Patents by Inventor Alfred Wipf

Alfred Wipf 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).

  • Publication number: 20230158681
    Abstract: A handling device for a handling of products (14), in particular food products, which are conveyed by means of a transport device (12), has at least one handling unit (16) comprising a plurality of movably supported movement carriages (18), in particular movers, and a plurality of, in particular movably supported, handling elements (20), in particular vacuum grippers, wherein on each movement carriage (18) respectively at least one handling element (20) is arranged, and has at least one carrier structure (22), which in particular extends at least partially transversally over the transport device (12) and has at least one carrier element (24) on which the movement carriages (18) are supported in such a way that they are drivable, independently from each other in terms of speed and/or position, at least along a direction (28) running at least substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis (26) of the carrier element (24), the handling elements (20) being supported on the movement carriages (18) so as to be movab
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Alfred Wipf, Markus Wehrli, Philipp Kathan
  • Patent number: 11591122
    Abstract: The invention relates to a consumable-material handling device for transporting and/or handling at least one consumable material (12a; 12b), in particular packaging material, comprising at least one at least partially autonomous handling unit (14a; 14b), which is at least provided for handling the consumable material (12a; 12b). According to the invention, the machine tool comprises at least one, in particular at least partially autonomous, mobility unit (16a; 16b), on which the handling unit (14a; 14b) is arranged and which is at least provided for enabling locomotion, in particular at least partially autonomous locomotion, of the handling unit (14a; 14b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Syntegon Packaging Systems AG
    Inventor: Alfred Wipf
  • Patent number: 11286121
    Abstract: The invention is based on a device for aligning products (14), more particularly products moved by means of a transport device (12), more particularly to form rows and/or groups of the products (14) running transverse to a main transport direction (16) of the transport device (12), having at least one aligning unit (18) having at least one alignment element (20, 22, 24) that can be introduced into a gap that exists, more particularly along the main transport direction (16), between at least two of the products (14) in order to align the products (14), and having at least one straightening drive unit (26), more particularly a linear drive unit, at least to drive the at least one alignment element (20, 22, 24), said straightening drive unit having at least one movement element (28, 30, 32) that can be driven in an individually speed- and/or position-controlled manner, on which movement element the at least one alignment element (20, 22, 24; 20, 22, 24) is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: SYNTEGON PACKAGING SYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Alfred Wipf, Philipp Kathan
  • Publication number: 20210114819
    Abstract: The invention is based on a device for aligning products (14), more particularly products moved by means of a transport device (12), more particularly to form rows and/or groups of the products (14) running transverse to a main transport direction (16) of the transport device (12), having at least one aligning unit (18) having at least one alignment element (20, 22, 24) that can be introduced into a gap that exists, more particularly along the main transport direction (16), between at least two of the products (14) in order to align the products (14), and having at least one straightening drive unit (26), more particularly a linear drive unit, at least to drive the at least one alignment element (20, 22, 24), said straightening drive unit having at least one movement element (28, 30, 32) that can be driven in an individually speed—and/or position-controlled manner, on which movement element the at least one alignment element (20, 22, 24; 20, 22, 24) is arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Alfred Wipf, Philipp Kathan
  • Publication number: 20200156813
    Abstract: The invention relates to a consumable-material handling device for transporting and/or handling at least one consumable material (12a; 12b), in particular packaging material, comprising at least one at least partially autonomous handling unit (14a; 14b), which is at least provided for handling the consumable material (12a; 12b). According to the invention, the machine tool comprises at least one, in particular at least partially autonomous, mobility unit (16a; 16b), on which the handling unit (14a; 14b) is arranged and which is at least provided for enabling locomotion, in particular at least partially autonomous locomotion, of the handling unit (14a; 14b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventor: Alfred Wipf
  • Patent number: 10479616
    Abstract: A transport device for transporting at least one product (12a; 12b), with at least one guide unit (14a; 14b), with at least one conveyor unit (16a; 16b), which has at least one continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) mounted movably relative to the guide unit (14a; 14b), which comprises at least one movably mounted conveyor element (20a; 20b), and at least one further movably mounted conveyor element (22a; 22b), which are connected to each other to form the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) and are at least jointly movable relative to the guide unit (14a; 14b), and with at least one conveyor drive unit (24a; 24b) for driving the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) relative to the guide unit (14a; 14b), in particular for driving the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) in rotation about the guide unit (14a; 14b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Wipf, Philipp Kathan
  • Patent number: 10214365
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conveying arrangement comprising at least one mover (20) which has at least one magnet (19), preferably a permanent magnet, and cooperates with a drive surface (13) so that the mover (20) can be slidably and/or rotatably moved with respect to the drive surface (13) in at least two degrees of freedom, at least one protective device (40) being provided and arranged between the drive surface (13) and the mover (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Wipf, Heike Raatz
  • Patent number: 10173848
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conveying arrangement comprising at least one mover (20) which has at least one permanent magnet (19) connected to the mover (20), said permanent magnet (19) cooperating with at least one coil plane (18) of a drive surface (13) to drive the mover (20) particularly without contact, and further comprising at least one conveying system (30, 38), preferably conveying products (32), characterized in that the conveying system (30, 38), preferably a conveyor belt, is arranged between the drive surface (13) and the mover (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Alfred Wipf
  • Publication number: 20180257871
    Abstract: A transport device for transporting at least one product (12a; 12b), with at least one guide unit (14a; 14b), with at least one conveyor unit (16a; 16b), which has at least one continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) mounted movably relative to the guide unit (14a; 14b), which comprises at least one movably mounted conveyor element (20a; 20b), and at least one further movably mounted conveyor element (22a; 22b), which are connected to each other to form the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) and are at least jointly movable relative to the guide unit (14a; 14b), and with at least one conveyor drive unit (24a; 24b) for driving the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) relative to the guide unit (14a; 14b), in particular for driving the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) in rotation about the guide unit (14a; 14b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Alfred Wipf, Philipp Kathan
  • Publication number: 20180162659
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conveying arrangement comprising at least one mover (20) which has at least one permanent magnet (19) connected to the mover (20), said permanent magnet (19) cooperating with at least one coil plane (18) of a drive surface (13) to drive the mover (20) particularly without contact, and further comprising at least one conveying system (30, 38), preferably conveying products (32), characterized in that the conveying system (30, 38), preferably a conveyor belt, is arranged between the drive surface (13) and the mover (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventor: Alfred Wipf
  • Publication number: 20180148268
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conveying arrangement comprising at least one mover (20) which has at least one magnet (19), preferably a permanent magnet, and cooperates with a drive surface (13) so that the mover (20) can be slidably and/or rotatably moved with respect to the drive surface (13) in at least two degrees of freedom, at least one protective device (40) being provided and arranged between the drive surface (13) and the mover (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Alfred Wipf, Heike Raatz
  • Patent number: 9856096
    Abstract: A transporting arrangement (1) includes at least one guide system having a fixed guide rail (4) and supporting elements (6) which are guided on the guide rail (4), in particular ones designed in the form of rollers and/or sliders, also comprising at least one transporting unit (5), which can be moved in a movement direction (8) and on which the supporting elements are fastened, wherein the transporting unit (5) is guided on the guide rail (4) by the supporting elements (6), and further comprising a linear motor drive arrangement having a fixed stator unit (3) and at least one magnetic element (15), in particular a permanent magnet, on the transporting unit (5), wherein a vertical guide plane (16) is defined, this running parallel to the movement direction (8) and through the center of the guide system, wherein a vertical motor plane (17) is defined, this running parallel to the movement direction (8) and through the center of the linear motor drive arrangement, and wherein a basic body (11) of the transportin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Hanisch, Alfred Wipf, Hansruedi Wanner, Philipp Kathan, Daniel Schwarz
  • Patent number: 9850012
    Abstract: The invention relates to a product stacking device for forming product stacks (12 a-k) of product groups (14 a-k) consisting of products (16 a-k), which lie flatly and/or are brought into a shingled product arrangement (64 a-k), during a transportation movement (28 a-k). The product stacking device includes at least two stack contact surfaces (20 a-k), which are provided in order to form the product stack (12 a-k) by reducing a spacing (24 a-k) between the stack contact surfaces (20 a-k), the stack contact surfaces lying opposite one another in a product group direction (26 a-k).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Blanz, Alfred Wipf
  • Patent number: 9643794
    Abstract: The invention proceeds from a product-stream-transfer apparatus (10a) for transferring at least a first product sub-stream (12a) and a further product sub-stream (14a) into a main product stream (16a) or for separating a main product stream into at least a first product sub-stream and a further product sub-stream along a product-stream-transfer route (18a), having a first side route (20a) with a multiplicity of transporting elements (22a) for transporting products (24a) of the first product sub-stream (12a), having at least a further side route (26a) with a multiplicity of transporting elements (22a) for transporting products (24a) of the further product sub-stream (14a), and having a main route (28a), which is adjacent to the product-stream-transfer route (18a) and is intended for transporting the products (24a) of the main product stream (16a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Wipf, Frank Ernst, Christian Reichardt, Markus Landolt
  • Patent number: 9604792
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for transferring products from a feeder conveyor belt (10) to a discharge conveyor belt (12), comprising a linear motor having conveyor elements (14) which are movably guided on a guide and have grippers (18) for the temporary accommodation of products (20). The guide is designed as a linear guide section (13), and the conveyor elements (14) can be moved back and forth on the guide section (13) for picking up and putting down the products (20). When products (20) are conveyed consecutively in a row in the conveying direction (z) of the feeder conveyor belt (10), the feeder conveyor belt (10), the discharge conveyor belt (12) and the guide section (13) are arranged in parallel next to one another, at least in one lateral overlapping area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Alfred Wipf
  • Publication number: 20160289010
    Abstract: The invention proceeds from a product-stream-transfer apparatus (10a) for transferring at least a first product sub-stream (12a) and a further product sub-stream (14a) into a main product stream (16a) or for separating a main product stream into at least a first product sub-stream and a further product sub-stream along a product-stream-transfer route (18a), having a first side route (20a) with a multiplicity of transporting elements (22a) for transporting products (24a) of the first product sub-stream (12a), having at least a further side route (26a) with a multiplicity of transporting elements (22a) for transporting products (24a) of the further product sub-stream (14a), and having a main route (28a), which is adjacent to the product-stream-transfer route (18a) and is intended for transporting the products (24a) of the main product stream (16a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Alfred Wipf, Frank Ernst, Christian Reichardt, Markus Landolt
  • Publication number: 20160207720
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a transporting arrangement (1) comprising at least one guide system having a fixed guide rail (4) and supporting elements (6) which are guided on the guide rail (4), in particular ones designed in the form of rollers and/or sliders, also comprising at least one transporting unit (5), which can be moved in a movement direction (8) and on which the supporting elements are fastened, wherein the transporting unit (5) is guided on the guide rail (4) by means of the supporting elements (6), and further comprising a linear motor drive arrangement having a fixed stator unit (3) and at least one magnetic element (15), in particular a permanent magnet, on the transporting unit (5), wherein a vertical guide plane (16) is defined, this running parallel to the movement direction (8) and through the centre of the guide system, wherein a vertical motor plane (17) is defined, this running parallel to the movement direction (8) and through the centre of the linear motor drive arrangement, and
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Markus Hanisch, Alfred Wipf, Hansruedi Wanner, Philipp Kathan, Daniel Schwarz
  • Patent number: 9327855
    Abstract: A feeding device for feeding products (12a-k) and/or stacks of products (14a-k) to a packaging process of a packaging machine (16a, 16d-k), in particular of a horizontal tube packaging machine, comprises a guide unit (22a-k) which is disposed as a closed loop (18a, 18c-k) and on which a plurality of arranged conveyor elements (22a-k) are arranged so as to be drivable mutually independently in a speed- and/or position-controlled manner at least along at least one working section (24a, 24c-d, 24f-k) of the guide unit (20a-d, 20f-k). At least one conveyor element (22a-k) has a holder (26a-k), and at least one conveyor element (22a-k) that follows contrary to a conveying direction (28a, 28c-k) has a counter holder (30a-k).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Marc Hurni, Hansruedi Wanner, Philipp Kathan, Markus Landolt, Alfred Wipf
  • Patent number: 9266636
    Abstract: The invention relates to a horizontal transverse sealing unit, in particular for a horizontal tubular bag machine for sealing at least one tubular film around at least one object to be packaged, having a first and a second rotational axis (18a, 20a) which are parallel to each other and at least two sealing jaw pairs (26a, 28a and 30a, 32a) which are each formed by at least one sealing jaw (26a, 30a) rotating around the first rotation axis (18a) and at least one sealing jaw (28a, 32a) rotating around the second rotation axis (20a), such that, during a sealing process, the sealing jaws (26a, 28a) of a sealing jaw pair (26a, 28a) approach each other and material layers can be sealed between the sealing jaws (26a, 28a) under exertion of pressure. According to the invention, at least two independently drivable sealing drives of the horizontal transverse sealing unit are provided to drive at least two sealing jaw pairs (pair 26a, 28a and pair 30a, 32a) independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hauke Schneider, Peter Blanz, Tobias Bechtel, Rolf Steinemann, Alfred Wipf
  • Publication number: 20150217886
    Abstract: The invention relates to a product stacking device for forming product stacks (12 a-k) of product groups (14 a-k) consisting of products (16 a-k), which lie flatly and/or are brought into a shingled product arrangement (64 a-k), during a transportation movement (28 a-k). The product stacking device comprises at least two stop means (18 a-k) with stack contact surfaces (20 a-k), which are provided in order to form the product stack (12 a-k). A merging unit (22 a-k) is provided for forming at least one product stack (12 a-k) by reducing a spacing (24 a-k) between stack contact surfaces (20 a-k) of at least two stop means (18 a-k), said stack contact surfaces lying opposite one another in a product group direction (26 a-k).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Peter Blanz, Alfred Wipf