Abstract: A sample of powder granules flowing through an online conveyor is removed periodically and fed to a supply hopper where a predetermined amount of granules are stored. A small portion of the granules are removed from the supply hopper and continuously fed to the upper surface of a rotary table to form a single layer thereon. The sample on the table is optically sensed to detect foreign particles. The foreign particles are removed and subsequently the good particles are removed and passed to a weighing hopper. The ratio of good product after sensing and the sample in the hopper is calculated to determine the relative amount of foreign particles flowing in the system.

Abstract: Powder granule samples are continuously and automatically inspected on a rotary table which conveys the granule specimens on its suface. The rotary table has a circular 5 groove formed on its surface in which the sample granules will fit.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for inspecting powder material and for removing the foreign matter therefrom. A rotary table is provided to receive powder material to be inspected on its surface. A feeder supplies the powder material onto the surface of the table aligned in a single layer and a photosensing system detects the foreign matter. The foreign matter is removed by a suction device. Thereafter, the remaining power material is removed by a second suction device.

Abstract: A selected sampling of powder granules is fed penumatically from an on-line tube to a separator in which granules are separated from the air and transferred to an endless conveyor in a single layer. The selected granules are inspected for metallic foreign particles and thereafter for moisture ratio of the sampled power granules, and number and size of colored foreign particles or the like while on the conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting powder granule sample having a sampler for continuously sampling powder granules from an on-line tube by a predetermined amount of a cyclone for separating sample powder granules from air a conveyor tube obliquely located and communicated at its upper end with said cyclone and for conveying sampled powder granules from the cyclone downward, a transfer tube for transferring the sampled powder granules from a lower end opening of the conveyor tube to the on-line tube, an inspector for inspecting the sampled powder granules within the conveyor tube, and adjuster for adjusting the amount of the sampled powder granules within the conveyor tube.