EP2815656A1 - Measuring system for the optical assessment of a rod-shaped article in the tobacco processing industry - Google Patents

Abstract

A measuring system (10) for optically assessing a rod-shaped article of the tobacco-processing industry comprises a handling device (12), which is arranged for transversely axial conveyance of a rod-shaped article accommodated in at least one receptacle (14), and a camera (13) for the frontal inspection of a in the handling device (12) received promoted rod-shaped article. The measuring system (10) comprises a cutting device (21), which is arranged so that a rod-shaped article is cut off as a result of the promotion in the handling device (12) to produce a sectional area of the rod-shaped article to be inspected.

Description

The invention relates to a measuring system for the optical assessment of a rod-shaped article of the tobacco processing industry, comprising a handling device, which is arranged for Queraxialen promotion of a received in at least one recording rod-shaped article, and a camera for the frontal inspection of a received in the handling device rod-shaped article.

EP 1 099 388 A2 discloses a device for offline testing of cigarettes with a rotatable drum, which has circumferentially wells for receiving and transversely axial promotion of cigarette. On one end face of the drum, a tobacco detection device for the fire end of the cigarette is provided with an IR radiation source and four IR detectors offset by 90 °.

EP 0 704 172 B1 discloses an optical measuring device with a camera for testing the front-side filter end of a filter cigarette, in particular during transport on a trough drum of a filter attachment machine.

In the quality assessment of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, there are constant requirements to achieve an objective, reproducible measurement with the highest possible accuracy of measurement in order to allow the most reliable and meaningful assessment of the quality of the rod-shaped article.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a measuring system which enables an objective, reproducible and accurate assessment of product quality.

The invention solves this problem with the features of the independent claims. By means of the cutting device according to the invention, an interface surface to be inspected of the rod-shaped article can be produced with high quality, which enables a high assessment accuracy. The quality of the cut surface produced according to the invention is independent of a previous processing of the article, for example, regardless of the state of wear of a knife in a upstream Filterstabherstellmaschine, which allows an objective and reproducible assessment. The generation of the cut surface is carried out according to the invention as a result of the promotion in the handling device. The handling device is thus used both for the presentation of the end face of the rod-shaped article to be examined in front of the camera and for the production of the section to be inspected. Additional handling means for the rod-shaped article are therefore unnecessary.

In an advantageous embodiment, the handling device is a rotatable drum. However, other handling devices are not excluded, for example, linear conveyor with an endlessly circulating or reciprocating conveyor.

Preferably, the handling device has a plurality of receptacles with different cross-sectional dimensions. In this way, different product formats without further action, in particular without the costly replacement of format parts, by adjusting the handling device for each format to be examined to the appropriate receptacle.

Preferably, the handling device is arranged inclined. This has the advantage that the rod-shaped article with its facing away from the side to be examined end can abut gravity on a stop, whereby the axial position of the rod-shaped article during the cut and during the measurement is precisely defined.

Preferably, the cutting device comprises a circular blade, whereby a particularly high quality of the cut surface can be achieved.

Expediently, the measuring system is an offline measuring system, since the examined articles can not be further processed anyway because of the cut produced according to the invention.

In an advantageous embodiment, the measuring system is arranged on a conveying path for rod-shaped articles and preferably has a transport means for transporting a rod-shaped article removed from a conveying path to the handling device. In this embodiment, the quality of rod-shaped articles in or after production can be determined, for example, to indicate quality defects and / or to allow an operator to intervene in the production process. In another embodiment, the measuring system can be embodied as a separate unit not connected to a delivery flow, for example as a separate measuring device or as a laboratory device. In this embodiment, the measuring system advantageously comprises a reservoir, from which the rod-shaped articles of the drum, for example, are fed by gravity.

A preferred application of the invention relates to the frontal examination of Channel Ventilated or CV filters, which have at their periphery between the filter material and the wrapping strip axially extending ventilation channels. A variety of other applications is conceivable, for example, the evaluation of the position of a thread in a filter rod, the position or shape of a coaxial filter or the shape of the hollow space of a hollow filter. Alternatively or additionally, filter parameters such as diameter or ovality can be measured.

Fig. 1

ein an einem Filterstab-Massenstrom angeordnetes Messsystem in einer perspektivischen Ansicht;

Fig. 2

eine weitere perspektivische Ansicht eines an einem Filterstab-Massenstrom angeordneten Messsystems;

Fig. 3 bis 12:

weitere Ansichten des Messsystems aus unterschiedlichen Perspektiven.

The invention will be explained below with reference to preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Showing:

Fig. 1

a arranged on a filter rod mass flow measuring system in a perspective view;

Fig. 2

a further perspective view of a arranged on a filter rod mass flow measuring system;

3 to 12:

further views of the measuring system from different perspectives.

The measuring system 10 comprises a handling device driven by means of a drive 11, in particular an electric motor, namely a rotatable drum 12 for conveying and handling rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular filter rods, multi-segment filter rods, filter cigarettes or parts thereof. The drum 12 is preferably cylindrically shaped and has at its outer circumference or its shell side at least one, advantageously a plurality, here for example nine receptacles, in particular troughs 14, see in particular FIGS. 6 . 7 , The troughs 14 are preferably oriented parallel to the axis of rotation. Each trough 14 is adapted to receive a respective rod-shaped article to be examined along its longitudinal direction.

The troughs 14 preferably have different diameters which are adapted to a corresponding plurality of different formats or format ranges of the rod-shaped article. In the present example, see FIG. 7 , the trough marked "1" for article diameter in the range 6.6 mm to 6.8 mm, the "2" designated trough for article diameter in the range> 6.8 mm to 7.0 mm, etc., finally with "9" designated trough intended for article diameter in the range> 8.7 mm to 9.1 mm. Of course, alternatively, fewer or more than nine troughs 14 may be provided and / or the troughs 14 may be associated with other diameter ranges.

In a rotationally fixed feed position Z with respect to the drum 12, here at the lower end of the drum 12 and at 6 o'clock (see FIG. 7 ), an article to be examined is introduced via a feed device 15 into the corresponding trough 14 of the drum 12. The drum 12 is previously rotated until the mating recess 14 is in the feeding position Z. In the example of FIG. 3 For example, the trough 14 number 5 is turned to the feed position Z when a filter rod with a diameter in the range of> 7.4 mm to 7.7 mm is to be inspected. The feeder 15 will be explained later in more detail.

The axis of rotation of the drum 12 is advantageously at a suitable angle of preferably at least 30 °, for example 45 ° inclined arranged. This has the advantage that the rod-shaped article with its front side facing away from the side to be examined can abut gravity on a stop 16, whereby the axial position of the rod-shaped article is precisely defined during the cutting and during the measurement. The stop 16, the best in FIG. 9 is to be seen is preferably at least partially annular and extends around the circumference of the drum 12 advantageously at least from the feed position Z to the measurement position M defined by the camera 13 (see FIG. 7 ), so that the axial position of the rod-shaped article is precisely defined during the cutting and the measurement. The stop member 16 forming stop member 17 is rotatably mounted and advantageously completely annular.

The stop member 17 and thus the stop 16 are preferably displaceable in the axial direction of the drum 12 to allow adaptation to different lengths of the rod-shaped article to be examined and / or to adjust the axial cutting position. In the embodiment shown, the stop member 17 is manually displaceable along an axial guide 19 and has for this purpose a manual adjustment means 18. The axial displacement of the stop member 17 may alternatively be done, for example, electrically controlled. Other types of axial adjustment are conceivable, for example by means of a set of interchangeable stop components with different axial dimensions.

The measuring system 10 comprises a cutting device 21 which is driven in particular by means of an electric motor 22 and which is best used in FIG. 7 to see where a cutting device 21 concealing housing part is removed. The cutting device 21 comprises a knife, which advantageously as a circular blade 23 is formed. The cutting device 21 is associated with the drum 12, that is arranged rotationally fixed in operative relation to the drum 12, so that the rotating blade 23 cuts off an end portion of a rod-shaped article to be examined, which is received in a trough 14 of the drum 12, when the trough 14 with the rod-shaped article due to rotation of the drum 12 passes over a rotationally fixed cutting position S, which is arranged here, for example, viewed at 3 o'clock from the direction of the camera. By cutting off the frontal section of the rod-shaped article to be examined, a high-quality sectional surface of the rod-shaped article to be inspected is produced.

The knife 23 advantageously engages in a circumferentially provided on the drum 12, circumferential slot 24 (see Figure 6), which is arranged at a small axial distance from a measuring-side end face of the drum 12. In this way, the axial cutting position is precisely defined and it is achieved a high quality cut, since the filter rod to be cut is supported during the cut on both sides of the cutting plane.

The measuring system 10 comprises a camera 13, which is associated with the drum 12, ie, rotationally fixed in a measuring relationship with the drum 12, so that the camera 13 produces an image of the cutting surface of a rod-shaped article, which is produced in a recess 14, by means of the cutting device 21 the drum 12 is received, can record when this trough 14 is located with the rod-shaped article in a rotationally fixed measuring position M, here for example at 10 o'clock. In the measuring position is the front of the examined Article accordingly in the field of view of the camera 13. This is in FIG. 8 shown.

The stopper 16 rises continuously from the cutting position S to the measuring position M toward the camera 13, thereby forming a helical stopper portion 33 between the cutting position S and the measuring position M. The meaning of the helical abutment portion 33 will be explained later.

In order to prevent falling out of the rod-shaped article from the drum 12 and the trough 14, guide means 25, 26 are advantageously provided, which surround the drum 12 on its shell side in a circular arc. For example, the guide means 25, 26 each consist of a pair of axially spaced, circular arcuate plates. Other versions are possible. In the present exemplary embodiment, a guide means 25 covering the cutting position S and a guide means 26 covering the measuring position M are provided. The distance of the guide means 25 from the drum 12 decreases from both sides to the cutting position S, ie the distance of the guide means 25 from the drum 12 is the lowest in the cutting position S. This distance is dimensioned so that the rod-shaped article is easily pressed into the trough 14 in the cutting position S. In this way it is ensured that the rod-shaped article is precisely positioned and securely held during the cut. The same applies to the distance of the guide means 26 from the drum 12 with respect to the measuring position M. In the upper area, ie in the area at 12 o'clock, no guide means must be provided, because the article is held in the trough 14 due to gravity. However, it is not excluded that a guide means is also provided in this area. In particular, a uniform Guiding means may be provided which extends continuously over the cutting position S and the measuring position M, in this case, for example, continuously from about 6 o'clock to about 9 o'clock.

The drum 12 is in the embodiment shown for operation in the counterclockwise direction, viewed from the direction of the camera set. Of course, drum 12 may alternatively be configured to operate clockwise. In this case, for example, the cutting position may be at 9 o'clock and the measuring position at 2 o'clock. Embodiments with a combined operation in both directions of rotation of the drum 12 are also conceivable.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the measuring system 10 is arranged for offline testing on a continuous conveyor line 20 for rod-shaped articles. The conveyor line 20 may, for example, be arranged downstream of a filter rod production machine or multi-segment filter production machine and comprises a conveyor 27, for example a conveyor belt, on which a filter rod mass flow is conveyed transversely. At a branching position, a ramp 28 extending on both sides and extending transversely over the conveying means 27 is provided, over which the article mass flow conveyed with the conveying means 27 runs and which therefore can also be referred to as a bridge. Along the ridge of the ramp 28 extends a transverse groove 29, which is dimensioned to receive a rod-shaped article.

In this embodiment, the measuring system 10 comprises a transporting means 31, by means of which a rod-shaped article removed from the conveying path 20 is sent to the drum 12 and fed to it. The transport means 31 connects Thus, the conveyor line 20 with the drum 12. The transport means 31 advantageously forms a substantially closed, extending from the conveyor line 20 to the drum 12 transport channel. The transport can be done for example by means of compressed air. In the embodiment shown, the transport means 31 comprises, for example, a transport tube 30 (see FIG FIG. 2 ) and a downwardly inclined chute 32 (see FIG. 3 ), wherein the inclination of the chute 32 advantageously corresponds to the inclination of the drum 12. The chute 32 has a longitudinal groove 34 (see FIG. 3 ), in which a rod-shaped article can slide down in the longitudinal direction. The transport tube 30 communicates at one end with the transverse groove 29 of the ramp 28 and opens at its other end in the upper end of the chute 32. The chute 32 extends at its lower end advantageously over at least part of the axial length of the drum 12, which best off FIG. 11 is apparent.

Compressed air from a compressed air source provided for the transport means 31 can advantageously be used for rinsing an optical element, in particular a lens or window, of the camera 13 via a corresponding compressed air line 36.

The measuring system 10 may include a sensor 35, in particular an optical sensor (see Figures 11 . 12 ), which detects, for example by means of a laser beam, whether a rod-shaped article in a trough 14 of the drum 12 is located. The detection means 35 may be arranged, for example, at the lower end of the chute 32, wherein the laser beam is advantageously directed anti-parallel to the chute 32.

The following describes the procedure of the measuring procedure.

First, a rod-shaped article lying in the transverse groove 29 of the ramp 28 is pushed into the transport tube 30, for example by compressed air or by means of an actuator, and preferably transported by compressed air through the transport tube 30 to the chute 32, on which the article is gravity-assisted and possibly assisted by compressed air down and into the receptive trough 14 of the drum 12 slips. The feeder 15 described above is therefore formed by the chute 32 in this embodiment.

If the article to be examined is completely received in the corresponding recess 14 of the drum 12 and in particular abuts against the abutment 16 with its front end facing away from the measurement, the drum 12 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction. As the article passes over the cutting position S, it is cut by means of the cutter 21 and the rotating circular blade 23, respectively, to produce a cut surface to be inspected. The cut piece falls, for example, in a arranged below the drum 12 collecting container. The remaining article remains in the trough 14.

Subsequently, the drum 12 is further rotated counterclockwise. In this case, the measuring end facing away from the article is guided over the helical abutment portion 33 between the cutting position S and the measuring position M, whereby the article is axially advanced due to rotation of the drum 12 in the direction of the camera. The feed advantageously takes place at least so far that the cut surface to be inspected is aligned with the end face of the drum 12, preferably beyond it, so that the image of the part to be inspected is as smooth as possible Cutting surface can be done by means of the camera 13. The helical abutment portion 33 may also be referred to as a feed means according to the above.

When the article has reached the measuring position S, the camera 13 is driven to take a high-resolution image of the cut end face of the article. The recorded image is read from the camera 13 by an electronic evaluation device (not shown), in particular a computer, where a quality assessment of the examined sectional area of the rod-shaped article is determined or carried out in a suitable manner by means of image processing software. The electronic evaluation device can also be used to control the measuring system 10, in particular the drum 12, the camera 13, the cutting device 21, the transport means 31 and the sensor 35.

The inspected article falls after leaving the guide means 26 by gravity, for example, in a arranged below the drum 12 collecting container. For example, to dispose of safely adhering articles to the drum 12, advantageously, for example, a finger-shaped carrier 37 may be provided, see FIG. 11 which is expediently arranged between the measuring position M or the guide means 26 and the feed position Z. The rotationally fixed driver 37 engages advantageously in a circumferential groove 38 of the drum 12, in which extends the rod-shaped article.

In an embodiment not shown in the figures, the measuring system 10 may be a laboratory device. In this case, the measuring system 10 expediently comprises instead of the transport means 31 an article reservoir, for example a funnel, into which the filter rods can be inserted by hand. The Reservoir can then form, for example, the feeder 15, in which case the feed position Z would be expediently arranged at the upper end of the drum 12. For example, the reservoir may also feed the feeder 15, which may then be configured similar to the chute 32.

Claims (15)

Measuring system (10) for optically assessing a rod-shaped article of the tobacco-processing industry, comprising a handling device (12) adapted for transversely conveying a rod-shaped article accommodated in at least one receptacle (14), and a camera (13) for inspecting a front face in the handling device (12) received rod-shaped article, characterized in that the measuring system (10) comprises a cutting device (21) which is arranged so that a rod-shaped article due to the promotion in the handling device (12) is cut to one to to produce an inspecting section of the rod-shaped article. Measuring system according to claim 1, characterized in that the handling device (12) is a rotatable drum. Measuring system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handling device (12) has a plurality of receptacles (14) with different cross-sectional dimensions. Measuring system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handling device (12) is arranged inclined. Measuring system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting device (21) comprises a circular blade (23). Measuring system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring system (10) comprises an advancing means (33) which axially advances a rod-shaped article received in the drum (12) towards the camera (13) due to conveyance of the article from a cutting position S to a measuring position M. Measuring system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring system (10) has a stop (16) which is arranged such that a rod-shaped article accommodated in the receptacle (14) of the handling device (12) with its front end facing away from the measurement thereon Plant comes. Measuring system according to claim 7, characterized in that the stop (16) extends at least from a feed position Z to a measuring position M along the circumference of the handling device (12). Measuring system according to claim 8, characterized in that the stop (16) continuously rises from the cutting position S towards the measuring position M in the direction of the camera (13). Measuring system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drum (12) has a circumferential slot (24) into which a knife (23) of the cutting device (21) engages. Measuring system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring system (10) has a transport means (31) for transporting one out of a conveying path (20) removed rod-shaped article to the handling device (12). Measuring system according to claim 11, characterized in that the transport of the rod-shaped article takes place in the transport means (31) formed as a channel by means of compressed air. Measuring system according to Claim 12, characterized in that compressed air from a compressed-air source provided for the transport means (31) is used for rinsing an optical element of the camera (13). Measuring system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring system (10) is an offline measuring system. Measuring system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring system comprises a particular optical sensor (35) for detecting a in a receptacle (14) of the drum (12) located rod-shaped article.

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