Patents by Inventor Hans-Willi Mainz

Hans-Willi Mainz 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: 11780627
    Abstract: Described and depicted is a method for filling packages that are open on one side, in particular cardboard composite packages, with free-flowing products, in particular foodstuffs, in a filling machine. In order to allow the heating, sterilisation and/or drying to be carried out at high throughputs more reliably and with less complexity in terms of the equipment and/or method, it is provided that preheating air and/or drying air and/or sterilising agent is introduced into the packages that are open on one side and that a volume of preheating air and/or drying air and/or sterilising agent, said volume corresponding to at least three times the volume of the package that is open on one side, is introduced into at least one, preferably at least substantially each, package that is open on one side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: SIG Technology AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Flörke, Hans-Willi Mainz
  • Patent number: 11673732
    Abstract: A method for treating open cut edges of a packaging sleeve, blank or web material of a packaging material rolled up into a roll, in particular a composite cardboard/plastics material, by applying or introducing a disinfectant-containing treatment agent to or into the outer region of the cut edges. To provide a particularly resource-efficient composite packaging and a production method required for this purpose, it is proposed that at least some of the treatment agent is not applied directly to the cut edges, but that a load carrier is loaded, which load carrier absorbs the treatment agent so that an actively sterilising atmosphere which is created then acts on the open cut edges of the packaging sleeve, blank or web material and performs the desired sterilisation. The invention also relates to a packaging material, to a combipack produced therefrom and to a container for receiving the packaging material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: SIG Technology AG
    Inventor: Hans-Willi Mainz
  • Publication number: 20220227562
    Abstract: A method for treating open cut edges of a packaging sleeve, blank or web material of a packaging material rolled up into a roll, in particular a composite cardboard/plastics material, by applying or introducing a disinfectant-containing treatment agent to or into the outer region of the cut edges. To provide a particularly resource-efficient composite packaging and a production method required for this purpose, it is proposed that at least some of the treatment agent is not applied directly to the cut edges, but that a load carrier is loaded, which load carrier absorbs the treatment agent so that an actively sterilising atmosphere which is created then acts on the open cut edges of the packaging sleeve, blank or web material and performs the desired sterilisation. The invention also relates to a packaging material, to a combipack produced therefrom and to a container for receiving the packaging material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventor: Hans-Willi Mainz
  • Patent number: 11358777
    Abstract: A method for treating open cut edges of a packaging sleeve, blank or web material of a packaging material rolled up into a roll, in particular a composite cardboard/plastics material, by applying or introducing a disinfectant-containing treatment agent to or into the outer region of the cut edges. To provide a particularly resource-efficient composite packaging and a production method required for this purpose, it is proposed that at least some of the treatment agent is not applied directly to the cut edges, but that a load carrier is loaded, which load carrier absorbs the treatment agent so that an actively sterilising atmosphere which is created then acts on the open cut edges of the packaging sleeve, blank or web material and performs the desired sterilisation. The invention also relates to a packaging material, to a combipack produced therefrom and to a container for receiving the packaging material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SIG Technology AG
    Inventor: Hans-Willi Mainz
  • Publication number: 20210139179
    Abstract: Described and depicted is a method for filling packages that are open on one side, in particular cardboard composite packages, with free-flowing products, in particular foodstuffs, in a filling machine. In order to allow the heating, sterilisation and/or drying to be carried out at high throughputs more reliably and with less complexity in terms of the equipment and/or method, it is provided that preheating air and/or drying air and/or sterilising agent is introduced into the packages that are open on one side and that a volume of preheating air and/or drying air and/or sterilising agent, said volume corresponding to at least three times the volume of the package that is open on one side, is introduced into at least one, preferably at least substantially each, package that is open on one side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Rudolf Flörke, Hans-Willi Mainz
  • Patent number: 10858133
    Abstract: Described and illustrated is a method to sterilise containers or receiving flowable foods in a filling device. The method includes evaporating a hydrogen peroxide solution in an evaporator impinging at least one container with the vaporous hydrogen peroxide in a sterilisation zone and at least partially removing the unconsumed part of the vaporous hydrogen peroxide from the sterilisation zone. The removed vaporous hydrogen peroxide is at least partially condensed in a condenser and the condensed hydrogen peroxide is supplied to the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: SIG Technology AG
    Inventors: Christian Weiler, Hanno Geissler, Hans-Willi Mainz, Sittipong Boonkaew
  • Publication number: 20200255205
    Abstract: A method for treating open cut edges of a packaging sleeve, blank or web material of a packaging material rolled up into a roll, in particular a composite cardboard/plastics material, by applying or introducing a disinfectant-containing treatment agent to or into the outer region of the cut edges. To provide a particularly resource-efficient composite packaging and a production method required for this purpose, it is proposed that at least some of the treatment agent is not applied directly to the cut edges, but that a load carrier is loaded, which load carrier absorbs the treatment agent so that an actively sterilising atmosphere which is created then acts on the open cut edges of the packaging sleeve, blank or web material and performs the desired sterilisation. The invention also relates to a packaging material, to a combipack produced therefrom and to a container for receiving the packaging material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventor: Hans-Willi Mainz
  • Patent number: 10703516
    Abstract: A method for filling packages with changing products in a filling machine is disclosed. Packages are successively transported through a filling machine, and the packages are each successively filled with a first product in a sterile environment via a filling outlet connected to a product tank. To empty the product tank, at least one outlet means is brought into an emptying position, and a residue of the first product is discharged at least partially from the sterile environment, via the outlet means located in the emptying position. The outlet means is removed from the emptying position following the emptying of the product tank. Packages are subsequently each successively filled with a second product in a sterile environment, via a filling outlet connected to a product tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: SIG Technology AG
    Inventors: Hans-Willi Mainz, Sabine Knauff
  • Patent number: 10696465
    Abstract: A method for treating open cut edges of a packaging sleeve, blank or web material of a packaging material rolled up into a roll, in particular a composite cardboard/plastics material, by applying or introducing a disinfectant-containing treatment agent to or into the outer region of the cut edges. To provide a particularly resource-efficient composite packaging and a production method required for this purpose, it is proposed that at least some of the treatment agent is not applied directly to the cut edges, but that a load carrier is loaded, which load carrier absorbs the treatment agent so that an actively sterilising atmosphere which is created then acts on the open cut edges of the packaging sleeve, blank or web material and performs the desired sterilisation. The invention also relates to a packaging material, to a combipack produced therefrom and to a container for receiving the packaging material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: SIG Technology AG
    Inventor: Hans-Willi Mainz
  • Publication number: 20190144192
    Abstract: A method for treating open cut edges of a packaging sleeve, blank or web material of a packaging material rolled up into a roll, in particular a composite cardboard/plastics material, by applying or introducing a disinfectant-containing treatment agent to or into the outer region of the cut edges. To provide a particularly resource-efficient composite packaging and a production method required for this purpose, it is proposed that at least some of the treatment agent is not applied directly to the cut edges, but that a load carrier is loaded, which load carrier absorbs the treatment agent so that an actively sterilising atmosphere which is created then acts on the open cut edges of the packaging sleeve, blank or web material and performs the desired sterilisation. The invention also relates to a packaging material, to a combipack produced therefrom and to a container for receiving the packaging material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventor: Hans-Willi Mainz
  • Patent number: 10207852
    Abstract: A method for treating open cut edges of a packaging sleeve (S), blank or web material of a packaging material rolled up into a roll, in particular a composite cardboard/plastics material, by applying or introducing a disinfectant-containing treatment agent to or into the outer region of the cut edges. To provide a particularly resource-efficient composite packaging and a production method required for this purpose, it is proposed that at least some of the treatment agent is not applied directly to the cut edges, but that a load carrier (9) is loaded, which load carrier absorbs the treatment agent so that an actively sterilizing atmosphere which is created then acts on the open cut edges of the packaging sleeve (S), blank or web material and performs the desired sterilization. The invention also relates to a packaging material, to a combipack produced therefrom and to a container for receiving the packaging material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: SIG Technology AG
    Inventor: Hans-Willi Mainz
  • Publication number: 20180194501
    Abstract: A method for sterilising unpackaged consumable items by means of a treatment agent having a disinfectant, and using storage containers and outer packaging. In order that the abovementioned method can be designed and further developed so that contamination of the consumable items is reliably excluded, a certain quantity of unpackaged consumable items is stored together for a specified time in a storage container and the inside of the storage container is treated with a predetermined quantity of the treatment agent. In order to achieve “long-term sterilisation” a storage container serves to accommodate a plurality of unarranged, unpackaged consumable items, with the material of the storage container being plastic, wherein the storage container is designed as a bag, which after filling with consumable items and subsequent treatment is closed and then stored in a closed outer package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Hans-Willi Mainz, Michael Schreder
  • Publication number: 20180186480
    Abstract: A method for filling packages with changing products in a filling machine is disclosed. Packages are successively transported through a filling machine, and the packages are each successively filled with a first product in a sterile environment via a filling outlet connected to a product tank. To empty the product tank, at least one outlet means is brought into an emptying position, and a residue of the first product is discharged at least partially from the sterile environment, via the outlet means located in the emptying position. The outlet means is removed from the emptying position following the emptying of the product tank. Packages are subsequently each successively filled with a second product in a sterile environment, via a filling outlet connected to a product tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Hans-Willi Mainz, Sabine Knauff
  • Publication number: 20180170602
    Abstract: Presented are a method for sterilising packaged, partially packaged, or partially sealed consumable items, such as plastic opening and/or closing elements for subsequent use with beverage or food packaging, by means of a treatment agent having a disinfectant, and storage containers and outer packagings that can be used for this purpose. The method can be designed and further developed so that contamination of the consumable items with germ-forming spores is reliably excluded. A consumable item or an area thereof to be sterilised can be disposed in a first sealed environment, so that a plurality of such individually packaged consumable items or sealed areas thereof is stored together for a specified time in a storage container, the inside of which the treatment agent, so that, through the diffusion thereof, the packaged consumable items or sealed areas thereof are also sterilised, thereby achieving “long-term sterilisation”.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Hans-Willi Mainz, Michael Schreder
  • Patent number: 9862514
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for processing cut edges of a blank member, so called “package sleeve”, made from packaging material, in particular paper/plastics composite material, the cut edges of which are open from above and/or below, by applying a processing medium. In order to develop a simple and cost-effective method, in which the risk of contamination of the packaging and the aseptic region of a filling installation when the package sleeves are filled and closed is reduced, the processing medium contains at least one sterilizing medium and the sterilizing medium remains after being applied to the cut edges and is introduced into the packaging material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SIG Technology AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Floerke, Hanno Geissler, Hans-Willi Mainz
  • Publication number: 20170341791
    Abstract: Described and illustrated is a method to sterilise containers or receiving flowable foods; in a filling device. The method includes evaporating a hydrogen peroxide solution in an evaporator impinging at least one container with the vaporous hydrogen peroxide in a sterilisation zone and at least partially removing the unconsumed part of the vaporous hydrogen peroxide from the sterilisation zone. The removed vaporous hydrogen peroxide is at least partially condensed in a condenser and the condensed hydrogen peroxide is supplied to the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: SIG Technology AG
    Inventors: Christian Weiler, Hanno Geissler, Hans-Willi Mainz, Sittipong Boonkaew
  • Publication number: 20160332795
    Abstract: A method for treating open cut edges of a packaging sleeve (S), blank or web material of a packaging material rolled up into a roll, in particular a composite cardboard/plastics material, by applying or introducing a disinfectant-containing treatment agent to or into the outer region of the cut edges. To provide a particularly resource-efficient composite packaging and a production method required for this purpose, it is proposed that at least some of the treatment agent is not applied directly to the cut edges, but that a load carrier (9) is loaded, which load carrier absorbs the treatment agent so that an actively sterilising atmosphere which is created then acts on the open cut edges of the packaging sleeve (S), blank or web material and performs the desired sterilisation. The invention also relates to a packaging material, to a combipack produced therefrom and to a container for receiving the packaging material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventor: Hans-Willi Mainz
  • Publication number: 20160251100
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for processing cut edges of a blank member, so called “package sleeve”, made from packaging material, in particular paper/plastics composite material, the cut edges of which are open from above and/or below, by applying a processing medium. In order to develop a simple and cost-effective method, in which the risk of contamination of the packagins and the aseptic region of a filling installation when the package sleeves are filled and closed is reduced, the processing medium contains at least one sterilising medium and the sterilising medium remains after being applied to the cut edges and is introducted into the packaging material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Rudolf Floerke, Hanno Geissler, Hans-Willi Mainz
  • Patent number: 9315284
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for processing cut edges of a blank member, so galled “package sleeve”, made from packaging material, in particular paper/plastics composite material, the cut edges of which are open from above and/or below, by applying a processing medium. In order to develop a simple and cost-effective method, in which the risk of contamination of the packagings and the aseptic region of a filling installation when the package sleeves are filled and closed is reduced, the processing medium contains at least one sterilizing medium and the sterilizing medium remains after being applied to the cut edges and is introduced into the packaging material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: SIG Technology AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Floerke, Hanno Geissler, Hans-Willi Mainz
  • Publication number: 20140291320
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for processing cut edges of a blank member, so galled “package sleeve”, made from packaging material, in particular paper/plastics composite material, the cut edges of which are open from above and/or below, by applying a processing medium. In order to develop a simple and cost-effective method, in which the risk of contamination of the packagings and the aseptic region of a filling installation when the package sleeves are filled and closed is reduced, the processing medium contains at least one sterilising medium and the sterilising medium remains after being applied to the cut edges and is introduced into the packaging material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: SIG TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Floerke, Hanno Geissler, Hans-Willi Mainz