GB2232574A

GB2232574A - Control apparatus for bar-shaped articles

Info

Publication number: GB2232574A
Application number: GB9011961A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bruno Belvederi
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 1989-06-13
Filing date: 1990-05-29
Publication date: 1990-12-19
Also published as: IT8903517A0; DE4018034A1; IT1233314B; GB9011961D0

Description

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1 CONTROL APPARATUS FOR BAR-SHAPED ARTICLES This invention relates to a control apparatus for bar-shaped articles and, more particularly, the invention relates to a control apparatus for cigarettes.

is In the known art a control operation for the purpose of checking the soundness of filter or filter-less cigarettes is effected by feeding a control air stream along the longitudinal axis of the cigarettes. This is done while the cigarettes are being transferred, transversely to their axis, by a rotary conveyor interposed between two further conveyors coaxial and rigid with them, and supporting ducts forming part of a pneumatic circuit. The control operation is effected by bringing two such ducts up to the opposing ends of each cigarette so that it becomes incorporated into said pneumatic circuit. The circuit comprises pressure measurement means which in the case of a defective cigarette indicate an abnormal pressure and provide a resultant expulsion command.

The main condition which has to be satisfied to obtain correct control of the individual cigarettes is that the connection between the ends of each cigarette and the two ducts is perfectly sealed. If it is not, any inflow of atmospheric air or outflow of control fluid through the connection regions between the cigarette and the pneumatic circuit results in an alteration in the result of the control operation and the consequent possibility of expelling sound cigarettes or, alternatively, the nonexpulsion of defective cigarettes.

To obviate these drawbacks, devices are known which for the connection between the pneumatic circuit 2 and the cigarette ends use cap-shaped elastic connection elements mounted in an airtight manner on the tubular ends of said ducts. For the control operation, the outer walls provided with a through hole, of two of such connection elements are brought into contact with the opposing ends of each cigarette. The pressure exerted by the cigarettes is sufficient to cause elastic deformation of the connection elements, which adhere via their respective outer walls to the ends of the cigarettes. However, a minimum imperfection in one of said ends or a deposit of dust particles on the. walls of the connection elements is sufficient to impair the isolation of the pneumatic circuit from the atmosphere, to consequently falsify the result of the control operation.

The object of the present invention is to provide a control apparatus able to obviate the described drawbacks of the known art, i.e an apparatus in which the connection means between the pneumatic circuit and the end of the cigarettes provide a perfect seal.

This object is attained according to the present invention by a control apparatus for bar--:shaped articles, comprising a conveyor provided with seats for containing said articles for the purpose of transferring said articles transversely to their axis along a determined path, a pneumatic circuit being provided for controlling the soundness of said articles and comprising ducts associated with at least one end of each of said seats, support means for said ducts mobile substantially along said path, cap-shaped elastic connection elements mounted in an airtight manner on said ducts and each closed at the end f acing said seat by a wall provided with a hole, and means for moving the ducts relative to said seats between a 3 position in which said walls are disengaged from said articles and a position in which said walls are in contact with said articles, characterised in that said wall of each connection element comprises, on the side facing said conveyor, an annular projection which is substantially coaxial to the hole and has a diameter exceeding the diameter of said articles when in its disengaged position, but which when in said contact position adheres in an airtight manner to the cylindrical surface of one of said articles as a consequence of the deformation of said wall by said article.

The invention is described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which represent a non-limiting embodiment thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a partly sectional front view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; and Figures 2 and 3 show a detail of Figure 1 to an enlarged scale, under two different operating conditions.

In Figure 1, the reference numeral 1 indicates overall a control apparatus for bar-shaped articles, comprising a conveyor in the form of a roller 2, rotating about a horizontal axis. In the case under consideration, in which the articles are cigarettes, the control apparatus 1 forms part of a filter fitting machine, not shown. The roller 2 is provided with equidistant peripheral seats 4 (of which only one is shown in the figure) extending parallel to the axis 3, and each able to contain a cigarette 5 provided with filter 6.

4 The cigarettes are retained in their respective sets 4 by suction means of known type, not shown, communicating with the outside via substantially radial ducts 7.

is c; At the two sides of the roller 2, and coaxial and rigid therewith, there are provided two identical discs 8 and 9, arranged symmetrical to each other.

Each of the two discs 8 and 9 is provided peripherally, in positions corresponding with each seat 4 of the roller 2, with a through aperture 10 into which there is slidably inserted a duct 11 coaxial to the seat 4. An idle roller 13 is fixed in an intermediate region of-the duct 11 by means of a pin 12 normal to the axis 3, and on rotation of the disc 8 (9) slides within the groove 14 in a drum cam 15 f ixed to and coaxial with the roller 2.

That wall 16 of each disc 8, 9 which faces away from the roller 2 is provided in a position corresponding with the mouths of the ducts 11 with a circular groove 17 facing the mouth of a duct 18 provided in a f ixed block 19 adhering to the wall 16. The ducts 18 associated with the two discs 8 and 9 are connected to a pump means of known type (not shown), able to generate a positive or negative pressure via the pneumatic circuit comprising the fixed ducts 18, the circular groove 17 and the mobile ducts 11.

A block 20 schematically represents a device for controlling and measuring the pressure within said pneumatic circuit. On that end of each duct 11 facing the roller 2 there is mounted a connection element 21 or cap of elastic material and of substantially frusto-conical shape with the major base facing one end of the respective seat 4 (see also Figures 2 and 3). An annular groove 22 provided in the duct 11 and a corresponding ring 23 provided on the connection element 21 enable these elements to be f ixed to each other in an airtight manner. Said major base of the connection element 21 consists of a substantially flat wall 24 comprising a through hole 25 coaxial to the respective seat 4. The wall 24 is provided externally with an annular projection 26 coaxial to the hole 25 and of internally hollow frusto-conical shape, the minor base of which, facing the seat 4, has a diameter greater than the diameter of a cigarette 5.

When in use, the transfer roller 23 for the cigarettes 5 and the two discs 8 and 9, forming the support means for the ducts 11, are rotated about the axis 3 by motor means, not shown, forming part of said filter fitting machine.

The seats 4 are connected by the radial ducts 11 to said suction source, to retain in their interior the cigarettes 5 provided with the filter 6. On f eeding cigarettes 5 into the seats 4 of the roller 2 (in a position angularly spaced from the position shown in Figure 1) the ducts 11 an the relative connection elements 21 are in a position in which they are disengaged from the ends 5' of the cigarettes 5. This situation is shown for a single end 51 in Figure 2.

As the roller 2 and discs 8 and 9 rotate, the two ducts 11 associated with each seat 4 slide axially through the apertures 10 under the control of the movement means associated with the can 15. More specifically, as a result of the particular shape of the groove 14, the ducts 11 approach the opposing ends of the seat 4 until, when in a determined position 6 (defined as the control position), the respective walls 24, provided with holes 25, of the connection elements 21 are brought into contact with the two ends 5' (as shown in Figures 1 and 3).

The progressive compression exerted, in the direction of the axis of the respective duct 11, by each end S' on the respective connection element 21 causes the wall 24 to undergo elastic deformation. As a result of this deformation, the mouth of the annular projection 26 contracts to reduce its diameter and increase its inclination to the wall 24, until it assumes the final configuration of Figure 3, in which the projection 26 embraces the cylindrical body of the cigarette 5.

Under these conditions the cigarette 5 is incorporated perfectly airtight into the pneumatic circuit comprising the fixed ducts 18, the groove 17, the mobile ducts 11 and the device 20, from which a command is fed for ejecting the cigarette if the pressure measured by it differs from a predetermined fixed value.

The particular form of the connection elements 21 together with the elasticity and deformability characteristics of their constituent material allows extremely delicdte treatment of the cigarette during the control operation.

On termination of this operation, as the rotation of the roller 2 continues the two ducts 11, under the control of the cam 15, separate from the seat 4 to release the ends 51 from the connection elements 21 so as to enable the cigarette to be transferred to further conveyor means, not shown.

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Claims

A control apparatus for bar-shaped articles, comprising a conveyor provided with seats for containing said articles for the purpose of transferring said articles transversely to their axis along a determined path, a pneumatic circuit being provided for controlling the soundness of said articles and comprising ducts associated with at least one end of each of said seats, support means for said ducts mobile substantially along said path, cap-shaped elastic connection elements mounted in an airtight manner on said ducts and each closed at the end facing said seat by a wall provided with a hole, and means for moving the ducts relative to said seats between a position in which said walls are disengaged from said articles and a position in which said walls are in contact with said articles, in which said wall of each connection element comprises, on the side facing said conveyor, an annular projection which is substantially coaxial to said hole and has a diameter exceeding the diameter of said articles when in said disengaged position, but which when in said contact position adheres in an airtight manner to the cylindrical surface of one of said articles as a consequence of the deformation of said wall by said-article.
2. A control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said annular projection is of substantially hollow frusto-conical section with its minor base facing said seat.
3. A control apparatus for bar-shaped articles substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Published 1990atThe Patent Office, Statp House, 6671 High Hclborn. IxmdonWCIR4TP. Further copies maybe obtainedfrom The Patent Office. Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent, Con. 1/87