US3584501A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for cigarette inspection
Assignee: AMF Inc
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Filing: 1969-03-26
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Granted: 1971-06-15
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Expires: 1989-03-26
Abstract
Abstract Cigarettes that are to be inspected are fed serially to aligned pockets of two sprocket wheels and retained in position by suction. Thereafter, the cigarettes are shifted axially in the pockets by a plunger-cam-type of structure to position an end of a cigarette into a mouthpiece and against a perforated plug. Fluid under pressure is caused to flow through the perforated plug and through the cigarette to the atmosphere. The pressure of the fluid at the perforated plug is determined by the throttling effected by the cigarette. The pressure of the fluid at the perforated plug is compared to a constant pressure in a fluidic logic circuit, variations greater than a predetermined value indicating the presence of a defective cigarette.
Inventors
- 👤 Renato Marradi
- 👤 Giovanni Pezzi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:28
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24C; A24C5/00; A24C5/32; A24C5/34; A24C5/3418
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
Apparatus for testing the integrity of an individual finished cigarette, comprising a pneumatic pressure chamber, means for inserting one of the ends of a cigarette to be tested in said chamber, the other end of said cigarette being exposed to the atmosphere, means for applying a pressurized fluid to said chamber to pass through said cigarette to the atmosphere, the pressure residing in said chamber being dependent upon the throttling effect of said cigarette, a Schmitt Trigger-type fluidic component, a first inspection input of said Schmitt Trigger-type fluidic component coupled to receive an adjusted airflow through an adjusting valve also connected to feed an adjusted airflow to the testing chamber of one of the ends of the cigarettes being tested, while a second inspection input of said Schmitt Trigger-type fluidic component is coupled through seriesconnected adjusting valves to an airflow which determines the tripping threshold of said Schmitt Trigger-type fluidic so that when the flow at said first inspection input descends below a tripping threshold said Schmitt Trigger-type fluidic components trips and deviates the main flow to an output coupled to discharge to the atmosphere while, when the flow at said first inspection input is higher than the tripping level the output of the main flow from said Schmitt-type trigger fluidic component occurs through an output which is connected with an input of a NOR Gate type fluidic component having two inputs, and a pneumoelectric transducer for rejecting a cigarette when the pressure residing in said chamber varies from the predetermined pressure level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
253 words
Apparatus for testing the integrity of an individual finished cigarette, comprising a pneumatic pressure chamber, means for inserting one of the ends of a cigarette to be tested in said chamber, the other end of said cigarette being exposed to the atmosphere, means for applying a pressurized fluid to said chamber to pass through said cigarette to the atmosphere, the pressure residing in said chamber being dependent upon the throttling effect of said cigarette, a Schmitt Trigger-type fluidic component, a first inspection input of said Schmitt Trigger-type fluidic component coupled to receive an adjusted airflow through an adjusting valve also connected to feed an adjusted airflow to the testing chamber of one of the ends of the cigarettes being tested, while a second inspection input of said Schmitt Trigger-type fluidic component is coupled through seriesconnected adjusting valves to an airflow which determines the tripping threshold of said Schmitt Trigger-type fluidic so that when the flow at said first inspection input descends below a tripping threshold said Schmitt Trigger-type fluidic components trips and deviates the main flow to an output coupled to discharge to the atmosphere while, when the flow at said first inspection input is higher than the tripping level the output of the main flow from said Schmitt-type trigger fluidic component occurs through an output which is connected with an input of a NOR Gate type fluidic component having two inputs, and a pneumoelectric transducer for rejecting a cigarette when the pressure residing in said chamber varies from the predetermined pressure level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
136 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the other input of the Nor Gate type fluidic component is coupled to receive a constant flow which is adjusted by a valve periodically set to communicate with the atmosphere every time a hole of a timing wheel is positioned to communicate with a flow discharge duct provided in a corresponding block in synchronism with the presence of a cigarette to be inspected in the testing chamber, so that the NOR Gate type fluidic component will discharge directly to the atmosphere every time the cigarette being inspected is acceptable, and Nor Gate-type of fluidic component will discharge through and actuate a pneumoelectric transducer when the cigarette being inspected is not acceptable in order to send a signal to a memory for the subsequent rejection of the defective cigarette.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-14 | 1974-12-14 | 1975-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-14 | 1978-12-14 | 1979-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-14 | 1982-12-14 | 1983-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |