Abstract: Apparatus for use in an industrial operation wherein objects moving along a main path from an upstream to a downstream location are diverted to a second path for checking. The apparatus comprises an ejecting wheel for sorting objects which shall have been checked defective for some reason and preventing movement of those objects from returning to the main path.

Abstract: Transparent objects having at least a localized region with symmetry of revolution are optically inspected by moving them to an examining station, locally illuminating each of them at the examining station with a plurality of circularly scanned fixed light beams, and detecting light from each by a plurality of successively interrogated fixed detection areas. In a preferred embodiment, the illumination is carried out by circular scanning in successive steps about the object with a plurality of differently-oriented, fixed light beams. At least one detection area is interrogated for each illumination step.