Patents by Inventor Rolf Scharger

Rolf Scharger 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: 9221561
    Abstract: A powder dispenser module (54) includes a housing (150) that defines a conduit connecting a powder inlet and a powder outlet, a feed wand (160) to move powder through the conduit from the powder inlet to the powder outlet, the feed wand (200) including a lower feed element (230) coupled to a first drive shaft and an upper feed element (220) coupled to a second drive shaft, a first actuator coupled to the first drive shaft to rotate the lower feed element (230), and a second actuator coupled to the second drive shaft to rotate the upper feed element (220). In other embodiments, the feed wand (200) includes a shaft having a fluidizing element and an actuator produces oscillatory movement of the feed wand during dispensing of powder. Dispenser module arrays include one or a few rows of dispenser modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: MannKind Corporation
    Inventors: Rajesh Maheshwari, Rolf Scharger, Trent A. Poole, Per B. Fog
  • Patent number: 8757220
    Abstract: The invention relates to a metering device for fine grained powder (1), in particular for medicinal powder (1) for pulmonary administration, and to a method for operating the metering device. The metering device comprises a powder pump and a metering mechanism (3), wherein the metering mechanism (3) comprises a continuous powder passage (4) and at least one metering chamber (5) with an outlet valve (6). The metering chamber (5) branches off from the powder passage (4) at an angle. The metering chamber (5) has a larger cross section than the powder passage (4). The powder (1) is conveyed through the powder passage (4) by means of the powder pump, the at least one metering chamber (5) being filled with the powder (1) in a self-levelling manner. The conveying by means of the powder pump is then interrupted, and at least one target container is filled from the metering chamber (5) with the outlet valve (6) being opened and a residual quantity of powder (1) remaining in the metering chamber (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Harro Höfliger Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Scharger
  • Publication number: 20110173933
    Abstract: A powder dispenser module (54) includes a housing (150) that defines a conduit connecting a powder inlet and a powder outlet, a feed wand (160) to move powder through the conduit from the powder inlet to the powder outlet, the feed wand (200) including a lower feed element (230) coupled to a first drive shaft and an upper feed element (220) coupled to a second drive shaft, a first actuator coupled to the first drive shaft to rotate the lower feed element (230), and a second actuator coupled to the second drive shaft to rotate the upper feed element (220). In other embodiments, the feed wand (200) includes a shaft having a fluidizing element and an actuator produces oscillatory movement of the feed wand during dispensing of powder. Dispenser module arrays include one or a few rows of dispenser modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: MannKind Corporation
    Inventors: Rajesh Maheshwari, Rolf Scharger, Trent A. Poole, Per B. Fog
  • Publication number: 20110108157
    Abstract: The invention relates to a metering device for fine grained powder (1), in particular for medicinal powder (1) for pulmonary administration, and to a method for operating the metering device. The metering device comprises a powder pump and a metering mechanism (3), wherein the metering mechanism (3) comprises a continuous powder passage (4) and at least one metering chamber (5) with an outlet valve (6). The metering chamber (5) branches off from the powder passage (4) at an angle. The metering chamber (5) has a larger cross section than the powder passage (4). The powder (1) is conveyed through the powder passage (4) by means of the powder pump, the at least one metering chamber (5) being filled with the powder (1) in a self-levelling manner. The conveying by means of the powder pump is then interrupted, and at least one target container is filled from the metering chamber (5) with the outlet valve (6) being opened and a residual quantity of powder (1) remaining in the metering chamber (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: HARRO HOEFLIGER VERPACKUNGSMASCHINEN GMBH
    Inventor: Rolf Scharger
  • Patent number: 7665932
    Abstract: A method of transporting pulverulent filling material through at least one line. The method comprises opening a chamber-like line region located in the at least one line, introducing the pulverulent filling material into the chamber-like line region, closing the chamber-like line region, and pressing the pulverulent filling material out of the chamber-like line region and at least partially into the at least one line using at least one compressed air pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Harro Hoefliger Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Scharger
  • Patent number: 7438507
    Abstract: A method of transporting pulverulent filling material through at least one line. The method comprises opening a chamber-like line region located in the at least one line, introducing the pulverulent filling material into the chamber-like line region, closing the chamber-like line region, and pressing the pulverulent filling material out of the chamber-like line region and at least partially into the at least one line using at least one compressed air pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Harro Höfliger Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Scharger
  • Publication number: 20080145157
    Abstract: A method of transporting pulverulent filling material through at least one line. The method comprises opening a chamber-like line region located in the at least one line, introducing the pulverulent filling material into the chamber-like line region, closing the chamber-like line region, and pressing the pulverulent filling material out of the chamber-like line region and at least partially into the at least one line using at least one compressed air pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: HARRO HOEFLIGER VERPACKUNGSMASCHINEN GMBH
    Inventor: Rolf Scharger
  • Publication number: 20060182503
    Abstract: A method of tranporting pulverulent filling material through at least one line. The method comprises opening a chamber-like line region located in the at least one line, introducing the pulverulent filling material into the chamber-like line region, closing the chamber-like line region, and pressing the pulverulent filling material out of the chamber-like line region and at least partially into the at least one line using at least one compressed air pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: HARRO HOFLIGER VERPACKUNGSMASCHINEN GMBH
    Inventor: Rolf Scharger