Patents by Inventor Bernhard Fickler

Bernhard Fickler 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: 11001457
    Abstract: A method for operating a tray conveying apparatus, wherein a tray edge of a tray to be destacked is guided in contact with and along a support until the tray has been deposited on a conveying unit positioned therebelow. An apparatus for destacking and further conveying trays that may comprise a destacker for destacking trays, wherein the destacker may also comprise a frame for accommodating at least one tray stack and a plurality of destacking screws configured to be operated in a respective direction of rotation. Each destacking screw may comprise a helically configured spiral or groove with a support. A conveying unit may be positioned below the destacker and used for receiving and transporting the destacked trays from the destacker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bernhard Fickler, Franz Osterrieder, Oliver Wiedenmayer
  • Patent number: 10549933
    Abstract: A dispensing device that comprises vertical guidings for receiving a stack of a plurality of trays, a separating device for dispensing individual trays in a downward direction and a tray discharge device that has multiple rotating lifting elements. The dispensing device includes lifting elements that are formed cylindrically and have a comb structure with at least two immersing protrusions that extend in parallel to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KG
    Inventor: Bernhard Fickler
  • Publication number: 20190283983
    Abstract: A method for operating a tray conveying apparatus, wherein a tray edge of a tray to be destacked is guided in contact with and along a support until the tray has been deposited on a conveying unit positioned therebelow. An apparatus for destacking and further conveying trays that may comprise a destacker for destacking trays, wherein the destacker may also comprise a frame for accommodating at least one tray stack and a plurality of destacking screws configured to be operated in a respective direction of rotation. Each destacking screw may comprise a helically configured spiral or groove with a support. A conveying unit may be positioned below the destacker and used for receiving and transporting the destacked trays from the destacker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Bernhard Fickler, Franz Osterrieder, Oliver Wiedenmayer
  • Patent number: 10294043
    Abstract: A screw denester for isolated dispensing of trays, comprising a frame for arrangement on a motor-driven transport device and multiple force-driven dispensing screws for isolating and dropping of trays. The screw denester is characterized in that it has a trigger plate that is provided loosely on the frame below the dispensing screws, wherein at least one sensor is provided that records a position change of the trigger plate in relation to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Lars Mörschner, Bernhard Fickler
  • Publication number: 20180237233
    Abstract: A screw denester for isolated dispensing of trays, comprising a frame for arrangement on a motor-driven transport device and multiple force-driven dispensing screws for isolating and dropping of trays. The screw denester is characterized in that it has a trigger plate that is provided loosely on the frame below the dispensing screws, wherein at least one sensor is provided that records a position change of the trigger plate in relation to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Lars Mörschner, Bernhard Fickler
  • Publication number: 20170334668
    Abstract: A destacking device comprising at least two destacking screws for singulating and destacking trays from a tray stack. Each destacking screw comprises a helix that may be a helical recess in an outer surface of the screw. The two destacking screws may have an identical direction of rotation. In one embodiment, the helix of each of the at least two destacking screws may grip and guide a respective side of a tray flange of the tray at a first contact point at the outer edge of the helix's upper side, and a second contact point at the outer edge of the helix's lower side. The destacking device may include guiding devices positioned on opposing the non-gripped and/or the gripped sides of the tray to guide the path of the tray in a vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Bernhard Fickler, Lars Mörschner