Abstract
Apparatus (1) for identification of physical parameters of rod-like articles (2) of the tobacco industry provided with a multi-path conveyor (3) of rod-like articles (2), fed with rod-like articles from a supplying device; a radiation source (17) arranged for emitting radiation (R) towards the paths (P) of the multi-path conveyor (3); a radiation sensor (18) arranged so that the it receives the radiation (R) from the radiation source (17), after the radiation (R) penetrated through the multi-path conveyor (3) of rod-like articles (2); whereas the radiation source (17) and the radiation sensor (18) are situated on opposite sides of a transferring plane (A); characterised in that the radiation sensor (18) is positioned transversely to the paths (P) of the conveyor (3), whereas the radiation sensor (18) is arranged so that it produces a signal (S) representing attenuation of the radiation (R) penetrating through the rod-like articles (2) on the paths (P) of the multi-path conveyor (3), situated between the radiation source (17) and the radiation sensor (18).
Claims
1. Apparatus for identification of physical parameters of rod-like articles of the tobacco industry provided with a multi-path conveyor (3) of rod-like articles (2), fed with rod-like articles from a supplying device; a radiation source (17) arranged for emitting radiation (R) towards the paths (P) of the multi-path conveyor (3); a radiation sensor (18) arranged so that it receives the radiation (R) from the radiation source (17), after the radiation (R) penetrated through the multi-path conveyor (3) of rod-like articles (2); whereas the radiation source (17) and the radiation sensor (18) are situated on opposite sides of a transferring plane (A); characterised in that the radiation sensor (18) is positioned transversely to the paths (P) of the conveyor (3), whereas the radiation sensor (18) is arranged so that it produces a signal (S) representing attenuation of the radiation (R) penetrating through the rod-like articles (2) on the paths (P) of the multi-path conveyor (3), situated between the radiation source (17) and the radiation sensor (18).
2. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterised in that the radiation sensor (18) is a linear sensor or a matrix.
3. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterised in that the multi-path conveyor (3) of rod-like articles (2) is arranged so that it enables transferring groups (G) of rod-like articles (2) in a single plane, parallel to one another.
4. Apparatus as in claim 3 characterised in that the multi-path conveyor (3) of rod-like articles (3) is arranged so that all the rod-like articles (2) in a group (G) are aligned to one another.
5. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterised in that the radiation sensor (18) is situated beneath the carrying surface of the multi-path conveyor (3).
6. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterised in that the radiation sensor (18) is situated between the multi-path conveyor (3) and a first hopper (1).
7. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterised by being provided with a rotating unit (21) for simultaneous rotation of the rod-like articles (2) in a group (G) at the time of measurement of the parameters of the rod-like articles (2).
8. Apparatus as in claim 7 characterised in that the rotating unit (21) is integrated with the first hopper (1).
9. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterised in that the source of radiation (17) is a source of electromagnetic radiation of a frequency in the range between 10.sup.12 and 10.sup.19 Hz.
10. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterised that the radiation source (17) is arranged so that it produces the radiation (R) in the form of a sheet beam.
11. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterised in that the radiation source (17) is arranged so that the intensity of the emitted radiation (R) is adjustable to the speed of the multi-path conveyor (3).
12. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterised in that the radiation sensor (18) is arranged so that the exposure time of the radiation sensor (18) depends on the speed of the multi-path conveyor (3).
13. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterised by being further provided with a processing station (20) which is adapted to collect the signal (S) delivered from the radiation sensor (18) and produce on the basis of the signal (S) an image representing attenuation of the radiation (R) along the length of at least one rod-like article (2).
Description
[0018] The object of the invention was shown in detail in a preferred embodiment in a drawing in which:
[0019] FIG. 1shows a perspective view of a fragment of a production line,
[0020] FIG. 2, 3, 4show a side view of the line of FIG. 1,
[0021] FIG. 5shows a rotating unit,
[0022] FIG. 6shows a view of a multi-segment filter rod in a groove of a conveyor,
[0023] FIG. 7, 8show an image of the rod of FIG. 6.
[0024] FIG. 1 shows a fragment of a production line comprising a first hopper 1 for rod-like articles 2, a multi-path conveyor 3 of rod-like articles 2 and a measuring unit 4. The first hopper 1, which is a supplying device for the conveyor 3, is fed through a channel 5 (shown in the drawing as not filled with the articles), the upper part of the first hopper 1 constitutes a chamber 6, whereas the bottom part of the first conveyor 1 has the form of multiple channels 8 whose width is slightly greater than the diameter of the rod-like articles 2. The channels 8 are closed from the bottom by a wall 9 on which the rod-like articles 2 are situated. Behind the first hopper 1, at the level of the rod-like articles 2 situated lowest in the channels 8, there is situated a pushing mechanism 10 which makes a reciprocating motion and pushes the group G of rod like articles 2 out of the channels 8, whereas the group G comprises respectively one lowest situated article 2 of each channel 8. The rod-like articles 2 in the group G are aligned after being pushed out of the channels 8, i.e. their ends are arranged in line. A pushing element 11 of the pushing mechanism 10 may have the form of multiple rod-shaped pushers 12 in a number corresponding to the number of the rod-like articles 2 in the group G. The multi-path conveyor 3 has the form of a belt conveyor which comprises a multi-groove belt 13 which is wound round two rollers 14 and 15, whereas the roller 15 is driven by means of a not shown motor. The spaces between the grooves 16 are adapted to the spaces between the channels 8. The grooves 16, which constitute the carrying surface of the multi-path conveyor 3, may for example have the form of the letter V or the form of the letter U. The multi-path conveyor 3 may also be a chain conveyor. The grooves 16 determine the paths of movement for the rod-like articles 2, whereas in FIG. 1 one example path of movement P has been marked, whereas the path of movement P is not limited to the space directly above the carrying surface of the multi-path conveyor 3, but it extends in the direction before and behind the multi-path conveyor 3 considering the direction of movement of the conveyor 3. The paths of movement P of rod-like articles are parallel to one another and lie in the transferring plane A which may be determined on the surface of the multi-groove belt 13. Above the surface of the multi-groove belt 13, i.e. above the transferring plane A, a radiation source 17 is situated, while beneath the surface of the multi-groove belt 13 a radiation sensor 18 is situated. It is possible to make a reverse configuration where the radiation source 17 is situated beneath the transferring plane A, and the radiation sensor 18 above it. The radiation source 17 emits the radiation R which penetrates through the paths P in the transferring plane A and reaches the radiation sensor 18. The radiation sensor 18 may have the form of a strip or a matrix, whereas the matrix may comprise a plurality of individual sensors. The radiation sensor 18 may be arranged to receive the electromagnetic radiation of a frequency in the range between 10.sup.12 and 10.sup.19 Hz. In the embodiment the radiation sensor 18 was shown as a strip arranged to receive the radiation R. The radiation source 17 and the radiation sensor 18 determine a plane B. The plane B as well as the radiation sensor 18 in a top view is situated perpendicular to the direction of movement T of the rod-like articles 2 on the multi-groove belt 13, thus perpendicular to the axis of the articles 2 and to the paths of movement P. The radiation source 17 may be arranged to generate a flat beam referred to as sheet beam, whereas such beam is directed at the radiation sensor 18. It is possible to use such radiation source 17 whose radiation intensity or exposure time will be adjustable to the speed of movement of the rod-like articles. Behind the multi-path conveyor 3 there is situated a conveyor 19 onto which the rod-like articles 2 are supplied from the multi-path conveyor 3. The conveyor 19 conveys the rod-like articles 2 transversely to the axis of these articles and transversely to the direction of movement T of the rod-like articles 2 on the multi-path conveyor 3. In place of the conveyor 19 there may be situated a second hopper or container for rod-like articles 2.
[0025] The rod-like articles 2 are fed through the channel 5 in the form of a mass flow to the chamber 6 of the first hopper 1, and then they pass through the channels 8 of the bottom part of the first hopper 1. By means of the pushing mechanism 10 making reciprocating motions the rod-like articles 2 situated lowest in the channels 8 are pushed out as a group G from the channels 8 and are fed to the grooves 16 on the multi-groove belt 13. The rod-like articles 2 move on multiple paths P along the grooves 16 of the conveyor 3. The group G of rod-like articles 2 is conveyed on the belt 13 of the multi-path conveyor 3 in the direction T and passes through the plane B; a measurement is made when the article group G passes through this plane. The radiation R emitted by the radiation source 17 penetrates through the transferred articles 2. The radiation R while penetrating through the rod-like articles 2 is partially absorbed by the material of the articles 2. The radiation R from the radiation source 17 penetrates to a different extent through different materials used in the rod-like articles 2 due to different radiation hardness of such materials. During the movement of the multi-groove belt 13 of the multi-path conveyor 3 the radiation sensor 18 receives the radiation R for successive positions of the rod-like articles 2, i.e. the representations of successive cross-sections of the rod-like article 2 are created in the form of successive lines which represent the attenuation of radiation in successive cross-sections of the rod-like articles 2. In other words, the sensor receives information about the properties of the material in successive cross-sections of the rod-like articles 2. The signals S which contain information about the successive cross-sections are sent to the processing station 20 for successive cross-sections along the length of the rod-like articles. The signals S may be converted to a single line of a created image. The processing station 20, having received successive signals S, makes a compilation of such signals in order to obtain a two-dimensional image of the rod-like articles 2 in the group G. The processing station 20 may prepare an image of the entire group, i.e. all articles in the group G, or separate images of individual articles of the group G, whereas it is possible for a receiver in the form of both a strip and a matrix. Once the measurement has been made, the rod-like articles 2 are transferred from the multi-path conveyor 3 to a receiving device 19. After an analysis of the prepared images any defective rod-like articles 2 may be rejected from the production.
[0026] FIGS. 2 and 3 show example locations of the measuring unit 4 comprising the radiation source 17 and the radiation sensor 18. The rod-like articles 2 are transferred above the radiation sensor 18 with the travel speed of the multi-groove belt 13. The radiation sensor 18 may be situated at a certain distance from the first hopper 1 (as in FIG. 2) or right next to the first hopper 1 (as in FIG. 3). If the measuring unit 4 is located right next to the first hopper 1 the transfer of the article group G above the radiation sensor 18 may be accomplished simultaneously with pushing out the article group G by the pushing mechanism 10.
[0027] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 the multi-path conveyor 3 has been moved away from the first hopper 1. In the space between the multi-path conveyor 3 and the first hopper 1 there is situated a first rotating unit 21 for simultaneous rotation of the rod-like articles 2 pushed out of the first hopper 1 in the form of the group G of rod-like articles 2. At the time of rotation of the rod-like articles 2 the radiation sensor 18 receives the radiation emitted from the radiation source 17, and the images of rod-like articles are generated based on which the position of elements placed in the article may be determined in three dimensions. The elements placed in the rod-like articles 2 comprise capsules with aromatic substances and various inserts made of metal or plastic. The rotating unit 21 may be arranged to rotate the rod-like articles 2 after they have been pushed out by the pushing unit 10 or when the rod-like articles 2 are being pushed out by the pushing unit 10, whereas the rod-shaped pushers 12 of the pushing unit 10 may have the possibility of rotation around the axis of rotation of the rod-like articles 2. The possibility of rotation of the rod-shaped pushers 12 reduces the friction between the rod-like articles 2 and the rod-shaped pushers 12 during the rotation of the rod-like articles 2 by the rotating unit 21.
[0028] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the rotating unit 21 in the form of two belts 22 and 23 which are put in motion during the rotation of the rod-like articles 2 so that the sections of the belts coming into contact with the rod-like articles 2 move in opposite directions TL and TR.
[0029] FIG. 6 shows an example of the rod-like article 2 in the form of a multi-segment filter rod situated along the path of movement P on the multi-groove belt 13. The multi-segment filter rod contains components in the form of four segments 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D, whereas a capsule 2E is positioned in the segment 2C (the rod was shown as transparent without any wrapping material).
[0030] FIG. 7 shows a two-dimensional image of a multi-segment rod generated after that rod has been x-rayed, whereas the image may be generated on the basis of a measurement made with the aid of the method described above using the radiation sensor in the form of a strip as well as a two-dimensional matrix.
[0031] FIG. 8 shows an image of a multi-segment rod subjected to further processing. Example dimensions such as segment lengths z1, z2, z4, full rod length z6 and capsule position defined by the dimension z3 or z5 which may be used in the quality analysis have been marked.
