A particle inspection device includes a feeder configured to drop a
particle through an image area. The feeder includes a tray surface having
a flat portion and an edge portion disposed above the image area. The
inspection device also includes a vibration device configured to vibrate
the feeder induce movement of the particle from the flat portion to the
edge portion and an image capturing device configured to capture an image
of the particle in the image area. The edge portion may be a downwardly
curved edge section and configured to maintain the orientation and reduce
tumbling motion as the particle slides off the tray and falls through the
image area. Alternately or additionally, a landing element is provided
having a landing surface disposed in the image area and angled with
respect to the flat portion of the tray surface and configured to receive
the particle. The image capturing device is configured to capture an
image of the particle on the landing surface.