Patent ID: 8610904

Claim:
An inspecting apparatus for inspecting a tampon, the tampon including a tampon main body that has a cord and an applicator that accommodates the tampon main body, wherein the cord has an exposing portion exposed from a rear end of the applicator, the inspecting apparatus comprising: a suction mechanism configured to extend the cord along a longitudinal direction of the tampon by sucking air; a cord-length inspecting mechanism configured to inspect a length of the cord while the suction mechanism is sucking the air; and a transport mechanism configured to transport the tampon in a transport direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the tampon, wherein the cord-length inspecting mechanism includes: a casing having opposing first and second walls lying along the transport direction; and a sensor configured to inspect the length of the cord and provided in a gap between the first and second walls, the transport mechanism is configured to transport the tampon in such a manner that the exposing portion of the cord passes through the gap along the transport direction, the cord-length inspecting mechanism is configured to inspect the length of the cord by the sensor while the suction mechanism is sucking the air, the casing of the cord-length inspecting mechanism further includes: an opening defined by the gap and formed at a first side of the casing in an intersecting direction, said intersecting direction intersecting the transport direction; a third wall closing the gap at a second side opposite to the first side in the intersecting direction; and a hole formed in either the first wall, the second wall, or the third wall, the transport mechanism is configured to transport the tampon in the transport direction with the longitudinal direction of the tampon lying along the intersecting direction and the tampon being situated in the opening in the intersecting direction, the sensor is configured to inspect the length of the cord at a central part of the gap in the transport direction, the hole is situated on the second side of the casing, and the suction mechanism is configured to suck the air inside the casing through the hole.