Patents by Inventor Michael Linke

Michael Linke 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: 11865763
    Abstract: A method for producing containers, filled with liquid filling material, from thermally conditioned preforms, in which method the filling material is introduced under pressure through a filling valve into the preform at a forming and filling station, wherein the filling material is provided by a filling material source and is pumped into the preform by means of a displacement pump, which is provided between the filling material source and the forming and filling stations, when the filling valve is open, wherein at least two forming and filling stations (12, 14, 11, 13, 32, 33) are associated with each displacement pump (23, 24, 36), which forming and filling stations are supplied, in particular successively, with filling material by the displacement pump (23, 24, 36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Baumgarte, Michael Linke, Michael Litzenberg
  • Patent number: 11845214
    Abstract: A method for producing filled containers (16) from preforms (13). Each of the preforms is transferred to a circulating molding and filling element (14) of a molding and filling station and is shaped into the respective container in a subsequent molding and filling process in a mold under the effect of pressure from a supplied filler, wherein the mold is designed in multiple parts, including a base mold (21) and mold sides (19, 20), and each container is clamped between the base mold at the bottom and the molding and filling element at the top at least at the end of the molding and filling process. The container is separated from the respective molding and filling element and the respective mold after the molding and filling process. The mold sides are removed from each container before the molding and filling element and the base mold are separated from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Linke, Michael Litzenberg, Niels Meyer
  • Patent number: 11707877
    Abstract: A method for producing containers filled with liquid content from preforms made of thermoplastic material. The liquid content is fed as a pressure medium into thermally conditioned preforms during a forming and filling phase in a mold of one of a plurality of forming stations arranged circumferentially spaced apart on a common, continuously rotationally driven working wheel. A compensating device compensates for thermal consequences of centrifugal force acting on the liquid content fed into the preform during the forming and filling phase. The compensating device imparts a temperature profile to the preform in a circumferential direction, which is not point-symmetrical in relation to a longitudinal axis of the preform to produce a thermally differentiated partial circumferential region. The preform is inserted into the mold such that the thermally differentiated partial circumferential region faces in a radial direction of the working wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Benjamin Jaiser, Michael Linke, Deniz Ulutürk
  • Patent number: 11518665
    Abstract: The method relates to a method for filling a container (13, 32) with carbonized liquid filling material and for closing the filled container, in which the filling material is introduced in a filling station (10, 30) by a filling head (11, 33) at defined filling pressure into the container (13, 32), wherein the filling head (11, 33) is firstly moved from an idle position, which permits supplying and inserting a container (13, 32) into the filling station (10, 30), into a working position toward the inserted container, in which an end region (16) of the filling head seals off the opening (14) of the container, the container (13, 32) is then filled, the filling head (11, 33) is moved after completion of the filling phase back out of the working position into an idle position spaced apart from the container (13, 32) and the container (13, 32) is then closed in the filling station (10, 30) using a cap (20) at least enough that filling material can no longer escape, and the container (13, 32) is then removed from t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Linke, Rolf Baumgarte, Michael Litzenberg, Benjamin Jaiser, Frank Berger
  • Publication number: 20220339850
    Abstract: A method for producing containers filled with liquid content from preforms made of thermoplastic material. The liquid content is fed as a pressure medium into thermally conditioned preforms during a forming and filling phase in a mold of one of a plurality of forming stations arranged circumferentially spaced apart on a common, continuously rotationally driven working wheel. A compensating device compensates for thermal consequences of centrifugal force acting on the liquid content fed into the preform during the forming and filling phase. The compensating device imparts a temperature profile to the preform in a circumferential direction, which is not point-symmetrical in relation to a longitudinal axis of the preform to produce a thermally differentiated partial circumferential region. The preform is inserted into the mold such that the thermally differentiated partial circumferential region faces in a radial direction of the working wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Benjamin JAISER, Michael LINKE, Deniz ULUTÜRK
  • Patent number: 11433635
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating module and a primary reflector for a heating module of a heating duct of a molding machine for producing containers from preforms, in which preforms made of thermoplastic are heated, which is provided between tubular heating units arranged in parallel and one over another on a side wall of the heating module and the side wall and consists of ceramic material, and is characterized in that the primary reflector is connected via a dovetail connection to the side wall, wherein a connecting region in the form of a dovetail is formed in each case on the reflector, which is fixable in each case with a clip made of steel, in particular spring steel, fastened on the side wall, having dimensions adapted to the dovetail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Linke, Frank Lewin, Daniel Firchau, Deniz Ulutürk, Niels Meyer
  • Publication number: 20220219374
    Abstract: A method for producing containers, filled with liquid filling material, from thermally conditioned preforms, in which method the filling material is introduced under pressure through a filling valve into the preform at a forming and filling station, wherein the filling material is provided by a filling material source and is pumped into the preform by means of a displacement pump, which is provided between the filling material source and the forming and filling stations, when the filling valve is open, wherein at least two forming and filling stations (12, 14, 11, 13, 32, 33) are associated with each displacement pump (23, 24, 36), which forming and filling stations are supplied, in particular successively, with filling material by the displacement pump (23, 24, 36).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Rolf BAUMGARTE, Michael LINKE, Michael LITZENBERG
  • Patent number: 11338496
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing containers (14) from preforms (12) made of thermoplastic material by means of a blow molding machine (10) comprising at least one temperature control device (26) and one forming device having at least two forming stations (16), wherein the preforms (12) are temperature controlled by means of the temperature control device (26) on the basis of specifiable first control parameters, and wherein one temperature-controlled preform (12) is formed by means of one of the forming stations (16), respectively, on the basis of specifiable second control parameters into a container (14), wherein at least one of the second control parameters is individually specified for each of the forming stations (16). The invention furthermore relates to a blow molding machine (10), designed for executing the method according to the invention, for producing containers (14) from preforms (12) made of thermoplastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Linke, Rolf Baumgarte, Frank Berger, Deniz Ulutürk, Jens-Peter Rasch, Arne Wiese, Bernd Zimmering, Thomas Herold, André Gerkens, Frank Haesendonckx
  • Publication number: 20220126500
    Abstract: A method for producing filled containers (16) from preforms (13). Each of the preforms is transferred to a circulating molding and filling element (14) of a molding and filling station and is shaped into the respective container in a subsequent molding and filling process in a mold under the effect of pressure from a supplied filler, wherein the mold is designed in multiple parts, including a base mold (21) and mold sides (19, 20), and each container is clamped between the base mold at the bottom and the molding and filling element at the top at least at the end of the molding and filling process. The container is separated from the respective molding and filling element and the respective mold after the molding and filling process. The mold sides are removed from each container before the molding and filling element and the base mold are separated from the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Michael LINKE, Michael LITZENBERG, Niels MEYER
  • Patent number: 11298867
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a container from a thermoplastic parison, the container being produced from the parison with the aid of a fluid, either by blow molding and subsequent filling with a fluid that is in particular liquid, or being produced by hydroforming and subsequently containing the liquid fluid as contents, and, during the blow-molding process and/or when receiving the in particular liquid fluid, the container revolves about and is spaced apart from an axis of rotation extending, in particular, vertically, in a mold that can be opened. According to the invention, the closed mold adopts, at least temporarily, an inclined position, i.e. that deviates from a perpendicular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Baumgarte, Michael Linke, Michael Litzenberg, Benjamin Jaiser
  • Patent number: 11235506
    Abstract: A method and a molding station for producing containers filled with a liquid filling material from preforms made of a thermoplastic material. Thermally conditioned preforms are molded into containers and filled with the liquid filling material, which is supplied to the preforms under pressure as a pressure medium in a multi-part mold of a molding station. The mold is movable from a closed state into an open state in order to repeatedly supply a preform and subsequently remove a completely molded and filled container. Molding of the preform into the container is performed against the mold inner wall when the mold is in the closed state. Liquid is removed from the mold between temporally successive supplying processes starting with the conversion of the mold from the closed state into the open state. A working wheel including such molding stations, and a device including such a working wheel are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Baumgarte, Michael Linke, Niels Meyer
  • Publication number: 20210379812
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gripper for holding workpieces, in particular preforms or containers, in their neck region, having a gripper base on which two gripper arms are pivotably arranged, which each have gripping ends for partially enclosing the neck region, wherein the gripper arms are held in a base position under spring tension, in which the gripping ends can jointly enclose and hold a neck region and, if they come into contact with an obstacle, can be pivoted out of the base position jointly in one direction, wherein one of the gripper arms as the main arm (13, 13?) is clamped via a spring (20) with the gripper base (11), which pulls the main arm (13, 13?) into contact with the other gripper arm, functioning as a secondary arm (14, 14?), in the base position, and the main and secondary arm (13, 13?; 14, 14?) are each mounted in a joint (18, 19), wherein the joint (19) of the secondary arm (14) is closer to its gripping end (16) than the joint (18) of the main arm (13), and the main and secondary arm pr
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Rolf BAUMGARTE, Dieter KLATT, Frank LEWIN, Michael LINKE, Jan Fabian MEYER, Dirk SCHUMACHER
  • Patent number: 11027477
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a container (2) filled with a liquid product in which a preform (1) consisting of a thermoplastic material is stretched after a thermal conditioning with a stretching rod (11) and is shaped in an inflation process to the container (2), wherein the inflation process comprises a pre-blowing phase in which a fluid of a first pressure level is used for the inflation, and comprises a main blowing phase in which a fluid of a second pressure level that is greater than the first pressure level is used for the inflation and is characterized in that the fluid used in the pre-blowing phase is a blowing gas and that the fluid used in the main blowing phase is the product. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for carrying out a method according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: KHS Corpoplast GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Linke, Rolf Baumgarte, Michael Litzenberg
  • Publication number: 20210094218
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a container from a thermoplastic parison, the container being produced from the parison with the aid of a fluid, either by blow molding and subsequent filling with a fluid that is in particular liquid, or being produced by hydroforming and subsequently containing the liquid fluid as contents, and, during the blow-molding process and/or when receiving the in particular liquid fluid, the container revolves about and is spaced apart from an axis of rotation extending, in particular, vertically, in a mold that can be opened. According to the invention, the closed mold adopts, at least temporarily, an inclined position, i.e. that deviates from a perpendicular position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Rolf BAUMGARTE, Michael LINKE, Michael LITZENBERG, Benjamin JAISER
  • Publication number: 20210053811
    Abstract: The method relates to a method for filling a container (13, 32) with carbonized liquid filling material and for closing the filled container, in which the filling material is introduced in a filling station (10, 30) by a filling head (11, 33) at defined filling pressure into the container (13, 32), wherein the filling head (11, 33) is firstly moved from an idle position, which permits supplying and inserting a container (13, 32) into the filling station (10, 30), into a working position toward the inserted container, in which an end region (16) of the filling head seals off the opening (14) of the container, the container (13, 32) is then filled, the filling head (11, 33) is moved after completion of the filling phase back out of the working position into an idle position spaced apart from the container (13, 32) and the container (13, 32) is then closed in the filling station (10, 30) using a cap (20) at least enough that filling material can no longer escape, and the container (13, 32) is then removed from t
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Michael LINKE, Rolf BAUMGARTE, Michael LITZENBERG, Benjamin JAISER, Frank BERGER
  • Publication number: 20200384716
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating module and a primary reflector for a heating module of a heating duct of a molding machine for producing containers from preforms, in which preforms made of thermoplastic are heated, which is provided between tubular heating units arranged in parallel and one over another on a side wall of the heating module and the side wall and consists of ceramic material, and is characterized in that the primary reflector is connected via a dovetail connection to the side wall, wherein a connecting region in the form of a dovetail is formed in each case on the reflector, which is fixable in each case with a clip made of steel, in particular spring steel, fastened on the side wall, having dimensions adapted to the dovetail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Michael LINKE, Frank LEWIN, Daniel FIRCHAU, Deniz ULUTÜRK, Niels MEYER
  • Patent number: 10857717
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: KHS CORPOPLAST GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Litzenberg, Karl-Heinz Balkau, Dieter Klatt, Michael Linke
  • Patent number: 10821646
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for producing containers (11) filled with a liquid filling material (21, 21.1) from preforms (2) made of a thermoplastic material, wherein the preform (2) is thermally conditioned before its transformation, and subsequently, during a forming and filling phase, in a mold (37) of a forming and filling station (10), it is transformed into the container (11) by means of the filling material (21, 21.1) as pressure medium, wherein the filling material (21, 21.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: KHS Corpoplast GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Linke, Rolf Baumgarte, Michael Litzenberg, Thomas Van Hamme
  • Patent number: 10821647
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor system for conveying preforms in a device for blow-forming finished containers, wherein the conveyor system comprises a conveyor chain, the chain links of which comprise a carrying element and a conveyor element, the conveyor system being characterized in that the conveyor element comprises a support structure and the carrying element comprises a mounting structure and at least some sections of the support structure and the mounting structure are designed and arranged to complement one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: KHS Corpoplast GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Jenzen, Jan Fabian Meyer, Michael Linke, Dieter Klatt
  • Patent number: 10788032
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a piston assembly for pumping a liquid, in particular in a bottle filling system. The object of the invention is to propose a piston assembly for pumping a liquid, which can be cleaned and/or disinfected without dismantling of the piston or performing any other external interventions into the assembly. The object is achieved by a piston assembly for pumping a liquid, which comprises a piston 1 that travels within a cylinder 2 and has a working path A between a first inversion point U1 and a second inversion point U2, with the piston 1 forming a tight seal with respect to the cylinder 2 in the region of the working path. The assembly is characterized in that beyond one of the two inversion points U1, U2, outside of the working path A, the diameter of the cylinder 2 is enlarged in one section 8 such that the sealing closure is eliminated there, and the piston 1 can be moved into this area for a cleaning and/or disinfection process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: KHS Corpoplast GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Baumgarte, Ludwig Clüsserath, Werner Lesinski, Michael Linke, Michael Litzenberg, Niels Meyer