Patent ID: 6373520
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: B07C,B65B,G01N

Abstract:
An inspection apparatus for detecting and removing non-conforming packages traveling along a conveyor path, the apparatus comprising:a conveyor transporting a plurality of identical packages in a single row along a conveyor path; at least one light source illuminating one of the packages at an inspection station along the conveyor path; a first detection device outputting a first signal representing presence of a first non-conforming condition of the package at the inspection station; a second detection device outputting a second signal representing presence of a second non-conforming condition of the package at the inspection station; a first ejection mechanism operable to remove a package having a first non-conforming condition from said single row into a first discard location; a second ejection mechanism operable to remove a package having a second non-conforming condition from said single row into a second discard location different than the first discard location; and a controller operable to process data generated in response to the first and second signals and track packages having the first and/or second non-conforming conditions, the controller being further operable to activate the first and second ejection mechanisms to remove non-conforming packages from the single row of packages.