Patents by Inventor Karl-Heinz Balkau
Karl-Heinz Balkau 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).
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Patent number: 11724434Abstract: A temperature adjustment device (2) for thermally conditioning preforms (10) made of a thermoplastic material for subsequent molding including a transport device based on the rotary principle for transporting the preforms along a transport path that has at least one section with two adjacent transport lanes (32, 34) for transporting the preforms in two adjacent rows. Heating elements (36) are arranged between the transport lanes for heating the preforms. Each heating element acts on preforms in both transport lanes. At least one compensation device (22, 22?, 23, 24) for compensating for temperature differences between the preforms is assigned to the two transport lanes, which exclusively or more strongly acts on preforms in one of the two transport lanes for adjusting their temperature. Also, a container manufacturing machine (1) for manufacturing containers (12) from preforms that includes a temperature adjustment device.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2019Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: KHS GmbHInventors: Frank Lewin, Deniz Ulutürk, Arne-Fritz Wiese, Dieter Klatt, Christian Mündel, Daniel Firchau, Karl-Heinz Balkau
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Publication number: 20220134631Abstract: A temperature adjustment device (2) for thermally conditioning preforms (10) made of a thermoplastic material for subsequent molding including a transport device based on the rotary principle for transporting the preforms along a transport path that has at least one section with two adjacent transport lanes (32, 34) for transporting the preforms in two adjacent rows. Heating elements (36) are arranged between the transport lanes for heating the preforms. Each heating element acts on preforms in both transport lanes. At least one compensation device (22, 22?, 23, 24) for compensating for temperature differences between the preforms is assigned to the two transport lanes, which exclusively or more strongly acts on preforms in one of the two transport lanes for adjusting their temperature. Also, a container manufacturing machine (1) for manufacturing containers (12) from preforms that includes a temperature adjustment device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2019Publication date: May 5, 2022Inventors: Frank LEWIN, Deniz ULUTÜRK, Arne-Fritz WIESE, Dieter KLATT, Christian MÜNDEL, Daniel FIRCHAU, Karl-Heinz BALKAU
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Patent number: 10857717Abstract: A device for controlling a blow-molding machine for producing a thermoplastic container, wherein a blowing gas for blow-molding the container is introduced into a thermally conditioned preform, while the preform is held in a blow mold of the blow-molding machine. The blowing gas is introduced during a preblowing phase into the preform so that the temperature-conditioned material of the preform approaches the walls of the blow mold. The blowing gas is introduced during a following finish-blowing phase into the preform so that the temperature-conditioned material of the preform is pressed into the contours of the blow mold walls. The volumetric flow rate of the blowing gas is determined at least during the preblowing phase by an adjustable flow-control valve that can be controlled by a control unit that generates a control signal for adjusting the flow-control valve. The flow-control valve is adjusted as a function of the control signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2018Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: KHS CORPOPLAST GMBHInventors: Michael Litzenberg, Karl-Heinz Balkau, Dieter Klatt, Michael Linke
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Publication number: 20200247029Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2016Publication date: August 6, 2020Inventors: Michael LITZENBERG, Michael LINKE, Gerhard KLÖPPER, Karl-Heinz BALKAU, Werner LESINSKI
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Publication number: 20190030778Abstract: A device for controlling a blow-molding machine for producing a thermoplastic container, wherein a blowing gas for blow-molding the container is introduced into a thermally conditioned preform, while the preform is held in a blow mold of the blow-molding machine. The blowing gas is introduced during a preblowing phase into the preform so that the temperature-conditioned material of the preform approaches the walls of the blow mold. The blowing gas is introduced during a following finish-blowing phase into the preform so that the temperature-conditioned material of the preform is pressed into the contours of the blow mold walls. The volumetric flow rate of the blowing gas is determined at least during the preblowing phase by an adjustable flow-control valve that can be controlled by a control unit that generates a control signal for adjusting the flow-control valve. The flow-control valve is adjusted as a function of the control signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2018Publication date: January 31, 2019Inventors: Michael LITZENBERG, Karl-Heinz BALKAU, Dieter KLATT, Michael LINKE
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Patent number: 10112337Abstract: A method for controlling a blow-molding machine for producing a thermoplastic container, wherein a blowing gas for blow-molding the container is introduced into a thermally conditioned preform, while the preform is held in a blow mold of the blow-molding machine. The blowing gas is introduced during a preblowing phase into the preform so that the temperature-conditioned material of the preform approaches the walls of the blow mold. The blowing gas is introduced during a following finish-blowing phase into the preform so that the temperature-conditioned material of the preform is pressed into the contours of the blow mold walls. The volumetric flow rate of the blowing gas is determined at least during the preblowing phase by an adjustable flow-control valve that can be controlled by a control unit that generates a control signal for adjusting the flow-control valve. The flow-control valve is adjusted as a function of the control signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2015Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: KHS CORPOPLAST GMBHInventors: Michael Litzenberg, Karl-Heinz Balkau, Dieter Klatt, Michael Linke
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Patent number: 9545748Abstract: The method and the device are used for blow-molding containers. A preform made of a thermoplastic material is first subject to a thermal conditioning operation along a transport path in the region of a heating section. Thereafter, the preform is formed into the container inside a blowing mold by applying blowing pressure. While the preform is shaped into the container, at least one parameter (49, 50) characterizing the shaping is measured and evaluated by a control unit. Depending on said evaluation, at least one controlled variable (48, 46) influencing the shaping operation inside a closed loop is varied in order to match the measured parameter to an associated target value. In this way, it becomes possible to subject the container parison developing during the blow-molding operation to a predetermined defined development.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2009Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: KHS CORPOPLAST GMBHInventors: Karl-Heinz Balkau, Martin Matthiesen, Frank Haesendonckx
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Patent number: 9358720Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device used to blow-mold containers. After thermal conditioning, a preform is shaped into the container inside a blow mold by the effect of blowing pressure. Required blowing gas is introduced into an interior of the preform through a connecting element. After the blow-molding, a purging gas is conducted through the interior of the container. A plurality of blowing stations are used, and, for at least one of the blowing stations, at least part of the required amount of the purging gas is stored in a storage volume associated only with said blowing station.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2011Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: KHS CORPOPLAST GMBHInventors: Günther Godau, Michael Linke, Dieter Klatt, Michael Litzenberg, Karl-Heinz Balkau
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Publication number: 20160023396Abstract: A method for controlling a blow-molding machine for producing a thermoplastic container, wherein a blowing gas for blow-molding the container is introduced into a thermally conditioned preform, while the preform is held in a blow mold of the blow-molding machine. The blowing gas is introduced during a preblowing phase into the preform so that the temperature-conditioned material of the preform approaches the walls of the blow mold. The blowing gas is introduced during a following finish-blowing phase into the preform so that the temperature-conditioned material of the preform is pressed into the contours of the blow mold walls. The volumetric flow rate of the blowing gas is determined at least during the preblowing phase by an adjustable flow-control valve that can be controlled by a control unit that generates a control signal for adjusting the flow-control valve. The flow-control valve is adjusted as a function of the control signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2015Publication date: January 28, 2016Inventors: Michael LITZENBERG, Karl-Heinz BALKAU, Dieter KLATT, Michael LINKE
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Patent number: 8758670Abstract: A method and an apparatus for blow-molding containers are disclosed. A parison made of a thermoplastic material is first subjected to a thermal treatment in the zone of a heating section along a conveying path. The parison is then shaped into the container within a blow mold under the effect of a blowing pressure. Once the container has been blow-molded, a wall thickness is measured on at least one vertical level of the container. A preset value for the wall thickness is fed to a controller as a desired value, and the measured wall thickness is fed thereto as an actual value. The controller presets the quantity of at least one parameter influencing the blowing process in accordance with a difference between the desired value and the actual value. More specifically, the controller presets the quantity of at least one parameter influencing the supply of blowing gas. The quantity of the parameter is preset on the basis of a blowing process simulation model implemented in the controller.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2009Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: KHS Corpoplast GmbHInventors: Frank Haesendonckx, Karl-Heinz Balkau, Matthias Gernhuber
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Publication number: 20120299225Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device used to blow-mold containers. After thermal conditioning, a preform is shaped into the container inside a blow mold by the effect of blowing pressure. Required blowing gas is introduced into an interior of the preform through a connecting element. After the blow-molding, a purging gas is conducted through the interior of the container. A plurality of blowing stations are used, and, for at least one of the blowing stations, at least part of the required amount of the purging gas is stored in a storage volume associated only with said blowing station.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: KHS CORPOPLAST GMBHInventors: Günther Godau, Michael Linke, Dieter Klatt, Michael Litzenberg, Karl-Heinz Balkau
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Publication number: 20120267832Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for blow-molding containers. A preform produced of a thermoplastic material is subjected to a thermal conditioning process along a transport path in the region of a heating section. The preform is then shaped in a blow mold by the effect of a blowing pressure to give the container. The preform is subjected to a temperature profile at least along part of its transport path in the region of the heating section, said temperature profile being generated by at least one tubular radiation heater. The temperature profile extends in a longitudinal direction of the preform. The radiation emitted by the radiation heater is emitted in different spatial directions with different intensities by a heating device positioning the radiation heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2010Publication date: October 25, 2012Applicant: KHS CORPOPLAST GMBHInventors: Tara Zocher, Karl-Heinz Balkau, Jens-Peter Rasch, Deniz Ulutürk, Martin Matthiesen, Frank Lewin, Michael Linke
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Publication number: 20110260350Abstract: A method and an apparatus for blow-molding containers are disclosed. A parison made of a thermoplastic material is first subjected to a thermal treatment in the zone of a heating section along a conveying path. The parison is then shaped into the container within a blow mold under the effect of a blowing pressure. Once the container has been blow-molded, a wall thickness is measured on at least one vertical level of the container. A preset value for the wall thickness is fed to a controller as a desired value, and the measured wall thickness is fed thereto as an actual value. The controller presets the quantity of at least one parameter influencing the blowing process in accordance with a difference between the desired value and the actual value. More specifically, the controller presets the quantity of at least one parameter influencing the supply of blowing gas. The quantity of the parameter is preset on the basis of a blowing process simulation model implemented in the controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2009Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: KHS CORPOPLAST GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Frank Haesendonckx, Karl-Heinz Balkau, Matthias Gernhuber
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Publication number: 20110037189Abstract: The method and the device are used for blow-molding containers. A preform made of a thermoplastic material is first subject to a thermal conditioning operation along a transport path in the region of a heating section. Thereafter, the preform is formed into the container inside a blowing mold by applying blowing pressure. While the preform is shaped into the container, at least one parameter (49, 50) characterizing the shaping is measured and evaluated by a control unit. Depending on said evaluation, at least one controlled variable (48, 46) influencing the shaping operation inside a closed loop is varied in order to match the measured parameter to an associated target value. In this way, it becomes possible to subject the container parison developing during the blow-molding operation to a predetermined defined development.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2009Publication date: February 17, 2011Applicant: KHS CORPOPLAST GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Karl-Heinz Balkau, Martin Matthiesen, Frank Haesendonckx
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Patent number: 6287507Abstract: The method serves for tempering preforms made of a thermoplastic material. The preforms are provided for blow deformation into containers. The preform is provided with a temperature profile along the periphery. The temperature profile is produced in that striplike regions extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the preform are heated differentially. Stepwise tempering is carried out for successively timed thermal conditioning of various regions of the preform.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 1998Date of Patent: September 11, 2001Assignee: Krupp Corpoplast Maschinenbau GmbHInventors: Otto Appel, Karl-Heinz Balkau, Wolf Jaksztat
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Patent number: 4894198Abstract: In a process for producing hollow bodies of oriented thermoplastic material, a hollow blank having a bottom portion and a substantially cylindrical wall portion with an opening at its end remote from its bottom portion is subjected to pre-expansion in the region of the opening and then thermofixing in a subsequent treatment step. The thermofixing operation may be preceded by a mechanical expansion operation for orienting the plastic material forming the wall portion of the blank.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1987Date of Patent: January 16, 1990Assignee: Krupp CorpoplastInventors: Peter Albrecht, Karl-Heinz Balkau, Vinco Cujic, Tilman Doring, Claus Horwege, Wolfgang Reymann, Klaus Vogel, Walter Wiedenfeld
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Patent number: 4867929Abstract: A process and an apparatus for forming a flange on the wall portion of a hollow body of thermoplastic material with an opening at one end provides that the end part of the wall portion which defines the opening is heated and contracted by means of a force acting on the end portion from the outside thereof over the periphery thereof, whereupon the contracted end part is subjected to a pressing operation to form a flange extending around the contracted end part.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 1987Date of Patent: September 19, 1989Assignee: Krupp Corpoplast Maschinenbau GmbHInventors: Peter Albrecht, Adolf Appel, Karl-Heinz Balkau, Claus Horwege, Wolfgang Reymann, Peter Rose, Klaus Vogel, Walter Wiedenfeld
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Patent number: 4847032Abstract: A process for producing hollow bodies from oriented thermoplastic material wherein a cylindrical portion of a heated hollow preform which has a bottom thereon is subjected to stretching at a starting temperature which is below the vitreous transition temperature of the thermoplastic material, with the wall thickness of the preform being reduced in the stretching operation. Prior to the stretching operation the preform is heated in the portion in which the stretching effect begins, to a temperature higher than in the portion adjoining same. Stretching is preferably effected along the axis of the preform at different rates such that in the portion of the preform at which stretching begins, stretching is effected at a lower rate than in the portion adjoining same in the stretching direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1988Date of Patent: July 11, 1989Assignee: Krupp Corpoplast Maschinenbau GmbHInventors: Peter Albrecht, Adolf Appel, Karl-Heinz Balkau, Edward Clar, Claus Horwege, Wolfgang Reymann, Klaus Vogel, Walter Wiedenfeld