Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Product assembly or manufacturing
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-08
2004-04-06
Picard, Leo (Department: 2125)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Product assembly or manufacturing
C131S280000, C702S113000, C702S116000, C702S184000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06718222
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to an automatic machine for processing cigarettes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently used automatic cigarette processing machines are extremely complex both mechanically and electronically. In recent years, conventional drives with transmissions powered by a main motor have been replaced with a number of independent drives, each synchronized with the others. Also, to improve product quality, increasingly sophisticated controls have been introduced, both of the product itself (e.g. optical control using television cameras) and the process (e.g. heat-seal temperature control using temperature sensors, wrapping material supply control, etc.).
The increasing use of electronics in the control of automatic machines now means that, alongside mechanical setup and maintenance (i.e. of the mechanical components of the machine)—which, though simpler than before, are still necessary—electrical setup and maintenance (i.e. of the electrical and electronic components of the machine) are also required.
The electrical setup of known automatic cigarette processing machines, however, is an extremely complex, time-consuming job, on account of individual operating members—e.g. electric motors, sensors, solenoid valves —still having to be tested by operating the whole or at least a whole section of the automatic machine, and so being compared with simultaneous operation of a large number of other operating members.
To overcome the above drawback, it has been proposed to bypass the automatic machine control program by physically forcing certain states of the automatic machine controller to determine the response of a given operating member. Such a procedure, however, is not actually employed, by being not only difficult to perform but also extremely dangerous by failing to conform with the minimum standards governing both machine and operator safety.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an automatic machine for processing cigarettes designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks, and which at the same time is cheap and easy to implement.
According to the present invention, there is provided an automatic machine for processing cigarettes as recited by claim 1.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3731043 (1973-05-01), Ullmann et al.
patent: 4558557 (1985-12-01), Kuehfuss
patent: 4653003 (1987-03-01), Kirstein
patent: 4724429 (1988-02-01), Millen et al.
patent: 5284164 (1994-02-01), Andrews et al.
patent: 5877961 (1999-03-01), Moore
patent: 6202003 (2001-03-01), Niwa
patent: 0023824 (1981-02-01), None
patent: 0195524 (1986-09-01), None
patent: 0847925 (1998-06-01), None
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English Abstract of EP 0847925 dated Jun. 17, 1998.
Bergo Daniele
Campanini Roberto
Spatafora Mario
G. D Societa' per Azioni
Ladas & Parry
Picard Leo
Rodriguez Paul
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