Cigarette Rod Orientation Detection by End-Face Light Intensity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for examining rod-shaped products, such as cigarettes, fail to reliably distinguish between visually identical end faces, particularly in products like tobacco sticks where both ends are formed by filters, leading to errors in packaging processes.
Innovation Solution
Irradiate the lateral surface of the rod-shaped product with examination light at an angle, allowing it to penetrate and exit through the end face, and use an electro-optical receiver to acquire and evaluate the light intensity, utilizing direction-dependent absorption to determine the orientation of the product.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If image recognition technologies are used to identify incorrectly present tobacco ends, then incorrect orientations can be detected, but the method fails when both ends are visually identical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies optical illumination to create brightness differences (analogous to color changes) at the end faces. By irradiating the lateral surface and detecting the light exiting through end faces, the system creates detectable brightness patterns that distinguish between different end faces even when they are visually identical in the product group, enabling reliable detection without modifying the physical appearance of the ends.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces examination light as an intermediary substance to reveal orientation information. The light penetrates the rod-shaped product and exits through the end faces, carrying information about the internal structure and orientation. This intermediary enables detection without direct visual inspection of the end faces themselves.
2Reliability
If off-center imprints are provided on lateral surfaces for orientation recognition, then incorrect orientations can be identified, but the method becomes complex and inapplicable to multi-layer product groups
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the orientation detection function from the physical structure of the product (removing the need for imprints) and transfers it to the optical examination system. By using light penetration and brightness detection, the system obtains orientation information without requiring any modifications to the product structure, thus simplifying both the product and the examination device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of adding physical imprints with an optical examination method. Instead of modifying the product mechanically and then detecting those modifications, the system uses light interaction to directly detect orientation, eliminating the need for mechanical product modifications and simplifying the overall system.
3Shape
If end faces are made visually identical for aesthetic purposes, then product appearance is improved, but orientation detection becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The examination light serves as an intermediary that reveals orientation information without affecting the visual appearance of the end faces. The light penetrates the product and exits through the end faces with brightness patterns that encode orientation information, allowing both aesthetic appearance and detection accuracy to be maintained simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the examination parameter from visual appearance (color, pattern) to optical interaction properties (light penetration, brightness intensity). By measuring the brightness of light exiting through each end face, the system can detect orientation differences even when the end faces appear identical visually, thus maintaining aesthetic appearance while enabling precise measurement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable identification of product orientation even when end faces are visually identical, reducing errors in packaging by comparing light intensities at the end faces.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating the lateral surface of at least one rod-shaped product to be examined using examination light in such a way that the examination light penetrates through the lateral surface at least partially into the rod-shaped product and exits again at least partially through an end face
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device for examining rod-shaped products of the cigarette industry, having a cylindrical lateral surface and two end faces formed by two filter elements arranged at opposite ends, the product having smokable material between the two end faces, by: a) irradiating the lateral surface using examination light whereby the examination light penetrates through the lateral surface at least partially into the product and at least partially exits again through one end face, the beams of which are incident on the lateral surface at an angle of at least 30° in relation to the longitudinal extension of the product; b) acquiring the examination light exiting the end face of the product using an electro-optical receiver, the main viewing direction of which is directed onto the end face; and c) evaluating the brightness or light intensity of the examination light exiting the end face and acquired by the electro-optical receiver.