Patents by Inventor Christian Depner

Christian Depner 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: 20250026583
    Abstract: The invention relates inter alia to an apparatus for conveying and apportioning articles, preferably containers. The apparatus has a single-track conveyor region and a dual-track conveyor region, the latter being arranged directly downstream from the single-track conveyor region and having a first conveyor track and a second conveyor track. The apparatus has a distribution device which is configured to apportion articles, conveyed from the single-track conveyor region, to the first conveyor track and the second conveyor track. The dual-track conveyor region has a height-offset conveyor portion in which the first conveyor track is arranged higher than the second conveyor track. Advantageously, in the height-offset conveyor portion, articles still undistributed can be excited to move to the first conveyor track or the second conveyor track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Niels CLAUSEN, Jens LUECKE, Konrad SENN, Christian DEPNER, Tobias BIERMEIER, Christian HOLZER
  • Publication number: 20250026624
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a buffer conveyor for buffering containers, which buffer conveyor is comprised by a thermal container treatment device in a filling line as a buffer device. The filling line comprises at least one further device for treating the containers, said device being upstream or downstream of the thermal container treatment device. The method comprises: capturing error data relating to the at least one further device; analyzing the error data and obtaining control data; and controlling a fill level of the buffer conveyor during normal operation of the filling line on the basis of the control data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Niels Clausen, Christian Depner, Jens Luecke
  • Publication number: 20250011103
    Abstract: A container discharge apparatus for discharging containers from a mass flow conveyor and for separating the containers, the apparatus comprising the following: adjoining a mass flow conveyor, a first group of a plurality of first conveyors arranged in parallel which can be driven in a first direction transverse to the transport direction of the mass flow conveyor and are designed to separate containers and to convey them in the first direction; adjoining the first group so as to be parallel therewith, a second group of a plurality of parallel second conveyors arranged in parallel which can be driven in a second direction and are designed to convey the separated conveyors in the second direction opposite the first direction; one or more third conveyors, the third conveyor(s) being designed to transport away the separated containers. The invention also relates to a method for operating the container discharge apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: Christian DEPNER, Jens LUECKE, Niels CLAUSEN
  • Publication number: 20240417188
    Abstract: The invention relates to a buffer device comprising a container feed device, a buffer which is arranged downstream of the container feed device, and a container discharge device which is arranged downstream of the buffer. In order to feed containers to the buffer, the container feed device is designed to transport containers in a first direction by means of first conveyor belts. The buffer comprises a drivable buffer belt or multiple drivable buffer belts which are parallel to one another and each of which is designed to transport containers in a second direction, said second direction running transversely to the first direction. The container discharge device is designed to discharge and separate containers from the buffer in the first direction or in a third direction which is opposite the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Inventors: Jens Luecke, Christian Depner, Niels Clausen
  • Publication number: 20240300748
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for transporting containers, having: at least one first conveyor belt whose transport surface encloses a first angle with a plane perpendicular to the direction of action of gravity, the first transport surface extending in the transverse direction, containers being transportable in a first or in a second direction that are opposite to each another and extend in the transverse direction; a main conveyor belt having a second transport surface, wherein, in a first region adjacent to the at least one first conveyor belt, the second transport surface encloses the first angle with the plane perpendicular to the direction of action of gravity and extends in the longitudinal direction, containers are transportable in a third or fourth direction that are opposite to each other and extend in the longitudinal direction, wherein the third and fourth directions are perpendicular to the first and second directions, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Inventors: Christian DEPNER, Jens LUECKE, Niels CLAUSEN
  • Publication number: 20240034571
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal treatment device, such as a pasteurizer, cooler or heater, having at least one container feed device for feeding containers each to one mass flow conveyor comprised by the thermal treatment device. The treatment device adjoins the at least one container feed device. The container feed device comprises: an at least one-track infeed conveyor; a first group of a plurality of parallel first conveyors; a second group of a plurality of parallel second conveyors which are arranged so as to be parallel and adjoining the first group. The containers can be transferred from the second group to a mass flow conveyor transversely to the second direction, in the direction. The invention furthermore relates to a method for operating the thermal treatment device with the at least one container feed device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Christian DEPNER, Jens LUECKE, Niels CLAUSEN, Johannes LEDDERER
  • Publication number: 20230416014
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container supply device for supplying containers to a mass flow conveyor, comprising: —an at least single-track input conveyor, which can be driven in a first direction and is designed to convey containers in the first direction; adjoining the at least single-track input conveyor parallel to the at least single-track input conveyor, a first group of a plurality of parallel first conveyors, which can be driven in the first direction; adjoining the first group parallel to the first group, a second group of a plurality of parallel second conveyors, which can be driven in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction. The containers can be transferred from the second group to a mass flow conveyor perpendicularly to the second direction. The invention also relates to a method for operating the container supply device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Christian DEPNER, Jens LUECKE, Niels CLAUSEN
  • Patent number: 9481643
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compounds containing fluorinated end groups, to the use thereof as surface-active substances, and to compositions comprising these compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: MERCK PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Reiner Friedrich, Gerhard Jonschker, Fanny Schooren, Christian Depner, Steffen Schellenberger
  • Publication number: 20150246875
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compounds containing fluorinated end groups, to the use thereof as surface-active substances, and to compositions comprising these compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: MERCK PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Reiner Friedrich, Gerhard Jonschker, Fanny Schooren, Christian Depner, Steffen Schellenberger