US3595067A — Method and apparatus for determining the firmness…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 114 words

A method of determining the firmness of a mass of tobacco, particularly of determining the firmness of rodlike tobacco fillers which are confined in tubular wrappers, comprising the first step of directing a gas against the mass of tobacco from a location disposed at a predetermined fixed distance from the axis of the wrap and thereby subjecting the mass to a deformation whose extent is inversely proportional to the firmness of the mass; and the second step of measuring the extent of such deformation at a measuring station, including effecting a relative movement between said station and the mass of tobacco and producing pneumatic signals whose magnitude is indicative of deformation of the mass.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 114 words

A method of determining the firmness of a mass of tobacco, particularly of determining the firmness of rodlike tobacco fillers which are confined in tubular wrappers, comprising the first step of directing a gas against the mass of tobacco from a location disposed at a predetermined fixed distance from the axis of the wrap and thereby subjecting the mass to a deformation whose extent is inversely proportional to the firmness of the mass; and the second step of measuring the extent of such deformation at a measuring station, including effecting a relative movement between said station and the mass of tobacco and producing pneumatic signals whose magnitude is indicative of deformation of the mass.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said gas is air which is directed against the mass at a pressure less than required to effect permanent deformation of said mass.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 40 words

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said second step further comprises determining the changes of that characteristic of the gas which is variable as a function of the resistance offered by said mass to deformation by such gas.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said gas is a stream of air which is caused to flow against said mass.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said mass is a rodlike filler and wherein the gas is directed against a circumferentially complete portion of the external surface of the filler.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 48 words

A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the gas is a stream of air which is caused to flow substantially radially against the filler and is deflected by the filler substantially radially outwardly, said second step further comprising determining the characteristics of the thus deflected air stream.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said mass is a wrapped rodlike tobacco filler and wherein said first step comprises directing an air stream against successive increments of the filler.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method as defined in claim 7, wherein the filler forms part of a continuous wrapped tobacco-containing rod.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

A method as defined in claim 7, wherein the filler forms part of a wrapped tobacco-containing rod of finite length.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 105 words

A method of determining the firmness of a wrapped rodlike tobacco filler, comprising the steps of directing an air stream against successive increments of the filler and thereby subjecting the filler to a deformation whose extent is inversely proportional to the firmness of the filler; measuring the extent of such deformation including producing- in response to impingement of said air stream against successive increments of the filler-first pneumatic signals whose pressure is indicative of the firmness of successive increments; storing said first signals; and producing a second signal representing the average pressure of the thus stored first signals and the average firmness of the filler.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 105 words

A method of determining the firmness of a wrapped rodlike tobacco filler, comprising the steps of directing an air stream against successive increments of the filler and thereby subjecting the filler to a deformation whose extent is inversely proportional to the firmness of the filler; measuring the extent of such deformation including producing- in response to impingement of said air stream against successive increments of the filler-first pneumatic signals whose pressure is indicative of the firmness of successive increments; storing said first signals; and producing a second signal representing the average pressure of the thus stored first signals and the average firmness of the filler.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising the step of producing an additional pneumatic signal as a function of said second signal.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method as defined in claim 11, wherein said additional signal is an air stream.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 65 words

A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising the steps of producing- in response to impingement of a second air stream against successive increments of the filler- third pneumatic signals whose pressure is indicative of the firmness of the respective increments, comparing said third signals with said second signal, and producing fourth signals indicating the differences between said second signal and said third signals.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 39 words

A method as defined in claIm 13, wherein the filler is of finite length and is moved lengthwise in a first direction during generation of said first signals and in the opposite direction during generation of said third signals.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 90 words

A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising the steps of producing- in response to impingement of a second air stream against successive increments of the filler- third pneumatic signals whose pressure is indicative of the firmness of the respective increments, producing a fourth signal indicating a range of optimum values of the firmness of said increments, comparing said third signals with said second signal and with said fourth signals, and producing additional signals indicating the extent of deviation between said third signals and said range of optimum values.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 39 words

A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising the steps of comparing said second signal with said first signals and producing third signals whose pressure is indicative of the differences between said second signal and said third signals.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 45 words

A method as defined in claim 16, further comprising the step of amplifying said third signals, storing the thus amplified third signals, producing a fourth signal representing the average value of the thus stored amplified third signal, and indicating the value of the fourth signal.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 131 words

Apparatus for determining the firmness of a mass of tobacco, particularly for determining the firmness of a rodlike filler which is confined in a tubular wrapper, comprising deforming means for directing against the filler a gas to thus subject the filler to a deformation whose extent is inversely proportional to the firmness of the filler; means for effecting relative movement between said deforming means and the filler so that the gas directed by said deforming means impinges again successive increments of the filler; and evaluating means for measuring the extent of deformation of the filler, including means for determining the extent of deformation of the filler, including means for determining the extent of deformation of said increments and averaging means for determining the average deformation of a plurality of said increments.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 131 words

Apparatus for determining the firmness of a mass of tobacco, particularly for determining the firmness of a rodlike filler which is confined in a tubular wrapper, comprising deforming means for directing against the filler a gas to thus subject the filler to a deformation whose extent is inversely proportional to the firmness of the filler; means for effecting relative movement between said deforming means and the filler so that the gas directed by said deforming means impinges again successive increments of the filler; and evaluating means for measuring the extent of deformation of the filler, including means for determining the extent of deformation of the filler, including means for determining the extent of deformation of said increments and averaging means for determining the average deformation of a plurality of said increments.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 56 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said averaging means comprises means for producing output signals indicative of said average deformation and wherein said evaluating means further comprises adjustable setting means operatively connected with said averaging means and arranged to assume a condition of adjustment which is a function of the intensity of said output signals.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 94 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the means for determining the extent of deformation of said increments comprises means for producing first signals indicating the extent of deformation of such increments and wherein said averaging means comprises means for producing a second signal indicating the average deformation of a plurality of increments, and further comprising integrator means for comparing each of said first signals with said second signal and for producing third signals indicating the extent of deviation of the firmness of corresponding increments from the average firmness represented by said second signal.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 34 words

Apparatus ad defined in claim 20, further comprising means for amplifying said third signals, means for integrating the thus amplified third signals, and reducing means for indicating the magnitude of said integrated third signals.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 13 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the filler is of finite length.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 95 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein the means for determining the extent of deformation of successive increments of the filler comprises means for producing first pneumatic signals indicative of the firmness of the respective increments and wherein said averaging means comprises means for producing a second signal indicative of the average firmness of the filler, said evaluating means further comprising integrator means for comparing said second signal with said first signalS and for producing third signals indicating the differences between average firmness of the filler and the firmness of successive increments of the filler.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 51 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein said integrator means comprises a first integrator for producing third signals which indicate positive differences between said first signals and said second signal and a second integrator for producing third signals which indicate the negative differences between said second signal and said first signals.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 113 words

Apparatus for determining the firmness of a mass of tobacco, particularly for determining the firmness of a rodlike filler which is confined in a tubular wrapper, comprising deforming means for directing against the filler a gas from a location disposed at a predetermined fixed distance from the axis of the filler to thus subject the filler to a deformation whose extent is inversely proportional to the firmness of the filler; and evaluating means for measuring the extent of deformation of the filler, said evaluating means including means for producing pneumatic signals whose magnitude is indicative of deformation of the filler while the filler moves with reference to the evaluating means or vice versa.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 113 words

Apparatus for determining the firmness of a mass of tobacco, particularly for determining the firmness of a rodlike filler which is confined in a tubular wrapper, comprising deforming means for directing against the filler a gas from a location disposed at a predetermined fixed distance from the axis of the filler to thus subject the filler to a deformation whose extent is inversely proportional to the firmness of the filler; and evaluating means for measuring the extent of deformation of the filler, said evaluating means including means for producing pneumatic signals whose magnitude is indicative of deformation of the filler while the filler moves with reference to the evaluating means or vice versa.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein said deforming means comprises a nozzle having gas-admitting inlet means and an annular gas discharge opening surrounding the filler.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 53 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein said evaluating means includes a portion of said nozzle, said portion having an annular inlet adjacent to said opening and arranged to admit the gas leaving said opening at a rate which is a function of the extent of deformation of the filler by such gas.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 64 words

A method of determining the firmness of a wrapped rodlike tobacco filler, comprising the steps of directing an air stream against successive increments of the filler and thereby subjecting the filler to a deformation whose extent is inversely proportional to the firmness of the filler; measuring the extent of such deformation; and determining the average deformation of a plurality of increments of the filler.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 64 words

A method of determining the firmness of a wrapped rodlike tobacco filler, comprising the steps of directing an air stream against successive increments of the filler and thereby subjecting the filler to a deformation whose extent is inversely proportional to the firmness of the filler; measuring the extent of such deformation; and determining the average deformation of a plurality of increments of the filler.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-07-26	1975-01-25	1975-07-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-07-26	1979-01-25	1979-07-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-07-26	1983-01-25	1983-07-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for determining the firmness of fillers in cigarette rods or the like

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