DETECTING SEGMENTS FOR AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLES WITH TWO CONSECUTIVE SENSORS

Abstract

Detecting Segments for Aerosol-Generating Articles with Two Consecutive Sensors A method for conducting a quality control of an arrangement (3) of segments for aerosol-generating articles is provided. The arrangement (3) of segments comprises at least two segments arranged consecutively along a longitudinal axis (15), wherein each segment extends along the longitudinal axis (15) between two opposing longitudinal ends of the segment. The at least two segments comprise at least one aerosol-generating segment (17). The at least one aerosol-generating segment (17) comprises an aerosol-generating material (21) and a susceptor (19). The susceptor (19) comprises a metallic material for heating the aerosol-generating material (21). The method comprises carrying out a first measurement comprising detecting the susceptor (19) by magnetic interaction with the metallic material of the susceptor (19). The method further comprises carrying out a second measurement comprising optically detecting at least one longitudinal end of at least one of the segments.

Claims

1. Method for conducting a quality control of an arrangement of segments for aerosol-generating articles, wherein the arrangement of segments comprises at least two segments arranged consecutively along a longitudinal axis, wherein each segment extends along the longitudinal axis between two opposing longitudinal ends of the segment; wherein the at least two segments comprise at least one aerosol-generating segment; wherein the at least one aerosol-generating segment comprises an aerosol-generating material and a susceptor; wherein the susceptor comprises a metallic material for heating the aerosol-generating material; and wherein the method comprises carrying out a first measurement comprising detecting the susceptor by magnetic interaction with the metallic material of the susceptor; and carrying out a second measurement comprising optically detecting at least one longitudinal end of at least one of the segments, wherein the second measurement comprises detecting a position of the at least one longitudinal end along the longitudinal axis.

2. (canceled)

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the at least two segments comprise at least one of: a filter segment, or a segment with a hollow acetate tube, or a mouthpiece segment.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement of segments further comprises a wrapper wrapped around the at least two segments.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the second measurement comprises detecting the at least one longitudinal end by an optical transmission measurement.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the second measurement comprises detecting an interface of adjacent segments.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein the first measurement comprises inducing electrical currents in the susceptor by magnetic interaction with the susceptor.

8. Method according to claim 1, further comprising conveying the arrangement of segments, wherein one or both of the first measurement and the second measurement are carried out while the arrangement of segments is conveyed.

9. Method according to claim 1, further comprising separating the arrangement of segments from at least a further arrangement of segments between the first measurement and the second measurement.

10. Method according to claim 1, further comprising evaluating data from the first measurement and data from the second measurement to determine lengths of the individual segments of the arrangement of segments.

11. System for conducting a quality control of an arrangement of segments for aerosol-generating articles, wherein the arrangement of segments comprises at least two segments arranged consecutively along a longitudinal axis, wherein each segment extends along the longitudinal axis between two opposing longitudinal ends of the segment; wherein the at least two segments comprise at least one aerosol-generating segment; wherein the at least one aerosol-generating segment comprises an aerosol-generating material and a susceptor; wherein the susceptor comprises a metallic material for heating the aerosol-generating material; and wherein the system comprises a first measurement station comprising a magnetic detector configured to detect the susceptor by magnetic interaction with the metallic material of the susceptor; a second measurement station comprising an optical detector configured to optically detect at least one longitudinal end of at least one of the segments, wherein the optical detector is configured to detect a position of the at least one longitudinal end along the longitudinal axis; and a conveying system configured to convey the arrangement of segments along a transport path through the first measurement station and the second measurement station.

12. System according to claim 11, wherein the magnetic detector comprises at least one detection coil and a measurement device for measuring a current flowing through the detection coil.

13. System according to claim 11, wherein the magnetic detector comprises an excitation. coil configured to induce electrical currents in the susceptor.

14. System according to claim 11, wherein the magnetic detector is configured to detect a position of the susceptor in a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

15. (canceled)

16. System according to claim 11, wherein the optical detector is configured to detect an interface of adjacent segments.

17. System according to claim 11, further comprising a cutting station arranged between the first measurement station and the second measurement station, the cutting station being configured to separate the arrangement of segments from at least a further arrangement of segments.

18. System according to claim 11, wherein the optical detector comprises a light source and a light detector, the light source and the light detector being arranged on opposing sides of the transport path.

19. System according to claim 11, further comprising a computing device configured to determine lengths of the individual segments of the arrangement of segments by combining measurement data from the first measurement station with measurement data from the second measurement station.

20. Use of a magnetic detector for determining at least one of the position and length of an aerosol-generating segment in an arrangement of segments for aerosol-generating articles, wherein the arrangement of segments comprises at least two segments consecutively arranged along a longitudinal axis, wherein measurement data from the magnetic detector are combined with measurement data from an optical detector optically detecting at least one longitudinal end of at least one of the segments, wherein optically detecting the at least one longitudinal end comprises detecting a position of the at least one longitudinal end along the longitudinal axis.

21. (canceled)

22. Use according to claim 20, wherein optically detecting the at least one longitudinal end comprises detecting an interface of adjacent segments.

23. Use according to claim 20, wherein the arrangement of segments is separated from at least a further arrangement of segments between the magnetic detector and the optical detector.

24. Use according to claim 20, wherein measurement data from the magnetic detector and measurement data from the optical detector are evaluated to determine lengths of the individual segments of the arrangement of segments.

Description

[0107] Embodiments will now be further described with reference to the figures in which:

[0108] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a system for conducting a quality control of an arrangement of segments according to an embodiment;

[0109] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of an arrangement of segments according to an embodiment as present downstream of the cutting station in FIG. 1;

[0110] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a combination of two arrangements of segments according to an embodiment as present upstream of the cutting station in FIG. 1;

[0111] FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the first measurement station according to an embodiment;

[0112] FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of the first measurement station according to another embodiment; and

[0113] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the second measurement station according to an embodiment.

[0114] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a system 1 for conducting a quality control of an arrangement 3 of segments for aerosol-generating articles. Arrangements 3 of segments are conveyed along a transport path by a conveying system 5. In FIG. 1, the arrangements 3 of segments are conveyed essentially from left to right.

[0115] At the upstream, left side in FIG. 1, the arrangements 3 of segments are provided in the form of combinations 7 of arrangements 3. The combinations 7 each comprise two arrangements 3 of segments. The system 1 comprises a cutting station 9, at which the combinations 7 of arrangements 3 are separated into individual arrangements 3 of segments. Thus, downstream of the cutting station 9 (to the right of the cutting station 9 in FIG. 1), the arrangements 3 of segments are provided in the form of individual arrangements 3 of segments.

[0116] The conveying system 5 comprises a linear conveyor 11 conveying the arrangements 3 of segments from left to right in FIG. 1 through the cutting station 9 along a transport direction 13.

[0117] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of an arrangement 3 of segments as present in the system 1 downstream of the cutting station 9, with the sectional plane being parallel to the transport direction 13. The arrangement 3 of segments comprises a plurality of cylindrical segments arranged consecutively along an axial direction 15. The axial direction 15 is oriented parallel to the transport direction 13 when the arrangement 3 of segments is conveyed along the transport direction 13.

[0118] In the illustrated embodiment, the arrangement 3 of segments comprises two aerosol-generating segments 17. The aerosol-generating segments 17 each comprise a susceptor 19 and a sleeve of aerosol-generating material 21 cylindrically surrounding the susceptor 19. The susceptor 19 comprises metallic material and is configured to be heated to heat the aerosol-generating material 21 to release aerosol from the aerosol-generating material 21.

[0119] The arrangement 3 of segments further comprises two front plug segments 23 provided at the opposing ends of the arrangement 3 of segments. Further, the arrangement 3 of segments comprises two segments 25 comprising a hollow acetate tube 27, and a further segment 29 comprising a thinner hollow acetate tube 31. The hollow acetate tube 27 and the thinner hollow acetate tube 31 may provide channels through which aerosol released by the aerosol-generating material 21 may be guided before reaching the mouth of a user to allow the aerosol to cool down to a certain extent.

[0120] The arrangement 3 of segments further comprises a wrapper 33 wrapped around all the segments of the arrangement 3 of segments, thereby combining the segments. In the illustrated embodiment, the arrangement 3 of segments is a double-stick arrangement 3, which will later be cut in the middle of the segment 29 comprising the thinner hollow acetate tube 31 to provide two essentially identical mono-sticks. The mono-sticks will be combined with a filter segment, respectively, to form an aerosol-generating article.

[0121] FIG. 3 shows the combination 7 of arrangements 3 as present in the system 1 upstream of the cutting station 9. The combination 7 of arrangements 3 comprises two arrangements 3 of segments that are arranged consecutively along the longitudinal axis 15 and share a common wrapper 33. As stated above, the combinations 7 of arrangements 3 of segments are separated at the cutting station 9 into two arrangements 3 of segments, respectively.

[0122] In the illustrated embodiment, the arrangements 3 of segments are transferred to a transport wheel 34 downstream of the cutting station 9. The transport wheel 34 rotates about a rotation axis 35 that is parallel to the transport direction 13. The arrangements 3 of segments are received in grooves provided on the outer circumferential surface of the transport wheel 34. The transport wheel 34 transfers the arrangements 3 of segments to another linear conveyor 37. The system 1 is configured to carry out quality control on the arrangements 3 of segments. In particular, the system 1 is configured to determine whether the individual segments are correctly arranged and have the correct length.

[0123] The system 1 comprises a first measurement station 39 provided upstream of the cutting station 9. The first measurement station 39 carries out a first measurement on the arrangements 3 of segments while the arrangements 3 of segments are conveyed along the transport direction 13. The system 1 further comprises a second measurement station 41 provided downstream of the cutting station 9. In the illustrated embodiment, the second measurement station 41 is configured to carry out a second measurement on the arrangements 3 of segments, while the arrangements 3 of segments are transported by the transport wheel 34. Measurement data from the first measurement station 39 and measurement data from the second measurement station 41 are transferred to a computing unit 43 of the system 1.

[0124] The first measurement station 39 detects the susceptor 19 of the aerosol-generating segments 17 by magnetic interaction with the metallic material of the susceptor 19. The first measurement station comprises a magnetic detector 45.

[0125] FIG. 4 shows a first embodiment of the first measurement station 39. The magnetic detector 45 comprises a detection coil 47 and a measurement device 49 measuring a current flowing through the detection coil 47. The arrangements 3 of segments are conveyed by the linear conveyor 11 through the detection coil 47 along the transport direction 13, that is in parallel to the longitudinal axis 15. The detection coil 47 is powered by a square wave signal. The square wave signal may have a frequency in the range of 100 Kilohertz to 1000 Kilohertz, for example. The magnetic detector 45 is sensitive to the metallic material of the susceptor 19. When an aerosol-generating segment 17 comprising a metallic susceptor 19 passes through the detection coil 47, the inductance of the detection coil 47 changes. This is measured by measuring the current through the detection coil 47 with the measurement device 49. Based on this, the start and end of the susceptor 19 along the longitudinal direction 15 may be determined. This may correspond to the start and end positions of the aerosol-generating segments 17. The data from the first measurement station 39 may also be used to determine the length of the individual susceptors 19 or of the individual aerosol-generating segments 17, respectively.

[0126] FIG. 5 shows a magnetic detector 45 according to a second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the magnetic detector 45 comprises an excitation coil 51. The excitation coil 51 is powered by a square wave signal. The square wave signal may have a frequency in the range of 100 Kilohertz to 1000 Kilohertz, for example. The arrangements 3 of segments are conveyed through the excitation coil 51 along the transport direction 13, which is parallel to the longitudinal axial 15. The magnetic detector 45 according to the embodiment of FIG. 5 further comprises four detection coils 47. The detection coils 47 are arranged at 90 degrees intervals around the transport direction 13 and are oriented such that the axes around which the detection coils 47 are wound extend perpendicular to the transport direction 13. The currents through the four detection coils 47 are individually monitored. When a susceptor 19 passes between the detection coils 47, the currents in the detection coils 47 change. This allows detecting the position and length of the susceptor 19 and, thus, of the respective aerosol-generating segment 17.

[0127] Analyzing and comparing the current measurements from the individual detection coils 47 in the embodiment of FIG. 5 further allows determining the orientation of the susceptor 19 within the aerosol-generating segment 17. In particular, if the current flowing through a first detection coil 47 of a pair of opposing detection coils 47 is greater than a current through the other detection coil 47 of the respective pair of opposing detection coils 47, this may indicate that the susceptor 19 is deviated from a central position in the aerosol-generating segment 17 towards the detection coil 47 with the higher current.

[0128] FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the second measurement station 41. The grooves in the transport wheel 33 may be formed of transparent material. The second measurement station 41 comprises an optical detector 53. The optical detector 53 comprises a light source 55 provided within the transport wheel 34. The light source 55 emits light towards an arrangement 3 of segments that is received in one of the grooves of the transport wheel 34 that currently faces the light source 55 due to the rotation position of the transport wheel 34. The optical detector 53 further comprises a light detector 57 provided opposite to the light source 55 with respect to the arrangement 3 of segments. Light from the light source 55 is partially transmitted through the arrangement 3 of segments. Depending on the specific material of the individual segments of the arrangement 3 of segments, the transmission ratio of light through the arrangement 3 of segments is different for the individual segments. The light detector 57 records an intensity distribution of the transmitted light along the axial direction 15. Based on different transmittances of the individual segments, the positions of longitudinal ends of at least some of the segments may be determined based on the measurement data recorded by the light detector 57. Further, the length of one or more of the segments may be determined by the data recorded by the light detector 57.

[0129] The computing device 43 receives measurement data from the first measurement station 39 and measurement data from the second measurement station 41. The computing device 43 evaluates the data from the first measurement station 39 and the second measurement station 41 to determine at least one of the position and length of one or more of the segments of the arrangement 3 of segments.

[0130] The computing device 43 may compare the information on the position or length of the segments with target data. Based on the comparison, the computing device 43 may determine whether the individual arrangements 3 of segments comply with a quality requirement specification. Based on the comparison by the computing device 43, appropriate steps may be taken, such as removing non-compliant arrangements 3 of segments from the production process, or carrying out maintenance or adjustment work in the respective production line.

[0131] 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 modifies. 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.