Patents by Inventor Herbert Spindler

Herbert Spindler 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: 12637244
    Abstract: A method and a packaging apparatus for producing packaging units as well as an application head (60) for use in the method or in the packaging apparatus are disclosed. In the method, a flat packaging blank (14) is transferred, by an application head (60) to an article grouping (20) held ready, to be applied there to an upper end face of the article grouping (20), producing a mechanical connection between the packaging blank (14) and the article grouping (20). Foldable portions (24) of the packaging blank (14) that project beyond an upper side of the article grouping (20) are then folded over and are applied to the article grouping (20) laterally. The packaging apparatus is equipped with at least one such application head (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2026
    Assignee: Krones Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Wimmer, Marcus Kreis, Herbert Spindler
  • Publication number: 20260070692
    Abstract: The invention relates a method using an application head for grouping articles that are held together by a strapping band. The method includes: providing the at least two grouped articles; inserting a prefabricated closed strapping band into the application head, wherein the strapping band is fixed in a defined position. The application head has a variable opening width of a cage which surrounds the grouped articles. It is then lowered over the articles by a feed movement which runs approximately parallel to longitudinal central axes of the articles, wherein the cage contacts the grouped articles and slightly compresses the grouped articles. The strapping band is then positioned by lowering the application head. The opening width of the cage is then increased while the strapping band is simultaneously released. Then the application head is raised over the strapped article grouping and is removed therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2025
    Publication date: March 12, 2026
    Inventors: Marcus KREIS, Herbert SPINDLER, Peter HAIDACHER, Florian SAUMWEBER
  • Patent number: 12503261
    Abstract: The invention relates a method using an application head for grouping articles that are held together by a strapping band. The method includes: providing the at least two grouped articles; inserting a prefabricated closed strapping band into the application head, wherein the strapping band is fixed in a defined position. The application head has a variable opening width of a cage which surrounds the grouped articles. It is then lowered over the articles by a feed movement which runs approximately parallel to longitudinal central axes of the articles, wherein the cage contacts the grouped articles and slightly compresses the grouped articles. The strapping band is then positioned by lowering the application head. The opening width of the cage is then increased while the strapping band is simultaneously released. Then the application head is raised over the strapped article grouping and is removed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2025
    Assignee: Krones Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marcus Kreis, Herbert Spindler, Peter Haidacher, Florian Saumweber
  • Publication number: 20250368367
    Abstract: A method and a packaging apparatus for producing packaging units as well as an application head (60) for use in the method and/or in the packaging apparatus are disclosed. In the method, a flat packaging blank (14) is transferred by means of an application head (60) to an article grouping (20) held ready, in order to be applied there to an upper end face of the article grouping (20), producing a mechanical connection between the packaging blank (14) and the article grouping (20). Foldable portions (24) of the packaging blank (14) that project beyond an upper side of the article grouping (20) are then folded over and are applied to the article grouping (20) laterally. The packaging apparatus is equipped with at least one such application head (60).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Publication date: December 4, 2025
    Inventors: Thomas WIMMER, Marcus KREIS, Herbert SPINDLER
  • Patent number: 12448191
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method for producing packaging units and the produced packaging units, comprising at least two substantially similar articles, wherein the articles are held together by at least one packaging blank (14). A main surface of the packaging blank (14) is applied to first end faces of an article grouping (20), forming a connection between the articles and primary fixing element of the packaging blank (14). The primary fixing element fixes the positions of the articles relative to one another. The side surfaces (24) of the packaging blank (14) are subsequently folded over, wherein secondary fixing element interacts with the shell surfaces of the articles. The secondary fixing elements are formed by strapping sections, which surround the article grouping (20) and fixes the articles in a substantially parallel alignment to one another. The invention also relates to a packaging device for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2025
    Assignee: Krones Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Wimmer, Marcus Kreis, Herbert Spindler, Johann Luber, Thomas Hensel
  • Publication number: 20250289602
    Abstract: A packaging apparatus and a method for applying packaging (20) to an article combination (30) comprising at least two articles in each instance. The packaging apparatus comprises at least one preparation die for preparing the packaging (20). The preparation die (40) comprises a folding device for folding over opposite edge regions (23) of a packaging blank (21) that forms the packaging (20). The packaging apparatus further comprises an application die for receiving the prepared packaging blank (21v) and for applying said blank to the article combination (30), so that the packaging (20) applied to the articles is disposed at least in part between the articles, wherein the packaging (20) applied to the articles at least partially surrounds outer lateral surfaces (36) of the article combination (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Publication date: September 18, 2025
    Inventors: Stephan WITTMANN, Herbert SPINDLER, Marcus KREIS
  • Publication number: 20250263186
    Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging apparatus (1) and a method used to produce packaging units (35). The packaging units (35) comprise at least one article (30), such as a beverage can (31), held in a packaging blank (20) having at least in some portions or areas that are flat. The packaging blank (20) has at least one passage opening (23) in the flat portion or area for article(s) (30). The packaging apparatus (1) comprises a feeder device (2); a pre-treatment module (9) to prepare the packaging blank (20) for the application to the article(s) (30); and a first packaging module (7) to apply and locate the packaging blank (20) to the article(s) (30). The pre-treatment module (9) comprises a device to reduce a resistance force in an edge area (24) of the passage openings (23) during the application of the packaging blank (20) to the article(s) (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2025
    Publication date: August 21, 2025
    Inventors: Johann LUBER, Thomas STADLER, Tobias GUT, Herbert SPINDLER, Markus GABLER
  • Publication number: 20250263187
    Abstract: The invention relates to a magazine unit (1) for consumable material (20), comprising at least two receiving units (2) for consumable material (20), at least one removal position (AP) and at least one filling position (BP), wherein the receiving units (2) are configured to be movable between the removal position (AP) and the filling position (BP). The invention also relates to a packaging apparatus (15) and to a method for combining article groupings (33) with a packaging means (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Publication date: August 21, 2025
    Inventors: Christian CANALICCHIO, Simon FELLER, Herbert SPINDLER, Thomas STADLER, Philipp SCHARTNER, Johann LUBER
  • Patent number: 12358668
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for producing packaging units. Each of the packaging units has at least two articles which are held together by at least one strapping band and by at least one packaging blank. The method includes: providing the articles in a handling area of an application head; inserting a closed strapping band and a prepared packaging blank into the application head; feeding the application head to the articles, with the grouped articles being at least slightly compressed; positioning the strapping band; securing the packaging blank to the articles; opening the application head while simultaneously releasing and separating the at least one strapping band from the fixed position of the strapping band within the application head; releasing and separating the at least one packaging blank; and removing the application head from the strapped article grouping combined by a packaging blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: Krones Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Haidacher, Herbert Spindler, Marcus Kreis, Florian Saumweber
  • Patent number: 12234101
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transport device (1) and a method for distributing a plurality of similarly shaped and dimensioned articles (10). The transport device (1) comprises an infeed (2) for conveying articles (10) in a mass flow, and a distribution section (3) downstream of the infeed (2), where the distribution section (3) leads into a row transport (4), where the articles (10) are conveyed in at least two separate parallel rows (5). The transport device (1) also comprises at least one sensor device (6, 8, 11) signal-coupled to a motor-driven actuator (14) assigned to the distribution section (3) In the event of detected gaps, interruptions, or in the event of a detected termination of the mass flow within the infeed (2) or within the distribution section (3) or within the rows (5), the actuator (14) moves a movable steering device (16) adjoining the mass flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Krones Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Hensel, Martin Bauer, Herbert Spindler, Juergen Werner, Marcus Seidl
  • Publication number: 20250058914
    Abstract: A device (1) for applying packaging film to groups of articles (12) is disclosed. The device (1) comprises a horizontal conveyor (5) for transporting groups of articles (12) and a feed apparatus which is designed to introduce pieces of cut packaging film (14) into a transport path of the groups of articles (12) transported by the at least one horizontal conveyor (5). Furthermore, a plurality of wrapping rods (30) are provided, which are moved in a rotary fashion such that they take up a remaining free portion (17) of the piece of cut packaging film (14) and guide it around the group of articles (12) each time. A flow generating apparatus (40) is provided which is designed to generate at least one air volume flow, via which a remaining free portion (17) of the piece of cut packaging film (14) which has already been taken up by a wrapping rod (30) can be blown toward the group of articles (12) each time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Peter HAIDACHER, Herbert SPINDLER, Juergen WERNER, Peter KOCH, Florian KOCHINKE
  • Publication number: 20240409257
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method, to an application device (40), and to a packaging device for producing packaging units (13). Each of the packaging units (13) is made of at least two grouped articles (10) which are held together by means of at least one strapping band (15) and by means of at least one packaging blank (60).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Peter HAIDACHER, Herbert SPINDLER, Marcus KREIS, Florian SAUMWEBER
  • Publication number: 20240409261
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method, to an application head (1), and to a packaging device for producing strapped packages, each of which is made of at least two grouped articles that are held together by means of at least one strapping band. The method has at least the following steps: providing the at least two grouped articles, which are positioned in a movement and/or handling area of an application head (1); and inserting at least one prefabricated closed strapping band into the application head (1), in which the strapping band is fixed in a defined position. The application head (1) has a variable opening width of a cage (50) which can surround the outer surface of the grouped articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Marcus KREIS, Herbert SPINDLER, Peter HAIDACHER, Florian SAUMWEBER
  • Publication number: 20240286780
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a tool for producing strapped packages, in which at least two articles (10) having deformable or flexible lateral surfaces are grouped and brought into a rectangular arrangement and kept together by at least one strapping band (26). In the method, firstly deformation forces (18) are applied to at least one short side (20) of the group (12) of articles, which deformation forces act approximately uniformly on all articles (10) of the group (12) of articles. Subsequently, the strapping band (26) is placed on the group (12) of articles deformed in this manner, wherein an overall length of the strapping band (26) corresponds to or is minimally greater than an overall circumference of the group (12) of articles subjected to the deformation forces (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas HENSEL, Marcus KREIS, Florian SAUMWEBER, Herbert SPINDLER, Thomas STADLER
  • Publication number: 20240253883
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method for producing packaging units and packaging units produced by such a method, comprising at least two substantially similar articles, wherein the at least two articles are held together by at least one packaging blank (14). With the method, a main surface of the packaging blank (14) is applied to first end faces of an article grouping (20), forming a connection between the articles and primary fixing means of the packaging blank (14). The primary fixing means fix the positions of the articles relative to one another within the article grouping (20). The side surfaces (24) of the packaging blank (14) are subsequently folded over, wherein secondary fixing means interacting with the shell surfaces of the articles are formed. The secondary fixing means are formed by strapping sections, which surround defined regions of the shell surfaces of the article grouping (20) and fix the articles in a substantially parallel alignment to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas WIMMER, Marcus KREIS, Herbert SPINDLER, Johann LUBER, Thomas HENSEL
  • Publication number: 20240150128
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for packaging articles (2). Outer packages (3) are set down on a horizontal conveying device (10, 20) and are transported along a packaging line. During the transport, articles are introduced via a manipulator into the outer packages (3), and the outer packages (3) with the introduced articles (2) are subsequently removed from the horizontal conveying device (10, 20) as a packaging unit (8). A predetermined packaging process (VP1) is carried out, in which the outer packages (3) are received by the horizontal conveying device (10, 20) via a plurality of shuttles (5), the outer packages (3) standing on said plurality of shuttles (5), until the outer packages (3) together with the introduced articles (2) are removed from the at least one horizontal conveying device (10, 20) as a packaging unit (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas STADLER, Philipp SCHARTNER, Peter DENNEMARCK, Martin DIETERSBERGER, Christian CANALICCHIO, Herbert SPINDLER, Jens LOSERT, Josef UNTERSEHER
  • Publication number: 20240051694
    Abstract: The invention relates to a strapping device and a method for producing strapped packages, which combine at least two articles by means of at least one strap. The strapping device is paired with a device for providing two or more grouped articles. and the strapping device comprises a handling device (10) with two pivoting arms (11, 12) which can be adjusted relative to each other and each of which is equipped with clamping devices (14, 15) for fixing the belt ends (27) of a strapping belt (26) or a strapping blank (28) in a clamped manner. The pivoting arms (11, 12) can surround the grouped articles for the purpose of strapping same, thereby pivoting the first pivoting arm (11) and the second pivoting arm (12). The strapping device additionally comprises a fixing device for connecting the two belt ends (27) of the strapping belt (26) or the strapping blank (28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Sebastian SCHMID, Thomas STADLER, Herbert SPINDLER
  • Publication number: 20230339695
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transport device (1) and a method for distributing a plurality of similarly shaped and dimensioned articles (10). The transport device (1) comprises an infeed (2) for conveying a plurality of similarly shaped and dimensioned articles (10) in a mass flow; a distribution section (3) downstream of the infeed (2), which distribution section (3), in the conveying direction (FR) of the articles (10), leads into a row transport (4), in which distribution section (3) the articles (10) are conveyed onwards or transported away in at least two separate parallel rows (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas HENSEL, Martin BAUER, Herbert SPINDLER, Juergen WERNER, Marcus SEIDL
  • Publication number: 20230264369
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gripper (1) for beverage cans (20). The gripper (1) comprises at least one gripping device (6) used to grip a particular beverage can (20) from underneath the top seam (5) in a form-fitting manner in the region of a top seam (5), which top seam (5) is formed by a particular beverage can (20). The gripper (1) comprises at least one centering device (30), by which at least one centering device (30) aligns the particular beverage can (20) into a defined alignment, where the at least one gripping device (6) is able to grip a particular beverage can (20) from underneath in a form-fitting manner in the region of its top seam (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas STADLER, Stephan WITTMANN, Herbert SPINDLER
  • Patent number: D1031459
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Krones Aktiengellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Haidacher, Marcus Kreis, Herbert Spindler, Marcus Renz