JPH10111125A - Device an method for measuring expansion of cut tobacco - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the measurement of the amount of the diametrical distortion of cut tobacco by making up a cylindrical container whose diameter is freely enlargeable from a plurality of container frames and a compressing rod, compressing cut tobacco in the container, measuring the amount of axial distortion, and obtaining the amount of the movement of the container frames at the time when the diameter of container is enlarged and the stress exerted on the container frames becomes zero. SOLUTION: A cylindrical container 2 is formed with a container frame 1 as the minimum inner circumferential location, and a predetermined amount of cut tobacco is inserted into it. A compressing rod 9 is lowered by a crosshead controlling part to compress the cut tobacco in the axial direction of the cylindrical container 2 under a predetermined load. A pressure sensor 5 detects a laterally displacing force exerted from the cut tobacco to the container frame 1, and a container frame supporting body 3 is moved by a lateral displacement controlling part to a location where stress becomes zero. A location detecting device 8 obtains the amount of displacement of the container frame 1 at the time when stress becomes zero, and it is taken as the amount of lateral distortion of the cut tobacco and outputted with the amount of vertical distortion exerted on the cut tobacco by the compressing rod 9. By this, it is possible to efficiently measure the Poisson's ratio of compression of the cut tobacco.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for measuring the spread of a cut tobacco which can efficiently measure the compressed Poisson's ratio of the cut tobacco.

[0002]

2. Related Background Art One of the requirements that affect the quality of cigarettes is the filling amount (packing density) of chopped tobacco. By the way, if the packing density of the chopped tobacco is excessive, the air flow is obstructed and it becomes difficult to suck, and conversely, if the packing density is insufficient, so-called leaf spillage or breakage is caused. For this reason, conventionally, efforts have generally been made to improve the quality of cigarettes by controlling (controlling) the filling amount (filling density) of chopped tobacco with high precision.

[0003]

There are many types of cut tobacco used for cigarettes, and a blend of various leaf tobaccos is used depending on the brand. Moreover, the quality of the minced tobacco, such as hardness and elasticity, differs depending on the type. For this reason, even if the filling amount (filling density) is made constant, it is undeniable that the hardness of the cigarette used for cigarettes causes a difference in its hardness. Therefore, it is necessary to individually manage and control the filling amount (filling density) depending on the brand of cigarettes, in other words, on what kind of cut tobacco is used.
However, at present, the filling amount (filling density) of tobacco cut for each brand of cigarette is determined based on trial manufacture, experiment, empirical rules, and the like, and the fact is that this is managed and controlled.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to evaluate the quality of minced tobacco and to determine the compressed Poisson's ratio of minced tobacco required to determine the filling amount (packing density), that is, An object of the present invention is to provide a spread tobacco spread measuring device and a measuring method capable of efficiently measuring the spread in the horizontal direction when the compression load is applied in the vertical direction.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an apparatus for measuring the spread of a cut tobacco according to the present invention is, as described in claim 1, divided into circumferential portions of a cylindrical container in which the cut tobacco is stored. A plurality of container frames constituting an inner wall surface of a cylinder, a compression rod for compressing a tobacco stored in the cylindrical container formed by these container frames from an axial direction of the cylindrical container, and a compression load by the compression rod. A first method for measuring the axial strain amount of the cut tobacco that has been performed.
And a plurality of container frame supports provided movably in the radial direction of the cylindrical container, respectively, and provided movably in the same direction, and each of these container frame supports. And a pressure sensor provided between the container frame and detecting a stress applied to the container frame with the compressive load of the cut tobacco; and a stress detected by the pressure sensor by moving the container frame support. It is characterized by comprising a supporting body moving mechanism to be zero, and a second measuring means for measuring the radial strain amount of the cut tobacco from the radial moving amount of the container frame at the time when the stress becomes zero. I have.

[0006] That is, a plurality of container frames and a compression rod constituting a substantially expandable cylindrical container are provided, and the amount of axial strain when the cut tobacco stored in the cylindrical container is compressed by the compression rod is reduced. While measuring, the stress applied to the container frame due to the compressed load of the cut tobacco is detected by a pressure sensor, and the container frame is moved so that the stress becomes zero, thereby expanding the diameter of the cylindrical container. The radial distortion amount of the chopped tobacco is measured from the movement amount of the container frame, which is the diameter expansion amount.

The invention according to a second aspect of the present invention is a flexible method for preventing spills of cigarettes, particularly when connecting the adjacent inner container frames to the inner wall surface of the container frame when moving radially outward. The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that a conductive film is provided, and in particular, the plurality of container frames each constitute a cylindrical inner wall surface that divides a cylindrical container into four equal parts in a circumferential direction, and faces each other. It is characterized in that the cylindrical container is moved in the opposite direction between the container frames to substantially expand the diameter of the cylindrical container.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for measuring the spread of a cut tobacco, wherein the cut tobacco is accommodated in an expandable cylindrical container, and a compressed rod movable in the axial direction of the cylindrical container. A first step of measuring the axial strain amount of the shredded tobacco from the displacement amount of the compression rod as a longitudinal strain amount while applying a predetermined compression load to the shredded tobacco; and Detecting the stress applied to the inner wall surface of the container and expanding the diameter of the cylindrical container until the stress becomes zero, and calculating the radial distortion amount of the cut tobacco from the diameter expansion amount of the cylindrical container at that time. And a second step of performing measurement.

In other words, the amount of axial strain (compression amount) of the cut tobacco when the cut tobacco stored in the cylindrical container whose diameter can be freely expanded is compressed by a compression rod is measured, and the cylindrical shape is changed with the compression load. The diameter of the cylindrical container is expanded so that the stress applied to the wall surface of the container becomes zero, and the amount of radial distortion (expansion amount) of the cut tobacco is calculated from the amount of expansion at that time.
Is measured.

As described in claim 5, the measurement of the axial strain amount of the cut tobacco is performed by setting a time when a predetermined compression load is applied to the cut tobacco stored in the cylindrical container using a compression rod as a measurement start time. The amount of compression of the cut tobacco due to the compression load is measured from the amount of displacement of the compression rod, and the amount of radial distortion of the cut tobacco is measured in the radial direction of the cut tobacco due to the axial compression load. The expansion amount of the cut tobacco when the cylindrical container is expanded until the stress caused by the expansion force of the cylinder becomes zero is measured from the expanded amount of the cylindrical container, and the cut tobacco is axially cut by the compression rod. It is characterized in that the compression load and the diameter expansion of the cylindrical container are repeatedly executed.

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an apparatus and a method for measuring the spread of a cut tobacco according to the present invention. 1 and 2 are a front view and a plan view schematically showing a schematic configuration of a spread tobacco spread measuring apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit thereof. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a plurality of container frames constituting the cylindrical container 2. Each of these container frames 1
For example, the cylindrical container 2 constitutes a cylindrical inner wall surface obtained by dividing the cylindrical container 2 into four equal parts in the circumferential direction. The cylindrical inner wall is provided so as to be movable in the radial direction of the cylindrical container 2. Has a structure capable of substantially varying the diameter.

That is, each of the container frames 1 comprises a frame portion 1a forming the inner wall surface of the cylindrical container 2 and a support portion 1b projecting to the rear side of the frame portion 1a. The cylindrical container 2 is supported by being fitted to a linear guide 3 a provided on the frame support 3 so as to be movable in the radial direction of the cylindrical container 2. The container frame support 3 roughly comprises the linear guide 3a, the main body 3b, and the leg 3c, and the leg 3c is inserted through a linear guide hole 4a formed in the test table 4. The container frame 1 is provided so as to be movable in the same direction as the container frame 1.

The main body 3b of the container frame support 3
Plays a role in restricting the movement of the container frame 1 movably supported by the linear guide 3a to the radial outside of the cylindrical container 2. A pressure sensor (load cell) interposed between the main body 3b and the support 1b of the container frame 1.
5, the radial moving force (lateral stress) applied to the container frame support 3 from the container frame 1 is detected.

The container frame support 3 itself has a leg 3c protruding from the lower surface of the test table 4 through the linear guide hole 4a, and a feed screw provided on the lower surface of the test table 4. The feed screw 6a is screwed, and the feed screw 6a is fed and driven by the action of a step motor 6 for driving the feed screw 6a to rotate forward and backward, so that the feed screw 6a is moved in the radial direction of the cylindrical container 2 described above.

On the side of the main body 3b of the container frame support 3, there is provided a stopper 7 for defining a moving range of the container frame support 3. The stopper 7 supports the container frame support 3, and thus the container frame 1 supported by the container frame support 3, only at a position that defines the maximum diameter of the measurement range from the innermost position of the cylindrical container 2. It is restricted to movable. Further, as described above, a differential type position detector (position detecting differential transformer) is provided on the support portion 1b of the container frame 1 supported by the container frame support 3 so as to be linearly movable via the arm portion 1c. 8 are provided. The position detector 8 detects the amount of displacement from the reference position of the container frame 1 with respect to the test table 4, for example, from the innermost position of the cylindrical container 2.

Incidentally, when each container frame 1 is positioned at the innermost position, and the edges of the plurality of container frames 1 are in contact with each other to form one continuous cylindrical container 2, the diameter of the cylindrical container 2 is: For example, it is set to 72 mm.
When each container frame 1 is located at the outermost diameter position, the edges of the plurality of container frames 1 are separated from each other. The diameter of the cylindrical container 2 substantially formed by this is set to, for example, 92 mm. ing. That is, the cylindrical container 2 formed by the plurality of container frames 1 is expanded in diameter from 72 mm to 92 mm as the container frame 1 moves.

A gap formed between adjacent container frames 1 when the cylindrical container 2 is expanded in diameter is closed by a flexible film (not shown) provided along the inner wall surface of the container frame 1. Can come off. This flexible film is the container frame 1
While moving along the inner wall surface of the container frame 1 without hindering the movement of the container frame 1, the gap generated between the container frames 1 is prevented, and the role of preventing the spillage of the cut tobacco stored in the cylindrical container 1 is played.

On the other hand, above the cylindrical container 2 formed by the plurality of container frames 1 as described above,
A compression rod 9 is provided so as to be vertically movable in the axial direction. The compression rod 9 is supported by a housing (not shown) supporting the test table 4 and includes a cylindrical body (crosshead) equal to the innermost diameter of the cylindrical container 2. The lower surface plays a role of compressively loading the cut tobacco stored in the cylindrical container 2. The amount of compression load and the load speed of the tobacco cut by the compression rod 9 are controlled by a crosshead control unit described later.

In this apparatus, which is mechanically configured as described above, the control unit is configured as shown in FIG. That is, the stress detected by the pressure sensor 5 provided between each container frame 1 and the container frame support 3 is given to the lateral displacement control unit 11 corresponding to each container frame 1, Used for driving. Each of these lateral displacement control units 11 applies a lateral displacement force (stress) to the container frame 1 when the cut tobacco stored in the cylindrical container 2 is compressed by the compression rod 9.
And the stepping motor 6 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions so that the stress becomes zero (0).
Is laterally displaced.

Specifically, the lateral displacement control section 11 includes a preamplifier 12 for amplifying the output (stress) of the pressure sensor 5 to a predetermined level, and a amplified reference signal for a predetermined reference level Vref.
A differential amplifier 13 for comparing and amplifying the differential amplifier 13
And a motor drive circuit 14 for driving the stepping motor 6 so that the level difference is made zero according to the level difference obtained in step (1). The driving range of the step motor 6 by the motor driving circuit 14 is limited by the output from the limit switch (LS) detected by the stopper 7.

Under the control of the lateral displacement control section 11, the movement of the container frame support 3 is controlled. That is, when the cut tobacco is stored in the cylindrical container 2 formed with the container frame 1 positioned at the innermost position and the compression rod 9 is lowered to compress the tobacco, the cut tobacco is expanded in the horizontal direction. I will try. However, since the expansion of the container frame 1 is restricted by the container frame support 3, the force of expanding the cut tobacco in the horizontal direction is a displacement force (stress) of the container frame 1 in the horizontal direction. Join. Then, the stress is received by the container frame support 3 via the pressure sensor 5 and detected by the pressure sensor 5. The lateral displacement control unit 11 drives the stepping motor 6 to reduce the stress detected by the pressure sensor 5 to zero (0) in this manner, and the container frame support 3
Is moved radially outward. Then, the lateral displacement force (stress) applied to the container frame 1 along with the movement of the container frame support 3 is gradually reduced. It is displaced in the lateral direction by receiving the lateral spreading force. The position detector (displacement meter) 8 calculates the lateral displacement of the container frame 1 as described above, that is, the lateral displacement of the container frame 1 when the lateral stress becomes zero (0) when the compressive load is applied. It is detected as the amount of lateral distortion of chopped tobacco.

Incidentally, the lateral displacement of the container frame 1 detected by a position detector (displacement meter) 8 provided for each direction corresponding to the container frame 1, that is, the transverse distortion of the cut tobacco in each direction. The amount is calculated and processed by the lateral distortion measuring unit 21,
For example, it is output as an X-direction distortion amount, a Y-direction distortion amount, and a total lateral distortion amount. Specifically, the lateral displacement amount of the container frame 1 detected by each of the position detectors (displacement gauges) 8 is amplified to a predetermined level by the preamplifier 22, respectively.
The addition process is performed by the adder 23 for each output from the container frames 1 opposed to each other, and output via the level adjuster 24. Through these addition processes, the transverse distortion amounts of the tobacco in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction on the test table 4 are obtained. The outputs of the adders 23 are added by an adder 25 at the next stage and output via a level adjuster 26. As a result, the overall transverse distortion amount of the cut tobacco is determined.

The compression load of the tobacco cut by the compression rod 9 is controlled by the crosshead control unit 31. The crosshead control unit 31 includes a vertical load control unit 32
And a motor drive circuit 33 the operation of which is controlled by the vertical load control unit 32, and configured to apply a predetermined compression load to the cut tobacco by driving a motor 34 that moves the compression rod 9 up and down. Have been. Then, a compressive load to be applied to the cut tobacco is detected by, for example, a displacement meter 35 provided in a driving unit (not shown) thereof,
This is fed back to the vertical load controller 32. At the same time, the load value detected via the displacement meter 35 is amplified via the preamplifier 36 and is amplified by the level adjuster 3.
7 to obtain the longitudinal distortion amount of the cut tobacco.

That is, the control unit configured as described above
When the container frame 1 is positioned at the innermost peripheral position and the cylindrical container 2 is formed, the cylindrical container 2 is started in a state where a predetermined amount of tobacco is put into the cylindrical container 2. Then, first, the crosshead control unit 31 is operated to lower the compression rod 9, and the cut tobacco is compressed in the axial direction of the cylindrical container 2 by the compression rod 9, and the cut tobacco is compressed by a predetermined load.
In this state, the lateral displacement force applied to the container frame 1 from the cut tobacco is detected by the pressure sensor 5, and the lateral displacement control unit 11 is driven to move the container frame support 3 to a position where the stress becomes zero. Let it. Then, the displacement amount of the container frame 1 at the time when the stress becomes zero is obtained by the position detector (displacement meter) 8, and is obtained as the lateral strain amount of the cut tobacco by the compression rod 9 and added to the cut tobacco. It is output together with the amount of directional distortion. Then, measurement of the amount of lateral distortion with respect to the amount of vertical distortion of such tobacco,
The compression of the cut tobacco by the compression rod 9 is repeatedly executed until the compression stroke reaches a predetermined compression stroke.

Next, the procedure for measuring the spread of a cut tobacco using the spread tobacco spread measuring apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. In this measurement procedure, first, the above-described series of measurement mechanisms such as the container frame 1 are installed on the test table 4 so as to be movable in the radial direction, and are positioned above the cylindrical container 2 formed by the container frame 1 and compressed. The procedure is started by attaching the rod 9 so as to be vertically movable (step S1). At this time, the above-described series of measurement mechanisms are correctly installed at the center position of the test table 4, and care is taken so that dust or the like does not enter between them. Thereafter, the compression rod 9 is lowered, and the lower end surface thereof is moved 1 to 2 from the upper end surface of the cylindrical container 2.
mm, the compression rod 9 and the cylindrical container 2 are stopped.
Then, the lowermost position where the compression rod 9 does not collide with the test table 4 is checked (step S2).

On the other hand, at this time, the step motor 6 is driven to move the container frame support 3 to confirm that the container frame 1 moves and the cylindrical container 2 expands in diameter, and that the moving range is confirmed. The movement range of the container frame support 3 and the movement range of the container frame 1 are defined by the stopper 7 (step S3). Thereafter, the origin position of the compression rod 9 is set (step S4).

The origin position is set, for example, by setting the compression rod 9
Is set as a measurement origin when the lower end surface of the container 1 is lowered to a position 100 mm above the bottom surface of the cylindrical container 2, specifically, the surface of the test table 4. For example, when the container frame 1 is expanded, The compression rod 9 is lowered, and the compression rod 9
The lower end surface is lightly contacted with the test table 4 without excessively applying a load, and the lowering amount of the compression rod 9 at that time is measured. The value obtained by subtracting 100 mm from the descending amount of the compressing rod 9 measured in this way is defined as the descending limit position of the compressing rod 9, and is set as the measurement end point when compressing the cut tobacco, that is, the measurement origin. You.

Thereafter, the container frames 1 are respectively moved to the innermost positions to form the cylindrical container 2 having the minimum diameter (step S5), and the compression rod 9 is raised so that the upper end surface of the cylindrical container 2 is raised. By releasing (Step S6), the measurement preparation is completed. Then, the above-mentioned flexible film is arranged along the inner wall surface of the cylindrical container 2, and a predetermined amount of tobacco is put inside the flexible film (step S7).

In this state, first, test conditions are set (step S8). The setting of this test condition is performed, for example, by referring to FIG.
Enter the name of the test file to save the test results on the display screen shown in Figure 4 and select and specify each item of longitudinal strain range, longitudinal load range, test stroke, test speed, sampling cycle, start load, or numerical value. This is done by inputting and setting.

Thereafter, the control unit is started up, and while confirming that the compression rod 9 has not reached the lowest position set at the origin position as described above (step S9), the compression rod 9 is compressed by a predetermined amount. It is lowered under the load condition (step S10). Then, the lateral spreading force generated in the cut tobacco due to the compression load of the cut tobacco by the compression rod 9 is detected by the pressure sensor 5 as the stress acting on the container frame 1 (step S11), and the detected stress is detected as described above. Is reduced to zero (step S12), the container frame support 3 is moved radially outward of the cylindrical container 2, and the diameter of the container frame 1 (cylindrical container 2) is expanded (step S12). S13). The diameter of the container frame 1 is
It is performed while confirming that it does not reach the maximum diameter expanding position (step S14).

The movement of the container frame support 3 and the displacement of the container frame 1, whose position restriction has been released by the movement of the container frame support 3, being subjected to the lateral spreading force of the cut tobacco, When the stress detected by the pressure sensor 5 becomes zero (0) (Step S12)
From the descending amount of the compression rod 9, the amount of longitudinal distortion of the cut tobacco when a compressive load is applied under the above conditions is measured (step S15), and the amount of expansion of the cylindrical container 2, that is, the amount of lateral displacement of the container frame 1 is measured. Then, the lateral distortion amount of the cut tobacco is measured (step S16).

This measurement process is repeated until the compression rod 9 reaches the predetermined descending position.
Is executed repeatedly while descending. Each time the stress becomes zero as the container frame support 3 moves, the amount of longitudinal distortion and the amount of lateral distortion at that time are repeatedly measured. Note that the vertical distortion amount and the horizontal distortion amount of the chopped tobacco thus measured may be sequentially plotted using an XY recorder. For example, as shown in FIG. A graph may be displayed on the screen.

When the compression rod 9 is lowered to the predetermined lowering position (step S9), or when the expanded position of the container frame support 3 reaches the maximum diameter (step S14), the above-described measurement processing is performed. Ends. With the end of the measurement, the compression rod 9 is raised to the original position (step S17), the compressed tobacco is discharged, and a series of measurement processing is ended (step S18).
In the case of subsequently performing measurement for another tobacco, the above-described processing from step S7 may be repeatedly executed.

Thus, according to the apparatus configured as described above, the cut tobacco is taken as a unit of a predetermined amount, accommodated in the cylindrical container 2 whose diameter can be expanded, and applied with a predetermined compressive load in the axial direction (longitudinal direction). Lateral direction (radial direction) due to compression
Is measured as the displacement of the container frame 3 where the spreading force (stress) is zero, so that the compressed Poisson's ratio of the cut tobacco, that is, the spread in the horizontal direction when the compressive load is applied in the vertical direction, is efficiently obtained. Can be measured. In particular, by the cooperative action of the container frame 1 and the container frame support 3 movably supporting the container frame 1, the amount of movement displacement of the container frame 1 is measured while the stress generated therebetween is reduced to zero.
It is possible to easily measure the transverse strain amount of the tobacco under a predetermined compressive load condition.

Accordingly, a compression Poisson ratio suitable for evaluating properties such as hardness and elasticity of various cut tobaccos can be simply determined.
It can be measured efficiently and its practical advantages are enormous. In particular, a plurality of container frames 1 constituting the cylindrical container 2 are provided so as to be freely movable in the radial direction, respectively, and are uniformly expanded in the horizontal direction due to the compressive load of the minced tobacco, and each expands in the horizontal direction. The measurement can be repeatedly performed as the compression rod 9 descends while keeping the compression load condition almost constant. At this time, since the cylindrical shape is maintained by the flexible film provided along the inner wall surface of the cylindrical container 2 and the falling off of the cut tobacco is prevented, the spread of the cut tobacco is more effectively maintained while maintaining the rolling load condition. Can be measured.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the lateral spread is obtained as an average of the lateral strain in the X-axis direction and the lateral strain in the Y-axis direction. Since the average is obtained as the amount of distortion, the variation in the amount of displacement of each container frame 1 can be absorbed and the amount of lateral distortion can be comprehensively measured, and the measurement accuracy can be improved.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, as the container frame 1, a cylindrical container 2
May be divided into six equal parts or eight equal parts in the circumferential direction. In this case, a container frame support 3 similar to the mechanism described above may be provided for each container frame 1. Further, since the pair of container frames 1 opposed to each other can be considered to have the same spreading force in that direction, for example, a pair of container frame supports 3 respectively supporting the pair of container frames 1 described above.
May be moved and displaced in opposite directions by one feed screw 6a. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the cost of the apparatus by reducing the number of the step motors 6 by half.

For setting the magnitude of the compression load,
What is necessary is just to determine according to the quantity of the tobacco to be thrown into the cylindrical container 2, and the measurement sensitivity etc. may also be determined according to the measurement specification. Although the cylindrical container 2 is formed by the plurality of container frames 1 here, a so-called polygonal container that can be regarded as a substantially cylindrical container may be configured. In addition, the present invention can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the gist thereof.

[0039]

As described above, according to the apparatus for measuring the spread of a tobacco cigarette according to the present invention, as described in claim 1, a plurality of container frames constituting a cylindrical inner wall surface of a cylindrical container are provided. The shredded tobacco stored in the container is compressed by a compression rod in the axial direction of the cylindrical container, and the axial strain of the shredded tobacco compressed by the compression rod is measured by a first measuring means. On the other hand, each of the container frames is supported by a container frame support so as to be movable in the radial direction of the cylindrical container, and the container frame support is also provided so as to be movable in the same direction. A pressure sensor provided between each container frame support and the container frame detects a stress applied to the container frame in association with the compressive load of the shredded tobacco, and the container frame support is configured to reduce the stress to zero. Is moved to measure the amount of radial distortion of the cut tobacco from the amount of radial movement of the container frame when the stress becomes zero.

Therefore, according to the present invention, there are provided a plurality of container frames and a compression rod constituting a substantially expandable cylindrical container, and when the cut tobacco stored in the cylindrical container is subjected to a compression load by the compression rod. The stress applied to the container frame due to the compressive load of the cut tobacco is detected by a pressure sensor while measuring the axial strain amount of the tobacco, and the container frame is expanded by moving the container frame so that the stress becomes zero. Diameter,
Since the radial strain amount of the cut tobacco is measured from the movement amount of the container frame which is the diameter expansion amount at that time, the spreading characteristic of the cut tobacco under a predetermined compression load condition, that is, the compression Poisson ratio can be efficiently measured. it can.

In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the spilling of the tobacco cut especially on the inner wall surface of the cylinder of the container frame when moving radially outward by connecting the adjacent container frames to each other is prevented. Since the flexible film is provided, the measurement can be performed easily and accurately with the compression load condition kept almost constant. According to the third aspect of the present invention, the plurality of container frames constitute cylindrical inner wall surfaces which divide the cylindrical container into four equal parts in the circumferential direction, and are moved in opposite directions between the container frames facing each other. Since the diameter of the cylindrical container is increased substantially, the lateral spread of the tobacco caused by the compressive load can be measured simply and efficiently.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for measuring the spread of a cut tobacco according to the present invention. ) Is measured, and the cylindrical container is expanded so that the stress applied to the wall surface of the cylindrical container due to the compressive load becomes zero, and the radial distortion amount (spreading) of the cut tobacco is calculated from the expanded diameter at that time. amount)
Is measured, a predetermined amount of cut tobacco is regarded as a certain unit, and the nature of the spread in the lateral direction at the time of compressive load can be easily measured.

In particular, since the compression load in the axial direction of the tobacco cut by the compression rod and the expansion of the cylindrical container are repeatedly executed while continuously lowering the compression rod, the measurement accuracy is improved. Can be effectively increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a schematic configuration of a spread tobacco spread measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, with a part thereof broken away.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part of the spread measuring device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control unit of the spread measuring device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a measurement procedure in the apparatus according to the embodiment, and a method for measuring the spread of a tobacco according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for performing setting processing of a spread tobacco spread measurement condition (test condition).

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a display screen of a measurement result of spread of tobacco.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container frame 2 Cylindrical container 3 Container frame support 4 Test table 5 Pressure sensor (load cell) 6 Step motor 7 Stopper (limit switch) 8 Position detector (displacement gauge) 9 Compression rod 11 Lateral displacement control unit 21 Lateral distortion measurement unit 31 Longitudinal strain measurement unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of container frames forming a cylindrical inner wall surface divided in a circumferential direction of a cylindrical container accommodating cut tobacco, and a compressed load of the cut tobacco stored in the cylindrical container from an axial direction of the cylindrical container. Compression rod, first measuring means for measuring the axial strain amount of the chopped tobacco compressed by the compression rod, and each of the container frames is movably supported in a radial direction of the cylindrical container, and A plurality of container frame supports movably provided in the same direction; and a stress applied to the container frame in association with the compressed load of the cut tobacco provided between each of the container frame supports and the container frame. A pressure sensor, a support moving mechanism that moves the container frame support to make the stress detected by the pressure sensor zero, and a radial movement amount of the container frame when the stress becomes zero. Spread measuring device shredded tobacco characterized by comprising a second measuring means for measuring the radial strain of the serial shredded tobacco. 2. A flexible film is provided on the inner wall surface of the cylinder of the container frame to prevent spilling of the cut cigarette by interconnecting between adjacent container frames when moving radially outward. The spread tobacco spread measuring apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The plurality of container frames each constitute a cylindrical inner wall surface which divides a cylindrical container into four equal parts in a circumferential direction, and moves in opposite directions between mutually opposed container frames to form the cylindrical container. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the diameter is substantially increased.
2. The spread tobacco spread measuring apparatus according to 1. 4. A moving displacement amount of said compressed tobacco, wherein said compressed tobacco is accommodated in an expandable cylindrical container and said compressed tobacco is applied with a predetermined compressive load using a compression rod movable in an axial direction of said cylindrical container. A first step of measuring the axial strain amount of the cut tobacco as a longitudinal strain amount, and detecting a stress applied to the inner wall surface of the cylindrical container due to the compressive load of the cut tobacco, and the stress becomes zero. And a second step of measuring the radial strain amount of the cut tobacco as a lateral strain amount from the expanded diameter of the cylindrical container at that time. Spread measurement method. 5. The method according to claim 5, wherein the measurement of the axial strain amount of the cut tobacco is performed when a predetermined compression load is applied to the cut tobacco stored in the cylindrical container using a compression rod as a measurement start time. The compression amount is measured from the displacement amount of the compression rod, and the radial distortion amount of the cut tobacco is measured by reducing the stress caused by the radially expanding force of the cut tobacco due to the axial compression load to zero. The expansion amount of the cut tobacco when the cylindrical container is expanded is measured from the amount of expansion of the cylindrical container until the cylindrical container is expanded, and the compression load in the axial direction of the cut tobacco by the compression rod and the expansion of the cylindrical container are measured. The method for measuring the spread of a cut tobacco according to claim 4, wherein the measurement is repeatedly performed.