WO2013145163A1

WO2013145163A1 - Cigarette filter inspection device and inspection method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2013145163A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/058162
Authority: WO
Inventors: 石川　悦朗; 孝浩宮岸
Original assignee: 日本たばこ産業株式会社
Priority date: 2012-03-28
Filing date: 2012-03-28
Publication date: 2013-10-03

Abstract

This filter inspection device (1) is provided with: a master sample setting means (64) that sets the color components of a filler (22) as a master color sample; an imaging means (44) that forms an inspection image (60) by imaging a filter element array (16); an inspection region setting means (66) that sets the inspection region (70) in the inspection image to be at the filter elements; and a quality judgment means (68) that judges the quality of the filter element array by comparing the color area of the master color sample present in the inspection region to a predetermined threshold.

Description

Cigarette filter inspection apparatus and inspection method thereof

The present invention relates to a cigarette filter inspection apparatus including a filter such as a perfume capsule or activated carbon, and an inspection method thereof.

Conventionally, filter cigarettes provided with fillers such as flavor capsules or activated carbon as particulates are known, and fillers such as fragrance capsules or activated carbon are arranged in the filter of the filter cigarette. A manufacturing machine for manufacturing a filter incorporating such a fragrance capsule includes a capsule supply device that supplies a fragrance capsule to a space between a large number of filter elements placed on a forming paper to form a filter element row, and this supply An example of the apparatus is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

The supply device of Patent Document 1 has a hopper that stores fragrance capsules, and a rotating wheel disposed between the hopper and a manufacturing line of the manufacturing machine. The rotating wheel intermittently inserts the fragrance capsules in the hopper into the manufacturing line. To supply. Specifically, the rotating wheel has a large number of pockets on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and these pockets are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotating wheel.

Special table 2009-508524

According to the supply device described above, when the fragrance capsule is received in the pocket of the rotating wheel, it is inevitable that the inner wall of the pocket strongly collides with the fragrance capsule. Such a collision causes damage to the perfume capsules and misincorporation of the perfume capsules into the pockets and thus to the filter element spacing. Specifically, a film piece of a broken fragrance capsule is mixed into a filter element, a fragrance leaks from a broken fragrance capsule into a filter element interval, or a plurality of fragrance capsules are mixed into one filter element interval. Or even if no perfume capsules are supplied to the filter element spacing.

Similarly, when the activated carbon is filled into the filter element interval, the activated carbon is supplied in a certain amount from the pocket of the rotating wheel to the filter element interval. At this time, activated carbon may overflow from the filter element interval and adhere to the surface of the filter element.
An object of the present invention is to detect and eliminate mixing of a filler into a filter element and erroneous mixing of a packing into a filter element interval, thereby making it possible to manufacture a filter rod of constant quality, and thus a filter cigarette. To provide a cigarette filter inspection apparatus and an inspection method thereof.

The above object is achieved by the cigarette filter inspection apparatus and the inspection method thereof according to the present invention. Among these, the filter inspection apparatus supplies a filler to the interval between a plurality of filter elements placed on a forming paper to filter the filter. In a filter manufacturing machine including a filler supply unit that forms an element row, a master sample setting unit that sets a color component of the filler as a master color sample, and an imaging unit that forms an inspection image by imaging the filter element row Inspection area setting means for setting the inspection area in the inspection image in the filter element array, and quality determination means for determining the quality of the filter element array by comparing the color area of the master color sample existing in the inspection area with a predetermined threshold value. With.

Preferably, the filter manufacturing machine further includes hoisting means for winding up the forming paper in the filter element row to form a filter rod, and the imaging means is arranged between the filler supply means and the hoisting means.
Preferably, the inspection area setting means sets the inspection area separately for the filter element and the filter element interval based on the inspection image formed by the imaging means.

Preferably, the inspection area setting unit detects the position of the edge part on the filter element interval side of the filter element in the filter element row based on the inspection image formed by the imaging unit, and based on the detected position information of the edge part The position of the inspection area is corrected so as to match the area of either the filter element or the filter element interval.

On the other hand, the filter inspection method is a filter manufacturing method including a filler supply step of forming a filter element row by supplying a filler to an interval between a plurality of filter elements placed on a molding paper. A master sample setting process for setting a sample color as a master color sample, an imaging process for imaging a filter element array to form an inspection image, an inspection area setting process for setting an inspection area as a filter element array in the inspection image, and an inspection area A quality determination step of determining the quality of the filter element row by comparing the color area of the existing master color sample with a predetermined threshold value.

Preferably, the filter manufacturing method further includes a hoisting step of winding up the forming paper in the filter element row to form a filter rod, and the imaging step is performed between the filling supply step and the hoisting step.
Preferably, in the inspection area setting step, the inspection area is divided into filter elements and filter element intervals based on the inspection image formed in the imaging process.

Preferably, in the inspection region setting step, the position of the edge portion on the filter element interval side of the filter element in the filter element row is detected based on the inspection image formed in the imaging step, and based on the detected position information of the edge portion The position of the inspection area is corrected so as to match the area of either the filter element or the filter element interval.

According to the cigarette filter inspection apparatus and the inspection method of the present invention, it is possible to detect and eliminate the mixing of the filler into the filter element and the erroneous mixing of the filler into the filter element interval, thereby eliminating the constant quality filter rod. Thus, a filter cigarette can be manufactured.

It is the schematic which shows the principal part of the filter manufacturing machine which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the filter inspection apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the imaging area of the filter element row | line | column by the color camera of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the test | inspection area | region by the filter test | inspection apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows another example of the test | inspection area | region by the filter test | inspection apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows another example of the test | inspection area | region by the filter test | inspection apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows another example of the test | inspection area | region by the filter test | inspection apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of NG detection by the filter test | inspection apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows another NG detection example by the filter test | inspection apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows another NG detection example by the filter test | inspection apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows another NG detection example by the filter test | inspection apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows another NG detection example by the filter test | inspection apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the image inspection screen displayed on the monitor of the filter inspection apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the test | inspection process by the filter test | inspection apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a part of a filter manufacturing machine. This manufacturing machine is equipped with a filter inspection apparatus 1 for performing the filter inspection method of the present invention. The production machine includes a production line 2 extending horizontally, and the production line 2 includes an upstream conveyor 4 and a downstream conveyor 6. The upstream conveyor 4 is connected to an element supply 10 that supplies a filter element 8.
As shown in FIG. 2, the filter rod has an acetate fiber tow, that is, a filter material 12 and a wrapping paper 14 that wraps the filter material 12 in a rod shape. The element supply source 10 supplies the filter elements 8 obtained by cutting the filter rods equally into the upstream conveyor 4 one by one. As a result, a filter element row 16 in which the filter elements 8 are arranged at equal intervals on the upstream conveyor 4 is formed. The filter element row 16 is transferred on the upstream conveyor 4 toward the downstream conveyor 6.

The forming paper 18 has already been supplied onto the upstream conveyor 4, and the filter element row 16 is placed on the forming paper 18. Therefore, the filter element row 16 is conveyed along the forming paper 18 on the upstream conveyor 4 in the direction of the arrow X toward the subsequent winding section (winding means) 20, and the upstream conveyor 4 is conveyed along the conveyance path for the filter element row 16. Form. The forming paper 18 is supplied to the upstream conveyor 4 from a roll (not shown).

On the other hand, a supply device (filling supply means) 24 for supplying a spherical capsule (filling) 22 as a granular material is disposed immediately above the upstream conveyor 4. The supply device 24 includes a hopper 26 that stores the capsules 22, and a rotary wheel 30 that is disposed between the hopper 26 and the production line 2 of the manufacturing machine via a supply path 28. The inner capsule 22 is intermittently supplied to the production line 2. Specifically, the rotating wheel 30 has a large number of pockets 32 on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and these pockets 32 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotating wheel 30.

As the rotating wheel 30 rotates, it receives the capsules 22 from the hopper 26 into the individual pockets 32, and transfers the received capsules 22 together with the pockets 32 toward the production line 2. The capsule 22 is dropped and supplied from the pocket 32 to the production line 2.
If the filter element row 16 is traveling on the production line 2 at the same speed as the peripheral speed of the outer peripheral surface of the rotary wheel 30, the capsules 22 are supplied to the filter element row 16 at a constant interval. That is, the supply device 24 supplies the capsule 22 to the filter element interval 34 of the filter elements 8 constituting the filter element row 16, and when the filter element row 16 is supplied to the hoisting section 20, all of the filter element rows 16 are supplied. A capsule 22 is arranged in the filter element interval 34. Note that the capsule 22 is a spherical fragrance capsule containing a liquid fragrance, and has a diameter of approximately 2.0 to 7.0 mm, for example.

The hoisting section 20 receives the filter element row 16 and the form paper 18 and continuously wraps the filter element row 16 with the form paper 18 using a garniture tape 36 (see FIG. 2), as is known in the art. A rod continuum 38 is formed.
After this, the continuum 38 is delivered from the hoisting section 20 and passes through the cutting section 40. The cutting section 40 cuts the continuous body 38 at a predetermined length to produce a filter rod 42. The filter rod 42 has a length that is a multiple of the filter used in one of the filter cigarettes, and four times longer in this embodiment. The manufactured filter rod 42 is supplied to a filter attaching machine (not shown) and used for manufacturing a filter cigarette.

Here, the filter inspection apparatus 1 of the present invention is disposed immediately above the upstream conveyor 4 between the supply device 24 of the production line 2 and the hoisting section 20.
As shown in FIG. 2, the filter inspection apparatus 1 includes a color camera (imaging means) 44,

illuminations

46 and 46, a controller 48, a monitor 50, and a proximity sensor 52 arranged on both sides thereof. The proximity sensor 52 is disposed in the cutting section 40 and sends a test command signal 54 for the filter element array 16 to the controller 48.

When the controller 48 receives the inspection command signal 54 from the proximity sensor 52, the controller 48 transmits an illumination command signal 56 for illuminating the

illuminations

46, 46 to the

illuminations

46, 46, respectively, and is transported directly below the camera 44 in the production line 2. An imaging command signal 58 for imaging the filter element array 16 is transmitted to the camera 44, and imaging by the camera 44 is performed under illumination by the

illuminations

46 and 46. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 62 denotes an acrylic plate that is partially visible so as to image the filter element row 16 that is transported through the production line 2 while being protected from dust and the like. Imaging at 44 is performed through the acrylic plate 62, and the acrylic plate 62 also plays a role of preventing the filter element row 16 including the capsule 22 from jumping out of the production line 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the captured image of the filter element array 16 in a predetermined imaging range (for example, 35 mm) captured by the camera 44 is transmitted to the controller 48 as the inspection image 60 and used for the filter inspection in the inspection apparatus 1. Is done.
Specifically, the controller 48 includes a master sample setting unit (master sample setting unit) 64, an inspection region setting unit (inspection region setting unit) 66, and a quality determination unit (quality determination unit) 68. In the master sample setting unit 64, the color component (for example, blue) of the capsule 22 is preset as a master color sample, and the size and shape of the capsule 22 are preset as a master pattern. It is stored in the setting unit 64.

As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D, the inspection region setting unit 66 sets the inspection region 70 in the inspection image 60 captured by the camera 44 as the filter element interval 34 (FIGS. 4A and 4D), or the filter element array 16 Whether the filter element 8 is the front filter element 8 when viewed in the transport direction X (FIG. 4B) or the filter element 8 is the rear filter element 8 when viewed in the transport direction X of the filter element row 16 (FIG. 4C). In other words, three inspection regions 70 of the front filter element 8, the filter element interval 34, and the rear filter element 8 are inspected for one inspection image 60.

Further, the inspection area setting unit 66 detects the position of the edge portion 72 on the filter element interval 34 side of the filter element 8 in the filter element row 16 based on the inspection image 60 captured by the camera 44. Then, as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D, by using the detected position data of the edge portion 72, the inspection region 70 is moved to any one of the front filter element 8, the filter element interval 34, and the rear filter element 8. The position of the inspection area 70 is corrected so as to coincide with this area. The inspection area setting unit 66 inspects the three inspection areas 70 accurately and at high speed with respect to one inspection image 60, and the entire inspection image 60 is inspected without omission.

Here, the inspection of the inspection region 70 shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D will be described.
Specifically, the quality determination unit 68 compares the master color sample data stored in the master sample setting unit 64 with the color component data of the inspection region 70 in the inspection region 70 shown in FIGS. The capsule color area inspection is performed by comparing the color area of the master color sample existing in 70 with a predetermined color area threshold (predetermined threshold).

On the other hand, in the inspection area 70 shown in FIG. 4D, a capsule shape inspection is performed in which the master pattern data stored in the master sample setting unit 64 is collated with the contour data of an object existing in the inspection area 70 to determine the matching rate. It is also possible to do this.
Hereinafter, the capsule color area inspection and the capsule shape inspection will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5C and FIG.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the configuration of the image inspection screen 74 displayed on the monitor 50 of the filter inspection apparatus 1. The image inspection screen 74 includes a setting NO display section 76, a total inspection result display section 78, an inspection condition display section 80, an individual inspection data display section 82 for each inspection area and inspection item, an inspection threshold display section 84, and a total NG data display section. 86, an apparatus state display unit 88, a comprehensive determination result display unit 90, an NG latest image display unit 92, an NG history display unit 94, and the like.

In the capsule color area inspection, for example, the measurement value of the color area of the rear filter element 8 is displayed in the W2 area column displayed on the individual inspection data display unit 82 in the inspection region 70 shown in FIG. In 68, it is determined whether or not the measured value is larger than a predetermined threshold value (for example, 10) corresponding to the W2 area of the inspection threshold value display section 84. At this time, when the film piece 96 of the capsule 22 is mixed in the rear filter element 8 as shown in FIG. 5C, the measured color area value (36) exceeds the threshold (10). Therefore, an NG signal is issued from the quality determination unit 68 to the outside of the controller 48. In response to this NG signal, the corresponding filter element row 16 portion of the inspection area 70 is removed from the production line 2 after passing through the cutting section 40 and transferred to the exclusion processing unit 98 (see FIG. 1).

On the image inspection screen 74, the NG signal is received and NG is displayed on the comprehensive determination result display section 90. The NG count of the W2 area of the individual inspection data display section 82 and the NG count of the total NG data display section 86 are displayed. The latest inspection image 60 that has been counted and stored and becomes NG is enlarged and displayed on the NG latest image display unit 92, and this inspection image 60 is displayed as a history in the NG latest column of the NG history display unit 94.

In addition, the measured value of the color area of the filter element interval 34 is displayed in the column of the W0 area displayed on the individual inspection data display unit 82, and the measured value is displayed in the quality determination unit 68 by the W0 of the inspection threshold value display unit 84. It is determined whether or not the value is larger than a predetermined threshold (for example, 5000) corresponding to the area. At the same time, in order to detect a state in which the capsule 22 is not contained in the filter element gap 34, it is also determined whether or not it is smaller than the predetermined threshold value. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5A, when two capsules 22 are erroneously mixed in the filter element interval 34 and the value of the measured color area exceeds the threshold value, the same as the case shown in FIG. 5C described above. Exclusion processing and display are performed.

In addition, in the column of W1 area displayed on the individual inspection data display unit 82, the measurement value of the color area of the front filter element 8 is displayed. In the quality determination unit 68, this measurement value is displayed on the inspection threshold value display unit 84. It is determined whether or not it is larger than a predetermined threshold (for example, 10) corresponding to the W1 area. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the film piece 100 of the capsule 22 is mixed in the front filter element 8 and the value of the measured color area exceeds the threshold (10), the above-described FIG. 5A and FIG. Exclusion processing and display similar to those shown in 5C are performed.

On the other hand, in the capsule shape inspection, for example, measurement values representing the shape and size of the capsules 22 arranged at the filter element interval 34 in the inspection region 70 shown in FIG. 4D are measured. It is determined whether it is smaller than the threshold value. When the measured value is less than the threshold value, the same exclusion process and display as in the capsule color area inspection shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C described above are performed.

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the filter inspection performed by the filter inspection apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration is performed from the start by the master sample setting step (step S <b> 1) performed by the master sample setting unit 64 and by the color camera 44. Imaging step (step S2), inspection region setting step (step S3) performed by the inspection region setting unit 66, quality determination step (step S4) performed by the quality determination unit 68, and exclusion step (step S4) performed by the exclusion processing unit 98 The process is performed in the order of step S5) and the process ends.

In particular, from the imaging process to the quality control process (steps S2 to S4), the capsule supply process (step S11) performed in the capsule supply device 24 and the winding process (step S12) performed in the winding section 20 in the entire filter manufacturing process. The exclusion process (step S5) is performed after the cutting process (step S13) performed in the cutting section 40.

As described above, according to the filter inspection apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the capsule color area inspection and the capsule shape inspection as described above are performed, the mixing of the

coating pieces

96 and 100 of the capsule 22 into the filter element 8, and the filter element By detecting and eliminating the erroneous mixing of the capsules 22 into the interval 34, it is possible to manufacture a filter rod 42 with a constant quality, and thus a filter cigarette.

In addition, by performing position correction of the inspection region 70 using the position of the edge portion 72 in the inspection region setting unit 66, the region that becomes NG in the filter element array 16 can be easily specified, so that the filter inspection device 1 NG detection accuracy can be improved.
The present invention is not limited to the filter inspection apparatus 1 of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5D, even when the capsule 22 arranged at the filter element interval 34 is broken and broken, it can be detected by the capsule color area inspection described above, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, even if the capsule 22 is defective and does not exist in the filter element interval 34, it can be detected by the capsule color area inspection.

In the above embodiment, both the capsule color area inspection and the capsule shape inspection are performed in the quality determination unit 68, but only the capsule color area inspection may be performed.
Moreover, in the said Example, although the capsule color area test | inspection and capsule shape test | inspection at the time of supplying the capsule 22 to the filter element space | interval 34 were demonstrated, not only this but another packing, such as activated carbon, was carried out at the filter element space | interval 34. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to supply.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Filter inspection apparatus 8 Filter element 16 Filter element row | line | column 18 Forming paper 20 Hoisting section (hoisting means)
22 capsules (filler)
24 Capsule supply device (filler supply means)
34 Filter element interval 42 Filter rod 44 Color camera (imaging means)
60 Inspection image 64 Master sample setting unit (master sample setting means)
66 Inspection area setting section (inspection area setting means)
68 Quality judging section (quality judging means)
70 Inspection area 72 Edge

Claims

In a filter manufacturing machine comprising a filler supply means for supplying a filler to an interval between a plurality of filter elements placed on a molding paper to form a filter element row,
Master sample setting means for setting the color component of the filler as a master color sample;
Imaging means for imaging the filter element array to form an inspection image;
Inspection region setting means for setting an inspection region in the inspection image in the filter element row;
A cigarette filter inspection apparatus comprising: a quality determination unit that determines a quality of the filter element row by comparing a color area of the master color sample existing in the inspection region with a predetermined threshold value.
The filter manufacturing machine further includes hoisting means for winding up the molding paper in the filter element row to form a filter rod,
The cigarette filter inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit is disposed between the filler supply unit and the hoisting unit.
2. The cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the inspection area setting unit sets the inspection area separately for the filter element and the filter element interval based on the inspection image formed by the imaging unit. Filter inspection device.
The inspection area setting means detects the position of the edge part on the filter element interval side of the filter element in the filter element row based on the inspection image formed by the imaging means, and the detected position of the edge part The cigarette filter inspection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the position of the inspection region is corrected based on the information so as to coincide with any region of the filter element and the filter element interval.
In a filter manufacturing method comprising a filler supply step of supplying a filler to an interval between a plurality of filter elements placed on the molding paper to form a filter element row,
A master sample setting step for setting a color component of the filler as a master color sample;
An imaging step of imaging the filter element row to form an inspection image;
An inspection region setting step of setting an inspection region in the filter element row in the inspection image;
A cigarette filter inspection method comprising: a quality determination step of determining a quality of the filter element row by comparing a color area of the master color sample existing in the inspection region with a predetermined threshold value.
The filter manufacturing method further includes a hoisting step of winding up the molding paper in the filter element row to form a filter rod,
6. The cigarette filter inspection method according to claim 5, wherein the imaging step is performed between the filling supply step and the hoisting step.
6. The inspection region setting step, wherein the inspection region is set to be divided into the filter element and the filter element interval based on the inspection image formed in the imaging step. Cigarette filter inspection method.
In the inspection region setting step, the position of the edge portion on the filter element interval side of the filter element in the filter element row is detected based on the inspection image formed in the imaging step, and the detected position of the edge portion The cigarette filter inspection method according to claim 7, wherein the position of the inspection region is corrected based on the information so as to coincide with any region of the filter element and the filter element interval.