Method of detecting the particles of a tobacco particle stream

US6542234B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (GERMANY) GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Reinhard Ulrich · Kürten, DE
• Arno Weiss · Norderstedt, DE
• Gerald Schmekel · Elmshorn, DE
• Heinz-Werner Masurat · Neuenmarkt, DE
• Uwe Werner Ehling · Goldkronach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 5, 2000
• Grant date: Apr 1, 2003
• Expiry date: Mar 27, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2015/0294
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of detecting the particles of a tobacco particle stream in the production of smokable articles by scanning by means of a fine-beam light barrier, the diameter of which is smaller than the dimensions of the tobacco particles, and from the distribution of the dimensions of the tobacco particles determined by darkening of the fine-beam light barrier.