Method and system for optically inspecting parts

A system for optically inspecting parts, each of the parts having a length, a width and an axis, the system comprising:

• a part transfer subsystem including a transfer mechanism adapted to receive and support a part at a loading station and to transfer the supported part so that the part travels along a first path which extends from the loading station to an inspection station at which the part has a predetermined position and orientation for inspection and to transfer the part after inspection at the inspection station so that the inspected part travels along a second path which extends from the inspection station to an unloading station;
• an imaging assembly to simultaneously image a plurality of exterior side surfaces of the part which are angularly spaced about the axis of the part when the part is located at the inspection station, the assembly including a telecentric lens and detector assembly to simultaneously form an optical image of at least a portion of each of the imaged side surfaces of the part at a single image plane and to detect the optical images at the image plane;
• and
• a processor to process the detected optical images to obtain a plurality of views of the part which are angularly spaced about the axis of the part.

A system for optically inspecting parts, each of the parts having a head and a length, a width, and an axis, the system comprising:

• a part transfer subsystem including a transfer mechanism adapted to receive and support a plurality of parts at their heads in spaced apart relationship at a loading station and to transfer the supported parts so that the parts travels along a first path which extends from the loading station to an inspection station at which the parts have a predetermined position and orientation for inspection and to transfer the parts after inspection at the inspection station so that the inspected parts travel along a second path which extends from the inspection station to an unloading station;
• an imaging assembly to simultaneously image a plurality of exterior side surfaces of each part which are angularly spaced about the axis of the part when the part is located at the inspection station, the assembly including a telecentric lens and detector assembly to simultaneously form an optical image of at least a portion of each of the imaged side surfaces of the part at a single image plane and to detect the optical images at the image plane;
• and
• a processor to process the detected images to obtain a plurality of views of each of the parts angularly spaced about the axes of each of the parts.