Patents Assigned to KRONES
  • Patent number: 11498710
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus (22) for closing the top side of external cardboard packagings (1). The external cardboard packagings (1) comprise two top closing flaps (3, 4) located opposite each other. Side edges (42) of the closing flaps (3, 4) are connected to each other via two fold-in flaps (5, 6). During closing, at least two external cardboard packagings (1) are positioned in a group (50) contiguous to each other or slightly spaced apart. At least two folding devices (23) are advanceable toward each other to engage the fold-in flaps (5, 6) of each of the at least two external cardboard packagings (1), thus pressing the fold-in flaps (5, 6) toward each other and folding them over their particular second fold edges (60) and third fold edges (7), thereby folding down the top closing flaps (3, 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Stadler
  • Patent number: 11498772
    Abstract: A method and a device for buffering containers in a container treatment plant are disclosed. The containers are stored in single rows by at least one inlet conveyor belt in an inlet direction, are shifted in single rows on a buffer surface transversely adjacent by shuttles with row pushers guided on rails and driven individually into a buffer direction extending transversely to the inlet direction in single rows, and are withdrawn by at least one outlet conveyor belt adjacent to the buffer surface in the buffer direction in an outlet direction extending transversely to the buffer direction, or by at least one planar motor armature that can be driven towards the buffer surface and that is in particular driven two-dimensionally. Thus, the containers can be decelerated/accelerated with respect to the inlet/outlet conveyor belt in a controlled manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Michael Beyer, Stefan Elsperger, Konrad Senn, Helmut Schuesslburner
  • Patent number: 11492207
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for grouping containers, comprising a plurality of transfer pallets for conveying containers upright on a pallet surface and a first transfer device comprising a first transfer platform and an infeed manipulator, wherein the pallet surface of each transfer pallet has a plurality of ridge-like elevations forming a support surface for the containers, and wherein the first transfer platform has a comb-shaped outlet area configured for allowing the ridge-like elevations of the pallet surface to pass through the intermediate spaces of the comb-shaped outlet area for taking over the at least one container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Helmut Schuesslburner
  • Patent number: 11485530
    Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus to transfer and place articles (12) into outer packages (16), which are open at the top and which each receive at least one article group (18) composed of a plurality of articles (12). In the method, at least one article group (18) is seized by at least one handling device (46) and is placed from above into one of the outer packages (16). An article group (18), which has been seized by the handling device (46), already is compacted or will be compacted during placement of the article group into the outer package (16) by reducing the spacings between at least some of the individual articles (12) of the article group (18). The article group may also be subsequently spread out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Dietersberger, Markus Gabler, Jens Losert, Thomas Stadler, Christian Canalicchio
  • Patent number: 11485586
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method handling moved piece goods. The apparatus comprises a manipulator for the piece goods, at least one transport device transporting the moved piece goods to a seizing range of the at least one manipulator and at least one horizontal conveying device assigned to the seizing range and/or to a movement range of the at least one manipulator, via which horizontal conveying device the moved piece goods are transported in the seizing range of the at least one manipulator. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises at least one detection device for obtaining space coordinates and/or position data and/or contour data of piece goods to be seized by the manipulator, wherein the at least one horizontal conveying device and the at least one transport device are calibratable and/or controllable based on the space coordinates and/or position data and/or contour data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manuel Kollmuss, Erhard Beer, Michael Astner, Arsalan Mehdi
  • Patent number: 11472639
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mover for a longitudinal stator system, comprising a primary part with elements for movably arranging the mover on a longitudinal stator and an accommodating area, in which a sensor for position-dependent measurement of at least one system parameter is arranged, the sensor being releasably connected to the accommodating area, and to a corresponding method for determining a system parameter of a longitudinal stator system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Stefan Elsperger, Hartmut Davidson, Manfred Kieslinger
  • Patent number: 11472092
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, with a movable carrier on which at least one forming station is arranged for forming the plastic preforms, wherein the forming station is transported along a predefined transport path, and wherein the apparatus has a clean room inside which the plastic preforms are formed, wherein this clean room is isolated from a non-sterile environment by at least one wall, with a sterilisation device for sterilising the plastic preforms and/or plastic containers, which device acts upon the plastic preforms and/or plastic containers to be sterilised with a flowable sterilisation medium for their sterilisation. According to the invention, the apparatus comprises an ejection device for ejecting containers from the clean room, and this ejection device has a lock chamber from which the ejected containers can be removed, wherein this lock chamber can be acted upon with an atmosphere containing a sterilisation medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Holger Mueller, Juergen Soellner
  • Patent number: 11465859
    Abstract: The invention relates to a switch (1) of a transport system for a movable transport element (T), where the switch (1) comprises a main track (3) and a secondary track (4) branching off, where the movable transport element (T) can be guided from a transition region (2), in which the secondary track (4) branches off from the main track (3), optionally along the main track (3) or transferred into the secondary track (4), where one or more linear motor sections (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) are respectively provided at the main track (3) and the secondary track (4) for moving the movable transport element (T), where a normal force is present between the movable transport element (T) and the adjacent linear motor section or the adjacent linear motor sections (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d), characterized in that devices for altering the normal force are provided in the transition region. The invention also relates to a transport system comprising such a switch and a transport element for such a transport system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Hartmut Davidson, Thomas Kiendl, Stefan Poeschl, Michael Neubauer, Martin Kammerl
  • Patent number: 11460199
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for climate control of an interior of a machine in a food and beverage industry. The device includes an air discharge system for discharging air from the interior of the machine. The air discharge system includes a first air extraction duct configured for first selective extraction of contaminated air or second selective extraction of high-temperature air or at least two separate air extraction ducts including a first air extraction duct configured for the first selective extraction of the contaminated air and a second air extraction duct configured for the second selective extraction of the high-temperature air. The device further includes an air supply system for supplying air to the interior of the machine. The supplied air includes at least one of fresh air or purified extracted air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: August Peutl, Franz Weigl, Valentin Becher
  • Patent number: 11453560
    Abstract: A device for holding a container in a container treatment device, for example for holding a bottle at the bottle neck thereof, includes a first clasp arm, which is arranged on a clasp carrier so as to be pivotable about a first pivot axis, and a second clasp arm, which is arranged on the clasp carrier so as to be pivotable about a second pivot axis. The first clasp arm is of longer design than the second clasp arm. The first clasp arm and the second clasp arm are pivotally coupled to one another via a coupling arrangement, wherein the clasp arms are magnetically preloaded into a closed position, and the clasp arms can be opened to receive a container passively by inserting the container. A treatment device for treating a container is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Bruno Landler
  • Patent number: 11453522
    Abstract: A method is described for shaping the bottom of hot-filled containers, in which the bottoms of the containers are forced inwardly from a state bulged outwardly, in particular as they cool down. Complex mechanisms for forcing the bottom inwardly are dispensable for the reason that the bottoms are forced inwardly by at least one fluid jet and/or fluid pressure wave. In addition, shaping the bottom can advantageously be carried out in a production region immediately downstream of a closer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Bastian Tissmer, Ulrich Lappe, Arno Haner, Jochen Hirdina, Andreas Wutz, Gerald Huettner
  • Patent number: 11453523
    Abstract: Provided is a method for labelling first packagings, including at least the following steps: transporting labels to a labelling zone, wherein an adhesive side of the labels is directed upward during the transport; removing the primary packagings to be labelled from a magazine device, wherein the packagings are provided in the magazine device as packaging blanks which are at least in sections flat, and are preferably removed individually from the magazine device; placing the primary packagings onto the labels and adhering the labels to the packagings, wherein the packagings are preferably pressed from above onto the labels; inserting the first labelled packagings into secondary packagings; and introducing several containers into the primary and secondary packagings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Alban Hutter
  • Patent number: 11440236
    Abstract: A system for processing containers with a transport device which transports the containers along a predetermined transport path, wherein a plurality of holding devices for holding the containers is arranged on the transport device, wherein the system has at least one rotating device which rotates the plastic parisons with regard to a rotational position with respect to the longitudinal directions thereof. According to the invention the rotating device has an electrically operated driving device for producing the rotary movement of the plastic parisons with respect to the longitudinal directions thereof as well as at least one measuring device, which at least at times determines at least an electrical characteristic quantity of this driving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Dieter Finger, Thomas Kitzinger
  • Patent number: 11426920
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for expanding plastics material parisons into plastics material containers by a liquid medium with at least two transforming stations which fill and expand the plastics material parisons with the liquid medium with at least one common delivery device, which delivers the liquid medium to both transforming stations, wherein the transforming stations in each case have filling devices which fill the liquid medium into the plastics material parisons. According to the embodiments these transforming stations and/or filling devices in each case have a throttle device which are suitable and intended for changing the volume flow of the liquid entering the plastics material parisons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Thomas Kitzinger, Cora Hanesch, Dieter Finger, Dominik Meier, Andreas Pense, Andreas Vornehm, Christian Betz
  • Patent number: 11420377
    Abstract: Apparatus (1) for forming plastic preforms (10) into plastic containers (20), having at least one blow mould (14) which has at least two blow mould side parts (14a, 14b) and a bottom mould (14c), wherein the blow mould side parts (14a, 14b) and the bottom mould (14c) forming a cavity which corresponds to a negative contour of the plastic container (20) to be formed, wherein between the blow mould side parts (14a, 14b) and the bottom mould (14c) at least a first parting plane (22) and a second parting plane (24) is present, wherein the first parting plane (22) extending between the two side parts (14a, 14b) and the second parting plane (24) extending between the side parts (14a, 14b) and the bottom mould (14c), wherein the blow mould side parts (14a, 14b) and the bottom mould (14c) can be separated from each other by the second parting plane (24) and the bottom mould (14c) can be removed from the blow mould side parts (14a, 14b) by a bottom lift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Florian Geltinger
  • Patent number: 11407627
    Abstract: Provided is a method for controlling at least one of a container treatment machine and a beverage treatment machine, wherein the treatment machine treats at least one of containers and beverages using predeterminable parameters, wherein at least one control device controls the treatment machine at least temporarily taking into account the parameters, and wherein these parameters are input at least temporarily by an input device, and wherein, by an information output device, information is output at least temporarily to a user, the information being characteristic of a status of at least one of the machine and of data input by the user. According to embodiments of the invention, the information is at least partially output in image form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Matthias Seiser, Florian Deisenrieder, Markus Dusch
  • Patent number: 11401058
    Abstract: A device for capping a container with a container cap, for example in a beverage filling plant, includes an isolator for providing a defined atmosphere in the interior thereof; a capper for capping a container with a container cap, which capper is arranged in the isolator; and a cap production device for producing container caps from a hot melt, for example a plastics melt. The cap production device is arranged outside the isolator, and is interconnected with the isolator or is connected to the isolator via a cap transport tunnel in order to feed produced container caps to the capper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Juergen Soellner
  • Patent number: 11390405
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for assembling several beverage containers (2) into a multipack (4) is disclosed. The apparatus (1) comprises a horizontal conveying device (5) for moving groupings (3), each grouping (3) comprising several beverage containers (2). The apparatus (1) also comprises at least one working device (25) that applies packaging blanks (41) to the groupings (3). The beverage containers (2) of a grouping (3) pass through openings in the packaging blank (41) and are held together by the packaging blank (41). The apparatus (1) furthermore comprises at least one handling apparatus (15) which places the beverage containers (2) on the horizontal conveying device (5) such that the beverage containers (2) are in alignment with respect to one another. The alignment of the beverage containers (2) allows the packaging blank (41) to be applied to the beverage containers (2) directly upon their placement on the horizontal conveying device (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Herbert Spindler, Markus Gabler, Thomas Stadler, Johann Luber, Tobias Gut
  • Patent number: 11383421
    Abstract: ABSTRACT The invention provides a method for leakage detection in a device for shaping container preforms, comprising a compressed air system which is connected to a compressed air source and comprises at least two fluidically connected regions that can be separated from each other and/or from the environment by shut-off elements. The method comprises a leakage test run conducted in an automated manner in which at least one of the blocking elements and/or the compressed air supply into the compressed air system is controlled in such a way that it can be determined separately for each region whether compressed air escapes therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Thomas Philipp, Robert Aust, Thomas Kitzinger, Dieter Finger, Thomas Rauschendorfer
  • Patent number: 11383508
    Abstract: A curing station for curing printing ink of a direct print on containers, comprising a conveyor for conveying the containers preferably in container holders, and further comprising at least one UV light unit for curing the printing ink, characterized in that the at least one UV light unit comprises a 2D arrangement of UV LEDs for generating a UV light field for curing the printing ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Peter Lindner