Patents by Inventor Klaus Günter Eberle

Klaus Günter Eberle 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).

  • Publication number: 20230182151
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifuge (10), in particular a laboratory centrifuge, having a) a rotor (32) for receiving containers having material for centrifuging, b) a drive shaft (42), on which the rotor (32) is mounted, c) a motor (18), which drives the rotor (32) via the drive shaft (42), d) a bearing unit (44) having bearings (20, 22, 24; 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56; 64, 66, 68), which each have damping elements (20a, 22a, 24a; 46a, 48a, 50a; 52a, 54a, 56a, 64a, 66a, 68a) comprising a spring axis (20e, 22e, 24e; 46e, 48e, 50e; 52e, 54e, 56e; 64e, 66e, 68e), and e) a carrier element (16) for fixing the motor (18) via the bearing unit (44) in the centrifuge (10). The invention is characterized in that at least one damping element is formed completely from metal and as a metal cushion (46a, 48a, 50a; 52a, 54a, 56a, 64a, 66a, 68a) comprising a wire knit having elastic properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Andreas Hettich GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: BERND FIEDLER, ANDREAS HOELDERLE, MATTHIAS HORNEK, KLAUS-GUENTER EBERLE
  • Publication number: 20230149618
    Abstract: An insert (10) for a rotor (14), which rotates about a rotor axis (12), of a centrifuge (16) incorporating a housing (30) having at least one container for bags, in particular blood bags, that comprises a slider (66) that cooperates with a drive, a rotatable spindle nut (62) and a spindle (64), wherein the spindle nut (62) is rotatably mounted in the housing (30) and connected to the drive, and the spindle (64) is translationally slidably mounted in the spindle nut (62) and connected to the slider (66). The slider (66) is arranged in the container and acts on the bag in a predetermined manner. The spindle (64) moves between a starting position and an operating position, wherein the spindle nut (62) is rotatably mounted in the housing (30) via at least one bearing (60). The bearing (60) is formed by a lubricant-free bearing (60) having an outer bearing ring in contact with the housing and a bearing ring in contact with the spindle nut (62).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas SCHMAL, Marcellus GEISELMANN, Klaus-Guenter EBERLE
  • Publication number: 20220401967
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifuge (10) for automatic loading, having a drive shaft (44), which is driven in a rotatable manner about a rotor axis (42), having a rotor (46), which is releasably coupled for conjoint rotation to the drive shaft (44) and has mounts for containers for media to be centrifuged, having a housing (12) with lateral outer walls (14, 16, 18, 20) delimiting the centrifuge (10) and with a ceiling (22), wherein at least one outer wall (14) has a sideways directed side opening (28) for loading the rotor (46) as required, and having a safety vessel (50) with at least one partially enclosing protective wall (34), which is adapted at least to the shape of the adjacent outer wall (14) with side opening (28) such that said protective wall closes off the side opening (28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: Andreas Hettich GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Matthias HORNEK, Rainer PRILLA, Klaus-Guenter EBERLE
  • Publication number: 20220266264
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifuge (10) with a housing (12), in which a rotor (32) for receiving a sample that is to be centrifuged is arranged. The rotor (32) is driven by the drive shaft (22) during operation of the centrifuge (10) and rotates about a rotation axis (30). The rotor (32) has a first, rotor-side transceiver unit, which is excited by an electric field, thus inducing voltage in the first transceiver unit (48). The first transceiver unit (48) is associated with a second, housing-side transceiver unit (62), which is connected to a voltage source. The two transceiver units (48, 62) are connected to a transceiver antenna (52, 64) each, and the transceiver units (48, 62) and the transceiver antennas (62, 64) are in each case arranged on an annular support (46, 60) concentrically with the rotation axis (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: Andreas Hettich GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias HORNEK, Andreas HOELDERLE, Albert RUNTZE, Klaus-Guenter EBERLE
  • Patent number: 11359427
    Abstract: A holding and opening mechanism for a pivoting element which is mounted to be pivotable relative to a supporting element about a first axle via a joint, with a pivoting arm acting between the pivoting element and the supporting element is provided. The pivoting arm is pivotally mounted about a second axle wherein the free end of the pivoting arm acts on a control surface of a guide element. A torsion spring is provided which acts on the pivoting arm in the direction around the second axle, a fixed part and a part pivotable relative thereto likewise provided, with the one part including the guide element and the other part including the pivoting arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Andreas Hettich GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Timo Liebermann, Klaus-Guenter Eberle
  • Patent number: 11307210
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conveying device (IO) for positioning and providing laboratory vessels (12; 12a, 12b, 12c) for nutrient media, samples, microorganisms, cell cultures, or the like for analysis, sample preparation, and/or sample manipulation at an associated apparatus (64), comprising at least one first conveying unit (32) for conveying the laboratory vessels (12) between an initial region (30) and a provision region (60), where the laboratory vessel (12) is held for the analysis or preparation. According to the invention, a plurality of conveying units is present, which perform only a translational motion of the laboratory vessel (12) along an axis, wherein the first conveying unit (32) vertically conveys the laboratory vessel (12) from the initial region (30) to a predetermined height region (50) and vice versa, and a second conveying unit (56) is provided, which horizontally conveys the laboratory vessel (12) from the height region (50) to the provision region and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Klaus-Guenter Eberle
  • Publication number: 20210245174
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifuge (10), having a drive shaft (12), a rotor (14), which is mounted on the drive shaft (12) and is axially removable in a removal direction (26), a quick closure (20), which operates between the rotor (14) and the drive shaft (12) and by means of which the rotor (14) can be fixed relative to the drive shaft (12) in the removal direction (26), a thrust bearing (44) connected to the drive shaft (12), a locking bearing (24) connected to the rotor (14), at least one blocking element (38), which, when activated, fixes the rotor (14) relative to the drive shaft (12) and operates between the locking bearing (24) of the rotor (14) and the thrust bearing (44) of the drive shaft (12). The pivot axis (38b) is aligned perpendicular to a straight line parallel to the drive shaft (12) and the blocking element (38) has a cardan shaft (38a), which is rotatable about the pivot axis (38b), and is connected to a bearing (40) via the cardan shaft (38a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: Andreas Hettich GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias HORNEK, Andreas HOELDERLE, Rainer PRILLA, Robert HEGELE, Klaus-Guenter EBERLE
  • Patent number: 11059007
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotor (10) of a dual centrifuge wherein the rotor has a rotor head (12) and an additional rotational mechanism for at least one rotational unit (22) which is provided in the rotor head (12) and comprises a bearing unit (70) and a rotational head (24) that is connected to the bearing unit (70) which is rotatably mounted and can be driven relative to the rotor head (12) by an additional rotational mechanism, an opening (16) for the rotational unit (22) being provided in which the rotational unit is accommodated and by means of which the bearing (70) is arranged such that it is fixed relative to the rotor head (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jovan Dobos, Anke Lenz, Ulrich Massing, Klaus-Guenter Eberle
  • Patent number: 11007530
    Abstract: A holder (10) receives and stores laboratory vessels for samples, microorganisms, cell cultures or the like, with a housing (14), and at least one receptacle (20) for the laboratory vessels. The receptacle (20) extends along a loading axis (L) in the housing (14) and is configured such that the laboratory vessels can be introduced into the receptacle (20) and can be stacked on top of each other therein, wherein the receptacle (20) in the housing (14) has a loading opening (20a) to permit loading. On an underside (18) arranged remote from the loading opening (20a), the receptacle (20) has an unloading opening (20b), which can be closed by means of a closure mechanism (38) arranged in the housing (14). The closure mechanism (38) is provided with a slide (40, 42), via which the slide (40, 42) is movable to the unloading opening (20b) to permit closure and is movable from the unloading opening (20b) to an opening position to permit opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: ANDREAS HETTICH GmbH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Klaus-Günter Eberle
  • Patent number: 10981182
    Abstract: A centrifuge (10) having a centrifuge housing, a safety vessel (14) arranged in the centrifuge housing, an interior space (16) at least partially bounded by the safety vessel (14), a rotor arranged in the interior space (16), and a cooling system, arranged in the centrifuge housing, for cooling the interior space (16), having a compressor (22), a condenser (24) and an evaporator (26), which are connected together via lines. The invention is distinguished by the fact that the cooling system has a primary circuit (52) with primary line (29) and a secondary circuit (62) with secondary line (34), wherein the primary circuit (52) comprises the compressor (22), the condenser (24) and the evaporator (26), which is part of a heat exchanger (30), and wherein the secondary circuit (62) flows through the heat exchanger (30), cools the safety vessel (14) and is provided with a pump (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Hornek, Klaus-Guenter Eberle
  • Publication number: 20210032918
    Abstract: The invention relates to a holding and opening mechanism for a pivoting element, such as a lid, a cover, a door or the like, which is mounted to be pivotable relative to a supporting element such as a housing, a frame or the like about a first axle via a joint, with a pivoting arm acting between the pivoting element and the supporting element, which arm is pivotally mounted about a second axle that is not the same as the first axle, wherein the free end of the pivoting arm acts, preferably via a roller, on a control surface of a guide element, wherein a torsion spring is provided which acts on the pivoting arm in the direction around the second axle, in order to generate a holding and opening force on the pivoting arm and the control surface, comprising a fixed part and a part pivotable relative thereto, with the one part including the guide element and the other part including the pivoting arm, wherein the pivotable part is adapted to be pivotable relative to the fixed part about the joint and the first axle
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicant: Andreas Hettich GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Timo Liebermann, Klaus-Guenter Eberle
  • Patent number: 10894260
    Abstract: A centrifuge (10) having a safety vessel (30) with a vessel wall (32), a rotor (17), which is arranged in the safety vessel (30) and is connected via a drive shaft (20) to a drive device (22), wherein at least the drive shaft (20) extends through the safety vessel (30), a cooling system for cooling an interior space (31) of the safety vessel (30), which comprises a heat transfer medium (19) for taking up heat from the safety vessel (30), a refrigerating unit (12) and conducting pipelines (18) for the heat transfer medium (19). The invention is distinguished by the fact that the refrigerating unit (12) is based on the magnetocaloric effect, and the interior space (31) of the safety vessel (30) is cooled by a first cooling circuit (111), the magnetocaloric effect of the refrigerating unit (12) extracts heat from the heat transfer medium (19) of the first cooling circuit (111) and feeds the heat to a second cooling circuit (113).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Klaus-Guenter Eberle, Matthias Hornek, Wolfgang Preter
  • Patent number: 10806848
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system box for holding a bag system and methods for separating composite liquids are described. In embodiments, a bag system may be a blood bag system used to collect blood, separate the blood into components, store the components, and utilize the components in patients. The system box may hold the blood bag system. Processes can then be performed to separate components from the blood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignees: Terumo BCT, Inc., Andreas Hettich GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kris Nackaerts, Makoto Hirabuki, Marcellus Geiselmann, Bruce Ellingboe, Hong Duc Nguyen, Timothy M. Taga, Ross Tichota, Tadashi Imai, Armin Brendle, Christoph Pabst, Roland Biset, Wilfried Mertens, Klaus-Günter Eberle
  • Patent number: 10775400
    Abstract: The invention relates to a feeding system (10) having a feeding apparatus (30) for conveying laboratory vessels for samples, microorganisms, cell cultures or the like, and a carrier (12) having one or plural holders (16) for storing laboratory vessels, which feeding apparatus (30) has a loading area (36) and an unloading area (46) remote from the loading area (36) in which plural laboratory vessels can be stored in a vertically stacked configuration, with each receiving unit (34) being coupled to an endless conveyor unit (38) which transports the receiving unit (34) from the loading area (36) to the unloading area (46), and in which the carrier (12) can be used to introduce laboratory vessels into one or plural receiving units (34) in the loading area (36), for which purpose the carrier (12) is at least partially slid over the at least one receiving unit (34) which is to be loaded or unloaded, and for this purpose has projections (28, 32) and/or recesses that are associated with the carrier (12) and are provi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Klaus-Guenter Eberle
  • Patent number: 10751731
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotational unit (10) for a rotor of a dual centrifuge, said rotational unit having a bearing (14) and a rotational head (24) which is connected to the bearing (14), is mounted therein such that it can rotate about an axis of rotation and can be driven relative to the rotor by an additional rotational mechanism of the centrifuge, the rotational head (24) being detachably connected to the receiving unit (40, 80) for conjoint rotation, which receiving unit comprises a sample container receptacle (60, 70, 100, 110) for at least one sample container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: ADREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jovan Dobos, Klaus-Guenter Eberle, Ulrich Massing, Anke Lenz
  • Patent number: 10751886
    Abstract: A gripping device (I0) for gripping, translationally moving, and rotating a laboratory vessel (40) for samples, microorganisms or cell cultures. A support unit (12), a bearing body (14), and a gripper (16) that is rotatably mounted in the bearing body (14) are employed. The gripper (16) has a rotating body (34), in which gripping fingers (36, 38) are arranged, at least one of which is pivotably mounted in the rotating body (34). The rotating body (34) interacts with a rotary drive (30) for the rotational movement relative to the bearing body (14). The bearing body (14) is mounted in the support unit (12) in a translationally movable manner and interacts with a movement drive for the translational movement of the bearing body (14) with the rotating body with respect to the support unit (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Klaus-Guenter Eberle
  • Patent number: 10682616
    Abstract: A dual centrifuge (10) embodies the following: a driveshaft (16), a rotor (20), which is mounted on the driveshaft (16) and which can be removed axially in a removal direction (E), for a dual centrifuge, having at least one rotational unit (30); an opening (18) in the rotor (20), wherein an end region (16a) of the driveshaft (16) at least engages into said opening; and an additional drive mechanism (32) for the rotational unit or the rotational units (30). The dual centrifuge additionally has a design for operating various additional types of rotors; however, only one rotor (20, 40, 50) can be arranged on the driveshaft (16) at all times. The various rotor types (40, 50) are also adapted to the additional drive mechanism (32) for the rotational units (30) such that the function is not adversely affected. A design for operating at least one angular head rotor (40) and a swing-out rotor (50). For this purpose, the driveshaft (16) and the various rotor types (40, 50) are adapted to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: ANDREAS HETTICH GmbH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Anke Lenz, Ulrich Massing, Klaus-Guenter Eberle, Vittorio Ziroli
  • Patent number: 10632475
    Abstract: A centrifuge (10), having a drive shaft (12), a rotor (40) mounted on the drive shaft (12) so as to be detachable axially in a removal direction (66), a quick-action closure (54) integrated in the rotor (40) and the drive shaft (12), which closure can be used to secure the rotor (40) relative to the drive shaft (12) in a removal direction (66), an abutment (50, 52) in the drive shaft (12) which is engaged by a locking member (46) of the rotor (40), at least one blocking element (76), which—when activated—fixes the rotor (40) relative to the drive shaft (12) and which acts between the locking member (46) of the rotor (40) and the abutment (50, 52) of the drive shaft (12), which quick-action closure (54) includes a force-transmitting element (58, 72).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Hoelderle, Klaus-Guenter Eberle
  • Publication number: 20200094419
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gripping device (10) for gripping, translationally moving, and rotating a laboratory vessel (40) for samples, microorganisms, cell cultures, or the like, comprising a support unit (12), a bearing body (14), and a gripper (16) that is rotatably mounted in the bearing body (14). The gripper (16) has a rotating body (34), in which gripping fingers (36, 38) are arranged, at least one of which is pivotably mounted in the rotating body (34). The rotating body (34) interacts with a rotary drive (30) for the rotational movement relative to the bearing body (14). The bearing body (14) is mounted in the support unit (12) in a translationally movable manner and interacts with a movement drive for the translational movement of the bearing body (14) with the rotating body with respect to the support unit (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: KLAUS-GUENTER EBERLE
  • Publication number: 20200078508
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system box for holding a bag system and methods for separating composite liquids are described. In embodiments, a bag system may be a blood bag system used to collect blood, separate the blood into components, store the components, and utilize the components in patients. The system box may hold the blood bag system. Processes can then be performed to separate components from the blood.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicants: Terumo BCT, Inc., Andreas Hettich GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kris NACKAERTS, Makoto HIRABUKI, Marcellus GEISELMANN, Bruce ELLINGBOE, Hong Duc NGUYEN, Timothy M. TAGA, Ross TICHOTA, Tadashi IMAI, Armin BRENDLE, Christoph PABST, Roland BISET, Wilfried MERTENS, Klaus-Günter EBERLE