Article irradiation system having intermediate wall of radiation shielding material within loop of a conveyor system that transports the articles
US6294791A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 5, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 25, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 5, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG21K5/10
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An article irradiation system includes (1) a radiation source for scanning a target region with radiation, (2) a conveyor system including a process conveyor positioned for transporting articles in a given direction through the target region, and (3) radiation shielding material defining the walls of a chamber containing the radiation source, the target region and a position of the conveyor system. The radiation source is disposed inside a loop defined by a portion of the conveyor system and is adapted to scan the articles in the chamber in a plane transverse to the given direction of the transport by the process conveyor. A shield (e.g., an intermediate wall) of radiation shielding material positioned within the loop supports a radiation shielding ceiling of the chamber, inhibits photons emitted from a beam stop in one of the chamber walls from impinging on the outer walls of the chamber and restricts flow in the chamber of ozone derived in the target region from the radiation source. A first queue is disposed outside of the chamber for transferring into the chamber articles from a loading area; a second queue is disposed in the chamber for moving the articles past the radiation s…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.