Lamp device on a production machine for the manufacture of products of the tobacco-processing industry as well as associated lamp

• US 20050007762A1
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau AG (Körber-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau AG (Körber-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Grothaus, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 7,168,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/89
• CPC Class Codes: A24C 5/00 Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
• CPC Class Codes: A24C 5/31 with special arrangements coming into operation during starting, slowing-down or breakdown of the machine, e.g. for diverting or breaking the continuous rod

Abstract

Machine for making tobacco-processing industry products includes a plurality of lamps arranged on components of the machine. Each lamp includes at least one visible light-emitting power semiconductor light source. An electronic mode control unit is electrically connected to and controlling the lamps. The electronic mode control unit is structured and arranged to control the lamps so as to provide uniform continuous light for illuminating at least one of the components and the tobacco-processing industry products, and is structured and arranged to control the lamps so as to provide periodically interrupted light for illuminating at least one of the components and the tobacco-processing industry products. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled).

14. A machine for making tobacco-processing industry products, the machine comprising:

a plurality of lamps arranged on components of the machine;

each lamp comprising at least one visible light-emitting power semiconductor light source; and

an electronic mode control unit electrically connected to and controlling the lamps,

wherein the electronic mode control unit is structured and arranged to control the lamps so as to provide uniform continuous light for illuminating at least one of the components and the tobacco-processing industry products, and is structured and arranged to control the lamps so as to provide periodically interrupted light for illuminating at least one of the components and the tobacco-processing industry products.

15. The machine of claim 14, wherein the machine comprises a high-speed production machine.

16. The machine of claim 14, wherein the lamps allow a user to observe the components.

17. The machine of claim 14, wherein the lamps allow a user to observe the tobacco-processing industry products.

18. The machine of claim 14, wherein the lamps allow a user to observe the tobacco-processing industry products passing within the machine and according to a machine control cycle.

19. The machine of claim 14, wherein the at least one visible light-emitting power semiconductor light source comprises a light-emitting diode.

20. The machine of claim 14, wherein the periodically interrupted light comprises stroboscope light.

21. The machine of claim 14, wherein the periodically interrupted light is controlled according to a machine control cycle, whereby virtual images are produced which show movement cycles of at least one of the components and the tobacco-processing industry products.

22. The machine of claim 14, wherein the electronic mode control unit is adapted to switch to a state wherein at least one of the lamps remains uncontrolled by the electronic mode control unit, whereby the at least one lamp is supplied directly with a supply voltage.

23. The machine of claim 22, wherein the supply voltage is a direct current voltage.

24. The machine of claim 14, wherein at least one of the lamps is adapted to be selectively switched to two switching states.

25. The machine of claim 14, wherein at least one of the lamps is adapted to be selectively switched between a state which uses a clocked voltage supply and a state which uses a direct unclocked voltage supply.

26. The machine of claim 14, wherein at least one of the lamps is selectively switchable between states based on a presence or absence of a clock control signal of the electronic mode control unit.

27. The machine of claim 14, wherein the electronic mode control unit is adapted to be switched to a switching state in which at least one of the lamps is supplied with a control signal having a pulse sequence.

28. The machine of claim 27, wherein the pulse sequence comprises a pulse frequency which is asynchronous relative to a frequency of a machine cycle of the machine.

29. The machine of claim 28, wherein the switching state occurs during a continuous light mode of the electronic mode control unit.

30. The machine of claim 27, wherein the pulse sequence comprises a pulse frequency which is synchronous relative to a frequency of a machine cycle of the machine.

31. The machine of claim 30, wherein the switching state occurs during a stroboscope light mode of the electronic mode control unit.

32. The machine of claim 14, wherein the electronic mode control unit is adapted to generate a control signal controlling at least one of the lamps.

33. The machine of claim 32, wherein the control signal has a mark-to-space ratio (P/P) of a pulse sequence which is kept constant relative to a variable machine control cycle of the machine.

34. The machine of claim 32, wherein the control signal has a mark-to-space ratio (P/P) of a pulse sequence which is independent of a variable machine control cycle of the machine.

35. The machine of claim 32, wherein the control signal has a mark-to-space ratio (P/P) of a pulse sequence which is variably adjustable.

36. The machine of claim 32, wherein the control signal has a mark-to-space ratio (P/P) of a pulse sequence which is variably adjustable within a predetermined range so as to vary a light intensity of at least one of the uniform continuous light and the periodically interrupted light.

37. The machine of claim 14, wherein the electronic mode control unit is adapted to be switched to a switching state in which at least one of the lamps is supplied with a control signal having a pulse sequence generated with an adjustable clock offset.

38. The machine of claim 37, wherein the adjustable clock offset deviates from a clock synchronicity of a control cycle.

39. The machine of claim 38, wherein the switching state occurs during a stroboscope light mode of the electronic mode control unit.

40. The machine of claim 14, wherein the electronic mode control unit is adapted to be switched to a switching state in which at least one of the lamps is supplied with a control signal having a pulse sequence generated with an adjustable phase displacement.

41. The machine of claim 40, wherein the adjustable phase displacement occurs between a control cycle and a machine control cycle of the machine.

42. The machine of claim 41, wherein the switching state occurs during a stroboscope light mode of the electronic mode control unit.

43. The machine of claim 14, wherein the electronic mode control unit is electrically connected to a central drive control system of the machine.

44. The machine of claim 43, wherein the lamps are controllable based on operating states of the machine.

45. The machine of claim 14, wherein the electronic mode control unit is electrically connected via an electrical circuit to a central drive control system of the machine.

46. The machine of claim 14, wherein the electronic mode control unit is electrically connected to control elements of a control station of the machine.

47. The machine of claim 14, wherein the electronic mode control unit is structured and arranged to individually control each of the lamps.

48. The machine of claim 14, wherein the electronic mode control unit is electrically connected via an electrical circuit to control elements of a control station of the machine.

49. The machine of claim 14, wherein the plurality of lamps are arranged on at least one rod-like elongate base.

50. The machine of claim 49, wherein the plurality of lamps comprise LED lamps.

51. The machine of claim 49, wherein the at least one rod-like elongate base comprises an inclined mounting surface.

52. The machine of claim 51, wherein the plurality of lamps are arranged on the inclined mounting surface.

53. The machine of claim 51, wherein the plurality of lamps are arranged in a row on the inclined mounting surface.

54. The machine of claim 14, wherein the plurality of lamps are arranged on at least one rod-like elongate housing.

55. The machine of claim 54, wherein the at least one rod-like elongate housing comprises at least one longitudinally extending assembly chamber.

56. The machine of claim 54, wherein the at least one rod-like elongate housing comprises a chamber and a diode-mounting base.

57. A method of illuminating portions of the machine for making tobacco-processing industry products of claim 14, the method comprising:

arranging a plurality of lamps on components of the machine; and

controlling the plurality of lamps with the electronic mode control unit.

58. A machine for making tobacco products, the machine comprising:

a plurality of lamps arranged on components of the machine;

each lamp comprising at least one visible light source; and

an electronic control unit controlling the lamps,

wherein the electronic control unit controls the lamps so as to provide uniform continuous light and so as to provide periodically interrupted light.

59. A method of illuminating portions of the machine for making tobacco-processing industry products of claim 58, the method comprising:

arranging a plurality of lamps on components of the machine; and

controlling the plurality of lamps with the electronic control unit.

60. A machine for making tobacco products, the machine comprising:

a plurality of lamps arranged on components of the machine;

each lamp comprising at least one LED; and

an electronic control unit individually controlling each of the lamps,

wherein the electronic control unit controls the lamps so as to provide uniform continuous light and so as to provide periodically interrupted light.

61. A method of illuminating portions of the machine for making tobacco-processing industry products of claim 60, the method comprising:

arranging a plurality of lamps on components of the machine; and

controlling the plurality of lamps with the electronic control unit.