Carrier element and packaging device for packaging at least one product into at least one package

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10766652-B2
Application number	US-201414556479-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 1, 2014
Priority date	Jun 1, 2012
Publication date	Sep 8, 2020
Grant date	Sep 8, 2020

Abstract

A carrier element for use in a packaging device is provided wherein the carrier element is connectable with at least one transport device of the packaging device. The carrier element comprises at least one receiving surface for receiving at least one package. The receiving surface comprises at least one suction opening for fixing the package by suction. The carrier element further comprises at least one pressure reservoir connected to the suction opening. The carrier element further comprises at least one pressure sensor for measuring a pressure inside the pressure reservoir. A packaging device for packaging at least one product into at least one package is also disclosed. The packaging device comprises at least one carrier element and at least one transport device, wherein the carrier element is connected to the transport device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A carrier element for use in a packaging device, wherein
the carrier element is connectable with at least one transport device of the packaging device,
the carrier element comprises at least one receiving surface for receiving at least one package,
the receiving surface comprises at least one suction opening for fixing the package by suction,
the carrier element further comprises at least one pressure reservoir connected to the suction opening, and
the carrier element further comprises at least one pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure inside the pressure reservoir, wherein the carrier element is configured to transmit wirelessly at least one pressure information that indicates the pressure inside the pressure reservoir to at least one receiver, wherein the carrier element is configured to vary a measurement rate, and wherein the measurement rate is selected from the group consisting of a rate at which the pressure information is acquired by the pressure sensor and a rate of wireless transmission of the pressure information.

2. The carrier element according claim 1 , wherein the carrier element is further configured to transmit at least one identification information to the receiver, wherein the identification information is configured to identify the carrier element.

3. The carrier element according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier element is configured to select the measurement rate in accordance with the pressure information acquired by the pressure sensor.

4. The carrier element according to claim 3 , wherein the carrier element is configured to use at least two pressure ranges, wherein, in case the pressure information is in a first pressure range, a first measurement rate is selected and wherein, in case the pressure information is in a second pressure range, a second measurement rate is selected, wherein the first pressure range comprises pressures lower than pressures comprised in the second pressure range, wherein the first pressure range is a normal pressure range and the second pressure range is a high pressure range, wherein, in case the pressure information is in the high pressure range, a higher measurement rate is selected than in case the pressure information is in the normal pressure range.

5. The carrier element according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier element is configured to be operated in at least one test mode, wherein, in the test mode, a test mode measurement rate selected from a range of 1 Hz to 100 Hz is used.

6. The carrier element according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier element is configured to be operated in a sleep mode, wherein, in the sleep mode, no pressure information is acquired by the pressure sensor.

7. The carrier element according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier element further comprises at least one electric energy storage for providing electric energy to the pressure sensor.

8. The carrier element according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure reservoir comprises at least one application opening for applying a vacuum to the pressure reservoir.

9. The carrier element according to claim 8 , wherein the carrier element further comprises at least one valve element connected to the application opening.

10. A vacuum monitoring device, comprising at least one carrier element according to claim 1 , the vacuum monitoring device further comprising at least one receiver, wherein the carrier element is adapted for wireless transmission of at least one pressure information indicating the pressure inside the pressure reservoir of the carrier element to the receiver.

11. A packaging device for packaging at least one product into at least one package, wherein the packaging device comprises at least one carrier element according to claim 1 , wherein the packaging device further comprises at least one transport device, wherein the carrier element is connected to the transport device, wherein the packaging device is adapted to measure the pressure inside the pressure reservoir of the carrier element by using the pressure sensor of the carrier element.

12. The packaging device according to claim 11 , wherein the packaging device further comprises at least one vacuum device for applying a vacuum to the pressure reservoir.

13. The packaging device according to claim 12 , wherein the packaging device is adapted to apply the vacuum to the pressure reservoir when the carrier element is located in at least one application position of the transport device.

14. The packaging device according claim 13 , wherein the packaging device further comprises at least one loading device, wherein the loading device is adapted to load at least one package onto the receiving surface of the carrier element located in the application position, wherein the package is pressed onto the application surface by suction exerted by the vacuum inside the pressure reservoir.

15. The packaging device according to claim 11 , wherein the packaging device further comprises at least one receiver, wherein the receiver is adapted to wireless sly receive at least one pressure information indicating the pressure inside the pressure reservoir.

16. The packaging device according to claim 15 , wherein the receiver is further adapted for receiving at least one identification information of the carrier element transmitting the pressure information.

17. A method for packaging at least one product into at least one package, wherein the packaging device according to claim 11 is used, the method comprising the following steps:
at least one first loading step, wherein in the first loading step at least one package is loaded onto the at least one carrier element of the packaging device, wherein the package is fixed to the receiving surface of the carrier element by suction;
at least one second loading step, wherein in the second loading step at least one product is loaded into the package;
at least one measuring step, wherein in the measuring step the pressure inside the pressure reservoir of the carrier element is measured by using the pressure sensor, thereby generating at least one pressure information indicating the pressure inside the pressure reservoir of the carrier element; and at least one removal step, wherein in the removal step the package is removed from the carrier element.

Assignees

• Roche Diagnostics Operations Inc
• Roche Diagnostics Gmbh

Inventors

• Jasiulek Thomas
• Trapp Andreas

Classifications

• B65G47/843

  the article-engaging elements being suction or magnetic means · CPC title

• B65G17/46

  Means for holding or retaining the loads in fixed position on the load-carriers, e.g. magnetic · CPC title

• B65G17/34

  having flat surfaces, e.g. platforms, grids, forks · CPC title

• B65B65/003

  Packaging lines, e.g. general layout · CPC title

• B65G17/323

  Grippers, e.g. suction or magnetic · CPC title