Patents by Inventor Roland Hofstetter

Roland Hofstetter 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: 10604291
    Abstract: The invention includes an apparatus (01) and a method for handling articles (02). The apparatus (01) includes a first conveyor (03) for supplying articles (02), a second conveyor (04) for supplying outer packagings (05), a third conveyor (06) for discharging filled outer packagings (07), and a placing surface (08) arranged between the second conveyor (04) and the third conveyor (06). The apparatus also includes a device (09) for transferring supplied outer packagings (05) from the second conveyor (04) to the placing surface (08), a device (10) for transferring articles (02) from the first conveyor (03) into outer packagings (05), and a device (11) for transferring filled outer packagings (07) from the placing surface (08) onto the third conveyor (06). The method places articles (02) into outer packagings (05), staged on a placing surface (08), from one or more article flows lined up one after the other uninterruptedly and/or with gaps between them and/or grouped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Krones Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alban Hutter, Wolfgang Fechter, Roland Hofstetter
  • Patent number: 10322833
    Abstract: The method of the present invention removes at least a plurality of articles (02) arriving consecutively in a transport direction (FR) from an infeed (03), and subsequently, arranging and grouping the articles (02), while simultaneously lifting and collectively transferring the article (02) from the infeed (03) to a staging surface (04). At the staging area are one or more outer packagings (05), and into which the articles (02) are placed. Individually or groupwise, as seen in a direction in parallel to the transport direction (FR), the individual distances between the articles (02) corresponding to a defined arrangement (20) are increased and/or decreased, and finally, the articles (02) are simultaneously lowered and released into the one or a plurality of outer packagings (05). The apparatus of the present invention comprises an infeed (03) of articles (02) being transported, at least one staging surface (04) arranged next to the infeed (03).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Krones Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alban Hutter, Wolfgang Fechter, Roland Hofstetter
  • Publication number: 20160137326
    Abstract: The method of the present invention removes at least a plurality of articles (02) arriving consecutively in a transport direction (FR) from an infeed (03), and subsequently, arranging and grouping the articles (02), while simultaneously lifting and collectively transferring the article (02) from the infeed (03) to a staging surface (04). At the staging area are one or more outer packagings (05), and into which the articles (02) are placed. Individually or groupwise, as seen in a direction in parallel to the transport direction (FR), the individual distances between the articles (02) corresponding to a defined arrangement (20) are increased and/or decreased, and finally, the articles (02) are simultaneously lowered and released into the one or a plurality of outer packagings (05). The apparatus of the present invention comprises an infeed (03) of articles (02) being transported, at least one staging surface (04) arranged next to the infeed (03).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Alban Hutter, Wolfgang Fechter, Roland Hofstetter
  • Publication number: 20160107781
    Abstract: The invention includes an apparatus (01) and a method for handling articles (02). The apparatus (01) includes a first conveyor (03) for supplying articles (02),a second conveyor (04) for supplying outer packagings (05), a third conveyor (06) for discharging filled outer packagings (07), and a placing surface (08) arranged between the second conveyor (04) and the third conveyor (06). The apparatus also includes a device (09) for transferring supplied outer packagings (05) from the second conveyor (04) to the placing surface (08), a device (10) for transferring articles (02) from the first conveyor (03) into outer packagings (05), and a device (11) for transferring filled outer packagings (07) from the placing surface (08) onto the third conveyor (06). The method places articles (02) into outer packagings (05), staged on a placing surface (08), from one or more article flows lined up one after the other uninterruptedly and/or with gaps between them and/or grouped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Alban Hutter, Wolfgang Fechter, Roland Hofstetter
  • Publication number: 20160107782
    Abstract: The invention includes an apparatus (01) and a method for handling articles (02). The apparatus (01) includes a first conveyor (03) for the supply of articles (02), a second conveyor (04) for the supply of outer packagings (05), and a third conveyor (06) for the discharge of outer packagings items (07). The apparatus also includes a placing surface (08) formed by a section (62, 60) of the third conveyor (06) and arranged between the first conveyor (03) and the second conveyor (04). A transfer device (09) for the transferring of supplied outer packagings (05) from the second conveyor (04) to the placing surface (08), and a transplacing device (10) for transferring articles (02) from the first conveyor (03) into outer packagings (05) having been transferred onto the placing surface (08) are also included. The method includes placing articles (02) into outer packagings (05) staged on a placing surface (08), where the articles (02) are supplied from one or more article flows of articles (02).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Alban Hutter, Wolfgang Fechter, Roland Hofstetter