Abstract: An inspection system detects the presence or absence of desired components of an assembled cigarette after tipping paper has been applied to join a multi-component filter to a tobacco rod. A transport moves the assembled cigarettes having multi-component filters along a high speed path of travel. At a first inspection station a transverse detection beam is directed through each cigarette in the area of the multi-component filter. A second inspection station directs a longitudinal detection beam toward an end filter component 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 withheld and the cigarette is removed from the high speed path of travel.

Abstract: An apparatus for agitating cylindrical articles in a bulk flow and removing non-aligned articles from the flow includes a plurality of parallel, spaced rotating pins having helical threads on an outer surface. The flow of articles is directed through the pins and non-aligned articles are conveyed out of the flow direction by the threads while aligned articles pass across the pins. Eccentric rotation of the pins agitates the articles to assist maintaining free flow of the articles.