Eddy current system for workpiece inspection

A workpiece handling system for inspection of a workpiece of a type having an elongated cylindrical segment with an enlarged feature, comprising;

• a pair of rollers inclined with respect to horizontal, each of the rollers having a cylindrical outer surface, the pair of rollers oriented with parallel axes and rotatable, each of the rollers having an upwardly presented end surface,
• a drive arrangement for rotating the pair of rollers in a rotational direction,
• a slide mechanism enabling the rollers to be set at a first separation gap to a second separation gap larger than the first separation gap,
• a workpiece transfer mechanism for loading the workpiece onto the pair of rollers such that the cylindrical segment is in contact with the roller cylindrical surfaces of both of the rollers and the roller ends support the enlarged feature of the workpiece, whereby rotation of the rollers while the rollers are set at the first separation gap causes the workpieces to rotate,
• a sensor probe positioned in close proximity to the workpiece head as the workpiece is rotated by the rollers,
• a workpiece receiving system for handling the workpieces when the rollers are set to the second separation gap by the slide mechanism, allowing the workpiece to fall under gravity between the rollers onto the workpiece receiving system, and
• a gate for separating the workpiece between a group meeting an inspection criterion and a group not meeting the inspection criterion.