GB1335662A - Testing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1335662 Testing cigarettes MOLINS MACHINE CO Ltd 9 Dec 1970 [10 Dec 1969] 60373/69 Heading A2C In an apparatus for testing the tobacco ends of cigarettes, the ends of the cigarettes are compressed transversely to their axes by compressed air acting on their surfaces, and compression of a cigarette end by a predetermined amount that is indicative of inadequate end filling is detected. In one embodiment, Fig. 2, cigarettes held in flutes 2 of a rotating drum 1 are conveyed through a testing station where a tobacco end of a cigarette 5b is subjected to a jet of air supplied through a passage 7b of a second rotating drum 3. The drum 3 includes a plurality of passages 7a, 7b, 7c &c. with optical elements 9a, 9b, &c. interposed between them as shown. In the absence of a cigarette, or (as shown) where a cigarette with inadequate end filling is present, a light beam from a source (12) perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 2 is able, after reflection by two internal surfaces of the element 9a, to pass into the next element 9b where it is again reflected twice and from which it leaves in a direction perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 2 to fall on and energise a photocell (13). The signal produced by the energised photocell (13) is utilised for subsequent rejection of the unsatisfactory cigarette. In another embodiment, Fig. 4 (not shown), cigarettes are held by suction in a grooved testing drum (4') having a compressed air passage (6') which opens out close to each cigarette end so that the flow of air through each passage (6') is restricted by the cigarette to a degree dependant upon the firmness of the cigarette end, and the air flow is detected by a fluidics device. The fluidics device includes a monostable device (24) which controls an air supply to a faulty cigarette ejection nozzle (52), provision being made by means of an intermediate "AND" device (34) to render the ejection mechanism inoperative when no cigarette is present in a groove of the drum (4'). The monostable device (24) may be replaced by a Schmitt trigger device (52') Fig. 5 (not shown). A second "AND" device may be used with one of its inputs connected to the output of the first "AND" device (34) and its other input connected to an air supply controlled by a sprung pivoted shoe located on the drum (4') in a position where it can press against the filter end of a cigarette to detect and cause the rejection of cigarettes with missing filters. A diaphragm transducer may replace the fluidics circuit.