US3680360A - Tobacco leaf scanning device - Google Patents

Tobacco leaf scanning device Download PDF

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Publication number
US3680360A
US3680360A US69601A US3680360DA US3680360A US 3680360 A US3680360 A US 3680360A US 69601 A US69601 A US 69601A US 3680360D A US3680360D A US 3680360DA US 3680360 A US3680360 A US 3680360A
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Prior art keywords
tobacco
chamber
strip
vein
discrete compartments
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Expired - Lifetime
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US69601A
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English (en)
Inventor
Frank Hollenton
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Automated Machinery Systems Inc
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AMF Inc
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Assigned to AMF UNION MACHINERY INC., A CORP OF DELAWARE reassignment AMF UNION MACHINERY INC., A CORP OF DELAWARE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: AMF INCORPORATED, A CORP OF N.J.
Assigned to BANK OF VIRGINIA, 800 E. MAIN STREET, RICHMOND, VA. 23260, A BANKING CORP. OF VA. reassignment BANK OF VIRGINIA, 800 E. MAIN STREET, RICHMOND, VA. 23260, A BANKING CORP. OF VA. SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: AUTOMATED MACHINERY SYSTEMS, INC, A CORP. OF VA.
Assigned to AUTOMATED MACHINERY SYSTEMS, INC. A CORP OF VA reassignment AUTOMATED MACHINERY SYSTEMS, INC. A CORP OF VA MERGER (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). EFFECTIVE JANUARY 2, 1986, VIRGINIA Assignors: AMF UNION MACHINERY INC., A DE CORP. (INTO)
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C1/00—Elements of cigar manufacture
    • A24C1/04—Devices for cutting cigar binders or wrappers

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A wrapper, prior to being cut to a cigar wrapper shape having a defined configuration, is arbitrarily divided into a plurality of sections, each-substantially pneumatically isolated from each other. Each section is then pneumatically examined for the absence or presence of undesired holes or voids. A single pneu matic examining section can be used with good results.
  • a vein detector can be provided to examine the head section of the strip of tobacco for the presence or absence of veins.
  • This invention relates generally to the production of cigars and the handling of tobacco leaves and, more particularly, to apparatus for automatically positioning a portion of a tobacco leaf to identify a complex shaped portion of said leaf that is free of objectionable veins and holes or cuts for use as a cigar wrapper.
  • the production of cigars is not onlyhighly complex, but still includes a number of hand operations. Further, the final speed of production of the cigar maker machine is determined by the speed at which the operator can place a leaf portion over the die. The whole sequence of events is based upon the expensive pre-stemrning and pre-booking of tobacco leaves as a necessary pre-requisite and the accurate inspection and Cigar Making Machine by-Hooper, Hollenton and v mechanisms and standardize cigarmanufacture, it still remains very convenient to continue the old practice of separating the two halves of the leaves by removing the mid-rib and booking the separate halves, each according to its kind, the different books being sent to the ap-' limbate machines.
  • Cigar machines are designed to cut out tobacco leaves to approximately the desired final shape for binders or wrappers and, while said final shaped cut pieces are still under control, to apply them to the tobacco core or bunch for rolling.
  • one or more cutting dies are mounted on a turret arranged to index about a vertical axis, one turret being provided for the binder and wrapper respectively.
  • Each cutting die is surrounded by a perforated surface, the perforations being connected to a source of vacuum.
  • the wrapper should have no objectionable voids or holes nor should veins be present in the head area of the wrapper.
  • a wrapper prior to being cut to a cigar wrapper shape having a defined configuration, is arbitrarily divided into a plurality of sections, each substantially pneumatically isolated from each other. Each section is then pneumatically examined for the absence or presence of undesired holes or voids.
  • the use of a plurality of pneumatically isolated sections has been disclosed. However, it-
  • a single pneumatic examining section can be used with good results.
  • a vein detector means can be provided to examine the head section of the strip of tobacco for the presence or absence of veins.
  • FIG. 1 is a top view of a shaped cigar wrapper cut from a strip or leaf of tobacco and used to wrap cigars;
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of the structure in accordance with the principles of the invention.
  • FIG. 3 isa view in section along the line 33 of FIG.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic of a circuit which can be used in combination with the structure of FIG. 2; and;
  • FIG. 5 is a view of the structure of FIG. 2 in combination with tobacco strip feeding structure
  • FIG. 6 is a partial view in section along the line 33 of FIG. 2, depicting an alternative means of vein detection by means of a photocell.
  • This invention is directed to the automatic scanning of a strip of tobacco to obtain a cigar wrapper that has no objectionable holes or voids and/or no veins in the head area.
  • strips or patches of tobacco sized to be longer than and at least as wide as the cigar wrapper die are fed to an open top sensing means having a configuration substantially similar to the configuration of the cigar wrapper die.
  • the sensing means can have a single compartment or a plurality of shallow compartments. In those instances where the sensing means has a plurality of compartments, each compartment is coupled to a source of suction through an orifree that is selectively adjustable.
  • Each compartment is also connected to a pneumatically operated switch, ar-
  • each compartment is adjusted to maintain within each compartment a comparative value of suction that is less than a predetermined comparative, of differential value when the holes or voids in that portion of the strip of tobacco positioned over a compartment are smaller than the maximum permissible and, therefore, unacceptable.
  • the pneumatically operated switch can be of the normally closed type adjusted to be held open by a differential value of suction until the suction within the compartment being sensed rises to the predetermined value.
  • To express the absolute value of air pressure within the compartment in another way when the absolute pressure in the compartment is above a predetermined value because the holes or voids in the leaf permit more air to enter the compartment than can be withdrawn, then the air pressure in the compartment, which is difi'erentially compared with the absolute'positive pressure of the vacuum source, causes the normally closed pneumatically operated switch to be operated and switched to its open state.
  • a coincidence of a series of normally closed pneumatically operated switches can be made to complete an electrical path and indicate that the area of the leaf being positioned over the various compartments of the sensing means does not contain any objectionable holes or voids and can be cut to provide a good cigar wrapper.
  • a vein detector means which can be of the optical type or of the mechanical type can be provided to examine the head portion or area of the leaf for the presence of a vein. The absence of a vein in the head portion and/or the absence of undesired holes or voids in the leaf indicates that the leaf, as positioned, can be cut by the cigar wrapper die to provide a good cigar wrapper.
  • FIG. 1 there is illustrated one of many shaped cigar wrappers 10- used to wrap cigars.
  • the cigar wrapper is cut from a leaf of tobacco by means of a wrapper die and can, for purposes of illustration, be considered to consist of several sections defined by imaginary lines and corresponding to the shape of their inspection compartments as follows:
  • the head section 12 intermediate sections l4, 16, 18, etc., and; the tuck section 20.
  • the condition of the selected leaf area for the wrapper determines the quality and appearance of the finished cigar. While the requirements for a good cigar wrapper may vary in accordance with cigar quality and differences in standards of cigar manufacture, a wrapper will generally satisfy the following conditions:
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 there is illustrated a plan and sectional view of a scanning head for determining if a section of a leaf is acceptable for cutting into a shaped cigar wrapper.
  • the scanning head 22 consists of a closed hollow chamber 24 having a port 26 coupled to a source of suction.
  • the source of suction acting through the port 26, creates a suction in the hollow chamber 24.
  • chamber 24 can be referred to as a suction chamber.
  • the chamber 24 is defined, in part, by a back wall member 28 and a front wall member 30.
  • the outside surface of front wall member 30 supports a continuous ridge 32 shaped to define the configuration of the cigar wrapper desired such as that illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • the area within and defined by the continuous ridge 32 is divided by rib members 34, 36, 38 and 40 to form several areas or compartments 44, 46, 48, 50 and 52 which serve to divide the area of the leaf to be inspected into several separate areas, and are arranged to collectively represent the desired shape of the cigar wrapper.
  • area 44 represents the head section 12 of the wrapper
  • areas 46, 48, 49 and 50 represent the intermediate sections 14, 16, and 18, of the wrapper
  • area 52 represents the tuck section of the wrapper.
  • Each compartment communicates through a first passageway to the suction chamber 24; and is coupled through a second passageway to a pressure sensitive switch.
  • passageway 54 within front wall member 30 couples suction chamber 24 to compartment 44.
  • Back wall member 28 supports a threaded opening 56 axially aligned with the passageway 54.
  • An externally threaded shaft 60 having a knurled adjusting knob 62 at one end and a conical-shaped valve end member 64 at the other end is positioned within and supported by threaded hole 56.
  • Gasketed lock nut member 58 serves to positionally secure and seal in an air-tight manner threaded shaft 60. Turning the knob 62 rotates and advances the threaded shaft 60 to selectively advance or retract the conical shaped member 64 towards or away from the end of passageway 54.
  • conical member 64 cooperates with the end of passageway 54 to function as a valve to adjustably control or throttle the flow of air through the passageway 54 from compartment 44 to suction chamber 24 when suction is applied to the chamber 24.
  • a second passageway 68 within front wall member 30 in combination with a small plastic tube 70 couples the compartment 44 to one inlet of a pressure differential switch 72 such as is manufactured by De Hart, Inc. of Norristown, Pa. and referred to as De Hart 506-1.
  • the other inlet of the switch is exposed to sense the pressure within the suction chamber 24.
  • Each of the other compartments 46, 48, 50 and 52 are connected through a first passageway and a valve means to the suction chamber 24; and are also connected through a second passageway to a differential pressure sensitive switch arranged to compare the pressure in the compartment relative to the pressure in the suction chamber 24 in the same manner as just described for the compartment 44.
  • the continuous ridge 32 and the rib members 34, 36, 38 and 40 are equal in height and terminate in the same plane.
  • a relatively rigid perforated or air permeable member 74 is positioned on top of the continuous ridge 32 and the rib members 34, 36, 38 and 40.
  • Member 74 forms a support to prevent a patch or strip of tobacco from being sucked down in the various compartments.
  • a vein detector means which can be of the mechanical type, optical type or the like is positioned to detect the occurrence of a vein in the head section of the cigar wrapper.
  • the structure of this invention can be used in two modes of operation.
  • the strip or patch can be automatically inspected while it is stationary or, in the other, while it is on the fly.
  • a strip of tobacco can be placed on top of member 74 in proximity of ridge 32 having the configuration of the shaped cigar wrapper and, if the strip contains a hole or void that is objectionable, the strip can be lifted off and repositioned.
  • the strip of tobacco can be moved or driven across the top of the ridge 32 having the configuration of the shaped cigar wrapper carried by air permeable ribbon 122 and supported by member 78 until a signal is ob tained which indicates that the strip of tobacco satisfies the various requirements for holes or voids to provide a good cigar wrapper.
  • a vein detector means of the mechanical type can be positioned to contact the head section of a leaf positioned over the compartment 44.
  • a pad or a strip of material 76 of sufficient size to span the head section to be inspected and adjustably positioned to just contact the leaf is coupled to a lever 78 pivoted at a point 80 to provide a large displacement at the end of the lever coupled to the strip 76.
  • a movable contact 84 is positioned to be driven by the end 82 of the lever 78 towards a stationary contact 86, the end of the movable contact 84 being positioned to experience a large displacement for a small driving displacement by the end 82.
  • the presence of a vein under the pad or strip 76 will urge the contacts 84, 86 apart to indicate the presence of a vein in the head area of the cigar wrapper.
  • a vein detector means of the optical type can be used.
  • the strip of tobacco leaf is positioned on a transparent, semi-transparent or translucent air permeable belt or ribbon, 122, that is driven across the surface of the air permeable support member 74 positioned on top of the continuous ridge 32 and the rib members 34, 36, 38 and 40. If it is assumed that the strip of tobacco is driven from the compartment representative of the head section of the cigar wrapper toward the compartment representative of the tuck section, a photocell can be positioned adjacent to the upstream position of the ridge 32 that defines a portion of the head compartment.
  • the photocell 100 is positioned at one side of the strip of tobacco and a source of light 124 is positioned at the other side of the strip of tobacco opposite the photocell.
  • light from a source of light 124 is directed to shine through the strip of tobacco through carrying ribbon 122, and through a suitably located hole 126 in support member 74 to the photocell.
  • the photocell and its associated network is adjusted to operate a relay when the relatively opaqueness of an objectionable vein blocks the path of light to the photocell. It is to be noted that in this instance the moving strip of tobacco is examined for the presence of each .vein as the strip of tobacco is conveyed past the photocell location prior to arrival of sufficient tobacco to cover the several compartments.
  • a time delay network repeatedly actuated by the photocell as it senses the passage of each vein, is provided, synchronized with the motion of the strip of tobacco so as to cause persist an electrical reject signal for the duration of time required for passage of the objectionable vein past the head compartment area.
  • This signal when properly applied in conjunction with the signals from the differential pressure switches, as is better described below, prevents the inspection procedure from being completed on an otherwise acceptably sound strip of tobacco whenever an objectionable vein still remains in the head area.
  • photocell arrangement can be positioned an additional distance upstream and still be activated in synchronism with the arrival of any particular objectionable vein in the head area and its safe conveyance past while inspecting for voids or holes.
  • FIG. 4 there is illustrated a circuit network in accordance with the principles of the invention.
  • Each of the pneumatically operated pressure differential switches located within the suction chamber and coupled tosense the pressure in the various compartments 44, 46, 48, 50 and 52 are electrically coupled in series and represented by the normally closed contacts 88, 90, 92, 94 and 96; it being assumed in this description that these contacts when closed, indicate that the area of the tobacco strip covering their respective various compartments contain only hole or void imperfections of an acceptably minor nature.
  • a pair of normally closed contacts 98 is coupled in series with the contacts 88, 90, 92, 94 and 96.
  • the contacts 98 are urged open by a relay coil for a predetermined interval of time after photocell 100 detects the passage of a vein, the time interval being sufficient to permit the vein to move from beneath the photocell to the position of the head compartment 44.
  • the photocell 100 is coupled through a sensitivity control (which defines the actuation of the cell to only those veins deemed to be of objectionable size) to a time delay network which is coupled to energize the relay coil 102 for a predetermined interval of time immediately after sensing the passage of veins.
  • Relay coil 102 when energized hold contacts 98 open.
  • a mechanical vein sensor having a small diameter leaf contacting surface can be employed in place of the photocell and its associated network.
  • the time delay network must be adjusted to insure that the contacts 98 are open during that interval of time when the detected vein is in or passing over the pneumatic head sensing compartment 44 of the sensing head.
  • each conical member 64 is adjustably positioned relative to the end of passageway 54 by turning the knob 62 to control the value of suction within each compartment such that the contacts 88, 90, 92, 94, 96 of their respective differential pressure switches will be closed only when their associated compartments are adequately covered by the tobacco strip being inspected.
  • a strip of tobacco is positioned on to a transparent or semi-transparent air permeable belt and drawn across the vein detector means and pneumatic sensing head at a predetermined speed. As soon as all of the conditions are satisfied, the absence of a vein in the head area and the absence of undesirable holes or voids in the tobacco strip, a signal will be generated to stop the advance of the strip of tobacco.
  • FIG. 5 discloses a method of automatically feeding strips of tobacco for sensing to determine which will provide good cigar wrappers.
  • the tobacco can be cut into strips having a width slightly larger than the width of the cigar wrapper desired and stored on a relatively narrow transparent or semi-transparent air permeable ribbon, the width of the ribbon being equal to or slightly larger than the width of the strip of tobacco.
  • the strip of tobacco should have a length that is at least slightly larger than the length of the cigar wrapper desired, but may, in practice, be of the length of the leaf from which it was cut, or may be of a continuous nature such as would result from joined, or overlapping leaves.
  • the roll of stored strips of tobacco 114 which can be considered to be a roll book is positioned on a spindle for unrolling.
  • the spindle is rotatably mounted onto a shaft that is spring loaded and urged upward to position the roll of stored strips of tobacco against the suction chamber 116 as the roll is unwound.
  • the ribbon and strips of tobacco unwound from the roll are fed over a first suction chamber 116, the sensing or scanning device of this invention and a second articulated suction chamber 118, 122 to a reel 120 driven by the motor 108.
  • the strips of tobacco are held to the bottom surface of the ribbon of the reel by suction chamber 116 acting through the ribbon as the ribbon is unwound from the reel.
  • the suction chamber 118, 122 The suction chamber 118, 122
  • chamber 118, 122 can be selectively operated to reject unacceptable portions of the tobacco, and to retain strips of tobacco which will provide good cigar wrappers for storage'on reel 120 for later use.
  • the articulated suction chamber 118, 122 insures continuous cooperation between the chamber 118, 122 and the air permeable belt up -to the point where the belt is formed into a roll.
  • a device for automatically inspecting a tobacco leaf for a cigar wrapper comprising a depressed area shaped to cover the configuration of the cigar wrapper, wall members coupled to divide said depressed area into discrete compartments, an air permeable member mounted to cover said discrete compartments, a chamber, a passageway interposed between said chamber and said discrete compartments, and means for comparing the pressure in said discrete compartments with said chamber when a strip of tobacco is positioned over said permeable member and suction is applied to said chamber.
  • switch meansv coupled to said pressure sensing means to indicate whether the pressure in said discrete areas relative to the pressure in said chamber is higher or lower than a predetermined value.
  • the structure of claim 3 including vein detecting means coupled to detect the presence of a vein in a portion of the strip of tobacco positioned over the discrete compartments representative of the head section of the cigar wrapper.
  • valve means coupled to said passageway to control the rate at which ing means comprises a feeler to contact andride over the surface of the strip of tobacco.
  • said vein detecting means comprises a photoelectric cell.

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  • Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)
US69601A 1970-09-04 1970-09-04 Tobacco leaf scanning device Expired - Lifetime US3680360A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US6960170A 1970-09-04 1970-09-04

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US3680360A true US3680360A (en) 1972-08-01

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US69601A Expired - Lifetime US3680360A (en) 1970-09-04 1970-09-04 Tobacco leaf scanning device

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US (1) US3680360A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA930253A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2143089B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2107099A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1323236A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2396712A1 (fr) * 1977-07-04 1979-02-02 Seita Procede de placement dans des pieces irregulieres
EP0031318A1 (en) * 1978-03-09 1981-07-01 GULF & WESTERN CORPORATION Apparatus for cutting an element from a natural tobacco leaf

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2538622A (en) * 1944-12-08 1951-01-16 Bailey Meter Co Apparatus for determining surface quality
US2884495A (en) * 1954-11-15 1959-04-28 Web Controls Corp Control device
US3115037A (en) * 1960-12-09 1963-12-24 Warren S D Co Pneumatic void detector

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2538622A (en) * 1944-12-08 1951-01-16 Bailey Meter Co Apparatus for determining surface quality
US2884495A (en) * 1954-11-15 1959-04-28 Web Controls Corp Control device
US3115037A (en) * 1960-12-09 1963-12-24 Warren S D Co Pneumatic void detector

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1323236A (en) 1973-07-11
DE2143089A1 (de) 1972-03-09
DE2143089C3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1980-02-21
DE2143089B2 (de) 1979-06-21
CA930253A (en) 1973-07-17
FR2107099A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-05-05

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: AMF UNION MACHINERY INC., 2115 WEST LABURNUM AVENU

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:AMF INCORPORATED, A CORP OF N.J.;REEL/FRAME:004486/0638

Effective date: 19851111

AS Assignment

Owner name: BANK OF VIRGINIA, 800 E. MAIN STREET, RICHMOND, VA

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:AUTOMATED MACHINERY SYSTEMS, INC, A CORP. OF VA.;REEL/FRAME:004495/0269

Effective date: 19860110

AS Assignment

Owner name: AUTOMATED MACHINERY SYSTEMS, INC. A CORP OF VA

Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:AMF UNION MACHINERY INC., A DE CORP. (INTO);REEL/FRAME:004647/0149

Effective date: 19861022