Abstract: A high-speed method and system for inspecting and sorting a stream of unidentified mixed parts are provided. The system includes a pair of inspection stations each of which includes a vision-based robotic subsystem including a robot configured to pick up a self-supporting part and place the part on a fixtureless rotary stage. A second subsystem optically measures a profile and features of the part during part rotation. A processor is operable to compare the profile and features of the part with the profile and corresponding features of stored templates to identify a matching template. A mechanism including a part sorter directs unidentified parts and parts having an unacceptable geometric dimension or defect to a reject part area and directs identified parts having acceptable geometrical dimensions and no significant defects to good part areas.

Abstract: A machine vision system for automatically identifying and inspecting objects is disclosed, including composable vision-based recognition modules and a decision algorithm to perform the final determination on object type and quality. This vision system has been used to develop a Projectile Identification System and an Automated Tactical Ammunition Classification System. The technology can be used to create numerous other inspection and automated identification systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inspecting a crankshaft, which enables accurate detection of defects which occur partially in the crankshaft, such as underfills and dent flaws, by discriminating these defects from bending and torsion over an entire length of the crankshaft.

Abstract: The circuit breaker is fabricated by an assembly step that makes a circuit breaker assembly with a moving contact metal plate, stationary contact metal plate, and bimetallic strip disposed in prescribed locations in an external case; and an anneal step that introduces the circuit breaker assembly made in the assembly step into an anneal oven, heats the circuit breaker assembly in the anneal oven and then cools it to anneal both the moving contact metal plate and the bimetallic strip and produce a heat-treated circuit breaker.

Abstract: An apparatus (110) (and associated method) for inspecting a steering column assembly (10) including a motor (114a) driven drive sleeve (128) supported in a headstock (114) and having a longitudinal axis, and being adapted for receiving and engaging a portion of the steering column assembly, and at least one optical scanning device (160a, 160b, 160c) adapted to optically scan a feature of interest of the steering column assembly (10) while the shaft of the steering column assembly (10) is rotated for gathering data for identifying one or more deviations from one or more predetermined values for the feature of interest.

Abstract: An ammunition inspecting system comprises a tray wheel, a plurality of tray units on the tray wheel, a tray inserting pusher seating ammunition cartridges on the tray units, an ammunition side image capturing module facing an upper portion of the tray wheel, an ammunition actuating roller approaching a tray unit, rotating a particular ammunition cartridge on the tray unit, and then escaping off, an ammunition discharging module adjacent to a start point of the tray wheel to receive and convey the ammunition cartridges from the tray units, an ammunition bottom image capturing module at a side of the upper portion and including one or more cameras vertically image-capturing bottom surfaces of the ammunition cartridges, and an ammunition recovering module at a side of the upper portion and pushing the ammunition cartridges out of the tray units.

Abstract: The invention concerns a machine for collecting and sorting waste comprising a frame (2) with a base (3) resting on the floor and a front face (5) in which an opening (7) is made, allowing access to a waste insertion zone (8), the machine further comprising, inside the frame (2), means (50) of recognizing waste, a waste sorter (40) and means (20, 23) of storing sorted waste comprising at least two containers (20), the machine comprising: an elevator (15) for transporting a waste item inserted into the insertion zone (8), towards the sorter (40) disposed vertically above the insertion zone (8), and the waste sorter (40) being arranged so as to move the transported waste vertically above a container (20), selected according to information furnished by waste recognition means (50), and in which the waste is received. The machine can also comprise means for compacting waste.

Abstract: A postal sorting machine comprises a conveyor system having a conveyor adapted to move mailpieces along a certain conveyor path along sorting outlets of the sorting machine. The sorting machine includes at least one pass sensor to detect the mailpieces in motion on the conveyor going past at a certain point of the conveyor path and to respond to a detection of the mailpiece by delivering a pass detection signal to a monitoring and control unit which responds to the detection signal by delivering a control signal for an electromechanical actuator of the conveyor. The pass sensor is a virtual sensor. A movement tracking system generates digital images of the mailpieces. An emulator generates 3D-modeled mailpieces and detects interactions between the 3D-modeled mailpieces a 3D model of the conveyor to generate the pass detection signal.

Abstract: A workpiece feeder includes a forward stage that separates base plates from one another and adjusts the base plates into correct top-bottom orientation and a pickup unit that individually holds the separated and adjusted base plates and horizontally aligns the held base plate into correct planar posture while feeding the held base plate to a destination. The forward stage includes a stage body that has a stage surface on which the base plates are placed and is movably supported so as to shift the stage surface and a drive unit that applies separate impacts to the stage body so that the stage body moves to apply a bouncing force and a shifting force orthogonal to the bouncing force due to the separate impacts to the base plates.

Abstract: The present invention provides an LED chip testing device that measures characteristics of an LED chip. The LED chip testing device includes: a rotation member that supports the LED chip and rotates the LED chip to a testing position where the characteristics of the LED chip are tested; and a tester installed next to the rotation member and serving to measure the characteristics of the LED chip at the testing position.

Abstract: A selective-sorting berry-harvesting machine includes a supply system which supplies a computer vision system, a computer vision system including an artificial vision device for acquiring images of harvest components originating from the supply system and a processing device for analyzing said images so that the harvest components can be recognised and differentiated according to pre-established criteria, and a system for selectively separating whole, ripe and healthy berries from other components of the harvest, controlled by the processing device. The supply system is configured such that the harvest can be spread out to form a single layer, harvest components can be isolated individually and the harvest components, particularly the whole, ripe and healthy berries, can be moved rectilinearly at a controlled speed so that they are conveyed individually through the computer vision system.

Abstract: An appearance inspection apparatus 1 has an aligning and conveying device 25 which has an aligning and conveying member 26 with one or a plurality of conveying passages, and a vibration exciter for alignment 37 for applying a vibration to the aligning and conveying member 26 and which aligns the inspection objects in a row and conveys them in each of the conveying passages, a slide-down mechanism 40 which has slide-down passages separately connected to the respective conveying passages of the aligning and conveying member 26 an provided to be tilted downward with respect to extensions of the slide-down passages, an imaging device 60 disposed in the vicinity of the slide-down passages for imaging the inspection objects sliding down in the slide-down passages, and a sorting device 80 for analyzing the images of the inspection objects captured by the imaging device, judge the qualities thereof, and sorting the inspection objects sliding down in the slide-down passages on the basis of analysis results.

Abstract: A document processing system is disclosed. The document processing system includes one or more document guide components defining a path of travel of documents, the path of travel of documents including an intersection portion. The document processing system also includes a component repositioning element at the intersection portion of the path of travel of documents, the component repositioning element arranged to align a document processing component with a portion of the path of travel in which a document resides.

Abstract: An apparatus for checking the authenticity of bank notes in unprotected areas, has a sensor assembly containing a light source which produces light of a first wavelength with which the bank notes to be checked are illuminated; whereupon one or more feature substances present in and/or on the bank notes produces light of a second wavelength which is detected by the sensor assembly. A control device evaluates data from the sensor assembly about the light of the second wavelength and compares them with reference data to determine the authenticity of the bank notes. The structure and operation of the sensor assembly and/or the control device permit conclusions to be drawn only with difficulty on the feature substance or substances contained in the bank notes.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical module manufacturing method for bonding a can portion having an optical semiconductor element and a barrel portion of the optical module together, comprising the steps of: a bonding step for bonding a joint surface of the can portion and a joint surface of the barrel portion by thermoset adhesive, so as to form an interior room defined by the bonded can portion and barrel portion (S1); a receiving step for receiving the bonded can portion and the barrel portion into a hermetical container (S2); a curing step for heating interior of the hermetical container so as to solidify the thermoset adhesive dispensed on the joint surfaces (S3); a cooling step for reducing a temperature inside the hermetical container after the thermoset adhesive is cured (S4); and a step of taking the can portion and the barrel portion out from the hermetical container.

Abstract: An object sorting system automatically inspects a plurality of objects and sorts acceptable objects from defective objects. The system includes a feed conveyor, a barrier, a sorting camera, at least one rejection valve and a processor. The feed conveyor receives a plurality of objects and moves the objects through an inspection area, which is defined by the barrier, which is placed across and above a top surface of the feed conveyor. The barrier is configured to redirect the plurality of objects and cause the objects to rotate about an object axis such that the sorting camera can capture an image of each of the plurality of objects as the objects rotate and move through the inspection area.

Abstract: The invention described here concerns a unit for automatic container returns systems, with a conveyor device for transporting the containers in the direction of their longitudinal axis, with two rotary-driven rollers arranged along the conveyor path and which can be transferred from a neutral position into an identification position in which they release the container from the conveyor device and rotate said container, and with a sorting means for the selective, lateral removal of the container from the conveyor device according to the identification. It is the object of the invention to provide a generic unit for automatic container returns systems that is characterised by a simple construction.

Abstract: Handling of liquid containers in horizontal position in the form of beverage packaging, for example, cans or or bottles of any cross-section, comprising a first and a second conveyor with respective belt, especially in connection with detection of features of the container. The belts are movable in a mutually parallel direction, and in a first, container-supporting position form an angle relative to each other, thereby forming an approximately V-shaped conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for inspecting and sorting articles such as fruit and vegetables in which the articles are presented, on a conveyor, under a viewing device and classified. A take-off position is determined from the classification and the article is removed by means of an independently actuated ejector mechanism.

Abstract: A semiconductor inspection system transports devices in trays from an input stacker to a flipping mechanism along a first inspection path in a first direction and from the flipping mechanism to an output stacker along a second inspection path in a second direction that is a different direction than the first direction. The flipping mechanism moves the devices from the first inspection path to a flipping location, flips the devices at the flipping location, and moves the devices to the second inspection path. In this manner, the devices can be inspected by a plurality of stations on different inspection paths and in different directions. One of the stations is an integrated station that performs both mark inspection and sorting of defective devices. A semiconductor inspection method is also described.

Abstract: An object sorting system automatically inspects a plurality of objects and sorts acceptable objects from defective objects. The system includes a feed conveyor, a barrier, a sorting camera, at least one rejection valve and a processor. The feed conveyor receives a plurality of objects and moves the objects through an inspection area, which is defined by the barrier, which is placed across and above a top surface of the feed conveyor. The barrier is configured to redirect the plurality of objects and cause the objects to rotate about an object axis such that the sorting camera can capture an image of each of the plurality of objects as the objects rotate and move through the inspection area.

Abstract: A method and a device for sorting, in terms of phosphor blends, fluorescent lamps, which have a cylindrical body with a right-hand and left-hand end and with a symbol overprint. The fluorescent lamps that are conveyed into an inspection station which have a stop for defining an inspection plane, against which the lamp body respectively to be examined bears. A camera to which an image processing system is connected is directed onto the symbol overprint of the lamp body respectively to be examined. A rotating device in the inspection station is started up in order to rotate the lamp body respectively to be examined. The camera outputs pixel signals to the image processing system, which obtains image data from the pixel signals. The image processing system contains image memories with data for input symbols, and an image-comparing device which correlates the image data with the input symbol data.

Abstract: A multi-stream singulator has two continuously laterally adjacent streams of cups, which carry and advance articles to be graded to a discharge zone. Articles from the discharge zone are received onto a single stream grading conveyor. At least one of the streams of cups of the multi-stream singulator is a partial cup in advance of the other stream so that the items are discharged non-simultaneously at the discharge zone. Optical scanning of the articles is undertaken by a scanner scanning a zone of the singulating conveyor to determine a physical attribute of each article. Means are provided to associate the scanned attribute of each article from the singulating conveyor with its subsequent position on the single stream grading conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for sorting documents contained with envelopes into selected batches of documents. An envelope feeder feeds a group of envelopes containing documents onto a document transport. A document extractor positioned along the path of movement extracts the documents from the envelopes. An orientation detector including a magnetic image reader and an optical image reader determines the orientation of selected documents along the path of movement. A document orientor changes the orientation of documents along the path of movement into a desired orientation. An image acquisition device acquires an image of the batch identification pieces and selected documents conveyed along the path of movement to enable the system controller to assign documents of selected transactions into selected batches. A non-volatile image storage medium stores the acquired images of the selected documents.

Abstract: A test apparatus to determine the trip setting of a bimetallic element of a thermal tripping mechanism of the circuit breaker. The apparatus comprising a conveyance configured to receive and move the circuit breaker. A radio frequency induction heater positioned below the conveyance and including an induction coil operatively connected to the induction heater, wherein the induction coil is located below the bimetallic element of the thermal tripping mechanism of the circuit breaker. The radio frequency induction heater may operate with a frequency of 250 KHz to 750 KHz. The test apparatus can also include a mechanical ejection apparatus configured to remove the circuit breaker from the conveyance if the circuit breaker did not meet predetermined criteria and an electrical test apparatus configured to test the circuit breaker if the circuit breaker met predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A sheet winding apparatus or a heat transfer recording sheet providing apparatus including the sheet winding apparatus, the sheet winding apparatus formed of a plurality of sheet winding devices arranged in multiple steps in a vertical direction. Each of the sheet winding devices includes (1) a plurality of holding/rotating devices, (2) a sticking apparatus for sticking adhesive around a number of outer peripheral portions of an unused roll shaft held by one of the holding/rotating devices, arranged in the direction of the unused roll shaft, and (3) a press roll that presses a sheet against an outer periphery of a roll shaft held by the holding/rotating device during the entire time that the sheet is wound around the roll shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for sorting a group of documents contained with an envelope into selected batches of documents. An envelope feeder feeds a group of envelopes containing documents onto a document transport. A document extractor positioned along the path of movement extracts the documents from the envelopes. A system controller identifies the documents extracted from each respective envelope along with the respective envelope as a single transaction along the path of movement. An orientation detector including a magnetic image reader and an optical image reader determines the orientation of selected documents along the path of movement. A document orientor changes the orientation of documents along the path of movement into a desired orientation. An image acquisition device acquires an image of the envelopes and selected documents conveyed along the path of movement to enable the system controller to assign documents and the envelope from which it was extracted into selected transactions and batches.

Abstract: Installation for the quality control of yarn bobbins, said installation comprising one or a plurality of quality control machines (2) which are associated to a system (5) for transporting the bobbins (7) onto supports (6), with stops for inspection purpose, said quality control machines having a housing (19) wherein are provided one or a plurality of inspection stations (11), one or a plurality of loading/unloading stations (20) and a unit for transferring the bobbins (7) from the transport system (5) to said housing (19), the bobbins being positioned successively in the stations (11, 20) and returning to the transport system (5); the unit for transferring the bobbins comprises a rotary frame (3) which makes stops of predetermined duration at each of the inspection stations (11) and loading/unloading stations (20) and incorporates various assemblies provided with a fixing member (4) intended to approach the support (6) carrying the bobbin (7) in order to take the later.

Abstract: An article transporting, and preferably also color and/or weight sorting, assembly and method, support the articles (.g. apples or like pieces of fruit), and effect precise rotation (e.g. within about 5°) of all apples transported thereby. This allows accurate determination of the apple's color by color sensing equipment (e.g. a color camera). The assembly comprises a support element, and two sets of cones mounted to the support by rotatable shafts, each set comprising first and second cones having a tapered exterior surface, the cones on each shaft facing each other and tapering to an imaginary substantially common midpoint. The cones support an apple essentially without the apple engaging the shaft. The cones may be of soft yieldable plastic or rubber with a first taper of about 25-35° (e.g. about 28°), and optionally one or more steps of different taper.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for sorting a group of documents contained with an envelope into selected batches of documents. An envelope feeder feeds a group of envelopes containing documents onto a document transport. A document extractor positioned along the path of movement extracts the documents from the envelopes. A system controller identifies the documents extracted from each respective envelope along with the respective envelope as a single transaction along the path of movement. An orientation detector including a magnetic image reader and an optical image reader determines the orientation of selected documents along the path of movement. A document orientor changes the orientation of documents along the path of movement into a desired orientation. An image acquisition device acquires an image of the envelopes and selected documents conveyed along the path of movement to enable the system controller to assign documents and the envelope from which it was extracted into selected transactions and batches.

Abstract: Device and process for detecting defects in an arrangement of reinforcing members in casing plies in a sidewall region of at least one of an unvulcanized tire blank or a vulcanized pneumatic vehicle tire to be tested. The reinforcing members may include a magnetizable material and the device may include a support device that rotatably supports the at least one of the unvulcanized tire blank or the vulcanized pneumatic vehicle tire in rotation around a rotational axis and at least one sensor that measures magnetic field intensities in a heterogeneous magnetic field resulting from inductions generated by the defects in the arrangement of the reinforcing members moving through the heterogeneous magnetic field. The at least one sensor may be positioned in a radial measuring position in a radial region of the sidewall.

Abstract: A device for conveying, lifting and rotating containers (521; 522; 523), (510) are conveyed in lying position past a detector (515) in order to inspect characteristic data regarding the containers, and means (124; 538) which, on the basis of such data, determines how the containers are to be handled. Along a first and a second longitudinal side (510'; 510") of the conveyor (510) there are provided respectively a first and a second rotatable roll (511, 512), wherein the rolls can be made to rotate with the aid of respective first and second roll driving motors (513, 514) about their longitudinal axis in the same direction of rotation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an object sorting and conveying apparatus used in the work for sorting and conveying objects, wherein multiple rotary support elements for mounting objects are disposed at the side of a conveying belt stretched in a conveying route orthogonally in the feed direction, the rotary support elements are rotated at the object inspection position for inverting and rotating the objects, the rotary support elements are designed to turn between a mounting position for mounting on the upper part and a tilting position for discharging objects, about the conveying belt side, and the objects can be inspected accurately by inverting and rotating the objects, and the position control and discharge of objects are also easy.

Abstract: An installation for inspecting compact discs includes a transfer turntable rotatable stepwise about an axis and mobile along that axis on each step with a plurality of transfer units carried by the transfer turntable which alternately pick up and put down a compact disc to be inspected. A plurality of action stations at the periphery of the transfer turntable include a loading station, at least two inspection stations, at least one reject station and an offloading station.

Abstract: A unit for sampling and quality controlling tobacco items, in particular cigarettes, wherein a sample item, fed by a first conveyor along a first given path, is transferred automatically by a selectively operated spoon-shaped diverter along a second path to a second conveyor tangent to the first path. The sample item is fed to a support in which it is supported in facing relation to an optical control device. The sample item is inspected in the support and the optical control device emits signals as a function of the surface characteristics of the sample item.

Abstract: This invention involves a procedure for efficiently reading chips sewn on garments placed in the collection chamber of automatic sorting systems, consisting in moving said garments with ID chip in the collection chamber when the chips are not read by the reading device with which the chamber is equipped.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting objects or articles of produce according to preselected visually ascertainable criteria. Each object is singulated and transported between adjacent pairs of plural rollers attached to a conveyor chain so as to be freely rotatable on an axis oriented normal to the conveying path. A rotation control surface along the conveying path causes rotation in the rollers and in the object supported therebetween, increasing the surface of the object accessible for optical scanning. Information obtained during scanning is utilized to unload the objects. Pivotally mounted between each pair of rollers below the object transported therebetween is an elongated discharge plate. Each object is unloaded at an appropriate discharge location by pivoting upwardly the discharge plate therebelow. Pivoting of the discharge plate is caused by the activation of a diverter arm at the discharge location.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the non-destructive checking of the condition of a metal reinforcement element of magnetic material in a tire (11) whereinthe metallic reinforcement element is subjected to a magnetic field in order to magnetize it;relative movement is produced between the metallic reinforcement element of the tire (11) and at least one conductor (31) of a detecting device (30) placed opposite the metallic reinforcement element in such a manner than any variation in magnetization of the element produces an electromotive force in the conductor (31);the electromotive force is detected in order to obtain information as to the condition of said magnetized metallic reinforcement element.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting objects or articles of produce according to preselected visually ascertainable criteria. Each object is singulated and transported between adjacent pairs of plural rollers attached to a conveyor chain so as to be freely rotatable on an axis oriented normal to the conveying path. A rotation control surface along the conveying path causes rotation in the rollers and in the object supported therebetween, increasing the surface of the object accessible for optical scanning. Information obtained during scanning is utilized to unload the objects. Pivotally mounted between each pair of rollers below the object transported therebetween is an elongated discharge plate. Each object is unloaded at an appropriate discharge location by pivoting upwardly the discharge plate therebelow. Pivoting of the discharge plate is caused by the activation of a diverter arm at the discharge location.

Abstract: The device has a guide cylinder (8) receiving the cup (5), with a window (11) provided in the sidewall of the cylinder, further a reflective light beam detector (12) arranged outside the guide cylinder (8) close to the window (11), with a detection region directed through the window (11) into the interior space (13) of the guide cylinder (8), which detector in combination with a following signal processing circuit detects and evaluates the marking (4) located on the cup (5), and a catch member (17) and a positioning member (20), which are both arranged in axial projection diametrically opposite the window (11) and in the direction of the axis (16) of the guide cylinder (8) below the window (11), with the positioning member (20) between the window (11) and the catch member (17), and with each movable into and/or out of the interior space (13) of the guide cylinder (8) by its own controllable drive member (18, 21).

Abstract: A stacker has a feed unit for feeding separate sheets in a direction, a stacking unit for stacking the separate sheets in a normal position, and a sheet classifying mechanism for shifting a sheet into a position different from the normal position, upstream of the stacking unit with respect to the direction. Sheets to be used to classify respective batches of sheets stacked by the stacking unit can selectively be shifted into the position different from the normal position by the sheet classifying mechanism. Since those shifted sheets can easily and clearly be recognized by the operator, the batches of stacked sheet can be sorted out with ease. The sheets remain sightly in appearance as no classifying ink mark is applied to those sheets used to classify the batches of stacked sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting cylindrically-shaped articles includes the transporting and aligning of cylindrical objects from a random stacked order, carrying them vertically through three visual inspection stations wherein each of the visual inspection stations visually inspects 120.degree. of the circumference of each of the cylindrical objects. Between adjacent visual inspection stations are a pair of belts which intercept the cylindrical objects flowing from one inspection station to another, wherein one of the belts moves at a slower speed than the other of the belts and is maintained at a speed so that the cylindrical objects are rotated 120.degree. during the time they are captured between the two belts.

Abstract: An article-holding cup that has a pair of rotatable rollers for supporting an article thereon, an L-shaped arm extending outward and downward from one side, a second arm extending outward from an opposite side, and a pivotable connector for attaching the cup with others to one of a pair of conveyors in an article sorting apparatus for carrying in a direction of conveyance through a loading zone, a property-determining zone, and a discharge zone. The rollers rotate in response to a wheel rolling on a plate in a property-determining zone to expose different surface areas of the article to optical scanners. A scale and the optical sensor determine weight and color properties of each article during a single pass through the property-determining zone. The cups have lost motion in the vertical direction and travel on rails in the weighing zone, so that the weight of the article in each cup may be determined independently of the conveyor.

Abstract: System for separating newly hatched chicks from hatching debris is provided with comprising at least one movable belt constituted of rollers arranged parallel with respect to each other, but perpendicularly with respect to their direction of displacement, and above which the chicks and the debris to be sorted are brought, with the chicks being adapted to pass between the rollers. There is further included at least one support arm which is rotationally mounted above the belt about an axis substantially parallel to the rollers of the movable belt, and that comprises means for maintaining at least one basket in which the chicks and debris to be sorted are placed.

Abstract: An object sorting apparatus has a singulation section, a sorting section, and a transfer section for transitioning objects, such as fruit, to be sorted to a conveyor which drops the objects into appropriate collection bins. Objects for sorting are transported on an endless conveyor or wheels through the singulation and sorting section. A first independently adjustable speed belt in the singulation section rotates in a direction opposite that of the flow of items from the singulation section to the sorter section, to assist in singulation. A second adjustable speed belt rotates in the same direction as the wheels and operates to provide a view of each of four sides of the object to an imaging device. The imaging device supplies signals representing a desired sorting parameter to a processor which evaluate the measured parameters and generates signals so that the objects are ultimately deposited in appropriate sorting bins.

Abstract: There is disclosed an inspection apparatus for peripheral surfaces of nuclear fuel pellets which includes a handling unit, an image pick-up device, a judging device and a sorting unit. The handling unit holds a prescribed number of nuclear fuel pellets in a line and rotates the same on their axes. The image pick-up device is disposed adjacent to the handling unit, and picks up image data as to the peripheral surfaces of the nuclear fuel pellets. The judging device is operably connected to the image pick-up device, and analyzes the image data outputted from the image pick-up device to output judging signals. The sorting unit is operably connected to the judging device and separates defective pellets from non-defective pellets based on the judging signals. The sorting unit includes a plurality of sorting members and actuators. The sorting members are disposed adjacent to the handling unit so as to correspond to the nuclear fuel pellets, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting defects in discrete articles, such as fasteners having an indexable article carrier with a plurality of article holders on the article carrier for supporting articles in a holding position so that each article in the holding position moves in a prescribed path as the article carrier is operated; structure for incrementally indexing the article carrier to position each article holder alternatively in (a) a first position in which an article can be inserted therein from a supply, and (b) a second position spaced from said first position; structure for shifting an article in a holder in the second position out of the holding position therefor into an inspecting position and for rotating an article in a holder in an inspecting position so that the complete periphery of an article to be inspected is exposed for examination is included; and eddy current scanning structure for examining the exposed part of an article while being rotated in the inspection position therefor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting cylindrically configured pellets for surface defects is disclosed. At least one axially extending linear portion of the peripheral surface of the pellet is optically sensed. A set of discrete digital values representative of the optically sensed linear portion of the pellet surface is generated and the set of digital values is compared to a predetermined standard. Groups of digital values representative of adjacent locations on the surface of the pellet having values greater or less than the predetermined standard are identified. The area of adjacent digital values having a value above the standard, and the area of adjacent digital values having a value below the standard are calculated and compared to a predetermined area. The pellet is rejected when the calculated area exceeds a predetermined area.

Abstract: A memory chip for storing information relating to an individual textile package and a device for manipulating the package and a chip reading device to access the information stored on the memory chip are provided. The memory chip can be loaded with individual package information such as, for example, the time, date and machine location at which the package was produced and the information can preferably be extinguished from the memory chip for loading of the memory chip with individual information concerning another package. To this end, the memory chip is preferably removably secured to the textile material or the tube of the textile package for subsequent removal for reuse on another package. The manipulating device moves the package and the chip reading device relatively to one another so that the chip reading device enters a reception area of predetermined size and location relative to the memory chip in which it can read, extinguish or supplement the information stored on the memory chip.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting articles having a roller conveyor for moving articles through an inspection region where they are scanned by a camera. From the scans, the position of boundaries of the articles is determined so that the existence and location of the articles can be identified. Color counts, representative of the color of the articles are made from the scans and are correlated with the appropriate article identified. Load cells produce weight information which is similarly correlated with the appropriate articles. The information is fed to a processor which is arranged to track the articles through the inspection region and is arranged to route the articles differently in accordance with the color counts and/or weight information correlated therewith.