US 7591223

I'll search for information on this patent number, including any CAFC 2026 docket activity.

Search scope and caveats

My tools here are general web searches, not a direct query of the USPTO PatentCenter/PAIR system or the CAFC docket. So the following is grounded in (a) the authoritative full text of US 7,591,223 supplied to me and (b) Google Patents / FreePatentsOnline / Justia records for that exact number. I found no CAFC 2026 docket entry, appeal, or IPR appeal involving US 7,591,223, and I am not able to state affirmatively that one does not exist — I simply have no authoritative source showing one. Note that my searches on "Ferag" + litigation surfaced only older, unrelated decisions (e.g., Ferag AG v. Grapha-Holding AG, Ferag AG v. Quipp, Inc., 45 F.3d 1562), which do not involve the '223 patent. I did not return results for similar numbers.

Bibliographic data for US 7,591,223 (interpreted literally)

Google Patents flags "Family has litigation" (Darts-ip family ID 34935098), which indicates litigation somewhere in the family at some point — but I could not verify any specific case, and specifically none tied to a 2026 CAFC docket.

Abstract (verbatim)

"A device and method for transport of flexible, two dimensional products and performance of associated production processing of those products, by which the flexible, two-dimensional products are serially conveyed to a workstation and are conveyed away from the workstation again by the same gripper transporter, which enables the workstation to be selectively removed from the production process being performed along the transport path of the printed products, and to be selectively re-introduced again the transport path, in a flexible manner."

Plain-language overview of each independent claim

Claim 1 — Method (relative repositioning of station vs. transport path).
Continuously convey flexible flat products along a transport path in a conveying direction. Provide at least one connecting station whose at least one connecting element rotates around the station's axis along a circle. The station and the transport path can assume two relative positions:

• First position: the transport path is tangential to that circle, so the rotating connecting element can process the products on the path;
• Second position: the transport path is at a distance from the circle, so products pass the station unprocessed.

The method then includes continuously conveying the products and changing between the two positions — to stop processing (first → second) or to begin processing (second → first). In essence: the processing station can be "switched out" and back in without rebuilding the transport path.

Claim 1's dependents: 2 (change made via controllable diverters in the path); 3 (change made by moving the station's axis relative to the path); 4 (multiple workstations in serial or parallel arrangement); 5 (a gripper conveys one product to a workstation and another product away from it).

Claim 6 — Device (relative repositioning, apparatus form of claim 1).
A transporter continuously conveys the flexible products along a transport path to at least one connecting station. The connecting station has at least one connecting element rotating around the station axis on a circle. The station and path are arrangeable so that (a) in a first position the path is tangential to the circle for processing, and (b) in a second position the path is spaced from the circle so products pass unprocessed. A changing means shifts between the two positions to stop or begin processing.

• Dependent claim 7: the changing means operates electrically and/or hydraulically and/or pneumatically.

Claim 8 — Method (switching via diverters).
Same two-position tangential-vs-spaced framework as claim 1, but the change between first and second positions (stopping/starting processing) is performed by means of controllable diverters located in the transport path (i.e., routing products onto a different line rather than moving the station). Dependents 9–10 mirror claim 4 and 5 (multiple workstations; gripper carrying one product to and another away from a workstation).

Claim 11 — Device (parallel lines / diverter-based).
A transporter continuously conveys the products; at least one diverter in the transport path divides it into at least two parallel lines; at least one connecting station has a connecting element rotating on a circle. The diverter is switchable so that:

• products are continuously conveyed along one parallel line where the station/path relationship puts the transport path tangential to the circle (first position, processing occurs), or
• along another parallel line where the path is at a distance from the circle (second position, products pass unprocessed).

Dependents 12–13 add multiple workstations (serial or parallel) and the gripper that conveys one product to and another away from a workstation.

Claim 14 — Method (switching by moving the station axis).
Same tangential-vs-spaced two-position framework as claim 1, but the change between positions is accomplished specifically by moving the axis of the connecting station relative to the transport path (first → second to stop processing, or second → first to begin). Dependents 15–16 mirror multiple workstations and the gripper exchange feature.

Claim 17 — Device (movable station axis).
A transporter continuously conveys products along a transport path; at least one connecting station has at least one connecting element rotating around a station axis on a circle. The axis is movable: to a first position in which the station and path are positioned so the path is tangential to the circle (processing), and to a second position allowing products on the path to pass the station unprocessed. Dependents 18–19 add multiple serially/parallel-arranged workstations and the gripper exchange feature.

Technical context (from the specification)

The commercial problem addressed is inflexible fixed bindery/print-finishing lines: adding or skipping a work step previously required constructing a new transport path or spanning a removed workstation's footprint. The invention keeps the products on the same gripper transporter into and out of each workstation and makes the station removable (lowered, lifted, pivoted — pneumatically, hydraulically, or electrically) or routable-around (diverters/points), with a cover protecting products passing an idle station. Workstations contemplated include stapling/stitching (including rotary stapler/stitcher 38 with heads 40 on carrier disk 39), gluing/ adhesive binding, ultrasonic connection, insertion (with reference to EP 1254857 and its FIG. 12), collector/insert drums, and cutting stations. Grippers may hold products at the fold or at the open end, and may stay closed through processing (e.g., stapling) or deposit products onto support elements 34 (saddles/benders) and re-grasp them downstream. Cited prior art includes EP 0762950 B1, GB 5861, WO 02/36474, EP 0606555, EP 0691215, EP 1418146 A2 / US 2004/0089991 A1, EP 0390733/EP 0390734, EP 1254857, and others.

Uncertainty notes

• Litigation: I cannot confirm or describe any 2026 CAFC docket activity for US 7,591,223; none appeared in my searches. The only family-litigation signal is the generic Google Patents/Darts-ip flag, which does not identify a case.
• Fees/status: Google Patents lists an adjusted expiration of 2026-01-02 and status "Expired – Lifetime," while the Legal Events show maintenance fees paid through the 12th year (2020-09-28). If you need the definitive current status, verify in USPTO PatentCenter/PAIR directly.
• Inventor name spelling: the text uses "Heinz Möckli" while the assignment record renders it "MOCKLI, HEINZ"; I have not normalized either form.