Patents by Inventor Martin Gfeller

Martin Gfeller 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).

  • Publication number: 20150080199
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of moving printed material web includes two processing arrangements arranged one above the other that are optional in operation. A material web is processed either in the upper, first processing arrangement or in the lower, second processing arrangement. In the processing section belonging to the first processing arrangement, the material web is folded about a line parallel to its advancement direction. In the processing section belonging to the second processing arrangement, the material web is separated, along a line parallel to its advancement direction, into two material-web strands, which are then positioned one above the other. The two processing sections having in common a pair of braking rollers and a pair of drawing rollers and also a longitudinal-cutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Jakob GERHARD, Martin GFELLER
  • Patent number: 8920298
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of moving printed material web includes two processing arrangements arranged one above the other that are optional in operation. A material web is processed either in the upper, first processing arrangement or in the lower, second processing arrangement. In the processing section belonging to the first processing arrangement, the material web is folded about a line parallel to its advancement direction. In the processing section belonging to the second processing arrangement, the material web is separated, along a line parallel to its advancement direction, into two material-web strands, which are then positioned one above the other. The two processing sections having in common a pair of braking rollers and a pair of drawing rollers and also a longitudinal-cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hunkeler AG
    Inventors: Jakob Gerhard, Martin Gfeller
  • Patent number: 8480553
    Abstract: In order to form two longitudinal folds in a material web, there are two plow folding units which extend in the vertical direction and are arranged behind one another in the movement direction of the material web. Each of the plow folding units has two guide elements for the material web, which guide elements are arranged in the manner of a gable or saddle roof. The guide elements are arranged behind one another in the movement direction of the material web and enclose a folding angle between them. The folding angle between the guide elements of the second plow folding unit which is arranged downstream of the first plow folding unit has a magnitude of at least 100°, preferably of at least 140°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Hunkeler AG
    Inventors: Jakob Gerhard, Martin Gfeller
  • Publication number: 20110281707
    Abstract: In order to form two longitudinal folds in a material web, there are two plow folding units which extend in the vertical direction and are arranged behind one another in the movement direction of the material web. Each of the plow folding units has two guide elements for the material web, which guide elements are arranged in the manner of a gable or saddle roof. The guide elements are arranged behind one another in the movement direction of the material web and enclose a folding angle between them. The folding angle between the guide elements of the second plow folding unit which is arranged downstream of the first plow folding unit has a magnitude of at least 100°, preferably of at least 140°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: HUNKELER AG
    Inventors: Jakob Gerhard, Martin Gfeller
  • Publication number: 20090289406
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of moving printed material web includes two processing arrangements arranged one above the other that are optional in operation. A material web is processed either in the upper, first processing arrangement or in the lower, second processing arrangement. In the processing section belonging to the first processing arrangement, the material web is folded about a line parallel to its advancement direction. In the processing section belonging to the second processing arrangement, the material web is separated, along a line parallel to its advancement direction, into two material-web strands, which are then positioned one above the other. The two processing sections having in common a pair of braking rollers and a pair of drawing rollers and also a longitudinal-cutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: HUNKELER AG
    Inventors: Jakob Gerhard, Martin Gfeller
  • Patent number: 6157870
    Abstract: Supply of tape components in which a tape replacement can be performed without any loss in performance is provided for by unwinding a first tape from a first reel, moving components located in the pockets of said first tape to a pickup position where they are picked up by a placement machine, splicing the end of said first tape to the start of a second tape wound on a second reel, and replacing said first reel by said second reel. A splice sensor is included for detecting a splice between the first and second tape. The signals from such splice sensor allow for an automatic and synchronous take over of the related data of the newly joined second tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Zevatech Trading AG
    Inventors: Martin Gfeller, Otto Christen, Emil Grunder
  • Patent number: 6077022
    Abstract: The present invention provides for safe and simple replacement or removal of individual feeders from a placement machine without any loss in performance by using a signal means to emit a signal to the CPU of the placement machine when a feeder is removed. Upon receipt of this signal, the CPU controls the pick-up head in such a way so that it does not collide with the feeder being removed. If the pick-up head is located directly above the pick-up position of the feeder to be removed, it can be moved momentarily upwards or sideways thanks to its fast drive before a collision occurs. If the pick-up head is located just on the way to the pick-up position of the feeder, the procedure is momentarily aborted so that a collision can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Zevatech Trading AG
    Inventors: Martin Gfeller, Otto Christen, Emil Grunder
  • Patent number: 4762354
    Abstract: The device for picking and transporting components of different size has a gripping casing (1) which comprises a plurality of concentrically arranged, axially movable gripping elements (4, 8, 11). The elements move telescopically relative to each other, and each have a suction opening arranged at the end and connected, according to the working position, with a vaccuum inlet (3). For picking up a small part, only the innermost, smallest gripping element operates. In picking up a middle-size part, the innermost gripping element (11) and the middle gripping element (8) work together, while in the gripping of a large part, the outermost gripping element (4) is additionally actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Assignee: Zevatech AG
    Inventors: Martin Gfeller, Rudolf Wanner