EP2641481A1 - Production machine and method for operating a production machine for rod-shaped articles in the tobacco processing industry - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves conveying a wrapping material strip (33) in a longitudinal axial conveying direction (13') and embossing the wrapping material strip, where a strand (21) of a tobacco processing industry is formed and conveyed in a longitudinal axial direction (22). The strand is wrapped with the wrapping material strip, where a rod-shaped article is cut from the strand. The quality or position of the embossing structure is determined based on the digitized image data of the strand or the rod-shaped article. An independent claim is included for a production machine for rod-shaped articles of a tobacco processing industry.

Description

• Fördern eines ersten Umhüllungsmaterialstreifens in einer längsaxialen Förderrichtung in Richtung einer Prägevorrichtung,
• Prägen des ersten Umhüllungsmaterialstreifens, wobei der erste Umhüllungsmaterialstreifen beim Prägen wenigstens zeitweise kontinuierlich gefördert wird.
  Insbesondere ist es hierbei vorzugsweise auch vorgesehen, zunächst einen ersten Umhüllungsmaterialstreifen bereitzustellen.

The invention relates to a method for operating a production machine of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular a filter rod manufacturing machine, with the following method steps:

• Conveying a first wrapping material strip in a longitudinal axial conveying direction in the direction of an embossing device,
• Embossing of the first wrapping material strip, wherein the first wrapping material strip is conveyed during the embossing at least temporarily continuously.
  In particular, it is also preferably provided here, first a first wrapping material strip provide.

The invention further relates to a corresponding production machine of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry with a corresponding embossing device for a first wrapping material strip.

Recently, so-called "Combined Performance Filter" (CP filter) have become known whose filter properties are improved for cigarettes and especially for condensate.

The Chinese utility model application CN 2588802 Y discloses a groove filter manufacturing machine for making cigarette filter rods with diagonal grooves. Here, a paper feed on one side of a machine frame is doubled and provided as a paper feed a Spezialbobine, on the upper part of an embossing device is mounted. The embossing device has a double roller pair with diagonal groove embossing, a Saugluft- / Papierführungsnut, paper guide rollers and a Papierführungsnut and an infrared switch. Grooved filter rods of different embossing can be produced. The double roller pair for embossing is convex-concave.

In the Chinese utility model application, no measures are provided to monitor or verify the quality and / or the position of an embossed embossed structure.

An improved method for processing a wrapping material strip for a rod-shaped article of the tobacco processing industry is disclosed in the German patent application DE 10 2012 201 279.6 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Processing a Wrap Material Strip" filed by the Applicant filed on 30.01.2012.

In the patent application filed on 09.11.2011 by the German Patent and Trademark Office by the Applicant DE 10 2011 085 981.0 discloses a filter manufacturing machine of the tobacco processing industry having a filter rod making machine and a filter segment assembling machine for multi-segment filters, in which a plug-in device is provided, which is mounted between the filter rod machine and the filter tow preparation machine or the filter segment assembling machine, the insertion device comprising a supply unit and a process unit comprising, wherein the process unit is detachably connectable to the supply unit. As a result, filter manufacturing machines of the tobacco-processing industry can be made available in a very variable manner, which allow a high variability in the filter production with little conversion measures.

Out DE 10 2011 082 646.7 the Applicant entitled "Optical Testing of Rod-shaped or Strand-shaped Articles of the Tobacco-Processing Industry" shows an optical measuring system for the optical testing of rod-shaped or strand-shaped articles, the optical measuring system comprising at least two image sensors, preferably CCD, arranged opposite one another, preferably CCD. Cameras or CCD line scan cameras, wherein the rod-shaped or strand-like article can be conveyed through between the image sensors arranged opposite to one another, wherein the image sensors are connected to an evaluation device in order to transmit the image data captured by the surface of the rod-shaped or strand-shaped article to the evaluation device, wherein the evaluation device is connected to an actuator of a Zusatzstoffzuführeinrichtung, so that in dependence of Evaluation of the image data by means of the evaluation device, a signal to the actuator can be transmitted and after transmission of a signal to the actuator, the supply of additive in the rod-shaped or strand-shaped article changeable, in particular controllable, is.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for operating a manufacturing machine of rod-shaped products of the tobacco processing industry and a corresponding manufacturing machine, by means of the quality of rod-shaped articles produced, in particular CP filter rods, is improved.

• Fördern eines ersten Umhüllungsmaterialstreifens in einer längsaxialen Förderrichtung,
• Prägen des ersten Umhüllungsmaterialstreifens, wobei der erste Umhüllungsmaterialstreifen beim Prägen wenigstens zeitweise kontinuierlich gefördert wird, so dass in Förderrichtung wenigstens abschnittsweise eine Prägestruktur gebildet wird,
• Bilden eines Strangs der Tabak verarbeitenden Industrie und Fördern des Strangs in einer längsaxialen Richtung,
• Umhüllen des Strangs mit dem ersten Umhüllungsmaterialstreifen, wobei insbesondere der mit dem ersten Umhüllungsmaterialstreifen umhüllte Strang mit einem zweiten Umhüllungsmaterialstreifen umhüllt wird,
• Ablängen wenigstens eines stabförmigen Artikels aus dem Strang,
• Erfassen von, insbesondere digitalisierten, Bilddaten des Strangs oder des stabförmigen Artikels, wobei anhand der Bilddaten eine Güte und/oder Position der Prägestruktur ermittelt wird und anhand der Güte und/oder Position der Prägestruktur der Betrieb der Herstellmaschine gesteuert oder geregelt wird.

This object is achieved by a method for operating a production machine of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry with the following method steps:

• Conveying a first wrapping material strip in a longitudinal axial conveying direction,
• Embossing of the first wrapping material strip, wherein the first wrapping material strip is at least temporarily conveyed during embossing, so that an embossed structure is formed at least in sections in the conveying direction,
• Forming a strand of the tobacco processing industry and conveying the strand in a longitudinal axial direction,
• Enveloping the strand with the first wrapping material strip, wherein in particular the coated with the first wrapping material strip strand with a second wrapping material strip is wrapped,
• Cutting at least one rod-shaped article from the strand,
• Acquisition of, in particular digitized, image data of the strand or the rod-shaped article, wherein based on the image data, a quality and / or position of the embossed structure is determined and based on the quality and / or position of the embossed structure, the operation of the manufacturing machine is controlled or regulated.

Under rod-shaped articles or rod-shaped products of the tobacco processing industry are understood in particular rod-shaped cigarettes, filter rods and multi-segment filter rods, which are wrapped by a wrapping material strip. A strand-shaped article or a strand-like product is understood as meaning material strands such as, for example, tobacco strands, filter strands, multi-segment filter strands and the like, which are preferably also wrapped by a wrapping material strip. In the context of the invention, the term embossing of the first wrapping material strip includes in particular that the formed embossing structure has grooves which are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped article. In a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped article thus results in a kind of wave structure of the first wrapping material strip.

The invention is based on the idea that for the production of high-quality rod-shaped articles having a first wrapping material strip which has been provided with an embossed structure, by acquiring image data and determining a quality and / or a position of the embossing pattern on the operation of the Manufacturing machine or parameters can be intervened in the operation of the manufacturing machine, so as to improve the quality or quality of the rod-shaped article produced.

Preferably, the image data comprise images along the circumferential direction of the strand or of the rod-shaped article, in particular of the entire circumference, wherein the recording of the images along the circumferential direction takes place clocked with a predeterminable first frequency. The recording of the image data or the taking of images is preferably carried out with electromagnetic radiation in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum or in adjacent regions invisible to the human eye, for example in the infrared range or in the ultraviolet range.

After the wrapping of the rod-shaped or strand-shaped article or strand, the image data is preferably recorded in a reflection process, ie light is measured which is reflected by the surface of the strand or of the coated article. For this purpose, light from the light source is directed onto the surface of the wrapping material of the rod-shaped or strand-shaped article which is reflected by the wrapping material so that the reflected light is detected by one or more light sensors. In general, instead of light sensors, an image data acquisition device is used within the scope of the invention. The image data acquisition device is preferably designed as a CCD camera or preferably comprises one or more cameras, which are furthermore preferably arranged around the test rod or strand-shaped article in a circular or part-circular manner. When picking up the image data of the rod-shaped or strand-shaped articles, the article to be tested is attached, for example, to one, in particular multichannel, optical image data acquisition device conveyed through, which may be formed annular. The signal of each channel of the image data acquisition device corresponds to a course of an optical nature of a strip-shaped region or a partial region of the surface of the article in the longitudinal axial conveying direction. In this way, the image data acquisition device recognizes changing gray levels or color values in advancing the rod-shaped or strand-shaped article. The individual channels of the image data acquisition device are each directed to a narrow portion along the circumference of the rod-shaped or strand-shaped article when it is conveyed longitudinally axially. Each channel of the image data acquisition device thus measures how the brightness of the surface of the wrapping material strip, and in this case preferably of the first and optionally the second wrapping material strip of the rod or strand article in the portion of the rod or strand article viewed from the respective channel, over time the promotion on the image data acquisition device over or changed.

It should be noted that due to the embossed structure which is imaged on the first wrapping material strip, different gray values, in particular transversely to the conveying direction, i. in the circumferential direction of the surface of the rod-shaped or strand-like article. During the acquisition of the image data, measured values are generated in each channel which correspond to the optical condition of a region or a partial region of the surface of the rod-shaped or strand-like article.

Preferably, the surface of the rod-shaped or strand-shaped article is scanned or grasped in two dimensions, namely transversely, ie preferably perpendicular, to the transport direction by means of the plurality of channels of the image data acquisition device and in the transport direction by means of a temporal resolution. The temporal resolution is given by the first predetermined frequency. For example, a strand of the tobacco processing industry, such as a filter strand, is wrapped around the filter material first, at least partially embossed, first wrapping material strip and possibly wrapped around this first wrapping material strip, a second wrapping material strip outside, with a conveying speed of 10 m / s promoted and measured here. For measuring, an image is taken at a certain point in time along the circumference of the strand, for example with an image data acquisition device, which has two transversely-axially or circumferentially successively arranged CCD sensors with a number of 70 corresponding sensors, so that for the entire Scope 140 sensors are provided. The image data of these 140 sensors are read, for example, with a second clock frequency of 10,000 MHz. The first predeterminable frequency may for example be such that in the conveying direction every 0.2 mm an image of the circumference of the rod-shaped or strand-shaped article is made.

Digitized gray values or color values are preferably acquired as image data about the circumference of the rod-shaped or strand-shaped article by means of the image data acquisition device in order to determine the quality and / or the position of the embossed structure of the first wrapping material strip on the basis of the intensity or the intensity distribution of the gray values or color values. to investigate.

Preferably, controlling or controlling the operation of the manufacturing machine includes a slice position control of the strand, an ejection a defective rod-shaped article, a change in a parameter in the production of the strand and / or a change in a parameter for embossing the first wrapping material strip. In particular, by this measure, a high quality of the produced rod-shaped or strand-shaped article of the tobacco-processing industry is ensured.

It is particularly preferred if the image data are processed to determine the quality and / or position of the embossed structure. By way of example and particularly preferably, a sum of gray values or color values in the conveying direction and / or along the circumferential direction of the strand is carried out for processing the image data. By making or forming a sum of gray values or color values along the circumferential direction, the position of the embossed structure can be determined particularly well, in particular if the embossed structure was only partially produced in the conveying direction of the first wrapping material strip.

By making or forming a total of gray values or color values in the conveying direction of the strand or of the rod-shaped or strand-shaped article, the quality of the embossing of the embossed structure can be determined particularly well.

If the image data is preferentially transformed, the quality of the image data processing is improved. A transformation can take place, for example, by folding the image data with a readout frequency of the image data acquisition device or a sensor arranged in the image data acquisition device or a corresponding line scan camera or a CCD sensor. In addition, a Fourier transformation, in particular a so-called fast Fourier transformation (FFT, of Fast Fourier Transformation), may additionally or alternatively be performed become.

If, for example, a spatial frequency spectrum is formed by transforming the image data, it is particularly easy to determine whether the embossing has a high quality. To improve or increase the contrast of the image data, the spatial frequency spectrum is preferably filtered. The filter here is preferably a filter with finite impulse response (FIR filter) or a bandpass filter. For example, in order to avoid excessive overshoots in image data processing, a Bessel function is preferably provided in the bandpass filter or FIR filter.

A particularly high quality in the image data processing or processing is given when a back transformation is performed and the processed image data are processed.

Preferably, the ratio of a used sampling rate or readout frequency of the image data acquisition device to the cut-off frequency of the low-pass portion of the filter between 6 and 14, in particular between 8 and 12, wherein in particular the ratio of the sampling rate used to the cut-off frequency of the high-pass portion of the filter between 3 and 6, in particular between 4 and 5, lies. Preferably, the ratio of the cut-off frequency of the high-pass component to the cut-off frequency of the low-pass component of the bandpass is between 1.4 and 3, in particular between 1.4 and 2.

Preferably, to process the image data, column sums and / or row sums are formed from the image data or transformed image data and optionally the filtered and transformed image data. Preferably, the image data is processed or processed such that the measured or transformed Gray values or color values a conversion into two discrete values is made. This is called binarization. It is then possible to form column sums and / or row sums of the discrete or binarized values. This method step involves a binarization of the gray values or color values into discrete values, it being possible to set at which gray value or at which color value the boundary for the binarization is provided. For example, 256 gray values are no longer available, only the values 0 and 1 are available.

The object is further achieved by a manufacturing machine of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry with a processing device for processing a first wrapping material strip of the tobacco processing industry, wherein the processing device for processing the first wrapping material strip (processing device) comprises an embossing device, by means of which the first wrapping material strip during a longitudinally axial conveying of the first wrapping material strip is embossable or embossed, wherein the manufacturing machine has a strand forming device in which the first wrapping material strip is wrapped or wound around a strand material in the longitudinal axial conveying the strand material, wherein an image data acquisition device is provided by means of the image data of the with first wrapping material strip wound strand are receivable or recorded, wherein a Bilddatenverarbeitungu ngsvorrichtung is provided, by means of which the quality and / or the position of an applied on the first wrapping material strip embossed structure is determined or determined and wherein a control or regulating device is provided, the control or control parameters due to the determined quality and / or position of the embossed structure the manufacturing machine in progress Operation of the manufacturing machine adapts.

Preferably, a moisture content of the first wrapping material strip in or upstream of the embossing device, a tension of the first wrapping material strip upstream of the embossing device, a distance of two embossing rollers provided in the embossing device, and / or a cutting position of rod-shaped articles cut to length from the formed strand are provided as the control parameters ,

Preferably, the embossing device is arranged upstream of the strand forming device.

Further, preferably, a filter trough processing apparatus is disposed upstream of the strand forming apparatus.

Finally, a feed device for a second wrapping material strip is preferably provided, by means of which the second wrapping material strip of the strand forming device can be fed so that the second wrapping material strip can be wound around the outside of the first wrapping material strip.

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 Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Herstellmaschine von stabförmigen Artikeln der Tabak verarbeitenden Industrie,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Bilddatenerfassungsvorrichtung mit einer Bilddatenverarbeitungsvorrichtung,

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung einer Prägevorrichtung,

Fig. 4

eine Schaltung bzw. eine schematische Darstellung eines Schaltplans eines digitalen Filters,

Fig. 5

eine schematische Darstellung von Bilddaten und bearbeiteten Bilddaten,

Fig. 6a

ein Graph, der die Spaltensummen von den gefilterten Bilddaten zeigt,

Fig. 6b

ein Graph, der die Spaltensummen von gefilterten und binarisierten Bilddaten zeigt,

Fig. 7

ein Graph, der die Zeilensummen von Bilddaten über einen Weg bzw. eine Zeit zeigt,

Fig. 8a

original aufgenommene Bilddaten,

Fig. 8b

die Bilddaten aus Fig. 8a, allerdings mit gespreizten Grauwerten,

Fig. 8c

gefilterte Bilddaten,

Fig. 8d

die gefilterten Bilddaten aus Fig. 8c in einer im Grauwert gespreizten Darstellung,

Fig. 9

ein schematisches Ablaufdiagramm für den Betrieb der Herstellmaschine und

Fig. 10

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung durch einen hergestellten Filterstab.

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

Fig. 1

a schematic side view of a manufacturing machine according to the invention of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry,

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of an image data acquisition device according to the invention with an image data processing apparatus,

Fig. 3

a schematic representation of an embossing device,

Fig. 4

a circuit or a schematic representation of a circuit diagram of a digital filter,

Fig. 5

a schematic representation of image data and processed image data,

Fig. 6a

a graph showing the column sums of the filtered image data,

Fig. 6b

a graph showing the column sums of filtered and binarized image data,

Fig. 7

a graph showing the line sums of image data over a path or a time,

Fig. 8a

original recorded image data,

Fig. 8b

the image data Fig. 8a , but with spread gray values,

Fig. 8c

filtered image data,

Fig. 8d

the filtered image data Fig. 8c in a representation spread in gray scale,

Fig. 9

a schematic flow diagram for the operation of the manufacturing machine and

Fig. 10

a schematic sectional view through a manufactured filter rod.

In the drawings, the same or similar elements and / or parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so that apart from a new idea each.

Fig. 1 shows schematically a manufacturing machine 1 according to the invention of rod-shaped or strand-shaped articles. In this case, filter bars are made of cellulose acetate tat. For this purpose, a filter tow 11 is withdrawn from a filter towbale 10 and processed in a filter tow treatment device 12, for example, sprayed with triacetin and stretched and / or stretched. Downstream of the conveying direction of the filter tow strip 11, a processing device 23 follows in the production machine 1, in which a first wrapping material strip 33 can be processed accordingly. Above the processing stations for the first wrapping material strip 33, the filter tow strip 11 is deflected via corresponding rollers and transported in the conveying direction 13 in the direction of an inlet funnel 15 of a strand forming device 14 or stranding machine.

The processing device 23 can be used as an insertion device according to DE 10 2011 085 981.0 be educated. It will be so far fully on the disclosure of the DE 10 2011 085 981.0 directed.

In the processing device 23, a wrapping material strip 33, which is unrolled from a corresponding supply, for example a bobbin not shown, is first guided in the conveying direction 13 'over a wrapping material strip tensioning device 38, which is designed as a dancer by way of example. Subsequently, the first wrapping material strip 33 is guided over rollers and passed through a humidifier 37 to provide a corresponding moisture of the wrapping material strip 33. Subsequently, the moistened wrapping material strip 33 passes into an embossing device 36, in which two embossing rollers 34 and 35 correspondingly for a longitudinal axial, i. formed in the conveying direction embossing mountains and valleys or grooves and elevations or grooves provide. The embossing device can provide corresponding predefinable embossing structures on the wrapping material strip, which can be designed, for example, continuously longitudinally or else in sections, i. with areas which are embossed, wherein longitudinally axially successively arranged embossed areas on the wrapping material strip 33 alternate with areas which are not embossed. Typically, then the non-embossed areas may be provided where the cut is provided in the subsequently produced filter rod.

After embossing, the first wrapping material strip 33 passes through a drying device and via a guide 40 in the direction of a strand forming device 16 or formatting device 16 in which the first wrapping material strip 33 comes into contact with the filter tow 11 and accordingly the first wrapping material strip 33 is wound around the filter tow 11 becomes. The first wrapping material strip 33 is preferably wrapped around the filter tow 11. In order to obtain a correspondingly securely closed filter strand or filter rods cut to length after cutting, a second wrapping material strip 19 is also provided, which is unwound from a reel 18, glued to the gluing device 20 and guided below the first wrapping material strip 33 into the strand forming device 16 becomes. The second wrapping material strip 19 is then completely wrapped around the first wrapping material strip 33 and the filter tow 11 and glued to an adhesive seam. An upper format 17 also serves to close the wrapping material strips. This results in a filter tow line 21 which is enveloped by two wrapping material strips 19 and 33 and which is conveyed in the conveying direction 22.

Subsequently, the filter strand 21 passes through an optical measuring system 30 or through an image data acquisition device. The optical measuring system or the image data acquisition device will be explained in more detail with reference to the following figures. Subsequently, the filter strand 21 passes to a cutting device 31, are cut in the corresponding filter rods of the filter rod. After appropriate optical inspections or after the optical inspection by the optical measuring system 30 then the filter rods either go into the further processing process or are discharged in the discharge device 32.

In order to influence and optimize the quality of the embossing or the quality of the embossing of the first wrapping material strip 33, changes may be made to some parameters of the processing device 23. For example, in the wrapping material strip tension control device 38, a different one Set train, for example, to change the position of the applied embossed structure. In the humidifier 37, a different degree of penetration of the first wrapping material strip 33 can be achieved. The degree of penetration is preferably between 5% to 30%, in particular 7% to 9%, measured just before or in the embossing device 36. The percentages are by mass percent.

By moistening the first wrapping material strip 33, for example with water, which is preferably mixed with a stabilizing agent, for example methyl cellulose, an embossing structure is embossed into the wrapping material strip, which is stable. Depending on the degree of moisture, the stability of the embossed structure can be influenced. Accordingly, the thickness of the embossing grooves can be adjusted by changing the pitch of the embossing rollers 34 and 35. Finally, an influence by temperature change or air change in the drying device 39 can be made.

As further parameters for influencing the production of filter strands or filter rods in the production machine 1, corresponding parameters in the filter fabric preparation device 12 can be changed, for example, the stretching tension or the amount of triacetin applied can be influenced.

An influencing of corresponding parameters for controlling or regulating the production machine 1 takes place on the basis of a corresponding measurement and evaluation of image data of the strand or of the rod-shaped article, by means of which the quality and / or position of the embossed structure is determined, the quality and / or position of the Embossed structure of the operation of the manufacturing machine is controlled or regulated.

For this purpose, an optical measuring system 30, which can also be referred to as an image data acquisition device, is provided and, for example, in FIG Fig. 2 explained in more detail. In Fig. 2 On the left side, the optical measuring system 30 is shown. By the optical measuring system, a strand 21 is guided in the conveying direction 22.

By means of the optical measuring system 30, the strand 21 covered with the wrapping material strip is visually checked after its production. For example, such a measuring system of Hauni Maschinenbau AG is known under the name ORIS. This in Fig. 2 shown schematic optical measuring system 30 is formed such that the longitudinal axial in the conveying direction 22 funded material strand 21 of the tobacco processing industry is scanned optically or its wrapping material strips. Here, the strand 21 is passed longitudinally axially through the, preferably stationary, optical measuring system 30, wherein the strand 21 is completely detected and imaged on its surface.

To scan the (sub-) surface of the strand 21, the strand is illuminated with light from a light source 52, the light from the light source 52 being deflected using mirrors 53 to which strand 21 is directed and that from the surface or sub-surface of the wrapping material strip, light from the strand 21 is directed via additional mirrors 54 to sensors 55, so that the light reflected from the surface of the strand 21 is picked up by the sensors 55 and converted into corresponding strand image data.

In this case, the strand image data preferably comprise the entire surface of the material strand 21 and thus represent a linear or two-dimensional image of the entire surface the strand 21 or its wrapping strip in the event that two wrapping strips are used, as in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

For example, the sensors 55 or image sensors in the form of a CCD camera and / or a CCD line scan camera are formed and arranged in a ring, so that the entire circumference of the strand 21 is optically detected, whereby the strand image data in the circumferential direction, the surface of the wrapper strip in a Range of 360 ° represent. For example, the CCD camera 140 may have picture elements such that the perimeter is divided into 140 sections or the resolution corresponds to the perimeter divided by 140. The image data transmitted to the evaluation device or image data processing device 60, for example in the form of digitized gray scale values with, for example, 256 gray scale levels, are analyzed in the image data processing device 60. In this case, for example, the ring-shaped sensors 55 transmit the corresponding image data to the image data processing device 60, thereby determining the quality or the position of the embossed structure on the first wrapping material strip, which shimmers through the second wrapping material strip. The quality or position of the embossed structure determined in this way is fed into a control device 61 which controls the operation of the production machine 1 in accordance with, for example, by delivering a signal to the humidifier 62 or 37. If, for example, by the corresponding image analysis is recognized in the image data processing device 60 that the embossing pattern is not sufficiently pronounced, the control device may give a control signal to the humidifier 62 or 37 that a higher degree of humidity is desired. Alternatively, a larger amount of stabilizing agents may be added, such as methyl cellulose.

The image data processing device 60 may be integrated with the control or regulating device 61 or the evaluation may also be done exclusively in the control device 61. By means of which measures according to the invention the quality or the position of the embossed structure is determined is described below in an example.

First, however, the embossing device comprising two embossing rollers based on a schematic section of the embossing device according to Fig. 3 described. In this embodiment, the embossing device comprises two embossing rollers 34 and 35, which are arranged at a small distance from each other such that embossing regions 72, 73, 74 and 75 of the embossing roller 34 extend into the embossing roller 35. The embossing areas 72 to 75 have elevations and grooves that are complementary in shape to elevations and grooves of the embossing roller 35. The ridges and grooves in the embossing roll 35 are continuous, ie arranged over the entire circumference of the embossing roll 35 and accordingly the embossing regions 72 to 75 of the embossing roll 34 are provided in sections. This results in embossing areas on the first wrapping material strip 33, which alternate in the conveying direction of the wrapping material strip 33, ie in the longitudinal axial direction, with non-embossed areas.

The elevations of the embossing roller 34 have a radius r1, whereas the grooves have a radius of r2. Accordingly, the grooves of the embossing roller 35 have a radius r3 and the elevations have a radius r4. For more details on the characteristics of the embossing rollers and the embossing per se is in full on the patent application DE 10 2012 201 279.6 referred to the applicant.

In order to determine the quality of the embossed structures, for example, as in Fig. 5 4, the image data as measured in the corresponding gray levels according to the reference numeral 80 are taken, and a sum of the gray values are formed over the n columns or portions along the circumference. Here n is the number of sensors or pixels of the line scan camera that are distributed over the circumference. In this example, 140 sensors in the CCD camera or line scan camera are provided so that there are 140 sections or columns. The sums over the columns, ie a summation of the gray values in 140 columns in the longitudinal axial direction of measurement, for example over the extension of the embossed structure in the longitudinal axial direction or over the extension of a completely cut filter rod in the longitudinal axial direction then yields, for example, a function or graph as in FIG Fig. 5 shown at 82. Here it can be seen that the original image data 80 show relatively little contrast, so that the determination of the quality is provided with a still relatively high uncertainty factor.

However, in order to be able to estimate the quality based on the column sums according to reference numeral 82, this measured signal can be compared with a desired pattern, for example with regard to the distance of the minima and maxima in the circumferential direction or with respect to a standard deviation to the summed gray values. In order to process the signal or image data accordingly, the original image data 80 can be binarized, which is 81 in FIG Fig. 5 is shown. Corresponding column sums could then also be formed, which under certain circumstances already show a better signal than the evaluation signal, which is provided with the reference number 82.

However, to increase the contrast, it makes sense to proceed as follows. It is particularly preferred according to the invention if the original image data 80, whose image signal does not depend directly on time, but on the coordinates, are converted into a spatial frequency spectrum. It is thus possible to regard the image data as a one-dimensional signal which can be regarded as a kind of spiral development of the gray values of the image which was scanned at a frequency of 10 MHz, for example. A Fourier transformation or a fast Fourier transformation can then be performed thereon in order to determine a corresponding frequency spectrum. As it were, a spatial frequency spectrum is folded at the sampling rate of the CCD camera in order to obtain a corresponding frequency spectrum. This frequency spectrum is then filtered, for example with a filter with finite impulse response (FIR filter), whose circuit diagram is schematically in Fig. 4 is shown for example. This is a kind of bandpass filter, which has a corresponding low-pass component and a high-pass component. For example, a ninth order filter with 71 delay elements and a Bessel filter characteristic is provided.

The frequency spectrum, which was formed, for example, with a number of grooves of 18 grooves of the embossed structure, at a peripheral resolution of 140 pixels per 18 grooves results in 7.7 pixels per groove peak and groove valley. That is, at a sampling rate of 10 MHz, the grooves have a frequency of 1.3 MHz.

The filtered image data stored in Fig. 5 are designated 83, show a much sharper contour. This is due to the bandpass filter according to the circuit Fig. 4 , The circuit off Fig. 4 has the following transfer function: $$\mathrm{H}\left(\mathrm{z}\right)\mathrm{=}\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="0"\; label="H"\; filenames="imgf0003.png,imgf0004.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">H</figure-callout>}\left(\mathrm{0}\right)\mathrm{+}\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="1"\; label="H"\; filenames="imgf0002.png,imgf0003.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">H</figure-callout>}\left(\mathrm{1}\right){\mathrm{z}}^{\mathrm{-}\mathrm{1}}\mathrm{+}\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="H"\; filenames="imgf0005.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">H</figure-callout>}\left(\mathrm{2}\right){\mathrm{z}}^{\mathrm{-}\mathrm{2}}\mathrm{+}\mathrm{...}\mathrm{+}\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="71"\; label="H"\; filenames="imgf0003.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">H</figure-callout>}\left(\mathrm{71}\right){\mathrm{z}}^{\mathrm{-}\mathrm{71}}\mathrm{,}$$

These 72 coefficients are for a Bessel filter in ninth order. This results in a very good edge value problem, whereby the filter is also a kind of noise filter.

The column sums, ie the sum of the gray values over the 140 images or sections by the sensors according to reference numeral 85 in FIG Fig. 5 shows compared to the column sums with the reference numeral 82 that clearly the contrast has been increased and thus a more accurate indication of the quality of the embossing can be made. In the gray value sum, which in Fig. 5 The reference numeral 85 indicates a relatively low maximum in the range of approximately the 110th sensor of the line scan camera. This is the interface of the second wrapping material strip, since a greater brightness is absorbed by the fact that an overlap of the second wrapping material strip is provided at this point.

In addition, the filtered image data may be binarized as shown at 83, as indicated at 84. In this case, a suitable gray value is determined, below which the image data are displayed in white and above which the image data are shown in black, or from which the image data are then displayed in black. Also over this column sums can be formed, which would result in an even more contrasty column sum under certain circumstances.

To illustrate the image data, ie that they are better seen in this application, are in the Fig. 8a to 8d corresponding image data shown. In the image data according to Fig. 8a it is original image data 80, in which left and right two embossing areas of the wrapping material strip are provided and in the middle thereof, an area that is not embossed. Fig. 8b shows a gray scale spread representation of the original image data 80, ie, here was an image processing made such that the small differences in the gray values Fig. 8a were spread apart to make the gray scale differences clearer. Accordingly, in Fig. 8c at 83 a filtering of the original image data 80 is shown, for example also with a FIR filter or alternatively with another digital filter, which is preferably a bandpass filter. To better illustrate the enhancement of the image data 83 over the original image data 80, see Fig. 8d a gray value spread representation of the data Fig. 8c shown. It can be clearly seen that the contrast here compared to the splayed original image data of Fig. 8b has increased and more precisely the embossed structure is recognizable.

In order to be able to perform the best possible image processing, different cut-off frequencies for the bandpass filter, i. different ratios of the low-pass limit and the high-pass limit made. For example, at a sampling frequency of 10 MHz, a low pass limit of 0.75 Hz was found to be a well suited bandpass with a high pass limit of 1.4 to 2. It is also possible to use a low-pass limit of 1 or 1.2 or 1.4 MHz, in which case preferably a high-pass limit of 2 to 3 MHz is provided. Overall, the above-mentioned ratios of the cut-off frequency of the low-pass component preferably result at the cut-off frequency of the high-pass component.

In Fig. 6a is a column sum over the 140 sections measured by the 140 sensors, shown by filtered ones Spatial frequency data resulting from the original image data by appropriate processing as mentioned above. Is a corresponding optimal grooves course of the mean value is formed, which is about 2.985 x 10 ^4, and a standard deviation, which is indicated by the bright region illustrated recognized, a measure of the quality of the embossing pattern or the grooves can be given. From a certain quality, which can be specified, the quality is still sufficient. at Fig. 6a the quality is not sufficient because the embossing pattern in the range of approximately the 78th sensor has a too low gray value in the maximum shown there since the sum of the gray value here is not higher than the mean value plus standard deviation. A rod-shaped article having this groove structure would thus be ejected, for example.

In Fig. 6b are the dates off Fig. 6a processed further, in such a way that these data were additionally binarized and from the column sums were formed. That is, in principle, the column sums of the processed image data became Fig. 5 used, which are provided with the reference numeral 84. Again, an average and standard deviation are formed, and if this data is used, the filter rod having this corresponding groove structure could still be found to be sufficiently good, for example, since the maxima of the sums are above the mean plus the standard deviation.

For illustrative purposes and for better understanding: The column sums formed are the sums of the gray values in the longitudinal axial direction over, for example, the length of a cut filter rod of, for example, 160 mm. Since a picture is taken along the circumference approximately at 0.2 mm each time, 800 gray values per detector or sensor are thus added up. On average, a gray value of 37 out of a total of 256 gray values must be used, so that when totaling 800 values according to Fig. 6a 2,985 x 10 ⁴ as the average.

Alternatively, one could also count the number of maximum exceedances of the selected limit and define the quality as no longer sufficient from a certain number. A modulation transfer function (hereafter MTF) could also be calculated as $$\mathrm{MTF}\mathrm{=}\frac{{\mathrm{X}}_{\mathrm{medium}}\left(\mathrm{maxima}\right)\mathrm{-}{\mathrm{X}}_{\mathrm{medium}}\left(\mathrm{minima}\right)}{{\mathrm{X}}_{\mathrm{medium}}\left(\mathrm{total}\right)}$$

From a corresponding limit of the MTF, which must be exceeded, the quality of the embossing is sufficient.

Finally, the groove pattern can also be understood as a kind of stamp, in which case the pattern is to be aligned in the correct phase and then compared with a groove reference.

Schematically is in Fig. 7 a diagram of line totals of original image data is shown. In this case, therefore, the sum of all gray values along the circumference of the measured filter rod or of the measured strand and progressively every 0.2 mm in the conveying direction of the rod or strand is again formed a sum. The result of this summation is in Fig. 7 and shows a corresponding gray value sum, which is designated by the reference numeral 86, in which the gray scale sum is shown on the ordinate and a path on the abscissa. There are clearly three different gray value ranges to be determined, namely two areas with a low gray value sum and an area with a high gray value sum. The area with the high gray value sum corresponds a region in which a groove embossing is provided, and the other two regions are regions in which no groove embossing is provided. The transitions are recognizable as edges 87 and 87 'accordingly. On the half of the edge 87 or 87 ', the transition from an embossed structure to no embossed structure is assumed. As a result, for example, a cutting position control can be made.

Fig. 9 schematically shows a control or regulation sequence of a manufacturing machine according to the invention. At 90, a picture is taken. There are now two branches of procedure that are being made. In a first method branch, the position, for example, of the edges 87 and 87 'becomes 91 at 91 Fig. 7 at which an actuator control signal for influencing a cutting device 31 for cutting filter rods out of the filter strand 21 is influenced. This is shown in 93 at the step Intersect cutting position. The second method branch, which is from the image recording 90 to the right in FIG Fig. 9 The determination of the quality, as has been shown above in different variants and, in the case of an insufficient quality, includes an ejection at 95 as well as the generation of a control signal at 96 in order, for example, to influence the embossing. This can be done by influencing the wrapping material strip tensioning device 38, by influencing the humidifier 37, by influencing the drying device 39 and / or by influencing, for example, the distance between the first embossing roller and the second embossing roller.

Fig. 10 schematically shows a section through a manufactured CP filter rod. 110 shows the filter material. At 111, the first wrapping material strip 33 is butt wound in the butting area 111 around the filter material 110. Outside at first Wrapping material strip 33, a second wrapping material strip 19 is wound, which is overlapped in a seam area and glued there. It can be seen very well the grooves shown schematically. There are 22 grooved mountains and correspondingly 22 grooved valleys or grooves.

With the method according to the invention and the production machine according to the invention, it can be very efficiently checked whether the embossing of the first wrapping material strip is correct. If the quality decreases as a result of a machine event or due to wear, so that a setpoint is undershot, this behavior can be detected accordingly and filter rods can be removed in a targeted manner. Alternatively or additionally, the production machine can make a change specifically in one parameter or several parameters, and thus provide for a corresponding control or regulation of the quality or the quality of the embossing. In the context of the invention, m and n are natural numbers.

All mentioned features, including the drawings alone to be taken as well as individual features that are disclosed in combination with 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

1 production machine 10 Filtertowballen 11 filter tow 12 Filtertowaufbereitungsvorrichtung 13, 13 ' conveying direction 14 Strand-forming device 15 feed hopper 16 Rope-forming device 17 upper format 18 reel 19 second wrapping material strip 20 gluing device 21 filter rod 22 conveying direction 23 processing device 24 feeder 30 Image capture device 31 cutter 32 reject device 33 first wrapping material strip 34 embossing roller 35 embossing roller 36 embosser 37 humidifier 38 Umhüllungsmaterialstreifenzugregelungsvorrichtung 39 drying device 40 guide 51 material strand 52 light source 53 mirror 54 mirror 55 sensor 60 Image data processing device 61 Control or regulating device 62 humidifier 72 stamping area 73 stamping area 74 stamping area 75 stamping area 80 Original image data 81 image data 82 Sum of gray values over n columns 83 filtered image data 84 filtered and binarized image data 85 Sum of gray values over n columns 86 Sum of gray values over m lines 87, 87 ' edge 90 image capture 91 Calculate position 92 Actuator control signal 93 Influence cutting position 94 quality determination 95 ejection 96 Generate control signal 110 filter material 111 joint area r1 radius r2 radius r3 radius r4 radius

Claims (14)

Method for operating a manufacturing machine (1) of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry with the following method steps: Conveying a first wrapping material strip (33) in a longitudinal axial conveying direction (13 '), Embossing of the first wrapping material strip (33), wherein the first wrapping material strip (33) is conveyed continuously at least temporarily during embossing so that an embossing structure is formed at least in sections in the conveying direction (13 '), - Forming a strand (21) of the tobacco processing industry and conveying the strand (21) in a longitudinal axial Direction (22), Wrapping the strand (21) with the first wrapping material strip (33), wherein in particular the strand (21) wrapped with the first wrapping material strip (33) is enveloped by a second wrapping material strip (19), Cutting at least one rod-shaped article from the strand (21), - Recording of, in particular digitized, image data (80) of the strand (21) or the rod-shaped article, wherein based on the image data (80) a quality and / or position of the embossed structure is determined and based on the quality and / or position of the embossed structure of the operation the manufacturing machine (1) is controlled or regulated. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the image data (80) images along the circumferential direction of the strand (21) or the rod-shaped article, in particular the entire circumference, wherein the recording takes place along the circumferential direction clocked with a predetermined first frequency , A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that controlling the operation of the manufacturing machine (1) a cutting position control of the strand (21) an ejection of a faulty rod-shaped article, a change in a parameter in the production of the strand (21) and / or a Change of a parameter for embossing the first Wrapping material strip (33) includes. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that for determining the quality and / or position of the embossing pattern, the image data (80) are processed. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that for processing the image data (80) a sum of gray values or color values in the conveying direction (22) and / or along the circumferential direction of the strand (21) is formed. A method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the image data (80) are transformed. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that by transforming the image data (80) a spatial frequency spectrum is formed. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the spatial frequency spectrum is filtered. Method according to Claim 8, characterized in that an inverse transformation is carried out and the image data (80) processed in this way are processed. Manufacturing machine (1) of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry with a processing device (23) for processing a first wrapping material strip (33) of the tobacco-processing industry, wherein the processing device (23) comprises an embossing device (36) by means of which the first wrapping material strip (33 during longitudinal axial conveyance (13 ') of the first wrapping material strip (33) is embossable or embossed, wherein the manufacturing machine (1) comprises a strand forming device (16, 17) in which the first wrapping material strip (33) is wound or windable around a strand material in the longitudinal axial conveying of the strand material, wherein an image data acquisition device ( 30) by means of which image data (80) can be received or picked up by the strand (21) wrapped with the first wrapping material strip (33), an image data processing device (60, 91, 94) being provided by means of which the quality and / or or the position of an embossed structure applied to the first wrapping material strip (33) can be determined or determined, and wherein a control or regulating device (61, 96) is provided which, on the basis of the determined quality and / or position of the embossing structure, controls or regulates the production machine (1) during operation of the production machine (1) adapts. Manufacturing machine (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that as control parameters a moisture content of the first wrapping material strip (33) in or upstream of the embossing device (36), a tensile stress of the first wrapping material strip (33) upstream of the embossing device (36), a Distance from two in the embossing device (36) provided embossing rollers (34, 35) and / or a cutting position of the strand (21) cut to length rod-shaped articles. Manufacturing machine (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the embossing device (36) upstream of the strand forming device (16, 17) is arranged. Manufacturing machine (1) according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that a filter trough processing device (12) upstream of the strand forming device (16, 17) is arranged. Manufacturing machine (1) according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that a feed device (24) for a second wrapping material strip (19) is provided by means of which the second wrapping material strip (19) of the strand forming device (16, 17) is so zuförderbar, in that the second wrapping material strip (19) can be wound around the outside of the first wrapping material strip (33).

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