Patents by Inventor Peter Muehlstein

Peter Muehlstein 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: 11643282
    Abstract: A method and a device for buffering containers grouped in a single row in a filling system are described. For this purpose, the containers are entered into storage on at least one infeed conveyor belt in the infeed direction, moved in a single row onto a transversely adjoining buffer area by rail-guided and individually driven shuttles with row pushers in a buffering direction running transverse to the infeed direction, and are removed from storage on at least one outfeed conveyor belt transversely adjoining in the buffering direction. Due to the fact that the row pushers receive the containers in a single row in a guide channel formed/defined by an anterior row guide leading in the buffering direction and by a trailing posterior row guide, the groups of containers can be moved in the buffering direction and positioned precisely, quickly and secured against falling over without back pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Alexander Demel, Christian Holzer, Franz Lautenschlager, Christian Richter, Konrad Senn, Peter Muehlstein, Torsten Kilgenstein, Helmut Schuesslburner
  • Patent number: 11535459
    Abstract: A method and a device for buffering containers in a container treatment system are disclosed. The containers enter into storage on an infeed conveyor belt in the infeed direction, are moved in a single row onto a transversely adjoining buffer area by rail-guided and individually driven shuttles with row pushers in a buffering direction running transverse to the infeed direction, and are removed from storage on an outfeed conveyor belt transversely adjoining in the buffering direction. The shuttles and the infeed/outfeed conveyor belts are controlled in dependence of target positions, target speeds and/or target accelerations stored specifically for the container type, and/or the shuttles are controlled in dependence of target positions, target distances and/or target speeds stored specifically for modes of operation for initializing and reading out the shuttles, for following preceding shuttles, and for moving to route positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Franz Lautenschlager, Thekla Osswald, Martin Seger, Torsten Kilgenstein, Peter Muehlstein
  • Publication number: 20210395021
    Abstract: A method and a device for buffering containers grouped in a single row in a filling system are described. For this purpose, the containers are entered into storage on at least one infeed conveyor belt in the infeed direction, moved in a single row onto a transversely adjoining buffer area by rail-guided and individually driven shuttles with row pushers in a buffering direction running transverse to the infeed direction, and are removed from storage on at least one outfeed conveyor belt transversely adjoining in the buffering direction. Due to the fact that the row pushers receive the containers in a single row in a guide channel formed/defined by an anterior row guide leading in the buffering direction and by a trailing posterior row guide, the groups of containers can be moved in the buffering direction and positioned precisely, quickly and secured against falling over without back pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Alexander DEMEL, Christian HOLZER, Franz LAUTENSCHLAGER, Christian RICHTER, Konrad SENN, Peter MUEHLSTEIN, Torsten KILGENSTEIN, Helmut SCHUESSLBURNER
  • Publication number: 20210395020
    Abstract: A method and a device for buffering containers in a container treatment system are disclosed. The containers enter into storage on an infeed conveyor belt in the infeed direction, are moved in a single row onto a transversely adjoining buffer area by rail-guided and individually driven shuttles with row pushers in a buffering direction running transverse to the infeed direction, and are removed from storage on an outfeed conveyor belt transversely adjoining in the buffering direction. The shuttles and the infeed/outfeed conveyor belts are controlled in dependence of target positions, target speeds and/or target accelerations stored specifically for the container type, and/or the shuttles are controlled in dependence of target positions, target distances and/or target speeds stored specifically for modes of operation for initializing and reading out the shuttles, for following preceding shuttles, and for moving to route positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Franz LAUTENSCHLAGER, Thekla OSSWALD, Martin SEGER, Torsten KILGENSTEIN, Peter MUEHLSTEIN
  • Patent number: 10689206
    Abstract: The invention provides a transport device for transporting pucks which are configured for container transport, comprising a puck transport section for transporting pucks to and from a container treatment machine. The transport device comprises a puck buffer from which pucks can be coupled into the puck transport section and to which pucks decoupled from the puck transport section can be fed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Veronika Bauer, Thomas Mildner, Michael Jogsch, Johannes Duenzinger, Stefan Heigl, Peter Muehlstein, Christian Paul
  • Publication number: 20190071257
    Abstract: The invention provides a transport device for transporting pucks which are configured for container transport, comprising a puck transport section for transporting pucks to and from a container treatment machine. The transport device comprises a puck buffer from which pucks can be coupled into the puck transport section and to which pucks decoupled from the puck transport section can be fed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Veronika Bauer, Thomas Mildner, Michael Jogsch, Johannes Duenzinger, Stefan Heigl, Peter Muehlstein, Christian Paul
  • Patent number: 9630035
    Abstract: A transport device and a transport method is provided for a container treatment plant. The transport device comprises at least one transporter for transporting containers to or away from a treatment station of the container treatment plant, wherein at least one transporter is positioned displaceable in relation to another one of the transporters to provide a closeable spatial separation between the at least one displaceable transporter and the other transporter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Peter Muehlstein, Johann Huettner
  • Publication number: 20170014654
    Abstract: A transport device and a transport method is provided for a container treatment plant. The transport device comprises at least one transporter for transporting containers to or away from a treatment station of the container treatment plant, wherein at least one transporter is positioned displaceable in relation to another one of the transporters to provide a closeable spatial separation between the at least one displaceable transporter and the other transporter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Peter Muehlstein, Johann Huettner
  • Patent number: 9073698
    Abstract: A transport section of a horizontal conveyor device for conveying articles moved along in a standing or hanging position on a transport support surface extending in a horizontal conveying direction between two guide elements arranged approximately in parallel to each other and spaced from each other at a distance corresponding to at least the article or container width. At least one of the two guide elements arranged facing each other is adjustable in its distance to the other of the guide elements and transverse to the conveying direction via several adjustment elements attached to a machine frame or base frame. The adjustment elements are coupled with each other via a common rotary drive and are approximately synchronized and each adjustment element transmits a rotatory drive of the common rotary drive via one or more transmissions to a linear adjustment movement of the guide element linked to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Krones Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johann Huettner, Martin Seger, Peter Muehlstein
  • Publication number: 20150008099
    Abstract: A transport section of a horizontal conveyor device for conveying articles moved along in a standing or hanging position on a transport support surface extending in a horizontal conveying direction between two guide elements arranged approximately in parallel to each other and spaced from each other at a distance corresponding to at least the article or container width. At least one of the two guide elements arranged facing each other is adjustable in its distance to the other of the guide elements and transverse to the conveying direction via several adjustment elements attached to a machine frame or base frame. The adjustment elements are coupled with each other via a common rotary drive and are approximately synchronized and each adjustment element transmits a rotatory drive of the common rotary drive via one or more transmissions to a linear adjustment movement of the guide element linked to it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Johann Huettner, Martin Seger, Peter Muehlstein
  • Patent number: 8544631
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) and a method for distributing articles (10) within a stream of articles are disclosed. Articles (10) are supplied by an infeed conveyor (2). A first discharge conveyor (21) and a second discharge conveyor (22) further transport the articles. The infeed conveyor (2) and the first and second discharge conveyors (21, 22) are arranged in the direction of transport (T) with respect to each other in such a way that a region of overlap (15) is formed. A distribution element (4) is configured such as to be displaceable essentially transversely to the direction of transport (T), so that the stream of articles, incoming along the direction of transport (T), is distributed onto the first discharge conveyor (21) and/or the second discharge conveyor (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Martin Seger, Stefan Heigl, Johann Huettner, Peter Muehlstein
  • Publication number: 20110220460
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) and a method for distributing articles (10) within a stream of articles are disclosed. Articles (10) are supplied by an infeed conveyor (2). A first discharge conveyor (21) and a second discharge conveyor (22) further transport the articles. The infeed conveyor (2) and the first and second discharge conveyors (21, 22) are arranged in the direction of transport (T) with respect to each other in such a way that a region of overlap (15) is formed. A distribution element (4) is configured such as to be displaceable essentially transversely to the direction of transport (T), so that the stream of articles, incoming along the direction of transport (T), is distributed onto the first discharge conveyor (21) and/or the second discharge conveyor (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Martin Seger, Stefan Heigl, Johann Huettner, Peter Muehlstein