Patent ID: 6961638

Claim:
A reject object detection and ejection apparatus comprising: a conveyor having a length with opposite upstream and downstream ends, the conveyor being operable to convey a sequence of objects on the conveyor from the conveyor upstream end to the conveyor downstream end; means positioned along the length of the conveyor for sensing an orientation of an object of the sequence of objects conveyed on the conveyor and producing a signal representative of the sensed orientation of the object; means positioned along the length of the conveyor for removing the object from the conveyor in response to the signal representative of the sensed orientation of the object; the means for sensing an orientation of an object also distinguishing between an upright and an inverted orientation of the object; the means for sensing an orientation of an object comprising a plurality of vertically arranged sensors, the sensors sensing a presence or an absence of an object on the conveyor adjacent the sensors and producing the signal representative of the sensed orientation of the object; and, an encoder in communication with the plurality of sensors that produces signals representative of a period of conveyor operation during which each sensor senses the presence or absence of an object on the conveyor adjacent the sensor.