Microwave Inspection of Filter Cigarette Capsules
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Solution Overview
Problem
The tobacco processing industry faces challenges in ensuring the quality of rod-shaped articles, particularly filter cigarettes, during their manufacture, as existing technologies are inadequate in effectively checking the integrity of liquid-filled capsules in filter sections, leading to potential defects and quality control issues.
Innovation Solution
A drum arrangement with a rotatable conveying drum and integrated microwave measuring devices that expose sections of filter cigarettes to electromagnetic waves, allowing for the detection of defects in liquid-filled capsules before the cigarettes are delivered to a mass flow transport device, ensuring quality by identifying defective capsules and ejecting them from the production process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optical inspection devices are used to check filter cigarettes, then quality features such as holes, dimensions, and object identification can be detected, but the integrity of liquid-filled capsules in filter sections cannot be effectively checked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by combining multiple inspection methods (optical inspection and microwave measurement) into a single integrated system. The drum arrangement incorporates both optical inspection devices for general quality features and microwave measuring devices specifically for detecting liquid-filled capsule integrity, allowing the system to perform multiple inspection functions simultaneously on different aspects of the filter cigarettes.
2Reliability
If microwave measuring devices are integrated into the drum arrangement, then capsule integrity can be detected, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the microwave measuring devices with the existing drum arrangement structure. The microwave devices are integrated into the drum itself, utilizing the drum's rotational mechanism and positioning system. This combining approach allows the microwave inspection function to be added without requiring a completely separate inspection system, thereby reducing overall complexity compared to implementing microwave measurement as a standalone device.
3Manufacturing precision
If sections of rod-shaped articles are exposed to electromagnetic waves for checking capsules, then defective capsules can be identified, but the manufacturing process time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous inspection by exposing sections of rod-shaped articles to electromagnetic waves during their continuous conveyance through the drum arrangement. The rotational movement of the drum ensures that inspection occurs continuously as articles pass through the microwave measuring field, rather than requiring discrete stopping points or batch inspection processes. This maintains production flow while enabling thorough defect detection.
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 solution significantly enhances the quality control of filter cigarettes by accurately detecting defective capsules, preventing their inclusion in the final product and improving the overall manufacturing process efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
sections of the rod-shaped articles located in the passage channel that preferably protrude laterally from the respective receiving troughs can be or are acted upon by electromagnetic waves of a measuring field of the measuring device
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4b
AI summary
The invention relates, inter alia, to a drum arrangement of a machine for the tobacco processing industry, in particular a drum arrangement of a filter forming machine, for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles (50.1, 50.2) of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter cigarettes, with a rotatable conveying drum (35) for the rod-shaped articles (50.1, 50.2), wherein the conveying drum (35) has in the circumferential direction a series of receiving troughs (38.1, 38.2) arranged one behind the other for a series of rod-shaped articles (50.1, 50.2) or two adjacent rows of receiving troughs arranged one behind the other (38.1, 38.2) for each series of rod-shaped articles (50.1, 50.2), wherein the conveying drum (35) is configured to receive rod-shaped articles (50.1, 50.2).2), which are arranged in a row in a transverse axial sequence in receiving recesses or which are arranged in two rows side by side and in a transverse axial sequence in receiving recesses (38.1, 38.2), are conveyed in a transverse axial direction when the conveying drum (35) rotates, wherein for one row or for each row of receiving recesses (38.1, 38.2) a measuring device (60, 60.1, 60.2) with a passage channel (62, 62.1, 62.2) open on one side for sections of the rod-shaped articles (50.1, 50.2) is provided.