US2951364A

US2951364A - Apparatus for testing cigarettes

Info

Publication number: US2951364A
Application number: US579209A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph H Sherrill
Original assignee: RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co
Current assignee: RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co
Priority date: 1956-04-19
Filing date: 1956-04-19
Publication date: 1960-09-06
Anticipated expiration: 1977-09-06

Description

Sept 1 J. H. SHERRILL APPARATUS FOR TESTING CIGARETTES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 19, 1956 Sept. 6, 1960 J. H. SHERRILL APPARATUS FOR TESTING CIGARETTES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 19, 1956 h s V INVENTOR. JOSEPH HJf/EFR/LL Sept. 6, 1960 J. H. SHERRILL 2,951,364

v APPARATUS FOR TESTING CIGARETTES Filed April 19. 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m iidk ATTUR/VEV APPARATUS FOR TESTING CIGARETTES Joseph H. Sherrill, Winston-Salem, N.C., assignor to R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winston-detain, N.C., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Apr. 19, 1956, Ser. No. 579,209

16 Claims. (Cl. 73-453) This invention relates to the testing of hollow, generally cylindrical articles to determine their integrity, i.e., the presence or absence of leaks therein. The apparatus for testing disclosed herein is intended particularly for the testing of cigarettes. Certain features are of especial utility in connection with cigarette testing, while other features are of broader utility in connection with other types of articles.

In the manufacture of filter tip cigarettes, it is a common practice to assemble in alignment two cigarettes of conventional length and a double length section of filter material located between the two cigarettes. The ends of the two cigarettes are brought into abutting relationship with the filter section. A band of sealing paper is then placed around the section of filter material with its edges overlapping the ends of the cigarettes. These overlapping edges are bonded to the cigarettes, thereby forming a double unit consisting of two standard length cigarettes with a double length filter section between them. The double unit is then cut transversely at its center, resulting in the formation of two individual filter tip cigarettes.

Because of the mechanical difiiculties inherent in the problem of making an airtight bond with the sealing paper at or near the butt joint between the filter material and the cigarette, it sometimes occurs that a leak develops at that joint or elsewhere around the tip. When an attempt is made to smoke a cigarette having such a leak, the smoker draws in air through the leak. Indeed any loose or gathered or channeled condition of the tip wrapping, such that on use of the cigarette the tendency is to draw air instead of smoke, represents a leak. Moreover, in all types of cigarettes mechanical damage or defeet in the regular paper Wrapper that constitutes the cigarette can provide a tear or opening which, as all smokers know, does not need to be very large to represent an annoying leak. It is desirable to eliminate all such defective cigarettes from the manufacturing process. To that end, it is necessary to test each cigarette for leaks in its outer wall and to withdraw it from the manufacturing line if a leak is found.

So far as the applicant is aware, the only process previously in commercial use for locating such leaks has been a visual inspection, which is obviously inadequate since a leak large enough to make a cigarette undesirable from the users standpoint can be so small or otherwise so concealed that it can not be detected. Furthermore, it is economically impossible, in high-speed cigarette manufacture, to achieve careful visual inspection of all sides of each and every cigarette.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for testing for leaks in the Wall of a hollow article having two spaced normal openings in its wall.

Another object is to provide an improved apparatus for testing cigarettes for air leaks.

Another object is to provide a testing apparatus of the type described which is adaptable to mass production Patented Sept. 6, 1960 methods and which may be carried out by machines substantially without supervision.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for coupling a source of compressed air to a device passing on a conveyor belt, without removing the device from the conveyor belt.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are attained in the apparatus described herein. The test is illustrated as applied to filter tip cigarettes, and is shown as being applied to the dual cigarette units before they are cut apart. It should be obvious that the testing apparatus herein is equally applicable to untipped cigarette units or to units tipped in some other Way, and indeed directly to single cigarettes as Well as to multiple units. By making the test on the double units, however, the number of tests necessary is reduced by one-half.

The apparatus disclosed herein includes a conveyor belt consisting of a plurality of carriers linked together, each carrier being adapted to'support a double cigarette unit. Each carrier also supports a test device on one end and on its opposite end carries an air supply coupling mechanism. The conveyor moves the cigarette units past a test station where the coupling mechanism on each carrier is coupled to a supply of compressed air. If there is no leak in the cigarette unit, air is conveyed from this supply through the cigarette unit to the testing device on the carrier. The testing device includes a movable member whose position changes from a leak indicating position to a no-leak indicating position if the air is transmitted through the cigarette to the test device. This movable member actuates a checking device located alongside the carrier. The checking device in turn actuates a memory device which indicates whether the cigarette on each particular carrier has a leak or not. As the respective carriers later pass an ejector station, an ejector mechanism is controlled in accordance with the respective indications of the memory device to eject defective cigarettes from the carrier. Since the air under pressure flows through the double cigarette rather slowly, the apparatus is contructed so that the air under pressure is supplied to one end of the cigarette for a substantial time before the testing device at the other end of the cigarette actuates the checking mechanism to set up a leak or no-leak indication.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and claims, taken together with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the principal parts of cigarette testing apparatus embodying the invention, with certain parts omitted for purposes of clarity;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the testing station of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a single carrier of the type shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with no cigarette thereon;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 5, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line VV of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line VIVI of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line VII VII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a portion of the ejector mechanism; and

Fig. 9 is a somewhat diagrammatic view illustrating the memory device and its control of the ejector.

There is shown in Fig. l a conveyor generally indicated by the reference numeral 1 and consisting of two parallel chain belts 2 and 3 which run over sprocket wheels 5 and 6 fixed on a shaft 7. Each of the chain belts -2 and 3 isconstructed in a conventional manner, including spaced parallel links 8 connected by pins 9. Each link 8 is provided on its upper side (as it appears when passing along the upper reach of the conveyor) with two outwardly projecting flanges 8a. The aligned flanges 8a on the two link belts 2 and 3 are attached by suitable means such as the bolts or rivets to the bottom of a carrier unit 10, one of which is illustrated in detail in Figs. 3 to 6. The conveyor 1 thus presents an endless series of carrier units 10.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 6, it may be seen that each carrier unit 10 has an upwardly concave groove 10a formed in its upper surface. The groove 10a is adapted to support a double cigarette unit. 13, including two cigarettes 13a and an intervening filter section 13b. The groove 10a is somewhat shorter than the double cigarette unit 13. The upper surface of the carrier It) is cut away adjacent each end of the groove 10a to provide recesses 10b and 100. The right-hand end of the carrier 10, as viewed in the drawings, includes an upstanding flange 14 provided with an aperture 14a in which is mounted a tube 15 forming part of a testing device. The inner end of the tube 15 is threadedly attached to a collar 16 which is adapted to abut the inner side of the flange 14. The end of collar 16 nearest the cigarette 13 is bevelled inwardly, as shown at 16a in Fig. 6, so that it may engage compressively the end of the cigarette unit 13 without substantially distorting the cigarette. The tube 15 is provided, outside the flange 14, with a flange 117. A coil spring 18 is held in compression between the

flanges

14 and 17, and biases the tube 15 outwardly, to the position shown in Fig. 5. The tube :15 is provided with an axial passage 15a. A variable restriction'in the passage 15a is provided by means of a set screw 19 threaded through one side of the tube 15 with its inner end extending into the passage 15a. The outer end of the tube 15 is provided with a lip 15b. A rubber balloon 20 is mounted on the end of the tube 15 by sliding the rubber ring 20a at the mouth of the balloon over the flange 15b.

At the left-hand end of the carrier 16, as viewed in the drawings, there is provided an upwardly extending flange 21 generally similar to the flange 14. The flange 21 is provided with an aperture 21a in which a pipe coupling 22 is fixed by means of a set screw 23. The end of the coupling 22 nearest the cigarette =13 is bevelled inwardly, as shown at 24 in Fig. 6, so that it may engage compressively the end of the cigarette unit 13 without substantially distorting the cigarette. The pipe coupling 22 is provided with an axial aperture having a shoulder 22a. Another pipe coupling 25 is slidably received in the axial aperture in the coupling 22. A coil spring 26 is located within that aperture, and is held in compression between the shoulder 22a and the coupling member 25. The spring 26 biases the coupling member 25 outwardly of the coupling 22, but that outward movement is limited by suitable means, shown by way of example as a pin 11 extending through the wall of coupling 22 and into a groove or slot 25d in the coupling 25.

The outer end of the coupling 25 is provided with a plane machined surface 25a in which are formed a pair of upper and lower horizontal grooves 252 shown as having a V-shaped contour. The grooves 25e are located respectively above and below the central aperture 25b through the coupling 25. On each lateral face of the end portion of coupling 25 there is provided a plane machined surface 250 (Fig. 4). On the leading side of the coupling member 25 is provided a groove 27, having rounded edges. On the trailing side of the coupling member there is mounted, by any suitable means, a ridge or flange 28, preferably made up of a number of plies of rubber-like material. Each ridge 28 is adapted to mesh with the groove 27 on the following carrier 10, for a purpose to be described below.

An air supply manifold 29 is mounted on a stationary manifold 29 is provided on the side nearest the coupling members 25 with an elongated aperture 3-1 (Fig. 1). The manifold 29 is provided on its face nearest the coupling members 25 with a pair of horizontal ridges 32 which are adapted to engage and fit within the grooves 2512 on the coupling members 25. The end of the manifold 29 which is firstengaged by the coupling members 25 is provided with a diagonal surface or inclined plane 33. The ridges 32 extend part way along the plane 33. Another inclined plane 33a, somewhat less steep and facing in the opposite direction is provided on the other end of manifold 29.

As the carriers 10 approach the manifold 29, the coupling members 25 one after another engage the inclined plane 33 and are deflected thereby to the right from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6.

The flange 28 is so located with respect to the groove 27 on the next adjacent coupling 25 that when both couplings 25 are laterally aligned, the flange 28 is squeezed tight against the outer (left hand) side of the groove 27 and thereby blocks the passage of air between the couplings. The groove 27 is wide enough so that the flange 28 has room to move laterally in it when the leading coupling 25 rides along the inclined plane 33. When the following coupling completes its travel along plane 33, then the air seal is again effective. A perfect seal is not necessary as the air pressure may be increased to compensate for leakage.

The inclined plane 33a is less steep than plane 33, to allow the couplings to move outwardly at a relatively lower speed, without unduly stressing the flanges 28.

As the successive couplings pass the manifold 29, the springs 26 are effective to hold the coupling members 25 in tight engagement with the manifold 29, so that when the aperture 25b moves opposite the aperture 31 in the manifold, a substantially airtight connection is provided. The flanges 28 and the grooves 27 minimize the leakage of air between the adjacent coupling members 25e and the ridges 32 and grooves 26 minimize the leakage of air between the coupling members 25 and the manifold 29.

An elongated cam 34 is mounted on a fixed support (not shown) at the side of the conveyor nearest the testing devices which comprise the tubes 15 and the balloons 20. As the carriers approach the cam 34, moving in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, the flanges '17 on the successive tubes 15 engage the cam 34 and are deflected by it toward the left, against the spring 18. The first effect of this movement is to bring the tapered end 16a of the collar 16 into engagement with the cigarette unit 13. As this motion continues the cigarette unit 13 is pushed to the left to the position of Fig. 6, where its left end engages the tapered surface 24 on the coupling member 22. The two ends of the cigarette unit 13 are then in substantially airtight engagement with the coupling member 32 and the collar 16, respectively. Air under pressure from the manifold 29 then passes through the cigarette unit. The length of the manifold 29 is established in accordance with the air flow retarding characteristics of the cigarette so that the left end of the cigarette unit is kept under pressure for a suflicient time to inflate the balloon 20 if there is no leak in the cigarette. If there is a leak, then the balloon 20 will not be inflated in the required time. The set screws 19 enable adjustment of the time required to inflate the balloons to corre-' spend with the characteristics of the cigarettes and to compensate for leakage which may occur between manifold 29 and couplings 25. v

Consequently, the testing device checks each cigarette unit as they pass the testing station which includes the 5. manifold 29 and the cam 34, and inflates the balloon 20 if the cigarette unit has no leaks.

Although the pressure responsive indication has been illustrated as a balloon 20, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of pressure responsive indicators may be used, as long as they are sufficiently sensitive to respond rather quickly to changes in the applied pressure. They must also respond with a substantial movement in order that a clear distinction may be maintained between the no-leak indicating and the leak-indicating position.

Ejector apparatus and control therefor Each carrier is provided on the bottom of the groove 10a with a recess 10d somewhat shorter in overall length than the overall length of the groove 10a and narrower than the cigarette which is adapted to rest in the groove 10a.

An aperture 35 opens through the bottom of the carrier 10 into the recess 10d. When each carrier 10 reaches the ejector station shown in Fig. 7, the aperture 35 passes above an air supply block 36 including a plurality of discharge apertures 37 which open toward the aperture 35 at various points along the length thereof.

Within the block 36 a valve 37a cooperates with a seat 38. Valve 37a is provided with a stem 39 which extends through the block and outwardly thereof and has a head 40 formed on its outer end. A coil spring 41 is retained between the head 40 and the block 36 and biases the valve 37a toward the seat 38. A pipe 42 is connected to a suitable supply of compressed air (not shown). The valve 37a controls the fiow of compressed air from the pipe 42 into the apertures 37. The head 40 is aligned with the armature 43 of an electromagnet 44 controlled by an electric circuit which includes in series a switch 45 and a source of electrical energy (not shown).

The switch 45 comprises a spring finger 46 movable into engagement with a stationary contact 47. Both the finger 46 and the contact 47 are mounted on a stationar insulating disk 48.

The switch 45 is operated by a memory device generally indicated at 49. The memory device 49 comprises a plate 59 fixed on a shaft 51 which is rotated synchronously with the movement of the conveyor 1 by means of a chain 52 connecting

sprocket wheels

53 and 54 fixed on the shaft 7 and the shaft 51 respectively.

The plate 50 has spaced around its periphery a plurality of memory pins 55 which are shiftable parallel to the axis of the shaft 51 between a switch actuating position, as illustrated in the case of the uppermost pin 55 in Fig. 7, and an inactive position illustrated in the case of the lowermost pin in Fig. 7. The pin at the lowermost location in Fig. 7 is positioned while at that location by an electromagnet 56 controlled by a photocell 57 (Figs. 1 and 9) through a suitable electric circuit which may include an amplifier (not shown). A beam of light from a source 58 impinges on the photocell 57. That beam of light is broken by any inflated balloon 20 which passes on the conveyor 1 at the testing station.

Above the conveyor 1 at the ejector station is a receiver or hood 59 which is dimensioned so that it is spaced above one only of the carriers 10. The hood 59 has 'its end connected through a suitable coupling joint 60 to a pipe 61 connected to a source of vacuum or air at subatmospheric pressure.

The joint 60' is shown in greater detail in Fig. 8 and comprises a pair of

blocks

62 and 63 contoured to receive between them the crossbar of a T 64 attached to a pipe 65 which communicates with the interior of the hood 59.

The

blocks

62 and 63 are provided with a slot 66 in which the pipe 65 is movable between operating posi tion shown in full lines in Figs. 7 and 8 and in nonoperating position shown in dotted lines. The pipe 65 is in communication with the pipe 61 when the parts 6 are in their full line positions. Thedotted line position is provided for access to the conveyor for cleaning or repair purposes.

Operation of the ejector The number of pins between the lowermost pin location shown in Fig. 7 and the uppermost pin location is made exactly equal to the number of carriers lit-between the testing station adjacent the photocell 5'7 and the ejector station adjacent the valve block 36. Furthermore, the connection between the conveyor 1 and the plate 50 is arranged so that the pin which passes through the lowermost location of the plate 50 when a certain carrier 10 is passing the testing station has reached the uppermost location of the plate 50 when that same carrier has reached the ejector station. When that carrier is adjacent the testing station, the pin 55 at the lowermost location has its position set in accordance with the condition of the cigarette on the carrier, i.e., as to whether that cigarette has a leak or not. If the testing device shows a leak, then the balloon 20 in the carrier is not inflated, the light beam impinges on the photocell, as the carrier passes the testing station, and the electromagnet 56 has its armature 56a moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 7, thereby pushing the adjacent pin 55 to the left so that it is set in its switch actuating position as shown in the case of the uppermost pin in Pig. 7. Consequently, when that carrier with the leaky cigarette on it reaches the ejector station, the pin 55 closes the switch 45, energizing the electromagnet 44 and opening the valve 37a so that a blast of compressed air is delivered through the

passages

37 and 35. lifting the cigarette from the carrier 10 and forcing it into the hood 5? from which it is carried away laterally to the left by the vacuum connected to pipe 61, and is suitably disposed of. As the plate 50 continues its rotation, each pin 55 which has been pushed toclose the switch 45 is returned to its initial setting before reaching the lowermost position by engagement with the 'cam fixed on the disk 48. The pins 55 in their opcarrier subsequently passes the ejector station, the switch,- 45 is not closed, and the carrier continues to carry the;

cigarette forward. The vacuum applied at the pipe 61 is not sufficient to lift the cigarette off the carrier with-- out the aid of a simultaneous blast of compressed airthrough the block 36.

The cigarette continues through conventional manufacturing processes. In Fig. l the conveyor 1 is shown as passing over a drum so that the cigarettes would be dropped on a belt 67. If desired, suitable mechanism of a conventional type may be associated with this drum to cut the double cigarette units into two pieces as they pass over it, so that individual cigarettes are deposited on the belt 67 ready for packaging.

While the invention is illustrated as applied to the testing of double cigarette units, it is also readily applicable to individual cigarettes. Consequently, where the word cigarette is used in this specification and claims, it is used as a generic term inclusive of double cigarette units, unless otherwise indicated by the context.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, other modifications thereof will readily occur to those skilled in the art, and I therefore intend my invention to be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for testing the integrity of hollow articles having only two spaced openings therein connected by a restricted flow path, comprising a conveyor including articles, each mounted on one of said carriers, stationary means for supplying fluid under pressure, means including said conveyor for moving said carriers successively past said stationary means and effective to place one opening on each said article in fluid communication with said fluid supply means to receive fluid under pressure therefrom to maintain said communication for a predetermined time, and means to place the other opening on each said article in fluid communication with the testing device on its carrier and to maintain said last-mentioned communication for said predetermined time.

2. Testing apparatus as defined in claim 1, including means yieldably supporting each testing device on its associated carrier for movement along a fixed path on said carrier, means on said carrier contoured to support one of said articles with said other opening thereof adjacent to said device as it moves along said path, and cam means located along the path of movement of the conveyor and effective to engage the testing devices on the passing carriers and to move each said device along its carrier to engage the article thereon about the periphcry of its other opening, thereby placing said other opening in fluid communication with the testing device.

3. Testing apparatus as defined in claim 2 including fluid-conveying coupling means on each said carrier and having an opening aligned with said one opening of an article on said contoured support means, said cam means being effective after said testing device is moved into engagement with the article 'to move the device farther along the path of cammed movement thereby carrying the article along and bringing said one opening thereof into fluid communication with said opening in said coupling means.

4. Testing apparatus as defined in claim 3, in which said articles are tubular with said openings at the opposite ends thereof, and each said carrier is contoured with an elongated groove adapted to receive one of said tubular articles, and the path of carnmed movement of said testing device is along theaxis of said groove.

5. Apparatus for testing the integrity of hollow articles having an opening therein, comprising a conveyor movable along a linear path and including a plurality of carriers for individual articles, stationary means adjacent the path of movement of the conveyor for supplying fluid under pressure, fluid-conveying coupling means on each said carrier and having an outlet aligned with an opening in an article on the carrier, means for moving each article to bring its opening into fluid communication with the outlet on its associated coupling means, said coupling means including an inlet element having an inlet opening and adapted to cooperate with said stationary fluid supply means to supply fluid under pressure successively to the articles passing on said conveyor, and a pressure responsive testing device mounted on each carrier for fluid communication with an article thereon,

whereby the integrity of each article is tested when fluid under pressure is supplied thereto.

6. Testing apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which said inlet opening is located in a surface of said inlet element extending parallel to the path of movement of the carrier, and including means yieldably supporting said inlet element for movement in a direction perpendicular to said surface, said fluid supply means comprising a discharge element having a discharge opening in a surface parallel to the path of movement of the carrier and a ramp having a plane surface extending in a direction diagonal to the path of conveyor movement and located in the path of the inlet elements and adjoining said parallel surface of the discharge element, said ramp being effective to engage the successive inlet elements as they move with the conveyor and to move them against their yieldable supporting means, so that they thereafter slidably engage said parallel surface of the discharge element and the inlet openings on the successive inlet elements are successively brought into fluid communication with said discharge opening.

7. Testing apparatus as defined in claim 6-, including cooperating tongue and groove surfaces on said discharge element and said inlet elements, above and below the openings in said elements, to inhibit fluid leakage from said elements.

8. Testing apparatus as defined in claim 6, in which the inlet elements on adjacent carriers have abutting surfaces with cooperating tongues and grooves elfective substantially to close the spaces between said inlet elements, and the discharge opening in said discharge element extends along the path of the conveyor for a distance substantially greater than the width of one of said inlet elements, said tongues and grooves being effective to inhibit fluid leakage between said inlet elements.

9. Apparatus for testing the integrity of hollow articles having only two spaced openings therein, comprising a conveyor including a plurality of carriers for individual articles, a plurality of fluid pressure responsive testing devices for individual articles, each mounted on one of said carriers and each comprising an expansible chamber having a movable wall, stationary means for supplying fluid under pressure, means including said conveyor for moving said carriers successively past said stationary means and to place one opening on each said article in fluid communication with said fluid supply means to receive fluid under pressure therefrom, and means to place the other opening on each said article in fluid communication with the testing device on its carrier, each said chamber being expanded by means of fluid from said fluid supply means, if the article through which it receives said fluid is without leaks, said chamber being effective during expansion to move said wall from a first position indicating leakage to a second position indicating the absence of leakage.

.10. Apparatus for testing cigarettes for air leaks comprising a conveyor including a plurality of carriers for individual cigarettes, a plurality of fluid pressure responsive testing devices for individual cigarettes, each mounted on one of said caniers, and each comprising an inflatable membrane, stationary means for supplying air under pressure, means including said conveyor for moving said carriers successively past said stationary means and to place one end of each cigarette in fluid communication with said air supply means to receive air under pressure therefrom, said air supply means being elongated in the direction of travel of the article so that said one end of each cigarette receives said air under pressure for a substantial period of time, and coupling means to place the other end of each cigarette in fluid communication with the testing device on its carrier, each said membrane being inflated by air from said supply means if the cigarette through which it receives the air is without leaks.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, for testing cigarettes for air leaks, in which said coupling means comprises a restriction to delay the flow of air into said membrane.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, in which said restriction is variable.

13. Apparatus for testing cigarettes for air leaks in the covering material, comprising fluid conveying coupling members having inwardly tapering end surfaces, means to move said coupling members into fluid tight resilient engagement with the ends of a cigarette, means to supply air under pressure to one of the coupling mernbers, a pressure responsive testing device, and means connecting the other coupling member to said testing device.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, for testing cigarettes, comprising an underlying support for a cigarette g ooved to hold the cigarette against rolling movement,

9 said groove being aligned with said coupling members, said support and groove terminating short of the ends of the cigarette so as not to interfere with the coupling members as they engage said ends.

15. Apparatus for testing cigarettes for air leaks, comprising a support for a cigarette having a groove to hold the cigarette against rolling movement, said groove being shorter than the cigarette, said support being cut away adjacent the ends of the cigarette, a first fluid-conveying coupling fixed on the support and aligned with one end of the groove, a second fluid-conveying coupling mounted on the support in alignment with the other end of the groove and movable toward and away from the groove, means to move said second coupling toward said groove to engage one end of a cigarette in said groove and to push the cigarette along the groove until it engages said first coupling, means to supply air under pressure to one of said couplings, and a pressure responsive test device connected to the other of said couplings.

16. Apparatus for testing cigarettes for air leaks, comprising a conveyor including a plurality of carriers for individual cigarettes and means linking said carriers together, a pressure responsive test device on each said carrier including an inflatable membrance, means adjacent the path of movement of said conveyor for supplying air under pressure, said air supply means comprising a stationary fluid-conveying coupling having stubstantial length in the direction of movement of said conveyor, means cooperating with each carrier to couple one end of a cigarette thereon to the test device thereon, and to couple the other end of the cigarette to said stationary coupling, said coupling means and said air supply means cell, means to direct a beam of light along a path impinging on said photocell and alongside said conveyor and subject to interruption by inflated membranes passing on said conveyor, and means controlled by the photocell to eject from the conveyor all cigarettes whose associated membrane is not inflated sufficiently to interrupt the beam of light.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 669,529 Kennedy Mar. 12, 1901 1,384,888 Carlisle July 19, 1921 1,536,090 Foisy May 5, 1925 1,846,808 Hohn et al. Feb. 23, 1932 2,061,744 Temple Nov. 24, 1936 2,168,419 Paterson Aug. 8, 1939 2,261,802 Gooden Nov. 4, 1941 2,377,123 Ballamy et al May 29, 1945 2,534,830 Philo Dec. 19, 1950 2,551,645 Stadelman May 8, 1951 2,594,327 Maher Apr. 29, 1952 2,730,234 Bickley Ian. 10, 1956 "membrance" read membrane UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Nor 2,951,364 September 6 1960 Joseph He Sherrill "It is hereby certified that error appears in the-printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4,

lines

43 and 44 for "coupling members 25e and the ridges 32 and grooves 26" read coupling members 25 and the ridges 32 and grooves 25c column 9, line 24h for Signed and sealed this. llth' day of April 1961",

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER ARTHUR W. CROCKER Attesting Oflicer Actmg Commissioner of Patents