# US 7,609,393 B2 · Filling test method and device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,609,393 B2 - Document ID: US7609393B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/437,741 - Filed: 2006-05-22 - Published: 2006-11-23 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2005-05-23 - Assignees: Hauni Maschinenbau AG - Inventors: Dirk Sacher; Ralf Heikens; Matthias Horn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609393B2 ## CPC - G01F 23/292: Light {, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet} - A24C 5/3412: {by means of light, radiation or electrostatic fields (A24C5/3406 takes precedence)} - A24C 5/354: Filling the boats at the making machine - B65B 19/32: responsive to incorrect grouping of articles or to incorrect filling of packages - B65B 57/14: and operating to control, or stop, the feed of articles or material to be packaged - G01F 23/296: Acoustic waves - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - A24C: MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES - 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) ## Abstract Method for testing the filling of a container with rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry and filling test device for the container, in which a depth of the container is at least as great as a length of a rod-shaped article. The process includes detecting at least one property of the content of the container, comparing the at least one property with a predetermined desired content of the container, and when a deviation from the desired content is greater than a predetermined tolerance value, generating a signal corresponding to a defective filling. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for testing the filling of a tray with rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, in which a depth of the tray is at least as great as a length of a rod-shaped article, the process comprising: detecting at least one property of the content of the tray; comparing the at least one property with a predetermined desired content of the tray; and when a deviation from the desired content is greater than a predetermined tolerance value, generating a signal corresponding to a defective filling, wherein the at least one property comprises a fullness level of the tray, and the process further comprises detecting the fullness level of the tray from above the articles. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one upper layer of the articles in the tray is tested for articles positioned crosswise. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein, before the detection of the at least one upper layer of the articles in the tray, the container tray is tilted. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one upper layer of the articles in the tray is tested for articles positioned obliquely to an intended orientation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein portions of articles projecting from the content of the tray are detected. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein articles remaining in the tray after the tray has been emptied are detected. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises recording an optical image by camera, and the comparing comprises comparing the optical image to a desired image. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises recording a line orientation by a contrast image. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises detecting a signal pattern over a width of the tray, and the comparing comprises comparing the signal pattern with one of a stored signal pattern or another detected signal pattern. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the signal pattern is detected by a sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the signal pattern is detected by one of an ultrasonic probe and an optical probe. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one laser distance sensor is used. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the laser distance sensor records a signal pattern across a width of the tray. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the at least one laser distance sensor comprises two laser distance sensors arranged next to one another to be essentially perpendicular to a width of the tray, and the process further comprises subtracting the distances detected with the laser distance sensors at predetermined times from one another. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one sensor moves relative to the tray. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the at least one sensor moves across a width of the tray. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the tray moves through a detection zone of the at least one sensor. ### Claim 18 A filling test device for tray s for receiving rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, comprising: a recording device for recording at least one property of a content of the tray; an evaluation device comprising a signal generator unit, the evaluation device being structured and arranged to compare the at least one property of the content of the tray with a desired content of the tray wherein the at least one property comprises a fullness level of the tray; and the signal generation unit being structured and arranged to generate an error signal when a deviation from the desired content is present and greater than a predetermined tolerance value, wherein the recording device is arranged above the tray. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The filling test device in accordance with claim 18, wherein the recording device comprises at least one camera structured and arranged to record at least one of: at least one section of a front, top, or plan view of the tray and the rod-shaped articles located in the tray. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The filling test device in accordance with claim 18, wherein the recording device comprises a photo line, and at least one of the photo line and the tray is structured and arranged to be moveable. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The filling test device in accordance with claim 18, wherein the recording device comprises at least one sensor structured and arranged to record a signal pattern along at least one of a width and a height of the tray, and evaluation device comprises a storage device to store at least one signal pattern to be compared to recorded the signal pattern. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The filling test device in accordance with claim 21, wherein the at least one sensor is moveable on a carriage arranged essentially parallel to the width of the tray. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The filling test device in accordance with claim 21, wherein the at least one sensor is movable crosswise to the travel direction. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The filling test device in accordance with claim 21, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a distance sensor. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The filling test device in accordance with claim 24, wherein the distance sensor comprises a laser distance sensor. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The filling test device in accordance with claim 21, wherein the at least one sensor comprises one of a reflective probe, laser reflex probe or an ultrasonic probe. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The filling test device in accordance with claim 21, wherein the at least one sensor comprises an optical camera. ### Claim 28 (depends on 18) The filling test device in accordance with claim 18, further comprising a tray tipping device.