Patent ID: 7800009
Filing Date: 2010-09-21
Classification: B07C,G01N

Abstract:
1. An inspection system for inspecting each of a series of serially fed work pieces in a stream of work pieces, the inspection system comprising: an inspection conveyor having a first end, a second end, and a plurality of air holes in communication with the inspection conveyor, wherein each of the work pieces is serially received at the first end and discharged at the second end; a passage from the first end of the inspection conveyor to the second end of the inspection conveyor; an air blower which provides pressurized air through the air holes in order to accelerate and separate each of the work pieces along the inspection conveyor; wherein the air holes located proximate the first end have a different spacing relative to each other than the air holes located proximate the second end; an inspection station located intermediate the first end and the second end of the inspection conveyor, the inspection station including a light source and a camera, the light source being positioned to illuminate each of the work pieces at the inspection station for imaging by the camera; a processing unit operably coupled to the camera to analyze images of the work pieces generated by the camera with respect to predetermined quality control standards; and a rejection mechanism operably coupled to the processing unit to receive a control signal from the processing unit, the rejection mechanism being operable to remove selected work pieces from the inspection conveyor based on the control signal.