Apparatus for high speed inspection of objects

An inspection apparatus for inspecting each of a plurality of objects, said apparatus comprising:

• a hopper for storing said plurality of said objects;
• a feeder for sequentially feeding objects from said hopper;
• a linear conveyor for linearly conveying said objects from said feeder;
• a spacing scanner in proximity to said linear conveyor for sensing spacing between adjacent objects on said conveyor;
• a blow-off unit downstream from said spacing scanner for removing objects having an elapsed time spacing relative to adjacent objects less than a predetermined minimum elapsed time spacing;
• and
• a pair of oppositely directed cameras disposed respectively on opposite sides of said conveyor for optically inspecting opposed sides of each object being linearly conveyed by said conveyor.

An apparatus for inspecting each of a plurality of objects, said apparatus comprising:

• a hopper for storing said plurality of said objects;
• a feeder for receiving said objects from said hopper and for sequentially feeding said objects received from said hopper;
• a linear conveyor for linearly conveying said objects from said feeder, said linear conveyor comprises a pair of oppositely rotatable pinch belts driven about parallel axes;
• and
• a pair of oppositely directed cameras disposed respectively on opposite sides of said conveyor for optically inspecting opposed sides of each object being linearly conveyed by said conveyor, at least one said camera being aligned with said pinch belts.

An apparatus for inspecting each of a plurality of objects, said apparatus comprising:

• a hopper for storing said plurality of said objects;
• a feeder for receiving said objects from said hopper and for sequentially feeding said objects received from said hopper;
• a fixed guide in proximity to said feeder for rotationally orienting each said object being fed by said feeder into a selected orientation for viewing;
• a linear conveyor for linearly conveying said rotationally oriented objects from said feeder;
• and
• a pair of oppositely directed cameras disposed respectively on opposite sides of said conveyor for optically inspecting opposed sides of each said rotationally oriented object being linearly conveyed by said conveyor.