Patents by Inventor Werner Schwab

Werner Schwab 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: 11865830
    Abstract: A method of operating flexographic printing presses having an impression cylinder, printing cylinder carrying a sleeve with a flexographic printing forme or cylinder, uses a sensor adjusting print register of the printing forme or cylinder relative to a further printing forme or cylinder and/or adjusts color density and/or implements color inspection. An image of the sleeve surface with printing forme is recorded by a camera and processed before printing, locating a register mark and/or a color measurement field in terms of x-y positions. A sensor automatically moves for recording the register mark to the y-position of the register mark before adjusting to record the register mark and/or a sensor moves for recording the color measurement field to the y-position of the color measurement field before adjusting to record the color measurement field. Cost-efficient, high-quality industrial printing and further automation is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Werner Schwab
  • Patent number: 11840059
    Abstract: A device for measuring a surface or elevations of the surface of a rotary body provided as a cylinder, a roller, a sleeve, or a plate for a graphic industry machine, includes a first motor for rotating the rotary body about an axis of rotation and a measuring device including at least one radiation source, at least one area scan camera, and at least one computer used to take contactless measurements on the surface which is permanently sticky and/or compressible and/or porous and therefore difficult to measure. The measuring device uses a virtual reference object saved on the computer to determine the concentricity of the rotary body on the basis of the measurement results. A system including the measuring device and a flexographic printing press is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Werner Schwab
  • Patent number: 11752756
    Abstract: A method of operating a flexographic printing press having a printing cylinder carrying a sleeve with at least one flexographic printing forme or a flexographic printing cylinder, and an impression cylinder, includes adjusting contact pressure between the printing cylinder or the flexographic printing cylinder and the impression cylinder by motor. The adjustment is made in an automated way as a function of a dot density of the flexographic printing forme, i.e. of a location-dependent density of printing elevations on the flexographic printing forme or data computationally derived therefrom. A cost-efficient way of producing high-quality prints in an industrial flexographic printing process is thus provided. In addition, the method advantageously provides further automation of the printing process. A flexographic printing press, a flexographic printing press system, and a flexographic printing forme or sleeve for a flexographic printing forme are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Werner Schwab
  • Patent number: 11712885
    Abstract: A method operates a flexographic printing press. The press contains a printing cylinder carrying a sleeve with at least one flexographic printing forme or a flexographic printing cylinder and an impression cylinder forming a printing nip with the printing cylinder to print on a web of printing substrate. The method includes automatically adjusting the transport speed of the web of printing substrate as a function of a dot density of the flexographic printing forme, i.e. of a location-dependent density of printing elevations on the flexographic printing forme, or of data computationally derived therefrom, or as a function of gaps of the flexographic printing forme or printing cylinder or data computationally derived therefrom. The printing press advantageously provides a cost-efficient way of producing high-quality prints in an industrial flexographic printing process while avoiding undesired vibration. In addition, the method of the invention advantageously provides further automation of the printing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Werner Schwab
  • Patent number: 11712886
    Abstract: A device for measuring elevations on a surface of a rotary body provided as a cylinder, sleeve, or plate for a graphic industry machine, for instance a flexographic printing plate, includes a first motor rotating the rotary body about an axis of rotation and a measuring device including at least one radiation source, at least one line scan camera, and a computer taking contact-free measurements and combining individual images of the line scan camera to form a joint image. The measuring device preferably includes a reference object such as a wire tautened in an axially parallel direction, a second motor and, if required, a further second motor adjusting the measuring device and/or reference object perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The device provides fast high-precision measurements of elevations such as flexographic printing dots. A system includes the measuring device and a flexographic printing press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Heidleberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Werner Schwab
  • Patent number: 11524422
    Abstract: In a method of operating a flat-bed die-cutter a printing substrate in the form of a web is fed to a die-cutting module of the flat-bed die-cutter, a web section is severed from the web and removed as waste. The web is guided through the die-cutting module and the web section is severed from the web in or downstream of the die-cutting module and removed as waste. Products are thus formed by die-cutting a web while reducing waste and periods of standstill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Werner Schwab
  • Publication number: 20220134730
    Abstract: A device for measuring elevations on a surface of a rotary body provided as a cylinder, sleeve, or plate for a graphic industry machine, for instance a flexographic printing plate, includes a first motor rotating the rotary body about an axis of rotation and a measuring device including at least one radiation source, at least one line scan camera, and a computer taking contact-free measurements and combining individual images of the line scan camera to form a joint image. The measuring device preferably includes a reference object such as a wire tautened in an axially parallel direction, a second motor and, if required, a further second motor adjusting the measuring device and/or reference object perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The device provides fast high-precision measurements of elevations such as flexographic printing dots. A system includes the measuring device and a flexographic printing press.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventor: Werner Schwab
  • Publication number: 20220126569
    Abstract: A device for measuring a surface or elevations of the surface of a rotary body provided as a cylinder, a roller, a sleeve, or a plate for a graphic industry machine, includes a first motor for rotating the rotary body about an axis of rotation and a measuring device including at least one radiation source, at least one area scan camera, and at least one computer used to take contactless measurements on the surface which is permanently sticky and/or compressible and/or porous and therefore difficult to measure. The measuring device uses a virtual reference object saved on the computer to determine the concentricity of the rotary body on the basis of the measurement results. A system including the measuring device and a flexographic printing press is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventor: Werner Schwab
  • Publication number: 20220128348
    Abstract: A device for measuring elevations of a surface of a rotary body embodied as a cylinder, roller, sleeve, plate or flexographic printing plate for graphic industry machines includes a first motor for rotating the rotary body about an axis of rotation and a measuring device for contactless measurement which is part of or integrated into a mounter for printing plates. The measuring device allows the printing forme to be measured and analyzed to check mounting quality and to detect diameter differences. The measuring device preferably further includes a reference object, such as a wire tautened in an axially parallel direction, a second motor and, if desired, a further second motor for adjusting the measuring device and/or the reference object in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The device provides a fast way of measuring the elevations, such as flexographic print dots, with great accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventor: Werner Schwab
  • Publication number: 20220126561
    Abstract: A method of operating a flexographic printing press having a printing cylinder carrying a sleeve with at least one flexographic printing forme or a flexographic printing cylinder, and an impression cylinder, includes adjusting contact pressure between the printing cylinder or the flexographic printing cylinder and the impression cylinder by motor. The adjustment is made in an automated way as a function of a dot density of the flexographic printing forme, i.e. of a location-dependent density of printing elevations on the flexographic printing forme or data computationally derived therefrom. A cost-efficient way of producing high-quality prints in an industrial flexographic printing process is thus provided. In addition, the method advantageously provides further automation of the printing process. A flexographic printing press, a flexographic printing press system, and a flexographic printing forme or sleeve for a flexographic printing forme are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventor: Werner Schwab
  • Publication number: 20220126562
    Abstract: A method of operating flexographic printing presses having an impression cylinder, printing cylinder carrying a sleeve with a flexographic printing forme or cylinder, uses a sensor adjusting print register of the printing forme or cylinder relative to a further printing forme or cylinder and/or adjusts color density and/or implements color inspection. An image of the sleeve surface with printing forme is recorded by a camera and processed before printing, locating a register mark and/or a color measurement field in terms of x-y positions. A sensor automatically moves for recording the register mark to the y-position of the register mark before adjusting to record the register mark and/or a sensor moves for recording the color measurement field to the y-position of the color measurement field before adjusting to record the color measurement field. Cost-efficient, high-quality industrial printing and further automation is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventor: Werner Schwab
  • Publication number: 20220126568
    Abstract: A printing machine includes a printing roll and an anilox roll or an anilox sleeve for inking a printing forme of the printing roll. The anilox roll or the anilox sleeve is assigned a machine-readable ID. A sensor or a camera detects the ID. A computer retrieves data which is stored in a digital memory in relation to the ID detected from the memory. The computer performs adjustments on the printing machine on the basis of the ID which is read or the retrieved data. A method for adjusting a printing machine is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventor: Werner Schwab
  • Publication number: 20220126563
    Abstract: A method operates a flexographic printing press. The flexographic printing press includes a printing cylinder carrying a sleeve with at least one flexographic printing forme or a flexographic printing cylinder and an impression cylinder. At least one parameter of the flexographic printing press is set. The sleeve is marked with an ID, the ID is detected in a flexographic printing unit of the flexographic printing press or in the flexographic printing press. Data saved in association with the ID are transmitted to the flexographic printing unit or to the flexographic printing press, and the data are used when the parameter is set. In this manner, a cost-efficient way of producing high-quality prints in an industrial flexographic printing process is obtained. In addition, the method provides further automation of the printing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventor: Werner Schwab
  • Publication number: 20220126565
    Abstract: A method operates a flexographic printing press. The press contains a printing cylinder carrying a sleeve with at least one flexographic printing forme or a flexographic printing cylinder and an impression cylinder forming a printing nip with the printing cylinder to print on a web of printing substrate. The method includes automatically adjusting the transport speed of the web of printing substrate as a function of a dot density of the flexographic printing forme, i.e. of a location-dependent density of printing elevations on the flexographic printing forme, or of data computationally derived therefrom, or as a function of gaps of the flexographic printing forme or printing cylinder or data computationally derived therefrom. The printing press advantageously provides a cost-efficient way of producing high-quality prints in an industrial flexographic printing process while avoiding undesired vibration. In addition, the method of the invention advantageously provides further automation of the printing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventor: Werner Schwab
  • Publication number: 20220126567
    Abstract: A printing machine for printing on a printing substrate web includes a plurality of inline flexographic printing units which are disposed in a plane accessible to an operator of the machine. Each one of the two flexographic printing units of a respective duplex printing station includes a respective impression cylinder and a dryer disposed between the two impression cylinders along a path of web travel of the web of printing substrate. A method of operating the printing machine is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Werner Schwab, Hans Schadl
  • Publication number: 20210187772
    Abstract: In a method of operating a flat-bed die-cutter a printing substrate in the form of a web is fed to a die-cutting module of the flat-bed die-cutter, a web section is severed from the web and removed as waste. The web is guided through the die-cutting module and the web section is severed from the web in or downstream of the die-cutting module and removed as waste. Products are thus formed by die-cutting a web while reducing waste and periods of standstill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventor: WERNER SCHWAB
  • Patent number: 10919289
    Abstract: A printing machine for printing on a web of printing material includes a plurality of in-line flexographic printing units disposed in a plane that is accessible to a machine operator. Every two flexographic printing units of the plurality of flexographic printing units together form a double printing station and the two flexographic printing units of a respective double printing station have a common impression cylinder. A method of operating a printing machine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Werner Schwab
  • Publication number: 20200353742
    Abstract: A device for measuring elevated areas of the surface of a rotary body in the form of a cylinder, a roller, a sleeve or a plate of a printing press, for example a flexographic printing plate, includes a first motor for rotating the rotary body about a rotational axis and a measuring unit for contactless measurement. The measuring unit for contactless measurement includes at least one radiation source and at least one area scan camera. The measuring unit for contactless measurement preferably includes a reference object, for example a wire tensioned in an axially parallel manner, a second motor and optionally a further second motor, for adjusting the measuring unit and/or the reference object perpendicularly to the rotational axis. The device makes it possible to measure elevated areas, for example flexographic print dots, quickly and with high precision. A system having the device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventor: WERNER SCHWAB
  • Publication number: 20190016111
    Abstract: A printing machine for printing on a web of printing material includes a plurality of in-line flexographic printing units disposed in a plane that is accessible to a machine operator. Every two flexographic printing units of the plurality of flexographic printing units together form a double printing station and the two flexographic printing units of a respective double printing station have a common impression cylinder. A method of operating a printing machine is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventor: WERNER SCHWAB
  • Patent number: 9421585
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high-pressure cleaning appliance comprising a first functional device required for operation in the form of a heatable heat exchanger for heating a liquid that is dischargeable from the high pressure cleaning appliance, and at least one further, second functional device required for operation which is arranged below the heat exchanger. In order to develop such a high-pressure cleaning appliance such that it is more user friendly to maintain, the invention proposes that the high-pressure cleaning appliance comprise a first appliance unit having a carrying device on which the heat exchanger is held, and a second appliance unit having a support device on which the at least one second functional device is held, and that the carrying device be releasably connectable to the support device in a force-locked and/or positively-locked manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Werner Schwab, Johannes Goetz