Patents by Inventor Herbert Henze

Herbert Henze 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: 11795001
    Abstract: A conveyor apparatus includes a drive unit, a connection interface which transmits analog signals, and a drive control module which is coupled to the drive unit and to the connection interface via signal technology. The drive control module receives analog control signals via the connection interface in an operating state and controls the drive unit as a function of the analog control signals, outputs digital diagnostic signals via the connection interface in a digital communication state, and switches from the operating state to the digital communication state upon receipt of a switchover command. The switchover command is made up of a predetermined analog control signal or a predetermined sequence of analog control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: INTERROLL HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Andreas Hampe, Herbert Henze
  • Patent number: 11767175
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor arrangement (1) for conveying a conveyed material, comprising a motor-driven conveyor roller (100), comprising a roller body (10) mounted so as to be able to rotate about a roller axis (A), a drive unit (20) arranged inside the roller body (10), coupled mechanically to the roller body (10) and an axle element (16) and designed to generate a torque between the axle element (16) and the roller body (10), a sensor function unit (40) arranged inside the roller body (10) and designed to sense a conveyed material to be conveyed by the motor-driven conveyor roller (100), and a control unit (30) that is connected to the sensor function unit (40) in order to transmit signals, wherein the control unit (30) is designed to receive a sensor signal from the sensor function unit and to transmit a control signal to the drive unit (20) depending on the sensor signal, wherein the control signal contains data for driving the motor-driven conveyor roller, in a conveyor mode, with a characteris
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Interroll Holding AG
    Inventors: Andreas Hampe, Herbert Henze, Carsten Chabrié
  • Patent number: 11718483
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor arrangement, comprising a motor-operated conveyor roller, comprising a roller body which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a roller axis, a drive unit which is arranged within the roller body and is mechanically coupled between the roller body and an axle element and is designed to generate a torque between the axle element and the roller body, and a control data interface which is connected in a signal-transmitting fashion to the drive unit. The invention is characterized by an electronic addressing model which can be coupled in a signal-transmitting fashion to the sensor and to the bus line and is designed to encode a sensor signal, which is generated by the sensor and received in the addressing module, to form a bus-encoded sensor data block which comprises a digital sensor signal data block which characterises the sensor signal and a sensor address data block, and to transmit the bus-encoded sensor data block into the bus line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Interroll Holding AG
    Inventors: Daniel Heinen, Herbert Henze, Claus Blödorn, Wolfgang Puntigam
  • Patent number: 11420825
    Abstract: A method for state monitoring in a conveyor system, and also to a control unit, to a motorized roller, to a conveyor zone, to a conveyor section and to a conveyor system for carrying out this method. The method comprises checking for the presence of a reference operating state, determining a current of the motorized roller if the reference operating state is present, and comparing the determined current of the motorized roller with a reference value for the reference operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: INTERROLL HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Andreas Hampe, Herbert Henze
  • Patent number: 11377301
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motorized conveyor roller, comprising a roller body mounted so as to be able to rotate about a roller axle, a drive unit arranged inside the roller body and designed to generate a rotational movement about the roller axle between an axle element and the roller body. The invention is characterized by a control unit that is arranged inside the roller body and that is designed to receive a state signal from outside the roller body, to generate a control signal that describes a drive characteristic on the basis of the state signal, to control the drive unit by way of the control signal, to generate a self state signal that describes the state signal and/or the drive characteristic, and to transmit this self state signal outside the roller body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Interroll Holding aG
    Inventors: Andreas Hampe, Herbert Henze
  • Patent number: 11358803
    Abstract: A method for configuring a control unit in a conveyor, wherein a control unit controls one or more conveyor segments comprising a conveyor drive in signal communication with the control unit via a motor connection socket, and a sensor for detecting an object at a position within the conveyor segment. The conveyor is in signal communication with the control unit via a sensor connection socket. The control unit self-configures itself by: (i) activating a configuration mode in the control unit, (ii) receiving a signal from each motor connection socket or sensor connection socket, (iii) comparing the received signal(s) with a comparative value stored in the control unit, and (iv) determining whether a conveyor drive or a sensor is connected to a motor connection socket or a sensor connection socket of the control unit, respectively, based on the comparison of the signal(s) with the comparative value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: INTERROLL HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Herbert Henze
  • Patent number: 11320807
    Abstract: A control device for a conveyor device, comprises a control unit adapted to generate control signals for a conveyor device, a data interface adapted for signal transmission of control signals to the control unit, a first power interface adapted for power supply to the control unit, a connection interface adapted for establishing a signal control connection and a power supply connection between the control unit and a conveyor device located outside the control device. A second power interface is adapted to supply power to the control unit, the first interface being adapted to receive a power supply in the form of a power supply with a first voltage, the second interface being adapted to receive a power supply in the form of a power supply with a second voltage or, instead of the second voltage, with a third voltage whose level is different from the level of the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: INTERROLL HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Herbert Henze
  • Publication number: 20220024693
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motorized conveyor roller, comprising a roller body mounted so as to be able to rotate about a roller axle, a drive unit arranged inside the roller body and designed to generate a rotational movement about the roller axle between an axle element and the roller body. The invention is characterized by a control unit that is arranged inside the roller body and that is designed to receive a state signal from outside the roller body, to generate a control signal that describes a drive characteristic on the basis of the state signal, to control the drive unit by way of the control signal, to generate a self state signal that describes the state signal and/or the drive characteristic, and to transmit this self state signal outside the roller body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Andreas Hampe, Herbert Henze
  • Publication number: 20220009722
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor arrangement (1) for conveying a conveyed material, comprising a motor-driven conveyor roller (100), comprising a roller body (10) mounted so as to be able to rotate about a roller axis (A), a drive unit (20) arranged inside the roller body (10), coupled mechanically to the roller body (10) and an axle element (16) and designed to generate a torque between the axle element (16) and the roller body (10), a sensor function unit (40) arranged inside the roller body (10) and designed to sense a conveyed material to be conveyed by the motor-driven conveyor roller (100), and a control unit (30) that is connected to the sensor function unit (40) in order to transmit signals, wherein the control unit (30) is designed to receive a sensor signal from the sensor function unit and to transmit a control signal to the drive unit (20) depending on the sensor signal, wherein the control signal contains data for driving the motor-driven conveyor roller, in a conveyor mode, with a characteris
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Andreas Hampe, Herbert Henze, Karsten Chabrié
  • Publication number: 20210371207
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor arrangement, comprising a motor-operated conveyor roller, comprising a roller body which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a roller axis, a drive unit which is arranged within the roller body and is mechanically coupled between the roller body and an axle element and is designed to generate a torque between the axle element and the roller body, and a control data interface which is connected in a signal-transmitting fashion to the drive unit. The invention is characterized by an electronic addressing model which can be coupled in a signal-transmitting fashion to the sensor and to the bus line and is designed to encode a sensor signal, which is generated by the sensor and received in the addressing module, to form a bus-encoded sensor data block which comprises a digital sensor signal data block which characterises the sensor signal and a sensor address data block, and to transmit the bus-encoded sensor data block into the bus line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel Heinen, Herbert Henze, Claus Blödorn, Wolfgang Puntigam
  • Publication number: 20210323772
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for configuring a control unit in a conveyor, wherein a control unit controls one or more conveyor segments and each conveyor segment comprises a conveyor drive for conveying an object through the conveyor segment, said conveyor drive being in signal communication with the control unit via a motor connection socket, and a sensor for detecting an object at a position within the conveyor segment, said conveyor being in signal communication with the control unit via a sensor connection socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: INTERROL HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Herbert Henze
  • Patent number: 11136198
    Abstract: A device for examining a conveyor system having one or more motorized rollers comprises a measuring unit for determining a current profile of the motorized roller, wherein the measuring unit has a first interface and a second interface which are adapted to switch the measuring unit in the conveyor system between the motorized roller and a control unit controlling the motorized roller. A third interface is provided for receiving data on an operating situation present during the determination of the current profile. An evaluation unit is adapted to compare the determined current profile of the motorized roller with a reference profile which is characteristic for the operating situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: INTERROLL HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Andreas Hampe, Herbert Henze, Michael Margowski
  • Publication number: 20210171288
    Abstract: A device for examining a conveyor system having one or more motorized rollers comprises a measuring unit for determining a current profile of the motorized roller, wherein the measuring unit has a first interface and a second interface which are adapted to switch the measuring unit in the conveyor system between the motorized roller and a control unit controlling the motorized roller. A third interface is provided for receiving data on an operating situation present during the determination of the current profile. An evaluation unit is adapted to compare the determined current profile of the motorized roller with a reference profile which is characteristic for the operating situation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: INTERROLL HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Andreas Hampe, Herbert Henze, Michael Margowski
  • Publication number: 20210171286
    Abstract: A conveyor apparatus includes a drive unit, a connection interface which transmits analog signals, and a drive control module which is coupled to the drive unit and to the connection interface via signal technology. The drive control module receives analog control signals via the connection interface in an operating state and controls the drive unit as a function of the analog control signals, outputs digital diagnostic signals via the connection interface in a digital communication state, and switches from the operating state to the digital communication state upon receipt of a switchover command. The switchover command is made up of a predetermined analog control signal or a predetermined sequence of analog control signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: INTERROLL HOLDING AG
    Inventors: ANDREAS HAMPE, HERBERT HENZE
  • Publication number: 20200387142
    Abstract: A control device for a conveyor device, comprises a control unit adapted to generate control signals for a conveyor device, a data interface adapted for signal transmission of control signals to the control unit, a first power interface adapted for power supply to the control unit, a connection interface adapted for establishing a signal control connection and a power supply connection between the control unit and a conveyor device located outside the control device. A second power interface is adapted to supply power to the control unit, the first interface being adapted to receive a power supply in the form of a power supply with a first voltage, the second interface being adapted to receive a power supply in the form of a power supply with a second voltage or, instead of the second voltage, with a third voltage whose level is different from the level of the second voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: INTERROLL HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Herbert Henze
  • Publication number: 20200299068
    Abstract: A method for state monitoring in a conveyor system, and also to a control unit, to a motorized roller, to a conveyor zone, to a conveyor section and to a conveyor system for carrying out this method. The method comprises checking for the presence of a reference operating state, determining a current of the motorized roller if the reference operating state is present, and comparing the determined current of the motorized roller with a reference value for the reference operating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: INTERROLL HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Andreas Hampe, Herbert Henze
  • Patent number: 10556754
    Abstract: The invention relates to an installation method for setting up a control unit in a conveying device, wherein a first control unit controls an upstream first conveyor segment and a second control unit controls a downstream second conveyor segment. The method according to the invention comprises the steps of: placing an object on a first conveyor segment; activating a learning mode in a first and second control unit; activating a first and second conveyor drive by means of the respective first and second control unit; automatically conveying the object in the direction of the second conveyor segment; and storing an installation parameter in the second control unit depending on the triggering of the first or second sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: INTERROLL HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Herbert Henze
  • Patent number: 10545488
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for replacing a defective control unit in a conveying device interconnected by a bus. Conveying devices are used in logistics processes for fully automated and semi-automated conveying of goods by means of conveyor segments. These conveyor segments are controlled and monitored by control units. In order to minimize the downtime of the conveyor device, the described method for replacing a defective control unit in a conveying device interconnected by a bus can be used to ensure that a control unit can be replaced promptly and reliably. The method according to the invention allows automatic detection of a defect in a control unit, as well as initial configuration of a replacement control unit with an individual bus address or additional parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: INTERROLL HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Herbert Henze, Daniel Heinen
  • Patent number: 10399792
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conveying device for conveying objects comprising a plurality of conveyor segments, each conveyor segment having a control unit for controlling the conveyor drive, and a bus communication, wherein each control unit is connected to the bus communication. Each control unit has a microprocessor for processing control signals, a first electronic memory connected to the microprocessor, in which a first control configuration is stored, and a second electronic memory in which a second control configuration is stored. The microprocessor is adapted to control the conveyor drive in a first operating mode with the control configuration stored in the first memory, to load the second control configuration from the second memory into the first memory when a configuration change command is received, and to control the conveyor drive in a first operating mode with the control configuration stored in the first memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: INTERROLL HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Herbert Henze
  • Publication number: 20180203438
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for replacing a defective control unit in a conveying device interconnected by a bus. Conveying devices are used in logistics processes for fully automated and semi-automated conveying of goods by means of conveyor segments. These conveyor segments are controlled and monitored by control units. In order to minimise the downtimes of the conveyor device, the described method for replacing a defective control unit in a conveying device interconnected by a bus can be used to ensure that a control unit can be replaced promptly and reliably. The method according to the invention allows automatic detection of a defect in a control unit, as well as initial configuration of a replacement control unit with an individual bus address or additional parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: INTERROLL HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Herbert Henze, Daniel Heinen