EP2465366A2 - Perforation of cigarettes - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing rod-shaped products of the tobacco-processing industry (7, 100), in particular cigarettes (7, 100), wherein the bar-shaped products (7, 100) enveloped by one wrapping strip (110) each act on their wrapping strips (110 ) are provided with a, in particular line-shaped, perforation pattern of a predetermined number of perforation holes (104, 104a, 104b), so that the rod-shaped products (7, 100), in particular cigarettes, are provided with a predetermined degree of ventilation. The method is characterized in that for a predetermined type of product, in particular cigarette, with a predetermined degree of ventilation, a first rod-shaped product (7, 100), preferably first cigarette (7, 100), with a first, in particular line-shaped, perforation pattern is provided and a second rod-shaped product (7, 100), in particular a second cigarette (7, 100), is provided with a second, in particular linear, perforation pattern, wherein in particular the first perforation pattern of the first rod-shaped product (7, 100) differs from the second perforation pattern of the first second rod-shaped product (7, 100) in the arrangement of the perforation holes (104, 104a, 104b), wherein the number of perforation holes (104, 104a, 104b) of the first perforation pattern of the number of perforation holes (104, 104a, 104b) of the second Perforationsmusters corresponds and the total length of the perforation holes (7, 100) of the first perforation pattern of the total length of the perforation holes (104, 104a, 104b) corresponds to the second perforation pattern. Furthermore, the invention relates to a machine for producing rod-shaped products (7, 100) of the tobacco processing industry, in particular cigarettes (7, 100) and a system for testing manufactured rod-shaped products of the tobacco processing industry (7, 100), in particular cigarettes ( 7, 100).

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing rod-shaped products of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular cigarettes, wherein the bar-shaped products enveloped in each case by a wrapping strip are provided on their wrapping strips with a, in particular linear, perforation pattern of a predetermined number of perforation holes, so that the rod-shaped products, in particular cigarettes, are provided with a predetermined degree of ventilation.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a machine for producing rod-shaped products of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular cigarettes, wherein by means of a perforation Perforationsmuster perforation holes in each of a wrapping strip or wrapping paper and / or tipping paper enveloped rod-shaped products, in particular cigarettes, are introduced.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a system for testing manufactured rod-shaped products of the tobacco processing industry, in particular cigarettes, wherein the rod-shaped products respectively wrapped by a wrapping strip are provided on their wrapping strip with a perforation pattern with a predetermined number of perforation holes respectively.

Under rod-shaped articles or products of the tobacco processing industry are understood in the present context, in particular cigarettes, filter rods, multifilters and tobacco sticks for cigarettes. In particular, rod-shaped products of the tobacco processing industry are understood to mean filter cigarettes, the filter cigarettes each consisting of a filter plug and a tobacco rod which are connected to one another.

In the production of cigarettes, in particular filter cigarettes, secondary air ducts in the form of holes or perforation holes are introduced in the region of the filter, through which the smoke is supplied to secondary air when pulling on the cigarettes. It is aimed at supplying a relatively large secondary air flow, which should be in a predetermined, as constant as possible ratio to the cigarettes leaving the total flow. This ratio is referred to as the total degree of ventilation. It is already known to provide cigarettes with holes, d. H. to perforate them, z. B. by rolling along an occupied with needles rolling surface.

It is also known to perforate cigarettes by means of laser beams, wherein in each case a certain number of holes with a desired overall cross-section is applied.

In order to keep the cigarettes of a brand with regard to condensate, nicotine and carbon monoxide (CO) in the smoke on the one hand, and on the other hand with regard to the smoker's registered smoking behavior (taste per puff, number of puffs) as constant as possible, the partial ventilation levels that make up the total degree of ventilation, be as constant as possible. This total degree of ventilation is made up of the degree of filter ventilation and the level of tobacco smoke ventilation, which must be within specified tolerances.

When packaging cigarettes on a filter tipping machine, a perforation of holes is made in the fabricated filter cigarettes using perforating means into the wrapping material or the wrapping strips of the bar-shaped articles. In particular, a uniform perforation is thereby introduced into the wrapping strips, whereby the wrapping strips have a predetermined, desired air permeability during smoking, so that secondary air is sucked into the wrapping strips due to the perforation pattern introduced, with which the proportions of nicotine and condensate in the smoke are influenced. In particular, the perforation is introduced into the wrapping strips using laser beams as coherent radiation, resulting in a very accurate constant zone of desired air permeability in the wrapping of the smoking articles.

By forming a perforation zone in the wrapping material of the rod-shaped articles, the wrapping is provided with a zone of predetermined air permeability to add a certain amount of fresh air to the smoke each time a cigarette is pulled. The wrapping material or wrapping strips of these articles are usually made of paper, the wrapping material or the Envelope strips are perforated to produce a desired air permeability at predetermined intervals. For filter cigarettes, it is common practice to make the perforations in the tipping paper leaflet at the filter end.

The provision of articles of smoking with a zone of desired air permeability in the region of the mouthpiece end, a so-called ventilation zone, provides the articles with a predetermined (total) degree of ventilation to preset levels of nicotine and condensate in the smoke of a smoking article or filter cigarette with such zone to be able to comply with the desired air permeability.

In DE 27 50 038 C2 For example, a method of controlling the perforation of cigarettes or other rod-shaped smoking articles is described. To compensate for the Tabakstockventilation is proposed to measure the air permeability of the cigarette paper before stranding or on a separate test drum before the perforation.

It is also in DE 27 54 104 A1 describes an apparatus for producing a zone of desired air permeability in a wrapping material strip for rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry.

Furthermore, in DE 41 06 127 A1 discloses a method for perforating shell material of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry in which the shell material to be perforated is moved through a perforation zone and a corresponding pulsed energetic beam in the perforation zone is aligned with the shell material to form perforation holes on the shell material.

Based on this prior art, the object of the invention is to identify simple and one-to-one produced tobacco industry products in a simple way individually, it should be possible, based on the individual identification of the manufactured products this also in a simple manner identify. Another object of the invention is to increase the anti-counterfeiting security of rod-shaped products of the tobacco processing industry.

The object is achieved by a method for producing rod-shaped products of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular cigarettes or filter cigarettes, wherein the bar-shaped products enveloped in each case by a wrapping strip are provided on their wrapping strips with a, in particular linear, perforation pattern of a predetermined number of perforation holes in that the rod-shaped products, in particular cigarettes, are provided with a predetermined degree of ventilation, which is further developed in that for a predetermined type of product, in particular cigarette type, with a predetermined degree of ventilation, a first rod-shaped product, preferably a first cigarette, with a first, in particular line-shaped perforation pattern is provided and a second rod-shaped product, in particular second cigarette, is provided with a second perforation pattern, wherein the first perforation pattern the first rod-shaped product differs from the second, in particular linear, perforation pattern of the second rod-shaped product in the arrangement of the perforation holes, wherein in particular the number of perforation holes of the first perforation pattern corresponds to the number of perforation holes of the second perforation pattern and the cumulative total length of the perforation holes of the first perforation pattern the cumulative total length of the perforation holes of the second perforation pattern corresponds.

Provided that the hole width of the perforation holes is the same i. remains unchanged, it is provided according to the invention that in the formation of the perforation, the number of perforations of the first perforation corresponds to the number of perforations of the second perforation pattern and the cumulative total length of the perforation of the first perforation corresponds to the cumulative total length of the perforation of the second perforation pattern.

The invention is based on the idea that in a filter attachment machine in which the rod-shaped products, e.g. Filtered cigarettes are made, which are formed on this machine produced filter cigarettes with a predetermined (total) degree of ventilation. For this purpose, by means of a perforation device, in particular using a laser or a laser beam, a perforation pattern with ventilation holes is introduced into the envelope of the cigarette.

According to the inventive concept, the products or filter cigarettes produced on the production machine are individualized by the mutually distinguishable and different perforation patterns, so that after production at a later time the filter cigarettes produced are identified or authenticated accordingly during a test. For this purpose, the individual perforation pattern of the cigarette is detected individually by means of a type of reader, then the detected, unique, perforation pattern of a cigarette is decoded, for example, so that it is determined on the basis of the detected perforation pattern for each cigarette on which machine this cigarette has been produced at a specified time at a predetermined location. As a result, the security against counterfeiting of manufactured filter cigarettes is significantly increased.

For this purpose, it is provided in the context of the invention that the manufactured rod-shaped products and the manufacturing machines of the tobacco processing industry is assigned a unique identifier or marking that are impressed in the production of rod-shaped products or filter cigarettes based on the variation of the perforation holes of a perforation pattern of the cigarette produced , As further details, the filter cigarette or the manufactured product can be given information on the product type, such as the variation of perforation patterns. Mark, the production time and the date of manufacture, are stamped on the perforation pattern.

It is provided in the invention that the predetermined (total) degree of ventilation of filter cigarettes is always maintained, while the arrangement of the perforation holes of a Perforationsmusters is varied accordingly, the total length of the perforation holes in the circumferential direction of the cigarettes of a batch is kept constant. In addition, the number of perforation holes is kept constant, wherein the individual length of the perforation holes is varied accordingly, so that each manufactured cigarettes is given an individual or individualizing feature on the basis of the mutually different perforation patterns.

After the production of the filter cigarettes, a decoding of the perforation pattern is possible on the basis of the individual perforation pattern, so that after decoding or deciphering the perforation pattern, an unambiguous assignment of the cigarettes takes place. Due to the change in geometrical dimensions and variations in the geometric dimensions of the perforation holes through which a unique and specific perforation pattern of a cigarette is formed, while maintaining a predetermined degree of ventilation, an individual code or customization identifier is applied to the envelope of the rod-shaped products, through the perforation holes in particular by the total length of the perforation holes, preferably in the circumferential direction of the rod-shaped products, the predetermined degree of ventilation for a cigarette type is maintained during the production of an entire batch. In particular, all perforation patterns or respectively two perforation patterns of all manufactured rod-shaped articles differ from each other.

Moreover, it is also conceivable within the scope of the invention that, in addition to an existing standardized perforation pattern for a predetermined degree of ventilation of a product variety or cigarette type, a second perforation pattern with individualized or individually arranged perforation holes is applied to the casing of the products. As a result, an individualization of the rod-shaped products or filter cigarettes in addition to the already existing, indistinguishable hole pattern for a desired or predetermined degree of ventilation is impressed into the enclosure.

For this purpose, it is provided in one embodiment of the method that the perforation pattern of the first rod-shaped product and the perforation pattern of the second rod-shaped product are stored and / or stored in a storage medium and / or in a database. For this purpose, all perforation patterns that are used to customize the rod-shaped products or filter cigarettes stored in a data repository of a data store, and then using this data collection for the perforation patterns in a test of cigarettes or individual cigarettes to identify the examined filter cigarettes or determine the place of manufacture and the manufacturing machine and the production time based on the individual identification on the basis of the perforation pattern ,

For this purpose, the individualizing, unique identification of the mass-produced rod-shaped article is further provided that the or all perforation of several rod-shaped products or all rod-shaped products of a product with the same or constant total length of the perforation, preferably in the circumferential direction of the rod-shaped article or products, and If the number of perforation holes remains constant, they are each formed differently or are.

Furthermore, it is provided in a preferred method step that the rod-shaped products are each formed with mutually distinguishable Perforationsmustern, preferably with an equal overall length and the same width and total hole area of the perforation holes, and with an equal number of perforation holes with the same degree of ventilation.

For example, for a type of product or a cigarette brand, the cigarettes are perforated on a filter tying machine or machine online, so that the perforation holes distributed on the perimeter of the products, also called ventilation holes, are arranged such that the arrangement of the perforation holes is company-specific and / or or brand specific. Due to the variation in the geometric dimensions of the perforation holes, the deviations in the perforation holes to be determined only microscopically on the individual manufactured products or filter cigarettes.

In the context of the invention, it is provided here that wrapping strips of the rod-shaped products, such as e.g. Cigarette paper and / or tipping paper strips are provided using at least one laser with individually coded perforations or micro perforations, which are generated by a suitably operated, preferably pulsed, laser. An encoding with product-relevant information takes place in that the length of the perforation holes in the circumferential direction of the rod-shaped products and the distances between the perforation holes are varied in the circumferential direction when forming the individual perforation holes in the wrapping strip of the rod-shaped products.

Moreover, an embodiment of the method is characterized in that the manufacturer and / or the production site and / or the production machine and / or the production time in the wrapping strip of the rod-shaped products are encoded or are each encoded by a perforation pattern of a rod-shaped product.

The perforation patterns of the rod-shaped products are preferably formed or introduced into the cladding strip of the rod-shaped products using at least one radiation source, in particular a laser.

Furthermore, an embodiment of the method is characterized in that rod-shaped products, in particular cigarettes, are provided with a first line-shaped perforation pattern additionally with at least one further parallel to the first perforation spaced-line perforation pattern or are. An advantageous development also results from the fact that after forming the individual Perforationsmuster in the respective wrapping paper and / or in the tipping paper of the individual rod-shaped products Perforationsmuster means of a preferably pneumatic-electronic monitoring device, in particular on the same manufacturing machine, with respect to the draw resistance and / or the degree of ventilation.

The processing of the rod-shaped products is also improved in that after forming the individual perforation pattern in the respective wrapping paper or in the respective wrapping strips and / or in the respective tipping paper of the individual rod-shaped products, the perforation pattern by means of a, preferably optical, monitoring device, in particular on the same production machine , be monitored. In this case, after the processing and introduction of the perforation pattern into the wrapping or wrapping strip of the finished rod-shaped products or filter cigarettes, the respectively introduced pattern is correspondingly monitored or detected by means of a monitoring device.

In particular, in this case the optical test systems already present on the production machines or strand machines as well as the filter attachment machines are modified for this purpose with regard to an evaluation algorithm according to the invention. Suitable test systems are, for example, under the name "OCIS" known test systems HAUNI Maschinenbau AG in filter attachment machines, which are designed to visually inspect the surface of the rod-shaped products. An optical test is understood here to be an examination with electromagnetic radiation in the visible region of the spectrum or in adjacent regions which are invisible to the human eye, for example in the infrared or ultraviolet region. After wrapping a tabular or rod-shaped product, the optical inspection preferably takes place in the reflection process, measuring light reflected from the surface of the product. The known inspection systems, for example OCIS systems of HAUNI Maschinenbau AG, are designed to record images of strand surfaces or cigarette surfaces by means of a camera system and to analyze them in an evaluation unit. Cigarettes with recognized defects, such as an incomplete perforation pattern for a predetermined degree of ventilation, are removed, for example via a shot valve from the current production on the machine.

In addition, a further method step is characterized in that the perforation patterns for each individual rod-shaped product are determined by a, in particular central, control device, in particular a central computer, and transmitted to a perforation device, preferably online, so that corresponding control commands are sent to the product manufacturing machine a perforation device for forming perforation patterns on the surface of the rod-shaped products are transmitted.

By means of the control device, the individual or individualizing perforation patterns with mutually different arrangements of perforation holes and a variation of the distances between the perforation holes in the circumferential direction are determined or determined, so that according to the individually determined, unique and thus unique identification pattern for a filter cigarette this according to the Perforationsmuster is formed, wherein the degree of ventilation of the manufactured products on the production machine for a cigarette or is substantially constant or maintained for a batch. In the context of the invention, it is also conceivable that the number of perforation holes also varies, again keeping the degree of ventilation of the perforated cigarette constant.

In addition, the object is achieved by a machine for producing rod-shaped products, in particular cigarettes, wherein by means of a perforation Perforationsmuster perforation holes in each of a wrapping strip or wrapping paper and / or tipping paper enveloped rod-shaped products, in particular cigarettes, can be introduced, wherein the perforation by means of a, in particular central, control device, in particular central computer, is controllable such that the above-described inventive method for producing rod-shaped products of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular cigarettes, is executable.

By means of the control device corresponding individualizing perforation patterns are determined with differently long and differently arranged perforation holes and different distances between the perforation holes in the circumferential direction and transmitted accordingly to the perforation, so that individualized for customizing the mass produced cigarettes, for example on a filter attachment machine, the filter cigarettes , wherein the introduced, mutually different perforation patterns correspond in coded form product-relevant information, wherein the individualized perforation pattern read or recognize the code introduced as a perforation pattern using corresponding evaluation units or reading devices.

Then, based on the recognized perforation pattern under Using an available database with corresponding profiles achieved individualization of the cigarette produced, the decoding on the basis of the data collection used by Perforationsmustern the coded information placed on the filter cigarettes for test authorities, for example, become available. In this way it can be determined among other things, from which country (place of origin) the produced cigarettes originate. As a result, the anti-counterfeiting security of filter cigarettes is significantly increased.

Advantageously, it is provided in the machine in a development that after forming the individual Perforationsmuster in the respective wrapping paper and / or in the tipping paper of the individual rod-shaped products Perforationsmuster a, preferably pneumatic-electronic, monitoring device for monitoring the draft resistance and / or the degree of ventilation, in particular on the same production machine, is provided.

In particular, in the machine after forming the individual perforation pattern in the respective wrapping paper and / or in the respective tipping paper of the individual rod-shaped products, a, preferably optical, monitoring device for monitoring the perforation pattern, in particular on the same production machine, is provided.

In addition, the object is achieved by a system for testing manufactured rod-shaped products of the tobacco processing industry, in particular cigarettes, wherein the rod-shaped products respectively wrapped by a wrapping strip on their wrapping strip with a perforation pattern with a predetermined number of perforation holes respectively provided are, so that the rod-shaped products are provided with a predetermined degree of ventilation, with a recognition device for detecting the perforation pattern of individual rod-shaped products, wherein the detection device with a, preferably decentralized database for perforation pattern is connectable or connected, so that after detection of a Perforationsmusters and a comparison of the recognized perforation pattern with the available in the database perforation pattern data the origin and / or the production method and / or the production conditions of the rod-shaped products can be determined.

Using such a system, it is possible to carry out a method of inspecting manufactured rod-shaped articles or products, for example using such a system by national regulatory authorities to ensure that the cigarettes examined are not counterfeit or unauthorized imported products ,

In this case, the recognition device is designed to recognize the perforation pattern on the wrapping strip of the cigarettes, wherein the recognized perforation pattern by means of a computer, e.g. Laptop or personal computer, to be compared with a central database for perforation patterns. Here, the perforation patterns are stored in a corresponding digital form in a data collection, with state jurisdictions having a corresponding authorized access to such data collection.

In addition, the system is characterized in that the recognition device has a sensor device and / or a, preferably mobile, data processing device. This is within the scope of the invention in a data processing device for example, a portable computer or a portable terminal, such as a mobile phone with a corresponding scanning device or the like.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the description of embodiments according to the invention together with the claims and the accompanying drawings. Embodiments of the invention may satisfy individual features or a combination of several features.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung des Aufbaus und der Ventilationsgrade einer Zigarette,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines Teils einer Filteransetzmaschine mit einer Perforationsvorrichtung,

Fig. 3a

schematisch einen Ausschnitt eines abgewickelten Umhüllungsstreifens einer Filterzigarette gemäß dem Stand der Technik;

Fig. 3b, 3c

jeweils schematisch zwei Ausschnitte eines abgewickelten Umhüllungsstreifens einer Filterzigaretten mit unterschiedlichen, individualisierenden Perforationsmustern;

Fig. 4

schematisch ein System zur Erzeugung von individualisierenden Kennzeichen bzw. Perforationsmustern von Zigaretten und zum Prüfen der individualisierten Zigaretten sowie Zigarettenpackungen und

Fig. 5a, 5b

jeweils schematisch Systeme zur Prüfung der Echtheit von Zigaretten mit individualisierten Perforationsmustern in jeweils einer Ausführungsform.

The invention will be described below without limiting the general inventive idea by means of embodiments with reference to the drawings, reference being expressly made to the drawings with respect to all in the text unspecified details of the invention. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of the structure and the ventilation levels of a cigarette,

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a part of a filter attachment machine with a perforation device,

Fig. 3a

schematically a section of a developed wrapping strip of a filter cigarette according to the prior art;

Fig. 3b, 3c

in each case schematically two sections of a developed wrapping strip of a filter cigarette with different, individualizing perforation patterns;

Fig. 4

schematically a system for generating individualizing characteristics or perforation patterns of cigarettes and for testing the individualized cigarettes and cigarette packs and

Fig. 5a, 5b

in each case schematically systems for testing the authenticity of cigarettes with individualized Perforationsmustern in each case an embodiment.

In the following figures, identical or similar elements or corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so that a corresponding renewed idea is dispensed with.

Fig. 1 schematically shows the structure of a filter cigarette 100 and the different degrees of ventilation. In this case, the filter cigarette 100 is divided into a tobacco stick 101 and a filter 8. The tobacco rod 101 is surrounded by a porous cigarette wrap strip 103. For this purpose, a wrapping strip is wrapped around the tobacco rod and subsequently a tobacco rod of double use length is cut off from the wrapped tobacco rod. In the wrapping material strip of the covered filter 8, ventilation holes 104a are inserted as perforation holes of the tipping paper 9 by a perforating device.

From the measured values of the total air discharge amount Q _from the air inlet amount Q _F in the area of the filter of the filter cigarette 100 and the air intake quantity Q _P in the region of the tobacco rod, in particular of the air intake quantity by the porous paper wrapper, and the total intake air amount Q _a can be prepared using known formulas below other the total ventilation degree the filter ventilation degree as well as the tobacco floor ventilation degree as well determine further specific values of the cigarette 100.

Furthermore, in Fig. 1 that the cigarette wrapper 103 provided by a wrapping paper for the tobacco stick 103 using a cigarette paper strip may also be provided with perforation holes 104b.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a Filteransetzvorrichtung 2 in the neck. Such a filter attachment device or filter attachment machine is known under the name "MAX" of HAUNI Maschinenbau AG, Hamburg.

After being manufactured on a (cigarette) stranding machine, the cigarettes are conveyed to the filter tipping device 2 and transferred to it, where they are connected to double-length filter plugs. For this purpose, the filter plug also a tipping paper strip is fed, which deducted from a tipping paper roll or reel, glued and sliced in leaflets, which are called on tipping paper leaflets. By rolling on an example. Stationary counter rolling surface, the cigarettes 7 are assembled with finished axially aligned filter plug to finished filter cigarettes 100.

In the production of double filter cigarettes with two outer tobacco rods and arranged inside filter plug twice the length of use, these aforementioned groups are separated from each other by bonding glued pad flakes by cutting centrally, thus forming two webs of queraxial subsidized cigarettes. The cigarettes 100 of one web are subsequently turned over and merged with the cigarettes 100 of the other web and then into a web cross-axial for further processing conveyed away.

In order to be able to supply secondary air to the smoke of the filter cigarettes, perforation holes 104a, 104b are inserted into the filter sticks enveloped by a wrapper strip and / or filter pads wrapped by the tipping paper leaflet using a perforator 16 with a laser 17, preferably for each web of caterpillar conveyed cigarettes a laser 17 is provided.

A laser beam 18 emanating from a controllable laser 17 passes through the mirrors 19a and 19b and a lens 21 onto the filter 8, so that perforation holes 104a, 104b are produced by the covering paper and / or the wrapping paper of the tobacco rod 101 and optionally also by using the laser 17 made of paper surface of the filter plug are burned, so that when pulling on the filter cigarette 7 cool secondary air can enter through the perforation holes 104a, 104b in the filter 8 and / or tobacco stick 101, where they mix with the stream of smoke flowing through the cigarette 7.

In the perforation process is a filter cigarette 100 on a perforation drum 22 on which it is conveyed in the direction of arrow 23 and thereby held by suction in channels 24 in troughs 26. A rolling device 27 in the form of a rotating according to arrow 28 Roll cam 29 rolls the filter cigarettes 100 each at a rolling point such that they interrupt their conveying movement in the direction of arrow 23 during rolling by relatively roll back on the circumference of the test drum 22. Therefore, the laser beam 18, which is emitted in the form of pulses from the laser 17, successively burn or form perforation holes 104a in the filter plug 8, which then in the circumferential direction lie one behind the other in a row.

The timing of the beginning of the perforation of a filter cigarette and the individual laser pulses in one embodiment are triggered by a cam, of which the outer ring 31 with the control cam 32 (trigger) and 33 (single pulses) can be seen. The control signals are given by a sensor 34 to a control device 36 of the laser 17.

Instead of the cams mentioned, an opto-electronic or magneto-electronic rotary pulse generator or even a resolver can be provided in a further embodiment.

In the context of the invention, other control operations of the perforation device 16 are possible in order to introduce or form corresponding perforation holes 104a, which are also called ventilation holes, in the wrapping strips of the filter cigarettes 100.

On a subsequent in the conveying direction of the cigarettes 7 and 100 test drum 30, the total degree of ventilation is checked by means of a Ventilationsprüfeinrichtung 38. For this purpose, the test cigarette 7 is supplied with a test pressure via a throttle, not shown here. A likewise not shown transducer converts the measured pressure into an electrical signal and supplies it to the control device 36.

If the draw resistance of the tobacco rod 101 of the cigarette 100 is constant, the degree of tobacco-stick ventilation is influenced only by fluctuations in the air-permeability in the cigarette wrapper 103. A corresponding measuring arrangement is for example in the DE 27 50 038 C2 , especially in Fig. 5 , disclosed. The DE 27 50 038 C2 is intended to be fully incorporated into the disclosure of this application.

Depending on the porosity of the wrapper strip, the quality of the bond between filter and cigarette and the quality, in particular the homogeneity of the filter plugs 8, the overall degree of ventilation is kept constant by controlling the perforating device 16, in particular the hole cross sections, assuming that the amount of tobacco in the tobacco rod and thus the draw resistances in the finished cigarettes are constant.

Further devices for perforating wrapping material of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular cigarette wrapper strips, are disclosed in US Pat DE 41 06 127 A1 as in EP 1 510 142 A2 described.

Following the test drum 30 are in the conveying direction of the cigarettes 7 on subsequent conveyor drums 39, 40 on Perforationsmuster in the respective wrapping paper 110 and / or in the respective tipping paper 9 of the individual rod-shaped cigarettes 7 using arranged on the conveyor drums 39, 40 cameras 41, 42, 43, 44 monitored.

In Fig. 3a 3 shows schematically in section a developed perforated cigarette wrapping material strip 110 according to the prior art, wherein the cigarette wrapping material strip 110, by means of which a cigarette is enveloped, has perforation holes 104 in the circumferential direction at regular intervals. The perforation holes 104 are circumferentially formed in the cigarette wrapping material strip in the circumferential direction by means of a perforating device as described above by way of example. In this case, according to the prior art, the perforation holes 104 a predetermined constant length, wherein also the distance in the circumferential direction between two perforation holes 104 is kept constant in each case. By forming equidistantly arranged equal length perforation holes 104, a predetermined total degree of ventilation of the cigarette is formed.

According to the prior art, the perforation holes 104 in the embodiment according to Fig. 3a evenly distributed over the circumference of the cigarettes respectively.

In the Fig. 3b, 3c For example, two embodiments of perforated cigarette wrapper strips according to the invention are shown. In this case, the cigarette wrapping material strips 110 each have mutually different perforation patterns, wherein the perforation holes 104 are formed and arranged irregularly in the circumferential direction. In this case, the perforation holes 104 have different perforation lengths in the circumferential direction, wherein the distance between two perforation holes 104 is or will vary in the circumferential direction.

The overall lengths of the perforation holes 104 in the circumferential direction correspond to the total length of the perforation holes 104 according to the embodiment of the prior art (see. Fig. 3a ), so that even in the embodiments according to the invention in Fig. 3b, 3c the cigarettes produced have the same degree of ventilation as a cigarette with a strip of cigarette wrapping material according to Fig. 3a (State of the art).

In addition, the number of perforation holes 104 according to the embodiments of the invention in Fig. 3b, 3c constant. In the embodiments 3b, 3c, the number of perforation holes 104 in the circumferential direction is 20. In Fig. 3a are According to the state of the art, likewise 20 perforation holes 104 are formed on the cigarette wrapping material strip 110.

By varying the length and / or the width or the diameter of the perforation holes 104 in the circumferential direction of a cigarette and the variation of the distances between the perforation holes 104, it is possible for cigarette brands or cigarette types to arrange the perforation holes 104 distributed on the cigarette circumference such that the Arrangement and formation of the perforation holes 104 is company-specific and / or brand-specific.

Thereby, due to the distribution of the perforation holes 104 and the variation of the length or hole length of the perforation holes 104 in the circumferential direction, a predetermined code can be applied to the cigarette wrapper strip without changing the overall degree of ventilation for a predetermined product type or cigarette mark.

According to the invention, the irregular distribution of the perforation holes 104 is influenced by the circumference of the cigarette, which also affects the single length of the perforation holes 104, keeping the total length of all the perforation holes constant with a constant number of perforation holes over the circumference of the cigarette.

According to the invention, the hole length and the distribution of the perforation holes are influenced by the perforation of the cigarettes in such a way that an unambiguous assignment based on the individual perforation patterns to a manufacturer and / or production location, production machine and / or production layer is made possible about the production-relevant and characteristic properties of the respective cigarette coded into the wrapping strips or cigarette material strips are introduced. For example, a perforation may be applied to the cigarette wrapper strip using Morse codes or so-called IAN codes (International Article Number Codes) or EAN codes (European Article Number Codes) or another bar code as a perforation pattern. In the case of a two-lane or multi-lane perforation, a two-dimensional code (2D code) can also be introduced into the tipping paper and / or the wrapping paper as a perforation pattern.

Due to the encrypted codes based on the mutually different perforation patterns, the counterfeit security of the manufactured cigarettes is significantly increased.

Moreover, it is possible within the scope of the invention that in addition to an existing perforation pattern in a first track for a total degree of ventilation of cigarettes additionally an individualizing perforation pattern in a second, preferably parallel, track in the wrapping paper or in the wrapping strip and / or in the tipping paper or be inserted into the tipping paper strips of the cigarettes.

In Fig. 4 schematically a system for checking the authenticity of cigarettes is shown. In this case, the system has a control system 200, are generated by the codes to a controller 201 for the production of cigarettes and codes for the controller 202 for cigarette packs on a packaging and distributed to the control devices 201 and 202 and transmitted accordingly. This is a one-to-one assignment of the formed on the cigarette perforation patterns as a code and a corresponding code on the at the Pack created cigarette packets produced.

The control device 201 is connected to a stranding machine 210, a filter attachment machine 211 and a laser device 212 for perforating the filter cigarettes produced at the filter application device 211.

In addition, the controller 201 is provided with an optical inspection device, e.g. known as the OCIS of Hauni Maschinenbau AG. In particular, the control device 201 is designed as a computer device for the production of filter cigarettes. Furthermore, the control system 200 is designed as a computer. The predetermined by the control system 200 as a code applied to the cigarettes perforation pattern are additionally stored in a central data memory 220.

By storing the perforation patterns or their codes in the data memory 220, it is possible that after the production of the filter cigarettes with individualized Perforationsmustern or perforation codes and after packaging the cigarettes in corresponding packages using recognition means 231, 232 provided with the individualized Perforationsmustern cigarettes and , preferably individual, coded packs.

By the recognition means 231, 232 it can be determined whether the produced cigarette provided with a corresponding perforation pattern belongs in the corresponding cigarette pack. In this case, a query is performed by the recognition device 231 or 232 at the database 220.

If a corresponding code is not assigned to a packer, it can be determined in one embodiment whether the cigarette examined has been added to a corresponding batch, e.g. Rod or cardboard, fits or could fit. In this case, a comparison of the date and / or the production location and / or the production quantity, which are present as a perforation pattern encoded on the corresponding cigarette, checked. The laser device 212 performs a corresponding perforation on the casings of the filter cigarettes. In this case, the corresponding code or the corresponding perforation pattern is determined by the control device 201 by the control system 200 and then transmitted to the laser device 212.

In addition, it is checked by means of the optical test device 213 whether the perforation pattern or the perforation code is actually completely formed on the cigarettes. Upon detection of a faulty perforation pattern that does not match the predetermined individual perforation pattern, the control system 200 is notified of this event, so that the control system 200 stores how many cigarettes were produced with an individual code or perforation pattern. This corresponding information is also forwarded to the data memory 220.

The queries of the perforation patterns via the recognition devices 231, 232 preferably take place upon a corresponding request by these devices to the data memory 220. This data memory 220 is accessible as a central data memory only for authorized persons or authorities or institutions.

In the Fig. 5a, 5b In each case different exemplary embodiments of a recognition device 231 or 232 are shown schematically. In this case, the monitoring device 231 has an output / evaluation device 235, which is formed with a reading device 236 for the perforation pattern of a cigarette. In this case, the perforation patterns are recorded by means of the reading device 236 and transmitted to the output / evaluation device.

For example, the output / evaluation device 235 is designed as a laptop or mobile data collection device. The output / evaluation device 235 also has access to a database (cf. Fig. 4 220), so that after detecting the perforation pattern of the cigarette 100, the detected perforation pattern is compared with the stored in the data memory 220 perforation pattern. As a result, after a decoding, the perforation pattern of the cigarettes 100 is checked as to whether certain details are available for this cigarette 100 being examined.

In the embodiment according to FIG Fig. 5a interconnected output / evaluation 235 and reading device 236, the output / Auswerteinrichtung 235, connected to a reading device 237 for the applied on cigarette packs 120 codes to using a data memory 220 and access to the data memory 220 and the stored therein information about the codes the cigarette packs and the coded or coding perforation pattern on the cigarettes 100 to check whether a cigarette 100 removed from a cigarette pack 120 also belongs to this cigarette pack in order to verify the origin and the real time of the cigarettes 100 and of the cigarette pack 120.

All the above features, including the drawings alone to be taken as well as individual features, in combination with disclosed other features are considered alone and in combination as essential to the invention. Embodiments of the invention may be accomplished by individual features or a combination of several features.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

filter attachment

7

cigarettes

8th

filter

9

tipping paper

16

perforation

17

laser

18

laser beam

19a

mirror

19b

mirror

21

lens

22

perforating

23

arrow

24

channels

26

Hopper

27

rolling device

28

arrow

29

roll cams

30

testing drum

31

outer ring

32

control cam

33

control cam

34

sensor

36

control device

38

Ventilationsprüfeinrichtung

39

conveyor drum

40

conveyor drum

41

camera

42

camera

43

camera

44

camera

100

filter cigarette

101

tobacco rod

103

cigarette wrapper

104

perforation

104a

perforation

104b

perforation

110

Zigarettenhüllmaterialstreifen

120

cigarette pack

200

Control System

201

control device

202

control device

210

rod machine

211

filter attachment

212

laser device

213

optical test device

220

data storage

231

examination means

232

examination means

235

Issue / evaluation

236

reader

237

reader

Q _out

Total discharge amount of air

Q is _a

Total intake air amount

Q _F

Amount of air entering through filters

Q _P

Amount of air entering through wrapping strips

Claims (15)

Method for producing rod-shaped products of the tobacco-processing industry (7, 100), in particular cigarettes (7, 100), the rod-shaped products (7, 100) enveloped by in each case one wrapping strip (110) being coated on their wrapping strip (110) with a in particular line-shaped, perforation pattern of a predetermined number of perforation holes (104, 104a, 104b) are provided so that the rod-shaped products (7, 100), in particular cigarettes, are provided with a predetermined degree of ventilation, characterized in that for a predetermined product , in particular cigarette type, with a predetermined degree of ventilation a first rod-shaped product (7, 100), preferably first cigarette (7, 100), with a first, in particular line-shaped, perforation pattern is provided and a second rod-shaped product (7, 100), in particular second Cigarette (7, 100), with a second, in particular linear, Perforation pattern, wherein the first perforation pattern of the first rod-shaped product (7, 100) differs from the second perforation pattern of the second rod-shaped product (7, 100) in the arrangement of the perforation holes (104, 104a, 104b), in particular the number of Perforation holes (104, 104a, 104b) of the first perforation pattern correspond to the number of perforation holes (104, 104a, 104b) of the second perforation pattern and the total length of the perforation holes (7, 100) of the first perforation pattern corresponds to the total length of the perforation holes (104, 104a, 104b ) corresponds to the second perforation pattern. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the perforation pattern of the first rod-shaped product (7, 100) and the perforation pattern of the second rod-shaped product (7, 100) are stored and / or stored in a storage medium and / or in a database (220) , Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the or all perforation patterns of several rod-shaped products (7, 100) of one product type have the same total length of the perforation holes (104, 104a, 104b), preferably in the circumferential direction, and if the number of perforation holes remains constant ( 104, 104a, 104b) are each formed differently or are. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rod-shaped products (7, 100) each with mutually distinguishable perforation patterns, preferably with an equal overall length and a same width of the perforation holes (104, 104a, 104b), and with a same Number of perforation holes (104, 104a, 104b) are formed with the same degree of ventilation. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that when forming the individual perforation holes (104, 104a, 104b) in the wrapping strip (110) of the rod-shaped products (7, 100) the length of the perforation holes (104, 104a, 104b) in the circumferential direction of the rod-shaped product (7, 100) and the distances between the perforation holes (104, 104a, 104b) are varied in the circumferential direction. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that by a perforation pattern of a rod-shaped product (7, 100) of the manufacturer and / or the production site and / or the production machine and / or the production time in the wrapping strip (110) of the rod-shaped products (7, 100). Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the perforation pattern of the rod-shaped products (7, 100) using at least one radiation source (17, 212), in particular laser (17, 212), in the wrapping strip (110) of the rod-shaped Products (7, 100) are formed or introduced. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that rod-shaped products, in particular cigarettes, are additionally provided with a first linear perforation pattern with at least one further parallel to the first perforation pattern spaced line perforation pattern or are. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that after forming the individual perforation pattern in the respective wrapping paper (110) and / or in the tipping paper (9) of the individual rod-shaped products (7, 100), the perforation pattern by means of a, preferably pneumatically electronic, monitoring device (38), in particular on the same manufacturing machine, with respect to the draft resistance and / or the degree of ventilation are monitored. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that after forming the individual perforation pattern in the respective wrapping paper (110) and / or in the respective tipping paper (9) of the individual rod-shaped products (7, 100) the perforation pattern by means of a, preferably optical, monitoring device (41, 42, 43, 44, 213), in particular on the same production machine, are monitored and / or that the perforation pattern for each individual rod-shaped product (7, 100) from a, in particular central, control device (201, 200) , in particular a central computer, are determined and transmitted to a perforation device (16, 212), preferably online. Machine for producing rod-shaped products (7, 100) of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular cigarettes (7, 100), wherein perforation patterns (104, 104a, 104b) into which a wrapping paper (110 ) and / or tiling paper (9) each enveloped rod-shaped products (7, 100), in particular cigarettes (7, 100), can be introduced, wherein the perforation means (16, 212) by means of a, in particular central, Control device (201, 200), in particular central computer, is controllable such that the method for producing rod-shaped products (7, 100) of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular cigarettes (7, 100), according to one of claims 1 to 10 executable. Machine according to claim 11, characterized in that after forming the individual perforation pattern in the respective wrapping paper (110) and / or in the tipping paper (9) of the individual rod-shaped products (7, 100) a, preferably pneumatic-electronic, monitoring device (38) for monitoring the draft resistance and / or the degree of ventilation, in particular on the same production machine, is provided. Machine according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that after forming the individual perforation pattern in the respective wrapping paper (110) and / or in the respective tipping paper (9) of the individual rod-shaped products (7, 100) a, preferably optical, monitoring device (41 , 42, 43, 44, 213) for monitoring the perforation patterns, in particular on the same production machine, is provided. A system for testing manufactured rod-shaped products of the tobacco processing industry (7, 100), in particular cigarettes (7, 100), wherein the rod-shaped products (7, 100) respectively wrapped by a wrapping strip (110) on its wrapping strip (110) with a Perforation pattern with a predetermined number of perforation holes (104, 104a, 104b) are respectively provided, so that the rod-shaped products (7, 100) with a predetermined degree of ventilation are provided, with a recognition device (231, 232) for detecting the perforation pattern of individual rod-shaped products (7, 100), wherein in particular the detection means (231, 232) with a, preferably decentralized, database (200) is connected to perforation pattern, so in that, after a recognition of a perforation pattern and a matching of the recognized perforation pattern with the perforation pattern data available in the database (220), the origin and / or production method and / or production conditions of the rod-shaped products (7, 100) can be determined. System according to claim 14, characterized in that the recognition device (231, 232) comprises a sensor device (236, 237) and / or a, preferably mobile, data processing device (235).

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