EP4096445B1 - Unité de contrôle et procédé pour contrôler un groupe d'articles à fumer - Google Patents

Unité de contrôle et procédé pour contrôler un groupe d'articles à fumer Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4096445B1
EP4096445B1 EP21708366.6A EP21708366A EP4096445B1 EP 4096445 B1 EP4096445 B1 EP 4096445B1 EP 21708366 A EP21708366 A EP 21708366A EP 4096445 B1 EP4096445 B1 EP 4096445B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
smoking articles
group
path
sensor
cigarettes
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EP21708366.6A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP4096445A1 (fr
Inventor
Marco FRASSON
Massimo Fortini
Giuliano Gamberini
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GD SpA
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GD SpA
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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/32—Separating, ordering, counting or examining cigarettes; Regulating the feeding of tobacco according to rod or cigarette condition
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/32—Separating, ordering, counting or examining cigarettes; Regulating the feeding of tobacco according to rod or cigarette condition
    • A24C5/34—Examining cigarettes or the rod, e.g. for regulating the feeding of tobacco; Removing defective cigarettes
    • A24C5/3412—Examining cigarettes or the rod, e.g. for regulating the feeding of tobacco; Removing defective cigarettes by means of light, radiation or electrostatic fields
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/02—Packaging cigarettes
    • B65B19/12—Inserting the cigarettes, or wrapped groups thereof, into preformed containers
    • B65B19/20—Inserting the cigarettes, or wrapped groups thereof, into preformed containers into boxes with hinged lids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B19/00—Packaging rod-shaped or tubular articles susceptible to damage by abrasion or pressure, e.g. cigarettes, cigars, macaroni, spaghetti, drinking straws or welding electrodes
    • B65B19/28—Control devices for cigarette or cigar packaging machines
    • B65B19/32—Control devices for cigarette or cigar packaging machines responsive to incorrect grouping of articles or to incorrect filling of packages
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
    • B65B57/10—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F7/00—Magnets
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
    • B65B35/30—Arranging and feeding articles in groups
    • B65B35/40—Arranging and feeding articles in groups by reciprocating or oscillatory pushers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a unit and a method for controlling a group of smoking articles, in particular, each comprising a portion containing metal material.
  • a cigarette packing machine comprises a unit for forming groups of cigarettes, which receives as input a mass of cigarettes fed along a feed channel, and supplies as output a succession of orderly groups of cigarettes fed to a subsequent wrapping line.
  • a unit for forming groups of cigarettes comprises a vertical hopper, which has an upper input portion connected to the feed channel feeding the mass of cigarettes, and a lower portion provided with a plurality of output mouths.
  • Each output mouth comprises a number of vertical tiny channels (or vertical veins), along each of which a row of cigarettes descends by gravity, and is cyclically engaged by a respective pushing element which extracts a group of cigarettes from the bottom of the hopper and feeds the group of cigarettes to a pocket of a forming conveyor that is stationary in front of the output mouth.
  • Each pushing element is shaped like a comb and has a number of teeth which transversely cross the tiny channels of the output mouth in order to push a group of cigarettes out of the tiny channels and feed the group of cigarettes to the pocket of the forming conveyor.
  • an optical control station which acquires one or more images of the ends of all the cigarettes making up each group of cigarettes inserted in a pocket of the forming conveyor; the image of the ends of all the cigarettes is then processed both to verify the correct filling of the cigarette tips (that is, the ends of the cigarettes opposite the filter where the tobacco is "visible”) and to verify the correct longitudinal orientation of the cigarettes (i.e., to verify that all cigarettes have the same longitudinal orientation so that all tips are on the same side and, consequently, all filters are on the other side).
  • Patent applications US2019133178A1 and US2019261677A1 describe a device for identifying physical parameters of cylindrical articles of the tobacco industry during axial transfer thereof; the device comprises a radiation emitter, which emits radiations that pass through the articles, and a sensor, which is arranged on the opposite side of the emitter, is sensitive to the radiations, and is designed to detect the attenuation experienced by the radiations after passing through the articles.
  • a unit and a method are provided for controlling a group of smoking articles, each comprising a portion containing metal material, as claimed in the appended claims.
  • Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates, as a whole, a rigid, hinged-lid cigarette packet comprising a group 2 of cigarettes 3 consisting of twenty cigarettes 3 arranged in three rows (of seven-six-seven cigarettes 3 each, respectively).
  • each cigarette 3 comprises a length of tobacco 4 wrapped in a respective tubular paper wrapping and a filter 5 which is stably connected to the length of tobacco 4 by means of a strap.
  • Metal material is contained in the filter 5 (as for example described in patent application WO2005020723A1 ).
  • the metal material could also be contained in the length of tobacco 4.
  • this metal material may have different shapes.
  • this metal material can be granular, and therefore be dispersed in a more or less extended portion of the filter 5 or of the length of tobacco 4, or it can be a linear or reticular element of elongated, tubular or cylindrical shape, or it can be shaped as a plurality of metal elements dispersed or aligned in the filter 5 or in the length of tobacco 4.
  • Figure 3 shows a packing machine 7 which makes the packet 1 of cigarettes and comprises a forming unit 8 in which the groups 2 of cigarettes 3 are formed, a wrapping unit 9 in which a sheet of wrapping material is wrapped around each group 2 of cigarettes 3 to form an inner wrapping, and a wrapping unit 10 in which a blank is folded around each inner wrapping to form an outer container provided with a hinged lid, and thus complete the making of a packet 1 of cigarettes.
  • the forming unit 8 comprises a forming conveyor belt 11, which supports a plurality of pockets 12, each designed to receive and move a corresponding group 2 of cigarettes 3.
  • the forming conveyor 11 moves stepwise to feed each pocket 12 along an annular forming path P1.
  • a feed station S is arranged along the forming path P1, in which four groups 2 of cigarettes 3 are simultaneously inserted (by moving along an insertion path P2 perpendicular to the forming path P1) into respective pockets 12 which are stationary.
  • a hopper 13 is arranged in the feed station S, the former containing a mass of cigarettes 3 and having four twin output mouths 14 at the bottom, through each of which a group 2 of cigarettes 3 is extracted and inserted into a corresponding pocket 12 which is stationary in front of the output mouth 14.
  • Each output mouth 14 is associated with a corresponding pushing element 15, which makes a linear reciprocating movement along the insertion path P2 to cyclically cross the output mouth 14 and axially push a group 2 of cigarettes 3 towards a corresponding pocket 12 which is stationary in front of the output mouth 14.
  • the forming unit 11 comprises four tubular guide ducts 16, each of which is arranged in front of a corresponding output mouth 14 and guides the forward movement of a group 3 of cigarettes which, once it exits the output mouth 14 of the hopper 13, must reach a stationary pocket 12; that is, each guide duct 16 connects an output mouth 14 to a stationary pocket 12.
  • each guide duct 16 has an internal passage channel having a substantially rectangular cross section which reproduces (with a small clearance) a cross section of the groups 2 of cigarettes 3; the passage channel of each guide duct 16 may also comprise ribs which reproduce the circular shape of the cigarettes.
  • the packing machine 7 comprises a (at least one) control unit 17 which allows the correct longitudinal orientation of the individual cigarettes 3 in each group 2 of cigarettes 3 to be verified effectively and efficiently independently of the external appearance of the cigarettes 3; in other words, the control unit 17 makes it possible to verify that all cigarettes 3 in each group 2 of cigarettes 3 have the same longitudinal orientation (as shown in Figure 7 ), that is, the control unit 17 makes it possible to verify that in each group 2 of cigarettes 3 there are no cigarettes 3 oriented longitudinally in a different way than (opposite to) the other cigarettes 3 (as shown in Figure 8 ).
  • twin control units 17 are provided, each of which is coupled to a corresponding guide duct 16 and is arranged along the corresponding insertion path P2.
  • each control unit 17 comprises a sensor 18, which is arranged in a fixed position along the insertion path P2 followed by the groups 2 of cigarettes 3, and a processing device 19, which is coupled to the sensor 18 and is configured to establish whether, depending on the signals provided by the sensor 18, the group 2 of cigarettes 3 moving along the insertion path P2 has or has not all the cigarettes 3 with a same longitudinal orientation.
  • the sensor 18 is an electromagnetic sensor and is sensitive to the presence of the metal material contained in the cigarettes 3.
  • each control unit 17 the processing device 19 reads the sensor 18 when a group 2 of cigarettes 3 is moving near (in proximity to) the sensor 18, that is, when the group 2 of cigarettes 3 is moving (along the insertion path P2) with respect to the sensor 18.
  • the processing device 19 reads the sensor 18 when a group 2 of cigarettes 3 is stationary near (in proximity to) the sensor 18.
  • each control unit 17 the processing device 19 is configured to: detect a time development x(t) of a parameter x when the sensor 18 is in proximity to a group 2 of cigarettes 3 (which may be moving or stationary with respect to the sensor 18); compare the detected time development x(t) with a sample time development corresponding to a sample group 2 of cigarettes 3 in which all the cigarettes 3 have a same longitudinal orientation; and establish whether the group 2 of cigarettes 3 has or has not all the cigarettes 3 with a same longitudinal orientation depending on the result of the comparison.
  • the detected time development x(t) is sufficiently similar to (i.e., not too different from) the sample development, then all the cigarettes 3 of the group 2 of cigarettes 3 have the same longitudinal orientation, whereas if the detected time development x(t) is sufficiently different from the sample development (i.e., not sufficiently similar to the sample development) at least one cigarette 3 of the group 2 of cigarettes 3 has a different longitudinal orientation (an incorrect orientation, i.e., opposite to the other cigarettes 3).
  • the solid line shows a time development x(t) of the parameter x when the sensor 18 is close to a group 2 of cigarettes 3 in which all the cigarettes 3 of the group 2 of cigarettes 3 have the same longitudinal orientation
  • the dashed line shows a time development x(t) of the parameter x when the sensor 18 is close to a group 2 of cigarettes 3 in which at least one cigarette 3 of the group 2 of cigarettes 3 has a different longitudinal orientation (an incorrect orientation, i.e., opposite to the other cigarettes 3).
  • each sensor 18 comprises an electric oscillator circuit 20 having at least one quantity which is influenced by a proximity to the metal material contained in the filters 5 of the cigarettes 3, and a power supply 21 which applies a variable electrical voltage to the electric oscillator circuit 20 and is connected to the processing device 19.
  • the electric oscillator circuit 20 comprises an inductor (i.e., an electrical component that generates a magnetic field when an electric current flows therethrough); at least one quantity which is influenced by a proximity to the metal material contained in the filters 5 of the cigarettes 3 is (directly or indirectly), for example, the inductance of the inductor.
  • each sensor 18 the inductor consists of a single coil 22 (that is, the electric oscillator circuit 20 comprises a single coil 22), which is directly (galvanically) connected to the power supply 21 and is arranged in a fixed position along the corresponding insertion path P2.
  • each coil 22 is wound around the corresponding guide duct 16, and thus around the corresponding insertion path P2, so that a group 2 of cigarettes 3 moving along the guide duct 16 and therefore along the insertion path P2 passes inside the coil 22 (that is, it longitudinally crosses the coil).
  • each sensor 18 (or each coil 22) is arranged around the corresponding guide duct 16 in the vicinity of the end facing the forming conveyor 11 (and therefore opposite to the end facing the hopper 13); in this way, each sensor 18 (or the coil 22) is arranged in an area of the guide duct 16 which is travelled by the group 2 of cigarettes 3 at a slower forward speed (when the pushing element 15 reaches the end of the guide duct 16 facing the forming conveyor 11, its speed drops to zero and its direction of motion is reverted). It is understood that each sensor 18 (that is, the coil 22) can be arranged in any area of the duct 16.
  • the presence and position of the metal material inside each coil 22 is "sensed" by the power supply 21, for example, as a change in the inductance (which involves a consequent change in the reactance, or impedance), a change in the quality factor or a change in the resonance frequency.
  • the parameter x of which the time development x(t) is detected can be, for example, the inductance of the electric oscillator circuit 20 or the quality factor of the electric oscillator circuit 20.
  • the coils 22 of the various sensors 18 could influence each other, thus distorting the readings; in order to avoid this drawback, it is possible to differentiate the working frequencies of the electric oscillator circuits 20 of the various sensors 18 (especially of the adjacent electric oscillator circuits 20); that is, the electric oscillator circuits 20 of the various sensors 18 have oscillation frequencies that are different from each other.
  • the embodiment shown in Figure 6 has an extreme reading speed, is only sensitive to the presence of the metal material (that is, it is not affected in any way by the other components of the cigarettes such as tobacco, filters, paper etc.), and is also capable of operating when the metal material is not magnetic (i.e., not ferromagnetic).
  • a single control unit 17 is provided, which is coupled to the forming conveyor 11 and arranged along the forming path P1 (instead of four control units 17 coupled to the respective guide ducts 16).
  • the electric oscillator circuit 20 of the sensor 18 comprises a plurality of coils 23, each of which is galvanically separated from and independent of the power supply 21, is wound around a corresponding pocket 12 which moves the group 2 of cigarettes 3 along the forming path P1, and is preferably shortcircuited by a capacitor 24 (so as to form a resonant L/C circuit); furthermore, the electric oscillator circuit 20 of the sensor 18 comprises a single coil 25, which is directly (galvanically) connected to the power supply 21 and arranged in a fixed position along the forming path P1, so as to be electromagnetically coupled to each coil 23 when the corresponding pocket 12 passes near the coil 25.
  • the presence and position of the metal material inside each coil 23 is "sensed" by the power supply 21, for example, as a change in the inductance (which involves a consequent change in the reactance, or impedance) a change in the quality factor or a change in the resonance frequency.
  • the parameter x of which the time development x(t) is detected can be, for example, the inductance of the electric oscillator circuit 20 or the quality factor of the electric oscillator circuit 20.
  • the power supply 21 can generate in the coil 25 an electric oscillator signal (even of the impulsive type and which therefore tends to be naturally dampened in time), which undergoes variations (in terms of amplitude, duration, slope, frequency) due to the presence of the metal material carried by the cigarettes 3 inside the coil 23.
  • each coil 23 is part of a movable resonant circuit carried by a corresponding pocket 12, whereas the coil 25 is part of an excitation and measurement circuit arranged in a fixed position, for example, alongside the forming conveyor 11.
  • a single control unit 17 is provided, which is coupled to the forming conveyor 11 and arranged along the forming path P1 (as in the embodiment shown in Figure 10 ); in this embodiment, the sensor 18 comprises a magnet 26 (permanent or equipped with an excitable solenoid) arranged in a fixed position on one side of the forming path P1 (i.e., on one side of the forming conveyor 11) to generate a static magnetic field, and an array of elements 27 sensitive to the magnetic field (magneto resistors, GMRs,...), which are arranged in a fixed position on the opposite side of the forming path P1 (i.e., on the opposite side of the forming conveyor 11) and are connected to the processing device 19.
  • the sensor 18 comprises a magnet 26 (permanent or equipped with an excitable solenoid) arranged in a fixed position on one side of the forming path P1 (i.e., on one side of the forming conveyor 11) to generate a static magnetic field, and an array of elements 27 sensitive to the magnetic
  • the array of sensitive elements 27 is capable of detecting a change in the intensity of the static magnetic field generated by the magnet 26 due to the presence and position of the metal elements 6 in the cigarettes 3 of the group 2 of cigarettes 3.
  • control unit 17 can be arranged in a fixed position along the insertion path P2.
  • the magnet 26 and the array of sensitive elements 27 are arranged on opposite sides of the guide duct 16 in the vicinity of the end facing the forming conveyor 11.
  • the group 2 of cigarettes 3 longitudinally crosses the array of sensitive elements 27, that is, the array of sensitive elements 27 is arranged orthogonal to the forward movement of the group 2 of cigarettes.
  • a single control unit 17 is provided, which is coupled to the forming conveyor 11 and arranged along the forming path P1 (as in the embodiment shown in Figure 10 ); in this embodiment, the sensor 18 comprises a resonating cavity 28, which is arranged along the forming path P1 (i.e., along the forming conveyor 11) to be crossed by the group 2 of cigarettes 3, and a microwave emitter/receiver 29, which is designed to emit and receive microwaves inside the resonating cavity 28 and is connected to the processing device 19.
  • this sensor 18 i.e., the coil 22
  • the coil 22 has a width (that is, an extension in the direction parallel to the insertion path P2) smaller than the length of the filter 5.
  • control unit 17 is coupled to the forming unit 8 to control the groups 2 of cigarettes 3 before starting the wrapping of the wrapping materials and thus to be able to discard the defective groups 2 of cigarettes 3 before starting the wrapping of the wrapping materials.
  • control unit 17 is coupled to the wrapping unit 9, to the wrapping unit 10, or to an output conveyor arranged downstream of the wrapping unit 10; in this case, the groups 2 of cigarettes 3 are checked after the wrapping of at least part of the wrapping materials, and thus the semi-finished or finished packets 1 of cigarettes containing defective groups 2 of cigarettes 3 are discarded.
  • each cigarette 3 comprises (at least) metal material dispersed in the filter 5, which has the function of increasing the filtering capacity (as described, for example, in patent application WO2005020723A1 ).
  • each cigarette 3 comprises an (at least one) annular metal element, which is arranged on the outer surface of the strap connecting the filter 5 to the length of tobacco 4 (which is therefore in sight, i.e., visible from the outside) and has an aesthetic function; this annular metal element could be laminated on the paper band from which the connection straps are formed or could be printed (typically by jet printing technology) on the paper band from which the connection straps are formed.
  • each cigarette 2 comprises a (at least one) metal element which, instead of being arranged inside the filter 5, is arranged inside the length of tobacco 4 (as for example described in patent US4715389A ).
  • the cigarette 3 comprises a (at least one) portion containing metal material arranged asymmetrically with respect to a longitudinal center line of the cigarette 3.
  • the group 2 comprises conventional cigarettes 3, therefore each provided with a length of tobacco 4 intended for combustion and a filter 5.
  • the group 2 may comprise cigarettes 3 in which the filter 5 and/or the length of tobacco 4 is of the multi-segment type; in this case, the metal material may be contained in one or more segments of the filter 5 and/or of the length of tobacco 4.
  • control unit 17 described above has many advantages.
  • control unit 17 allows the correct longitudinal orientation of the individual cigarettes 3 in a group 2 of cigarettes 3 to be verified effectively and efficiently, independently of the external appearance of the cigarettes 3 (i.e., without using cameras or similar optical sensors).
  • control unit 17 described above is fast enough to operate correctly even in a fast packing machine 7 (for example, capable of producing 800-1,000 packets 1 of cigarettes per minute); that is, the control unit 17 described above is able to verify in (much) less than one hundredth of a second the correct longitudinal orientation of the individual cigarettes 3 in a group 2 of cigarettes 3 even when the group 2 of cigarettes 3 is moving (rapidly).
  • control unit 17 described above is particularly compact and therefore can also be installed in an existing packing machine 7 without undue difficulty.
  • control unit 17 described above is particularly simple and inexpensive to manufacture, since it uses structurally simple and inexpensive components (coils, magnets, capacitors, small electronic circuits).

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)

Claims (10)

  1. Unité de commande (17) configurée pour commander un groupe (2) d'articles à fumer (3) comprenant chacun une partie (5) contenant un matériau métallique ; l'unité de commande (17) comprend :
    un capteur (18) électromagnétique qui est agencé le long d'un trajet suivi par le groupe (2) d'articles à fumer (3) et qui est sensible à la présence du matériau métallique contenu dans la partie (5) des articles à fumer (3) ; et
    un dispositif de traitement (19) qui est couplé au capteur (18) et qui est configuré pour établir, en fonction des signaux fournis par le capteur (18), si tous les articles à fumer (3) du groupe (2) d'articles à fumer (3) se déplaçant le long du trajet ont une même orientation longitudinale ;
    dans laquelle le capteur (18) électromagnétique comprend : un circuit d'oscillateur électrique (20) dont au moins une quantité, en particulier une inductance, est influencée par une proximité du matériau métallique contenu dans la partie (5) des articles à fumer (3) ; et une alimentation électrique (21) qui applique une tension électrique, en particulier une tension CA, au circuit d'oscillateur électrique (20) et qui est connectée au dispositif de traitement (19) ;
    l'unité de commande (17) est caractérisée en ce que le circuit d'oscillateur électrique (20) comprend une seule bobine (22) qui est connectée à l'alimentation électrique (21), qui est agencée dans une position fixe le long du trajet, et qui est enroulée autour du trajet, de sorte que le groupe (2) d'articles à fumer (3) se déplaçant le long du trajet passe longitudinalement à l'intérieur de la bobine (22).
  2. Unité de commande (17) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle le dispositif de traitement (19) lit le capteur (18) lorsque le groupe (2) d'articles à fumer (3) se déplace dans la zone du capteur (18).
  3. Unité de commande (17) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle le dispositif de traitement (19) lit le capteur (18) lorsque le groupe (2) d'articles à fumer (3) est immobile dans la zone du capteur (18).
  4. Unité de commande (17) selon la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, dans laquelle le dispositif de traitement (19) est configuré pour :
    détecter une évolution temporelle d'un paramètre (x) lorsque le capteur (18) se trouve à proximité du groupe (2) d'articles à fumer (3) ;
    comparer l'évolution temporelle détectée avec une évolution temporelle échantillon correspondant à un groupe (2) échantillon d'articles à fumer (3), dans laquelle tous les articles à fumer (3) ont une même orientation longitudinale ; et
    établir si tous les articles à fumer (3) du groupe (2) d'articles à fumer (3) ont une même orientation longitudinale en fonction du résultat de la comparaison.
  5. Unité de commande (17) selon l'une des revendications 1 à 4, dans laquelle :
    une pluralité de circuits d'oscillateur électrique (20) sont agencés le long de trajets respectifs suivis par des groupes (2) correspondants d'articles à fumer (3) ; et
    ladite pluralité de circuits d'oscillateur électrique (20) ont des fréquences de travail différentes.
  6. Machine à emballer pour fabriquer un paquet de cigarettes autour d'un groupe (2) d'articles à fumer (3) comprenant chacun une partie (5) contenant un matériau métallique ; la machine à emballer comprend :
    des moyens transporteurs qui déplacent le groupe (2) d'articles à fumer (3) le long d'un trajet ; et
    une unité de commande (17) qui est couplée au transporteur et qui est fabriquée selon l'une des revendications 1 à 5.
  7. Machine à emballer selon la revendication 6, comprenant :
    une courroie transporteuse de formage (11) qui porte une pluralité de compartiments (12) conçus chacun pour recevoir et déplacer un groupe (2) correspondant d'articles à fumer (3) le long d'un trajet de formage (P1) ;
    une trémie (13) qui contient une masse d'articles à fumer (3) et au fond de laquelle se trouve au moins une embouchure de sortie (14) ;
    au moins un élément de poussée (15) qui effectue un mouvement de va-et-vient linéaire le long d'un trajet d'insertion (P2) et qui est conçu pour traverser cycliquement l'embouchure de sortie (14) de manière à extraire un groupe (2) d'articles à fumer (3) de l'embouchure de sortie (14) et à insérer le groupe (2) d'articles à fumer (3) dans un compartiment (12) correspondant immobile ; et
    un conduit de guidage (16) tubulaire qui est agencé le long du trajet d'insertion (P2) entre l'embouchure de sortie (14) et le transporteur de formage (11) ;
    dans laquelle l'unité de commande (17) est couplée au conduit de guidage (16) et est agencée le long du trajet d'insertion (P2).
  8. Machine à emballer selon la revendication 7, dans laquelle le capteur (18) de l'unité de commande (17) est agencé autour du conduit de guidage (16) dans la zone d'une extrémité faisant face au transporteur de formage (11).
  9. Machine à emballer selon la revendication 6, comprenant :
    une courroie transporteuse de formage (11) qui porte une pluralité de compartiments (12) conçus chacun pour recevoir et déplacer un groupe (2) correspondant d'articles à fumer (3) le long d'un trajet de formage (P1) ;
    une trémie (13) qui contient une masse d'articles à fumer (3) et au fond de laquelle se trouve au moins une embouchure de sortie (14) ; et
    au moins un élément de poussée (15) qui effectue un mouvement de va-et-vient linéaire le long d'un trajet d'insertion (P2) et qui est conçu pour traverser cycliquement l'embouchure de sortie (14) de manière à extraire un groupe (2) d'articles à fumer (3) de l'embouchure de sortie (14) et à insérer le groupe (2) d'articles à fumer (3) dans un compartiment (12) correspondant immobile ;
    dans laquelle l'unité de commande (17) est couplée au transporteur de formage (11) et est agencée le long du trajet de formage (P1).
  10. Méthode de commande pour commander un groupe (2) d'articles à fumer (3) comprenant chacun une partie (5) contenant un matériau métallique ; la méthode de commande comprend les étapes suivantes :
    déplacer le groupe (2) d'articles à fumer (3) le long d'un trajet ;
    établir, au moyen d'un dispositif de traitement (19) couplé à un capteur (18) électromagnétique agencé le long du trajet et en fonction des signaux fournis par le capteur (18), si tous les articles à fumer (3) du groupe (2) d'articles à fumer (3) se déplaçant le long du trajet ont une même orientation longitudinale ; et
    détecter la présence du matériau métallique contenu dans la partie (5) des articles à fumer (3) au moyen du capteur (18) électromagnétique ;
    dans laquelle le capteur (18) électromagnétique comprend : un circuit d'oscillateur électrique (20) dont au moins une quantité, en particulier une inductance, est influencée par une proximité du matériau métallique contenu dans la partie (5) des articles à fumer (3) ; et une alimentation électrique (21) qui applique une tension électrique, en particulier une tension CA, au circuit d'oscillateur électrique (20) et qui est connectée au dispositif de traitement (19) ;
    la méthode de commande est caractérisée en ce que le circuit d'oscillateur électrique (20) comprend une seule bobine (22) qui est connectée à l'alimentation électrique (21), qui est agencée dans une position fixe le long du trajet, et qui est enroulée autour du trajet, de sorte que le groupe (2) d'articles à fumer (3) se déplaçant le long du trajet passe longitudinalement à l'intérieur de la bobine (22).
EP21708366.6A 2020-01-31 2021-01-29 Unité de contrôle et procédé pour contrôler un groupe d'articles à fumer Active EP4096445B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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IT102020000001870A IT202000001870A1 (it) 2020-01-31 2020-01-31 Unità e metodo di controllo di un gruppo di articoli da fumo
PCT/IB2021/050722 WO2021152531A1 (fr) 2020-01-31 2021-01-29 Unité de commande et procédé pour la commande d'un groupe d'articles à fumer

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WO2018033430A1 (fr) * 2016-08-15 2018-02-22 Hauni Maschinenbau Gmbh Dispositif de mesure et procédé permettant de détecter des éléments électroconducteurs dans des produits ainsi que machine de fabrication de produits de l'industrie du traitement du tabac
EP3474451A1 (fr) * 2017-10-19 2019-04-24 Imst Gmbh Dispositif de détection, procédé de détection d'un dispositif de détection et utilisation d'un dispositif de détection
DE102018106825A1 (de) * 2018-03-22 2019-09-26 Hauni Maschinenbau Gmbh Fördereinrichtung für stabförmige Rauchartikel

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US4715389A (en) 1986-09-15 1987-12-29 R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Cigarette
IT1279728B1 (it) 1995-09-25 1997-12-16 Gd Spa Metodo e dispositivo per la formazione ed il trasferimento di gruppi di sigarette in una macchina impacchettatrice a piu' linee di
DE19947282A1 (de) * 1999-09-30 2001-04-05 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Verfahren zum Herstellen von Packungen durch Umhüllen eines Verpackungsgutes
ITBO20000577A1 (it) 2000-10-03 2002-04-03 Gd Spa Macchina automatica
EP1410991A3 (fr) * 2002-10-10 2005-12-14 Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG) Procede et dispositif pour verifier le contenu d'un paquet (ferme)
DE10252914A1 (de) * 2002-10-10 2004-04-22 Focke Gmbh & Co. Kg Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Überprüfung des Inhalts einer ( geschlossenen ) Packung
JP2007503829A (ja) 2003-09-03 2007-03-01 レシス アクティエボラーグ タバコ煙フィルタ
PL230779B1 (pl) * 2016-06-03 2018-12-31 Int Tobacco Machinery Poland Spolka Z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnoscia Urządzenie do identyfikacji parametrów fizycznych artykułów prętopodobnych przemysłu tytoniowego
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DE3714009A1 (de) * 1987-04-27 1988-11-10 Hauni Werke Koerber & Co Kg Metalldetektor
DE4424058C1 (de) * 1994-07-08 1995-10-19 Mesutronic Geraetebau Gmbh Einrichtung zur Erzeugung eines Erkennungssignals beim Auftreten metallisch leitender Teile in einem Förderstrom
WO2018033430A1 (fr) * 2016-08-15 2018-02-22 Hauni Maschinenbau Gmbh Dispositif de mesure et procédé permettant de détecter des éléments électroconducteurs dans des produits ainsi que machine de fabrication de produits de l'industrie du traitement du tabac
EP3474451A1 (fr) * 2017-10-19 2019-04-24 Imst Gmbh Dispositif de détection, procédé de détection d'un dispositif de détection et utilisation d'un dispositif de détection
DE102018106825A1 (de) * 2018-03-22 2019-09-26 Hauni Maschinenbau Gmbh Fördereinrichtung für stabförmige Rauchartikel

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WO2021152531A1 (fr) 2021-08-05
IT202000001870A1 (it) 2021-07-31
EP4096445A1 (fr) 2022-12-07

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