Inspection device for filter cigarettes

Abstract

An inspection device for filter cigarettes has a blocking pad ( 60 ) and a suction pad ( 80 ) for holding a filer cigarette (FC) therebetween at an inspection position when the filter cigarette (FC) is transferred along a transfer path in a filter-attaching machine, a pressure detector ( 94 ) for detecting the magnitude of the negative pressure produced in the filter cigarette (FC) when air in the filter cigarette (FC) is sucked in through the suction pad ( 80 ) in the state where the filter cigarette (FC) is held between the blocking pad ( 60 ) and the suction pad ( 80 ), and a controller ( 108 ) for deciding whether there is an adhesion defect of tip paper of the filter cigarette (FC) or not, based on the output from the pressure detector ( 94 ).

1 . An inspection device for filter cigarettes each having a cigarette, a filter plug, and tip paper for connecting the cigarette and the filter plug to each other, said inspection device comprising: 
 a transfer path that transfers said filter cigarette in a state where an edge of said tip paper on the cigarette side is exposed over the whole circumstance of the edge;    a suction pad and a blocking pad adapted to come into tight contact with a mouthpiece end and a cigarette end of the filter cigarette, respectively, for holding the filter cigarette therebetween when the filter cigarette reaches an inspection position defined by said transfer path;    a suction circuit for sucking in air in the filter cigarette held between said suction pad and said blocking pad through a suction path connected to said suction pad at said inspection position;    a detector for measuring pressure in the filter cigarette and outputs a measurement result when the air in the filter cigarette is sucked in; and    a decision device for deciding whether there is produced a gap between the cigarette and the tip paper, based on the measurement result from said detector.    
   
   
       2 . The inspection device according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said detector measures differential pressure between negative pressure in said suction path and reference negative pressure as pressure in the filter cigarette.    
   
   
       3 . The inspection device according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said transfer path includes a rotatable inspection drum, said inspection drum having a plurality of receiving grooves arranged in an outer circumferential surface thereof at regular intervals in the circumferential direction and receiving the respective filter cigarettes; and    said inspection position is defined by a given rotation angle position, as viewed in a rotating direction of said inspection drum.    
   
   
       4 . The inspection device according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the tip paper of the filter cigarette has a perforation area for introducing air into the filter plug; and    said suction circuit includes closure means for closing the perforation area of the tip paper at said inspection position.    
   
   
       5 . The inspection device according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said closure means includes a rotatable shutoff roller disposed so as to come into rolling contact with said inspection drum at said inspection position, and said shutoff roller has a plurality of shutoff grooves arranged in an outer circumferential surface thereof at regular intervals in the circumferential direction, said shutoff groove closing the perforation area of the tip paper in cooperation with said receiving groove of said inspection drum.    
   
   
       6 . The inspection device according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said suction circuit further has cover means for partially or entirely covering the cigarette at said inspection position; and    said cover means includes a rotatable cover roller disposed so as to come into rolling contact with said inspection drum at said inspection position, and said cover roller has a plurality of cover grooves arranged in an outer circumferential surface thereof at regular intervals in the circumferential direction, said cover groove partially or entirely covering the cigarette in cooperation with said receiving groove of said inspection drum.    
   
   
       7 . The inspection device according to  claim 3 , further comprising a movable carrier provided to said inspection drum, for reciprocating said blocking pad in a direction moving toward or away from said suction pad, wherein said movable carrier moves with said blocking pad toward said suction pad and causes said blocking pad and said suction pad to hold the filter cigarette therebetween.  
   
   
       8 . The inspection device according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said movable carrier includes a cigarette holder having said receiving grooves.    
   
   
       9 . The inspection device according to  claim 7 , further including separating means for forcibly separating said blocking pad from the cigarette end of the filter cigarette after the filter cigarette passes said inspection position.  
   
   
       10 . The inspection device according to  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said separating means includes a rod coupled to said blocking pad, a spring for urging said rod toward said suction pad, and a cam mechanism for moving said rod against an urging force of said spring in such a direction that said blocking pad is separated away from said suction pad.