US4287754A — Apparatus for and method of multiple testing of w…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 188 words

A method of testing the wrappers of cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles which constitute or form part of smoker's products, comprising the steps of measuring, with a first degree of accuracy, the permeability of a first portion of the wrapper of each of a series of successive articles; measuring, with a higher second degree of accuracy, the permeability of a second portion of the wrapper of each of said series of articles, said second portion of the wrapper having air admitting holes therein, said first mentioned measuring step including establishing a first pressure differential between the interior and exterior of successive first wrapper portions and said last mentioned measuring step including establishing a different second pressure differential between the interior and exterior of successive second wrapper portions; generating a succession of first signals having characteristics denoting the measured permeabilities of first and second portions of wrappers of successive articles; comparing each of said first signals with a first reference signal denoting the maximum permissible permeability of said wrappers; and comparing each of said first signals with a second reference signal denoting the minimum acceptable permeability of said wrappers.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 188 words

A method of testing the wrappers of cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles which constitute or form part of smoker's products, comprising the steps of measuring, with a first degree of accuracy, the permeability of a first portion of the wrapper of each of a series of successive articles; measuring, with a higher second degree of accuracy, the permeability of a second portion of the wrapper of each of said series of articles, said second portion of the wrapper having air admitting holes therein, said first mentioned measuring step including establishing a first pressure differential between the interior and exterior of successive first wrapper portions and said last mentioned measuring step including establishing a different second pressure differential between the interior and exterior of successive second wrapper portions; generating a succession of first signals having characteristics denoting the measured permeabilities of first and second portions of wrappers of successive articles; comparing each of said first signals with a first reference signal denoting the maximum permissible permeability of said wrappers; and comparing each of said first signals with a second reference signal denoting the minimum acceptable permeability of said wrappers.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said second pressure differential is more pronounced than said first pressure differential.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said first signals are pneumatic signals.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 14 words

A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said first signals are electric signals.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of segregating from said series those articles wherein the permeability of wrappers exceeds said maximum permissible permeability.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 77 words

A method as defined in claim 5, further comprising the step of moving the rod-shaped articles of said series in a direction transverse to the axes of the articles along a predetermined path in the course of said measuring steps, said segregating step including generating an additional signal whenever the intensity of a first signal exceeds the intensity of said first reference signal, and utilizing said additional signals for ejection of the respective articles from said path.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of segregating from said series those articles wherein the permeability of wrappers is below said minimum acceptable permeability.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 79 words

A method as defined in claim 7, further comprising the step of moving the rod-shaped articles of said series in a direction transverse to the axes of the articles along a predetermined path in the course of said measuring steps, said segregating step including generating an additional signal whenever the intensity of a first signal is less than the intensity of said second reference signal, and utilizing said additional signals for ejection of the respective articles from said path.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 152 words

Apparatus for testing the wrappers of rod-shaped articles which constitute or form part of smokers' products, comprising means for moving a series of articles along a predetermined path; first and second testing devices adjacent to said path and respectively including means for establishing different first and second pressure differentials between bodies of testing fluid in the interior and at the exterior of first and second portions of wrappers of succesive articles of said series, said second portions of wrappers having air admitting holes therein and said second pressure differential being more pronounced than said first pressure differential; means for generating first signals denoting the rate of fluid flow through the first and second portions of successive wrappers, such rate being indicative of permeability of the respective wrappers; and means for comparing said first signals with first and second reference signals which respectively denote the maximum permissible and minimum acceptable permeability of wrappers.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 152 words

Apparatus for testing the wrappers of rod-shaped articles which constitute or form part of smokers' products, comprising means for moving a series of articles along a predetermined path; first and second testing devices adjacent to said path and respectively including means for establishing different first and second pressure differentials between bodies of testing fluid in the interior and at the exterior of first and second portions of wrappers of succesive articles of said series, said second portions of wrappers having air admitting holes therein and said second pressure differential being more pronounced than said first pressure differential; means for generating first signals denoting the rate of fluid flow through the first and second portions of successive wrappers, such rate being indicative of permeability of the respective wrappers; and means for comparing said first signals with first and second reference signals which respectively denote the maximum permissible and minimum acceptable permeability of wrappers.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 70 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said moving means comprises an endless conveyor having chambers for discrete articles, each of said chambers including a first compartment for the first portion and a second compartment for the second portion of the respective wrapper, and further comprising suction generating means, said first and second testing devices respectively comprising means for connecting said suction generating means with said first and second compartments.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 32 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein at least one of said testing devices further comprises means for maintaining the pressure in said first compartments above the pressure in said second compartments.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 15 words

Appartus as defined in claim 9, wherein said signal generating means includes an electropneumatic transducer.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 37 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said comparing means comprises two threshold circuits having first inputs connected with the output of said transducer and second inputs respectively arranged to receive said first and second reference signals.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising means for segregating from said series those articles wherein the permeability of wrappers exceeds said maximum permissible permeability.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 48 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said comparing means comprises means for generating additional signals denoting articles wherein the permeability of wrappers exceeds said maximum permissible permeability, said segregating means comprising means for expelling the last mentioned articles from said path in response to said additional signals.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said first and second testing devices are adjacent to one and the same portion of said path.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 34 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said testing devices comprise means for admitting compressed testing fluid into the interior of said wrappers and means for withdrawing air from the areas surrounding said wrappers.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said testing devices include means for reducing the pressure around the wrappers to less than atmospheric pressure.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising means for segregating from said series those articles wherein the permeability of wrappers is below said minimum acceptable permeability.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 49 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said comparing means comprises means for generating additional signals denoting articles wherein the permeability of wrappers is below said minimum acceptable permeability, said segregating means comprising means for expelling the last mentioned articles from said path in response to said additional signals.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 40 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said moving means comprises means for conveying several rows of articles sideways and inserting the articles of one of said rows between the articles of another of said rows to form said series.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 21, further comprising means for inverting the articles of said one row prior to insertion between the articles of said other row.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1984-09-07	1985-03-09	1985-09-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1988-09-07	1989-03-09	1989-09-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1992-09-07	1993-03-09	1993-09-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for and method of multiple testing of wrappers of cigarettes or the like

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