-Peter Hiltwein, Dieter Stephan, Volker Weyde
  • Publication number: 20080191405
    Abstract: A sheet-processing machine, such as a printing press, includes a device for generating pneumatic forces, such as pressure or negative pressure, at consumers. A pneumatic pressure generator is disposed directly at the consumer to minimize lag times between the generator and the consumer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG
    Inventor: Jens Forche
  • Publication number: 20080164649
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding sheets to a sheet processing machine smoothes out and fixes a sheet through the use of a suction groove disposed transversely relative to a sheet transport direction, before the sheet is gripped by an onward transport device. A sheet-fed rotary printing press having the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG
    Inventors: Jens Forche, Christian Hieb
  • Patent number: 7118104
    Abstract: A gripper system for a machine that processes printing material sheets has a gripper with a first clamping surface and a gripper pad, for cooperating with the gripper, with a second clamping surface. One of the two clamping surfaces is formed with a surface relief. The clamping surface which has the surface relief is placed in such a way that, when a narrow printing material sheet is gripped, the clamping surface is covered by the sheet only within a subregion of the clamping surface and, when it grips a broad printing material sheet, it is covered by the latter beyond the subregion. The surface relief is structured differently within the subregion than outside the subregion, in that it is provided within the subregion with an antideformation structure which protects the narrow printing material sheet from excessive clamping deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Jens Forche, Hans-Peter Hiltwein
  • Publication number: 20060048661
    Abstract: In a sheet gripper, a dimensionally stable base material and an elastic clamping surface material are connected to each other in a form-fitting manner. The elastic clamping surface material functions as a clamping surface of the sheet gripper. This forms a sheet gripper having a long service life and is easy manufacture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Inventors: Jens Forche, Karl-Heinz Helmstadter, Hans-Peter Hiltwein, Dieter Stephan, Volker Weyde
  • Patent number: 6976427
    Abstract: In a gripper system having grippers disposed in a row and interspaces between the grippers and hold-downs for holding down in each case a free edge of a printing material sheet gripped by the grippers, the hold-downs being disposed to project into the interspaces and being mounted such that they can be displaced together with the grippers when gripping the printing material sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Willi Becker, Jens Forche, Hans-Peter Hiltwein
  • Publication number: 20040244864
    Abstract: A gripper system for a machine that processes printing material sheets has a gripper with a first clamping surface and a gripper pad, for cooperating with the gripper, with a second clamping surface. One of the two clamping surfaces is formed with a surface relief. The clamping surface which has the surface relief is placed in such a way that, when a narrow printing material sheet is gripped, the clamping surface is covered by the sheet only within a subregion of the clamping surface and, when it grips a broad printing material sheet, it is covered by the latter beyond the subregion. The surface relief is structured differently within the subregion than outside the subregion, in that it is provided within the subregion with an antideformation structure which protects the narrow printing material sheet from excessive clamping deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jens Forche, Hans-Peter Hiltwein
  • Publication number: 20040094056
    Abstract: In a gripper system having grippers disposed in a row and interspaces between the grippers and hold-downs for holding down in each case a free edge of a printing material sheet gripped by the grippers, the hold-downs being disposed to project into the interspaces and being mounted such that they can be displaced together with the grippers when gripping the printing material sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Willi Becker, Jens Forche, Hans-Peter Hiltwein