Video Parts Inspection System

A parts inspection system for a rotationally symmetrical elongated workpiece comprising,

• a conveyor causing the workpiece to undergo linear motion and simultaneous rotational motion along a workpiece path, the conveyor in the form of an endless belt moving along a conveyor path and a stop bar oriented above the conveyor belt and oriented at an angle to the conveyor path whereby the workpiece introduced at near one edge of the belt is caused to bear against the stop bar and undergo the linear and rotational motion from the one edge to an opposite edge of the belt,
• a first plurality of light sources presenting sources of light illuminating the workpiece at a plurality of discrete radial orientations with respect to the central axis of the workpiece path as the workpiece undergoes the linear and rotational motion, the first plurality of light sources including a first linear array formed by a plurality of discrete light emitting elements oriented to extend along the workpiece path spaced radially from the workpiece path and aligned with the workpiece path, and a second linear array formed by a plurality of discrete light emitting elements extending along the workpiece path spaced radially from the workpiece path and aligned with the workpiece path, the first and the second linear arrays oriented to present light directed to the workpiece at the different angular positions relative to the workpiece path,
• a video camera oriented to detect an image of the reflections of light from the first and second linear arrays of light sources from the workpiece,
• the first and second linear arrays each presenting a line of light oriented toward the workpieces, the lines of light creating separate generally straight lines observed by the camera as reflections from the workpiece for an ideal workpiece, and wherein at least one of the observed lines on the workpieces is not a straight line or is not continuous in the presence of a defect illuminated by the first and second linear arrays, and
• an escapement positioned adjacent to the opposite edge controlled to provide a plurality of discharge paths of the workpieces including an accept path and a reject path as a function of their meeting predetermined criteria or not meeting the criteria.