METHOD OF INSPECTION OF ROD SHAPED ARTICLES

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of inspection of rod-shaped articles, the method comprising: —providing a first drum having a plurality of seats; —providing at least one seat of the plurality of seats of the first drum with an inductive sensor comprising a coil; —providing the at least one seat of the plurality of seats of the first drum with a rod-shaped article including a first susceptor, the first susceptor comprising a conductive material; —inserting the rod-shaped article in the coil of the inductive sensor; —detecting a maximum value or a minimum value of a parameter function of the impedance of the coil during the insertion of the rod-shaped article; —discarding the rod-shaped article on the basis of the maximum value or the minimum value of the parameter function of the impedance.

Claims

1. Method of inspection of rod-shaped articles, the method comprising: providing a first drum having a plurality of seats; providing at least one seat of the plurality of seats of the first drum with an inductive sensor comprising a coil; providing the at least one seat of the plurality of seats of the first drum with a rod-shaped article including a first susceptor, the first susceptor comprising a conductive material; inserting the rod-shaped article in the coil of the inductive sensor; detecting a maximum value or a minimum value of a parameter function of an impedance of the coil during the insertion of the rod-shaped article; discarding the rod-shaped article on a basis of the maximum value or the minimum value of the parameter function of the impedance.

2. The method according to claim 1, including: comparing the maximum value or the minimum value of a parameter function of the impedance with a threshold; discarding the rod-shaped article on the basis of the comparison.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising: measuring a length of the first susceptor on the basis of the maximum value or the minimum value of the parameter function of the impedance of the coil during the insertion of the rod-shaped article.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising: measuring the parameter function of the impedance of the coil as a function of time during the insertion of the rod-shaped article.

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising: measuring a length of the first susceptor on the basis of a profile defined by the parameter function of the impedance of the coil as a function of time during the insertion of the rod-shaped article in the coil.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first susceptor has a nominal length and the step of providing at least one seat of the plurality of seats of the first drum with an inductive sensor comprising a coil includes: providing at least one seat of the plurality of seats of the first drum with an inductive sensor comprising a coil having a length longer than the nominal length of the first susceptor.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rod-shaped article has a longitudinal axis and the first drum has a rotational axis, and wherein the step of providing the at least one seat of the plurality of seats of the first drum with a rod-shaped article including a first susceptor includes: providing the at least one seat of the plurality of seats of the first drum with the rod-shaped article having the longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the rotational axis.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rod-shaped article has a first end and a second end, and the first susceptor is located at the first end of the rod-shaped article, and wherein the step of inserting the rod-shaped article in the coil of the inductive sensor comprises: inserting the rod-shaped article in the coil of the inductive sensor so that the first end of the rod-shaped article is located within the coil.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of discarding the rod-shaped article on the basis of the maximum value or the minimum value of the parameter function of the impedance comprises: discarding the rod-shaped if the maximum value or the minimum value of the parameter function of the impedance is outside a pre-set range.

10. The method of inspection of rod-shaped articles according to claim 1, wherein the rod-shaped article has a first end and a second end and a second susceptor, the first susceptor being located at the first end of the rod-shaped article and the second susceptor being located at the second end of the rod-shaped article, and wherein the method comprises: providing a second drum having a plurality of seats; providing at least one seat of the plurality of seats of the second drum with an inductive sensor comprising a coil; transferring the rod-shaped article from the first drum to the second drum so that the rod-shaped article is housed in the at least one seat of the plurality of seats of the second drum; inserting the rod-shaped article in the coil of the inductive sensor of the second drum so that the second end of the rod-shaped article is within said coil; detecting a maximum value or a minimum value of the parameter function of the impedance of said coil during the insertion of the rod-shaped article; discarding the rod-shaped article on the basis of the maximum value or the minimum value of the parameter function of the impedance.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of inserting the rod-shaped article in the coil of the inductive sensor comprises: sliding the rod-shaped article on a bottom surface of the seat so as to insert the rod-shaped article in the coil.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of sliding the rod-shaped article on a bottom surface of the seat so as to insert the rod-shaped article in the coil comprises: pushing the rod-shaped article inside the coil by means of an air flow.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the coil includes a first semi-coil and a second semi-coil, the first semi-coil and the second semi-coil being movable from a first operative position where the first semi-coil and the second semi-coil are in contact to each other forming the coil where current can flow to a second operative position where the first semi-coil and the second semi-coil are separated from each other and no current can flow, and vice-versa, wherein the step of inserting the rod-shaped article in the coil of the inductive sensor comprises: moving the first semi-coil and the second semi-coil from the second operative position to the first operative position.

14. The method according to claim 1, comprising the step of: calibrating the inductive sensor using a rod-shaped article including a first susceptor or a second susceptor or both having a length equal to a nominal length.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rod-shaped article includes a component of an aerosol generating article.

Description

[0148] Examples will now be further described with reference to the figures in which:

[0149] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view partially sectioned of a rod-shaped article including a susceptor to be inspected according to the method of the invention;

[0150] FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the rod-shaped article of FIG. 1;

[0151] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of an inspection device functioning according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a first configuration;

[0152] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of an inspection device functioning according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0153] FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of the inspection device of FIG. 4 in a time sequence;

[0154] FIG. 6 is a sequence of steps of the functioning of the inductive sensor present in the inspection device of the invention;

[0155] FIG. 7 is a detailed view in section of an element of the inspection device of FIG. 3, 4 or 5;

[0156] FIG. 8 is a front view of the element of FIG. 7;

[0157] FIG. 9 is a lateral view of another embodiment of the rod-shaped article to be inspected according to the invention;

[0158] FIG. 10 is a third embodiment of an inspection device functioning according to the invention;

[0159] FIGS. 11 and 12 are two enlarged view of two details of FIG. 10 in two different embodiments;

[0160] FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are two sectional views of the coil of the first embodiment of the inspection device of FIG. 3 in a first and in a second configuration, respectively.

[0161] With initial reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an example of a rod-shaped article is globally indicated with 60.

[0162] Preferably, the rod-shaped article 60 comprises several components of an aerosol generating article, for example a complete aerosol generating article.

[0163] The aerosol-generating article 60 comprises for example a plurality of elements assembled in the form of a rod. The plurality of elements may comprise a plug element 11, an aerosol-forming substrate 10 in the form of a tobacco plug, a susceptor material 12 positioned within the aerosol-forming substrate 10, a hollow acetate tube 16, a further hollow acetate tube 18, a mouthpiece 2, and an outer wrapper 22. The aerosol-generating article 60 comprises a mouth end 24 and a distal end 26. The rod-shaped article 60 defines a longitudinal axis 61.

[0164] Preferably, the plurality of elements above listed develops along the longitudinal axis 61 of the rod-shaped article 60 one after the other. Preferably, all the elements have the same diameter.

[0165] Preferably, a cross section of the rod-shaped article 60 along a plane perpendicular to its longitudinal axis 61 is a circle.

[0166] The rod-shaped article 60 comprises an outer surface 13, preferably substantially cylindrical, which extends along the longitudinal axis 61. The longitudinal axis 61 of the rod-shaped article 60 may correspond to the axis of the cylinder.

[0167] The aerosol forming substrate 10 may include homogenized tobacco material.

[0168] The susceptor 12 is preferably in thermal contact with the aerosol forming substrate 10 such that, when the susceptor is inductively heated, heat is transferred to the aerosol forming substrate 10 and aerosol is thereby released. Preferably, the susceptor 12 is completely surrounded by the tobacco material forming the aerosol forming substrate 10.

[0169] As shown in the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, the susceptor 12 is completely contained in the rod-shaped article 60, more preferably it is completely contained in the aerosol forming substrate 10.

[0170] The susceptor 12 is realized in a conductive material. Preferably, the susceptor is realized in metal and, in some embodiments, it is realized in ferromagnetic material.

[0171] According to preferred embodiments, as in FIGS. 1 and 2, the susceptor 12 has the shape of a strip. Alternatively, it may have the shape of a rod. Preferably, its thickness is comprised between 30 micrometers and 60 micrometers. Preferably, the length of the susceptor is comprised between 5 millimetres and 20 millimetres.

[0172] FIG. 3 shows a portion of a preferred embodiment of a drum 4 of an inspection device 100 according to a first aspect of the present invention.

[0173] For the sake of clarity, the inspection device 100 is only partially shown in FIG. 3.

[0174] As it will be apparent from the following description, the inspection device 100 is adapted to control the quality of rod-shaped articles 60, and in particular of the susceptor 12.

[0175] Quality control provided by inspection device 100 may entail checking either the presence, integrity or precise position of the susceptor 12, as well as further characteristics of the latter.

[0176] By way of non-limiting example, such characteristics may include on ore more of the following: length of the susceptor, thickness of the susceptor, deviation of the susceptor from a rectilinear development, deviation of the susceptor's axis from parallelism with the longitudinal axis 61 of the rod-shaped article 60, electromagnetic properties of the susceptor.

[0177] Also, the quality control may take place at any stage of the manufacturing process of the aerosol generating article. This means that the rod-shaped article 60 could be checked when the aerosol forming substrate 10 is joined to the mouth piece filter element 2, or to any other component to be fixed thereto, or the aerosol forming substrate 10 including the susceptor 12 can be checked on its own.

[0178] With again reference to FIG. 3, the drum 4 comprises a plurality of seats 41 each of them being adapted to receive a rod-shaped article 60. The seats 41 are preferably located on an outer surface 40 of the drum 4. Preferably, there are between about 20 and 60 seats 41 in the drum 4, preferably about 40.

[0179] In some embodiments, the drum 4 is cylindrical shaped and, preferably, the outer surface 40 onto which the seats 41 are located corresponds to the lateral surface of the cylinder.

[0180] It will be appreciated that the seats 41 are preferably dimensioned and shaped in order to receive, at least partially, the rod-shaped article 60. Preferably, the dimensions and shapes of the seats 41 are selected so as to either receive the rod-shaped article 60. More in general, quality control preferably includes positioning the rod-shaped article 60 in one of the seats 41.

[0181] Positioning of the rod-shaped article 60 may occur either by using a suitable positioning device, not shown in the drawings, or by transferring the rod-shaped article 60 in any other possible manner, for example from another drum or conveyor.

[0182] In some embodiments, the inspection device 100 may be included in an apparatus for manufacturing aerosol generating articles and the rod-shaped article 60 may be transferred to the inspection device 100 from a conveyor element of the apparatus.

[0183] Preferably, drum 4 is a rotating drum having a rotational axis 67. Accordingly, the drum 4 allows to transfer the rod-shaped article 60 from a first position to a second position, preferably forming an entry where it is positioned on the seat and an exit positon where it is removed from the seat. The first position and the second position (not depicted in the drawing 3) are separated by an angular rotation of the drum.

[0184] In some embodiments, the seats 41 may be oblong shaped, so as to define a respective seat axis 42. Preferably, the seat axis 42 of the seat 41 and the rotational axis 67 are parallel to each other. Preferably all axes 42 of the plurality of seats 41 are parallel to each other.

[0185] The seats 41 are preferably formed on an outer surface 40 of the drum 4. The seats 41 may be in the form of recesses realized on the outer surface 40 of the drum 4.

[0186] Nevertheless, it is well evident that seats 41 may be defined by other elements on the outer surface of the drum 4, for example fixed thereto and radially projecting therefrom.

[0187] Preferably, the drum 4 defines a front face 64 and a rear face (not visible in the figures). The rear face is axially opposite to the front face 64.

[0188] In some embodiments, the seats 41 extends from the front face 64 to the rear face, that is the seats may be provided with opposed open ends.

[0189] In this manner, the rod-shaped article 60 may be received in the seat 41 by approaching it laterally, preferably by sliding along the direction define by the seat axis 42.

[0190] As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the seats 41 may have a length at least equal to the length of the rod-shaped article 60 to be checked. Longer seats 41, allowing sliding of the rod-shaped article 60 therein may be used as well.

[0191] In some embodiments, the rotational axis 67 of the drum 4 is substantially horizontal.

[0192] The seats 41 may be configured such that the rod-shaped article 60 is discharged from the seat 41, when it reaches a specific angular position along rotational axis 67 in which gravity acts on the rod-shaped articles 60 in order to release it from the drum 4.

[0193] The inspection device 100 further comprises an inductive sensor 5 positioned at least at one of the plurality of seats 41. It will be appreciated that although the embodiment of FIG. 3 represents a single inductive sensor 5 positioned at a specific seat 41, each seat 41 of the drum 4 may comprise a respective inductive sensor 5.

[0194] Also, according to further possible embodiments, inductive sensors 5 may be provided at selected seats 41, for example at predetermined angular distance.

[0195] Preferably, the inductive sensor 5 includes a coil 51 defining an inner volume 50 large enough to receive therein at least an end of the rod-shaped article 60.

[0196] FIGS. 7 and 8 show the coil 51 according to a preferred embodiment.

[0197] Preferably, the coil 51 defines a coil axis 70 and has an internal diameter 71 comprised between 10 millimetres and 18 millimetres and, more preferably, comprised between 12 millimetres and 16 millimetres. Preferably, the internal diameter 71 of the coil 51 is 14 millimetres.

[0198] It will be appreciated that the above diameters are selected in order to make the coil 51 wide enough to receive therein the mouth end 24 or the distal end 26 of the rod-shaped article 60 but, at the same time, to avoid bulky elements to be used in the inspection device 100.

[0199] In some embodiments, the length of the coil 51 is adapted to wholly house therein the rod-shaped article 60.

[0200] Preferably, the length 72 of the coil is comprised between 20 millimetres and 40 millimetres, more preferably, comprised between 25 millimetres and 35 millimetres. Preferably, the length 72 of the coil 51 is 32 millimetres.

[0201] In some embodiments, the coil 51 is formed by a pair of parallel wounded-up wires.

[0202] Preferably, the coil 51 comprises a number of total turns comprised between 26 and 46. More preferably, the number of turns is comprised between 30 and 42. Preferably, the number of turns is 32.

[0203] In case the coil 51 is formed by a pair of wires, each wire may comprise half of the total number of turns mentioned above.

[0204] The coil 51 is preferably cylindrically shaped. Preferably, the coil 51 is positioned at the seat so that the coil axis 70 is parallel to the seat axis 42.

[0205] The presence of the susceptor 12 in the rod-shaped article 60 may be sensed by moving the rod-shaped article 60 relative to coil 51 and by considering a variation in a feedback signal generated by the interaction between the susceptor 12 and the coil 51.

[0206] To this end, in some embodiments as in FIG. 3, the inspection device 100 comprises a control unit 7 electrically connected to the inductive sensor 5 and adapted to receive the signal from the inductive sensor 5 and to compare it with a threshold in order to detect the variation of the signal generated by the presence of the susceptor 12.

[0207] It will be appreciated that such variation of the signal may be caused either by moving the coil 51 with respect to the rod-shaped article 60, as in the example of FIG. 3, or by moving the rod-shaped article 60 with respect to the coil 51 as in the embodiment of FIG. 4 or FIG. 5.

[0208] In general, it will be appreciated that the inductive sensor 5 may generate an alternative magnetic field in the coil 51 which is altered when passed through by the susceptor 12. More in general, the inductive sensor 5 is configured to generate an alternative magnetic signal in a detection direction, preferably corresponding to the axis 70 of the coil 51.

[0209] Preferably, the magnetic field generated by the inductive sensor 5 is altered when a first end 24, 26 of the rod-shaped article 60 in which the susceptor 12 is supposed to be located is received in the inner volume 50 of the coil 51 of the inductive sensor 5.

[0210] In other words, the magnetic field generated by the passage of the susceptor 12 through the inner volume 50 of the inductive sensor 5 acts against the magnetic field generated by sensor 5, that is, by the coil 51. According to the Lenz law the susceptor 12 acts as a resistance in the coil 51 or more in general in the inductive sensor 5.

[0211] In further detail, when a ferromagnetic material enters the field, an electromagnetic force is induced in it (Maxell-Faraday law) which creates alternative Eddy currents. This alternative current generates an induced magnetic field (Maxell-Ampere law), which is in opposition to the sensor magnetic field (Lenz law).

[0212] Presence or absence of the susceptor 12 in the rod-shaped article 60 may be accordingly determined in view of such expected behaviour in the magnetic field. If no alternation occurs when a rod-shaped article 60 passes through the alternative magnetic field generated by the coil 51, then no susceptor 12 is likely to be present in the rod-shaped article 60.

[0213] By contrast, alternation may be determined by calculating the impedance of the rod-shaped article 60, that varies as the susceptor 12 passes through the inner volume 50 of coil 51, as previously explained.

[0214] According to preferred embodiments, the feedback signal generated as the susceptor 12 passes through the inner volume 50 can be used for determining other characteristics of the susceptor 12.

[0215] With reference to FIG. 6, a possible use of the feedback signal may be directed to determine the length of the susceptor 12.

[0216] FIG. 6 shows how the equivalent resistance of the system “coil and susceptor” varies according to the relative position of the susceptor 12 in the inner volume 50.

[0217] Initially, when the rod-shaped article 60 has not entered the inner volume 50 the feedback signal outputted by the inductive sensor 5 is not altered.

[0218] As the rod-shaped article 60 enters the inner volume 50, a variation in the feedback signal occurs.

[0219] The feedback signal will reach a minimum level when the whole susceptor 12 has fully entered the inside volume 50, and will begin to decrease as soon as the end of the susceptor 12 will go out of the coil 51.

[0220] By comparing this signal to the positions of the rod-shaped article 60 inside the inner volume 50, it is possible to determine the length of the susceptor 12.

[0221] Preferably, the susceptor 12 length is estimated according to a peak of a measure equivalent resistance, determined after a suitable calibration.

[0222] Alternatively, the parameter function of the impedance shows a maximum, and not a minimum, when the susceptor is fully inserted in the coil.

[0223] In such embodiments, the coil 51, or more in general the inner volume 50 of the induction sensor 5, is longer than the expected length of the susceptor 12, also according to the previously mentioned characteristics of the coil.

[0224] Preferably, the length of coil 51 is selected so as to be longer than the expected length of the susceptor 12 of at least 10 millimetres per side, to avoid magnetic field distortions at the end of the coil.

[0225] According to preferred embodiments, the control unit 7 is configured to determine if the length of the susceptor 12 corresponds to an expected value, by checking the variation of the feedback signal according to the position of the rod-shaped article 60 in the inner volume 50.

[0226] It will be appreciated that the control unit 7 may be adapted to calculate the length of the susceptor 12 located in the rod-shaped article 60 also according to different methods, for example taking in general into account other specific behaviour of the inductive sensor 5 during interaction of the rod-shaped article 1 with the inner volume 50.

[0227] More in general, the equivalent resistance of the feedback signal may be indicative of the nature or consistency of shape or composition of the susceptor 12. Accordingly, further characteristic of the susceptor 12 may be determined by the inspection device 100 of the invention.

[0228] In order to introduce the rod-shaped article 60 in the coil 51, in the inspection device 100 of FIG. 3, the coil 51 is divided in two semi-coils 65 and 66. The first semi-coil 66 is positioned below the outer surface 40 of the drum 4, while the first semi-coil is positioned above the outer surface 40 of the drum. The two semi-coils 65, 66 can move from a first operative position shown in FIG. 13, in which they form the coil 51. In this first operative position, the measurements described above by the inductive sensor and shown for example in FIG. 6 can be performed. The second operative position depicted in FIGS. 3 and 13, the second semi-coil 65 is moved along the coil axis 70 and distanced from the first semi-coil, so that a rod-shaped article 60 can be located in the seat 41. The movement is performed by means of an actuator 6 connected to the control unit 7.

[0229] In the inspection device 100 of FIGS. 3, 13, and 14, during operation, the rod-shaped articles 60 are inserted in seats 41. When the rod-shaped articles are positioned in the seats, the first semi-coil 66 and the second semi-coil 65 are in the second operative position, that is, the two semi-coils 65, 66 are separated from each other, as in FIGS. 3 and 14. As soon as the rod-shaped article 60 is in the seat, the first semi-coil 66 and second semi-coil 65 are moved to the first operative position of FIG. 13 so that the measurement with the inductive sensor 5 can take place. The relative movement of the first semi-coil and the second semi-coil is as follow: the first semi-coil 66 is positioned below the outer surface 40 and it is fixed with respect to the same, while the second semi-coil 65 translates back and forth from the first operative position of FIG. 14 to the second operative position of FIGS. 3 and 14, and vice-versa. The shifting of the second semi-coil 65 from the first operative position to the second operative position and vice-versa is obtained by means of a piston 69 connected to the actuator 6. The piston 69 is attached to the second semi-coil to move it linearly towards and away the first semi-coil, as shown by arrow 68 of FIG. 3 In a different embodiment of the invention, which is depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, instead of a movement of the coil with respect to the rod-shaped article as in the embodiment of FIGS. 3, 13 and 14, a movement of the rod-shaped article 60 with respect to the coil 51 takes place. In the inspection device 200, identical reference numbers as in inspection device 100 are used to identify the same elements. In the inspection device 200, the inductive sensor 5 includes coil 51 which is in this case attached to the outer surface 40 of the drum 4. The coil 51 (better seen in FIGS. 7 and 8) is for example located at one end of the seat 41. The inspection device 200 includes a compressed air system 8, 9 including a compressed air generator 9 and a gun 8 to eject a flow of compressed air. The gun may eject a flow of compressed air in a direction substantially parallel to the seat axis 42 and thus parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped article 60. The gun may be located at one side of the drum 4 and may be stationary, that is, it does not rotate with the drum. In this way, a single compressed air system may be used for all seats 41. During rotation, when a rod-shaped article passes in front of gun 8, a flow of compressed air is ejected, which pushes the rod-shaped article 60 inside the coil 51 and the measurement above described can take place, using inductive sensor 5. This is shown in FIG. 5 where a series of “screenshots” taken at consecutive time intervals is depicted. In the far left of the figure, a rod-shaped article 60 is inserted in the seat 41. In the subsequent rotation, the seat with the rod-shaped article 60 passes in front of gun 8 and a flow of compressed air is ejected along direction 83 by gun 8. The rod-shaped article 60 is then pushed inside coil 51 (see the following snapshots from left to right of the figure, till dotted line 64).

[0230] Dotted line 84 separates FIG. 5 in two. The second part on the right of dotted line 84 of FIG. 5 is taken several time intervals later than the left part (see details below).

[0231] The inspection device 100, 200 of the present invention may also comprise a rejection device (schematically depicted in the right part of FIG. 5 as a rectangle 82), adapted to reject rod-shaped articles 60 that has no susceptor 12 therein, or has a susceptor 12 which is not complaint with expected characteristics. As previously explained, the rod-shaped articles 60 may be advantageously rejected on the basis of the signal emitted by the induction sensor 5, according to calculation or determination made by the control unit 7. As shown in the right portion of FIG. 5, for example, the effect of the rejection device 82 is to keep the rod-shaped article 60 which are defective in the drum 4, while the valid rod-shaped articles 60 are transferred to other drums (not shown) to continue processing.

[0232] Rod shaped articles 600 may include also a first susceptor 12 and a second susceptor 121, as depicted in FIG. 9. Rod-shaped articles 600 substantially include two rod-shaped articles 60 according to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0233] In case a rod-shaped article 600 includes more than one susceptor, an inspection device according to a third embodiment is preferably provided, as inspection device 300 of FIG. 10.

[0234] The inspection device 300 includes two or more checking drums 4, at least a first drum and a second drum, each of which includes a coil 51. The first drum or the second drum are identical to drum 4, which can be according either to the first embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 13-14 or to the second embodiment of FIG. 4 or 5. The drums however are preferably of the same type, that is, either according to the first embodiment of inspection device 100, or according to the second embodiment of inspection device 200.

[0235] The first drum 4 is adapted to check the first susceptor 12 of the rod-shaped article 600, while the second drum 4 is adapted to check the second susceptor 121 of the rod-shaped article 600. For example, if the first drum and second drum are according to the second embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, in the first drum the compressed air system is located at the first side surface of the first drum, and in the second drum the compressed air system is located at the second side surface of the second drum.

[0236] From the first drum, after the inspection of the first susceptor 12, the rod-shaped article 600 is transferred to the second drum, as depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12. The first drum and second drum are substantially tangent to each other. The gap between the first drum and second drum is such that a rod-shaped article 600 can be inserted therebetween. The transfer takes place between a seat of the first drum and a seat of the second drum.

[0237] In FIG. 11, the transfer is shown between two drums 4 according to the first embodiment of FIGS. 3, 13, 14. In FIG. 12, the transfer is shown between two drums 4 according to the second embodiment of FIGS. 4, 5.

[0238] For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number A is understood as A±10 percent of A. Within this context, a number A may be considered to include numerical values that are within general standard error for the measurement of the property that the number A represents. The number A, in some instances as used in the appended claims, may deviate by the percentages enumerated above provided that the amount by which A deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.