Patents by Inventor Franck KLOTZ

Franck KLOTZ 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: 11498782
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a palletization device (1) comprising a freely accessible multiaxial robot (3) for gripping and moving the products (2) to be palletized and, at least one station (5) arranged on the ground, for receiving the pallets (4) on which the products (2) are deposited, which device is characterized in that the at least one station (5) is designed to receive and to position-reference a stack (6) of pallets (4) one above the other. A further subject matter of the invention is a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SIDEL CANADA INC
    Inventor: Franck Klotz
  • Patent number: 11407543
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for transferring products, to or from a product collection surface of a product processing line, on which they can accumulate, in which method products are stored in trays. The method includes a loaded tray transfer step, during which a tray, namely the collection tray, is separately moved between the collection surface and a receiving zone, where tray conveyor is provided, as well as a product transfer step, during which products are transferred between the collection surface and the collection tray with a planar sweeping movement, while the collection tray is held flush with the collection surface. Also disclosed is a corresponding device for transferring products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Sidel Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Franck Klotz, Paulo Arruda
  • Patent number: 11097904
    Abstract: Disclosed is a conveying device, for conveying products in an industrial processing line, the conveying device including, for circulating the products, at least one infeed conveyor, for receiving the products from a line portion upstream the device and a plurality of outfeed conveyors, for further delivering the products to a line portion downstream the device, the conveying device acting as a sorting device and directing product to a predefined outfeed conveyor. The infeed conveyor and the plurality of outfeed conveyors extend in a common plane, the conveying device further including a robotic unit, with a working area covering at least a portion of the at least one infeed conveyor and at least a portion of each outfeed conveyor, for moving products from the at least one infeed conveyor to a predefined outfeed conveyor of the plurality, with a movement parallel to the common plane. Also disclosed is a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: SIDEL CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Franck Klotz, Sophie Tisseaux
  • Patent number: 10908600
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for managing a main module (1) of a production line, with said main module (1) being equipped with thermal means that operate in production at a setpoint temperature (1000), method in which during production, when there is a break in production continuity at said main module (1), the temperature of said thermal means is lowered, and then their temperature is reset until said setpoint temperature (1000) is reached. Advantageously, at least data from a past event comprising at least one temperature rise time of said thermal means from a first temperature to a second temperature is recorded, and based on said data, the temperature of said thermal means is adapted automatically to reach said setpoint temperature (1000), at the latest when the production continuity resumes at said main module (1). The object of the invention is also a corresponding management device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: SIDEL PACKING SOLUTIONS
    Inventors: Gregory Choplin, Jean-Yves Kuntz, Franck Klotz
  • Patent number: 10537989
    Abstract: Disclosed is an accumulation device, for accumulating products conveyed within an industrial treatment line, including a set of horizontal trays, arranged in a tray zone as a vertical stack, further including a manipulator, such as a robot, for transferring products between a substantially horizontal closed belt type conveyor and the uppermost tray of the bottom portion of the stack. The trays are movable in the vertical direction, at least in order to bring at a predetermined height the tray to be loaded or unloaded. Also disclosed is a corresponding conveying installation and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: SIDEL CANADA
    Inventors: Franck Klotz, Paulo Arruda
  • Publication number: 20190367199
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming a batch of products on a conveying line, upstream of a packaging station of said batch, said batch containing products of at least two different types, specifically type A and type B, said conveying line including a conveyor arranged in the longitudinal direction, and designed to move the products in parallel rows towards the packaging station, and at least one accumulation surface arranged adjacent to and flush with said conveyor. This method includes formation of at least one row of A products on the conveyor and transverse cyclical transfer by lots of B products from said accumulation surface to the conveyor. The present invention also relates to a specially designed device for implement a method according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Anthony GEHIN, Franck KLOTZ, Patrick HUTTER
  • Publication number: 20190352107
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a palletization device (1) comprising a freely accessible multiaxial robot (3) for gripping and moving the products (2) to be palletized and, at least one station (5) arranged on the ground, for receiving the pallets (4) on which the products (2) are deposited, which device is characterized in that the at least one station (5) is designed to receive and to position-reference a stack (6) of pallets (4) one above the other. A further subject matter of the invention is a corresponding method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventor: Franck KLOTZ
  • Publication number: 20190112086
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for transferring products, to or from a product collection surface of a product processing line, on which they can accumulate, in which method products are stored in trays. The method includes a loaded tray transfer step, during which a tray, namely the collection tray, is separately moved between the collection surface and a receiving zone, where tray conveyor is provided, as well as a product transfer step, during which products are transferred between the collection surface and the collection tray with a planar sweeping movement, while the collection tray is held flush with the collection surface. Also disclosed is a corresponding device for transferring products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Franck KLOTZ, Paulo ARRUDA
  • Publication number: 20190100351
    Abstract: Disclosed is a stacking element for shipping or storing, in which products are stored in stacked layers, each layer including a batch of products, the stacking unit including a plurality of trays one above the other, the sizes of the trays being compatible with the dimensions of a standard shipping pallet. Each tray has a rectangular base on which products can stand, as well as side walls, extending from the perimeter of the base and perpendicular to it, and at least one wall works as a door which can be opened for allowing side introduction of the products in the tray, or closed. Also disclosed is a corresponding tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Franck KLOTZ, Patrick HUTTER
  • Publication number: 20190064781
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for managing a main module of a production line, with the main module being equipped with a thermal unit that operates in production at a setpoint temperature, method in which during production, when there is a break in production continuity at the main module, the temperature of thermal unit is lowered, and then their temperature is reset until the setpoint temperature is reached. Advantageously, at least data from a past event including at least one temperature rise time of thermal unit from a first temperature to a second temperature is recorded, and based on the data, the temperature of thermal unit is adapted automatically to reach the setpoint temperature, at the latest when the production continuity resumes at the main module. Also disclosed is a corresponding management device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Gregory CHOPLIN, Jean-Yves KUNTZ, Franck KLOTZ
  • Publication number: 20180312346
    Abstract: Disclosed is a conveying device, for conveying products in an industrial processing line, the conveying device including, for circulating the products, at least one infeed conveyor, for receiving the products from a line portion upstream the device and a plurality of outfeed conveyors, for further delivering the products to a line portion downstream the device, the conveying device acting as a sorting device and directing product to a predefined outfeed conveyor. The infeed conveyor and the plurality of outfeed conveyors extend in a common plane, the conveying device further including a robotic unit, with a working area covering at least a portion of the at least one infeed conveyor and at least a portion of each outfeed conveyor, for moving products from the at least one infeed conveyor to a predefined outfeed conveyor of the plurality, with a movement parallel to the common plane. Also disclosed is a corresponding method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Franck KLOTZ, Sophie TISSEAUX
  • Patent number: 10087017
    Abstract: An intervention device (1) for a conveyor line conveying products to be moved in an upright position, i.e. the largest dimension thereof being perpendicular to the normally horizontal conveying plane, such as bottles of liquid, the device including: a detection module (2) for detecting the position of the products in a detection area (3) on the conveyor line; a removal module (4) for gripping and removing products that are lying down from a removal area (5) on the conveying line; and a control module (6) receiving information from the detection module (2) and controlling the removal module (4) accordingly. A corresponding method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: GEBO CERMEX CANADA INC.
    Inventor: Franck Klotz
  • Publication number: 20180141207
    Abstract: Disclosed is an accumulation device, for accumulating products conveyed within an industrial treatment line, including a set of horizontal trays, arranged in a tray zone as a vertical stack, further including a manipulator, such as a robot, for transferring products between a substantially horizontal closed belt type conveyor and the uppermost tray of the bottom portion of the stack. The trays are movable in the vertical direction, at least in order to bring at a predetermined height the tray to be loaded or unloaded. Also disclosed is a corresponding conveying installation and method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Franck KLOTZ, Paulo ARRUDA
  • Publication number: 20170364064
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for managing an industrial production line, including at least one processing station and one monitoring station that is connected to the at least one processing station. The method includes: sending a radiofrequency signal from the monitoring station to a communication peripheral; then—sending a corresponding sound signal using the communication peripheral. The sound signal is dedicated to an operator to which the peripheral is assigned. The transmitted information is specific to the communication peripheral. Also disclosed is a corresponding device and facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Franck KLOTZ, Marie HUFFENUS, Pierre Yves SCHAAL, Laurent LAXAGUE
  • Publication number: 20170323491
    Abstract: A method for the real-time tracking of a processing line (1) comprising a series of product processing stations (2), and a plurality of accumulators (3) between said stations (2), said method comprising monitoring, in real time, the operation of the processing line (1), and reporting on said operation on a display means (5). The method is characterised by a step essentially consisting of calculating a duration for a processing station (2), said duration being calculated additively from the accumulation time (TA) represented by the instantaneous state of the accumulator (3) or of each accumulator (3) present between said station (2) and another predefined station (2) of the processing line (1), referred to as the reference station (4), and by a step essentially consisting of displaying said duration on a display means (5). The invention also concerns a suitable device. It is applicable, in particular, to multi-station bottle and flask packaging lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Franck KLOTZ, Simon BEAULNE
  • Publication number: 20170267462
    Abstract: An intervention device (1) for a conveyor line conveying products to be moved in an upright position, i.e. the largest dimension thereof being perpendicular to the normally horizontal conveying plane, such as bottles of liquid, the device including: a detection module (2) for detecting the position of the products in a detection area (3) on the conveyor line; a removal module (4) for gripping and removing products that are lying down from a removal area (5) on the conveying line; and a control module (6) receiving information from the detection module (2) and controlling the removal module (4) accordingly. A corresponding method is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventor: Franck KLOTZ