Patents by Inventor Thomas Hoellriegl

Thomas Hoellriegl 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: 20240132296
    Abstract: The apparatus for transporting containers with a movable and in particular rotatable carrier which has a plurality of changeable holding devices for holding the containers during transport, wherein the apparatus has at least one sensor device which detects and/or monitors a position of the holding device, in particular after a change of the holding devices. According to the invention, the apparatus has an assignment device which assigns at least one measured value detected by the at least one sensor device to at least one and preferably to each holding device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Nina HABENSCHADEN, Harald EFFENBERGER, Thomas HOELLRIEGL
  • Patent number: 11858751
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for treating containers, having a treatment device for treating the containers, and a carrier which is arranged such that it can move linearly with respect to a holder, wherein a plurality of rolling elements being arranged between the carrier and the holder and guiding the movement of the treatment device, wherein these rolling elements at least temporarily contact both a running surface of the carrier and a running surface of the holder, wherein the rolling elements are arranged in a rolling elements cage and move in the direction of movement, wherein this rolling element cage extends in the direction of movement and has a greater length than the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Thomas Hoellriegl, Nina Habenschaden, Harald Effenberger
  • Publication number: 20230339703
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for transporting containers, having a movable carrier on which a plurality of gripping devices for gripping containers are arranged, wherein these gripping devices being designed as gripping clamps, and these clamps each having at least two clamp arms which can be moved between a first position, in which they grip the containers to be transported, and a second position, wherein the gripping clamps having contact portions which are suitable and intended to contact the containers, and wherein furthermore an actuating mechanism is provided which is suitable for transferring the gripping means between the first position and the second position, characterized in that this actuating mechanism comprises at least one roller element which is arranged on at least one of the clamp arms and can be rotated with respect to this clamp arm and with respect to a predetermined axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Dirk HEINRICH, Thomas HOELLRIEGL, Markus STIEGLER, Hans-Juergen FLEISCHMANN, Nina HABENSCHADEN, Harald EFFENBERGER
  • Patent number: 11643316
    Abstract: Machine (1) for distributing flowable media to containers with a housing (2), with a transport device (12) for transporting the containers (10) which is arranged at least partially inside the housing (2), wherein this transport device has a rotatable carrier (14) with a distributor device (4) which is arranged inside this housing (2) an accommodates at least one inlet (42) for the flowable medium and a plurality of outlets (44) to which the flowable medium can be distributed, and with a supply conduit (6) which is suitable and intended for supplying the flowable medium to the inlet (42). According to the invention the distributor device (4) is non-rotatably connected to the carrier (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Juergen Soellner, Waldemar Suppes, Florian Geltinger, Thomas Hoellriegl, Andreas Brunner
  • Publication number: 20230134386
    Abstract: Apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, having a forming device which has a plurality of forming stations each having a stretching bar for stretching the plastic pre-form and an application device act upon the plastic container with a flowable medium. The forming device has at least four pressure reservoirs for the flowable medium, which each have predetermined pressures, and a valve block with at least five process valves. The application device is configured for producing a fluid connection between the valve block and a mouth region of the plastic preform in order to act upon the plastic preforms with the pressurised flowable medium, and the process valves are configured to act upon the plastic pre-forms with different pressures, wherein at least one process valve is configured for producing a connection between the plastic preform and an environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Benedikt HENGL, Andreas BRUNNER, Dieter FINGER, Markus KULZER, Dominik MEIER, Thomas KITZINGER, Konrad SENN, Daniel VOGLER, Thomas HOELLRIEGL, Klaus VOTH, Christian BETZ
  • Publication number: 20230100387
    Abstract: A method for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, wherein the plastic preforms being transported along a predetermined transport path and being acted upon and expanded by a flowable medium during this transport, a controllable valve of a reducing station controlling the action of the flowable medium on a compressed-air reservoir, in particular an annular channel, and a desired target pressure being predetermined, with which the compressed-air reservoir is acted upon, this desired target pressure being taken into account in the control of the valve of the reducing station wherein an actual pressure is determined and this actual pressure is compared with the desired target pressure and, from this comparison, a correction value is determined which is taken into account and/or used in the control of the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Andreas BRUNNER, Thomas HOELLRIEGL
  • Patent number: 11607834
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, includes at least one forming station which forms the plastic preforms into the plastic containers by applying a flowable medium to the plastic preforms, wherein the forming station includes a blow mold, and a rod-like body which is insertable into the plastic preforms via a mouth of the plastic preforms, and a moving device which is configured for moving the rod-like body in the longitudinal direction of the plastic performs. The rod-like body has a channel for guiding the flowable medium, and the forming station has a valve device controlling the supply of the flowable medium into the channel. The valve device is arranged on the moving device and/or a ratio between an inner diameter of the rod-like body and an outer diameter of said rod-like body is, at least in sections, smaller than or equal to 0.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Inventors: Dominik Meier, Thomas Hoellriegl
  • Patent number: 11584061
    Abstract: Method for operating an apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, wherein in a working mode a plurality of forming stations are moved along a predetermined transport path by a movable carrier, wherein these forming stations in each case having blow mould arrangements which in a closed state in each case form cavities, within which the plastic preforms are formed into the plastic containers and the plastic preforms are supplied to these forming stations in order to be formed by supplying a flowable medium to the plastic containers, wherein this forming takes place at least temporarily during the transport of the forming stations along the transport path, and wherein at least temporarily at least components of the blow moulding arrangement are tempered. At least parts of the blow mould are pre-heated in a standstill of the carrier or a movement of the carrier, which is slower with respect to a movement of the carrier in the working mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventors: Konrad Senn, Thomas Hoellriegl, Klaus Voth, Armin Buess, Andreas Brunner, Simon Moewes, Jochen Hirdina
  • Patent number: 11577444
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for processing containers and in particular for reshaping plastic preforms into plastic containers, including a transport device which transports the containers along a predetermined transport path, wherein this transport device has a movable support, on which a plurality of processing stations are arranged, which in each case are suitable and intended for processing the plastic preforms, with a clean room, which surrounds at least portions of the transport path of the plastic preforms and which is delimited by at least one wall relative to the environment. Further, the apparatus has at least one inspection device for inspecting the containers, wherein this inspection device has an image capturing device, wherein this image capturing device is arranged at least partially outside the clean room and monitors at least one region of the containers through at least one wall of the clean room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Thomas Höllriegl, Robert Schmitt, Günter Frankenberger, Andreas Eichenseher
  • Patent number: 11565458
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, having a blow mould which forms a cavity within which the plastic preforms can be expanded to form the plastic containers, and having an application device which is suitable and intended for acting upon the plastic preforms with a flowable medium in order to expand them, which is suitable and intended for acting upon the plastic preforms with a flowable medium in order to expand them, wherein the application device is placed against a mouth area of the plastic preforms in order to act upon these with the flowable medium. The application device forms at least one first flow channel for the flowable medium, which guides and/or directs at least a portion of the flowable medium to an inner wall of the mouth area in order to temper and, in particular, cool this inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Thomas Hoellriegl, Markus Stiegler, Oliver Apfelbacher, Markus Kulzer, Gerald Huettner
  • Patent number: 11530098
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spacing star wheel for transporting and transferring containers, comprising a plurality of gripping elements for gripping one container each and a curve guide, where the spacing star wheel is configured such that, during operation, the gripping elements, guided by the curve guide, revolve around the axis of rotation of the spacing star wheel along a curved path. By activating at least one curve guide segment, the shape of the curve guide can be adjusted such that the spacing distance between two adjacent gripping elements in the region of the curve guide segment changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Thomas Hoellriegl
  • Publication number: 20220258984
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for treating containers, having a treatment device for treating the containers, and a carrier which is arranged such that it can move linearly with respect to a holder, wherein a plurality of rolling elements being arranged between the carrier and the holder and guiding the movement of the treatment device, wherein these rolling elements at least temporarily contact both a running surface of the carrier and a running surface of the holder, wherein the rolling elements are arranged in a rolling elements cage and move in the direction of movement, wherein this rolling element cage extends in the direction of movement and has a greater length than the holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas HOELLRIEGL, Nina HABENSCHADEN, Harald EFFENBERGER
  • Publication number: 20220105669
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, includes at least one forming station which forms the plastic preforms into the plastic containers by applying a flowable medium to the plastic preforms, wherein the forming station comprises a blow mold (26), and a rod-like body which is insertable into the plastic preforms via a mouth of the plastic preforms, and a moving device which is configured for moving the rod-like body in the longitudinal direction of the plastic performs. The rod-like body has a channel for guiding the flowable medium, and the forming station has a valve device controlling the supply of the flowable medium into the channel. The said valve device is arranged on the moving device and/or a ratio between an inner diameter of the rod-like body and an outer diameter of said rod-like body is, at least in sections, smaller than or equal to 0.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Dominik MEIER, Thomas HOELLRIEGL
  • Publication number: 20220063170
    Abstract: Provided is a method for treating plastic preforms, wherein the plastic preforms are transported in a row by a feed transport device and are separated by a separating device, wherein the separating device has a carrier which is rotatable with respect to a predetermined axis of rotation and has on its outer circumference a plurality of recesses for receiving the plastic preforms in a takeover area and which are equidistant from one another in a circumferential direction of the carrier, wherein the separating device transporting the plastic preforms separately along a predetermined transport path section, and wherein the separating device transferring the plastic preforms in a transfer area to a further transport device which transports the plastic preforms further at a predetermined transport speed. During a start-up process, the separating device increases a transport speed at which it conveys the plastic preforms from the takeover area to the transfer area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Bernhard Sternkopf, Thomas Hoellriegl, Florian Geltinger
  • Publication number: 20220009148
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, having a blow mould which forms a cavity within which the plastic preforms can be expanded to form the plastic containers, and having an application device which is suitable and intended for acting upon the plastic preforms with a flowable medium in order to expand them, which is suitable and intended for acting upon the plastic preforms with a flowable medium in order to expand them, wherein the application device is placed against a mouth area of the plastic preforms in order to act upon these with the flowable medium. The application device forms at least one first flow channel for the flowable medium, which guides and/or directs at least a portion of the flowable medium to an inner wall of the mouth area in order to temper and, in particular, cool this inner wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Hoellriegl, Markus Stiegler, Oliver Apfelbacher, Markus Kulzer, Gerald Huettner
  • Publication number: 20210380351
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spacing star wheel for transporting and transferring containers, comprising a plurality of gripping elements for gripping a one container each and a curve guide, the spacing star wheel is configured such that, during operation, the gripping elements, guided by the curve guide, revolve around the axis of rotation of the spacing star wheel along a curved path. By activating at least one curve guide segment, the shape of the curve guide can be adjusted such that the spacing distance between two adjacent gripping elements in the region of the curve guide segment changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventor: Thomas HOELLRIEGL
  • Publication number: 20210362395
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for processing containers, in particular plastic containers and plastic parisons, including at least one processing device which processes the containers in a predetermined manner, and including at least one transfer device, which transfers the containers, individually, to the processing device in a transfer region and/or to which the containers are transferred from the processing device in a transfer region. At least one inspection device is provided, which is suitable and intended for visually inspecting at least a part of the processing device and or the transfer region at least at sections and completely, at least temporarily during a transfer process of a container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Harald Effenberger, Andreas Brunner, Christian Jendretzke, Thomas Hoellriegl
  • Patent number: 11123913
    Abstract: Disclosed is a machine for reshaping plastic preforms into plastic containers with at least one reshaping station, which has a blow moulding arrangement inside which plastic preforms can be reshaped into plastic containers by application of a flowable medium, and with an application device which is configured for applying a flowable medium to the plastic preforms, and with a valve arrangement with at least two valve devices which is configured for feeding the flowable medium under at least two different pressures to the plastic preform during the reshaping thereof. At least one valve device has at least one valve piston which is movable with respect to a valve housing between two valve positions, and a check piston which is movable between at least two positions is arranged on this valve piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Hoellriegl, Benedikt Hengl, Konrad Senn, Armin Buess
  • Publication number: 20210245414
    Abstract: Method for operating an apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers, wherein in a working mode a plurality of forming stations are moved along a predetermined transport path by a movable carrier, wherein these forming stations in each case having blow mould arrangements which in a closed state in each case form cavities, within which the plastic preforms are formed into the plastic containers and the plastic preforms are supplied to these forming stations in order to be formed by supplying a flowable medium to the plastic containers, wherein this forming takes place at least temporarily during the transport of the forming stations along the transport path, and wherein at least temporarily at least components of the blow moulding arrangement are tempered. At least parts of the blow mould are pre-heated in a standstill of the carrier or a movement of the carrier, which is slower with respect to a movement of the carrier in the working mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Konrad SENN, Thomas HOELLRIEGL, Klaus VOTH, Armin BUESS, Andreas BRUNNER, Simon MOEWES, Jochen HIRDINA
  • Publication number: 20210221042
    Abstract: Method for forming plastic preforms (10) into plastic containers (20), wherein at least one and preferably a plurality of forming stations (4) for forming the plastic preforms (10) into the plastic containers (20) is arranged on a movable carrier (2) and these forming stations (4) are moved along a predetermined transport path at least temporarily during the forming process, wherein the forming stations (4) each have blow mould arrangements (6), wherein blow mould parts (62, 64) of these blow mould arrangements (6) are moved for opening and closing the blow mould arrangements (6), and in a closed state of the blow mould arrangement (6) in a cavity formed by the blow mould parts (62, 64) the plastic preforms (10) are formed into the plastic containers (20) by being acted upon by a flowable medium, wherein at least temporarily a value characteristic of the forming station (4) and/or of the blow mould arrangement (6) being measured by means of a measuring device (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Simon Moewes, Armin Buess, Konrad Senn, Andreas Brunner, Klaus Voth, Thomas Hoellriegl