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WO1999067135A1 - Detection d'interruption sur voie d'alimentation - Google Patents

Detection d'interruption sur voie d'alimentation Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1999067135A1
WO1999067135A1 PCT/IB1999/001162 IB9901162W WO9967135A1 WO 1999067135 A1 WO1999067135 A1 WO 1999067135A1 IB 9901162 W IB9901162 W IB 9901162W WO 9967135 A1 WO9967135 A1 WO 9967135A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
channel
articles
optical
detector according
reflected
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/IB1999/001162
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO1999067135A8 (fr
Inventor
Klaus Peter Lamm
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TOBACCO RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE Ltd
Original Assignee
TOBACCO RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by TOBACCO RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE Ltd filed Critical TOBACCO RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE Ltd
Priority to AU41604/99A priority Critical patent/AU4160499A/en
Publication of WO1999067135A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999067135A1/fr
Publication of WO1999067135A8 publication Critical patent/WO1999067135A8/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/28—Control devices for cigarette or cigar packaging machines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
    • B65B19/04—Arranging, feeding, or orientating the cigarettes

Definitions

  • THIS invention relates to a channel starvation detector, and in particular to a channel starvation detector for detecting blockages and the like in the channel through which a series of articles is fed.
  • cigarettes are typically fed into a hopper, the lower end of which is provided with a series of converging vanes defining a corresponding series of channels for channeling the cigarettes into a configuration in which they are suitable for packing, such as a stacked 7-6-7 configuration.
  • a series of converging vanes defining a corresponding series of channels for channeling the cigarettes into a configuration in which they are suitable for packing, such as a stacked 7-6-7 configuration.
  • blockages arise in the channels. This is known in the industry as "channel starvation”.
  • Various different solutions have been proposed and implemented in order to overcome this problem.
  • One type of detector manufactured by Molins Tobacco Machinery Limited includes a number of L-shaped fingers which are pivoted in such a way that the ends of the fingers abut against the smoking ends of the cigarettes as they are gravity fed down the individual channels. A blockage in the channel upstream of a particular finger will cause the finger to swing inwardly into the space previously occupied by a cigarette end. This inward movement is detected by an optical beam.
  • One disadvantage of this arrangement is that it is only suitable for the detection of a void arising from an upstream blockage.
  • a channel starvation detector for detecting an interruption in the passage of a series or string of articles through a channel, the detector comprising optical sensing means positioned to detect variations in received light arising from the steady passage of the articles through the channel, and to generate an alarm or stop signal in the event of a blockage or void arising in the channel.
  • the optical sensing means comprises an optical transmitter for transmitting an optical signal onto the articles and an optical receiver for receiving a reflected optical signal from the articles.
  • the optical transmitter is positioned to transmit the optical signal onto the articles and the optical receiver is positioned to receive the reflected optical signal in such a way that a fluctuating reflected signal arises from the steady passage of the articles through the channel and a constant reflected signal arises from a blockage or void in the channel.
  • the articles are rod-like in form, and the optical receiver is arranged to sense fluctuation in reflected light arising from nips or gaps between the articles.
  • the optical transmitter and the optical receiver are arranged, respectively, to transmit and receive light in a direction normal to the central axes of the rod-like articles.
  • the detector includes a plurality of adjacent channels separated by a series of channel-defining guide vanes, with strings of articles being gravity fed through each of the channels, each of the channels being provided with an optical transmitter and an optical receiver, a plurality of which in combination makes up an array.
  • each of the guide vanes are formed with notches and the array of optical transmitters and receivers include a bundle of optical fibre pairs, with each pair terminating in a probe extending in use into a notch.
  • the array of optical transmitters and receivers may be mounted on a door or flap covering the vanes and arranged to restrict axial movement of the rod-like articles within the vanes.
  • the rod-like articles are smoking articles
  • the guide vanes form part of a converging guide vane assembly at the base of a smoking article hopper, with a pusher being located at the base of the vanes for cyclically pushing out bundles of smoking articles.
  • Figure 1 shows a partly cut-away side view of a channel starvation detector of the invention mounted in position on a guide vane assembly;
  • Figure 2 shows a partly cross-sectional detail of a single optical sensor mounted in position
  • Figure 3 shows a pictorial detail of one fibre optic sensor forming part of the channel starvation detector of Figures 1 and 2.
  • a guide vane assembly 10 is shown extending towards the base of a cigarette hopper 12.
  • the vane assembly 10 comprises an outer slanted wall 14, an inner curved wall 16 and a series of six converging vanes 18.1 to 18.6 which define a corresponding array of converging channels 20.1 to 20.7.
  • These channels are each dimensioned to receive a column of cigarettes 22 which are gravity fed downwardly through the channels to a point where the thickness of each vane is reduced to around 0.5mm, at which point a cigarette pusher (not shown) pushes the lowermost three cigarettes in each channel into a cigarette collating turret for subsequent packaging.
  • the cigarette pusher operates cyclically at a constant rate, as a result of which, in the normal course of events, the movement of the column of cigarettes 22 trickling down each channel is fairly constant.
  • a channel starvation detector 28 of the invention is bolted to the outer surface of the door 24.
  • the channel starvation detector 28 includes an outer housing 30, and a fourteen core optical fibre cable 32 extending into the housing 30 via a cable gland 34, with a bundle of 14 optical fibres 36 extending from an exposed end of the cable.
  • the bundle comprises seven individual pairs of transmit and receive fibres 36.1 and 36.2 which extend obliquely through a sleeve 38 mounted within an angled channel 40 forming part of a sleeve support bracket 42.
  • Each of the transmit and receive fibres 36.1. and 36.2 terminate in an L- shaped probe portion 44 which extends through an aperture 46 formed in the door 24 and terminates within a notch 48 defined within each vane.
  • the individual transmit and receive optic fibres terminate at a cutout 50, and are arranged, respectively, to direct and receive a beam of light substantially normal to the plane of the cutout 50.
  • Light is transmitted via the transmitting fibre 36.1 in the direction of arrow 52 and is reflected off the paper of the string of cigarettes as they are fed downwardly through the channels. It has been found that the light reflected off the passing cigarettes and received by the optical receiver 36.2 diminishes by about 50% when the transmitted light is directed towards the nips 54 between adjacent cigarettes, with the reflected light reaching a maximum intensity at the so-called tangent of each cigarette, at the point 56 where the outer diameter of each cigarette impinges on or is closest to the side wall of the channel.
  • a received optical signal having a cyclically varying intensity results, cycling between a minimum nip reflection and a maximum tangent reflection.
  • the optical signals are converted to electrical signals, which are processed at a central control unit.
  • the electrical signals may be compared to a set of parameters corresponding to the maximum and minimum expected transition periods between maximum and minimum reflection.
  • the signals may be compared with a signal profile stored in a comparator, with the profile corresponding to the variation in signal strength at an ideal feed speed.
  • the channel starvation detector is also able to sense a blockage both upstream and downstream of the optic sensors.
  • a void will exist, with the result that the optical signal will be reflected off the opposite wall of the vane 18.1, in the case of the first channel 20.1.
  • the reflected signal will be almost non existent, which will immediately register at the central control unit.
  • a downstream blockage will cause the column of cigarettes 22 to accumulate in the channel, and, as is the case with an upstream blockage, there will be no variation in the received reflected signal, which will similarly be registered at the control unit.
  • the control unit may in turn trigger an alarm signal which will immediately draw the attention of the operator to the problem and allow him or her to stop the machinery and attend to the blockage.
  • a stop signal is generated to automatically stop the machinery for a predetermined period, typically corresponding to three transition cycles, after the blockage has been sensed.
  • the signal processing circuitry can be relatively simple, in that it is arranged to sense the receipt of a constant or unwavering signal, which, whatever the amplitude, is indicative of an upstream or downstream blockage.
  • the invention is not confined to the processing of cigarettes, but may also be used to monitor the progress of any train of substantially identical articles through a channel during or after manufacture and prior to packing thereof.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)
  • Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)
  • Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un détecteur d'interruption (28) qui permet de déceler une interruption dans le passage d'une série ou d'une chaîne de cigarettes (22) sur une voie d'alimentation (20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4, 20.5, 20.6, 20.7). Ce détecteur (28) comprend un câble en fibre optique (32) à sept paires individuelles de fibres optiques de transmission (36.1) et de réception (36.2) placées de manière à pouvoir déceler les variations de la lumière reçue qui correspondent au passage régulier des cigarettes (22) dans ladite voie d'alimentation (20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4, 20.5, 20.6, 20.7) et de produire une alarme ou de fournir un signal d'arrêt en cas de blocage ou d'interruption de l'alimentation dans la voie (20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4, 20.5, 20.6, 20.7). Les fibres de transmission (36.1) et de réception (36.2) sont placées de manière à pouvoir recevoir un signal optique réfléchi et à déceler des variations de ce signal comme correspondant au passage régulier des cigarettes (22) dans ladite voie d'alimentation (20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4, 20.5, 20.6, 20.7) et à déceler un signal constant comme correspondant à un blocage ou une interruption de l'alimentation dans la voie (20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4, 20.5, 20.6, 20.7).
PCT/IB1999/001162 1998-06-22 1999-06-21 Detection d'interruption sur voie d'alimentation Ceased WO1999067135A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU41604/99A AU4160499A (en) 1998-06-22 1999-06-21 A channel starvation detector

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA985421 1998-06-22
ZA98/5421 1998-06-22

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999067135A1 true WO1999067135A1 (fr) 1999-12-29
WO1999067135A8 WO1999067135A8 (fr) 2000-03-16

Family

ID=25587094

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB1999/001162 Ceased WO1999067135A1 (fr) 1998-06-22 1999-06-21 Detection d'interruption sur voie d'alimentation

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU4160499A (fr)
WO (1) WO1999067135A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN115258303A (zh) * 2022-08-10 2022-11-01 四川中烟工业有限责任公司 一种异形烟包反置检测装置

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3980567A (en) * 1974-03-22 1976-09-14 Amf Incorporated Optical cigarette end inspection method and device
US4174780A (en) * 1977-06-30 1979-11-20 Molins Limited Feeding cigarettes and similar rod-like articles
EP0141322A1 (fr) * 1983-11-03 1985-05-15 Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.) Dispositif pour l'emballage de cigarettes
EP0268919A2 (fr) * 1986-11-27 1988-06-01 Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.) Machine d'emballage pour cigarettes

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3980567A (en) * 1974-03-22 1976-09-14 Amf Incorporated Optical cigarette end inspection method and device
US4174780A (en) * 1977-06-30 1979-11-20 Molins Limited Feeding cigarettes and similar rod-like articles
EP0141322A1 (fr) * 1983-11-03 1985-05-15 Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.) Dispositif pour l'emballage de cigarettes
EP0268919A2 (fr) * 1986-11-27 1988-06-01 Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.) Machine d'emballage pour cigarettes

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN115258303A (zh) * 2022-08-10 2022-11-01 四川中烟工业有限责任公司 一种异形烟包反置检测装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1999067135A8 (fr) 2000-03-16
AU4160499A (en) 2000-01-10

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