Patents Assigned to Krones AG
  • Patent number: 11809167
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container processing system (10A-10U) for processing containers (12). The container processing system (10A-10U) has a plurality of processing units (22) for processing the containers (12) and a planar drive system (14) for transporting the containers (12). The planar drive system (14) is configured to move the plurality of movement devices (18) individually to a selection of the plurality of processing units (22) according to in each case one of a plurality of processing profiles for different container processing, wherein each of the plurality of processing profiles has a different selection of the plurality of processing units (22). The container processing system (10A-10U) advantageously allows flexible processing of different containers (different formats, contents, designs, bundles, packages, etc.) from a lot size of 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Stefan Scherl, August Peutl, Heinrich Bielmeier, Florian Lauterbach, Roland Laumer, Stefan Elsperger, Michael Neubauer, Alexander Kaiser, Wolfgang Roidl, Frank Winzinger
  • Patent number: 11807510
    Abstract: Beverage processing system for filling a beverage into containers with a filler with several filling valves for filling the beverage into the containers, where the filling valves are each configured having a filling device for filling at least two components of the beverage into one of the containers, a capper for closing the container filled with the beverage, and with a conveyor for transporting the containers at least from the filler to the capper, characterised in that the beverage processing system comprises at least one gas analysis device for quality control of the mixed beverage filled into the containers, and in that the at least one gas analysis device each comprises a gas suctioning device for suctioning gas from a head region of the containers filled with the beverage and an analyzer for analyzing the suctioned gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Ute Winter, Patrick Engelhard, Valentin Becher, Eva Beierle
  • Patent number: 11807470
    Abstract: Buffer device for buffering containers, with an inlet, an inlet manipulator, a first buffer system, a transposition device, a second buffer system, an outlet manipulator, and an outlet, where containers can be transferred by the inlet manipulator from the inlet to the first buffer system and can be transported along a first direction in the first buffer system, where the transposition device can transfer containers from the first buffer system to the second buffer system, and the containers can be transported in the second buffer system along a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, and the containers can be removed from the second buffer system by the outlet manipulator and fed to the outlet, where the buffer capacity of the buffer device is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Helmut Schuesslburner, Konrad Senn
  • Patent number: 11802035
    Abstract: A clamping device for holding a container in a container handling device, for example for holding a beverage container by a neck portion, includes a first clamping arm arranged on a support plate pivotably about a first pivot shaft and having a holding portion for contact against the container to be held, and a second clamping arm arranged on the support plate pivotably about a second pivot shaft and having a holding portion for contact against the container to be held. The first pivot shaft and the second pivot shaft respectively have a cylinder pin portion for forming a form closure, radially to the longitudinal direction of the pivot shaft, with a bore in a support of a container handling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Bruno Landler
  • Patent number: 11794335
    Abstract: Modular robot system for a container processing facility, comprising a mobile platform, which comprises a chassis that is supported on the floor for moving in a working area of the container processing facility, and comprising multiple robot units of different types for carrying out jobs of different types in the container processing facility, wherein the mobile platform and/or the robot units are designed such that the robot units can selectively be connected to the mobile platform in order to transport each robot unit in the container processing facility and position it for the respective job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Hahn
  • Patent number: 11787644
    Abstract: Transporting installation for containers, such as bottles, having a first transporting device, which can transport containers by neck-handling, and a second transporting device, which can transport containers by base-handling, wherein the first transporting device transports the containers at a different height from the second transporting device, wherein, in a transfer region in which the containers can be transferred from the first transporting device to the second transporting device, the second transporting device runs linearly and a linear guide device is provided, said guide device running parallel to the second transporting device and being adapted such that it can guide a container as the container is being lowered from the first transporting device to the second transporting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Eichenseer, Xaver Karl, Martin Seger
  • Patent number: 11787641
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) and method for distributing and/or grouping containers in a container treatment system. The device (10) includes a supply conveyor (12), a discharge conveyor (16) and a transfer conveyor (14). The transfer conveyor (14) uses a guide path (28) and several movement devices (30) that can be driven individually, preferably by a long stator linear motor (32) and which are guided along the guide path (28). The several movement devices (30) include a conveyor device (34) that is designed to transfer several containers from the supply conveyor (12) to the discharge conveyor (16). The device (10) can preferably be used to reduce the risk of the containers tipping over when being transferred, to reduce the number of movement devices (30) and/or to enable the containers to be pre-grouped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Stefan Elsperger, Michael Hartl
  • Patent number: 11787216
    Abstract: A method for producing a relief-like printed image on containers is described in which print layers are layered onto one another by way of jet application of a printing paint, an ink, a varnish, or an adhesive from at least one print head onto a container, thereby producing elevated regions of the printed image. Due to the fact that the print layers are each applied in full tone printing, optical and haptic effects can be created on container surfaces with low equipment complexity and a minimal number of printing steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Peggy Augst, Alexandra Lyashenko
  • Patent number: 11772836
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a communication and open-loop/closed-loop control system for at least one filling system, said filling system comprising a machine with a software communication robot, in particular a chatbot, which is configured to recognize voice input and/or text input by an operator; and an open-loop/closed-loop control device which is connected to the software communication robot for data communication and is configured to control the machine of the filling system in an open-loop/and/or closed-loop manner on the basis of the voice input and/or text input recognized by the software communication robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hahn, Timo Pronold
  • Patent number: 11776790
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and a method for coating objects and in particular containers with at least one first and one second coating station, wherein these coating stations each have at least one first coating electrode and one second coating electrode, and with a supply device for electrical supply of in each case at least one of the coating electrodes. The supply device has a high-frequency generator device for generating an a.c. voltage and/or voltage pulses as well as an a.c. voltage distribution device which distributes this a.c. voltage and/or the voltage pulses respectively to in each case at least one electrode of the first coating station and at least one electrode of the second coating station, wherein the a.c. voltage distribution device is suitable and intended for distributing the a.c. voltages and/or the voltage pulses with a time delay to the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Jochen Krueger, Nadine Ortner
  • Patent number: 11772949
    Abstract: A device for holding a container in a container handling machine, for example for holding a support-ring-free bottle for the application of a screw closure, includes a carrier and a holding arrangement arranged on the carrier. The holding arrangement is movable relative to the carrier between a closed position for holding the container and an open position for releasing the container. The holding arrangement includes a collar-shaped support projection for supporting the container on a retaining ring of the container. The collar-shaped support projection includes a support projection region of a first holding arm and a support projection region of a second holding arm. The first holding arm and the second holding arm are arranged on the carrier so as to be pivotable in relation to one another for moving between the open position and the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Bruno Landler, Markus Schoenfelder
  • Patent number: 11751587
    Abstract: Method for operating a tunnel pasteuriser with a plurality of sequentially successive treatment zones, wherein containers with a product packed therein are transported by means of a conveying device through the treatment zones and are heated with treatment media having different actual media temperatures, are pasteurized and preferably then cooled again, wherein the actual media temperatures are detected by a control unit and compared with target media temperatures, and wherein heating and/or cooling devices are controlled based on the comparison, characterised in that during the treatment of the containers, initial values for an optimisation are formed from the actual media temperatures of the treatment zones, and the target media temperatures are determined by means of a prediction model for determining the expected degree of pasteurisation with the optimisation, such that at least a minimum degree of pasteurisation of the containers is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Stefan Kaatz, Martin Nissen, Falko Jens Wagner
  • Patent number: 11742642
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cable fixing device for a container handling system and to a method for setting a minimum bending radius for a connecting cable of a container handling system. The cable fixing device comprises a main body, a cable guide which is arranged around a part of the main body, and a cover for covering an end of the cable guide in such a way that a connecting cable, which is pre-assembled with plug-in devices at both ends, can be introduced between the cover and the cable guide. The cable guide is configured at its other end for fixing of the connecting cable in such a way that a looping angle of the cable fixing device and connecting cable can be set variably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Joerg Triebel, Reinhard Ortner, Robert Scheibenpflug
  • Patent number: 11708226
    Abstract: A method for format adaptation of carriages for the transportation of bottles on a linear motor system and a corresponding linear motor system are described. According thereto, container guides provided on the carriages are adapted to the body cross-section of the bottles by adjusting a guide width in an automated manner between guide jaws of the container guides which in relation to the direction of travel are the leading and trailing ones. There is then no need to replace component parts at the container guides, and the production in filling systems is optimised in terms of staff requirements, resultant production stoppages, and error sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Michael Neubauer, Stefan Poeschl, Bruno Landler, Wolfgang Roidl
  • Patent number: 11702328
    Abstract: An apparatus for filling a vessel with a multicomponent filling product includes a filler having at least one filling unit set up to introduce the filling product into the vessel, and a filler tank set up for intermediate buffering of the filling product and in fluid connection with the filling unit via a product conduit to supply the filling unit with the filling product; and a mixer set up to blend the filling product from at least two filling product components, wherein the mixer has a circulation conduit; and the mixer has at least one dosage branch set up to introduce one filling product component into the circulation conduit, wherein the mixer has a heat exchanger set up to adjust the temperature of the filling product in the circulation conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Thomas Oehmichen, Christina Laumer, Johanna Justl, Frank Winzinger, Stefan Hoeller, Erwin Engel, Christoph Mieko, Holger Mueller
  • Patent number: 11702332
    Abstract: A filling valve for filling a container with a filling product, e.g., a beverage in a beverage filling system, includes a valve base body. The valve base body includes an outlet configured to discharge the filling product into the container; a swirl chamber configured to receive the filling product and is able to be brought into a fluidic connection with the outlet; and a main inlet, which feeds into the swirl chamber and is configured to introduce at least one main component of the filling product into the swirl chamber such that the filling product is swirled in the swirl chamber, whereby after exiting from the outlet the filling product flows downwardly in a spiral movement in the container. The swirl chamber has an annular shape, the cross-sectional contour thereof having a rounded shape, substantially without corner points, in the direction of extent and perpendicular to the direction of extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Valentin Becher, Benedikt Hengl, Josef Doblinger, Anton Huber, Hubert Auer, Stefan Poeschl
  • Patent number: 11697518
    Abstract: A device (1) handling articles comprises at least one work module (30), which can move packages with article placed on a first packaging type and at least one folding mechanism (45) used to erect back and/or front flaps of the first packaging type. Another component of the device (1) is at least one transport module (20), with a transport device (2), along which articles intended for packages of a second packaging type move, where the second packaging type differs from the first packaging type. The at least one folding mechanism (45) and the transport device (2) alternate between an operating position (BP) and a waiting position (WP). The operating positions (BP) and the waiting positions (WP) are configured such that the at least one folding mechanism (45) is disposed exclusively adjacent to the right side or to the left side of the transport means (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Krones Ag
    Inventors: Juergen Werner, Herbert Spindler, Johann Luber, Stephan Wittmann
  • Patent number: 11691862
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating a container with a treatment fluid, for example in a beverage bottling plant, including: at least one treatment member with a switchable treatment valve, wherein the treatment member is configured to treat the container with the treatment fluid by opening the treatment valve and to end the treatment by closing the treatment valve; at least one motion sensor which is configured to detect a movement of the treatment member or a component that is mechanically coupled to the treatment member during switching of the treatment valve; and an electronic evaluation unit which is coupled in a communicating manner to the motion sensor and is configured to draw conclusions about the switching behavior of the treatment valve from processing the data that is detected by the motion sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Stefan Poeschl
  • Patent number: 11685100
    Abstract: A method for carrying out a changeover process in a system for producing beverage containers is provided. This system in operation produces plastic containers from plastic parisons by a transforming device and these produced containers are transported to a filling device and the containers are filled with a liquid and in particular a beverage, wherein the liquid is introduced into the container at a temperature of over 50° C., wherein at least the transforming device and the filling device are at least intermittently in data communication with one another and for carrying out the changeover process of at least the transforming device or the filling device a value is output and/or used which is characteristic for a changeover status of this transforming device or this filling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Hahn
  • Patent number: 11655132
    Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers with a filling product, for example in a beverage bottling plant, includes a plurality of filling members, which respectively have a filling product line for feeding the filling products into an appropriate container; and at least one distribution line, to which the filling product lines of the plurality of filling members are linked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Stefan Poeschl