Pellet reject apparatus and method.

摘要

A pellet diameter inspection system (10) has a laser scanning apparatus (14) operable for detecting and measuring the outside diameter of the pellets (P), a pellet transfer apparatus (12) operable for transferring pellets (P) end-to-end in a row along a feed path (L) past the laser scanning apparatus (14), and a pellet reject apparatus (20) operable for removing from the feed path (L) any off-sized diameter pellets (P) measured by the laser scanning apparatus (14). The pellet reject apparatus (20) includes an ejector member (44) and a support member (42) capable of supporting the ejector member (44) along and adjacent to one side of the feed path (L) and of moving the ejector member (44) through an eject stroke across the feed path from a home position to an end position in order to remove pellets (P) from the feed path and through a reverse stroke across the feed path (L) from the end position to the home position. The pellet reject apparatus (20) also includes an actuator (46) mounted to the support member (42) and, in turn, mounting the ejector member (44). <IMAGE>