Patents by Inventor Niklaus Schoenenberger

Niklaus Schoenenberger 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: 20220000130
    Abstract: Methods for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate goods (1), containing the following steps: a) producing an electron beam (5), b) pasteurizing and/or sterilizing the goods (1) by the electron beam (5) in a treatment zone (3), wherein the electrons of the electron beam (5) have an energy that lies in the range of 80 keV to 300 keV, preferably from 140 keV to 280 keV, and more preferably from 180 keV to 260 keV, the goods (1) are exposed to the electron beam (5) for a treatment time which lies in the range from 5 ms to 25 ms, and the electron beam (5) has a mean electron current density in the treatment zone (3) which lies in the range of 1015 s?1·cm?2 to 2.77·1015 s?1·cm?2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Nicolas MENESES, Martin HERSCHE, Alasdair CURRIE, Niklaus SCHÖNENBERGER, Thomas SCHEIWILLER
  • Patent number: 11166472
    Abstract: A devices (10) and method for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material. The device contain at least one electron source (20) for generating an electron beam and a treatment zone (19) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam. The device (10) comprises a vibration surface (11) which vibrates to convey and individualize the material. The first vibration surface (11) has a plurality of grooves (12) into which the material is conveyed and individualized. The device (10) has a material channel (21) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam in the region of the treatment zone (19). The device (10) has at least one auxiliary channel (22) through which a fluid flows, between the electron source (20) and the material channel (21), and is separated from the material channel (21). A cartridge (24) for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: BÜHLER AG
    Inventors: Nicolas Meneses, Martin Hersche, Alasdair Currie, Niklaus Schönenberger, Thomas Scheiwiller
  • Publication number: 20210037842
    Abstract: A devices (10) and method for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material. The device contain at least one electron source (20) for generating an electron beam and a treatment zone (19) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam. The device (10) comprises a vibration surface (11) which vibrates to convey and individualize the material. The first vibration surface (11) has a plurality of grooves (12) into which the material is conveyed and individualized. The device (10) has a material channel (21) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam in the region of the treatment zone (19). The device (10) has at least one auxiliary channel (22) through which a fluid flows, between the electron source (20) and the material channel (21), and is separated from the material channel (21). A cartridge (24) for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Nicolas MENESES, Martin HERSCHE, Alasdair CURRIE, Niklaus SCHÖNENBERGER, Thomas SCHEIWILLER
  • Patent number: 10849333
    Abstract: Devices (10) and methods for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material. The devices contain at least one electron source (20) for generating an electron beam and a treatment zone (19) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam. The device (10) comprises a vibration surface (11) which vibrates to convey and individualize the material. The first vibration surface (11) has a plurality of grooves (12) into which the material is conveyed and individualized. The device (10) has a good channel (21) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam in the region of the treatment zone (19). The device (10) has at least one auxiliary channel (22) through which a fluid flows between the electron source (20) and the good channel (21) and is separated from the good channel (21). A cartridge (24), for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material, is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: BUEHLER AG
    Inventors: Nicolas Meneses, Martin Hersche, Alasdair Currie, Niklaus Schönenberger, Thomas Scheiwiller
  • Publication number: 20190183136
    Abstract: Devices (10) and methods for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material. The devices contain at least one electron source (20) for generating an electron beam and a treatment zone (19) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam. The device (10) comprises a vibration surface (11) which vibrates to convey and individualize the material. The first vibration surface (11) has a plurality of grooves (12) into which the material is conveyed and individualized. The device (10) has a material channel (21) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam in the region of the treatment zone (19). The device (10) has at least one auxiliary channel (22) through which a fluid flows between the electron source (20) and the material channel (21) and is separated from the material channel (21). A cartridge (24) for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Nicolas MENESES, Martin HERSCHE, Alasdair CURRIE, Niklaus SCHÖNENBERGER, Thomas SCHEIWILLER
  • Publication number: 20190183137
    Abstract: Methods for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate goods (1), containing the following steps: a) producing an electron beam (5), b) pasteurizing and/or sterilizing the goods (1) by the electron beam (5) in a treatment zone (3), wherein the electrons of the electron beam (5) have an energy that lies in the range of 80 keV to 300 keV, preferably from 140 keV to 280 keV, more preferably from 180 keV to 260 keV, the goods (1) being exposed to the electron beam (5) for a treatment time which lies in the range from 5 ms to 25 ms, and the electron beam (5) has a mean electron current density in the treatment zone (3) which lies in the range of 1015 s?1·cm2 to 2.77·1015 s?1·cm?2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Nicolas MENESES, Martin HERSCHE, Alasdair CURRIE, Niklaus SCHÖNENBERGER, Thomas SCHEIWILLER
  • Publication number: 20100108574
    Abstract: A screening device is disclosed for a pulverulent or granular material, such as a control screen for milled products including, but not limited to, flour, middlings or semolina. The device has an inlet for material to be screened, an outlet for rejections and an outlet for undersize Furthermore, the screening device can include a screen frame with a screen fastened thereto and a base framework. The screen frame can be mounted such that it can move relative to the base framework of the screening device and be coupled to a vibrating source by which the screen frame can be made to move with vibrating movements relative to the base framework of the screening device. During operation, the screen frame can be made to move with vibrating movements whose frequency is in the range from, for example, 15 Hz to 100 Hz and whose amplitude is in the range from, for example, 0.1 mm to 6 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: BUEHLER AG
    Inventors: Boris Ouriev, Oliver Schlien, Manuel Hoehener, Niklaus Schoenenberger, Roger Geissbuehler
  • Patent number: 5747675
    Abstract: A method for measuring the thickness of a layer of pasty or dough-like material on a moving surface (5) wherein a movably supported measuring roll is contacted with the layer and wherein during the movement of the surface provided with the layer the deflection of the measuring roll crosswise to the moving direction of the surface is detected with a sensor generating an output signal, whereat a parameter of this output signal is in a functional relationship with the magnitude of the deflection of the measuring roll, or of the thickness of the layer, respectively. To maintain the accuracy and to prevent the coiling up of the layer to be measured on the measuring roll, a defined braking force is exerted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Buhler AG
    Inventors: Hansueli Greminger, Niklaus Schoenenberger
  • Patent number: 5561251
    Abstract: A method for measuring the thickness of a layer of pasty or dough-like material on a moving surface (5) wherein a movably supported measuring roll is contacted with the layer and wherein during the movement of the surface provided with the layer the deflection of the measuring roll crosswise to the moving direction of the surface is detected with a sensor generating an output signal, whereat a parameter of this output signal is in a functional relationship with the magnitude of the deflection of the measuring roll, or of the thickness of the layer, respectively. To maintain the accuracy and to prevent the coiling up of the layer to be measured on the measuring roll, a defined braking force is exerted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Buhler AG
    Inventors: Hansueli Greminger, Niklaus Schoenenberger
  • Patent number: 5524746
    Abstract: An apparatus for sorting particles of a bulk material moving on a transport ribbon (38) comprises an electro optical monitoring unit (101) above transport ribbon (38) for detecting the particles to be sorted out. Jet nozzles (45, 46) are controlled by a signal emitted by this electro optical monitoring unit (40), the jet nozzles being provided at the side opposite the bulk material of transport ribbon (38), which consists of an air permeable material. By means of the gas jet passing through transport ribbon (38), the particles to be sorted out are lifted off from the transport ribbon and are thrown into storage containers (47, 48).The bulk material is passed through a gap between rollers or grinding elements to provide flake-shaped particles which are then observed to provide first and second measurements which are subtracted from each other. A vibrating conveyor 87 with feeding channels 87.1 separate particles for disposition upon a ribbon 538 with the aid of a jet nozzle n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Buhler AG
    Inventors: Robert Massen, Hugo Hegelbach, Jurg Zuber, Hans Tobler, Niklaus Schoenenberger, Helmut Zapf, Helmut Gemsjager
  • Patent number: 5379949
    Abstract: An apparatus for sorting particles of a bulk material moving on a transport ribbon (38) comprises an electro optical monitoring unit (101) above transport ribbon (38) for detecting the particles to be sorted out. Jet nozzles (45, 46) are controlled by a signal emitted by this electro optical monitoring unit (40), the jet nozzles being provided at the side opposite the bulk material of transport ribbon (38), which consists of an air permeable material. By means of the gas jet passing through transport ribbon (38), the particles to be sorted out are lifted off from the transport ribbon and are thrown into storage containers (47, 48). The bulk material is passed through a gap between rollers or grinding elements to provide flake-shaped particles which are then observed to provide first and second measurements which are subtracted from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Buhler AG
    Inventors: Robert Massen, Hugo Hegelbach, Jurg Zuber, Hans Tobler, Niklaus Schoenenberger, Helmut Zapf, Helmut Gemsjager