Patents Assigned to Krone AG
  • Patent number: 12291441
    Abstract: A container treatment apparatus includes a transport apparatus for transporting containers along a predetermined transport path, wherein the transport apparatus has at least one transport device (100) for transporting the containers (100) and at least one container treatment device (150) for treating the container in a predetermined manner, wherein the transport devices include a rotatable carrier on which a plurality of holding elements (40) for holding at least one container is arranged. The container treatment device is arranged to treat the containers transported by the transport device and the holding element is rotatable such that the container held by the holding element is rotatable with respect to its longitudinal direction and the container treatment apparatus includes a monitoring device for monitoring the rotational movement of the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Stefan Kornprobst, Andreas Pense, Konrad Senn, Alexander Feigl, Viktor Gette, Andreas Eichenseher, Michael Neubauer, Andreas Vornehm, Florian Hoffmann, Wolfgang Schoenberger, Florian Fuchs, Josef Knott
  • Patent number: 12291405
    Abstract: A device for intermediately storing and conveying containers in at least one conveying direction includes a multi-row intermediate storage device. The device also includes container outlet lanes arranged, in a conveying direction, downstream of the multi-row intermediate storage device. The device also includes at least one movable container outlet link each configured to receive containers from at least one row of the multi-row intermediate storage device, and to discharge and distribute the containers to a plurality of the container outlet lanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Martin Seger, Michael Jogsch, Reiner Kahl, Nicolò Verza
  • Patent number: 12286308
    Abstract: A transport system for containers in the beverage industry, with a first container conveyor including a conveyor belt for conveying the containers, and a lubrication system including an applicator for applying a lubricant to the conveyor belt of the first container conveyor, wherein the transport system comprises a second container conveyor with a further conveyor belt for conveying the containers, and the lubrication system includes a mobile robot which has the applicator arranged thereon and a floor-supported undercarriage, for applying the lubricant in an automated selectively to the conveyor belt of the first container transporter or the conveyor belt of the second container conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Matthias Meier
  • Patent number: 12286337
    Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers with a carrier on which a container to be filled can be placed and fixed, wherein the support is pivotable with respect to a pivot axis which extends at an angle other than 0° with respect to a longitudinal direction of the container to be filled, with a first filling device, in order to fill the container in a first pivoted position of the container with respect to the pivot axis via its mouth, and having a rinsing device in order to rinse the container in a second pivot position of the container with respect to the pivot axis through its mouth, in particular with a liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Michael Neubauer
  • Patent number: 12280998
    Abstract: Disclosed is a container treatment apparatus and treatment method, in particular a container sterilisation apparatus, having a plurality of transport devices for transporting a container along a predetermined transport path, at least one of the transport devices having at least one holding device for holding at least one container during container treatment and/or transport along the transport path, the transport device having a rotatable carrier and a plurality of holding elements arranged on this carrier, wherein a holding element in a first sector, in which a container is received, having a height with respect to a perpendicular projection of the transport path which is different from that in a second sector in which a container is dispensed, and wherein a sector in which an at least partial compensation of the height difference of the holding elements takes place lies along a direction of rotation of the carrier after the second sector and before the first sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Viktor Gette, Konrad Senn, Andreas Pense, Florian Fuchs, Alexander Feigl, Wolfgang Schoenberger, Andreas Eichenseher, Florian Hoffmann, Josef Knott, Andreas Vornehm, Michael Neubauer, Stefan Kornprobst
  • Patent number: 12269726
    Abstract: A machine block and a method for filling bottles with liquid products, in particular beverages, are described. Accordingly, at least a first and second filler of circulating design with infeed starwheels and outfeed starwheels are provided. Filling can take place with a small amount of required space and comparatively low machine output in that the empty bottles are alternatingly removed from a transport path which runs linearly at least in some portions and supplied by means of the infeed starwheels to the first and second fillers interlocking with said transport path, and the bottles thus filled are transferred again to the transport path into transport gaps produced between the bottles during removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Bruno Landler
  • Patent number: 12269727
    Abstract: A system for producing filled plastic containers from sterilized plastic preforms, includes a transport device for transporting the plastic preforms and plastic containers produced from the plastic preforms by forming, along a predetermined transport path through the system, a forming apparatus for forming the sterilized plastic preforms into plastic containers, and a filling apparatus for filling the plastic containers during their at least sectional transport substantially along a circular line about a central axis of the filling apparatus. The forming apparatus and the filling apparatus have a maximum distance from one another in relation to their respective central axes of 5.5 m, preferably of 5.3 m, and the forming apparatus has a maximum number of 24 forming stations or of 6.0 m, preferably of 5.6 m, and the forming apparatus has more than 24 forming stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Christian Wittmann, Michael Peter
  • Patent number: 12269693
    Abstract: A method and a device for buffering containers in a container treatment plant. According thereto, containers are put into storage in a grouped manner in single file on at least one input conveyor belt, are moved in single file on a transversely adjoining buffering surface of shuttles, guided and driven individually on rails, having row pushers, in a buffering direction extending transversely to the input direction, and are taken out of storage on at least one output conveyor belt. Since, furthermore, containers are taken out of storage from the buffering surface by branching conveyor belts integrated in the buffering surface, transversely to the buffering direction and independently of the input conveyor belt and output conveyor belt, and/or are put into storage on the buffering surface, it is possible for container flows to be distributed flexibly and combined on the buffering surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Konrad Senn, Stefan Elsperger, Helmut Schuesslburner, Torsten Kilgenstein
  • Patent number: 12264055
    Abstract: The invention relates inter alia to a device for filling a container. The device comprises a filling valve for discharging a filling material into the container. The device further comprises a throttle valve for adjusting a flow rate of the filling material. The throttle valve comprises a valve member for adjusting a flow cross-section. The throttle valve has a pneumatic drive that is operatively connected to the valve member for moving the valve member, and an electric drive that is operatively connected to the valve member for moving the valve member. Advantageously, the device can combine the advantages of a pneumatic throttle control and the advantages of an electric throttle control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Michael Peter, Thomas Gren
  • Patent number: 12258255
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing plastic bottles. An apparatus for producing plastic bottles includes a molding machine to manufacture preforms for plastic bottles. The apparatus also includes a blow molding machine to receive the preforms from the molding machine and to stretch blow mold the preforms into bottles. The apparatus also includes a labeling machine to receive the bottles from the blow molding machine and to label the bottles. The molding machine is bloc-synchronized with the blow molding machine to space the molding machine a first distance from the blow molding machine. The blow molding machine being bloc-synchronized with the labeling machine to space the blow molding machine a second distance from the labeling machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Christoph Klenk, Wolfgang Hausladen
  • Patent number: 12235093
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for designing a packaging plant, wherein a measuring vehicle is moved within an area in which the production plant is to be erected or modified, and a position of the measuring vehicle relative to the area is detected. The measuring vehicle is positioned at a plurality of positions within this area and at this position records respective images and/or data of the area with a first image capturing device, wherein at least one geometric property of the area and/or the packaging plant is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Georg Gertlowski, Tobias Schweiger
  • Patent number: 12234048
    Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging or palletizing machine, a system and a method for automated generation of motion and position parameters for a packaging or palletizing machine for bundle arrangements. Layer and/or packaging parameters can be entered at a user interface that is used to generate parameters for controlling the packaging or palletizing machine. A digital twin of the packaging or palletizing machine can be used to generate or calculate the parameters. This allows the calculated parameters to be tested and validated by simulation using the digital twin. The parameters are generated such that the packaging machine being controlled using the parameters creates a package for a bundle according to the packaging and/or layer parameters and/or the palletizing machine being controlled using the parameters arranges bundles according to the layer and/or packaging parameters. After generating the parameters, the packaging or palletizing machine is configured based on the calculated parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Felix Schelling, Tolga Kuscular, Manuel Kollmuss, Markus Stockbauer, Arsalan Mehdi, Erhard Beer
  • Patent number: 12216062
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting containers and in particular cans, having an illumination device which illuminates the can to be inspected and radiates radiation onto an inner base wall of the container, and having an image recording device which records at least one spatially resolved image of the inner base wall illuminated by the illumination device is provided. The apparatus has a first polarization device in a beam path between a light source of the illumination device and the inner base wall in such a way that the radiation reaching the inner base wall is polarized, wherein the illumination device being designed in such a way that a predominant proportion of the radiation irradiated into the container by the illumination device reaches the inner base wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Stefan Piana, Rainer Kwirandt
  • Patent number: 12208562
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for treating containers with a transport device for transporting a container along a predetermined transport path, wherein the apparatus includes at least one container treatment device and preferably a plurality of container treatment devices, wherein the at least one container treatment device has at least one wear element, wherein the at least one container treatment device has a wear detection device for detecting wear data relating to wear of the at least one wear element. The wear detection device includes at least one sensor device for detecting the wear data relating to the wear of the at least one wear element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Frank Winzinger
  • Patent number: 12209969
    Abstract: Method for optically inspecting containers, where the containers are transported to an inspection unit with an illumination unit and with a camera, where light emitted from a planar light-emitting surface of the illumination unit is transmitted or reflected via said containers, where the camera records in at least one camera image at least one of the respective containers and the light transmitted or reflected via them, where the light emitted from the light-emitting surface is locally encoded on the basis of a wavelength property and is recorded by the camera in such a way that different emission locations of the light-emitting surface can be distinguished from one another in the at least one camera image, and that the image processing unit evaluates the at least one camera image for location information of the emission locations, in order to distinguish the defects from the foreign objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Anton Niedermeier
  • Patent number: 12209970
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for optically inspecting containers, wherein the containers are transported to an inspection unit with an illumination unit and with a camera, wherein the illumination unit emits light from a flat light-emitting surface, wherein the light is transmitted or reflected via the containers, wherein the camera captures a respective at least one of the containers and the light transmitted or reflected via same in at least one camera image, and wherein the at least one camera image is analysed by an image processing unit for intensity information in order to identify foreign bodies and/or defects in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Anton Niedermeier, Rainer Kwirandt
  • Patent number: 12195317
    Abstract: A device and method for filling a container with a filling product, for example in a beverage bottling installation, wherein the device has: at least one filling valve which is configured to introduce the filling product into the container; at least one flowmeter which is connected to the filling valve via a product conduit and which is configured to ascertain a filling product quantity passing the flowmeter in the product conduit; and a controller which communicates with the filling valve and with the flowmeter and which is configured to control the filling valve during the filling process; characterized in that the controller communicates bidirectionally with the flowmeter and is configured to perform a parameterization of the flowmeter in a manner dependent on one or more filling process variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Stefan Poeschl
  • Patent number: 12188518
    Abstract: A bearing arrangement for the mounting of a container processing carousel with respect to a base frame of a container processing apparatus in a beverage filling installation, comprising including a bearing shaft which extends along a longitudinal axis, a bearing cup which is rotatable relative to the bearing shaft, an adjusted bearing assembly, arranged between the bearing shaft and the bearing cup, for the mounting of the bearing cup with respect to the bearing shaft, and a ring-shaped preload unit for imparting a specified preload to the adjusted bearing assembly, wherein the ring-shaped preload unit includes a multiplicity of spring assemblies, which are distributed uniformly in a circumferential direction about the longitudinal axis, for applying the preload to the adjusted bearing assembly. A container processing apparatus including the bearing arrangement, and a method for preloading an adjusted bearing assembly of the bearing arrangement are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Albert Echtenacher, Markus Schoenfelder
  • Patent number: 12186965
    Abstract: A method for product guidance in a stretch blow molding and/or filling system for bottles, and a corresponding production system are described. Preform parameters of preforms provided for stretch blow molding are measured in an automated manner and initial data acquired in the process is stored. Bottle parameters of the blown empty bottles and/or subsequently filled bottles are measured and machine error states are optionally detected. Results data acquired in the process are individually associated with the preforms and stored. At least one lead-out criterion applicable in the downstream production operation is calculated for deciding whether or not to lead out faulty preforms or bottles, based on the initial data and results data. The lead-out criterion is additionally updated in an automated manner while taking into consideration the acquired initial data and results data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Christof Will
  • Patent number: 12179407
    Abstract: A method for controlling a machine block comprising a blow-moulding machine for producing bottles and comprising a filler for filling a liquid product into bottles, and a corresponding machine block. Accordingly, the blow-moulding machine comprises an electronic blow-moulding machine controller and an even number of circulating blow-moulding stations, and the filler comprises an electronic filler controller and an even number of circulating filling stations. Since the blow-moulding machine controller specifies a division selection, and the filler controller automatically selects, on the basis of the division selection, one of several filler operating modes all of the machine controllers in the region of the machine block can be instructed in a superordinate manner by the blow-moulding machine controller to automatically adjust the respective operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Thomas Zech, Sebastian Langwieser