Patents Assigned to Krones AG
  • Apparatus and method for processing plastic containers, in particular by means of long stators
    Patent number: 10786940
    Abstract: Provided is a device for treating containers and in particular plastic containers, including a first transport device having a continuous carrier on which a first plurality of transport elements are moveably arranged, each having at least one retainer for retaining plastic preforms and being designed and configured to transport said plastic preforms along a first transport path, and including at least one heating device arranged along the first transport path in order to heat the plastic preforms at least in sections during their transportation along the first transport path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Klaus Voth, Eduard Handschuh
  • Container-handling installation and method for conveying functional elements in a container-handling installation for the purpose of handling containers
    Patent number: 10787324
    Abstract: A container-handling installation and a method for conveying functional elements in a container-handling installation for handling containers is provided. The container-handling installation comprises at least two conveying elements, which each have at least one functional element provided for handling containers. A conveyance path is provided for conveying the at least two conveying elements one after the other, and independently of one another, along the conveyance path and by conveyance-path magnetic-force units, which are arranged along the conveyance path and at least some of which can be activated separately in order to interact with at least one magnetic-force unit of the respective conveying element A bearing unit is provided for each conveying element for bearing the conveying element such that the at least two conveying elements are mounted on a common shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Michael Neubauer
  • Closure head for closing a container having a container closure
    Patent number: 10787353
    Abstract: A closure head for closing a container with a container closure, for example for closing a container with a screw closure in a beverage filling system is described. The closure head includes a gripping mechanism for gripping the container closure with at least one gripping arm that can be pivoted about a bearing, and a holding jaw disposed on the gripping arm for holding the container closure. The holding jaw is locked on the gripping arm by means of a pre-tensioned pressure pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Markus Schoenfelder
  • Active clamping device
    Patent number: 10766146
    Abstract: An active clamping device for holding a container in a container treatment device, for example for holding a beverage container by a neck section, includes two clamping arms and a pre-tensioning element. Each clamping arm has a holding section for holding the container that is to be held, and a control section for interacting with a control cam to actively displace each holding section. The pre-tensioning element pre-tensions the holding sections in a predetermined position. The clamping arms and the pre-tensioning element are formed as a single piece. A clamping arm and a container treatment device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Bruno Landler
  • Device for guiding and pivoting bodies
    Patent number: 10759604
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for guiding and pivoting bodies via sliding the bodies through the device. The device is produced using a generative manufacturing method. A system includes at least two of the devices arranged in parallel, a conveyor device, and a control device. The control device controls the conveyor device responsive to receiving a control command and feeds bodies selectively to one of the devices. A treatment line for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers includes a process path, a preform storage unit, a preform oven of a stretch blow-molding machine, and the device arranged between the preform storage unit and the preform oven. A treatment line for PET containers includes a process path, a container closure storage unit, a closing unit for closing the PET containers, and the device arranged between the container closure storage unit and the closing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Torsten Kilgenstein, Matthias Meier, Johann Huettner, Rudolf Fiegler, Reinhard Ortner, Ulrich Seidel, Hendrik Gadomski
  • Device for treating containers
    Patent number: 10759643
    Abstract: A device for treating containers, for example, for filling and closing containers in filling plants is described. The device includes an isolator chamber in which the treatment of the containers takes place, and an outlet disposed beneath the isolator chamber for discharging fluids, wherein the outlet has a housing for receiving ejected containers and a suction device for extracting gases from the isolator chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Juergen Soellner, Franz Braun, Holger Mueller, Bruno Landler
  • Linear transport system with minimal transport spacing
    Patent number: 10759613
    Abstract: A transport system includes a transport track with a long stator of a linear motor and a plurality of transport elements for transporting containers. The transport elements are disposed movably on the transport track and have respectively a secondary part for magnetic interaction with the long stator. At least one sequence of magnets is arranged on the secondary part such that the respective transport element can be moved through magnetic interaction of the magnets with the long stator along the transport direction. An extension of at least the first and the last magnet in each sequence is reduced in a way that, and an arrangement of at least the first and the last magnet is chosen in a way that, the magnets of adjacent sequence ends of two successive transport elements occupy overlap-free areas in a direction that is perpendicular to the transport direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Michael Neubauer
  • Method and device for the production of drinking water with high silicate content
    Patent number: 10730766
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for the production of drinking water with high silicate content, including the steps of mixing demineralised raw water and a waterglass solution comprising sodium and/or potassium silicate; and subjecting at least one part of the mixture to an ion exchange process to reduce the concentration of sodium and/or potassium. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to a device for the production of drinking water with high silicate content, the device including a mixing device for mixing demineralised raw water and a waterglass solution comprising sodium and/or potassium silicate, an ion exchanger to subject at least one part of the mixture to an ion exchange process to reduce the concentration of sodium and/or potassium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Dirk Scheu
  • Device for filling a container with a carbonated filling product
    Patent number: 10730734
    Abstract: A device for filling a container with a carbonated filling product in a beverage filling system is described. The device includes a gas valve for supplying a gas into the container, the gas valve being biased by a gas valve spring in a specified switch state, and a filling valve for supplying the filling product into the container, the filling valve being biased by a filling valve spring in a specified switch state. The gas valve and the filling valve are operatively connected to a common actuator for switching between an open and a closed switch state, and the gas valve spring applies a spring force which differs from that of the filling valve spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Christian Brey, Sebastian Baumgartner
  • DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FILLING A CONTAINER WITH A FILLING PRODUCT
    Publication number: 20200239295
    Abstract: A device for filling a container with a filling product includes a filling valve for influencing the supply of the filling product into the container to be filled, generally during the transport, by means of a container transporting device, of the containers to be filled, a dosing valve for dosing a dosing product from a dosing product reservoir into the filling valve, and a main component reservoir for providing a main component at the filling valve. A dosing product changing device is provided for changing the dosing product in the dosing product reservoir during the filling operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: Krones AG
    Inventors: Valentin BECHER, Josef KNOTT, Florian ANGERER, Ute WINTER, Stefan POESCHL, Josef DOBLINGER
  • Labeling machine for labeling containers
    Patent number: 10710763
    Abstract: Examples are disclosed for a labeling machine for labeling containers, such as bottles in the beverage-processing industry. In one example, a labeling machine includes at least one machine unit which in operation can treat containers (e.g., label the containers), and a movable protective element which separates at least part of the machine unit from an associated environment. The protective element comprises a handle for moving the protective element, and the handle comprises a pushbutton for locking and/or unlocking. The pushbutton, when actuated, selectively releases and/or blocks the movement of the protective element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Oliver Potempa, Andreas Kraus, Stefan Scherl
  • Glue supply for labeling unit with glue printer
    Patent number: 10703524
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a glue supply device for a labeling unit with a glue printer, comprising: a storage tank for glue, a supply line for supplying glue from the storage tank to the glue printer, a continuously delivering glue pump which is embodied to deliver glue from the storage tank into the supply line, and a hydropneumatic reservoir for the glue, wherein the hydro-pneumatic reservoir is arranged at the supply line upstream of the glue printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Georg Gertlowski, Stefan Poeschl, Josef Scheck, Florian Habersetzer, Heinrich Bielmeier, Robert Scheibenpflug, Alexander Feigl, Andreas Kraus, Dennis Baumann
  • Transport device for transporting pucks
    Patent number: 10689206
    Abstract: The invention provides a transport device for transporting pucks which are configured for container transport, comprising a puck transport section for transporting pucks to and from a container treatment machine. The transport device comprises a puck buffer from which pucks can be coupled into the puck transport section and to which pucks decoupled from the puck transport section can be fed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Veronika Bauer, Thomas Mildner, Michael Jogsch, Johannes Duenzinger, Stefan Heigl, Peter Muehlstein, Christian Paul
  • Method for transporting containers
    Patent number: 10691101
    Abstract: A device for transporting containers comprises at least two transport devices for the containers, at least two servo motors, at least two position sensors, and at least one control unit. The at least one control unit is to control the at least two servo motors, by closed-loop control, based on a comparison of positions determined by respective position sensors of the at least two position sensors and respective target positions. The at least one control unit is further to bring the at least two servo motors to a standstill in the event of a fault of a position sensor, wherein: a) a servo motor is brought to a standstill in a closed-loop manner using the position if it is determinable by the position sensor, or b) the servo motor is brought to a standstill in an open-loop manner based on the target position if the position is not determinable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Sebastian Langwieser, Dieter Finger, Helmut Schneider, Johannes Strauss
  • Apparatus and method for the recovery of energy
    Patent number: 10676704
    Abstract: A device and method for recovering energy from a hot medium, in particular from hot wort or hot mash for a beer brewery, including a first heat exchanger device for a heat transfer medium that is arranged in particular downstream of a device for heating, boiling or keeping wort or mash warm and is designed such that the heat transfer medium can be heated while cooling preferably wort or mash, wherein at least one heat consumer of the brewery is heated with the heat transfer medium. The heat transfer medium cooled down during heating the heat consumer can be recirculated to the first heat exchanger device in the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Helmut Kammerloher
  • Blow molding machine with automatically actuated base coupling
    Patent number: 10647047
    Abstract: A system is provided for transforming plastic parisons into plastic containers with at least one transforming station which has a blow mold within which the plastic parisons can be expanded by application of a gaseous medium, wherein the blow mold has a base part which is disposed releasably on a support, and with a first fastening mechanism in order to fasten the base part to the support, and wherein the blow mold has at least one side part which is disposed releasably on a support and a second fastening mechanism in order to fasten the side part to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Florian Geltinger
  • Method and device for filling a container to be filled with a filling product
    Patent number: 10626002
    Abstract: A method for filling a container to be filled with a filling product includes accommodating a container to be filled in a treatment chamber, sealing a filling device to the container, rinsing the container with a rinsing gas introduced into the container through a rinsing gas channel, filling the container with the filling product, pre-pressurizing the treatment chamber with a pressurization gas through a pressurization gas channel, removing the filling device from the container, closing the container with a container closure, relieving the pre-pressurization pressure in the treatment chamber, and removing the container from the treatment chamber. The pre-pressurization pressure that is present in the treatment chamber is at least in part relieved into the rinsing gas channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Florian Habersetzer, Josef Knott, Christian Stoiber, Holger Mueller
  • Method for starting up a blow moulding machine, and system including a blow moulding machine
    Patent number: 10611076
    Abstract: In a method for operating an apparatus for transforming plastic preforms into plastic containers, the apparatus acts upon a flowable medium to plastic preforms in order to expand these plastic preforms to form the plastic containers, and the apparatus carries out this transforming operation while taking account of a plurality of process parameters. The plurality of process parameters is determined on the basis of a machine model, wherein a predefined number of input parameters are transferred to this machine model and at least one processor unit determines the process parameters and/or values characteristic of these process parameters on the basis of these input parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Markus Haller
  • Bottle wrapping apparatus employing thin film of stretching plastic material
    Patent number: 10597181
    Abstract: A method for the wrapping of containers, particularly bottles, into bundles including rows of adjacent containers, wherein the containers are fed continuously, according to a displacement axis, to a wrapping station (2, 3) and wound with a spiral of a stretching plastic film defining a continuous wrapping. The containers (B) are pushed into a portion upstream of the wrapping station (2, 3) by a conveying unit (1) provided with at least guiding and supporting elements of the containers and with a pacing unit (1a), the containers (B) wrapped with the stretching plastic film being withdrawn, downstream of each winding unit (2, 3), with the help of a dragging device (T1, T2, T3), the guiding and supporting elements including members (11, 12, 13) elongated in the longitudinal direction of the displacement axis which extend also into the wrapping station (2, 3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Alessandro Cattaneo
  • Device for filling containers in a beverage filling system
    Patent number: 10589975
    Abstract: A device and a method for filling at least one container with a filling product in a beverage filling plant are described. The device includes a product holding vessel for accommodating the filling product, and at least one filling element communicating with the product holding vessel for filling the container with the filling product, and a product feed tube for feeding a filling product into the product holding vessel. A seal for sealing the product feed tube with respect to an interior space of the product holding vessel is provided. The seal can be switched between a sealing position for cleaning and a non-sealing position for the filling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Manfred Schmid