Patents by Inventor Christoph Hellenbrand
Christoph Hellenbrand 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).
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Patent number: 11981029Abstract: Methods of assembling a controller for a commissioning device are provided. A method includes extending a delivery table in a first horizontal direction, the delivery table having a storage end and a retrieval end, disposing two elongated clamping jaws above the delivery table, extending, in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction, a first guide and a second guide that are parallel and spaced from one another in the first horizontal direction, coupling at least four clamping jaw carriages to the first and second guides, wherein at least two clamping jaw carriages separated from one another in the first horizontal direction are coupled to a single clamping jaw, respectively, and coupling at least four drive elements to a clamping jaw drive unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2022Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignee: BECTON DICKINSON ROWA GERMANY GMBHInventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
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Publication number: 20240122809Abstract: A system includes a storage and dispensing container for drug portions, a memory and a processor. The process executes instructions to detect by a first detection device rays of light transmitted past a drug portion by a first light emitting source in a first direction, to detect by a second detection device rays of light transmitted past the drug portion by a second light emitting source in a second direction different from the first direction, to generate, by the first and second detection devices, an image of the drug portion, to process the image using image analysis, to determine specified drug information for the drug portion and to identify, based on the determined drug information, a suitable singling device fitting the drug portions to be singularized and to be disposed within the storage and dispensing container. Additional systems for identifying a singling device are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Inventor: Christoph HELLENBRAND
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Publication number: 20240123629Abstract: A gripper for a picking device for storing small piece goods and a method for operating a picking device having a gripper are provided. The gripper simplifies dispensing and includes a drop table extending in first and second horizontal directions, and has at least one end portion having a dispensing end face, wherein the drop table and the end portion define an upper support surface. A transport device for moving small piece goods is arranged above the drop table and sensor device(s) are arranged in the at least one end portion having detection regions associated therewith, the sensor device being arranged along a vertical axis in such a way that the detection regions cover a vertically extending space in front of the dispensing end face.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Inventor: Christoph HELLENBRAND
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Patent number: 11961353Abstract: A system for dispensing and packaging drug portions includes one or more storage containers, the one or more storage containers each including a housing defining a receiving chamber for drug portions and a singulating device disposed at least partially within the housing for singulating and dispensing the drug portions contained within the receiving chamber, the singulating device having an electrically conductive outer surface. The system also includes a blister packaging machine for packaging drug portions dispensed from the one or more storage containers, wherein a conductor device is provided, the conductor device providing an electrically conductive coupling between the singulating device outer surface and a contact configured to dissipate an electrical charge.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2023Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: BECTON DICKINSON ROWA GERMANY GMBHInventors: Christoph Hellenbrand, Dietmar Gross
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Publication number: 20240092577Abstract: A picking device for storing bottles and a corresponding method are provided. The picking device includes a storage locations for bottles, a control device and an operating device having a gripper with two prongs, the operating device displaceable adjacent the storage location in first and second directions. The control device causes the operating device to lift a bottle from the storage location and move the bottle in a third direction away from the storage location by one of a frictional connection and a positive connection between the bottle and the two prongs or move a bottle in a third direction towards the storage location and lower the bottle to rest in the storage location by one of a frictional connection and a positive connection between the bottle and the two prongs. A method for retrieving bottles and an operating device for use with a picking device are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventor: Christoph HELLENBRAND
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Patent number: 11919709Abstract: An automatic picking machine for pharmaceutical drug packages includes at least one storage rack, at least one storage and retrieval machine, a control apparatus for controlling the storage and retrieval machine, and a filling apparatus for successively filling each of a plurality of transport containers with a group of pharmaceutical drug packages corresponding to one order, wherein the filling apparatus includes a plurality of collection containers, first transport apparatuses, each having a transport channel for conveying the pharmaceutical drug packages towards the respective collection container, and a receiving apparatus for receiving a transport container to be filled at a filling location of the filing apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2020Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Becton Dickinson Rowa Germany GmbHInventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
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Patent number: 11903906Abstract: A method for providing a singling device of a storage and dispensing container for drug portions is provided. A singling device is adapted to a specific drug portion based on the measurement of the drug portion. The measurement is obtained by generating at least one image of a to-be-measured drug portion by a detection device and using image analysis to process the at least one image. Drug information for the specific drug portion is determined, the drug information including at least the dimensions of the specific drug portion. Based on the determined drug information, a singling device fitting the drug portion to be singularized is identified and provided for use in the storage and dispensing container. A system for identifying a singling device is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2020Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: BECTON DICKINSON ROWA GERMANY GMBHInventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
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Publication number: 20240054847Abstract: A method of operating a storage and dispensing station for drug portions includes rotatably disposing a singulating device in a storage container, providing, with a conductor device, an electrically conductive coupling between the singulating device and a contact, and dissipating an electrical charge from the singulating device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2023Publication date: February 15, 2024Inventors: Christoph HELLENBRAND, Dietmar GROSS
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Patent number: 11897120Abstract: A gripper for a picking device for storing small piece goods and a method for operating a picking device having a gripper are provided. The gripper simplifies dispensing and includes a drop table extending in first and second horizontal directions, and has at least one end portion having a dispensing end face, wherein the drop table and the end portion define an upper support surface. A transport device for moving small piece goods is arranged above the drop table and sensor device(s) are arranged in the at least one end portion having detection regions associated therewith, the sensor device being arranged along a vertical axis in such a way that the detection regions cover a vertically extending space in front of the dispensing end face.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2020Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: BECTON DICKINSON ROWA GERMANY GMBHInventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
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Patent number: 11884489Abstract: A picking device for storing bottles and a corresponding method are provided. The picking device includes a plurality of storage locations for bottles, an operating device having a gripper, at least one storing device, at least one identification device and an unloading device. The storage locations have storage location receptacles and the storing device has at least one storing receptacle for bottles, wherein the storage location receptacles and the storing receptacle are configured such that the bottles are held therein in such a way that they are protected against rolling. The gripper includes a gripping member configured such that the bottles are movable from the storing receptacles and storage location receptacles by being lifted by the gripping member or by being pulled to a holding area of the gripper.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2020Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: BECTON DICKINSON ROWA GERMANY GMBHInventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
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Publication number: 20230347529Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a gripper and a method for moving piece goods. The gripper has a deposit table extending in first and second directions and a gripping assembly guide arrangement having a gripping assembly. The gripping assembly has a unilaterally flexible chain including a bending limitation device, a first end remote from the gripping assembly guide arrangement and a second end close to the gripping assembly guide arrangement. The unilaterally flexible chain is moved and is deflected by a deflection device in an articulation direction at an angle of between 70-110° to the first direction. The unilaterally flexible chain is arranged in such a way that pushing forces are transmitted to a piece good, and the unilaterally flexible chain has an alignment device which, in the non-articulated state, holds the chain links in a mutually non-pivoted, stretched alignment.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2022Publication date: November 2, 2023Inventors: Dietmar GROSS, Christoph Hellenbrand
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Publication number: 20230278809Abstract: An operating device for placing or retrieving piece goods onto or from storage places of a picking device is provided. The operating device includes a gripping jaw assembly having two gripping jaws with opposite lying inner surfaces extending in a first horizontal direction corresponding to a direction for placing and retrieving piece goods. The gripping jaws are configured so that the distance of the inner surfaces from each other tapers in the downward direction at least in sections and the piece goods can be lifted from below or the gripping jaws can be moved to clamp the piece goods between them. The operating device also includes an actuation unit coupled to the gripping jaw assembly for moving the gripping jaw assembly in the first horizontal direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2023Publication date: September 7, 2023Inventor: Christoph HELLENBRAND
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Publication number: 20230245761Abstract: Methods for verifying drug portions include using a verification device to receive characteristic key data for a drug based on images of the drug and to receive, from the calibrated camera, a digital image of a package including a drug portion of the drug, the calibrated camera arranged to capture images from above the package, determine individual key data for the drug portion included in the package based at least on a known calibration parameter of the calibrated camera and the digital image of the package including the drug portion, compare the individual key data with the characteristic key data for the drug and verify or reject the package including the drug portion corresponding to the drug based on a result of the comparison. Systems and computer readable medium are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2023Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventor: Christoph HELLENBRAND
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Patent number: 11713200Abstract: An operating device for placing or retrieving bottle-like piece goods onto or from storage places of a picking device is provided. The operating device includes a gripping jaw assembly having two profile-rod shaped gripping jaws with opposite lying inner surfaces extending in a first horizontal direction corresponding to a direction for placing and retrieving piece goods. The gripping jaws are configured so that the distance of the inner surfaces from each other tapers in the downward direction at least in sections and the bottle-like piece goods can be lifted from below. The operating device also includes an actuation unit coupled to the gripping jaw assembly for moving the gripping jaw assembly in the first horizontal direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: BECTON DICKINSON ROWA GERMANY GMBHInventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
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Patent number: 11664117Abstract: Methods for measuring and verifying drug portions while avoiding the need to teach verification devices is provided. Characteristic key data of a drug type are compiled with a calibrated camera of a measuring device, stored in a storage device, and retrieved from or transmitted to a verification device. Individual key data for a drug portion to be verified are compiled using a calibrated camera of the verification device and compared with the characteristic key data. A digital image of a drug portion to be verified is generated with a calibrated camera and transferred to a control unit. The control unit determines individual key data for the drug portion to be verified using known calibration parameters of the camera and the digital image, compares the individual key data with characteristic key data of the corresponding drug type and verifies or rejects the drug portion based on the results of the comparison. Systems and computer readable medium are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: BECTON DICKINSON ROWA GERMANY GMBHInventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
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Publication number: 20230154271Abstract: A system for dispensing and packaging drug portions includes one or more storage containers, the one or more storage containers each including a housing defining a receiving chamber for drug portions and a singulating device disposed at least partially within the housing for singulating and dispensing the drug portions contained within the receiving chamber, the singulating device having an electrically conductive outer surface. The system also includes a blister packaging machine for packaging drug portions dispensed from the one or more storage containers, wherein a conductor device is provided, the conductor device providing an electrically conductive coupling between the singulating device outer surface and a contact configured to dissipate an electrical charge.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2023Publication date: May 18, 2023Inventors: Christoph HELLENBRAND, Dietmar GROSS
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Publication number: 20230100494Abstract: Methods of assembling a controller for a commissioning device are provided. A method includes extending a delivery table in a first horizontal direction, the delivery table having a storage end and a retrieval end, disposing two elongated clamping jaws above the delivery table, extending, in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction, a first guide and a second guide that are parallel and spaced from one another in the first horizontal direction, coupling at least four clamping jaw carriages to the first and second guides, wherein at least two clamping jaw carriages separated from one another in the first horizontal direction are coupled to a single clamping jaw, respectively, and coupling at least four drive elements to a clamping jaw drive unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventor: Christoph HELLENBRAND
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Patent number: 11594095Abstract: A storage and dispensing station for a blister packaging machine for drug portions includes a base electrically coupled to the blister packaging machine and configured to dissipate an electrical charge to the blister packaging machine. A storage container is disposed on the base and includes a housing defining a receiving chamber for drug portions, a cylindrical receiving chamber and a bottom surface. A singulating device is rotatably disposed in the cylindrical receiving chamber and has multiple channels extending along the singulating device and parallel with a rotational axis of the singulating device. The singulating device also includes an electrically conductive coupling and a drive for rotating the singulating device. The singulating device is electrically conductive at least at an outer surface of the singulating device, and the outer surface comes into contact with drug portions. A conductor device provides an electrically conductive coupling between the outer surface and an electrical contact.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Becton Dickinson Rowa Germany GMBHInventors: Christoph Hellenbrand, Dietmar Gross
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Publication number: 20230047973Abstract: A filling station includes a transport tray having a plurality of transfer receptacles, an optical detection device configured to generate one or more images of transfer receptacles having drug portions arranged therein and a control device coupled to the optical detection device. The control device causes display of a filling template of which transfer receptacles are to be filled with one or more drug portions and compares an actual filling of the transfer receptacles based on the one or more images of the transfer receptacles generated by the optical detection device to ta target filling. The control device also determines if no deviation exists between the actual filling and the target filling and releases the transport tray for transferring the drug portions to a secondary tray.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2022Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventor: Christoph HELLENBRAND
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Patent number: 11559883Abstract: A controller for a commissioning device for storing piece goods such as medicinal packages is provided. The controller includes a delivery table that extends in a first direction, two elongated clamping jaws disposed above the delivery table, the jaws having clamping surfaces that face one another, and a clamping jaw guide apparatus with a frame structure, at least one first and one second guide which are separated from one another in the first direction and extend in a second direction, and at least four clamping jaw carriages which are coupled to the guides and driven in the second direction. Two clamping jaw carriages each are associated with a guide and at least two clamping jaw carriages separated from one another in the first direction are coupled to one clamping jaw, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2021Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: BECTON DICKINSON ROWA GERMANY GMBHInventor: Christoph Hellenbrand