Tubular bag machine for filling a product

Abstract

The invention relates to a tubular bag machine for filling a product into bags ( 9 ), comprising a vertical filling tube ( 2 ), a transverse sealing unit ( 3 ), a control unit ( 4 ) for controlling the tubular bag machine, and a sensor device ( 5 ) for detecting the product in the filling tube ( 2 ), which is designed to detect the product falling through the filling tube ( 2 ), wherein the sensor device ( 5 ) has a sensor ( 51 ) for emitting electromagnetic waves, and which is connected to the control unit ( 4 ), wherein the electromagnetic waves emitted by the sensor ( 51 ) remain in a detection space (E) which is confined to one region at the filling tube ( 2 ).

1 . A tubular bag machine for filling a product, comprising
 a vertical filling tube ( 2 ),   a transverse sealing unit ( 3 ),   a control unit ( 4 ) for controlling the tubular bag machine, and   a sensor device ( 5 ) for detecting the product in the filling tube ( 2 ), which is designed to detect the product falling through the filling tube ( 2 ), wherein the sensor device ( 5 ) has a sensor ( 51 ) for emitting electromagnetic waves, and which is connected to the control unit ( 4 ), wherein the electromagnetic waves emitted by the sensor ( 51 ) remain in a detection space (E) which is confined to one region at the filling tube ( 2 ).   
     
     
         2 . The tubular bag machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the detection space (E) is delimited by at least one first absorber element ( 54 ) and a second absorber element ( 55 ) which are axially spaced apart from one another at the filling tube ( 2 ). 
     
     
         3 . The tubular bag machine according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the two absorber elements ( 54 ,  55 ) at the filling tube ( 2 ) are designed in a completely circumferential manner. 
     
     
         4 . The tubular bag machine according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the absorber elements ( 54 ,  55 ) are disposed in the interior of the filling tube ( 2 ), in particular arc integrated into the filling tube ( 2 ). 
     
     
         5 . The tubular bag machine according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the detection space (E) is cylindrical. 
     
     
         6 . The tubular bag machine according to  claim 2 , characterized in that an intermediate region between the absorber elements ( 54 ,  55 ) is designed as a metallic reflector ( 21 ) for the electromagnetic waves emitted by the sensor ( 51 ). 
     
     
         7 . The tubular bag machine according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the reflector ( 21 ) is designed as one piece. 
     
     
         8 . The tubular bag machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a plurality of absorber elements is respectively disposed, starting at the detection space (E), in an axial direction (X-X) of the filling tube ( 2 ). 
     
     
         9 . The tubular bag machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the sensor ( 51 ) is disposed in a wall ( 20 ) of the filling tube ( 2 ). 
     
     
         10 . The tubular bag machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the filling tube ( 2 ) is formed from a plurality of different materials. 
     
     
         11 . The tubular bag machine according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the absorber elements ( 54 ,  55 ) are integrated into the filling tube ( 2 ). 
     
     
         12 . The tubular bag machine according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the reflector ( 21 ) is divided into a plurality of segments. 
     
     
         13 . The tubular bag machine according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the reflector ( 21 ) is an inside wall region of the filling tube ( 2 ).