Patent ID: 9101962
Filing Date: 2015-08-11
Classification: B07C,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An inspection system configured for use with a conveyer apparatus having at least one row of product receiving pockets, each pocket being structured to convey a pellet-shaped article along a predetermined path, the inspection system comprising: 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 that corresponds to the number of articles conveyed in each row, each vacuum nozzle structured to selectively remove the article from a corresponding pocket by suction.