Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for detecting light obtain a first light-measurement objective, wherein a light-measurement objective defines one or more of an intensity of emitted light, a spectrum of emitted light, a spectrum of detected light, and a reflectance angle of detected light; obtain a second light-measurement objective; obtain an angular-dependence objective, wherein the angular-dependence objective defines a difference between a first light-reflection angle and a second light-reflection angle; select first settings values for one or more first illumination-emission devices and one or more first illumination-detection devices based on the first light-measurement objective; select second settings values for one or more second illumination-emission devices and one or more second illumination-detection devices based on the second light-measurement objective; and select a speed of an object conveyor based on the angular-dependence objective.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a robot may scale a motion of a surgical robot based on a type of object gripped by the surgical robot. In the robot controlling method, by scaling the motion of the surgical robot based on the type of object gripped by the surgical robot, the surgical robot may automatically perform the motion on objects using an optimized force although a user does not control a force minutely based on the type of object gripped by the surgical robot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of forming portions of tobacco, and of removing the same by an conveyor having at least one path of holders for a respective portion, in which the holders are filled with individual portions of the contents at least two filling lines of one or more filling stations, and, prior to the individual filling operations, individual portions of the contents are weighed and weighed portions that satisfy the predetermined conditions—acceptable portions—are filled cyclically into the holders and weighed portions that do not satisfy the predetermined conditions are detected and ejected as defective portions, characterized by components and steps of (a) following detection of a defective portion, that holder which the filling line originally predetermined for filling this holder would have filled with the contents portion, on which the defective portion is based, had the contents portion satisfied the predetermined conditions—defective-portion holder—is sensed, and a filling line other than that ori

Abstract: An applied flavoring-material inspecting device suitable to inspect that a flavoring material containing a fluorescent substance is applied on cigarette wrapping paper evenly and in a proper amount. The inspecting device comprises a light source (10) for casting ultraviolet light onto a flavoring-material application surface of cigarette wrapping paper on which a flavoring material with a fluorescent substance added or containing a fluorescent substance is applied, a camera (20) for obtaining an image of the flavoring-material application surface from fluorescence radiated due to the ultraviolet light, and an image processing means (30) for detecting an area of a fluorescence irradiation region in an image for inspection obtained by digitizing the image obtained by the camera and determining an applying state of the flavoring material applied on the cigarette wrapping paper, from the area of the fluorescence irradiation region.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for detection and segregation of faulty cigarettes in a production/packaging installation for cigarettes having an apparatus by means of which faulty cigarettes are segregated from the conveyed sequence of cigarettes, wherein the apparatus and method use a generator and evaluation circuits for radio-frequency electromagnetic fields and use a sensor past whose end surface the ends of the cigarettes are passed and which applies the radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to the end surface of the sensor, whose size corresponds approximately to the size of the end surface of the cigarettes, with the changes in the electromagnetic fields as a cigarette passes being evaluated.

Abstract: Cigarettes are manufactured using modified automated cigarette making apparatus. Those cigarettes possess smokable rods having paper wrapping materials having additive materials applied thereto as patterns. The additive material can be applied as a coating formulation in an off-line manner to a continuous paper sheet web that is later used for cigarette manufacture. The additive material can be applied as a coating formulation in an on-line manner to continuous paper web moving through an operating cigarette making machine. The coating formulation is applied to the paper web using roll applicator techniques, ink jet printing techniques or electrostatic precipitation techniques. Liquid coating formulation are curable, and are virtually absent of solvent or liquid carrier. Radiation, such as ultraviolet or electron beam radiation, is used to solidify and fix polymerizable liquid components of the coating formulation that have been applied to the paper web.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting and selecting foreign parts in cigarettes, in which the tobacco is exposed in the vicinity of the cigarette maker to microwave radiation and both a signal SD relating to the tobacco density and a signal SF relating to the tobacco moisture are generated. The density signal SD and moisture signal SF are evaluated in combination with one another for the detection of the presence or absence of foreign parts in the tobacco.

Abstract: An appearance inspection device for a rod-like article comprises a rotatable main drum (20) interposed as a feeding drum in a drum train that defines a feeding path in a filter cigarette manufacturing machine, upstream and downstream bypass drum trains (24, 40) located in the outside of the main drum (20) and receiving a filter cigarette (FC) from the main drum (20) to bypass the cigarette, and an inspection camera (42) situated between the bypass drum trains (24, 40) in a circumferential direction of the main drum (20). The inspection camera (42) directly or indirectly images exposed circumferential surfaces of filter cigarettes (FC), that are different from one another, when the filter cigarettes (FC) are conveyed on the main drum (20) and each of the bypass drum trains (24, 40).

Abstract: Packs of rod-shaped smokers' products comprise containers of a material which permits monitoring of their contents by a suitable detector serving to generate signals which indicate the presence of characteristic indicia on one or more packed smokers' products. Such signals are encoded and the encoded information is applied to the respective containers. The information can be decoded and compared with signals furnished by the detector in order to ascertain whether or not the smokers' products are genuine, i.e., made by the manufacurer whose trademark(s) and/or other identifying information appear or appears on the containers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting and selecting foreign parts in cigarettes, in which the tobacco is exposed in the vicinity of the cigarette maker to microwave radiation and both a signal SD relating to the tobacco density and a signal SF relating to the tobacco moisture are generated. The density signal SD and moisture signal SF are evaluated in combination with one another for the detection of the presence or absence of foreign parts in the tobacco.

Abstract: A device for detecting a shredded tobacco filling density in a tobacco rod includes four light sources (18, 20, 22 and 24) arranged separately from one another at an angle of 45° around a tobacco rod (T) and causing infrared rays to enter the tobacco rod (T), two light receivers (26 and 28) disposed around the tobacco rod (T) on a side opposite to the four light sources and arranged separately from each other at an angle of 90°, and a measuring device (44) for measuring the shredded tobacco filling density in the tobacco rod (T) based on outputs from the light receivers (26 and 28).

Abstract: In an optical density checking apparatus, a 0.7-&mgr;m first light beam not transmitted through shredded leaf tobacco and a 1.3-&mgr;m second light beam transmitted through the shredded leaf tobacco, which are from first and second light sources, are synthesized, and an obtained synthetic light beam is applied to a tobacco rod. The projected light quantities, reflected light quantities, and passing light quantities of the first and second light beams are measured by a composite light-receiving element, projected light quantity control circuit, and arithmetic circuit. The arithmetic circuit calculates the transmitted light quantity of the second light beam transmitted through the shredded leaf tobacco on the basis of the projected light quantities, reflected light quantities, and passing light quantities of the first and second light beams, and calculates the density of the shredded leaf tobacco on the basis of the transmitted light quantity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for testing cigarette heads, at least one region of a cigarette head being irradiated with light, and light reflected by the cigarette head being received by a detector in such a way that irradiating and received reflected light run at an angle to one another, the irradiated region is imaged on the detector and a signal generated by the detector is evaluated. Such known methods have the disadvantage that they are inaccurate and do not permit exact statements on the state of cigarettes. The invention is therefore based on the problem of improving the testing of cigarettes. It solves this problem by virtue of the fact that, when evaluating, a possible deviation, in particular a distance, of the position of the image of the irradiated region from an expected position of an image of a corresponding region of an ideal cigarette head onto the detector is determined, the deviation being used to determine the distance of the irradiated region from a desired position of this region.

Abstract: A continuous web of cigarette paper or other wrapping material, particularly for smokers' products, is split by a pair of rotary knives into two strips which are fed to discrete strip processing units, such as wrapping units for rod-like tobacco fillers. If the width of the web and/or of one strip or both strips departs from a predetermined width, the web is shifted sideways and/or at least one of the strips is moved relative to the other strip to at least partially compensate for departures of monitored width from the predetermined width. This can be accomplished by changing the orientation of a a frame for rollers which flank the web and/or by changing the level or levels of one or more rolls which advance the web by way of the strips.

Abstract: A method of detecting the positions occupied on a pallet by stacks of blanks arranged on the pallet in a number of superimposed layers and, in each layer, in a number of side by side rows, to enable automatic pickup of each stack and supply of the stack to a cigarette packing machine; the method including the step of moving a sensor along each row to determine a lateral contour of the row close to a bases of the relative stacks.

Abstract: A cigarette testing apparatus includes a ventilation-characteristic measuring section having a ventilation vessel which is disposed horizontally so as to reduce the vertical dimension of the apparatus. A cigarette is supplied in a horizontal position from a cigarette supplying section to a weight measuring section where the cigarette weight is measured. The cigarette ejected therefrom is transferred to a circumference measuring section, a ventilation-characteristic measuring section and a length/hardness measuring section in this order in a condition that the horizontal position is kept unchanged. In these sections, the circumference, ventilation characteristic, length and hardness of the cigarette are measured in sequence.

Abstract: In an apparatus for making and inspecting a multi-component cigarettes, each cigarette including two or more different components arranged relative to one another, the apparatus includes a device for advancing a web in a first direction. The apparatus further includes a device for positioning at least two different components of a cigarette relative to one another on the web as the web advances in the first direction. The apparatus further includes a garniture device for wrapping the web around the at least two different components by moving opposite edges of the web transversely to the first direction such that, at a closure point in the garniture device, the opposite edges overlap each other. The apparatus further includes an imaging device disposed upstream of the closure point for generating an image of the at least two different components.

Abstract: A density inspection apparatus and method. The apparatus is disposed downstream of a wrapping section of a cigarette manufacturing machine. In accordance with pulse output signals generated by a rotary encoder in synchronism with the travel of a cigarette rod, a zone of the rod is subjected to density inspection. An actual density signal indicating the tobacco shred filling density in the inspected zone is intermittently supplied from a density detector, and a group of reference density signals indicative of a change in density of a low-density portion of a dummy cigarette is supplied from a storage device. A difference between each actual density signal and a corresponding reference density signal is calculated, and the square sum of the signal differences in respect of all the density signals is calculated to determine a nonconformity degree between the actual and reference density signals.

Abstract: An inspection station irradiates a moving cigarette with a one or more strobed arrays of infrared LEDs. The infrared radiation which passes through the cigarette is received by a video camera, which forms a digital image of the cigarette. A computer then detects the edges of the digital image of the cigarette and determines therefrom the length of the filter, hollow acetate tube, void chamber, tobacco plug, as well as the overall length of the cigarette. The computer then compares these measurements with expected standard values of these sections, and outputs the comparison results to the user using various display formats. According to exemplary aspects, the present invention delivers the cigarettes one at a time to the video camera using a parts handling system. The parts handling system comprises a infeed bin for storing a batch of cigarettes, and for dispensing a cigarette to a carriage positioned beneath the infeed bin.

Abstract: A filter assembly machine for producing ventilated tobacco products; the machine having a conveying drum in turn having a number of peripheral seats for successively feeding the products along a given path extending about an axis of the drum; the products being housed inside the respective seats with respective longitudinal axes parallel to the axis of the drum, and being rotated at least 360.degree. about their respective axes as they are fed along the path; the machine also having a perforating device associated with the drum to form a number of perforations in each product; and an extracting device and an optical device for controlling the products being provided along the path and mounted along the outer periphery of the drum.

Abstract: When tobacco shreds continuously supplied while the supply amount thereof is controlled are wrapped continuously with an elongated cigarette paper to form a tobacco rod and the tobacco rod is cut to predetermined lengths to manufacture cigarettes, the filling amount (filling density) of tobacco shreds at every portion in the lengthwise direction of tobacco rod is continuously measured in connection with the wrapping operation of the tobacco rod. The filling amount (momentary value) at every portion of the tobacco rod is compared with threshold values set in advance to detect a local excess filling portion and/or deficient filling portion of the tobacco shreds. This detection result is output in synchronization with the conveying timing of a cigarette having a predetermined length continuously cut from the tobacco rod, by which a cigarette including the local excess filling portion or deficient filling portion of tobacco shreds can be rejected surely.

Abstract: A unit for sampling and quality controlling tobacco items, in particular cigarettes, wherein a sample item, fed by a first conveyor along a first given path, is transferred automatically by a selectively operated spoon-shaped diverter along a second path to a second conveyor tangent to the first path. The sample item is fed to a support in which it is supported in facing relation to an optical control device. The sample item is inspected in the support and the optical control device emits signals as a function of the surface characteristics of the sample item.

Abstract: A device for inspecting the filter end face of a filter cigarette is provided with an optical sensor having an aperture ring for emitting a measuring light toward the filter end face and receiving the light reflected from the filter end face and outputting a detection signal corresponding to the luminous energy of the reflected light, a hood for covering the aperture ring of the optical sensor, a plurality of injection holes for injecting compressed air into the hood, and a processing unit for determining whether the filter end face is normal or not in accordance with the detection signal output from the optical sensor.

Abstract: A monitoring system comprises an inspection device incorporated in a cigarette manufacturing machine and a server computer connected to the inspection device by means of a communication line. The inspection device includes a measuring circuit for continuously calculating the fill of the cut tobacco in each of a given number of divisions of each cigarette in accordance with a detection signal from a density sensor, an enrollment control section for repeatedly storing calculation data from the measuring circuit in a quantity corresponding to a predetermined number of cigarettes at a time, and a CPU for computing average calculation data for each division of each cigarette in accordance with the stored calculation data. The server computer originates quality data for the cigarettes in accordance with the average calculation data and displays the quality data on a CRT.

Abstract: A cigarette, with a cigarette paper and a filter paper of different colors and separated by a boundary line with a given nominal position, is fed past a pair of optical sensors located on either side of the nominal position of the boundary line. The optical sensors generate a pair of electric signals each related to the color of the respective monitored portion of the cigarette, and which are compared with each other; and, in the event the difference between the signals is below a given threshold value, an error signal is generated for rejecting the cigarette.

Abstract: A sampling apparatus of the present invention comprises a sampling drum located in the vicinity of a drum train of a filter attachment, a suction carrier arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the sampling drum and having a sampling groove, a suction channel in the sampling drum for supplying a suction pressure to the sampling groove, and a shutter in the sampling drum for opening and closing the suction channel, the sampling groove periodically approaching one of filter cigarettes transported on the drum train as the sampling drum rotates.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus which allows for the facile and accurate measurement of the recess of a cylindrical core of filter tow which is surrounded by a paper wrapper which extends beyond the core to form the recess.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for improving the quality of products produced in a cigarette manufacturing process. Selected machine operating parameters for at least one machine are monitored, as well as the product being produced. Samples of the product being produced are automatically obtained and tested for quality parameters. Machine operators are notified when to manually test samples of the product for quality parameters. The machine operators can request a test of a quality parameter. The actual test measurements of the quality parameters for either the automatically obtained samples or the manually tested samples are compared against expected values and alarms are presented and the testing is resequenced when the measured quality parameters fail to meet the expected values. Also, employee solution procedures are presented to aid in problem resolution. The time periods and downtime reason when each machine is inoperative is recorded.

Abstract: A statistical ventilation control device for ventilated cigarettes, wherein an annular conveyor presents a number of seats, each receiving a respective ventilated cigarette arranged perpendicular to the traveling direction of the conveyor; one of the aforementioned seats being a movable seat supported on a slide fitted to the conveyor so as to move the movable seat axially in relation to the conveyor and to and from an operating position wherein a ventilated portion of the cigarette engages a ventilation control unit fitted to and moving with the conveyor.

Abstract: A running web or discrete tubular wrappers of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry are perforated with a variable-intensity high-energy pulsed laser beam which is controlled in such a way that the intensity of radiation and/or the length of pulses is altered in response to variations in the speed of advancement of the web or discrete wrappers past the perforating station. This ensures that the permeability of the thus obtained ventilation zones is not influenced by the speed of advancement of the material to be perforated past the perforating station. The intensity of radiation and/or the length of pulses can also be influenced by one or more monitored characteristics of the articles, such as the permeability of their wrappers.

Abstract: Inspection of completed cigarettes is accomplished by the cigarettes traveling on a rolling drum past a single stationary rolling block with preferably two cameras connected to a vision system. The first camera views the cigarette before the rolling block, the cigarette is then rolled approximately 180.degree. and then the second camera views the previously hidden portion of the cigarette. Cigarettes are accepted or rejected based on a comparison of the viewed cigarettes to a predetermined set of characteristics.

Abstract: A flexible automatic test facility for measuring physical parameters of smoking articles and components of smoking articles, e.g., filter portions. The test facility includes a microprocessor based controller device, apparatus for severing the filter portion from the article, a plurality of instruments for performing the desired measurements and a computer-controlled robot for gripping and maneuvering one cigarette at a time to one or more of the instruments or severing apparatus to measure one or more physical characteristics of each article or its components in accordance with software instructions. A hopper feeder device containing a plurality of sample sets in separate bins in an indexing mechanism may be provided for extended unattended operation. Each sample set is provided with a code and a database including the nominal physical characteristics of the samples in the set and the test sequence for the cigarettes in the sample set.

Abstract: A cigarette checking apparatus having a selector mechanism for selectively withdrawing cigarettes from a first transportation roller, transporting the cigarettes to a conveyor; and a second conveyor for transporting the selected cigarettes to a number of checking devices, each checking device checking a specific characteristic of the selected cigarette; the checking devices having independent inlets facing the second conveyor, and at least one of the checking devices having an outlet opening towards the first conveyor.

Abstract: The hardness of cigarettes which move in a direction at right angles to their axes is measured with one or more pivotable levers which rest on the moving cigarettes to elastically deform the adjacent portions of the cigarettes. The extent of elastic deformation is measured and the results of the measurements are used to regulate the operation of a cigarette rod making or filter tipping machine so as to ensure that the hardness of cigarettes will match an optimum value.

Abstract: A smoking machine includes, for controlling the conditions in which each article to be smoked is smoked, only a servo-control device for controlling, to a reference value, the pressure difference between the suction end and the rest of the body of the cigarette. The support of each article is mounted for rotating so as to allow, for example, more accurate detection of the position of the incandescent zone by optical sensors and a processing circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for nondestructively, quickly and accurately measuring concentration of a material in a sample, for example carbon concentration in a carbon-containing sheet, by optically sensing a two-dimensional portion of the carbon-containing sheet and converting the sensed portion into a two-dimensional array of points, each having a digital value related to the sensed optical intensity at the point. Preferably, each point has a gray scale value of the sensed optical intensity at the point. An average digital gray scale value for the two-dimensional gray scale array of points is obtained and compared to the average digital gray scale value of a carbon-free sheet to obtain an optical density. The obtained optical density correlates highly with the carbon concentration, as measured by chemical concentration measurement techniques which are slow and destructive.

Abstract: The ratio of different types of tobacco in a tobacco stream which is conveyed past a trimming device is monitored by monitoring the distance of the trimming plan from the conveyor for the stream while the mass flow of the stream is maintained at a constant value. Variations of the distance of the trimming plane from the conveyor are indicative of variations of the ratio of different tobaccos in the stream, and such variations are further indicative of fluctuations of filling power of tobacco which forms the stream.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an inspection method, apparatus and system for identifying cigarettes having insufficient tobacco at their lighting end in which cigarettes are conveyed serially through a beam of infrared radiation. The amount of infrared radiation passing perpendicularly through the end portion of each cigarette is compared to a predetermined value to determine whether or not the cigarette is defective. The method, apparatus and inspection system of the invention is both accurate and reliable and can be employed in combination with cigarette manufacturing systems operating at speeds in excess of 7,000-8,000 cigarettes per minute.

Abstract: The density of successive increments of a cigarette rod is measured by an apparatus which employs one or more photocells operating with ultraviolet, infrared or visible light. The radiation source of each photocell emits a beam of ultraviolet, infrared or visible light which penetrates through the wrapper and the filler of the rod and thereupon impinges upon one or more transducers which transmit signals denoting the density of the monitored portion of the rod to an evaluating circuit. The beams which are emitted by two or more discrete radiation sources are or can be angularly offset with reference to each other, and the evaluating circuit processes the signals from the photocells to generate a single signal which is indicative of the density of the monitored increment of the rod and is used to adjust the trimming device and/or the ejector for defective cigarettes.

Abstract: A unit for sampling cigarettes on a filter assembly machine, which unit is designed to cooperate with a conveyor for feeding the cigarettes through the filter assembly machine, and features a sampling conveyor tangent to the feed conveyor and having an even number of peripheral seats for the cigarettes; the aforementioned seats being arranged along the sampling conveyor, and each having a respective suction device; and a selecting device being provided for selectively activating the suction devices and so withdrawing given cigarettes off the feed conveyor.

Abstract: For the checking of cigarettes for their correct formation in terms of a sufficient tobacco content, electrooptical test processes have been employed for a relatively long time. The use of these processes has hitherto made it necessary to employ high-performance sensitive sensors in order to obtain definite test results. The new process and the corresponding apparatus are intended to make it possible to check cigarettes by the reflection process, especially in a cigarette conveyor (cigarette turret), in which accurate results can be obtained in short test times by means of a simple test device. By means of a special arrangement of the electrooptical sensors for the checking of the cigarettes in test units moved relative to the cigarettes to be checked, it is possible for the cigarettes to be checked for a correct tobacco content, by contactless sensing, either during stationary phases or during rotational movement of the cigarette conveyor (cigarette turret).

Abstract: The invention is based on the realization that for a rod-like article, a cigarette for example, having a plurality of ventilation gas flows, the flows can be equated to a single equivalent flow nominally occurring at an "equivalent ventilation point". By establishing one or more flow regimes in a rod-like article and measuring gas pressures, the articles can be monitored for displacement of the equivalent ventilation point, such displacement being indicative of the position of out-of-specification gas flows.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting open longitudinal seams in the continuous wrapper of cigarette or cigarette filter rod produced by a continuous rod-making machine relies on detection by a microphone (54) of disturbance caused by the defective seam to an air stream. The air stream is generated from a narrow slot (44) and normally follows a fixed, preferably flat, surface (40) closely adjacent to the longitudinal path of a rod (12). The surface (40) is part of a body (22) which contains the microphone (54) and connecting leads (56, 58), together with a passage (36) allowing sound to reach the microphone. Air is bled through a small bore (52) and through a further bore (30) containing a sound-insulating filter (66) to provide a purging air flow in the passage (36).

Abstract: A cigarette ends tester includes a conveyor for conveying cigarettes sideways past a source of light arranged to direct light substantially axially into the ends of successive cigarettes in such a way that the paper wrapper around the end of each cigarette is illuminated if there is insufficient tobacco in the end, and a detecting device for monitoring the consequent external illumination of the end of the cigarette. The test signal for each cigarette is evaluated against a reference signal derived from satisfactory cigarettes tested previously during a predetermined time interval, thus compensating for variable factors affecting the test signal, such as ageing or dirt on the light emitting or detecting devices.

Abstract: For the testing of cigarettes (11, 11a, 11b) within a cigarette magazine (10), there is a test unit (21) which is arranged at a distance above magazine shafts (17) or a cigarette store (14) for these. In the test unit (21), the cigarettes run in vertical cigarette rows (24) through a number of test shafts (22) arranged next to one another. Within these, individual cigarettes (11a) are fixed by clamping in the region of a clamping plane (37) temporarily, in particular at least for the duration of a test cycle. The cigarettes are tested in the region of a test plane (28) at a distance above the clamping plane (37). The cigarette row (24) is temporarily supported at the bottom, on the outlet side of the test unit (21) by carrying webs (39) or carring fingers (46). During the clamping of cigarettes (11a) in the region of the clamping plane (37), the test shafts (22) are opened at the bottom, so that the tested cigarettes can be fed to the cigarette store (14) as a result of their own weight.

Abstract: For testing cigarettes, a test head confronts end faces of the cigarettes. Light beams emitted by a light transmitter are transmitted through those cigarettes having a tobacco deficiency. The transmitted light exits from sides of the defective cigarettes and is received by a transversely arranged receiver responsive to light transmitted through the cigarette paper.

Abstract: Plain or filter cigarettes are tested at a first station by two or more testing devices each of which monitors the cigarettes for the presence or absence of a particular defect. The testing devices generate defect signals which are delayed by shift registers so as to ensure that the delayed defect signals are transmitted to a segregating mechanism which removes defective cigarettes from a path that is common to the satisfactory and defective cigarettes and delivers defective cigarettes to selected receptacles which are installed at a second station and each of which gathers only cigarettes exhibiting a particular defect. Actuation of a switch entails the removal of a selected number of samples from the common path for satisfactory and defective cigarettes, and such samples are gathered in an additional receptacle at the second station.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous determination of two physical properties of the constituents of a smokable article from the mechanical properties of a rod of tobacco or filter fibres during the production of said rod employs a format finger for compacting the rod of tobacco or filter fibres to a predetermined diameter; the format finger made from hard metal comprises at a first point, at which the diameter of the rod corresponds substantially to the diameter of the finished rod, at least one opening for subjecting the rod to a gas stream; the one or each opening is connected via a critically traversed nozzle in a supply conduit to a gas source; a measuring-value transducer determines the pressure drop of the gas stream with constant volume occurring at the rod and thus the draw resistance.

Abstract: The density of a stream of tobacco particles at the underside of a foraminous belt conveyor is monitored by an array of X-ray detectors to generate signals each denoting the density of a different thin layer in successive increments of the stream. Such signals are processed into signals denoting the density of the entire stream, the filling power of tobacco, and the quantity of the surplus in the stream. The processed signals are used to adjust the trimmer which removes the surplus, to adjust the distributor which feeds the particles to the stream, to regulate the hardness of cigarettes and to adjust the quantity of the surplus.

Abstract: One or more streams of tobacco in a rod making machine are tested by several density monitoring units one of which employs a source of nuclear radiation and at least one other of which employs a source of optical radiation. The resulting density signals are evaluated and converted into signals which are devoid of the influence of changes of color and/or blend of fibrous material in the stream or streams and are used for segregation of defective rod-shaped articles and/or for controlled removal of surplus from the stream or streams.