Patents by Inventor Bernd Hopner

Bernd Hopner 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: 11001460
    Abstract: A tool cart having a frame, a lifting device for lifting the frame, a locking device to lock the tool cart horizontally relative to a work station or a packaging machine (collectively referred to below as the “packaging machine”), and a stop element that may engage with an underside of the packaging machine when lifted. The lifting device and locking device operate independently. A method for transferring a tool component including one or more of the steps of: aligning the tool cart relative to the packaging machine; locking the tool cart in position relative to the packaging machine; lifting a frame of the tool cart by way of a lifting device until the stop element engages an underside of the packaging machine; and transferring the tool component between the tool cart and the packaging machine may be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMUELLER SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael Huber, Bernd Höpner, Sebastian Fackler, Wolfgang Negele
  • Patent number: 10906686
    Abstract: The sealing device for packages that includes a control unit, a sealing station, an unwinder for a film web, a cutting device provided upstream of the sealing station and used for producing film sections of the film web, a film feed device for feeding the film sections to the sealing station, a conveying device for conveying packages into the sealing station. Preferrably, the packages include food packed in a gas-tight manner. Further, the sealing station may comprise upper and lower sealing elements that are configured for clamping the package and the film section in common between the lower and upper sealing elements and for sealing the film section onto the package. The sealing device may also include the sealing elements being adapted to be synchronously moved along with the continuously moving package during the sealing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bernd Höpner, Lars Ickert
  • Publication number: 20200130966
    Abstract: A tool cart having a frame, a lifting device for lifting the frame, a locking device to lock the tool cart horizontally relative to a work station or a packaging machine (collectively referred to below as the “packaging machine”), and a stop element that may engage with an underside of the packaging machine when lifted. The lifting device and locking device operate independently. A method for transferring a tool component including one or more of the steps of: aligning the tool cart relative to the packaging machine; locking the tool cart in position relative to the packaging machine; lifting a frame of the tool cart by way of a lifting device until the stop element engages an underside of the packaging machine; and transferring the tool component between the tool cart and the packaging machine may be included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Michael HUBER, Bernd HÖPNER, Sebastian FACKLER, Wolfgang NEGELE
  • Patent number: 10280027
    Abstract: A collection system for collecting flat objects, including a plurality of collection trays disposed one on top of the other, each of the collection trays having an entrance and an exit; a feeder unit for feeding individual objects or assembled groups of objects to the entrance of the collection trays and for depositing the supplied objects in the respective collection tray, the feeder unit and collection trays being movable or swivelable relative to one another; a conveyor unit for removing the objects deposited in a collection tray through the exit of the respective collection tray; and a movable retaining element, which closes the entrance of one of the collection trays after an individual object or an assembled group of objects has been deposited in the respective collection tray. All of the objects collected in the collection trays are simultaneously removed from the collection trays by a conveyor unit and stacked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: BÖWE SYSTEC GMBH
    Inventors: Helmut Eichelberg, Helmut Koelle, Peter Müller-Odenthal, Heiner Kudrus, Josef Batzer, Bernd Höpner
  • Publication number: 20180312288
    Abstract: The sealing device for packages that includes a control unit, a sealing station, an unwinder for a film web, a cutting device provided upstream of the sealing station and used for producing film sections of the film web, a film feed device for feeding the film sections to the sealing station, a conveying device for conveying packages into the sealing station. Preferrably, the packages include food packed in a gas-tight manner. Further, the sealing station may comprise upper and lower sealing elements that are configured for clamping the package and the film section in common between the lower and upper sealing elements and for sealing the film section onto the package. The sealing device may also include the sealing elements being adapted to be synchronously moved along with the continuously moving package during the sealing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Bernd Höpner, Lars Ickert
  • Publication number: 20160297638
    Abstract: A collection system for collecting flat objects, including a plurality of collection trays disposed one on top of the other, each of the collection trays having an entrance and an exit; a feeder unit for feeding individual objects or assembled groups of objects to the entrance of the collection trays and for depositing the supplied objects in the respective collection tray, said feeder unit and collection trays being movable or swivelable relative to one another; a conveyor unit for removing the objects deposited in a collection tray through the exit of the respective collection tray; and a movable retaining element, which closes the entrance of one of the collection trays after an individual objector an assembled group of objects has been deposited in the respective collection tray. All of the objects collected in the collection trays are simultaneously removed from the collection trays by a conveyor unit and stacked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Helmut EICHELBERG, Helmut KOELLE, Peter MÜLLER-ODENTHAL, Heiner KUDRUS, Josef BATZER, Bernd HÖPNER
  • Patent number: 9394122
    Abstract: A feeder for flat objects, particularly a supplement feeder for supplements, having a stack compartment for receiving objects in the form of a stack and a takeoff device for taking individual objects off the stack along a takeoff direction, wherein the takeoff device includes a conveying element and a gate, through which the objects taken off the stack are led individually by the conveying element. In order to be able to process different objects with properties differing from one another, particularly objects of different type and thickness, with the feeder in continuous operation without problems and without congestion and to provide a feeder for different objects that is as flexible as possible and that is capable of processing both thick and thin objects without lasting deformations while largely avoiding takeoff errors, the gate has a first gate device and a second gate device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: BÖWE SYSTEC GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Höpner, Ronald Celeste, Florian Hölzle, Harald Schempp, Bernd Michel, Stephan Hauke
  • Patent number: 9296577
    Abstract: A supplement feeder for flat objects, comprising a receiving device with a stack compartment for receiving objects in the form of a stack, and a takeoff device for taking off individual objects from the stack, wherein the stack compartment has a front contact region against which the front edge of the stack rests, and equipped with guiding elements for guiding and shaping the stack, comprising a stack shoe that is arranged at the rear edge of the stack in order to guide the stack in the direction of the front contact region. According to the disclosure, this supplement feeder is equipped with a takeoff device for taking off individual objects from the object stack, and at least one component of the guiding elements, and in particular the stack shoe, is coupled to a knocking unit that transmits a discrete knock impact onto the respective component of the guiding element. Thereby malfunctions in the form of missed takeoffs or multiple takeoffs when taking off objects can be largely avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: BÖWE SYSTEC GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Höpner, Ronald Celeste, Florian Hölzle
  • Publication number: 20150076760
    Abstract: A collating path for flat goods with: a conveying apparatus, which has, in its longitudinal direction, a plurality of collecting areas, arranged one behind the other, into which the goods are collected and are transported at a conveying speed in a conveying direction; at least one exchangeable feeder station or a plurality of exchangeable feeder stations that keep goods in stock and are arranged along the conveying apparatus in such a way that the goods stocked in the feeder stations can be deposited in the collecting areas; and a control device, which is coupled to the conveying apparatus and the feeder stations so as to control the deposition of the goods from the feeder station into the collecting areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Bernd HÖPNER, Boris FLACH, Florian GLÜCK, Peter BAUR
  • Publication number: 20150014920
    Abstract: A supplement feeder for flat objects, comprising a receiving device with a stack compartment for receiving objects in the form of a stack, and a takeoff device for taking off individual objects from the stack, wherein the stack compartment has a front contact region against which the front edge of the stack rests, and equipped with guiding elements for guiding and shaping the stack, comprising a stack shoe that is arranged at the rear edge of the stack in order to guide the stack in the direction of the front contact region. According to the disclosure, this supplement feeder is equipped with a takeoff device for taking off individual objects from the object stack, and at least one component of the guiding elements, and in particular the stack shoe, is coupled to a knocking unit that transmits a discrete knock impact onto the respective component of the guiding element. Thereby malfunctions in the form of missed takeoffs or multiple takeoffs when taking off objects can be largely avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Bernd HÖPNER, Ronald CELESTE, Florian HÖLZLE
  • Publication number: 20140377048
    Abstract: A feeder for flat objects, particularly a supplement feeder for supplements, having a stack compartment for receiving objects in the form of a stack and a takeoff device for taking individual objects off the stack along a takeoff direction, wherein the takeoff device includes a conveying element and a gate, through which the objects taken off the stack are led individually by the conveying element. In order to be able to process different objects with properties differing from one another, particularly objects of different type and thickness, with the feeder in continuous operation without problems and without congestion and to provide a feeder for different objects that is as flexible as possible and that is capable of processing both thick and thin objects without lasting deformations while largely avoiding takeoff errors, the gate has a first gate device and a second gate device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Bernd HÖPNER, Ronald CELESTE, Florian HÖLZLE, Harald SCHEMPP, Bernd MICHEL, Stephan HAUKE
  • Patent number: 7651089
    Abstract: A method and a device is provided for forming stacks of flat elements in a stacking region, the flat elements being guided to the stacking region substantially continuously. The flat elements are stacked on a main stack carrier. Upon achieving a finished stack of a predetermined number of flat elements stacked on the main stack carrier, an auxiliary stack carrier is inserted into the stacking region above the finished stack. Subsequent flat elements are then stacked on the auxiliary stack carrier. The finished stack is then removed from the main stack carrier and, subsequently, the main stack carrier is moved below the auxiliary stack carrier. The auxiliary stack carrier is then withdrawn from the stacking region, transferring the subsequent flat elements on the main stack. During or after this withdrawal process, at least an upper portion of the main stack carrier is moved substantially opposite the direction of withdrawal of the auxiliary stack carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: E.C.H. Will GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Höpner, Holger Kröger, Jochem Meyer
  • Publication number: 20080006981
    Abstract: A method and a device is provided for forming stacks of flat elements in a stacking region, the flat elements being guided to the stacking region substantially continuously. The flat elements are stacked on a main stack carrier. Upon achieving a finished stack of a predetermined number of flat elements stacked on the main stack carrier, an auxiliary stack carrier is inserted into the stacking region above the finished stack. Subsequent flat elements are then stacked on the auxiliary stack carrier. The finished stack is then removed from the main stack carrier and, subsequently, the main stack carrier is moved below the auxiliary stack carrier. The auxiliary stack carrier is then withdrawn from the stacking region, transferring the subsequent flat elements on the main stack. During or after this withdrawal process, at least an upper portion of the main stack carrier is moved substantially opposite the direction of withdrawal of the auxiliary stack carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: E.C.H. Will GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Hopner, Holger Kroger, Jochem Meyer
  • Patent number: 7284655
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method, an arrangement and an apparatus for conveying objects transversely to their incoming transport direction. In known apparatuses there is a possibility of either removing all the objects in one direction or the other. To a limited extent known apparatuses also allow a division of a string formed from several objects. However, a disadvantage is that the distribution of the objects, in other words the division of a string formed from several objects, e.g. a ream string formed from fourteen reams, to packing machines located opposite one another is possible only to a limited extent. It can also take place only when the machine has been shut down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: E.C.H. Will GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Höpner, Wolfram Wolf
  • Patent number: 7032488
    Abstract: A support for a material web for use with a longitudinal cutting device for cutting the material web, includes a support shaft having an axis of rotation. At least one bearing mechanism positions the at least one support shaft, wherein the at least one bearing mechanism has an axis of rotation outside of the axis of rotation of the support shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: E.C.H. Will GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Höpner, Thomas Hitscher
  • Publication number: 20050167242
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method, an arrangement and an apparatus for conveying objects transversely to their incoming transport direction. In known apparatuses there is a possibility of either removing all the objects in one direction or the other. To a limited extent known apparatuses also allow a division of a string formed from several objects. However, a disadvantage is that the distribution of the objects, in other words the division of a string formed from several objects, e.g. a ream string formed from fourteen reams, to packing machines located opposite one another is possible only to a limited extent. It can also take place only when the machine has been shut down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Applicant: E.C.H. Will GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Hopner, Wolfram Wolf
  • Publication number: 20030150310
    Abstract: A support for a material web for use with a longitudinal cutting device for cutting the material web, includes a support shaft having an axis of rotation. At least one bearing mechanism positions the at least one support shaft, wherein the at least one bearing mechanism has an axis of rotation outside of the axis of rotation of the support shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Bernd Hopner, Thomas Hitscher
  • Patent number: 6338482
    Abstract: A file of successive sheets is delivered to a converting station by a faster first conveyor, and a stream of partially overlapping sheets is removed by a slower second conveyor. Partial overlapping between the leading sections of successive sheets in the file and the trailing sections of the respective preceding sheets in the stream is due to the difference between the speeds of the two conveyors. A deflector assembly at the converting station ensures that the leading sections of successive sheets of the file can predictably overlap with the trailing sections of the immediately preceding sections of the stream by causing the trailing sections to move out of the way of oncoming leading sections and/or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: E.C.H. Will GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Geske, Bernd Höpner