Patents by Inventor Martin EICHENHOFER

Martin EICHENHOFER 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: 11884053
    Abstract: A preformed material for use in fiber-reinforced composite materials, the preformed material including one or more fiber rovings including parallel fibers wherein the fiber rovings include one or more folds in a direction parallel to the direction of the fibers and wherein the unfolded width of the fiber rovings have a width included in a range from 0.3 mm to 5 mm. The fiber density by volume may be included in a range from 10% to 75% of fibers. The thickness of a fiber roving may be included in a range from 50 ?m to 2 mm. The fiber rovings may include from 500 to 12000 fibers. The fiber rovings may include a thermoplastic polymer that forms a first bond within the one or more folds and a second bond between a first fiber roving and a second adjacent fiber roving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: 9T Labs AG
    Inventors: Martin Eichenhofer, Giovanni Cavolina, Chester Houwink
  • Patent number: 11884031
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods and systems for producing a preferably strand-like extrudate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: 9T Labs AG
    Inventors: Martin Eichenhofer, Giovanni Cavolina, Chester Houwink
  • Publication number: 20240001634
    Abstract: One example provides a process unit including a conveying device to convey a hybrid yarn comprising a plurality of fibers and a matrix through a channel bounded by a base body, and a cutting unit having a component configured as a sleeve mounted about the base body, the sleeve rotatable about the base body and including a circular recess at an axial end region which is eccentrically aligned with an axis of rotation of the sleeve, and a cutting element on a slide slidably mounted to the base body and disposed within the circular recess, wherein the slide rests on a support surface of the sleeve bounding the circular recess so that, due to the circular recess being eccentrically aligned with the axis of rotation, a rotational movement of the sleeve causes translational movement of the slide and the cutting element across the channel to cut the hybrid yarn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: 9T LABS AG
    Inventors: Martin EICHENHOFER, Giovanni CAVOLINA, Chester HOUWINK
  • Publication number: 20230356482
    Abstract: A pressure foot device and system comprising a pressure foot device for guiding, forming and applying an elongate fiber tow, wherein the pressure foot device comprises a foot surface comprising a straight foot segment, a groove comprising a flared end and defining a groove midplane, and a foot shaft housing characterized by a foot shaft's axis of rotation that is orthogonal to the straight foot segment and comprised in the groove midplane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: 9T LABS AG
    Inventors: Leo BAUMANN, Lucien SEGESSEMANN, Chester HOUWINK, Martin EICHENHOFER, Giovanni CAVOLINA
  • Publication number: 20230321946
    Abstract: A preformed material for use in fiber-reinforced composite materials, the preformed material including one or more fiber rovings including parallel fibers wherein the fiber rovings include one or more folds in a direction parallel to the direction of the fibers and wherein the unfolded width of the fiber rovings have a width included in a range from 0.3 mm to 5 mm. The fiber density by volume may be included in a range from 10% to 75% of fibers. The thickness of a fiber roving may be included in a range from 50 ?m to 2 mm. The fiber rovings may include from 500 to 12000 fibers. The fiber rovings may include a thermoplastic polymer that forms a first bond within the one or more folds and a second bond between a first fiber roving and a second adjacent fiber roving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: 9T LABS AG
    Inventors: Martin EICHENHOFER, Giovanni CAVOLINA, Chester HOUWINK
  • Publication number: 20230321945
    Abstract: A preformed material for use in fiber-reinforced composite materials, the preformed material including one or more fiber rovings including parallel fibers wherein the fiber rovings include one or more folds in a direction parallel to the direction of the fibers and wherein the unfolded width of the fiber rovings have a width included in a range from 0.3 mm to 5 mm. The fiber density by volume may be included in a range from 10% to 75% of fibers. The thickness of a fiber roving may be included in a range from 50 ?m to 2 mm. The fiber rovings may include from 500 to 12000 fibers. The fiber rovings may include a thermoplastic polymer that forms a first bond within the one or more folds and a second bond between a first fiber roving and a second adjacent fiber roving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: 9T LABS AG
    Inventors: Martin EICHENHOFER, Giovanni CAVOLINA, Chester HOUWINK
  • Patent number: 11760042
    Abstract: A process unit and methods are disclosed. One process unit including a pultrusion unit having a pultrusion channel, with the pultrusion channel being limited by at least one shaping wall. The process unit further includes an extrusion unit having an extrusion channel and an opening for removing the extrudate out of the extrusion channel, a cutting unit having a moving cutting element for cutting off the extrudate with the moving cutting element, and a conveying device for conveying a raw extrudate from the pultrusion unit into the extrusion unit. The cutting unit comprises a component that can be caused to move in a rotational manner and the component is mechanically coupled to the cutting element by a mechanical coupling device, such that the rotational movement of the component determines the movement of the cutting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: 9T Labs AG
    Inventors: Martin Eichenhofer, Giovanni Cavolina, Chester Houwink
  • Publication number: 20230146452
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprising, under the control of one or more computer systems or non-volatile storage medium configured with executable instructions: acquiring a digital model comprising two or more spatial dimensions of an object to be manufactured; forming a three-dimensional model decomposition of the object to be manufactured, wherein forming the three-dimensional model decomposition comprises segmenting at least a portion of the digital model comprising two or more spatial dimensions into one or more surface-based component models; and forming, on one or more surfaces of the one or more surface-based component models, one or more paths comprising one or more elongate fiber tow models.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: 9T LABS AG
    Inventors: Alex LUIJTEN, Przemyslaw ZDROIK, Chester HOUWINK, Martin EICHENHOFER, Giovanni CAVOLINA
  • Publication number: 20230050763
    Abstract: A pressure foot device and system comprising a pressure foot device for forming and applying an elongate fiber tow, wherein the pressure foot device comprises a foot surface comprising a straight foot segment, a groove comprising a flared end and defining a groove midplane, and a foot shaft housing characterized by a foot shaft's axis of rotation that is orthogonal to the straight foot segment and comprised in the groove midplane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: 9T LABS AG
    Inventors: Leo BAUMANN, Lucien SEGESSEMANN, Chester HOUWINK, Martin EICHENHOFER, Giovanni CAVOLINA
  • Publication number: 20230045396
    Abstract: A preformed material for use in fiber-reinforced composite materials, the preformed material including one or more fiber rovings including parallel fibers wherein the fiber rovings include one or more folds in a direction parallel to the direction of the fibers and wherein the unfolded width of the fiber rovings have a width included in a range from 0.3 mm to 5 mm. The fiber density by volume may be included in a range from 10% to 75% of fibers. The thickness of a fiber roving may be included in a range from 50 µm to 2 mm. The fiber rovings may include from 500 to 12000 fibers. The fiber rovings may include a thermoplastic polymer that forms a first bond within the one or more folds and a second bond between a first fiber roving and a second adjacent fiber roving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: 9T LABS AG
    Inventors: Martin EICHENHOFER, Giovanni CAVOLINA, Chester HOUWINK
  • Patent number: 11141756
    Abstract: A glue gun, comprising: a housing for storing strands including thermoplastic plastic, a heating device, an outlet nozzle for discharging heated strands from the glue gun, an extrusion unit for shaping extruded strand, a conveying device for conveying strands to the heating device and through the outlet nozzle. Embodiments of the disclosure make it possible to store glue in the glue gun even in large amounts and to join the parts to each other with a strand of fiber-reinforced plastic with adhesive bonds in such a way that the adhesive bonds can withstand even large forces. Various glue guns of the disclosure include a pultrusion unit for consolidating fibers and plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: 9T Labs AG
    Inventors: Martin Eichenhofer, Florian Eichenhofer
  • Publication number: 20210107243
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods and systems for producing a preferably strand-like extrudate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: 9T LABS AG
    Inventors: Martin EICHENHOFER, Giovanni CAVOLINA, Chester HOUWINK
  • Publication number: 20210031469
    Abstract: A process unit and methods are disclosed. One process unit including a pultrusion unit having a pultrusion channel, with the pultrusion channel being limited by at least one shaping wall. The process unit further includes an extrusion unit having an extrusion channel and an opening for removing the extrudate out of the extrusion channel, a cutting unit having a moving cutting element for cutting off the extrudate with the moving cutting element, and a conveying device for conveying a raw extrudate from the pultrusion unit into the extrusion unit. The cutting unit comprises a component that can be caused to move in a rotational manner and the component is mechanically coupled to the cutting element by a mechanical coupling device, such that the rotational movement of the component determines the movement of the cutting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicant: 9T LABS AG
    Inventors: Martin EICHENHOFER, Giovanni CAVOLINA, Chester HOUWINK
  • Patent number: 10870241
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a support structure in the form of a hybrid component with a base structure and with at least one reinforcement structure, having the following steps: producing the at least one reinforcement structure for each base structure, wherein the at least one reinforcement structure, in particular all of the reinforcement structures, is/are made of a composite material comprising fibers and a matrix using a pultrusion and/or extrusion process, and connecting the at least one reinforcement structure to the base structure such that the at least one reinforcement structure is connected to the base structure in a connection position, and the base structure together with the at least one reinforcement structure forms the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: 9T LABS AG
    Inventors: Martin Eichenhofer, Florian Eichenhofer
  • Patent number: 10507603
    Abstract: A method for reinforcing an existing base structure with at least one reinforcing structure so as to form a support structure having the following steps: producing the at least one reinforcing structure, connecting the at least one reinforcing structure to the base structure such that the at least one reinforcing structure is connected to the base structure in a connection position and the base structure together with the at least one reinforcing structure forms the support structure. The at least one reinforcing structure is made of a composite material comprising fibers and a matrix by means of pultrusion and/or extrusion, and a pultrusion unit and/or an extrusion unit is moved in space such that the at least one reinforcing structure, is pultruded and/or extruded onto the base structure at the respective required connection position after the pultrusion and/or extrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: 9T Labs AG
    Inventors: Martin Eichenhofer, Florian Eichenhofer
  • Patent number: 10384387
    Abstract: With a method for producing a two-dimensional or three-dimensional framework (1) with rods (2) of a composite material with fibers and a matrix, which are connected with nodes (3) to at least one other rod (2) and/or another component (29), comprising the steps of: producing the rods (2) out of a composite material, connecting the rods (2) with at least one other rod (2) and/or another component (29) at the nodes (3), the framework (1) should be manufactured inexpensively and reliably by a low technical effort. This object can be solved in a way that the rods (2) are being produced with pultrusion and/or extrusion and a pultrusion unit (6) and/or an extrusion unit (7) is moved in space such that after the pultrusion and/or extrusion the pultruded and/or extruded rods (2) are pultruded and/or extruded in each case at the required position within the framework (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: 9T Labs AG
    Inventors: Martin Eichenhofer, Florian Eichenhofer
  • Publication number: 20190224710
    Abstract: The invention relates to a glue gun (1), comprising: a housing (2), at least one storage means (5) for storing plastic, a heating device (11, 12), an outlet nozzle (10) for discharging the heated plastic from the glue gun (1), an extrusion unit (9) for shaping the strand (36) having plastic, which strand is to be extruded, a conveying device (17) for conveying the thermoplastic plastic from the storage means (6) to the heating device (11, 12) and through the outlet nozzle (10). The problem addressed by the invention is that it should be possible to store glue in the glue gun (1) even in large amounts and to join the parts to each other with a strand of fiber-reinforced plastic by means of adhesive bonds in such a way that the adhesive bonds withstand even large forces. This problem is solved in that the glue gun (1) comprises a pultrusion unit (8) for consolidating fibers and plastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Applicant: 9T Labs AG
    Inventors: Martin EICHENHOFER, Florian EICHENHOFER
  • Publication number: 20180304560
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a support structure in the form of a hybrid component with a base structure and with at least one reinforcement structure, having the following steps: producing the at least one reinforcement structure for each base structure, wherein the at least one reinforcement structure, in particular all of the reinforcement structures, is/are made of a composite material comprising fibers and a matrix using a pultrusion and/or extrusion process, and connecting the at least one reinforcement structure to the base structure such that the at least one reinforcement structure is connected to the base structure in a connection position, and the base structure together with the at least one reinforcement structure forms the support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: 9T LABS AG
    Inventors: Martin EICHENHOFER, Florian EICHENHOFER
  • Publication number: 20180169906
    Abstract: A method for reinforcing an existing base structure with at least one reinforcing structure so as to form a support structure having the following steps: producing the at least one reinforcing structure, connecting the at least one reinforcing structure to the base structure such that the at least one reinforcing structure is connected to the base structure in a connection position and the base structure together with the at least one reinforcing structure forms the support structure. The at least one reinforcing structure is made of a composite material comprising fibers and a matrix by means of pultrusion and/or extrusion, and a pultrusion unit and/or an extrusion unit is moved in space such that the at least one reinforcing structure, is pultruded and/or extruded onto the base structure at the respective required connection position after the pultrusion and/or extrusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Martin EICHENHOFER, Florian EICHENHOFER
  • Publication number: 20170057149
    Abstract: With a method for producing a two-dimensional or three-dimensional framework (1) with rods (2) of a composite material with fibers and a matrix, which are connected with nodes (3) to at least one other rod (2) and/or another component (29), comprising the steps of: producing the rods (2) out of a composite material, connecting the rods (2) with at least one other rod (2) and/or another component (29) at the nodes (3), the framework (1) should be manufactured inexpensively and reliably by a low technical effort. This object can be solved in a way that the rods (2) are being produced with pultrusion and/or extrusion and a pultrusion unit (6) and/or an extrusion unit (7) is moved in space such that after the pultrusion and/or extrusion the pultruded and/or extruded rods (2) are pultruded and/or extruded in each case at the required position within the framework (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Martin EICHENHOFER, Florian EICHENHOFER