Patent ID: 6531693
Filing Date: 2003-03-11
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
Method for checking ordered cigarette groups (13) corresponding to the content of a cigarette pack (11),where an intensity of light reflected by ends (24) of cigarettes (25) is measured by an electro-optical checking element (21) connected to a signal data processing arrangement (70), using a measurement zone formed with pixels, the measurement zone is assigned to at least one partial area of the ends (24) of the cigarettes (25) and cigarette interspaces (36) formed between the latter, a measurement signal (39) is measured in the measurement zone and evaluated in the signal data processing arrangement (70), characterized in that the measurement signal (39) is measured along at least one linear, curved or rectilinear evaluation bar (37,38) and is evaluated in order to check whether the cigarette group (13) is complete, the number of cigarettes (25) in the region of the evaluation bar or bars (37,38) is determined from a count of crossings (42) of the measurement signal (39), measured along the evaluation bar (37,38), through a threshold value (43) with the threshold value (43) subsequently being exceeded and/or undershot, and if the cigarette groups (13) are incomplete, an error signal is generated which is fed to an ejector (71) arranged downstream of a checking device (19) in a conveying direction.