Method of and apparatus for testing a first material for potential presence of second materials
First Claim
1. A method of testing a mass consisting at least primarily of a first material for the presence of at least one second material, comprising the steps of:
- establishing and maintaining a microwave field in a microwave resonator;
introducing the mass into the range of the microwave field so that the field is influenced by the mass; and
analyzing the influence of the mass upon the microwave field, including;
simultaneously measuring the actual values of a first and a second characteristic of the microwave field, selecting an acceptable, two dimensional value range for the actual values, ascertaining whether the actual values are within the acceptable range, and generating signals when the actual values are outside of the acceptable range.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of detecting impurities in a mass, such as detecting metallic and/or plastic particles in a stream of tobacco particles or filter material for tobacco smoke, includes the steps of moving the mass relative to a microwave field and/or vice versa, and analyzing the influence of the mass upon the microwave field. The analyzing step involves simultaneously measur- the actual values of a first and a second parameter of the microwave field, ascertaining the presence or absence of those changes of the parameters which are attributable to the presence of impurities in the mass, determining whether or not the changes are within an acceptable range, and generating signals for segregation of impurities-containing portions of the mass from the other portions when the changes are outside of the acceptable range.
54 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of testing a mass consisting at least primarily of a first material for the presence of at least one second material, comprising the steps of:
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establishing and maintaining a microwave field in a microwave resonator;
introducing the mass into the range of the microwave field so that the field is influenced by the mass; and
analyzing the influence of the mass upon the microwave field, including;
simultaneously measuring the actual values of a first and a second characteristic of the microwave field, selecting an acceptable, two dimensional value range for the actual values, ascertaining whether the actual values are within the acceptable range, and generating signals when the actual values are outside of the acceptable range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
conveying the mass through the microwave field along a predetermined path;
subdividing the mass in said path into a plurality of sections; and
utilizing said signals to segregate from said path those sections of the mass the introduction of which into the range of the microwave field resulted in the generation of signals.
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10. The method of claim 1, wherein said introducing step includes imparting to the mass the shape of a stream and conveying the steam in a predetermined direction along a path extending through the microwave field, confining the stream in a wrapping material upstream of the microwave field, as seen in said direction, and subdividing the wrapping material and the first material therein into a succession of discrete sections, and further comprising the step of utilizing said signals to remove from said path discrete sections containing said second material.
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11. The method of claim 10, wherein each discrete section includes a rod-shaped smokers'"'"' product.
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12. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of selecting an acceptable value range for the actual values includes introducing into the microwave field a sample mass which is devoid of the at least one second material, examining the sample mass while within the microwave field, and utilizing the examining step to select said acceptable value range.
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13. The method of claim 12, wherein the sample mass contains a tubular envelope.
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14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of utilizing said actual values of said first and second characteristics of the microwave field for a determination of a characteristic of the mass other than potential presence of at least one second material.
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15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first material contains tobacco and said characteristic other than the potential presence of at least one second material includes at least one of the density and moisture content of tobacco.
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16. Apparatus for testing a mass consisting at least primarily of a first material for the presence of impurities, comprising:
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means for establishing and maintaining a microwave field in a microwave resonator;
means for moving at least one of the mass and the microwave field relative to the other so that the field is influenced by the mass; and
means for analyzing the influence of the mass upon the field, including;
means for simultaneously measuring the actual values of first and second characteristics of the field, means for selecting an acceptable, two dimensional value range for the actual values, means for ascertaining whether the actual values are within the acceptable range, and means for generating signals when the actual values are outside of the acceptable range as a result of the influence of impurities upon the microwave field. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification