EP0585686B1 - Optical cigarette filling control device - Google Patents

Optical cigarette filling control device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0585686B1
EP0585686B1 EP93112964A EP93112964A EP0585686B1 EP 0585686 B1 EP0585686 B1 EP 0585686B1 EP 93112964 A EP93112964 A EP 93112964A EP 93112964 A EP93112964 A EP 93112964A EP 0585686 B1 EP0585686 B1 EP 0585686B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
optical
cigarette
sensor
optical means
optical axis
Prior art date
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.)
Revoked
Application number
EP93112964A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0585686A1 (en
Inventor
Marco Ghini
Giuseppe Di Stefano
Armando Neri
Antonio Gamberini
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GD SpA
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GD SpA
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Publication date
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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/32—Separating, ordering, counting or examining cigarettes; Regulating the feeding of tobacco according to rod or cigarette condition
    • A24C5/34—Examining cigarettes or the rod, e.g. for regulating the feeding of tobacco; Removing defective cigarettes
    • A24C5/3412—Examining cigarettes or the rod, e.g. for regulating the feeding of tobacco; Removing defective cigarettes by means of light, radiation or electrostatic fields
    • 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
    • B65B19/30—Control devices for cigarette or cigar packaging machines responsive to presence of faulty articles, e.g. incorrectly filled cigarettes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an optical cigarette filling control device.
  • the present invention relates to a control device for determining the presence or absence of tobacco at the open end of cigarettes on a cigarette manufacturing and/or filter assembly and/or packing machine.
  • the present control device is of the type disclosed in GB-A-1112687 and comprises a sensor, and fixed-focus optical means having an optical axis and a given focusing plane, the optical means being aligned in a fixed position along the optical axis; and the focusing plane being, in use, tangent to an end edge of a cigarette positioned substantially coaxial with said optical axis.
  • the cigarettes are normally subjected to numerous controls, one of which provides for determining the presence or absence of tobacco at the open end of the cigarettes.
  • an optical comparator comprising a fixed-focus optical device such as a telecamera or similar optical monitoring unit for producing an image of the front open-end surface of a cigarette; and a comparing unit for receiving the monitored image and comparing it with a specimen image.
  • the comparing unit normally also provides for emitting a reject signal in the event the difference between the monitored and specimen images exceeds a given limit.
  • the difference between the two images is one of shading, which, as we know, in the case of the monitored image, varies according to the presence of gaps in the front open-end surface due to the absence of tobacco.
  • the shading of the monitored image has been found to depend largely not only on the presence of said gaps, but also on the colour of the tobacco employed, so that known devices of the aforementioned type, and in particular that disclosed in GB-A-1112687, involve long, high-cost setup procedures whenever a different type of tobacco is used.
  • an optical device for controlling the filling of cigarettes comprising a sensor, and fixed-focus optical means having an optical axis and a given focusing plane, the optical means being aligned in a fixed position along the optical axis; and the focusing plane being, in use, tangent to an end edge of a cigarette positioned substantially coaxial with said optical axis; characterized in that said sensor is a contrast detecting sensor, and said optical means have a substantially zero depth of field.
  • the device set forth above preferably further comprises a light source for illuminating the end surface of said cigarette; said contrast detecting sensor being designed to receive a beam reflected by said end surface towards said optical means.
  • the device set forth above further comprises comparing means for emitting a reject signal in response to a signal emitted by said contrast detecting sensor and below a given threshold value.
  • Number 1 in Fig.1 indicates an optical device for controlling the filling of end portion 2 of a cigarette 3.
  • Device 1 comprises a light source 4 for emitting a beam 5 impinging on and for illuminating front end surface 6 of portion 2; and a biconvex lens 7 having an optical axis 8 and a fixed focus 9.
  • Device 1 presents a focusing plane 10 at a given distance A from lens 7, and a substantially zero depth of field; and cigarette 3 is positioned facing lens 7, coaxial with axis 8, and in such an axial position that end edge 11 of cigarette 3 is tangent to focusing plane 10.
  • Device 1 also comprises a sensor 12 located along axis 8, on the opposite side of focus 9 to lens 7, on the opposite side of lens 7 to cigarette 3, and at a given distance B from lens 7, which sensor 12 provides for detecting the contrast value of the image of surface 6 viewed through lens 7 and proportional to the filling of portion 2 of cigarette 3, and may, for example, be of the type described in USA Patent n. 5,107,337.
  • Device 1 also comprises a comparing and control unit 13 for receiving the contrast value of the monitored image from sensor 12, comparing it with a threshold contrast value C, and emitting a reject signal in the event the incoming contrast value is below the threshold value.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)
  • Automatic Focus Adjustment (AREA)

Description

  • The present invention relates to an optical cigarette filling control device.
  • In particular, the present invention relates to a control device for determining the presence or absence of tobacco at the open end of cigarettes on a cigarette manufacturing and/or filter assembly and/or packing machine.
  • The present control device is of the type disclosed in GB-A-1112687 and comprises a sensor, and fixed-focus optical means having an optical axis and a given focusing plane, the optical means being aligned in a fixed position along the optical axis; and the focusing plane being, in use, tangent to an end edge of a cigarette positioned substantially coaxial with said optical axis.
  • At the output of cigarette manufacturing and/or filter assembly machines and/or at the input of cigarette packing machines, the cigarettes are normally subjected to numerous controls, one of which provides for determining the presence or absence of tobacco at the open end of the cigarettes.
  • In the majority of cases, this is done using an optical comparator comprising a fixed-focus optical device such as a telecamera or similar optical monitoring unit for producing an image of the front open-end surface of a cigarette; and a comparing unit for receiving the monitored image and comparing it with a specimen image. The comparing unit normally also provides for emitting a reject signal in the event the difference between the monitored and specimen images exceeds a given limit.
  • In general, the difference between the two images is one of shading, which, as we know, in the case of the monitored image, varies according to the presence of gaps in the front open-end surface due to the absence of tobacco. Unfortunately, however, the shading of the monitored image has been found to depend largely not only on the presence of said gaps, but also on the colour of the tobacco employed, so that known devices of the aforementioned type, and in particular that disclosed in GB-A-1112687, involve long, high-cost setup procedures whenever a different type of tobacco is used.
  • It is an object of the present invention to provide a straightforward, low-cost optical device designed to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.
  • According to the present invention, there is provided an optical device for controlling the filling of cigarettes, comprising a sensor, and fixed-focus optical means having an optical axis and a given focusing plane, the optical means being aligned in a fixed position along the optical axis; and the focusing plane being, in use, tangent to an end edge of a cigarette positioned substantially coaxial with said optical axis; characterized in that said sensor is a contrast detecting sensor, and said optical means have a substantially zero depth of field.
  • The device set forth above preferably further comprises a light source for illuminating the end surface of said cigarette; said contrast detecting sensor being designed to receive a beam reflected by said end surface towards said optical means.
  • Moreover, preferably, the device set forth above further comprises comparing means for emitting a reject signal in response to a signal emitted by said contrast detecting sensor and below a given threshold value.
  • The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
    • Fig.1 shows a preferred embodiment of the optical device according to the present invention;
    • Fig.2 shows a partial view of the Fig.1 device under two different operating conditions;
    • Fig.3 shows a performance graph of the Fig.1 device.
  • Number 1 in Fig.1 indicates an optical device for controlling the filling of end portion 2 of a cigarette 3. Device 1 comprises a light source 4 for emitting a beam 5 impinging on and for illuminating front end surface 6 of portion 2; and a biconvex lens 7 having an optical axis 8 and a fixed focus 9. Device 1 presents a focusing plane 10 at a given distance A from lens 7, and a substantially zero depth of field; and cigarette 3 is positioned facing lens 7, coaxial with axis 8, and in such an axial position that end edge 11 of cigarette 3 is tangent to focusing plane 10.
  • Device 1 also comprises a sensor 12 located along axis 8, on the opposite side of focus 9 to lens 7, on the opposite side of lens 7 to cigarette 3, and at a given distance B from lens 7, which sensor 12 provides for detecting the contrast value of the image of surface 6 viewed through lens 7 and proportional to the filling of portion 2 of cigarette 3, and may, for example, be of the type described in USA Patent n. 5,107,337. Device 1 also comprises a comparing and control unit 13 for receiving the contrast value of the monitored image from sensor 12, comparing it with a threshold contrast value C, and emitting a reject signal in the event the incoming contrast value is below the threshold value.
  • In actual use, and with reference to Fig.3, when end portion 2 is full, i.e. when surface 6 is a flat surface coplanar with edge 11 and plane 10 (Fig.2a), sensor 12 detects a maximum contrast value D. Conversely, in the event of any gaps in portion 2 (Fig.2b), surface 6 is no longer coplanar with edge 11 and plane 10, in which case, by virtue of the substantially zero depth of field of device 1, the contrast values detected by sensor 12 fall alongside an increase in the depth of the gaps, as shown by curve 14, and are such as to determine the emission of a reject signal, when the depth of the gaps is such that the contrast signal falls below threshold C.

Claims (4)

  1. An optical device (1) for controlling the filling of cigarettes (3), comprising a sensor (12), and fixed-focus (9) optical means (7) having an optical axis (8) and a given focusing plane (10), the optical means (7) being aligned in a fixed position along the optical axis (8); and the focusing plane (10) being, in use, tangent to an end edge (11) of a cigarette (3) positioned substantially coaxial with said optical axis (8); characterized in that said sensor (12) is a contrast detecting sensor, and said optical means (7) have a substantially zero depth of field.
  2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, characterized by the fact that said optical means (7) comprise at least one lens.
  3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by further comprising a light source (4) for illuminating the end surface (6) of said cigarette (3); said contrast detecting sensor (12) being designed to receive a beam reflected by said end surface (6) towards said optical means (7).
  4. A device as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterized by further comprising comparing means (13) for emitting a reject signal in response to a signal emitted by said contrast detecting sensor (12) and below a given threshold value.
EP93112964A 1992-09-03 1993-08-12 Optical cigarette filling control device Revoked EP0585686B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITBO920312 1992-09-03
ITBO920312A IT1258140B (en) 1992-09-03 1992-09-03 OPTICAL DEVICE FOR CIGARETTES FILLING CONTROL

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0585686A1 EP0585686A1 (en) 1994-03-09
EP0585686B1 true EP0585686B1 (en) 1997-11-12

Family

ID=11338455

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93112964A Revoked EP0585686B1 (en) 1992-09-03 1993-08-12 Optical cigarette filling control device

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0585686B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2548889B2 (en)
DE (1) DE69315143T2 (en)
IT (1) IT1258140B (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102012203579B3 (en) * 2012-03-07 2013-06-06 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Measuring device and measuring method for determining a measured variable at one end of a rod-shaped product of the tobacco processing industry
DE102012210037A1 (en) 2012-06-14 2013-12-19 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Measuring device and method for optical inspection of an end face of a cross-axially conveyed rod-shaped product of the tobacco processing industry
DE102012210031A1 (en) 2012-06-14 2013-12-19 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Apparatus and method for evaluating an end face of a rod-shaped product of the tobacco processing industry

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1263446B (en) * 1993-06-28 1996-08-05 Gd Spa OPTICAL CONTROL METHOD FOR CIGARETTE FILLING.
IT1288494B1 (en) * 1996-11-20 1998-09-22 Sasib Spa METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE CONTROL WITHOUT DIRECT CONTACT OF THE HEADS OF THE CIGARETTES, OR SIMILAR.
IT1290673B1 (en) * 1997-02-11 1998-12-10 Gd Spa CIGARETTES CONTROL METHOD.
US6169600B1 (en) 1998-11-20 2001-01-02 Acuity Imaging, Llc Cylindrical object surface inspection system
DE19921725A1 (en) 1999-05-12 2000-11-16 Focke & Co Quality control of cigarettes to ensure that they are completely filled with tobacco has arrangement of light bands projected on their ends with reflected light band separation used to determine correct filling
DE19921721A1 (en) 1999-05-12 2000-11-16 Focke & Co Method and device for checking cigarette heads
US6213128B1 (en) * 1999-06-04 2001-04-10 Philip Morris Incorporated Apparatus and method for making and inspecting multi-component wrapped article
WO2011114439A1 (en) * 2010-03-16 2011-09-22 日本たばこ産業株式会社 Cigarette testing device
WO2012035608A1 (en) * 2010-09-14 2012-03-22 日本たばこ産業株式会社 Cigarette inspection device

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1112687A (en) * 1965-03-12 1968-05-08 Schmermund Alfred Improvements in or relating to arrangements for testing blocks of cigarettes
US3812349A (en) * 1973-04-06 1974-05-21 Laser Sciences Inc Apparatus for inspecting cigarettes or the like
IT1010706B (en) * 1974-03-22 1977-01-20 Amf Sasib PROCEDURE AND DEVICE FOR THE OPTICAL CHECK OF THE FILLING DEGREE OF THE CIGARETTE HEADS
DE2813866A1 (en) * 1978-03-31 1979-10-04 Schmermund Maschf Alfred DEVICE FOR CHECKING THE LEVEL OF FILLING OF CIGARETTE ENDS
JPS5632907A (en) * 1979-08-28 1981-04-02 Iseki Agricult Mach Automatic changeeover device of rice transplanter
JPS5925594A (en) * 1982-08-04 1984-02-09 Toshiba Corp Control of synchronous motor
JPS6058954A (en) * 1983-09-13 1985-04-05 Kureha Chem Ind Co Ltd Dihydroxybenzamide derivative
IT1189535B (en) * 1985-06-11 1988-02-04 Hauni Werke Koerber & Co Kg DEVICE, TO OPTICALLY CONTROL THE ENDS OF TOBACCO-SHAPED ARTICLES
IT1234506B (en) * 1988-05-31 1992-05-19 Gd Spa METHOD FOR ELECTRO-OPTICAL CONTROL OF CIGARETTES
DE3822520A1 (en) * 1988-07-04 1990-01-18 Focke & Co METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CHECKING CIGARETTES
IT1225366B (en) * 1988-11-25 1990-11-13 Sasib Spa OPTICAL DEVICE FOR CIGARETTE HEADS CONTROL

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102012203579B3 (en) * 2012-03-07 2013-06-06 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Measuring device and measuring method for determining a measured variable at one end of a rod-shaped product of the tobacco processing industry
EP2636320A1 (en) 2012-03-07 2013-09-11 HAUNI Maschinenbau AG Measuring device and measuring method for determining a measurement parameter at one end of a rod-shaped product of the tobacco processing industry
DE102012210037A1 (en) 2012-06-14 2013-12-19 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Measuring device and method for optical inspection of an end face of a cross-axially conveyed rod-shaped product of the tobacco processing industry
DE102012210031A1 (en) 2012-06-14 2013-12-19 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Apparatus and method for evaluating an end face of a rod-shaped product of the tobacco processing industry
EP2677273A1 (en) 2012-06-14 2013-12-25 HAUNI Maschinenbau AG Measuring device and method for optically examining a front surface of a transversally conveyed rod-shaped product of the tobacco processing industry
EP2679950A1 (en) 2012-06-14 2014-01-01 Hauni Maschinenbau AG Device and method for evaluating a front surface of a rod-shaped product of the tobacco processing industry

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITBO920312A0 (en) 1992-09-03
DE69315143T2 (en) 1998-06-10
JPH07289227A (en) 1995-11-07
EP0585686A1 (en) 1994-03-09
IT1258140B (en) 1996-02-20
ITBO920312A1 (en) 1994-03-03
JP2548889B2 (en) 1996-10-30
DE69315143D1 (en) 1997-12-18

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