EP0032398B1 - Apparatus and method for controlling the operation of a cigarette maker - Google Patents
Apparatus and method for controlling the operation of a cigarette maker Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0032398B1 EP0032398B1 EP19810100183 EP81100183A EP0032398B1 EP 0032398 B1 EP0032398 B1 EP 0032398B1 EP 19810100183 EP19810100183 EP 19810100183 EP 81100183 A EP81100183 A EP 81100183A EP 0032398 B1 EP0032398 B1 EP 0032398B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- moisture content
- moisture
- rod
- signal
- sensor
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
- A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
- A24C5/32—Separating, ordering, counting or examining cigarettes; Regulating the feeding of tobacco according to rod or cigarette condition
- A24C5/34—Examining cigarettes or the rod, e.g. for regulating the feeding of tobacco; Removing defective cigarettes
Definitions
- This invention pertains to cigarette manufacture and, in particular, to control of cigarette manufacture at the cigarette maker.
- the tobacco is usually stored for a period of time, which may be up to three days, in storage areas before being further processed into actual cigarettes at a cigarette maker.
- these storage areas are subjected to a controlled climate in order to maintain the tobacco moisture content at the predetermined level established during the primary processing.
- This storage procedure is costly and the tobacco may still undergo moisture changes during subsequent transport of the tobacco to the cigarette maker.
- These moisture changes adversely affect maker operation, particularly in cases where the maker is provided with controls for establishing preselected values for various cigarette rod parameters such as, for example, rod density and/or rod firmness.
- This is mentioned in British Specification 1,376,747 which discloses a microwave system for controlling tobacco rod density. In this system, since the microwave energy is affected by moisture as well as tobacco content, the system is constructed to permit obtaining values of each of these parameters from microwave signals which depend on both.
- determined rod moisture content is utilized to control the moisture content of the input tobacco as it is being conveyed to the maker. Control is effected by determining the difference between the output rod moisture content and a desired target moisture content and using this difference to control the addition or subtraction of moisture to the input tobacco until output rod moisture content is at target moisture.
- the invention further contemplates utilization of a number of techniques for determining rod moisture content. These techniques require a number of sensors for generating sensor signals related to output rod parameters such as moisture, firmness, density and speed.
- Fig. 1 shows a system in accordance with the principles of the present invention for providing moisture control at a cigarette maker 1.
- the maker 1 provides from the input tobacco stream 2 a continuous cigarette rod which is cut into lengths to provide individual cigarettes.
- cigarette maker operation is controlled such that the cigarette rod has a moisture content which is substantially equal to a desired or target moisture value M t .
- individual cigarettes resulting from the rod have a substantially equal precisely determined moisture content, thereby providing enhanced uniformity in cigarette production and improved quality control.
- a moisture sensor 3 at the cigarette maker 1 monitors the cigarette rod and generates an output electrical signal M s indicative of rod moisture content.
- the moisture sensor signal M s is fed to a signal processor 4 which develops an output control signal C for controlling the moisture content of the rod.
- control is effected by changing or varying the moisture content of the input tobacco 2 until the output rod moisture content is at the target moisture value. This may be accomplished by utilizing the signal C to appropriately control conventional moistening means and/or dryer means situated adjacent the conveyance path of the input tobacco.
- a moistening unit 5 which might comprise, for example, a steam source followed by a controllable valve, and a dryer 6 are responsive to the signal C and add and subtract moisture, respectively, to and from the input tobacco 2.
- the control signal C brings the moistening unit 5 into operation during periods when the output rod moisture content is below target moisture and brings the dryer 6 into operation during periods when the output rod moisture content is above target moisture.
- the processing operations of the signal processor 4 involve the generating of a rod moisture content signal M e from the moisture sensor signal M s and the formation of the control signal C from comparison of the generated signal M e with the target moisture M t .
- Generation of the signal M e by the processor 4 depends to a large degree on the particular moisture sensor being used and such generation is carried out by processing the signal M s to provide a signal which is representative of the actual or true rod moisture content. Where the characteristics of the moisture sensor are such that the sensor signal M s is itself representative of true rod moisture content, then this processing is carried out by equating M e to M s .
- adjusting factors are provided to account for the influence of the sensor characteristics. In actual practice, these adjusting factors can be empirically determined for each particular moisture sensor.
- a speed or velocity sensor 9 may be provided for cigarette rod speed determination and included for sensor signal adjustment.
- a first sensor which might be employed for the sensor 3 is a resistance type moisture sensor.
- a resistance type moisture sensor might be formed on the above- mentioned conventional maker by inserting probes through apertures spaced along the length of the so-called tongue of the maker whereat the rod is being formed, the probes being of sufficient length to enter into the tobacco rod.
- a current or voltage could then be supplied to the probe and the resultant voltage or current through the probe circuit measured to determine the tobacco rod resistance, and, therefore, the rod moisture content.
- moisture content can be expressed as follows:
- a o -A3 are constants which can be empirically determined for each particular tobacco blend and resistance sensor.
- the signal processor 4 utilizes the sensor signal M s , the firmness sensor signal F s and the speed sensor signal S to derive the moisture content signal M e based on the expression (1).
- the moisture sensor signal M s is a function of reflected and transmitted microwave power values in the absence and presence of the cigarette rod, these values being suitably adjusted for temperature variations in the cavity and/or the rod.
- M s is as follows: where R a and T a are temperature adjusted values of the reflectance and transmittance of microwave power in the absence of the cigarette rod and Rp and Tp are temperature adjusted values of the reflectance and transmittance in the presence of the cigarette rod.
- the obtained sensor signal M s requires adjustment related to the mass of the cigarette rod.
- the moisture content is given as:
- the constants B o and B 1 can also be empirically determined for the particular tobacco blend and microwave sensor being used.
- the signal processor 4 determines the control signal C based upon the sensor signal M s adjusted by certain of the other sensor signal F s , D s and S as provided in equations 1, 2 and 3.
- the processor 4 might typically take the form of a general or special purpose digital computer programmed in accordance with such equations and having stored therein the target values and appropriate constants.
- the firmness sensor 3 utilized with the present invention can be of a strain gauge type and may, for example, be of a type as shown and described in United States Patent No. 4,033,360. Additionally, the density sensor 7 might be a beta gauge type manufactured by Molins Ltd. and supplied with its model number MK8 or MK9 cigarette maker. The speed sensor 9, on the other hand, might be a tachometer of conventional design yielding a value of voltage to represent revolutions per minute.
- the signal processor may be utilized to also generate a firmness control signal C designed to control the maker such that the output rod has a predetermined or target firmness F t at the target moisture M t . Since the moisture control of the system maintains the output rod moisture content substantially at target moisture M t , the firmness variations requiring correction will depend almost solely on tobacco content variations.
- control signal C' is expressed as follows: where F sm is firmness content in the tobacco attributable to moisture referenced to target moisture and is given as The latter expression, in turn, is derivable from rod firmness attributable to moisture which can be expressed as: where K o is a constant determined by the tobacco blend and the rod weight per unit volume and K, is a negative constant determined by the tobacco blend only.
- firmness control can be achieved by utilizing the control signal C' to adjust the height of the ecreteur blade used to cut the tobacco stream at a given depth during rod formation.
- the control signal C' might be used to control the maker distributor to obtain the desired control.
Description
- This invention pertains to cigarette manufacture and, in particular, to control of cigarette manufacture at the cigarette maker.
- In cigarette manufacture, it is customary to provide conditioning of the tobacco in the primary processing of same. As part of this conditioning, the tobacco is subjected to procedures wherein tobacco moisture content is measured, and measured moisture content used to control drying or moistening apparatus to achieve a predetermined moisture content. Procedures of this type are disclosed in US-A-3,840,025; US-A-3,482,162; and US-A-3,502,085.
- After primary processing, the tobacco is usually stored for a period of time, which may be up to three days, in storage areas before being further processed into actual cigarettes at a cigarette maker. In conventional practice, these storage areas are subjected to a controlled climate in order to maintain the tobacco moisture content at the predetermined level established during the primary processing. This storage procedure is costly and the tobacco may still undergo moisture changes during subsequent transport of the tobacco to the cigarette maker. These moisture changes adversely affect maker operation, particularly in cases where the maker is provided with controls for establishing preselected values for various cigarette rod parameters such as, for example, rod density and/or rod firmness. This is mentioned in British Specification 1,376,747 which discloses a microwave system for controlling tobacco rod density. In this system, since the microwave energy is affected by moisture as well as tobacco content, the system is constructed to permit obtaining values of each of these parameters from microwave signals which depend on both.
- From US-A-3,411,513 there are known a method and apparatus for gauging and controlling the firmness in cigarettes and the like by using a movable nozzle directing a jet of air against the cylindrical surface of a moving cigarette rod. The main object thereof is to provide a more uniform firmness of the cigarette rod.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide more effective moisture control in the manufacture of cigarettes.
- It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for improved cigarette maker operation.
- In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the above and other objectives are realized in a practice for cigarette manufacture wherein a cigarette maker is provided with sensor means for providing a moisture sensor signal related to the moisture content of the rod and means responsive to said moisture sensor signal for controlling the moisture content of said input tobacco, in order to determine the moisture content of the rod at the maker and control the moisture content of the input tobacco to the maker in response to the determined moisture content.
- In the illustrative form of the invention disclosed hereinafter, determined rod moisture content is utilized to control the moisture content of the input tobacco as it is being conveyed to the maker. Control is effected by determining the difference between the output rod moisture content and a desired target moisture content and using this difference to control the addition or subtraction of moisture to the input tobacco until output rod moisture content is at target moisture.
- The invention further contemplates utilization of a number of techniques for determining rod moisture content. These techniques require a number of sensors for generating sensor signals related to output rod parameters such as moisture, firmness, density and speed.
- Also contemplated is a method for controlling the operation of cigarette maker to provide a rod of a preselected or target firmness at a preselected or target moisture.
- The above and other features and aspects of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Fig. 1 shows a system for controlling cigarette rod moisture content at a cigarette maker in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
- Fig. 1 shows a system in accordance with the principles of the present invention for providing moisture control at a cigarette maker 1.
- In typical operation, the maker 1 provides from the input tobacco stream 2 a continuous cigarette rod which is cut into lengths to provide individual cigarettes. In accordance with practice under the present invention, cigarette maker operation is controlled such that the cigarette rod has a moisture content which is substantially equal to a desired or target moisture value Mt. In this manner, individual cigarettes resulting from the rod have a substantially equal precisely determined moisture content, thereby providing enhanced uniformity in cigarette production and improved quality control.
- A
moisture sensor 3 at the cigarette maker 1 monitors the cigarette rod and generates an output electrical signal Ms indicative of rod moisture content. The moisture sensor signal Ms is fed to a signal processor 4 which develops an output control signal C for controlling the moisture content of the rod. In accordance with the invention, such control is effected by changing or varying the moisture content of theinput tobacco 2 until the output rod moisture content is at the target moisture value. This may be accomplished by utilizing the signal C to appropriately control conventional moistening means and/or dryer means situated adjacent the conveyance path of the input tobacco. - In the illustrative case of Fig. 1, a moistening unit 5, which might comprise, for example, a steam source followed by a controllable valve, and a
dryer 6 are responsive to the signal C and add and subtract moisture, respectively, to and from theinput tobacco 2. With this form of control, the control signal C brings the moistening unit 5 into operation during periods when the output rod moisture content is below target moisture and brings thedryer 6 into operation during periods when the output rod moisture content is above target moisture. - In modified practices in accordance with the invention, operation is carried out utilizing the moistening unit 5 or the
dryer 6 only. In the former modified practice, thetobacco 2 is processed during primary processing and storage such that its moisture content is always below the target value Mt upon entry to the moistening unit, thereby always requiring the addition of moisture thereto to obtain a moisture content of Mt for the output rod. In the latter modified practice, on the other hand, thetobacco 2 is processed during primary processing such that its moisture content is always above the target value Mt upon entry to thedryer 6 thereby always requiring the subtraction of moisture to obtain a moisture content of Mt for the output rod. - The processing operations of the signal processor 4 involve the generating of a rod moisture content signal Me from the moisture sensor signal Ms and the formation of the control signal C from comparison of the generated signal Me with the target moisture Mt. Generation of the signal Me by the processor 4 depends to a large degree on the particular moisture sensor being used and such generation is carried out by processing the signal Ms to provide a signal which is representative of the actual or true rod moisture content. Where the characteristics of the moisture sensor are such that the sensor signal Ms is itself representative of true rod moisture content, then this processing is carried out by equating Me to Ms. On the other hand, where the sensor characteristics result in an Ms signal varying from true rod moisture content, adjusting factors are provided to account for the influence of the sensor characteristics. In actual practice, these adjusting factors can be empirically determined for each particular moisture sensor.
- As will be discussed hereinbelow, in further practice in accordance with the present invention,
further sensors velocity sensor 9 may be provided for cigarette rod speed determination and included for sensor signal adjustment. - A first sensor which might be employed for the
sensor 3 is a resistance type moisture sensor. Such a sensor might be formed on the above- mentioned conventional maker by inserting probes through apertures spaced along the length of the so-called tongue of the maker whereat the rod is being formed, the probes being of sufficient length to enter into the tobacco rod. A current or voltage could then be supplied to the probe and the resultant voltage or current through the probe circuit measured to determine the tobacco rod resistance, and, therefore, the rod moisture content. - Utilizing such a resistance moisture sensor provides a moisture sensor signal Ms requiring adjustment for arriving at the actual rod moisture content Mc. In particular it has been found that the sensor moisture signal Ms requires adjustment related to rod firmness and rod speed. Thus, for this sensor, moisture content can be expressed as follows:
- Where Ao-A3 are constants which can be empirically determined for each particular tobacco blend and resistance sensor. With the resistance type sensor, the signal processor 4 utilizes the sensor signal Ms, the firmness sensor signal Fs and the speed sensor signal S to derive the moisture content signal Me based on the expression (1).
- Other techniques for monitoring rod moisture content utilize microwave components. One microwave technique depends upon the measurement of the power absorbed largely by the moisture in the cigarette rod as it moves through a suitable microwave cavity. With this type of moisture sensor, the moisture sensor signal Ms is a function of reflected and transmitted microwave power values in the absence and presence of the cigarette rod, these values being suitably adjusted for temperature variations in the cavity and/or the rod. Hence, Ms is as follows:
- As above-noted, the signal processor 4 determines the control signal C based upon the sensor signal Ms adjusted by certain of the other sensor signal Fs, Ds and S as provided in
equations - The
firmness sensor 3 utilized with the present invention can be of a strain gauge type and may, for example, be of a type as shown and described in United States Patent No. 4,033,360. Additionally, thedensity sensor 7 might be a beta gauge type manufactured by Molins Ltd. and supplied with its model number MK8 or MK9 cigarette maker. Thespeed sensor 9, on the other hand, might be a tachometer of conventional design yielding a value of voltage to represent revolutions per minute. - The practice of the present invention can be utilized with other controls at the maker to enhance or promote maker efficiency. Thus, for example, the signal processor may be utilized to also generate a firmness control signal C designed to control the maker such that the output rod has a predetermined or target firmness Ft at the target moisture Mt. Since the moisture control of the system maintains the output rod moisture content substantially at target moisture Mt, the firmness variations requiring correction will depend almost solely on tobacco content variations.
- A system for controlling firmness in this manner is disclosed in the copending European Patent application published as EP-A-032394. In the system of the latter patent application, the control signal C' is expressed as follows:
- In a system of this type firmness control can be achieved by utilizing the control signal C' to adjust the height of the ecreteur blade used to cut the tobacco stream at a given depth during rod formation. Alternatively, the control signal C' might be used to control the maker distributor to obtain the desired control. Such practices are disclosed, for example, in U.S. patent No. 3,595,067.
- In all cases, it is understood that the above- described arrangements are merely illustrative of the many possible specific embodiments which represent applications of the present invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can readily be devised in accordance with the principles of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims (16)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11152180A | 1980-01-14 | 1980-01-14 | |
US111521 | 1980-01-14 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0032398A2 EP0032398A2 (en) | 1981-07-22 |
EP0032398A3 EP0032398A3 (en) | 1983-07-20 |
EP0032398B1 true EP0032398B1 (en) | 1986-09-03 |
Family
ID=22339003
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19810100183 Expired EP0032398B1 (en) | 1980-01-14 | 1981-01-13 | Apparatus and method for controlling the operation of a cigarette maker |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0032398B1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA1155032A (en) |
DE (1) | DE3175243D1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB8815175D0 (en) * | 1988-06-25 | 1988-08-03 | Molins Plc | Cigarette manufacture |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2667172A (en) * | 1946-08-21 | 1954-01-26 | American Mach & Foundry | Cigarette rod condition measuring and indicating |
FR1005426A (en) * | 1947-07-17 | 1952-04-10 | Process for treating wet fibrous materials, in particular tobacco, and devices for implementing this process | |
GB867143A (en) * | 1957-01-09 | 1961-05-03 | Industrial Nucleonics Corp | Improvements in or relating to moisture gauges |
GB953728A (en) * | 1959-04-17 | 1964-04-02 | Desmond Walter Molins | Improvements in or relating to continuous rod cigarette-making machines |
GB953861A (en) * | 1959-04-17 | 1964-04-02 | Desmond Walter Molins | Improvements in or relating to continuous rod cigarette-making machines |
US3411513A (en) * | 1966-11-18 | 1968-11-19 | Knobel Max | Method and apparatus for gauging and controlling firmness in cigarettes and the like |
-
1980
- 1980-12-12 CA CA000366716A patent/CA1155032A/en not_active Expired
-
1981
- 1981-01-13 EP EP19810100183 patent/EP0032398B1/en not_active Expired
- 1981-01-13 DE DE8181100183T patent/DE3175243D1/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE3175243D1 (en) | 1986-10-09 |
EP0032398A3 (en) | 1983-07-20 |
CA1155032A (en) | 1983-10-11 |
EP0032398A2 (en) | 1981-07-22 |
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