EP0217745B1 - Checking device for batched cigarettes with a view to their packing, and cigarette packing apparatus equipped with such a checking device - Google Patents

Checking device for batched cigarettes with a view to their packing, and cigarette packing apparatus equipped with such a checking device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0217745B1
EP0217745B1 EP86810409A EP86810409A EP0217745B1 EP 0217745 B1 EP0217745 B1 EP 0217745B1 EP 86810409 A EP86810409 A EP 86810409A EP 86810409 A EP86810409 A EP 86810409A EP 0217745 B1 EP0217745 B1 EP 0217745B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
feelers
cigarettes
rows
path
shutters
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
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EP86810409A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0217745A1 (en
Inventor
Philippe Ecabert
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British American Tobacco Switzerland SA
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FJ Burrus SA
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/28—Control devices for cigarette or cigar packaging machines
    • B65B19/32—Control devices for cigarette or cigar packaging machines responsive to incorrect grouping of articles or to incorrect filling of packages

Definitions

  • the machines for packaging cigarettes are equipped with control devices which come into action after the formation of groups of twenty cigarettes arranged in a three-row arrangement, the outer rows of which contain seven cigarettes and the inner row of six cigarettes. In these groups, the cigarettes are pressed against each other and their ends are free. Elongated probes, movable longitudinally with respect to a support, are then brought into contact with the ends of the cigarettes and if a cigarette is missing or is only partially filled with tobacco at its end, the corresponding probe undergoes an abnormal displacement which can be detected, the detection signal being in turn used to trigger certain operations such as the ejection of the group having a malformation or any other judicious operation. Control devices are already known in which the probes are provided with electrical contacts. However, this arrangement was not satisfactory given the oxidation of the contacts and the difficulty there is in maintaining devices of this kind.
  • Control devices have also been proposed in which the position of the feelers, when their support is in position opposite the ends of a group of cigarettes, is detected by means of a light ray directed along a predetermined path which can be closed by one or other of the shutters integral with the probes.
  • These light rays are emitted by electronic devices, in general light-emitting diodes, and are picked up for example by photo-transistors, these electronic elements being mounted on the support of the probes and supplied by electrical connections which also transmit the signals. detection.
  • the booklet DE-B-1 130 750 describes a device of this kind, corresponding to the preamble of claim 1.
  • patent DE-C-27 39 366 describes a device in which, in order to continuously provide verification of the return of the probes to their inactive position, there are provided on each support six electroluminescent cells and six sensors arranged according to parallel paths at the rate of two paths per row of probes.
  • the need for this control stems from the fact that the packers work in a highly disturbing environment in the presence of tobacco dust or even tobacco particles which can be ejected and which can accumulate on the moving parts of the devices present. It has also been found that due to the vibrations and rapid displacements which the various parts of the packaging machine and the control devices undergo, the electrical contacts as well as the electronic elements involved have a reduced lifespan.
  • GB-A-2 115 144 describes a control device, in which optical fibers are used but whose emitters and sensors are located at opposite ends of the rows of cigarettes.
  • the object of the present invention is to improve the control devices already known in order to create a simpler, more reliable and less expensive device.
  • the present invention provides a device for controlling grouped cigarettes with a view to their packaging, comprising a set of elongated probes movable longitudinally and independently of each other on a support comprising probes distributed over at least three parallel rows, at least of which a central row and two lateral rows, said support being brought into a position situated at the end of the cigarettes; shutters secured to the probes, said shutters secured to the feelers forming the lateral rows comprising an opening either on the entry path or on the exit path of a light beam, and an arrangement for emitting, reflecting and capturing said light ray such that light rays directed along predetermined paths are intercepted or not depending on the position of the shutters and thus allow the detection of an abnormal position of a probe, each emitter and sensor being located in a fixed position away probe supports, characterized in that fiber optic conductors conduct the said light ray (s) from the ends of said paths to the emitter and sensor, and in that each support has an arrival and a departure for fiber optic conductors, this
  • Another subject of the invention is a device for checking cigarettes grouped for their packaging, comprising a cell wheel in which each cell is designed to receive a group of cigarettes for their packaging, characterized in that two devices control, according to claim 1, are associated with the cell wheel, on either side thereof and in that the emitters and light sensors of the two control devices are arranged at a central control station from which the fiber optic conductors extend to the probe supports, these supports being movable in a direction parallel to the axis of the cell wheel in order to bring the feelers into contact with each end of the cigarettes grouped in the cells.
  • fig. 1 is a schematic and cut perspective view showing the principle of detecting probes on the basis of an already known embodiment
  • fig. 2 is a plan view from above, partially cut away, of a probe support in one embodiment of the object of the invention
  • fig. 3 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, along the line III-III of FIG. 2, and fig. 4 is a partial view on a reduced scale of a cell wheel.
  • a known control device is shown diagrammatically, operating according to the principle of detection by light rays.
  • feelers 2 On the support 1 are mounted feelers 2 which are of elongated shape and which slide longitudinally against the action of springs 3.
  • Each feeler 2 is equipped with a shutter 4 which has a lumen 5 having the shape of a notch.
  • a row of feelers 2 which, when the support 1 is brought into the control position, come to rest on one end of the row of cigarettes 6 and are pushed against the action of the springs 3 so that the lights 5 come place themselves in the path of a light ray 7 which is emitted by a light-emitting diode 8.
  • This light-emitting diode is mounted on the support 1 and, at the other end of the latter, is arranged a light sensor, for example a phototransistor 9. If all the lights 5 of the different shutters 4 are aligned on the path of the light ray 7, the detector 9 is impressed and emits a control signal. If, on the other hand, one of the probes 2 did not move when the support 1 was put in place, for example because one of the cigarettes 6 is missing, the corresponding shutter cuts the path of the light ray 7 and the detector is not impressed.
  • a light sensor for example a phototransistor 9.
  • the support 10 comprises, in this embodiment, a horizontal base 11 and three guide plates 12, 13, 14 rigidly fixed to the base 11. These plates guide twenty feelers 15 which have a vertical arrangement in three rows including a central row of six feelers and two lateral rows of seven feelers. Springs 16 bearing on the upper plate 14 and on flanges 17 press the feelers down, the stroke of each feeler being limited by the support of the flange 17 on the intermediate plate 13. We see in fig.
  • each probe is equipped at its upper end with a shutter but it will be noted that the shutters are of two different types according to the row to which the probe which they equip belongs.
  • the shutters which equip the feelers of the two outer rows designated by 19 are narrow and have only one lumen 20 while the shutters 21 equipping the feelers of the central row have two lumens 22 and 23.
  • the different openings 20, 22 and 23 delimit two straight paths parallel to the rows which can be traversed by a light ray.
  • the input and output means 26 and 27 which have been mentioned above, are constituted by ends of fiber optic cable 28 and 29. These ends are engaged in sleeves 30 carefully adjusted and fixed in the bores of a block 31 fixed to the base 11. Thus, the light rays conducted by the cables 28 and 29 are directed correctly towards the mirrors 24 and 25.
  • a light emitter for example an electroluminescent diode
  • a sensor for example a photo-transistor, the latter being provided an amplifier to improve the detection sensitivity.
  • the light emitter will be of the infrared type and the amplifier associated with the detector will have adjustable sensitivity.
  • the cigarette packer is associated with a cell wheel 32 (see fig. 4), the cells 33 of which are designed so as to each precisely receive a group 34 of twenty cigarettes having the arrangement which is found in the usual packages. These cigarettes are pressed laterally against each other in the socket 33 and their ends are free.
  • the different cells 33 pass through several stations, two of which can be assigned to checking the presence and qualification of cigarettes.
  • One of these stations is visible in fig. 4. In each of these stations, there will be, on one side, a support plate 35 mounted on a support 36 and placed at the right of the rear end of the cigarettes and, on the front side, a console 37 carrying a support such as 10.
  • the support 10 will be moved in the longitudinal direction of the probes 15 so that the latter can be brought into the active position and that the control of one of the ends of the cigarettes is possible.
  • the control is faulty, that is to say the light ray emitted at the end of the fiber optic cable 28 terminating at the input 26 does not reach the sensor located at the other end of the cable 29 , a signal can be triggered which ejects the corresponding group of cigarettes.
  • the support plate 35 will be arranged on the side where the probe support 10 was located in the previous station, a second probe support then being on the other side in order to control the other end of the cigarettes. .
  • the device described can be easily associated with the cell wheel of a packer.
  • it is simple in construction and easy to maintain since the light conduits traversed by the spokes are defined only by the openings 20, 22 and 23 of the various shutters, the latter being joined by their flat face perpendicular to the directions of the spokes. bright and sliding against each other.
  • mirrors 24 and 25 one could also use a prism and the shape of the lights could be different from the oval shape shown.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)

Description

Les machines à empaqueter les cigarettes sont équipées de dispositifs de contrôle qui entrent en action après la formation des groupes de vingt cigarettes arrangées selon une disposition à trois rangées dont les rangées extérieures comportent sept cigarettes et la rangée intérieure six cigarettes. Dans ces groupes, les cigarettes sont pressées les unes contre les autres et leurs extrémités sont libres. Des palpeurs allongés, mobiles longitudinalement par rapport à un support, sont alors amenés en contact avec les extrémités des cigarettes et si une cigarette est manquante ou n'est que partiellement remplie de tabac à son extrémité, le palpeur correspondant subit un déplacement anormal qui peut être détecté, le signal de détection étant à son tour utilisé pour déclencher certaines opérations telles que l'éjection du groupe présentant une malformation ou toute autre opération judicieuse. On connaît déjà des dispositifs de contrôle dans lesquels les palpeurs sont munis de contacts électriques. Cette disposition n'a toutefois pas donné satisfaction étant donné l'oxydation des contacts et la difficulté qu'il y a à entretenir des dispositifs de ce genre.The machines for packaging cigarettes are equipped with control devices which come into action after the formation of groups of twenty cigarettes arranged in a three-row arrangement, the outer rows of which contain seven cigarettes and the inner row of six cigarettes. In these groups, the cigarettes are pressed against each other and their ends are free. Elongated probes, movable longitudinally with respect to a support, are then brought into contact with the ends of the cigarettes and if a cigarette is missing or is only partially filled with tobacco at its end, the corresponding probe undergoes an abnormal displacement which can be detected, the detection signal being in turn used to trigger certain operations such as the ejection of the group having a malformation or any other judicious operation. Control devices are already known in which the probes are provided with electrical contacts. However, this arrangement was not satisfactory given the oxidation of the contacts and the difficulty there is in maintaining devices of this kind.

On a également proposé des dispositifs de contrôle dans lesquels la position des palpeurs, au moment où leur support est en position en face des extrémités d'un groupe de cigarettes, est détectée au moyen d'un rayon lumineux dirigé selon un chemin prédéterminé qui peut être obturé par l'un ou l'autre des obturateurs solidaires des palpeurs. Ces rayons lumineux sont émis par des dispositifs électroniques, en général des diodes électro-luminescentes, et sont captés par exemple par des photo-transistors, ces éléments électroniques étant montés sur le support des palpeurs et alimentés par des connexions électriques qui transmettent également les signaux de détection. Ainsi, le fascicule DE-B-1 130 750 décrit un dispositif de ce genre, correspondant au préambule de la revendication 1.Control devices have also been proposed in which the position of the feelers, when their support is in position opposite the ends of a group of cigarettes, is detected by means of a light ray directed along a predetermined path which can be closed by one or other of the shutters integral with the probes. These light rays are emitted by electronic devices, in general light-emitting diodes, and are picked up for example by photo-transistors, these electronic elements being mounted on the support of the probes and supplied by electrical connections which also transmit the signals. detection. Thus, the booklet DE-B-1 130 750 describes a device of this kind, corresponding to the preamble of claim 1.

En outre, le brevet DE-C-27 39 366 décrit un dispositif dans lequel, afin de fournir en permanence une vérification du retour des palpeurs dans leur position inactive, on prévoit sur chaque support six cellules électro-luminescentes et six capteurs disposés selon des chemins parallèles à raison de deux chemins par rangée de palpeurs. La nécessité de ce contrôle provient du fait que les empaqueteuses travaillent dans un environnement fortement perturbateur en présence de poussière de tabac ou même de particules de tabac qui peuvent être éjectées et qui peuvent s'accumuler sur les parties mobiles des dispositifs en présence. On a également constaté que du fait des vibrations et des déplacements rapides que subissent les différentes parties de l'empaqueteuse et des dispositifs de contrôle, les contacts électriques ainsi que les éléments électroniques mis en jeu ont une durée de vie réduite.In addition, patent DE-C-27 39 366 describes a device in which, in order to continuously provide verification of the return of the probes to their inactive position, there are provided on each support six electroluminescent cells and six sensors arranged according to parallel paths at the rate of two paths per row of probes. The need for this control stems from the fact that the packers work in a highly disturbing environment in the presence of tobacco dust or even tobacco particles which can be ejected and which can accumulate on the moving parts of the devices present. It has also been found that due to the vibrations and rapid displacements which the various parts of the packaging machine and the control devices undergo, the electrical contacts as well as the electronic elements involved have a reduced lifespan.

De plus, le brevet GB-A-2 115 144 décrit un dispositif de contrôle, dans lequel des fibres optiques sont utilisées mais dont les émetteurs et les capteurs sont situés aux extrémités opposées des rangées de cigarettes.In addition, GB-A-2 115 144 describes a control device, in which optical fibers are used but whose emitters and sensors are located at opposite ends of the rows of cigarettes.

Le but de la présente invention est de perfectionner les dispositifs de contrôle déjà connus afin de créer un dispositif plus simple, plus fiable et moins coûteux.The object of the present invention is to improve the control devices already known in order to create a simpler, more reliable and less expensive device.

Dans ce but, la présente invention propose un dispositif de contrôle de cigarettes groupées en vue de leur empaquetage comprenant un ensemble de palpeurs allongés mobiles longitudinalement et indépendamment les uns des autres sur un support comportant des palpeurs répartis sur au moins trois rangées parallèles dont au moins une rangée centrale et deux rangées latérales, ledit support étant amené dans une position située en bout des cigarettes ; des obturateurs solidaires des palpeurs, lesdits obturateurs solidaires des palpeurs formant les rangées latérales comportant une ouverture soit sur le chemin d'entrée soit sur le chemin de sortie d'un rayon lumineux, et un agencement d'émission, de réflexion et de captage dudit rayon lumineux tel que des rayons lumineux dirigés selon des chemins prédéterminés soient interceptés ou non selon la position des obturateurs et permettent ainsi la détection d'une position anormale d'un palpeur, chaque émetteur et capteur étant situé en une position fixe à l'écart des supports de palpeurs, caractérisé en ce que des conducteurs en fibre optique conduisent le ou lesdits rayons lumineux des extrémités desdits chemins aux émetteur et capteur, et en ce que chaque support comporte une arrivée et un départ pour des conducteurs à fibres optiques, cette arrivée et ce départ étant situés à une même extrémité des rangées tandis que le réflecteur est situé à l'autre extrémité des rangées, de façon à renvoyer le rayon lumineux provenant de l'arrivée d'un premier conducteur optique en suivant un chemin parallèle aux rangées, selon un chemin de sortie également parallèle aux rangées et aboutissant au départ d'un second conducteur optique, et en ce que les obturateurs solidaires des palpeurs de la ou des rangées centrales comportent des ouvertures disposées d'une part sur le chemin du rayon d'entrée et d'autre part sur le chemin du rayon de sortie.To this end, the present invention provides a device for controlling grouped cigarettes with a view to their packaging, comprising a set of elongated probes movable longitudinally and independently of each other on a support comprising probes distributed over at least three parallel rows, at least of which a central row and two lateral rows, said support being brought into a position situated at the end of the cigarettes; shutters secured to the probes, said shutters secured to the feelers forming the lateral rows comprising an opening either on the entry path or on the exit path of a light beam, and an arrangement for emitting, reflecting and capturing said light ray such that light rays directed along predetermined paths are intercepted or not depending on the position of the shutters and thus allow the detection of an abnormal position of a probe, each emitter and sensor being located in a fixed position away probe supports, characterized in that fiber optic conductors conduct the said light ray (s) from the ends of said paths to the emitter and sensor, and in that each support has an arrival and a departure for fiber optic conductors, this arrival and this departure being located at the same end of the rows while the reflector is located at the other end of the rows, so as to return oyer the light ray coming from the arrival of a first optical conductor following a path parallel to the rows, according to an exit path also parallel to the rows and leading to the departure of a second optical conductor, and in that the shutters are integral feelers of the central row or rows have openings arranged on the one hand on the way to the entry radius and on the other hand on the way to the exit radius.

L'invention a également pour objet un appareil de contrôle de cigarettes groupées en vue de leur empaquetage, comportant une roue à alvéoles dans laquelle chaque alvéole est conçu pour recevoir un groupe de cigarettes en vue de leur empaquetage, caractérisé en ce que deux dispositifs de contrôle, selon la revendication 1, sont associés à la roue à alvéoles, de part et d'autre de celle-ci et en ce que les émetteurs et capteurs lumineux des deux dispositifs de contrôle sont disposés à un poste de contrôle central è partir duquel les conducteurs à fibres optiques s'étendent jusqu'aux supports de palpeurs, ces supports étant mobiles dans une direction parallèle à l'axe de la roue à alvéoles afin d'amener des palpeurs en contact avec chaque extrémité des cigarettes groupées dans les alvéoles.Another subject of the invention is a device for checking cigarettes grouped for their packaging, comprising a cell wheel in which each cell is designed to receive a group of cigarettes for their packaging, characterized in that two devices control, according to claim 1, are associated with the cell wheel, on either side thereof and in that the emitters and light sensors of the two control devices are arranged at a central control station from which the fiber optic conductors extend to the probe supports, these supports being movable in a direction parallel to the axis of the cell wheel in order to bring the feelers into contact with each end of the cigarettes grouped in the cells.

On va décrire ci-après, à titre d'exemple, une forme d'exécution de l'objet de l'invention en se référant au dessin annexé dontAn embodiment of the subject of the invention will be described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing,

la fig. 1 est une vue en perspective schématique et coupée, montrant le principe de la détection des palpeurs sur la base d'une forme d'exécution déjà connue,fig. 1 is a schematic and cut perspective view showing the principle of detecting probes on the basis of an already known embodiment,

la fig. 2 est une vue en plan de dessus, partiellement coupée, d'un support de palpeur dans une forme d'exécution de l'objet de l'invention,fig. 2 is a plan view from above, partially cut away, of a probe support in one embodiment of the object of the invention,

la fig. 3 est une vue en coupe, à plus grande échelle, selon la ligne III-III de la fig. 2, et la fig. 4 est une vue partielle à échelle réduite d'une roue à alvéoles.fig. 3 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, along the line III-III of FIG. 2, and fig. 4 is a partial view on a reduced scale of a cell wheel.

A la fig. 1, on voit schématiquement représenté un dispositif de contrôle connu, fonctionnant selon le principe de la détection par rayons lumineux. Sur le support 1 sont montés des palpeurs 2 qui sont de forme allongée et qui coulissent longitudinalement contre l'action de ressorts 3. Chaque palpeur 2 est équipé d'un obturateur 4 qui présente une lumière 5 ayant la forme d'une échancrure. On voit à la fig. -1 une rangée de palpeurs 2 qui, lorsque le support 1 est amené en position de contrôle, viennent s'appuyer sur une extrémité de la rangée de cigarettes 6 et sont repoussés contre l'action des ressorts 3 de sorte que les lumières 5 viennent se placer dans le chemin d'un rayon lumineux 7 qui est émis par une diode luminescente 8. Cette diode luminescente est montée sur le support 1 et, à l'autre extrémité de ce dernier, est disposé un capteur lumineux, par exemple un phototransistor 9. Si toutes les lumières 5 des différents obturateurs 4 sont alignées sur le chemin du rayon lumineux 7, le détecteur 9 est impressionné et émet un signal de contrôle. Si, en revanche, un des palpeurs 2 ne s'est pas déplacé lors de la mise en place du support 1, par exemple parce qu'une des cigarettes 6 est manquante, l'obturateur correspondant coupe le chemin du rayon lumineux 7 et le détecteur n'est pas impressionné.In fig. 1, a known control device is shown diagrammatically, operating according to the principle of detection by light rays. On the support 1 are mounted feelers 2 which are of elongated shape and which slide longitudinally against the action of springs 3. Each feeler 2 is equipped with a shutter 4 which has a lumen 5 having the shape of a notch. We see in fig. -1 a row of feelers 2 which, when the support 1 is brought into the control position, come to rest on one end of the row of cigarettes 6 and are pushed against the action of the springs 3 so that the lights 5 come place themselves in the path of a light ray 7 which is emitted by a light-emitting diode 8. This light-emitting diode is mounted on the support 1 and, at the other end of the latter, is arranged a light sensor, for example a phototransistor 9. If all the lights 5 of the different shutters 4 are aligned on the path of the light ray 7, the detector 9 is impressed and emits a control signal. If, on the other hand, one of the probes 2 did not move when the support 1 was put in place, for example because one of the cigarettes 6 is missing, the corresponding shutter cuts the path of the light ray 7 and the detector is not impressed.

Un détecteur de ce genre présente les défauts mentionnés alors que le dispositif perfectionné dont une forme d'exécution va être décrite ci-après, s'est révélé être d'un fonctionnement plus fiable. Cette forme d'exécution est représentée aux fig. 2 et 3. Le support 10 comporte, dans cette forme d'exécution, un socle 11 horizontal et trois plaques de guidage 12, 13, 14 rigidement fixées au socle 11. Ces plaques guident vingt palpeurs 15 qui ont une disposition verticale selon trois rangées dont une rangée centrale de six palpeurs et deux rangées latérales de sept palpeurs. Des ressorts 16 s'appuyant sur la plaque supérieure 14 et sur des collerettes 17 pressent les palpeurs vers le bas, la course de chaque palpeur étant limitée par l'appui de la collerette 17 sur la plaque intermédiaire 13. On voit à la fig. 3 le support 10 en position active et la position que prennent les extrémités des cigarettes 18 groupées en un assemblage dans lequel les cigarettes occupent, les unes par rapport aux autres, les mêmes positions que dans un paquet fermé. Si les cigarettes sont à un emplacement prévu et si elles sont correctement remplies, on voit que les palpeurs sont repoussés de leur position de repos contre l'action des ressorts 16, les collerettes 17 se déplaçant au-dessus de la plaque latérale 13 tandis que, dans le cas où une cigarette manque, le palpeur reste dans sa position inactive comme on le voit pour le palpeur de droite à la fig. 3. Inversement, si une cigarette n'a pas entièrement pénétré dans l'alvéole, alors le palpeur correspondant est repoussé vers l'arrière.A detector of this kind has the faults mentioned, while the improved device, an embodiment of which will be described below, has been found to be more reliable. This embodiment is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The support 10 comprises, in this embodiment, a horizontal base 11 and three guide plates 12, 13, 14 rigidly fixed to the base 11. These plates guide twenty feelers 15 which have a vertical arrangement in three rows including a central row of six feelers and two lateral rows of seven feelers. Springs 16 bearing on the upper plate 14 and on flanges 17 press the feelers down, the stroke of each feeler being limited by the support of the flange 17 on the intermediate plate 13. We see in fig. 3 the support 10 in the active position and the position taken by the ends of the cigarettes 18 grouped in an assembly in which the cigarettes occupy, with respect to each other, the same positions as in a closed package. If the cigarettes are in a designated location and if they are correctly filled, it can be seen that the feelers are pushed back from their rest position against the action of the springs 16, the flanges 17 moving above the side plate 13 while , in the event that a cigarette is missing, the probe remains in its inactive position as seen for the right probe in fig. 3. Conversely, if a cigarette has not fully entered the socket, then the corresponding probe is pushed back.

Chaque palpeur est équipé à son extrémité supérieure d'un obturateur mais on remarquera que les obturateurs sont de deux types différents suivant la rangée à laquelle appartient le palpeur qu'ils équipent. Ainsi, les obturateurs qui équipent les palpeurs des deux rangées extérieures désignés par 19 sont étroits et ne comportent qu'une seule lumière 20 tandis que les obturateurs 21 équipant les palpeurs de la rangée centrale comportent deux lumières 22 et 23. On voit à la fig. 2 que si tous les obturateurs se trouvent ensemble en position active, les différentes lumières 20, 22 et 23 délimitent deux chemins rectilignes parallèles aux rangées qui peuvent être parcourus par un rayon lumineux.Each probe is equipped at its upper end with a shutter but it will be noted that the shutters are of two different types according to the row to which the probe which they equip belongs. Thus, the shutters which equip the feelers of the two outer rows designated by 19 are narrow and have only one lumen 20 while the shutters 21 equipping the feelers of the central row have two lumens 22 and 23. We see in fig . 2 that if all the shutters are together in the active position, the different openings 20, 22 and 23 delimit two straight paths parallel to the rows which can be traversed by a light ray.

On voit également à la fig. 2 qu'à l'une des extrémités du support 10 sont montés deux miroirs 24 et 25, à 90° l'un de l'autre et inclinés de 45° par rapport aux chemins déterminés par les lumières des obturateurs. On conçoit donc qu'un rayon lumineux, partant d'une entrée telle que celle désignée par 26 à la fig. 2 et dirigé selon l'axe des lumières 20 et 22, va traverser les obturateurs jusqu'à ce qu'il soit réfléchi sur le miroir 24, puis sur le miroir 25 et reviendra à travers les lumières 20 et 23 jusqu'à l'emplacement d'une sortie 27 situé immédiatement à côté de l'entrée 26. Il suffit que l'un des vingt palpeurs soit dans une position défectueuse pour que le rayon lumineux soit intercepté de sorte qu'avec un seul émetteur et un seul capteur, on peut contrôler, à une de leurs extrémités, l'ensemble des cigarettes d'un paquet.We also see in fig. 2 that at one end of the support 10 are mounted two mirrors 24 and 25, 90 ° from each other and inclined by 45 ° relative to the paths determined by the lights of the shutters. It is therefore understandable that a light ray, starting from an entry such as that designated by 26 in FIG. 2 and directed along the axis of the lights 20 and 22, will pass through the shutters until it is reflected on the mirror 24, then on the mirror 25 and will return through the lights 20 and 23 to the location of an outlet 27 located immediately next to the entrance 26. It suffices that one of the twenty probes is in a defective position for the light beam to be intercepted so that with a single emitter and a single sensor, one can control, at one of their ends, all the cigarettes in a pack.

De plus, pour augmenter encore la fiabilité et la simplicité de fonctionnement du contrôle, les moyens d'entrée et de sortie 26 et 27 dont on a parlé plus haut, sont constitués par des extrémités de câble 28 et 29 à fibres optiques. Ces extrémités sont engagées dans des manchons 30 soigneusement ajustés et fixés dans des alésages d'un bloc 31 fixé au socle 11. Ainsi, les rayons lumineux conduits par les câbles 28 et 29 sont dirigés correctement vers les miroirs 24 et 25. A l'autre extrémité (non représentée) de chacun des câbles 25 et 29, on disposera d'une part un émetteur lumineux, par exemple une diode électro-luminescente, d'autre part un capteur, par exemple un photo-transistor, ce dernier étant muni d'un amplificateur afin d'améliorer la sensibilité de la détection. De préférence, l'émetteur lumineux sera du type infrarouge et l'amplificateur associé au détecteur sera à sensibilité réglable.In addition, to further increase the reliability and simplicity of operation of the control, the input and output means 26 and 27 which have been mentioned above, are constituted by ends of fiber optic cable 28 and 29. These ends are engaged in sleeves 30 carefully adjusted and fixed in the bores of a block 31 fixed to the base 11. Thus, the light rays conducted by the cables 28 and 29 are directed correctly towards the mirrors 24 and 25. At the other end (not shown) of each of the cables 25 and 29, there will be on the one hand a light emitter, for example an electroluminescent diode, on the other hand a sensor, for example a photo-transistor, the latter being provided an amplifier to improve the detection sensitivity. Preferably, the light emitter will be of the infrared type and the amplifier associated with the detector will have adjustable sensitivity.

En général, à l'empaqueteuse de cigarettes est associée une roue à alvéoles 32 (v. fig. 4) dont les alvéoles 33 sont conçus de façon à recevoir précisément chacun un groupe 34 de vingt cigarettes ayant la disposition que l'on retrouve dans les paquets usuels. Ces cigarettes sont serrées latéralement les unes contre les autres dans l'alvéole 33 et leurs extrémités sont libres. Au cours de la rotation de la roue à alvéoles 32, les différents alvéoles 33 passent dans plusieurs stations dont deux peuvent être attribuées au contrôle de fa présence et de la qualification des cigarettes. L'une de ces stations est visible à la fig. 4. Dans chacune de ces stations, on aura, d'un côté, une plaque d'appui 35 montée sur un support 36 et se plaçant au droit de l'extrémité arrière des cigarettes et, sur le côté avant, une console 37 portant un support tel que 10. La roue 32 étant arrêtée dans une telle position, le support 10 sera déplacé dans le sens longitudinal des palpeurs 15 afin que ces derniers puissent être amenés en position active et que le contrôle d'une des extrémités des cigarettes soit possible. Au cas où le contrôle est défectueux, c'est-à-dire où le rayon lumineux émis à l'extrémité du câble à fibres optiques 28 aboutissant à l'entrée 26 ne parvient pas au capteur situé à l'autre extrémité du câble 29, un signal peut être déclenché qui éjecte le groupe de cigarettes correspondant. Dans la station suivante, la plaque d'appui 35 sera disposée du côté où se trouvait le support de palpeur 10 dans la station précédente, un second support de palpeur se trouvant alors de l'autre côté afin de contrôler l'autre extrémité des cigarettes. On remarque ainsi que le dispositif décrit peut être facilement associé à la roue à alvéoles d'une empaqueteuse. D'autre part, il est de construction simple et facile à entretenir puisque les conduits lumineux que parcourent les rayons sont définis uniquement par les lumières 20, 22 et 23 des divers obturateurs, ces derniers étant jointifs par leur face plane perpendiculaire aux directions des rayons lumineux et coulissant les uns contre les autres. Au lieu des miroirs 24 et 25, on pourrait aussi utiliser un prisme et la forme des lumières pourrait être différente de la forme ovale représentée.In general, the cigarette packer is associated with a cell wheel 32 (see fig. 4), the cells 33 of which are designed so as to each precisely receive a group 34 of twenty cigarettes having the arrangement which is found in the usual packages. These cigarettes are pressed laterally against each other in the socket 33 and their ends are free. During the rotation of the cell wheel 32, the different cells 33 pass through several stations, two of which can be assigned to checking the presence and qualification of cigarettes. One of these stations is visible in fig. 4. In each of these stations, there will be, on one side, a support plate 35 mounted on a support 36 and placed at the right of the rear end of the cigarettes and, on the front side, a console 37 carrying a support such as 10. The wheel 32 being stopped in such a position, the support 10 will be moved in the longitudinal direction of the probes 15 so that the latter can be brought into the active position and that the control of one of the ends of the cigarettes is possible. In the event that the control is faulty, that is to say the light ray emitted at the end of the fiber optic cable 28 terminating at the input 26 does not reach the sensor located at the other end of the cable 29 , a signal can be triggered which ejects the corresponding group of cigarettes. In the next station, the support plate 35 will be arranged on the side where the probe support 10 was located in the previous station, a second probe support then being on the other side in order to control the other end of the cigarettes. . It is thus noted that the device described can be easily associated with the cell wheel of a packer. On the other hand, it is simple in construction and easy to maintain since the light conduits traversed by the spokes are defined only by the openings 20, 22 and 23 of the various shutters, the latter being joined by their flat face perpendicular to the directions of the spokes. bright and sliding against each other. Instead of mirrors 24 and 25, one could also use a prism and the shape of the lights could be different from the oval shape shown.

Claims (7)

1. Device for checking grouped cigarettes with a view to their packaging, including an assembly of elongated feelers (15) movable longitudinally and independently of one another on a support (10) comprising feelers distributed over at least three parallel rows including at least one central row and two lateral rows, said support being brought into a position situated at the ends of the cigarettes ; shutters (19, 21) integral with the feelers, the said shutters integral with the feelers forming the lateral rows (19) comprising an aperture either on the entrance path or on the exit path of a light ray, and an arrangement for emitting (26), reflecting (24, 25), and sensing (27) the said light ray such that light rays directed along predetermined paths are intercepted or not according to the position of the shutters and thus permitting the detection of an abnormal position of a feeler, each emitter and sensor being situated in a fixed position away from the feeler supports, characterized in that fibre-optical conductors (28, 29) conduct the said light ray or rays from the ends of the said paths to the emitter and sensor, and in that each support comprises an inlet and an outlet for fibre-optical conductors, this inlet and this outlet being situated at the same end of the rows whereas the reflector (24, 25) is situated at the other end of the rows so as to reflect the light ray coming from the inlet of a first optical conductor following a path parallel to the rows, along an outlet path likewise parallel to the rows and ending at the outlet of a second optical conductor, and in that the shutters integral with the feelers of the central row or rows comprise apertures disposed on the path of the incoming ray, on the one hand, and on the path of the outgoing ray, on the other hand.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each feeler support comprises twenty feelers disposed in three parallel rows, a central row of which comprises six feelers and two lateral rows of which comprise seven feelers, the shutters integral with the central row comprise two apertures, one disposed on the path of the incoming ray and the other on the path of the outgoing ray.
3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the shutters are plates oriented perpendicular to the said paths.
4. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the shutter plates are abutting and slide one against the other at the time of the displacements of the feelers, without any intermediate guide element.
5. Apparatus for checking cigarettes grouped with a view to their packaging, comprising a wheel having cells (32) in which each cell is designed to receive a group of cigarettes with a view to their packaging, characterized in that two checking devices according to claim 1 are associated with the wheel having cells, on either side thereof, and in that the light emitters and sensors of the two checking devices are disposed at a central checking station from which the fibre-optical conductors extend to the feeler supports, these supports being movable in a direction parallel to the axis of the wheel having cells in order to bring feelers in contact with each end of the cigarettes grouped in the cells.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that each cell is designed to receive a group of twenty cigarettes.
EP86810409A 1985-09-24 1986-09-10 Checking device for batched cigarettes with a view to their packing, and cigarette packing apparatus equipped with such a checking device Expired EP0217745B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH4129/85 1985-09-24
CH4129/85A CH663939A5 (en) 1985-09-24 1985-09-24 DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING GROUPED CIGARETTES FOR THEIR PACKAGING AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING CIGARETTES EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A CONTROL DEVICE.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0217745A1 EP0217745A1 (en) 1987-04-08
EP0217745B1 true EP0217745B1 (en) 1989-07-19

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86810409A Expired EP0217745B1 (en) 1985-09-24 1986-09-10 Checking device for batched cigarettes with a view to their packing, and cigarette packing apparatus equipped with such a checking device

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US (1) US4742668A (en)
EP (1) EP0217745B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS6278024A (en)
CH (1) CH663939A5 (en)
DE (1) DE3664444D1 (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1201606B (en) * 1986-12-17 1989-02-02 Gd Spa CIGARETTES CONTROL DEVICE IN A PACKAGING MACHINE
DE3709289A1 (en) * 1987-03-20 1988-09-29 Focke & Co METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CHECKING PACKAGES
PL198557B1 (en) * 2003-03-24 2008-06-30 Int Tobacco Machinery Poland Method for detection and rejection of sub-standard cigarettes
DE202005010375U1 (en) * 2005-07-01 2005-10-20 Tews Elektronik Dipl.-Ing. Manfred Tews Method for detecting faulty cigarettes in production facility using proximity sensors applied to the cigarette ends
US20080308113A1 (en) * 2007-06-13 2008-12-18 Imperial Tobacco Canada Kit for the assembly of smoking articles
CN109733690B (en) * 2018-12-07 2021-06-22 中国电子科技集团公司第四十一研究所 Cigarette carton pack missing detection device and method based on photoelectric dynamic scanning technology

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2441628A (en) * 1945-01-09 1948-05-18 American Steel & Wire Co Quench-hardening thermally hardenable steel
DE1130750B (en) * 1959-08-17 1962-05-30 Alfred Schmermund Control device on cigarette packing machines
GB1043368A (en) * 1962-07-27 1966-09-21 Molins Organisation Ltd Improvements in or relating to apparatus for feeding rod-like articles
DE2739366C3 (en) * 1973-06-18 1981-05-27 Focke & Co, 2810 Verden Testing device on cigarette packing machines
IT997301B (en) * 1973-09-26 1975-12-30 Amf Sasib DEVICE FOR CHECKING THE GRACO OF FILLING THE HEADS OF CIGARETTES
GB1516521A (en) * 1974-06-11 1978-07-05 Focke Pfuhl Verpack Automat Wrapping rod-like articles
US4090794A (en) * 1976-06-01 1978-05-23 Fernando Benini Optical cigarette end inspection device
US4486098A (en) * 1982-02-23 1984-12-04 Hauni-Werke Korber & Co. Kg Method and apparatus for testing the ends of cigarettes or the like
IT1158392B (en) * 1982-05-28 1987-02-18 Gd Spa CIGARETTE GROUP FORMING DEVICE IN A CIGARETTE PACKING MACHINE

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH663939A5 (en) 1988-01-29
US4742668A (en) 1988-05-10
DE3664444D1 (en) 1989-08-24
EP0217745A1 (en) 1987-04-08
JPS6278024A (en) 1987-04-10

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