Filter cigarette inspection apparatus and inspection method

An inspection method for a filter cigarette having a cigarette, a filter connected to the cigarette and having a mouthpiece end, and a ventilation area in an outer circumferential surface of said filter for introducing outside air, comprising the steps of:

• forming a first airtight chamber for enclosing the mouthpiece end of the filter;
• forming a second airtight chamber for enclosing the outer circumferential surface of the filter including said ventilation area;
• and
• measuring a pressure in the first airtight chamber when the second airtight chamber is supplied with a compressed fluid of a given pressure,
• wherein the first airtight chamber and the second airtight chamber are defined with use of a pair of deformable rubber rings, and inner diameters of the rubber rings are individually reduced when the rubber rings are mechanically compressed in an axial direction thereof so that the rubber rings individually airtightly contact the outer circumferential surface of the filter,
• wherein the first airtight chamber and the second airtight chamber are individually formed inside the socket when the socket is moved to an actuated position from a rest position,
• wherein the socket is moved from the rest position toward the actuated position by a movable member through the rubber rings, and
• wherein, after the socket is stopped at the actuated position, the rubber rings are mechanically compressed by further movement of the movable member.

An inspection method for a filter cigarette having a cigarette, a filter connected to the cigarette and having a mouthpiece end, and a ventilation area in an outer circumferential surface of the filter for introducing outside air, comprising the steps of:

• forming a first airtight chamber for enclosing the mouthpiece end of the filter;
• forming a second airtight chamber for enclosing the outer circumferential surface of the filter including said ventilation area;
• forming a third airtight chamber for enclosing a tip end of the cigarette;
• and
• measuring a pressure in the first airtight chamber when the third airtight chamber is supplied with a compressed fluid of a given pressure,
• wherein the first airtight chamber and the second airtight chamber are defined with use of a pair of deformable rubber rings, and inner diameters of the rubber rings are individually reduced when the rubber rings are mechanically compressed in an axial direction thereof so that the rubber rings individually airtightly contact the outer circumferential surface of the filter,
• wherein the first airtight chamber and the second airtight chamber are individually formed inside the socket when the socket is moved to an actuated position from a rest position,
• wherein the socket is moved from the rest position toward the actuated position by a movable member through the rubber rings, and
• wherein, after the socket is stopped at the actuated position, the rubber rings are mechanically compressed by further movement of the movable member.