Patent ID: 9259766
Filing Date: 2016-02-16
CPC Classification: B07C,G01N,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus comprising: at least one row of product receiving pockets, each pocket being structured to convey a pellet-shaped article along a path; at least one camera unit configured to sense a predetermined characteristic of the plurality of pellet-shaped articles; a removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, structured to remove at least a selected one of the plurality of pellet-shaped articles from at least a selected one of the pockets depending on whether the predetermined characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit; and a controller in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit, the controller providing a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the predetermined characteristic sensed by the at least one camera unit, wherein the removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having a plurality of extended vacuum nozzles along its length associated with the number of articles conveyed in each row, each vacuum nozzle structured to selectively remove the article from an associated pocket by suction.