JPS632589B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides that, while a rod-shaped smoking article is being fed along a predetermined feed path in the direction of the transverse axis of the smoking article, a space filled with a filler and covered with a covering material; A method for testing a smoking article with respect to a desired ventilation zone of its covering by forming a pressure gradient between it and a space outside the covering and forming a test signal dependent on the air permeability of the covering. Regarding.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a rotating inspection conveyor equipped with a receptacle for holding rod-shaped smoking articles, and a space formed by filling the filling of each smoking article and covering it with a covering material. sealing means for temporary separation from the outside; connection means for connecting one of these two spaces to a pressure source; and a connection for connecting one of these two spaces to a measuring device for determining the pressure difference. and an inspection mechanism with means for inspecting a smoking article for a desired ventilation zone of its covering.

The term <<bar-shaped smoking article>> means cigarettes, chigarillos, and shikarets, with or without filters.

The term ``desired ventilation zone'' generally refers to the area of the desired highly porous coating that is created by drilling perforations (one or more rows of holes) into the coating material. do. When the smoking article is smoked, ambient air is drawn through this zone near the mouthpiece of the smoking article, and this air is mixed with the tobacco smoke. The amount of nicotine and condensate in the smoke can be controlled by the amount of ambient air that is mixed with the smoke.
Recently, nicotine and condensate values have been displayed on the packaging of smoking articles and care must be taken to ensure that the displayed values are complied with, especially when mixed with smoke. This can be ensured by ensuring that the volume of ambient air does not fall below a predetermined value. However, this requires testing the air permeability of the aforementioned zones, which test is advantageously carried out on the finished smoking article.
This is because only in this way it is also possible to grasp the influence that can be exerted on this zone during the finishing process of the smoking article.

Inspection of the covering of a smoking article in the form of a rod is generally known, for which it is necessary in various ways to determine the distance between the space inside the smoking article wrapped by the covering material and the space outside the covering. The practice is to create a pressure gradient and monitor the pressure gradient that is created. Defects such as pores in the sheathing result in a reduced pressure gradient, so that a smoking article whose permeability of the sheathing exceeds a limit value can be detected, for example via a threshold calculation element, and then Excluded from the subsequent processing (packaging) process. The known inspection mechanism makes it possible to reliably identify smoking articles in which the air permeability of the covering deviates from a predetermined value by an amount corresponding to the air permeability of a 1 mm diameter hole. Problems arise when attempting to reliably capture deviations smaller than this. because,
This is because disturbances unrelated to the air permeability of the covering, such as problems with sealing during inspection or changes in tobacco density, may disrupt the inspection signal. However, the permeability of the desired ventilation zone of the covering to be tested is now smaller than a hole of 1 millimeter in diameter, and it is desirable to maintain a tolerance of ±2% and therefore to know when this tolerance is exceeded.

The object of the present invention is to maintain the covering of a smoking article during feeding of the rod-shaped smoking article in the direction of its transverse axis, on the one hand with respect to undesired air permeability, and on the other hand with the desired air permeability in certain zones of the covering. It is to check that there is a

According to the invention, this task is achieved by first preparing each smoking article by creating an initial pressure gradient over at least a large portion of its sheathing, including the desired ventilation zone, and by creating an initial test signal. carrying out a test, setting an upper limit for the air permeability of the covering, and determining that the tested smoking article is acceptable if the test signal is below this upper limit; forming a second pressure signal and performing a second test with greater sensitivity in the region of the desired ventilation zone by forming a second test signal, with changes in the second test signal being controlled; Solved by detecting.

As already mentioned, the problem arises of accurately ascertaining slight deviations in the air permeability of the covering, which are to be determined during the second inspection. Given that for the inspection of the desired ventilation zone of the covering it is sufficient to obtain a so-called trend indication, according to one embodiment of the invention a large number of Test mechanisms known today can be used for the second test, provided that a second test signal corresponding to the average air permeability of the desired air permeability zone is generated for the smoking article.

The term <<time interval>> refers not only to the natural flow of time, but also to the artificial flow of time, determined, for example, by the operating rhythm of a machine. On the other hand, a reduction in the influence of factors interfering with the formation of the test signal has only recently become possible with newly developed test mechanisms. Accordingly, in another embodiment of the invention, a second test signal can be generated for each individual smoking article. As mentioned at the outset, in the case of the smoking articles treated here, it is important that the air permeability of the coating material does not fall below a predetermined minimum value within the desired air flow zone. Accordingly, according to another characteristic of the invention, for the second test only a lower limit value of the air permeability of the covering of the desired ventilation zone is determined, and when the second test signal is above this lower limit value, It is sufficient to pass the inspected smoking article. When smoking articles are subjected to a first test in a first feed section of a processing line and a second test in a second feed section in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the first test has a desired initial pressure gradient. If the permeability of the covering in the desired ventilation zone is too high, this can be detected during this initial inspection, since it can be formed over at least a large part of the covering, including the ventilation zone. However, on the other hand, defects in the cladding outside the desired ventilation zone are detected during this first inspection, since the initial pressure gradient can only form over a large part of the cladding, excluding the desired ventilation zone. Only monitoring will be carried out. Then, during the second test, a second pressure gradient is created exclusively in the region of the desired ventilation zone, so that
The test signal generated in this way is no longer influenced by the magnitude of disturbances originating from other areas of the smoking article. The last described manner of first inspection followed by the second described manner of inspection or inspection in which the smoking article is simultaneously subjected to the first inspection and the second inspection in one feed section of the feed path. Another embodiment of the method is also possible. A smoking article that is defective, i.e. the permeability of the sheathing is too high or the permeability of the sheathing is too low in the area of the desired ventilation zone, will receive a defective signal if the inspection signal is outside the defined limit values. is generated and can be excluded from subsequent processing by allowing this defect signal to control the rejection of defective smoking articles inspected from time to time.

In particular, the apparatus mentioned at the outset, which is used to carry out the above-mentioned methods, is provided with a first inspection mechanism, which is initially connected between the space inside the sheathing and the air outside. and the measuring device is equipped with a signal generator for the signal generated when the permeability of the covering exceeds the upper limit value, and A second inspection mechanism is provided, the sensitivity of which is within the area of the desired ventilation zone of the sheathing, and which inspects the interior space and the outside of the sheath over at least a major portion of the sheath that includes the desired ventilation zone of the sheathing. The measuring device is configured to form a second pressure gradient between the space and the space, and is characterized in that the measuring device is provided with means for detecting a change in the air permeability of the covering.

The so-called trend indication of the permeability of the covering in the desired ventilation zone is obtained by the measurement device of the second test mechanism summing over a certain time interval a large number of test signals obtained from a large number of smoking articles. mechanism and
This is accomplished by a device comprising a summed test signal or means for ascertaining changes in the signal produced from the summed test signal.

According to another feature of the invention, if it is necessary to individually identify smoking articles whose covering has a permeability in the desired permeability zone outside of a pre-given tolerance range, The measuring device of the second test mechanism is configured to generate a separate test signal for each smoking article. In order to identify smoking articles in which the covering has a permeability that is too low in the desired ventilation zone, according to another embodiment of the invention, the measuring device of the second inspection mechanism is provided with a A signal generator is provided for a signal generated when the temperature is below a lower limit. These two inspection mechanisms can be arranged one after the other on the inspection conveyor, with the first inspection mechanism creating an initial pressure gradient over at least a large part of the cladding, including the desired ventilation zone. Alternatively, the pressure gradient may be configured to create an initial pressure gradient across at least a large portion of the sheathing, except for the desired ventilation zone. The second inspection mechanism, located before or after, is configured to create a second pressure gradient exclusively in the region of the desired ventilation zone. However, it is also possible for the first inspection mechanism and the second inspection mechanism to be juxtaposed on the inspection conveyor. The measuring device is each equipped with an electropneumatic instrument transformer and a threshold computing element as a signal generator, and the measuring device removes smoking articles with defective coatings from its feed path. It is connected to a control mechanism for

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the attached drawings, Fig. 1 shows the applicant's
The MAX S type filter mounting machine is schematically shown. The receiving drum 1 transfers the cigarettes manufactured by the cigarette manufacturing machine to two stepped drums 2.
This stepped drum corrects the misalignment of the cigarettes that have been sent little by little, and then transfers the cigarettes to the alignment drum 3 in sets of two, leaving an intermediate interval between each cigarette. The filter rod comes out of the magazine 4 and reaches the cutting drum 6, where it is cut into filter rod pieces with a length twice the length to be used by the two disc cutters 7, and then cut into filter rod pieces with a length of twice the length used by the stepped drum 8. The position was shifted step by step,
The filter rods are formed into a row of filter rods arranged in front and back in a row by the feed drum 9, and are inserted by the accelerator drum 11 into the middle interval of the row of cigarettes on the alignment drum 3. cigarette filter
The groups of cigarettes are pressed together in close contact with each other. This group is then received by the transfer drum 12. The covered paper tape 13 is drawn out from the covered paper bobbin 14 by a drawing roller 16. The coated paper tape 13 is passed around a blunt edge crusher 17, coated with adhesive by a glue applicator 18, and cut by a cutter drum 21 over a cover roller 19. The cut pieces of covered paper are pasted onto the cigarette-filter-group of cigarettes on the transfer drum 12 and transferred to the roller hand 2 on the roller drum 22.
3, the cigarette filter is wrapped around a group of cigarettes. The finished two-length group of filtered cigarettes is passed through a drying drum 24 to a cutting drum 26 on which the filter rods are cut in two from the center. Individual filtered cigarettes are tailored, with simultaneous rejection of defective filtered cigarettes. a reversing mechanism 29 operating together with the transfer drum 27 and the collection drum 28;
Inverts one row of filtered cigarettes and simultaneously transfers them to the drum 27 and collection drum 2.
8 to the row of undirected filtered cigarettes. The filtered cigarette passes through the inspection drum 31 and reaches the discharge drum 32, on which the head of the filtered cigarette is further detected prior to the discharge process. A pick-up drum 34, operating in conjunction with a brake drum 33, places the filtered cigarettes onto a pick-up belt 36.

2 and 3 schematically show the structure of a test drum 31 configured as a test conveyor. In principle, all known inspection mechanisms for pneumatically inspecting the covering of rod-shaped smoking articles can be used - with corresponding modifications or additions to the invention. A test arrangement which structurally requires little modification for the present invention is shown, for example, in DE 2324055 or the corresponding US Pat. No. 3,948,084 of the same applicant. However, the structural details of such a test mechanism are not the subject of the invention and are therefore only shown in simplified form in the accompanying drawings in connection with the description of the invention.

On the hollow shaft 37 three parts 38, 39 and 4
A drum body 42 assembled from 1 is rotatably mounted. A disk 44 with a recess 43 is attached to the front surface of the portion 39, and this disk forms a receiving opening for the filtered cigarette Z. The part 39 is provided with a trough-shaped chamber 46 which, at the connection point between the tobacco rod T and the area adjacent to the filter F of the filtered cigarette Z, is in each case connected to a column 47 in which a recess 43 is also formed. Therefore, it is divided into two small chambers 46a and 46b. The covering paper strip B of the filtered cigarette Z has the desired ventilation zone, which zone is formed by a row of holes L in the example shown in the accompanying drawings. These holes can already be formed in the covering paper, or they can also be made in a known manner in the covering paper strip B during the manufacture of the filter cigarette, for example during the winding process. can. Between the two disks 44 there is a sealing means (second
A sealing means is provided, which during rotation temporarily closes the two chambers 46a and 46b until they form a narrow slit. A ventilation passage 49 is provided as a means for creating various pressures within the chambers 46a and 46b. For this purpose, the hollow shaft 37 has a ring-shaped wall 5
1 into two chambers 52a and 52b, which are connected to one pressure source, as can be seen from the test block diagrams of FIGS. 4 and 5. These chambers 52a and 52b each have one control slit 53a or 53b.
connection means in the form of , through which the chambers 52a and 52b can communicate with the chambers 46a or 46b via passages 54a or 54b in the respective portions 39 of the drum body. There is. In order to create pressure inside the covering of the filtered cigarette Z (Fig. 6),
and/or a sealing means in the form of a disc 56 (first sealing means) is arranged on one side of the drum body 42 for connection to a measuring device for detecting the pressure difference. The disk is a component of section 38 of drum body 42. The disc 56 has a hole 57 aligned with the recess 43 of the disc 44 . A control ring 61 attached to the disk 56 is attached to the wall 58 of the machine and is provided with connection means in the form of a control slot 62. On the other side of the drum body 42 there is a sealing means (first sealing) in the form of a pipe 66 with a hole 64, which allows the recess 43 of the disc 44 to be controlled in the direction of the two-way arrow ←→63. gap means) are arranged. These pipes are mounted on a disk 67 which is a component of section 41 of drum body 42. A control ring 68 mounted on the hollow shaft 37 is provided on the disc 67 and is provided with connection means in the form of a control slit 69. This control slot likewise forms a communication with a pressure source and/or a measuring device for detecting a pressure difference.

As can be seen from the inspection block diagram in Figure 4, the second
Two inspection mechanisms 71a and 71b are provided on the inspection drum 31 shown in FIG. This is made possible by That is, the control slits 62 and 69 of the control ring 61 or 68, respectively, are connected to the filtered cigarette Z on the inspection drum 31.
is shorter than the distribution interval of and is shifted by one or more distribution intervals, so
When the control slit 62 and the filtered cigarette F are oriented in the same direction, the pipe 66 seals only the tip of the filtered cigarette Z on the filter side, and the control slit 69 is oriented in the same direction as the filtered cigarette F. This is possible because the disc 56 seals only the tip of the tobacco rod T when it is in position. Correspondingly, the hollow shaft 37 (Fig. 2)
The control slots 53a and 53b of the chambers 52a and 52b are also staggered. Therefore,
The pressure sources 76 (negative pressure sources) each include one control valve 88a or 88b and one pressure measuring device 89a.
or 89b, and two chambers 52.
Two branch pipes 87 opening to a or 52b
It is sequentially communicated with two small chambers 46a and 46b through a conduit 87 which is branched into a and 87b. At this time, the regulating valves 88a and 88b are adjusted so that a much lower pressure is created in the chamber 46b than in the chamber 46a. A conduit 82a is connected above the previously mentioned control slit 62. Connected to this conduit is a throttle 83a, and in front of this throttle a slowly operating pressure measuring device 84a, such as an aneroid barometer, for example, and a measuring device 86a for detecting pressure differences. The control slit 69 described above is a conduit 82b with a restriction 83b.
A slowly acting pressure measuring device 84b is connected to the conduit 82b in front of this throttle.
and a pressure measuring device 86b that detects a pressure difference. These pressure measuring devices 86a and 86b are both constructed of the same structure and are connected to an electropneumatic instrument transformer 91a or 91, for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,412,856.
b, a threshold calculation element 92a or 92b with a respective reference value generator 94a or 94b arranged behind it, and a clock in addition to the threshold calculation element 92a or 92b arranged in front thereof; It consists of an AND element 98a or 98b which is also connected to a device 99. The threshold value calculation element 92a is a signal generator for a signal generated when the air permeability of the covering of the filtered cigarette F exceeds the upper limit value, and is a signal generator for a signal generated when the air permeability of the covering of the filtered cigarette F exceeds the upper limit value, and is a signal generator for a signal generated when the air permeability of the covering of the filtered cigarette F exceeds the upper limit value. generates an output signal when exceeds the correspondingly adjusted reference value of the reference value generator 94a. The threshold calculation element 92b is a signal generator for a signal generated when the air permeability of the covering is below a lower limit value,
An output signal is generated when the output signal of a given instrument transformer 91b does not reach the correspondingly adjusted reference value of the reference value generator 94b. The pressure measuring devices 84a and 84b are means for detecting changes in the air permeability of a number of coverings and, due to their inertia in the sense of the invention, measure the test signals obtained from a number of smoking articles over a period of time. It is designed as a device for summing over an interval and at the same time as a means for detecting changes in the summed test signal. Since the inertia of the pressure measuring devices 84a and 84b means a time constant, their reading forms an average value of the air permeability of the covering of a certain number of filtered cigarettes F under a certain operating speed of the machine. are doing. The output sides of the AND elements 98a and 98b of the pressure measuring devices 86a and 86b used for evaluating the test signals obtained from the individual filtered cigarettes F are connected to the shift register 101 through an OR element 97, This shift register is driven by clock device 99. The output of the shift register 101 is connected to a control mechanism 102 for excluding smoking articles with defective coatings from the feed path. The control mechanism 102 comprises an amplifier 103 and a solenoid valve 104 arranged in a conduit 108 connecting a pressure source 106 with a blowing nozzle 107 . This blowing nozzle 107 is provided on the discharge drum 32 of the filter mounting machine shown in FIG.

The operation mode of the above-mentioned inspection mechanism is as follows.

Negative pressure from a pressure source 76 is then applied to the chamber 46 located below the cover plate 48, with the device of FIG. is connected with. In the inspection mechanism 71a arranged first, the conduit 8
2a and the test slit 62a, air is forced into the inside of the filtered cigarette Z, the flow of air being influenced by the air permeability of the covering surrounding the tobacco stick T of the filtered cigarette Z. Instrument transformer 91a is connected to conduit 82a from time to time.
An electric signal corresponding to the pressure prevailing in the interior is continuously applied to the threshold value calculation element 92a, and this threshold value calculation element detects when the applied signal exceeds the signal from the reference value generator 94a. , AND element 9
Generates an output signal for 8a. By means of this AND element 98a and the clock device 99, an evaluation of the test signal is carried out at the correct test time, ie when in each case one filtered cigarette Z is in communication with the control slot 62. If the AND element 98a generates a signal to the OR element 97 at this time, it means that the air permeability of the covering in the area of the tobacco stick T of the filtered cigarette Z just examined at that time is too large. At this time
A signal is applied from OR element 97 to shift register 101 .

Due to the negative pressure in the chamber 46b in the inspection mechanism 71b, air is drawn into the filter F through the conduit 82b and the control slit 69 and into the covering paper strip B through the hole L. Instrument transformer 91a continuously transmits electrical signals corresponding to the pressure prevailing in conduit 82b from time to time to threshold operating element 92b.
, and this threshold calculation element sends an output signal to AND element 98b when the applied signal is less than the signal of reference value generator 94b. By means of the AND element 98b and the clock device 99, the
This test signal is also evaluated. at this point
If the AND element 98b sends a signal to the OR element 97, it indicates that the air permeability of the covering paper strip B of the filtered cigarette Z being inspected at that time is too small;
That is, perforation (hole “L”) as specified.
This means that it is not opened. The output signal of AND element 98b sent to OR element 97 is applied to shift register 101.

The average air permeability of the covering of a number of filtered cigarettes Z is determined by means of a slowly operating pressure measuring device 84a in the area of the tobacco rod T and in the area of the filter F, especially in the desired ventilation zone (covering paper strip "B"). The drilled hole "L") can be read with a slowly operating pressure measuring device 84b.

The individual evaluation of the test signals by the pressure measuring devices 86a and 86b makes it possible to exclude filter cigarettes with defective coatings from further processing. That is, at this time, the signals sent into the shift register 101 are synchronized with the feeding movement of the corresponding filtered cigarette F and are sent through this register.
When the corresponding filtered cigarette F arrives at the blowing position of the discharge drum 32, the solenoid valve 104 is activated in time with this, and the airflow is thereby blown out from the blowing nozzle 107.
This filtered cigarette F is discharged from the drum 32.
It blows away.

One embodiment of the inspection mechanism 71a is shown in dashed lines. In this embodiment, not only the small chamber 46a but also another small chamber 46b are examined during the first examination.
Negative pressure is also applied to the Such a connection ensures that not only the covering of the tobacco rod T, but also the covering paper strip B of the filtered cigarette F, is protected against excessive air permeability, which may be caused by defects in the perforations (holes "L"). Monitoring can be carried out.

As already mentioned, these two inspection mechanisms 71
a and 71b are arranged one after the other on one inspection drum. However, it is also possible to provide two test drums each with only one test device. FIG. 5, on the other hand, shows an embodiment of the inspection block diagram in which two inspection mechanisms are juxtaposed and thus two different types of the coating of the filter cigarette. The inspection of the parts is carried out simultaneously. For this purpose, control slits 62 and 69 and control slit 53 are provided on the test drum according to FIGS. 2 and 3.
a and 53b are arranged as shown, ie, pointing in the same direction.

The only difference from the inspection block diagram in Fig. 4 is that, as already mentioned, in the case of Fig. 5, the two inspection mechanisms are placed side by side, so the spatial arrangement may vary. All parts shown in FIG. 5 up to this point are identical to those in FIG. Therefore, the parts in FIG. 5 are indicated by the reference numbers of the corresponding parts in FIG. 4 plus 100, and no further explanation is given. Therefore, the operation mode is also the same as the inspection block diagram in Figure 4, and the only difference is that the two inspections are carried out at the same time, so the explanation in Figure 4 can be used. can.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment comparable to the test block diagram of FIG. In this embodiment as well, two testing mechanisms 271a and 271b are arranged one after the other, but unlike in the testing block diagram of FIG. The inspection mechanism 271b is inspected by <<blowing through>> and the inspection mechanism 271b <<by blowing up>>.

The test drum 31 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is adapted to this test block diagram, the control rings 61 and 68 having two successively arranged control slots 62 or 69. This creates two testing locations.

271a is configured as follows. That is, air for inspection is branched from a conduit 287 connected to the pressure side of the pressure source 276, and
88a, preload measuring device 289a and throttle 281
It is configured to be sent to the filtered cigarette Z via a conduit 287a containing a. Air for this test passes through the filtered cigarette Z and is sent out from the conduit 282a. Connected to this conduit are a throttle 283a, in front of which a slowly operating pressure measuring device 284a and a measuring device 286a for detecting a pressure difference. This measuring device 286a includes an electropneumatic instrument transformer 291a, the output of which is connected to a signal generator in the form of a threshold calculation element 292a. This threshold value calculation element 292a is provided with a reference value generator 294a for the upper limit value.
At this time, this threshold value calculation element 292a is configured such that the output signal of the instrument transformer 291a is transmitted to the reference value generator 294.
It is connected to generate an output signal when the signal exceeds the signal of a. Threshold calculation element 292
The output side of a is connected to the input terminal of an AND element 298a, and the other input terminal of this AND element is connected to a clock device 299.
The output side of the AND element 298a is the shift register 3
01, this register is driven by a clock device 299, and the output side of this register is connected to a control mechanism 302 for excluding smoking articles with defective coatings from the feed path. . This control mechanism 302 includes an amplifier 303 and a solenoid valve 304, which is connected to a conduit 302 connecting a compressed air source 306 and a blowout nozzle 307.
It is located in 08. This blow nozzle 3
07 is provided on the discharge drum 32 of the filter mounting machine shown in FIG.

In the inspection mechanism 271b, air for inspection is passed through a conduit 287b which is also branched from the conduit 287, which is branched into branch paths 287b' and 287b''.
From there, it is sent to both ends of the filtered cigarette Z. Conduit 287b includes a regulating valve 288b and a restriction 281b. The branch path 287'' has an aperture 285 arranged behind the measuring device 286b.
b is provided. The measuring device 286b is a slowly operating pressure measuring device 284 for detecting changes in the air permeability of the covering of the filtered cigarette Z.
b, consisting of means in the form of an aneroid barometer, for example. The inertia of the pressure measuring device 284b means a time constant, so that if the filter loading machine is operated at a constant production rate or throughput capacity, the display will indicate a constant number of inspected filtered cigarettes Z. It will show the average value. Pressure measuring device 284b means in the sense of the invention a device in its simplest form for summing test signals obtained from a large number of smoking articles over a fixed time interval, the display being It serves as a means for detecting changes in the summed test signal. Of course, instead of this pressure measuring device 284b, it is also possible to use an electronic mean value generator which receives a signal from an electropneumatic instrument transformer and operates with a precise mechanical rhythm. The aperture 285b of the branch 287'' causes an asymmetrical sensitivity of the inspection mechanism 271b, so that the value indicated by the pressure measuring device 284b is first of all the value of the covered paper strip with the holes L of the filtered cigarette Z. It is determined by the change in air permeability of B.

On the other hand, in the inspection mechanism 271a, the air permeability of the entire stuffing material of the filtered cigarette Z is inspected. By means of the measuring device 286a and the control mechanism 302, whose structure is known from the previously described embodiment, filtered cigarettes Z whose coverings have excessive air permeability are excluded from further processing.

The advantage of the invention is that, while essentially retaining the known and already well-established inspection principles with the additional measures according to the invention, defects in the coating, i.e. not only excessive air permeability of the coating in general, can also be detected. Detecting a defect in the desired ventilation zone of the cladding, i.e. a drop in the minimum permeability of this zone previously given - monitoring the presence of two defects in very different tolerance ranges. It means that - can be done even though it has to be done.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a filter mounting machine for manufacturing filtered cigarettes, Fig. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the inspection drum of the filter mounting machine of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an inspection shown in Fig. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along a line of a part of the drum, showing two phases of the same manner for the inspection drum of FIGS. 2 and 3 for detecting defects in the coating of smoking articles. An inspection block diagram with inspection mechanisms placed one behind the other, FIG. 5 is an inspection block diagram of a modification of FIG. 4 with two inspection mechanisms of the same type arranged side by side, and FIG. The fourth inspection mechanism is located at
FIG. 2 is a modified inspection block diagram of FIG. The symbols in the figure are 71a, 71b, 271a...inspection mechanism, 86a, 86b, 286a...measuring device for detecting pressure difference, 92a, 92b, 192b,
284b...Threshold calculation element.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. While feeding a rod-shaped smoking article along a predetermined feeding path in the direction of the transverse axis of the smoking article, the space filled with the filler and covered with the covering material and the outside of the covering are A method for testing a smoking article with respect to a desired ventilation zone of its covering by forming a pressure gradient between the airflow and a test signal dependent on the air permeability of the covering. The smoking article is subjected to an initial test by forming an initial pressure gradient across at least a large portion of its covering, including the desired ventilation zone, and forming an initial test signal, whereby the air permeability of the covering is determined. determining that the tested smoking article is acceptable if the test signal is below the upper limit; and forming a second pressure signal with respect to the smoking article; A smoking stick, characterized in that it performs a second test with higher sensitivity in the region of the desired ventilation zone by forming a second test signal, and detects a change in the second test signal. A method for inspecting an article for the desired ventilation zone of its covering. 2. The method of claim 1, forming a second test signal corresponding to the average air permeability of the desired ventilation zone for a number of smoking articles tested during a defined time interval. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second test signal is generated for each individual smoking article. 4. Establishing a lower limit value for the air permeability of the covering within the desired ventilation zone for the second test, and determining that the tested smoking article is acceptable if this second test signal is above this lower limit value. , claim 1
The method described in any one of paragraphs 3 to 3. 5. According to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the smoking article is subjected to a first inspection in the first feeding section of the feeding path and a second inspection in the second feeding section. the method of. 6. Claim 1, wherein during the second test the second pressure gradient is created exclusively in the region of the desired ventilation zone.
The method described in any one of paragraphs to paragraphs 5 to 5. 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the smoking article is subjected to a first test and a second test simultaneously in one feed section of the feed path. 8. forming a defect signal if the inspection signal is outside the defined limit values and controlling the rejection of the inspected defective smoking article with this defect signal;
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 9 A rotating inspection conveyor equipped with a receptacle for holding rod-shaped smoking articles, and a space formed by filling each smoking article and covering it with a covering material from the outside of the covering body. a sealing means for separating the two spaces, a connecting means for connecting one of these two spaces to a pressure source, and a connecting means for connecting one of these two spaces to a measuring device for ascertaining the pressure difference. a first inspection mechanism 71a;
171a, 271a are provided, the testing mechanism being configured to create an initial pressure gradient between an inner space and an outer space across at least a majority of the sheathing including the desired venting zone of the sheathing. and the measuring device 86a, 1 of this inspection mechanism.
86a, 286a comprises a signal generator 92a, 192a, 292b for a signal generated when the permeability of the sheathing exceeds an upper limit; a second inspection mechanism 71b matched with the highest sensitivity;
171b, 271b is provided, the testing mechanism being configured to create a second pressure gradient between the space inside and the space outside the covering, and a measuring device 86b of the testing mechanism. ,186
b, 286b is provided with means 92b, 192b, 284b for detecting changes in the air permeability of the covering. Device. 10 Measuring device 286 of second inspection mechanism 271b
Mechanism 2 for summing a large number of test signals caused by a large number of smoking articles over a certain time interval
84b and means for detecting the summed test signal or a change in the signal obtained from the summed test signal.
Equipment described in Section. 11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the measuring device 86b, 186b of the second testing mechanism 71b, 171b is configured to generate a separate testing signal for each smoking article. 12 Claim in which the measuring device 86b, 186b of the second inspection mechanism 71b, 171b is equipped with a signal generator 92b, 192b for a signal generated when the air permeability of the covering falls below a lower limit value The apparatus according to any one of the ranges 9 to 11. 13 Two inspection mechanisms 71a, 71b; 271
a, 271b are provided in succession on the inspection conveyor 31, Claims 9 to 1
The device described in any one of items up to 2. 14. Any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the second testing mechanism 71b, 171b is configured to create a second pressure gradient exclusively in the area of the desired ventilation zone. The device described in. 15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the first inspection mechanism 171a and the second inspection mechanism 171b are provided side by side on the inspection conveyor 31. 16 Measuring device 86a, 86b, 186a, 18
6b, 286a are electropneumatic instrument transformers 91a, 91
b, 191a, 191b, 291a and one threshold operation element 92 each as a signal generator.
Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 15, comprising: a, 92b, 192a, 192b, 292a. 17 Measuring device 86a, 86b, 186a, 18
6b, 286a is a control mechanism 101 for excluding smoking articles with defective coverings from the feed path;
201, 301. Device according to any one of claims 9 to 16, in combination with 201, 301.