JP5016454B2 - Diameter measuring system and measuring method for rod-shaped article - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for sampling a rod-shaped article and measuring the diameter thereof in order to perform quality inspection of a rod-shaped article such as a filter rod used for manufacturing a filter cigarette, for example, and a measuring method thereof.

A system for inspecting the quality of this kind of filter rod includes a sampling device for sampling the filter rod from a filter hoist that manufactures the filter rod, and a quality measurement connected to the sampling device via an air duct and a receiver. The quality measuring device measures the quality such as the circumference (diameter) and roundness of the sampled filter rod, and outputs the measurement result as quality information (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-49464

  The above-described quality measuring device of the system of Patent Document 1 is commonly used for measuring the quality of filter rods sampled by a plurality of filter hoists. Therefore, it takes a long time for the quality measurement of the filter rod sampled from one filter hoist to be actually performed by the quality measuring device, and the result of the quality measurement is reflected in the filter hoist quickly. I can't let you.

In addition, since the quality measuring apparatus is connected to a plurality of filter hoisting machines through a receiving unit and an air pipe, the entire system becomes large and it is not easy to introduce such a system.
Further, in the case of the system of Patent Document 1, even if the sampled filter rod is a non-defective product, it is discarded, which is a major factor that deteriorates the yield of the filter rod.

  The present invention has been made based on the above-mentioned circumstances, and the object thereof is that a large space is not required for installation, and the diameter of a rod-shaped article can be quickly measured as one of quality control targets. It is an object of the present invention to provide a rod-shaped article diameter measuring system and a measuring method thereof that greatly contribute to improving the yield of the article.

  In order to achieve the above object, the rod-shaped article diameter measuring system according to the present invention is provided above a transfer path for transferring the rod-shaped article in a horizontal direction, and a single bar-like shape is formed from the transfer path at a sampling position with respect to the transfer path. Taking out the article releasably and holding the taken-out bar-shaped article, a take-out device that reciprocates between the sampling position and the measurement position, and the diameter of the bar-like article held by the take-out apparatus at the measurement position. And a measuring device for continuously measuring the entire circumference (claim 1).

  According to the diameter measuring system of the first aspect, one bar-like article taken out from the sampling position of the transfer path by the take-out device is transferred from the sampling position to the measuring position. Then, after the diameter of the rod-shaped article is measured by the measuring device over the entire circumference at the measurement position, it is returned from the measurement position to the sampling position together with the take-out device, and released from the take-out device at this sampling position and transferred. Return to the path.

  Preferably, the take-out device is moved up and down at the sampling position, takes out the bar-shaped article from the transfer path, and delivers the bar-shaped article to and from the take-out head, and supplies the bar-like article to the measurement position. And the delivery of the rod-shaped article between the take-out head and the delivery head is performed at a delivery position defined between the sampling position and the measurement position, and the take-out head and the delivery head are arranged between the sampling position and the delivery position. It is possible to reciprocate between and between the delivery position and the measurement position (claim 2). In this case, the take-out head and the delivery head cooperate with each other to reciprocately transfer the bar-shaped article between the sampling position and the measurement position.

More specifically, the take-out head has a rotation axis and a suction groove that extends in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis and can suck the bar-shaped article by suction pressure, and is rotated around the rotation axis. Thus, the posture can be changed between a horizontal posture in which the suction groove faces downward and a vertical posture in which the suction groove faces the delivery position side.
In this case, the take-out head takes a horizontal posture with its suction groove facing downward at the sampling position above the transfer path. Thereafter, the take-out head descends, and the bar-shaped article is lifted by adsorbing the bar-shaped article from the transfer path to the suction groove, whereby the bar-shaped article is taken out. Thereafter, the take-out head is rotated around its rotational axis, and the suction groove is changed to a vertical posture facing the delivery position side. Therefore, when the take-out head moves from the sampling position to the delivery position, the bar-shaped article of the take-out head is in a vertical posture facing the delivery head side at the delivery position.

On the other hand, the delivery head has an adsorption groove in a vertical posture that can adsorb the bar-shaped article by suction pressure. The adsorption groove adsorbs the bar-shaped article in a state where the entire circumference is exposed at a part of the bar-shaped article. (Claim 4).
In this case, when the delivery head is moved to the delivery position with the suction groove directed toward the delivery position, the pickup head and the suction groove of the delivery head face each other at the delivery position. Delivery of the bar-shaped article to the delivery head is performed. In this delivery, the bar-shaped article is sucked and held in the suction groove of the delivery head, but a part of the bar-shaped article is in a state where the entire circumference is exposed.

  Further, it is preferable that the suction groove of the take-out head has a shape in which the opening edge on the downstream side protrudes from the opening edge on the upstream side in the transfer direction of the rod-shaped article. In this case, when the bar-shaped article is sucked into the suction groove of the take-out head, the downstream opening edge of the suction groove serves as a barrier that hinders the transfer of the bar-shaped article on the transfer path, and guides the bar-shaped article into the suction groove. Act as a guide.

Therefore, when the suction groove of the take-out head has the above-described shape, it is preferable that the directions of the take-out head and the delivery head toward the delivery position intersect each other with a predetermined angle. ). In this case, at the delivery position, the suction grooves of both heads are allowed to approach each other while avoiding interference.
Furthermore, when the bar-shaped article is delivered between the take-out head and the delivery head, the take-out device is switched to supply compressed air instead of the suction pressure to the suction groove of one head on the bar-side article delivery side. Means may further be included (claim 7). In this case, when delivering the rod-shaped article, the air supplied to the adsorption groove of one head cancels the adsorption force remaining in the adsorption groove, while the adsorption force of the adsorption groove of the other head on the side receiving the rod-shaped article. Assist.

  The present invention also provides a method for measuring the diameter of a rod-shaped article. In the diameter measuring method, a single rod-shaped article is taken out by a take-out head from a transfer path for transferring the rod-like article in a lateral state, and then the taken-out rod-like article is taken out. The product is transferred to the delivery position together with the take-out head, and the bar-shaped article is delivered from the take-out head to the delivery head at the delivery position. Thereafter, the bar-shaped article received by the delivery head is transferred to the measurement position together with the delivery head, and this measurement is performed. And measuring the diameter of the rod-shaped article over the entire circumference at the position, and after the measurement, each step of returning the rod-shaped article from the delivery head to the transfer path via the take-out head (Claim 8). Exhibits the same effect as the system.

The diameter measuring system for a rod-shaped article and the measuring method thereof according to claims 1 to 8 perform a series of operations from taking out the rod-shaped article to the transfer path, measuring the diameter of the rod-shaped article, and returning the rod-shaped article to the transfer path. Since the measurement is continuously performed, the diameter of the bar-shaped article can be quickly measured, and the measurement result can be quickly reflected on the upstream side of the transfer path, that is, the bar-shaped article manufacturing machine.
Further, since the system of the present invention only reciprocates the take-out device between the sampling position above the transfer path and the measurement position near the transfer path, a large space is not required for installation of the system. Moreover, since the bar-shaped article after measurement is returned to the transfer path, the yield of the bar-shaped article is not deteriorated.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a measuring system according to an embodiment for carrying out the diameter measuring method for a rod-shaped article of the present invention.
The measurement system of one embodiment is applied to a rod manufacturing machine that manufactures a filter rod, for example, as a rod-shaped article, and measures the diameter of the filter rod immediately after the manufacture. Here, the filter rod is used for manufacturing a filter cigarette, and is cut into predetermined lengths to form a filter plug for the filter cigarette.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the rod manufacturing machine includes a transfer conveyor 2 as a transfer path, and the transfer conveyor 2 transfers the manufactured filter rod F in a sideways state. Although only one filter rod F is shown on the transfer conveyor 2 in FIG. 1, the filter rod F on the transfer conveyor 2 is actually in a stacked state and is transferred toward the boxing machine in this stacked state. Is done.

The measuring system 4 according to one embodiment is roughly divided into a taking-out device 6 and a measuring device 8. The taking-out device 6 is arranged in a region extending from the upper side to the side of the transfer conveyor 2. It is arranged at the measurement position defined on the side.
More specifically, the take-out device 6 includes a take-out head 10 and a delivery head 12, and these heads 10 and 12 are spaced apart from each other on the side of the transfer conveyor 2. When in the state shown in FIG. 1, the take-out head 10 is in the upper position of the transfer conveyor 2, that is, the sampling position, while the delivery head 12 is in the measurement position.

  The take-out head 10 is supported by an elevating block 16 via a rotating shaft 14, and this elevating block 16 incorporates a motor (not shown) that rotates the rotating shaft 14 forward and backward. Therefore, when the motor is driven, the take-out head 10 can rotate forward and backward by, for example, 90 ° around the rotary shaft 14, that is, the rotary axis. Further, the elevating block 16 is supported by the elevating cylinder 18 and can be moved up and down by the elongating cylinder 18 by receiving the expansion and contraction operation of the elevating cylinder 18.

  Further, the take-out head 10 is provided with a take-out groove 20 composed of a suction groove, and the take-out groove 20 extends in a plane crossing the rotary shaft 14, that is, the transfer conveyor 2. In the state shown in FIG. 1, the take-out groove 20 is in a vertical posture facing the delivery head 12, but is lowered downward, that is, in a horizontal posture facing the transfer conveyor 2 by the motor in the lifting block 16. The posture can be changed.

  Therefore, if the takeout head 10 is lowered by a predetermined distance toward the transfer conveyor 2 in a state where the takeout groove 20 is in a horizontal posture, the takeout groove 20 is transferred in a stacked state on the transfer conveyor 2. One filter rod F that flows close to the flow of the filter rod F and flows through the uppermost layer is horizontally received and adsorbed. Thereafter, the take-out head 10 rises to the sampling position and is rotated by 90 °, so that the take-out groove 20 assumes the vertical posture shown in FIG. Accordingly, at this time, the filter rod F adsorbed in the take-out groove 20 is also in a vertical posture facing the delivery head 12 side.

Further, the lifting cylinder 18 described above can move in the front-rear direction crossing the transfer conveyor 2 and can reciprocate the take-out head 10 together with the lifting block 16 between the sampling position and the delivery position. This delivery position is defined between the sampling position and the aforementioned measurement position.
On the other hand, the delivery head 12 can also move in the front-rear direction across the transfer conveyor 2 and can reciprocate between the measurement position and the delivery position. Further, the delivery head 12 has a delivery groove 22 facing the delivery position side, and this delivery groove 22 is formed of an adsorption groove like the take-out groove 20 and extends in the vertical direction. That is, the delivery groove 22 has a vertical posture.

  Accordingly, when the take-out head 10 that is sucked and held with the filter rod F in the vertical posture is moved to the delivery position and at the same time, the delivery head 12 is also moved to the delivery position, the take-out grooves 20 and the delivery grooves of both the heads 10 and 12. 22 are close to each other and the filter rod F can be transferred from the take-out groove 20 to the transfer groove 22, that is, can be transferred, and the filter rod F is attracted and held in the transfer groove 22.

Here, when the filter rod F is held in the delivery groove 22, the lower end portion of the filter rod F protrudes downward from the delivery groove 22, that is, the delivery head 12, and its outer surface is exposed over the entire circumference. .
Thereafter, the take-out head 10 stands by at the delivery position, while the delivery head 12 that has received the filter rod F moves from the delivery position and returns to the measurement position. At this time, the lower end portion of the filter rod F is positioned in the measuring device 8, and the diameter of the filter rod F is continuously measured over the entire circumference by the measuring device 8.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the measuring device 8 includes a measuring head 24, and the measuring head 24 is horizontally arranged to be positioned below the delivery head 12 when the delivery head 12 is in the measurement position. Yes. The measuring head 24 has an opening 26, which opens toward the delivery position, so that when the delivery head 12 is positioned in the measurement position together with the filter rod F, the filter rod F has been described above. The lower end can be received.

  On the other hand, the measuring head 24 has a light emitting unit 28 and a light receiving unit 30 with the opening 26 interposed therebetween, and the light emitting unit 28 emits a detection beam horizontally toward the light receiving unit 30. Here, the detection beam has a horizontal width sufficiently wider than the diameter of the filter rod F, and when the filter rod F is supplied to the measurement position, that is, the lower end of the filter rod F is in the opening 26. Sometimes, the lower end of the filter rod F is completely positioned within the horizontal width of the detection beam.

Accordingly, since the lower end portion of the filter rod F shields the detection beam by an amount corresponding to the diameter, the light receiving unit 30 can measure the diameter of the filter rod F by detecting the shielding portion of the detection beam. .
Further, the measuring device 8 includes a rotation mechanism 32 that rotates the filter rod F at the measurement position about its axis, and this rotation mechanism 32 is attached to the head support (not shown in FIG. 1) of the delivery head 12.

  Specifically, the rotation mechanism 32 includes a rotation shaft 34 disposed on the axis of the delivery groove 22 in the delivery head 12, and the rotation shaft 34 has a driven pulley 36 at its upper end and a link 38. The delivery head 12 is connected. On the other hand, a motor 40 is disposed in the vicinity of the delivery head 12, and a drive pulley 42 attached to the output shaft of the motor 40 is connected to the driven pulley 36 via an endless belt 44.

  Therefore, when the motor 40 is driven, the rotational force of the motor 40 is transmitted to the rotation shaft 34 via the drive pulley 42, and the rotation shaft 34 is rotated in one direction. The rotation of the rotation shaft 34 is transmitted to the delivery head 12 via the link 38, and the delivery head 12 rotates around the rotation shaft 34. As a result, the filter rod F held in the delivery groove 22 is rotated around its axis. Rotate.

When the filter rod F is rotated in this way, the above-described measuring head 24 continuously measures the diameter of the filter rod F over its entire circumference, whereby the average diameter and the average circumferential length of the filter rod F are measured. And the calculation result is output to the rod manufacturing machine described above.
The rod manufacturing machine operates an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the diameter of the filter rod F to be manufactured based on the calculation result from the measuring head 24 as necessary, and maintains the diameter of the filter rod F within an allowable range. .

  After the measurement with respect to the filter rod F is completed, the delivery head 12 moves to the delivery position together with the filter rod F. At this delivery position, the delivery of the filter rod F from the delivery head 12 to the take-out head 10 contrary to the above case. Is made. The take-out head 10 that has received the filter rod F moves from the delivery position to the sampling position, and rotates 90 ° at the sampling position to change the attitude of the filter rod F from the vertical attitude to the horizontal attitude. Lowering by a predetermined distance toward the transfer conveyor 2, the suction of the filter rod F by the take-out groove 20 is released, and the filter rod F is returned from the take-out head 10 to the transfer conveyor 2.

Thereafter, the measurement system 4 described above periodically repeats a series of measurement processes for measuring the transfer conveyor 2 from the removal of the filter rod F and returning it.
Next, each component of the measurement system 4 will be specifically described.
First, FIG. 2 shows a specific layout of the measurement system 4 with respect to the transfer conveyor 2 described above. FIG. 2 shows an advance / retreat cylinder 46 for reciprocating the take-out head 10 between a sampling position and a delivery position, and An advancing / retracting cylinder 50 for advancing and retracting the delivery head 12, that is, its head support 48, is also shown between the measurement position and the delivery position.

2 clearly shows that the reciprocation direction X of the take-out head 10 by the advance / retreat cylinder 46 and the reciprocation direction Y of the delivery head 12 by the advance / retreat cylinder 50 intersect each other at a predetermined angle. .
FIG. 3 shows the pick-up head 10 in more detail.
The take-out head 10 has a rectangular plate shape, and an insertion hole 52 is formed in the upper part thereof as seen in FIG. The aforementioned rotary shaft 14 is inserted into the insertion hole 52, and the rotary shaft 14 is fixed to the take-out head 10 via a set screw (not shown) screwed into the screw hole 54. Accordingly, the take-out head 10 is rotated integrally with the rotary shaft 14 and is supported by the lifting block 16 via the rotary shaft 14.

  3A, the above-described take-out groove 20 is formed on the lower end surface of the take-out head 10, and the take-out groove 20 has a substantially semicircular shape when viewed in cross section, and is upstream when viewed in the transfer direction of the filter rod F. Side and downstream flow side opening edges 56, 58 respectively. The distance from the bottom of the take-out groove 20 to the downstream opening edge 58 is longer than that at the upstream opening edge 56 and longer than the radius of the filter rod F by a predetermined length.

  More specifically, the downstream opening edge 58 includes an end edge 60 left on the lower end surface of the take-out head 10 and a lower edge 64 of the protruding sheet 62 protruding from the end edge 60. 62 is attached to the back surface of the take-out head 10 through a plurality of mounting screws (not shown) as viewed in the direction of transfer of the filter rod F. In FIG. 3A, reference numeral 66 indicates a screw hole for a mounting screw.

On the other hand, the opening edge 56 on the upstream side is formed by notching the end edge left on the lower end surface of the take-out head 10 as an inclined surface, and has a mountain shape protruding downward in cooperation with the take-out groove 20.
Further, as is apparent from FIG. 3B, a suction / blow passage 68 is formed in the take-out head 10. The suction / blow passage 68 extends in parallel with the takeout groove 20, opens on one side of the takeout head 10, and is connected to a pneumatic circuit described later. Also, a plurality of branch passages 70 are branched from the suction / blow passage 68, and these branch passages 70 open at the bottom of the take-out groove 20 to form suction / blow ports, respectively.

  Further, the protruding sheet 62 described above has a plurality of insertion holes 72 through which the above-mentioned mounting screws are inserted. These insertion holes 72 are formed as long holes as is apparent from FIG. Is preferred. In this case, the protruding amount of the lower edge 64 of the protruding sheet 62 from the end edge 60, that is, the protruding amount of the downstream opening edge 58 with respect to the upstream opening edge 56 can be adjusted.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the measurement apparatus 8 described above more specifically.
When the delivery head 12 is in the measurement position, the head support 48 is disposed above the measurement head 24 and is supported by the advance / retreat cylinder 50. The rotation shaft 34 of the rotation mechanism 32 penetrates one end of the head support 48 in the vertical direction, and is rotatably supported by the head support 48 via a pair of upper and lower bearings 74.

The motor 40 is fixed to the other end of the head support 48, and the advance / retreat cylinder 50 and the measurement head 24 are supported by the base 80 of the measurement system 4 via mounting bases 76 and 78.
As is apparent from FIG. 4, the rotation shaft 34 projects downward from the head support 48, and an eccentric disk 82 is attached to the lower end thereof, and the delivery head 12 is attached to the eccentric disk 82 via the eccentric pin 84. . That is, the link 38 of the rotation mechanism 32 described above is composed of an eccentric disk 82 and an eccentric pin 84.

FIG. 5 shows details of the delivery head 12.
The delivery head 12 has a substantially prismatic shape and has a hole extending from the upper end toward the other end. The upper part of the hole is formed as a mounting hole 86 for receiving the eccentric pin 84 described above, and the lower part is formed as a suction / blow passage 88. A screw hole 90 for a set screw (not shown) for fixing the eccentric pin 84 to the delivery head 12 is formed at the top and bottom of the delivery head 12. On the other hand, a plurality of branch passages 92 extend from the suction / blow passage 88, and these branch passages 92 open to the bottom of the delivery groove 22 to form suction / blow ports, respectively.

  As is clear from FIG. 5, the delivery groove 22 is formed on the front end surface of the convex portion 94 protruding from one side surface of the delivery head 12, and has a substantially semicircular shape when viewed in cross section. When the opening edges 96 and 98 on the downstream side and the upstream side of the delivery groove 22 are compared in the transfer direction of the filter rod F, the distance from the bottom of the delivery groove 22 to the one opening edge 96 is the other opening edge. Longer than 98.

On the other hand, the aforementioned suction / blow passage 88 is connected to the aforementioned pneumatic circuit via an eccentric pin 84, an eccentric disk 82, an autorotation shaft 34, and an internal passage (not shown) extending through the head support 48. Such an internal passage always establishes a connection between the suction / blow passage 88 and the pneumatic circuit regardless of the rotation of the delivery head 12.
FIG. 6 shows details of the pneumatic circuit.

  The pneumatic circuit includes a negative pressure source 100, a main suction path 102 extends from the negative pressure source 100, and two sub suction paths 104 and 106 are branched from the main suction path 102. One sub suction path 104 is connected to one input port R of the electromagnetic control valve 108, and the output port A of the electromagnetic control valve 108 is connected to the suction / blow passage 68 of the take-out head 10 via the suction / blow path 110. Has been. An air filter 112 is inserted in the suction / blow path 110.

  The other sub suction path 106 is connected to one input port R of the electromagnetic control valve 114, and the output port A of the electromagnetic control valve 114 is connected to the suction / blow path 88 of the delivery head 12 via the suction / blow path 116. It is connected to the. The suction / blow path 116 includes the aforementioned internal path, and an air filter 118 is also inserted in the suction / blow path 116 in the middle thereof.

  As is apparent from FIG. 6, the electromagnetic control valves 108 and 114 are both directional switching valves at the 3 port 2 position, and the compressed air paths 120 and 122 extend from the remaining input ports P. Are each connected to a compressed air source. A variable throttle 124 and an electromagnetic opening / closing valve 126 with a check valve are sequentially inserted into the compressed air path 120 from the electromagnetic control valve 108 side, and a variable throttle 128 and check valve are also inserted into the compressed air path 122 from the electromagnetic opening / closing valve 114 side. The attached electromagnetic on-off valve 130 is inserted sequentially.

  When the electromagnetic control valve 108 is in the illustrated rest position, the electromagnetic control valve 108 disconnects the connection between the sub suction path 104 and the suction / blow path 110, while connecting the suction / blow path 110 to the compressed air path 120. ing. In this state, when the electromagnetic opening / closing valve 126 is switched from the closed position shown in the drawing to the open position, the compressed air is supplied from the pressure source through the electromagnetic opening / closing valve 126, the variable throttle 124 and the electromagnetic control valve 108 to the suction / blow passage 68 of the extraction head 10. Is supplied, and the compressed air in the suction / blow passage 68 is ejected from the suction / blow port of the take-out groove 20. Here, the pressure of the compressed air is adjusted to a predetermined pressure by the variable throttle 124.

  Similarly, when the electromagnetic control valve 114 is in the illustrated rest position, the electromagnetic control valve 114 cuts off the connection between the sub suction path 106 and the suction / blow path 110, while the suction / blow path 116 is connected to the compressed air path. 122 is connected. Therefore, in this state, when the electromagnetic on-off valve 130 is switched to the open position, in this case, the compressed air regulated by the variable throttle 128 passes through the suction / blow path 116 and the suction / blow passage 88 of the delivery head 12. , And the compressed air in the suction / blow passage 88 is ejected from the suction / blow port of the delivery groove 22.

  On the other hand, when the electromagnetic open / close valves 126 and 130 are both in the illustrated closed position and the electromagnetic control valves 108 and 114 are switched from the illustrated rest position to the suction position, the negative pressure source 100 is connected to the suction / blow path 110, 116, the air in the suction / blow passages 68 and 88 of the take-out head 10 and the delivery head 12 is sucked, whereby suction pressure is supplied to the take-out groove 20 of the take-out head 10 and the delivery groove 22 of the transfer head 12. The groove 20 and the delivery groove 22 generate a suction force.

Accordingly, either the suction pressure or the compressed air can be selectively switched and supplied to the take-out groove 20 and the delivery groove 22, and the electromagnetic control valves 108 and 114 and the electromagnetic on-off valves 126 and 130 are supplied with the suction pressure and the compressed air. Switching means for switching between the two is configured.
Further, pressure sensors 132 and 134 are connected to the suction / blow paths 110 and 116, respectively, and these pressure sensors 132 and 134 have the above-described suction force, that is, the suction pressure in the suction / blow passages 68 and 88, respectively. When the value is reached, an on signal is output.

Next, the advantages of the measurement system 4 of the present embodiment will be described in detail.
FIG. 7 shows a state immediately after the uppermost filter rod F is adsorbed to the takeout groove 20 of the takeout head 10 from the laminated flow of the filter rods F transferred on the transfer conveyor 2. At this time, the electromagnetic control valve 108 on the take-out head 10 side is switched to the suction position, and it goes without saying that the suction pressure is supplied to the take-out groove 20.

  As described above, the opening edge 58 on the downstream side of the take-out groove 20 protrudes greatly downward as compared with the opening edge 56 on the upstream side, so that the take-out head 10 is lowered to a predetermined position toward the transfer conveyor 2. First, the opening edge 58 reaches the laminated flow of the filter rods F, and the downstream opening edge 58 exhibits the function of blocking the flow of the filter rod F in the uppermost layer. Therefore, the filtered filter rod F is guided toward the inside of the take-out groove 20 by receiving the suction pressure from the take-out groove 20 and is reliably adsorbed to the take-out groove 20.

The adsorption of the filter rod F here can be detected by the pressure sensor 132. Upon receiving an ON signal from the pressure sensor 132, the take-out head 10 rises together with the adsorbed filter rod F.
Further, since the upstream opening edge 56 in the take-out groove 20 has a mountain shape as described above, the filter rod F can be accurately fitted into the take-out groove 20. In this regard, if the upstream opening edge 56a is formed as a flat edge as shown in FIG. 8, the filter rod F may be adsorbed to the take-out groove 20 in a state of being displaced from the axis. Such a malfunction is reliably prevented by the opening edge 56 of the present embodiment.

  On the other hand, FIG. 9 shows a state immediately after the filter rod F is delivered from the delivery groove 20 of the delivery head 10 to the delivery groove 22 of the delivery head 12 at the delivery position. As is clear from FIG. 9, the reciprocating direction X of the take-out head 10 and the reciprocating direction Y of the delivery head 12 intersect each other, so that the take-out head 10 and the delivery head 12 have an opening edge 58 of the take-out groove 20. The opening edge 56 of the take-out groove 20 and the opening edge 98 of the delivery groove 22 can be brought close to each other while avoiding interference with the opening edge 96 of the delivery groove 22. Therefore, the delivery of the filter rod F between the take-out groove 20 and the delivery groove 22 can be ensured.

  Here, when the filter rod F is delivered from the take-out groove 20 to the delivery groove 22, suction pressure is supplied to the delivery groove 22, whereas supply of suction pressure to the take-out groove 20 is stopped. In addition to this, the take-out groove 20 is supplied with compressed air adjusted from a pressure source. Such supply of compressed air quickly cancels the suction pressure remaining in the take-out groove 20, that is, the negative pressure in the suction / blow passage 68 of the take-out head 10, and jets compressed air from the take-out groove 20. The filter rod F receives the pushing force from the take-out groove 20 and receives the suction force from the delivery groove 22, so that the delivery of the filter rod F at the delivery position is reliably and stably performed.

When the filter rod F is attracted to the delivery groove 22, this suction is detected by the pressure sensor 134 described above and receives the output of the ON signal from the pressure sensor 134, and the delivery head 12 moves from the delivery position to the measurement position. Move.
The above-described delivery operation is similarly exhibited when the filter rod F is delivered from the delivery head 12 to the take-out head 10, and delivery of the filter rod F here is also performed reliably and stably.

FIG. 9 also shows that the delivery head 12 rotates around the axis of the delivery groove 22, that is, the axis of the filter rod F at the measurement position.
Furthermore, in the case of the measurement system 4 of one embodiment, since the filter rod F is taken out by the take-out head 10 and then the filter rod F is delivered between the take-out head 10 and the delivery head 12, the take-out head The rotation mechanism and the reciprocating mechanism on the 10 side and the rotating mechanism and the reciprocating mechanism on the delivery head 12 side can be constructed separately, and the burden on the rotating mechanism and the reciprocating mechanism can be reduced. As a result, the operation of the rotating mechanism and the reciprocating mechanism can be speeded up, and the measurement time required for one filter rod F can be greatly shortened.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made.
For example, the downstream opening end 58 in the take-out groove 20 can be formed by extending the take-out head 10 itself, that is, the end edge 60 described above. Can be adjusted.
If the measuring head 24 is rotatable, the take-out head 10 only needs to reciprocate between the sampling position and the measuring position, and in this case, delivery of the filter rod F is unnecessary.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, the measurement system of the present invention can include a push-up pusher 136 immediately below the transfer conveyor 2, and the push-up pusher 136 is positioned corresponding to the sampling position. The upper surface of the push-up pusher 136 has a wave shape corresponding to the diameter of the filter rod F, and can move up and down in response to the expansion and contraction of the air cylinder 138.
When the take-out head 10 is lowered and the filter rod F is taken out, that is, when sampling is performed, the push-up pusher 136 is raised and the stacking flow of the filter rod F on the transfer conveyor 2 is raised at the sampling position. The take-out head 10 can easily take out the filter rod F without entering the laminated flow of the filter rods F.

  Finally, the measurement system and method of the present invention are not limited to the filter rod F described above, and can be similarly applied to various rod-shaped articles.

It is the schematic of the measurement system of one Example. FIG. 1 specifically shows the measurement system of FIG. 1, (a) is a plan view thereof, and (b) is a side view thereof. The take-out head is shown, (a) is a rear view thereof, (b) is a sectional view taken along line bb in FIG. 3 (a), and (c) is a diagram showing details of the protruding sheet of FIG. 3 (a). It is. The measuring apparatus in FIG. 1 is shown more specifically, (a) is a front view thereof, and (b) is a side view thereof. The delivery head is shown, (a) is a plan view thereof, (b) is a front view thereof, and (c) is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. It is the figure which showed the pneumatic circuit for a pick-up head and a delivery head. It is a figure for demonstrating the function of the opening edge of the downstream in a taking-out groove | channel. FIG. 8 is a view showing a different take-out head for comparison with the take-out head in FIG. 7. It is a figure for demonstrating delivery of the filter rod between the taking-out head and delivery head in a delivery position. It is a figure which shows the push-up pusher arrange | positioned directly under a transfer conveyor.

Explanation of symbols

2 Transfer conveyor (transfer path)
6 Take-out device 8 Measuring device 10 Take-out head 12 Delivery head 14 Rotating shaft (Rotating axis)
20 Removal groove (Suction groove)
22 Delivery groove (Suction groove)
24 Measuring head 56, 58 Opening edge 108, 114 Electromagnetic control valve (switching means)
126,130 Electromagnetic on-off valve (switching means)

Claims (8)

The sampling is provided above the transfer path for transferring the rod-shaped article in a sideways state, and removably takes out one bar-shaped article from the transfer path at the sampling position with respect to the transfer path, and holds the removed rod-shaped article. A take-out device that reciprocates between the position and the measurement position in the vicinity of the transfer path;
A rod-shaped article diameter measuring system, comprising: a measuring device that continuously measures the diameter of the rod-shaped article held by the take-out device at the measurement position over the entire circumference thereof. The take-out device is
A take-out head that moves up and down at the sampling position and takes out the rod-shaped article from the transfer path;
A delivery head for delivering the bar-shaped article to and from the take-out head, and supplying the bar-shaped article to the measurement position;
Delivery of the bar-shaped article between the take-out head and the delivery head is performed at a delivery position defined between the sampling position and the measurement position, and the take-out head and the delivery head are in the sampling position. And reciprocating between the delivery position and the measurement position, respectively.
The diameter measuring system for a bar-shaped article according to claim 1. The take-out head is
An axis of rotation;
It has an adsorption groove that extends in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis and can adsorb the rod-shaped article from the suction pressure,
By rotating around the rotation axis, the posture can be changed between a horizontal posture in which the suction groove faces downward and a vertical posture in which the suction groove faces the delivery position side.
The diameter measuring system for a rod-shaped article according to claim 2.   The delivery head has a vertical suction groove capable of sucking the bar-shaped article by suction pressure, and the suction groove sucks the bar-shaped article in a state where the entire circumference is exposed at a part of the bar-shaped article. The diameter measuring system for a bar-shaped article according to claim 3.   5. The bar-shaped article according to claim 3, wherein the suction groove of the take-out head has a shape in which an opening edge on the downstream side protrudes from an opening edge on the upstream side when viewed in the transfer direction of the bar-shaped article. Diameter measuring system.   The rod-shaped article diameter measuring system according to claim 5, wherein the reciprocating directions of the take-out head and the delivery head intersect each other at a predetermined angle.   When the bar-shaped article is delivered between the take-out head and the delivery head, the take-out device supplies compressed air instead of suction pressure to the suction groove of one of the heads on which the bar-like article is delivered. The diameter measuring system for a bar-shaped article according to any one of claims 4 to 6, further comprising switching means for performing the above operation. One bar-shaped article is taken out by a take-out head from a transfer path for transferring the bar-like article in a sideways state, and then the taken-out bar-like article is transferred together with the take-out head to a delivery position.
The bar-shaped article is delivered from the take-out head to the delivery head at the delivery position, and thereafter, the bar-like article received by the delivery head is transferred to the measurement position near the transfer path together with the delivery head,
Measure the diameter of the rod-shaped article over the entire circumference at the measurement position,
After the measurement, the rod-shaped article is returned from the delivery head to the transfer path via the take-out head.
A method for measuring the diameter of a rod-shaped article.

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