Cigarette testing apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for testing the tobacco ends of cigarettes, each formed by a tubular wrapper surrounding a filler of tobacco, comprising means for compressing the cigarette ends transversely to the axes of the cigarettes by means of compressed air acting on the curved side surface of each cigarette formed by an end portion of the cigarette wrapper, and means for detecting when the side surface of the cigarette is deflected by the air by a predetermined amount which indicates that the cigarette end is inadequately filled.

Claim 3

Apparatus for testing the tobacco ends of cigarettes, each formed by a tubular wrapper surrounding a filler of tobacco, comprising means for compressing the cigarette ends transversely to the axes of the cigarettes by means of compressed air acting on the curved side surface of each cigarette formed by an end portion of the cigarette wrapper, and means for detecting when the side surface of the cigarette is deflected by the air by a predetermined amount which indicates that the cigarette end is inadequately filled.

Claim 4

Apparatus for testing the tobacco ends of cigarettes, each formed by a tubular wrapper surrounding a filler of tobacco, comprising means for compressing the cigarette ends transversely to the axes of the cigarettes by means of compressed air acting on the curved side surface of each cigarette formed by an end portion of the cigarette wrapper, and means for detecting when the side surface of the cigarette is deflected by the air by a predetermined amount which indicates that the cigarette end is inadequately filled.

Claim 5

Apparatus for testing the tobacco ends of cigarettes, comprising an air outlet to produce a jet which is directed transversely to the axis of the cigarette towards the side surface of each cigarette end to compress it, and a detecting means comprising a source of light from which a light beam is transmitted along a path such that the beam is interrupted by the side of the cigarette end against which the air jet impinges, except when the cigarette end is sufficiently soft to be compressed by a predetermined amount by the air jet indicating that the cigarette end is inadequately filled.

Claim 6

Apparatus for testing the tobacco ends of cigarettes, comprising an air outlet to produce a jet which is directed transversely to the axis of the cigarette towards the side surface of each cigarette end to compress it, and a detecting means comprising a source of light from which a light beam is transmitted along a path such that the beam is interrupted by the side of the cigarette end against which the air jet impinges, except when the cigarette end is sufficiently soft to be compressed by a predetermined amount by the air jet indicating that the cigarette end is inadequately filled.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 2 comprising a conveyor for carrying cigarettes sideways one at a time past a test station, and a rotary member which moves at the same peripheral speed as the conveyor and is formed with a number of circumferentially-spaced radial air outlets each of which is arranged to deliver a jet of air towards a cigarette at the testing station, and which includes a number of circumferentially-spaced light reflectIng devices by which a light beam emitted by a stationary source of light is reflected past the cigarette end at the testing station and then towards a stationary light receiving device.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the light reflecting devices consist of bodies of transparent material having light reflecting surfaces to reflect the light beam along the required path.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 4 in which each body has one surface angled to reflect an axial beam radially, and two surfaces to reflect radial beams circumferentially, and in which the light beams emitted by the light source and received by the light receiver are axial in relation to the rotary member carrying the light-reflecting bodies.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the light reflecting bodies lie between the air outlets and in which the light beam which detects the condition of each cigarette at the testing station passes through two light reflecting bodies lying on opposite sides of the cigarette at the testing station.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the conveyor which carries the cigarettes past the testing station is a fluted drum.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 7 including means for ejecting each cigarette which allows a light beam of a predetermined strength to reach the light receiving device.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 8 including a device for testing the wrappers of the cigarettes for leaks, and in which a common ejection device is energized whenever a cigarette is found faulty either by the wrapper testing device or by the ends testing device.

Claim 16

Apparatus for testing the tobacco ends of cigarettes formed by a tubular wrapper surrounding a filler of tobacco, comprising conveyor means for carrying the cigarettes sideways successively through a testing station, a nozzle mounted at the testing station for directing a jet of air on to the curved side surface formed by an end portion of the wrapper of the cigarette at the testing station, and means responsive to the amount by which the end portion of the cigarette wrapper is deflected by the air jet to indicate any occurrence of an inadequately filled cigarette end.

Claim 17

Apparatus for testing the tobacco ends of cigarettes formed by a tubular wrapper surrounding a filler of tobacco, comprising conveyor means for carrying the cigarettes sideways successively through a testing station, a nozzle mounted at the testing station for directing a jet of air on to the curved side surface formed by an end portion of the wrapper of the cigarette at the testing station, and means responsive to the amount by which the end portion of the cigarette wrapper is deflected by the air jet to indicate any occurrence of an inadequately filled cigarette end.

Claim 18

Apparatus for detecting cigarettes having inadequately filled ends, said cigarettes being formed by a tubular wrapper surrounding a filler of tobacco, said apparatus comprising a. pneumatic means for applying a predetermined amount of compressive force to the portion of the surface of each of said cigarettes formed by an end portion of the cigarette wrapper, said compressive force being applied to each cigarette end in a direction transversely to the axis of the cigarette, and b. means for sensing any of said portions of the surface of said cigarettes which are compressed by at least a predetermined amount indicating an inadequately filled end.

Claim 19

Apparatus for detecting cigarettes having inadequately filled ends, said cigarettes being formed by a tubular wrapper surrounding a filler of tobacco, said apparatus comprising a. pneumatic means for applying a predetermined amount of compressive force to the portion of the surface of each of said cigarettes formed by an end portion of the cigarette wrapper, said compressive force being applied to each cigarette end in a direction transversely to the axis of the cigarette, and b. means for sensing any of said portions of the surface of said cigarettes which are compressed by at least a predetermined amount indicating an inadequately filled end.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said sensing means comprises photoelectric means.