Detection of non-homogeneities in a continuous filter rod

Abstract

A device for detecting isolated occlusions in a conveyed continuous rod in the tobacco industry includes a light source for irradiating the continuous rod with the aid of a light-transmission method. A sensor is disposed for at least partially detecting brightness caused by the light source being transmitted in the continuous rod. An evaluation unit detects the presence of isolated occlusions in the continuous rod on the basis of the detected brightness.

1 . A device for detecting isolated occlusions in a conveyed continuous rod in the tobacco industry, said device comprising: 
 a light source for irradiating the continuous rod via a light-transmission method with a beam of light;    a sensor for receiving the beam of light transmitted through the continuous rod and at least partially detecting areas of brightness caused by irradiation from the light sources in the continuous rod; and    an evaluation device for detecting the presence of the isolated occlusions in the continuous rod by evaluating the detected areas of brightness.    
   
   
       2 . The device as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an imaging device disposed between the continuous rod and the sensor where the imaging device focuses the areas of brightness caused in the continuous rod on the sensor.  
   
   
       3 . The device as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the imaging device is provided with at least one optical lens.  
   
   
       4 . The device as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the light source disposed on one side of the continuous rod, the imaging device disposed on the opposite side of the continuous rod, and the sensor that receives light from the imaging device constitute a measuring device.  
   
   
       5 . The device as defined in  claim 4 , wherein at least two measuring devices are used to measure the continuous rod.  
   
   
       6 . The device as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the at least two measuring devices are arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the continuous rod.  
   
   
       7 . The device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the light source comprise a laser light source.  
   
   
       8 . The device as defined in  claim 2 , further comprising at least one diaphragm disposed in a path of the light beam between the imaging device and the sensor.  
   
   
       9 . The device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the conveyed continuous rod is a continuous filter rod.  
   
   
       10 . The device as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the at least two measuring devices are arranged in a single plane.  
   
   
       11 . A continuous rod-producing machine used in the tobacco industry, including the device as defined in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       12 . A method for detecting isolated occlusions in a conveyed continuous rod in the tobacco industry comprising the steps of: 
 irradiating the continuous rod with a light source using a light-transmission method;    at least partially detecting brightness caused by the light source in the irradiated rod with a sensor; and    determining the presence of isolated occlusions in the continuous rod on the basis of the detected brightness.    
   
   
       13 . The method as defined in  claim 12 , including imaging, at least in part, the brightness on the sensor by an imaging device.  
   
   
       14 . The method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the irradiating step includes irradiating the continuous rod by a laser light source.  
   
   
       15 . The method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the irradiating step includes irradiating the continuous rod by at least two laser light sources.  
   
   
       16 . The method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the irradiating step includes irradiating the number of occlusions the locations of the occlusion via the detected brightness.  
   
   
       17 . The method as defined in  claim 12 , including removing at least a section of the continuous rod if values for the detected brightness deviate from predetermined control values.  
   
   
       18 . The method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the determining step includes detecting the presence of occlusions in the continuous rod via an evaluation unit.  
   
   
       19 . A method of producing a continuous rod in a machine used in the tobacco industry, comprising utilizing the device according to  claim 1  to detect isolated occlusions in the continuous rod as it is conveyed in the machine.