Patents by Inventor Christoph Eckhardt

Christoph Eckhardt 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: 11447347
    Abstract: A conveyor and process for transporting products, wherein a carrier with an associated product holder can be moved along a conveying path by means of a conveyor element. In a processing position, the carrier can be aligned by means of first alignment elements, and second alignment elements are provided for aligning the product holder for disengagement from the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Wipotec GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Schulzki, Matthias Joachim, Stephan Clößner, Christoph Eckhardt, Jochen Gerlach
  • Patent number: 10919171
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for moving portions each comprising at least one slice separated from a food product, in particular by a slicing device, in particular by a high-speed slicer, having a plurality of individually movable transport movers for transporting portions, having a track system for the transport movers, in which the transport movers can be moved along at least one specified track in a transport direction and having a control device for controlling the movements of the transport movers in the track system, wherein the transport movers each comprise at least one runner cooperating with the track system and at least one portion carrier mounted on the runner, wherein for at least one sub-section of the track, in particular a section at risk of contamination, a discharge device is provided which is designed to at least intermittently discharge next to the section, contamination and/or incorrect portions originating from the foods, in particular occurring when cutting the food products and/or
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Inventors: Alexander Burk, Christoph Eckhardt, Jochen Gerlach, Marco Nichau, Thomas Nispel, Ingo Rother, Leopold Von Keudell, Steffen Zecher
  • Publication number: 20200361712
    Abstract: A conveyor and process for transporting products, wherein a carrier with an associated product holder can be moved along a conveying path by means of a conveyor element. In a processing position, the carrier can be aligned by means of first alignment elements, and second alignment elements are provided for aligning the product holder for disengagement from the carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: Wipotec GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Schulzki, Matthias Joachim, Stephan Clößner, Christoph Eckhardt, Jochen Gerlach
  • Patent number: 10737403
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for moving portions, which each comprise at least one slice cut from a food product, in particular by means of a slicing device, in particular a high-speed slicer, comprising a plurality of individually movable transport movers each for at least one portion, a track system for the transport movers, in which track system the transport movers can be moved along at least one specified track in a transport direction, and a control apparatus for controlling the movements of the transport movers in the track system, wherein the transport movers each comprise at least one runner that interacts with the track system and at least one carrier for at least one portion, the at least one carrier being attached to the runner by means of a retainer, and wherein the drive for each transport mover is formed by the runner and the track system, which together form an electromagnetic drive for the transport mover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Weber Maschinenbau GmbH Breidenbach
    Inventors: Sigfrid Bauer, Alexander Burk, Christoph Eckhardt, Theodor Horst, Christoph Kuhmichel, Stefan Lehmann, Gerd Lischinski, Thomas Nispel, Ingo Rother, Jens Schroder, Leopold Von Keudell, Steffen Zecher
  • Patent number: 10577136
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for moving objects, in particular portions, each portion comprising at least one slice cut from a food product, comprising a plurality of individually movable transport movers for at least one object each, a track system for the transport movers, in which the transport movers can be moved along at least one specified track in a transport direction, and a control apparatus for controlling the motions of the transport movers in the track system, wherein at least one track segment and/or at least one transport mover has at least one support, which is frame-free at every point in time or at least at times, for at least a part of a holder, in particular a bowl-like holder, for holding at least one object to be transported, in particular for a packaging or a part of a packaging, preferably for a tray for holding at least one portion, and wherein, in addition to the support, fastening means are provided, which are designed to fasten the holder to the support at least at times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: WEBER MASCHINENBAU GMBH BREIDENBACH
    Inventors: Alexander Burk, Christoph Eckhardt, Jochen Gerlach, Marco Nichau, Thomas Nispel, Ingo Rother, Leopold Von Keudell, Steffen Zecher, Gerd Lischinski
  • Patent number: 10569973
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for moving objects (11), in particular food products, comprising a plurality of individually movable transport movers (12) for transporting the objects, a track system for the transport movers, in which the transport movers can be moved along at least one specified track (10), and a control apparatus for controlling the motions of the transport movers in the track system, wherein the track comprises a stator (14) and an associated guide (16) for the transport movers, and wherein the track can be converted from an operating configuration into a maintenance configuration at least in some segments, in which maintenance configuration at least one component of the track can be moved out of the working position thereof corresponding to a transport operation in relation to the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Weber Maschinenbau GmbH Breidenbach
    Inventors: Alexander Burk, Christoph Eckhardt, Jochen Gerlach, Marco Nichau, Thomas Nispel, Ingo Rother, Leopold Von Keudell, Steffen Zecher
  • Patent number: 10308437
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for moving objects, comprising a plurality of individually-movable conveyor movers (29) for conveying the objects, a track system (21) for said conveyor movers (29) in which the conveyor movers (29) can be moved along at least one predetermined track in a conveyor direction (T), and a control device for controlling the movements of said conveyor movers in the track system (21), the conveyor movers (29) each comprising at least one runner (27) that interacts with said track system (21), at least one carrier (29) for objects and, mounted on said runner (27), at least one retainer (31) for the carrier (29), said carrier (29) being adjustable relative to the runner (27) between a lower conveyor position and an upper functional position and thus being guided by the retainer (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: WEBER MASCHINENBAU GMBH BREIDENBACH
    Inventors: Stephan Clössner, Christoph Eckhardt
  • Patent number: 10227182
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for moving objects, comprising a plurality of individually movable transport movers for transporting the objects, comprising a track system for the transport movers, said transport movers being movable in a transport direction along at least one specified track in said track system, and comprising a controller for controlling the movements of the transport movers in the track system. Each of the transport movers comprises at least one slide which interacts with the track system and at least one object support attached to the slide. The support is at least temporarily arranged in a protruding position in which at least an object receiving region of the support protrudes laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: WEBER MASCHINENBAU GMBH BREIDENBACH
    Inventors: Alexander Burk, Christoph Eckhardt, Jochen Gerlach, Marco Nichau, Thomas Nispel, Ingo Rother, Leopold Von Keudell, Steffen Zecher
  • Publication number: 20180345520
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for processing food products, comprising the following steps: multi-track slicing of food products into individual food portions on a plurality of production tracks; detecting at least one feature of a food portion during and/or after slicing; multi-track conveying of the food portions on separate production tracks; moving the food portions 34 from a plurality of production tracks onto a reduced number of output tracks and/or moving them between different tracks and/or grouping them. According to the present disclosure, the position of the individual food portions is tracked by means of a controller, so that, for each food portion 16 which has been moved onto the output track, it will be known on which production track said food portion 16 has been produced. The disclosure further relates to a food processing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: WEBER MASCHINENBAU GMBH BREIDENBACH
    Inventors: Christoph ECKHARDT, Udo HALLENBERGER, Joachim SCHAUB
  • Publication number: 20180265230
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for moving objects, in particular portions, each portion comprising at least one slice cut from a food product, comprising a plurality of individually movable transport movers for at least one object each, a track system for the transport movers, in which the transport movers can be moved along at least one specified track in a transport direction, and a control apparatus for controlling the motions of the transport movers in the track system, wherein at least one track segment and/or at least one transport mover has at least one support, which is frame-free at every point in time or at least at times, for at least a part of a holder, in particular a bowl-like holder, for holding at least one object to be transported, in particular for a packaging or a part of a packaging, preferably for a tray for holding at least one portion, and wherein, in addition to the support, fastening means are provided, which are designed to fasten the holder to the support at least at times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Alexander Burk, Christoph Eckhardt, Jochen Gerlach, Marco Nichau, Thomas Nispel, Ingo Rother, Leopold Von Keudell, Steffen Zecher, Gerd Lischinski
  • Publication number: 20180086564
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for moving objects, comprising a plurality of individually-movable conveyor movers (29) for conveying the objects, a track system (21) for said conveyor movers (29) in which the conveyor movers (29) can be moved along at least one predetermined track in a conveyor direction (T), and a control device for controlling the movements of said conveyor movers in the track system (21), the conveyor movers (29) each comprising at least one runner (27) that interacts with said track system (21), at least one carrier (29) for objects and, mounted on said runner (27), at least one retainer (31) for the carrier (29), said carrier (29) being adjustable relative to the runner (27) between a lower conveyor position and an upper functional position and thus being guided by the retainer (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: WEBER MASCHINEBAU GmbH BREIDENBACH
    Inventors: Stephan Clössner, Christoph Eckhardt
  • Publication number: 20170349386
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for moving objects (11), in particular food products, comprising a plurality of individually movable transport movers (12) for transporting the objects, a track system for the transport movers, in which the transport movers can be moved along at least one specified track (10), and a control apparatus for controlling the motions of the transport movers in the track system, wherein the track comprises a stator (14) and an associated guide (16) for the transport movers, and wherein the track can be converted from an operating configuration into a maintenance configuration at least in some segments, in which maintenance configuration at least one component of the track can be moved out of the working position thereof corresponding to a transport operation in relation to the stator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Alexander Burk, Christoph Eckhardt, Jochen Gerlach, Marco Nichau, Thomas Nispel, Ingo Rother, Leopold Von Keudell, Steffen Zecher
  • Publication number: 20170339967
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system having a conveying apparatus for moving portions that each comprise at least one slice cut off from a food product, in particular by means of a slicing apparatus, in particular by means of a high-speed slicer; having at least one packaging apparatus for packaging the portions; and having at least one transfer device for transferring the portions from the conveying apparatus to the packaging apparatus, wherein the conveying apparatus comprises a plurality of individually movable transport movers for the transport of portions, a path system for the transport movers in which the transport movers are movable along at least one predefined path in a transport direction, and a control device for controlling the movements of the transport movers in the path system, wherein the transport movers each comprise at least one rotor cooperating with the path system and at least one carrier for portions attached to the rotor; and wherein the transfer device is configured to form a single-lin
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Alexander Burk, Christoph Eckhardt, Jochen Gerlach, Marco Nichau, Thomas Nispel, Ingo Rother, Leopold Von Keudell, Steffen Zecher
  • Publication number: 20170341255
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for moving portions each comprising at least one slice separated from a food product, in particular by a slicing device, in particular by a high-speed slicer, having a plurality of individually movable transport movers for transporting portions, having a track system for the transport movers, in which the transport movers can be moved along at least one specified track in a transport direction and having a control device for controlling the movements of the transport movers in the track system, wherein the transport movers each comprise at least one runner cooperating with the track system and at least one portion carrier mounted on the runner, wherein for at least one sub-section of the track, in particular a section at risk of contamination, a discharge device is provided which is designed to at least intermittently discharge next to the section, contamination and/or incorrect portions originating from the foods, in particular occurring when cutting the food products and/or
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Alexander Burk, Christoph Eckhardt, Jochen Gerlach, Marco Nichau, Thomas Nispel, Ingo Rother, Leopold Von Keudell, Steffen Zecher
  • Publication number: 20170334662
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for moving objects, comprising a plurality of individually movable transport movers for transporting the objects, comprising a track system for the transport movers, said transport movers being movable in a transport direction along at least one specified track in said track system, and comprising a controller for controlling the movements of the transport movers in the track system. Each of the transport movers comprises at least one slide which interacts with the track system and at least one object support attached to the slide. The support is at least temporarily arranged in a protruding position in which at least an object receiving region of the support protrudes laterally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Alexander Burk, Christoph Eckhardt, Jochen Gerlach, Marco Nichau, Thomas Nispel, Ingo Rother, Leopold Von Keudell, Steffen Zecher
  • Publication number: 20170174445
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for moving portions that comprise at least one slice cut off from a food product, in particular by means of a slicing apparatus, in particular by means of a high-sped slicer, having a plurality of individually movable transport movers or transport movers respectively movable as a combined unit for the transport of the portions, having a path system for the transport movers in which the transport movers are movable along at least one predefined path in a direction of transport; and having a control device for controlling the movements of the transport movers in the path system, wherein the transport movers each comprise at least one rotor cooperating with the path system and at least one carrier for portions attached to the rotor; and wherein the path system comprises a plurality of receiver tracks for a multi-track reception of portions in a portioning region and at least one placement track that is associated with a plurality of reception tracks for the placement of port
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Marco Nichau, Christoph Eckhardt
  • Publication number: 20170050332
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for moving portions, which each comprise at least one slice cut from a food product, in particular by means of a slicing device, in particular a high-speed slicer, comprising a plurality of individually movable transport movers each for at least one portion, a track system for the transport movers, in which track system the transport movers can be moved along at least one specified track in a transport direction, and a control apparatus for controlling the movements of the transport movers in the track system, wherein the transport movers each comprise at least one runner that interacts with the track system and at least one carrier for at least one portion, the at least one carrier being attached to the runner by means of a retainer, and wherein the drive for each transport mover is formed by the runner and the track system, which together form an electromagnetic drive for the transport mover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Sigfrid Bauer, Alexander Burk, Christoph Eckhardt, Theodor Horst, Christoph Kuhmichel, Stefan Lehmann, Gerd Lischinski, Thomas Nispel, Ingo Rother, Jens Schroder, Leopold Von Keudell, Steffen Zecher
  • Publication number: 20130192175
    Abstract: An apparatus for the automatic preparation of portions of a plurality of food products of different types comprises a conveying device which is configured to convey at least one product carrier from a product slice placement zone of a first cutting apparatus in which a part portion of at least one product slice of a first type is formed on the product carrier to a product slice placement zone of a second cutting apparatus in which a part portion of at least one product slice of a second type is formed on the product carrier which, together with the first portion, forms a desired total portion no longer to be complemented or a part portion still to be complemented by means of a further cutting apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Weber Maschinenbau GmbH Breidenbach
    Inventors: Gregor Matysiak, Christoph Eckhardt, Alexander Burk, Andreas Harder, Thomas Nispel, Sven Schuster, Andreas Kretzer
  • Publication number: 20120291602
    Abstract: A production system for portioning food is provided, wherein the production system comprises at least one cutting machine for food, a display device, a selection unit and a control command unit. The display device comprises a first display region and a second display region, wherein in the first display region, possible output products of the cutting machine are displayed. By means of the selection unit, the user can select an output product from possible output products of the cutting machine which are displayed in the first display region. This selected output product is allocated to the second display region. The control command unit is adapted to convert an output product of the cutting machine allocated to the second display region into control commands for the cutting machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventor: Christoph Eckhardt