Method and device for examining rod-shaped products of the cigarette industry

A method for examining rod-shaped products (11) of the cigarette industry, each having a cylindrical lateral surface (22) and two end faces (23, 24), which are arranged at opposite ends, wherein the rod-shaped product (11) has smokable material, between the two end faces (23, 24), comprising the steps of:

• a) irradiating the lateral surface (22) of at least one rod-shaped product (11) of a product group (10) made of the rod-shaped products (11) to be examined, wherein the product group (10) has two or more product layers (16) of the rod-shaped products (11) each arranged adjacent to one another in a row, the end faces (23, 24) of which each form one of two opposite product group sides at their opposite ends, using examination light in such a way that the examination light penetrates through the lateral surface (22) at least partially into the rod-shaped product (11) and at least partially exits again through one end face (23, 24);
• b) acquiring the examination light exiting from the end face (23, 24) of the rod-shaped product (11) to be examined using an electro-optical receiver for the examination light assigned to the end face (23, 24), the main viewing direction of which is directed onto the end face (23, 24);
• and
• c) evaluating the examination light exiting from the end face (23, 24) and acquired by the electro-optical receiver.