Method and equipment for testing the quality of production in a tobacco product manufacturing line

Abstract

The quality of cigarettes advancing along a manufacturing line is tested by a method that includes the steps of checking key characteristics of the cigarettes as they pass through testing units placed at given points along the line, so as to obtain first signals reflecting the quality of the tested characteristics presented by each cigarette, inhibiting the operation of reject devices to prevent defective cigarettes from being ejected, then taking up a given number of tested cigarettes as samples at the outfeed stage of the line, including defective cigarettes, and directing them into an auxiliary off-line testing unit by which they are checked a second time so as to obtain a second signal reflecting the quality of the same characteristics; the method also includes the step of sending a signal to the in-line testing units so that, if the first signals differ from the second signals, the in-line units can be recalibrated, thereby optimizing the quality of the cigarettes produced on a given manufacturing line or in a particular batch, and minimizing rejects.

1 . A method of testing the quality of production in a line for manufacturing tobacco products, comprising the steps of 
 examining and checking at least one characteristic of tobacco products advancing along a manufacturing line by means of at least one testing unit placed along the selfsame line, in order to obtain a first signal reflecting the quality of the tested characteristic presented by each product;    sampling a predetermined number of tested tobacco products taken from the outfeed stage of the line and directing them into an auxiliary testing unit installed off-line;    examining and checking the at least one characteristic by means of the auxiliary testing unit, in order to obtain a second signal reflecting the quality of the tested characteristic presented by each product;    comparing the first signal with the second signal;    in the event of the first signal reflecting the quality of the testing characteristic differing from the second signal reflecting the quality of the tested characteristic, sending a correction signal to the at least one in-line testing unit and effecting the calibration of the selfsame unit.    
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the step of checking the at least one characteristic by means of the testing unit placed along the manufacturing line consists in comparing the value of the at least one characteristic with a relative reference value or range of values programmed into the testing unit to the end of identifying the tobacco products, during their passage along the manufacturing line, as a set of defective products in which the value of the tested characteristic does not match the reference value or does not register within the reference range, and a set of conforming products in which the value of the tested characteristic matches the reference value or registers within the reference range, and generating a first signal respectively of non-conformity or of conformity.  
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein the step of checking the at least one characteristic by means of the auxiliary testing unit consists in comparing the value of the at least one characteristic with a respective calibration value or range of values programmed into the auxiliary unit, to the end of identifying a set of defective tobacco products in which the value of the tested characteristic does not match the calibration value or does not register within the calibration range, and a set of conforming tobacco products in which the value of the tested characteristic matches the calibration value or registers within the calibration range, and generating a second signal respectively of non-conformity or of conformity.  
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 3 , wherein the calibration signal sent to the in-line testing unit determines an adjustment to the reference value or range of values programmed into the in-line unit, such as will ensure uniformity with the calibration value or range of values programmed into the auxiliary unit.  
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 2 , including the further step of deactivating reject devices placed along the manufacturing line and interlocked to the in-line testing devices, in order to prevent defective tobacco products from being ejected along the line and allow such products instead to be taken up and directed into the auxiliary testing unit.  
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 5 , including the further step of reactivating the reject devices after the respective in-line testing units have been calibrated.  
     
     
         7 . Equipment for testing the quality of production in a line for the manufacture of tobacco products, comprising at least one testing unit placed along the manufacturing line and serving to examine and check at least one characteristic of tobacco products advancing along the line, in order to obtain a first signal reflecting the quality of the tested characteristic presented by each product, also a sampling device placed to take up a predetermined number of tested tobacco products from the outfeed stage of the line and direct them into an auxiliary testing unit installed off-line, such as will examine and check the at least one characteristic in order to obtain a second signal reflecting the quality of the tested characteristic presented by each product, wherein the auxiliary testing unit is connected to the at least one testing unit operating in-line, able to compare the first signal and the second signal and programmed, in the event of the first signal reflecting the quality of the testing characteristic differing from the second signal reflecting the quality of the tested characteristic, to send a correction signal to the at least one in-line testing unit for the purpose of effecting the calibration of the selfsame unit.  
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 3 , including the further step of deactivating reject devices placed along the manufacturing line and interlocked to the in-line testing devices, in order to prevent defective tobacco products from being ejected along the line and allow such products instead to be taken up and directed into the auxiliary testing unit.  
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 8 , including the further step of reactivating the reject devices after the respective in-line testing units have been calibrated.  
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 4 , including the further step of deactivating reject devices placed along the manufacturing line and interlocked to the in-line testing devices, in order to prevent defective tobacco products from being ejected along the line and allow such products instead to be taken up and directed into the auxiliary testing unit.  
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 10 , including the further step of reactivating the reject devices after the respective in-line testing units have been calibrated.