PELLET INSPECTION SYSTEM

A method and apparatus for inspecting cylindrically configured pellets for surface defects is disclosed. At least one axially extending linear portion of the peripheral surface of the pellet is optically sensed. A set of discrete digital values representative of the optically sensed linear portion of the pellet surface is generated and the set of digital values is compared to a predetermined standard. Groups of digital values representative of adjacent locations on the surface of the pellet having values greater or less than the predetermined standard are identified. The area of adjacent digital values having a value above the standard, and the area of adjacent digital values having a value below the standard are calculated and compared to a predetermined area. The pellet is rejected when the calculated area exceeds a predetermined area. During inspection, the pellet is moved axially through an inspection station by first and second horizontally positioned substantially parallel and longitudinally extending pellet support rolls. The rolls are spaced a distance from each other less than the diameter of a pellet to be transferred. The rolls are rotated upward and outward from each other and chain dogs are positioned between the spaced rolls for engaging a pellet and moving the pellet along between the spaced pellet support rolls. METODO Y APARATO PARA LA INSPECCION DE PASTILLAS DE COMBUSTIBLE NUCLEAR DE CONFIGURACION CILINDRICA. CONSISTE EN LEER OPTIMAMENTE AL MENOS UNA PARTE LINEAL EXTENDIDA AXIALMENTE DE LA SUPERFICIE PERIFERICA DE UNA PASTILLA DE COMBUSTIBLE NUCLEAR POR MEDIO DE UN LECTOR OPTICO, GENERAR UN JUEGO DE VALORES DIGITALES DISCRETOS REPRESENTATIVOS DE LA PARTE LEIDA OPTICAMENTE DE LA SUPERFICIE DE LA PASTILLA, A TRAVES DE UN MEDIO QUE RESPONDE AL MEDIO DE LECTURA OPTICA Y QUE GENERA ESE JUEGO DE VALORES DIGITALES DISCRETOS, COMPARAR EL JUEGO DE VALORES DIGITALES CON UN PATRON PREDETERMINADO E IDENTIFICAR GRUPOS DE VALORES DIGITALES REPRESENTATIVOS DE PUNTOS ADYACENTES EN LA SUPERFICIE DE LA PANTALLA QUE TENGAN VALORES MAYORES O MENORES QUE EL PATRON PREDETERMINADO, REALIZANDOSE A TRAVES DE UN MEDIO QUE RESPONDE AL MEDIO DE GENERACION DE VALORES DIGITALES PARA EFECTUAR LA COMPARACION DEBIDA. ESTE METODO Y APARATOS SON UTILIZADOS EN LA INSPECCION Y DETECCION DE DEFECTOS SUPERFICIALES DE PASTILLAS DE COMBUSTIBLE NUCLEAR DE FORMA CILINDRICA.