Method and device for testing the quality of filter rods with capsules

The invention relates to a method for checking the quality of with capsules containing a liquid filling, provided filter rods, the filter rods have a longitudinal axis and longitudinally axially conveyed in an at least partially closed connecting line.

The invention further relates to a device for checking the quality of using capsules that contain a liquid filling, provided filter rods, wherein a filter rod conveying apparatus is provided which promotes the filter rods longitudinally axially from a sending station to a receiving station via a connecting line.

Finally, the invention relates to a filter rod logistics system with a corresponding device for checking the quality of with capsules containing a liquid filling and provided filter rods.

New cigarette products which are to be placed on the market have, as an essential component of the filter one or more capsules, which is filled with a liquid, such as menthol or. The capsule is immediately before the cigarette is ignited, broken by the smoker due to pressure on the filter, whereby the liquid is released and the aroma of the liquid. So this is ensured, it is necessary to ensure a consistent quality of the cigarette product. The capsule must when the cigarette product is sold, be filled and be properly positioned in the filter.

Out <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP1495684B1"><text>EP 1495684 B1</text></patcit> is a method for longitudinal axial transferring rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods, known, to a receiving station via a connecting line, the rod-shaped products are transferred from a transmitting station and are thereby separated in the connecting line. The products are tested according to the separation by means of a test facility and then discharged by means of a lock device in dependence upon the inspection of the connecting line.

Out <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="EP1495684B1"><text>EP 1495684 B1</text></patcit> is also a corresponding conveyor for longitudinal axial transferring rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods, from a broadcasting station known to a receiving station via a communication line with at least one separating device for the articles, wherein in the conveying direction of the item to the interconnector, the separation means for the products and at least one lock device are provided, wherein a testing device for the products between the separating means and the lock means is provided.

Out <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="EP1397961B1"><text>EP 1397961 B1</text></patcit> is a method for measuring at least one physical, in particular geometric, property of conveyed in a conveyor line rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter rods, known, are simultaneously measured as physical properties of the length and the diameter of the products in an optical measuring device. It also discloses a corresponding device.

The measuring device is located between a pair of braking rollers and an accelerator roller pair for the filter rods.

It is an object of the present invention, a reliable verification of the quality of using capsules to contain a liquid filling, provide filter rods provided, in particular, it is also possible to determine a tailing off of the capsules.

This object is achieved by a method for checking the quality of with capsules containing a liquid filling, provided filter rods, the filter rods have a longitudinal axis and longitudinally axially conveyed in an at least partially closed connecting line, the quality of the filter rods is checked by means of microwaves ,

It has been found according to the invention, that the condition of capsules which are introduced into a filter rod, can be detected very well by microwaves. Leaking capsules or capsules, which have received a crack or several cracks when introduced into a filter rod, can be detected very well also by microwaves through the greater spatial extent of the leaked fluid.

The filter rods are preferably to filter rods in the tobacco industry that have a finite length. Preferably, it is a predeterminable length. The position of the capsules is preferably relative to an end of the filter rod also predetermined.

The term of checking the quality of capsules provided with filter rods is particularly understood that the position of the capsules and / or the condition of the capsules, as well as the number of capsules to be checked. When the number of the capsules is determined in reviewing whether just the right number of capsules was introduced or whether a capsule is missing or were introduced too many capsules or no capsule was introduced. With regard to the position of the capsule is in particular checked whether in the longitudinal axial direction of the filter rod, ie in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the filter rod, the capsule is properly positioned. When checking the condition of the capsules is determined whether the respective capsule is completely filled or only partially filled, whether the respective capsule is empty or if it has expired.

In the event that the capsule has leaked fluid is distributed in the filter rod, which can be very well observed in particular with the microwave measuring method. Checking the quality place only after a longitudinal axial transport takes through a connecting line, so that between introduction of the capsule into a filter rod, the cutting of the filter rods from the filter strand, and the subsequent transport and the subsequent transport through the connecting line has elapsed, a corresponding time, is already sufficient in many cases to determine leakage of the capsules.

Preferably, the check will take place during a longitudinal axial movement of the filter rods, in particular at a predetermined speed, instead. This is to maintain a constant speed as possible of the filter rods during the review. In addition, the various successive filter rods also have the same predetermined speed during the measurement. In this way, very defined and very accurately the quality of the filter rods are found.

of the filter rods to be stored for a predeterminable time, this preferably before the step of checking. This can happen, for example, in filter rod tray or in a memory, preferably a first in - first out - memory (FIFO). The filter rods stored preferably be stored, for example, for a period of 1 hr. To 24 hrs.. During this period, very small cracks can thereby be determined that the capsules have expired in accordance with at this time. Preferably, the filters are moved during storage so that these are at least once rotated by 180 ° in order to thereby ensure a leak at any position of a crack in the capsule and finding.

Preferably, the check is done in the connecting line or the connecting line downstream for a braking and / or a subsequent accelerating the filter rods. In particular, the variant is preferable that the checking is done downstream of the connecting conduit for a braking and subsequent accelerating the filter rods. For this case, a particularly defined and quality inspection is possible.

Preferably, filter rods are accelerated transversely to their axis after checking to be introduced in a magazine of a tipper or a filter, or on a conveying path to a further transmitting station, which then promotes the filter longitudinally axially to a filter.

Preferably, low-quality filter rods are removed. This is to filter rods with leaking capsules, capsules misplaced, missing capsules, etc.

The object is further achieved by a device for checking the quality of using capsules that contain a liquid filling, provided filter rods, wherein a filter rod conveying apparatus is provided which promotes the filter rods longitudinally axially from a sending station to a receiving station via a connecting line, wherein between the transmitting station and the receiving station or at the receiving station a microwave measuring device is arranged.

Preferably, the receiving station has a longitudinally axially accelerating the filter rods device which is mentioned in the context of this invention acceleration device, on.

Preferably, the acceleration device comprises a brake unit and downstream of the brake unit in the conveying direction of the filter rods, an acceleration unit. This measure can be ensured very defines the quality of the checked filter rods. Preferably, the microwave measuring device between the brake unit and acceleration unit or downstream of the acceleration unit is disposed. The preferred in these two variants the variant is, however, that the microwave measuring device downstream of the acceleration unit is disposed, since for this case the most reliable results are given in the quality check of the filter rods. This is particularly due to the comparison with the arrangement between the brake unit and acceleration unit, less fluctuating position of the filter rod.

Preferably, a Filterausschleusvorrichtung is provided downstream of the acceleration device, which is at least partially curved. The curvature of the Filterausschleusvorrichtung simultaneously serves to secure leadership for themselves the Filterausschleusvorrichtung preferably then cross conveyor which is especially designed as a drum which receives the filter rods in respective seats and then write cross-axially.

Under cross-axially is understood across the longitudinal axis of the filter rods in the invention one direction, whereas in a longitudinally axial direction is a longitudinal understood the longitudinal axis of the filter rods in the framework of the invention. Preferably, the receiving station are the filter rods transversely to their longitudinal axis from. This happens for example with the aforementioned transverse conveyor, which can be designed as a drum.

The object is further wherein a filter rod support device provided with a filter rod logistics system with a device for checking the quality (quality inspection apparatus) by using capsules that contain a liquid filling, provided filter rods, which is described above and is referred to in the present invention as a quality inspection apparatus dissolved, is connected with the quality inspection device or is connectable.

Through the filter rod support device it is possible to store the filter rods a corresponding period of time, so that even with small cracks a corresponding leakage of the capsules can be found in the filter rods. Preferably, the filter rod support device is a tray. Alternatively, a first in - first out - memory (FIFO memory) can be provided, preferably corresponding funds are provided, the cross-axially promote the filter rods in the memory and can be found from memory and cross-axially. Preferably Schrage pivoting device is provided which ensures that the disposed in the tray filter rods are pivoted for example, 180 °, so as to ensure that any possible arrangement, a crack in a capsule in the filter rod can also be found there thus possibly at a overhead plan no leakage takes place by gravity.

Alternatively it can be provided in a storage device or a storage device to allow the filter rods themselves for example, 180 ° can be pivoted, for example by a rotation around their longitudinal axis. This can be done by corresponding movement in a filter rod support device. This can also be done in that a tray is first emptied and then refilled.

is preferably, in particular directly, a magazine for a filter tipping to the receiving station of the quality checking device disposed.

Preferably, a filter rod end device is downstream of the receiving station of the quality inspection apparatus is provided which receives filter rods transversely to their longitudinal axis and longitudinally axially into a connecting line, in particular to a Filterstabansetzmaschine the tobacco processing industry, emits.

The invention is described below, without restricting the general inventive idea, by exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which respect all is explicitly referenced in the text not explained in detail to the drawings Details of the invention. Show it:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1a</dt><dd>a schematic plan view of a receiving station according to the invention,</dd><dt>Fig. 1b</dt><dd>a schematic side view of part of <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1a</figref>.</dd><dt>Fig. 2</dt><dd>is a schematic side view of a quality inspection apparatus according to the invention and</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>a schematic side view of another quality inspection apparatus according to the invention.</dd></dl>

In the following figures, the same or similar types of elements or corresponding parts with the same reference numerals are provided to prevent the item from needing to be reintroduced.

<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1a</figref> shows schematically a receiver station of a quality inspection apparatus according to the invention. The receiving station 17 may also be referred to as filter rod receivers. This serves to promote filter rods 6 in a filter container 8 or to a non-illustrated conveyor device, which may be provided instead of the filter magazine eighth The magazine 8 can be a magazine of a filter of the tobacco processing industry, not shown, or a tray in which the filter rods are 6 stored. Products imported into the filter magazine 8 filter rods 6 serve after they have been cut, for example in filter rods double unit length to be merged with tobacco Stock couples to produce filter cigarettes. The filter material may be filter tow.

The fed into the filter magazine 8 filter rods 6 may also serve, cut into corresponding filter segments and to be supplied to an arrangement of filter segments for producing multi-segment filters. The device can do this several or all functional units of a device for assembling groups of filter segments for producing multi-segment filters of the tobacco processing industry according to the patent application with the file reference<patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="DE10155292"><text>DE 101 55 292.0</text></patcit> the applicant be assigned.

The filter rods 6 with a four-fold unit length, which can generally be referred to as N-fold unit length, where N is a natural number, are supplied via a not shown pipeline from a Filterherstellmaschine means of a filter rod transmitter or a broadcasting station of a connection cable. 1 Alternatively, the connecting line 1 or 1 'also in the embodiments according to<figref idrefs="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0003">3</figref> be provided.

The filter rods 6 are spaced promoted in the delivery pipe to the connecting line 1 and then get into a sheet guide 2 to be braked by brake rollers 3 in a channel. 5 The connecting line 1 and the sheet guide 2 are shown schematically in<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1b</figref> shown in a side view. In<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1a</figref> these elements are shown in a schematic plan view. After the filter rods 6 the brake rollers 3, 3 of the longitudinal axis 'have passed, they are then by accelerator rollers 4, 4' by a microwave measuring device 11 along 40 out and then conveyed on a guide rail on a guide wall 13 a sheet guide 12 along to a drum. 7 The drum 7 has receiving cavities into which the filter rods are fed to 6 is introduced. Further details on the drum 7 can of<patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="EP1397961B1"><text>EP 1397961 B1</text></patcit> be removed.

Between the brake roller pair 3, 3 'and the accelerator roller pair 4, 4' may be 10 provided while a microwave measuring device. The microwave measuring device 10 and the microwave measurement device 11 are alternative embodiments of a receiving station according to the invention 17. Instead of the embodiment as a microwave measuring device 10 may also be an optical measuring device at the position of the microwave measuring device 10 may be provided, which simultaneously measures the length and the diameter of the filter rod, in order then, in the microwave measuring device 11 to check the quality of the filter rods.

The positioning of the microwave measuring device 11 is preferred since there seen locally moves the filter rod 6 is less, namely trans-axially. Instead of a sheet guide 12 may be provided on a drum also immediately a connection. The sheet guide 12 is preferred, however, because there can happen a discharge of low-quality filter rods, as will be shown below, and on the other hand, the guide on the guide wall 13 leads to an exact location of the filter rods 6 during insertion into the drum 7, so that there occurs no traffic jams or any improper handing.

To determine the quality and to verify the quality of the filter rods, which are filled with capsules containing a liquid filling, they are made by the microwave measuring field of a microwave resonator 10 or 11 or in Examples <figref idrefs="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0003">3</figref> 11 and 11 'therethrough. There is then a change of the microwave field in the microwave resonator measured at a predetermined operating frequency, and determines on the basis of the change in loading and / or the quality of the filter rod introduced into the capsules. Particularly preferably a microwave resonator is used as a microwave resonator 10 or 11, in which<patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="DE19854550B4"><text>DE 198 54 550 B4</text></patcit> is described and having the resonator, referred to therein. More information on the measurement method, which is used to check the quality of the filter rods, which are filled with capsules, are processed in the registered on this day at the German Patent and Trademark Office patent application entitled "capsule monitoring and capsule position control in filters of the tobacco industry "described. For a description of the measurement method is in particular the<figref idrefs="f0002">figures 2</figref> referenced to 7 of this patent application and this accompanying Figures.

The working frequency is preferably between 2 and 30 GHz, in particular, preferably, the operating frequency is in a range of 2 to 10 GHz, in particular preferably between 5 and 6.5 GHz. Preferably, the operating frequency is in the range of a rising or falling edge of a curve of the measured thickness or signal strength over a frequency. Such a curve can be obtained that microwaves are coupled with a tunable frequency in the microwave resonator and the respectively resulting amplitude of the coupled microwave, which has been coupled out of the microwave resonator, is measured. This then results in a curve, such as in Fig. 6 of the above, registered on this day at the German Patent and Trademark Office, patent application is shown.

The operating frequency is then not put in the maximum of this frequency response, but on a cross. This frequency response changes can be clearly determined. Furthermore, such a single point measurement, so a measurement at a frequency by a very high processing speed is characterized.

The measurement is then so that a microwave having a frequency corresponding to the working frequency, is coupled into the microwave resonator and the corresponding signal of the coupled microwave is measured. Preferably, alone or in addition be measured at the working frequency, the slope, so that a more accurate statement about the quality of the introduced capsules can be given. When the slope is, for example, the slope of the measured frequency response at the operating frequency and the temporal change in the signal. Preferably, therefore, the change a signal change of the microwave field and / or a change in slope of a signal of the microwave field at the operating frequency.

Preferably, the change is time and / or location-dependent. This means in particular that a moving filter rod is measured, so that the changes of the microwave field are given by time-varying measurement conditions and related location-dependent results in the change in the filter rod in the longitudinal direction.

Preferably, a determination of the number, the position and / or condition of the capsules is made.

Preferably, it is determined by checking the state of the capsules if the capsules completely filled, partially filled, empty and / or expired and / or whether it is the desired capsules.

In the microwave fields of the microwave measuring device 10 or alternatively the microwave measuring device 11, 11 'is thus in particular checked whether the capsules 19, 19', 19 ", 19" 'in the filter rod 6 are okay or if they are, for example, expired. Unless these have expired or incorrectly positioned or missing, or another criterion for a poor quality of the filter rod satisfied, a control signal is output, which ensures that upon recognizing the filter rod 6 through the light barrier 15 of filter rod 6 by the sheet guide 12 admitting a blast of compressed air is discharged into the outlet nozzle 14 in the sheet guide 12 of the filter rod 6 through the opening 18 into a collection container. 9 Only the high quality filter rods 6 are introduced into the drum 7, and then in the magazine. 8

In <figref idrefs="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> is presented with a quality inspection apparatus according to the invention schematically an inventive filter rod logistics system. One filled with filter rods 6 trays 36 is introduced into the Schragenentleerstation 20th The filter rods are then in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof, that is cross-axially, conveyed on the conveyor path 21 to a transmitting station 22nd The transmitting station 22 transports the filter rods 6 in a direction along its longitudinal axis, ie longitudinal axial direction, in the pipes 23 and 24. The filter rods 6 are in this case be possible already isolated. The filter rods 6 then pass through into the conduits 23 and 24, a venting device 25 and 26, which lets out the compressed air from the pipes 23 and 24th Then pass the filter rods 6 via the connecting lines 1, 1 'in an accelerating device 16, 16', for example, as in<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1a</figref> can be configured. This is followed by microwave measurement sensors 11 and 11 '. The acceleration devices 16, 16 'and the microwave measuring devices 11 and 11 and the drums 7, 7', which is the microwave measuring devices 11 and 11 'connect, provide the receiving stations 17 and 17'. It is also conceivable that the microwave measuring devices 11 and 11 'upstream of the acceleration devices 16, 16', preferably downstream of the venting devices 25 and 26 are arranged.

However, the preferred arrangement of the microwave measuring devices is in <figref idrefs="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0003">3</figref> represented.

The analogy to a high quality recognized filter rods are then conveyed out of the drums 7, 7 'on a conveyor 27 in the conveying direction 28 to a Schragenfüllvorrichtung 29, where they are packaged in appropriate trays, and then subsequently the filter rods 6, which are packaged in the tray to be able to promote a filter. Alternatively it can be provided in trays instead of filling, the filter rods 6 to be transported through the Schragenfüllvorrichtung 29 passes, on a conveyor 30 in the conveying direction 31 to a transmission station 22 ', then the cross-axially conveyed filter rods 6 longitudinally and axially in pipes 33 and 34 in conveying direction 32 for further processing, for example, for further processing in a filter, ship. It may also be envisaged that instead of a Schragenfüllvorrichtung 29 is just one conveying path of the drums 7, 7 'to the transmitting station 22' is provided.

In <figref idrefs="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> is provided with quality monitoring devices of the invention, an alternative schematic side view of a filter rod logistics system of the invention. As an alternative to the embodiment of<figref idrefs="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> get the. found to be good filter rods 6 through a conveyance in the conveying direction 28 directly in a magazine 35, for example, a magazine of a filter The magazine 35 of the filter tip can also be connected directly to the drums 7 and 7 '.

All mentioned features, including those taken from the drawings alone, and individual characteristics, which are disclosed in combination with other features, are considered alone and in combination as essential to the invention. Embodiments of the invention can be fulfilled through individual characteristics or a combination of several characteristics.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

<dl id="dl0002" compact="compact"><dt>eleven'</dt><dd>connecting cable</dd><dt>2</dt><dd>bowing</dd><dt>3, 3 '</dt><dd>brake Role</dd><dt>4, 4 '</dt><dd>accelerator roller</dd><dt>5</dt><dd>Kanal</dd><dt>6</dt><dd>Filterstab</dd><dt>7, 7 '</dt><dd>drum</dd><dt>8</dt><dd>Magazin</dd><dt>9</dt><dd>receptacle</dd><dt>10</dt><dd>Microwave measuring device</dd><dt>11, 11 '</dt><dd>Microwave measuring device</dd><dt>12</dt><dd>bowing</dd><dt>13</dt><dd>guide wall</dd><dt>14</dt><dd>Ausblasdüse</dd><dt>15</dt><dd>photocell</dd><dt>16, 16 '</dt><dd>accelerator</dd><dt>17, 17 '</dt><dd>receiving station</dd><dt>18</dt><dd>recess</dd><dt>19, 19 ', 19 ", 19"'</dt><dd>hairdo</dd><dt>20</dt><dd>Schragenentleerstation</dd><dt>21</dt><dd>conveyance</dd><dt>22, 22 '</dt><dd>sending Station</dd><dt>23</dt><dd>pipeline</dd><dt>24</dt><dd>pipeline</dd><dt>25</dt><dd>ventilation device</dd><dt>26</dt><dd>ventilation device</dd><dt>27</dt><dd>conveyance</dd><dt>28</dt><dd>conveying direction</dd><dt>29</dt><dd>Schragenfüllvorrichtung</dd><dt>thirty</dt><dd>conveyance </dd><dt>31</dt><dd>conveying direction</dd><dt>32</dt><dd>conveying direction</dd><dt>33</dt><dd>pipeline</dd><dt>34</dt><dd>pipeline</dd><dt>35</dt><dd>Magazin</dd><dt>36</dt><dd>support</dd></dl>