Method of verifying and improving the positioning of rod-like articles in trays or intermediate stores and a device enabling the verification of correct positioning of rod-like articles and aligning of their front face in trays or intermediate stores

Abstract

A method, where a verification of positioning of articles ( 3 ) is effected by means of sensors ( 14 ), and an improvement of positioning is effected by aligning a plane of end faces of the articles ( 3 ), consists in that the verification and improvement of positioning of rod-like articles ( 3 ) is effected simultaneously by means of an aligning device ( 1 ) provided with sensors ( 14 ), where the sensors ( 14 ) detect correct filling and/or arrangement of the articles ( 3 ), and the aligning device ( 1 ) aligns the plane of end faces of the articles ( 3 ) correctly filling the inside of a tray ( 6, 6 ′) or an intermediate store ( 7,7 ′), and in the event of detection of incorrect filling and/or arrangement the aligning device ( 1 ) is switched off and the operation of the entire unit is interrupted. An apparatus for using the method has an aligning device ( 1 ) in the form of a plate ( 2 ) coming in contact with end faces of the articles ( 3 ), provided with at least one sensor ( 14 ) for the control of filling of the tray ( 6, 6 ′) or the intermediate store ( 7, 7 ′). The plate ( 2 ) consists of multiple pushers ( 4 ) whose number corresponds to the number of segments ( 5 ) of a multi-segment tray ( 6 ) or intermediate store ( 7 ), and a gap ( 8 ) between the pushers ( 4 ) corresponds to the thickness of a partition ( 9 ) between the segments ( 5 ), where on each pusher ( 4 ) one sensor ( 14 ) is situated. The sensors ( 14 ) may constitute an optical element operating in the range of visible or invisible radiation, or an ultrasonic element, respectively. Between the pushers ( 4 ), movable gates ( 11 ) eliminating the gap ( 8 ) in the event of using conventional trays ( 6 ′) or intermediate stores ( 7 ′) with one compartment are situated.

1 . A method of verifying and improving the positioning of rod-like articles in trays or intermediate stores used in production lines of the tobacco industry, where the verification of positioning of the articles is effected by means of sensors, and the improvement of positioning of the articles is effected by aligning the plane of end faces of the articles, characterised in that the verification and the improvement of positioning of rod-like articles is effected simultaneously by means of one aligning device provided with sensors. 
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1  characterized in that the sensors detect the correct filling and/or arrangement of rod-like articles, and the aligning device aligns the plane of end faces of the articles correctly filling the inside of a tray or an intermediate store. 
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1  or  2  characterized in that, in case of detection of incorrect filling and/or arrangement of rod-like articles by the sensors, the aligning device is switched off and the operation of the unit, on which the aligning device is mounted, is interrupted. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus enabling the verification of correct positioning of rod-like articles and aligning of their front face in trays or intermediate stores used in production lines of the tobacco industry, wherein the verification is effected by means of sensors controlling the level of filling of a tray or an intermediate store, and aligning consists in aligning the plane of end faces of rod-like articles by their axial shift, characterised in that the aligning device ( 1 ) constitutes a plate ( 2 ) coming in contact with end faces of rod-like articles ( 3 ), provided with at least one sensor ( 14 ) arranged for the control of filling of a tray ( 6  or  6 ′) or an intermediate store ( 7  or  7 ′), respectively. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as in  claim 4  characterized in that the plate ( 2 ) consists of multiple pushers ( 4 ) whose number corresponds to the number of segments ( 5 ) of a multi-segment tray ( 6 ) or an intermediate store ( 7 ), and a gap ( 8 ) between the pushers ( 4 ) corresponds to the thickness of a partition ( 9 ) between the segments ( 5 ). 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as in  claim 4  or  5  characterized in that on each pusher ( 4 ) at least one sensor ( 14 ) is situated. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as in  claim 6  characterized in that the sensors ( 14 ) constitute an optical element operating in the range of visible radiation. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as in  claim 6  characterized in that the sensors ( 14 ) constitute an optical element operating in the range of invisible radiation. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as in  claim 6  characterized in that the sensors ( 14 ) constitute an ultrasonic element. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as in  claim 5  characterized in that between the pushers ( 4 ) movable gates ( 11 ) eliminating the gap ( 8 ) in case of using conventional trays ( 6 ′) or intermediate stores ( 7 ′) with one compartment are situated.