Patent GB-1016502-A (GB)
Title: Method and apparatus for detecting and rejecting substandard rod-like articles such as cigarettes
Inventor: KAEDING HEINZ
IPC: G01N15/08
Filed: 1961-08-03
Abstract: 1,016,502. Cigarette-making machines. K. KÍRBER. July 31, 1962 [Aug. 3, 1961; Oct. 15, 1961], Nos. 28213/61 and 33252/61. Heading A2C. Faulty cigarettes are detected by passing air through them individually when held in a holder which releases the cigarette if the air flow through it varies outside predetermined limits. As shown in Fig. 1 a testing drum 1 is preceded by a drum 60 and followed by a cutting drum 61. Groups G, consisting of a pair of axially aligned cigarettes are fed from the drum 60 to the testing drum 1 which is provided with grooves 2 and clamp blocks 3 and 4 which grip each group and are reciprocated axially by guide rollers 5 and 6 co-operating with stationary cams 48 and 49 (Figs. 2B and 2A). The blocks 3 and 4 are provided with sealing caps 7 and 8 having air openings 11 which communicate with passages 29 and 28 in the blocks 3 and 4. Blocks 14 are fastened on the surface of the drum 1 parallel to the axis of the grooves 2 and between the blocks 3 and 4. Co-axial guide bores 13 and 17 are provided in each end of the blocks 14 so that a guide tube 12, connected with the block 3, is inserted in the bore 13, and a guide tube 16, connected with the block 4, is inserted in the bore 17. Compression springs 17 and 18 are provided. A diaphragm 20 is inserted in the block 14 and is connected through an air bore in the tube 16, bores 25, 26 and 28 in the block 4, the group G to be tested, bores 29, 30 and 32 in the block 3, opening 33 in the tube 12 and radial bore 34 in the block 14, to a connecting pipe 56 radially cut in the drum 1. The diaphragm acts upon one arm of a two-armed locking lever 36, pivoted about a shaft 37, the other arm of which is urged by a compression spring 46 so as to move the lever 36 out of a locking position in which a catch face 39 engages a projection 41 on the block 4. In operation, groups G are transferred to the drum 1 from the drum 60 and gripped between the clamp blocks 3 and 4 by the action of cams 48 and 49 on the rollers 5 and 6. Air then passes through the connecting point 56 and radial bore 34 via the groups G and into the diaphragm 20. Unless the group is faulty the air pressure in the diaphragm is sufficient to raise the lever 36 against the action of a spring 46 to cause a catch face 39 to engage the projection 41. When the cam 49 releases the roller 6 the block is thus held in group holding position and the group retained. If, however, the group is faulty the pressure in the diaphragm is insufficient to operate a catch face 39 so that the block 4 retracts and releases the faulty group which falls away at the rejection point B. After passing the rejection point the cam 49 presses the block 4 back into group holding position so that the catch 39 is released. Testing air is shut off and the satisfactory groups fed to the cutting drum 61. In a second embodiment instead of air pressure, suction may be employed in which case the diaphragm is arranged on the same side of the pivot 37 as spring 46 (Fig. 4, not shown). In a further embodiment (Fig. 5, not shown) the testing drum is arranged to rotate about a vertical axis, one set of group holders being pivotally mounted about horizontal axes to allow faulty cigarettes to fall away.