WO2005044027A1

WO2005044027A1 - Cigar-sorting humidor

Info

Publication number: WO2005044027A1
Application number: PCT/ES2004/000499
Authority: WO
Inventors: Omar SÁNCHEZ PÉREZ
Original assignee: Universidad De Huelva
Priority date: 2003-11-11
Filing date: 2004-11-10
Publication date: 2005-05-19
Also published as: ES2232307A1; ES2232307B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a humidor comprising a cigar (2) storage chamber (1) in which cigars are maintained under suitable humidity and temperature conditions. A processing chamber (3) is disposed next to the aforementioned storage chamber (1) and is used to convey the cigars (2) from the exterior or an outlet (9) to an upper area which provides access to said storage chamber (1) through an inlet (15). The inlet and outlet of the storage chamber and the inlet of the processing chamber comprise respective sealing hatches (15, 9 and 10). According to the invention, the cigars are weighed and the texture of each cigar is analysed using pressure sensors (12, 18). In addition, the cigars are analysed chromatically using an image capture camera (17). A central computer (20) then analyses the information supplied by the sensors and subsequently rates the quality of each cigar. Said computer can also detect the appearance of Lasioderma or mould.

Description

CLASSIFYING HUMIDOR

D E S C R I P C I Ó N

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sorting humidor for the preservation and classification of cigars-cigars, which constitutes a storage-container in which cigars-cigars can be stored and additionally stored in optimum conditions of humidity and temperature, and in which a selection and / or classification of quality is made using a computer, the latter based on the information provided by pressure sensors to assess texture and weight, and an image capture camera to check the chromatic harmony of the cigar, as well as an inspection detection of the appearance of lasioderma and mold.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tobacco by nature is a living matter that is constantly altered in a certain period of time, being before being consumed aged, in such a way that in the aging process complex chemical processes occur (oxidation, slow chemical changes, mixtures of essential oils, etc).

It can also be said that cigar cigars are classified by their chromatic harmony, so that the selected cigars must be properly preserved under rigorously controlled conditions of humidity and temperature so that they retain the qualities that will decisively influence the draft, taste and combustion. The conservation is carried out in the classic humidors that are conceived so that, if possible, they have similar conditions to those that the tobacco had during its cultivation, fermentation and twisting.

The optimal storage conditions are between 16 to 18 ° C temperature and between 70 and 72% humidity, so that maintaining temperature between 16 and 18 ° C is to prevent the incubation of tobacco lasioderma eggs (tobacco beetle), since the only possibility of killing the larvae is the freezing of cigars, at least for 3 days. Below 16 ° C, the cigar does not age or mature properly.

As for humidity below 68%, tobacco begins to dry, losing essential oils, while above 74% humidity, unwanted flavors and even mold growth occur, in which case you have to sacrifice cigars.

There are numerous types of known humidors, as well as various ways of conditioning them, and various operational ways to try to keep the cigars in the best conditions, until they are acquired for consumption.

Specifically, the fundamental factors that influence the conservation and selection of cigars are:

- In reference to the humidor: a) Method of conservation of optimum temperature and humidity. b) Homogeneous exposure of cigars to storage conditions. c) Periodicity of maintenance of the hydrostat, if applicable. d) Possibility of "over-humidification". The humidor should be aerated to prevent the cigar from becoming wet and fluffy. e) Hermeticity. f) Exchange with the environment (opening and closing frequency, time in which the humidor is open). g) Luminosity (defines the construction material), h) Dimensions of the cigars to be stored. i) Isolation between the different types of cigars, to avoid the exchange of essential oils, which influence the taste. j) Protection of access to the humidor.

- With reference to the selection: a) Chromatic harmony of the cigar. b) Presence of veins. c) Mold appearance. d) Presence of the tobacco beetle: elimination of contaminated cigars and freezing of the storage area. e) The texture. f) The weight. g) The aroma. h) The taste. i) Antiquity of the cigar: in some cigars it is as valued as the age of the wine. As already said, there are numerous types of humidors that are known for the conservation of cigars, although all of them with some or other deficiencies, among which we can mention:

- A poor selection and / or automatic classification of the best cigar. - Poor detection of lasioderma and mold. - An undervaluation of the weight of the cigar for its selection. - An undervaluation of the chromatic properties of the cigar layer for classification. - An undervaluation of the texture of the cigar for classification. - A lack of maintenance of optimal conditions when cigars are extracted. - Lack of a cigar storage property.

Specifically, the invention patents US 4205914 can be cited; US 6116029 and US 6206234, the first of them referring to an image processing to cut sheets and create layers of cigar, so that in this patent the image is analyzed, but of the sheet and not of the cigar, not referring to the way of selecting cigars for customer consumption. In relation to US 6116029, it describes a system for controlling the temperature and humidity in a humidor, but does not refer to the form of automatic selection of the cigar according to its qualities.

Finally, as for the third patent US 6206234, it refers to a gravity system for the selection of the cigar, which is done manually, for later sale, not describing any type of automatic selection system.

DESCRD7TION OF THE INVENTION

The humidor classifier that is recommended has been conceived to solve the problem previously exposed, that is, to achieve not only some optimal conditions of temperature and humidity of the cigars, but to classify and carry out an analysis of them, as well as perform a manipulation, both to perform the aforementioned operations and to perform the introduction and / or dispensing of each of them and maintain optimal conservation for long periods of time.

More specifically, the humidor of the invention, constituting a cigar storage chamber, contains opposing ramps that allow the cigars to fall by gravity from a side and upper entrance to the bottom of said chamber, which has this side and upper part with an automatic actuation gate to open when a cigar is placed in front of it, allowing access to the interior of the storage chamber, also closing automatically once the cigar has accessed the interior.

The humidor also has a second chamber called the processing chamber, in which the movements of the cigars take place for access, dispensing and recycling, since the cigars may be in motion between the storage chamber and the processing chamber. that the cigars access from the outside for their introduction to the storage chamber, prior ascent of each cigar from a lateral and lower zone of said processing chamber, to the upper lateral zone of the storage chamber for access of the cigar to the interior . In said lower zone of entry of the cigars from the outside and exit of the cigars from the storage chamber, another automatic opening and closing gate is provided, with the particularity that the storage chamber has in that same zone another gate to exit the cigars to the processing chamber, so that from that area, each cigar, once located in a support can be dispensed to the outside, or transported to the top where the access to the storage chamber is, in which second case the cigars are subjected to an analysis and classification based on the information obtained by an image capture camera and pressure sensors that will provide information to characterize the texture, weight and chromatic characteristics of the cigar, providing information to detect the appearance of lasioderma and tobacco mold.

In the lower part of the processing chamber, corresponding to the entrance of cigars, the support for said cigars has other pressure sensors that determine the texture and weight of the cigars, information that is used for the classification of the cigar in the extent to which it influences the quality of the shot when smoking.

In said lower zone a mechanism is provided by means of which a rotational movement of the cigar is carried out to allow the entire surface of the cigar to be seen and captured by the image capture chamber and thereby determine the chromatic characteristics of the cigar. .

That is to say, the cigar changes position in the processing chamber, in its displacement from the lower zone to the upper zone, existing in that processing chamber, in its upper part, a fan to effect aeration and thereby reduce the levels of humidity when necessary.

The aforementioned gates are tightly sealed to ensure that the chambers are hermetic and allow the preservation of cigars in optimal temperature and humidity conditions.

The humidor is complemented by a central computer which, in combination with a keyboard and a liquid crystal display, gives and receives the appropriate orders to define the modes of operation that give mobility to the different elements, said computer receiving information from the pressure sensors and the image capture camera, for processing and thereby giving the appropriate orders for the government of the engines. The said central computer is arranged in a third chamber called the section of the computer set lower in the humidor assembly.

On the other hand, the mechanism that rotates the cigar is based on one or two rollers arranged on the corresponding support, and can be operated in very different ways, either by gears, by pulley-belt transmissions, etc.

As for the vertical displacement of the cigar holder in the processing chamber and the referred rotation roller, it can be carried out by any type of appropriate mechanism, it being also provided that the image capture chamber provided in the upper part of the chamber of processing is mobile to be able to detect all areas along the cigar. As for the storage chamber, it can be separated from the processing chamber and form a container that allows, by itself, to serve as storage and means of transport of the cigars.

DESCRD7TION OF THE DD3UJOS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description. illustratively tive and not limiting, the following has been represented:

Figure 1 shows a schematic view according to the internal side elevation of the humidor assembly object of the invention.

Figure 2.- Shows a. block diagram corresponding to the control computer system involved in the humidor of the invention.

Figure 3.- Shows different schematic elevational views corresponding to as many sequences of the interaction between the humidor and the cigar.

Figure 4.- Shows different schematic elevational views corresponding to as many processing sequences of the cigar.

Figure 5.- Shows a side view of the cigar storage chamber. Figure 6.- Shows a bottom view of the cigar storage chamber.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen in the aforementioned figures, the sorting humidor of the invention comprises a storage chamber (1) for cigars (2) that are intended to be kept in optimum temperature and humidity conditions, the humidor being complemented with a chamber processing (3), keyboard (4) and liquid crystal display (5) that are served by a control system that is located in a section of the computer (6), through the previous system temperature control is carried out , humidity and other characteristics that are analyzed on the cigars (2) as will be shown below.

The storage chamber (1) has a series of upper opposing ramps (7) and lower opposing ramps (8) through which the cigars (2) run by gravity, for unit positioning in front of an outlet provided inferiorly in said chamber of storage (1) and normally closed by means of an exit gate (9), in front of which there is another access gate (10), belonging to the processing chamber (3), through which each cigar ( 2) it can be introduced from the outside into the storage chamber (1), or else the cigar (2) left from it can be dispensed to the outside.

In the area where the gates (9) and (10) correspond to a lower left area of the humidor assembly, a transfer support (11) of the cigar (2) is provided that is introduced from the outside or because it has left the storage chamber (1), whose transfer support (11) has lower pressure sensors (12) that allow to carry out the weight of the cigar and / or analyze the pressure exerted on them to evaluate the texture , said transfer support (11) being mounted on a support structure (13) which in turn supports a roller mechanism (14) that rotates the cigar (2) on its transfer support (11), said being support structure (13) and therefore the roller mechanism (14) with the transfer support (11) and the cigar (2) movable vertically and laterally, allowing upward movement of the cigar (2). to an upper and lateral area of the storage chamber (1) where there is a com Entrance door (15), also opening and sealing, through which the cigar (2) that has been previously raised to that area is introduced into the storage chamber (1).

With a predetermined frequency the exit gate (9) opens, a cigar (2) falls on the transfer support (11) and then closes said exit gate (9), so that the support structure (13) elevates the cigar (2) to the area corresponding to the entrance gate (15), producing its automatic opening and accessing the cigar back inside of the storage chamber (1), this process being carried out continuously if it has been defined to ensure that the cigar maintains its properties in the best conditions, or to analyze its peculiarities.

Sometimes, the cigar (2) can be dispensed outside through the access gate (10) of the processing chamber (3), which is done manually, if so defined.

The roller mechanism (14) that rotates the cigar (2) is mainly based on a roller (16) operable by means of a motor, just as the vertical displacement of the support structure (13) is driven by a motor, and how any of the hermetic closing gates (9), (10) and (15) is driven by motor.

Obviously there are numerous solutions in relation to the mechanism of rotation of the cigar (2), since more than one roller can be used and the drive can be carried out by means of gears, pulleys-belts, etc.

The humidor further comprises an image capture chamber (17) established at the top, that is, above the location area of the input gate (15), whose image capture chamber (17) is complemented by higher pressure sensors (18), being able to obtain information on the color characteristics of the layer and the resistance to pressure in the cigar (2), since it rotates as previously mentioned. In addition, the image collection chamber (17) is mounted on a movable support that allows the inspection of the entire length of the cigar. Through the keyboard (4) and the liquid crystal display (5) referred to above, information is exchanged with the humidor, which permanently receives information from the pressure sensors (12) and (18) and from the collection chamber of images (17), this information being processed by the computer control system located in the computer section (6), who governs all the motors that give mobility to the gates, turning mechanism, and other mobile elements of the system.

The humidor is also complemented by a fan (19) located in front of the entrance gate (15), for aeration and a decrease in the degree of humidity if it is convenient. Its on and off is controlled by the computer section (6).

The storage chamber (1) could include aluminum sheets (30), seals or sealing bands (31), upper opening (32) and lower opening (33), as well as holes (34) to maintain weather conditions when attached to the processing chamber (3) and in this case being able to become independent of the processing chamber (3) and constitute a cigar container by itself, in addition to allowing not only the storage of cigars (2), but also their transport.

The humidor described is complemented by a central computer as shown in figure 2 and which is generally referenced with the number (20), to which system the signals and information from the lower pressure sensors (12) and sensors of access are accessed. upper pressure (18), as well as the image collection chamber (17), which are represented by the blocks (21), (22) and (23) in that figure 2, so that the central computer (20 ) processes these signals and information and gives the appropriate orders both to the gate opening motors (9), (10), (15), and to the displacement motor of the transfer support (11), and to the fan motor (19), as to the engine for the displacement of the image collection chamber (17) and as to the rotation-displacement motors of the roller mechanism (14), having been represented in Figure 2 as the blocks (24), (25), (26), (27) and (28), corresponding to the opening motors of the gates (9), (10) and (15), to the displacement motor of the transfer support (11), to the fan motor (19), to motor for the displacement of the image capture chamber (17) motors for rotation and displacement of the roller corresponding to the roller mechanism (14), while the block (29) corresponds to that of signaling an alarm, as well as the keypad ( 4) and the liquid crystal display (5).

The basic modes of operation of the humidor, according to the sequences corresponding to Figures 3 and 4, is as follows:

The filling of the storage chamber (1) is carried out according to the sequences shown in Figures 3b and 3d, ending this mode of operation in the position shown in Figure 4a. In relation to the classification of cigars, it takes place through the execution of the actions shown in Figures 3c, 4b, 4c, 4d and 3d, so that this mode of operation or classification of cigars allows to recognize the chromatic characteristics of the cigar in such a way that changes in the tones of the cigar layer are detected, providing information to detect the appearance of tobacco and mold lasioderma, giving each cigar a quality level based on the chromatic balance, texture and weight from of sensory information, so that said information will be used for a way that will be described later and corresponds to automatic dispensing. This way of classifying pure Teirnin with the sequence corresponding to the position of Figure 4a. The dispensing of the cigar manually is carried out by repeating the actions shown in the sequences of figures 3c, 3d, until in sequence 4b, there is the cigar to be dispensed by visual selection of the operator. Subsequently, the sequence 3b is executed, from which the cigar is extracted. This mode ends in the position shown in Figure 4a. The dispensing of the cigar automatically will be done on the basis that the system will have the quality of each cigar classified in the humidor, so that when this mode is activated, the actions shown in the sequences of figures 3c and 3d will be executed, until in figure 3a there is the best cigar. Subsequently, the sequence of Figure 3b is executed, where the user takes the cigar, ending this mode in the position shown in Figure 4a, the user having the option of previously executing the cigar classification mode. As for the aeration of the cigars, from the position corresponding to Figure 4a, the gates (9) and (15) are opened, according to the sequences corresponding to Figures 3c and 3d, the fan (19) being activated. That is to say, the actions shown in these figures 3c and 3d are executed, until all the cigars of the humidor are processed, ending this way in the position corresponding to figure 4a. In relation to the search for lasioderma-mold, it is carried out by executing the sequences shown in Figures 3c, 4d and 3d, all cigars being processed so that in the event that lasioderma or mold is detected a alarm so that the operator decides if he wants to extract the cigar. If this occurs, the evaluation of the remaining cigars is continued and the aeration mode of the cigars is activated automatically. Also, combined modes of operation can be carried out, based on the basic modes of operation previously defined.

Claims

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N E S

I ^a .- Classifier humidor, which is intended to preserve cigar-cigars in optimal temperature and humidity conditions, classify their quality, as well as detect the appearance of lasioderma and tobacco mold, is characterized by a camera of storage (1) of cigar cigars (2), equipped with a series of opposing ramps (7), (8) to allow their gravity to fall to a lower area where there is an exit gate ( 9) automatic opening / closing, through which each cigar-cigar (2) exits to a lower zone of a processing chamber (3) collaterally established to the storage chamber (1), having been provided that in said zone At the bottom of the processing chamber (3) there is an automatic opening and closing access gate (10), through which the cigars (2) can be dispensed to the outside or be introduced from outside to such a processing chamber to (3) for later storage in the storage chamber (1), there being in said lower area of the processing chamber (3) a transfer support (11) with lower pressure sensors (12), included in a structure of support (13), which can be moved vertically to move each cigar-cigar (2), either from the outside or from the storage chamber (1), towards an upper area of the processing chamber (3), in whose upper area there is an entrance gate (15) for access to the interior of the storage chamber (1) in which the cigars are introduced, with the particularity that in the lower zone of the processing chamber (3) It has provided a roller mechanism (14) in which there is a roller (16) by means of which the cigar-cigar is rotated (2), allowing the capture of images by means of an image capture chamber (17) established at effect on the top of the chamber of processing (3), the sorting humidor being controlled by a computer located in the computer section (6) to which information can be entered through the keyboard (4) or receive information through a liquid crystal display (5).

2 .- Humidor classifier according to claim I ^to, wherein a fan (19) is included to provide the necessary aeration in the upper region of the processing chamber (3) allowing lowering the humidity, said fan being ( 19) associated with a drive motor.

3 .- Humidor classifier according ^to claim I, wherein the imaging chamber (17) is movable and is complemented by higher pressure sensors (18) and a drive mechanism from a motor.

4 .- Humidor classifier according to claim Ia, wherein the roller mechanism (14) of rotation of the cigarette-puro (2) is based on one or more rotatable reels driven by a transmission appropriately, from a mechanism drive from motors.

5 .- Humidor classifier according ^to claim I, characterized in that the flaps (9), (10) and (15) sealed closure are associated with corresponding drive motors thereof.

6 .- Humidor classifier according to claim Ia, wherein the roller mechanism (14), support structure (13), support transfer (11) of the cigar-puro (2) for moving the lower region The upper area of the processing chamber (3) is associated with a drive motor.

7 .- Humidor classifier, according to previous claims, characterized in that all motors are governed in its drive a central computer (20), receiver of the signals from the pressure sensors (12) and (18), of the image capture chamber (17) and which governs an alarm (29). 8 .- Humidor classifier, according to previous claims, characterized in that the storage chamber cigar (2) can be independent of the processing chamber (3), allowing storage and transport of pure independently.