Patents by Inventor Robert STIERMAN

Robert STIERMAN 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: 12269286
    Abstract: A security document includes a substrate having a transparent window formed in the substrate. A micro-optical structure including microlenses is arranged on one side of the substrate. A first print image is arranged on the other side of the substrate, opposite the micro-optical structure, and includes image elements having a dot size or line thickness smaller than a lens width of the microlenses. A layer is arranged on part of the first print image on the side facing away from the micro-optical structure. A second print image is arranged on the layer, facing away from the micro-optical structure, and so that the second print image can be brought into alignment with the micro-optical structure after folding the substrate at a bending line so that the second print image, or at least a piece of information contained therein, becomes visible and/or recognizable when viewed from a direction of the micro-optical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Arnaud Crassous, Robert Stewart, Robert Stierman
  • Patent number: 12227021
    Abstract: Examples include a security document having a substrate with a transparent window. In the region of the transparent window, a micro-optical structure including microlenses is arranged on one side of the substrate and a first print image is arranged on the other side of the substrate, opposite the micro-optical structure. A layer covers at least a section of the first print image. The layer allows electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in the range of 380 nm to 780 nm to pass with a transparency in a range between 10% and 90%. The transparency gradually varies over a planar extension of the layer. A second print image is arranged on the layer in such a way that the second print image, or at least a piece of information contained therein, can be brought into alignment with the micro-optical structure after carrying out a folding process and becomes visible and/or recognizable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Arnaud Crassous, Robert Stewart, Robert Stierman
  • Publication number: 20240416672
    Abstract: Examples include a security document having a substrate with a transparent window. In the region of the transparent window, a micro-optical structure including microlenses is arranged on one side of the substrate and a first print image is arranged on the other side of the substrate, opposite the micro-optical structure. A layer covers at least a section of the first print image. The layer allows electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in the range of 380 nm to 780 nm to pass with a transparency in a range between 10% and 90%. The transparency gradually varies over a planar extension of the layer. A second print image is arranged on the layer in such a way that the second print image, or at least a piece of information contained therein, can be brought into alignment with the micro-optical structure after carrying out a folding process and becomes visible and/or recognizable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Inventors: Arnaud CRASSOUS, Robert STEWART, Robert STIERMAN
  • Publication number: 20240416644
    Abstract: Examples include a printing machine for producing a security document. The printing machine includes an impression cylinder for guiding a substrate of the security document and a transfer cylinder cooperating with the impression cylinder at a transfer point for printing a print image onto the substrate. The substrate includes a transparent window with a micro-optical structure composed of microlenses disposed on one side of the substrate in the region of the transparent window and opposite to the side of the substrate with the print image. A printing device applies a layer that covers the print image and is of a lighter hue than a hue of the print image. The impression cylinder includes an embossing device around a circumference thereof. The embossing device creates the micro-optical structure of the microlenses during rotation of the impression cylinder on the substrate in a contactless manner by molding using an injection embossing method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Inventors: Arnaud CRASSOUS, Robert STEWART, Robert STIERMAN
  • Publication number: 20240326507
    Abstract: A security document includes a substrate having a transparent window formed in the substrate. A micro-optical structure including microlenses is arranged on one side of the substrate. A first print image is arranged on the other side of the substrate, opposite the micro-optical structure, and includes image elements having a dot size or line thickness smaller than a lens width of the microlenses. A layer is arranged on part of the first print image on the side facing away from the micro-optical structure. A second print image is arranged on the layer, facing away from the micro-optical structure, and so that the second print image can be brought into alignment with the micro-optical structure after folding the substrate at a bending line so that the second print image, or at least a piece of information contained therein, becomes visible and/or recognizable when viewed from a direction of the micro-optical structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Arnaud CRASSOUS, Robert STEWART, Robert STIERMAN
  • Patent number: 11897252
    Abstract: In some examples, an ink feed system for providing and feeding printing ink to an inking unit of an intaglio printing unit includes an inking device in the inking unit for inking a first inking unit cylinder. A provision device includes a storage receptacle with an ink reservoir of printing ink that is fed via an outlet and a line to the inking device. Furthermore, a wall of the storage receptacle encompassing the outlet can be heated and/or a metering device may be provided in the line path to support and/or effectuate delivery of the printing ink from the storage receptacle. On an output side, the metering device may provide a mass flow or volume flow that correlates with a working speed of the metering device via a defined relationship, and the metering device may be connected to a control device to control the working speed of the metering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Daniel Chassot, Robert Stierman
  • Patent number: 11840111
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing banknotes, which include, in each case, at least one integrated circuit. The banknotes are produced from a sheet or from a material web in a production panel. In at least a plurality of these banknotes, or in each of these banknotes, an aperture is created through their substrate. In each case, an integrated circuit is arranged in the relevant aperture. In a first method step, each of the integrated circuits to be arranged in one of the apertures is arranged, with respect to the intended position in each of the banknotes that include an aperture, in the correct position on a band-shaped foil, and, in the second method step, each of these integrated circuits is transferred from this band-shaped foil onto the relevant banknote. Owing to this transfer carried out in the second method step, one integrated circuit in each case, is arranged in the aperture created in the banknotes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Robert Stierman, Aurélie Berthon, Angèle Monney
  • Patent number: 11772374
    Abstract: There is described a printing press adapted to carry out printing on a sheet-like or web-like substrate, in particular for the production of security documents such as banknotes, comprising a substrate feeding device for feeding the substrate to be treated, at least a printing unit designed to print a first side and/or a second side of the substrate and a delivery unit for receiving the treated substrate. The printing press in the conveying path for the substrate between the feeding device and the delivery unit further comprises an in-line casting device adapted to apply a layer of material acting as an optical medium on a portion of the second side of the substrate and to replicate and form a micro-optical structure in the layer of material acting as optical medium, wherein the printing unit comprises a first printing group comprising a printing cylinder and being adapted to print at least one printed pattern on the first or second side of the substrate in register with the micro-optical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: KBA-NOTASYS SA
    Inventors: Robert Stierman, Ana Dimitrijevic, Martin Palme, Thomas Kersten, Aurélie Berthon
  • Patent number: 11752757
    Abstract: In some examples, a transport cylinder for transporting a sheet-format substrate includes at least one channel extending on an outer surface of the transport cylinder in an axial direction. Each channel includes at least one gripper, which is supported on a shaft, for holding a substrate on the outer surface of the transport cylinder. Each channel is covered by a respective cover at the outer surface of the transport cylinder. The cover and/or a shaft supporting the at least one gripper may include a cooling unit. In some examples, a drying unit that includes the transport cylinder may further include an electron beam for curing a printing fluid on a substrate on the transport cylinder. In some examples, a printing press may include the drying unit including the transport cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Thilo Hahn, Patrick Kress, Volker Scharkus, Robert Stierman
  • Publication number: 20230271411
    Abstract: In some examples, an ink feed system for providing and feeding printing ink to an inking unit of an intaglio printing unit includes an inking device in the inking unit for inking a first inking unit cylinder. A provision device includes a storage receptacle with an ink reservoir of printing ink that is fed via an outlet and a line to the inking device. Furthermore, a wall of the storage receptacle encompassing the outlet can be heated and/or a metering device may be provided in the line path to support and/or effectuate delivery of the printing ink from the storage receptacle. On an output side, the metering device may provide a mass flow or volume flow that correlates with a working speed of the metering device via a defined relationship, and the metering device may be connected to a control device to control the working speed of the metering device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel CHASSOT, Robert STIERMAN
  • Publication number: 20230211600
    Abstract: In some examples, a transport cylinder for transporting a sheet-format substrate includes at least one channel extending on an outer surface of the transport cylinder in an axial direction. Each channel includes at least one gripper, which is supported on a shaft, for holding a substrate on the outer surface of the transport cylinder. Each channel is covered by a respective cover at the outer surface of the transport cylinder. The cover and/or a shaft supporting the at least one gripper may include a cooling unit. In some examples, a drying unit that includes the transport cylinder may further include an electron beam for curing a printing fluid on a substrate on the transport cylinder. In some examples, a printing press may include the drying unit including the transport cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Thilo HAHN, Patrick KRESS, Volker SCHARKUS, Robert STIERMAN
  • Patent number: 11383507
    Abstract: There is described a printing press (100***; 100****) adapted to carry out printing on a sheet-like or web-like substrate (S), in particular for the production of security documents such as banknotes, comprising a printing unit (2*; 2**; 2***; 2****) designed to print a first side (I) and/or a second side (II) of the substrate (S). The printing press (100***; 100****) further comprises an in-line casting device (80; 80*; 80**; 80***) adapted to apply a layer of material acting as an optical medium on a portion of a first side (I, II) of the substrate (S) and to replicate and form a micro-optical structure (L) in the layer of material acting as optical medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignees: KBA-NOTASYS SA, DE LA RUE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert Stierman, Ana Dimitrijevic, Martin Palme, Thomas Kersten, Aurélie Berthon, John Godfrey, Robert Whiteman, Lawrence Commander
  • Publication number: 20220212492
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing banknotes, which include, in each case, at least one integrated circuit. The banknotes are produced from a sheet or from a material web in a production panel. In at least a plurality of these banknotes, or in each of these banknotes, an aperture is created through their substrate. In each case, an integrated circuit is arranged in the relevant aperture. In a first method step, each of the integrated circuits to be arranged in one of the apertures is arranged, with respect to the intended position in each of the banknotes that include an aperture, in the correct position on a band-shaped foil, and, in the second method step, each of these integrated circuits is transferred from this band-shaped foil onto the relevant banknote. Owing to this transfer carried out in the second method step, one integrated circuit in each case, is arranged in the aperture created in the banknotes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Robert STIERMAN, Aurélie BERTHON, Angèle MONNEY
  • Patent number: 11220101
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drying unit (22) for drying printed substrates (21), comprising a chamber (23) with a gaseous medium which is oxygen-reduced by means of an inert gas, wherein the substrates (21) are guided through the chamber (23) or at least can be guided through the chamber, and the chamber (23) has an entrance for the substrates (21) to be guided into the chamber (23) in the transport direction (T) of the substrates (21). The entrance for the substrates (21) to be guided into the chamber (23) is formed by two cylinders (04; 06) which are positioned against each other longitudinally. The cylinders (04; 06) positioned against each other at the entrance of the chamber (23) form a printing unit (03). One of the cylinders (04) is designed as a printing cylinder (04), and the other cylinder (06) is designed as a cylinder (06) which interacts with the printing cylinder (04) and applies a printed image onto the affected substrates (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Johannes Schaede, Robert Stierman
  • Publication number: 20210323300
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drying unit (22) for drying printed substrates (21), comprising a chamber (23) with a gaseous medium which is oxygen-reduced by means of an inert gas, wherein the substrates (21) are guided through the chamber (23) or at least can be guided through the chamber, and the chamber (23) has an entrance for the substrates (21) to be guided into the chamber (23) in the transport direction (T) of the substrates (21). The entrance for the substrates (21) to be guided into the chamber (23) is formed by two cylinders (04; 06) which are positioned against each other longitudinally. The cylinders (04; 06) positioned against each other at the entrance of the chamber (23) form a printing unit (03). One of the cylinders (04) is designed as a printing cylinder (04), and the other cylinder (06) is designed as a cylinder (06) which interacts with the printing cylinder (04) and applies a printed image onto the affected substrates (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Johannes SCHAEDE, Robert STIERMAN