Patent ID: 8570504
Filing Date: 2013-10-29
Classification: B07C,F42B,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of optically inspecting parts, each of the parts having a length, a width and an axis, the method comprising: supporting a part to be inspected at a loading station; transferring the supported part so that the part travels along a first path which extends from the loading station to an inspection station at which the part has a predetermined position and orientation for inspection; simultaneously imaging a plurality of exterior side surfaces of the part which are angularly spaced about the axis of the part at the inspection station to form an optical image of at least a portion of each of the imaged side surfaces of the part at a single image plane; detecting the optical images at the image plane; processing the detected optical images to obtain a plurality of views of the part which are angularly spaced about the axis of the part; and transferring the part after the inspection at the inspection station so that the inspected part travels along a second path which extends from the inspection station to an unloading station.