Method and apparatus for detecting soft sections of tobacco fillers

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein said step of generating third signals includes generating a third signal when the difference between said first and second signals is less than a predetermined threshold value.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of subdividing the wrapped filler into rod-shaped articles of preselected length, conveying the articles along a second path, and utilizing said third signals for segregation from said second path of those selected articles whose fillers have caused the generation of corresponding first signals.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3, wherein said density monitoring step comprises monitoring the density of successive increments of the wrapped filler.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3, wherein said utilizing step comprises expelling said selected articles from a predetermined portion of said second path and further comprising the step of delaying the application of said third signals for segregation of the corresponding selected articles until such articles reach said predetermined portion of said second path.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1, wherein said step of monitoring the height of successive increments of the stream comprises ascertaining such height by a monitoring device which is out of contact with the stream.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6, wherein said ascertaining step comprises generating said first signals in the form of electric signals whose characteristics vary as a function of variations of the height of the stream.

Claim 9

The method of claim 7, wherein said ascertaining step further comprises moving the stream past the monitoring device so that the stream and the monitoring device overlap each other, the characteristics of said electric signals being a function of the extent of overlap between the monitoring device and the stream.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1, wherein said height monitoring step comprises opto-electronically scanning the distance between the first and second sides of the stream.

Claim 11

The method of claim 9, wherein said scanning step includes directing infrared radiation against successive increments of the stream.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1, wherein said height monitoring step comprises ascertaining the distance between said sides of the stream with sound waves.

Claim 13

The method of claim 11, wherein said sound waves are non-audible waves.

Claim 14

The method of claim 12, wherein said sound waves are ultrasound waves.

Claim 15

The method of claim 1, wherein said step of monitoring the height of successive increments of the stream includes capacitively measuring the distance between said sides of the stream.

Claim 16

The method of claim 14, wherein said measuring step includes resort to a high-frequency electric alternating field.

Claim 17

The method of claim 1, wherein said height monitoring step includes measuring the distance between said sides of the stream ahead of said first portion of said path, as considered in said direction.

Claim 18

The method of claim 1, wherein said height monitoring step includes measuring the distance between said sides of the stream downstream of said first portion of said path, as considered in said direction.

Claim 19

In a machine for making a continuous rod-like filler of fibrous material, especially a filler consisting of or containing shredded and/or otherwise comminuted tobacco, conveyor means including a portion disposed in a first plane and defining an elongated path; means for supplying fibrous material into said path so that such material forms an elongated stream of varying height which moves lengthwise in a predetermined direction and at least the major portion of which normally contains a surplus of fibrous material, said stream having a first side adjacent to said conveyor means and a second side disposed opposite said first side and the distance between said first and second sides varying as a function of variations of the height of the stream; trimming means for removing the surplus of fibrous material at said second side of the stream and for thus converting the stream into a filler, including a material removing device disposed in a second plane spaced apart from said first plane; means for converting the filler into a wrapped filler in a predetermined portion of said path; and apparatus for detecting those portions of the filler which contain less than a desired quantity of fibrous material, including means for monitoring the density of the filler downstream of said trimming means, means for varying the distance between said planes as a function of deviations of the density of the filler from a predetermined density, means for monitoring the height of successive increments of the stream on said conveyor means upstream of said portion of said path including first signal generating means for generating first signals denoting the height of the respective increments of the stream, means for monitoring the distance between said planes including second signal generating means for generating second signals denoting such distance, and third signal generating means for generating third signals denoting the differences between said first and second signals, said third signal generating means comprising means for comparing said first and second signals.

Claim 20

In a machine for making a continuous rod-like filler of fibrous material, especially a filler consisting of or containing shredded and/or otherwise comminuted tobacco, conveyor means including a portion disposed in a first plane and defining an elongated path; means for supplying fibrous material into said path so that such material forms an elongated stream of varying height which moves lengthwise in a predetermined direction and at least the major portion of which normally contains a surplus of fibrous material, said stream having a first side adjacent to said conveyor means and a second side disposed opposite said first side and the distance between said first and second sides varying as a function of variations of the height of the stream; trimming means for removing the surplus of fibrous material at said second side of the stream and for thus converting the stream into a filler, including a material removing device disposed in a second plane spaced apart from said first plane; means for converting the filler into a wrapped filler in a predetermined portion of said path; and apparatus for detecting those portions of the filler which contain less than a desired quantity of fibrous material, including means for monitoring the density of the filler downstream of said trimming means, means for varying the distance between said planes as a function of deviations of the density of the filler from a predetermined density, means for monitoring the height of successive increments of the stream on said conveyor means upstream of said portion of said path including first signal generating means for generating first signals denoting the height of the respective increments of the stream, means for monitoring the distance between said planes including second signal generating means for generating second signals denoting such distance, and third signal generating means for generating third signals denoting the differences between said first and second signals, said third signal generating means comprising means for comparing said first and second signals.

Claim 21

The structure of claim 18, wherein said comparing means further comprises means for comparing the difference between said first and second signals with a predetermined threshold value and generating a third signal when the difference between the first and second signals is less than said threshold value.

Claim 22

The structure of claim 19, wherein said filler converting means comprises means for condensing the filler and for draping the filler into a web of wrapping material, and further comprising means for subdividing the wrapped filler into a series of discrete rod-shaped articles, means for conveying the articles along a second path, means for segregating selected articles from said second path in response to said third signals, and means for delaying the transmission of third signals to said segregating means in simulation of transport into the range of said segregating means of those portions of the filler which have caused the generation of the corresponding third signals.

Claim 23

The structure of claim 18, wherein said height monitoring means comprises means for contactless measurement of the distance between the first and second sides of the stream.

Claim 24

The structure of claim 18, wherein said height monitoring means includes opto-electronic means for measuring the distance between the first and second sides of the stream.

Claim 25

The structure of claim 18, wherein said height monitoring means comprises a source of infrared light.

Claim 26

The structure of claim 18, wherein said height monitoring means includes a source of sound waves.

Claim 27

The structure of claim 24, wherein said source is arranged to emit non-audible sound waves.

Claim 28

The structure of claim 25, wherein said non-audible waves are ultrasound waves.

Claim 29

The structure of claim 18, wherein said height monitoring means includes means for capacitive measurement of the distance between the first and second sides of the stream.

Claim 30

The structure of claim 27, wherein said means for capacitive measurement includes a high-frequency oscillator circuit having a capacitor including electrodes flanking a portion of said path.

Claim 31

The structure of claim 18, wherein said height monitoring means is located ahead of said trimming means, as considered in said direction.

Claim 32

The structure of claim 18, wherein said height monitoring means is located downstream of said trimming means, as considered in said direction.

Claim 33

The structure of claim 18, wherein said density monitoring means comprises a source of corpuscular radiation.

Claim 34

The structure of claim 18, wherein said means for varying the distance between said planes includes means for effecting movements of said material removing device toward and away from said portion of said conveyor means.

Claim 35

The structure of claim 32, wherein said means for monitoring the distance between said planes is arranged to share the movements of said material removing device with reference to said portion of said conveyor means.