US2179859A

US2179859A - X-ray inspection apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2179859A
Application number: US148131A
Authority: US
Inventors: Everett W Page
Original assignee: General Electric X Ray Corp
Current assignee: General Electric X Ray Corp
Priority date: 1937-06-14
Filing date: 1937-06-14
Publication date: 1939-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 1956-11-14

Description

Nov. 14, 1939. E. w. PAGE 2,179,359

X-RAY INSPECTION APiARATUS Filed June 14, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nova 14,- 1939. E, w, PAGE 2.179.859

X-RAY INSPECT ION APPARATUS Filed June 14, 19357 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a Zwz/enZFr @61 [MT 6 Nov. 14, 1939. E. w. PAGE X-RAY INSPECTION APPARATUS Filed June 14, 19157 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Mum-Q ZZ ereZZZZ/LP 6 m atenteci Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE X-BAY INSPECTION APPARATUS Application June 14, 1937, Serial No. 148,131

19 Claims.

My invention relates to Roentgenology and to apparatus for and method of conducting fluoroscopic examination of objects transparent to X-rays.

An important object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for inspecting fiuoroscopically articles of the character mentioned in a safe, rapid, continuous and facile manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the delivery of objects to be inspected in rapid and continuous succession between a fluoroscopic screen and the source of X-rays, whereby the inspection of such articles may be readily accomplished at a minimum of expense.

Another important object is to provide means for marking, ejecting or diverting articles during examination so that the sorting of such articles may be accomplished without error.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for inspecting and sorting objects by means of X-rays in which the sorting of the article is accomplished during the time that the article is passing the inspection point to the end that errors in sorting may be avoided.

Another important object of the invention is to provide simple, compact and efiicient apparatus for inspecting articles by means of X-rays in which the parts are soarranged as to offer a maximum degree of protection to the inspector or operator.

Other and numerous advantages of the invenwill be apparent from the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an X-ray inspecting apparatus embodying my present invention; I

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 2--2 of. Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation looking toward the machine from the right of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section through the inspecting and sorting or ejecting chamber and taken on the line 6-6 of Fig.. 2;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified conveying and ejecting means; I

Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. '7 and showing the ejecting means indifferent positions of operation;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section similar to Fig. 2 of a further modified form of X.-ray inspecting apparatus; and

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the modified form of deflecting means embodied in the apparatus shown in Fig. 10. 5

The present invention, as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, is particularly adapted for the inspection of fruit, although of course it is adapted for the inspection of any produce or product of a similar nature which is more or less transparent to X-rays. I 10 do not intend to limit the invention to the inspection of fruit or other substances of that particular character, but, in fact, I contemplate as within my invention the inspection of a wide range of items such as candy, breakfast food, cosmetics, ammunition, and, in fact, any merchandise either in package or in bulk which it may be necessary or desirable to inspect as to grade, quality, condition or packaging; as to possible contamination, or as to defects in manug0 facture, processing or packaging.

As shown in the drawings, the invention embodies a suitable frame 2 having upper longitudinal frame members 4 extending beyond the supporting frame 2 at one end thereof. At the opposite ends a pair of spaced apart drums 6 are secured to a shaft 8 journaled in bearings In carried by brackets l2. A driving motor I4 is mounted on a framework lisecuredto the frame 2 at one end thereof and beneath the longitudinal frame members 4. A housing ill, for an X-ray tube 20 and its usual energizing instrumentalities, is formed at the other end of the frame 2 by upper, lower and side plates 22' secured in any convenient manner to the frame 2. The housing 18 may be rendered opaque to X-rays in any desired manner as by'providing lead linings for the plates 22 to prevent leakage of X-rays from said housing. A pair of the side plates 22, preferably the plates at the front and rear sides of the frame 2, may be made removable to permit access to the housing I 8.

Endless belt conveyors 24 of fabric or like material are driven by the drums 6 and each belt passes from a drum 6 around a pair of directing idler rollers. 26 rotatably journaled in suitable brackets 28 secured to one side wall of the housing l8, and from these rollers 26 each belt passes beneaththe housing l8 to a pair of idler rollers 30 journaled in brackets 32 secured to the opposite side wall of the [housing 18.. From the upper of the idler. rollers 30 each belt 24 passes to an idler roller 34 journaled in a pair of brackets 36 secured to and extending beyond the end of the longitudinal frame members 4, and the belt returns to the drum 6 along a path which lies between a pair of the upper longitudinal frame members 4 and is' spaced from the upper surface of the frame 2. Suitable transverse bars or rods 38 (Fig. 6) secured to the frame members 4 underlie the belts 24 and prevent sagging of the same between the idler rollers 34 and the drums 6. The drums 6 are driven by the motor 14 through a chain 48 which passes around a sprocket 42 secured to the shaft 8 and a sprocket 44 secured to a stub shaft 46. The shaft 46 is journaled in a bearing carried upon the framework IG and is connected to the shaft of the motor by any suitable gear means, as for example a worm and worm wheel.

Suitable motor speed control means operable by a lever 48 is mounted upon the motor housing to control the speed of movement of the conveyors 24. A generally H-shaped cover member or housing 58 is secured to the longitudinal frame members 4.

The longitudinal spaced apart arms 52 of the housing or cover 58 extend parallel to the frame members 4 and the cover is secured thereto by bolts or the like passing through the depending flanges or sides 54 of the arm portions 52. The transverse portion 56 of the cover 58 is generally of an inverted U-shaped cross section similar to the arm portions 52 but is of slightly greater depth and extends downwardly into close fitting relation with the top of the housing l8.

The top plate of the housing I8 is apertured beneath each of the belts 24 to provide X-ray transmitting windows 58 which may be closed by X-ray transparent plates or filters 68 preventing the entrance of foreign matter into the housing l8 and filtering the rays passed therethrough. The upper surfaces of the arms 52 of the cover 58, are apertured as at 62 in alinement with the openings 58 and have secured thereto viewing boxes or chambers 64 extending diagonally upwardly and outwardly from the openings 62. Fluorescent screens 66 are mounted in the openings 62 upon brackets 61 secured to the side walls 54 of the cover 58.

The walls of the viewing boxes 64 are inclined and lined with lead to prevent the reflection of X-rays to the sight openings 68 and are blackened to prevent reflection of external light to the screen 66. v

The inspection chambers 69 formed by the side walls 54 of the cover 58, the plates 68 and the fluorescent-screens 66 are in open communication with a chamber 18 formed by the transverse portion 56 and with an'ejecting chute 12 by an opening 14 in the inner sidewall 52 of the cover 58. The chute 12 extends downwardly and outwardly of the chamber 18 to a position adjacent one end of the frame 2- where 'a suitable. receptacle may be provided to collect the fruit or substance discharged from the chute.

If fruit or other substance or package of a freely rolling nature is to be inspected, a wire, cord, bar or the like 16 is extended across the lower portion of each opening 14 in position to prevent the freely .rolling matter from inadvertently rolling through said opening but not to prevent movement therethrough under action of a force exerted transversely of the belt. v

These wires 16 are detachably secured at their opposed ends to the inner side walls 54 of the cover 58 as shown in Fig. 2.

Means are provided for selectively exerting a transverse force upon articles under inspection in each of the chambers 69 and this means comprises an ejector or pusher rod 18 slidably mounted in a sleeve 19 carried by a bracket 88 carried on the outer face of the side 52 of the cover 58 and extending into the chamber 69 in alinement with the opening 14. The rod I8 is operated by a finger controlled key in the form of a bellcrank 82 pivoted to the bracket 88 and the rod 18 and provided with an enlarged portion 84 at its free end for manipulation by the operators finger. A spring 83 encircling each rod 18 normally urges said rod into the retracted position of Fig. 6.

A plurality of articles may be selectively and simultaneously ejected from each of the inspection chambers 69 into the discharge chamber 18 and chute 12 by providing each inspection chamber with a plurality of ejectors or pusher rods 18 and operating bellcranks 82, two such cranks being shown in Fig. 1. It is to be understood, of course, that the openings 14 will be proportioned in accordance with the size of the articles to be inspected and sorted and in accordance with the number of ejectors provided for moving the articles through said openings.

In order to prevent transmission of stray X-rays through the housing or cover 58, it may be provided with a lead lining or in any other suitable manner rendered opaque to such rays in and about the inspection chamber 69. Means are provided to prevent the passage of stray X-rays longitudinally of the arms 52 while at the same time permitting movement of articles on the conveyor into and out of said arms or housing. This means comprises, as shown more particularly in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, one or more screens or curtains 86 of flexible material impregnated wth lead or other X-ray opaque substance and attached to the upper surfaces of the arms 52 intermediate the inspection chamber 58 and the ends of the arms. These screens 86 extend from the upper surface of the arms 52 into contacting engagement with the surface of the conveyor and between the sides of the arms of the cover. Each of the screens 86 is cut vertically to provide a plurality of strips 88 which are readily deflected by the article on the conveyor to permit passage therethrough while at the same time closing the remainder of the opening in the housing 58. Suitable guard means, such as bars 98, are provided at the opposed ends of each of the arms 52 of the housing 58, for preventing movement of the article transversely off the conveyor belts 24.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows. An operator is positioned on each side of the frame 2 at the viewing boxes 64. Articles to be inspected are placed upon the belts 24 at the left-hand side of the machine and are conveyed by said belt into the inspection chambers 69. The rays from the X-ray tubes entering the chambers 69 through the plates or filters 68 pass through the transparent belts 24 and the more or less transparent articles being inspected and impinge upon the fluorescent screens 66, producing images of the articles. Defects in the grade, quality, condition or packaging of the articles will be clearly defined upon the screens as will also any foreign matter or other contaminating substance in the articles. If for any of these reasons the article is inferior or below standard, the operator before whom this inferior article has appeared will operate the appropriate bellcrank B2 to apply to such articles a force transversely of the conveyor 24. The impingement of the ejector or ing it into the discharge chamber I and chute it, from which the article passes downwardly into a discharge receiving receptacle. Articles of the required standard of grade, quality or condition continue their passage along the conveyor and are dumped at the end thereof into suitable receptacles provided at the right-hand end of the conveyors.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are shown a modified conveyor and ejecting means particularly adapted for the inspection and sorting of flat articles or packages. In Fig. 'l the conveyor comprises a plurality of parallel flexible wires, ropes or the like 62 driven by a drum at on a shaft 96, the drum 9t being provided with a plurality of parallel, suitably shaped grooves 98, the sides of which frictionally engage the ropes or wires 92. The ejecting means comprises a plate I00 pivoted at we to a bracket IIM which may be secured to the inner side M of each arm 52 of the cover 5|]. Each plate W2 carries on spaced brackets I06 freely rotatable rollers [10%, the rollers being positioned between the parallel cords 92. Flat bars lit which may be secured to the upper surface of the frame 2 in any desired manner (not shown) underlie each of the cords 92 to prevent sagging of the same under the weight of the articles deposited thereon and conveyed thereby. The width of the plate Hill is preferably equal to or slightly less than the width of the articles to be inspected, so that a single article may be ejected without interference with other articles on the conveyor.

Suitable mechanism such as a handle H2 may be mounted upon the housing 53 and connected to the plate Wt for oscillating the same upwardly about its pivot Hi2, as shown in Fig. 9, to cause the rollers ltd to pass upwardly between the cords 92 to engage the under surface of the article and tilt the same. This tilting of the article causes the same to gravitate across the freely rotatable rollers IW into a suitable discharge chamber or chute or directly into a suitable receptacle lit.

lit will be understood that any desired number of such ejecting means may be provided for se Iectively and simultaneously ejecting articles from the inspection chamber and it will be further understood that where the conveying and ejecting means of Figs. 7 to 9 is substituted for the conveying and ejecting means of Figs. 1 to 6, the drums 9t and shaft 96 will be substituted for the drums hand shaft 8 and that idler rollers similar to drums M will'be substituted for the idler rollers 26 and 34 of the apparatus of Figs. 1 to 6.

In the modification disclosed in Figs. 10 and 11, which is primarily adapted for the inspection and separation of small articles, such as raisins, seeds, and the like, the conveyor belt II6 is directed downwardly within the inspection chamber by guide wheels or small rolls IIB engaging opposite side edges of the belt. The belt passes from the guide rolls M6 over idler roller II9 to a powder driven friction drum I26. From the fric tion drum the belt passes over guide rollers I2I t: ar to the guide rollers 3|! and 34 of Fig. 2, it being noted that an additional guide roller is provided at the left of the housing 5|) for elevating that end of the belt. An X-ray tube I22. positioned in an X-ray opaque housing I23 simirays through the conveyor belt and the articles carried thereby to a fluorescent screen I24, similar to the fluorescent screen 66 of Figs. 1 to 6 and 6similarly mounted in or beneath the viewing box An auxiliary belt or conveyor I26, which may be driven in any suitable manner by a friction roller I28 and guided by an idler roller I30, is arranged at an elevation somewhat below and in juxtaposition to the upper flight of the belt IIIS. A plurality of deflecting members or shutters I32 is pivoted upon a rod I36 which may be journaled in any suitable manner (not shown) upon the housing 50. These shutters I32 are normally held by their own weight in slight contacting engagement with the belt H6 and' normally deflect units of the commodity inspected from the belt I I6 to the belt I26. The deflecting members I32 are operable in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 10, about their pivot I34 by bars or levers I36, I38 and M0. The bar or lever I36 is carried by a rod M2 and the bars or levers I38 and I iii are carried by sleeves IM and M6, the sleeve I36 being journaled on the sleeve IM and the sleeve I being journaled on the rod IN. The rod I42 and the sleeves IN, M6 may be journaled in any suitable manner to the housing 50 and this rod and these sleeves carry at their outer ends laterally extending handle'members I48 by which they may be individually operated to pivot their associated deflecting members out of engagement with the belt H6.

-When an inferior or contaminated article, or the presence of foreign matter, is observed, the operator rotates one of the handle members m8 to pivot a particular deflecting member away from the belt H6, thereby allowing the inferior or contaminated article, or the foreign matter, to pass downwardly and into a waste or discharge receptacle l50.

A suitable strip having indicia spaced laterally of the belt 'IIB within the inspection chamber, may be provided for indicating which of the defleeting members should be operated.

It will be evident from the above description that applicant has provided a method and apparatus for inspecting and sorting objects by means of X-rays in which the sorting of the article is accomplished during the time that the article is passing the inspection point, and in which the parts are so arranged in form as to ofier a maximum degree of protection to .the inspector or operator.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fair- 1y fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is herebyclaimed as follows:

1. A device for inspecting articles by means of X-rays, which comprises means providing an inspection chamber into which articles to be inspected are presented between a source of X-rays an X-ray tube, an X-ray opaque housing for said,

tube on one side of said frame, means for conveying articles past the other side of said frame, an X-ray opaque cover member supported by said frame and overlying at least a portion of said conveying means, said cover and said housing having windows in transverse alinement with said conveying means, a fluorescent screen mounted upon said cover in alinement with said windows, means for viewing the images formed upon said screen by X-rays transmitted through said articles, and means for diverting from said conveyor articles differing from a predetermined standard.

3. An apparatus for inspecting articles by means of X-rays, comprising a supporting frame, an X-ray tube, an X-ray opaque housing for said tube on one side of said frame, means for conveying articles past the other side of said frame, an X-ray opaque cover forming with the housing an inspecting chamber and a discharge chamber, the conveying means passing through the inspecting chamber and into the discharge chamber, and the inspecting chamber having a lateral opening, means forming a reject chamber communicating with the said opening, said cover and said housing having windows in transverse alinement with said conveying means, a fluorescent screen mounted upon said cover in alinement with said windows, means for viewing the images formed upon said screen by X-rays transmitted through said articles, and ejecting means for forcing articles difiering from a predetermined standard through said opening into the reject chamber.

4. An apparatus for inspecting articles by means of X-rays, comprising a supporting frame, an X-ray tube, an X-ray opaque housing for said tube on one side of said frame, means for conveying articles past the other side of said frame, an X-ray opaque cover forming with the housing an inspecting chamber and a discharge chamber, the conveying means passing through the inspecting chamber and into the discharge chamber, and the inspecting chamber having a lateral opening means forming a reject chamber communicating with the said opening, said cover and said housing having windows in transverse alinement with said conveying means, a fluorescent screen mounted upon said cover in alinement with said windows, a viewing box inclined relative to said inspecting chamber and having its walls lined with X-ray opaque material to prevent transmission of X-rays out of said box from said inspection chamber, and ejecting means for forcing articles differing from a predetermined standard through said opening into the reject chamber.

5. An apparatus for inspecting articles by means of X-rays, comprising a supporting frame, an X-ray tube, an X-ray opaque housing for said tube on one side of said frame, means for conveying articles past the other side of said frame, an X-ray opaque cover forming with the housing an inspecting chamber and a discharge chamber, the conveying means passing through the inspecting chamber and into the discharge chamber, and the inspecting chamber having a lateral opening means forming a reject chamber communicating with the said opening, said cover and said housing having windows in transverse alinement with said conveying means, a fluorescent screen mounted upon said cover in aline-' ment with said windows, a viewing box inclined relative to said inspecting chamber and having its walls lined with X-ray opaque material to prevent transmission of X-rays out of said box from said inspection chamben-and blackened to prevent transmission of lightthrough said box into said chamber, and ejecting means for forcing articles differing from a predetermined standard through said opening into the reject chamber.

6. In an apparatus for inspecting articles by means of X-rays comprising a supporting frame, a source of X-rays, an X-ray opaque housing for said source on one side of said frame, an endless conveyor passing around said housing and across the other side of said frame, an X-ray opaque cover forming with the housing an inspecting chamber and a discharge chamber, the conveyor passing through the inspecting chamber and into the discharge chamber, and the chamber having a lateral opening, means forming a reject chamber communicating with said opening, said cover and said housing having windows in transverse alinement with said conveyor, a fluorescent screen mounted upon said cover in alinement with said windows, means for viewing the images formed upon said screen by X-rays transmitted through said articles, and means for diverting articles differing from a predetermined standard through said opening into the reject chamber.

'7. In combination, an X-ray inspection chamber comprising a plurality of X-ray opaque walls, a pair of opposite walls having X-ray transmitting openings therethrough, a source of-X-rays passing into said chamber through one of said openings, a fluorescent screen mounted in juxtaposition to said other opening, means for conveying articles into and out of said inspection chamber, means for viewing the images of articles in said inspection chamber formed upon said fluorescent screen by X-rays transmitted through said articles, and means for ejecting articles differing from a predetermined standard out of said inspection chamber, said ejecting means comspection chamber, means for viewing the images of articlesin said inspection chamber upon said fluorescent screen by X-rays transmitted through said articles, and means for ejecting articles differing from a predetermined standard out of said inspection chamber into said rejecting chamber, said conveying means comprising a plurality of spaced apart members upon which the articles rest, and said ejecting means comprising a member pivoted beneath said conveying means, a plurality of article engaging members carried by said pivoted plate ,and disposed between the spaced apart members of the conveyor and manually operable means for moving said plate about said pivot to cause said article engaging members'to engage said article, thereby lifting the same from said conveyor members and directing it out of said inspection chamber into said rejecting chamber.

9. An apparatus for inspecting articles of a freely rolling character by means of X-rays, comprising a supporting frame, a source of X-rays, an

inspecting ray opaque housing for said source on one side of said frame, means for conveying articles past the other side of said frame, an X-ray opaque cover forming with the housing an inspection chamber and a discharge chamber, the inspection chamber having an opening into the discharge chamber, article conveying means passing through the inspection chamber, said cover and said housing having X-ray transmitting windows in transverse alinement with said conveying means, a fluorescent screenmounted upon said cover in alinement with said windows", means for viewing the images formed upon said screen by X-rays transmitted through said articles, ejecting means for forcing articles difiering from a predetermined standard through said opening into the discharge chamber, and means for preventing inadvertent movement of said freely rolling articles through said opening while permitting passage of the same therethrough under action of said ejecting means.

10. An apparatus for inspecting articles of a freely rolling character'by means of X-rays, comprising a supporting frame, a source of X-rays, an X-ray opaque housing for said source on one side of said frame, means for conveying articles past the other side of said frame, an .X-ray opaque cover forming with the housing an inspection chamber and a discharge chamber, the inspection chamber having an opening into the discharge chamber, article conveying means passing through said inspection chamber, said cover and said housing having X-ray transmitting windows in transverse alinement with said conveying means, a fluorescent screen mounted upon said cover in alinement with said windows, means for viewing the images formed upon said screen by K-rays transmitted through said articles, ejecting means for forcing articles diflering from a predetermined standard through said opening into the discharge chamber, and means extending across said opening adjacent the lower edge thereof for preventing inadvertent movement i said ireely roiling articles therethrough while permitting passage of the same under action of said ejecting means.

II. In combination, an X-ray inspection chamber comprising a plurality of X-ray opaque walls, a pair of opposite walls having X-ray transmitting openings therethrough, a source of X-rays passing into said chamber through one of said openings, a fluorescent screen mounted in juxtaposition to said other opening, means for conveying articles into and out of said inspection chamber, a rejecting chamber having communication with said inspection chamber, means for viewing the images of articles in said inspection chamber formed upon said fluorescent screen by X-rays transmitted through said articles, means for ejecting articles differing from a predetermined standard out of said inspection chamber into said rejecting chamber, said ejecting means comprising manually operable means and an article engaging member operable by said manually operable means, and means for preventing escape of X-rays from said inspection chamber longitudinaly of said conveying means while permitting passage therethrough of articles of the predetermined standard.

12. In combination, an X-ray inspection chamber comprising a plurality of X-ray opaque side walls and open end walls, a pair of opposite side walls having X-ray transmitting openings thereopening, means for conveying articles into and out of said inspection chamber through said end walls, a rejecting chamber having communication with said inspection chamber, means for viewing the images of articles in said inspection chamber formed upon said fluorescent screen by X- rays transmitted through said articles, means for ejecting articles differing from a predetermined standard out of said inspection chamber into said rejecting chamber, said ejecting means comprising a manually operable means and an article engaging membe'r operable by said manually 'operable means, and flexible X-ray opaque members closing the open end walls of the inspection chamber for preventing escape of X-rays therethrough while permitting passage of the articles.

13. In combination, an X-ray inspection chamber comprising a plurality of X-ray opaque walls, a pair of opposite walls having X-ray transmitting openings therethrough, a source of X-rays passing into 'said chamber through one of said openings, a fluorescent screen mounted in juxtaposition to said other opening, means for conveying articles into and out of said inspection chamber, a rejecting chamber having communication with said inspection chamber, means for viewing the images of articles in said inspection chamber formed upon said fluorescent screen by X-rays transmitted through said articles, and means for ejecting articles difiering from a predetermined standard out of said inspection chamber into said rejecting chamber, said ejecting means comprising a manually operable member pivoted externally upon one wall of said inspection chamber and a reciprocable article engaging member slidably mounted in said one wall and operable by said manually operable means.

14. In combination, an X-ray inspection chamber comprising a plurality of X-ray opaque walls, a pair of opposite walls having X-ray transmitting openings therethrough, a source of X-rays, said X-rays passing into said inspection chamber through one of said openings, a fluorescent screen mounted in juxtaposition to said other opening, means for conveying articles into said inspection chamber, means for receiving from said. chamber articles below a predetermined standard, means for receiving from said chamber articles conforming to the predetermined standard, means for viewing the images of articles in said inspection chamber formed upon said fluorescent screen by X-rays transmitted through said articles, and manually operable means for selectively directing articles into one or the other of said receiving means.

15. In combination, an X-ray inspection chamber' comprising a plurality of Xray opaque walls, a pair of opposite walls having X-ray transmitting openings therethrough, a source of X-rays, said X-rays passing into said inspection chamber through one of said openings, a fluorescent screen mounted in juxtaposition to said other opening, conveyor means having a first portion for conveying articles into said chamber and a second portion displaced relative tothe first portion for conveying articles out of said chamber, a pair of receptacles for receiving articles after inspection, a second conveyor means adapted to receive articles from said first conveyor means for conveying the same'to one of said receptacles, said other receptacle receiving articles from the displaced portion of said first conveyor means, and manually operable means for selectlvely directing certain of said articles onto the second conveyor means from the first conveyor means and permitting others of said articles to pass to the displaced portion of said first conveyor means.

16. In combination, an X-ray inspection chamber, means for conveying articles into and out of said inspection chamber, a source of X-rays on one side of said conveying means,'a fluorescent screen on the other side of said conveying means, X-rays from said source passing through said articles and impinging on said screen, means for viewing the images of the articles upon said fluorescent screen, means for receiving from the inspection chamber articles below a predetermined standard and means for ejecting articles below the predetermined standard out of said inspection chamber into said receiving means, said conveying means comprising a plurality of spaced apart members upon which the articles rest, and said ejecting means comprising a member shiftable toward and from said conveyor; a plurality of article engaging members carried by said shiftable member and normally out of contact with said articles and manually operable means for shifting said shiftable member to cause said article-engaging members to engage an article, thereby lifting the same from said spaced apart conveyor members and directing it out of said inspection chamber into said receiving means.

1'7. In combination, an X-ray inspection chamber, means for conveying articles into and out of' said inspection chamber, a source of X-rays on one side of said conveying means, a fluorescent screen on the other side of said conveying means, X-rays from said source passing through said articles and impinging on said screen, means for viewing the images of the articles upon said fluorescent screen, means for receiving from the inspection chamber articles below a predetermined standard and means for ejecting articles below the predetermined standard out of said inspection chamber into said receiving means, said conveying means comprising a plurality of spaced apart cables upon whichthe articles rest and said ejecting means comprising a member shiftable' transversely relative to said cables, a plurality of article engaging rollers carried by said'shiftable member and normally maintained out of engagement with said articles and manually operable means for shifting said member to cause said article engaging rollers to engage an article on the cables thereby lifting the same from said cables and directing it out of said inspection chamber into said receiving means.

18. An apparatus for inspecting articles of a freely rolling character by means of X-rays, comprising an X-ray inspection chamber, means for conveying articles into and out of said inspection chamber, a source of X-rays on one side of said inspection chamber articles below a predetermined standard, means for receiving from said inspection chamber articles conforming to the predetermined standard, said inspection chamber having an opening in one wall thereof in communication with one of said receiving means, manually operable means for selectively directing articles through said opening into one of said receiving means while permitting 'movement of other articles into the other of said receiving means, and means for preventing inadvertent movement of said freely rolling articles through said opening while permitting passage of the same therethrough under action of said ejecting means.

19. In an apparatus for inspecting articles by means of X-rays, an X-ray inspection chamber, conveyor means having a first portion for conveying articles into said chamber and a second portion displaced relative from the first portion for conveying articles out of said chamber, a source of X-rays on one side of the first portion of the conveyor, a fluorescent screen on the other side of said first portion of the conveyor means, X-rays from said source passing through said articles and impinging upon said fluorescent screen, means for viewing the images of the articles on said fluorescent screen, a pair of receptacles for receiving articles after inspection, a second conveyor means adapted to receive articles from the first portion of said first conveyor means for conveying the same to one of said receptacles, said other receptacle receiving articles from the displaced portion of the first conveyor means, and a plurality of manually and selectively operable means for directing selected ones of said articles from the first portion of said first conveyor means onto the second conveyor means while simultaneously permitting others of said articles to pass to the second portion of the first conveyor means.

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