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US 8,376,119 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for inspecting and orienting articles
AssigneeDyco, Inc.
InventorsPeter D. Yohe, Ronald H. Cordingly, Thomas M. Zurewich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus and methods for inspecting and orienting manufactured articles. The apparatus and method include recirculating inspected articles to the inspection station for additional processing.
Claims19
An apparatus, comprising:
- an article receiving station;
- an inspection station, the article receiving station and the inspection station forming a continuous loop;
- and
- a conveyance device for transporting articles between the article receiving station and the inspection station;
- the inspection station includes one or more automated devices for removing defective articles and orienting acceptable articles from the conveyance device;
- wherein the conveyance device recirculates articles not removed from the inspection station back to the article receiving station.
3 more elements
An article inspecting and orienting apparatus, comprising:
- an article receiving station;
- a waste separation station;
- an article leveling station;
- an inspection station, the article receiving station and the inspection station forming a continuous loop;
- and
- a conveyance device for transporting articles between the article receiving station, the waste separation station, and the inspection station;
- the inspection station includes one or more automated devices for removing defective articles and orienting acceptable articles from the conveyance device;
- wherein the conveyance device recirculates articles not removed from inspection station back to the article receiving station.
5 more elements
A method of inspecting and orienting a plurality of articles, comprising:
- receiving a plurality of articles from a manufacturing process at a receiving station;
- separating manufacturing waste from the plurality of articles;
- providing the plurality of articles to an inspection station, the receiving station and the inspection station forming a continuous loop;
- inspecting the received plurality of articles;
- removing defective articles from the plurality of articles that fail inspection;
- orienting acceptable articles from the plurality of articles that pass inspection;
- and
- recirculating remaining articles that pass through the inspection station to the receiving station.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.