Abstract: A conveyer apparatus may inspect and process pellet-shaped articles having a first side with a first characteristic and a second side having a second characteristic. The conveyer apparatus may include: a conveyer configured to convey pellet-shaped articles, a first pre-processing camera configured to generate a first pre-processing image of each of the pellet-shaped articles, a controller configured to receive the first pre-processing image and determine whether the first side or the second side of each of the pellet-shaped articles is facing the first lateral side of the conveyer path, a first processing device and a second processing device configured to process the first side of each of the pellet-shaped articles to produce a third characteristic, a first post-processing camera and a second post-processing camera, a post-processing light source configured to illuminate pellet-shaped articles with ultraviolet light; and an ejection unit configured to eject individual ones of the pellet-shaped articles.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for identifying and averting exposed pellet-shaped article defects, deviations, and inclusions are disclosed. A vision system may be capable of identifying flaws/inclusions/defects/deviations affecting the exterior and/or interior of pellet-shaped articles via Ultra-Violet Light to instigate long-wave visible and Infra-red fluorescence. The UV Light and section of the visible spectrum not encompassing the instigated fluorescence may be removed with an optical filter so a camera can capture an image of discrete flaws/inclusions/defects/deviations. The vision system may send decision-signals to a mechanism to manipulate individual pellet-shaped articles. For example, a scam between halves of softgels may be rotated by an actuator having contact point(s) to hold a portion of the softgel stationary while a conveyer moves beneath causing rotation of the seam.