Patent ID: 7973943
Filing Date: 2011-07-05
Classification: A24C

Abstract:
1. Apparatus which determines the track of origin of a cigarette manufactured in a cigarette making machine having a plurality of tracks, the machine is constructed and arranged such that a difference in the circumferential position of the tipping paper seam and the circumferential position of the tobacco wrapping paper seam is different for each of the plurality of tracks, the apparatus comprising: a detector arranged to detect radiation from the cigarette and to produce a signal representative of the detected radiation; and a processor arranged to process the signal produced by the detector to identify a shadow cast by a tipping paper seam and a shadow cast by a wrapping paper seam, wherein the processor is arranged to determine the difference in the circumferential position of the shadow cast by the tipping paper seam and the circumferential position of the shadow cast by the wrapping paper seam, and to produce a signal indicating the track of origin of the cigarette in dependence thereon.