Process and apparatus for detecting and sorting out inappropriately filled packages of filler material during a packaging process

A process using a radiation source of diffuse radiation, a radiation receiver and a sorting apparatus for detecting and sorting out packages of filler material inappropriately filled during movement of said packages through a packaging machine wherein each of said packages comprises a cover foil and a radiation reflecting bottom foil having a plurality of nest formed therein for holding said filler material such that each of said nests is dimensioned to form a gap around said filler material after filling of said nests, and wherein said process comprises:

• disposing said source of radiation over said radiation receiver;
• providing said radiation receiver with an active receiving surface overlying an adjacent surface portion of said filler material such that said receiving surface is larger than said adjacent surface portion of said filler material;
• reflecting said diffuse radiation from said source of radiation from said radiation reflecting bottom foil through said gap around said filler material so as to cast shadows of filled nests onto said receiving surface of said radiation receiver such that shadows of said nests inappropriately filled differ from shadows of said nests appropriately filled;
• generating a signal with said receiver upon casting thereon said shadows of said nests inappropriately filled;
• and
• triggering said sorting apparatus with said signal so as to sort out said inappropriately filled packages.

A system for detecting and sorting out inappropriately filled packages of filler material filled during a packaging process, said system comprising:

• a cover foil provided on each of said packages;
• a radiation-permeable bottom foil provided on each of said packages and having a plurality of spaced nests formed in said bottom foil along at least one row for holding said filler material, said nests being dimensioned to form a gap around said filler material after filling of said nests;
• a radiation source for irradiating diffuse radiation through said radiation-permeable bottom foil after filling of said nests during said packaging process such that said radiation subsequently passes through said gap around said filler material;
• a radiation receiver provided for each said at least one row of said nests and having an active receiving surface overlying an adjacent surface portion of said filler material disposed in one of said nests, said active receiving surface of said radiation receiver being larger than said adjacent surface portion of said filler material such that said radiation passing through said gap casts a shadow of said one of said nests onto said active receiving surface of said radiation receiver wherein a shadow of said one of said nests inappropriately filled differs from a shadow of said one of said nests appropriately filled such that said receiver generates an output signal having an amplitude corresponding to each said shadow;
• a comparator connected to each said radiation receiver;
• a counter connected to each said comparator for counting said nests in said at least one row;
• and
• means connected to each said comparator and to each said counter for triggering a sorting mechanism upon said amplitude of said output signal being below a predetermined value.

A system for detecting and sorting out inappropriately filled packages of filler material filled during a packaging process, said system comprising;

• a cover foil provided on each of said packages;
• a radiation reflecting bottom foil having a plurality of nests formed therein along at least one row for holding said filler material such that each of said nests is dimensioned to form a gap around said filler material after filling of said nests;
• a radiation source for irradiating diffuse radiation through said gap around said filler material and onto said radiation reflecting bottom foil after filling of said nests during said packaging process such that said radiation is reflected from said radiation reflecting bottom foil;
• at least one radiation receiver disposed under said radiation source for measuring said radiation reflected from said radiation reflecting bottom foil and provided for each said at least one row of said nests and having an active receiving surface overlying an adjacent surface portion of said filler material disposed in one of said nests, said active receiving surface of said radiation receiver being larger than said adjacent surface portion of said filler material such that said radiation reflected from said radiation reflecting bottom foil passes through said gap around said filler material and casts a shadow of one of said nests onto said active receiving surface of said radiation receiver wherein a shadow of said one of said nests inappropriately filled differs from a shadow of said one of said nests appropriately filled such that said receiver generates an output signal having an amplitude corresponding to each said shadow;
• a comparator connected to each said at least one radiation receiver;
• a counter connected to each said comparator for counting said nests in said at least one row;
• and
• means connected to each said comparator and to each said counter for triggering a sorting mechanism upon said amplitude of said output signal being below a predetermined value.

A system for detecting and sorting out inappropriately filled packages of filler material filled during a packaging process, said system comprising:

• a cover foil provided on each of said packages;
• a radiation-permeable bottom foil provided on each of said packages and having a plurality of spaced nests formed in said bottom foil along at least one row for holding said filler material, said nests being dimensioned to form a gap around said filler material after filling of said nests;
• a radiation source for irradiating diffuse radiation through said radiation-permeable bottom foil after filling of said nests during said packaging process such that said radiation subsequently passes through said gap around said filler material;
• a radiation receiver provided for each said at least one row of said nests and having an active receiving surface overlying an adjacent surface portion of said filler material disposed in one of said nests, said active receiving surface of said radiation receiver being larger than said adjacent surface portion of said filler material such that said radiation passing through said gap casts a shadow of said one of said nests onto said active receiving surface of said radiation receiver wherein a shadow of said one of said nests inappropriately filled differs from a shadow of said one of said nests appropriately filled such that said receiver generates an output signal having an amplitude corresponding to each said shadow;
• a comparator connected to each said radiation receiver;
• and
• means connected to each said comparator for triggering a sorting mechanism upon said amplitude of said output signal being below a predetermined value.

A system for detecting and sorting out inappropriately filled packages of filler material filled during a packaging process, said system comprising:

• a cover foil provided on each of said packages;
• a radiation reflecting bottom foil having a plurality of nests formed therein along at least one row for holding said filler material such that each of said nests is dimensioned to form a gap around said filler material after filling of said nests;
• a radiation source for irradiating diffuse radiation through said gap around said filler material and onto said radiation reflecting bottom foil after filling of said nests during said packaging process such that said radiation is reflected from said radiation reflecting bottom foil;
• at least one radiation receiver disposed under said radiation source for measuring said radiation reflected from said radiation reflecting bottom foil and provided for each said at least one row of said nests and having an active receiving surface overlying an adjacent surface portion of said filler material disposed in one of said nests, said active receiving surface of said radiation receiver being larger than said adjacent surface portion of said filler material such that said radiation reflected from said radiation reflecting bottom foil passes through said gap around said filler material and casts a shadow of one of said nests onto said active receiving surface of said radiation receiver wherein a shadow of said one of said nests inappropriately filled differs from a shadow of said one of said nests appropriately filled such that said receiver generates an output signal having an amplitude corresponding to each said shadow;
• a comparator connected to each said at least one radiation receiver;
• and
• means connected to each said comparator for triggering a sorting mechanism upon said amplitude of said output signal being below a predetermined value.