Packing and / or filling system, operating method and use

WO2025186302A8PCT designated stage Publication Date: 2025-10-02HAVER & BOECKER OHG
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Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/EP2025/055953
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2024-03-07
Filing Date
2025-03-05
Publication Date
2025-10-02

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Conventional methods for sealing containers, such as welding or gluing, often fail to ensure a reliable closure, leading to product leakage during transport, which can result in environmental contamination and rejection of containers.

Method used

A packing and/or filling system equipped with a camera device and computing device for automated image analysis using AI and machine learning to verify the correctness of container closures, ensuring only properly sealed containers are processed.

Benefits of technology

The system reliably checks container closures, preventing product leakage and reducing the need for rework or rejection, thereby minimizing costs and environmental risks.

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Abstract

The invention relates to a packing and / or filling system (100), comprising: a packing and / or filling machine (1) for filling containers (200) with pourable and / or flowable materials; a closure device (2) for closing filled containers (200); a removal device (3) for removing filled containers (200); a monitoring device (50) for monitoring for correct container closure; and a control device (4), wherein the monitoring device (50) comprises a camera device (51) and a computing device (52). The computing device (52) is suitable and configured for checking the image data acquired by the camera device (51) for correct container closure on the basis of an evaluation based on an automated application. In the method for operating such a packing and / or filling system (100), correct container closure is inferred on the basis of the evaluation of the image data based on the automated application, and a correspondingly predetermined action is initiated. The invention also relates to the use of an automated application for checking for correct closure of filled bags (300) during the filling thereof with bulk material.
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Description

[0001] Haver & Boecker packing and / or filling system, method for operation and use Description The present invention relates to a packing and / or filling system comprising at least one packing and / or filling machine for filling pourable and / or flowable materials into containers, at least one closure device for closing filled containers, at least one removal device for removing filled containers, at least one monitoring device for monitoring the correct container closure and at least one control device, wherein the monitoring device comprises at least one camera device and at least one computing device. The present invention also relates to a method for operating such systems and to a use. Various designs and applications for systems for filling liquids and solid substances such as bulk goods into containers are known in the prior art.When filling bulk goods, bags are usually used as containers, with open-mouth bags and valve bags being common practices. After the filling process, the bags must be sealed to prevent product from escaping during storage and, above all, during transport. A disadvantage, however, is that conventional bag sealing methods, such as welding the bag opening or the bag valve, do not always work reliably. This can lead to unwanted product escaping, which can result in environmental contamination and / or incorrectly weighted containers. Liquids are usually filled into more rigid containers, such as barrels, canisters, buckets, bottles, cans, and / or the like, but also bags, pouches, and / or bags. Here, too, the escape of filled material after the filling process must be prevented.For this purpose, the opening used for filling is usually covered with a suitable closure, closed or, in the case of non-rigid containers, welded or glued. The closure of barrels, canisters, bottles and the like can also be leaky. For example, a lid may not be put on properly, may be crooked or turned, which can cause a leak. A disadvantage of incorrectly sealed containers is that, for example, product may leak out during transport in overseas containers. This can lead to the recipient refusing to accept the container if leaked product is detected when the container is opened. This can even happen if this only happens to a fraction of the total load or even only in an isolated case. It is therefore the object of the present invention to ensure that only properly sealed containers are further processed.This object is achieved by a packing and / or filling system having the features of claim 1, by a method having the features of claim 12, and by a use having the features of claim 27. Preferred developments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims. Further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the general description and the description of the exemplary embodiment.The packing and / or filling system according to the invention comprises at least one packing and / or filling machine for filling containers with pourable and / or flowable materials, at least one closure device for closing filled containers, at least one removal device for removing filled containers, at least one inspection device for checking that the container has been closed correctly (after the container has been filled), and at least one control device, the inspection device comprising at least one camera device and at least one computing device. The computing device is suitable and designed to check the image data captured by the camera device for a correct container closure using at least one evaluation based on at least one automated application. A packing system in particular comprises at least one packing machine, the packaging machine being preferably used according to the application for filling solid pourable or flowable materials.free-flowing and / or flowable materials such as bulk material. If necessary, materials can be made flowable, for example by adding air. When using a packaging machine to fill bulk material, it is particularly preferred that bags are used as containers into which, for example, the bulk material is filled. In particular, so-called open-mouth bags and / or valve bags of known design and material selection can be used. A packaging machine can preferably be designed as a so-called single-spout or multi-spout packaging machine or also as a rotating Haver & Boecker packaging machine, preferably with several filling spouts arranged around the circumference of the rotating packaging machine. In particular, a packaging machine can also be designed as a so-called form-fill-seal system (FFS).A filling system comprises in particular at least one filling machine, wherein according to the application, in particular liquid, viscous and / or pasty media or materials can be filled into containers by means of a filling machine. In this case, the containers provided here are in particular barrels, cans, buckets, canisters, bottles and / or other similar suitable containers for holding essentially liquid materials. If a packaging machine is provided, by means of which, for example, bulk material is filled into bags, a correct container closure is checked in particular to determine whether the bag is or can be properly closed. In particular, it can be checked whether a so-called closure seam or a bag seam is properly executed. In a packaging system with at least one packaging machine, the term bag closure can preferably be used as a synonym for container closure.If preferably and, for example, essentially liquid materials are filled into containers such as a canister using a filling machine, the presence and correct fit of a closure such as a lid can be checked to ensure that the container is closed correctly. The automated application checks the image data recorded by the camera, in particular by means of image analysis, to determine whether the container is closed correctly. The computing device is in particular designed as a computer or preferably comprises at least one computer. Haver & Boecker Depending on the design, the inspection device can also comprise more than one camera device, the image data from which is then taken into account. For example, it can be provided in particular that a container to be checked is photographed from at least two sides, for example from above and below.Depending on the design, it is possible to check, among other things, whether there are any creases or other irregularities on the underside or back of the closure. The packing and / or filling system according to the invention offers many advantages. A significant advantage is that the automated application enables reliable and relatively easy-to-implement verification of correct container closure. This ensures, among other things, that filled containers cannot escape through a leaky or incorrect container closure, particularly during palletizing of filled containers or during transport in general. This can lead to significant advantages, for example, when transporting bulk goods packed in bags.For example, bulk goods packed in bags and transported in overseas containers, for example to Asia or other parts of the world, will not be accepted by the recipient if the container is opened after transport and contamination from escaping bulk goods is discovered. The container is then often immediately resealed and sent back. This leads to considerable costs that can be avoided by the packing and / or filling system according to the invention, since the containers are checked for correct container closure after filling, whereby a major source of error for escaping bulk goods or material can be largely eliminated. Haver & Boecker Preferably, the automated application comprises at least one AI application and / or at least one machine learning application and / or is at least one such application. In particular, at least one computer vision application can also be provided.The advantage of machine learning in evaluating the image data captured by the camera device is that it can provide particularly accurate and reliable detection of a correct container closure. This means that the application or automated application can not only compare the captured image data, for example, with images from an image database and draw conclusions about a correct container closure, but can also learn independently and recognize correct or incorrect container closures. Computer vision refers in particular to the analysis of images and videos using computer programs. The goal of these analyses is, in particular, to extract the information contained in the image. Depending on the design, probabilistic methods, methods of image processing, projective geometry, deep learning, and computer graphics are preferably used.In the area of ​​AI applications, any application in the field of artificial intelligence can be used that can be advantageously used with regard to the respective intended evaluation of data sets. The use of machine learning (ML) is particularly advantageous here, with such machine learning being a sub-field of artificial intelligence (AI). Central components of machine learning are algorithms and methods that enable programs to learn from data without being explicitly programmed. This allows these programs to make decisions preferably independently. This enables the control device to independently recognize variable container sizes Haver & Boecker or container types or container colors without having to be laboriously trained for each variant individually. A distinction is made in particular between supervised, unsupervised, and semi-supervised learning.Supervised learning methods include convolutional neural networks (also known as space-invariant artificial neural networks) and further developments of convolutional neural networks, such as region-based convolutional neural networks. These modifications of conventional neural networks are particularly, but not exclusively, suitable for image processing applications, as one or more preprocessing steps are performed before the neural network, depending on the design, including, for example, convolution operations depending on the application. In particular, sensors (e.g., optical sensors such as a color or black / white camera, thermal image, temperature sensors, vibration sensors, etc.), and in this case in any case using a camera device, are used to record data from specific states and preferably store the data in a control device.The received, processed, and declared information is then transferred / trained into a CNN (convolutional neural network), preferably using machine learning or AI methods or AI applications. Particular preference is given to taking data sets from similar systems into account for the automated application. This makes it possible for the automated application to learn not only from the respective packing and / or filling system, but also to benefit from the “experience” of other similar systems, provided these are networked with each other, or the “experience” is transferred in another way. Haver & Boecker In order to train the AI ​​application or machine learning application with standard values, it is preferable to pre-train it using standard values ​​from a system of this type that has already been built several times, or to have a trained operator transfer the system values ​​orTo record data records in trouble-free standard operation and to declare them as correct, or in the event of deviations occurring, to teach the AI ​​application that they are faulty. It is particularly preferred to set a predetermined probability as to when a container is recognized as correctly or incorrectly sealed. In particular, it is possible to set this so that in unclear cases or when a certain probability exists, a manual check or a check by a user is suggested and / or initiated. In expedient further developments, the control device is assigned to the closure device and / or the removal device. Depending on the design, the correct container closure can be detected at a suitable point. The evaluation of the automated application can preferably be transferred to the control device. This makes it possible for the control device to control the removal and / or the filling process.regulates and in doing so takes into account the detected results of the control device or the evaluation. The control device is particularly preferably assigned to the closure device. In this way, it is possible to check, preferably before the container closure is created, during closure and / or after the container has been closed, whether correct container closure is even possible and / or has been carried out. Haver & Boecker In advantageous developments, the control device is assigned to the removal device. In this way, too, during the removal of the closed containers, a correct container closure can be checked at a suitable point in the process flow. In preferred embodiments, the control device is suitable and designed to reject a container if a faulty container closure is detected.The control device can, for example, digitally mark an incorrectly sealed container as rejects, so that the container is later, for example, not assigned to palletizing or further transport, but is discarded and / or returned to the filling process. Depending on the design, it is also possible for a container to be directly discharged, in which case the system will then have corresponding technical features. Depending on the design, discharge can, for example, be provided before the removal device and / or only take place during removal, within and / or after the removal device. The containers to be sealed are preferably bags. Such bags can be provided in particular when a packing system with a packing machine is used. In this case, such bags can preferably be designed as valve bags and / or open-mouth bags, into which bulk material orpourable, free-flowing or flowable material is filled. Particularly preferably, the computing device is suitable and designed to use the automated application to check the image data for a correct welded seam, glued seam and / or sewn seam and / or a correctly applied tab in the area of ​​the bag closure. This allows a reliable check to be carried out as to whether a filled bag is properly closed. Haver & Boecker Preferably, the computing device is suitable and designed to use the automated application to check the image data for the correct fit of a closure, for example a lid. The control device is preferably suitable and designed to check, in multi-spout systems, whether faulty container closures can be attributed (statistically) to one or more filling modules or filling spouts. This can preferably be carried out with and / or without AI support.Subsequently, a predetermined action is preferably carried out via the control device. This can in particular be the temporary shutdown of the corresponding filling nozzle or filling module and / or the output of a warning message to the operator and / or the service personnel. The method according to the invention is suitable for operating a packing and / or filling system as described above. Based on the evaluation of the image data from the camera device of the control device, the automated application is used to determine whether the container has been correctly closed, and a corresponding predetermined action is initiated. The method according to the invention also offers the advantages already explained above with regard to the packing and / or filling system according to the invention. The automated application is preferably at least one AI application and / or at least one machine learning application and / or comprises at least one such application.The same preferred embodiments and / or definitions apply here as were explained for the packing and / or filling system. Haver & Boecker Particularly preferably, the automated application takes at least one detection area into account when evaluating the image data. In this case, a specific image area can preferably be set or detected by the camera, so that, for example, in the case of a sack filled with bulk material, only the area of ​​a sack seam is recorded by the camera device. Depending on the embodiment, however, a larger image section can also be recorded, and the automated application independently searches for or recognizes the detection area in the overall image, or even supports it.In expedient further developments, the inspection device is assigned to the closing device, and the image data for checking correct container closure is taken into account before the actual closure of the container, during closure of the container, and / or after closure of the container. Depending on the design of the packing and / or filling system, it can therefore be detected, preferably even before the container is closed, that correct container closure is not possible. For example, when filling and closing bags, the bag can then be checked in the closing device, e.g. before closure, to determine whether the individual layers of the bag, which are to be joined together by means of a welding process, for example, are positioned correctly and / or whether the side gussets are correctly formed in the case of bags with side gussets.Additionally or alternatively, image data that was / is recorded during and / or after the container closure can also be used. In general, one advantage of checking for correct container closure in the closure device and in any case before the removal device is that an incorrectly sealed container can be immediately rejected or removed from the further process. For example, when filling bulk material into bags, it can be avoided that incorrectly sealed bags are dropped or tipped onto the removal device, which would result in dust being released. In advantageous embodiments, the inspection device is assigned to the removal device. Correct container closure can also be checked in a suitable manner at this position in the filling process.The control device is preferably suitable and designed to (statistically) attribute a faulty container closure to one or more filling modules and / or filling nozzles of the packing and / or filling machine. It is possible that faulty container closures occur regularly or even constantly due to a defect, an error, incorrect setting or adjustment and / or wear. This can preferably be detected by the control device based on the image data so that remedial action can be taken. In advantageous developments, the predetermined action comprises at least one of the following actions: releasing a container, issuing at least one note, documentation and / or rejection of a container, switching off a filling module and / or filling nozzle, switching off the packing and / or filling machine and / or issuing a warning.In particular, if it is detected that incorrectly closed containers can be assigned to one or more specific filling modules or filling nozzles, these can advantageously be removed from the further filling process in order to check why the container is incorrectly closed. Once the error has been found and rectified, for example through maintenance or inspection, the filling modules or Haver & Boecker filling nozzles can be used again in the further filling process. Depending on the system and situation, the entire packing and / or filling machine can also be stopped, especially if there is an accumulation of incorrect bag closures. The automated application preferably checks at least one quality criterion for a correct container closure. Depending on the type of container closure, several quality criteria can be taken into account, which can preferably also be weighted differently.This can, for example and preferably, be the checking of the correct fit of a closure on a container, for example the correct fit of a lid. Preferably, the quality criterion is the visual appearance of a seam. For example, the welding or the weld seam of a container, in particular a sack, can be checked. It is particularly preferred that such a seam is welded, glued, sewn and / or introduced in some other way when closing a sack, for example an open-mouth sack or a sack valve in a valve sack. In advantageous embodiments, the quality criterion is the position of at least two sack layers in relation to one another. For example, the incorrect execution of a container closure on a sack can be detected in this way, or it can be taken into account in the detection whether the end sections orfree edges of two bag layers lie essentially parallel to one another, which means that the seam connecting these layers has been reliably applied. The quality criterion is particularly preferably the formation of wrinkles. For example, if a certain proportion of wrinkles is exceeded or if there is a certain degree of wrinkle formation or a certain degree of drape in the image section of the bag closure, it can be concluded that a reliable and tight bag or container closure has not been achieved. The automated application preferably checks the image data online. This means that image material or the experience of other similar machines can also be accessed. The automated application is preferably trained and / or works offline on the computer device. The automated application is preferably retrained. The retraining can preferably take place offline or online.The invention also relates to the use of an automated application, in particular an application comprising at least one AI application and / or at least one machine learning application, for checking the correct closure of filled bags when filling bulk material. The use according to the invention also has the advantages that have already been explained in relation to the packing and / or filling system according to the invention and the method according to the invention. The previously described developments and definitions of machine learning and artificial intelligence also apply to the use according to the invention. Further advantages and features of the present invention emerge from the exemplary embodiments which are explained below with reference to the accompanying figures. The figures show: Haver & Boecker Fig. 1 a purely schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a packing system orFilling system in a plan view; Fig. 2 a purely schematic representation of a detection area of ​​an image of a container closure to be evaluated in an embodiment of a packing system or filling system according to the invention; Fig. 3 a purely schematic representation of a detection area of ​​an image of a further container closure to be evaluated in an embodiment of a packing system or filling system according to the invention; Fig. 4 a purely schematic representation of a detection area of ​​an image of a next container closure to be evaluated in an embodiment of a packing system or filling system according to the invention; Fig. 5 a purely schematic representation of a detection area of ​​an image of a different container closure to be evaluated in an embodiment of a packing system or filling system according to the invention;6 is a purely schematic representation of a detection area of ​​an image to be evaluated of a further container closure in an embodiment of a packing system or filling system according to the invention; Fig. 7 is a purely schematic representation of a detection area of ​​an image to be evaluated of a next container closure in a Haver & Boecker embodiment of a packing system or filling system according to the invention; Fig. 8 is a purely schematic representation of a further embodiment of a packing system or filling system according to the invention in a plan view; and Fig. 9 is a purely schematic representation of a next embodiment of a packing system or filling system according to the invention in a plan view. Figure 1 shows a purely schematic plan view of an embodiment of a packing and / or filling system 100 according to the invention. In this case, a packing system 100 is shown which is used for filling bulk material into containers 200 orBags 300 are provided. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the packing system 100 comprises a rotating packing machine 1 which has a plurality of filling modules 6 distributed over the circumference, each with a filling nozzle 5. From a silo (not shown in detail here) above the packing machine 1, the filling nozzles 5 are supplied with bulk material, which is then filled into bags 300 or, in this case, valve bags 301 placed on the filling nozzles 5. For placing or shooting valve bags 301 onto passing filling nozzles 5, a so-called bag applicator 7 is provided here, which takes individual empty bags from a magazine, accelerates them in a firing channel and shoots them onto a filling nozzle 5. During the rotation of the packing machine 1, a bag 300 is then filled and subsequently closed, wherein closing devices 2 are provided for this purpose, which are assigned to each filling module 6 here.Depending on the design, however, a closing device 2 can also be provided for all filling modules 6 together on the packaging machine. Haver & Boecker In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the closing devices 2 comprise a welding device 8, by means of which the two bag layers 304, 305 of a valve bag 301 or the bag valve 307 are welded. After the container 200 or the bag 300 has been completely filled and the container closure or here the bag closure has been completed, the container 200 or the bag is transferred to a removal device 3, by means of which filled containers 200 are fed, for example, to a downstream palletizing system (not shown). Depending on the design, the closing device 2 can also be assigned not to the filling modules 6, but to the removal device 3, or it can be installed upstream as a separate module. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the control device 50 is assigned to the removal device 3 orhere assigned to the discharge conveyor belt, wherein a detection area 53 of the camera device 51 of the control device 50 records images of filled bags 300 conveyed past. Depending on the design, images of the detection area 53 can also be taken exclusively or additionally from other directions by further camera devices 51. Depending on the design, it is possible, for example, to check whether creases or other irregularities have occurred on the underside or back of the closure. This image material is evaluated by a computing device 52 assigned to the control device 50 using an automated application. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the use of artificial intelligence or an AI application or a machine learning application is provided, as previously defined or described in the general part of the description.Haver & Boecker Furthermore, it is shown that in the exemplary embodiment shown, an internet connection is provided for the control device 50 or each computing device 52. Thus, among other things, communication can also take place between packing and / or filling systems 100, preferably of the same type, in order to determine or evaluate an even more precise evaluation of a correct container closure or, in this case, a bag closure. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the control device 50 is operatively connected to a control device 4, which can, in particular, influence the removal of filled containers 200 or, in this case, filled bags 300. Thus, it is provided here that at least one predetermined action is carried out based on the evaluation of the control device 50. In this case, the predetermined action canIn this case, if the bag is closed correctly, this could be the release of the bag so that it can be conveyed further and, for example, fed to a further process. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the control device 50 is suitable and designed to check, in multi-spout systems, whether faulty container closures can be attributed (statistically) to one or more filling modules 6, and to carry out a predetermined action for this purpose via the control device 4. This can be the temporary shutdown of the corresponding filling module 6 and / or the output of a warning message to the operator and / or the service personnel. Depending on the result of the evaluation, the discharge of the Haver & Boecker bag 300 corresponding to it can, for example, be carried out or commissioned if a faulty bag closure is detected. Depending on the design, only a note can be output. Should a questionable result be obtained during the evaluation ora probability is to be calculated which does not allow a clear statement, a manual or manual inspection of the container 200 or the sack 300 by a user can, for example, be specified as a predetermined action. Figures 2 to 7 show various containers 200 or, in this case, sacks 300 or valve sacks 301 in the area of ​​the sack closure 303, wherein in particular the sack valve 307 is present in the detection area 53 of the camera device 51 of the control device 50. Depending on the design, the detection area 53 can be specified by the selected (entire) image section of the camera device 51. In the exemplary embodiment shown, however, the detection area 53 is selected or recognized by the computing device from an overall image of the camera device 51. For example, the computing device 52 can determine the area of ​​the sack closure 303 orIdentify the bag valve 307 and check this area for proper container closure or proper bag closure. Figure 2 shows a continuous and even seam 302, with a weld seam 302 being provided in the illustrated embodiment, with the two superimposed bag layers 304, 305 of the bag valve 307 being joined together by means of a welding device 8. In addition to a straight and even weld seam 302, the free ends 308 of the bag layers 304, 305 also lie relatively straight and flush with one another, so that proper container closure or proper bag closure can be assumed here.Based on the evaluation of the weld seam 302 and here also by the alignment of the bag layers 304, 305 to one another, it can be assumed with a predominant probability that the bag 300 is properly closed. Figure 3 shows a further exemplary embodiment in which the control device 50 or the automated evaluation or the AI ​​evaluation or the machine learning evaluation has detected a correct bag closure or container closure. Here, too, a straight-line design of the bag seam 302 is shown, and the alignment of the end sections or the free ends 308 of the bag layers 304, 305 can be assessed as being in accordance with the standard for a proper container closure. Here, too, it can be assumed with a predominant probability, close to 100% in the exemplary embodiment shown, that the bag is properly closed.For the bags 300 according to Figures 2 and 3, the predetermined action would be to release the respective bag 300. Figure 4 shows an example in which, depending on the probability setting, it is unclear whether the bag is properly closed. In the exemplary embodiment shown, depending on the set probability for detecting a properly closed container 200 or bag 300, either a Haver & Boecker rejection of the bag or a manual inspection can be provided. In the detection area 303 shown, it can be seen that the bag layers 304, 305 are arranged in a critical relationship to one another, which is reinforced by a slightly interrupted weld seam 302 and a fold 306. Figures 5, 6 and 7 show three examples of bags 300 or valve bags 301 in which the bag valve 307 is not properly closed, so that these bags must or should be discarded.It can be seen here that the bag seam or weld seam 302 only partially connects both bag layers 304, 305. This can be detected by the automated application through the position of the free ends 308 of the bag layers 304, 305 together with the position of the weld seam 302 and the appearance of the weld seam 302. In the three cases shown, it can therefore be clearly determined that the container or bag is not properly closed. These bags are therefore discarded. Figure 6 also indicates that the detection area 53 can be rotated or appropriately selected by the computing device 53 depending on the position of the bag closure 303. The features or quality criteria to be detected can differ depending on the container type and closure type.For example, in the case of a tab closure, it can be detected whether the band is present, whether it is placed at an angle and / or whether the closure seam runs outside the legs of the tab closure. Haver & Boecker Figure 8 shows another exemplary embodiment of a packing and / or filling system 100 according to the invention in a purely schematic plan view. The basic structure of the exemplary embodiment shown here corresponds to the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 1. The packing and / or filling system shown here therefore also comprises a rotating packing machine 1. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 1, the monitoring device 50 is assigned to the closure device 3 here, so that the detection area 53 of the camera 51 supplies images before, during and / or after the container closure is produced.Thus, depending on the design, it can be recognized even before a container closure is introduced that correct container closure is not possible at all, because, for example, the layers of a filled bag and / or, for example, a side fold are not positioned correctly. The bag can then be discarded or rejected immediately before or after closure. Depending on the design, it can also be advantageous to combine the embodiments according to Figures 1 and 7 so that correct container closure is checked at two points. Then, for example, it can also be checked whether a closure has (partially) opened again when the bag 300 was discarded or whether there is a leak that was not previously detected. Figure 9 shows a further embodiment of a packing and / or filling system 100 according to the invention purely schematically in a plan view.In contrast to the previously shown embodiments, however, the packaging machine 1 here is not intended as a rotating packaging machine 1, but rather as a so-called Form-Fill-Seal (FFS) packaging machine 1. Haver & Boecker The packaging machine 1 shown here comprises a filling module 6 with a filling nozzle 5, in which case so-called open-mouth bags 309 are filled. Depending on the design, the empty open-mouth bags 309 are produced directly in the packaging machine 1 from a film supply or, alternatively, bags stored on a roll, for example, are fed individually to the filling module. The bags 300, 309 are then filled and, in the embodiment shown, transferred to a closing device 2. The filled and closed bags 300, 309 are then transported upright in the embodiment shown and then tip onto the removal device 3. If the container closure is not inserted correctly, orIn the exemplary embodiment shown, if the weld seam is leaky, unwanted and sometimes considerable dust may be released when the bag 300, 309 is transferred to the removal device 3 or when the bag 300, 309 tips over onto the removal device 3. Therefore, the inspection of the correct container closure already takes place here at the closure device 2, whereby image data before, during and / or after the closure of the bag 300, 309 can be taken into account when assessing the correct container closure. In this way, it can be ensured that an incorrectly closed bag 300, 309 is fed to a discharge device 9 immediately after the closure device 5, so that the bag 300, 309 that is not tightly closed is not tipped onto the removal device 9. Haver & Boecker In this exemplary embodiment, too, a inspection device 50 can additionally or alternatively be assigned to the removal device 3.

[0002] Haver & Boecker List of Reference Symbols 1 Packing and / or Filling Machine 2 Closing Device 3 Discharge Device 4 Control Device 5 Filling Nozzle 6 Filling Module 7 Bag Applicator 8 Welding Device 9 Ejection Device 50 Control Device 51 Camera Device 52 Calculating Device 53 Detection Area 100 Packing and / or Filling System 200 Container 300 Bag 301 Valve Bag 302 Seam 303 Bag Closure 304 Bag Layer 305 Bag Layer 306 Fold / Folding 307 Bag Valve 308 Free Ends 309 Open-mouth Bag

Claims

Haver & Boecker Claims:

1. A packing and / or filling system (100) comprising at least one packing and / or filling machine (1) for filling pourable and / or flowable materials into containers (200), at least one closure device (2) for closing filled containers (200), at least one removal device (3) for removing filled containers (200), at least one monitoring device (50) for monitoring correct container closure, and at least one control device (4), wherein the monitoring device (50) comprises at least one camera device (51) and at least one computing device (52), characterized in that the computing device (52) is suitable and designed to check the image data acquired by the camera device (51) for correct container closure using at least one evaluation based on at least one automated application.Packing and / or filling system according to claim 1, wherein the automated application comprises at least one AI application and / or at least one machine learning application.

3. Packing and / or filling system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a predetermined probability can be set as of when a container (200) is recognized as correctly or incorrectly closed.

4. Packing and / or filling system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (50) is assigned to the closure device (2) and / or the removal device (3).

5. Packing and / or filling system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the evaluation of the automated application can be transmitted to the control device (4). Haver & Boecker 6. Packing and / or filling system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (50) is assigned to the closure device (2).

7. Packing and / or filling system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (50) is assigned to the removal device (3).

8. Packing and / or filling system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (4) is suitable and designed to reject a container (200) if a faulty container closure is detected.

9. Packing and / or filling system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the containers to be closed are bags (300). 10.The packing and / or filling system according to the preceding claim, wherein the computing device (52) is suitable and configured to use the automated application to check the image data for a correct welded seam (302), glued seam (302), and / or sewn seam (302), and / or a correctly applied tab in the area of ​​the bag closure (303).

11. The packing and / or filling system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the computing device (52) is suitable and configured to check, in a multi-spout system, whether faulty container closures are attributable to one or more filling spouts, and to perform a predetermined action for this purpose via the control device (4). 12.Method for operating a packing and / or filling system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that based on the evaluation of the image data of the camera device (51) of the control device (50) by the computing device (52) on the basis of the automated application, a conclusion is drawn as to a correct container closure and. Haver & Boecker that a correspondingly predetermined action is initiated.

13. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the automated application comprises at least one AI application and / or at least one machine learning application.

14. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the automated application takes at least one detection area (53) into account when evaluating the image data.

15. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (50) is assigned to the closure device (2) and image data for checking a correct container closure are taken into account before, during and / or after the closure of the container.

16. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (50) is assigned to the removal device (3). 17.Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (50) attributes a faulty container closure to one or more filling modules (6) and / or filling nozzles (5) of the packing and / or filling machine (1).

18. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the predetermined action comprises at least one of the following actions: releasing a container, issuing at least one notice, documenting a rejection of a container, switching off a filling module (6) and / or filling nozzle (5), switching off the packing and / or filling machine (1) and / or issuing a warning.

19. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the automated application checks at least one quality criterion of a correct container closure. Haver & Boecker 20. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the quality criterion is the visual appearance of a seam (302).

21. Method according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the quality criterion is the position of at least two bag layers (304, 305) relative to one another.

22. Method according to one of the three preceding claims, wherein the quality criterion is the formation of folds (306).

23. Method according to one of the three preceding claims, wherein the quality criterion is the correct fit of a closure.

24. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the automated application checks the image data online.

25. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the automated application is trained and / or operates offline on the computing device (52).

26. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the automated application is retrained. 27.Use of an automated application, in particular an application comprising at least one AI application and / or machine learning application, in checking the correct closure of filled bags (300) when filling bulk material.