Patents by Inventor Wim DEKOCKER

Wim DEKOCKER 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: 12637307
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for treating primary container packaging comprising •—a main transportation unit (102) configured to transport a number of gripping units (108) mounted on independently motion controlled movers (106), each gripping unit (108) adapted for transporting an individual primary container, •—an adjacent transportation unit (104) configured to transport a number of tools (114) mounted on independently motion controlled movers (112), said tools configured to provide one or more primary container material components to the main transportation unit and/or performing packaging process operations to the primary containers present at said main transportation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2026
    Assignee: ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV S.A.
    Inventors: Wim Dekocker, Marcelo Petramale, Glenn Ferreira, Philippe Jean Marie Duperray
  • Patent number: 12515893
    Abstract: A product handling apparatus, systems and associated methods. A product handling apparatus, includes a continuous circuit having an infeed length; and a discharge length. A carriage configured to travel around the circuit between the infeed length and the discharge length has a first picking tool configured to selectively engage a first product; and a second picking tool configured to selectively engage a second product. The product handling apparatus is configured to pick a first and second product arranged in a first arrangement at the infeed length and place the first and second product in a second arrangement, different to the first arrangement, at the discharge length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2026
    Assignee: ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV S.A.
    Inventors: Wim Dekocker, Philippe Jean Marie Duperray, Glenn Ferreira, Tom Van Moer
  • Patent number: 12459759
    Abstract: A packaging system has a system for assembling a package, a method for assembling a package, and a machine for assembling a package. The packaging system comprises at least one main transportation unit and at least one moveable closed loop transportation unit, where the at least one moveable closed loop transportation unit moves three-dimensionally with respect to the at least one main transportation unit for providing the packaging material components to the main transportation unit and/or performing packaging process operations to a package in assembly present at the main transportation unit. The at least one moveable closed loop transportation unit includes a number of tools mounted on independently motion-controlled movers for providing the packaging material components to the package in assembly and/or providing the packaging operations to the packaging in assembly. In addition to assembling packages, the systems, methods, and machines may also be used for assembly of any other article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2025
    Assignee: ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV S.A.
    Inventors: Wim Dekocker, Annalisa Narducci, Keenan Thompson, Glenn Ferreira, Philippe Jean Marie Duperray
  • Patent number: 12338083
    Abstract: A primary container handling system comprising a transportation unit transporting at least one container handling unit (108) mounted on at least one independently motion controlled mover or levitating tile (106), said container handling unit being configured to provide 3-dimensional translation and/or rotation of an individual primary container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV S.A.
    Inventors: Wim Dekocker, Marcelo Petramale, Glenn Ferreira, Philippe Jean Marie Duperray
  • Patent number: 12286318
    Abstract: The present invention provides a denesting apparatus (100, 200), the apparatus comprising: •—one or more closed loop conveying tracks (130, 230), each closed loop conveying track comprising a plurality of sets of one or more de-stacking means (140, 240) movingly configured thereon through one or more de-stacking means moving mechanism (150, 250): •—one or more stacking magazines (120, 220), each adapted to hold a stack of sheets (110, 210) supported thereon: wherein each of the plurality of sets of de-stacking means is adapted to selectively engage an uppermost sheet from at least one of the stacking magazines in any desired order either sequentially and/or simultaneously so as to discharge the picked-up sheets onto an out-feed conveyor (180, 280) in any desired manner either one besides another or otherwise one overlapping the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe Jean Marie Duperray, Wim Dekocker
  • Patent number: 12269629
    Abstract: The present invention provides a packaging apparatus for in-line packaging wrapping of a foldable blank around a receiving load that is simultaneously dropped onto the loading space of the foldable blank. The packaging apparatus includes a support means adapted to receive a supply of one or more foldable blanks. The support means includes a support frame supported onto two or more parallel longitudinal rails positioned generally transversal to a direction of supply of foldable blanks. The apparatus further includes an article loading mechanism to load a group of articles onto a loading space defined onto the foldable blank received onto the support means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Anheuser-Busch InBev S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe Jean Marie Duperray, Wim DeKocker
  • Patent number: 12162236
    Abstract: The present invention provides a shaping tool for shaping a package formed of a foldable blank, the tool comprising: —an overhead conveyor comprising a plurality of downwardly protruding spaced apart counter-means; —a first conveyor extending between a receiving end towards an output end, and adapted to receive the foldable blank from an incoming conveying line at the receiving end and to position the foldable blank below one of the downwardly protruding counter-means; —a shaping station extending away from the receiving end, the shaping station comprising: a pair of parallel shaping tracks, each positioned on one side of the first conveyor, the pair of generally parallel shaping tracks comprising a plurality of pairs of independently movable shaping lugs, each pair of shaping lugs having a predetermined shape and adapted to receive one of the foldable blanks there-between; the pair of lugs movable towards each other to form a package having a desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe Jean Marie Duperray, Wim DeKocker
  • Patent number: 12151856
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a handle having smoothened edges. The handle includes a body portion formed of an elongated piece of material having a pair of side edges defining a width of the body portion. The body portion includes a gripping region extended towards and/or between a first attachment region and/or a second attachment region. Further, each of the side edges of the gripping region has a cutting index lower than a cutting index of the remaining part of the gripping region such that the gripping region is soft and comfortable at the edges for a user to hold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV S.A.
    Inventors: Wim Dekocker, Keenan Thompson
  • Patent number: 12110141
    Abstract: The present invention provides a packaging apparatus for picking up a set of articles from a first conveying line and releasing into a package at a second conveying line, simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe Jean Marie Duperray, Wim Dekocker
  • Publication number: 20240092587
    Abstract: The present invention provides an article picking and placing system, the system comprising: —a first article picking tooling and a second article picking tooling, and an intermediate transportation unit configured in between an article infeed transportation unit and an article outfeed transportation unit; —a control unit for synchronizing the first and second article picking tooling such that (i) the first article picking tooling picks and/or forms a first configuration of articles from the infeed transportation unit for transfer to the intermediate transportation unit, thereby forming an intermediate configuration on said intermediate transportation unit, and (ii) the second picking tooling picks a second configuration of articles from said intermediate transportation unit for transfer to the outfeed transportation unit, wherein the second and intermediate article configurations are different relative to each other and each different from the first article configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Glenn FERREIRA, Wim DEKOCKER, Philippe Jean Marie DUPERRAY, Manu PEELMAN, Tom VAN MOER, Kristof LAMBRECHTS, Frederik TRIEST, David ROMBAUT
  • Publication number: 20240059500
    Abstract: A product handling apparatus, systems and associated methods. A product handling apparatus, includes a continuous circuit having an infeed length; and a discharge length. A carriage configured to travel around the circuit between the infeed length and the discharge length has a first picking tool configured to selectively engage a first product; and a second picking tool configured to selectively engage a second product. The product handling apparatus is configured to pick a first and second product arranged in a first arrangement at the infeed length and place the first and second product in a second arrangement, different to the first arrangement, at the discharge length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Wim DEKOCKER, Philippe Jean Marie DUPERRAY, Glenn FERREIRA, Tom VAN MOER
  • Publication number: 20230405958
    Abstract: A system for processing a packaging in assembly comprising a main transportation unit (102); and a manipulator transportation unit (104) having at least one manipulating unit (110), said manipulating unit mounted on at least one independently motion controlled mover (108) and adapted for manipulating a material component of a package (106) in assembly present at the main transportation unit, wherein said manipulating unit comprises an engagement device (112) for temporarily engaging a material component of a package in assembly while being in transit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Wim Dekocker, David Rombaut, Ben Eylenbosch, Bjorn Vercauteren, Tim Cerpentier, Roderik Vancoster, Kristof Platteeuw, Keenan Thompson, Annalisa Narducci, Glenn Ferreira, Philippe Jean Marie Duperray, Manu Peelman, Tom Van Moer, Arne Vanheuverbeke, Frederik Triest
  • Publication number: 20230391563
    Abstract: A primary container handling system comprising a transportation unit transporting at least one container handling unit (108) mounted on at least one independently motion controlled mover or levitating tile (106), said container handling unit being configured to provide 3-dimensional translation and/or rotation of an individual primary container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Wim Dekocker, Marcelo Petramale, Glenn Ferreira, Philippe Jean Marie Duperray
  • Publication number: 20230382661
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for treating primary container packaging comprising •—a main transportation unit (102) configured to transport a number of gripping units (108) mounted on independently motion controlled movers (106), each gripping unit (108) adapted for transporting an individual primary container, •—an adjacent transportation unit (104) configured to transport a number of tools (114) mounted on independently motion controlled movers (112), said tools configured to provide one or more primary container material components to the main transportation unit and/or performing packaging process operations to the primary containers present at said main transportation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Wim Dekocker, Marcelo Petramale, Glenn Ferreira, Philippe Jean Marie Duperray
  • Patent number: 11713147
    Abstract: Article picking and treating apparatus The present invention provides an apparatus for picking and treating articles simultaneously, said picking and treating each being operated at a first and a second conveying line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Anheuser-Busch InBev S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe Jean Marie Duperray, Wim Dekocker
  • Publication number: 20230211965
    Abstract: A packaging system has a system for assembling a package, a method for assembling a package, and a machine for assembling a package. The packaging system comprises at least one main transportation unit (104) and at least one moveable closed loop transportation unit (102), where the at least one moveable closed loop transportation unit (102) moves three-dimensionally with respect to the at least one main transportation unit (104) for providing the packaging material components to the main transportation unit (104) and/or performing packaging process operations to a package in assembly present at the main transportation unit (104). The at least one moveable closed loop transportation unit (102) includes a number of tools mounted on independently motion-controlled movers for providing the packaging material components to the package in assembly and/or providing the packaging operations to the packaging in assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Wim DEKOCKER, Annalisa NARDUCCI, Keenan THOMPSON, Glenn FERREIRA, Philippe Jean Marie DUPERRAY
  • Patent number: 11603244
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a portable cooling multipack for holding and cooling a plurality of beverage containers. The multipack includes a primary container formed from an open top housing, having a bottom surface, and a plurality of sidewalls connected and extended away from the bottom surface to define an inner surface there-between, accessible through a top open surface. The multipack further includes a closing wrap for closing the top open surface of the housing of the primary container. The closing wrap includes a plurality of panels defining a first end panel connected to a second end panel through a bottom panel at one end and extending towards a top panel at another end. The closing wrap is wrapped around a pair of sidewalls of the primary containers in a vertical direction such that the top panel of the closing wrap sealingly covers the open top surface of the primary container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Inventors: Keenan Thompson, Wim Dekocker
  • Publication number: 20220324599
    Abstract: Article picking and treating apparatus The present invention provides an apparatus for picking and treating articles simultaneously, said picking and treating each being operated at a first and a second conveying line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Philippe Jean Marie DUPERRAY, Wim DEKOCKER
  • Publication number: 20220281697
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a beverage plant comprising a conveying system (100), said conveying system comprising: at least one driving surface (102) including at least one planar tile (112) equipped with at least one coil; at least one mover (104) equipped with at least one permanent magnet for magnetically coupling the at least one mover to the at least one planar tile, the at least one mover is placed over the at least one tile of the at least one driving surface in a contactless manner and is configured to be moved, displaced and/or rotated in at least two degrees of freedom of movement; and wherein the at least one mover is configured to support at least one beverage container (203) or at least one package containing at least one beverage container placed over the at least one mover for being moved, displaced and/or rotated in at least two degrees of freedom of movement, as the at least one mover is moved, displaced and/or rotated while being magnetically coupled to the at least one planar tile
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Philippe Jean Marie DUPERRAY, Marcelo PETRAMALE, Wim DEKOCKER
  • Publication number: 20220258888
    Abstract: The present invention provides a packaging apparatus for in-line packaging wrapping of a foldable blank around a receiving load that is simultaneously dropped onto the loading space of the foldable blank. The packaging apparatus includes a support means adapted to receive a supply of one or more foldable blanks. The support means includes a support frame supported onto two or more parallel longitudinal rails positioned generally transversal to a direction of supply of foldable blanks. The apparatus further includes an article loading mechanism to load a group of articles onto a loading space defined onto the foldable blank received onto the support means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Philippe Jean Marie DUPERRAY, Wim DEKOCKER