Patents by Inventor Stefan Elsperger

Stefan Elsperger 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: 11904700
    Abstract: Method for adjusting a transport vehicle for a container handling system, where the transport vehicle comprises two oppositely disposed secondary parts which can be driven electromagnetically as an armature by way of a linear motor system of the container handling system, wherein in a device for adjusting, a first magnetic force of the first secondary part is determined with a sensor, in that a second magnetic force of the second secondary part is determined with the sensor; and in that the first magnetic force and the second magnetic force are compared with one another and/or with at least one reference force, and the two secondary parts are adjusted based thereon at the transport vehicle in such a way that the first magnetic force and the second magnetic force are of the same magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Stefan Elsperger, Hartmut Davidson
  • Patent number: 11809167
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container processing system (10A-10U) for processing containers (12). The container processing system (10A-10U) has a plurality of processing units (22) for processing the containers (12) and a planar drive system (14) for transporting the containers (12). The planar drive system (14) is configured to move the plurality of movement devices (18) individually to a selection of the plurality of processing units (22) according to in each case one of a plurality of processing profiles for different container processing, wherein each of the plurality of processing profiles has a different selection of the plurality of processing units (22). The container processing system (10A-10U) advantageously allows flexible processing of different containers (different formats, contents, designs, bundles, packages, etc.) from a lot size of 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Stefan Scherl, August Peutl, Heinrich Bielmeier, Florian Lauterbach, Roland Laumer, Stefan Elsperger, Michael Neubauer, Alexander Kaiser, Wolfgang Roidl, Frank Winzinger
  • Patent number: 11787641
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) and method for distributing and/or grouping containers in a container treatment system. The device (10) includes a supply conveyor (12), a discharge conveyor (16) and a transfer conveyor (14). The transfer conveyor (14) uses a guide path (28) and several movement devices (30) that can be driven individually, preferably by a long stator linear motor (32) and which are guided along the guide path (28). The several movement devices (30) include a conveyor device (34) that is designed to transfer several containers from the supply conveyor (12) to the discharge conveyor (16). The device (10) can preferably be used to reduce the risk of the containers tipping over when being transferred, to reduce the number of movement devices (30) and/or to enable the containers to be pre-grouped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Stefan Elsperger, Michael Hartl
  • Publication number: 20230249922
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for buffering containers in a container treatment plant. According thereto, containers are put into storage in a grouped manner in single file on at least one input conveyor belt, are moved in single file on a transversely adjoining buffering surface of shuttles, guided and driven individually on rails, having row pushers, in a buffering direction extending transversely to the input direction, and are taken out of storage on at least one output conveyor belt. Since, furthermore, containers are taken out of storage from the buffering surface by means of branching conveyor belts integrated in the buffering surface, transversely to the buffering direction and independently of the input conveyor belt and output conveyor belt, and/or are put into storage on the buffering surface, it is possible for container flows to be distributed flexibly and combined on the buffering surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Konrad SENN, Stefan ELSPERGER, Helmut SCHUESSLBURNER, Torsten KILGENSTEIN
  • Patent number: 11555857
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are described for monitoring the wear of a long stator linear motor system comprising at least one motor train with stators and at least one transport vehicle that is driven electromagnetically thereby. Due to the fact that a force exerted electromagnetically and/or mechanically upon said motor train by the transport vehicle transverse to the latter's direction of transport or a differential force exerted in such manner by the transport vehicle upon two oppositely disposed motor trains is measured using sensors, changes in the forces between the motor train and the vehicle caused by dimensional tolerances and/or wear can be detected in order to prevent a malfunction of the track switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Thomas Kiendl, Hartmut Davidson, Stefan Elsperger
  • Patent number: 11511951
    Abstract: A rotor for a long-stator linear motor system comprises at least three rollers for mounting the rotor on one or more guide rails of the long-stator linear motor system, the at least three rollers comprising a first roller that engages with an upper part of a first guide rail of the one or more guide rails, a second roller that engages with a lower part of the first guide rail, and a third roller that a) is rotatably mounted to at least one rotatable bolster of the rotor or b) comprises a steering rotational axis with an integrated castor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Alexander Hartung, Heiner Schaefer, Peter Zeiner, Konrad Senn, Torsten Kilgenstein, Stefan Elsperger, Michael Neubauer, Manfred Kieslinger
  • Patent number: 11498772
    Abstract: A method and a device for buffering containers in a container treatment plant are disclosed. The containers are stored in single rows by at least one inlet conveyor belt in an inlet direction, are shifted in single rows on a buffer surface transversely adjacent by shuttles with row pushers guided on rails and driven individually into a buffer direction extending transversely to the inlet direction in single rows, and are withdrawn by at least one outlet conveyor belt adjacent to the buffer surface in the buffer direction in an outlet direction extending transversely to the buffer direction, or by at least one planar motor armature that can be driven towards the buffer surface and that is in particular driven two-dimensionally. Thus, the containers can be decelerated/accelerated with respect to the inlet/outlet conveyor belt in a controlled manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Michael Beyer, Stefan Elsperger, Konrad Senn, Helmut Schuesslburner
  • Patent number: 11472639
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mover for a longitudinal stator system, comprising a primary part with elements for movably arranging the mover on a longitudinal stator and an accommodating area, in which a sensor for position-dependent measurement of at least one system parameter is arranged, the sensor being releasably connected to the accommodating area, and to a corresponding method for determining a system parameter of a longitudinal stator system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Stefan Elsperger, Hartmut Davidson, Manfred Kieslinger
  • Publication number: 20220250855
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device (10) for distributing and/or grouping containers in a container treatment system. The device (10) comprises a supply conveyor (12), a discharge conveyor (16) and a transfer conveyor (14). The transfer conveyor (14) comprises a guide path (28) and several movement devices (30) that can be driven individually, preferably by means of a long stator linear motor (32) and which are guided along the guide path (28). The several movement devices (30) comprise a conveyor device (34) that is designed to transfer several containers from the supply conveyor (12) to the discharge conveyor (16). Said device (10) can preferably be used to reduce the risk of the containers tipping over when being transferred, to reduce the number of movement devices (30) and/or to enable the containers to be pre-grouped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan ELSPERGER, Michael HARTL
  • Patent number: 11377311
    Abstract: The present invention provides a container treatment system with a transport system for transporting containers along a transport conveyor the transport system comprising a plurality of transport elements movably supported on one side on at least one first guide element, and a long-stator linear motor drive arranged on the side of the first guide element, wherein a bearing of the transport elements on the first guide element is formed in such a way, in that the transport elements are held essentially by magnetic interaction on the first guide element, and wherein at least one second guide element is provided in sections along the transport conveyor, which is adapted in such a way that the transport elements are held on the first guide element by a mechanical engagement with the second guide element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Stefan Elsperger, Michael Neubauer
  • Patent number: 11254521
    Abstract: Mover for a transport apparatus in the beverage processing industry, the packaging industry, or the warehouse industry, where the mover can form a linear drive together with a guide rail and a long stator of the transport apparatus, and the mover comprises rolling mechanisms for moving along the guide rail, where the mover comprises a base body and one secondary part or two secondary parts, which, in the case of two secondary parts, are arranged on oppositely disposed sides of the base body and are suitable to interact with an electromagnetic field generated by the transport apparatus to drive the mover along the guide rail characterized in that the mover comprises a device for the continuously variable adjustment of the relative position of a secondary part relative to the base body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Manfred Kieslinger, Stefan Elsperger
  • Publication number: 20220035345
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container processing system (10A-10U) for processing containers (12). The container processing system (10A-10U) has a plurality of processing units (22) for processing the containers (12) and a planar drive system (14) for transporting the containers (12). The planar drive system (14) is configured to move the plurality of movement devices (18) individually to a selection of the plurality of processing units (22) according to in each case one of a plurality of processing profiles for different container processing, wherein each of the plurality of processing profiles has a different selection of the plurality of processing units (22). The container processing system (10A-10U) advantageously allows flexible processing of different containers (different formats, contents, designs, bundles, packages, etc.) from a lot size of 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan SCHERL, August PEUTL, Heinrich BIELMEIER, Florian LAUTERBACH, Roland LAUMER, Stefan ELSPERGER, Michael NEUBAUER, Alexander KAISER, Wolfgang ROIDL, Frank WINZINGER
  • Publication number: 20210395019
    Abstract: A method and a device for buffering containers in a container treatment plant are disclosed. The containers are stored in single rows by at least one inlet conveyor belt in an inlet direction, are shifted in single rows on a buffer surface transversely adjacent by shuttles with row pushers guided on rails and driven individually into a buffer direction extending transversely to the inlet direction in single rows, and are withdrawn by at least one outlet conveyor belt adjacent to the buffer surface in the buffer direction in an outlet direction extending transversely to the buffer direction, or by at least one planar motor armature that can be driven towards the buffer surface and that is in particular driven two-dimensionally. Thus, the containers can be decelerated/accelerated with respect to the inlet/outlet conveyor belt in a controlled manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Michael BEYER, Stefan ELSPERGER, Konrad SENN, Helmut SCHUESSLBURNER
  • Publication number: 20210253374
    Abstract: The present invention provides a container treatment system with a transport system for transporting containers along a transport conveyor the transport system comprising a plurality of transport elements movably supported on one side on at least one first guide element, and a long-stator linear motor drive arranged on the side of the first guide element, wherein a bearing of the transport elements on the first guide element is formed in such a way, in that the transport elements are held essentially by magnetic interaction on the first guide element, and wherein at least one second guide element is provided in sections along the transport conveyor, which is adapted in such a way that the transport elements are held on the first guide element by a mechanical engagement with the second guide element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Stefan ELSPERGER, Michael NEUBAUER
  • Publication number: 20210253373
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mover for a longitudinal stator system, comprising a primary part with elements for movably arranging the mover on a longitudinal stator and an accommodating area, in which a sensor for position-dependent measurement of at least one system parameter is arranged, the sensor being releasably connected to the accommodating area, and to a corresponding method for determining a system parameter of a longitudinal stator system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Stefan ELSPERGER, Hartmut DAVIDSON, Manfred KIESLINGER
  • Publication number: 20210253372
    Abstract: Mover for a transport apparatus in the beverage processing industry, the packaging industry, or the warehouse industry, where the mover can form a linear drive together with a guide rail and a long stator of the transport apparatus, and the mover comprises rolling mechanisms for moving along the guide rail, where the mover comprises a base body and one secondary part or two secondary parts, which, in the case of two secondary parts, are arranged on oppositely disposed sides of the base body and are suitable to interact with an electromagnetic field generated by the transport apparatus to drive the mover along the guide rail characterized in that the mover comprises a device for the continuously variable adjustment of the relative position of a secondary part relative to the base body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Manfred KIESLINGER, Stefan ELSPERGER
  • Publication number: 20210116509
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are described for monitoring the wear of a long stator linear motor system comprising at least one motor train with stators and at least one transport vehicle that is driven electromagnetically thereby. Due to the fact that a force exerted electromagnetically and/or mechanically upon said motor train by the transport vehicle transverse to the latter's direction of transport or a differential force exerted in such manner by the transport vehicle upon two oppositely disposed motor trains is measured using sensors, changes in the forces between the motor train and the vehicle caused by dimensional tolerances and/or wear can be detected in order to prevent a malfunction of the track switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas KIENDL, Hartmut DAVIDSON, Stefan ELSPERGER
  • Publication number: 20210094770
    Abstract: A rotor for a long-stator linear motor system comprises at least three rollers for mounting the rotor on one or more guide rails of the long-stator linear motor system, the at least three rollers comprising a first roller that engages with an upper part of a first guide rail of the one or more guide rails, a second roller that engages with a lower part of the first guide rail, and a third roller that a) is rotatably mounted to at least one rotatable bolster of the rotor or b) comprises a steering rotational axis with an integrated castor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Alexander Hartung, Heiner Schaefer, Peter Zeiner, Konrad Senn, Torsten Kilgenstein, Stefan Elsperger, Michael Neubauer, Manfred Kieslinger
  • Patent number: 10894675
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides rotors for long-stator linear motor systems, having at least two rollers for mounting the rotors on parallel guide rails of the long-stator linear motor system, wherein the rotors comprise at least one rotatable bolster, on which at least one roller, in particular at least one pair of rollers, of the at least two rollers is rotatably mounted, and/or at least one roller with a steering rotational axis with integrated castor, wherein the roller is mounted on a roller axle by means of a bolt, via an asymmetric and/or sloping bore, and further comprises a pendulum ring which is mounted on the bolt and has an external ball or slide bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Alexander Hartung, Heiner Schaefer, Peter Zeiner, Konrad Senn, Torsten Kilgenstein, Stefan Elsperger, Michael Neubauer, Manfred Kieslinger
  • Publication number: 20200412229
    Abstract: Method for adjusting a transport vehicle for a container handling system, where the transport vehicle comprises two oppositely disposed secondary parts which can be driven electromagnetically as an armature by way of a linear motor system of the container handling system, wherein in a device for adjusting, a first magnetic force of the first secondary part is determined with a sensor, in that a second magnetic force of the second secondary part is determined with the sensor; and in that the first magnetic force and the second magnetic force are compared with one another and/or with at least one reference force, and the two secondary parts are adjusted based thereon at the transport vehicle in such a way that the first magnetic force and the second magnetic force are of the same magnitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Stefan ELSPERGER, Hartmut DAVIDSON