Method for checking a ventialtion zone of an aerosol-generating article for manufacturing defects

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for checking an aerosol-generating article with a ventilation zone for manufacturing defects. comprising: -providing an aerosol-generating article with a ventilation zone, the ventilation zone comprising a plurality of perforations, -cutting the aerosol-generating article along a plane through the plurality of perforations, thereby creating an intersection through the plurality of perforations, and -checking the intersection for manufacturing defects. Such a method for checking an aerosol-generating article for manufacturing defects can also check for the shape and the positioning of the perforations inside the article.

1 . A method for checking an aerosol-generating article with a ventilation zone for manufacturing defects, comprising:
 providing an aerosol-generating article with a ventilation zone, the ventilation zone comprising a plurality of perforations,   cutting the aerosol-generating article along a plane through the plurality of perforations, thereby creating an intersection through the plurality of perforations, and   checking the intersection for manufacturing defects, wherein a reference image of a cross-sectional cut of a perforation is provided and wherein the reference image is superimposed on a cross-sectional cut of a perforation in the intersection of the aerosol-generating article in order to visually check for manufacturing defects.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one cross-sectional cut of a perforation within the intersection is checked for manufacturing defects. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein an inclination of the cross-sectional cut of a perforation relative to the plane is determined. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein one or both of a width or orientation of the cross-sectional cut within the intersection is checked by using the reference image. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reference image is positioned above the intersection and wherein the reference image and the intersection are rotatably arranged relative to each other and wherein the reference image is superimposed on one cross-sectional cut of a perforation via a rotation. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein an aerosol-generating article is rejected if less than 80 percent of an area of the reference image can be superimposed on an area of a cross-sectional cut of a perforation in the intersection of the aerosol-generating article. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein an aerosol-generating article is rejected if a central axis of a cross-sectional cut of a perforation in the intersection of the aerosol-generating article has an inclination angle of more than 10 degrees with respect to the reference image. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein an aerosol-generating article is rejected when the reference image cannot be superimposed on the cross-sectional cut of a perforation in the intersection. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reference image comprises one of:
 a line indicating a width and position of a correctly positioned and correctly shaped cross-sectional cut or,   a circular arc, indicating an area within which a central axis of the cross-sectional cut of a perforation should be located.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein an inspection tool is used for checking for manufacturing defects, the inspection tool comprising:
 a cavity for receiving a cut piece of the aerosol-generating article, wherein the cut piece includes the intersection,   the reference image of a cross-sectional cut of a perforation, and   means to rotate the reference image and the cut aerosol-generating article relative to each other for superimposing the reference image on a cross-sectional cut of a perforation within the intersection.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the inspection tool further comprises a light source for illuminating the intersection and the reference image. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-generating article is cut through a hollow segment including the ventilation zone and wherein checking for manufacturing defects comprises checking whether at least one cross-sectional cut of a perforation extends from an interior of the hollow segment to an exterior of the article, and wherein the number of cross-sectional cuts of a perforation extending from the interior of the hollow segment to the exterior is determined. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein an aerosol-generating article is rejected when at least one cross-sectional cut of a perforation does not extend from the interior to the exterior of the article. 
     
     
         14 . The method according  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-generating article includes a central longitudinal axis and wherein the aerosol-generating article is cut transversely to the longitudinal axis thereby creating the intersection, and wherein the aerosol-generating article is cut perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . Inspection tool for checking for manufacturing defects in a ventilation zone of an aerosol-generating article, the ventilation zone comprising a plurality of perforations, the inspection tool comprising:
 a cavity for receiving the aerosol-generating article, wherein the aerosol-generating article is cut along a plane through the ventilation zone for creating an intersection through the plurality of perforations,   a reference image of a cross-sectional cut of a perforation, and   means to rotate the reference image and the cut-aerosol-generating article relative to each other for superimposing the reference image on a cross-sectional cut of a perforation within the intersection.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least 2 or 3 cross-sectional cuts of a perforation within the intersection are checked for manufacturing defects. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein all cross-sectional cuts of a perforation within the intersection are checked for manufacturing defects. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein one or both of a width or orientation of the cross-sectional cut within the intersection is checked by using the reference image, and wherein an area of the reference image which can be superimposed on one cross-sectional cut of a perforation is determined. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein an aerosol-generating article is rejected if less than 90 percent of an area of the reference image can be superimposed on the area of a cross-sectional cut of a perforation in the intersection of the aerosol-generating article. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein an aerosol-generating article is rejected if a central axis of a cross-sectional cut of a perforation in the intersection of the aerosol-generating article has an inclination angle of more than 5 degrees with respect to the reference image.