Cigarette dense end measuring and controlling apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus including an output device for monitoring the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco moving along a path which includes the location of said cutter and having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod, said apparatus comprising: means for measuring the density of said tobacco rod as it passes a point along said path to produce a density signal having periodically varying portions indicative of the passage of each of said dense regions in said moving rod, means for measuring the phase relationship between the operation of said cutter to cut said rod and the occurrence of said periodically varying portions in said density signal and for generating and coupling to said output device a signal directly proportional to the amount and direction of a deviation from the center of said dense regions of the ends of said cut cigarettes.

Claim 3

Apparatus including an output device for monitoring the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco moving relative to said cutter and having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod, said apparatus comprising: means responsive to the density of said tobacco rod for generating a first signal having a periodically changing portion indicative of each of said dense regions in said moving rod, means for generating a second signal whenever said cutter cuts a cigarette from said rod, and means for continuously comparing the phase of said periodically changing portions of said first signal relative to said second signal and for producing and coupling to said output device a third signal directly proportional to the amount and direction of any deviation from the ends of the cigarettes cut by said cutter of the center of said dense regions.

Claim 4

Apparatus including an output device for monitoring the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco moving relative to said cutter and having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod, said apparatus comprising: means responsive to the density of said tobacco rod for generating a first signal having a periodically changing portion indicative of each of said dense regions in said moving rod, means for generating a second signal whenever said cutter cuts a cigarette from said rod, and means for continuously comparing the phase of said periodically changing portions of said first signal relative to said second signal and for producing and coupling to said output device a third signal directly proportional to the amount and direction of any deviation from the ends of the cigarettes cut by said cutter of the center of said dense regions.

Claim 5

Apparatus for monitoring the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco moving relative to said cutter along a path which includes the location of said cutter, said rod having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod, said apparatus comprising: means responsive to the density of said rod as it passes a point along said path for generating a first signal having a waveform including periodic pulses indicative of the passage of said dense regions of said moving rod, means synchronized with said cutter for producing a second signal corresponding to one portion of said first signal, and having a waveform that is inverted with respect to the waveform of said first signal, and means responsive to said second signal and to another portion of said first signal to provide an output signal directly proportional to any deviation from the center of said dense regions of the ends of said cut cigarettes.

Claim 6

Apparatus for monitoring the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco moving relative to said cutter along a path which includes the location of said cutter, said rod having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod, said apparatus comprising: means responsive to the density of said rod as it passes a point along said path for generating a first signal having a waveform including periodic pulses indicative of the passage of said dense regions of said moving rod, means synchronized with said cutter for producing a second signal corresponding to one portion of said first signal, and having a waveform that is inverted with respect to the waveform of said first signal, and means responsive to said second signal and to another portion of said first signal to provide an output signal directly proportional to any deviation from the center of said dense regions of the ends of said cut cigarettes.

Claim 7

Apparatus for monitoring the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco moving relative to said cutter and having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod, said apparatus compRising: means for measuring said cigarette rod to provide a first signal having a waveform including periodic pulses indicative of the passage of said dense regions of said moving rod, means synchronized with said cutter for periodically producing a second signal corresponding to one portion of said first signal and having a waveform that is inverted with respect to the waveform of said first signal for a predetermined period of time, means for combining said second signal and said remaining portions of said first signal, and means for averaging said combined signal portions to provide an output signal directly proportional to any deviation from the center of said dense regions of the ends of said cut cigarettes.

Claim 8

Apparatus for monitoring the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco moving relative to said cutter and having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod, said apparatus compRising: means for measuring said cigarette rod to provide a first signal having a waveform including periodic pulses indicative of the passage of said dense regions of said moving rod, means synchronized with said cutter for periodically producing a second signal corresponding to one portion of said first signal and having a waveform that is inverted with respect to the waveform of said first signal for a predetermined period of time, means for combining said second signal and said remaining portions of said first signal, and means for averaging said combined signal portions to provide an output signal directly proportional to any deviation from the center of said dense regions of the ends of said cut cigarettes.

Claim 9

Apparatus for monitoring the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco moving relative to said cutter and having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod by a dense-end forming device, said apparatus comprising: means for generating a first signal having a waveform including periodic pulses indicative of the passage of said dense regions of said moving rod, adjustable means coupled to said cutter for generating a reference signal having a pulse whose width is substantially equal to said periodic pulses, means responsive to said reference pulse for periodically producing a second signal corresponding too one portion of said first signal, and having a waveform that is inverted with respect to the waveform of said first signal, means for combining said second signal with the remaining portions of said first signal, means for averaging said combined signal portions to obtain an output signal, and means for adjusting said reference pulse generating means to initiate said reference pulse substantially in the center of each of said dense region pulses when said cutter and said dense end device are synchronized to provide an output signal directly proportional to any deviation of said dense regions from the ends of said cut cigarettes.

Claim 10

Apparatus for monitoring the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco moving relative to said cutter and having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod by a dense-end forming device, said apparatus comprising: means for generating a first signal having a waveform including periodic pulses indicative of the passage of said dense regions of said moving rod, adjustable means coupled to said cutter for generating a reference signal having a pulse whose width is substantially equal to said periodic pulses, means responsive to said reference pulse for periodically producing a second signal corresponding too one portion of said first signal, and having a waveform that is inverted with respect to the waveform of said first signal, means for combining said second signal with the remaining portions of said first signal, means for averaging said combined signal portions to obtain an output signal, and means for adjusting said reference pulse generating means to initiate said reference pulse substantially in the center of each of said dense region pulses when said cutter and said dense end device are synchronized to provide an output signal directly proportional to any deviation of said dense regions from the ends of said cut cigarettes.

Claim 11

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 further including: means for adjusting said reference pulse generating means to change its time of operation relative to the operation of said cutter, thereby to initiate said reference pulse in time coincidence with the beginning of each of said dense region pulses to maximize said output signal when said dense regions are simultaneously of the desired magnitude and occurring in portions of said rod which are cut through by said cutter to separate adjacent cigarettes.

Claim 12

Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 further including: means responsive to said output signal for adjusting the relative position of said cutter and said dense end device to cut said cigarette rod substantially in the center of each of said dense regions.

Claim 13

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco moving relative to said cutter and having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod by a dense end device, said apparatus comprising: means for continuously measuring the density of said cigarette rod to provide a signal having periodic increased portions responsive to the passage of said dense regions of said moving rod, means coupled to said cutter to provide a reference pulse whenever a cigarette is cut from said cigarette rod, synchronous detector means for producing a signal which is directly proportional to the phase difference of said measured increased density portions from said reference pulses, and control means responsive to said measured phase difference signal for continuously maintaining said cutter and said dense end device in synchronization to cut said cigarette rod substantially in the center of each of said dense regions.

Claim 14

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco moving relative to said cutter and having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod by a dense end device, said apparatus comprising: means for continuously measuring the density of said cigarette rod to provide a signal having periodic increased portions responsive to the passage of said dense regions of said moving rod, means coupled to said cutter to provide a reference pulse whenever a cigarette is cut from said cigarette rod, synchronous detector means for producing a signal which is directly proportional to the phase difference of said measured increased density portions from said reference pulses, and control means responsive to said measured phase difference signal for continuously maintaining said cutter and said dense end device in synchronization to cut said cigarette rod substantially in the center of each of said dense regions.

Claim 15

Apparatus for monitoring the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter provIding a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco movable relative to said cutter and having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod by a dense end forming device, said apparatus comprising: means for measuring the density of said cigarette rod to provide a first electrical signal having periodic pulses responsive to the passage of said dense regions of said moving rod, and a phase detector for producing a signal indicative of a deviation from synchronization of the operation of said cutter and said dense end forming device wherein said cutter cuts said rod substantially in the center of each of said dense regions, said phase detector including a pair of electrical circuit loops each having a diode element for conducting current in one direction, switch mans in series with said diode element and means for coupling said first signal to said phase detector, a common load circuit shared by each of said loops and means for connecting said loops to said signal-coupling means to provide a current flow in each direction through said common load circuit and adjustable means coupling said switch means to said cutter for providing for a current flow of one loop or the other of said phase detector for predetermined periods synchronized with the operation of said cutter.

Claim 16

Apparatus for monitoring the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter provIding a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco movable relative to said cutter and having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod by a dense end forming device, said apparatus comprising: means for measuring the density of said cigarette rod to provide a first electrical signal having periodic pulses responsive to the passage of said dense regions of said moving rod, and a phase detector for producing a signal indicative of a deviation from synchronization of the operation of said cutter and said dense end forming device wherein said cutter cuts said rod substantially in the center of each of said dense regions, said phase detector including a pair of electrical circuit loops each having a diode element for conducting current in one direction, switch mans in series with said diode element and means for coupling said first signal to said phase detector, a common load circuit shared by each of said loops and means for connecting said loops to said signal-coupling means to provide a current flow in each direction through said common load circuit and adjustable means coupling said switch means to said cutter for providing for a current flow of one loop or the other of said phase detector for predetermined periods synchronized with the operation of said cutter.

Claim 17

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 further including: controller means responsive to said average current value for continuously maintaining said cutter and said dense end device in synchronization to cut said cigarette rod substantially in the center of each of said dense regions.

Claim 18

Apparatus including an output device for monitoring the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco moving relative to said cutter and having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod, said apparatus comprising: means for measuring the density of said tobacco rod to produce a density signal having a waveform including a distinctive portion responsive to the occurrence of each of said dense regions in the vicinity of said cutter, means for measuring the phase relationship between the operation of said cutter and the occurrence of said distinctive portions and for producing and coupling to said output device an output signal directly proportional to the amount and direction of any deviation from the ends of the cigarettes cut by said cutter of the center of said dense regions.

Claim 19

Apparatus including an output device for monitoring the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco moving relative to said cutter and having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod, said apparatus comprising: means for measuring the density of said tobacco rod to produce a density signal having a waveform including a distinctive portion responsive to the occurrence of each of said dense regions in the vicinity of said cutter, means for measuring the phase relationship between the operation of said cutter and the occurrence of said distinctive portions and for producing and coupling to said output device an output signal directly proportional to the amount and direction of any deviation from the ends of the cigarettes cut by said cutter of the center of said dense regions.

Claim 20

Apparatus including an output device for monitoring the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco moving relative to said cutter and having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod, said apparatus comprising: means for generating a first signal whenever one of said dense regions occurs at said cutter, means for generating a second signal whenever said cutter cuts a cigarette from said rod, and means for comparing the phase of said first signal relative to said second signal for producing and coupling to said output device an output signal directly proportional to the amount and direction of any deviation from the ends of the cigarettes cut by said cutter of the center of said denser regions.

Claim 21

Apparatus including an output device for monitoring the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco moving relative to said cutter and having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod, said apparatus comprising: means for generating a first signal whenever one of said dense regions occurs at said cutter, means for generating a second signal whenever said cutter cuts a cigarette from said rod, and means for comparing the phase of said first signal relative to said second signal for producing and coupling to said output device an output signal directly proportional to the amount and direction of any deviation from the ends of the cigarettes cut by said cutter of the center of said denser regions.

Claim 22

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco moving relative to said cutter and having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod, said apparatus comprising: means for generating a first signal responsive to the passage of each of said dense regions in said moving rod, means for generating a second signal each time said cutter cuts a cigarette from said rod, means for comparing the phase of said first signal relative to said second signal for providing an output signal directly proportional to the amount and direction of any deviation of said cutter and said dense regions occurring thereat, and control means responsive to said output signal for controlling the movement of said cutter relative to said tobacco rod.

Claim 23

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco moving relative to said cutter and having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod, said apparatus comprising: means for generating a first signal responsive to the passage of each of said dense regions in said moving rod, means for generating a second signal each time said cutter cuts a cigarette from said rod, means for comparing the phase of said first signal relative to said second signal for providing an output signal directly proportional to the amount and direction of any deviation of said cutter and said dense regions occurring thereat, and control means responsive to said output signal for controlling the movement of said cutter relative to said tobacco rod.

Claim 24

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco moving along a path which includes the location of said cutter, said rod having locally dense regions spaced therealong, said apparatus comprising: means responsive to the density of said rod as it passes a point along said path for generating a first signal having a waveform including periodic pulses indicative of the passage of said dense regions of said moving rod, means synchronized with said cutter for producing a second signal corresponding to one portion of said first signal, and having a waveform that is inverted with respect to the waveform of said first signal, means responsive to said second signal and to another portion of said first signal to provide an output signal directly proportional to any deviation from the center of said dense regions of the ends of said cut cigarettes, and control means responsive to said output signal for controlling the movement of said cutter relative to said tobacco rod.

Claim 25

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco moving along a path which includes the location of said cutter, said rod having locally dense regions spaced therealong, said apparatus comprising: means responsive to the density of said rod as it passes a point along said path for generating a first signal having a waveform including periodic pulses indicative of the passage of said dense regions of said moving rod, means synchronized with said cutter for producing a second signal corresponding to one portion of said first signal, and having a waveform that is inverted with respect to the waveform of said first signal, means responsive to said second signal and to another portion of said first signal to provide an output signal directly proportional to any deviation from the center of said dense regions of the ends of said cut cigarettes, and control means responsive to said output signal for controlling the movement of said cutter relative to said tobacco rod.

Claim 26

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod and moving along a path which includes the location of said cutter, said apparatus comprising: means responsive to the density of said rod as it passes a point along said path to provide a first signal having a waveform including periodic pulses indicative of the passage of said dense regions of said moving rod, means synchronized with said cutter for periodically producing a second signal corresponding to one portion of said first signal and having a waveform that is inverted with respect to the waveform of said first signal for a predetermined period of time, means for combining said second signal with the remaining portions of said first signal, means for averaging said combined signal portions to provide an output signal directly proportional to any deviation from the center of said dense regions of the ends of said cut cigarettes, and control means responsive to said output signal for controlling the movement of said cutter relative to said tobacco rod.

Claim 27

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a cigarette-making machine having a cutter providing a plurality of cigarettes cut from a continuous rod of tobacco having locally dense regions spaced along said tobacco rod and moving along a path which includes the location of said cutter, said apparatus comprising: means responsive to the density of said rod as it passes a point along said path to provide a first signal having a waveform including periodic pulses indicative of the passage of said dense regions of said moving rod, means synchronized with said cutter for periodically producing a second signal corresponding to one portion of said first signal and having a waveform that is inverted with respect to the waveform of said first signal for a predetermined period of time, means for combining said second signal with the remaining portions of said first signal, means for averaging said combined signal portions to provide an output signal directly proportional to any deviation from the center of said dense regions of the ends of said cut cigarettes, and control means responsive to said output signal for controlling the movement of said cutter relative to said tobacco rod.

Claim 28

Apparatus as in claim 9 in which said adjustable means comprises: means for indicating the average value of said current flowing through said load circuit, and means for adjusting said coupling between said cutter and said switch means to provide an average current flow that is substantially zero when said cutter is synchronized with said dense regions of said rod and directly proportional to any deviation from the center of said dense regions of the ends of said cut cigarettes.