EP1529451A1 - Inspection device for filter cigarette - Google Patents

Inspection device for filter cigarette Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1529451A1
EP1529451A1 EP03788050A EP03788050A EP1529451A1 EP 1529451 A1 EP1529451 A1 EP 1529451A1 EP 03788050 A EP03788050 A EP 03788050A EP 03788050 A EP03788050 A EP 03788050A EP 1529451 A1 EP1529451 A1 EP 1529451A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cigarette
inspection
filter
suction
pad
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP03788050A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Shinzo Kida
Kiyoe c/o JAPAN TOBACCO INC. IMAI
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.)
Japan Tobacco Inc
Original Assignee
Japan Tobacco Inc
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
Application filed by Japan Tobacco Inc filed Critical Japan Tobacco Inc
Publication of EP1529451A1 publication Critical patent/EP1529451A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • 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
    • A24C5/3418—Examining cigarettes or the rod, e.g. for regulating the feeding of tobacco; Removing defective cigarettes by pneumatic means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for inspecting whether filter cigarettes are defectives or not, and more specifically to a device for detecting whether there is the possibility that a filter plug comes off a filter cigarette or not.
  • a filter-attaching machine makes filter cigarettes, and a filter cigarette has a cigarette and a filter plug connected to one end of the cigarette by wrapping tip paper.
  • the filter-attaching machine includes an inspection device for inspecting manufactured filter cigarettes for defects.
  • the inspection device is not capable of detecting the possibility that a filter cigarette will become a headless cigarette.
  • a well-known inspection device first injects air into a filter cigarette to raise the inner pressure of the filter cigarette. In this state, the device then measures the amount of air leakage from the filter cigarette and based on the measured amount of leakage, detects a hole and a break that exist in the wrapping material of the cigarette and in the tip paper.
  • the gap is closed as the inner pressure of the filter cigarette is increased at the time of inspection, which makes it impossible to detect the presence of the gap, namely the possibility that the filter cigarette will become a headless cigarette.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an inspection device for filter cigarettes, which is capable of surely and appropriately detecting an adhesion defect of tip paper in the manufacturing process of filter cigarettes.
  • a filter cigarette has a cigarette, a filter plug, and tip paper for connecting the cigarette and the filter plug to each other.
  • the inspection device of the present invention comprises a transfer path for transferring a filter cigarette in a state where an edge of the tip paper, which is located on the side of the cigarette, is exposed over the whole circumference thereof; a suction pad and a blocking pad adapted to come into tight contact with a mouthpiece end and a cigarette end of the filter cigarette, respectively, for holding the filter cigarette therebetween when the filter cigarette reaches an inspection position defined in the transfer path; a suction circuit for sucking air from the filter cigarette held between the suction pad and the blocking pad through a suction path connected to the suction pad at the inspection position; a detector for measuring pressure in the filter cigarette and outputs a measurement result when the air in the filter cigarette is sucked in; and a decision device for deciding whether there is produced a gap between the cigarette and
  • the detector is capable of measuring differential pressure between negative pressure in the suction path and reference negative pressure as the pressure in the filter cigarette.
  • the transfer path includes a rotatable inspection drum, which has a plurality of receiving grooves that are arranged in an outer circumferential surface thereof at regular intervals in the circumferential direction and receive filter cigarettes individually.
  • the inspection position is defined by a given rotation angle position, as viewed in a rotating direction of the inspection drum.
  • the transfer path of the filter-attaching machine generally includes a drum train formed by arranging a plurality of grooved drums, one right next to the other. Therefore, if one grooved drum among the drum train is replaced as the inspection drum, the inspection device can be smoothly installed in the filter-attaching machine.
  • the suction circuit includes closure means for closing the perforation area of the tip paper at the inspection position.
  • the closure means includes a rotatable shutoff roller located so as to come into rolling contact with the inspection drum at the inspection position.
  • the shutoff roller has a plurality of shutoff grooves arranged in an outer circumferential surface thereof at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. The shutoff grooves closes the perforation area of the tip paper in cooperation with the receiving groove of the inspection drum.
  • the cover means includes a rotatable cover roller located so as to come into rolling contact with the inspection drum at the inspection position.
  • the cover roller has a plurality of cover grooves arranged in an outer circumferential surface thereof at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. The cover groove partially or entirely covers the cigarette in cooperation with the receiving groove of the inspection drum.
  • the cover means namely the cover roller, reduces or shuts off the outside air that flows into the filter cigarette through the wrapping material of the cigarette. For this reason, the inspection accuracy is not adversely affected by such outside air inflow.
  • the inspection device further includes a movable carrier that is provided to the inspection drum and reciprocates the blocking pad in directions moving toward and away from the suction pad.
  • the movable carrier moves toward the suction pad with the blocking pad, to thereby cause the blocking pad and the suction pad to hold the filter cigarette therebetween.
  • the suction pad is fixed with respect to an axial direction of the filter cigarette, so that the volume of the suction path extending from the suction pad is constant, which contributes greatly to an improvement in inspection accuracy.
  • the movable carrier may include a cigarette holder having a receiving groove.
  • the filter cigarette moves along with the cigarette holder. Therefore, the filter cigarette does not come into sliding contact with the receiving groove.
  • the inspection device may further include separating means for forcibly separating the blocking pad from the cigarette end of the filter cigarette after the filter cigarette passes the inspection position.
  • the separating means includes a rod coupled to the blocking pad, a spring for urging the rod toward the suction pad, and a cam mechanism for moving the rod in such a direction that the blocking pad withdraws from the suction pad against the urging force of the spring.
  • the separating means After the inspection, even if the blocking pad is in tight contact with the cigarette end, the separating means forcibly separates the blocking pad from the cigarette end, so that the blocking pad does not interfere with the transfer of the filter cigarette.
  • FIG. 1 shows a part of a transfer path in a filter-attaching machine, and the transfer path transfers manufactured filter cigarettes.
  • the transfer path shown in FIG. 1 is defined by a drum train 2.
  • the drum train 2 includes three grooved drums, namely transfer drums 4, 6 and 8.
  • the transfer drums are arranged one right next to the other, and two adjacent transfer drums are rotated in directions opposite to each other.
  • a filter cigarettes is supplied to a groove of the transfer drum 4 located upstream in the drum train 2, the filter cigarette is transferred to the adjacent transfer drum in order while the transfer drums rotate.
  • the transfer drum 6 located in the middle of the drum train 2 is an inspection drum which is associated with a shutoff roller 10 and a cover roller 12.
  • the inspection drum 6 has a rotary shaft 14 at the center thereof, and the rotary shaft 14 is enclosed by a fixed sleeve 16. Both end portions of the rotary shaft 14 are rotatably supported by the fixed sleeve 16 through respective bearings 17.
  • the fixed sleeve 16 has a flange 18 at one end portion thereof, and the flange 18 is fixed to a frame 22 of the device with a plurality of setscrews 20.
  • the rotary shaft 14 has one end protruding from the one end of the fixed sleeve 16 on a back surface side of the frame 22.
  • a drive gear 24 is mounted on the one end of the rotary shaft 14. Once a driving force is transmitted to the drive gear 24, the rotary shaft 14 rotates with the drive gear 24 in one direction.
  • the fixed sleeve 16 is enclosed by a cam sleeve 26, and the cam sleeve 26 is fixed to the fixed sleeve 16.
  • the other end of the rotary shaft 14 projects from the other end of the fixed sleeve 16, and a cylindrical rotor 28 is coupled to the other end of the rotary shaft 14 through a flange of the shaft 14.
  • a part of an outer circumferential surface of the rotor 28 and that of the cam sleeve 26 form a cylindrical seat surface 29 in cooperation with each other.
  • a step, or a flange, is formed on each side of the cylindrical seat surface 29. The flanges restrict the rotating shell 30 in movement in an axial direction thereof.
  • the rotating shell 30 is coupled to the rotor 28 through a coupling disc 31. Therefore, rotational power of the rotary shaft 14 is transmitted from the rotor 28 to the rotating shell 30, whereby the rotating shell 30 is rotated with the rotary shaft 14. At this time, the rotating shell 30 rotates integrally with a portion of the cylindrical seat surface 29 of the rotor side while being in sliding contact with the cylindrical bearing surface 29 of the cam sleeve side.
  • the rotating shell 30 has a plurality of slots 32, which are arranged at regular intervals in a circumferential direction of the rotating shell 30. Accordingly, the outer circumferential surface of the cam sleeve 26 is partially exposed through the slots 32.
  • guide rods 36 are located in the respective slots 32 of the rotating shell 30 and extend in the axial direction of the rotating shell 30.
  • Sliders 34 are slidably mounted on the respective guide rods 36 of the slots 32. Each of the sliders 34 can reciprocate in the slot 32 in the axial direction of the rotating shell 30, namely along the guide rod 36.
  • each of the sliders 34 has a roller shaft, which protrudes from the slider 34 toward the rotating shell 30.
  • a roller or the cam follower 40 is rotatably mounted on a distal end of the roller shaft. The rotation of the rotating shell 30 transfers the sliders 34 in the circumferential direction of the cam sleeve 26. Simultaneously, the cam followers 40 of the sliders 34 are guided along the cam groove 38, and the sliders 34 are reciprocated in the axial direction of the rotating shell 30 in accordance with the profile of the cam groove 38.
  • a movable carrier 42 is mounted on each of the sliders 34, the movable carrier 42 being formed into a stepped block.
  • the right end portion of the carrier 42 is lower, as viewed in FIG. 1, and the left end portion thereof is higher than the right end portion.
  • a cigarette holder 43 is fitted to the right end portion of the movable carrier 42.
  • the cigarette holder 43 has a pair of projections.
  • the projections protrude outward in a radial direction of the rotating shell 30 and located away from each other with a given space therebetween in the axial direction of the rotating shell 30.
  • Each of the projections is shaped into a U as viewed in a cross-section of the rotating shell 30, thereby having a groove 46 shaped like an arc.
  • a suction hole 48 is opened in the bottom of each groove 46.
  • the suction holes 48 extend in the inside of the cigarette holder 43 to a bottom surface thereof.
  • Each suction hole 48 has an inner end always communicated with a suction passage 50.
  • the suction passage 50 extends through the movable carrier 42 and the slider 34 and is opened in a bottom surface of the slider 34 to communicate with the slot 32.
  • the open end of the suction passage 50 is surrounded by a ring seal 52 which is fixed to the bottom surface of the slider 34.
  • the ring seal 52 is accommodated in the slot 32 and is air-tightly in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the cam sleeve 26.
  • control slots 54 are formed in the cam sleeve 26.
  • the control slots 54 are located to be able to communicate with the suction passage 50, as viewed in the axial direction of the cam sleeve 26, and extend over respective given areas on the same circumference, as viewed in the circumferential direction of the cam sleeve 26.
  • the control slots 54 always communicate with an annular suction chamber 56.
  • the suction chamber 56 is formed in between the cam sleeve 26 and the fixed sleeve 16.
  • the suction chamber 56 is connected to an outside suction source through a suction path, and a given suction pressure is continuously supplied into the suction chamber 56. Functions of the control slots 54 will be clarified by the following explanation.
  • the movable carriers 42 are transferred with the sliders 34 in the circumferential direction of the cam sleeve 26.
  • the suction passage 50 communicates with the control slot 54 through the ring seal 52.
  • the suction pressure in the control slot 54 is supplied through the suction hole 48 to each groove 46 of the cigarette holder 43.
  • the left end portion of the movable carrier 42 forms a protrusion 57 that projects outward in the radial direction of the rotating shell 30, compared to the right end portion.
  • a pad rod 58 in the protrusion 57, the pad rod 58 being aligned with the grooves 46 of the cigarette holder 43.
  • the pad rod 58 moves integrally with the movable carrier 42 in the rightward direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, and can move independently of the movable carrier 42 in the leftward direction due to a separating mechanism.
  • the pad rod 58 has one end projecting from the protrusion 57 in the leftward direction.
  • the other end of the pad rod 58 is attached with a blocking pad 60 that is elastically deformable.
  • the blocking pad 60 projects from the protrusion 57 toward the cigarette holder 43.
  • the blocking pad 60 is made of silicone resin and has a through-hole at the center thereof. The through-hole of the blocking pad 60 is closed by the other end of the pad rod 58.
  • a compression coil spring 62 is accommodated in the protrusion 57.
  • the compression coil spring 62 surrounds the pad rod 58, to thereby urges the pad rod 58 in such a direction that the pad rod 58 protrudes from the protrusion 57.
  • a roller shaft 63 is attached to one end of the pad rod 58, and the roller shaft 63 extends outward in the radial direction of the rotating shell 30.
  • a roller namely a cam follower 64, is rotatably mounted on the end of the roller shaft 63.
  • the face cam 66 Disposed near the cam follower 64 is a face cam 66.
  • the face cam 66 is formed in the shape of an arc and surrounds the outside of the rotating shell 30.
  • the face cam 66 is supported by the frame 22 through a stay 68.
  • a ring-shaped carrier 70 is attached to the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shell 30 to be on the side of rotor 28.
  • the carrier 70 rotates integrally with the rotating shell 30.
  • the carrier 70 has a plurality of plug holders 72 at one end portion thereof, the plug holders 72 being arranged at regular intervals in a circumferential direction of the carrier 70. More specifically, each of the plug holders 72 faces the corresponding cigarette holder 43 of the movable carrier 42, as viewed in the axial direction of the rotating shell 30, and has a groove 74 similar to the groove 46 of the cigarette holder 43. In other words, the grooves 46 and 74 are located on the same axis and function as one receiving groove 76 (see FIG. 1). The receiving groove 76 can receive one filter cigarette.
  • the carrier 70 has a pad-mounting disc 78 at the other end portion thereof, and a plurality of suction pads 80 is fixed to one end face of the pad-mounting disc 78.
  • the suction pads 80 are disposed at regular intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotating shell 30. That is to say, each of the suction pads 80 is positioned on the same axis as the corresponding blocking pad 60 to face the blocking pad 60.
  • the suction pads 80 are made of silicone resin just like the blocking pads 60 and are elastically deformable.
  • Each of the suction pads 80 has a through-hole at the center thereof. The through-hole is opened in the other end face of the pad-mounting disc 78, or the outer end face thereof, through a connecting hole in the pad-mounting disc 78.
  • the pad-mounting disc 78 is provided with a suction unit 81 in the outer end face thereof, and the suction unit 81 has a contact pad 82.
  • the contact pad 82 is always pressed against the outer end face of the pad-mounting disc 78.
  • a support rod 84 extends from the contact pad 82 and is slidably supported by a bracket 86.
  • the contact pad 82 is located with respect to the pad-mounting disc 78 to communicate with the through-holes of the suction pads 80 one by one.
  • the suction pads 80 moves in the circumferential direction of the rotating shell 30 by the rotation of the rotating shell 30, the suction pads 80 sequentially pass the position of the contact pad 82.
  • the through-hole of the suction pad 80 communicates with the inside of the contact pad 82 through the connecting hole in the pad-mounting disc 78.
  • the contact pad 82 is positioned on a circular track along which an open end of the connecting hole is moved.
  • the position of the contact pad 82 defines the inspection position for filter cigarettes transferred on the inspection drum 6.
  • the inspection position is in a given rotation angle position, as viewed in the rotating direction of the inspection drum 6.
  • a suction path 90 extends from an inner path of the contact pad 82 and is connected to a suction pump 92 and a semiconductor pressure converter 94.
  • the suction path 90 branches off into two suction channels 90a and 90b.
  • the suction channel 90a is connected to the suction pump 92 through an orifice 96 and a pressure adjuster 98, and the suction channel 90b to the pressure converter 94.
  • an outside air-introducing path 100 Connected to the pressure converter 94 is an outside air-introducing path 100, and an orifice 102 is interposed in the outside air-introducing path 100. Furthermore, an outside air-introducing channel 104 diverges from between the orifice 102 and the pressure converter 94 in the outside air-introducing path 100. The outside air-introducing channel 104 is connected to between the orifice 96 and the pressure adjuster 98 in the suction channel 90a through an orifice 106.
  • Openings of the orifices 96, 102 and 106 are adjusted such that differential pressure between negative pressures applied to both sides of the pressure converter 94 become substantially zero when the suction pump 92 is driven in a state where the contact pad 82 is blocked up.
  • the pressure converter 94 outputs a signal indicative of the differential pressure to a controller 108.
  • the controller 108 includes a microcomputer, which has a decision circuit that executes the after-mentioned inspection on the basis of the signal from the pressure converter 94.
  • FIG. 2 there is disposed another rotary shaft 108 near the inspection drum 6, and the rotary shaft 108 extends in parallel with the rotary shaft 14 of the inspection drum 6.
  • the rotary shaft 108 is also enclosed by a fixed sleeve 112, and both end portions of the shaft 108 are rotatably supported by the fixed sleeve 112 through a pair of bearings 110.
  • the fixed sleeve 112 is coupled to the frame 22.
  • One end of the rotary shaft 108 projects from the fixed sleeve 112 on the back surface side of the frame 22, and a drive gear 114 is fitted to the one end of the rotary shaft 108.
  • the drive gear 114 is engaged with the drive gear 24 of the inspection drum 6. Accordingly, when the rotary shaft 14 of the inspection drum 6 is rotated, the rotary shaft 108 is rotated in the direction opposite to the rotating direction of the rotary shaft 14.
  • the other end of the rotary shaft 108 protrudes from the fixed sleeve 112, and the shutoff roller 10 and the cover roller 12 are attached in tandem to the other end of the rotary shaft 108.
  • a common rotor 116 is coupled to the other end of the rotary shaft 108, and roller shells 118 and 120 are mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the rotor 116.
  • the roller shells 118 and 120 cooperate with the rotor 116 to form the shutoff roller 10 and the cover roller 12, respectively. Consequently, the roller shells 118 and 120 rotate integrally with the rotary shaft 108.
  • the roller shells 118 and 120 have a plurality of shutoff grooves 122 and cover grooves 124, respectively, on respective outer circumferential surfaces.
  • the shutoff grooves 122 and the cover grooves 124 are arranged at regular intervals in the circumferential directions of the corresponding roller shells.
  • the shutoff grooves 122 and the cover grooves 124 are each formed into a shape similar to he receiving grooves 76 or the grooves 46 and 74.
  • the shutoff grooves 122 and the cover grooves 124 sequentially meet with the receiving grooves 76 (grooves 74 and 46) of the inspection drum 6 at the inspection position.
  • the pitch and peripheral velocity of the receiving grooves 76 are set to be the same as the pitch and peripheral velocity of the shutoff grooves 122 and the cover grooves 124.
  • the inspection drum 6 receives filter cigarettes sequentially from the transfer drum 4 located upstream thereof into the receiving grooves 76. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the transfer drum 4 has a suction area S 1 used for receiving and conveying filter cigarettes.
  • the suction area S 1 extends up to a position right before a transfer position between the transfer drum 4 and the inspection drum 6, as viewed in the rotating direction of the transfer drum 4.
  • the inspection drum 6 has a suction area S 2 extending from a position right before the transfer position, as viewed in the rotating direction thereof, and the suction area S 2 is formed by one of the control slots 54.
  • the receiving groove 76 (groove 46) of the inspection drum 6 enters the suction area S 2 to receive the supply of suction pressure from the control slot 54.
  • the receiving groove 76 sucks the filter cigarette on the transfer drum 4 and receives the filter cigarette FC as shown in FIG. 4.
  • the filter cigarette FC received is located between the blocking pad 60 and the suction pad 80.
  • the perforation area for example one perforation line V
  • the perforation line V is positioned in the groove 74 (receiving groove 76) of the plug holder 72.
  • the edge E of the tip paper on the side of the cigarette is located between the cigarette holder 43 and the plug holder 72, and is always exposed to the outside air over the whole circumference of the filter cigarette FC.
  • the filter cigarette FC in the receiving groove 76 is in a state where the cigarette thereof is sucked by the two grooves 46.
  • the filter cigarette FC in the receiving groove 76 is transferred in the circumferential direction of the inspection drum 6 while the inspection drum 6 rotates.
  • the cam groove 38 of the cam sleeve 26 and the cam follower 40 cooperate with each other to move the cigarette holder 43 toward the suction pad 80 through the slider 34 and the movable carrier 42. This causes the filter cigarette FC to move with the cigarette holder 43 without sliding against the receiving groove 76, and a filter end or a mouthpiece end of the filter cigarette FC is brought into contact with the suction pad 80.
  • the receiving groove 76 passes through the suction area S 2 (see FIG. 1), and the supply of suction pressure to the receiving grooves 76 (grooves 46) is temporarily suspended. At this time, the grooves 46 may be opened to the atmosphere.
  • the cigarette holder 43 namely the movable carrier 42, continues to be moved while the cigarette holder 43 slides against the filter cigarette FC. Therefore, the blocking pad 60 moves toward the filter cigarette FC to come into contact with the end of the cigarette as shown in FIG. 5. As a result, the filter cigarette FC is held between the blocking pad 60 and the suction pad 80.
  • the receiving groove 76 enters the suction area S 3 (the other control slot 54).
  • the grooves 46 (receiving groove 76) of the cigarette holder 43 is supplied again with the suction pressure from the control slot 54, so that the filter cigarette FC is sucked and held by the receiving groove 76.
  • a guide 126 is disposed outside the inspection drum 6 and extends from the suction area S 2 to the suction area S 3 , to thereby prevent the filter cigarette FC from falling off the inspection drum 6.
  • the filter cigarette FC travels toward the shutoff roller 10 and the cover roller 12 while being held between the blocking pad 60 and the suction pad 80.
  • the shutoff groove 122 of the shutoff roller 10 cooperates with the groove 74 of the plug holder 72 to completely close the perforation line V of the filter cigarette FC.
  • the cover groove 124 of the cover roller 12 partially covers the cigarette of the filter cigarette FC in cooperation with the groove 46 of the cigarette holder 43.
  • the suction pad 80 is connected to the suction pump 92 through the contact pad 82 as shown in FIG. 6, air in the filter cigarette FC is discharged by the suction pump 92 through the suction path 90.
  • the pressure converter 94 detects differential pressure generated between the negative pressure in the suction channel 90b and the negative pressure in the outside air-introducing channel 104 and outputs a signal indicative of the differential pressure to the controller 108.
  • the controller 108 decides whether the differential pressure is equal to or above a given criterion threshold value, based on the signal supplied from the pressure converter 94. If the differential pressure is equal to or above the criterion threshold value, the controller 108 decides that there generates an adhesion defect of the tip paper of the filter cigarette FC, or that there is the possibility that the filter cigarette FC will become a headless cigarette. When this happens, the controller 108 outputs a removal signal with respect to the filter cigarette FC. On the contrary, when the differential pressure is smaller than the criterion threshold value, the controller 108 decides that the filter cigarette FC is a non-defective product, or that there is no possibility that the filter cigarette FC will become a headless cigarette.
  • the adhesion of the tip paper of the filter cigarette FC is incomplete, there is produced a gap between the tip paper and the cigarette due to the adhesion defect.
  • the gap is enlarged due to the negative pressure.
  • the gap thus widened introduces a large quantity of outside air into the filter cigarette FC, so that the pressure converter 94 detects a differential pressure equal to or above the criterion threshold value.
  • the controller 108 detects the adhesion defect of the tip paper without fail, based on the signal from the pressure converter 94.
  • the cover groove 124 of the cover roller 12 cooperate with the grooves 46 of the cigarette holder 43 to partially cover the cigarette of the filter cigarette FC. Therefore, even if the wrapping material of the cigarette has air permeability in some measure, the cover roller 12 reduces the outside air introduced through the wrapping material into the filter cigarette FC. This enables the pressure converter 94 to detect the differential pressure attributable to the gap with high accuracy.
  • the filter cigarette FC is conveyed on the inspection drum 6 toward the transfer drum 8 located downstream.
  • the cam groove 38 and the cam follower 40 cooperate with each other to move back the filter cigarette FC with the cigarette holder 43 in a direction withdrawing from the suction pad 80.
  • the blocking pad 60 is forcibly separated away from the cigarette end of the filter cigarette FC. That is to say, the cam follower 64 (see FIG. 2) of the blocking pad 60 is engaged with the cam face of the face cam 66, and the face cam 66 causes the pad rod 58 of the blocking pad 60 to be pulled against the urging force of the compression coil spring 62 through the cam follower 64. For this reason, even if the blocking pad 60 is in tight contact with the cigarette so as to bite thereinto, the blocking pad 60 is surely separated from the cigarette end as illustrated in FIG. 8.
  • the filter cigarette FC can be stably transferred from the inspection drum 6 to the transfer drum 8 located downstream thereof without interfering with the blocking pad 60.
  • the blocking pad 60 subsequently returns to the position shown in FIG by the urging force of the compression coil spring 62.
  • Reference character S 4 in FIG. 1 represents a suction area of the transfer drum 8.
  • shutoff roller 10 may be omitted.
  • the grooves 46 of the cigarette holder 43 and the grooves 124 of the cover roller 12 may cover the entire cigarette of the filter cigarette FC.
  • the specific material and shape of the blocking pad 60 and the suction pad 80 may be diversely altered.

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  • Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)
EP03788050A 2002-08-12 2003-08-06 Inspection device for filter cigarette Withdrawn EP1529451A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2002234869 2002-08-12
JP2002234869 2002-08-12
PCT/JP2003/010026 WO2004016119A1 (ja) 2002-08-12 2003-08-06 フィルタシガレットの検査装置

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1529451A1 true EP1529451A1 (en) 2005-05-11

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ID=31884363

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03788050A Withdrawn EP1529451A1 (en) 2002-08-12 2003-08-06 Inspection device for filter cigarette

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20050188996A1 (ja)
EP (1) EP1529451A1 (ja)
JP (1) JPWO2004016119A1 (ja)
CN (1) CN1671304A (ja)
AU (1) AU2003257812A1 (ja)
WO (1) WO2004016119A1 (ja)

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EP2011409A1 (en) * 2007-07-04 2009-01-07 Philip Morris Products S.A. Resistance-to-draw measuring device

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CN111432665B (zh) * 2017-11-30 2022-04-05 吉地股份公司 用于检查吸烟制品的设备
CN112220105B (zh) * 2020-08-25 2022-07-05 内蒙古昆明卷烟有限责任公司 一种烟支滤棒无胶区检测装置及检测方法
CN115646824B (zh) * 2022-11-21 2023-03-31 南京专注智能科技股份有限公司 一种香烟滤嘴空支检测装置及检测方法

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2011409A1 (en) * 2007-07-04 2009-01-07 Philip Morris Products S.A. Resistance-to-draw measuring device
WO2009004493A2 (en) * 2007-07-04 2009-01-08 Philip Morris Products S.A. Resistance-to-draw measuring device
WO2009004493A3 (en) * 2007-07-04 2009-04-30 Philip Morris Prod Resistance-to-draw measuring device

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Publication number Publication date
US20050188996A1 (en) 2005-09-01
AU2003257812A1 (en) 2004-03-03
CN1671304A (zh) 2005-09-21
JPWO2004016119A1 (ja) 2005-12-02
WO2004016119A1 (ja) 2004-02-26

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