Patents by Inventor Gerhard KLÖPPER

Gerhard KLÖPPER 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: 11667425
    Abstract: A labeling apparatus includes a rotating vacuum drum and a pair of vacuum holders on the drum that are switched by rotating switches between a working position for gluing labels and a rest position in which the vacuum holders avoid an application of glue. Actuators cause the switches to transition between operating positions. Stationary switch controllers initiate transitions between the operating positions of the switch, thereby causing the holders to transition between their two positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Niehoff, Gerhard Klöpper, Lutz Deckert, Daniel Schleweis
  • Patent number: 11613037
    Abstract: A cutting unit comprising a cutting drum, a drum knife, a counterpart knife, and a double-joint controller that controls swiveling about a first joint, which swivels the counterpart knife between a cutting position and a waiting position, and swiveling about a second joint, which permits adjustment of a knife gap that forms between the counterpart knife and the drum knife in the cutting position. The drum knife is disposed on a circumference of the drum such that rotation of the drum guides the drum knife past the counterpart knife to cut a label when the counterpart knife is in the cutting position. In the waiting position, the counterpart knife is out of active engagement with the drum knife. The second joint permits adjustment of the knife gap such that the knife gap remains adjusted independently of swiveling about the first joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Niehoff, Gerhard Klöpper, Lutz Deckert
  • Patent number: 11535413
    Abstract: A vacuum drum for container labeling includes vacuum holders for holding a label. Each holder has a bistable rotational switch that switches between operating positions as a result of its switch actuator interacting with stationary switches during the drum's rotation. In one operating position, a label receives glue from a glue station. In the other, the holders avoid engagement with the glue station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Niehoff, Gerhard Klöpper, Lutz Deckert, Daniel Schleweis
  • Publication number: 20220250781
    Abstract: A labeling apparatus includes a rotating vacuum drum and a pair of vacuum holders on the drum that are switched by rotating switches between a working position for gluing labels and a rest position in which the vacuum holders avoid an application of glue. Actuators cause the switches to transition between operating positions. Stationary switch controllers initiate transitions between the operating positions of the switch, thereby causing the holders to transition between their two positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Patrick Niehoff, Gerhard Klöpper, Lutz Deckert, Daniel Schleweis
  • Publication number: 20210402634
    Abstract: A cutting unit comprising a cutting drum, a drum knife, a counterpart knife, and a double-joint controller that controls swiveling about a first joint, which swivels the counterpart knife between a cutting position and a waiting position, and swiveling about a second joint, which permits adjustment of a knife gap that forms between the counterpart knife and the drum knife in the cutting position. The drum knife is disposed on a circumference of the drum such that rotation of the drum guides the drum knife past the counterpart knife to cut a label when the counterpart knife is in the cutting position. In the waiting position, the counterpart knife is out of active engagement with the drum knife. The second joint permits adjustment of the knife gap such that the knife gap remains adjusted independently of swiveling about the first joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Patrick Niehoff, Gerhard Klöpper, Lutz Deckert
  • Publication number: 20210380303
    Abstract: A vacuum drum for container labeling includes vacuum holders for holding a label. Each holder has a bistable rotational switch that switches between operating positions as a result of its switch actuator interacting with stationary switches during the drum's rotation. In one operating position, a label receives glue from a glue station. In the other, the holders avoid engagement with the glue station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Patrick Niehoff, Gerhard Klöpper, Lutz Deckert, Daniel Schleweis
  • Publication number: 20200247029
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing containers filled with a liquid filling material from preforms by introducing pressurized filling material into the preform. The object of the invention is to propose such a method and such an apparatus in which both the desired filling pressure and the desired volumetric flow rate of the filling material are reliably available throughout the entire molding and filling phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Michael LITZENBERG, Michael LINKE, Gerhard KLÖPPER, Karl-Heinz BALKAU, Werner LESINSKI
  • Publication number: 20200001514
    Abstract: The invention relates to a moulding and filling station of an installation for producing filled containers from preforms (2) by means of liquid filling material introduced into the preform (2) under pressure, said moulding and filling station comprising a stretch rod (1) and a liquid duct (3), which can be controlled by means of a filling valve (22), passes through at least part of the stretch rod (1) and ends in at least one outlet opening (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 5) in the stretch rod (1), and being characterised in that a gas barrier (6, 6a, 6b) is provided in the liquid duct (3) between the filling valve (22) and the outlet opening (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 5). The invention also relates to a stretch rod (1) for a moulding and filling station, having a filling material duct (3) and at least one outlet opening (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 5) for discharging filling material, a gas barrier (6, 6a, 6b) being provided in the filling material duct (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Michael LITZENBERG, Michael LINKE, Gerhard KLÖPPER
  • Patent number: 10406740
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement 1 for feeding contents into a container being formed from a preform 2 in a mold 3, in a machine for simultaneously molding and filling containers made from preforms, wherein the arrangement defines, by the way of its wall 7, a flow path between a contents-supply line 4 and the mouth opening 6 of the container. The arrangement 1 is characterized in that it has a sealing termination both in relation to the contents-supply line 4 and in relation to the preform 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: KHS Corpoplast GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Linke, Rolf Baumgarte, Michael Litzenberg, Gerhard Klöpper, Niels Meyer
  • Patent number: 10315350
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stretch rod for the form-and-fill head of a machine for forming and filling of containers produced from preforms. The object of the invention is to devise a stretch rod of this type which can be cleaned and/or disinfected without being disassembled and without any other intervention. According to the invention, the object is achieved by a stretch rod (5) for the form-and-fill head (3) of a machine for forming and filling (molding and filling) of containers produced from preforms (2), which rod comprises a drive unit for axially moving said stretch rod (5). At least the part (6) of the drive unit which is connected to the stretch rod (5) is arranged in a drive chamber (11) which is sealed off from the regions of the form-and-fill head (3) which come into contact with the filling material (the material with which the container is being filled). The inventive stretch rod is characterized in that the sealing action is achieved by a seal (12) which surrounds the stretch rod (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: KHS Corpoplast, GmbH
    Inventors: Ludwig Clüsserath, Michael Linke, Michael Litzenberg, Rolf Baumgarte, Gerhard Klöpper, Niels Meyer
  • Publication number: 20170312973
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stretch rod for the form-and-fill head of a machine for forming and filling of containers produced from preforms. The object of the invention is to devise a stretch rod of this type which can be cleaned and/or disinfected without being disassembled and without any other intervention. According to the invention, the object is achieved by a stretch rod (5) for the form-and-fill head (3) of a machine for forming and filling (molding and filling) of containers produced from preforms (2), which rod comprises a drive unit for axially moving said stretch rod (5). At least the part (6) of the drive unit which is connected to the stretch rod (5) is arranged in a drive chamber (11) which is sealed off from the regions of the form-and-fill head (3) which come into contact with the filling material (the material with which the container is being filled). The inventive stretch rod is characterized in that the sealing action is achieved by a seal (12) which surrounds the stretch rod (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Ludwig CLÜSSERATH, Michael LINKE, Michael LITZENBERG, Rolf BAUMGARTE, Gerhard KLÖPPER, Niels MEYER
  • Publication number: 20170259487
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement 1 for feeding contents into a container being formed from a preform 2 in a mold 3, in a machine for simultaneously molding and filling containers made from preforms, wherein the arrangement defines, by the way of its wall 7, a flow path between a contents-supply line 4 and the mouth opening 6 of the container. The arrangement 1 is characterized in that it has a sealing termination both in relation to the contents-supply line 4 and in relation to the preform 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: KHS Corpoplast GmbH
    Inventors: Michael LINKE, Rolf BAUMGARTE, Michael LITZENBERG, Gerhard KLÖPPER, Niels MEYER