Optical monitoring of products of the tobacco-processing industry

Abstract

Method of optically monitoring a tobacco-processing industry product with a gradient-index lens and device for optically monitoring tobacco-processing industry products. The device includes an image-recording device comprising at least one gradient-index lens. A method of optically monitoring a product in a machine for making or processing tobacco-processing industry products is also provided. The method includes arranging a device for optical monitoring of the product on the machine for making or processing tobacco-processing industry products. The device for optically monitoring includes at least one gradient-index lens. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

1 . A method comprising: 
 optically monitoring a tobacco-processing industry product with a gradient-index lens.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gradient-index lens is arranged on a machine for making a tobacco product.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gradient-index lens comprises a plurality of gradient-index lenses arranged at least one of next to one another and in at least one row.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of gradient-index lenses are structured and arranged to illuminate a surface of the tobacco-processing industry product.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gradient-index lens is structured and arranged to illuminate a surface of the tobacco-processing industry product.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of other gradient-index lenses arranged at least one of next to one another and in at least one row.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of other gradient-index lenses are structured and arranged to illuminate a surface of the tobacco-processing industry product.  
   
   
       8 . A device for optically monitoring tobacco-processing industry products, the device comprising: 
 an image-recording device comprising at least one gradient-index lens.    
   
   
       9 . The device  claim 8 , wherein the at least one gradient-index lens is arranged on a machine for making a tobacco product.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one gradient-index lens comprises a plurality of gradient-index lenses arranged at least one of next to one another and in a row.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the image-recording device further comprises one of a line of photodiodes and a CCD line.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the image-recording device comprises at least one of a photodiode and a CCD.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the image-recording device further comprises a device for comparing a recorded image with at least one predetermined image.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising a device for comparing a recorded image recorded by the image-recording device with at least one predetermined image.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising an illumination device for illuminating an object surface.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the illumination device illuminates the object surface using a light source and at least one gradient-index lens guiding light from the light source to the object surface.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the image-recording device records an image of the object surface that is illuminated by the illumination device.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of gradient-index lenses arranged at least one of next to one another and in a row.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of other gradient-index lenses arranged at least one of next to one another and in a row to illuminate an object's surface.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the image-recording device comprises at least one gradient-index lens, and wherein a focus of the at least one gradient-index lens is arranged at or on an object surface.  
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the focus is arranged one of: 
 at one end of the at least one gradient-index lens; and    in an immediate proximity of one end of the at least one gradient-index lens.    
   
   
       22 . A machine for making tobacco-processing industry products, the machine comprising: 
 a device for optically monitoring products of the tobacco-processing industry comprising a gradient-index lens.    
   
   
       23 . The machine of  claim 22 , wherein the tobacco-processing industry products comprise one of filter rods and cigarettes.  
   
   
       24 . The machine of  claim 22 , wherein the tobacco-processing industry products are guided in a transverse axial manner past a device for optical monitoring of products.  
   
   
       25 . The machine of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one gradient-index lens comprises a plurality of gradient-index lenses arranged at least one of next to one another and in at least one row.  
   
   
       26 . A method of optically monitoring a product in a machine for making or processing tobacco-processing industry products, the method comprising: 
 arranging a device for optical monitoring of the product on the machine for making or processing tobacco-processing industry products,    wherein the device for optical monitoring comprises at least one gradient-index lens.