Patents by Inventor Kurt A. Pfahl

Kurt A. Pfahl 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: 5513116
    Abstract: A machine for vending greeting cards or other personalized or customized products includes audio and video presentations of available products and options available to a customer, provisions for payment and apparatus for automatic delivery of products. Base products such as preprinted forms are stored for selective transfer by a robot device to modifying apparatus such as a printer, modified products being delivered to a delivery receptacle, all operations being under computer control and being changeable as desired for adding or substituting new forms of products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Hallmark Cards Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen P. Buckley, Richard A. Robinson, Kurt A. Pfahl, Arthur E. Doerflinger, Thomas B. Banks, Lynn Vandemark
  • Patent number: 5036472
    Abstract: A machine for vending greeting cards or other personalized or customized products includes audio and video presentations of available products and options available to a customer, provisions for payment and apparatus for automatic delivery of products. Base products such as preprinted forms are stored for selective transfer by a robot device to modifying apparatus such as a printer, modified products being delivered to a delivery receptacle, all operations being under computer control and being changeable as desired for adding or substituting new forms of products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: Hallmark Cards, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Buckley, Richard A. Robinson, John H. Hurlburt, Kurt A. Pfahl, Arthur E. Doerflinger
  • Patent number: 4601924
    Abstract: A tree ornament is disclosed in which a plurality of images are produced by two-dimensional image formations or three-dimensional objects, with a plurality of lights being energized in timed relation to selectively present the images to view through a window, and with reflecting and transmitting surfaces being used to allow energization of the lights to replace one image with another and/or to superimpose images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1986
    Assignee: Hallmark Cards, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Birkes, Donna L. Hill, Kurt Pfahl
  • Patent number: 4305332
    Abstract: A two-web, dual purpose printing press and method is provided which can be used to "make ready" and proof gravure rollers on a first web, and to print a sample using the rollers on a second web and under substantially identical conditions during both operational modes. The press includes an interchangeable gravure roller, a pair of impression rollers, (one associated with each of the webs), and structure for selective shifting of the impression rollers between positions wherein each roller alternately forms a web-receiving and printing nip with the gravure roller. A motion-limiting stop arrangement is provided to insure that the respective impression rollers assume a substantially identical position relative to the gravure roller during the respective operational sequences of the press; in this manner printing conditions are uniform during both proofing and sampling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Assignee: Hallmark Cards Incorporated
    Inventors: Kurt A. Pfahl, Stanley W. Otto
  • Patent number: 3995958
    Abstract: A novel and improved method of controlling the quality of color fidelity in the printing of multi-colored subject matter is provided by novel and improved automatic densitometer apparatus adapted to automatically scan the successive differently colored blocks of a color control strip printed along one edge of the printed work piece, to automatically make repeated sensings of color density as the scan proceeds, to automatically change the filters required for sensing the density of different colors as the scan proceeds along the control strip, to automatically activate the apparatus for selecting one sensing of color density as being definitive for each relevant block of the control strip, to automatically print a running record of the definitive color densities sensed from different blocks of the control strip in format juxtaposing the item of the record for each such sensing with the corresponding block of the control strip when the record is placed alongside the control strip, to automatically position such
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1976
    Assignee: Hallmark Cards, Incorporated
    Inventors: Kurt A. Pfahl, Richard A. Robinson, Craig Ritchie Brougher