Abstract: Apparatus for optically scanning a moving cigarette rod for the presence of defects in its external surface has two annularly arranged groups of diodes which emit green light in the wavelength range of between 0.49 and 0.58.mu. and direct such light from the opposite sides of a plane that is normal to the moving rod so that the incident light is reflected by successive annular portions of the external surface of the rod into the aforementioned plane. The reflected light is focused by systems of lenses upon discrete photosensitive transducers through discrete slit diaphragms on the transducers themselves or on a thin metallic ring which is adjustably mounted on the support for the diodes and the systems of lenses.

Abstract: A novel apparatus is provided for inspecting defects in cigarette bundles layered in buckets which are fixed to a bucket conveyor. The defects include tip fall state where the top content of cigarette piece is dropped off, loss of filter and shortage in the number of cigarette pieces. The apparatus consists of a gate time measuring device, a dark time measuring device, a computing device and a comparison device. The gate time measuring device measures gate time showing the passing time of the internal length of buckets, and the dark time measuring device measures dark time showing the passing time of a defective part of cigarette and of spaces between cigarette pieces. The computing device selects the maximum value of the dark time and computes a percentage of the gate time to the maximum value. The comparison device then compares the computed value with a predetermined value so as to determine whether or not there are defects in cigarette piece bundles.

Abstract: A portion of the path for a moving cigarette or filter rod in a cigarette rod making or filter rod making machine is surrounded by a ring-shaped carrier for a polygonal light-transmitting rod guide and a set of radiation conducting units, one behind each facet of the guide. Each unit receives a beam of radiation from a discrete source and directs such radiation radially of and at right angles to the axis of the moving rod. Radiation which is reflected by the exterior of the rod is caused to pass through the respective unit and is directed against a discrete photoelectric transducer which generates signals denoting the characteristics of reflected radiation. Such signals are used to evaluate the condition of the exterior of the rod and, if necessary, for segregation of corresponding (defective) plain cigarettes or filter rod sections from satisfactory cigarettes or filter rod sections.

Abstract: The quality of a product, for example the degree of filling of cigarette papers, is non-destructively tested using reflectivity measurement. Compensation is provided for the effects of stray light in the measuring zone and the signals commensurate with the measurements performed on individual units of the object being tested are compared with the average of signals obtained through measurements performed on a preselected number of units of acceptable quality. The state of operability of the test apparatus may be self-checked during incremental periods between the testing of units.

Abstract: A discarding device (1) for discarding cigarette packs (PS) not provided with a label or duty stamp (T) comprises an operational endless conveyor (4) driven step by step and carrying a plurality of open containers (5) each adapted to receive one cigarette pack (P).Loading means are provided to load sequentially into said containers (5) the packs (P) not yet provided with labels; and, spaced with respect to one another according to the feed steps of the intermittent conveyor (4), there are provided: a labelling station (S1) where the labels (T) are applied to the packs (P) in the containers (5), a checking station (S2) to detect the presence of the label on a pack, a discard conveyor (2) to discharge the unlabelled packs (PS), and a transfer conveyor (3) to convey the regular (i.e. labelled) packs (P) from a operational conveyor (4) to a further delivery conveyor (22, 23, 24).

Abstract: A cigarette packing machine with a plurality of passageways leading from a hopper, includes an ends testing device (16, 16a) for individual cigarettes, so that faulty cigarettes can be rejected from the hopper before the cigarettes are ejected in groups at the bottom of the passageways (2).Leading from the hopper are two channels (6, 8) feeding each of the passageways. In one embodiment of the invention cigarettes are held up for ends testing in alternate channels by suction ports (14) formed in inclined surfaces leading to each passageway. In a second embodiment a set of horizontal reciprocating wires (30, 32) acts as an escapement mechanism.

Abstract: Filter cigarettes which are grouped in the form of one or more rows on their way to the draping station or stations of a packing machine are transported sideways past a testing station between two testing units each of which has a discrete detector for each row of cigarettes in a group. Each detector has a source of light, a photoelectric transducer, and a bundle of fiber optics which convey light beams from the source against the respective end faces of cigarettes advancing between the two testing units and which convey reflected light to the respective transducer so that the latter generates signals denoting the characteristics, the presence or absence of cigarettes. Such signals are compared with a reference signal denoting the characteristics of satisfactory cigarettes, and the groups wherein one or more cigarettes have caused the generation of signals deviating excessively from the reference signal are expelled from the conveyor prior to reaching the first draping station of the packing machine.

Abstract: An inspection device for a continuous cigarette rod comprises a plurality of infra-red emitter-detector units circumferentially spaced around the path of a rod. The light from each unit is focussed onto and collected from a specific area of the rod. Two, or more, axially displaced arrays of units are each arranged to inspect areas of the rod which are staggered in relation to the areas inspected by the other array or arrays.Signals from the units are multiplexed and transmitted to processing circuitry. Instantaneous signals are compared with predetermined values derived for each optical unit as a proportion of the running average of the instantaneous signal. If the instantaneous signal falls below this predetermined value a warning device is operated and the cigarette is ejected.Known devices use expensive optical fibres requiring a close fit to the cigarette rod.

Abstract: Cigarette packs which leave a packing machine by moving sideways so that one of the major surfaces of each pack faces forwardly are monitored for the presence of defective envelopes during travel between two endless belt conveyors. When the monitoring system or systems detect a defective pack, such system or systems generate one or more signals which are used to expel the defective pack from the path between the conveyors. The ejection is effected by changing the orientation of defective packs relative to the conveyors so as to reduce the frictional hold of conveyors upon the relatively narrow lateral faces of the defective packs with the result that the thus released defective packs can descend by gravity. The orientation of defective packs can be changed by discrete pins which move into the path of the packs from above, from below or from one side so as to be nearer to the one than to the other conveyor.

Abstract: An automatic optoelectronic inspection device is located at a position downstream from a cigarette making machine and upstream from cigarette packaging machinery, and cigarettes are conveyed in groups to the inspection device where each group is inspected. The inspection device includes a plurality of photodetectors arranged so that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the position of a photodetector and the position occupied by each cigarette in a normally formed group. Each photodetector includes a light-emitting source for illuminating the end portion of a cigarette and a photoelectric transducer for sensing light reflected from the end portion of a cigarette in registration with the photodetector. The power to the light-emitting sources is controlled in such a way that the intensity of the light emanating from each light-emitting source is modulated at a high frequency.

Abstract: A device for the examination of the degree of filling of cigarette ends is disclosed. The device has a light transmitter, a light emitting surface which radiates light into the cigarette end to be examined, and a light receiving surface which picks up the more of the light radiated in, the worse is the degree of filling. The light emitting surface and the light receiving surface are arranged in one plane at end face of the cigarette in such a manner that both bear directly against the cigarette end face and are separated by a light impervious zone from each other transversely to the axis with respect to the cigarette axis and together lie within the cigarette cross-section.

Abstract: The device is conventionally associated to a cigarette packaging machine and comprises a hopper for successively distributing individual layers of adjacently disposed cigarettes into transferring means which successively transfer each layer into compartments intermittently moved in front of said transferring means. A plurality of layers are superimposed in each compartment to form a bundle to be fed to the wrapping means of the packaging machine. During the transferring, the layers are compelled to pass through a passage delimited by side guiding members and by an upper and a lower light-transparent guiding plate, said passage having a width substantially equal to the width of a layer and a height substantially equal to the diameter of a cigarette. The upper plate has a slot in the direction of the transverse dimension of the passage and this slot is subjected to the light rays generated by a light source transversely disposed relative to said passage and above said slot.

Abstract: The invention relates to optical inspection apparatus for monitoring a continuously moving rod, the apparatus comprising a circular head through which the rod passes, a first set of fibre optic conductors which transmits light from a source to the head to illuminate the rod, and a second set of fibre optic conductors which pick up light reflected from the rod passing through the head and transmits the reflected light to a number of photoelectric elements. The second set of conductors are divided into angularly spaced groups around the head and adjacent groups lead to separate photoelectric elements. The outputs of the elements are fed via A.C. coupling means into separate channels connected to comparator means responsive to the noise signal level in the individual channels. The comparator means produces a fault pulse in the signal level in any one channel is greater than a preset allowable level.

Abstract: A cigarette hopper, especially for a packing machine, has a number of flow channels (6) incorporating restraining devices to arrest cigarettes which are faulty, e.g. in size, shape or orientation, thereby preventing the formation of defective cigarette bundles. The lower ends of the channels (22) may be curved to catch non-horizontal cigarettes (C3), and may include photo-cell devices (FIG. 3) which detect and arrest inadequately filled cigarettes and which additionally serve to monitor the flow of cigarettes so that the machine operator can receive a fault warning.

Abstract: A machine for testing the presence and/or packing of cigarettes (11) in a group (10) comprises a housing 16 mounting a plurality of spring biased, axially displaceable tappets (13), (14) and (15) arranged in rows corresponding to the cigarette group alignment. Each row of recesses (25) for the tappet control heads (22) is provided with a pair of linear control ducts (27), (40); (28), (41); (29), (42) axially displaced relative to the tappets. If a tappet is fully displaced by engagement with an acceptable cigarette the inner duct (27), (28) or (29) will be opened and the outer duct (40), (41) or (42) blocked, and the full spring return of a displaced tappet will open the outer duct and block the inner duct. The partial return of a tappet, as a result of particle jamming, will leave both ducts blocked, however, and generate an appropriate error signal, as will the complete non-return of a displaced tappet.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with an optical inspection apparatus for monitoring a continuously moving rod, such as a tobacco rod. The apparatus comprises a circular head through which the rod passes, a first set of fibre optic conductors the ends of which terminate at an inner peripheral surface of the head and which transmits light from a source to the head to illuminate the rod passing through the head, and a second set of fibre optic conductors the ends of which also terminate at an inner surface of the head to pick up light reflected from the rod passing through the head and transmit that light to a photosensitive element. The second set of conductors are divided into angularly spaced groups around the head and adjacent groups lead to separate photosensitive elements. Preferably the light picked up by diametrically opposite pairs of groups are combined.

Abstract: A packaging handling system for detecting and rejecting faulty packages and for maintaining a packaging or boxing machine in operation for a specific period of time if one or the other goes down. The system comprises a plurality of photocell sensing units to detect the imperfectly formed packages and a .[.means for rejecting.]. .Iadd.pneumatic rejection device .Iaddend.the faulty packages. An accumulator is positioned in the conveyor line between the packaging machine and the boxer and will store a limited number of packages should the cartoning machine discontinue to operate and will feed a limited number of packages on the conveyor should the packaging machine become inoperative. When the system is utilized on a boxer being fed by two packers, a distribution table is also provided in the system to divide the work from one packer to both lines should the other packer cease to function.