Automatic testing of a plurality of smoking articles

In a test station having a means for gripping and releasing a smoking article, means for maneuvering a gripped smoking article within a range of motion, means for receiving one of said plurality of smoking articles at a first location within the range of motion, means for measuring a physical characteristic of a smoking article, the measuring means being at a second location within the range of motion;

• and microprocessor means for controlling the gripping and releasing means and the maneuvering means, a method for measuring a physical characteristic of a plurality of smoking articles, comprising:
• providing a plurality of smoking articles;
• feeding one smoking article to the receiving means;
• gripping the one fed smoking article at the receiving means;
• maneuvering the gripped one smoking article to the measuring means;
• releasing the one smoking article at the measuring means;
• measuring the physical characteristic of the one smoking article;
• and
• gripping again the one smoking article at the measuring means following the measurement.

Apparatus for measuring a physical characteristic of a component of a plurality of smoking articles, comprising:

• means for gripping and releasing a smoking article;
• means for maneuvering a gripped smoking article within a range of motion;
• means for receiving one of said plurality of smoking articles at a first location within the range of motion;
• means for severing the component of the smoking article from the smoking article, the severing means being located at a second location within the range of motion;
• means for measuring a physical characteristic of a smoking article component, the measuring means being at a third location within the range of motion;
• and
• microprocessor means for controlling the gripping and releasing means and the maneuvering means to grip the one smoking article at the first location and maneuver the one smoking article to the severing means, to maneuver the one smoking article component to the measuring means, to release the one smoking article component at the measuring means so that the physical characteristic of the one smoking article component can be measured, and to grip the one smoking article component at the measuring means following the measurement.

In a test station having means for gripping and releasing a smoking article, means for maneuvering a gripped smoking article within a range of motion, means for receiving one of said plurality of smoking articles at a first location within the range of motion, means for severing a component of a smoking article from the smoking article, the severing means being located at a second location within the range of motion, means for measuring a physical characteristic of a smoking article component, the measuring means being at a third location within the range of motion, and microprocessor means for controlling the gripping and releasing means and the maneuvering means, a method for measuring a physical characteristic of a component of a plurality of smoking articles comprising:

• providing a plurality of smoking articles;
• feeding one smoking article to the receiving means;
• gripping the one fed smoking article by its component;
• maneuvering the gripped smoking article to the severing means;
• severing the one smoking article component from the one smoking article;
• maneuvering the one smoking article component to the measuring means;
• releasing the smoking article component at the measuring means;
• measuring the physical characteristic of the one smoking article;
• and
• gripping again the one smoking article component at the measuring means following the measurement.