Apparatus and method for inspecting flavor-generating article

Abstract

Provided is an inspection device (1) which is provided with: a light projection unit (40) that projects inspection light (Li) onto a predetermined light projection site (40a) exposed in a flavor-generating article (2); a light reception unit (42) that receives transmitted light (Lt) from a predetermined light reception site (42a) exposed in the flavor-generating article (2); and a determination unit (44) that determines the presence or absence of a paper tube (6) on the basis of the magnitude of the amount of the transmitted light (Lt) relative to the amount of the inspection light (Li). The light reception site (42a) is positioned in an inspection area (A) in which the paper tube (6) is positioned in the flavor-generating article (2), and is positioned apart from the light projection site (40a) in the axis line direction of the flavor-generating article (2) at a predetermined interval (G).

Description

Apparatus and method for inspecting flavored products

[0001] The present invention relates to an inspection device and an inspection method for flavored product, and more particularly to an inspection device and an inspection method for inspecting the presence or absence of a paper tube in a flavored product while the product is being transported.

[0002] Patent Literature 1 discloses an inspection device that transmits infrared light through the filter of a filter-tipped cigarette and determines whether the capsule is good or bad based on differences in the transmission characteristics. This inspection device transmits long-wavelength infrared light through the object to be inspected, then disperses the light and receives it individually with multiple light-receiving units to determine whether the capsule is good or bad. The inspection device is also located on one of the conveying drums that make up a drum train that conveys filter-tipped cigarettes.

[0003] This transport drum is used as an inspection drum and includes a fixed cylindrical core and a drum shell that covers the cylindrical core and is rotatable relative to the cylindrical core. The drum shell has multiple holding grooves for holding filter cigarettes. The holding grooves are spaced apart circumferentially around the drum shell, and as the drum shell rotates, filter cigarettes received from a transport drum upstream of the inspection drum are transferred to a transport drum downstream of the inspection drum. An infrared irradiation unit, in other words, a light projecting unit, is located within the cylindrical core.

[0004] JP 2014-178117 A

[0005] However, a rod-shaped flavor product may have a paper tube as one of multiple segments connected by tipping paper. Because the paper tube is lightweight, it may fall off during the process of combining the segments, resulting in a flavor product without a paper tube. In order to eliminate such defective flavor products, it is necessary to inspect the presence or absence of the paper tube using an inspection device.

[0006] When installing an inspection device such as that described in Patent Document 1 on an existing conveying drum, a light projecting unit must be formed inside the cylindrical core, and an optical path for the inspection light must be formed from this light projecting unit to the holding groove in the drum shell. This requires significant modifications to the conveying drum. Therefore, there is a need for a device that can inspect the presence or absence of a cardboard tube with high accuracy using an even simpler configuration.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and aims to provide an inspection device and inspection method for flavored product products that have a simple configuration and can inspect the presence or absence of a paper tube in a flavored product with high accuracy.

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one embodiment of an inspection device is an inspection device that inspects a rod-shaped flavored product while it is being transported, wherein the flavored product has a paper tube as one of a plurality of segments connected by tipping paper, and is equipped with a light-projecting unit that projects inspection light onto a predetermined light-projecting point exposed in the flavored product, a light-receiving unit that receives transmitted light from a predetermined light-receiving point exposed in the flavored product, and a judgment unit that judges the presence or absence of a paper tube based on the magnitude of the amount of transmitted light relative to the amount of inspection light, wherein the light-receiving point is positioned in an inspection area where the paper tube is located in the flavored product, and is positioned a predetermined distance away from the light-projecting point in the axial direction of the flavored product.

[0009] In addition, one embodiment of an inspection method is an inspection method for inspecting a rod-shaped flavored product while it is being transported, wherein the flavored product has a paper tube as one of a plurality of segments connected by tipping paper, and includes a light-projecting step of projecting inspection light onto a predetermined light-projecting point exposed in the flavored product, a light-receiving step of receiving transmitted light from a predetermined light-receiving point exposed in the flavored product, and a determination step of determining whether or not a paper tube is present based on the amount of transmitted light relative to the amount of inspection light, wherein the light-receiving step is performed by positioning the light-receiving point in an inspection area where the paper tube is located in the flavored product, and separating the light-receiving point from the light-projecting point at a predetermined distance in the axial direction of the flavored product.

[0010] According to the above aspect, the presence or absence of a paper tube in a flavored product can be inspected with high accuracy using a simple configuration.

[0011] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a flavored product to be inspected by an inspection device; Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a conveying section; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a conveying drum on which an inspection device is installed; Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the positions of a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit in the axial direction of a flavored product; Fig. 8 is a flowchart explaining a method for inspecting a flavored product; Fig. 9 is a diagram showing the positions of a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit in the diameter direction of a cardboard tube; Fig. 10 is a diagram according to a modification of Fig. 4; Fig. 11 is a diagram according to another modification of Fig. 4;

[0012] An inspection device 1 according to an embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a flavor product 2 to be inspected by the inspection device 1. The flavor product 2 (hereinafter also simply referred to as the article 2) is rod-shaped, and in the case shown in Fig. 1, is composed of three segments: a flavor section 4, a paper tube 6, and a filter section 8, connected by tipping paper 10. The flavor section 4 is formed by gathering a rod containing a flavor sheet or wrapping a rod filled with shredded tobacco in cigarette paper, and generates flavor volatile components by combustion heating or non-combustion heating.

[0013] The paper tube 6 has a hollow section 12, where the volatile components produced in the flavor section 4 are cooled and turned into an aerosol. The filter section 8 is formed by wrapping a predetermined filter material with wrapping paper, and provides the aerosol flavor to the user by removing impurities from the aerosol. The filter section 8 may be a dual-segment filter or a multi-segment filter formed from multiple filter materials.

[0014] The article 2 configured in this manner is manufactured into rods for each segment, and then cut into predetermined lengths, arranged in a predetermined order, and combined by wrapping with tipping paper 10, and further cut as necessary, and transported in a transport section 20 described below. Note that the article 2 only needs to have a paper tube 6 as one of the multiple segments, and various configurations other than that shown in Figure 1 are conceivable.

[0015] 2 shows a schematic diagram of the conveying section 20. The conveying section 20 is composed of a drum row, for example, of four conveying drums 22. The article 2 is conveyed by transferring to the adjacent conveying drum 22 in order. The inspection device 1 of this embodiment is provided on one of the conveying drums 22 of the conveying section 20, and the inspection device 1 inspects the presence or absence of a paper tube 6 in the article 2 being conveyed on the conveying drum 22.

[0016] 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the transport drum 22 on which the inspection device 1 is installed. The transport drum 22 includes a fixed cylindrical core 24 and a drum shell 26 that covers the cylindrical core 24 from the radial outside and is arranged rotatably relative to the cylindrical core 24. A number of holding grooves 28 are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction of the drum shell 26, and a suction hole 30 is opened in the bottom wall of each holding groove 28.

[0017] A suction source 32 is disposed inside the cylindrical core 24, and communication ports 34 that communicate between the suction source 32 and the drum shell 26 are formed in a predetermined circumferential range of the cylindrical core 24 (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3 ). As the drum shell 26 rotates, each holding groove 28 of the drum shell 26 is positioned within the range of the communication ports 34 in the cylindrical core 24. At this time, the communication ports 34 communicate with the suction holes 30, and the articles 2 are held in each holding groove 28 by air suction by the suction source 32 via the suction holes 30.

[0018] Meanwhile, as the drum shell 26 continues to rotate, the holding grooves 28 of the drum shell 26 are no longer positioned within the range in which the communication holes 34 are formed in the cylindrical core 24. At this time, the communication holes 34 and the suction holes 30 are no longer connected, and air is no longer sucked by the suction source 32 through the suction holes 30. This releases the objects 2 from their holding in the holding grooves 28, allowing the objects 2 to transfer to the adjacent conveying drum 22. In this way, the conveying drum 22 conveys the objects 2 while rotating, while holding the objects 2 in the holding grooves 28 that are spaced apart circumferentially.

[0019] Here, the inspection device 1 of this embodiment includes a light-projecting unit 40, a light-receiving unit 42, and a determining unit 44. The light-projecting unit 40 projects inspection light Li to a predetermined light-projecting location 40a exposed on the item 2 held in the holding groove 28. On the other hand, the light-receiving unit 42 receives transmitted light Lt from a predetermined light-receiving location 42a exposed on the item 2 held in the holding groove 28. Furthermore, the determining unit 44 determines the presence or absence of a cardboard tube 6 based on the magnitude of the light intensity of the transmitted light Lt relative to the light intensity of the inspection light Li.

[0020] 4 shows the positions of the light-projecting unit 40 and the light-receiving unit 42 in the axial direction of the article 2. In the case shown in FIG. 4, both the light-projecting location 40a and the light-receiving location 42a are positioned in the inspection area A, which is the area of ​​the article 2 where the cardboard tube 6 is located. The light-receiving location 42a is positioned at a predetermined distance G from the light-projecting location 40a in the axial direction of the article 2. Specifically, the distance L1 from the end face 8a of the filter unit 8 to the light-projecting location 40a in the axial direction of the article 2 is in the range of 33 mm to 39 mm, for example, and the distance L2 from the end face 8a of the filter unit 8 to the light-receiving location 42a is in the range of 22 mm to 31 mm, for example. As a result, the gap G is in the range of 2 mm to 18 mm, for example.

[0021] More specifically, when the paper tube 6 is present, the inspection light Li projected into the inspection area A passes through the tipping paper 10, passes through the paper that constitutes the paper tube 6, reaches the hollow portion 12, collides with the inner circumferential surface of the paper that constitutes the paper tube 6, and is diffused within the hollow portion 12. At least a portion of this diffused light passes again through the paper that constitutes the paper tube 6 and the tipping paper 10, and is received by the light receiving unit 42 as transmitted light Lt. In this way, when the paper tube 6 is present, the inspection light Li passes through the four parts of the tipping paper 10, the paper tube 6, the paper tube 6, and the tipping paper 10 in order, and becomes significantly attenuated transmitted light Lt.

[0022] On the other hand, when the paper tube 6 is not present, the inspection light Li projected onto the inspection area A passes through the tipping paper 10, collides with the inner peripheral surface of the tipping paper 10, and is diffused within the cavity covered by the tipping paper 10. At least a portion of this diffused light passes through the tipping paper 10 again and is received by the light receiving unit 42 as transmitted light Lt. In this way, when the paper tube 6 is not present, the inspection light Li becomes transmitted light Lt after passing through the tipping paper 10 just twice, and therefore the amount of transmitted light Lt is greater than when the paper tube 6 is present by the amount that the inspection light Li does not pass through the paper tube 6 twice.

[0023] Specifically, although it depends on the amount of light of the inspection light Li and the translucency (based on the paper quality and thickness) of the tipping paper 10 and the paper tube 6, the amount of light of the transmitted light Lt when the paper tube 6 is not present can be about four times that when the paper tube 6 is present. Therefore, an appropriate threshold value for the amount of light of the transmitted light Lt is found and set through experiments, and the presence or absence of the paper tube 6 is inspected by the inspection method for the article 2 using the inspection device 1 described below.

[0024] 5 shows a flowchart illustrating the inspection method for the article 2. When the inspection of the article 2 is started, as described above, first, the light-projecting unit 40 projects the inspection light Li onto the light-projecting portion 40a exposed on the article 2 (light-projecting step S1). Next, the light-receiving unit 42 receives the transmitted light Lt from the light-receiving portion 42a exposed on the article 2 (light-receiving step S2). Next, the determining unit 44 determines whether the light quantity Q of the transmitted light Lt is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value Qs (Q≧Qs).

[0025] If the judgment result is Yes and Q≧Qs is established, it is judged that the article 2 does not have a paper tube 6 (step S4), and the inspection is terminated. On the other hand, if the judgment result is No and Q≧Qs is not established, that is, the light quantity Q of the transmitted light Lt is less than the threshold Qs, it is judged that the article 2 has a paper tube 6 (step S5), and the inspection is terminated. This makes it possible to inspect with high accuracy whether the article 2 being transported on the transport drum 22 has a paper tube 6. Note that defective articles 2 that are judged to have no paper tube 6 are appropriately rejected during the transport process in the transport section 20, or in a section after the transport section 20.

[0026] 6 shows the positions of the light-projecting unit 40 and the light-receiving unit 42 in the diameter direction of the cardboard tube 6. The light-projecting unit 40 projects the inspection light Li to a light-projecting point 40a at a predetermined light-projecting angle α with respect to the horizontal direction. The light-receiving unit 42 receives the transmitted light Lt from a light-receiving point 42a at a predetermined light-receiving angle β with respect to the horizontal direction. Specifically, the light-projecting angle α and the light-receiving angle β are both in the range of 60 degrees to 40 degrees, for example.

[0027] Furthermore, the light-receiving point 42a is located on the opposite side of the light-projecting point 40a when a symmetry line B passing through the axial center C of the cardboard tube 6 is used as a boundary. Specifically, the light-receiving point 42a and the light-projecting point 40a are formed in line-symmetric positions with respect to the symmetry line B, and the intersection angle γ between the inspection light Li and the transmitted light Lt around the center C is, for example, in the range of 80 to 100 degrees, and preferably 90 degrees. Furthermore, the distance L3 from the light-projecting unit 40 to the light-projecting point 40a and the distance L4 from the light-receiving unit 42 to the light-receiving point 42a are both, for example, in the range of 2 to 8 mm.

[0028] As described above, the inspection device 1 and inspection method of this embodiment determine whether or not a cardboard tube 6 is present in the object 2 being transported on the transport drum 22 based on the magnitude of the light intensity of the transmitted light Lt relative to the light intensity of the inspection light Li. At this time, the light-emitting point 40a and the light-receiving point 42a are formed in exposed positions on the object 2 held in the holding groove 28. Therefore, a simple-configuration inspection device 1 can be realized without requiring major modifications to the transport drum 22.

[0029] Furthermore, the light receiving point 42a is positioned in the inspection area A where the paper tube 6 is located on the article 2, and is positioned at a distance G from the light projecting point 40a in the axial direction of the article 2. This makes it possible to measure the amount of transmitted light Lt based solely on the amount of light emitted from the cavity in the inspection area A (the hollow portion 12 if the paper tube 6 is present) as much as possible while minimizing the effects of reflection and diffusion of the inspection light Li, thereby enabling the presence or absence of the paper tube 6 to be inspected with high accuracy.

[0030] 4, by positioning the light-projecting point 40a in the inspection area A, the difference in the amount of light emitted in the inspection area A depending on whether the paper tube 6 is present or not can be made more noticeable than when the light-projecting point 40a is positioned outside the inspection area A. This makes it easier to detect the presence or absence of the paper tube 6, thereby further improving the accuracy of the inspection. The light-projecting unit 40 projects the inspection light Li onto the light-projecting point 40a at a predetermined light-projecting angle α with respect to the horizontal direction. The light-receiving unit 42 receives the transmitted light Lt at a light-receiving point 42a at a predetermined light-receiving angle β with respect to the horizontal direction.

[0031] Furthermore, the light-receiving point 42a is located on the opposite side of the light-projecting point 40a when the boundary is a line of symmetry B passing through the axial center C of the article 2. Specifically, the angle γ of the transmitted light Lt with respect to the inspection light Li around the axial center C is, for example, 80 to 100 degrees, and preferably 90 degrees. This makes it possible to increase the amount of transmitted light Lt received at the light-receiving point 42a compared to when the light-projecting point 40a and the light-receiving point 42a are located on the same side of the line of symmetry B, and ultimately makes the difference in the amount of light emitted in the inspection area A depending on whether the paper tube 6 is present or not even more noticeable. This allows for even more accurate inspection of the presence or absence of the paper tube 6.

[0032] This concludes the description of the embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, as shown in Fig. 7, the light-projecting point 40a may be positioned on the end surface 8a of the filter section 8. Also, as shown in Fig. 8, the light-projecting point 40a may be positioned on the end surface 4a of the flavor section 4. Even in these cases, the light-receiving point 42a is positioned at a distance G from the light-projecting point 40a in the axial direction of the item 2.

[0033] 4, the influence of reflection and diffusion of the inspection light Li can be minimized while the amount of transmitted light Lt can be measured based only on the amount of light emitted from the cavity in the inspection area A (the hollow portion 12 if the paper tube 6 is present), thereby enabling highly accurate inspection of the presence or absence of the paper tube 6. Note that the inspection shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is only possible when the filter portion 8 and the flavor portion 4 have a certain degree of light transmittance. Furthermore, since the gap G is larger than in the inspection shown in FIG. 4, the amount of inspection light Li needs to be increased to a certain extent.

[0034] Furthermore, the cardboard tube 6 may have a plurality of ventilation holes (not shown) formed around the entire circumference of the cardboard tube 6 for ventilation purposes to introduce outside air into the cardboard tube 6. In this case, leakage of the inspection light Li occurs from the ventilation holes, reducing the inspection accuracy. Furthermore, if the amount of inspection light Li is excessively increased out of concern that the inspection accuracy will be reduced due to leakage of the inspection light Li, this may result in an inspection error. Therefore, when ventilation holes are formed in the cardboard tube 6, it is preferable to separate the light-emitting point 40a and the light-receiving point 42a from the ventilation holes to an extent that does not affect the inspection.

[0035] Furthermore, the inspection device 1 and inspection method of this embodiment can inspect the presence or absence of a paper tube 6 in an item 2 having a configuration different from that described above, and in this case, it is possible to position the light projection point 40a on an end surface of the item 2 other than the end surface 8a of the filter section 8 or the end surface 4a of the flavor section 4.

[0036] Furthermore, some or all of the above embodiments can be expressed by describing the respective aspects shown below: (Aspect 1) An inspection device for inspecting a rod-shaped flavor product product while it is being transported, wherein the flavor product product has a paper tube as one of a plurality of segments connected by tipping paper, the inspection device for a flavor product comprising: a light-projecting unit that projects inspection light onto a predetermined light-projecting point exposed on the flavor product product; a light-receiving unit that receives transmitted light from a predetermined light-receiving point exposed on the flavor product product; and a determination unit that determines the presence or absence of the paper tube based on the magnitude of the amount of transmitted light relative to the amount of inspection light, wherein the light-receiving point is positioned in an inspection area on the flavor product where the paper tube is located, and is positioned at a predetermined interval from the light-projecting point in the axial direction of the flavor product product.

[0037] (Aspect 2) The flavor product inspection device according to Aspect 1, wherein the light-projecting point is positioned in the inspection area. (Aspect 3) The light-projecting unit projects the inspection light onto the light-projecting point at a predetermined light-projecting angle relative to the horizontal direction, the light-receiving unit receives the transmitted light at the light-receiving point at a predetermined light-receiving angle relative to the horizontal direction, and the light-receiving point is located on the opposite side of the light-projecting point when a line of symmetry passing through the axial center of the flavor product is used as a boundary.

[0038] (Aspect 4) The flavor product inspection device according to Aspect 1, wherein the light projecting point is positioned on an end surface of the flavor product. (Aspect 5) The flavor product inspection device according to Aspect 4, wherein the flavor product has a filter portion as one of the segments, and the light projecting point is positioned on an end surface of the filter portion.

[0039] (Aspect 6) The flavor product inspection device described in any one of Aspects 1 to 5, wherein the flavor product is inspected while being transported by a transport drum, and the transport drum transports the flavor product while rotating while holding the flavor product in holding grooves arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0040] (Aspect 7) An inspection method for inspecting a rod-shaped flavor product product while it is being transported, wherein the flavor product product has a paper tube as one of a plurality of segments connected by tipping paper, the method comprising: a light-projecting step of projecting inspection light onto a predetermined light-projecting location exposed on the flavor product product; a light-receiving step of receiving transmitted light from a predetermined light-receiving location exposed on the flavor product product; and a determination step of determining whether or not the paper tube is present based on the magnitude of the amount of transmitted light relative to the amount of inspection light, wherein the light-receiving step is performed by positioning the light-receiving location in an inspection area where the paper tube is located on the flavor product product, and spaced a predetermined distance from the light-projecting location in the axial direction of the flavor product product.

[0041] (Aspect 8) The method for inspecting a flavored product according to Aspect 7, wherein the light projecting step is performed with the light projecting location positioned in the inspection area. (Aspect 9) The method for inspecting a flavored product according to Aspect 8, wherein the light projecting step projects the inspection light onto the light projecting location at a predetermined light projecting angle relative to the horizontal direction, and the light receiving step receives the transmitted light at the light receiving location at a predetermined light receiving angle relative to the horizontal direction, and the light receiving location is positioned on the opposite side of the light projecting location when a line of symmetry passing through the axial center of the flavored product is used as a boundary.

[0042] (Aspect 10) The method for inspecting a flavored product according to Aspect 7, wherein the light projecting step is performed with the light projecting point positioned on an end surface of the flavored product. (Aspect 11) The method for inspecting a flavored product according to Aspect 10, wherein the flavored product has a filter portion as one of the segments, and the light projecting step is performed with the light projecting point positioned on an end surface of the filter portion.

[0043] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Inspection device 2 Flavored product 4a End surface 6 Paper tube 8 Filter portion 8a End surface 10 Tipping paper 22 Conveyor drum 28 Holding groove 40 Light-emitting portion 40a Light-emitting location 42 Light-receiving portion 42a Light-receiving location 44 Determination portion Li Inspection light Lt Transmitted light A Inspection area B Symmetry line C Axis center G Spacing α Light-emitting angle β Light-receiving angle S1 Light-emitting step S2 Light-receiving step S3 Determination step

Claims

1. An inspection device for inspecting a rod-shaped flavor product while it is being transported, wherein the flavor product has a paper tube as one of a plurality of segments connected by tipping paper, the device comprising: a light-projecting unit that projects inspection light onto a predetermined light-projecting point exposed on the flavor product; a light-receiving unit that receives transmitted light from a predetermined light-receiving point exposed on the flavor product; and a determination unit that determines the presence or absence of the paper tube based on the amount of transmitted light relative to the amount of inspection light, wherein the light-receiving point is positioned in an inspection area on the flavor product where the paper tube is located, and is positioned a predetermined distance away from the light-projecting point in the axial direction of the flavor product.

2. The flavored product inspection device of claim 1, wherein the light spot is positioned in the inspection area.

3. An inspection device for flavored product products as described in claim 2, wherein the light-projecting unit projects the inspection light onto the light-projecting location at a predetermined light-projecting angle relative to the horizontal direction, the light-receiving unit receives the transmitted light at the light-receiving location at a predetermined light-receiving angle relative to the horizontal direction, and the light-receiving location is located on the opposite side of the light-projecting location when a line of symmetry passing through the axial center of the flavored product is used as the boundary.

4. The flavored product inspection device of claim 1, wherein the light projection point is positioned on an end face of the flavored product.

5. The flavored product inspection device according to claim 4, wherein the flavored product has a filter portion as one of the segments, and the light projection point is positioned on an end face of the filter portion.

6. An inspection device for flavored product items as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the flavored product items are inspected while being transported by a transport drum, and the transport drum transports the flavored product items while rotating, while holding the flavored product items in holding grooves arranged at intervals around the circumference.

7. An inspection method for inspecting a rod-shaped flavor product during transportation, wherein the flavor product has a paper tube as one of a plurality of segments connected by tipping paper, the method comprising: a light-projecting step of projecting inspection light onto a predetermined light-projecting point exposed on the flavor product; a light-receiving step of receiving transmitted light from a predetermined light-receiving point exposed on the flavor product; and a determination step of determining whether or not the paper tube is present based on the amount of transmitted light relative to the amount of inspection light, wherein the light-receiving point is positioned in an inspection area on the flavor product where the paper tube is located, and is spaced a predetermined distance from the light-projecting point in the axial direction of the flavor product.

8. The method for inspecting a flavored product according to claim 7, wherein the light projecting step is performed with the light projecting location positioned in the inspection area.

9. A method for inspecting a flavored product as described in claim 8, wherein in the light-projecting step, the inspection light is projected onto the light-projecting location at a predetermined light-projecting angle relative to the horizontal direction, and in the light-receiving step, the transmitted light is received at the light-receiving location at a predetermined light-receiving angle relative to the horizontal direction, and the light-receiving location is positioned on the opposite side of the light-projecting location when a line of symmetry passing through the axial center of the flavored product is used as the boundary.

10. The method for inspecting a flavored product according to claim 7, wherein the light projecting step is performed with the light projecting point positioned on the end face of the flavored product.

11. A method for inspecting a flavored product as described in claim 10, wherein the flavored product has a filter portion as one of the segments, and the light projection step is performed with the light projection point positioned on the end face of the filter portion.

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