Method and device for detection of rotated segments in a multi-segment rod transferred in a machine used in cigarette production industry

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10072925-B2
Application number	US-201414782631-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2014
Priority date	Apr 8, 2013
Publication date	Sep 11, 2018
Grant date	Sep 11, 2018

Abstract

A method and device for detection of rotated segments in a continuous multi-segment rod transferred in a machine used in tobacco industry. A signal of an error of the shape of said continuous multi-segment rod is generated, the rod including a plurality of segments arranged one after another in a common wrapping, in which the rod that is transferred in a direction along its axis is simultaneously scanned by optical sensors, the directions of scanning of the optical sensors being oriented at an angle other than 90° to each other. The rod diameter is measured by repeated scans such that the shortest segment of the rod is scanned at least once, the results of the scans being compared with a predetermined reference value, and each difference between the results of the scans and the predetermined value is converted into the signal of the error of shape.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of detection of rotated segments having a length close in size to a diameter of the rotated segments in a continuous multi-segment rod transferred in a machine used in tobacco industry, the method including generating a signal of an error of a shape of said continuous multi-segment rod, the rod comprising a plurality of segments arranged one after another in a common wrapping, in which the rod is transferred in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the rod and is simultaneously scanned by at least two optical linear sensors in a scanning plane, the scanning plane being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod, the at least two optical sensors having directions of scanning that are oriented at an angle between 40° and 60° with respect to each other, wherein the diameter of the rod is measured by repeated scans at a frequency such that a shortest segment of the rod is scanned at least once, results of the scans being compared with a predetermined reference value, and each difference between any of the results of the scans and the predetermined value is converted into the signal of the error of shape.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the rod is scanned by the at least two optical sensors, the directions of scanning of the at least two optical sensors being oriented at an angle of 45°.

3. A device for detection of rotated segments having a length close in size to a diameter of the rotated segments in a continuous multi-segment rod transferred in a machine used in tobacco industry, by generating a signal of an error of the shape of said rod, the rod comprising a plurality of segments arranged one after another in a common wrapping, the device comprising a conveyor to move the rod in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rod, at least two optical linear sensors for scanning the rod in a scanning plane, the scanning plane being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod, the at least two optical sensors having directions of scanning that are oriented at an angle between 40° and 60° with respect to each other, wherein the at least two optical sensors are configured to measure the diameter of the rod by repeated scans, a time gap between successive scans being adjustable, so that each segment is scanned at least once, the device further comprising a controller to compare results of the successive scans with a predetermined reference value and to convert each difference between any of the results of the scans and the predetermined value into the signal of the error of shape.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the at least two optical sensors comprise two optical sensors, the directions of scanning of the two optical sensors being oriented at an angle of 45°.

5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein each of the at least two optical sensors comprises a source of radiation operating in the visible spectrum, and a photosensitive element, the source of radiation and the photosensitive element being located on mutually opposite sides of the rod.

6. The machine according to claim 5 , wherein the sources of radiation of the at least two optical sensors operate in the visible spectrum.

7. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the planes of scanning of the at least two sensors are substantially coplanar.

8. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the at least two sensors scan areas of the rods that are substantially the same as one another.

9. A machine for producing multi-segment rods from a continuous multi-segment rod transferred therein, the machine comprising a device for detection of rotated segments contained in the continuous multi-segment rod, the segments having a length close in size to a diameter of the rotated segments, the device being configured to generate a signal of an error of a shape of said rod, the rod comprising a plurality of segments arranged one after another in a common wrapping, and the device comprising a conveyor to move the rod in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rod, at least two optical linear sensors for scanning the rod in a scanning plane, the scanning plane being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod, the at least two optical sensors having directions of scanning that are oriented at an angle between 40°, and 60°, with respect to each other, wherein the at least two optical sensors are configured to measure the diameter of the rod by repeated scans, a time gap between the successive scans being adjustable, so that each segment is scanned at least once, the device further comprising a controller to compare results of the successive scans with a predetermined reference value and to convert each difference between any of the results of the scans and the predetermined value into the signal of the error of shape.

10. The machine according to claim 9 , wherein the at least two sensors comprises two optical sensors, wherein the directions of scanning of the optical sensors are oriented at an angle of 45°.

11. The machine according to claim 9 , wherein each of the at least two optical sensors comprises a source of radiation, and a photosensitive element, the source of radiation and the photosensitive element being located on mutually opposite sides of the rod.

12. The machine according to claim 11 , wherein the sources of radiation of the at least two optical sensors operate in the visible spectrum.

13. The machine according to claim 9 , in wherein the planes of scanning of the at least two optical sensors are substantially coplanar.

Assignees

• Int Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp Zoo
• Int Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp Zoo

Inventors

• Hoffmann Hans-Reiner

Classifications

• G01B11/105

  using photoelectric detection means · CPC title

• A24C5/3412 Primary

  by means of light, radiation or electrostatic fields (A24C5/3406 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A24D3/0229

  Filter rod forming processes (A24D3/0275 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01B11/2433

  for measuring outlines by shadow casting · CPC title

• G01B11/245

  using a plurality of fixed, simultaneously operating transducers ({G01B11/2408 - G01B11/2425, } G01B11/255 take precedence) · CPC title