GB2196311A - Sensing groups of cigarettes on a conveyor - Google Patents

Description

1 GB 2 196 311 A 1 SPECIFICATION sent invention is to provide a control

device designed to overcome the aforementioned Device for controlling groups of cigarettes drawbacks, i.e. a device enabling reliable con on a cigarette packing machine trol of the completeness of the cigarette 70 groups formed on the packing machine, as The present invention relates to a device for well as immediate detection of any operating controlling groups of cigarettes on a cigarette faults on the device itself.

packing machine. With this aim in view, according to the pre- On cigarette packing machines, the ciga- sent invention, there is provided a device for rettes are known to be fed through a feedbox 75 controlling groups of cigarettes on a cigarette having three outputs, each designed to form a packing machine, said device comprising a flat layer of cigarettes. The said three layers number of pin feelers equal in number to and are then fed successively into feed pockets on arranged in the same manner as the cigarettes a jog conveyor, so as to form, inside each forming the said group, and activating means pocket, a group of cigarettes usually compris80 connected to each said pin, via the interposi ing twenty cigarettes arranged in three layers, tion of elastic means, and designed to move one on top of the other, and constituting the back and forth in such a manner as to cause content of one packet. the said pin to move axially in reciprocating The cigarette groups so formed are than fed manner to and from the end of a respective on to a wrapping wheel, before reaching 85 said cigarette and between an operating posi which, however, they are usually checked as tion, wherein the said pin contacts the said to completeness, i.e. to ensure all the ciga- cigarette, and an idle position, wherein the rettes are present, properly filled and fitted said pin is detached from the said cigarette; with filters. characterised by the fact that it also corn- On known packing machines, the said conprises a number of position sensors equal in trol operation is usually performed by a group number to and connected respectively to the of pin feelers equal in number to the ciga- said pins, and circuit means connected to the rettes in the group and arranged parallel with said sensors for supplying a first and second the same. When the said group of cigarettes control signal as a function of the positions of is stopped by the said conveyor in a control 95 the said pins in relation to the said sensors station comprising the said pins, the latter are subsequent to each said forward and return moved forward axially so as to contact the movement respectively.

ends of the cigarettes facing them. Depending A non-limiting embodiment of the present on the position of the pins subsequent to invention will be described with reference to such axial displacement, each pin activates, or 100 the accompanying drawings, in which:

fails to activate, a switch button, activation of Fig.1 shows a schematic view, in a first which indicates the presence and completen- operating position, of a control device in ac ess of the respective cigarette. Non-activation cordance with the present invention; of the said switch, on the other hand, results Fig.s 2 and 3 show the Fig. 1 device in a in a reject signal which, appropriately memor- 105 further two operating positions; ised, subsequently causes the entire group of Fig.4 shows a block diagram of a circuit on cigarettes to be rejected. the Fig.1 control device.

A control station of the aforementioned type Number 1 in Fig.s 1, 2 and 3 indicates a presents a number of drawbacks, due to the cigarette packing machine comprising a jog poor reliability of the said mechanical switconveyor 2 for groups 3 of cigarettes 4. The ches. Should even only one of the said swit- said conveyor 2 comprises a belt 5, the upper ches fail to operate correctly. this could result surface of which is fitted with a number of in either non-rejection of incomplete groups, equally-spaced pockets 6. Each pocket 6 is or, worse still, the rejection of a given number designed to receive a respective group 3, and of complete groups. What is more, malfunc- 115 to step-feed it along an opening defined by tioning of one or more of the said switches is two sides, 7 and 8, parallel with the traveling rarely detected immediately, with the result direction of belt 5 and perpendicular to the that the damage so caused may persist unde- surface of the same.

tected for some time. On other known control Each group 3 usually comprises twenty ciga- stations, the said pin feelers and respective 120 rettes 4 arranged in three layers, one on top switches have been replaced by optical sen- of the other, and forms the content of a sors, which, while eliminating the mechanical packet (not shown) formed about the said drawbacks of the aforementioned control sta- group 3 on a wrapping line (not shown) tion, are sensitive to variations in the colour downstream from conveyor 2.

of the tobacco with which the cigarettes are 125 Along conveyor 2, machine 1 presents a filled. Any change in the colour of the tobacco control station 9 in which a control device, may, therefore, affect operation of the said indicated as a whole by 10, checks the com optical sensors and, as in the previous case, pleteness of groups 3 and subsequently pro malfunctioning of one or more sensors is not vides for rejecting any faulty groups.

immediately detectable. The aim of the pre- 130 The said control device 10 is located facing 2 GB 2 196 311 A 2 the opposite surface of side 8 to that facing tion 9, actuator 12 is operated and emitter 31 conveyor 2, and comprises a frame 11 which, issues a signal for enabling the control func by virtue of an actuating means 12, is de- tion of logic unit 28.

signed to move, in reciprocating manner, to Operation of actuator 12 causes frame 11 and from the said side 8, between a forward 70 to move towards side 8, hereinafter also re operating position shown in Fig.s 2 and 3, ferred to as the forward stroke, thus moving and a retracted idle position shown in Fig.l. heads 19 gradually towards the ends of re- The said frame 11 comprises two walls, 13 spective cigarettes 4 facing the said heads and 14, spaced apart and parallel with side 8, 19. Such displacement results in two possible and having respective numbers of through 75 operating conditions, as shown respectively in holes, 15 and 16, perpendicular to side 8. Fig.s 2 and 3.

The said holes 15 and 16 are equal in number In the Fig.2 condition, cigarettes 4 are all to and arranged in the same manner as ciga- present and properly filled. Consequently, pins rettes 4 in each group 3, and each hole 15 is 18, which are pushed forward by frame 11, coaxial with both a respective hole 16 and a 80 are arrested contacting the ends of respective respective hole 17 formed through side 8 and cigarettes 4, and the final stroke portion of coaxial with a respective cigarette 4 in the frame 11 compresses spring 23, and arrest of group 3 in control staton 9. actuator 12 in the forward operating position Each pair of aligned holes 15 and 16 is activates both sensors 25 and generator 29.

engaged in axially-sliding manner by a respec- 85 As shown in Fig.s 1 and 2, the result of the tive pin feeler 18, the feeling head 19 of aforementioned displacement of pins 18 is which projects from frame 11 in the direction that each sensor 25, which was originally of side 8 so as to engage in sliding manner a facing the void (Fig.1) defined by respective respective hole 17, and the tail end or detect- groove 21, is now located facing a solid ing portion 20 of which is larger in diameter 90 (Fig.2) consisting of respective block 22. Sen than holes 15 and 16, projects from frame 11 sors 25, therefore, all emit the same signal in the opposite direction to side 8, and pre- indicating the presence of a solid. At the sents, on its free end, an annular groove 21 same time, generator 29 emits a signal having defining an end block 22. the opposite sign to that of the signals em- Each pin 18 is fitted with an elastic means 95 itted by sensors 25, and the intensity of consisting of a spiral spring 23 compressed which, e.g. minus a constant which may even between wall 14 and an annular projection 24 be zero, equals the solid signal emitted by formed on pin 18 in the vicinity of wall 13. each sensor 25 multiplied by the number of As shown in Fig.s 1 to 3, displacement of sensors 25.

frame 11 causes each block 22 to move past 100 Logic unit 28 adds up all the incoming sig- the end of a respective position sensor 25 nals, and is designed in such a manner as to which, in the example shown, is of the induc- emit no output signal if, as in the case of the tive type. The said sensors 25 are equal in Fig.2 condition, the resulting sum equals the number to pins 18 and supported, by a block aforementioned constant. In the absence of an 26, in a fixed position perpendicular to pins 105 output signal from unit 28, operation of pack 18. ing machine 1 remains unchanged.

The said sensors 25 are d. esigned to supply Fig.3, on the other hand, shows an extreme electric signals to circuit means comprising a case wherein all of cigarettes 4 are either control circuit indicated as a whole by 27 and, badly filled (as shown), or missing, or lacking in turn, comprising a logic unit 28, generally 110 filters.

an adding unit, having three inputs. The first In this case, displacement of pins 18 is of the said inputs is designed to receive the completed without compressing springs 23, signals emitted by sensors 25; the second to with the result that each sensor 25, which receive a signal from a generator or unit 29 was previously located facing a void (Fig.1), is for emitting a control reference signal; and the 115 moved, when respective pin 18 comes to a third to receive a signal from a generator or stop, into a position facing a further void be unit 30 for emitting a self-diagnosis reference hind respective block 22, and therefore emits signal. Logic unit 28 is enabled for processing a signal indicating the presence of the said the output signals from sensors 25 according void.

to a given control or self-diagnosis logic, and 120 Should even only one of pins 18 find itself to take into account either one of the said in the aforementioned position, the sum of the reference signals, by an enabling signal sup- signals received by logic unit 28 no longer plied by an enabling signal emitter 31 or 32 equals the aforementioned constant, and an connected to logic unit 28. error signal is emitted via a first output 33 on Operation of control device 10 will now be 125 unit 28. The said error signal activates a re- described starting from the idle position ject memory 34 which, in known manner (not shown in Fig.1, and from when a group 3 of shown), subsequently provides for rejecting cigarettes 4 is arrested by conveyor 2 in con- the said group 3.

trol station 9. At this point, actuator 12 is again operated When a group 3 is arrested in control sta- 130 for returning frame 11, in what is known as 3 G132 19631 1A 3 the return stroke, to its original idle position means, and designed to move back and forth as shown in Fig. l. The return of actuator 12 in such a manner as to cause the said pin to causes emitter 32 to emit a signal for en- move axially in reciprocating manner to and abling the self-diagnosis function of logic unit from the end of a respective said cigarette 28. 70 and between an operating position, wherein If pins 18 are all free, the return stroke of the said pin contacts the said cigarette, and frame 11 resets pins 18 to their original posi- an idle position, wherein the said pin is de tion wherein each sensor 25 is located facing tached from the said cigarette; characterised a void defined by respective groove 21, and by the fact that it also comprises a number of emits a signal indicating the presence of the 75 position sensors equal in number to and con said void. At the same time, generator 30 nected respectively to the said pins, and cir emits a signal having the opposite sign to that cuit means connected to the said sensors for of the signals emitted by sensors 25, and the supplying a first and second control signal as intensity of which, e.g. minus a constant a function of the positions of the said pins in which may even be zero, equals the void sig- 80 relation to the said sensors subsequent to nal emitted by each sensor 25 multiplied by each said forward and return movement re the number of sensors 25. spectively.

Claims (1)

1. Logic unit 28 adds up all the incoming sig- 2. A device as claimed in

   Claim 1, charac- nals and, as the resulting sum equals the said terised by the fact that each said pin presents constant in the case of the Fig.1 condition, no 85 a detecting portion comprising a void and a output signal is emitted by unit 28 and oper- solid arranged side by side, the said void be ation of packing machine 1 remains un- ing defined by a sunken portion of the said changed. pin; each said sensor being assigned to the Should even only one of pins 18 fail, for said detecting portion of a respective said pin, any reason, to return to its original withdrawn 90 and being designed to supply the said circuit position, logic unit 28 emits an error signal via means with a signal depending on the pres second output 35 and machine 1 is arrested. ence, in front of the said sensor, of the said If such a provision were not made, malfunc- solid or the said void.

   tioning of even only one of pins 18 could 3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, result in either acceptance of an incomplete 95 characterised by the fact that the said circuit group 3, or, in certain cases, in groups 3 all means comprise a logic unit connected to the being rejected. said sensors and designed to process the out- In the example embodiment described with put signals from the same according to a first reference to the accompanying drawings, sen- control logic and a second self-diagnosis logic, sors 25 are of the inductive type. The same 100 and to emit the said first and said second performance, however, may obviously be obsignal respectively.

   tained using capacitive sensors, or even opti- 4. A device as claimed in Claim 3, charac- cal sensors designed to detect different colour terised by the fact that the said circuit means or absorption bands on pins 18. comprise a unit for emitting a reference signal Though, in the embodiment of the present 105 for each said operating logic; the said logic invention as described and illustrated herein, unit comprising a block for adding the said self-diagnosis of device 10 is performed at output signals from the said sensors and the the end of the said return stroke of pins 18, said reference signal.

   correct resetting of pins 18 to the said origi- 5. A device for controlling groups of ciga- nal withdrawn position, subsequent to control110 rettes on a cigarette packing machine, sub ling cigarettes 4, may be checked at any time stantially as described and illustrated herein during displacement of pins 18 by actuator with reference to the accompanying drawings.

   12. Correct positioning of the said solids and voids on pins 18 may obviously be detected Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 6617 1 High Holborn, London WC 1 R 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from by sensors 25 at any given time, even during The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD.

   displacement of pins 18, by simply providing, Printed by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd. Con. 1/87.

   at the said given time, for emitter 32 to sup ply an enabling signal for enabling the self diagnosis function of logic unit 28 and so comparing the signals emitted by sensors 25 and generator 30.

   CLAIMS 1. A device for controlling groups of ciga- rettes on a cigarette packing machine, said device comprising a number of pin feelers equal in number to and arranged in the same manner as the cigarettes forming the said group, and activating means connected to each said pin, via the interposition of elastic