US 10,285,433 B2Granted

Capsule object rupture testing system and associated method

AssigneeR.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

InventorBalager Ademe

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Abstract

A capsule rupture testing system includes a positioning channel configured to receive one or more smoking article filters therein. The smoking article filters include a filter material and a capsule object disposed therein. The system includes a smoking article positioning device configured to position the smoking article filter elements at a testing position within the positioning channel. The system includes a rupturing device that includes an actuating element configured to operably engage at least one smoking article filter element at the testing position. The testing position aligns the actuating element with an expected position of the capsule object. The rupturing device also includes a measuring element configured to determine a deformation measurement associated with deforming the filter element. The system also includes an analysis unit configured to analyze the deformation measurement and configured to determine a rupture point of the capsule object. An associated method is also provided.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A capsule object rupture testing system comprising:

a positioning channel defining a longitudinally-extending axis configured to receive one or more smoking article filter elements therein, the smoking article filters respectively comprising a filter material and a capsule object disposed within the filter material;
a smoking article positioning device configured to position the smoking article filter elements at a testing position within the positioning channel, the testing position being aligned with the longitudinally-extending axis of the positioning channel;
a rupturing device comprising:
an actuating element configured to operably engage at least one smoking article filter element at the testing position, such that, the actuating element is aligned with an expected position of the capsule object, and
a measuring element configured to determine a deformation measurement associated with deforming the smoking article filter element, wherein the deformation measurement comprises a response force and a change in the response force associated with operably engaging the actuating element with the one of the smoking article filter elements;
and
an analysis unit configured to:
determine whether the capsule object disposed within the filter material of the smoking article filter element is in the expected position from a comparison of the deformation measurement with an expected deformation measurement, the expected deformation measurement being associated with the capsule object being in the expected position, such that if the capsule object is not in the expected position within the smoking article filter element then the deformation measurement and the expected deformation measurement will be different and the smoking article filter element is defective;
and
if the capsule object disposed within the smoking article filter element is in the expected position, determine a rupture point of the capsule object.

7 more elements

A method for determining a rupture point of a capsule object disposed within a smoking article filter element, the method comprising:

positioning at least one smoking article filter element that includes a filter material and a capsule object disposed within the filter material to a testing position within a positioning channel using a smoking article positioning device, the positioning channel defining a longitudinally-extending axis configured to receive one or more of the smoking article filter elements therein, and the testing position being aligned with the longitudinally-extending axis of the positioning channel;
operably engaging an actuating element of a rupturing device with the smoking article filter element disposed in the testing position, such that the actuating element is aligned with an expected position of the capsule object within the smoking article filter element;
measuring a deformation measurement associated with a deformation of the smoking article filter element with a measuring element of the rupturing device, wherein the deformation measurement comprises a response force and a change in the response force associated with operably engaging the actuating element with the one of the smoking article filter elements;
determining whether the capsule object disposed within the filter material of the smoking article filter element is in the expected position from a comparison of the deformation measurement with an expected deformation measurement, the expected deformation measurement being associated with the capsule object being in the expected position, such that if the capsule object is not in the expected position within the smoking article filter element then the deformation measurement and the expected deformation measurement will be different and the smoking article filter element is defective;
and
if the capsule object disposed within the smoking article filter element is in the expected position, determining a rupture point of the capsule object.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/003,197Filed 21 Jan 2016
Published: US 2017/0208856 A127 Jul 2017
Granted: 14 May 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

A24C 5/343
Examining cigarettes or the rod, e.g. for regulating the feeding of tobacco; Removing defective cigarettes: by mechanical means, e.g. feelers
A24D 3/061
Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters: containing additives entrapped within capsules, sponge-like material or the like, for further release…
A24D 3/048
Tobacco smoke filters characterised by their shape or structure: containing additives
A24C
Machines for making cigars or cigarettes