INSPECTION SYSTEM

摘要

An inspection system detects the presence or absence of both an internal filter component (104b) and an end filter component (104a) of an assembled cigarette after tipping paper (106) has been applied. A transport (20) moves the assembled cigarettes (12) along a high speed path of travel, and a first inspection station (26) directs a transverse detection beam (32) through eac h cigarette in the area of the internal filter component (104b). A second inspection station (42) directs a longitudinal detection beam (46) toward th e end filter component (104a) along a path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette. Control circuitry allows 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 interrupted and the defective cigarette is removed from the high speed path of travel.