Abstract: An apparatus is provided for optically inspecting containers of liquid solutions. The apparatus includes a fixture for gripping the container and a conveyor or indexable table for moving the fixtured container into alignment with a camera or other optical inspection device. The apparatus further includes a vibrator at the inspection station. The vibrator causes the container of the liquid solution to vibrate sufficiently for extraneous material in the solution to move into a position that permits accurate visual inspection.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for optically inspecting containers of liquid solutions. The apparatus includes a fixture for gripping the container and a conveyor or indexable table for moving the fixtured container into alignment with a camera or other optical inspection device. The apparatus further includes a vibrator at the inspection station. The vibrator causes the container of the liquid solution to vibrate sufficiently for extraneous material in the solution to move into a position that permits accurate visual inspection.

Abstract: A conveying system for tablet inspection is provided. The conveying system includes a hopper assembly for feeding tablets to a conveyor at a controlled rate. The conveyor includes a pair of conveyor belts surrounding a plenum that communicates with a vacuum pump. The conveyor belts are parallel to one another and are spaced a distance for efficiently supporting a tablet thereon. An uprighter is disposed between the hopper assembly and the conveyor to rotate the tablets into an upright condition supported on an edge. The tablets are stably held in the upright position by the vacuum pump and are moved rapidly in their upright condition by the rotatably driven conveyor belts. The upright orientation of the tablets permits the opposed sides of each tablet to be electro-optically inspected for defects without repositioning the tablets and without changing the direction of movement.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus is provided for accurate identification of particulates in parenteral drugs. The inspecting apparatus includes a black inspection panel having an aperture extending therethrough. A light-tight enclosure surrounds the aperture in the panel on the side of the panel opposite the side on which the parenteral drug is inspected. Interior surfaces of the enclosure have black surfaces with finishes to achieve low light reflection. The combination of the aperture and the black enclosure provides enhanced blackness that is not likely to be affected by dust, dirt or surface damages. Hence, greater accuracy and reliability in black background particulate inspection is achieved.

Abstract: A dispenser and component feeder for integration with automated assembly equipment is adapted for the high speed placement of self-orienting components of varying sizes and includes, a linear vibratory chute for transferring the self-orienting components from the storage hopper to an adjustable single roller feed assembly where the self-orienting components are conveyed to a pick-up position, the single roller feed assembly having a roller to facilitate in conveying the self-orienting components, and alternately reciprocating rod members to segregate a self-orienting component at the pick-up position. A pick-up and placement assembly is operative to pick-up the segregated self-orienting component from the pick-up position and move the same to a position for placement on an associated conveyor on the automated assembly equipment.

Abstract: A conveyor having a plurality of indentations sufficiently wide to receive a single article and a bar transverse to the movement of the conveyor, the bar being suspended from filaments above the conveyor a distance sufficient to pass a single layer of articles and to gently nudge superposed articles into a successive unoccupied indentation.