# US 12,767,367 B2 · Handling apparatus and method for transporting and handling containers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,767,367 B2 - Document ID: US12767367B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/714,350 - Filed: 2023-01-11 - Published: 2025-01-23 - Granted: 2026-10-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-01-17 - Assignees: KHS GmbH - Applicants: KHS GmbH - Inventors: Thomas Nitsch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12767367B2 ## CPC - B65B 35/46: by rotary conveyors - B65C 9/04: having means for rotating the articles - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - B65C: LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES (nailing or stapling in general B25C, B27F; applying labels for packaging purposes B65B; labels, name-plates G09F ){(series-printing machines B41L; containers for the storage or transport of packages B65D)} ## Abstract The invention relates to a handling apparatus for containers (I), in particular for beverage containers, having a transporting carousel, which can be driven in rotation about a central axis of rotation (D), and container mounts, which are arranged on the transporting carousel and are designed to transport containers (I) along a transporting route (T), which extends over a circumferential portion of the transporting carousel, wherein the container mounts can be driven in rotation at least along part of the transporting route (T), and wherein the container mounts are each assigned a braking device (IO). According to the invention, the respective braking device (IO) is designed to brake the rotation of the container mounts variably in a braking portion (B), which extends at least along part of the transporting route (T). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising a handler for containers, said handler comprising a carousel that rotates about a central axis, container mounts arranged on said carousel to transport said containers along a transport route that extends along a portion of a circumference of said carousel, said container mounts being rotatable while traversing said portion of said circumference, and brakes, each of which applies a variable braking force that variably brakes rotation of a corresponding one of said mounts along a braking portion of said transport route, wherein each of said brakes is configured to cause said variable braking force to increase monotonically along said braking portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said braking portion extends along at least ten percent of said transport route. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said braking portion extends along at least fifteen percent of said transport route. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said braking portion extends between fifteen percent of said transport route and thirty percent of said transport route. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said braking portion extends between ten percent of said transport route and forty percent of said transport route. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said handler further comprises a brake-control curve that actuates said brakes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said handler further comprises a brake-control curve whose distance from said central axis increases along said braking portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said handler further comprises an actuator guided along a brake-control curve whose distance from said central axis increases along said braking portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said handler further comprises drives, each of which is assigned to a container mount to cause rotation of said container mount. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said handler comprises a drive actuator that is guided along a drive-control curve that is arranged along a section of said transport route. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said handler is configured to rotate said container mounts along said transport route by between 340° and 740°. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said container mounts comprises a rotating plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said handler further comprises an applicator assigned to said carousel, said applicator being configured to apply at least one of an adhesive agent and a label. ### Claim 14 A method comprising delivering containers to a handler, arranging said containers on corresponding container mounts of said handler, using a carousel to move said containers along a transport route through said handler, while using said carousel to move said containers along said transport route, rotating said container mounts, and applying a variable braking force to each of said container mounts while said container mount traverses a braking portion of said transport route, said variable braking force being a force that increases monotonically along said braking portion of said transport route. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein rotating said container mounts comprises causing each of said container mounts to rotate along said transport route by between three hundred degrees of arc and eight hundred degrees of arc. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising applying at least one of an adhesive and a décor to said container while said container traverses said transport route through said handler.