Inspection Device for Smoking Article Filter Defect Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing process for smoking articles, such as cigarettes, often results in defective filter elements due to missing, misoriented, or ruptured objects within the filter rods, leading to quality control issues and reduced yield.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that includes an inspection device with sensors to analyze smoking articles along a transport path, positioned between manufacturing and packaging equipment, allowing for detection and removal of defective filter elements before packaging, utilizing a transport device to convey cigarettes individually through an inspection zone where sensors, like density or near-infrared sensors, assess the presence and condition of objects within the filter elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated object insertion is used in filter rod manufacturing, then production efficiency is improved, but the rate of defective filter elements increases due to missing, misoriented, or ruptured objects
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection device performs preliminary detection of defective filter elements during the transport phase, before packaging occurs. This allows defective items to be identified and removed in advance, preventing them from reaching consumers while maintaining the automated production flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection device provides feedback about the quality of filter elements to the packaging system. Based on this feedback, defective items can be sorted and removed, while quality items proceed to packaging, creating a closed-loop quality control system that maintains high productivity.
2Reliability
If inspection is performed immediately after manufacturing, then defect detection is possible, but the complexity of the manufacturing process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process is segmented into distinct phases: manufacturing, transport/inspection, and packaging. The inspection device is integrated into the transport phase, separating inspection from manufacturing operations. This segmentation reduces the complexity of the manufacturing process itself while maintaining effective defect detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport system acts as an intermediary between manufacturing and packaging, providing a dedicated space and time for inspection. This intermediary role allows inspection to occur without directly complicating the manufacturing or packaging processes, maintaining process simplicity while achieving reliability.
3Productivity
If defective filter elements are removed early in the process, then yield is improved, but the time required for inspection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection device operates continuously during the transport phase, inspecting filter elements as they move through the transport system. This continuous inspection approach maintains productivity by eliminating idle time while effectively detecting and removing defective items, thereby improving yield without significant time loss.
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
This approach significantly improves the yield of the manufacturing process by reliably identifying and removing defective smoking articles, ensuring only high-quality products reach consumers by detecting defects before packaging.
Implementation Method 1
sensors, like density or near-infrared sensors, assess the presence and condition of objects within the filter elements
Implementation Method 2
sensors, like density or near-infrared sensors, assess the presence and condition of objects within the filter elements
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The present invention provides a system (1) for assessment of smoking articles (3), such as cigarettes or the like. The system (1) comprises: a buffer zone (B), in which a plurality of smoking articles (3) are collected after their production in manufacturing equipment (M); a transport device (2) for transporting or conveying the smoking articles (3) along a transport path (4) from the buffer zone (B) to packaging equipment (P) for packaging a predetermined number of the smoking articles (3) into packs; and an inspection device (5) comprising at least one sensor (7) for inspecting or analysing the smoking articles (3) during transport of the smoking articles along a transport path (4). The inspection device (5) defines an inspection zone (6) that is arranged in the transport path (4); wherein the inspection zone (6) is arranged or located between the buffer zone (B) and the packaging equipment (P). The invention also provides a method of assessing the smoking articles.