Patent ID: 6952257
Filing Date: 2005-10-04
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An inspection system for detecting the presence or absence of desired components of a multiple component longitudinally oriented cigarette filter assembly having opposite ends, the inspection system comprising: (a) a transport for moving filter assemblies along a path of travel; (b) a first inspection station constructed and arranged to direct a transverse beam toward each filter assembly in the area of an internal filter component and to detect the reflection of that beam if the internal filter component is present; (c) a second inspection station constructed and arranged to direct a longitudinal beam toward an end filter component along a path substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the filter assembly, and a transverse receiver inwardly of the outer end of filter assembly for detecting the presence of the longitudinal beam if the end filter component is missing; (d) a third inspection station constructed and arranged to direct another longitudinal beam toward the opposite end of the filter assembly along a path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter assembly, and another transverse receiver inwardly of the opposite outer end of the filter assembly for detecting the presence of the other longitudinal beam if the other end filter component is missing; and (e) a control constructed and arranged to allow a cigarette filter assembly to continue along the path of travel when the second and third inspection stations determine the presence of end filter components unless beforehand the first inspection station fails to detect the presence of an internal filter component in which case the second and third inspections are withheld and the filter assembly is removed from the path of travel.