# US 10,865,088 B2 · Apparatus and method for filling containers with a filling product > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,865,088 B2 - Document ID: US10865088B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/739,015 - Filed: 2017-06-12 - Published: 2018-11-22 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-10 - Assignees: Krones AG - Applicants: Krones AG - Inventors: Erwin Knieling - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865088B2 ## CPC - B67C 3/284: {using non-liquid contact sensing means (B67C3/283 takes precedence)} - B67C 3/007: {Applications of control, warning or safety devices in filling machinery (flow-control B67C3/28)} - B67C 3/225: {Means for filling simultaneously, e.g. in a rotary filling apparatus or multiple rows of containers} - B67C 3/24: Devices for supporting or handling bottles (transport or storing devices in general B65G) - G01F 23/2921: {for discrete levels} - B67C 3/287: {related to flow control using predetermined or real-time calculated parameters} - B67C: CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME ## Abstract A device for filling a container with a filling product in a beverage filling plant is provided. A transporting device for transporting a container to be filled during the filling process is provided, wherein the transporting device transports the container to be filled along a transporting path, and wherein at least one determining unit for determining the fill level of the filling product in the container is provided, wherein at least one of the determining units can be displaced synchronously with the transporting device at least in a sub-section of the transporting path of the container. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for filling a container with a filling product in a beverage filling plant, comprising: a transporting device configured to transport the container along a transporting path during a filling process; and at least one determining unit configured to determine a fill level of the filling product in the container and to be displaced synchronously with the transporting device in a sub-section of the transporting path of the container, wherein: the at least one determining unit is guided on a prescribed motion path, and the prescribed motion path comprises: at least one working region in which the at least one determining unit is displaceable synchronously with the container in order to measure the fill level in the container, and a return region in which the at least one determining unit is displaceable to a start of the at least one working region, and is configured to be guided at a different speed and/or to undergo a different acceleration, from a speed and/or an acceleration in the at least one working region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one determining unit comprises an optical determining unit configured to optically measure the fill level of the filling product in the container. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the optical determining unit comprises a camera. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the optical determining unit is in communication with a control unit configured to control and/or regulate a process of filling the container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a guiding device configured to guide the at least one determining unit outside the container. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the guiding device is disposed on the transporting device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the guiding device is disposed at a non-zero distance from the transporting device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the guiding device is disposed at least along a sub-sector of a filling segment in which the container is filled with the filling product, and the sub-sector comprises at least one end sector of the filling segment. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the guiding device comprises a linear guide, a carrier belt, a magnetic levitation guide, and/or a long stator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one filling valve configured to fill the container and to be closed as a consequence of a control command, wherein the control command is initiated by a measurement of the fill level of the container by the at least one determining unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one determining unit is configured to be guided at a higher speed in the return region than in the at least one working region. ### Claim 12 A method for filling a container with a filling product, comprising: transporting the container with a transporting device; guiding at least one determining unit on a prescribed motion path, wherein the prescribed motion path comprises: at least one working region in which the at least one determining unit is displaceable synchronously with the container in order to measure a fill level in the container, and a return region in which the at least one determining unit is displaceable to a start of the at least one working region, and is guided at a different speed and/or undergoes a different acceleration, from a speed and/or acceleration in the at least one working region; filling the container with the filling product during transport of the container; and measuring a fill level of the filling product in the container with the at least one determining unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising determining, from the fill level, that an end of a filling condition exists. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising ending a filling process of the container after determining that the end of the filling condition exists. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the end of the filling condition comprises a predetermined fill level of the filling product in the container. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one determining unit is displaced over at least a sub-section of a filling segment in which the container is filled with the filling product. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the sub-section of the filling segment comprises an end sector of the filling segment. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one determining unit is guided at a higher speed in the return region than in the at least one working region.