Patents Assigned to KRONES
  • Patent number: 10988317
    Abstract: A format part for deflecting containers, comprising a toggle lever which comprises a toggle joint and two ankle joints, wherein the format part comprises a railing fastened to the toggle joint of the toggle lever, wherein the ankle joints are displaceable in one plane, which is parallel to the running direction of the railing, and wherein the railing is displaceable parallel to said plane by the displacement of the ankle joints, wherein the format part is adaptable for different container formats by the displacement of the railing, accumulating conveyor comprising such a format part, and method for adjusting such a format part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Helmut Schuesslburner, Konrad Senn
  • Patent number: 10981685
    Abstract: A container handling plant and a method for a container handling plant are shown. The container handling plant comprises at least one container handling machine for handling containers, wherein at least one container handling machine comprises a type preselection memory in which different types are preselectable for a handling to be performed by the container handling machine, at least one output device positioned at the at least one container handling machine for outputting an audio signal and/or an optical signal, and a control device configured to control the at least one output device such that the output device acoustically outputs a predetermined audio signal made of tone sequences comprising at least two different tones and/or optically outputs an optical signal, if due to the type preselected in the type preselection memory a change of a type or a refilling for the preselected type at the container handling machine is scheduled in the future at the end of a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Robert Klein, Wolfgang Hahn, Timo Pronold, Markus Zoelfl
  • Patent number: 10976909
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an operating module for dynamically creating the user interface on the operating module for controlling and operating a machine of the food industry, in particular the beverage industry. The operating module comprises a plurality of operating elements having attributes, which can assume the value of a parameter and can be activated or deactivated depending on the user. By means of an operating module context, operating elements having certain attributes and values can be selected in order to be displayed on the operating module. The invention further relates to a method for dynamically creating and displaying an operating interface for operating a machine of the food industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Theodor Bielmeier, Sebastian Vogl, Raymon Seidl, Timo Pronold, Thomas Stauber, Johannes Boehm, Stefan Schmidt, Pino-Giuseppe Palumbo
  • Patent number: 10974909
    Abstract: A switch of a transport system for a movable transport element includes a main track and a secondary track branching off the main track. The movable transport element can be guided from a transition region in which the secondary track branches off from the main track. Devices for increasing a switching force to guide a moveable transport element along the main track or transfer the movable transport element to the secondary track are provided in the transition region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Hartmut Davidson, Thomas Kiendl, Stefan Poeschl, Michael Neubauer, Martin Kammerl
  • Patent number: 10968046
    Abstract: A cascade conveyor for sorting and conveying container closures, such as for conveying and sorting screw closures in a drinks filling installation, comprising at least one sorting bar which can be moved in a conveying direction and which is orientated transversely relative to the conveying direction for conveying the container closures from a collection receptacle which receives unsorted container closures to a closure unloading zone. There may also be provided in the closure unloading zone a conveyor belt which extends when viewed in the gravitational direction below the sorting bar in order to laterally discharge container closures conveyed by the sorting bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Tobias Schaeffer
  • Patent number: 10953589
    Abstract: A method for operating a forming device for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, wherein in a working mode of the apparatus, the plastic preforms are transported by means of a plurality of forming stations along a predefined transport path, and by loading with a fluid medium are expanded into plastic containers, wherein to expand the plastic preforms, blow-moulding devices are used, inside which the plastic preforms are expanded into plastic containers, wherein in a change mode, at least one of the blow-moulding devices is removed from the apparatus and/or one of the blow-moulding devices is arranged on a blow-mould carrier of the apparatus, wherein to change the blow-moulding devices, a change device is used which has a gripper device for gripping the blow-moulding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Florian Geltinger
  • Patent number: 10933385
    Abstract: Fluid mixing system for mixing components for a fluid product comprising a mixing regulator for mixing the components and a feed comprising at least two separate conduits, where a base component can be supplied to the mixing regulator in a first conduit and a component to be admixed in a second conduit, where a first sensor for determining the concentration of a chemical compound in the component to be admixed and a Brix sensor for determining a Brix value of the component to be admixed are disposed upstream of the mixing regulator in the second conduit and where a control unit is provided which can control the mixing process of the components by the mixing regulator in dependence of the concentration measured and the Brix value measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Erwin Engel
  • Patent number: 10934103
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a conveying storage device for containers, comprising: a first/second drivable conveyor which can convey containers on a first/second conveying surface in a first/second direction, the first and the second conveyor being positioned parallel to one another such that containers are transferable from the first to the second conveying surface; a transfer device, which is movable along the conveyor, for transferring containers from the first to the second conveying surface; a guide body which is movable along a region between the first and the second conveyor above the first and the second conveying surface; and a guide railing for guiding and separating containers, said guide rail extending at an angle to the second direction and above the second conveying surface. The guide railing is variable in length and cooperates with the guide body such that the length of the guide railing and the angle can be varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Matthias Meier, Torsten Kilgenstein
  • Patent number: 10926909
    Abstract: A method for moving to a reference feed position of a label tape with respect to a dispensing edge of a container labeller and a corresponding device is described. The label tape may be first pulled back beyond the reference feed position by rewinding to its supply roller and then conveyed in the normal feed direction to the reference feed position prevents unwanted detachment of labels at the dispensing edge as a result of the label tape unwinding from the supply roller as well as the use of pusher roller systems upstream of the dispensing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Bernhard Högl
  • Publication number: 20210048395
    Abstract: Provided is a method for inspecting containers, wherein the containers are conveyed along a predetermined transport path by a transport device and wherein an image recording device takes at least one locally resolved inspection image of at least one area of the containers during transport of the containers. A triggering of the inspection image recording of this locally resolved image is controlled, wherein this controlling takes place in consideration of a triggering image recording of an image of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Christof Will, Stefan Piana, Peter Lindner
  • Patent number: 10914477
    Abstract: A device for providing clean air in a beverage filling plant is described. The device includes an inflow channel with at least one filter for pretreating the air sucked in via a supply-air feed. The inflow channel is adjoined by a first outflow channel with at least one filter for treating the air pretreated in the inflow channel for feeding into a filling cleanroom of the beverage filling plant. The inflow channel is adjoined by a second outflow channel for treating the air pretreated in the inflow channel for feeding into a blowing cleanroom for the blow-molding of plastic containers. A dehumidifying device for dehumidifying the pretreated air is arranged in the second outflow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Franz Braun, Holger Mueller, Juergen Soellner, Max Brikmann
  • Publication number: 20210026331
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container-processing system and to a method having safety-oriented management of settings for a container-processing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: Krones AG
    Inventors: Theodor BIELMEIER, Timo PRONOLD, Pino-Guiseppe PALUMBO, Thomas STAUBER, Stefan SCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 10899490
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for applying labels to containers or packs, comprising the following steps: taking over a label from a label providing unit by means of a pallet such that a glue application surface of the label faces away from the pallet; conveying the label by means of the pallet past a glue application unit, where the glue application surface of the label has cold glue applied thereto, at least over part of its area; and, subsequently, directly transferring the glue-coated label to a container conveyed by a conveyer or to a pack conveyed by the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Volker Kronseder
  • Patent number: 10894675
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides rotors for long-stator linear motor systems, having at least two rollers for mounting the rotors on parallel guide rails of the long-stator linear motor system, wherein the rotors comprise at least one rotatable bolster, on which at least one roller, in particular at least one pair of rollers, of the at least two rollers is rotatably mounted, and/or at least one roller with a steering rotational axis with integrated castor, wherein the roller is mounted on a roller axle by means of a bolt, via an asymmetric and/or sloping bore, and further comprises a pendulum ring which is mounted on the bolt and has an external ball or slide bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Alexander Hartung, Heiner Schaefer, Peter Zeiner, Konrad Senn, Torsten Kilgenstein, Stefan Elsperger, Michael Neubauer, Manfred Kieslinger
  • Patent number: 10882701
    Abstract: Provided is a method for detecting faults in the context of transport of objects, wherein by a transport device, a plurality of objects are transported in a predetermined alignment of these objects along a predetermined transport path, wherein the objects are transported while at least partially in contact with each other, and wherein the objects are located on a movable surface of the transport device, wherein, by at least one image capturing device, at least one first region is captured in which a plurality of these containers is located and at least one sub-region of this region is identified in which no object is located in the predetermined orientation, wherein furthermore a distinction is then made as to whether an object with an alignment deviating from the predetermined alignment or an empty space is located in this region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Martin Muehlberger, Josef Paukert
  • Patent number: 10882702
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus (10) for handling piece goods (2) for forming a palletizable layer or partial layer, with the piece goods (2) being moved in at least two parallel rows (1) and the layer comprising a plurality of piece goods (2). At least two piece goods (2) that are transported beside each other in parallel rows (1) are seized in a clamping and/or force-locking and/or form-locking manner, are then spatially separated from the at least two parallel rows (1) and are then brought into a specified relative target position (P1, P2) and/or target alignment in relation to subsequent piece goods (2). The apparatus (10) comprises at least one manipulator (5) for piece goods (2), and at least one transport device (3), where the piece goods (2) arranged in at least two parallel rows (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: KRONES Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johannes Kirzinger, Manuel Kollmuss
  • Patent number: 10875725
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a conveying storage device for containers, said device comprising: a first conveyor/second conveyor which is drivable in a first direction/second direction; a transfer device for transferring containers from a first conveying surface to a second conveying surface; an additional element; and a separating element. Between the transfer device and the separating element is a passage region along a transition region between the first and second conveying surface. The transfer device is movable into an emptying position during an emptying process. The additional element is movable during the emptying process relative to the transfer device, is introducible into the passage region or is located in the passage region, and can move containers to the second conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Frank Winzinger, Konrad Senn, Arthur Binder, Johann Huettner
  • Patent number: 10865088
    Abstract: A device for filling a container with a filling product in a beverage filling plant is provided. A transporting device for transporting a container to be filled during the filling process is provided, wherein the transporting device transports the container to be filled along a transporting path, and wherein at least one determining unit for determining the fill level of the filling product in the container is provided, wherein at least one of the determining units can be displaced synchronously with the transporting device at least in a sub-section of the transporting path of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Erwin Knieling
  • Patent number: 10864529
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to devices and methods for treating a mixture of expansion gas and filling product foam in a beverage filling plant, comprising the steps of introducing the mixture of expansion gas and filling product foam into a closed separation container and extracting the expansion gas out of the closed separation container via suction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Stefan Kieninger
  • Publication number: 20200361645
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for assembling several beverage containers (2) into a multipack (4) is disclosed. The apparatus (1) comprises a horizontal conveying device (5) for moving groupings (3), each grouping (3) comprising several beverage containers (2). The apparatus (1) also comprises at least one working device (25) that applies packaging blanks (41) to the groupings (3). The beverage containers (2) of a grouping (3) pass through openings in the packaging blank (41) and are held together by the packaging blank (41). The apparatus (1) furthermore comprises at least one handling apparatus (15) which places the beverage containers (2) on the horizontal conveying device (5) such that the beverage containers (2) are in alignment with respect to one another. The alignment of the beverage containers (2) allows the packaging blank (41) to be applied to the beverage containers (2) directly upon their placement on the horizontal conveying device (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: Krones Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Herbert SPINDLER, Markus GABLER, Thomas STADLER, Johann LUBER, Tobias GUT