SENSOR DEVICE FOR A PACKAGING MACHINE DESIGNED AS A CAPSULE FILLING AND SEALING MACHINE OR FOR A CAPSULE CONTROL DEVICE

• US 20120207272A1
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Runft, Werner, Schmied, Ralf, Maga, Iulian, Liebhart, Guenter, Vogt, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 9,170,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/074 Filling capsules; Related operations
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/46 Check-weighing of filled containers or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/003 Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/145 for fluent material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/04 and measuring absorption
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/601 density profile
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/04 and forming images of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/083 the radiation being X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/087 using polyenergetic X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/10 the material being confined in a container, e.g. in a luggage X-ray scanners

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).

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A sensor apparatus for a packaging machine which is in the form of a capsule filling and closing machine or a capsule monitoring apparatus having a positioning element for positioning of a container, which is filled with a filling material and has a longitudinal axis, in the area of the sensor apparatus, and having at least one X-ray radiation source and at least one detector for detection of the radiation, wherein the at least one X-ray radiation source passes radiation through the container at right angles to its longitudinal axis, and wherein the positioning element is in the form of a feed element, which is tubular or in the form of a shaft and through which the radiation can pass in a radiation lobe from the beam source,

wherein

the detector is arranged on the opposite side of the container to the X-ray radiation source and detects the radiation from the X-ray radiation source after it has passed through the container, and the detector is in the form of an image-evaluating detector and interacts with an evaluation device which allows digital data evaluation.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a plurality of feed elements arranged substantially parallel to one another, wherein at least some of the plurality of feed elements are arranged such that they are operatively connected to a common radiation source and to a common detector.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the containers are arranged stowed in a row in the feed element, and are fed by mutual touching contact of the containers at least in the area of the sensor apparatus.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the feed element is arranged above a holding segment for the containers, from which the containers are pushed over into the feed element by a pushing element.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the feed element is aligned essentially vertically and a restraint element is associated with the feed element and prevents the containers from falling out of the feed element.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the containers are fed cyclically into the area of the radiation source, and in that the detector in each case detects the radiation in the feed element in a stationary phase of the containers.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the sensor device is followed by a further weighing device, which has at least one weighing cell for weighing the container.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the weighing device has a feed and blocking element, which in each case feeds a container from the area of the feed element into the area of the weighing cell and out of the weighing cell.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 21, where in a filling weight or another characteristic of the container is detected by means of the radiation source and the detector.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the at least one radiation source is additionally arranged such that it is operatively connected to a reference object, and in that the detector at the same time additionally detects the image of the reference object, in addition to the image of the container, and supplies this to the evaluation device.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the reference object is composed of a material which at least approximately has the same absorption characteristics for the radiation, in particular for the X-ray radiation, as the container.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the reference object has areas of different absorptions for the radiation, with at least one area being provided whose absorption, within the tolerances of the characteristic of the container to be measured, is less than the minimum absorption of the container, and an area whose absorption, within the tolerances of the characteristic of the container to be measured, is greater than the maximum absorption of the container.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the reference object is in the form of a wedge or step, and in that the reference object is arranged such that the thickness of the reference object varies in the radiation direction of the radiation source.