EP0585686B1 - Optical cigarette filling control device - Google Patents

Optical cigarette filling control device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0585686B1
EP0585686B1 EP93112964A EP93112964A EP0585686B1 EP 0585686 B1 EP0585686 B1 EP 0585686B1 EP 93112964 A EP93112964 A EP 93112964A EP 93112964 A EP93112964 A EP 93112964A EP 0585686 B1 EP0585686 B1 EP 0585686B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
optical
cigarette
sensor
optical means
optical axis
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.)
Revoked
Application number
EP93112964A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0585686A1 (en
Inventor
Marco Ghini
Giuseppe Di Stefano
Armando Neri
Antonio Gamberini
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GD SpA
Original Assignee
GD SpA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
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Application filed by GD SpA filed Critical GD SpA
Publication of EP0585686A1 publication Critical patent/EP0585686A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0585686B1 publication Critical patent/EP0585686B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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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
    • A24C5/3412—Examining cigarettes or the rod, e.g. for regulating the feeding of tobacco; Removing defective cigarettes by means of light, radiation or electrostatic fields
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/28—Control devices for cigarette or cigar packaging machines
    • B65B19/30—Control devices for cigarette or cigar packaging machines responsive to presence of faulty articles, e.g. incorrectly filled cigarettes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an optical cigarette filling control device.
  • the present invention relates to a control device for determining the presence or absence of tobacco at the open end of cigarettes on a cigarette manufacturing and/or filter assembly and/or packing machine.
  • the present control device is of the type disclosed in GB-A-1112687 and comprises a sensor, and fixed-focus optical means having an optical axis and a given focusing plane, the optical means being aligned in a fixed position along the optical axis; and the focusing plane being, in use, tangent to an end edge of a cigarette positioned substantially coaxial with said optical axis.
  • the cigarettes are normally subjected to numerous controls, one of which provides for determining the presence or absence of tobacco at the open end of the cigarettes.
  • an optical comparator comprising a fixed-focus optical device such as a telecamera or similar optical monitoring unit for producing an image of the front open-end surface of a cigarette; and a comparing unit for receiving the monitored image and comparing it with a specimen image.
  • the comparing unit normally also provides for emitting a reject signal in the event the difference between the monitored and specimen images exceeds a given limit.
  • the difference between the two images is one of shading, which, as we know, in the case of the monitored image, varies according to the presence of gaps in the front open-end surface due to the absence of tobacco.
  • the shading of the monitored image has been found to depend largely not only on the presence of said gaps, but also on the colour of the tobacco employed, so that known devices of the aforementioned type, and in particular that disclosed in GB-A-1112687, involve long, high-cost setup procedures whenever a different type of tobacco is used.
  • an optical device for controlling the filling of cigarettes comprising a sensor, and fixed-focus optical means having an optical axis and a given focusing plane, the optical means being aligned in a fixed position along the optical axis; and the focusing plane being, in use, tangent to an end edge of a cigarette positioned substantially coaxial with said optical axis; characterized in that said sensor is a contrast detecting sensor, and said optical means have a substantially zero depth of field.
  • the device set forth above preferably further comprises a light source for illuminating the end surface of said cigarette; said contrast detecting sensor being designed to receive a beam reflected by said end surface towards said optical means.
  • the device set forth above further comprises comparing means for emitting a reject signal in response to a signal emitted by said contrast detecting sensor and below a given threshold value.
  • Number 1 in Fig.1 indicates an optical device for controlling the filling of end portion 2 of a cigarette 3.
  • Device 1 comprises a light source 4 for emitting a beam 5 impinging on and for illuminating front end surface 6 of portion 2; and a biconvex lens 7 having an optical axis 8 and a fixed focus 9.
  • Device 1 presents a focusing plane 10 at a given distance A from lens 7, and a substantially zero depth of field; and cigarette 3 is positioned facing lens 7, coaxial with axis 8, and in such an axial position that end edge 11 of cigarette 3 is tangent to focusing plane 10.
  • Device 1 also comprises a sensor 12 located along axis 8, on the opposite side of focus 9 to lens 7, on the opposite side of lens 7 to cigarette 3, and at a given distance B from lens 7, which sensor 12 provides for detecting the contrast value of the image of surface 6 viewed through lens 7 and proportional to the filling of portion 2 of cigarette 3, and may, for example, be of the type described in USA Patent n. 5,107,337.
  • Device 1 also comprises a comparing and control unit 13 for receiving the contrast value of the monitored image from sensor 12, comparing it with a threshold contrast value C, and emitting a reject signal in the event the incoming contrast value is below the threshold value.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)
  • Automatic Focus Adjustment (AREA)
EP93112964A 1992-09-03 1993-08-12 Optical cigarette filling control device Revoked EP0585686B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITBO920312A IT1258140B (it) 1992-09-03 1992-09-03 Dispositivo ottico per il controllo del riempimento di sigarette
ITBO920312 1992-09-03

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0585686A1 EP0585686A1 (en) 1994-03-09
EP0585686B1 true EP0585686B1 (en) 1997-11-12

Family

ID=11338455

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93112964A Revoked EP0585686B1 (en) 1992-09-03 1993-08-12 Optical cigarette filling control device

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0585686B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP2548889B2 (ja)
DE (1) DE69315143T2 (ja)
IT (1) IT1258140B (ja)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102012203579B3 (de) * 2012-03-07 2013-06-06 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Messvorrichtung und Messverfahren zur Bestimmung einer Messgröße an einem Ende eines stabförmigen Produkts der Tabak verarbeitenden Industrie
DE102012210037A1 (de) 2012-06-14 2013-12-19 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Messvorrichtung und Verfahren zur optischen Prüfung einer Stirnfläche eines queraxial geförderten stabförmigen Produkts der Tabak verarbeitenden Industrie
DE102012210031A1 (de) 2012-06-14 2013-12-19 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Bewertung einer Stirnfläche eines stabförmigen Produkts der Tabak verarbeitenden Industrie

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1263446B (it) * 1993-06-28 1996-08-05 Gd Spa Metodo per il controllo ottico per il riempimento di sigarette.
IT1288494B1 (it) * 1996-11-20 1998-09-22 Sasib Spa Metodo e dispositivo per il controllo senza contatto diretto delle teste delle sigarette, o simili.
IT1290673B1 (it) * 1997-02-11 1998-12-10 Gd Spa Metodo di controllo di sigarette.
US6169600B1 (en) 1998-11-20 2001-01-02 Acuity Imaging, Llc Cylindrical object surface inspection system
DE19921721A1 (de) 1999-05-12 2000-11-16 Focke & Co Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Prüfen von Zigarettenköpfen
DE19921725A1 (de) * 1999-05-12 2000-11-16 Focke & Co Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Prüfen von Zigarettenköpfen
US6213128B1 (en) * 1999-06-04 2001-04-10 Philip Morris Incorporated Apparatus and method for making and inspecting multi-component wrapped article
WO2011114439A1 (ja) * 2010-03-16 2011-09-22 日本たばこ産業株式会社 シガレット検査装置
WO2012035608A1 (ja) * 2010-09-14 2012-03-22 日本たばこ産業株式会社 シガレット検査装置

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1112687A (en) * 1965-03-12 1968-05-08 Schmermund Alfred Improvements in or relating to arrangements for testing blocks of cigarettes
US3812349A (en) * 1973-04-06 1974-05-21 Laser Sciences Inc Apparatus for inspecting cigarettes or the like
IT1010706B (it) * 1974-03-22 1977-01-20 Amf Sasib Procedimento e dispositivo per il controllo ottico del grado di riem pimento delle teste delle sigarette
DE2813866A1 (de) * 1978-03-31 1979-10-04 Schmermund Maschf Alfred Vorrichtung zur pruefung des fuellungsgrades von zigarettenenden
JPS5632907A (en) * 1979-08-28 1981-04-02 Iseki Agricult Mach Automatic changeeover device of rice transplanter
JPS5925594A (ja) * 1982-08-04 1984-02-09 Toshiba Corp 同期電動機の制御方法
JPS6058954A (ja) * 1983-09-13 1985-04-05 Kureha Chem Ind Co Ltd ジヒドロキシベンズアミド誘導体
IT1189535B (it) * 1985-06-11 1988-02-04 Hauni Werke Koerber & Co Kg Dispositivo,per controllare otticamente le estremita' di articoli di tabacco a forma di bastoncino
IT1234506B (it) * 1988-05-31 1992-05-19 Gd Spa Metodo per il controllo elettro-ottico di sigarette
DE3822520A1 (de) * 1988-07-04 1990-01-18 Focke & Co Verfahren und vorrichtung zur ueberpruefung von zigaretten
IT1225366B (it) * 1988-11-25 1990-11-13 Sasib Spa Dispositivo ottico di controllo delle teste di sigarette

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102012203579B3 (de) * 2012-03-07 2013-06-06 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Messvorrichtung und Messverfahren zur Bestimmung einer Messgröße an einem Ende eines stabförmigen Produkts der Tabak verarbeitenden Industrie
EP2636320A1 (de) 2012-03-07 2013-09-11 HAUNI Maschinenbau AG Messvorrichtung und Messverfahren zur Bestimmung einer Messgröße an einem Ende eines stabförmigen Produkts der Tabak verarbeitenden Industrie
DE102012210037A1 (de) 2012-06-14 2013-12-19 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Messvorrichtung und Verfahren zur optischen Prüfung einer Stirnfläche eines queraxial geförderten stabförmigen Produkts der Tabak verarbeitenden Industrie
DE102012210031A1 (de) 2012-06-14 2013-12-19 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Bewertung einer Stirnfläche eines stabförmigen Produkts der Tabak verarbeitenden Industrie
EP2677273A1 (de) 2012-06-14 2013-12-25 HAUNI Maschinenbau AG Messvorrichtung und Verfahren zur optischen Prüfung einer Stirnfläche eines queraxial geförderten stabförmigen Produkts der Tabak verarbeitenden Industrie
EP2679950A1 (de) 2012-06-14 2014-01-01 Hauni Maschinenbau AG Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Bewertung einer Stirnfläche eines stabförmigen Produkts der Tabak verarbeitenden Industrie

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2548889B2 (ja) 1996-10-30
DE69315143T2 (de) 1998-06-10
JPH07289227A (ja) 1995-11-07
IT1258140B (it) 1996-02-20
ITBO920312A1 (it) 1994-03-03
ITBO920312A0 (it) 1992-09-03
DE69315143D1 (de) 1997-12-18
EP0585686A1 (en) 1994-03-09

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