JP7313371B2 - Inspection unit and method for quality control of disposable cartridges for electronic cigarettes - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the technical field of machinery for the tobacco industry.

In particular, the present invention relates to an inspection unit and method for quality control of disposable cartridges for electronic cigarettes. It should be noted that the term "quality control" refers to checking the "quality" of the cartridge.

Recently, single-use (i.e., disposable) cartridges for electronic cigarettes have been proposed, comprising a case made of tubular plastic material with a microperforated bottom wall and containing a quantity of powdered tobacco covered by a pad made of filtering material. The case is closed at the top (ie opposite the micro-perforated bottom wall) by a sealing ring sealed to the case.

The manufacture of such cartridges involves filling each case with a controlled volume of a suitable filling product of the tobacco industry, such as powdered tobacco, gently compressing the filling product within the case to obtain the desired density, and then capping the cases by applying both a pad made of filtering material and a sealing ring to the upper end.

The cartridges are then weighed individually to allow rejection of non-conforming cartridges containing insufficient or excessive amounts of filled product.

Once the cartridges have been manufactured, they are inserted into a sealed package, usually a blister pack.

During the manufacturing process of such cartridges, it is highly advantageous to be able to perform quality control operations on the product being manufactured to ensure that the product does not have any defects, such as empty spaces or other anomalies or irregularities, such as the wrong amount of filled product already indicated, which could hinder its sale once converted to the finished product.

There are prior art control systems in the field that can perform qualitative analysis of cartridges during the manufacturing process.

However, the Applicant has observed how such a method is not efficient or high performance as it does not allow a comprehensive and satisfactory inspection of the cartridge to be performed.

In this context, the technical objective forming the basis of the present invention is to propose an inspection unit and method for quality control of disposable cartridges for electronic cigarettes, which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inspection unit and method for quality control of disposable cartridges for electronic cigarettes, which can ensure an accurate and efficient qualitative evaluation of the entire product during processing. Quality control ensures the evaluation of the quality of the entire product.

The indicated and specified objectives are substantially achieved by an inspection unit and method for quality control of disposable cartridges for electronic cigarettes, comprising the technical features set forth in one or more of the appended claims.

The present invention shows an inspection unit for quality control of disposable cartridges for electronic cigarettes, the inspection unit comprising an advancing conveyor and an electromagnetic detector.

The advancing conveyor has a portion with a series of retaining sheets configured to receive respective cartridges from a supply unit for supplying the cartridges.

The electromagnetic detector is configured to detect one or more characteristics of the cartridges to determine whether they meet one or more acceptance criteria, and comprises a transmitting shell configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal and a receiving shell configured to receive said electromagnetic signal.

The shells face each other and define a detection chamber configured to slidably receive therein a portion of the advancing conveyor and at least a cartridge housed in a respective retaining seat, said cartridge being disposed entirely within the detection chamber.

Advantageously, the particular construction of the unit according to the invention allows an accurate measurement of the properties of the cartridge in a very effective and efficient manner by global evaluation of the entire cartridge sliding in the detection chamber. This is because the detected signal is maximum in the chamber, especially in the central portion of the chamber.

Furthermore, the fact that the detection takes place in the chamber delimited by the two shells described above ensures isolation from anything that is not critical to the detection, but which could actually interfere with the detection.

The present invention also relates to an inspection method for quality control of disposable cartridges for electronic cigarettes, the method comprising:
positioning an inspection unit;
receiving a series of cartridges at each holding sheet of the forward conveyor from a supply unit for supplying the cartridges;
moving a series of cartridges through the detection chamber;
using an electromagnetic detector to detect at least a characteristic of a cartridge completely disposed within the detection chamber;
releasing the series of cartridges to receiving means for receiving the cartridges.

This procedure ensures a correct assessment of the structural integrity and quality level of the product being processed and ensures compliance with one of the pre-defined quality parameters that define suitability for marketing.

The dependent claims, incorporated herein by reference, correspond to different embodiments of the invention.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a general non-limiting description of preferred, non-limiting embodiments of an inspection unit and method for quality control of disposable cartridges for electronic cigarettes, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
1 shows a perspective view of an inspection unit for quality control of disposable cartridges for electronic cigarettes; FIG. Figure 2 shows a further perspective view of the unit of Figure 1; 1 shows a cross-section of an inspection unit; 1 shows a perspective view of an electromagnetic detector according to the invention; FIG.

In the accompanying figures, numeral 1 generally designates an inspection unit for quality control of disposable cartridges C for electronic cigarettes.

Each cartridge C comprises a case, for example made of plastics material, having a tubular shape, having a bottom wall and closed at its upper end (i.e. opposite the bottom wall) by a sealing ring sealed to the case.

The case may contain a quantity of powdered tobacco covered with a pad made of filtering material, preferably the bottom wall is finely perforated. Alternatively, the case may also contain a liquid suitable for vaporization in an electronic cigarette, in which case the bottom wall has no holes in it.

The unit 1 comprises an advancing conveyor 2 having a portion 3 with a series of retaining sheets 4 arranged to receive each cartridge C from a supply unit for supplying the cartridges C. As shown in FIG.

In other words, the forward conveyor 2 is configured to receive a series of cartridges C for electronic cigarettes arriving from a processing station located upstream of the inspection unit and to receive them on respective holding sheets 4 each suitable for receiving and holding one cartridge C during movement of the forward conveyor 2.

To facilitate the transfer of the cartridge C to the advancing conveyor 2, the portion 3 has a curved serrated profile adapted to guide the gradual insertion of the cartridge C into the holding sheet 4, in particular into the holding sheet defined by the base of the curved teeth.

In other words, when a cartridge C arriving from a suitable supply unit encounters the advancing conveyor 2, it contacts the curve of the tooth tip of the section 3 profile and the progressive advancement of the advancing conveyor produces a slide of the cartridge C along the back of the same tooth until it reaches the base of the tooth and is stably received in the retaining seat 4 defined by the base thereof.

Each retaining sheet 4 is configured to retain the respective cartridge C in a substantially vertical position, and the portion 3 has a horizontal surface surrounding the series of retaining sheets 4 adapted to restly receive an undercut in the outer surface of the cartridge C.

In fact, the structure ensures correct retention of the cartridges on their respective retaining sheets 4 without the risk of accidental release and consequent undesired dropping from the forward conveyor 2 .

According to one particular embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the advancing conveyor 2 includes an advancing drum having a vertical axis of rotation X, and the series of sheets 4 have a main direction of extension substantially parallel to the axis of rotation X of the drum. A series of sheets 4 are arranged at the edge of the advancing drum, in other words the part 3 is the peripheral part of the advancing drum.

According to another embodiment not shown in these figures, the advancing conveyor 2 may be linear and may comprise belts arranged to advance a series of sheets 4 along a linear advancing path perpendicular to the vertical axis X. A series of sheets 4 may also be positioned at the edge of the belt, similar to the position on the advancing drum 2, so portion 3 may be a peripheral portion. Alternatively, portion 3 may be located in the inner band of the belt, in other words portion 3 may be the central portion.

The unit 1 further comprises an electromagnetic detector 5 configured to perform a test on each cartridge C, i.e. to detect one or more characteristics of the cartridge C to determine whether it meets one or more acceptance criteria.

It should be emphasized that in the present invention the term "inspection" means, by way of example and without limiting the scope of the invention, checking the condition of the cartridge by passing the entire article through radiation generated by a suitable electromagnetic detector, which may be of the capacitive, inductive, microwave or X-ray type.

The process allows an assessment as to whether the inspected cartridge C can be used to manufacture a marketable product, or whether the cartridge C has defects or defects that make it unsuitable for use in manufacturing tobacco industry products that can meet predetermined quality standards.

The electromagnetic detector 5 in turn comprises a transmitting shell 6 and a receiving shell 7 respectively arranged to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals.

The shells 6, 7 face each other so as to define a detection chamber 8 configured to slidably receive therein a portion of the advancing conveyor 2 and a cartridge C housed in at least the respective retaining seat 4.

In particular, in a configuration for using the test unit 1, a series of cartridges C are sequentially passed through the detection chamber 8 and are tested by the action of the electromagnetic detector 5 when fully positioned within the chamber, preferably within its central portion 8a.

According to one aspect of the invention, the electromagnetic detector 5 has a substantially U-shape (or C-shape) adapted to at least partially accommodate the advancing conveyor 2 such that the portion 3 is partially surrounded by the electromagnetic detector.

In other words, the electromagnetic detector 5 is configured to be associated with the advancing conveyor 2 so that the electromagnetic detector 5 accommodates the portion 3 that slides between the transmitting shell 6 and the receiving shell 7 .

Advantageously, the inspection unit according to the invention, by receiving both the part 3 and the entire cartridge C therein, ensures an optimum product quality inspection process, as the cartridge C as a whole is inspected when it is located at the point and focus of maximum intensity of the detection signal, i.e. the electromagnetic signal generated by the transmitting antenna and received by the receiving antenna.

In general, the transmit shell 6 has an internal transmit cavity 6a and a transmit antenna positioned inside the transmit cavity 6a, and the receive shell 7 has an internal receive cavity 7a and a receive antenna positioned inside the receive cavity 7a.

According to one particular embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the shells 6, 7 as a whole have a substantially parallelepipedal structure and are arranged one above the other such that their respective transmit and receive cavities face and are adjacent to each other, thereby defining a detection chamber 8.

Transmitting shell 6 and receiving shell 7 also comprise respective dielectric sheaths 6b, 7b arranged to at least partially cover respective surfaces of shells 6, 7 arranged opposite each other.

Their dielectric sheaths 6b, 7b face toward the portion 3 of the advancing conveyor 2 to define a detection chamber 8, they have a first end distal to the advancing conveyor 2 where they are in contact with each other, and a second end proximal to the advancing conveyor 2 where they spread apart and thereby define an area of the detection chamber 8, and within the detection chamber 8 the respective cartridges C retained on the holding sheets 4 of the portion 3 and portion 3 of the advancing conveyor 2. can slide through.

Accordingly, the detection chamber 8 comprises a first portion, namely a central portion 8a and a peripheral portion 8b, the central portion 8a being arranged to receive the cartridge C to be tested and located in the central region 8a of the electromagnetic detector 5, preferably at its geometric center, and the peripheral portion 8b extending starting from the central portion 8a and being arranged to receive the portion 3.

The central portion 8a and the peripheral portion 8b are separated by the second ends of the dielectric sheaths 6b, 7b.

The term central portion 8a particularly refers to the portion of the detection chamber 8 surrounding the geometric center of the electromagnetic detector.

Advantageously, on the one hand the dielectric sheaths 6b, 7b provide a protective barrier preventing access by unwanted external substances, e.g. , allows a considerable improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of the inspection unit 1 .

It is clear how the passage of the portion 3 of the advancing conveyor 2 through the detection chamber 8 provides the necessary suitable equipment to ensure that said components do not interfere with the inspection process, and therefore the portion 3 of the advancing conveyor 2 is made of polymeric material, preferably the entire advancing conveyor 2 is made of polymeric material.

The term polymeric material refers in particular to materials having properties such that they do not cause any kind of interference, distortion or disturbance of the electromagnetic signals generated by the transmitting antenna for performing a test of the properties of the cartridge C.

As previously indicated, according to a possible preferred embodiment of the invention, the electromagnetic detector 5 is a microwave detector, preferably operating at a wavelength between 10 ⁹ and 10 ¹² Hz, usable for measuring the density and/or humidity of the tobacco industry filled product contained in the cartridge C.

In this case the detection chamber 8 is a resonance chamber.

In particular, the microwave detector is configured to produce, via a transmitting antenna, an electromagnetic field of precisely shaped defined by lines of force that depend on the structural properties of the detector to emit a detection signal. The detected signal generated then passes through the cartridge C and reaches a receiving antenna connected to a processor that can receive it and analyze it, depending on the disturbance that the signal undergoes as it passes through the cartridge C to obtain information about the density and/or humidity of the filled product.

That information may be further processed using known techniques for obtaining the weight of the filled product, in particular making it possible to determine whether the correct amount of filled product has been inserted into the cartridge C in the upstream manufacturing process of the inspection unit 1.

In that context, the presence of the dielectric sheaths 6b, 7b is particularly useful and effective as it ensures that the lines of force of the electromagnetic field are optimally focused in the central portion 8a of the detection chamber 8, in this particular case the resonance chamber, i.e. the portion where the cartridge C is located at the moment of inspection.

This construction device significantly reduces the possibility of interference with the detected signal and ensures a significant improvement in reception by the receiving antenna.

According to a further possible embodiment, the electromagnetic detector is a capacitive type detector.

In this case, the transmitting and receiving shells define the plates of the capacitor, inside which the cartridge C slides.

When the cartridge C is placed between the two shells, the different dielectric constant of the filled product compared to that of air causes a measurable variation in the capacitance of the capacitive detector.

The variation is directly related to the humidity of the filled product, and once this value is obtained, it can be converted into weight information indicating the amount of filled product contained in cartridge C using known conditions, as already indicated.

The inspection unit 1 also comprises removal means 9 arranged downstream of the electromagnetic detector 5 with respect to the advancing direction of the forward conveyor 2, adapted to extract from the holding sheet non-conforming cartridges C detected by the electromagnetic detector 5.

In other words, the removal means 9 are arranged to allow execution of a removal procedure intended to remove from the manufacturing process all cartridges C that do not meet predefined quality parameters.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the removal means 9 may be made using suction tubes arranged above the advancing conveyor 2 and may thus be set to suction the non-conforming cartridges C and lift them off their respective retaining sheets 4 until they are completely extracted from the sheet.

The invention also relates to an inspection method for quality control of disposable cartridges for electronic cigarettes.

The disclosed method involves placing an inspection unit 1 made as described above.

Next, the method receives a series of cartridges C received from a supply unit for supplying cartridges C at each holding sheet 4 of the forward conveyor 2 . In other words, the supply unit arranged upstream of the inspection unit 1 supplies a series of cartridges C which are received on respective holding sheets 4 of the forward conveyor 2 .

The advancing conveyor 2 then moves a series of cartridges C to slide them through the detection chambers 8, and in particular, the advancing conveyor 2 moves the cartridges C so that they are completely within the detection chambers 8.

A detection step is then performed by means of the electromagnetic detector 5 to detect at least the properties of the cartridge C which is located entirely inside the detection chamber 8 .

Electromagnetic detector 5 thus inspects each cartridge C passing through detection chamber 8 when the cartridge is completely within detection chamber 8, preferably in its central portion 8a.

The term central portion 8 a refers to the portion of the detection chamber 8 surrounding the geometric center of the electromagnetic detector 5 .

When testing is complete, the cartridges C exit the detection chamber 8 and a series of cartridges C can be released to a receiving means for receiving the cartridges Cs.

These receiving means arranged downstream of the inspection unit make it possible to transfer the cartridges C to subsequent further processing steps intended to obtain the final product of the tobacco sector.

The forward conveyor 2 may be moved continuously, i.e., the forward conveyor 2 receives the cartridges C and slides them in a continuous flow through the detection chamber 8 where testing is performed when the cartridges C are fully inserted inside the detection chamber 8.

Alternatively, the advancing conveyor 2 may be moved intermittently, i.e. preferably in constant steps equal to the distance existing between two adjacent retaining sheets 4, the advancing conveyor 2 receiving the cartridges C and sliding them through the detection chamber in an intermittent stream. That is, cartridge C remains stationary within detection chamber 8 for the time required to complete the testing procedure.

In order to ensure a correct evaluation of the properties measured by the electromagnetic detectors 5, the method according to the invention comprises, before the detection step, a step intended to condition the electromagnetic detectors 5 by detecting each carrier sheet 4.

That step allows a systematic examination and evaluation of the contribution to the measurement caused by the fact that part of the part 3, the part with the retaining sheet 4, enters the detection chamber 8, thereby ensuring correct checking of the cartridge C during the subsequent measuring step.

More specifically, during the adjustment step, the electromagnetic detector 5 substantially takes measurements only of the portion 3 of the advancing conveyor 2, limited to the portion that would enter the detection chamber 8 in the absence of the cartridge C.

This allows the evaluation of the possible influence of the passing of only a small portion of the section 3 of the forward conveyor 2 on the electromagnetic signal generated by the transmitting antenna and intended for the receiving antenna.

Therefore, during the subsequent actual inspection of the cartridge C, it is sufficient to properly take into account the contribution to the measurement from the passage of the part of the forward conveyor 2 in the detection chamber 8, which is known thanks to the adjustment step, ensuring that the electromagnetic signal, when processed, clearly indicates relevant information relevant only to the inspected cartridge C and provides a correct assessment of its quality level.

Advantageously, the detection step then includes substeps intended to enable the operator to define whether a given cartridge C can be used correctly in the production of the final product.

In particular, the detection step includes a first sub-step intended to determine whether the measured at least characteristic meets predefined acceptance criteria, and a second sub-step intended to activate a removal procedure for removing cartridge C such that if the acceptance criteria are not complied with, cartridge C is removed from the manufacturing process.

Advantageously, the present invention makes available to the user an inspection unit and method for quality control of disposable cartridges for electronic cigarettes, which achieves the proposed objectives, overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art, and ensures the performance of accurate and efficient qualitative analysis of the processed products.

Claims (16)

An inspection unit (1) for quality control of disposable cartridges (C) for electronic cigarettes, comprising:
an advancing conveyor (2) having a portion (3) having a series of retaining sheets (4) configured to receive each cartridge (C) from a supply unit of cartridges (C);
an electromagnetic detector (5) configured to detect one or more characteristics of said cartridge (C) to determine conformance of said cartridge (C) to one or more pre-defined acceptance criteria;
Said detector comprises a transmitting shell (6) configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal and a receiving shell (7) configured to receive said electromagnetic signal, said transmitting shell (6) and said receiving shell (7) facing each other defining a detection chamber (8), said detection chamber (8) configured to slidably receive therein said portion (3) and at least a cartridge (C) housed in a respective retaining sheet (4), said cartridge (C) being adapted to receive said detection. An inspection unit (1), arranged entirely inside a chamber (8). A unit according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic detector (5) has a substantially U-shaped or C-shaped shape adapted to at least partially accommodate said advancing conveyor (2) such that said portion (3) is partially surrounded by said electromagnetic detector (5). A unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transmitting shell (6) comprises a transmitting cavity (6a) and a transmitting antenna arranged inside the transmitting cavity (6a), and wherein the receiving shell (7) comprises a receiving cavity (7a) and a receiving antenna arranged inside the receiving cavity (7a). 4. A unit according to claim 3, wherein the transmitting shell (6) and the receiving shell (7) have a hollow parallelepiped construction. 5. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the transmitting shell (6) and the receiving shell (7) comprise respective dielectric sheaths (6b, 7b) arranged to at least partially cover their respective surfaces arranged opposite each other, facing towards the part (3) of the advancing conveyor (2) and defining the detection chamber (8). A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the detection chamber (8) comprises a central portion (8a) arranged to receive the cartridge (C) and arranged in a central region of the electromagnetic detector (5), and a peripheral portion (8b) extending starting from the central portion (8a) and arranged to receive the portion (3). A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said portion (3) has a curved serrated profile adapted to guide the progressive insertion of said respective cartridge (C) into said series of retaining seats (4), said series of retaining seats (4) being defined by the base of said curved serrated profile. A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the series of retaining sheets (4) is arranged to retain each cartridge (C) in a substantially vertical position. 9. A unit according to claim 8, wherein said portion (3) has a horizontal surface surrounding said series of retaining sheets (4) adapted to statically receive an undercut in the outer surface of said respective cartridge (C). A unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said portion (3) of said advancing conveyor (2) or said advancing conveyor as a whole (2) is made of polymeric material. 11. A unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said advancing conveyor (2) comprises an advancing drum having a vertical axis of rotation (X), said series of retaining sheets having a main direction of extension substantially parallel to said vertical axis of rotation (X) of said drum, said portion (3) being peripheral and arranged at the edge of said advancing drum. 12. A unit according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising removing means (9) arranged downstream of said detector with respect to the advancing direction of said advancing conveyor (2), adapted to extract non-compliant cartridges (C) detected by said electromagnetic detector (5) from said series of retaining sheets (4). A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the electromagnetic detector (5) is a microwave resonator, said microwave resonator operating at a wavelength comprised between 10 ⁹ and 10 ¹² Hz, e.g. for measuring the density and/or humidity of the tobacco industry filled product contained inside said respective cartridge (C), and said detection chamber (8) being a resonant chamber. An inspection method for quality control of disposable cartridges (C) for electronic cigarettes, comprising:
arranging an inspection unit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13;
receiving a series of cartridges (C) from said supply unit of cartridges (C) at each holding sheet (4) of said forward conveyor (2);
moving said series of cartridges (C) through said detection chamber (8);
using said electromagnetic detector (5) to detect at least a characteristic of a cartridge (C) located entirely inside said detection chamber (8);
releasing said series of cartridges (C) into a receiving means for said cartridges (C). 15. A method according to claim 14, comprising adjusting the electromagnetic detector (5) by detecting each carrier sheet (4) before the detecting step. The detecting step includes:
a substep of determining whether at least the measured property meets predefined acceptance criteria;
16. A method according to claim 14 or 15, comprising the sub-step of activating a procedure for removing said cartridge (C) if said acceptance criteria are not complied with.

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