Cigarette combustion cone fallout propensity estimation method
By simulating the smoking process using a robotic arm simulation device and measuring the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone, combined with the angle summation and averaging method, the shortcomings of existing evaluation methods are addressed, enabling accurate assessment of the cigarette combustion cone's tendency to fall, thus improving cigarette quality and safety.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/CN2024/095674
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-05-27
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-28
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-04
AI Technical Summary
In existing technologies, the evaluation methods for the tendency of cigarette combustion cones to fall off have errors, cannot accurately reflect the actual experience of consumers, and the quantitative indicators of the test data are singular, which cannot accurately evaluate the potential tendency of the combustion cone to fall off the product.
A robotic arm simulation device was used to simulate smoking, and the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone was measured. The tendency of the cigarette combustion cone to fall was evaluated by the angle summation and averaging method. Combined with real-time image acquisition and processing by the camera system, the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone was determined.
It provides a more accurate, direct, and timely evaluation method that can refine the assessment of combustion cone drop tendency, improve the accuracy of cigarette quality and safety assessment, guide production process optimization, and enhance the overall quality of cigarettes.
Smart Images
Figure CN2024095674_04122025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
A method for evaluating the tendency of cigarette combustion cone to fall off. Technical Field
[0001] This invention belongs to the field of cigarette performance testing technology, specifically relating to a method for evaluating the tendency of cigarette combustion cone to fall. Background Technology
[0002] With the continuous development of the tobacco industry, the quality and safety of cigarettes, as a mass consumer product, have received increasing attention. Among these factors, the tendency of the cigarette combustion cone to fall is a crucial indicator for evaluating cigarette quality and safety. Therefore, in-depth research into cigarette combustion cone fall tendency testing technology is of great significance for improving cigarette quality, protecting consumer rights, and promoting high-quality development of the industry.
[0003] Cigarette burner tip detachment refers to the phenomenon where the cigarette burner tip falls off from the main body of the cigarette during smoking due to the consumer's flicking action. This not only interrupts smoking and severely affects the smoking experience, but may also pose safety hazards such as fires.
[0004] To accurately assess the tendency of the cigarette combustion cone to fall, the current standard is YC / T 558 "Test of Cigarette Combustion Cone Fall Tendency". This standard evaluates the tendency of the cigarette combustion cone to fall by recording the "falling" and "not falling" states of the cigarette combustion cone during simulated smoking. During the test, m cigarette samples are randomly selected as test materials. The "falling" and "not falling" states of the cigarette combustion cone during simulated smoking are recorded. Then, the cigarette combustion cone fall tendency (CCFP) is calculated according to formula (1), with the result accurate to 1%. CCFP=n / m×100%………………(1)
[0005] In the formula:
[0006] CCFP — Combustion cone drop tendency, %;
[0007] n — the number of cigarettes that fall off the combustion cone, in units of cigarettes (cig);
[0008] m — the number of cigarettes tested, in units of cigarettes (cig).
[0009] While existing testing methods can evaluate the cigarette burner tip tendency (CCFP) by simulating the "falling" and "not falling" state of the cigarette burner during smoking, practical operation often encounters some difficult-to-define issues. For example, when simulating the human smoking action, we usually set a fixed smoking frequency, with varying intervals depending on different standards and smoking patterns, typically 60 seconds or 30 seconds apart. During this process, we may encounter a situation where, before the cigarette burner has completely fallen, but has merely deviated from its original position, the force of the next inhale can cause this deviated burner to be drawn back into the cigarette, resulting in reignition. Although from a testing perspective, the burner has not actually fallen in this situation, consumers, when faced with this scenario during actual smoking, may perceive it as having fallen. Therefore, a phenomenon may occur where laboratory tests show no burner tip tendency in a particular batch of cigarettes, but consumer feedback indicates that the burner tip may fall. This discrepancy directly impacts the accurate assessment of cigarette combustion performance, leading to a deviation between test results and actual consumer experience. Furthermore, existing quantitative indicators for testing data are relatively singular, relying solely on whether the combustion cone falls to evaluate cigarette combustion performance. This prevents us from accurately assessing the product's potential tendency for the combustion cone to fall.
[0010] Therefore, in order to solve these problems, it is particularly necessary to conduct in-depth research on the cigarette combustion cone drop-off tendency test technology and propose a new method for evaluating the cigarette combustion cone drop-off tendency.
[0011] To address the above problems, this invention is proposed.
[0012] Summary of the Invention
[0013] The present invention aims to overcome the lack of a method for evaluating the tendency of cigarette combustion cone to fall in the existing technology, and proposes a new method for evaluating the tendency of cigarette combustion cone to fall.
[0014] The technical solution adopted in this invention is as follows:
[0015] The first aspect of the present invention provides a method for evaluating the tendency of the cigarette combustion cone to fall off, which uses a robotic arm simulation device to simulate the smoking of cigarettes and measures the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone, and then uses the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone to evaluate the tendency of the cigarette combustion cone to fall off.
[0016] The robotic arm simulation device includes a control system, a robotic arm, a camera system, a lighting system, and a cigarette lighting system;
[0017] The control system is connected to the robotic arm, camera system, lighting system, and cigarette lighting system respectively. It is used to control the movement of the robotic arm, as well as the operation of the camera system, lighting system, and cigarette lighting system. It is also used to collect and process the images captured by the camera system to obtain the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone. There are multiple cameras in the camera system.
[0018] The method for evaluating the tendency of cigarette combustion cone to fall includes the following steps:
[0019] Step (1): The cigarette to be tested is held by a robotic arm, and the axial direction of the cigarette in the holding position is perpendicular to the camera of the camera system and the light source of the lighting system; the camera system and the lighting system are started by the control system.
[0020] Step (2): The robotic arm and the cigarette lighting system are started by the control system. The robotic arm and the cigarette lighting system work together to simulate the human body's cigarette lighting action. After the cigarette to be tested is lit, the robotic arm starts to suck, swing the arm and flip the wrist, hold the cigarette on the table and flick the ash according to the simulated human body's cigarette smoking path. The camera system collects real-time images of the combustion cone after the cigarette ash is flicked.
[0021] Step (3): When the combustion cone of the cigarette deviates from the central axis of the cigarette, the test ends;
[0022] By processing the combustion cone images captured by the camera system, the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone in the cigarette combustion cone deviation image is determined;
[0023] Alternatively, in step (3), the test ends when the cigarette has burned down to the length of the cigarette butt.
[0024] Step (4): Test multiple cigarettes according to steps (1)-(3), and then use the angle summation and averaging method to sum the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone measured by multiple cigarettes and calculate the average value.
[0025] Step (5): The tendency of the cigarette combustion cone to fall is evaluated by the average value of the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone according to the following criteria;
[0026] If the average value of the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone is between 0 and 4.0, it indicates that the cigarettes in this batch have a low tendency for the cigarette combustion cone to fall, and the cigarettes are of excellent quality in terms of the cigarette combustion cone falling.
[0027] If the average value of the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone is between 4.0 and 8.0, it indicates that the cigarettes in this batch have a low tendency for the cigarette combustion cone to fall off, and the cigarettes are of good quality in terms of the cigarette combustion cone falling off.
[0028] If the average value of the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone is between 8.0 and 12.0, it indicates that the cigarettes in this batch have a moderate tendency for the cigarette combustion cone to fall, and the quality of the cigarettes in terms of the cigarette combustion cone falling is moderate.
[0029] If the average value of the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone is greater than 12.0, it indicates that the cigarettes in this batch have a high tendency for the combustion cone to fall off, and the quality of the cigarettes is poor in terms of the falling of the combustion cone.
[0030] Preferably, the robotic arm is a 6R type robotic arm, and its coordinate system conforms to the standard coordinate system specified in standard GB / T 16977-2005.
[0031] Preferably, the cigarettes to be tested are pretreated according to GB / T 16447 standard before testing.
[0032] Preferably, when simulating the human body's cigarette smoking action, the ISO, FTC, Massachusetts, or Canadian deep smoking modes are adopted; wherein the ISO, FTC, Massachusetts, or Canadian deep smoking frequencies are once every 60s, 60s, 30s, and 30s, respectively.
[0033] Preferably, there are three cameras, which are symmetrically arranged around the cigarette; there are three light sources, which are symmetrically arranged around the cigarette.
[0034] Preferably, the image acquisition system automatically acquires and processes images every 2 seconds.
[0035] Preferably, the camera's photosensitive element size is ≥15mm, the phase size is ≥1.22μm×1.22μm, and the light source color temperature is ≥4500K.
[0036] Preferably, in step (3), the uncertainty of the cigarette combustion cone endpoint during the cigarette image processing directly leads to the uncertainty of the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone. Determining the cigarette combustion cone endpoint is a difficult point in image processing. This application uses a pixel-by-pixel scanning method to find the cigarette combustion cone endpoint, specifically including the following steps:
[0037] (1) Acquire images of cigarette burning. After binarization, the gray values of the cigarette and the background will be distinguished as 255 and 0 respectively.
[0038] (2) Based on the position of the cigarette, the image is cropped using the ROI to obtain the cropped image resolution as x·y;
[0039] (3) Starting from the upper right endpoint (x, 0) of the image, scan row by row and column by column from right to left and from top to bottom, and find the first pixel with gray value Gray = 255 (x, 0) in the background rows and columns. i yi The coordinates of this pixel point are the coordinates of the vertex of the cigarette combustion cone, as shown in Figure 1.
[0040] In this invention, the robotic arm simulating the cigarette smoking process and environment, and the method for acquiring cigarette combustion images using a full-vision camera system, can refer to the series of patents based on mechanical vision for cigarette combustion performance applied for by the applicant, application number: 2020103139473, entitled: A robotic arm and simulation method for simulating the human cigarette smoking process and environment; application number: 2020103234251, entitled: A smoking path simulation system based on a robotic arm; similarly, the testing devices and testing methods of the above patents are incorporated into this patent.
[0041] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:
[0042] 1. This invention employs a robotic arm simulation device to simulate the smoking of cigarettes and measures the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone. The maximum deviation is then used to evaluate the tendency of the cigarette combustion cone to fall. This provides a novel method for evaluating the tendency of the cigarette combustion cone to fall. Compared to existing methods that evaluate this tendency based on the "falling" or "not falling" state of the cigarette combustion cone, this invention can more accurately, directly, and promptly reflect the state of the cigarette combustion cone.
[0043] 2. This invention employs an angle summation and averaging method. Multiple cigarettes are tested, and the maximum deviation of the combustion cone measured from these cigarettes is summed and averaged. This average value of the maximum deviation is then used to evaluate the tendency of the cigarette combustion cone to fall. This evaluation method provides a more detailed assessment of the tendency of the cigarette combustion cone to fall, rather than simply judging it as either "falling" or "not falling."
[0044] 3. The method for evaluating the tendency of the cigarette combustion cone to fall off in this invention can more accurately assess the state of the cigarette combustion cone, thereby more accurately evaluating the quality and safety of cigarettes and providing consumers with more reliable products. At the same time, accurate evaluation of the tendency of the cigarette combustion cone to fall off off helps guide the improvement and optimization of cigarette production processes, enhancing the overall quality of cigarettes. Attached Figure Description
[0045] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the end point scan of the combustion cone.
[0046] Figure 2 shows the measured deviation of the combustion cone during the cigarette testing process and a schematic diagram of the combustion cone deviation. Detailed Implementation
[0047] The present invention will be further described below through embodiments, but is not limited to these embodiments. Experimental methods not specifically described in the embodiments generally use conventional conditions and conditions described in manuals, or conditions recommended by the manufacturer. The general equipment, materials, reagents, etc., used are all commercially available unless otherwise specified.
[0048] The specific steps of the method described in this invention are as follows:
[0049] In an embodiment, when the cigarette combustion cone falls directly without adhering to the cigarette sample, the deviation of the combustion cone of the sample is specified as 90 degrees.
[0050] Example 1: Conventional Circular Cigarettes
[0051] 1. Test Results
[0052] Under the Canadian deep-smoking mode standard, the combustion cone deviation of conventional circumferential cigarettes (cigarette diameter: 7.7mm) was tested. Two parallel groups of 40 cigarettes each were tested, and the results are shown in Table 1.1. Table 1.1 also records the test results using the tapping mode according to YC / T 558. Table 1.2 shows typical test results and physical images of the conventional circumferential cigarette combustion cone deviation test samples.
[0053] Table 1.1 Test results of the deviation of the combustion cone of conventional circumferential cigarettes (unit: degrees)
[0054] Table 1.2 Typical test results and physical images of samples for testing the deviation of the combustion cone of conventional circumferential cigarettes (unit: degrees)
[0055] 2. Evaluation and Analysis
[0056] The evaluation method uses the summation and averaging of angle test sample angles.
[0057] The values of the test samples from group 1 and group 2 were summed and the average value was calculated to obtain the statistical values in Table 1.3.
[0058] Table 1.3 Statistical values of combustion cone deviation of test samples (unit: degrees)
[0059] The test samples were evaluated and graded based on the combustion cone drop tendency according to the evaluation comparison interval in Table 1.4, using the statistical values of the test samples.
[0060] Table 1.4 Evaluation Range and Grading Table for Combustion Cone Deviation of Conventional Cigarettes (Unit: Degrees)
[0061] According to Tables 1.3 and 1.4, both sample groups 1 and 2 are rated as excellent when evaluated using combustion cone deviation. The combustion cone drop tendency of sample groups 1 and 2 is calculated to be 0 according to the YC / T 558 method (Tobacco Industry Standard of the People's Republic of China, Test of Combustion Cone Drop Tendency in Cigarettes), indicating that the two methods are consistent to a certain extent.
[0062] Example 2: Medium-length circumferential cigarettes
[0063] 1. Test Results
[0064] Under the ISO smoking mode standard, the combustion cone deviation of medium-length circumferential cigarettes (cigarette diameter: 6.4mm) was tested, with 40 cigarettes per group. The test results are shown in Table 2.1. Table 2.1 also records the test results using the tapping mode according to YC / T 558. Table 2.2 shows typical test results and physical images of the combustion cone deviation samples of medium-length circumferential cigarettes (unit: degrees).
[0065] Table 2.1 Test results of combustion cone deviation of medium-length cigarettes (unit: degrees)
[0066] Table 2.2 Typical test results and physical images of samples for the deviation of the combustion cone of medium-sized circumferential cigarettes (unit: degrees)
[0067] 2. Evaluation and Analysis
[0068] The evaluation method uses the summation and averaging of angle test sample angles.
[0069] The values of the test samples in group 1 and group 2 were summed and the average value was calculated to obtain the statistical values in Table 2.3.
[0070] Table 2.3 Statistical values of combustion cone deviation of test samples (unit: degrees)
[0071] The test samples were evaluated and graded based on the combustion cone drop tendency according to the evaluation comparison interval in Table 2.4, using the statistical values of the test samples.
[0072] Table 2.4 Evaluation Range and Grading Table for Combustion Cone Deviation of Medium-Length Cigarettes (Unit: Degrees)
[0073] According to Tables 2.3 and 2.4, the combustion cone deviation of sample groups 1 and 2 was evaluated, and both groups were deemed good. Following the YC / T 558 method (Tobacco Industry Standard of the People's Republic of China, Test of Combustion Cone Drop Tendency in Cigarettes), the combustion cone drop tendencies of sample groups 1 and 2 were calculated to be 0% and 7.5%, respectively. This method showed a difference in the combustion cone drop tendencies between the two groups.
[0074] Example 3: Slim Circular Cigarette
[0075] 1. Slim circumferential cigarettes
[0076] Under the ISO smoking mode standard, the cigarette combustion cone deviation test was carried out on slim circumferential cigarettes (cigarette diameter: 5.4mm), with 40 cigarettes per group. The test results are shown in Table 3.1. Table 3.1 also records the test results conducted according to YC / T 558 using the tapping mode.
[0077] Table 3.1 Test results of combustion cone deviation of slim circumferential cigarettes (unit: degrees)
[0078] Table 3.2 Typical test results and physical images of samples for detecting the deviation of the combustion cone of slim circumferential cigarettes (unit: degrees)
[0079] 2. Evaluation and Analysis
[0080] The evaluation method uses the summation and averaging of angle test sample angles.
[0081] The values of the test samples from group 1 and group 2 were summed and the average value was calculated to obtain the statistical values in Table 3.3.
[0082] Table 3.3 Statistical values of combustion cone deviation of tested samples (unit: degrees)
[0083] The test samples were evaluated and graded based on the combustion cone drop tendency according to the evaluation comparison interval in Table 3.4, using the statistical values of the test samples.
[0084] Table 3.4 Evaluation Range and Grading Table for Combustion Cone Deviation of Slim Cigarettes (Unit: Degrees)
[0085] According to Tables 3.3 and 3.4, the combustion cone deviation of sample groups 1 and 2 was evaluated, and both groups were deemed good. The combustion cone drop tendencies of sample groups 1 and 2 were calculated to be 5% and 2.5% respectively, according to the YC / T 558 method (Tobacco Industry Standard of the People's Republic of China, Test of Combustion Cone Drop Tendency of Cigarettes). This method showed a certain difference in the combustion cone drop tendencies between the two groups.
[0086] The present invention has been described above by way of example. It should be noted that any simple modifications, alterations or other equivalent substitutions that can be made by those skilled in the art without creative effort without departing from the core of the present invention fall within the protection scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A method for evaluating the tendency of cigarette combustion cone to fall, characterized in that, A robotic arm simulation device was used to simulate the smoking of cigarettes and to measure the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone. Then, the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone was used to evaluate the tendency of the cigarette combustion cone to fall. The robotic arm simulation device includes a control system, a robotic arm, a camera system, a lighting system, and a cigarette lighting system; The control system is connected to the robotic arm, camera system, lighting system, and cigarette lighting system respectively. It is used to control the movement of the robotic arm, as well as the operation of the camera system, lighting system, and cigarette lighting system. It is also used to collect and process the images captured by the camera system to obtain the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone. There are multiple cameras in the camera system. The method for evaluating the tendency of cigarette combustion cone to fall includes the following steps: Step (1): The cigarette to be tested is held by a robotic arm, and the axial direction of the cigarette in the holding position is perpendicular to the camera of the camera system and the light source of the lighting system; the camera system and the lighting system are started by the control system. Step (2): The robotic arm and the cigarette lighting system are started by the control system. The robotic arm and the cigarette lighting system work together to simulate the human body's cigarette lighting action. After the cigarette to be tested is lit, the robotic arm starts to suck, swing the arm and flip the wrist, hold the cigarette on the table and flick the ash according to the simulated human body's cigarette smoking path. The camera system collects real-time images of the combustion cone after the cigarette ash is flicked. Step (3): When the combustion cone of the cigarette deviates from the central axis of the cigarette, the test ends; By processing the combustion cone images captured by the camera system, the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone in the cigarette combustion cone deviation image is determined; Alternatively, in step (3), the test ends when the cigarette has burned down to the length of the cigarette butt. Step (4): Test multiple cigarettes according to steps (1)-(3), and then use the angle summation and averaging method to sum the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone measured by multiple cigarettes and calculate the average value. Step (5): The tendency of the cigarette combustion cone to fall is evaluated by the average value of the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone according to the following criteria; If the average value of the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone is between 0 and 4.0, it indicates that the cigarettes in this batch have a low tendency for the cigarette combustion cone to fall, and the cigarettes are of excellent quality in terms of the cigarette combustion cone falling. If the average maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone is between 4.0 and 8.0, it indicates that the batch of cigarettes... The cigarettes exhibit a low tendency for the combustion cone to fall off, indicating good quality in terms of the cigarette's combustion cone fall. If the average value of the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone is between 8.0 and 12.0, it indicates that the cigarettes in this batch have a moderate tendency for the cigarette combustion cone to fall, and the quality of the cigarettes in terms of the cigarette combustion cone falling is moderate. If the average value of the maximum deviation of the cigarette combustion cone is greater than 12.0, it indicates that the cigarettes in this batch have a high tendency for the combustion cone to fall off, and the quality of the cigarettes is poor in terms of the falling of the combustion cone.
2. The method for evaluating the tendency of cigarette combustion cone to fall head according to claim 1, characterized in that, The robotic arm is a 6R type robotic arm, and its coordinate system conforms to the standard coordinate system specified in standard GB / T 16977-2005.
3. The method for evaluating the tendency of cigarette combustion cone to fall head according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before testing, the cigarettes to be tested were pretreated according to the GB / T 16447 standard.
4. The method for evaluating the tendency of cigarette combustion cone to fall head according to claim 1, characterized in that, When simulating the human body's cigarette smoking action, the ISO, FTC, Massachusetts, or Canadian deep smoking modes are used; the smoking frequencies for ISO, FTC, Massachusetts, or Canadian deep smoking are once every 60s, 60s, 30s, and 30s, respectively.
5. The method for evaluating the tendency of cigarette combustion cone to fall head according to claim 1, characterized in that, There are 3 cameras, symmetrically arranged around the cigarette; there are 3 light sources, symmetrically arranged around the cigarette.
6. The method for evaluating the tendency of cigarette combustion cone to fall head according to claim 1, characterized in that, The image acquisition system automatically acquires and processes images every 2 seconds.
7. The method for evaluating the tendency of cigarette combustion cone to fall head according to claim 1, characterized in that, The camera's image sensor size is ≥15mm, and the phase size is ≥1.22μm×1.22μm; the light source color temperature is ≥4500K.
8. The method for evaluating the tendency of cigarette combustion cone to fall head according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step (3), during the image processing of the cigarette, the endpoint of the cigarette combustion cone is located by scanning pixel by pixel. This specifically includes the following steps: (1) Acquire images of cigarette burning. After binarization, the gray values of the cigarette and the background will be distinguished as 255 and 0 respectively. (2) Based on the position of the cigarette, the image is cropped using the ROI to obtain the cropped image resolution as x·y; (3) Starting from the upper right endpoint (x, 0) of the image, scan row by row and column by column from right to left and from top to bottom, and find the first pixel with gray value Gray = 255 (x, 0) in the background rows and columns. i y i The coordinates of this pixel point are the coordinates of the apex of the cigarette combustion cone.
Citation Information
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