GB759532A - Method of and apparatus for controlling uniformity of cigarettes - Google Patents

Abstract

759,532. Controlling cigarette manufacture by radiation beams. AMERICAN MACHINE & FOUNDRY CO. Feb. 1, 1954 [April 13, 1953], No. 2900/54. Class 40 (3). [Also in Group XXXV] In apparatus for measuring the density of a continuously moving stream of tobacco by means of a beam of penetrative radiation the fact that the value of density obtained is to some extent dependent on the direction in which the radiation passes through the stream is compensated by having a number of such radiation density gauges each examining the stream at a different angle and their outputs being combined and averaged. The invention is described with reference to determining the density of a cigarette rod in a conventional cigarette making machine (Fig. 1). The feed F showers tobacco continuously on to a travelling tape and paper web W. The web W is guided through a rod folder tongue U, rod paster P which applies a strip of paste to the lap edge of the cigarette, the rod former V, and sealer S. When the cigarette rod emerges from the rod former V it passes a device C in which is a knife 16 the operation of which is synchronized with the movement of the cigarette rod to cut off completed cigarettes. As described in U.S.A. Specification 1,075,274, the cigarettes are then delivered through a guide channel 22 on to a continuously-driven collector belt 24. The position of the guide channel is adjustable. Between the cutter C and the roller S are situated the radiation density gauges and these operate rotating arms 32 to control through mechanism, which may be as described in Specification 559,548, the lowering of rotating arms 32 to throw out defective cigarettes of a variable feed drive for the tobacco feed which may be as described in Specifications 707,238 and 707,239, [both in Group XXXV]. Gauge details.-One arrangement of gauge is shown in Fig. 2 in which two Beta-ray sources 100, 102, which may be Strontium 90, are so mounted that their rays pass through the rod- R to detectors 104, 106 in directions perpendicular to each other. Each source and its associated detector is spaced from the other in the direction of travel of the rod although in the arrangement of Fig. 3 (not shown), the two beams may pass at right angles through the same section of the rod. Specifications 299,162, [Class 130], 558,491, [Group XXXV], 741,932, and U.S.A. Specification 1,864,728 also are referred to.