Patents by Inventor Anton Niedermeier

Anton Niedermeier 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).

  • Patent number: 10074169
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting bubbles and/or creases on labeled containers. Bubbles/creases can be detected without comparison with a previously stored reference recording by virtue of the fact that a label to be examined is illuminated with a first flash of light, for example using the surface radiator, and is recorded in a first camera image, that the label is also illuminated with at least one second flash of light, for example using the directional radiator, with a changed directional characteristic and is recorded in a second camera image, and that a brightness difference between the first and second camera images is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Anton Niedermeier
  • Publication number: 20180136142
    Abstract: A container inspection device and a container inspection method for inspecting containers are provided. The container inspection device comprises at least one light fixture for illuminating containers at a predetermined inspection instant of time for inspecting the containers, and an electrical line for connecting the at least one light fixture to an electrical energy supply and to a bus system, so that the electrical line serves both to supply the at least one light fixture with electrical energy and to connect with a real time data network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: Krones AG
    Inventors: Christof Will, Anton Niedermeier, Karl Aichinger, Reinhard Klinger, Stefan Piana
  • Publication number: 20170232912
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a control device which is arranged in a cockpit module and has a cable harness, which includes at least one data and/or power cable, for connecting the control device to an on-board electrical system of the motor vehicle. The control device has at least one connection for making electrical contact with the cable harness. An improved utilization of the available installation space in the cockpit region and a shortening of the requisite length of the cable harness is obtained by the connection of the control device being arranged on a side of the control device which faces an interior of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Franz TROFFER, Anton NIEDERMEIER
  • Publication number: 20170154417
    Abstract: An optical inspection method for containers. A container is at least partly illuminated or transilluminated with light of an illuminating device and captured from different viewing directions (R4-R6) as a camera image in each case by at least one camera. In a first image analysis step, first image information of a first inspection zone (A) of the container, for example a stain on a container front face, is ascertained from at least two of the camera images by stereoscopically pairing image points. In a second image analysis step, an individual camera image of the two camera images is analyzed, wherein the first image information is first excluded and second image information of a second inspection zone (B) of the container, for example a crack of a container rear face, is then ascertained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventor: Anton Niedermeier
  • Publication number: 20170102340
    Abstract: A test container for checking container inspection machines, which inspection machines are suitable for examining at least a first category of containers for the presence of foreign bodies, with a man body in which a liquid is disposed, with a mouth via which the liquid is able to be introduced into the container, with a first closure by means of which the container is closed, wherein a foreign body which can be detected by the inspection machine is disposed in the container is provided. The container and/or the liquid disposed therein has a further substance or for example a transmitting device which can be detected by a user and/or by a detection device in order thus to distinguish the test container per se from another container of the category to be inspected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventor: Anton Niedermeier
  • Patent number: 9557275
    Abstract: A test container for checking container inspection machines, which inspection machines are suitable for examining at least a first category of containers for the presence of foreign bodies, with a man body in which a liquid is disposed, with a mouth via which the liquid is able to be introduced into the container, with a first closure by means of which the container is closed, wherein a foreign body which can be detected by the inspection machine is disposed in the container is provided. The container and/or the liquid disposed therein has a further substance or for example a transmitting device which can be detected by a user and/or by a detection device in order thus to distinguish the test container per se from another container of the category to be inspected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Anton Niedermeier
  • Publication number: 20160054234
    Abstract: A test container for checking container inspection machines, which inspection machines are suitable for examining at least a first category of containers for the presence of foreign bodies, with a man body in which a liquid is disposed, with a mouth via which the liquid is able to be introduced into the container, with a first closure by means of which the container is closed, wherein a foreign body which can be detected by the inspection machine is disposed in the container is provided. The container and/or the liquid disposed therein has a detection means which can be detected by a user and/or by a detection device in order thus to distinguish the test container per se from another container of the category to be inspected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventor: Anton Niedermeier
  • Patent number: 8967725
    Abstract: A backrest for a vehicle has a shell reaching over at least two seats. The shell has a support structure that completely surrounds the shell on the adjacent sides and partially surrounds the shell on sides adjoining the adjacent sides. Starting from a common corner of the adjacent sides an end of one of the partially surrounding sides is arranged obliquely. This end terminates in an intermediate region between the same. The support structure connects upper and lower connecting points of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Nasshan, Joachim Muehlberger, Anton Niedermeier
  • Patent number: 8723947
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for aligning containers, in particular bottles, in a labeler, the apparatus having rotatable holders for containers to be aligned, and a camera unit for imaging the containers as well as a proximity switch for triggering an imaging function of the camera unit. This allows a precise alignment in combination with a reduced expenditure of time and reduced space requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Anton Niedermeier, Karl Aichinger
  • Patent number: 8696840
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing strips of labels includes a strip of labels having a plurality of individual labels following one after the other. The apparatus includes a conveying device that conveys the strip of labels along a conveying path, and a position detection device provided along the conveying path that detects a position of the strip of labels. The apparatus includes a processing device that is provided along the conveying path. The processing device includes a cutting unit that is constructed and arranged to cut the strip of labels. The apparatus includes a labelling device that is arranged downstream with respect to the processing device along the conveying path. The labelling device is constructed and arranged to attach processed labels to containers. The position detection device includes an image detection device that is configured to capture two-dimensional images of regions of the strip of labels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Stefan Piana, Anton Niedermeier
  • Publication number: 20140015960
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting bubbles and/or creases on labeled containers. Bubbles/creases can be detected without comparison with a previously stored reference recording by virtue of the fact that a label to be examined is illuminated with a first flash of light, for example using the surface radiator, and is recorded in a first camera image, that the label is also illuminated with at least one second flash of light, for example using the directional radiator, with a changed directional characteristic and is recorded in a second camera image, and that a brightness difference between the first and second camera images is calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Anton Niedermeier
  • Patent number: 8593515
    Abstract: A method for quality control of a stretch-blow-molded plastic container by inspecting its base, which method is easy to execute and is not highly susceptible to faults. Such inspection of the container bases includes determining quality features such as the surface area of an unstretched and/or only slightly stretched region of the base of the plastic container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Christian Detrois, Peter Lindner, Rainer Kwirandt, Anton Niedermeier, Stefan Piana
  • Patent number: 8581977
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for inspecting labeled containers, allowing a detection of holes in the label, with a high hit rate, even in cases where the color of the label is similar to that of the filled product, wherein the label is irradiated with visible light and invisible light and/or is imaged in incident light and transmitted light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Anton Niedermeier, Rainer Kwirandt
  • Patent number: 8324577
    Abstract: A method and device for the determination of the mass and/or the mass proportion of a wall section of a plastic bottle, in particular a section in the vicinity of the bottle shoulder and/or of the bottle neck, where, due to the fact that a relative mass distribution of the side wall is calculated from a distribution of the light transmission through the side wall of the bottle, the mass proportion of the wall section to be determined of the mass of the side wall can be determined with slight error based on the mass distribution even without calculation of the absolute mass values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Anton Niedermeier
  • Publication number: 20120261956
    Abstract: A backrest for a vehicle has a shell reaching over at least two seats. The shell has a support structure that completely surrounds the shell on the adjacement sides and partially surrounds the shell on sides adjoining the adjacent sides. Starting from a common corner of the adjacent sides an end of one of the partially surrounding sides is arranged obliquely. This end terminates in an intermediate region between the same. The support structure connects upper and lower connecting points of the shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: KEIPER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Nasshan, Joachim Muehlberger, Anton Niedermeier
  • Publication number: 20120147366
    Abstract: A device for inspecting containers includes an illumination device that illuminates the containers; a transport device, which transports the containers along a predetermined transport path in relation to the illumination device; at least one first observation device, which observes a first region of the containers and records at least one image of the first observed region; and at least one second observation device, which observes a second region of the containers and records at least one image of the second observed region. At least one part of the illumination device serves both to illuminate the first region of the containers observed by the first observation device and to illuminate the second region of the containers observed by the second observation device. The first observation device and the second observation device record images of the regions of the containers at different positions of the containers along the transport path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Anton NIEDERMEIER
  • Publication number: 20120067502
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing strips of labels includes a strip of labels having a plurality of individual labels following one after the other. The apparatus includes a conveying device that conveys the strip of labels along a conveying path, and a position detection device provided along the conveying path that detects a position of the strip of labels. The apparatus includes a processing device that is provided along the conveying path. The processing device includes a cutting unit that is constructed and arranged to cut the strip of labels. The apparatus includes a labelling device that is arranged downstream with respect to the processing device along the conveying path. The labelling device is constructed and arranged to attach processed labels to containers. The position detection device includes an image detection device that is configured to capture two-dimensional images of regions of the strip of labels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Stefan Piana, Anton Niedermeier
  • Patent number: 8055379
    Abstract: An arrangement for inspecting filled and closed containers (F), having a transporting means (3) which transports the containers (F) for a preset distance of travel at a speed of transport VTrans and at which are arranged a plurality of holding elements for the containers (F), the holding elements each being rotatable to set the containers (F) rotating on their longitudinal axes, and having a control means (13) which causes the rotation of the containers on their longitudinal axes to be controlled to follow a preset profile of movement (P) which depends on the position of the containers on the distance of travel, the rotation being accelerated to a preset maximum speed of rotation VRot—max in a first preset part (A) of the travel of the containers over the distance of travel and being decelerated in a second preset part (C) of the travel of the containers over the distance of travel. The preset profile of movement (P) can be varied as a function of the speed of transport VTrans of the containers (F).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Anton Niedermeier
  • Publication number: 20110233410
    Abstract: An apparatus for the inspection of filled containers may include a first radiation device which directs radiation onto the liquid to be tested and present in the container, and an image-recording device which records at least part of the radiation directed from the first radiation device onto the liquid and reflected or scattered by the container. The image-recording device may be designed for recording a spatially resolved image, wherein the apparatus has at least one further radiation device or one further image-recording device. The radiation devices and the image-recording device are arranged in such a way that an observation of the liquid is carried out on at least two image-recording paths which are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Anton NIEDERMEIER
  • Publication number: 20110058156
    Abstract: A method and device for the determination of the mass and/or the mass proportion of a wall section of a plastic bottle, in particular a section in the vicinity of the bottle shoulder and/or of the bottle neck, where, due to the fact that a relative mass distribution of the side wall is calculated from a distribution of the light transmission through the side wall of the bottle, the mass proportion of the wall section to be determined of the mass of the side wall can be determined with slight error based on the mass distribution even without calculation of the absolute mass values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventor: ANTON NIEDERMEIER