Abstract: A continuous rod-like filler is formed in a cigarette rod making machine on an endless foraminous belt conveyor by depositing a row of spaced-apart batches consisting of a first type of tobacco at one side of the conveyor, holding the batches by suction, and showering tobacco particles of a second type onto and/or into the spaces between the batches. The density of successive increments of the filler is monitored by a pneumatic and/or radiation type detector, and the thus obtained density signals are used to generate control signals which regulate the density of the filler as well as control signals which are used to influence the batches, if and when necessary. For this purpose, the density signals can be processed to single out those which are attributable to monitoring of the density of successive batches, and the singled out density signals are then analyzed and used to vary one or more parameters of the batches.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the density of a cigarette rod which is moved lengthwise has a source of penetrative radiation at one side and a single ionization chamber at the other side of the path of the rod. A reciprocable slide or diaphragm causes the radiation to alternately penetrate through the rod and thereupon into the chamber in a first position and to bypass the rod in a second position of the slide or diaphragm. The ionization chamber converts radiation which has penetrated through the rod into first electric signals and the radiation which has bypassed the rod into second electric signals. An evaluating circuit stores each second signal during the next-following interval of generation of first signals, and the evaluating circuit compares the first signals with that second signal which is then stored in the evaluating circuit.

Abstract: A cigarette rod making machine has a beta-ray detector which monitors the density of successive increments of the condensed filler in the continuously moving cigarette rod and changes the distance between the trimming device and the conveyor for the tobacco stream. The height of the tobacco stream (upstream or downstream of the trimming device) is monitored, and the thus obtained first signals are compared with second signals denoting the distance between the conveyor and the trimming device. The machine ejects those cigarettes whose fillers have caused the generation of first signals denoting that the corresponding portion of the stream contains less than a minimum acceptable quantity of tobacco. The height of successive increments of the stream can be monitored by an opto-electronic or capacitive detector or by a device which employs sound waves.

Abstract: The making of an elongated tobacco stream which is to be densified, wrapped and severed for conversion into discrete cigarettes is controlled in dependence on the height of the stream prior to removal of the surplus of tobacco. The control may be influenced by a parameter, such as the flow resistance of the stream prior to equalization or the height of the equalized stream. The control determines the distance between the plane in which the equalizer removes the surplus from the stream and a conveyor which advances the stream. The control signal for the desired position of the plane may be formed as a function of more than one parameter.

Abstract: The making of an elongated tobacco stream which is to be densified, wrapped and severed for conversion into discrete cigarettes is controlled in dependence on the resistance of the stream to the flow of a gaseous fluid thereacross prior to removal of the surplus of tobacco. The signal which is generated to effect the control may be influenced by a parameter, such as the height of the stream prior or subsequent to removal of the surplus, and such signal determines the distance between the plane in which the equalizer removes the surplus from the stream and a conveyor which advances the stream lengthwise. Such signal may be formed as a function of several parameters.

Abstract: The production of an elongated filler which is to be densified, wrapped and severed to yield discrete cigarettes is controlled in dependence on the mass flow of the filler after densification and is influenced by a parameter, such as the height, density, flow resistance or capacitance of the filler prior to densification. The control involves selection of the distance between an equalizer which removes the surplus of fibers from a tobacco stream on a conveyor which advances the stream and the filler. The parameter may be monitored at, downstream of or upstream of the equalizer but always upstream of the densifying station. The control signal for the desired position of the equalizer with reference to the conveyor is a function of one or more of the parameters.

Abstract: Various conveyors and/or other components of one or more machines for the production and/or processing of cigarettes or other smokers' products are indirectly monitored to allow for automatic pinpointing of that component which affects the quality of products. The products are tested to generate test signals, and such signals are thereupon evaluated to ascertain the presence or absence of various constituents each of which is characteristic of the influence of a different component upon the quality of products. Once the presence or absence of a constituent is ascertained, the corresponding component is automatically pinpointed in response to a signal from the evaluating device.

Abstract: The wrapped cigarette rod which is formed in a cigarette making machine is monitored by a beta ray detector which generates first signals denoting the density of successive unit lengths of the moving rod. The first signals are compared with a reference signal which denotes the desired density of the rod, and the resulting third signals are squared, N squared signals are totalized and the resulting fourth signals are divided by signals denoting N - 1 first signals to form sixth signals. The square roots of sixth signals constitute regulating or adjusting signals which enable the attendants to feed tobacco or other fibrous material at an optimum rate. The regulating signals are converted into visible signals. The first signals can be used to adjust the position of the device which removes the surplus from a continuous tobacco stream to form a filler which is thereupon wrapped to constitute the cigarette rod.

Abstract: The height of a continuous tobacco stream between a first side which is supported by a conveyor and an uneven second side is monitored by an opto-electrical level detector which directs a row of parallel light rays transversely across the stream and has a battery of photosensitive elements at different distances from the first side of the stream so that each element produces a signal in response to impingement of a different light ray upon its photosensitive surface. The number of elements which generate signals is indicative of the height of the stream portion advancing past the level detector. Such signals can be utilized to adjust a trimming device which removes the surplus at the second side of the stream before the thus equalized stream enters a wrapping mechanism to be converted into a cigarette rod which is thereupon severed to yield discrete cigarettes.

Abstract: An adjustable distributor transports particles of tobacco into a stream building zone wherein the tobacco is converted into a stream containing a surplus of particles. The surplus is removed by an equalizing device and the equalized stream is converted into a rod-like filler. An optical level detector monitors the height of the stream ahead of the equalizing device, and a second detector monitors the height of the equalized stream. Signals which are furnished by the detectors are transmitted to the corresponding inputs of a dividing circuit whose output transmits signals which are used to adjust the distributor in such a way that the rate of tobacco transport to the stream building zone is increased when the quantity of removed surplus decreases and vice versa. The equalizing device, together with the second detector, is movable transversely of the tobacco stream in response to signals from a detector which monitors the density of the filler.

Abstract: A cigarette making machine wherein discrete cigarettes travelling from the cutoff to a transfer conveyor slide along the upper side of a light transmitting guide. A photoelectric detector is mounted below and is shielded by the guide from tobacco dust which is swept away by successive cigarettes. The light source of the detector emits a light beam which passes upwardly through the guide, is reflected by successive cigarettes and thereupon passes downwardly through the guide prior to reaching the photosensitive transducer of the detector. Alternatively, the light source or the detector can be mounted above the guide and above the path of the cigarettes so that the light beam can reach the transducer after having passed through the guide only once, provided that the beam is not interrupted by the cigarettes.

Abstract: Pneumatic test signals are generated indicative of the extent to which seal imperfections are present in the wrappers of rod-shaped articles, and the pneumatic test signals are converted into electrical test signals. A pneumatic comparison signal is generated and converted into an electrical comparison signal. Signals dependent upon the difference between the electrical comparison and test signals are derived from the electrical comparison and test signals. The determination of whether the wrappers are defective or non-defective includes comparing the derived signals against a reference value.

Abstract: The operation of apparatus for the production of composite filter plugs is controlled by a circuit which employs one or more capacitive detectors mounted adjacent to the path of filter rod sections and transmitting signals which are indicative of the passage of filter rod sections of different types and/or the absence of filter rod sections. The control circuit regulates the speed of the main prime mover which is directly coupled to a cutoff for subdividing the filter rod into composite filter plugs, the speed ratio of a transmission which can drive the conveyors of the apparatus at any one of several speeds, an ejector which can segregate defective filter plugs from satisfactory filter plugs, and the circuit for arresting the main prime mover.

Abstract: A cigarette making machine wherein discrete cigarettes travelling from the cutoff to a transfer conveyor slide along the upper side of a light transmitting guide. A photoelectric detector is mounted below and is shielded by the guide from tobacco dust which is swept away by successive cigarettes. The light source of the detector emits a light beam which passes upwardly through the guide, is reflected by successive cigarettes and thereupon passes downwardly through the guide prior to reaching the photosensitive transducer of the detector. Alternatively, the light source or the detector can be mounted above the guide and above the path of the cigarettes so that the light beam can reach the transducer after having passed through the guide only once, provided that the beam is not interrupted by the cigarettes.

Abstract: The density of a rod-like tobacco filler in a cigarette making machine is measured and regulated by placing a source of beta radiation adjacent to one side of the moving filler and a transducer at the other side of the filler opposite the source whereby the transducer furnishes a continuous series of electric signals which indicate the weakening of beta rays during passage through successive minute increments of the filler as a function of density of the corresponding increments as well as fluctuations in the intensity of beta rays due to stochastic disintegration of nuclei in the source. The signals from the transducer are integrated, either for fixed periods of time or for periods which are necessary to produce a signal of given intensity, and the thus obtained signals are used to regulate the density of the filler by controlling one or more trimming devices and/or to segregate cigarettes having fillers of unsatisfactory density.

Abstract: There are passed through at least one portion of at least one rod-shaped article the electric field lines of a high-frequency electric field joining the electrodes of a measuring capacitor, and a density-dependent measurement signal is generated by detecting the effect upon the capacitance of the capacitor of the passage of the field lines through the article. There are passed through a reference dielectric medium the electric field lines of a high-frequency electric field joining the electrodes of a measuring capacitor, and a comparison signal is generated by detecting the effect of the reference dielectric medium upon the capacitance of the capacitor. The measurement signal and comparison signal are automatically compared to form a compensated density-dependent signal.

Abstract: A first signal is generated indicative of the gas permeability of the wrapper of the article being tested. A second signal is generated indicative of the porosity of the material of the wrappers of the articles being tested. The first and second signals are processed to form for each article a third signal indicative, to an extent greater than the respective first signal, of the component of the gas permeability of the article not attributable to the porosity of the material of the wrapper. The third signal is compared to a reference signal to determine whether the wrapper of the tested article is defective. The aforementioned second signal is generated by averaging out the gas permeabilities of the wrappers of a number of such articles.

Abstract: The material whose mass is to be determined is transported along a predetermined path. At a measurement station it forms the dielectric of a capacitor which is part of a high-frequency oscillator circuit. The capacitance of the capacitor and the attenuation of the high-frequency oscillator circuit at resonance are measured and the mass of the material, such as tobacco, is automatically calculated by means of an nth degree polynomial whose constants are stored in the computer and whose variables are the signals corresponding to the resonant attenuation and capacitance. The mass of a substance, such as moisture, associated with the tobacco is calculated similarly, but utilizing different constants. The polynomials can be expanded to include temperature terms.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the mass of tobacco shreds in the end portions of the rod-like tobacco filters of filter cigarettes has a conveyor which transports a series of cigarettes sideways so that the end portions of successive fillers travel between or past two stationary electrodes of a capacitor which is connected with a source of high-frequency voltage serving to establish a high-frequency field in the path of successive end portions. The end portions influence the field to an extent which is indicative of the mass of tobacco therein, and the influence of successive end portions upon the field is evaluated by a circuit which produces signals serving to segregate cigarettes with fillers having defective end portions.