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

A device for examining rod-shaped products (11) of the cigarette industry, in particular of tobacco sticks, each having an in particular cylindrical lateral surface (22) and two end faces (23, 24), which are arranged at opposite ends, are formed in particular by two filter elements, preferably of different lengths, and are in particular visually identical, wherein the rod-shaped product (11) has smokable material, in particular tobacco, between the two filter elements, preferably in a section arranged off-center, having at least one illumination unit (17), from which examination light originates, which is directed onto the lateral surface (22) of at least one rod-shaped product (11) to be examined, preferably in such a way that its beams are incident on the lateral surface (22) at an angle of at least 30°, preferably of at least 60°, particularly preferably 90° in relation to the longitudinal extension of the rod-shaped product (11), wherein the examination light penetrates through the lateral surface (22) at least partially into the rod-shaped product (11) and exits again at least partially through the end face (23, 24), having at least one electro-optical receiver, which is arranged in such a way that its main viewing direction is directed for the acquisition of this examination light on the end face (23, 24) of the rod-shaped product (11), so that the examination light exiting from the end face (23, 24) of the rod-shaped product (11) is acquired, and having an evaluation unit, using which the examination light received by the electro-optical receiver can be evaluated, in particular with regard to its brightness or light intensity.