EP1332682A1 - Method and apparatus to measure the diameter of a cigarette rod or of a rod-like article of the tobacco industry - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for measuring the diameter of a rod or strand shaped tobacco product (28) in which the measurements are taken at regular intervals along the axis of the rod or strand product as it is moved in the direction of its longitudinal axis. Independent claims are also made for: (1) a method for producing rod-type tobacco product in which the diameter of the product is adjusted according to regular measurements of said diameter; (2) a device for diameter measurement.

Description

The invention relates to a method for measuring the diameter of a Cigarette rod or rod-shaped product of tobacco manufacturing industry, especially an uncut one, already trimmed and wrapped with tobacco rod, at which is the diameter of the strand or rod-shaped product is measured and a corresponding measurement signal is generated, the strand or rod-shaped product during the measurement in the axial direction Direction is moved. The invention further relates to a method for Production of a rod or rod-shaped product of tobacco manufacturing industry, especially an uncut one, already trimmed and wrapped with tobacco rod, at which is the diameter when the strand or rod is formed Product is set to a certain value.

The invention also relates to a device for measuring the Diameter of a rod or rod-shaped product of tobacco manufacturing industry, especially an uncut one, already trimmed and wrapped with tobacco rod, with a measuring device for measuring the diameter of the strand or rod-shaped product and for the output of a corresponding Measurement signal and with a guide device for guiding the strand or rod-shaped product in the longitudinal axial direction through the Measuring device or past it. Finally, the invention relates a strand machine with such a device.

"Rod-shaped products" are here in the present Connection cigarettes, filter sticks, filter cigarettes and the like Understand objects with a given diameter. In however, the present invention is primarily concerned with measurement the diameter of strand-like products and in particular of uncut, already trimmed and with wrapping material provided tobacco strands that are continuous in the longitudinal axial direction promoted and used for the production of filter cigarettes.

In the manufacture of tobacco rods manufactured using the strand process efforts are made to keep fluctuations in diameter as small as possible. There are deviations in the diameter of a filter or tobacco rod particularly undesirable in so far as in filter and tobacco rod composite filter cigarette filter and tobacco rod the same Must have diameters so that their union, for example, by a connection sheet, can be made without gaps between the Leaves and the filter or tobacco rod remain through which Incidental air could penetrate and the smoking properties deteriorate would.

A method and a device of the type mentioned at the outset are out known from DE 34 14 247 A1, in which for measuring the Diameter with air acting as test equipment under constant Pressure is worked, the measurement being essentially continuous the moving tobacco rod takes place. This is a Strand measuring nozzle provided which is a narrow one, the tobacco rod has an annular enclosing test chamber which is connected to a test system is connected to a deformation of the tobacco rod exclusive test pressure is set. There is one in the strand measuring nozzle Integrated strand guide in such a way that between the test chamber and the Cigarette rod guide is an expanded one, connected with the atmosphere Relaxation chamber is provided.

An optical measuring system is described in DE 195 23 273 A1, in which an essentially finished cigarette while a continuous or discontinuous funding rotated while doing so is exposed to optical radiation. The size of at least one shadowing of the radiation caused by the cigarette captured during a short time interval and into an electrical Measurement signal implemented, with a signal for several measurement signals the diameter of the cigarette is formed.

DE 38 06 320 A1 describes a method and an apparatus for Monitoring the diameter of one with a wrapping material strip already provided cigarette or filter strand known, by means of a first measuring system before the strip width of the wrapping material strip the envelope and by means of a second measuring system The overlap width of the strand seam after the wrapping is determined. Using an evaluation circuit, the signals for the Strip width and the seam width a difference signal as a measure of the The circumference or diameter of the cigarette rod or that of it produced cigarette won.

DE 27 17 473 A1 describes a control arrangement for a machine combination, consisting of one strand machine and one directly coupled filter attachment machine for producing filter cigarettes, discloses, wherein the filter attachment machine a measuring device for Detect fluctuations in diameter of the processed on it Filter rods is assigned, the strand machine a control arrangement for Influencing the diameter of the cigarette rod produced and the measuring device of the control arrangement as a setpoint generator assigned. By adjusting the diameter of the manufactured ones Cigarettes during production with the diameter of the filter rods to which the filter attachment machine processing the cigarettes feeds there will be defects in the connection zone between the cigarette and the filter avoided.

Compared to the aforementioned prior art, the present one suggests Invention according to a first aspect, in a method of to generate the measurement signals mentioned above, the diameter at defined, discrete measuring points along the strand or rod Specify product.

According to a second aspect, the invention proposes that one Device of the type mentioned a control device to provide, which controls the measuring device such that the Measuring device outputs measuring signals that define the diameter at discrete measuring points along the strand or rod-shaped product specify.

With the help of the invention, no continuous measurement of the Diameter instead, but a measurement on defined, discrete Measuring points. Accordingly, the invention enables a targeted measurement certain points along the strand or rod-shaped product. In this way, the measurement signal can be determined discrete for the first time Jobs are assigned without taking any further action requirement.

The measuring device usually has a sensor unit which detects the Diameter of the strand or rod-shaped product recorded, and an evaluation unit that outputs the measurement signal. Here, the Sensor unit continuously for the sake of simplicity capture while the control device such the evaluation unit controls that the measuring device outputs measurement signals that the Diameter at the defined, discrete measuring points along the strand or Specify rod-shaped product.

Preferably, depending on the speed of movement of the strand or rod-shaped moving in the longitudinal axial direction Product clocked measurement signals are generated, the diameter at defined constant intervals along the strand or rod Product regardless of its speed of movement specify.

A currently particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized by the fact that one measuring point in the area of a later filter-side head reinforcement from the strand or rod-shaped product cut tobacco rod for the production of a Filter cigarette lies. In this embodiment, one in particular can Known diameter measuring device with a device for Capture the later interfaces to be combined Diameter values in the area of the head reinforcement later on the filter side to decrease. The measurement of the diameter in the area of the later filter-side head reinforcement forms an essential application of the present invention.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, this is done beforehand described inventive measurement on an uncut and already wrapped with tobacco rod after the Trimming in a strand machine.

Further preferred embodiments of the invention are in the dependent Claims specified.

Fig. 1

in schematischer perspektivischer Ansicht eine Zigarettenstrangmaschine, in der die wesentlichen Bauteile sichtbar dargestellt sind;

Fig. 2

in einem im wesentlichen schematischen Blockschaltbild eine in der Zigarettenstrangmaschine von Fig. 1 enthaltene Mess- und Regelungseinheit; und

Fig. 3

einen Abschnitt eines in der Zigarettenstrangmaschine von Fig. 1 hergestellten Zigarettenstranges (a) und ein Diagramm eines in der Mess- und Regelungseinheit von Fig. 2 erzeugten Taktsignales (b).

A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic perspective view of a cigarette rod machine, in which the essential components are shown visibly;

Fig. 2

an essentially schematic block diagram of a measuring and control unit contained in the cigarette rod machine of FIG. 1; and

Fig. 3

a section of a cigarette rod (a) produced in the cigarette rod machine of FIG. 1 and a diagram of a clock signal (b) generated in the measuring and control unit of FIG. 2.

In Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view Cigarette rod machine of the type "PROTOS" shown by the applicant, in which the main components are shown visibly. Of this Cigarette rod machine are the structure and the following Function briefly described.

From a lock 1, a pre-distributor 2 with tobacco is added in portions fed. A removal roller 3 of the pre-distributor 2 supplements controlled a storage container 4 with tobacco, from which a steep conveyor 5 tobacco takes out, which feeds a storage chute 6 controlled. From the Storage shaft 6, a pin roller 7 removes a uniform one Tobacco flow from a knockout roller 8 from the pins of the pin roller 7 knocked out and on at a constant speed peripheral scattering cloth 9 is thrown.

A tobacco fleece thus formed on the spreading cloth 9 is in a Sight device 11 flung, which consists essentially of a There is an air curtain through which larger or heavy parts of tobacco pass while all other tobacco particles from the air into one from one Pin roller 12 and a wall 13 formed funnel 14 are steered. The tobacco is transferred from the pin roller 12 into a tobacco channel 16 against one Strand conveyor 17 thrown, on which the tobacco by means of a Vacuum chamber 18 kept sucked air and a tobacco rod is thrilled.

A leveler 19 removes excess tobacco from the tobacco rod, which then on a cigarette paper strip 21 guided in synchronism is placed. The cigarette paper strip 21 is bobbin 22nd deducted, passed through a printing unit 23 and on a driven Format tape 24 laid. The format tape 24 transports the tobacco rod and the cigarette paper strip 21 by a format 26 in which the Cigarette paper strips 21 is folded around the tobacco rod so that still an edge protrudes from a glue, not shown in is glued in a known manner. Then the adhesive seam is closed and dried from a tandem seam plate 27.

A cigarette rod 28 thus formed passes through a measuring and Control unit 29, and is of a knife apparatus 31 in double length Cut 32 cigarettes. The double-length cigarettes 32 are from a controlled arms 33 having transfer device 34 to a Transfer drum 36 transferred to a filter attachment machine 37 whose cutting drum 38 they use a circular knife in individual cigarettes to be shared.

Conveyor belts 39, 41 convey excess tobacco into one under the Storage container 4 arranged container 42, from which the recirculated Tobacco is removed again from the steep conveyor 5.

The measuring and. Contained in the cigarette rod machine of FIG Control unit 29 is a schematic individual view in FIG. 2 shown in more detail. The measuring and control unit 29 has one Strand measuring nozzle 51 for monitoring the diameter of the Cigarette rod 28 on.

The strand measuring nozzle 51 is annular with a cigarette rod 28 enclosing narrow test chamber 53 which a Connection bore 54 for supplying test air and a Has connection bore 56 for pressure monitoring. The test chamber 53 is delimited on both sides by walls that face the Cigarette rod 28 to run out into a cutting edge 57, which encloses the cigarette rod 28 at a distance, so that between a test gap 58 is formed between the cigarette rod 28 and the edge 57. The test gap 58 connects the test chamber 53 to one on both sides enlarged annular chamber 59, the vent holes 61 with the Atmosphere. In addition, the Strand measuring nozzle 51 on both sides of the test chamber 53 opposite sides of the annular chamber 59 a ring around the Cigarette rod 28 extending guide gap 62, the Diameter is smaller than the diameter of the test gap 58 in Area of the test chamber 63, so that any glue residue is always on Set down the guide gap and not at the test gap.

The strand measuring nozzle 51 is connected to a pneumatic test system connected by a pressure source 63 with a form in the Order of magnitude of about 2 to 5 bar. The test system contains For example, a commercially available device 65 and includes a measuring device in Form of a flow meter 64, which via a feed line 66 is connected to the pressure source 63, and means for keeping the Test pressure in the strand measuring nozzle 51 in the form of an inlet side a line branch 67 with the flow meter 64 and on the output side through a line branch 68 of the feed line 66 a strand measuring nozzle 51 connected electrical control valve 69 and of an electrical controller 71, which on the output side with the control valve 69 and on the input side with a setpoint generator 72 for specifying a Desired pressure and a pressure-voltage converter 73 in connection which is connected via a test line 74 to the strand measuring nozzle 51 prevailing actual value of the test pressure in a corresponding Converts voltage value and via an electrical line 75 the Controller 71 supplies.

The test system works as follows: Starting from one certain standard cross section or standard diameter passes through Cigarette rod 28, the rod measuring nozzle 51, one of which Standard cross section corresponding test air quantity of the strand measuring nozzle 51 from the pressure source 63 via the flow meter 64 and that Control valve 69 is supplied, wherein in the test chamber 53 constant overpressure - e.g. about 10 mbar. The the Test air flowing through strand measuring nozzle 51 acts on the Cigarette rod 28 with this constant test pressure only on one narrow ring strips corresponding to the width of the test chamber 53, so that on this narrow ring strip even with changes in porosity a highly porous wrapping material is not a perfect one Measurement signal formation disturbing changes in the flow rate of the Test air occur. After striking the surface of the strand, it flows Test air parallel to the cigarette rod from the test chamber 53 in the Expanded annular chamber 59, where they flow around the cutting edge 57 abrupt at atmospheric pressure relaxed. The application of the cigarette rod 28 thus remains constant test pressure sharp on the through the test chamber 53rd The narrow zone of the cigarette rod surface formed is limited. The on Test air relaxed at atmospheric pressure flows out of the annular chamber 59 the vent holes 61 to the outside.

The test pressure kept constant in the test chamber 53 also becomes inherent changing diameter of the cigarette rod 28 regulated to constancy. It is assumed that the cross section of the cigarette rod 28 is reduced so that more air exits the test chamber 53 through the test gap 58 can flow into the annular chamber 59. The occurring short-term Pressure drop is detected by the pressure-voltage converter 73 and into a corresponding electrical signal indicating the pressure is converted, which is referred to below as the pressure signal and via the electrical Line branch 75 is given to the controller 71. This compares that Actual signal of the test pressure with that from the setpoint generator 72 Target signal of the test pressure, forms a difference signal, which as Control signal is given to the control valve 69. The control signal is triggered the control valve 69 to a larger opening of his Flow cross-section, so that a larger amount of test air in the Test chamber 53 of the strand measuring nozzle 51 flows in until the test pressure again reached its intended height.

The output of the pressure-voltage converter which outputs the pressure signal 73 is via an electrical line branch 76 with an input Signal processing unit 80 connected. Via another connection 81 becomes the cigarette length in the signal processing unit 80 entered.

The measuring and control unit 29 also has a clock generator unit 82 on which a rotating clock 84 and one Proximity switch 86 contains. The rotatingly mounted clock disk 84 is in synchronism with the knife apparatus 31 shown in FIG. 1 Cigarette rod machine driven and shown in the Embodiment two quarter-circle offset by 180 ° to each other Projections on the rotation of the clock disk 84 den Trigger proximity switch 86 accordingly. Generated in this way the proximity switch 86 clock signals to the connection line 87 on the signal processing unit 80 are transmitted.

Since the pressure signal via line branch 76 at the input of Signal processing unit 80 is constantly present, it represents one continuous measurement of the diameter while the Cigarette rod 28 moves through the rod measuring nozzle 51. That about the Line 87 clock signal input to signal processing unit 80 ensures, however, that a signal indicating the diameter on Output of the signal processing unit 80 not continuously, but instead is output timed. Accordingly, the Signal processing unit 80 output a signal that the Diameter only indicates during certain time slots that are in a certain constant distance from each other.

The output signals of the signal processing unit 80 are via a Line 88 to a display unit 90 and to a control unit 92 transmitted, which are also components of the measuring and control unit 29 form.

In the control unit 92, a setpoint for the Entered diameter while the output signal from the Signal processing unit 80 represents an actual value. The control unit 92 controls the tandem seam plate 27 in that shown in FIG. 1 Cigarette rolling machine, such that the distance of the Tandem seam plate 27 to strand 28 is changed so that at Deviations of the actual diameter from the nominal diameter again Target diameter is reached.

The arrangement is made in this way or the signal processing unit 80 is designed or programmed in such a way that this is via the line branch 76 incoming pressure signal taking into account the connection 81 entered cigarette length and the clock signal from line 87 to a diameter measurement for the area of the later filter side Head gain processed and output on line 88. Accordingly represent in the described and shown here Embodiment the output signals of the signal processing unit 80 on the line 88 those diameter values in the range of later filter-side head reinforcements were measured.

For this purpose, the clock generator unit 82 is so with the movement of the Cigarette rod 28 synchronized in the longitudinal axial direction that on clock signal output on line 87 has rectangular pulses which always occur when the cigarette rod 28 with a Section of the later filter-side head reinforcement by the Strand measuring nozzle 51 moves in the area of the test chamber 53.

The congruence between the clock signal on line 87 and the Cigarette rod 28 is shown schematically in FIG. 3. For those with "A" marked positions are those where later the knife apparatus 31 of the one shown in FIG. 1 Cigarette rod machine the cigarette rod 28 in double length Cigarettes 32 cuts, both ends of which each have a free end form later single cigarette.

In contrast, the positions marked with "B" are the places where the double-length cigarettes 32 from one Circular knife on the cutting drum 38 in the filter attachment machine 37 (Fig. 1) divided into individual cigarettes and provided with the filter pieces become. Accordingly, the positions marked with "B" represent the Area of the later head-side filter reinforcement in the cigarette rod 28. The ends of the tobacco rod of a single cigarette usually point a higher tobacco density than the middle part, so that the one in FIG. 3 shown cigarette rod 28 from the leveler 19 in the one shown in FIG. 1 The cigarette rod machine is trimmed so that the tobacco at the "A" and "B" marked places a higher density than the rest Has area and therefore also a larger diameter can have. Occasionally, the increase in density in the Areas "A" and "B" executed differently. With that is also the Influence on the diameter of the strand varies. Because of this Circumstance as well as due to the fact that the diameter between match the filter-side end of the tobacco rod and the filter piece must, the exact detection and control of the diameter to the positions marked with "B" are particularly important.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, those marked with "A" and "B" Places along the cigarette rod 28 in the illustrated Embodiment constant distances from each other on what this means this is conditional on the clock unit 82 on line 87 generated clock signal with the speed of movement of the Cigarette rod 28 is synchronized, as previously stated has been.

Finally, it should be pointed out that instead of using the Fig. 2 described pneumatic measuring method also others Measuring methods such as optical measuring methods used can be.

Claims (11)

Method for measuring the diameter of a strand or rod-shaped product (28) of the tobacco processing industry, in particular an uncut, already trimmed and wrapped with tobacco rod (28), in which the diameter of the rod or rod-shaped product (28) is measured and a A corresponding measurement signal (88) is generated, the strand or rod-shaped product (28) being moved in the longitudinal axial direction during the measurement,
characterized in that measuring signals (88) are generated which indicate the diameter at defined, discrete measuring points (B) along the strand or rod-shaped product (28). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the diameter is recorded continuously, but measurement signals (88) are generated which indicate the diameter at defined, discrete measuring points (B) along the strand or rod-shaped product (28). A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that clocked measurement signals (88) are generated which indicate the diameter at defined constant intervals along the strand or rod-shaped product (28) regardless of its speed of movement. Method according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in each case one measuring point (B) lies in the area of a later filter-side head reinforcement of a tobacco rod cut from the strand or rod-shaped product (28) for producing a filter cigarette. Method for producing a strand or rod-shaped product (28) of the tobacco processing industry, in particular an uncut, already trimmed and wrapped tobacco rod (28), in which the diameter is measured using a method according to at least one of the preceding claims and in which Formation of the strand or rod-shaped product (28) is set to a certain value,
characterized in that the measurement signal (88) is used for setting the diameter. Device for measuring the diameter of a strand or rod-shaped product (28) of the tobacco processing industry, in particular an uncut, already trimmed tobacco rod (28) provided with wrapping material
a measuring device (29) for measuring the diameter of the strand or rod-shaped product (28) and for outputting a corresponding measurement signal (88) and
with a guide device (for example 24) for guiding the product (28) in the longitudinal axial direction through the measuring device (29) or past it,
characterized by a control device (82) which controls the measuring device (29) in such a way that the measuring device outputs measuring signals (88) which indicate the diameter at defined, discrete measuring points (B) along the strand or rod-shaped product (28). Apparatus according to claim 6, in which the measuring device (29) has a sensor unit (51) which detects the diameter of the strand or rod-shaped product (28) and an evaluation unit (80) which outputs the measurement signal (88),
characterized in that the sensor unit (51) continuously detects the diameter and the control device (82) controls the evaluation unit (80) in such a way that the evaluation unit (80) outputs measurement signals (88) which indicate the diameter at defined, discrete measuring points (B) indicate along the strand or rod-shaped product (28). Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the control device (82) controls the measuring device (29) in dependence on the speed of movement in such a way that the measuring device (29) outputs clocked measuring signals (88) which indicate the diameter at defined constant intervals along the specify strand or rod-shaped product (28) regardless of its speed of movement. Device according to at least one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the control device (82) controls the measuring device (29) in such a way that in each case one measuring point (B) in the area of a later filter-side head reinforcement of a product of the strand or rod shape (28 ) cut tobacco rod to produce a filter cigarette. Strand machine with a device according to at least one of the Claims 6 to 9. Strand machine according to claim 10, with a device (27, 92) for influencing the diameter when forming the strand or rod-shaped product (28), characterized in that the device (27, 92) for influencing the diameter when forming the strand - or rod-shaped product (28) is connected to the measuring device (29) and processes the measuring signal (88) by the measuring device (29).

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