Claims:1. A system for cigarette inspection, the system comprising:
a feeding system adapted to feed cigarettes in a predetermined number and at a predetermined speed to a detection system having at least one detector to inspect individual cigarettes from the cigarettes feed; and
the detection system comprising at least a rejection system having a pushing mechanism and a suction system based on a venturi effect to reject the individual cigarettes if a defect is detected during inspection of the individual cigarettes.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection system further comprises at least a control mechanism configured to:
trigger the pushing mechanism to push the individual cigarettes the based on the defect, detected by the detector, during inspection of the individual cigarettes; and
draw the individual cigarettes out of the feeding system against which the defect is detected.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is configured to: coordinate the number and the speed of feed associated with the feeding system.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feeding system comprises at least a hopper and vanes, wherein the vanes preferably have a ‘s’ shaped configuration adapted to reduce a friction between the cigarettes passing through the vanes and one above the other falling cigarettes vertically.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rejection system is pneumatically or mechanically operated.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rejection system comprises a pusher mechanism and a venturi mechanism.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprises a data logging system having an user interface configured to collect at least the data associated with the system and control the system based on data collected.

8. A system for cigarette inspection, the system comprising:
a feeding system having an array of cigarette vanes, preferably ‘s’ shaped cigarette vanes, adapted to feed individual cigarettes;
at least one detector particular to at least one vane selected from the array of cigarette vane and configured to:
identify a defect in the individual cigarettes feed and transmit, upon identification of the defect, at least one triggering signal to at least one rejection system along with a location of the cigarette having fault to be rejected.

9. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rejection system adapted to reject the cigarette having fault.

10. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the detector is a spring based sensor to identify the defect in the individual cigarettes.

11. A system for cigarette inspection, the system comprising:
a feeding system having an array of cigarette vanes, preferably ‘s’ shaped cigarette vanes, adapted to feed individual cigarettes;
at least one detector particular to at least one vane selected from the array of the cigarette vanes and configured to:
identify a defect in the individual cigarettes feed;
transmit, upon identification of the defect, at least one triggering signal to at least one rejection system along with a location of the cigarette having fault to be rejected; and
the rejection system to draw out the cigarette having fault to be rejected comprising:
a pushing mechanism to push out the cigarette having fault; and
a venturi receiver based suction system to receive the cigarette having fault pushed out by the pushing mechanism.

12. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pushing mechanism is at least one plunger unit adapted to reject the cigarette having fault, wherein the plunger unit is particular to the individual cigarettes feed.

13. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the venturi receiver based suction system is adapted to apply compressed air on an inlet of the venturi receiver.

14. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the detector and the rejection system are spaced apart in a flow of the cigarettes.

15. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the detector is electronically driven.

16. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rejection system comprises pneumatic lines to receive the triggering signal from the detector.

17. The system as claimed in claim 7, further comprises a control system configured to:
trigger the pushing mechanism to push out the cigarettes, based on upon identification of the defect;
monitor and control at least a position of a top cigarettes upon draw out the cigarette having fault.

18. A method for inspecting individual cigarettes of a product stream using a system, the method comprising:
feeding the cigarettes, for inspecting individual cigarettes, in a predetermined number and at a predetermined speed;
inspecting individual cigarettes from the cigarettes feed to detect a defect in the individual cigarettes;
detecting the defect in the individual cigarettes;
rejecting the individual cigarettes if a defect is detected during inspection of the individual cigarettes.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18 further comprises: fetching at least the data associated with the feeding, inspecting, and rejecting to control at least the speed of feeding the cigarettes.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18 further comprises:
applying a physical force on the individual cigarettes during rejecting to push out the individual cigarettes; and
receiving the individual cigarettes by a venturi receiver based suction system.
, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] The present subject matter described herein, in general, relates to the field of inspection of smoking article preferably cigarettes, cigars, filter rods and the like, and more particularly a system and method for inspecting the article ends for loosely packed content, like tobacco, and missing filters.

BACKGROUND

[002] The manufacturing of cigarette packs involves the use of conventional high speed packing machines that automatically take cigarette sticks, collate, package and overwrap them at speeds currently ranging from 0 to 1000 packs per minute. During the manufacturing of the cigarette sticks, there is a tendency for tobacco to fall out of the fire end if it is not packed properly or in compact manner. This result in a defect called a “loose end” which essentially means “inadequate filling of tobacco in the cigarette”. Under normal circumstances, a loose end cigarette is packed into the pack and can go through to the consumer.

[003] As advanced technological inventions perpetrated the industry, various mechanisms were added to these packing machines to improve efficiency and product quality. In order to prevent this eventuality, an online loose end detection and rejection mechanism is incorporated into most modern day cigarette packing machines. One such mechanism found in conventional packing machines is the “loose end detector”.

[004] Conventional loose end detection systems uses a mechanical sensors like spring loaded mechanism or an electronic sensor like optical sensors to detect presence of a tobacco in cigarette, after the cigarettes are collated to contain them in one pack. In such Conventional loose end detection systems if one or more loose end cigarettes are detected in a pack, a pusher based rejection system pushes out the entire collation of cigarettes. Thus the entire collation (all the 10 or 20 or the total number of cigarettes that are supposed to be in a pack) is wasted. In practice, this results in significant amount of wastage of good cigarettes.

[005] Several attempts have been made with respect to the loose end detection in cigarettes. For instance, the prior-art US3729636, US3993194, US3485357 and US5024333 majorly teach the method of detecting loose end cigarettes. However, they barely address the said problem when assembled on cigarette packing machines. Hence the inventors of the present invention have found a practical and cost effective method which does not involve a complex processes to address the said problems.

[006] Till date, despite several efforts by machine manufacturers and despite of solutions as provided in the prior-art, loose end detection is still one of the largest contributors to overall rejections on a cigarette packing machine. With rising material and maintenance costs, there is an increasing need to reduce or eliminate wastes such as described above.

[007] The above-described deficiencies of today's loose end detection are merely intended to provide an overview of some of the problems of conventional systems, and are not intended to be exhaustive. Other problems with conventional systems and corresponding benefits of the various non-limiting embodiments described herein may become further apparent upon review of the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[008] The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.

[009] An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism to prevent cigarettes with the loose end defect from reaching the pack collation.

[0010] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a system and method for detection of loose end cigarette articles.

[0011] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a system and method for selectively detecting and rejecting only cigarettes with loose end defect, without any impact on any other good cigarette in the collation.

[0012] Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a system and method for selectively detecting and rejecting only cigarettes with loose end defect without any deterioration of quality of other cigarettes, or it must also not have any impact on the overall efficiency or output of the packing machine.

[0013] Accordingly, in one implementation, a system for detection of loose end cigarette articles and prevents cigarettes with the loose end defect from reaching the pack collation is disclosed. The system comprises a feeding system, a detection system and a rejection system. The feeding system is adapted to feed cigarettes in required number and speed to the detection system. The detection system is adapted to check for loose ends before the cigarettes are brought together mechanically to form a “collation” or a set of multiple cigarettes. The rejection system using a positive pushing mechanism and suction system based on venturi effect adapted to reject the cigarettes with loose end. The system also comprises an electronics control and actuating mechanism to coordinate with a machine speed, to log and analyze data as per the requirement.

[0014] In one implementation, the feeding system comprises an array of cigarette vanes specially designed to minimize cigarettes getting jammed in the area and to ensure smooth downward flow of cigarettes during the machine run. The loose end detection system ensures that each of the different cigarette vanes have individual detectors/ sensors to accurately identify every single loose end cigarette. Subsequent to the feeding system a loose end detector unit having a spring based sensor to detect a loose end in the cigarette is placed in front the cigarette. On detection of a loose end, it sends an electronic signal to the rejection system along with the location of the cigarette to be rejected

[0015] In one implementation, the rejection system consists of a pushing mechanism and a venturi based suction system. The pushing mechanism and the venturi based suction system works in tandem to draw out the defective cigarette from the good ones in the quickest possible time, effectively rejecting the defective cigarette without any impact on the quality of the other cigarettes or the efficiency of the system. The tandem work ensures that the system be effective even for higher speed machines and not cause any cigarette jamming or cigarette breaking in the process.

[0016] In one implementation, the detection system and the rejection system are spaced apart in the flow of cigarettes, while the cigarettes are on their way to the next stage of packing machine. Therefore, the system calculates the exact time that will elapse before the rejection must be actuated.

[0017] In one implementation, the detection system is electronically driven and the rejection system has pneumatic lines which actuate the system as and when required (as per the pulse/ signal given by the electronic system as mentioned above).

[0018] As compared to the prior art, the cconventional feeding system is modified to accommodate loose end detection and rejection mechanism to reduce friction between the cigarette. The modification comprise additional components in terms of additional modified (‘s’ shaped or curved) vane system, a mechanism to detect loose ends (loose end detectors), a cigarette rejecting plunger and a cigarette receiving mechanism.

[0019] Unlike the prior art related to the loose end detection, the present invention is adapted to identify the single faulty cigarette, and do not need to reject the entire lot of 10 or 20 cigarette when other cigarettes are good. In this way, the present invention helps to end up saving 9 (in case of 10s pack) or 19 cigarettes (in case of 20s pack) every time as the invention identifies a faulty loose end cigarette. Also, a reduction in the range of about 20-40% in overall rejections is achieved in the machine.

[0020] Apart from the above, the loose end detection mechanism of the present invention provides economic significance and working efficiency when compared with the conventional systems and methods for the loose end detection mechanism. For instance, the conventional methods utilize a complex and cumbersome methodology in identifying loose end cigarette sticks. One such mechanism is optical systems (like infra red rays) for detecting the loose ends and for rejection, and the best known method is suction. However the inherent problems with such systems are, they tend to reject the entire set of cigarettes (10s or 20s) or may reject the set of non-faulty cigarettes as well and not single/individual sticks. Hence the present invention is able to address such problems very efficiently by providing a practical and cost effective method which does not involve a complex processes to address the said problems.

[0021] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in this technology from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0022] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0023] Figure 1 illustrates a system to detect defective cigarettes, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 illustrates a loose end detector, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 3 illustrates a venturi receiver, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 4 illustrates a modified vanes assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 5 illustrates an isometric view of venturi receiver, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 6 illustrates a pneumatic pusher, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 7 illustrates an electronic control of the loose end detection assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Persons skilled in this technology will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0031] The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.

[0032] Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

[0033] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0034] It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0035] By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.

[0036] Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments.

[0037] It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

[0038] The present invention addresses the drawbacks mentioned above and available in the prior-art through a system and method for selectively detecting and rejecting only cigarettes with loose end defect, without any impact on any other good cigarette in the collation.

[0039] Apart from the above, the loose end detection mechanism of the present invention provides economic significance and working efficiency when compared with the conventional systems and methods for the loose end detection mechanism. For instance, the conventional methods utilize a complex and cumbersome methodology in identifying loose end cigarette sticks. One such mechanism is optical systems (like infra red rays) for detecting the loose ends and for rejection for which the best known method is suction. However the inherent problems with such systems are, they tend to reject the entire set of cigarettes (10s or 20s) or may reject the set of non-faulty cigarettes as well and not single/individual sticks. Hence the present invention is able to address such problems very efficiently by providing a practical and cost effective method which does not involve a complex processes to address the said problems.

[0040] Referring now to figure 1, system for cigarette inspection is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The system as shown in figure 1 may include a front plate 1, a feeler plate 2, a rear plate 3, a feeler pin 4, a spring 5, and the mounting fixtures 6.

[0041] Referring now to figure 2, a loose end detector is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As compared to the prior art, the cconventional feeding system is modified to accommodate loose end detection and rejection mechanism to reduce friction between the cigarette. The modification comprise additional components in terms of additional modified (‘s’ shaped or curved) vane system, a mechanism to detect loose ends (loose end detectors), a cigarette rejecting plunger and a cigarette receiving mechanism.

[0042] In one implementation, to detect the loose end conventional feeler type may be used, however the difference is that conventional loose end detectors detection techniques is that all 10 or 20 cigarettes together. The system of present invention has individually adjustable loose end detectors.

[0043] In one implementation, the present invention comprises a set of loose end detectors. However, unlike the conventional systems, these detectors can be individually tuned and adjusted physically to ensure more accurate detection of loose ends in a set of moving cigarettes. It may be noted and understood by the person skilled in the art that, the detectors are the same conceptually. For example, the conventional detectors measure the loose end with a similar concept. However, the measurement in the conventional detectors is done for every 10 or 20 cigarettes together (or the number of cigarettes that are to be packed in one packet). Further, the sensitivity or the physical position of the conventional detectors can be adjusted together but the independent adjustment is not possible. In contrast to the conventional detectors, according to the present invention, each detector measures only one cigarette at a time, and therefore, the sensitivity and physical positions can be adjusted independently.

[0044] Referring now to figure 3 a venturi receiver is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In venturi receiver whenever air applied to the inlet receives rejected cigarette quickly away from the cigarette vanes.

[0045] Referring now to figure 4 a modified vanes assembly is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The modified vanes assembly reduces the vertical load between the cigarettes. The ‘s’ shaped or curved cigarette vanes ensure smooth flow of cigarettes into the conventional vanes. It ensures less frictional force on to the cigarettes so that the cigarette may easily rejected without any jamming/ cigarette breaking.

[0046] It is to be noted that, on top of the existing vane, the modified vanes (‘s’ shaped or curved) of the present invention are as shown in the figure 4. According to the present invention, the ‘s’ shaped vane assembly provides enough space for the entire cigarette detection and rejection to be accommodated.

[0047] In one implementation, the unique shape of the vanes ensures that the load (weight) of top cigarettes on to the bottom cigarettes is reduced, thereby ensuring smoother exit of the cigarette getting rejected. However, if the shape according to the present invention for vanes is not given/provided and the shape is kept as available for conventional vanes, there are chances of cigarette getting broken while rejection or cigarettes developing quality defects.

[0048] In one implementation, the modified vanes assembly provides enough space for the entire cigarette detection and rejection to be accommodated. Moreover, the unique shape of the vanes ensures that the load (weight) of top cigarettes on to the bottom cigarettes is reduced, thereby ensuring smoother exit of the cigarette getting rejected. If this shape is not given, there are chances of cigarette getting broken while rejection or cigarettes developing quality defects.

[0049] Referring now to figure 5 an isometric view of venturi receiver is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In one implementation, as shown in figure 5, whenever air applied to the inlet receives rejected cigarette quickly away from the cigarette vanes.

[0050] In one implementation, a compressed air is applied on the inlet, to generate low pressure inside the venturi receiver, which makes the suction of the cigarette faster. According to the present invention, the venturi receiver is required to remove the faulty cigarette in the given time that is available with the machine running at the rated speed.

[0051] In one implementation, the rejection system of the present invention consists of a pushing mechanism and a venturi based suction system. The pushing mechanism and the venturi based suction system works in tandem to draw out the defective cigarette from the good ones in the quickest possible time, effectively rejecting the defective cigarette without any impact on the quality of the other cigarettes or the efficiency of the system. The tandem work ensures that the system be effective even for higher speed machines and not cause any cigarette jamming or cigarette breaking in the process.

[0052] Referring now to figure 6, a pneumatic pusher is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In one implementation, as shown in figure 6, the pneumatic cylinder pushes the loose end cigarette towards venturi receiver and then venturi receives it quickly and moves away from the vanes. The air applied through the inlet, the arrangement is so that low air pressure is created at venturi receiving end due to flow of direction of air.

[0053] In one implementation, the pneumatic pusher comprises a plunger mechanism to push the cigarettes out, there may be individual plunger units to ensure the precise faulty cigarette is only rejected and others continue the downward motion as usual.

[0054] In one implementation, the loose end detector gives signal to a control system if it detects loose end. In one example, there may be 10 loose end detectors, and all the 10 can be adjusted individually, unlike the conventional loose end detectors.

[0055] In one implementation, the venturi receiver is adapted to receive rejected cigarette quickly away from the cigarette vanes whenever air applied to the inlet. The conventional vane assembly is modified to reduce the vertical load between the cigarettes.

[0056] In one implementation, the loose end detector detects the presence of loose end, then the pneumatic pusher pushes the faulty loose end cigarette towards venturi receiver, and then venturi receiver receives quickly and takes away from the vanes.

[0057] Referring now to figure 7 an electronic control of the loose end detection assembly is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In one implementation, the control system in the backend monitors which cigarette is detected to be having loose end and after specific cycles, when it comes in front of the rejection mechanism, the control system gives a signal to actuate the mechanism to reject the cigarette. The system also takes into account the change in position of top cigarettes due to rejection happening at the rejection station.

[0058] In one implementation, a system to isolate and reject a single defective rod shaped article out of a multitude of said articles on a packaging machine is disclosed. The system comprises a product supplying means, a detection means, a rejection system, a controlling means, and a data logging system. The feeding product supplying means may consist of a hopper and vanes. The vanes in said product supplying means are shaped in a fashion so as to bear a significant portion of the weight of said rod shaped articles. The rejection system may be pneumatically or mechanically operated. The rejection system may consist of a pusher mechanism and a venturi. The controlling means detects the packaging machine speed and accounts for the time delay between detection and rejection of said defective product. The data logging system may consist of a human machine interface/display.

[0059] In one implementation, a method to isolate and reject a single defective rod shaped article out of a multitude of said articles on a packaging machine is disclosed. The method may include a product supplying means to feed said rod shaped articles in required number and speed to the detection system, a detection means to check for defective products, a rejection system to reject defective products using a positive pushing mechanism and suction system based on venturi effect, a controlling means to coordinate with machine speed, and a data logging system to log and analyze data as per requirement.

[0060] The product supplying means receive said product from upstream machinery and moderate the flow of said product to the downstream machinery. The detection means is positioned such that it checks for defects before multitudes of said rod shaped articles are collated to form a package. The rejection system operates by applying a physical force on the product. The rejection system also applies a complementary suction in addition to said physical force. The controlling means governs the actions of said rejection system. The data logging system connects to said controlling means to record details of defective product.

[0061] In one implementation, a system for cigarette inspection is disclosed. The system comprises a feeding system, a detection system, a data logging system, and rejection system. The feeding system adapted to feed cigarettes in a predetermined number and at a predetermined speed to the detection system having at least one detector to inspect individual cigarettes from the cigarettes feed. The detection system comprises the rejection system having a pushing mechanism and a suction system based on a venturi effect to reject the individual cigarettes if a defect is detected during inspection of the individual cigarettes.

[0062] The detection system may further include at least a control mechanism configured to trigger the pushing mechanism to push the individual cigarettes the based on the defect, detected by the detector, during inspection of the individual cigarettes; and draw the individual cigarettes out of the feeding system against which the defect is detected. The control mechanism is configured to: coordinate the number and the speed of feed associated with the feeding system. The feeding system comprises at least a hopper and vanes, wherein the vanes are adapted to bear a significant portion of a weight of the cigarettes. The rejection system comprises a pusher mechanism and a venturi mechanism. The data logging system comprises a user interface configured to collect at least the data associated with the system and control the system based on data collected.

[0063] In one implementation, a system for cigarette inspection is disclosed. The system comprises a feeding system and at least one detector. The feeding system has an array of cigarette vanes adapted to feed individual cigarettes. The detector is particular to at least one vane selected from the array of cigarette and configured to identify a defect in the individual cigarettes feed and transmit, upon identification of the defect, at least one triggering signal to at least one rejection system along with a location of the cigarette having fault to be rejected.

[0064] The rejection system adapted to reject the cigarette having fault. The detector is a spring based sensor to identify the defect in the individual cigarettes.

[0065] In one implementation, a system for cigarette inspection is disclosed. The system comprises a feeding system, a detector, a control system and a rejection system. The feeding system has an array of cigarette vanes adapted to feed individual cigarettes. The detector is particular to at least one vane selected from the array of cigarette vanes and configured to identify a defect in the individual cigarettes feed, and transmit, upon identification of the defect, at least one triggering signal to at least one rejection system along with a location of the cigarette having fault to be rejected. The rejection system to draw out the cigarette having fault to be rejected. The rejection system further comprises a pushing mechanism to push out the cigarette having fault, and a venturi receiver based suction system to receive the cigarette having fault pushed out by the pushing mechanism.

[0066] The pushing mechanism is at least one plunger unit adapted to reject the cigarette having the fault, wherein the plunger unit is particular to the individual cigarettes feed. The venturi receiver based suction system is adapted to apply compressed air on an inlet of the venturi receiver. The detector and the rejection system are spaced apart in a flow of the cigarettes. The detector is electronically driven. The rejection system comprises pneumatic lines to receive the triggering signal from the detector. The control system is configured to trigger the pushing mechanism to push out the cigarettes, based on upon identification of the defect, and monitor and control at least a position of top cigarettes upon draw out the cigarette having fault.

[0067] In one implementation, a method for inspecting individual cigarettes of a product stream using a system is disclosed. The method comprises feeding the cigarettes, for inspecting individual cigarettes, in a predetermined number and at a predetermined speed; inspecting individual cigarettes from the cigarettes feed to detect a defect in the individual cigarettes; detecting the defect in the individual cigarettes; and rejecting the individual cigarettes if a defect is detected during inspection of the individual cigarettes.

[0068] The method may include fetching at least the data associated with the feeding, inspecting, and rejecting to control at least the speed of feeding the cigarettes.

[0069] The method may include applying a physical force on the individual cigarettes during rejecting to push out the individual cigarettes, and receiving the individual cigarettes by a venturi receiver based suction system.

[0070] Apart from what is disclosed in the preceding sections, the loose end detection mechanism of the present invention provides economic significance and working efficiency when compared with the conventional systems and methods for the loose end detection mechanism. For instance, the conventional methods utilize a complex and cumbersome methodology in identifying loose end cigarette sticks. One such mechanism is optical systems (like infra red rays) for detecting the loose ends and for rejection, in which the best known method is suction. However the inherent problems with such systems are, they tend to reject the entire set of cigarettes (10s or 20s) or may reject the set of non-faulty cigarettes as well and not single/individual sticks. Hence the present invention is able to address such problems very efficiently by providing a practical and cost effective method which does not involve a complex processes to address the said problems.

[0071] It may be understood by the person skilled in the art that, the display device or display is used to provide an input / output (I/O) interface to the system. The I/O interface may include a variety of software and hardware interfaces, for example, a web interface, a graphical user interface, and the like. The I/O interface may allow system to interact with a user directly or through the client devices (not shown). Further, the I/O interface may enable the system to communicate with other computing devices, such as web servers and external data servers (not shown). The I/O interface can facilitate multiple communications within a wide variety of networks and protocol types, including wired networks, for example, LAN, cable, etc., and wireless networks, such as WLAN, cellular, or satellite. The I/O interface may include one or more ports for connecting a number of devices to one another or to another server.

[0072] It may be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art that for the purpose of convenient and brief description, for a detailed working process of the foregoing system, devices, and unit, reference may be made to a corresponding process in the foregoing device/apparatus embodiments, and details are not described herein again.

[0073] In the several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus, and device may be implemented in other manners. For example, a plurality of units or components or mechanisms may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not performed. In addition, the displayed or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be implemented through some interfaces. The indirect couplings or communication connections between the apparatuses or units may be implemented in electronic, mechanical, or other forms.

[0074] The various mechanisms described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and the parts displayed as mechanisms may or may not be physical units, may be located in one position, or may be distributed at various location of the device. Some or all of the units may be selected to achieve the objective of the solution of the embodiment according to actual needs.

[0075] In addition, the mechanisms in the embodiments of the present invention may be integrated into one processing unit, or each of the mechanisms may exist alone physically, or two or more mechanisms may be integrated into one mechanism.

[0076] Although a system and method for detection of loose end cigarette articles is disclosed, it is to be understood that the embodiments disclosed in the above section are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods or devices described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as examples of implementations of the system and method for detection of loose end cigarette articles.