Patent Application
20250176614
The present invention relates to a method for checking a ventilation zone of an aerosol-generating article for manufacturing defects. The present invention further relates to an inspection device for checking for manufacturing defects in a ventilation zone of an aerosol-generating article.
Aerosol-generating articles comprise a substrate section comprising aerosol-forming substrate and additionally frequently a ventilation zone including a plurality of perforations allowing ambient air to enter the aerosol-generating article. Methods for checking for manufacturing defects of perforations in the ventilation zone are often limited to visual inspection of the final aerosol-generating article including the ventilation zone. These methods do not provide any information about the path of the perforations inside the aerosol-generating articles. Other methods are known which analyze the resistance to draw of the aerosol-generating articles and the amount of air able to be drawn through the perforations. These methods do not provide information about the geometries of the perforations or their orientation inside the article.
It would be desirable to provide a method for checking a ventilation zone of an aerosol-generating article for manufacturing defects, which is able to check the path of the perforations inside the article. Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide a method for checking a ventilation zone of an aerosol-generating article for manufacturing defects, which would provide information about the geometry of the perforations inside the article. It also would be desirable to provide a method for checking for manufacturing defects which would provide information about the orientation of the perforations within a plane of the ventilation zone. It furthermore would be desirable to provide an inspection device, which is able to aid in checking perforations of the ventilation zone for manufacturing defects.
According to an embodiment of the present invention a method for checking an aerosol-generating article with a ventilation zone for manufacturing defects is provided. The method may comprise a method step of providing an aerosol-generating article with a ventilation zone.
The ventilation zone may comprise a plurality of perforations. The method may comprise a method step of cutting the aerosol-generating article along a plane through the plurality of perforations. This may create an intersection through the plurality of perforations. The method furthermore may comprise checking the intersection for manufacturing defects.
According to another embodiment of the present invention a method for checking an aerosol-generating article with a ventilation zone for manufacturing defects is provided. The method comprises:
The method for checking for manufacturing defects may allow checking the path of the perforations within the ventilation zone through the aerosol-generating article along the intersection. This may provide further insights about the configuration of the perforations within the aerosol-generating article. The method may allow to check the structure of the perforations inside the aerosol-generating article for manufacturing defects. This may provide better insights into the structure and the path of perforations within the ventilation zone compared to methods wherein an aerosol-generating article is inspected from the outside for example by using a visual inspection system.
The term “aerosol-generating article” is used herein to denote an article wherein an aerosol generating substrate is heated to produce and deliver inhalable aerosol to a consumer. As used herein, the term “aerosol-forming substrate” denotes a substrate capable of releasing volatile compounds upon heating to generate an aerosol. The term “aerosol-generating article” also encompasses continuous rods formed from a plurality of aerosol-generating articles. During the production of the aerosol-generating articles long rods containing up to 10 aerosol-generating articles can be formed, which subsequently can be cut in order to produce smaller rods or the final articles. In particular, the term “aerosol-generating article” also includes so-called “double sticks” which are two aerosol-generating articles connected together. Such double sticks may be subjected to the methods for checking for manufacturing defects as described herein.
As used herein, the term “aerosol-generating device” refers to a device comprising a heater element that interacts with the aerosol generating substrate of the aerosol generating article to generate an aerosol.
The aerosol-forming substrate may be a solid aerosol-forming substrate.
In certain preferred embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises homogenised plant material, preferably a homogenised tobacco material.
As used herein, the term “homogenised plant material” encompasses any plant material formed by the agglomeration of particles of plant. For example, sheets or webs of homogenised tobacco material for the aerosol-forming substrates of the present invention may be formed by agglomerating particles of tobacco material obtained by pulverising, grinding or comminuting plant material and optionally one or more of tobacco leaf lamina and tobacco leaf stems. The homogenised plant material may be produced by casting, extrusion, paper making processes or other any other suitable processes known in the art.
The homogenised plant material can be provided in any suitable form. For example, the homogenised plant material may be in the form of one or more sheets. As used herein with reference to the invention, the term “sheet” describes a laminar element having a width and length substantially greater than the thickness thereof.
The homogenised plant material may be in the form of a plurality of pellets or granules.
The homogenised plant material may be in the form of a plurality of strands, strips or shreds. As used herein, the term “strand” describes an elongate element of material having a length that is substantially greater than the width and thickness thereof. The term “strand” should be considered to encompass strips, shreds and any other homogenised plant material having a similar form. The strands of homogenised plant material may be formed from a sheet of homogenised plant material, for example by cutting or shredding, or by other methods, for example, by an extrusion method.
The tobacco particles may have a nicotine content of at least about 2.5 percent by weight, based on dry weight. More preferably, the tobacco particles may have a nicotine content of at least about 3 percent, even more preferably at least about 3.2 percent, even more preferably at least about 3.5 percent, most preferably at least about 4 percent by weight, based on dry weight.
The aerosol-forming substrate may further comprise one or more aerosol formers. Upon volatilisation, an aerosol former can convey other vaporised compounds released from the aerosol-forming substrate upon heating, such as nicotine and flavourants, in an aerosol. Suitable aerosol formers for inclusion in the homogenised plant material are known in the art and include, but are not limited to: polyhydric alcohols, such as triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol and glycerol; esters of polyhydric alcohols, such as glycerol mono-, di-or triacetate; and aliphatic esters of mono-, di- or polycarboxylic acids, such as dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate.
The aerosol-forming substrate may have an aerosol former content of between about 5 percent and about 30 percent by weight on a dry weight basis, such as between about 10 percent and about 25 percent by weight on a dry weight basis, or between about 15 percent and about 20 percent by weight on a dry weight basis.
For example, if the substrate is intended for use in an aerosol-generating article for an electrically-operated aerosol-generating system having a heating element, it may preferably include an aerosol former content of between about 5 percent to about 30 percent by weight on a dry weight basis. If the substrate is intended for use in an aerosol-generating article for an electrically-operated aerosol-generating system having a heating element, the aerosol former is preferably glycerol.
The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a gel composition that includes an alkaloid compound, or a cannabinoid compound, or both an alkaloid compound and a cannabinoid compound. In particularly preferred embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises a gel composition that includes nicotine.
Preferably the gel composition includes nicotine.
Preferably, in an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present invention a susceptor is arranged within the rod of aerosol-forming substrate, and is in thermal contact with the aerosol-forming substrate. Preferably the susceptor is an elongate susceptor.
As used herein with reference to the present invention, the term “susceptor” refers to a material that can convert electromagnetic energy into heat. When located within a fluctuating electromagnetic field, eddy currents induced in the susceptor cause heating of the susceptor. As the elongate susceptor is located in thermal contact with the aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-forming substrate is heated by the susceptor.
When used for describing the susceptor, the term “elongate” means that the susceptor has a length dimension that is greater than its width dimension or its thickness dimension, for example greater than twice its width dimension or its thickness dimension.
The susceptor is preferably arranged substantially longitudinally within the rod. This means that the length dimension of the elongate susceptor is arranged to be approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rod, for example within plus or minus 10 degrees of parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rod. In preferred embodiments, the elongate susceptor may be positioned in a radially central position within the rod, and extends along the longitudinal axis of the rod.
Preferably, the susceptor extends all the way to a downstream end of the rod of aerosol-generating article. In some embodiments, the susceptor may extend all the way to an upstream end of the rod of aerosol-generating article. In particularly preferred embodiments, the susceptor has substantially the same length as the rod of aerosol-forming substrate, and extends from the upstream end of the rod to the downstream end of the rod.
The susceptor is preferably in the form of a pin, rod, strip or blade.
The susceptor preferably has a length from about 5 millimetres to about 15 millimetres, for example from about 6 millimetres to about 12 millimetres, or from about 8 millimetres to about 10 millimetres.
A ratio between the length of the susceptor and the overall length of the aerosol-generating article substrate may be from about 0.2 to about 0.35.
The susceptor may be formed from any material that can be inductively heated to a temperature sufficient to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate. Preferred susceptors comprise a metal or carbon.
A preferred susceptor may comprise or consist of a ferromagnetic material, for example a ferromagnetic alloy, ferritic iron, or a ferromagnetic steel or stainless steel. A suitable susceptor may be, or comprise, aluminium. Preferred susceptors may be formed from 400 series stainless steels, for example grade 410, or grade 420, or grade 430 stainless steel. Different materials will dissipate different amounts of energy when positioned within electromagnetic fields having similar values of frequency and field strength.
Thus, parameters of the susceptor such as material type, length, width, and thickness may all be altered to provide a desired power dissipation within a known electromagnetic field. Preferred susceptors may be heated to a temperature in excess of 250 degrees Celsius.
Suitable susceptors may comprise a non-metallic core with a metal layer disposed on the non-metallic core, for example metallic tracks formed on a surface of a ceramic core. A susceptor may have a protective external layer, for example a protective ceramic layer or protective glass layer encapsulating the susceptor. The susceptor may comprise a protective coating formed by a glass, a ceramic, or an inert metal, formed over a core of susceptor material.
The susceptor is arranged in thermal contact with the aerosol-forming substrate. Thus, when the susceptor heats up the aerosol-forming substrate is heated up and an aerosol is formed. Preferably the susceptor is arranged in direct physical contact with the aerosol-forming substrate, for example within the aerosol-forming substrate.
The aerosol-generating article may further comprise a downstream section at a location downstream of the rod of aerosol-forming substrate. The downstream section may comprise an intermediate hollow section comprising an aerosol-cooling element arranged in alignment with, and downstream of the rod of aerosol-forming substrate.
The downstream section may further comprise one or more downstream elements on top of the aerosol-cooling element. By way of example, the intermediate hollow section may further comprise a support element positioned immediately downstream of the rod of aerosol-forming substrate, and the aerosol-cooling element may be located between the support element and the downstream end (or mouth end) of the aerosol-generating article. In more detail, the aerosol-cooling element may be positioned immediately downstream of the support element. In some preferred embodiments, the aerosol-cooling element may abut the support element. As will be described below, the downstream section may further comprise one or more elements on top of the intermediate hollow section at a location downstream of the intermediate hollow section.
The aerosol-cooling element may comprise a hollow tubular segment that defines a cavity extending all the way from an upstream end of the aerosol-cooling element to a downstream end of the aerosol-cooling element and the ventilation zone may be provided at a location along the hollow tubular segment.
As used herein, the term “hollow tubular segment” is used to denote a generally elongate element defining a lumen or airflow passage along a longitudinal axis thereof. In particular, the term “tubular” will be used in the following with reference to a tubular element having a substantially cylindrical cross-section and defining at least one airflow conduit establishing an uninterrupted fluid communication between an upstream end of the tubular element and a downstream end of the tubular element. However, it will be understood that alternative geometries (for example, alternative cross-sectional shapes) of the tubular element may be possible.
In the context of the present invention a hollow tubular segment provides an unrestricted flow channel. This means that the hollow tubular segment provides a negligible level of resistance to draw (RTD). The flow channel should therefore be free from any components that would obstruct the flow of air in a longitudinal direction. Preferably, the flow channel is substantially empty.
When used for describing an aerosol-cooling element, the term “elongate” means that the aerosol-cooling element has a length dimension that is greater than its width dimension or its diameter dimension, for example twice or more its width dimension or its diameter dimension.
As used herein, the term “longitudinal” refers to the direction corresponding to the main longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article, which extends between the upstream and downstream ends of the aerosol-generating article. As used herein, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” describe the relative positions of elements, or portions of elements, of the aerosol-generating article in relation to the direction in which the aerosol is transported through the aerosol-generating article during use.
The plurality of perforations within the ventilation zone may comprise at least 2 perforations. The plurality of perforations within the ventilation zone may comprise at least 4, preferably at least 6 perforations. More preferably, the plurality of perforations may comprise up to 15, preferably up to 11 perforations within the ventilation zone.
The aerosol-generating article may comprise a central longitudinal axis. Cutting the aerosol-generating article along the plane through the plurality of perforations may include cutting the aerosol-generating article in the ventilation zone in a plane transversely to the central longitudinal axis. Preferably, the aerosol-generating article is cut in its ventilation zone perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis.
This may provide cross-sectional cuts of the plurality of perforations within the ventilation zone. This may allow to check the width and the length of the perforations within the ventilation zone for manufacturing defects.
Cutting the aerosol-generating article along a plane through the plurality of perforations may provide a cut piece of the aerosol-generating article, wherein one end of the cut piece forms the intersection through the ventilation zone. This cut piece of the aerosol-generating article with the intersection can then be employed in the method for checking for manufacturing defects.
The method may provide cross-sectional cuts of all perforations within the ventilation zone. Thus, it may be possible to check all perforations within the ventilation zone by inspecting the intersection for manufacturing defects.
The perforations may comprise holes extending from the exterior of the aerosol-generating article into the interior of the aerosol-generating article. The cross-sectional cuts of the perforations therefore may comprise an elongated shape, preferably a rectangular shape.
The aerosol-generating article may be cut through a hollow segment including the ventilation zone. Checking for manufacturing defects then may comprise checking whether at least one cross-sectional cut of a perforation extends from the interior of the hollow segment to the exterior of the aerosol-generating article. Checking for manufacturing defects may comprise rejecting aerosol-generating articles whose cross-sectional cuts do not extend from the interior of the hollow segment to the exterior of the aerosol-generating article.
The number of cross-sectional cuts of a perforation extending from the interior of the hollow segment to the exterior of the aerosol-generating article may be determined. An aerosol-generating article may be rejected if less than two thirds of its cross-sectional cuts do not extend from the interior of the hollow segment to the exterior of the aerosol-generating article.
At least one cross-sectional cut of a perforation within the intersection may be checked for manufacturing defects. Preferably, at least 2 or at least 3 cross-sectional cuts are checked for manufacturing defects. Most preferably, all cross-sectional cuts of a perforation are checked for manufacturing defects.
This may allow to quickly check the intersection by only checking a fraction of the cross-sectional cuts of the plurality of perforations. This may accelerate the checking process for manufacturing defects. Alternatively, it may be possible to check all cross-sectional cuts of the perforations for manufacturing defects. This method may provide a very accurate assessment of the manufacturing defects.
A tubular sacrificial element may be employed during cutting of the aerosol-generating article. The tubular sacrificial element may have a slightly larger diameter than the aerosol-generating article. Tubular sacrificial element may be slipped over the aerosol-generating article before cutting the article.
The tubular sacrificial element may comprise a plastic tube or a shell. The tubular sacrificial element may include an indicator, indicating the expected position of the perforations within the ventilation zone. The indicator may comprise markings on the tubular sacrificial element.
After the tubular sacrificial element has been slipped over the aerosol-generating article, the tubular sacrificial element containing the aerosol-generating article may be cut. Preferably, the aerosol-generating article may be cut through the indicator of the tubular sacrificial element.
This may ease positioning any cutting device in the correct way. The tubular sacrificial element may mechanically stabilize the aerosol-generating article during the cutting procedure. This may avoid any deformation of the aerosol-generating article, in particular in the area of the intersection formed by the cutting process.
The aerosol-generating article may be cut by employing a cutting device. The cutting device for example may be rotating knife or filter cutting machine.
A reference image of a cross-sectional cut of a perforation may be provided. The reference image may be superimposed on a cross-sectional cut of a perforation in the intersection of the aerosol-generating article. This may allow a visual check for manufacturing defects. Preferably, one or both of the width or the orientation of the cross-sectional cut within the intersection may be checked by using the reference image.
Employing a reference image may allow a quicker and easier visual inspection of the perforations for manufacturing defects. In particular, the width of the reference image may be compared to the width of at least some of the cross-sectional cuts of perforations in the intersection. This may allow an easy check of manufacturing defects relating to the width. The reference image may indicate the correct position of cross-sectional cuts of the perforations within the inter-section. Therefore, the reference image may allow for an easy inspection of potential manufacturing defects related to the orientation of the perforations within the ventilation zone.
The reference image may be positioned above the intersection in order to check visually for manufacturing defects. The reference image and the intersection of the cut aerosol-generating article may be rotatably arranged relative to each other. The reference image may be superimposed on at least one cross-sectional cut of a perforation via a rotation. Rotating the reference image relative to the cross-sectional cuts of the perforations may provide an easy method for superimposing the reference image on the cross-sectional cuts.
In one embodiment of the method for checking for manufacturing defects, the reference image may successively be superimposed with at least some of the cross-sectional cuts of the perforations in order to check for manufacturing defects by rotating the reference image relative to the cross-sectional cuts.
The aerosol-generating article may comprise a central longitudinal axis. The rotation of the reference image and the cross-sectional cuts relative to each other may be performed about the central longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article. In particular, the rotational movement may be centered about the central longitudinal axis of the cut aerosol-generating article. This may provide an easy method of superimposing the reference image on at least some of the cross-sectional cuts of the perforations.
An inclination of the cross-sectional cut of a perforation relative to the plane of the cut may be determined. In particular, due to an inclination of a perforation relative to the plane of the cut, a cross-sectional cut of the perforation in the intersection may not continuously run from the exterior of the aerosol-generating article into the interior of the article. Consequently, partial cross-sectional cuts which do not extend from the exterior to the interior of the aerosol-generating article in the intersection can be viewed as manufacturing defects. Consequently, aerosol-generating articles including these partial cross-sectional cuts in their intersections can be rejected in the method for checking for manufacturing defects. The method for checking for manufacturing defects of the present invention can therefore also determine whether perforations in the ventilation zone have the correct orientation within a plane of the ventilation zone.
The reference image may be an image of a correctly positioned and correctly shaped cross-sectional cut. The reference image furthermore may have the correct width.
The area of the reference image which can be superimposed on the area of a cross-sectional cut of a perforation may be determined. This may allow a skilled person to determine a percentage of overlap between the area of the reference image and the cross-sectional cut of a perforation. A low percentage of superimposable area of the reference image may indicate a large deviation between the reference image and the cross-sectional cut of a perforation in the intersection of an aerosol-generating article. An aerosol-generating article may be rejected if the deviation between the cross-sectional cuts of its perforations in the intersection and the reference image is too large. An aerosol-generating article may be rejected if less than 80 percent, preferably less than 85 percent, more preferably less than 90 percent of the area of the reference image can be superimposed onto the area of the cross-sectional cut of the perforation.
An aerosol-generating article furthermore may be rejected if less than 80 percent, preferably less than 85 percent, more preferably less than 90 percent of the overall number of cross-sectional cuts of the perforations in the intersection can be superimposed to such an extent that at least 80 percent of the area of the reference image can be superimposed on the area of the respective cross-sectional cuts as described above.
Thus, small deviations between the area of the reference image and the area of the cross-sectional cut of at a maximum 20 percent, preferably at a maximum of 10 percent may be tolerable. These small deviations may still allow a sufficient resistance to draw and may allow a sufficient temperature adjustment of the aerosol in the ventilation zone of the aerosol-generating article due to ambient air entering the aerosol-generating article through the perforations.
The percentage of overlap of an area of a reference image and an area of a cross-sectional cut of a perforation in the intersection may be determined by employing a computed CT scan. Some methods steps or the complete method of checking the ventilation zone of the aerosol-generating article for manufacturing defects may include computer-implemented methods. The reference image may be a computer-generated image or may be implemented in an inspection tool, as further described below.
An aerosol-generating article may be 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, preferably more than 5 degrees with respect to the reference image.
Such a large inclination angle may indicate that the perforation is tilted to such a great degree in comparison to the reference image that the aerosol-generating article has to be rejected.
A perforation has passed the method for checking for manufacturing defects if the central axis of the cross-sectional cut is located completely within the reference image.
The inclination angle between the central axis of a cross-sectional cut and the reference image may be determined as the cutting angle between the central axis of the cut and the reference image.
In particular, an aerosol-generating article may be rejected when the reference image cannot be superimposed on the cross-sectional cut of a perforation in the intersection. This may indicate that the perforations are offset from the reference image to such an extent that the aerosol-generating article has to be rejected.
The reference image may comprise one of:
A reference image comprising a line indicating the width and the position of a correctly positioned and correctly shaped cross-sectional cut may be employed in order to determine the degree of overlap between the area of the reference image and the area of the cross-sectional cut.
The reference image comprising a circular arc may be employed in order to determine the above-described inclination angle between the central axis of the cross-sectional cut and the reference image.
An inspection tool may be used for checking for manufacturing defects. The inspection tool may comprise:
Such a tool can conveniently be employed in order to superimpose easily the reference image onto a cross-sectional cut of a perforation. In particular, the cut piece of the aerosol-generating article including the intersection may be accommodated in the cavity.
The bottom of the cavity may comprise a transparent material. This may allow a user to view the intersection of the cut piece of the aerosol-generating article when accommodated in the cavity.
The reference image may be located adjacent to the bottom of the cavity. This may allow a user of the inspection tool to easily superimpose the reference image on any cross-sectional cut of a perforation located in the intersection of the cut piece of the aerosol-generating article.
The reference image may be included in a transparent reference element of the inspection tool. The transparent reference element may be configured to be rotatable relative to the cavity, in particular to the transparent bottom of the cavity of the inspection tool.
The inspection tool may be configured for a user to view the intersection of the cut piece of the aerosol-generating article through the transparent reference element and the transparent bottom of the cavity.
This may allow a user to easily visually check the cross-sectional cuts of the perforations within the intersections by superimposing the reference image onto the cross-sectional cuts via a rotational movement of the transparent reference element relative to the transparent bottom of the cavity.
The inspection tool may furthermore comprise a light source for illuminating the intersection and the reference image. This may ease the visual checking of the intersection for manufacturing defects.
The inspection tool furthermore may comprise magnifying means. The magnifying means may be configured to provide an enlarged image of the intersection of the cut piece of the aerosol-generating article including the cross-sectional cuts of the perforation. The magnifying means may ease visually checking the intersection for manufacturing defects. The magnifying means may comprise or may consist of a magnifying lens.
The magnifying means may ease manual visual inspection of any manufacturing defects.
If a magnifying means is employed, the reference image may comprise one of:
In particular, the reference image may be adapted to indicate the width and the position of correctly positioned and correctly shaped cross-sectional cut enlarged by the magnifying means, or may comprise a circular arc, indicating an area within which the central axis of the cross-sectional cut of a perforation which is enlarged by the magnifying means should be located.
The reference image may be located on the magnifying means. This may ease superimposing the reference image onto the enlarged cross-sectional cuts of the intersection of the cut piece of the aerosol-generating article.
The magnifying means may ease manual visual inspection of any manufacturing defects by a user of the inspection tool.
The bottom of the cavity of the inspection tool may be located within the focal length of the magnifying means. This may allow sufficient magnification of the intersection of the cut piece of the article.
The magnifying means may provide a magnification factor of between 1.5 and 10, preferably 2 and 6.
The plurality of perforations in the ventilation zone of the aerosol-generating article may extend radially from the central longitudinal axis of the article.
Checking for manufacturing defects in the intersection may then comprise checking whether the cross-sectional cuts of the perforations are tilted with respect to their radial extension from the central longitudinal axis.
An aerosol-generating article may be rejected if the cross-sectional cuts of the perforations in the intersection of this article are tilted by more than 20 degrees, preferably more than 5 degrees with respect to their radial extension.
The intersection of the cut piece of the aerosol-generating article may be stained for increasing the contrast between the perforations and the wall of the aerosol-generating article.
This may ease the visual inspection of the cross-sectional cuts of the perforations.
Staining may be done by contacting the intersection with a dye, such as ink.
The aerosol-generating article may be tubular and the perforations may be arranged circumferentially around the tubular aerosol-generating article.
The intersection of such an aerosol-generating article can easily be checked for manufacturing errors employing the methods described herein, in particular the method involving the reference image. The reference image may be easily superimposed on at least some of the cross-sectional cuts of the perforations by rotating the reference image relative to the cross-sectional cuts.
The method step of checking the intersection for manufacturing defects may comprise two separate checking steps. In a first initial checking step, the number of complete cross-sectional cuts of the perforations of an intersection of the aerosol-generating article extending from the exterior of the article into the interior of the article may be determined. If the number of complete cross-sectional cuts is above a threshold value, one or more of the positions of the cross-sectional cuts within the intersection, the shape of the cross-sectional cuts and the angle of the cross-sectional cuts with respect to a radial extension of the perforations may be checked in a second checking step. The threshold value may represent a minimum fraction of complete cross-sectional cuts in relation to the overall number of cross-sectional cuts being located in the intersection of the aerosol-generating article.
In the first initial step, the number of cross-sectional cuts of the perforations of an intersection of the aerosol-generating article which extend from the exterior of the article to the interior of the article may be determined. Partial cross-sectional cuts of the perforations which do not extend from the exterior of the article to the interior of the article may be viewed as manufacturing defects and may not count as complete cross-sectional cuts. An aerosol-generating article may be rejected and may not be subjected to further checking steps for manufacturing defects, if less than 40 percent, preferably less than 30 percent, more preferably less than 25 percent of the expected number of cross-sectional cuts completely extend from the exterior of the article to the interior of the article. This percentage values may represent the threshold value of the first initial checking step. For example, if the overall number of perforations supposed to be present in the ventilation zone of the aerosol-generating article is 11 and if less than 2 perforations are completely extending from the exterior to the interior of the article, the aerosol-generating article may be rejected and no further checking steps may be performed involving this article. If at least 3 perforations are present completely extending from the exterior to the interior of the article, further inspection steps, in particular the second checking step, may be employed.
The invention furthermore provides an inspection tool for checking for manufacturing defects in the ventilation zone of an aerosol-generating article, wherein the ventilation zone comprises a plurality of perforations. The inspection tool may comprise 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. The inspection tool may comprise a reference image of a cross-sectional cut of a perforation. The inspection tool may comprise means to rotate the reference image and the intersection of 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.
Another embodiment of the invention provides an inspection tool for checking for manufacturing defects in the ventilation zone of an aerosol-generating article, wherein the ventilation zone comprises a plurality of perforations. The inspection tool comprises:
Such an inspection tool may ease the visual inspection of the intersection for manufacturing defects.
The inspection tool further may comprise a light source for eliminating the intersection and the reference image.
The light source may further facilitate the visual inspection of the intersection.
The reference image may be included in a transparent rotatable part of the tool. This may ease superimposing the reference image on a cross-sectional cut of a perforation within the intersection.
The transparent rotatable part of the tool may comprise the magnifying means, such as a magnifying lens.
The inspection tool may comprise further features, as described above for the method employing the inspection tool.
Below, there is provided a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.
Example A: Method for checking an aerosol-generating article with a ventilation zone for manufacturing defects, comprising:
Example B: Method according to example A, wherein at least one cross-sectional cut of a perforation within the intersection is checked for manufacturing defects, preferably wherein at least 2 or 3 cross-sectional-cuts, more preferably wherein all cross-sectional cuts of a perforation are checked for manufacturing defects.
Example C: Method according to the preceding example wherein an inclination of the cross-sectional cut of a perforation relative to the plane is determined.
Example D: Method according to any of the preceding examples, 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, preferably wherein one or both of the width or the orientation of the cross-sectional cut within the intersection is checked by using the reference image, more preferably wherein the area of the reference image which can be superimposed on one cross-sectional cut of a perforation is determined.
Example E: Method according to the preceding example, 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.
Example F: Method according to any of the preceding examples D or E, wherein an aerosol-generating article is rejected if less than 80 percent, preferably less than 90 percent of the 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.
Example G: Method according to any of the preceding examples D to F, 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, preferably more than 5 degrees with respect to the reference image.
Example H: Method according to the preceding examples D to G, 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.
Example I: Method according to the preceding examples D to H, wherein the reference image comprises one of:
Example J: Method according to the preceding examples D to I, wherein an inspection tool is used for checking for manufacturing defects, the inspection tool comprising:
Example K: Method according to the preceding example, wherein the inspection tool further comprises a light source for illuminating the intersection and the reference image.
Example L: Method according to any of the preceding examples, 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 the interior of the hollow segment to the exterior of the article, preferably wherein the number of cross-sectional cuts of a perforation extending from the interior of the hollow segment to the exterior is determined.
Example M: Method according to the preceding example, 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.
Example N: Method according any of the preceding examples, 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, preferably wherein the aerosol-generating article is cut perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
Example O: Method according to the preceding claim 14, wherein the plurality of perforations extends radially from the central longitudinal axis.
Example P: Method according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the intersection is being stained for increasing the contrast between the perforations and the wall of the aerosol-generating article.
Example Q: Method according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the aerosol-generating article is tubular and wherein the perforations are arranged circumferentially around the tubular aerosol-generating article.
Example R: 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:
Example S: Inspection tool according to the preceding example, wherein the inspection tool further comprises a light source for illuminating the intersection and the reference image.
Example T: Inspection tool according to any of the preceding examples R or S, wherein the reference image is included in a transparent rotatable part of the tool.
Features described in relation to one embodiment may equally be applied to other embodiments of the invention.
The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
In the following the same elements are marked with the same reference numerals throughout all the figures.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22161911.7 | Mar 2022 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2023/056329 | 3/13/2023 | WO |
