Device for producing filter cigarettes

Abstract

During the production of filter cigarettes ( 10 ), these are subjected to testing with the aid of test air. For this purpose, air is introduced into the filter cigarette ( 10 ) at one end. The air emerging at the opposite end is measured. The filter cigarette ( 10 ) is subdivided into testing sections or testing chambers ( 22, 23 ) for the purpose of more accurate testing and in order to derive more accurate information, in particular for testing a tobacco stick ( 11 ), on the one hand, and a filter ( 12 ), on the other hand. The testing chambers ( 22, 23 ), which are sealed off from one another, are connected to separate sensors.

1 . A device for producing filter cigarettes ( 10 ), in which an outer filter cover—cork paper—has openings ( 13 ) which are introduced into the filter cover by a perforation element, in particular by a laser perforation element, the openings ( 13 ) being checked by introducing a flowing medium—test air—at one end of the filter ( 12 ) and measuring the air—exit air—emerging via the openings ( 13 ), characterized by the following feature: 
 a) the perforation element is arranged in the region of the device for producing the filter cigarette ( 10 ),    b) the perforation element can be adjusted with regard to the number and/or size of the openings ( 13 ) to be made in the filter cover,    c) results of the measurement of the exit air in the region of the openings ( 13 ) can be supplied to a computer ( 44 ),    d) the perforation element is connected to the computer ( 44 ) and, by means of the latter, the number of openings ( 13 ) to be made and/or the size of the same can be adjusted in accordance with the measured results.    
   
   
       2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that a control device, in particular the computer ( 44 ), for adjusting the perforation element, in particular the laser perforation element ( 17 ), is connected to a (central) machine control system ( 51 ) of the device for producing the filter cigarettes.  
   
   
       3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the air exit in the region of the openings ( 13 ) of the filters ( 12 ) can be measured continuously or cyclically, and the measured results can be introduced into a control loop for adjusting the (laser) perforation element ( 17 ), it preferably being possible for the pressure of the exit air emerging in the region of the openings ( 13 ) to be measured by pressure meters ( 46 ) and for signals to be supplied by the latter to the computer ( 44 ).  
   
   
       4 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the filter cover of the filter ( 12 ), consisting of cork paper, and for connecting said filter to the cigarette is formed from a continuous material web ( 54 ) by dividing it off and can be joined to the filter and the cigarette in the region of a roll unit ( 55 ), the (laser) perforation unit ( 17 ) being fitted in the region of the material web ( 54 ) of the cork paper, above the latter, in order to produce openings ( 13 ) for a cork paper respectively assigned to a cigarette in the region of the material web ( 54 ).  
   
   
       5 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the (laser) perforation element ( 17 ) for making openings ( 13 ) on finished filter cigarettes ( 10 ) provided with cork paper is arranged above an intermediate drum ( 16 ) for transporting the cigarettes ( 10 ).  
   
   
       6 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that, following the making of the openings ( 13 ), the filter cigarettes ( 10 ) provided with openings ( 13 ) can be supplied to a testing unit, in particular a testing drum ( 18 ) having hollows ( 19 ) each for holding a filter cigarette ( 10 ), the hollows ( 19 ) of the testing conveyor or the testing drum ( 18 ) having at least one testing chamber ( 22 ) in the region of the filter ( 12 ) of the filter cigarettes ( 10 ) and it being possible for compressed air to be supplied to the cigarettes in the axial direction via a free end of the filter and to enter the testing chamber ( 22 ) via the openings or holes, and in that a pressure meter ( 46 ) is connected to the testing chamber ( 22 ) via an exit line ( 45 ) and passes on the measured pressures as a signal to the computer ( 44 ).  
   
   
       7 . The device as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that separate sealing elements are assigned to the testing conveyor or the testing drum ( 18 ) and, in the region of the testing of the filter cigarettes ( 10 ), can be placed on the latter in order to form a totally closed, sealed testing chamber ( 22 ) in the region of the filter ( 12 ).  
   
   
       8 . The device as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the sealing elements for the free outer side of the filter cigarettes ( 10 ) to be tested are fitted to a sealing conveyor ( 21 ), which rests on the free outer circumference of the testing drum ( 18 ), at least during the testing of the filter cigarettes ( 10 ), and has partitioning or sealing elements for each filter cigarette ( 10 ) in order to form a testing chamber ( 22 ).  
   
   
       9 . The device as claimed in  claim 8 , characterized in that the sealing conveyor ( 21 ) has hollows, namely matching hollows ( 34 ) which, during the testing of the filter cigarettes ( 10 ), together with the hollows ( 19 ) of the testing drum ( 18 ), form a hollow space which is closed, at least in the subregion, namely a testing chamber ( 22 ), webs ( 24 ) of the hollows ( 19 ) of the testing drum ( 18 ) being assigned matching hollows ( 34 ) of the sealing conveyor ( 21 ).  
   
   
       10 . The device as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the sealing conveyor ( 21 ) consists overall of resilient material, namely a pulling run ( 38 ) which can be loaded and a sealing layer ( 39 ) which is fitted to the latter and has the matching hollows ( 34 ).  
   
   
       11 . The device as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that testing regions or testing chambers ( 22 ,  23 ) are sealed off at the ends by resilient closure elements, in particular by caps ( 25 ,  26 ) of resilient material, which are placed in a sealing manner on ends of the filter cigarette ( 10 ), it being possible for the caps ( 25 ,  26 ) to be placed on the filter cigarettes ( 10 ), preferably as the filter cigarettes ( 10 ) are fed to the testing drum ( 18 ), and hold the filter cigarettes ( 10 ) on the circumference of the testing drum ( 18 ) and in the hollows ( 19 ).  
   
   
       12 . The device as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that sealing elements, in particular movable (pivotable) sealing pieces ( 42 ), are fitted directly or indirectly to the testing conveyor, in particular to the testing drum ( 18 ), and are assigned to each hollow ( 19 ), the sealing pieces ( 42 ) being formed such that, in an active testing position resting on the testing drum ( 18 ), sealed testing chambers ( 22 ,  23 ) are formed in interaction with the hollows ( 19 ) of the testing drum ( 18 ).  
   
   
       13 . The device as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that air lines and exit lines ( 45 ,  47 ) branching off from the testing chambers ( 22 ,  23 ) lead to sensors, in particular pressure meters ( 46 ) assigned to each line, and in that the sensors or pressure meters ( 46 ) are connected to a central computer ( 44 ) in order to evaluate the measured data, the computer ( 44 ) generating signals for controlling machines, units and elements.