the present invention features a method and apparatus wherein a component in a component placement machine is rejected during the placement cycle and subsequently retained in a component rejection station . a component is imaged and the image processed using an automated vision system . the image processing determines whether the component is placeable based upon a comparison of the component image to preprogrammed mechanical parameters for the component . a non - placeable component is rejected into a reject station with means to retain the component . because a component can not escape the reject station , there is no degradation of the placement machine performance .