A filter rod cutting and separation device

Abstract

This patent provides a filter rod cutting and separating device, including a blade mounting bracket, an arc-shaped pressing surface, a transition surface, an air nozzle mounting baffle, and a gripper positioning baffle. When the filter rod is cut by the blade along the first direction, it enters the arc-shaped pressing surface for positioning. After passing the arc-shaped pressing surface, the filter rod turns 180°. The turned filter rod then separates the filter paper along the transition surface along the second direction. The separated filter paper awaits clamping by the gripper positioning baffle. By setting up the cutting and separating device, the forward cutting and return separation actions are completed in a continuous motion, eliminating the need for manual intervention in the separation process. The use of a pneumatic and mechanical combined mechanism can adsorb the edges of the separated filter paper, effectively preventing it from rebounding and maintaining a stable unfolded state. This dual mechanical and pneumatic action makes the separation action gentler, smoother, and extremely reliable, avoiding the pulling damage that may occur with purely mechanical methods.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This patent relates to the field of automatic detection, specifically to a filter rod cutting and separation device. Background Technology

[0002] In the cigarette manufacturing industry, the filter rod is a crucial component, and its quality directly affects the draw resistance, taste, and consumer experience of cigarettes. The filter rod consists of an inner filter core and an outer layer of filter paper, which are bonded together using centerline adhesive and interlocking adhesive. The adhesive strength of these adhesives is one of the core indicators for evaluating the quality of the filter rod. Insufficient adhesive strength may lead to problems such as glue separation and deformation during subsequent high-speed production or transportation, ultimately resulting in defects in the finished cigarette.

[0003] Therefore, accurately testing the bonding strength of the adhesive in the filter rod's centerline and the overlap adhesive is an indispensable and crucial step in cigarette production quality control. However, before conducting the bonding strength test, the filter paper must first be completely and undamagedly separated from the filter core to facilitate clamping by the testing fixture and to perform a reliable tensile test. The quality of this initial separation step directly determines the accuracy and reliability of the subsequent strength test data.

[0004] Currently, in both laboratory and industrial production, the separation of filter rods and filter paper still largely relies on manual methods or extremely simple mechanical aids. Operators typically need to use hand tools or peel the paper by hand. This method is not only extremely inefficient, making it difficult to meet the needs of modern production lines for rapid testing of batches of samples, but also suffers from numerous drawbacks due to its strong uncontrollability.

[0005] The inconsistent force and angle applied during manual separation can easily lead to tearing, deformation, or minor damage to the filter paper. This damage significantly alters the filter paper's mechanical properties, distorting the subsequent bond strength measurements and failing to accurately reflect the adhesive's actual performance. Furthermore, manual separation makes it difficult to ensure the consistent shape and position of the peeled filter paper, hindering the automated grippers from accurately and stably clamping it to the filter paper's edge. This often necessitates secondary manual intervention for alignment, severely impacting the efficiency and automation of the entire testing process.

[0006] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a cutting and separation device that can automatically, efficiently, accurately, and non-destructively cut and separate filter paper. Utility Model Content

[0007] This patent aims to solve the technical problems of low separation efficiency, easy damage to filter paper, uncontrollable separation position, and unstable separation quality caused by the reliance on manual or simple machinery in existing filter rod and filter paper separation technologies, which in turn affect the accuracy and reliability of subsequent bonding strength testing. This patent provides the following technical solution:

[0008] In a first aspect, a filter rod cutting and separating device is provided, comprising: a blade mounting frame for mounting a blade for cutting the filter rod; an arc-shaped pressing surface for positioning and pressing the filter rod; a transition surface for separating the filter rod and filter paper to be cut; an air nozzle mounting baffle for mounting an air nozzle; and a gripper positioning baffle for presetting the gripping position of the gripper. The blade mounting frame, the air nozzle mounting baffle, the gripper positioning baffle, the arc-shaped pressing surface, and the transition surface are symmetrically distributed about the centerline of the cutting and separating device, wherein the blade mounting frame, the arc-shaped pressing surface, and the transition surface are arranged on the centerline, and the air nozzle mounting baffle and the gripper positioning baffle are arranged on both sides of the cutting and separating device. When the filter rod passes through the cutting and separating device, the blade mounting frame cuts the filter rod entering from the first direction along the axial direction of the filter rod, and the transition surface separates the filter rod entering from the second direction opposite to the first direction from the filter paper along the axial direction of the filter rod.

[0009] Furthermore, the transition surface is located behind the arc-shaped pressing surface. The transition surface is a sloping surface that gradually widens from narrow to wide, with the end face closest to the arc-shaped pressing surface being the widest and the end face furthest from the arc-shaped pressing surface being the narrowest. The narrowest part of the transition surface enters the cut of the filter rod. As the filter rod continues to move in the second direction, the wider part of the transition surface enters the cut of the filter rod, separating the filter rod and the filter paper.

[0010] Furthermore, the blade mounting bracket is located at the front end of the arc-shaped pressure surface, and the filter rod enters the arc-shaped pressure surface after being cut by the blade.

[0011] Furthermore, the blade mount includes blade mounting holes through which the cutting depth of the tool is adjusted.

[0012] Furthermore, the cross-section of the arc-shaped pressing surface is arc-shaped, and the filter rod can be covered after entering the arc-shaped pressing surface; the diameter of the cross-section of the arc-shaped pressing surface is greater than or equal to the diameter of the cross-section of the filter rod.

[0013] Furthermore, the nozzle mounting baffle includes a nozzle mounting hole for mounting and connecting a nozzle to a negative pressure air pump; the nozzle mounting baffle is located on both sides of the transition surface, and when the transition surface separates the filter rod and filter paper, the nozzle adsorbs and fixes the separated filter paper so that the filter paper remains in an unfolded state.

[0014] Furthermore, the air nozzle mounting baffle and the gripper positioning baffle are integrally formed, with the gripper positioning baffle extending from the air nozzle mounting baffle to the front end of the arc-shaped pressing surface; the gripper positioning baffle is set on both sides of the arc-shaped pressing surface.

[0015] Furthermore, there is a gap between the gripper positioning baffle and the arc-shaped pressing surface, and the separated filter paper enters the gap to wait to be gripped; the gap is a gradually narrowing gap.

[0016] Furthermore, after the filter rod is cut by the tool along the first direction, it enters the arc-shaped holding surface for positioning. After passing through the arc-shaped holding surface, the filter rod turns. After turning, the filter rod separates the filter paper along the transition surface along the second direction. The separated filter paper waits to be picked up by the gripper positioning baffle.

[0017] Furthermore, the filter rod can be rotated at an angle of 90° or 180°.

[0018] This patent has the following beneficial effects:

[0019] 1. A filter rod cutting and separating device is provided, comprising a blade mounting bracket, an arc-shaped pressing surface, a transition surface, an air nozzle mounting baffle, and a gripper positioning baffle. When the filter rod is cut by the blade along the first direction, it enters the arc-shaped pressing surface for positioning. After passing through the arc-shaped pressing surface, the filter rod turns 180°. After turning, the filter rod separates the filter paper along the second direction through the transition surface. The separated filter paper waits to be gripped by the gripper positioning baffle, realizing a fully automatic integrated cutting and separating process for the filter rod.

[0020] 2. This patent achieves complete automation of the filter rod and filter paper cutting and separation process. By setting up a cutting and separation device, the forward cutting and return separation actions are completed in a continuous manner, thereby replacing the inefficient and inconsistent manual operation. This automated processing eliminates the need for manual intervention in the separation process, allowing seamless integration with automated production lines. It enables continuous and rapid processing of large numbers of filter rod samples, greatly improving the efficiency of sample preparation and laying a solid foundation for accelerating the entire testing process.

[0021] 3. This patent features a unique mechanical structure design that achieves high operational precision and excellent reliability, thereby ensuring the integrity and consistency of the separated filter paper. The semi-circular arc-shaped covering and holding surface of the device matches the outer diameter of the filter rod, enabling stable and reliable circumferential positioning of the filter rod before cutting, effectively preventing its movement or deformation, and ensuring that the cutting line of each filter rod remains in the exact same position. The height-adjustable blade design allows the cutting depth to be precisely controlled within the range of just piercing the filter paper without damaging the filter element, avoiding sample damage or separation failure caused by cutting too deep or too shallow. This precise operation ensures that the starting point and conditions of each separation are consistent, providing the primary guarantee for obtaining repeatable and comparable test data.

[0022] 4. This patent employs a pneumatic and mechanical intelligent separation and delivery mechanism, cleverly solving the technical challenge of reliably handling soft filter paper. During the return stroke, the device utilizes a transition surface with uneven width to convert the mechanical linear motion into a lateral force that pushes the filter paper apart, achieving initial peeling. Simultaneously, negative pressure is introduced through air nozzles on both sides, instantly adsorbing the edges of the pried-off filter paper, effectively preventing rebound and maintaining a stable unfolded state. This dual action of mechanical and pneumatic forces makes the separation action smoother, more fluid, and incredibly reliable, avoiding the pulling damage that might occur with purely mechanical methods. The separated filter paper is further automatically guided and precisely positioned to the gripping center of the subsequent clamping jaws through a tapered guide channel, achieving automated handover and ensuring that the clamping jaws accurately grasp the filter paper every time. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this patent, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this patent and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present patent;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cutting process of this patent;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between this patent and the pneumatic gripper.

[0027] The reference numerals in the attached figures are explained as follows:

[0028] 100: Arc-shaped pressure surface;

[0029] 200: Blade mount;

[0030] 210: Blade positioning hole;

[0031] 300: Transition surface;

[0032] 400: Air nozzle mounting baffle;

[0033] 410: Air nozzle mounting hole;

[0034] 500: Gripper positioning baffle;

[0035] 600: Pneumatic gripper;

[0036] 700: Filter rod. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The detailed features and advantages of this application are described below in the specific embodiments. The content of this description is sufficient to enable any person skilled in the art to understand the technical content of this application and implement it accordingly. Based on the specification, claims and drawings disclosed in this specification, a person skilled in the art can easily understand the related objectives and advantages of this application.

[0038] This patent will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference numerals denote similar elements. While specific structures and arrangements are discussed, it should be understood that this is done merely for illustrative purposes. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other structures and arrangements can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of this patent. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that this patent can also be used in a variety of other applications.

[0039] In this specification and claims, several terms will be used, and unless otherwise indicated, these terms will be defined to have the following meanings:

[0040] The singular forms “a” and “the” include their corresponding plural forms. “At least one” means one or more, and “more” means two or more. “At least one of the following” or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can be expressed as: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0041] All figures used to represent component amounts, properties (e.g., molecular weight), reaction conditions, etc., should be considered to be modified in all cases by the terms "within the unavoidable margin of error" or "approximately". Therefore, the numerical values ​​presented herein are approximate and may vary depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained by this patent. The principle of equivalents, which is applied to a minimum and not intended to limit the scope of the claims, should be applied, for example, each value should be interpreted at least according to the reported significant digits and by applying conventional rounding techniques.

[0042] It should be understood that the term "and / or" in this article is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. A and B can be singular or plural. Additionally, the character " / " in this article generally indicates an "or" relationship between the preceding and following related objects, but it can also represent an "and / or" relationship. Please refer to the context for a more accurate understanding.

[0043] In the description of this embodiment, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "bottom", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship in which the product is usually placed during use. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0044] Vision Systems: Vision positioning based on visible light imaging is one of the core technologies in modern industrial automation and machine vision. Essentially, it simulates the human visual system, using imaging technology in the visible light band to acquire the spatial position and orientation information of a target object. This technology converts the external physical world into a digital image that can be processed by a computer through non-contact measurement, and then uses complex algorithms to analyze the target's precise pose in a specific coordinate system. Due to its advantages such as high accuracy, high speed, and rich information content, it is widely used in various industrial scenarios such as guidance, measurement, identification, and inspection, for example, in the filter rod tester used to accurately identify the position of adhesive lines.

[0045] A complete visual positioning system based on visible light imaging typically consists of two main parts: hardware and software. The hardware part is the physical foundation of the system, and its core is the image sensor, most commonly a CCD or CMOS camera. This sensor receives visible light and converts it into electrical signals to form a digital image. The lens is the camera's "eye," and its quality determines the image sharpness, distortion, and field of view; it needs to be carefully selected based on the working distance and field of view requirements. Given the complexity of industrial environments, a well-designed light source system is crucial. It uses active illumination to highlight target features, suppress ambient light interference, and enhance image contrast, laying the foundation for subsequent stable and reliable image processing. Furthermore, the entire system usually requires a control unit (such as an industrial computer) to coordinate the synchronous operation of the camera, light source, and other equipment (such as a PLC).

[0046] The system operates on a continuous processing principle, moving from the physical world to digital information and then to spatial data. Its workflow begins with image acquisition, where a camera captures a high-quality digital image of the target object under a carefully designed lighting field. The image is then transmitted to a processing unit for preprocessing, where a series of algorithms are used to filter and denoise, enhance contrast, and correct distortion to improve image quality. Next comes the core feature extraction stage, where the algorithm searches and matches preset target features (such as edges, contours, patches, geometric centers, or specific texture patterns) within the image, accurately calculating the pixel coordinates of these features in the two-dimensional image. Finally, pose calculation is performed. Based on the camera's internal parameters (obtained through pre-calibration) and the image coordinates of these feature points, a photogrammetric geometry model (such as a camera model or hand-eye calibration model) is used to perform coordinate transformation, ultimately calculating the target object's three-dimensional spatial position and rotation angle relative to the camera, thus achieving precise positioning.

[0047] Sealing adhesive, also known as closure adhesive or box-gluing adhesive, is an adhesive used in the printing and packaging industry to bond the joints of cardboard boxes, cartons, and shopping bags. It is divided into two categories: oil-based and water-based. Oil-based adhesives use toluene as a solvent and contain ingredients such as SBS and rosin, resulting in a stronger odor. Water-based adhesives use water as a solvent and are made from high-molecular polymer raw materials. They are environmentally friendly, non-toxic, have fast initial tack, and strong temperature resistance, making them suitable for bonding paper-to-paper, paper-to-plastic, and varnished cardboard boxes. They are widely used in food, pharmaceutical, and wine packaging.

[0048] Centerline adhesive is one of the main raw and auxiliary materials in the production of cigarette filter rods. It is used to bond the forming paper and filament bundle during the forming process of cigarette filter rods to prevent the filter from coming off.

[0049] All other terms used herein for special definition are intended to have the general meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in particular, meaning that one of ordinary skill in the art, upon reading the claims, specification and drawings of this patent, can directly and without doubt determine how the technical solution of this patent can be implemented.

[0050] Even if there are incomplete descriptions, omissions, or ambiguities in the grammar, words, punctuation, graphics, symbols, etc. of the claims, specification, and drawings of this patent, a person skilled in the art can still arrive at the only correct understanding by reading the claims, specification, and drawings as a whole without extensive reasoning or experimentation, and effectively exclude various incorrect interpretations that are not aimed at achieving the purpose of this patent.

[0051] Those skilled in the art would first choose to read the claims, specification, and drawings of this patent to reasonably interpret the terms; secondly, they would choose to refer to the relevant definitions in other documents published by the applicant before the filing date to reasonably interpret the terms; thirdly, they would choose the references cited in this patent to reasonably interpret the terms; and finally, they would choose to combine the technical dictionaries, technical manuals, reference books, textbooks, national or industry technical standards, etc., commonly used by those skilled in the art to reasonably interpret the terms.

[0052] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0053] A filter rod cutting and separation device is mainly used for cutting and separating the filter rod 700 and the filter paper at the joint bonded by the overlap adhesive and the centerline adhesive, so that the bonding strength of the joint can be tested by a testing instrument. Please refer to [reference needed]. Figures 1-3 It includes a blade mounting bracket 200, an arc-shaped pressing surface 100, a transition surface 300, an air nozzle mounting hole 410 plate 400, and a gripper positioning baffle 500. The arc-shaped pressing surface 100 and the transition surface 300 are set along the centerline. The blade mounting bracket 200 fixes the blade with screws and can adjust the position of the blade up and down to complete the cutting of the filter paper. The blade mounting bracket 200 is set at the front centerline of the arc-shaped pressing surface 100. The arc-shaped pressing surface 100 is designed as a semi-circular arc with a radius equal to that of the filter rod 700 to achieve positioning and pressing of the filter rod 700.

[0054] The transition surface 300 is located behind the arc-shaped pressing surface 100. The transition surface 300 is generally inclined and gradually widens. The transition surface 300 is widest at its junction with the arc-shaped pressing surface 100, and narrowest at its end away from the arc-shaped pressing surface 100, thus forming a triangular inclined surface. The narrowest end of the transition surface 300 touches the filter rod 700 first when separating the filter rod 700 and the filter paper. Through the insertion of its tip and the gradual widening of the guide, the cut filter paper is pushed apart, assisting the air nozzles mounted on the air nozzle mounting hole plates 410 400 on both sides in adsorbing the filter paper. The transition surface 300 and the air nozzle mounting hole plates 410 400 have air nozzle mounting holes for mounting air nozzles, which are connected to a negative pressure air pump.

[0055] The arc-shaped pressing surface 100 and the transition surface 300 are respectively provided with a nozzle mounting hole 410 plate 400 and a gripper positioning baffle 500. The nozzle mounting hole 410 plate 400 is arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the transition surface 300. The gripper positioning baffle 500 extends from the top of the nozzle mounting hole 410 plate 400 toward the arc-shaped pressing surface 100. That is, the gripper positioning baffle 500 is arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the arc-shaped pressing surface 100. The gripper positioning baffle 500 is connected to the nozzle mounting hole 410 plate 400 and gradually reduces the distance with the arc-shaped pressing surface 100, so that the separated filter paper is positioned at the center of the pneumatic gripper 600.

[0056] The cutting and separating device is mainly used for the cutting step and separation of filter rod 700 and filter paper during the bonding strength test of filter rod 700. The cutting and separating device is installed on the tester and is movably connected to the slider of the ball screw on the tester by screws. The slider moves left and right on the ball screw, driving the device to move left and right, thereby realizing the cutting and separation of filter paper.

[0057] The tester also includes a double roller mechanism, a vision system, and a pneumatic gripper 600. A small pneumatic gripper 600 is threaded onto the slider. The pneumatic gripper 600 is parallel to the cutting and separating device, and the gripping center line is parallel to the gap between the gripper positioning baffle 500 and the arc-shaped pressing surface 100 to complete the gripping of the filter paper.

[0058] The cutting and separating device operates within the testing instrument as follows: The cutting and separating device is securely mounted on a ball screw slider via a connector behind its blade mounting bracket 200. This ball screw is driven by a servo motor, controlling the slider and the entire device to perform precise linear reciprocating motion along the axial direction of the filter rod 700. The device is positioned at the starting end of the filter rod 700's axial direction, i.e., in the waiting position. The device's arc-shaped pressing surface 100 faces downwards, and the double-roller mechanism below it has already clamped and positioned a cigarette filter rod 700 to be processed. The filter rod 700 has been angled using a vision system so that its centerline adhesive or overlap adhesive line is directly above, coinciding with the trajectory line of the device's blade movement. A small pneumatic gripper 600 is also mounted on this slider, arranged parallel to the cutting and separating device. The center of the pneumatic gripper 600 is directly opposite the outlet of the device's gripper positioning baffle 500, and it is in an open, ready-to-use state. The negative pressure air pump has been activated, providing a stable suction force to the nozzle on the device.

[0059] The ball screw receives instructions from the control system and drives the slider to move the entire cutting and separating device smoothly from the waiting station along the axial direction of the filter rod 700, i.e., the first direction. The device first contacts the filter rod 700 with its unique arc-shaped pressing surface 100. This arc-shaped pressing surface 100 is carefully designed as a semi-circular arc structure, and its radius of curvature is exactly equal to the outer diameter of the cigarette filter rod 700. As the device moves, this arc-shaped surface acts like a flexible groove, gradually enveloping and holding the filter rod 700 within it. This design is crucial; it achieves complete circumferential positioning of the flexible filter rod 700, ensuring that the filter rod 700 will not roll, shift, or deform under force throughout the cutting process, providing a stable and reliable reference for subsequent precise cutting. At this point, the filter rod 700 is firmly constrained between the arc-shaped pressing surface 100 and the roller below, and its spatial position is completely fixed.

[0060] As the device moves stably, its core cutting component begins to operate. The blade is secured to the blade mounting bracket 200 with screws. The blade mounting bracket 200 has elongated blade positioning holes 210, allowing for precise up-and-down adjustment of the blade's extension based on the thickness of the filter paper. This adjustment ensures that the blade's cutting depth is strictly controlled to completely pierce the outer layer of filter paper without damaging the internal filter element. This is a prerequisite for ensuring the integrity of the filter paper and the accuracy of the test. As the device continues to move, the appropriately height-adjusted blade tip contacts the surface of the filter rod 700 and makes a uniform and precise longitudinal cut along the adhesive line trajectory determined in advance by the vision system. Since the filter rod 700 is held in place, the blade can carve a cut on the surface of the filter rod 700 that is uniform in depth and accurately positioned from beginning to end. At this point, the cutting action is complete, but the filter paper is not yet separated from the filter element and may still be attached to the filter element due to adhesive force or its own elasticity.

[0061] Once the device completes the cutting stroke of the entire filter rod 700 and reaches the end of the filter rod 700, the entire device stops moving forward. Then, the tester's drive mechanism drives the entire cutting and separating device to rotate 180 degrees around a vertical axis, effectively "turning around." This operation reverses the position of the transition surface 300 and the air nozzle mounting hole 410 plate 400, which were originally located behind the blade during cutting, to the front of the blade in the direction of movement. After turning around, the device prepares to begin its return motion in the second direction, and this return motion is crucial for achieving the separation function.

[0062] After the device has turned around, the ball screw drives the slider, causing the device to slide back in a second direction completely opposite to the cutting direction. At this time, the blade at the front end of the device no longer performs the main work; the transition surface 300 separates the cut filter rod 700. This transition surface 300 is a carefully designed mechanical structure that gradually widens from narrow to form an elegant wedge-shaped slope. As the device slides back, the tip of this wedge-shaped transition surface 300 first embeds into the gap of the filter paper that has been cut by the blade. As the device continues to move backward, the contact point between the transition surface 300 and the filter paper cut gradually transitions from the tip of the wedge to the wider part. This process produces two crucial mechanical effects: first, the wedge-shaped slope applies a normal force perpendicular to the surface of the filter rod 700, which, like a pry bar, gently peels the filter paper tightly attached to the filter element upward; second, the slope structure also applies a lateral component force along the circumference of the filter rod 700, which gently pushes the filter paper away from the center of the cut line to both sides. Therefore, under the mechanical action of the transition surface 300, the filter paper is physically peeled off from the filter element and spread out to both sides.

[0063] Specifically, the first direction is arrow A in the diagram, and the second direction is arrow B in the diagram.

[0064] Simultaneously, the device's pneumatic system is activated. Several nozzles facing the filter rod 700 are installed on the nozzle mounting hole 410 plate 400. These nozzles are connected to an external negative pressure air pump via built-in air passages, generating continuous suction. The instant the transition surface 300 separates the filter paper, the nozzles on both sides immediately align and adhere to the edge of the just-lifted filter paper. The suction effect of the nozzles brings three major benefits: First, it overcomes the slight elasticity of the filter paper, preventing it from quickly rebounding and re-adhering to the filter element after being separated, ensuring the stability of the separation effect; second, the suction force acts as a "traction," assisting the transition surface 300 in continuously and smoothly separating the remaining filter paper, making the separation action seamless; third, it effectively controls the posture of the soft filter paper, preventing it from drifting irregularly, creating conditions for subsequent precise delivery. Thus, mechanical separation and pneumatic suction work perfectly in synergy to complete the task of separating the filter paper from the filter element without damage, stably, and efficiently.

[0065] The separated filter paper needs to be accurately delivered to the designated position. The gripper positioning baffle 500 and the arc-shaped pressing surface 100 are positioned opposite each other, forming a gap between them. The gap width gradually decreases along the direction of the device's return. The edge of the filter paper, adsorbed by the air nozzle, naturally enters this narrowing guide channel under the movement of the device. This tapering structure continuously corrects and centers the filter paper, smoothly guiding its edge to a fixed, narrow outlet centerline regardless of its initial state. The position of this outlet centerline is precisely aligned with the gripping centerline of the pneumatic gripper 600 waiting behind it during the design phase.

[0066] When the device completes its return stroke and returns to a position close to the starting point, the cutting and separation process of the filter rod 700 is complete. The edge of the filter paper is perfectly positioned at the center of the outlet of the gripper positioning baffle 500, which is also the center of the open teeth of the pneumatic gripper 600. At this moment, the air nozzle stops adsorption, releasing the edge of the filter paper. Almost simultaneously, the pneumatic gripper 600 receives a signal, and its teeth quickly close, accurately clamping the separated and unfolded filter paper. All tasks of the cutting and separation device have been successfully completed, and the entire system resets, ready for the next work cycle. The filter paper firmly held by the pneumatic gripper 600 is now ready for direct use in subsequent tensile testing, laying a solid foundation for the automation process of the entire adhesive strength tester.

[0067] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed devices, apparatus and methods can be implemented in other ways.

[0068] For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another device, or some features may be ignored or not executed.

[0069] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0070] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0071] In this specification, references to "an embodiment" or "a specific implementation" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment / specific implementation is included in at least one embodiment / specific implementation of this patent. Therefore, the phrase "in one embodiment / specific implementation" appearing in various places in this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment / setting, but rather to potentially different embodiments. Furthermore, specific features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in one or more embodiments / settings in any suitable manner, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

[0072] Similarly, it should be understood that in the above description of exemplary embodiments / specific implementations of this patent, various features of this patent are sometimes combined in a single embodiment / specific implementation or its figures and descriptions, with the aim of simplifying the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various patent aspects. However, except for expressly stated instructions to the contrary or obvious technical contradictions or exclusions, the descriptive method of this patent should not be construed as reflecting an intention that the claimed features are more numerous than those expressly stated in each claim.

[0073] Conversely, the patentable aspect reflected in the claims lies in not all the features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment / specific implementation. Therefore, the claims following the detailed description are expressly incorporated herein, each claim existing independently as a separate embodiment / specific implementation of this patent.

[0074] Furthermore, while some embodiments / specific implementations described herein include, but are not limited to, other features included in other embodiments / specific implementations, combinations of features from different embodiments / specific implementations are intended to be within the scope of this patent and form different embodiments / specific implementations, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, embodiments / specific implementations of any claim can be used in any combination.

[0075] The terms and expressions used in this specification are for illustrative purposes and not for limitation. In using these terms and expressions, there is no intention to exclude any equivalents of the features or portions thereof shown and described, but rather to recognize that various variations may exist within the scope of this patent claim.

[0076] Therefore, it should be understood that although this patent has been specifically disclosed through preferred embodiments, exemplary embodiments and optional features, those skilled in the art may take variations or modifications of the concepts disclosed in this specification, and such variations and modifications are therefore considered to be within the scope of this patent as defined by the appended claims.

[0077] The specific implementations given in this specification are examples of useful implementations of this patent. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this patent can be implemented using many variations of the equipment, equipment components, and method steps disclosed in this specification.

[0078] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments fully discloses the general features of this patent, enabling others to easily modify and / or transform such specific embodiments for various applications by applying knowledge within the scope of the art, without conducting excessive experiments and without deviating from the general concept of this patent.

[0079] Therefore, based on the teachings and guidance provided herein, it is intended that such modifications and alterations be included within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It should be understood that the wording or terminology used herein is for descriptive purposes and is not intended to be limiting; thus, the wording or terminology in this specification will be interpreted by those skilled in the art based on the foregoing teachings and guidance.

[0080] Furthermore, the scope of this patent should not be limited to any of the exemplary embodiments described above, but only to the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A cut and separate apparatus for filter rods, characterized in that, include: Blade mounting bracket for mounting the blades used to cut the filter rods; The arc-shaped pressing surface is used to position and press the filter rod; A transition surface is used to separate the cut filter rod and filter paper; A nozzle mounting baffle is used to install the nozzle. The gripper positioning baffle is used to preset the gripper's gripping position; The blade mounting bracket, the air nozzle mounting baffle, the gripper positioning baffle, the arc-shaped pressing surface, and the transition surface are symmetrically distributed with the center line of the cutting and separating device as the axis of symmetry. The blade mounting bracket, the arc-shaped pressing surface, and the transition surface are arranged on the center line, and the air nozzle mounting baffle and the gripper positioning baffle are arranged on both sides of the cutting and separating device. When the filter rod passes through the cutting and separating device, the blade mounting bracket cuts the filter rod that enters from the first direction along the axial direction of the filter rod, and the transition surface separates the filter rod that enters from the second direction, which is opposite to the first direction, from the filter paper along the axial direction of the filter rod.

2. The cutting and separating apparatus of claim 1, wherein The transition surface is located behind the arc-shaped pressing surface. The transition surface is a sloping surface that gradually widens from narrow to wide, with the end face closest to the arc-shaped pressing surface being the widest and the end face furthest from the arc-shaped pressing surface being the narrowest. The narrowest face of the transition surface enters the cut of the filter rod. As the filter rod continues to move along the second direction, the wider face of the transition surface enters the cut of the filter rod, separating the filter rod and the filter paper.

3. The cutting and separating apparatus of claim 1, wherein The blade mounting bracket is located at the front end of the arc-shaped pressing surface, and the filter rod enters the arc-shaped pressing surface after being cut by the blade.

4. The cutting and separating apparatus of claim 1, wherein The blade mounting bracket includes a blade mounting hole, through which the cutting depth of the tool is adjusted.

5. The cutting and separating apparatus of claim 1, wherein The cross-section of the arc-shaped pressing surface is arc-shaped, and the filter rod can be covered after entering the arc-shaped pressing surface; The diameter of the arc-shaped pressing surface cross section is greater than or equal to the diameter of the filter rod cross section.

6. The cutting and separating apparatus of claim 1, wherein The nozzle mounting baffle includes a nozzle mounting hole, and the nozzle is mounted and connected to the negative pressure air pump through the nozzle mounting hole. The air nozzle mounting baffle is disposed on both sides of the transition surface. When the transition surface separates the filter rod and the filter paper, the air nozzle adsorbs and fixes the separated filter paper so that the filter paper remains in an unfolded state.

7. The cutting and separating apparatus of claim 1, wherein The air nozzle mounting baffle and the gripper positioning baffle are integrally formed, and the gripper positioning baffle extends from the air nozzle mounting baffle to the front end of the arc-shaped pressing surface; the gripper positioning baffle is disposed on both sides of the arc-shaped pressing surface.

8. The cutting and separating apparatus of claim 7, wherein, There is a gap between the gripper positioning baffle and the arc-shaped pressing surface, and the separated filter paper enters the gap to wait to be gripped; The gap is a gradually narrowing gap.

9. The cutting and separating apparatus of claim 1, wherein, After the filter rod is cut by the cutter along the first direction, it enters the arc-shaped pressing surface for positioning. After passing through the arc-shaped pressing surface, the filter rod turns. After turning, the filter rod separates the filter paper along the transition surface along the second direction. The separated filter paper waits to be clamped by the gripper positioning baffle.

10. The cutting and separating apparatus of claim 9, wherein, The filter rod can be rotated at an angle of 90° or 180°.

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