Patent ID: 6384359
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: A24C,B07C,Y10S

Abstract:
An inspection system for detecting the presence or absence of desired components of an assembled cigarette, the inspection system comprising(a) a transport for moving assembled cigarettes along a high speed path of travel, (b) a first inspection station constructed and arranged to direct a transverse detection beam through each cigarette in the area of an internal filter component, (c) a second inspection station constructed and arranged to direct a longitudinal detection beam toward an end filter component along a path substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cigarette, and (d) a control constructed and arranged to allow an assembled cigarette to continue along the high speed path of travel when the second inspection station detects the presence of an end filter component unless beforehand the first inspection station fails to detect the presence of an internal filter component in which case the second inspection is withheld and the cigarette is removed from the high speed path of travel.