WO2006092962A1 - Multi-filter rod inspection device for cigarettes - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-filter rod inspection device for cigarettes is used for inspecting a rod-like partly-finished product (I) to be inspected. The partly-finished product has a plurality of kinds of filter elements repetitively arranged in a predetermined sequence in its length direction. The inspection device comprises a light source (24) for illuminating a partly-finished product (I) with an infrared inspection light, a light receiver (30) for receiving the inspection light having passed through the partly-finished product (I), a spectrometer system for splitting the inspection light received by the light receiver (30) into three light beams of specific wavelengths, photoelectric converters (40, 46, 50) for receiving the respective light beams, and an identifying circuit (52) for identifying each filter element included in the partly-finished product (I) on the basis of the outputs of the photoelectric converters.

Description

 Specification

 Multiple filter rod inspection device for cigarette

 Technical field

 TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a multiple filter rod inspection apparatus used for manufacturing a filter cigarette, and the multiple filter rod is cut at a predetermined length, and by this cutting, the multiple filter rod is used for cigarette. Multiple filters are formed.

 Background art

 [0002] As one of the multiple filters of cigarettes, a Chiakol type dual filter is known. The dual filter includes a cylindrical plain filter element, a cylindrical charcoal filter element arranged in tandem with the plane filter element, and a molding paper that wraps the filter elements together. Such a dual filter is connected to each other by attaching a tip filter to one end of the dual filter force cigarette with the charcoal filter element in contact with one end of the cigarette. Form a gut.

 [0003] The plain filter element includes, for example, a bundle of white acetate fibers as a filter material and a thin white blotting paper that wraps the fiber bundle in a cylindrical shape. The charcoal filter element has a filter element similar to the plain filter element described above, and black and particles of activated carbon added to the fiber bundle of the filter element.

 [0004] In order to obtain the above-described dual filter, first, a rod-shaped intermediate product is formed, and this intermediate product wraps the plain filter element and the charcoal filter element arranged alternately in the longitudinal axis direction, and these elements. Thin white molding paper. Thereafter, the intermediate product is cut into predetermined lengths, and by this cutting, a multiple filter rod is formed from the intermediate product, and the multiple filter rod includes a plurality of dual filters.

 [0005] Thereafter, the multiple filter rod is supplied to a filter saturating machine that connects the dual filter and the cigarette, and the dual filter cigarette is manufactured by this machine.

[0006] In order to form the dual filter described above, the plane filter element and the charcoal filter element are arranged along the axial direction of the multiple filter rod in the multiple filter rod. It must be arranged alternately and accurately. Therefore, for multiple filter rods, it is necessary to check whether the arrangement of plane and charcoal filter elements is correct.

 [0007] For the inspection of the multiple filter rod, for example, the inspection device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-348166 can be used. This known inspection apparatus inspects the appearance of an inspection object based on an image processing technique using visible light. Specifically, the inspection apparatus irradiates the multiple filter rods to be inspected with visible light, thereby imaging the multiple filter rods and obtaining an image of the multiple filter rods. Based on the activated carbon particles that can be seen through the molding paper and blotting paper, and classify it into a dark area (showing a charcoal filter element) and a lighter area than this dark area (showing a plain filter element) And a process for determining whether or not the multi-filter head is normal based on the arrangement of the dark and light areas.

 [0008] The above-described inspection principle is effective when the colors of two types of filter elements to be inspected are greatly different from each other, but a novel multiple filter in which filter elements of the same color are included adjacent to each other. Not applicable for rod inspection!

 [0009] For example, this type of new multiple filter rod further includes a third filter element between the plain filter element and the charcoal filter element, and the third filter element is added into the fiber bundle of the plain filter element. Hydrated talcite-like compound particles.

 [0010] The particles of the hydrated talcite compound in the third filter element can adsorb the formaldehyde in the mainstream smoke more effectively than the activated carbon particles when smoking the filter cigarette. The amount of formaldehyde in it is reduced.

 However, since the particles of the hydrated talcite compound are white, the third filter element and the plain filter element adjacent to each other are the same white system. Therefore, the third filter element and the plain filter element cannot be identified by the above-described inspection principle, and the above-described inspection apparatus cannot be applied to the inspection of a novel multiple filter rod.

 Disclosure of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel type including filter elements of different types and of the same color system adjacent to each other. An object of the present invention is to provide an inspection apparatus for multiple filter rods that can accurately inspect the arrangement of filter elements even for multiple filter rods.

 [0013] Specifically, the multiple filter rod is obtained by cutting an intermediate product delivered along a delivery line at predetermined lengths, and the intermediate product includes a plurality of types of cylindrical filter elements. It includes an element row arranged in a predetermined arrangement in the axial direction and a forming paper that wraps the element row.

 [0014] In order to achieve the above object, an inspection apparatus according to the present invention includes a light source that irradiates infrared inspection light toward one of the intermediate product and the multiple filter mouth. A light receiving section that is arranged in the vicinity of the light source and receives the inspection light reflected by the material in the inspection object. The light receiving section and the intensity of the inspection light of a specific wavelength received by the light receiver. And a light receiving section including an identification circuit for individually identifying the filter elements included in the inspection object.

 [0015] The inspection principle of the inspection apparatus described above is notable in the inspection light of a specific wavelength, based on the difference in the material contained in the filter element, the reflectivity (absorption rate) of the infrared inspection light with respect to each filter element. Take advantage of that. Therefore, individual filter elements can be identified based on the intensity of the inspection light of a specific wavelength from the inspection object.

 [0016] Therefore, even if filter elements of the same color system are arranged adjacent to each other in the multiple filter rod, it is possible to determine whether the arrangement of the filter elements in the multiple filter rod is accurate, As a result, the inspection apparatus of the present invention can be effectively used for eliminating defective multi-filter rods, and greatly contributes to the manufacture of filter cigarettes.

 Specifically, the light receiver preferably receives the inspection light that has passed through the inspection object, and has an optical axis that intersects the optical axis of the light source.

 More specifically, at least one of the three wavelength forces of 1550 nm and its vicinity, 1720 nm and its vicinity, and 1940 nm and its vicinity is selected as the specific wavelength of the inspection light.

 In this case, the above-described light receiving section may further include a spectral path for separating the inspection light having the inspection target power into light beams having three wavelengths.

[0020] The inspection device can be arranged in the delivery line of the intermediate product, in which case the inspection device is A guide tube for guiding the delivery of the intermediate product, which has an inlet and an outlet for partially exposing the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate product, and a holder that surrounds the guide tube and has a light source and a light receiver attached thereto. The light source irradiates the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate product with inspection light through the inlet of the guide tube, and the light receiver receives the inspection light from the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate product through the outlet of the guide tube.

 [0021] It should be noted that the inspection device may be arranged in the transfer line of the multiple filter rod!

 Further, the element row for the intermediate product includes a plain filter element, a charcoal filter element, and a third filter element. These filter elements are repeatedly arranged in a predetermined arrangement in the longitudinal direction of the element row, and the third The filter element can have particles of hyde talcite-like compounds.

 [0022] Preferably, the light receiver receives the inspection light reflected by the inspection target power (Claim 2). In this case, the output level of the inspection light required for the light source is such that the light receiver transmits the inspection target. It is lower than when receiving inspection light.

 [0023] Further, the light source and the light receiver are preferably arranged between the upper section and the cutting section (Claim 3). In this case, the optical axis of the light receiver is set to the optical axis of the light source. By tilting, the light receiver receives the inspection light reflected from the inspection object.

 [0024] The above-mentioned material group includes a plain filter material in which filter fiber bundles are wrapped with blotting paper, a chaacol filter material in which activated carbon particles are added to this plain filter material, and a hyal talcite compound compound in the plain filter material. Hyde mouth talcite filter material containing particles, paper filter material in which thin paper is combined into a cylindrical shape, and paper filter material with activated carbon particles added to paper filter material. At least two of them are included (Claim 4), and the plain filter material, the hyde talcite filter material, and the paper filter material are all of the same white type.

 [0025] The identification circuit described above uses at least one of inspection light having a wavelength near 1550 nm and inspection light having a wavelength near 1720 ηm to identify a charcoal filter material, a plain filter material, and a hyde talcite filter material. (Claim 5), the light receiving levels of inspection light having these wavelengths are different for each filter material.

Brief Description of Drawings FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a multiple filter rod manufacturing machine.

 FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of a manufacturing process of a filter cigarette.

 FIG. 3 is a diagram specifically showing the detection device of FIG. 1.

 [Fig. 4] A graph showing the reflection characteristics of the inspection light of each filter element force when different types of filter elements are irradiated with the inspection light.

 BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

 The manufacturing machine of FIG. 1 includes an assembly device 10 upstream thereof. The assembling apparatus 10 forms an element row in which different types of cylindrical filter elements are arranged on the same line according to a predetermined arrangement, and supplies the element row to the wrapping section 12.

 More specifically, the assembling apparatus 10 includes a plurality of element hoppers (not shown), and these element hoppers store element rods of different types. For example, if the assembling device 10 has two element hoppers, plane element rods (AF element rods) and charcoal rods (AC element rods) are stored in two of these element hoppers, and the rest In two, hydrosartite rods (HT element rods) are stored.

 [0029] The AF element rod includes a white fiber bundle of cellulose 'diacetate' as a filter material and a thin white blotting paper that wraps the fiber bundle in a cylindrical shape. The AC element rod contains a rod material similar to the AF element rod, and black の particles of activated carbon added to the fiber bundle of this rod material, and the HT element rod is a fiber bundle of the rod material similar to the AF element rod. It contains white particles of noble mouth talcite compound added inside.

 [0030] These element rods are taken out one by one from the corresponding element hot bar and supplied toward the same succession conveyor (not shown). In this supply process, each element rod is cut into filter elements AF, AC, HT, HT having a predetermined length, and these filter elements AF, AC, HT, HT are intermittently supplied onto the succinct conveyor. The Therefore, an element group containing one filter element AF, AC, HT, and HT is arranged on the suction conveyor in the supply direction of the suction conveyor, and these element groups are directed toward the rubbing section 12 by the suction conveyor. Be transported.

As is apparent from FIG. 1, the filter elements included in each element group are arranged in the order of AC, HT, AF, and HT in the supply direction of the successor. Fill on the conveyor The filter elements are brought into close contact with each other at the end region of the succession conveyor to form an element array, and such an element array is also continuously supplied to the wrapping section 12 with the force of the conveyor conveyor.

 [0032] The wrapping section 12 has the same structure as the upper section of the cigarette making machine, and receives a thin white forming paper P together with the element rows. In the wrapping section 12, the shaped paper P travels along with the element rows by the guillotine tape, and in this running process, the element rows are continuously wrapped by the shaped paper P, so that the rod-shaped intermediate product I Is formed. In Fig. 1, the garnish tape is omitted.

 [0033] Thereafter, the intermediate product I is delivered from the wrapping section 12 toward the cutting section 14 and passes through the cutting section 14. At this time, the cutting section 14 cuts the intermediate product I by a predetermined length, and forms the multiple filter rod MF from the intermediate product I. These multiple filter rods MF also deliver the cutting section 14 force towards the kicker (not shown).

 [0034] The cutting section 14 has a rotary knife in it, which cuts every other filter element AC contained in the intermediate product I. The cutting position is the center position of the filter material AC. Therefore, as is clear from FIG. 1, the multiple filter rod MF is composed of the element half AC of the filter element AC arranged at both ends thereof, and these element half AC

 H

 The filter elements HT, AF, HT, AC, AF, and HT are arranged in a row in between. This implementation

H

 In the case of the example, the multiple filter rod MF includes two element groups (AC, HT, AF, HT) as described above, but should include at least one element group.

A conveyance drum row 16 is arranged immediately downstream of the above-described kicker, and this conveyance drum row 16 extends in a direction crossing the traveling direction of the intermediate product I. The conveyance drum row 16 includes a plurality of conveyance drums, and these conveyance drums are arranged adjacent to each other. Furthermore, each transport drum has a large number of transport grooves on its outer peripheral surface, and these transport grooves are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the transport drum. The transport drum positioned at the beginning of the transport drum row 16 functions as a catcher drum. During the rotation of the catcher drum, the multiple filter rod MF that is intermittently delivered by the kicker is received in one conveyance groove of the catcher drum, and the multiple filter rod MF in the conveyance groove continues as the rotation of the catcher drum proceeds. Then, it is transported toward the next transport drum adjacent to the catcher drum. [0036] Thereafter, the multiple filter rod MF is transferred from the catcher drum to the adjacent transfer drum and further transferred. Such transfer of the multiple filter rods MF is repeated between adjacent transfer drums, whereby the multiple filter rods MF are transferred to the end of the transfer drum row 16.

 [0037] A belt conveyor (not shown) is connected to the end of the conveyance drum row 16, and the belt conveyor receives the multiple filter rods MF from the end of the conveyance drum row 16, and the received multiple filter rods MF is a boxing machine. Or, it is transferred to the filter attachment machine described above.

 One conveyance drum in the conveyance drum row 16 functions as an exclusion drum, and this exclusion drum eliminates defective multiple filter rods MF from the conveyance drum row 16. The defective multiple filter rod MF is detected by an inspection device described later, and this inspection device outputs an exclusion signal at the timing when the defective multiple filter rod MF reaches the exclusion position on the exclusion drum.

 [0039] FIG. 2 shows how a filter cigarette is manufactured by connecting multiple filters to a cigarette in the filter attachment machine.

 [0040] First, the multiple filter rod MF described above is cut into equal central forces, and two multiple filter plugs MP are formed from the multiple filter rod MF. The multi-filter plug MP consists of the filter element AC element half AC positioned at both ends and these elements.

 H

 The filter element A has three filter elements HT, AF and HT arranged between the half ACs.

H

 F is sandwiched between filter elements HF!

[0041] Thereafter, the cigarettes C are arranged in close contact with both ends of the multiple filter plug MP, and the plug MP and the two cigarettes C are connected by soldering the chip paper TP as is well known. Thus, a double filter cigarette DFC is formed. Such a double filter cigarette DFC is cut at the center of the multiple filter plug MP, that is, at the center of the filter element AF, and two filter cigarettes FC are obtained from the double filter cigarette DFC.

[0042] The filter cigarette FC multiple filter is a triple filter, and the filter element AF is located at the suction end of the filter element AF, and the element half AF and the cigarette element. Filter element HT and element half AC sandwiched between the element half AC and

 H H

 Adjacent to the end of cigarette C.

As shown in FIG. 1, the above-described inspection device 18 is disposed between the wrapping section 12 and the cutting section 14, and FIG. 3 shows details of the inspection device 18.

[0044] The inspection device 18 includes a guide tube 20, which is arranged on the delivery line of the intermediate product I and guides the intermediate product I delivered from the wrapping section 12.

[0045] An annular detection holder 22 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the guide tube 20, and the detection holder 22 surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the guide tube 20! /. A radial hole 28 is formed in the detection holder 22 and the guide tube 20. The radial hole 28 has an outer end opened on the outer peripheral surface of the detection holder 22 and an inner end opened on the inner peripheral surface of the guide tube 20. And have. Therefore, a part of the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate product I passing through the guide tube 20 is exposed to the inner end of the radial hole 28. A light source 24 such as an infrared halogen lamp is mounted in the radial hole 28. The light source 24 is electrically connected to the power supply circuit 26 and irradiates the intermediate product I with infrared rays, that is, inspection light, from the inner end of the radial hole 28. The irradiated inspection light enters the intermediate product I and propagates in the intermediate product I while being reflected by the material of the intermediate product I.

 Further, another radial hole 32 is formed in the detection holder 22 and the guide tube 20, and the radial hole 32 also has an outer end opened on the outer peripheral surface of the detection holder 22 and an inner periphery of the guide tube 20. And an inner end opened to the surface. The inner end of the radial hole 32 also exposes a part of the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate product I, so that inspection light propagating through the intermediate product I is emitted from the intermediate product I into the radial hole 32. The smaller angle formed by the axis of the radial hole 32 and the axis of the radial hole 28 is preferably larger than 90 ° and smaller than 180 °.

 A light receiver 30 is mounted in the radial hole 32, and the light receiver 30 can receive the detection light emitted in the radial hole 32. The light receiver 30 incorporates an optical system such as a condenser lens, and the optical axis of the optical system intersects with the optical axis of the light source 24 at a predetermined angle, as is apparent from FIG.

[0048] The light receiver 30 is optically connected to the spectroscopic section 34. The spectroscopic section 34 has a half mirror 36 that receives the inspection light from the light receiver 30, and the half mirror 36 receives the half mirror 36. Divide the inspection light into two light beams. One of these light beams passes through a bandpass filter 38 and is fed to the photoelectric converter 40, the other light beam is received by another half mirror 42, which further splits the light beam into two light beams. . One of these rays is supplied to the photoelectric transformation 46 via the bandpass filter 44, and the other ray is supplied to the photoelectric transformation 50 via the bandpass filter 48. The photoelectric conversions 40, 46, and 50 described above have photodiodes or infrared line sensors.

 [0049] The bandpass filter 38 passes only a light beam (inspection light) having a wavelength of 1550 nm and its vicinity, and the bandpass filter 44 allows only an optical beam (inspection light) having a wavelength of 1720 nm and its vicinity. . In the case of this embodiment, the bandpass filter 48 allows only light rays (inspection light) having a wavelength of 1940 nm and the vicinity thereof to pass.

 [0050] The photoelectric converters 40, 46, 50 are electrically connected to the identification circuit 52, respectively, and supply an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the received inspection light to the identification circuit 52. The identification circuit 52 individually identifies the filter elements AF, AC, and HT in the intermediate product I based on the electrical signals from the photoelectric converters 40, 46, and 50, and thereafter, based on the identification result, the intermediate product I It is determined whether or not the arrangement of the filter elements is correct, that is, whether or not the filter elements are repeatedly arranged in the order of AC, HT, AF, and HT (see Fig. 1). When an alignment failure is detected, the identification circuit 52 outputs an exclusion signal for removing the above-described exclusion drum force from the multiple filter rods MF including the alignment failure.

 Next, the identification principle of the filter element used by the identification circuit 52 will be described.

 Fig. 4 is a graph showing the reflection characteristics of inspection light (inspection light passage characteristics) for filter elements AF, AC, and HT. The horizontal and vertical axes of the graph indicate the wavelength of inspection light and the reflectance of inspection light. Respectively.

[0052] As is clear from FIG. 4, when focusing on the inspection light at 1550 nm and its vicinity, 1720 nm and its vicinity, and 1940 nm and its vicinity, the reflectance of the inspection light to the filter elements AF, AC, and HT is It is very different from each other. Therefore, the identification circuit 52 compares the levels of the electric signals supplied from the photoelectric converters 40, 46, and 50 with the threshold values set for the filter elements AF, AC, and HT. The filter elements AF, AC and HT can be individually identified. [0053] Therefore, even if the outer surfaces of the filter elements AF and HT are both white and similar colors, the detection device 18 including the identification circuit 52 has the filter elements that pass through the inspection device 18 as AF, AC, HT. It is possible to recognize whether the force is any of the above or any of these filter elements AF, AC, or HT.

 As a result, the identification circuit 52 determines whether the arrangement of the filter elements obtained from the identification result matches the arrays AC, HT, AF, HT. If this determination result is negative, Output the exclusion signal described earlier in the timing.

 [0055] When an exclusion signal is output from the identification circuit 52, the defective multiple filter rod MF reaches the rejection position on the exclusion drum described above, and the rejection drum passes the defective multiple filter rod MF to the transport drum row 16. Eliminate outside. Therefore, all the multiple filter rods MF delivered from the transport drum row 16 are non-defective. After that, the filter cigarette FC manufactured from the multiple filter rod MF does not cause a defective arrangement of the filter elements in the multiple filter, and the production efficiency of the filter cigarette FC is greatly improved.

 The present invention can be variously modified without being limited to the above-described embodiment.

 For example, the multiple filter can include filter elements PF and PC in addition to the AF, AC, and HT described above. The filter element PF includes a filter material in which a large number of vertical ridges are formed on a thin white paper made of wood pulp, and then the paper with ridges is squeezed into a rod shape, and a tapping paper that wraps the filter material. . On the other hand, the filter element includes an element similar to the filter element PF and activated carbon black soot particles added to the filter material of this element.

 [0057] As is apparent from Fig. 4, when focusing on the inspection light of 1550nm and its vicinity and the wavelength of 1720nm and its vicinity, the reflectivity of the inspection light with respect to the filter elements PF and PC is the filter elements AF, AC, It is greatly different from the reflectivity of inspection light for HT. Therefore, even if the element group has any combination selected from AF, AC, HT, PF, and PC, the arrangement of individual filter elements within the element group can be accurately identified.

 [0058] Further, the element group can include filter elements including particles of an adsorbent other than compounds of the hydous mouth talcite, or particles of a perfume such as cyclodextrin.

[0059] The detection device of the present invention includes 1550 nm and its vicinity, and 1720 nm and its vicinity. The filter elements AF, AC, HT, PF, and PC can be identified by using only one of the inspection lights having wavelengths.

[0060] However, if three wavelengths of inspection light are used to identify the filter material, the identification results can be displayed in color on the monitor if these wavelengths correspond to the three primary colors RGB. Can do.

 [0061] Further, as the light source 24, a light source capable of emitting only the inspection light having the wavelength described above may be used in addition to the infrared halogen lamp. In this case, the half mirrors 36 and 42 and the band-pass filters 38, 44 and 48 can be omitted from the spectroscopic section 34.

 [0062] The detection device 18 can inspect the multiple filter rods MF not in the element row. In this case, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, the detection device 18 is arranged in the above-described conveyance drum row 16 or on the exclusion drum itself or on the conveyance drum upstream of the exclusion drum. The detection device 18 here includes a light source that irradiates inspection light over the entire length of the multiple filter rod MF and a light receiver that receives the inspection light reflected from the entire length of the multiple filter rod MF.

Claims

The scope of the claims  [1] A multi-filter rod inspection device for a cigarette, wherein the multi-filter rod is The intermediate product to be delivered along the delivery line is obtained by cutting it at a predetermined length, and the intermediate product has a plurality of types of cylindrical filter elements arranged in a predetermined arrangement in the axial direction of the intermediate product. Including a row of elements lined up with and a molding paper that wraps around the row of elements.  One of the intermediate product and the multiple filter rod is an inspection target, and a light source that irradiates infrared inspection light toward the inspection target;  A light receiving section that is disposed in the vicinity of the light source and receives the inspection light reflected by the material in the inspection object, the light receiving section of the inspection light and the inspection light of the specific wavelength received by the light receiving device; A light receiving section including an identification circuit for individually identifying the filter element included in the inspection object based on strength;  Is provided.  [2] In the inspection apparatus of claim 1,  The light receiver receives inspection light that has passed through the inspection object. [3] The inspection device according to claim 2,  The light receiver has an optical axis that intersects the optical axis of the light source. [4] The inspection device according to claim 3,  As the specific wavelength of the inspection light, at least one of three wavelength forces of 1550 nm and its vicinity, 1720 nm and its vicinity, and 1940 nm and its vicinity is selected. [5] The inspection device according to claim 4,  The light receiving section further includes a spectral path for separating the inspection light from the inspection object into the light beams having the three wavelengths. [6] The inspection device according to claim 1,  The inspection device is arranged in the intermediate product delivery line. [7] The inspection device according to claim 6,  The inspection device includes: A guide tube for guiding the delivery of the intermediate product, the guide tube having an inlet and an outlet for partially exposing an outer peripheral surface of the intermediate product; And a holder to which the light source and the light receiver are attached. The light source irradiates the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate product with the inspection light through the inlet of the guide tube, and the light receiver The detection light from the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate product is received through the outlet of the guide tube. The inspection apparatus according to claim 1,  The inspection device is arranged in the transfer line of the multiple filter rod. The inspection apparatus according to claim 1,  The element row includes a plain filter element, a charcoal filter element, and a third filter element, and these filter elements are repeated in a predetermined arrangement in the longitudinal direction of the element row.