Title: Apparatus for hardware item inspection

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Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for automatically examining hardware items progressing along a track to detect their characteristics and automatically sort the items in accordance with their characteristics. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention there is provided a nut inspection apparatus for monitoring the height of nuts, the apparatus being adaptable to also determine if threading is present on the inner surface of the nuts. In this embodiment there is provided a ramp for carrying the nuts, the ramp having a slot which defines an inspection position. A laser beam is split into first and second beams and adjustable means are provided for directing the first beam transverse the ramp and over the slot at the inspection position, the means being adjustable to a predetermined position above the ramp. A first photodetector is provided for receiving the first beam in the absence of a nut of prescribed height at the inspection position. Means are provided for directing the second beam toward the inner surface of a nut at the inspection position. A second photodetector is provided for receiving through the slot the light reflected from the inner surface of the nut. Means enabled by the output of the second photodetector are provided as being responsive to the output of the first photodetector for generating a height monitoring occurrence indication. Also, means enabled by the output of the first photodetector are provided for generating a thread indicative occurrence indication when the output of the second photodetector exceeds a predetermined threshold level.


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