Patent ID: 7779846

Claim:
A device for transferring and inspecting groups of cigarettes, comprising: a conveyor caused to advance along a predetermined conveying path and equipped with receptacles, each receptacle containing a group of cigarettes disposed transversely to a feed direction followed by the conveyor; an inspection device located at an inspection position for performing an inspection operation, comprising a sensing device for verifying a presence and an integrity of each cigarette within each receptacle and generating first signals to indicate an outcome of the inspection operation; a device for emitting a succession of second signals directly indicating a position of each receptacle relative to the inspection position, the device for emitting including a plurality of emitters, with each receptacle having at least one emitter positioned at least one of directly on and directly adjacent thereto, the device for emitting also including a receiver located along the predetermined conveying path for interacting with each emitter and directly sensing a position of each receptacle, via the emitter associated therewith, as the receptacle physically passes near the receiver, such that the second signals are directly synchronized with the inspection operation of each cigarette and a constant phase relationship is maintained between the inspection operation of the cigarettes within each receptacle and the position of each receptacle as it passes the inspection device; a control circuit module configured to receive said first and second signals; and an ejection device by which a selected group of cigarettes can be ejected from its receptacle, wherein the control circuit module has an output connected to the election device to thereby activate the ejection device as a function of the first and second signals.