Patents by Inventor Michael ASTNER

Michael ASTNER 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: 11485586
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method handling moved piece goods. The apparatus comprises a manipulator for the piece goods, at least one transport device transporting the moved piece goods to a seizing range of the at least one manipulator and at least one horizontal conveying device assigned to the seizing range and/or to a movement range of the at least one manipulator, via which horizontal conveying device the moved piece goods are transported in the seizing range of the at least one manipulator. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises at least one detection device for obtaining space coordinates and/or position data and/or contour data of piece goods to be seized by the manipulator, wherein the at least one horizontal conveying device and the at least one transport device are calibratable and/or controllable based on the space coordinates and/or position data and/or contour data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manuel Kollmuss, Erhard Beer, Michael Astner, Arsalan Mehdi
  • Patent number: 11319163
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus (10) for handling piece goods (2) moved one after another in at least one row (1). Immediately consecutive piece goods (2) in a row (1) without spaces or with minimal spaces are transported as a closed formation (F). At least one transported piece good (2, 2*) is seized in a clamping and/or force-locking and/or form-locking manner from the closed formation (F); is spatially separated from the closed formation (F); and is brought into a specified relative target position (P) and/or target alignment in relation to subsequent piece goods (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manuel Kollmuss, Erhard Beer, Michael Astner, Arsalan Mehdi
  • Patent number: 11220000
    Abstract: The invention includes a method and a handling system for manipulating and/or for handling piece goods (2) moved one after another in at least one row (1, 1a, 1b) in a transport direction (TR) on a horizontal conveying device (6). In each work cycle, seizing at least one transported piece good (2) from the at least one row (1, 1a, 1b) by at least one handling device (10); spatially separating it from the row (1, 1a, 1b); and bringing it into a specified relative target position and/or target alignment relative to subsequent piece goods (2). After a failure event with an at least a temporary standstill of the horizontal conveying device (6) and/or of the handling device (10), the handling device (10) is initialized, and, after the failure has been remedied, the horizontal conveying device (6) automatically restarts and continues the previously interrupted process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manuel Kollmuss, Erhard Beer, Michael Astner, Arsalan Mehdi
  • Publication number: 20210221614
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus (10) for handling piece goods (2) moved one after another in at least one row (1). Immediately consecutive piece goods (2) in a row (1) without spaces or with minimal spaces are transported as a closed formation (F). At least one transported piece good (2, 2*) is seized in a clamping and/or force-locking and/or form-locking manner from the closed formation (F); is spatially separated from the closed formation (F); and is brought into a specified relative target position (P) and/or target alignment in relation to subsequent piece goods (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Manuel KOLLMUSS, Erhard BEER, Michael ASTNER, Arsalan MEHDI
  • Patent number: 11034534
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (10) and method for handling moved piece goods (2), and a conveying, processing, and/or packaging plant including the apparatus (10). The apparatus (10) comprises at least one manipulator (5) for piece goods (2), at least one transport device (3) by which the moved piece goods (2) are transportable to a seizing range (4) of the at least one manipulator (5), and at least one movable optical detection device (40) assigned to the seizing range (4) and/or to a movement range of the at least one manipulator (5). The optical detection device (40) obtains space coordinates and/or position data and/or contour data of at least one piece good (2) that is being moved. The at least one manipulator (5) and/or further conveyor components of the apparatus (10) can be calibrated and/or controlled based on the detected space coordinates and/or position data and/or contour data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: KRONES Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erhard Beer, Arsalan Mehdi, Michael Astner, Manuel Kollmuss
  • Patent number: 10654662
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus (10) for handling piece goods (2) moved one after another, with the piece goods (2) being transported to a seizing range (4) of a manipulator (5). At least one transported piece good (2) is seized in a clamping and/or force-locking and/or form-locking manner by at least two clamping elements and/or gripping elements (22) located opposite each other. The piece good is spatially separated from the subsequent piece goods (2) and is brought into a specified relative target position (P) and/or target alignment relative to subsequent piece goods (2). A first vertical symmetry plane and which is oriented about perpendicular to a transport direction (TR), is spaced apart from a second vertical symmetry plane aligned about parallel thereto, with the second vertical symmetry plane being defined by the manipulator (5) or by the manipulator clamping elements and/or gripping elements (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Krones Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manuel Kollmuss, Erhard Beer, Michael Astner, Arsalan Mehdi
  • Publication number: 20200078934
    Abstract: The invention includes a method and a handling system for manipulating and/or for handling piece goods (2) moved one after another in at least one row (1, 1a, 1b) in a transport direction (TR) on a horizontal conveying device (6). In each work cycle, seizing at least one transported piece good (2) from the at least one row (1, 1a, 1b) by at least one handling device (10); spatially separating it from the row (1, 1a, 1b); and bringing it into a specified relative target position and/or target alignment relative to subsequent piece goods (2). After a failure event with an at least a temporary standstill of the horizontal conveying device (6) and/or of the handling device (10), the handling device (10) is initialized, and, after the failure has been remedied, the horizontal conveying device (6) automatically restarts and continues the previously interrupted process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Manuel KOLLMUSS, Erhard BEER, Michael ASTNER, Arsalan MEHDI
  • Publication number: 20200039756
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method handling moved piece goods. The apparatus comprises a manipulator for the piece goods, at least one transport device transporting the moved piece goods to a seizing range of the at least one manipulator and at least one horizontal conveying device assigned to the seizing range and/or to a movement range of the at least one manipulator, via which horizontal conveying device the moved piece goods are transported in the seizing range of the at least one manipulator. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises at least one detection device for obtaining space coordinates and/or position data and/or contour data of piece goods to be seized by the manipulator, wherein the at least one horizontal conveying device and the at least one transport device are calibratable and/or controllable based on the space coordinates and/or position data and/or contour data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: KRONES Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manuel KOLLMUSS, Erhard BEER, Michael ASTNER, Arsalan MEHDI
  • Publication number: 20190308823
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (10) and method for handling moved piece goods (2), and a conveying, processing, and/or packaging plant including the apparatus (10). The apparatus (10) comprises at least one manipulator (5) for piece goods (2), at least one transport device (3) by which the moved piece goods (2) are transportable to a seizing range (4) of the at least one manipulator (5), and at least one movable optical detection device (40) assigned to the seizing range (4) and/or to a movement range of the at least one manipulator (5). The optical detection device (40) obtains space coordinates and/or position data and/or contour data of at least one piece good (2) that is being moved. The at least one manipulator (5) and/or further conveyor components of the apparatus (10) can be calibrated and/or controlled based on the detected space coordinates and/or position data and/or contour data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Erhard BEER, Arsalan MEHDI, Michael ASTNER, Manuel KOLLMUSS
  • Publication number: 20190062071
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus (10) for handling piece goods (2) moved one after another, with the piece goods (2) being transported to a seizing range (4) of a manipulator (5). At least one transported piece good (2) is seized in a clamping and/or force-locking and/or form-locking manner by at least two clamping elements and/or gripping elements (22) located opposite each other. The piece good is spatially separated from the subsequent piece goods (2) and is brought into a specified relative target position (P) and/or target alignment relative to subsequent piece goods (2). A first vertical symmetry plane and which is oriented about perpendicular to a transport direction (TR), is spaced apart from a second vertical symmetry plane aligned about parallel thereto, with the second vertical symmetry plane being defined by the manipulator (5) or by the manipulator clamping elements and/or gripping elements (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Manuel KOLLMUSS, Erhard BEER, Michael ASTNER, Arsalan MEHDI
  • Patent number: 10046921
    Abstract: The invention relates to a handling apparatus (1) for piece goods (2) that comprises at least one divider finger (14, 46, 51), which is introducible to a transport plane (5), largely perpendicular, from below, with the at least one divider finger being connected to a divider bar element (13, 13*, 43, 50). The divider bar element is movably arranged below the transport plane (5) and is guided in a specified movement path. The divider bar element is detachably connected to a profile element (11, 41). During a format change, the divider bar element is toolessly detached and interchanged for another divider bar element, which has divider fingers that are positioned differently and/or spaced apart differently from the divider fingers of the removed divider bar element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: KRONES Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Astner
  • Publication number: 20170057754
    Abstract: The invention relates to a handling apparatus (1) for piece goods (2) that comprises at least one divider finger (14, 46, 51), which is introducible to a transport plane (5), largely perpendicular, from below, with the at least one divider finger being connected to a divider bar element (13, 13*, 43, 50). The divider bar element is movably arranged below the transport plane (5) and is guided in a specified movement path. The divider bar element is detachably connected to a profile element (11, 41). During a format change, the divider bar element is toolessly detached and interchanged for another divider bar element, which has divider fingers that are positioned differently and/or spaced apart differently from the divider fingers of the removed divider bar element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Michael ASTNER