Packaging equipment and process for controlling of the packaging equipment

1. A packaging device, comprising

a filling unit for transporting a filling material,

a filling tube connected to said filling unit for introducing the filling material supplied by the filling unit into a tubular casing and for dispensing the product thus formed;

a clipping unit disposed in the direction of transport of the filling unit, for constricting the casing at a predetermined position and for closing the casing with at least one closure element;

a sensor unit disposed between the filling unit and the filling tube, for detecting impurities in the filling material and for outputting a detection signal to a control unit; and

the control unit has a control connection to the clipping unit, said control connection actuating the filling unit in such a way that a corresponding amount of the filling material, as a function of time, can be stuffed into the casing by means of the filling tube.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit actuates the clipping unit such that a product with a predetermined product size is formed when the detection signal is no longer received, and when the detection signal is present actuates the clipping unit such that a product size is generated which is larger or smaller than the predetermined product size.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit actuates the clipping unit in a predetermined manner when the detection signal from the sensor unit is present during operation of the filling unit, such that the clipping unit discontinues operation.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein discontinuing the operation of the clipping unit includes discontinuing at least one of the functions of portioning, closing by means of a closure element and performing a separating cut in order to form the predetermined product size.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the control unit actuates the clipping unit to discontinue its operation for a predetermined duration that is greater than the duration required to form the predetermined product size.

6. The device of claim 4 , wherein the control unit actuates the clipping unit to discontinue its operation during operation of the filling unit in order to form a predetermined number of products with the predetermined product size.

7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a valve unit disposed between the sensor unit and the filling tube and provided to channel the filling material provided by the filling unit either to a filling tube for forming the product, or to a discharge pipe, which is disposed on the valve unit, for discharging the filling material, depending on the control exercised by the control unit.

8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a closable opening disposed between the filling unit and the sensor unit, for supplying predetermined test elements for testing the functioning of the sensor unit.

9. A method for controlling a packaging device, comprising the steps:

transporting a filling material in a volumetric flow through a filling tube into a tubular casing and dispensing the filling material located in the casing;

constricting the filled casing at a predetermined position and closing the casing with at least one closure element to form a product having a predetermined product size in a clipping unit;

detecting impurities in the filling material and emitting a detection signal to a control unit; and

establishing a control connection between the control unit and the clipping unit for actuating the clipping unit.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

the step of actuating the clipping unit, in response to emission of the detection signal, in a predetermined manner to form a product size that is larger or smaller than the predetermined product size when the detection signal is present, and to form a product size corresponding to the predetermined product size when the detection signal is not present.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

the step of actuating the clipping unit to discontinue its operation for a predetermined duration that is greater than the duration required to form the predetermined product size.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

the step of actuating the clipping unit to discontinue its operation during operation of the filling unit, in order to form a predetermined number of the predetermined product size, wherein discontinuing the operation of the clipping unit includes at least one of the functions of portioning, closing using a closure element and performing a separating cut in order to form the predetermined product size.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

the step of actuating the clipping unit during operation of the filling unit when the detection signal is present, such that the clipping unit discontinues operation.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein discontinuing the operation of the clipping unit includes discontinuing at least one of the functions of portioning, closing using the closure element and performing a separating cut in order to form the predetermined product size.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

suppressing of filling unit operation, the emission of an alarm signal and shutting down the device.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

the step of ending operation of the filling unit, when the detection signal is present, with an adjustable delay until filling unit operation actually ends.

17. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

the step of inserting test elements into the volumetric flow and testing the detection of the test element by means of the sensor unit.