US4403620A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for monitoring the functioning of testing devices in machines for the production and/or processing of smokers' products
Assignee: Körber AG
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Filing: 1981-07-08
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Granted: 1983-09-13
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Expires: 2001-07-08
Abstract
Abstract Filter cigarettes which are produced in a filter tipping machine are conveyed past several successive testing devices, each of which monitors different characteristics of the cigarettes, thereupon past a cigarette removing device, past a segregating device and on to a conveyor for transport of satisfactory cigarettes to a packing machine or into storage. When any one of the testing devices detects a defective or presumably defective cigarette, it generates a defect signal which is transported to the segregating device for expulsion of the respective cigarette from the path which leads to the conveyor. If the operator wishes, the defective or presumably defective cigarettes which are detected by a selected testing device can be conveyed only to and expelled by the removing device in response to the corresponding defect signals so that the removed cigarettes can be examined for the purpose of ascertaining the quality of testing operation which is carried out by the selected testing device. Alternatively, the removing device can be caused to expel a given number of satisfactory cigarettes for examination independently of the testing devices or for other purposes, or at least one pair of successive cigarettes for determination of the quality of imprints on cigarette paper.
Inventors
- 👤 Horst D. Joseph
- 👤 Friedo Koch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:45
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24C; A24C5/00; A24C5/32; A24C5/34; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S131/00; Y10S131/907; Y10S131/908
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of manipulating rod-shaped articles which constitute or form part of smokers' products, comprising the steps of conveying the articles in a predetermined direction and along a predetermined path having a plurality of first sections as well as a second and a third section both located downstream of said first sections; subjecting successive articles to a test in each of said first sections, including respectively generating at each of said first sections signals of first and second types when the articles being tested are respectively defective and satisfactory; normally transporting signals of said first type from each of said first sections to said second section and utilizing such signals of the first type for segregation of the respective articles from said path at said second section; optionally transporting signals of at least one of said first and second types from a selected first section to said third section; and utilizing signals of said one type for removal of the respective articles from said path at said third section.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of manipulating rod-shaped articles which constitute or form part of smokers' products, comprising the steps of conveying the articles in a predetermined direction and along a predetermined path having a plurality of first sections as well as a second and a third section both located downstream of said first sections; subjecting successive articles to a test in each of said first sections, including respectively generating at each of said first sections signals of first and second types when the articles being tested are respectively defective and satisfactory; normally transporting signals of said first type from each of said first sections to said second section and utilizing such signals of the first type for segregation of the respective articles from said path at said second section; optionally transporting signals of at least one of said first and second types from a selected first section to said third section; and utilizing signals of said one type for removal of the respective articles from said path at said third section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein one of said second and third sections is located downstream of the other of said second and third sections, as considered in said direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the signals of said one type are the signals of said first type.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the signals of said one type are the signals of said second type only.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of optionally removing pairs of successive articles from said path at said third section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of terminating the removal of articles at said third section after elapse of a predetermined interval of time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of counting the number of articles which are removed at said third section and terminating such removal when the number of removed articles matches a predetermined number.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein each article has at least one tubular wrapper and one of said tests includes monitoring the wrappers of successive articles of the presence or absence of leaks.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1, wherein each article has at least one tubular wrapper and at least a portion of the wrapper normally exhibits a predetermined permeability, one of said tests including monitoring the permeability of said portions of wrappers of successive articles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein each article has a tobacco-containing end portion and one of said tests includes monitoring the density of such end portions of successive articles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein each article normally consists of at least two components and one of said tests includes monitoring successive articles for the presence or absence of all components.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the distance between any two of said sections of said path is a whole multiple of a unit distance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said conveying step includes moving the articles sideways and further comprising the step of interrupting said step of optionally transporting signals of said one type at the will of the operator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
207 words
In a machine for the production and/or processing of rod-shaped articles which constitute or form part of smokers' products, means for conveying articles seriatim in a predetermined direction and along a predetermined path having a series of sections; at least two article testing devices adjacent to discrete first sections of said path and arranged to generate signals of first and second types when the articles which are tested thereby are respectively defective and satisfactory; signal responsive means for segregation articles from a second section of said path downstream of said first sections; signal responsive means for removing articles from a third section of said path downstream of said first sections; selector means including first signal transporting means for normally transporting signals of said first type from each of said testing devices to said segregating means in sychronism with conveying of the respective articles to effect segregation of such articles from said path, and second signal transporting means activatable to transport signals of at least one of said first and second types from a selected testing device to said removing means in synchronism with the conveying of the respective articles to effect removal of such articles from said path; and means for activating said second signal transporting means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
207 words
In a machine for the production and/or processing of rod-shaped articles which constitute or form part of smokers' products, means for conveying articles seriatim in a predetermined direction and along a predetermined path having a series of sections; at least two article testing devices adjacent to discrete first sections of said path and arranged to generate signals of first and second types when the articles which are tested thereby are respectively defective and satisfactory; signal responsive means for segregation articles from a second section of said path downstream of said first sections; signal responsive means for removing articles from a third section of said path downstream of said first sections; selector means including first signal transporting means for normally transporting signals of said first type from each of said testing devices to said segregating means in sychronism with conveying of the respective articles to effect segregation of such articles from said path, and second signal transporting means activatable to transport signals of at least one of said first and second types from a selected testing device to said removing means in synchronism with the conveying of the respective articles to effect removal of such articles from said path; and means for activating said second signal transporting means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure of claim 14, further comprising means for choosing that testing device from which said second transporting means transports signals of said one type to said removing means on activation of such second transporting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure of claim 15, wherein said first and second signal transporting means respectively comprise first and second time-delay means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The structure of claim 16, further comprising means for effecting explusion of pairs of successive articles from said path through the medium of said removing means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The structure of claim 17, wherein said means for effecting expulsion comprises a coupling circuit having means for effecting transmission of pairs of successive signals to said removing means, and starter means for energizing said coupling circuit at the will of the operator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure of claim 16, further comprising means for counting the number of removed articles and for terminating such removal when the number of removed articles matches a predetermined number.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The structure of claim 19, wherein signals of said one type are signals of said second type so that the articles which are removed at said third path section are satisfactory articles.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
The structure of claim 16, wherein said first and second time-delay means comprise a common first delay unit and discrete second delay units arranged to receive signals from said first unit and to respectively transmit signals to said segregating and said removing means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
The structure of claim 21, wherein said first unit comprises a discrete signal-delaying portion for each of said testing devices, said testing devices having signal transmitting outputs and said signal-delaying portions having inputs connected with the outputs of the respective testing devices.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The structure of claim 22, wherein said second units have inputs and said signal-delaying portions have outputs, said selector means further comprising means for connecting the outputs of said signal-delaying portions with the inputs of said second units.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure of claim 16, wherein each of said time-delay means comprises at least one shift register.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
89 words
The structure of claim 16, wherein said selector means further comprises a memory activatable by said activating means to transmit an output signal denoting the selected testing device, comparator means connected with said testing devices and with the output of said memory and arranged to transmit to said second time-delay means signals of the first type generated by the selected testing device, and means for blocking the transmission of signals of said first type from the selected testing device to said first time-delay means while said memory is actuated.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
50 words
The structure of claim 25, wherein said selector means further comprises a counter arranged to count the number of articles which are removed at said third path section and to terminate the removal of articles at said third path section when the number of removed articles matches a predetermined number.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
The structure of claim 25, wherein said selector means further comprises means for terminating the actuation of said memory after elapse of a predetermined interval of time to thereby terminate the removal of articles at said third path section.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
63 words
The structure of claim 25, wherein said first time-delay means has two successive stages and further comprising means for effecting removal of pairs of successive articles at said third path section, including a coupling circuit having a second memory actuatable to transmit an output signal and means for transmitting signals from said stages to said removing means in response to said output signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
64 words
The structure of claim 28, further comprising second selector means activatable to effect removal of satisfactory articles from said third path section and comprising a third memory actuatable to transmit an output signal and a counter actuatable by the output signal of said third memory to count the number of signals of the second type and to transmit such signals to said removing means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
The structure of claim 29, further comprising means for adjusting said counter so as to deactivate said third memory on detection of a predetermined number of signals of said second type.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure of claim 29, further comprising means for preventing actuation of other two of said memories on actuation of any one of said memories.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
63 words
The structure of claim 14, further comprising an additional testing device adjacent to an additional section of said path upstream of said second and third sections and arranged to generate additional signals on detection of incomplete articles, said selector means including means for preventing removal at said third path section of those articles whose examination resulted in the generation of said additional signals.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure of claim 14, further comprising means for intercepting the articles which are removed at said third path section.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
12 words
The structure of claim 14, wherein said conveying means includes rotary conveyors.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
14 words
The structure of claim 14, wherein the number of said testing devices exceeds two.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure of claim 14, wherein said machine is a filter tipping machine and the articles are filter cigarettes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-09-12 | 1987-03-14 | 1987-09-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-09-12 | 1991-03-14 | 1991-09-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-09-12 | 1995-03-14 | 1995-09-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |