EP0416295B1 - Method and apparatus for determining the malleability of tobacco and the stiffness of cigarettes - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to methods and devices for determining a size of deformation of tobacco articles, namely a method and a device for determining the filling capacity of tobacco as well as a method and a device for determining the hardness of cigarettes according to the preambles of claims 1, 8, 5 and 14 respectively .

The filling capacity corresponds to the visco-elasticity or compressibility of tobacco. It can be defined as the volume that a given mass of tobacco occupies for a certain time after exposure to a certain pressure. The filling capacity of tobacco strongly depends on its temperature and humidity. Since tobacco shows a pronounced relaxation behavior, a reproducible measurement of the filling capacity of tobacco is only possible using a method that is also precisely timed. The filling capacity depends on the type of tobacco and is an important parameter for the assessment of the tobacco quality.

The hardness of a cigarette is an important parameter for assessing its quality. The hardness is closely correlated with the filling capacity of the cut tobacco; a cut tobacco of high filling capacity provides a hard cigarette for a given cigarette size and a given tobacco weight. A method for determining the hardness of cigarettes can be completely analogous to a method to determine the fillability of tobacco. It is only to be ensured by a suitable design of the surfaces coming into contact with the tobacco product that the forces acting on the tobacco product are optimally transmitted.

A method and a device for determining the filling capacity of cut tobacco are from the article "Investigations with an improved densimeter for checking the filling capacity of cut tobacco and the hardness of cigarettes" by H.W. Lorenz and F. Seehofer, Contributions to Tobacco Research, Volume 4, No. 7 (1968) known. The preambles of claims 1 and 8 are based on this document. For a filling capacity measurement, about 20 g of tobacco are loosely filled into a cylindrical container of about 60 mm in diameter. After this container is inserted into the known device, a pressure plate with an applied weight is lowered from above onto the tobacco by an electric motor. As soon as the pressure plate has been placed on the tobacco, the motor continues to run empty into an end position. The position of the pressure plate and thus the height of the tobacco column is transferred to a dial gauge or another display device. After a preselected time, on the order of 1 minute, has elapsed, the motor automatically lifts the pressure plate with the weight on it from the compressed cut tobacco, and the final height of the tobacco column, which decreases over time, is used as a measure of the filling capacity is displayed.

The device from the article "Investigations with an improved densimeter for checking the filling capacity of cut tobacco and the hardness of cigarettes" by HW Lorenz and F. Seehofer, Contributions to Tobacco Research, Volume 4, No. 7 (1968) also enables a method for determining the Hardness of cigarettes, and the preambles of claims 5 and 14 are also based on this document. For a hardness measurement, 10 cigarettes are placed on a base, which replaces the cylindrical container for the cut tobacco. At the beginning of the hardness measurement, the motor lowers a pressure plate, which is adapted in size to the base, with a weight placed on the cigarettes. The other The procedure is exactly as described in connection with the determination of the filling capacity of cut tobacco.

In the method using the known device, the force acting on the tobacco or the cigarettes is built up quickly but in a poorly reproducible manner in the initial phase while the pressure plate is being lowered onto the cut tobacco or the cigarettes. Then the force is determined by the weight placed on it. The known method is therefore limited to the use of an essentially constant test force. The exact measurement of a curve, which represents the course of the final height of the tobacco column or cigarettes as a function of time, is cumbersome, since a separate measurement must be carried out for each time value. The temperature and the moisture or the water content of the tobacco, which have a strong influence on the filling capacity or hardness, cannot be measured directly in the known device. For example, the humidity must be determined separately using a drying cabinet. The tobacco moisture can change during the lengthy filling capacity or hardness measurements or if the associated moisture determination is not carried out immediately before or after, which leads to a falsification of the results for the filling capacity or hardness.

A device for determining the hardness of cigarettes is also known, in which at the beginning of the hardness determination by means of a motor, a weight of approximately 5 g per cigarette is placed on a given number of cigarettes. At this point the thickness of the cigarettes is measured, ie the distance between the base of the cigarettes and the pressure plate. In the further course, the force on the cigarettes is increased, but is not measured until a defined value of approx. 250 g is applied to each cigarette. At this moment the thickness of the cigarettes is again measured. The method for determining the hardness of cigarettes carried out with this known device thus provides a connection between Power and thickness of the cigarettes, for which there are only two measuring points. A fundamental problem with the use of weights is that the force acting on the tobacco product due to frictional forces can be reduced by an unknown amount.

It is an object of the invention to provide a way of determining a deformation quantity of tobacco articles, namely the filling capacity of tobacco and the hardness of cigarettes, which is not limited to the application of a constant test force and which allows the measurement quantity to be measured with high accuracy Determine the relevant parameters fully automatically.

This object is achieved by a method and a device for determining the filling capacity of tobacco with the features of claims 1 and 8 and by a method and a device for determining the hardness of cigarettes with the features of claims 5 and 14. Advantageous embodiments result from the subclaims. Claim 20 relates to a device for the optional determination of the filling capacity of tobacco or the hardness of cigarettes.

The method according to the invention for determining the filling capacity of tobacco runs reliably, quickly, easily and in a user-friendly manner. Since the force acting on the tobacco is measured during the compression of the tobacco, a variety of test options open up for assessing the inherently complex size "filling capacity". The drive of the test stamp by a motor allows the use of larger containers to hold the tobacco, so that a larger amount of tobacco can be examined and the reproducibility of the measured values obtained is improved. The use of larger containers to hold the tobacco further enables leaf tobacco to be examined, so that the method is not limited to cut tobacco. The filling capacity values obtained from leaf tobacco can be correlated with the filling capacity values for the cut tobacco obtained later from the leaf tobacco, which provides particularly reliable results because Both leaf tobacco and cut tobacco are examined using the same procedure. Because the movement of the test stamp takes place in a predetermined manner, automatic calibration measurements for checking the system can be integrated into the normal procedure. All measured values are immediately fed to a computer, so that an evaluation of the data, for example in the form of a curve representing the course of the force acting on the tobacco as a function of the length of the tobacco column, is considerably facilitated. In addition, future changes in the test sequence can be easily set up by changing the computer programs.

In the embodiment according to claim 2, the fact that after completion of the compression movement of the test stamp during a relaxation period the test stamp remains in its end position and during the relaxation period the force acting on the tobacco is measured at predetermined time intervals and given to the computer for further processing get another meaningful curve that shows the decreasing force during the relaxation period that the tobacco exerts on the test stamp as a function of time. The conditions are well defined because the length of the tobacco column is kept constant. Altogether, curves with data relevant to filling capacity are available, from which one or more values can be adopted to identify an assigned filling capacity size. Because the relaxation measurement takes place immediately after the compression movement of the test stamp, the total effort for carrying out the method increases only insignificantly as a result of the relaxation measurement.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method for determining the filling capacity of tobacco, the temperature and the moisture of the tobacco are determined during or immediately after the compression by means of measuring devices attached in the container or on the test stamp. Because the measurements of the temperature and humidity of the tobacco in the Containers and in the immediate vicinity to determine the filling capacity data, it is ensured that their values actually correspond to the temperature and humidity of the tobacco present during the compression and relaxation measurements. Once these values are known, the filling capacity data of a given measuring or test procedure can be corrected to standard conditions (e.g. 22 ° C, 12% tobacco moisture). This considerably simplifies the comparison of filling capacity data obtained in different measurements.

The features of the device according to the invention for carrying out the method for determining the filling capacity of tobacco result from patent claims 8 to 13.

The method according to the invention for determining the hardness of cigarettes achieves the advantages already mentioned in connection with the filling capacity determination of tobacco. Analogous to a large container for holding the cut tobacco or leaf tobacco, a large sample holder can be used this time, on which many cigarettes can be placed. Good reproducibility of the measured force is then achieved, since averaging over a large number of cigarettes takes place during the course of the method.

Relaxation data relevant to the hardness of cigarettes are preferably obtained by holding the test stamp in its end position during a relaxation period after the compression movement of the test stamp has ended and by measuring the force acting on the cigarettes at predetermined time intervals during the relaxation period and passing it on to the computer for further processing . The advantages achieved thereby correspond to those mentioned in connection with the relaxation measurements on tobacco.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method for determining the hardness of cigarettes, the temperature and the moisture of the cigarettes are determined during or immediately after compression by means of measuring devices attached to the test stamp and / or the sample holder. This provides reliable temperature and humidity values for the cigarettes, which can be used to correct the hardness data obtained to standard conditions (e.g. 22 ° C, 12% humidity). This makes it easier to compare hardness data obtained in different measurement processes.

The features of the device according to the invention for carrying out the method for determining the hardness of cigarettes result from patent claims 14 to 19.

In particular, the test stamp is preferably formed in a ring shape therein. The sample holder for holding the cigarettes has a plurality of radially arranged troughs, each of which has approximately the length of a cigarette, is flat in the central region opposite the test stamp and is delimited in the two end regions by webs from the respectively adjacent troughs. Using a sample holder designed in this way and the associated pressure surface, a large number of cigarettes can be subjected to hardness determination at the same time. The geometry of the pressure surface and the sample holder ensures that the forces can be transferred evenly from the pressure surface of the test stamp to the cigarettes.

In order to also determine the strength or hardness of the cigarette filters, the ring-shaped test stamp can preferably be removed from the device and exchanged for a second ring, which after its assembly is located over the area of the filters of the cigarettes lying on the sample holder. The test procedure for determining the hardness of the filter is identical to that for determining the hardness of the cigarettes.

In order to provide a device with which both the filling capacity of tobacco and the hardness of cigarettes can be determined according to the method explained above, so as to reduce the overall costs for these machines, the test stamp on a device for determining the filling capacity of tobacco is required Filling capacity determination with the measuring devices attached to it can be exchanged for the test stamp for hardness determination with the measuring devices located thereon and the container for filling capacity determination with the measuring devices located therein can be exchanged for the sample holder for hardness determination with the measuring devices located thereon.

Figur 1

eine Seitenansicht einer Vorrichtung zum Bestimmen der Füllfähigkeit von Tabak,

Figur 2

eine Vorderansicht der Vorrichtung aus Figur 1 in Form eines Schnitts entlang der Linie I-I aus Figur 1,

Figuren 3(a) und (b)

einen Längsschnitt (a) und einen Querschnitt (b) entlang der Linie III-III aus Figur 3(a) einer Anordnung der Temperaturfühler und Elektroden zur Bestimmung der Feuchtigkeit des Tabaks in der Vorrichtung aus den Figuren 1 und 2,

Figuren 4(a) und (b)

zwei Schritte zur Bestimmung der Temperatur und der Feuchtigkeit des Tabaks mittels der Anordnung aus Figur 3,

Figur 5

eine Seitenansicht einer Vorrichtung zum Bestimmen der Härte von Cigaretten,

Figur 6

eine Vorderansicht der Vorrichtung aus Figur 5 in Form eines Schnitts entlang der Linie V/1-V/1,

Figuren 7(a), (b), (c) und (d)

verschiedene Querschnitte der Vorrichtung aus den Figuren 5 und 6, und zwar Figur 7(a) entlang der Linie V/2-V/2 aus Figur 5, Figur 7(b) und Figur 7(c) entlang der Linie V/3-V/3 aus Figur 5, wobei in Figur 7(c) anstelle eines Prüfstempels ein Filterstempel eingesetzt ist, und Figur 7(d) einen Schnitt entlang der Linie V/4-V/4 aus Figur 5,

Figuren 8(a) und (b)

einen Probenhalter der Vorrichtung aus den Figuren 5 bis 7, und zwar Figur 8(a) eine Ausschnittsvergrößerung aus Figur 7(d) und Figur 8(b) einen Ausschnitt aus einer Seitenansicht des Probenhalters mit Blick in Richtung des Pfeils VIII aus Figur 8(a),

Figuren 9(a), (b), (c) und (d)

verschiedene Schritte bei der Durchführung des Verfahrens zum Bestimmen der Füllfähigkeit von Tabak mittels der in den Figuren 1 und 2 dargestellten Vorrichtung, und zwar Figur 9(a) die Ausgangsposition der Vorrichtung, Figur 9(b) den Vorgang zum Einrichten der Wegstreckenmessung, Figur 9(c) den Vorgang des Komprimierens des Tabaks und Figur 9(d) den Vorgang einer Relaxationsmessung,

Figur 10

den Kalibriervorgang für einen Kraftmesser mittels der in den Figuren 1 und 2 dargestellten Vorrichtung,

Figur 11

eine Kompressionskurve für Schnittabak, die die auf den Schnittabak ausgeübte Kraft F als Funktion der Resthöhe RH der Tabaksäule darstellt,

Figur 12

zwei Relaxationskurven für Schnittabak oder Cigaretten, die bei festgehaltener Resthöhe die ausgeübte Kraft F als Funktion der Zeit t_R darstellen, und

Figur 13

eine Kompressionskurve für Cigaretten, die die auf die Cigaretten ausgübte Kraft F als Funktion der Resthöhe RH der Cigaretten darstellt.

The invention is explained below using an exemplary embodiment. The drawings show:

Figure 1

2 shows a side view of a device for determining the filling capacity of tobacco,

Figure 2

2 shows a front view of the device from FIG. 1 in the form of a section along the line II from FIG. 1,

Figures 3 (a) and (b)

2 shows a longitudinal section (a) and a cross section (b) along the line III-III from FIG. 3 (a) an arrangement of the temperature sensors and electrodes for determining the moisture of the tobacco in the device from FIGS. 1 and 2,

Figures 4 (a) and (b)

two steps for determining the temperature and the moisture of the tobacco by means of the arrangement from FIG. 3,

Figure 5

2 shows a side view of a device for determining the hardness of cigarettes,

Figure 6

5 shows a front view of the device from FIG. 5 in the form of a section along the line V / 1-V / 1,

Figures 7 (a), (b), (c) and (d)

5 and 6, namely FIG. 7 (a) along the line V / 2-V / 2 from FIG. 5, FIG. 7 (b) and FIG. 7 (c) along the line V / 3- V / 3 from FIG. 5, a filter stamp being used instead of a test stamp in FIG. 7 (c), and FIG. 7 (d) a section along the line V / 4-V / 4 from FIG. 5,

Figures 8 (a) and (b)

5 shows a sample holder of the device from FIGS. 5 to 7, namely FIG. 8 (a) an enlarged detail from FIG. 7 (d) and FIG. 8 (b) a detail from a side view of the sample holder with a view in the direction of arrow VIII from FIG. 8 ( a),

Figures 9 (a), (b), (c) and (d)

Various steps in the implementation of the method for determining the filling capacity of tobacco by means of the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, namely FIG. 9 (a) the starting position of the device, FIG. 9 (b) the process for setting up the distance measurement, FIG. 9 (c) the process of compressing the tobacco and Figure 9 (d) the process of relaxation measurement,

Figure 10

the calibration process for a dynamometer by means of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2,

Figure 11

a compression curve for cut tobacco, which represents the force F exerted on the cut tobacco as a function of the residual height RH of the tobacco column,

Figure 12

two relaxation curves for cut tobacco or cigarettes, which represent the force F exerted as a function of time t _R when the residual height is recorded, and

Figure 13

a compression curve for cigarettes, which represents the force F exerted on the cigarettes as a function of the residual height RH of the cigarettes.

First of all, the structure of the device for determining the filling capacity of tobacco shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is described. Two parallel guide rods 2 are attached to a base 4 and stabilized at their upper ends by a cross rod 6. A test stamp 8, which is circular in cross section, is attached to a work crossmember 11 via a connecting rod 10. The working crossmember 11 can be moved along the guide rods 2. The forces occurring on the test stamp 8 can be determined via a dynamometer 12 which is installed between the connecting rod 10 and the lower side of the working crossmember 11.

The working crossmember 11 contains a frame 14 which can be moved along the guide rods 2 via slide bearings 16. A stepper motor 18 is located at the upper end of the frame 14. The stepper motor 18 drives a precision spindle 20 which is mounted at its lower end in a bearing 22 fastened to the frame 14. A nut 24, which is in engagement with the precision spindle 20, is rigidly attached to a crossmember 26, which in turn is immovably connected to the guide rods 2. This drive of the working crossmember 11 via the spindle 20 allows the working crossmember 11 to be raised or lowered; no rotatable parts appear on the outside; in particular, the dynamometer 12 is rigidly connected to the frame 14. The Working crossmember 11 is covered by two cladding plates 28 which run in planes parallel to the plane in FIG. 2, as can be seen in FIG. 1.

The tobacco R is located in a cylindrical container 30, the inside diameter of which is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the test stamp 8. The container 30 is seated on a slide 32, which slides on two rails 34 and is laterally displaceable, as shown in FIG. A stop piece 36 on each rail 34 defines the exact position of the slide 32 and the container 30 with respect to the test stamp 8.

A limit switch 38 is attached to the crossbar 6 and is actuated when the working crossmember 11 moves upwards as soon as it has reached its highest intended position. The stepper motor 18 is thereby safely switched off, regardless of the other control signals that it receives.

A flexible connecting cable 40 connects the stepper motor 18 to a stepper motor controller 42, see FIG. 1. The stepper motor controller 42 is connected to a computer 44. Since the pitch of the precision spindle 20 is known, the position of the working crossmember 11 and thus of the test plunger 8 is obtained with high accuracy over the number of steps covered by the stepper motor 18. In order for this type of distance measurement to work, however, the absolute position of the test stamp 8 must be determined once after the device has been switched on. For this purpose, the test stamp 8 is moved to a set-up standard. Starting from this known distance between the lower edge of the test stamp 8 and a predetermined zero point position, the stepper motor control 42 and the computer 44 keep track of all the forward and backward steps of the stepper motor 18, so that at any later point in time the absolute distance between the lower edge of the test stamp 8 and the predetermined zero point can be determined. The process of setting up using the Setup standards are explained below in connection with the description of the method for determining the filling capacity of tobacco. The stepper motor control 42 and the computer 44 therefore take on not only the control of the working crossmember 11, but also the measurement of the distance traveled by the test stamp 8. The required transducers and interfaces are contained in the stepper motor 18, the stepper motor controller 42 and the computer 44. Alternatively, a distance measurement could also be carried out via an external length measuring device, which reports the absolute position of the test stamp 8 at any time via a transducer and an interface to the computer 44.

In the exemplary embodiment, the dynamometer 12 consists of a commercially available force measuring hub. The measured values of the dynamometer 12 are supplied to the computer 44 via an interface 48. They differ from the force exerted by the test stamp 8 on the tobacco by a constant weight, since the dynamometer 12 is not mounted directly on the interface between the test stamp 8 and tobacco R. The method for determining the filling capacity of tobacco allows a correction of the measured force values with respect to these constants and also enables calibration of the force meter 12 used, see below. Alternatively, one or more dynamometers could also be installed below the container 30.

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement of temperature sensors and electrodes for determining the temperature and humidity of the tobacco R. In its lower area, the test stamp 8 consists of an insulator 50, the lower edge of which defines the lower edge 51 of the test stamp. An insulator 54 is also attached to the bottom 52 of the container 30, the upper edge of which defines the upper edge 55 of the bottom. A first temperature sensor 56 is inserted into the insulator 50 of the test stamp 8 and a second temperature sensor 58 into the insulator 54 at the bottom of the container 30. The two temperature sensors are preferably Pt 100 resistors. These are precision platinum resistors through which a constant current is conducted in a known manner; the voltage drop measured along the resistors is a measure of the temperature. The temperature sensors 56 and 58 are connected to a computer via measuring transducers (not shown) and interfaces. This can be the computer 44. In the exemplary embodiment, however, two computers communicating with one another are used, a main computer and the computer 44 as a secondary computer. In this case, the temperature measurements are sent to the main computer.

The moisture of the tobacco R is determined by a resistance measurement. For this purpose, there are two first electrodes 60A and 60B on the insulator 50 of the test stamp 8 and two second electrodes 62A and 62B on the insulator 54 on the bottom of the container 30. These electrodes are connected to a known measuring device for determining the moisture of tobacco (not shown), and the results for the moisture of the tobacco are transmitted to the computer, here the main computer, via an interface (not shown). In principle, a moisture measurement works in such a way that an alternating voltage with constant amplitude is applied between two electrodes. The current flowing through the tobacco is converted via a predetermined resistance into a voltage, which is therefore a measure of the electrical resistance of the tobacco and thus its moisture. This voltage is fed to the main computer via the interface. The measuring device for determining the moisture of the tobacco must occasionally be calibrated with the aid of tobacco of known moisture. Metal disks 64 are attached to the insulator 54 between the second electrodes 62A and 62B at the bottom of the container 30. Corresponding metal disks are also located between the first electrodes 60A and 60B. When a voltage is applied to the first electrodes 60A, 60B or second electrodes 62A, 62B, these metal disks enlarge the tobacco area detected by the measurement and thus increase the reliability of the moisture measurements. The inside of side wall 66 the container 30 is provided with an electrically insulating coating.

FIG. 4 shows how the electrodes are switched in the exemplary embodiment in order to determine the moisture content of the tobacco R. After the tobacco column in container 30 has been compressed to its final residual height RHE in the course of the method for determining the fillability of tobacco (see below), a voltage is first applied between the two electrodes 60A and 60B. The measured value U ₁ corresponds to a first value for the moisture of the tobacco. At the same time, the temperature T _{1 of} the tobacco is measured via the first temperature sensor 56 and the measured values are fed to the main computer. This is shown in Figure 4 (a). The voltage is then applied between the two electrodes 62A and 62B, Figure 4 (b). Your measured value U ₂ , like the temperature T ₂ determined by the second temperature sensor 58, is transmitted to the main computer. The main computer can calculate representative mean values from the temperature values T ₁ and T ₂ and the voltage values U ₁ and U ₂ .

Figures 5 and 6 show a device for determining the hardness of cigarettes. This device is constructed similarly to the device for determining the filling capacity of tobacco, and the same or corresponding components are provided with reference numerals increased by 100.

Two guide rods 102 are fastened on a base 104 and connected at their upper ends by a cross rod 106. An annular test stamp 108 with a pressure surface 109 is attached to a test stamp carrier 110. The test stamp carrier 110 is connected via three dynamometers 112A, 112B and 112C to an intermediate piece 113 which is attached to the underside of the frame 114 of a working crossmember 111. The work crossbar 111 is driven by a stepper motor 118. The drive elements of the work traverse 111, such as a precision spindle, which is supported in a traverse, are the same as in the case of the device for determining the filling capacity of tobacco. For this reason, the components located within the work crossbar 111 are not shown again in FIG.

The stepper motor 118 is connected via a flexible connecting cable 140 to a stepper motor control 142, which in turn is connected to a computer 144, see FIG. 5. The control of the up and down movement of the work crossbar 111 and the measurement of the distance traveled by the test stamp 108 is carried out precisely as in the device for determining the filling capacity of tobacco. A limit switch 138 is attached to the crossbar 106.

In order to ensure reliable measurement of the force transmitted from the test stamp 108 to the cigarettes Z, three dynamometers 112A, 112B and 112C are provided in the exemplary embodiment, see FIG. 7 (a), which connect the large-area test stamp carrier 110 to the intermediate piece 113, see FIG 7 (b). The dynamometers 112A, 112B and 112C can in turn be designed as commercially available force measuring hubs. They are connected to the computer 144 via a flexible connecting cable 146 and an interface 148. Alternatively, one or more dynamometers could also be installed on the sample holder 170 described in the following paragraph.

The cigarettes Z, the hardness of which is to be determined, lie on a sample holder 170, which is attached to the base 104 via a holder 172. The sample holder 170 is shown in particular in FIG. 7 (d) and in FIG. 8. The surface of the sample holder 170 is essentially flat and runs parallel to the pressure surface 109 of the test stamp 108. A plurality of cigarettes Z lie in a circular arrangement on the sample holder 170. The position of each cigarette Z in the radial direction is determined by a cylindrical stop ring 174 , the height of which is approximately as large as the thickness of a cigarette Z, see FIG. 6 and FIG. 8 (b). For every cigarette Z is a trough 176 is provided, the length of which is equal to the distance between the stop ring 174 and the outer edge of the sample holder 170. This is sufficient to hold a long cigarette Z1, see Figure 8 (a). In a central region 178, the troughs 176 are flat or planar. The central areas 178 of the troughs 176 are located opposite the pressure surface 109 of the ring-shaped test stamp 108. In order to prevent the cigarettes from rolling away in the circumferential direction, each trough 176 is delimited from the respective neighboring troughs by inner webs 180 and outer webs 182. These webs 180 and 182 are shown hatched in FIG. They rise above the level of the central areas 178. As can be seen from FIG. 8 (b), the cigarettes Z1 and Z2 lie at both ends in trough regions due to the design of the inner webs 180 and the outer webs 182, which preferably have the shape of a cutout from a cylinder jacket. The depth of both trough regions is preferably equal to the radius of a cigarette Z1, Z2, and the radius of an associated cylinder is somewhat larger than the radius of a cigarette Z1, Z2. In the radial direction (based on the sample holder 170), the inner webs 180 extend over one Length that is slightly larger than the length of a cigarette filter ZF1, ZF2. The outer webs 182 are long enough to hold short cigarettes Z2 in addition to long cigarettes Z1. In Figure 8 (a) only two cigarettes Z1 and Z2 of different lengths are shown. As a rule, however, the sample holder 170 is completely filled with cigarettes Z of the same length and type.

The distance between the printing surface 109 of the test stamp 108 and the central areas 178 on the sample holder 170 is the same for all cigarettes Z. Since not all cigarettes Z have the same diameter due to manufacturing tolerances, they are compressed to different extents during the compression movement of the test stamp. The measured values obtained for the force exerted on the cigarettes are nevertheless reliable average values, since averaged over a large number of cigarettes becomes. A flat central area 178 has the advantage over a curved one that the conditions are also comparable for cigarettes of different diameters, because there is no question of a suitable radius of curvature for the central area 178, which could only be optimally matched to a cigarette diameter.

In order to also enable the hardness of the filters ZF1, ZF2 of the cigarettes Z1, Z2 to be determined, the annular test stamp 108 can be unscrewed from the test stamp carrier 110 and replaced by a second ring or filter stamp 190. As can be seen from FIG. 7 (c), the filter stamp 190 has a smaller radius than the test stamp 108 and lies opposite the filters ZF1, ZF2 of the cigarettes Z1, Z2 on the sample holder 170. A method for determining the hardness of the cigarette filters works in exactly the same way as the method for determining the hardness of cigarettes.

The temperature of the cigarettes Z is determined by means of one or more temperature sensors which are installed on the sample holder 170, on the test stamp 108 or on the test stamp carrier 110. For example, Pt 100 platinum precision resistors can be used for this purpose, which are connected to a main computer via a transducer and an interface, similar to that described above in connection with the device for determining the filling capacity of tobacco. The moisture of the cigarettes, or more precisely, the tobacco in the cigarettes, can also be measured in a comparable manner and transmitted to the computer. For example, the test stamp 108 can be switched as one electrode and the sample holder 170 as the other electrode of a voltage device, which determines the electrical resistance of the cigarettes Z lying on the sample holder 170 via a current measurement. Because the current also flows through the cigarette paper, its electrical resistance must be taken into account as an empirical variable in the measurement in order to determine the resistance and thus the moisture of the tobacco in the Close cigarettes. Calibration measurements are required for this.

The devices described for determining the filling capacity of tobacco and the hardness of cigarettes are largely identical. The same apparatus can therefore be used to drive the test stamps 8 and 108 and to record and process the measured values for distance, force, temperature and humidity. In order to convert a functional device for determining the filling capacity of tobacco into a functional device for determining the hardness of cigarettes, only the test stamp 8 with the connecting rod 10 and the associated dynamometer 12, including the measuring devices for temperature and humidity, attached to the test stamp 8, against the Test stamp 108 located on the test stamp carrier 110 with the measuring devices for temperature and humidity attached to it and the force gauges 112A, 112B and 112C mounted on the intermediate piece 113 can be exchanged. In place of the container 30 seated on the slide 32 with the built-in measuring devices for temperature and humidity, the sample holder 170 takes place on the holder 172 with the measuring devices for temperature and humidity located thereon.

In principle, the force gauges 12 or 112A, 112B, 112C can also be located below the container 30, e.g. be attached to the slide 32, or to the sample holder 170 or the holder 172.

The method for determining the filling capacity of tobacco, which is carried out with the explained device for determining the filling capacity of tobacco, is described below. In the exemplary embodiment, the measurements are made on cut tobacco; Peeled leaf tobacco or the full leaves of a small-leaved tobacco could also be used.

The control, data acquisition and data processing is carried out in the exemplary embodiment by two computers. The computer 44, henceforth called secondary computer, controls the stepper motor 18, whereby the position of the test stamp 8 is known, and takes the measured values for the force exerted on the cut tobacco. This secondary computer communicates with a main computer, to which the devices for measuring the temperature and humidity of the cut tobacco are connected, and which also takes over the further data evaluation. However, all control, data acquisition and evaluation processes can be carried out just as well from a single computer.

The length of the tobacco column between the lower edge 51 of the test stamp 8 and the upper edge 55 of the bottom of the container 30 is henceforth referred to as the residual height RH. The upper edge 55 of the base indicates the zero point position O for the position of the test stamp 8. Due to the set-up procedure described below for determining a starting position of the test stamp 8 in absolute length units, all values for the residual height RH are automatically related to the zero point position O.

As a result of weight forces, there is a force value on the dynamometer 12 even when the punch 8 is not loaded. At the beginning of a test sequence for determining the filling capacity of cut tobacco, this offset value is automatically recorded and stored in the secondary computer. For all subsequent force measurements, it is subtracted so that the measured values for force F are zero-corrected.

The individual steps for the test sequence, i.e. the individual process steps for determining the filling capacity of cut tobacco are explained.

At the beginning, all devices are switched on and the programs for the main computer and the secondary computer are loaded. The work traverse 11 travels to the limit switch 38, see FIG. 9 (a). This uppermost position is the starting position for the test stamp 8. The secondary computer then sends a signal BS1 to the main computer, which triggers its program start. The main computer then transmits parameters for setting up and the test sequence to the secondary computer. These parameters indicate, for example: the measuring range A of the dynamometer 12, the height E of a set-up standard 68, the distance L between the upper edge 55 of the base and the upper edge of the container 30, the position G of the starting position of the test stamp 8 with respect to the zero point 0, the time interval H between individual measurements during the relaxation period, the distance M between the lower edge 51 of the test stamp 8 and the upper edge 55 of the bottom of the container 30, at which data acquisition is started, the test speed N, at which the test stamp 8 during the compression of the cut tobacco, the maximum force F (MAX), when reached the compression process is ended and the test stamp 8 is stopped, the measuring interval P during the compression process, the relaxation period Q (order of minutes) and the position V of the starting position of the test stamp 8 with respect to the zero point position O.

Now a set-up standard 68, for example a cylinder of known height E with a holding edge, is placed on the upper edge of the container 30 and the command to start the set-up is given to the main computer, see FIG. 9 (b). The main computer transmits the command signal "a" to the secondary computer. Thereupon, the test stamp 8 is lowered until shortly before the set-up standard 68, and then the set-up standard 68 is approached to a defined force, which is determined via the dynamometer 12. The absolute value for this position of the test stamp 8 is L + E, see FIG. 9 (a) and FIG. 9 (b). Since this value is known, all future positions of the test stamp 8 can be determined via the number of steps (forward or backward) covered by the stepping motor 18, as already explained. The test stamp 8 moved to the starting position G, and the slave computer sends a signal BS2 to the main computer, which indicates that the starting position G has been reached. The device is now ready for measurements on cut tobacco.

After the set-up standard 68 has been removed from the container 30, data for the test designation and characteristic data for the cut tobacco, the filling capacity of which is to be determined, are input into the main computer. The cut tobacco sample is weighed out (e.g. 400 g), and the tobacco mass is automatically received by the main computer to which the scale is connected. The cut tobacco can then be filled into the container 30. It is useful that the container 30 is slidable on the carriage 32 along the rails 34, the precise position with respect to the test stamp 8 being defined by the stop pieces 36. After the user has entered the start command to the main computer, the main computer transmits the control command "c" to the secondary computer, which then first controls the sample stamp 8 to point M, see FIG. 9 (c). There the recording of the measured values for the force F and the residual height RH begins, which takes place with the measuring interval P, i.e. at intervals of P seconds, can be saved in the secondary computer. The test stamp 8 moves downwards at the constant test speed N. As soon as the force F has reached the predetermined maximum value F (MAX), the test stamp 8 is stopped and the compression process is ended. This is indicated to the main computer by the control signal BS4 emitted by the secondary computer.

, die von dem Nebenrechner abgespeichert wird, siehe Figur 9(d). Jetzt wird während der Relaxationsperiode Q eine Relaxationsmessung für den Schnittabak R durchgeführt, indem der Nebenrechner mit dem Intervall H Meßwerte für die Kraft F entgegennimmt und abspeichert. Zur gleichen Zeit veranlaßt der Hauptrechner die Messungen der Temperaturen T₁ und T₂ und der feuchtigkeitsrelevanten Spannungswerte U₁ und U₂, wie bei der Beschreibung der Vorrichtung zum Bestimmen der Füllfähigkeit von Tabak erläutert. Diese Werte werden an den Hauptrechner übergeben und dort abgespeichert. Nach Ablauf der Relaxationsperiode Q übersendet der Nebenrechner das Steuersignal BS9 an den Hauptrechner, woraufhin dieser das Steuersignal "i" an den Nebenrechner abgibt. Das veranlaßt den Nebenrechner, den Prüfstempel 8 wieder in seine Startposition G zu fahren. Beim Erreichen der Startposition G gibt der Nebenrechner das Steuersignal BS3 an den Hauptrechner ab.The test stamp 8 now remains at the final and minimum residual height $\text{RH = RHE}$

, which is stored by the secondary computer, see FIG. 9 (d). A relaxation measurement for the cut tobacco R is now carried out during the relaxation period Q, in that the secondary computer receives and stores measured values for the force F with the interval H. At the same time, the main computer causes the measurements of the temperatures T ₁ and T ₂ and the moisture-relevant voltage values U ₁ and U ₂ , as in the Description of the device for determining the filling capacity of tobacco explained. These values are transferred to the main computer and saved there. After the relaxation period Q has elapsed, the secondary computer sends the control signal BS9 to the main computer, whereupon the latter outputs the control signal "i" to the secondary computer. This causes the secondary computer to move the test stamp 8 back to its starting position G. When the starting position G is reached, the secondary computer outputs the control signal BS3 to the main computer.

The main computer then requests all measured values of the test sequence from the secondary computer via the control signal "k". The measured values are transmitted and stored in the format "force F, residual height RH, test area", the parameter for the test area distinguishing between the values for the compression measurement and those for the relaxation measurement. The values for the force F have already been corrected with regard to the offset.

The main computer displays a compression curve and a relaxation curve for the tested cut tobacco from the measured data, from which values for the filling capacity can be taken. In addition, the main computer uses the data available for the tobacco type identifier and the measured temperature and humidity to correct the curves or filling capacity values obtained to standard conditions. This is explained in more detail below.

During the calculations in the main computer and the output of the results, the test stamp 8 remains in the starting position G. As soon as a new cut tobacco sample has been filled into the container 30, a further measurement to determine the filling capacity can begin. The following test sequence is initiated by the user with a new command command to the main computer, which then transmits the control signal "c" to the secondary computer. A renewed setup to determine the absolute position of the test stamp 8 is generally not necessary. With critical However, the main computer sends error messages back to the work traverse 11 via the control signal "m" in the starting position with a stop at the limit switch 38. The control signal "m" is emitted, for example, when the force absorbed by the dynamometer 12 exceeds a predetermined limit value or when switches of the safety devices of the system are not closed. In these cases, and basically when the device is switched on, the setting-up by means of the setting-up standard 68 must be repeated.

The calibration of the force meter 12 should be checked at periodic intervals. For this purpose, a calibrated calibration measuring hub 69 is used, which is placed under the test stamp 8 instead of the container 30, see FIG. 10. The height C of the calibration measuring hub 69 above the zero point position O and the starting position G 'for calibration measurements are transferred as parameters from the main computer to the secondary computer . To calibrate, the test stamp moves from the starting position G 'to the calibration measuring hub 69 at a minimum speed. The force measurement values obtained via the dynamometer 12 can then be compared with those of the calibrated calibration measuring hub 69 in order to correct the values obtained from the dynamometer 12, if necessary .

), die Masse m des Schnittabaks (etwa 400 g bei einem Volumen des Behälters 30 von ca. 5 Liter), die Temperaturmeßwerte T₁, T₂ und deren Mittelwert T, sowie die Spannungswerte U₁, U₂ der Leitfähigkeitsmessung und deren Mittelwert U.After completing a complete test sequence for measuring data relevant to filling capacity on a given cut tobacco sample, the main computer has the following measured values available: the value pairs of the compression measurement (force F, residual height RH at constant speed N of the test stamp 8), the value pairs of the relaxation measurement (force F, time t _R with measured, constant residual height $\text{RH = RHE}$

), the mass m of the cut tobacco (about 400 g with a volume of the container 30 of about 5 liters), the temperature measurements T ₁ , T ₂ and their mean T, and the voltage values U ₁ , U _{2 of} the conductivity measurement and their mean U .

From the data obtained during the compression and relaxation measurements, general tobacco elastic parameters such as the compressibility or the solid / liquid behavior of the cut tobacco is calculated or empirically estimated. These parameters depend on the one hand on the tobacco mixture and on the other hand strongly on the temperature and tobacco moisture.

A compression curve can be represented from the measured value pairs of the compression measurement, see FIG. 11. The force F acting on the tobacco is plotted as a function of the residual height RH. The remaining height RH decreases from left to right. Since in the exemplary embodiment the test stamp 8 is moved at a constant speed N, there is a linear relationship between the residual height RH and the time t _K elapsed during the compression of the cut tobacco; the time t _{K increases} from left to right. The curve in FIG. 11 ends at the maximum force F (MAX). The "filling capacity" FF of the cut tobacco can be described as the residual height RH1 with a defined test force F1, see FIG. 11.

The force F determined during the relaxation measurement is plotted in FIG. 12 as a function of the time t _R for two different types of tobacco. The force F decreases continuously from its maximum value F (MAX) at the time t _R = 0 until the measurement is ended at the time Q after the relaxation period. The curves plotted in FIG. 12 represent the solid / liquid behavior of the two types of tobacco examined.

In order to be able to compare the results of different measurements, they must be corrected to standard conditions. The standard conditions are, for example, 400 g tobacco mass, a temperature of 22 ° C and a tobacco moisture content of 12% (based on the total substance). The corrections can be carried out after the relaxation measurement in the main computer as explained below, so that after a measurement the corrected value of the filling capacity can already be output.

The correction steps listed below are all based on known, empirical relationships. When calculating them, empirical coefficients are used that are specific to the tobacco mixture examined. These correction coefficients are stored in the main computer.

From the uncorrected data plotted according to FIG. 11, the filling capacity FF (0) (corresponds to RH1) for a given mass, moisture and temperature of the cut tobacco is obtained, for example, by spline interpolation.

First, a mass correction is carried out by normalizing to the balanced tobacco mass, which provides a corrected filling capacity value FF (1).

The measured value U for the voltage depends directly on the temperature T. This must be taken into account when the actual moisture WG of the tobacco is calculated using U.

kann die Füllfähigkeit FF(1) in den Füllfähigkeitswert FF(2) bei 22°C und der gegebenen Feuchtigkeit WG des Tabaks umgerechnet werden. Eine weitere Gleichung erlaubt bei Verwendung der tatsächlichen Feuchtigkeit WG schließlich die Umrechnung von FF(2) in FF(3), wobei FF(3) der auf eine Tabakfeuchtigkeit von 12% korrigierte Füllfähigkeitswert und damit der vollständig auf Standardbedingungen korrigierte Wert für die Füllfähigkeit der untersuchten Tabaksorte ist.The filling capacity at a given humidity also depends directly on the temperature T. With the help of the mixture-dependent relationship $\text{FF = f (T)}$

the filling capacity FF (1) can be converted into the filling capacity value FF (2) at 22 ° C and the given humidity WG of the tobacco. Another equation finally allows the conversion of FF (2) to FF (3) when using the actual moisture WG, where FF (3) is the filling capacity value corrected to a tobacco moisture of 12% and thus the filling capacity value completely corrected to standard conditions examined tobacco variety.

The procedure for determining the hardness of cigarettes is practically the same as the procedure for determining the fillability of tobacco. The same computer programs can even be used. Only the values for some of the parameters entered in the main computer are different. To the For example, a set-up standard of height E is placed directly on the sample holder 170, so that L = 0. The zero point position O is defined by the surface of the sample holder 170 in the central regions 178 of the troughs 176 for the cigarettes Z. The residual height RH now corresponds to this "residual thickness" of the cigarettes; it is determined by the distance between the surface of the sample holder 170 in the central regions 178 and the pressure surface 109 of the test stamp 108. Since three dynamometers 112A, 112B and 112C are used in the exemplary embodiment, the total force F exerted on the cigarettes is equal to the sum of the offset-corrected forces which are indicated by the three dynamometers 112A, 112B, 112C.

Ebensogut ist die Angabe einer prozentualen "Verformung" HÄ (%) möglich: $$\text{HÄ(\%) = 100 * RH2 / RH1.}$$

FIG. 13 shows a compression curve measured on cigarettes. The hardness value HA of the cigarettes can be defined as "penetration depth" via two residual heights RH1 and RH2 that occur at defined forces F1 and F2: $$\text{HÄ = RH1 - RH2.}$$

It is equally possible to specify a percentage "deformation" HÄ (%): $$\text{HÄ (\%) = 100 * RH2 / RH1.}$$

The force F1 defining the starting position should be chosen to be as small as possible.

FIG. 12 shows two relaxation curves measured on cigarettes. They are similar to the relaxation curves of cut tobacco.

The hardness values are again mixture-specific depending on the parameters temperature, tobacco moisture and tobacco weight per cigarette. The hardness values, like the filling capacity values for cut tobacco, can be corrected to standard conditions using empirical relationships, with the addition of empirically known properties of the cigarette paper must be taken into account in order to infer the moisture of the tobacco contained in the cigarette from the moisture-relevant measurement values.

Claims (20)

1. Method for determining the filling capacity of tobacco, in which, in a container (30) closed on one side by a movable test plunger (8), a force is exerted on a given quantity of tobacco by the test plunger (8) and in which method the length of the tobacco column under the effect of the force and the time are measured, the method being characterised in that the test plunger (8) for the exertion of the force is driven in a pre-set manner by a motor (18) such that the tobacco (R) is compressed, that the force exerted on the tobacco (R) is measured on the test plunger (8) or on a supporting surface of the container (30), that the length of the tobacco column is measured via the distance covered by the test plunger (8), that the measured values for force and distance are acquired during the compression and sent, via transducers and interfaces (42, 48), to a computer (44) for further processing, and that the temperature of the tobacco (R) and/or the moisture of the tobacco (R) are determined in independent measurements as further parameters governing the value of the filling capacity and passed to a computer.
2. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that after the end of the compression movement of the test plunger (8) the test plunger (8) rests in its end position during a relaxation period and that during the relaxation period the force acting on the tobacco (R) is measured at pre-set time intervals and is sent to the computer (44) for further processing.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the temperature of the tobacco (R) is determined during or immediately after the compression as a parameter governing the value of the filling capacity by means of measurement devices (56, 58) mounted in the container (30) or on the test plunger (8).
4. Method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the moisture of the tobacco (R) is determined during or immediately after the compression as a parameter governing the value of the filling capacity by means of measurement devices (60A, 60B, 62A, 62B) mounted in the container (30) or on the test plunger (8).
5. Method for determining the hardness of cigarettes, in which method a force is exerted on a predetermined number of cigarettes (Z), which lie on an essentially flat sample holder (170), by a test plunger (108) which can be moved perpendicularly to the surface of the sample holder (170), and which test plunger (108) has a pressure surface (109) extending parallel to the surface of the sample holder (170), and in which method the thickness of the cigarettes (Z) under the action of the force and also the time are measured, the method being characterised in that the test plunger (108) for exerting the force is driven by a motor (118) in a pre-set manner whereby the cigarettes (Z) are compressed, that the force exerted on the cigarettes (Z) is measured on the test plunger (108) or on the sample holder (170), that the thickness of the cigarettes (Z) is measured via the distance covered by the test plunger (108), that the measured values for force and distance are acquired during the compression and sent, via data transducers and interfaces (142, 148), for further processing to a computer (144), and that the temperature of the cigarettes (Z) and/or the moisture of the cigarettes (Z) are determined in independent measurements as further parameters governing the value of the hardness and passed to a computer.
6. Method according to claim 5, characterised in that after the end of the compression movement of the test plunger (108) the test plunger (108) rests in its end position for a relaxation period and that during the relaxation period the force acting on the cigarettes (Z) is measured at pre-set time intervals and is sent to the computer (144) for further processing.
7. Method according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the temperature and/or the moisture of the cigarettes (Z) are determined during or immediately after the compression as parameters governing the value of the hardness by means of measurement devices mounted on the test plunger (108) and/or the sample holder (170).
8. Apparatus for determining the filling capacity of tobacco, comprising a container (30), open on one side, for holding the tobacco (R), a test plunger (8) which can be moved in one direction into the container and closes the latter for the exertion of force on the tobacco (R), a distance-measurement device (18, 42, 44) for the determination of the length of the tobacco column between the test plunger (8) and a wall (55), opposite thereto, of the container (30), and a time-measurement device (44), the apparatus being characterised by a drive device (11) including a motor (18) and being controlled by a computer (44), for driving the test plunger (8) for exerting the force on the tobacco (R), by force-measurement devices (12) mounted on the test plunger (8) or on the supporting surface of the container (30), and by data transducers and interfaces (42, 48) for the automatic acquisition of the measured values of the force and the length of the tobacco column and their transmission to a computer (44).
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterised by measurement devices (56, 58) arranged in the container (30) or on the test plunger (8) for determining the temperature of the tobacco (R) and also by data transducers and interfaces for the automatic acquisition of the values representing the temperature and their transmission to a computer.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in that platinum precision resistors (56, 58) for determining the temperature of the tobacco (R) are arranged on that surface (51) of the test plunger (8) which is in contact with the tobacco (R), as well as on the inner wall (55), opposite thereto, of the container (30).
11. Apparatus according to claim 8, 9 or 10, characterised by measurement devices (60A, 60B, 62A, 62B) arranged in the container (30) or on the test plunger (8) for determining the moisture of the tobacco (R), and by data transducers and interfaces for the automatic acquisition of the values representing the moisture and their transmission to a computer.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterised in that arrangements of several electrodes (60A, 60B, 62A, 62B) insulated from each other are mounted on that surface (51) of the test plunger (8) which is in contact with the tobacco (R), as well as on the inner wall (55), opposite thereto, of the container (30), which electrodes can be connected to a voltage source, so as to determine, by means of the measured current flowing through the tobacco (R) and/or the measured voltage, the electrical conductivity as a measure of the moisture of the tobacco (R).
13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterised in that the drive device (11) for the test plunger (8) has a precision spindle (20) rotated by a stepping motor (18), the number of the steps covered by the stepping motor (18) being usable as a measure of the length of the tobacco column.
14. Apparatus for determining the hardness of cigarettes, comprising an essentially flat sample holder (170) for holding the cigarettes (Z), a test plunger (108), which is movable perpendicularly to the surface of the sample holder (170), for the exertion of a force on the cigarettes (Z), which test plunger (108) has a pressure surface (109) extending parallel to the surface of the sample holder (170), a distance-measurement device (118, 142, 144) for the determination of the thickness of the cigarettes (Z) situated between the pressure surface (109) of the test plunger (108) and the surface of the sample holder (170), and a time-measurement device (144), the apparatus being characterised by a drive device (111) including a motor (118) and being controlled by a computer (114), for the test plunger (108) for exerting the force on the cigarettes (Z), by force-measurement devices (112A, 112B, 112C) arranged on the test plunger (108) or on the sample holder (170), and by data transducers and interfaces (142, 148) for the automatic acquisition of the measured values for the force and the thickness of the cigarettes (Z) and their transmission to a computer (144).
15. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterised by measurement devices arranged on the sample holder (170) or on the test plunger (108), for the determination of the temperature of the cigarettes (Z), and by data transducers and interfaces for the automatic acquisition of the values representing the temperature and their transmission to a computer.
16. Apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, characterized by measurement devices arranged on the sample holder (170) or on the test plunger (108), for the determination of the moisture of the cigarettes (Z), and by data transducers and interfaces for the automatic acquisition of the values representing the moisture and their transmission to a computer.
17. Apparatus according to claim 14, 15 or 16, characterised in that the drive device (111) for the test plunger (108) has a precision spindle rotated by a stepping motor (118), wherein the number of the steps covered by the stepping motor (118) can be used as a measure of the thickness of the cigarettes (Z).
18. Apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterised in that the test plunger (108) has an annular shape and that the sample holder (170) for holding the cigarettes (Z) has a plurality of radially arranged recesses (176) having approximately the length of a cigarette (Z1, Z2, Z), which recesses (176) are plane in their central regions (178) opposite the test plunger (108), and which recesses (176) in both end regions are delimited from the respective neighbouring recesses by ridges (180, 182).
19. Apparatus according to claim 18, characterised in that the annular test plunger (108) can be removed from the apparatus and can be replaced by a second ring (190), which is situated opposite the region of the filters (ZF1, ZF2) of the cigarettes (Z) lying on the sample holder (170), and which second ring (190) can be used for the determination of the hardness of the filters (ZF1, ZF2).
20. Apparatus for determining either the filling capacity of tobacco or the hardness of cigarettes according to any one of claims 8 to 13 on the one hand and according to any one of claims 14 to 19 on the other, characterised in that, on an apparatus for determining the filling capacity of tobacco according to any one of claims 8 to 13, the test plunger (8, 10) for the filling capacity determination including the measurement devices (12, 56, 60A, 60B) which may be situated thereon can be replaced by the test plunger (108, 110, 113) for the hardness determination including the measurement devices (112A, 112B, 112C) according to any one of claims 14 to 19 which may be situated thereon, and in that the container (30) for the filling capacity determination including the measurement devices (58, 62A, 62B) according to any one of claims 8 to 13 which are situated therein can be replaced by the sample holder (170) for the hardness determination including the measurement devices according to any one of claims 14 to 19 which are situated thereon.

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