Patents by Inventor Thomas Spitzer

Thomas Spitzer 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: 11559933
    Abstract: Apparatus (1) for forming plastic preforms (10) into plastic containers (20). In a closed state of a blow mould (14), a contact area is formed between side parts (14a, 14b), in which the two side parts (14a, 14b) rest against each other, the side parts (14a, 14b) form a mould separation seam (5) in the contact area. In accordance with the invention, at least one section of at least one side part (14a, 14b) has a coating and/or an additional element (60) in a region of the mould separation seam (5), so that a heat transfer between the plastic preform (10) and the inner wall (52, 54) in the contact area can be delayed at least in places at these at least one section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Markus Kulzer, Juergen Soellner, Thomas Spitzer
  • Publication number: 20210101325
    Abstract: Apparatus (1) for forming plastic preforms (10) into plastic containers (20). In a closed state of a blow mould (14), a contact area is formed between side parts (14a, 14b), in which the two side parts (14a, 14b) rest against each other, the side parts (14a, 14b) form a mould separation seam (5) in the contact area. In accordance with the invention, at least one section of at least one side part (14a, 14b) has a coating and/or an additional element (60) in a region of the mould separation seam (5), so that a heat transfer between the plastic preform (10) and the inner wall (52, 54) in the contact area can be delayed at least in places at these at least one section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Markus Kulzer, Juergen Soellner, Thomas Spitzer
  • Patent number: 10513074
    Abstract: Transforming station for transforming plastic parisons into plastic containers, wherein the transforming station has two side part supports for supporting side parts of a blow mould, and preferably has a base part support for supporting a base part of the blow mould, wherein these side parts and the base part of the blow mould together form a hollow space within which the plastic parisons can be transformed into the plastic containers by application of a free-flowing medium, wherein at least one of the two side part supports for opening and/or closing the blow mould is pivotable relative to the other side part with respect to a predetermined main axis, and wherein the transforming station has a locking mechanism in order in a closed state of the blow mould to lock a side part support with the other side part support, and wherein the locking mechanism has a second locking element which is pivotable with respect to a predetermined pivot axis and which interengages with a first locking element for locking the si
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Thomas Philipp, Thomas Spitzer
  • Publication number: 20190009451
    Abstract: Transforming station for transforming plastic parisons into plastic containers, wherein the transforming station has two side part supports for supporting side parts of a blow mould, and preferably has a base part support for supporting a base part of the blow mould, wherein these side parts and the base part of the blow mould together form a hollow space within which the plastic parisons can be transformed into the plastic containers by application of a free-flowing medium, wherein at least one of the two side part supports for opening and/or closing the blow mould is pivotable relative to the other side part with respect to a predetermined main axis, and wherein the transforming station has a locking mechanism in order in a closed state of the blow mould to lock a side part support with the other side part support, and wherein the locking mechanism has a second locking element which is pivotable with respect to a predetermined pivot axis and which interengages with a first locking element for locking the si
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas Philipp, Thomas Spitzer
  • Patent number: 10105872
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing plastic containers is provided, comprising a heating device that heats plastic preforms, and including a shaping device provided downstream of this heating device in the transport direction of the plastic preforms, which shaping device shapes the plastic preforms into the plastic containers, wherein a tempering device for tempering the plastic preforms heated by the heating device is provided in the transport direction of the plastic preforms between the heating device and the shaping device, which tempering device has at least one tempering unit provided on a carrier rotatable about a predetermined rotary axis, and which tempering unit has at least two contacting devices, between which at least one section of the plastic preform can be received, which contacting devices can be moved in relation to one another along a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Sternkopf, Christian Mehlin, Christian Wittmann, Erik Blochmann, Florian Geltinger, Gerald Huettner, Joerg Neumann, Kevin Folger, Markus Summer, Martin Puettmann, Norbert Kindl, Roland Reiner, Thomas Rauschendorfer, Thomas Spitzer, Waldemar Suppes
  • Patent number: 9908279
    Abstract: Plastic preforms are introduced into a blow mold and are expanded by applying a flowable medium thereto, which is introduced into the internal space of the plastic preforms, wherein the blow mold includes at least two lateral parts which form a cavity during the expansion of the plastic preforms, within which the plastic containers are expanded. The lateral parts are respectively provided on lateral part carriers that are moved relative to each other for opening and closing the blow mold. At least one arrangement of a lateral part carrier and the lateral part provided thereon has an expansion element that can have a gaseous medium applied thereto. The expansion element ensures, when the gaseous medium is applied thereto, that one lateral part is moved towards the other lateral part. During the expansion of the plastic preforms, at least two different pressure levels are applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Dieter Finger, Peter Lex, Thomas Spitzer
  • Patent number: 9636863
    Abstract: An apparatus for shaping plastics material pre-form into plastics material containers, comprises a blow mold device which forms a cavity inside. The plastics material pre-forms are expanded to form the plastics material containers. The blow mold device has a first blow mold part, a second blow mold part, and a base part. A blow mold carrier device holds the blow mold device. The blow mold carrier device has a first carrier part for holding the first blow mold part and a second carrier part for holding the second blow mold part. A third carrier part holds the base part. A centering mechanism centers the base part. The centering mechanism has a first engagement element which is which is movable with respect to a second engagement element. One of the first and second engagement elements is arranged on the third carrier part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Krones, AG
    Inventors: Florian Geltinger, Kevin Folger, Thomas Spitzer
  • Publication number: 20160361838
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing plastic containers is provided, comprising a heating device that heats plastic preforms, and including a shaping device provided downstream of this heating device in the transport direction of the plastic preforms, which shaping device shapes the plastic preforms into the plastic containers, wherein a tempering device for tempering the plastic preforms heated by the heating device is provided in the transport direction of the plastic preforms between the heating device and the shaping device, which tempering device has at least one tempering unit provided on a carrier rotatable about a predetermined rotary axis, and which tempering unit has at least two contacting devices, between which at least one section of the plastic preform can be received, which contacting devices can be moved in relation to one another along a predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Bernhard STERNKOPF, Christian MEHLIN, Christian WITTMANN, Erik BLOCHMANN, Florian GELTINGER, Gerald HUETTNER, Joerg NEUMANN, Kevin FOLGER, Markus SUMMER, Martin PUETTMANN, Norbert KINDL, Roland REINER, Thomas RAUSCHENDORFER, Thomas SPITZER, Waldemar SUPPES
  • Publication number: 20160361840
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for producing plastic containers, comprising a heating device that heats plastic preforms, and including a shaping device provided downstream of this heating device in the transport direction of the plastic preforms, which shaping device shapes the plastic preforms into the plastic containers, wherein a tempering device for tempering the plastic preforms heated by the heating device is provided in the transport direction of the plastic preforms between the heating device and the shaping device, which tempering device has at least one tempering unit provided on a carrier rotatable about a predetermined rotary axis, and which tempering unit has at least two contacting devices, between which at least one section of the plastic preform can be received, which contacting devices can be moved in relation to one another along a predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: BERNHARD STERNKOPF, CHRISTIAN MEHLIN, CHRISTIAN WITTMANN, ERIK BLOCHMANN, FLORIAN GELTINGER, GERALD HUETTNER, JOERG NEUMANN, KEVIN FOLGER, MARKUS SUMMER, MARTIN PUETTMANN, NORBERT KINDL, ROLAND REINER, THOMAS RAUSCHENDORFER, THOMAS SPITZER, WALDEMAR SUPPES
  • Patent number: 9381708
    Abstract: A device for transporting plastic preforms to a stretch blow molding machine comprising a feeder device, which transports the plastic preforms to a separating device, which is arranged in transport direction upstream of the stretch blow molding machine, wherein the feeder device comprises a pneumatically actuable blocking device, which in a first position deblocks the path of transport for the preforms and in a second position blocks the path of transport for the plastic preforms, and wherein the blocking device is actuable by means of a cylinder. According to the invention, the valve for controlling the cylinder is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Thomas Spitzer, Wolfgang Schoenberger
  • Publication number: 20150224701
    Abstract: An apparatus for shaping plastics material pre-form into plastics material containers, comprises a blow mould device which forms a cavity inside. The plastics material pre-forms are expanded to form the plastics material containers. The blow mould device has a first blow mould part, a second blow mould part, and a base part. A blow mould carrier device holds the blow mould device. The blow mould carrier device has a first carrier part for holding the first blow mould part and a second carrier part for holding the second blow mould part. A third carrier part holds the base part. A centering mechanism centers the base part. The centering mechanism has a first engagement element which is which is movable with respect to a second engagement element. One of the first and second engagement elements is arranged on the third carrier part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Florian Geltinger, Kevin Folger, Thomas Spitzer
  • Patent number: 9096007
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the shaping of plastics material containers, with a movable carrier on which are arranged a plurality of shaping stations for the shaping of plastics material pre-forms into plastics material containers, wherein these shaping stations have blow mold carrier parts movable with respect to each other for opening and closing the shaping stations, and wherein the shaping stations have a locking mechanism for holding the shaping stations in a closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Thomas Philipp, Thomas Spitzer, Florian Geltinger, Thomas Hoellriegl
  • Patent number: 9056724
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for handling containers. The apparatus comprises a moveable carrier, a plurality of treatment stations arranged on the moveable carrier for treating the containers, each treatment station having at least one element that is moveable in relation to the carrier, and a stationary guide curve. The elements are temporarily coupled to the guide curve. A movement between a treatment station of the plurality of treatment stations and the guide curve translates to a movement of the at least one element. A coupling device comprises at least one guide roller which at least temporarily contacts the guide curve. At least one of the guide roller or the guide curve includes an imidized polymer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: KRONES, AG
    Inventors: Thomas Hoellriegl, Florian Geltinger, Thomas Spitzer
  • Publication number: 20140339743
    Abstract: Plastic preforms are introduced into a blow mould and are expanded by applying a flowable medium thereto, which is introduced into the internal space of the plastic preforms, wherein the blow mould includes at least two lateral parts which form a cavity during the expansion of the plastic preforms, within which the plastic containers are expanded. The lateral parts are respectively provided on lateral part carriers that are moved relative to each other for opening and closing the blow mould. At least one arrangement of a lateral part carrier and the lateral part provided thereon has an expansion element that can have a gaseous medium applied thereto. The expansion element ensures, when the gaseous medium is applied thereto, that one lateral part is moved towards the other lateral part. During the expansion of the plastic preforms, at least two different pressure levels are applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Dieter Finger, Peter Lex, Thomas Spitzer
  • Patent number: 8888482
    Abstract: A device for transforming plastics preforms into containers includes at least one blow mold for receiving the plastics preforms. The blow mold has two mold parts, which can be pivoted with respect to each other about a connecting axis, with at least one locking element, which is arranged on one of the mold parts and interacts with at least one counter element arranged on the other mold part, in order to lock the two mold parts with respect to each other. The counter element is arranged about an axis arranged substantially parallel to the connecting axis and can be turned between a locking position, and an unlocking position. The device has an actuating element for turning the counter element, having a drive element which interacts with the counter element to actuate it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Thomas Hoellriegl, Florian Schmid, Thomas Spitzer, Thomas Philipp, Frank Winzinger
  • Publication number: 20140251754
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for handling containers. The apparatus comprises a moveable carrier, a plurality of treatment stations arranged on the moveable carrier for treating the containers, each treatment station having at least one element that is moveable in relation to the carrier, and a stationary guide curve. The elements are temporarily coupled to the guide curve. A movement between a treatment station of the plurality of treatment stations and the guide curve translates to a movement of the at least one element. A coupling device comprises at least one guide roller which at least temporarily contacts the guide curve. At least one of the guide roller or the guide curve includes an imidized polymer material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas Hoellriegl, Florian Geltinger, Thomas Spitzer
  • Publication number: 20140167334
    Abstract: A device for transporting plastic preforms to a stretch blow molding machine comprising a feeder device, which transports the plastic preforms to a separating device, which is arranged in transport direction upstream of the stretch blow molding machine, wherein the feeder device comprises a pneumatically actuable blocking device, which in a first position deblocks the path of transport for the preforms and in a second position blocks the path of transport for the plastic preforms, and wherein the blocking device is actuable by means of a cylinder. According to the invention, the valve for controlling the cylinder is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Krones AG
    Inventors: Thomas Spitzer, Wolfgang Schoenberger
  • Publication number: 20140151940
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the shaping of plastics material containers, with a movable carrier on which are arranged a plurality of shaping stations for the shaping of plastics material pre-forms into plastics material containers, wherein these shaping stations have blow mould carrier parts movable with respect to each other for opening and closing the shaping stations, and wherein the shaping stations have a locking mechanism for holding the shaping stations in a closed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Thomas Philipp, Thomas Spitzer, Florian Geltinger, Thomas Hoellriegl
  • Patent number: 8622728
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for forming containers and a method for damped closing of a mold carrier unit and a base mold carrier of a blow mold for forming containers. The device includes at least one mold carrier unit for holding blow mold parts and a base mold carrier for holding a base mold and a base mold carrier lift device for moving the base mold carrier in conjunction with the movement of the mold carrier unit. The mold carrier unit includes at least two mold carriers which surround the container to be processed at least during a molding process. The base mold carrier covers a base area of the container to be treated. The base mold carrier lift device includes at least one first damping element for damping and limiting the vertical movement of the base mold carrier in relation to the mold carrier unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Thomas Spitzer
  • Patent number: 8556062
    Abstract: A gripper unit for transport systems for supporting and transporting articles. A gripper unit that includes a gripper head with at least two gripper arms which can be opened and closed against each other. The top of the article to be gripped and to be transported is supported in the opening formed between the gripper arms. A shifting unit is supported in a flexible manner via a fastener directly supported at the transport system. Furthermore, the gripper unit is provided with a device for interchangeable support, adjustment and spatial determination of the gripper head in a first transport direction at the gripper unit. The device provides for the vertical movement of the gripper head contrary to the gripper unit and/or contrary to the transport system, which are arranged between the gripper head and the shifting unit or between the gripper head and the transport system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Christian Stoiber, Thomas Spitzer