Abstract: A tipped smoking rod comprising a tobacco rod 2, a filter tip 1 adjacent one end of the tobacco rod which comprises a filter body 3 enclosed within plugwrap material 4, and a tipping overwrap 6 material around the filter tip and the said adjacent end of the tobacco rod, wherein both the plugwrap and the tipping overwrap each comprise a pattern of perforations 7,8 which are selected to give an area of overlap of perforations of at least 0.2 mm.sup.2 which is substantially unaffected by the relative positions of the plugwrap and tipping overwrap.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with an optical inspection apparatus for monitoring a continuously moving rod, such as a tobacco rod. The apparatus comprises a circular head through which the rod passes, a first set of fibre optic conductors the ends of which terminate at an inner peripheral surface of the head and which transmits light from a source to the head to illuminate the rod passing through the head, and a second set of fibre optic conductors the ends of which also terminate at an inner surface of the head to pick up light reflected from the rod passing through the head and transmit that light to a photosensitive element. The second set of conductors are divided into angularly spaced groups around the head and adjacent groups lead to separate photosensitive elements. Preferably the light picked up by diametrically opposite pairs of groups are combined.