EP1419967B1 - Method and Apparatus for checking rod-shaped objects, in particular cigarettes - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for checking rod-shaped objects, in particular cigarettes according to the respective preamble of the independent claims.

A generic method and a corresponding device is known from US Pat. No. 6,508,138 known. The known method is not yet optimal insofar as the formation as a whole was evaluated as correct when checking formations of objects in the case of objects that were incorrectly positioned in a certain way, eg transverse cigarettes. Furthermore, a change in the format - the length - of the objects so far requires a mechanical adjustment of the tester.

The pamphlets EP 1 048 568 A1 such as DE 37 33 955 A1 show a method in which a tester having plunger is moved toward a cigarette formation. When individual plungers of the tester meet standard cigarettes, actuation signals are triggered. If the plungers do not hit any cigarettes at certain test positions, a signal will be lost. With this method, it is not possible to detect cigarettes which have a length deviating from a nominal value, too long.

The invention is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a test method and a test apparatus, in which / in which the above-mentioned disadvantages are avoided.

To solve this problem, the method according to the invention is characterized in that the position of the Prüforgans determined upon generation of the actuating signal and the determined position is evaluated. Furthermore, the object is achieved by a corresponding device according to the invention, which is characterized in that the position of the test element can be determined and the determined position can be stored and evaluated in response to the actuation signal.

Further features and details of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing.

Fig. 1

als Beispiel für eine Verpackungsmaschine einen sogenannten Weichpacker zur Verpackung von Zigaretten,

Fig. 2

einen Schnitt durch den Weichpacker,

Fig. 3a

einen Verfahrweg des Prüforgans mit einem von einem Stößel des Prüforgans gelieferten Betätigungssignal,

Fig. 3b

Beispiele für exemplarische, beim Addieren sämtlicher Betätigungssignale über der Zeit ermittelter Summenkurven,

Fig. 4

ein weiteres Anwendungsbeispiel der Erfindung bei einem Zigarettenrevolver,

Fig. 5

weitere Beispiele für exemplarische Summenkurven und

Fig. 6

einen Schnitt durch den Zigarettenrevolver.

It shows:

Fig. 1

as an example of a packaging machine a so-called soft packer for packaging cigarettes,

Fig. 2

a section through the soft packer,

Fig. 3a

a travel of the Prügangans with a supplied by a plunger of the Prüforgans actuating signal,

Fig. 3b

Examples of Exemplary Sum Curves Determined When Adding All Actuation Signals Over Time

Fig. 4

Another application example of the invention in a cigarette turret,

Fig. 5

further examples of exemplary cumulative curves and

Fig. 6

a section through the cigarette turret.

Fig. 1 shows as packaging machine 10 a so-called soft packer and there the cigarette feed. A soft packer is well known. It has a cigarette feed chute 11 in an upper area. In the lower area are shown as objects to be packaged a plurality of cigarettes 12 by the visible in plan view front or filter side as a circular contour. In a middle section of the soft packer, a plurality of test shafts 13 are provided, which pass through the individual cigarettes 12 successively under the influence of gravity. Each test shaft 13 is associated with a pressure slider 14 and a locking slide 15. The pressing slider 14 is provided for pressing at least one cigarette 12 in each case against a wall of the test shaft 13. In this way, when a cigarette 12 is held by the pressing slider 14, they move above the retained cigarette 12 Cigarettes 12 no longer, so they are for a subsequent test in a defined position. The locking slide 15 is provided to lock all test shafts 13. When the gate valve 15 is actuated, all cigarettes 12 located above the gate valve 15 are retained. Subsequent to the test shafts 13, the tested cigarettes 12 reach a collecting area 16, from which they pass - again under the influence of gravity - into individual cigarette shafts 17.

Fig. 2 shows a section through the soft packer along the line II-II ( Fig. 1 ) through one of the test shafts 13, so that the interior of this test shaft 13 is shown with the cigarettes 12 contained therein. Before the soft packer, a movable test member 20 is provided with a number of plungers 21 for testing the tobacco-side end faces of the cigarettes 12. The test element 20 comprises a housing through which the plungers 21 protrude outward. Within the housing, a guide of the plunger 21 is provided. Furthermore, within the housing, means 23, for example an induction coil, for triggering the actuation signal when the plunger 21 is deflected and electronics for storing or processing and for forwarding the or each actuation signal are provided. The test element 20 is in Fig. 1 indicated by the dash-dotted contour in front of the individual test shafts 13 above the respective pressing slider 14. The test member 20 performs an oscillating movement, so that it moves on the one hand to the cigarettes 12 (forward movement) and thereby impinge the ends of the plunger 21 on the front sides of the cigarette 12, whereby the plunger 21 are deflected. After this test, the test element 20 moves away from the cigarettes 12 (backward movement), so that the cigarettes 12 are released again. The forward and backward movement of the tester 20 is illustrated by the double-headed arrow. During the forward movement of the Prüforgans the cigarettes 12 are pressed against a rear wall of the test shaft 13, so that there is a defined position for all simultaneously tested cigarettes 12.

If a plunger 21 encounters a cigarette 12 during the forward movement and is thereby deflected by a certain distance, an electrically evaluable signal (actuating signal) is generated for this plunger 21. Details for generating the actuation signal may be submitted to the same Applicant US Pat. No. 6,508,138 be removed. Is a cigarette 12 incomplete filled with tobacco, the on This cigarette 12 impinging ram 21 later, ie at a different position of the test element 20, deflected as a striking a proper cigarette plunger 21. Accordingly, in such a case, then the actuation signal later, ie triggered at a different position of the test element 20.

In order for the cigarettes 12 to be in a defined position in the respective test shaft 13 during the test procedure, ie during the forward movement of the test element 20, it is provided that at least one cigarette 12 in the flow direction below the respectively to be tested cigarettes 12 through the pressure slider 14 in the test shaft 13th is held. The pressing slider 14 is in Fig. 2 as shown by the pressed-cigarette 12 hidden dashed contour. The cigarette 12 in front of the pressing slide 14 is held by pressing against the wall of the test shaft 13 during the test procedure. In the flow direction of the cigarettes 12 below the position of the Ändrückschiebers 14 is the locking slide 15. Between Andrückschieber 14 and locking slide 15 is room for exactly as many cigarettes as the test member 20 for each test slot 13 plunger 21 has. In the exemplary embodiment, there is room for exactly three cigarettes 12 between pressing slider 14 or the cigarettes 12 and locking slide 15 pressed thereon, after the checking member 20 has exactly three tappets 21 for each test shaft 13. If, when checking the cigarettes 12, the defectiveness of one or more checked cigarettes 12 has been detected, the defective cigarettes 12, when they reach the position between the pressure slide 14 and the lock slide 15 in the test tube, are ejected by ejection means, namely compressed air nozzles 22. The rear wall of the test shaft 13 is open at this point, so that defective cigarettes 12 are completely removed from the test shaft 13. Pressing slider 14 and locking slide 15 are actuated alternately. That is, when the pressing slider 14 releases the test shaft 13, this is blocked by the locking slide 15, so that only a defined number of cigarettes 12 moves forward in the test shaft 13. When the locking slide 15 releases the test shaft 13, the pressing slider 14 is activated, so that only the cigarettes 12 fall in the section between pressure slider 14 and locking slide 15 in the test shaft 13 down. The space between the pressure slider 14 and locking slide 15 is particularly dimensioned so that there are exactly as many cigarettes 12 place in it, as are checked by the test device 20 in a test procedure.

Fig. 3a Plotted in a coordinate system, a travel path 30 of the test element 20. In the coordinate system on the ordinate the deflection of the test element 20 and on the abscissa a time base applied. As a time base, a time base based on the operating speed of the packaging machine 10 is preferably used. For this purpose, it is customary, for example, to use a full rotation of a main axis assigned in particular to the packaging machine 10. For this purpose, the rotation of the main axis is measured with an incremental or angle encoder. A certain number of counting pulses, here eg 1,000, corresponds to a full rotation of the main axis. It can be seen from the illustrated travel path 30 of the test element 20 that the test element 20 has performed a complete forward and a complete backward movement during one complete revolution of the main axis. The illustrated travel path 30 of the test device 20 over the time base, as is usual in such oscillatory or oscillating movements, has the form of a half wave of a sine wave. Also shown is the actuating signal 31 of a plunger 21, which has a rectangular shape as a binary signal (operated / not actuated). As soon as the actuation signal 31 is present for a plunger 21, the current position of the test element 20 is recorded. It is equivalent whether the position of the test element 20 is recorded in the form of the existing deflection or in the form of the elapsed counting pulses, since both are in a constant relation during a full rotation of the central axis via a travel path 30 of the test element 20 once picked up.

Is shown in Fig. 3a the case that the actuating signal 31 before a maximum deflection of the test element 20 in the forward movement to z. B. thirty path units, namely pending at twenty-eight path units. One of the plunger 21 thus meets the tobacco-side end face of a cigarette 12 and is thereby deflected such that the actuation signal 31 is triggered before the test element 20 has completed the forward movement. If one of the plungers 21 encounters a cigarette 12 much earlier during the forward movement of the test element 20, the beginning of the actuation signal 31 shifts to the left on the ordinate. The cause of an earlier triggering of the actuation signal 31 may be an excessively long cigarette 12. If the cigarette 12, however, too short or insufficiently filled with tobacco, the beginning of the actuation signal 31 shifts according to the ordinate to the right.

For evaluating the actuation signal 31, two limit values 32, 33 are used, wherein the respective cigarette 12 is still evaluated as error-free in the case of an actuation signal 31 generated within these limit values 32, 33 and a cigarette 12 which actuates an actuation signal 31 outside these limit values 32, 33 has evaluated as faulty, so that an error signal is generated accordingly.

The individual evaluation of all actuation signals 31 is only conditionally practicable in the case of the multiplicity of test shafts 13 and of the plurality of cigarettes 12 examined in a test procedure in each test shaft 13. In fact, in the illustrated embodiment, with twenty-eight test wells 13 (FIG. Fig. 1 ) and in each case three cigarettes 12 tested in a test shaft 13 during a test procedure ( Fig. 2 ) examine eighty-four actuation signals 31. Therefore, it is preferably provided that the actuation signals 31 are added over the time base and a resulting cumulative curve 34, 35, 36 is evaluated instead of the individual actuation signals 31. In Fig. 3b a plurality of such cumulative curves 34, 35, 36 are shown. Each cumulative curve 34, 35, 36 begins during the forward movement of the test element 20 with a zero height, because initially none of the plunger 21 is deflected and correspondingly no actuation signal 31 is present. Accordingly, each summation curve 34, 35, 36 ends with the height zero, because during the backward movement of the Prüforgans 20 at some point a position is reached, in turn, none of the plunger 21 is more deflected, so that accordingly no actuation signal 31 is present. Furthermore, each cumulative curve 34, 35, 36 reaches a maximum at the point of inflection of the movement of the test element 20, because at this point all or at least most of the plungers 21 are deflected and thus a corresponding number of actuation signals 31 is present. If all plungers 21 are deflected at this position, eighty-four plungers 21 correspondingly produce eighty-four pending actuation signals 31, so that the cumulative curve 34, 35, 36 has a height of eighty-four units.

Depending on whether the cigarettes 12 by a uniform format or by a uniform tobacco filling have an approximately equal length, the plunger 21 are deflected in tight succession. A first method for examining the cumulative curve 34, 35, 36 is thus to determine the duration of the increase starting from a first threshold value as start value 37, in particular zero, up to a second threshold value as maximum value 38 in relation to the respective position of the test element 20 Reaching the start and maximum values 37, 38 to investigate. When in Fig. 3b In the case illustrated, only the increase of the cumulative curve 34 shown by a solid line from the starting value 37 to the maximum value 38 within the two limit values 32, 33 for the position of the test element 20 takes place. Although the peak curve 38 shows the maximum value 38 within the interval predetermined by the limit values 32, 33, the starting value 37 is reached even before the interval, which indicates that some plungers 21 have been deflected too early among the tested cigarettes 12 at least some cigarettes 12 were longer than expected or intended. In the summation curve 36 shown in dashed lines, only the starting value 37 is reached within the interval defined by the limit values 32, 33, while the maximum value 38 is reached only outside the interval. This indicates that a plurality of the plungers 21 have been deflected "relatively late" during the forward movement of the Prüforgans 20, so that among the tested cigarettes 12 a significant number of cigarettes 12 is either too short or insufficient filled with tobacco are. In the evaluation, it is sufficient to perform this only during the forward movement of the Prüforgans 20, because in the backward movement corresponding conditions arise and both the course of a single actuation signal 31 and a cumulative curve 34, 35, 36 is symmetrical to the travel 30 of the test element 20 , Furthermore, it is sufficient to carry out the evaluation during the forward movement of the test element 20 only in a certain section of this movement. In the illustrations, the positions X and Y indicate respectively the beginning and the end of the evaluation. The interval defined by the abovementioned limit values 32, 33 is in Fig. 3b shown as a hatched area. To adapt the test to different cigarette lengths, such as after a product or brand change, a shift of limited by the positions X and Y evaluation section is sufficient. In total longer cigarettes, the deflection of the plunger 21 namely takes place earlier, in Fig. 3b that is, "further to the left", so that the cumulative curve 34, 35, 36 becomes wider overall. With a total of shorter cigarettes, the deflection of the plunger 21 takes place correspondingly later in time, in Fig. 3b that is, "further to the right" so that the cumulative curve 34, 35, 36 becomes narrower overall.

An alternative possibility of examining the cumulative curve 34, 35, 36 is to examine the duration during which the respective cumulative curve 34, 35, 36 exceeds a threshold value 39. The number of time units is counted while of which the respective cumulative curve 34, 35, 36 extends above the threshold value 39. The dot-dashed sum curve 35 runs during the longest time above the threshold value 39. Already stated above, that a cumulative curve of the type shown in phantom curve 35 then sets when among the tested cigarettes 12, a plurality of cigarettes 12 are too long. In contrast, the dashed lines shown cumulative curve 36 is only a short time above the threshold 39. Here was above already stated that such a cumulative curve 36 is set when many of the tested cigarettes 12 were too short or insufficiently filled with tobacco.

For evaluating the cumulative curves 34, 35, 36, a lower and an upper temporal threshold value are introduced accordingly, wherein the lower temporal threshold value is selected such that the duration during which the cumulative curve 36 shown in dashed lines exceeds the threshold value 39 is below this temporal threshold value and the duration during which the dot-dashed sum curve 35 exceeds the threshold value 39 is above this time threshold value. Accordingly, the duration during which the sum curve 34 shown in a solid line exceeds the threshold value 39 lies between this lower and upper time threshold value, so that this cumulative curve 34 can be evaluated so that the tested cigarettes 12 fulfill the requirements.

In a practical embodiment, the investigation of the respective cumulative curve 34, 35, 36 can be carried out as follows: Each plunger 21 is assigned to a memory of a processing unit exactly one memory cell (all not shown), wherein the respective memory cell represents the value of the respective actuation signal 31. That is, when triggered actuation signal 31, the respective memory cell has a value of "logic one". A plurality of memory cells is grouped together in groups. Usually, eight memory cells are combined in a manner known per se in a group into one byte. With eighty-four pushers 21, ten bytes (= eighty memory cells) and four further memory cells are required to represent the respective states. These four additional memory cells are completed with four additional, by default set to "logical one" memory cells to another byte. During the movement of the test gate 20 or a selected portion during this movement, these eleven bytes become permanently a logical AND operation subjected and evaluated the resulting linkage result. As long as one of the plunger 21 is not deflected so far that the corresponding actuation signal 31 is generated, a "logical zero" also remains in the logic result. Only when all plungers 21 are deflected, all the associated memory cells have the value "logical one", so that only the state "logical one" results in the logic result. If the combination result contains only logical ones for the first time, the position of the test element 20 is recorded. It is equally important to record the time along the time base at which this constellation occurs. As soon as one of the plungers 21 is released again during the backward movement of the test element 20, the corresponding actuation signal 31 disappears and thus at the associated memory cell the state "logical one" disappears. Accordingly, the result of the combination now no longer only has "logical ones" but at least one "logical zero". Even if this situation occurs, the position of the checking device 20 or the associated time is recorded. If the first position determined in this way or the first point in time or both of the determined positions / points in time or the difference of these positions / points of time are within predetermined limit or threshold values, then it is a cumulative curve 34, 35, 36 at which the tested cigarettes 12 predetermined criteria. However, if the time span or the distance traveled by the checking device 20 between these two determined positions / times is too great (cumulative curve 35) or too low (cumulative curve 36), a situation is recognized in which at least one of the tested cigarettes 12 does not meet the specifications. Then, an examination of the temporal course of the individual actuation signals 31 stored for this purpose, at least piecemeal, is undertaken in order to determine which or which of the plungers 21 were deflected too early, too late, too long or too short in order to subsequently determine which cigarettes 12 are faulty. Cigarettes 12 identified as being defective are ejected by means of the compressed-air nozzles 22. It can be provided that, within a cigarette slot 13, at least one cigarette 12 detected as being defective is ejected, all the cigarettes 12 held between the pressing slider 14 and the locking slide 15 are ejected. The mentioned but not shown processing unit is eg a controller or the like. The or each test element 20 is connected to the processing unit in a conventional manner, for example via the in Fig. 2 . Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 shown cable terminals of the respective test element 20, connected to the processing unit, so that the respective actuation signals can be forwarded to the processing unit. Processed to evaluate the position of a Prüforgans 20 the processing unit position data, which are supplied for example by the Inkremtenal- or angle encoder.

In Fig. 4 is another application of the invention shown. For packaging the cigarettes 12 in cigarette packs, a per se known cigarette turret 40 is provided. This comprises individual pockets 41 in which the cigarettes 12 are in the usual three-layered formation - cigarette formation. The cigarettes 12 are taken from the cigarette trays 17 in the pockets 41 (in the illustration in the upper region of the cigarette turret 40) and after a corresponding rotation of the cigarette turret 40 from the pockets 41 for further handling to subsequent, not shown facilities handed over (in the illustration in the lower part of the cigarette turret 40). Between these two positions there is a check on the one hand of the filter-side ends and on the other hand of the tobacco-side ends of the respective cigarette formation of a pocket 41 according to the principle described above. For this purpose, the cigarette formation in the pocket 41 is secured by a spring steel sheet or the like against undesired displacement in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pocket 41.

In order to check the cigarette formation, two opposing test elements 20 are provided, each of which in principle corresponds to the already in Fig. 2 However, with regard to the number and the position of the respective plunger 21 are placed on the formation of the cigarettes 12 in a pocket 41. Both test elements 20 likewise perform an oscillating movement, so that during a forward movement, a plunger 21 impinging on a cigarette 12 is deflected and an associated actuation signal 31 is generated.

The movement of the cigarette turret 40 takes place cyclically. In this case, there are always two pockets 41 in the region of two front and rear test elements 20. The rear test elements 20 are shown in FIG Fig. 4 not visible due to their position behind the cigarette turret 40. They are designed to control the filter side of each cigarette formation. The front-side test elements 20 are provided in accordance with the control of the tobacco side of the respective cigarette formation. Front and back testing devices 20 are shown in FIG Fig. 6 shown in a section along the line III-III Fig. 4 is shown. Each pair of test members 20 performs an oscillating motion. For this purpose, each pair of test elements 20 is on a common carrier, about a plate or the like, mounted. The oscillating movement corresponds to that already in Fig. 3a illustrated movement. The oscillating movement of the respectively opposite test elements 20 takes place in such a way that the respective opposing test elements 20 move simultaneously and in the same direction to the cigarette formation located in the pocket 41. At the end of the simultaneous forward movement, both opposing test elements 20 also move simultaneously and in the same direction away from the cigarette formation. The bag 41 is open on both sides, so that the plunger 21 of the opposing Prüforgane 20 can reach the cigarette 21 located in the bag 41.

The individual actuation signals 31 ascertained for each test element 20 are added to summation curves 42, 43, 44, 45, as in FIG Fig. 5 shown. However, that's compared to Fig. 3b the height of the respective cumulative curve 42-45 lower, since at twenty cigarettes 12 in a cigarette formation of the associated twenty plungers 21 of the respective Prüforgans 20 a maximum of twenty actuation signals 31 are triggered and thus the respective cumulative curve 42-45 has a maximum height of twenty units. The examination of the cumulative curves 42-46 with regard to exceeding or falling below certain start and maximum and threshold values 37, 38, 39, for example within an interval defined by limit values 32, 33, corresponds to that already described with reference to FIG Fig. 3b described investigation. Thereafter, an excessively narrow cumulative curve, such as the cumulative curve 43 indicated by triangles, points to a cigarette formation with too short cigarettes 12, and too broad a cumulative curve, such as the cumulative curve 44 indicated by circular symbols, to a cigarette formation with cigarettes 12 that are too long , To a cigarette formation with cigarettes 12, which correspond to predetermined criteria, includes a cumulative curve with a rapid increase, which is in terms of their width between the two indicating a faulty cigarette formation summation curves 43, 44, that is, for example, a cumulative curve 42, as in Fig. 5 is shown by a solid line. Furthermore, in Fig. 5 nor a summed curve 45 indicated by square symbols, which results, for example, when a cigarette 12 is located transversely in front of the end faces of the other cigarettes 12 in a cigarette formation, eg a cigarette which is only partially inserted and then broken off. In this case, a large number of plungers 31 of the respective test element 20 relatively early on the broken cigarette, so that the spread shown the Sum curve 45 results. This can be concluded based on the shape of the cumulative curve 45 on the respective present error.

Likewise, it is possible to detect the times of concern of the actuating signals of the individual plunger 21 and to set in relation to the time of concern of the actuating signal of the plunger 21 directly opposite plunger 21 of the opposing Prüforgans 20. Thus, the actuation signals of those plungers 21 are detected by the opposing test elements 20, which hit the same cigarette 12, once on the front side and once on the tobacco side. Based on the detected time of concern of these actuation signals via the travel path 30 of the respective test element 20, a position information can be derived. From the time points detected for each cigarette 12 of the cigarette formation or from the position information derivable therefrom, the known distance of the opposing test elements 20 in a rest position, e.g. in the undeflected state, information about the length of the respective cigarette 12 can be derived. This derivative, i. the execution of the mathematical or logical operations required for this purpose is carried out by the processing unit already mentioned. The instructions required for this are stored in the processing unit in software or in hardware. If the determined length of the respective cigarette 12 is within a predetermined or predefinable range, the respective cigarette 12 is evaluated as being correct. If the determined lengths of all cigarettes 12 of a cigarette formation are within the range, the entire cigarette formation is evaluated as being correct. The cigarette formation can then - in a conventional manner - be given in the further course of the packaging process in a cigarette pack, so a cigarette box. By varying the predeterminable or predetermined range, the test can be adjusted at any time to new cigarette lengths.

If an incorrect length has been determined for at least one cigarette 12 of the cigarette formation, a register for tracking this cigarette formation is set in the further packaging process. At a suitable time, the cigarette formation, which may possibly already be in a complete or incomplete cigarette pack, is removed from the process.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

packaging machine

11

Zigarettenzuführschacht

12

Cigarette

13

test well

14

Andrückschieber

15

blocking slide

16

collecting area

17

cigarette shaft

18, 19

---

20

Review body

21

tappet

22

compressed air nozzle

23

medium

24-29

-

30

traverse

31

actuating signal

32

limit

33

limit

34

cumulative curve

35

cumulative curve

36

cumulative curve

37

start value

38

maximum value

39

threshold

40

cigarette revolver

41

bag

42

cumulative curve

43

cumulative curve

44

cumulative curve

45

cumulative curve

Claims (21)

1. Process for checking rod-like articles, in particular cigarettes (12), by means of at least one push rod (21) which is mounted in an axially displaceable manner in at least one moveable testing element (20), the or each testing element (20) being moved in the direction of the articles and the or each push rod (21) being deflected upon striking an article, thus generating an electrically evaluable signal - actuating signal (31)-characterized in that,
   upon generation of the actuating signal (31), the position of the testing element (20) is determined and the determined position is evaluated, with in the case of a plurality of push rods (21) for each actuating signal (31) being triggered by one push rod (21) in each case, the respective position of the testing element (20) is determined.
2. Process according to Claim 1 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that the position of the testing element (20) is determined in respect of a position of a machine, in particular a machine for packaging the articles - packaging machine (10) - in which the articles are guided and which is assigned the testing element (20).
3. Process according to Claim 2 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that the position of the packaging machine (10) is determined by a number of counting pulses based on a full revolution of a central spindle assigned to the packaging machine (10).
4. Process according to Claim 1 to 3 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that an error signal is generated if the position of the testing element (20), upon generation of the actuating signal (31), is located outside predeterminable limit values (32, 33).
5. Process according to Claim 1 to 3 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that that in each case a group of items, in particular a cigarette formation, is assigned two testing elements (20) each on opposite sides and that both testing elements (20) move simultaneously.
6. Process according to Claim 5 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that that each time a pushrod (21) of one of the two testing elements (20) contacts an article the respective position of the testing element (20) is recorded and that for opposing pushrods (21) the respectively determined positions are used to deduce information concerning the length of the article.
7. Process according to Claim 6 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that that the length information is compared with a predetermined or predeterminable reference value or reference value range in order to identify articles that are too long or too short - "faulty articles".
8. Process according to Claim 1 to 3 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that, in the case of a plurality of push rods (21), the corresponding plurality of actuating signals (31) is added and a resultant cumulative frequency curve (34, 35, 36; 42, 43, 44, 45) is checked for the value exceeding or dropping below the threshold values (37, 38, 39) in respect to the relative position of the testing element (20) when the value exceeds or drops below the threshold values (37, 38, 39), or for the duration of the rise starting from a start value (37), in particular zero, to a maximum value (38), and the error signal is generated in dependence on this check.
9. Process according to one of the preceding Claims or one of the further Claims, characterized in that the articles pass through a testing shaft (13) under the influence of gravity, and in that at least one of the articles is temporarily pressed onto a wall of the testing shaft (13) by a pressure-exerting slide (14), with the result that the articles which remain above the or each pressed-on article are located in a defined position during testing by the push rod (21) or the respective push rods (21).
10. Process according to one of the preceding Claims or one of the further Claims, characterized in that the flow of articles through the testing shaft (13) is temporarily interrupted by means of a blocking slide (15), which is arranged beneath the pressure-exerting slide (14), as seen in the direction of flow of the articles, and is provided for temporarily blocking the testing shaft (13), and, in dependence on the error signal, one or more ejecting elements are, in particular at least one compressed-air nozzle (22), is activated for ejecting individual articles or all the articles located between the pressure-exerting slide (14) and blocking slide (15).
11. Process according one of the preceding Claims or one of the further Claims, characterized in that a plurality of articles - cigarette formation - are located in a pocket (41), open at both sides, of a cigarette turret (40), that due to the rotation of the cigarette turret (40) the pocket (41) is placed in the region of two mutually opposing testing elements (20) located laterally to the cigarette turret (40), that the rotation of the cigarette turret (40) is stopped when the region of the testing elements (20) is reached, that the two opposing testing elements (20) move toward the cigarette formation simultaneously and at the same time the pushrods (21) of the testing elements (20) enter the open ends of the pocket (41) and are deflected upon striking one of the articles.
12. Apparatus for checking rod-like articles, in particular cigarettes (12), having at least one push rod (21) which is mounted in an axially displaceable manner in a moveable testing element (20), the or each testing element (20) being moveable in the direction of the articles and the or each push rod (21) being deflectable as it strikes against an article, such that an electrically evaluable signal - actuating signal (31) - can be generated as a result,
    characterized in that it is possible to determine the position of the testing element (20) and to store or process the determined position in reaction to the actuating signal (31), with provision being made in the case of a plurality of push rods (21) for storing or processing the respective position of the testing element (20) for every actuating signal (31) generated by each push rod (21).
13. Apparatus according to Claim 12 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that provision is made for storing or processing the position of the testing element (20) with respect to a position of a machine, in particular of a machine for packaging the articles - packaging machine (10) - in which the articles are guided and which is assigned the testing element (20).
14. Apparatus according Claim 12 or 13 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that that provision is made for storing or processing the position of the machine in a number of counting pulses relating to a full revolution of a central spindle assigned, in particular, to the packaging machine (10).
15. Apparatus according to Claim 12 to 14 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that provision is made for generating an error signal if the position of the testing element (20), upon generation of the actuating signal (31), is located outside predeterminable limit values (32, 33).
16. Apparatus according to Claim 12 to 15 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that that in each case a group of articles, in particular a cigarette formation, is assigned two testing elements (20) each on opposite sides and that both testing elements (20) move simultaneously.
17. Apparatus according to Claim 16 or one of the further Claims, characterized by a processing unit provided for measuring the respective position of the checking unit (20) based on the impact of each pushrod (21) of one of the two opposing testing elements (20) on an article and for deducing information on the length of the article on the basis of the positions determined for the opposing pushrods (21) of the opposite checking unit (20).
18. Apparatus according to Claim 18 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that the processing unit for comparing the length information is provided with a predetermined or predeterminable reference value or reference value range in order to identify articles which are too long or too short - faulty articles.
19. Apparatus according to Claim 12 to 15 or one of the further Claims, characterized by a processing unit which is provided, in the case of a plurality of push rods (21), for adding the corresponding plurality of actuating signals (31) and for checking a resultant cumulative frequency curve (34, 35, 36; 42, 43, 44, 45) either for the value exceeding or dropping below threshold values (37, 38, 39) in terms of the respective position of the testing element (20) when the value exceeds or drops below the threshold values (37, 38, 39), or for the duration of the rise starting from a start value (37), in particular zero, to a maximum value (38).
20. Apparatus according to Claim 12 to 19 or one of the further Claims, characterized by a testing shaft (13), through which the articles pass under the influence of gravity, and by a pressure-exerting slide (14), which is provided for pressing at least one of the articles onto a wall of the testing shaft (13), with the result that the articles which remain above the or each pressed article are located in a defined position during testing by the respective push rod (21).
21. Apparatus according to Claim 20 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that provided in the testing shaft (13) beneath the pressure-exerting slide (14), as seen in the direction of flow of the articles, is a blocking slide (15) for temporarily blocking the testing shaft (13), and provided along a section between the pressure-exerting slide (14) and blocking slide (15) are one or more ejecting elements, in particular at least one compressed-air nozzle (22), for ejecting individual articles or all the articles located between the pressure-exerting slide (14) and blocking slide (15).

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