US3672373A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and means for regulating the operation of apparatus for the production and processing of cigarettes or the like
Assignee: Körber AG
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Filing: 1970-01-05
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Granted: 1972-06-27
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Expires: 1990-01-05
Abstract
Abstract The operation of a production line including a cigarette making machine and a filter cigarette machine is regulated by a shift register which transports signals serving to initiate the starting and stoppage of various assemblies in the production line in a predetermined sequence. The shift register also serves to transport further signals produced by detectors which track filter cigarettes and their components. Such further signals are transmitted to an ejecting device which segregates those cigarettes which exhibit one or more defects or which are likely to exhibit defects because they are produced during certain stages of operation of the production line. The detectors scan the splices in a web of cigarette paper, the seam on the wrapper of a cigarette rod, plain cigarettes, filter rods, filter plugs and filter cigarettes.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernst Dogl
- 👤 Albrecht Funck
- 👤 Dieter Wellach
- 👤 Hans-Georg Winkler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:56
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24C; A24C5/00; A24C5/32; A24C5/34; A24C5/14; A24C5/31; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S131/00; Y10S131/906; Y10S131/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of regulating the operation of apparatus which includes assemblies for the production and/or processing of cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles and wherein the articles and their components travel continuously along a predetermined path, comprising the steps of tracking the articles and their components along said path; generating first signals in response to detection of defective articles and/or components; producing a succession of shift pulses and utilizing said pulses for transport of said first signals, at the speed of travel of articles, to a first station; generating second signals for changing the speed of said assemblies; and utilizing said pulses for transport of said second signals to at least one second station.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of regulating the operation of apparatus which includes assemblies for the production and/or processing of cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles and wherein the articles and their components travel continuously along a predetermined path, comprising the steps of tracking the articles and their components along said path; generating first signals in response to detection of defective articles and/or components; producing a succession of shift pulses and utilizing said pulses for transport of said first signals, at the speed of travel of articles, to a first station; generating second signals for changing the speed of said assemblies; and utilizing said pulses for transport of said second signals to at least one second station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of utilizing said first signals at said first station for segregation of respective articles and/or their components from said path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
126 words
In an apparatus for the production and/or processing of cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles travelling continuously along a predetermined path, a combination comprising a plurality of activatable assemblies; control means including detector means for tracking the continuously travelling articles and their components along said path and for generating first signals in response to detection of defective articles and/or components; speed changing means for said assemblies; shift register means operatively connected with said control means and said speed changing means and operative to transport said first signals at the speed of travel of articles along said path to a predetermined station and to transport additional signals at said speed to and/or from said speed changing means; and receiving means for receiving said first signals at said station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
126 words
In an apparatus for the production and/or processing of cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles travelling continuously along a predetermined path, a combination comprising a plurality of activatable assemblies; control means including detector means for tracking the continuously travelling articles and their components along said path and for generating first signals in response to detection of defective articles and/or components; speed changing means for said assemblies; shift register means operatively connected with said control means and said speed changing means and operative to transport said first signals at the speed of travel of articles along said path to a predetermined station and to transport additional signals at said speed to and/or from said speed changing means; and receiving means for receiving said first signals at said station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said speed changing means includes starting means and stopping means for said assemblies and said register means includes input means connected with said stopping means and output means connected with said starting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said speed changing means comprises starting means for at least one of said assemblies and said starting means comprises a plurality of controller circuits, and said register means including a plurality of outputs each connected with at least one of said circuits, each of said controller circuits comprising means for activating one of said assemblies in response to transport of an additional signal to the respective output.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said speed changing means comprises stopping means for at least one of said assemblies and said stopping means comprises means for arresting the apparatus in response to reception of additional signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said speed changing means comprises stopping means for at least one of said assemblies and said stopping means includes at least one controller circuit, said register means comprising output means connected with said circuit so that said circuit effects the inactivation of said assemblies in a predetermined sequence in response to transport of an additional signal to said output means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said receiving means includes means for ejecting from said path those articles and/or components thereof whose tracking resulted in the generation of said first signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said control means includes at least one testing unit for said articles and said register means includes input means therefor connected with said unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said apparatus includes means for transporting a web including a plurality of sections connected by splices and said testing unit is arranged to detect the presence of such splices.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said apparatus includes means for producing adhesive-coated uniting bands and said testing unit includes means for detecting the absence of adhesive on such bands.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said apparatus includes means for feeding filter rods and/or sections thereof and said testing unit includes means for detecting the absence of such filter rods and/or sections thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said apparatus includes means for applying uniting bands to groups of rod-shaped components and said testing unit includes means for detecting the absence of such bands.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said testing unit includes means for detecting the presence of leaks in wrappers of said articles.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said outputs are disposed in such a way that the additional signals effect activation of said assemblies in a predetermined sequence.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said apparatus includes a machine having means for producing a wrapped tobacco rod and a cutoff for severing said rod, one of said assemblies including means for cleaning said cutoff.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said apparatus includes a machine having means for producing a wrapped tobacco rod and including paster means, said paster means constituting one of said assemblies.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said apparatus includes a machine having means for producing a wrapped tobacco rod and including heater means, said heater means constituting one of said assemblies.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said apparatus includes a machine for producing a wrapped tobacco rod and mutilating means for said rod, said mutilating means constituting one of said assemblies.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said apparatus includes ejecting means for segregating from said path articles produced during starting of said assemblies, said ejecting means constituting one of said assemblies.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said apparatus includes drive means operable at a plurality of speeds and constituting one of said assemblies.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said apparatus comprises at least one feeding device for components of said articles and constituting one of said assemblies.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said apparatus comprises a machine for convoluting a wrapper around a tobacco filler rod and said stopping means is arranged to stop said assemblies in response to defective formation of said wrapper.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said circuit is arranged to effect stoppage of said assemblies in response to irregularities in the feed of at least one type of component into said path.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said apparatus includes means for producing a wrapped filler rod and said circuit is arranged to effect stoppage of said assemblies in response to irregularities in the formation of said rod.
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) | 1975-06-27 | 1975-12-27 | 1976-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-27 | 1979-12-27 | 1980-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-27 | 1983-12-27 | 1984-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |