Patents by Inventor Werner Runft

Werner Runft 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: 9170213
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor device (30; 30a; 30b; 30c) for a packaging machine (100) designed as a capsule filling and sealing machine or for a capsule control device (100a), said device having a positioning element (35; 35a) for positioning a container (c) having a longitudinal axis (15) and filled with a filling material in the region of the sensor device (30; 30a; 30b; 30c) and at least one radiation source (31; 31 a; 3 b) and at least one detector (40; 40a; 40b) for detecting the radiation after said radiation radiates through the container (c). According to the invention, the at least one radiation source (31; 31a; 31b) radiates through the container (c) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (15) thereof and the positioning element is designed as a tubular or shaft-shaped conveying element (35; 35a) which can be penetrated by the radiation in a radiation cone (38) of the radiation source (31; 31a; 31b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Runft, Iulian Maga, Ralf Schmied, Guenter Liebhart, Martin Vogt
  • Publication number: 20150204714
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a capsule-weighing device (1) comprising a capsule holder (2) for receiving at least one capsule lower part (4), preferably for medical preparations, a weighing unit (5) that can be positioned independently of the capsule holder (2) and that has at least one first electrode (8) for weighing the capsule lower part (4) in the capsule holder (2), a transport device (3) for moving the capsule holder (2), independently of the weighing unit (5), to different stations (S1-S12), and at least one second electrode (9), wherein an outer wall (7) of the at least one capsule lower part (4) is exposed in the capsule holder (2), or is only thinly enclosed by the capsule holder (2), such that, by means of an electric field between the first and second electrodes (8, 9), the capsule lower part (4) can be weighed without moving the capsule lower part (4) in the capsule holder (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Walter Boehringer, Jens Schlipf, Martin Vogt, Thomas Franck, Werner Runft
  • Patent number: 9042515
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10; 10a;10b; 10c; 50) for checking pharmaceutical products (1), in particular hard gelatin capsules, by means of at least one radiation source (30; 60) preferably embodied as an X-ray source, and a conveying device which conveys the products (1) in a clocked manner in a radiation area (31) of the radiation source (30; 60). The radiation emitted by the radiation source (30; 60) penetrating the products (1) preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal axes thereof (2), and the radiation is captured on the side of the products (1) opposite the radiation source (30) by means of at least one sensor element (35) which is coupled to an evaluation device (36). The invention is characterized in that the conveyor device is embodied as a conveyor wheel (15; 15a; 51) which can rotate in a stepped manner about an axis (12; 52), and the products (1) are arranged, while being conveyed in the radiation area (31), in receiving areas (28; 37; 56) of the conveyor wheel (15; 5a; 51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Runft, Iulian Maga, Jens Schlipf, Martin Vogt
  • Patent number: 8968622
    Abstract: A device and a method for ejecting at least one capsule are proposed, comprising at least two ejecting mechanisms for ejecting at least one capsule from a holder receiving the capsules. A drive control mechanism is provided in order to move the ejecting mechanisms independently of one another in the ejecting direction, depending on whether the capsule assigned to the ejecting mechanism is detected as defective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Kuhnle, Ralf Schmied, Werner Runft, Thomas Franck
  • Patent number: 8950445
    Abstract: A device for filling at least one dosing chamber is provided, with at least one dosing chamber arranged in a dosing disc into which a filling material is to be introduced. At least one ram acts on the material located in the dosing chamber. The at least one ram is arranged on a support, and at least two columns are connected to the support. A drive mechanism is provided which, via a coupling mechanism, moves at least the two columns up and down in synch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Schlipf, Ralf Schmied, Werner Runft, Thomas Franck
  • Publication number: 20140050299
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10; 10a;10b; 10c; 50) for checking pharmaceutical products (1), in particular hard gelatin capsules, by means of at least one radiation source (30; 60) preferably embodied as an X-ray source, and a conveying device which conveys the products (1) in a clocked manner in a radiation area (31) of the radiation source (30; 60). The radiation emitted by the radiation source (30; 60) penetrating the products (1) preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal axes thereof (2), and the radiation is captured on the side of the products (1) opposite the radiation source (30) by means of at least one sensor element (35) which is coupled to an evaluation device (36). The invention is characterised in that the conveyor device is embodied as a conveyor wheel (15; 15a; 51) which can rotate in a stepped manner about an axis (12; 52), and the products (1) are arranged, whilst being conveyed in the radiation area (31), in receiving areas (28; 37; 56) of the conveyor wheel (15; 5a; 51).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Runft, Lulian Maga, Jens Schlipf, Martin Vogt
  • Publication number: 20140037061
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10; 10a) for controlling pharmaceutical products (1) in particular, hard gelatin capsules, by means of a radiation source (11) preferably designed as an X-ray source, comprising a storage device (13) which receives the products (1) in an uncontrolled manner, and from which the products (1) are transferred to a transport element (15) in which the products (1) are arranged such that they form at least one row. The products (1) are transported in a clocked manner in the radiation area (25) of the radiation source (11) which exposes the products (1) to radiation, preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof. A first stopping device (20) for separating the products (1) in the row is arranged upstream of the radiation source (11) in the direction of transportation (18) of the products (1), and at least one sensor element (28, 28a) coupled to an evaluation device (30) captures the radiation which passed through the products (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Runft, lulian Maga, Jens Schlipf, Martin Vogt
  • Publication number: 20140037064
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control device (10) comprising a radiation source (17) which is embodied, in particular, as an X-ray source for irradiating a pharmaceutical product (1) embodied, in particular as a capsule, a detector (18) for detecting radiation after irradiating the pharmaceutical product (1), a tube or shaft-shaped supply device (15) which is preferably arranged vertically at least in the region of the beam path (16) of the radiation source (17) for feeding the pharmaceutical product (1) into the beam path (16) of the radiation source (17), and means (25) for positioning and releasing the pharmaceutical product (1) in the region of the radiation beam (16) of the radiation source (17).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Runft, lulian Maga, Jens Schlipf, Martin Vogt
  • Publication number: 20130327791
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for metering pulverulent filling material, comprising at least one metering wheel with a plurality of metering chambers for accommodating filling material, wherein a plurality of metering chambers are formed by means of a common component, and the common component can be displaced in the radial direction of the metering wheel using an adjusting means in order to change the volume of the metering chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Runft, Jens Schlipf, Walter Boehringer
  • Publication number: 20130255833
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for introducing filling material (21) into capsules (22), comprising a filling device (25) for feeding filling material (21) to the capsules (22), a capsule holder (30) with at least one row of seats (31) in which the capsules (22) that are to be filled are arranged, a station arrangement with several stations arranged one after another, wherein the station arrangement comprises at least one filling station (5) and a synchronously operating drive, and a movement device which, at the capsule-filling station (5), executes a relative movement between the filling device (25) and the capsule holder (30), wherein the filling device (25) adopts, relative to the capsule holder (30), at least a first filling position for filling a first capsule and a second filling position for filling a second capsule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Runft, Jens Schlipf, Walter Boehringer
  • Publication number: 20130129041
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10; 10a) for determining the weight of pharmaceutical products (1), in particular of hard gelatin capsules (3; 3a) filled with a pharmaceutical (2), by means of an X-ray source (28), wherein the X-ray source (28) generates a radiation cone (27; 36, 37) which passes through at least one pharmaceutical product (1), and wherein a sensor element (30; 30a) detects the radiation of the irradiated pharmaceutical product (1) and supplies an evaluation device (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Runft, lulian Maga, Jens Schlipf, Martin Vogt
  • Patent number: 8266874
    Abstract: The invention relates to a weighing device for a packaging machine. Empty capsules that are still closed are removed from a capsule holder, weighed on a gravimetric scale, placed back into an empty capsule holder, and then taken apart. The device makes it possible to remove empty capsules and replace them at full machine speed, without a loss of any consequence in output. It is possible to use a gravimetric measurement method to carry out a tare weighing of the capsules. An additional weighing device for filled capsules is integrated into a capsule transport device to determine the net weight based on the tare weight and the weight of the full capsules. Such a combination of a gravimetric tare weighing and a gross weighing to statistically determine the net weight is particularly well-suited to an intermediate capsule filling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Runft, Thomas Franck, Torsten Grass
  • Publication number: 20120207272
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor device (30; 30a; 30b; 30c) for a packaging machine (100) designed as a capsule filling and sealing machine or for a capsule control device (100a), said device having a positioning element (35; 35a) for positioning a container (c) having a longitudinal axis (15) and filled with a filling material in the region of the sensor device (30; 30a; 30b; 30c) and at least one radiation source (31; 31 a; 3 b) and at least one detector (40; 40a; 40b) for detecting the radiation after said radiation radiates through the container (c). According to the invention, the at least one radiation source (31; 31a; 31b) radiates through the container (c) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (15) thereof and the positioning element is designed as a tubular or shaft-shaped conveying element (35; 35a) which can be penetrated by the radiation in a radiation cone (38) of the radiation source (31; 31a; 31b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Runft, Iulian Maga, Ralf Schmied, Guenter Liebhart, Martin Vogt
  • Patent number: 8151830
    Abstract: A powder dispensing device is disclosed for dispensing powder into hard gelatin capsules or the like. The powder dispensing device comprises at least one plunger for compacting the powder to a powder compact and/or at least one transfer plunger which transfers the previously produced powder compact into a capsule part ready to be filled. The device includes a sensing apparatus including fiber-optical cables and a lens for introducing and receiving radiation passed through the powder or the powder compact. The sensing apparatus is connected to either the compacting plunger or the transfer plunger, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Schmied, Werner Runft
  • Patent number: 7792247
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor device for a packaging machine in which at least one conveyor of a packaging machine which displaces at least one material to be packed and to be detected, to various stations of the packaging machine. According to the invention, at least one x-ray source and one detector are provided for irradiating the material which is to be detected and which is arranged between the x-ray source and the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Schmied, Walter Bauer, Werner Runft, Florian Bessler
  • Publication number: 20100164144
    Abstract: A device and a method for ejecting at least one capsule are proposed, comprising at least two ejecting means (18) for ejecting at least one capsule (24) from a holder (22) receiving the capsules (24), wherein drive control means (16, 20, 23) are provided in order to move the ejecting means (18) independently of one another in the ejecting direction, depending on whether the capsule (24) assigned to the ejecting means (18) is detected as in order or defective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Manfred Kuhnle, Ralf Schmied, Werner Runft, Thomas Franck
  • Publication number: 20090232922
    Abstract: A device for filling at least one dosing chamber is provided, with at least one dosing chamber arranged in a dosing disc into which a filling material is to be introduced. At least one ram acts on the material located in the dosing chamber. The at least one ram is arranged on a support, and at least two columns are connected to the support. A drive mechanism is provided which, via a coupling mechanism, moves at least the two columns up and down in synch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Jens Schlipf, Ralf Schmied, Werner Runft, Thomas Franck
  • Publication number: 20080230145
    Abstract: The invention relates to a powder dispensing device for dispensing powder into hard gelatin capsules or the like. The powder dispensing device comprises at least one plunger for compacting the powder to a powder compact and/or at least one transfer plunger which transfers the previously produced powder compact into a capsule part ready to be filled. The device includes a sensing apparatus including fiber-optical cables and a lens for introducing and receiving radiation passed through the powder or the powder compact. The sensing apparatus is connected to either the compacting plunger or the transfer plunger, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Ralf Schmied, Werner Runft
  • Publication number: 20080219803
    Abstract: The invention relates to a weighing device for a packaging machine. Empty capsules that are still closed are removed from a capsule holder, weighed on a gravimetric scale, placed back into an empty capsule holder, and then taken apart. The device makes it possible to remove empty capsules and replace them at full machine speed, without a loss of any consequence in output. It is possible to use a gravimetric measurement method to carry out a tare weighing of the capsules. An additional weighing device for filled capsules is integrated into a capsule transport device to determine the net weight based on the tare weight and the weight of the full capsules. Such a combination of a gravimetric tare weighing and a gross weighing to statistically determine the net weight is particularly well-suited to an intermediate capsule filling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Werner Runft, Thomas Franck, Torsten Grass
  • Publication number: 20080134629
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor device for a packaging machine in which at least one conveyor of a packaging machine which displaces at least one material to be packed and to be detected, to various stations of the packaging machine. According to the invention, at least one x-ray source and one detector are provided for irradiating the material which is to be detected and which is arranged between the x-ray source and the detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Ralf Schmied, Walter Bauer, Werner Runft, Florian Bessler