GB1186801A - Cigarette End Inspection Device - Google Patents

Abstract

1,186,801. Testing cigarettes. AMERICAN MACHINE & FOUNDRY CO. 13 Feb., 1968 [18 Feb., 1967], No. 7110/68. Heading A2C. An apparatus for automatically checking the amount of filling of the ends of cigarettes comprises means for continuously conveying said cigarettes in a parallel row, means for supporting a pair of checking devices provided with oppositely lying feeler pins 9 and counterpins 15 arranged on both sides of the conveying means and having cylindrical bores 10, 18, the pins 9, 15 being slidably mounted in the bores 10, 18 along the axes thereof, means for conveying the cigarettes for a part of their path in alignment with and at the same speed as the pins 9, 15, cam means 22 for urging the pins 9, 15 with their inner ends towards the ends of the cigarettes travelling at the same speed and in the same direction, the outer ends of the pins 9, 15 being engageable with the cam means 22, and means for discarding the cigarettes which permit an excessive penetration of the pins 9, 15 into the cigarette ends in excess of a predetermined amount. The end filling of both ends of cigarettes S is simultaneously checked by the feeler pins 9 and the feeler counterpins 15 while they are being transported through an arc of a circle on a fluted conveyer drum 2 to which they are fed by, and from which they are fed to, a chain conveyer having gutter shaped links 4. The pins 9 are advanced towards the right-hand ends (as shown in Fig. 1) of the cigarettes S, against the action of springs 11, by a stationary cam 12. Movement of the cigarettes S towards the left (as shown) causes engagement of their left-hand ends with the counterpins 15, which in the case of satisfactory cigarettes S causes the counterpins 15 to retract against the action of springs 19. Slides 20, which are reciprocated by a stationary cam 22 against springs 21, each embodies a recess 120 having a toothshaped edge 220 on which the ends 115 of the pins 15 latch when a satisfactory cigarette is tested, but fail to latch in the presence of an inadequately end-filled cigarette. The slides 20 also carry pins 23 which, when the slides 20 fail to latch, engage a roller 36 which actuates, via a lever 35, a valve 34 that supplies compressed air to a cigarette ejecting nozzle 33. Adjustment of the apparatus for different sized cigarettes is also provided for.