Article irradiation system with multiple beam paths
First Claim
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1. An irradiation system comprising:
- a radiation source having at least one beam path extending substantially horizontally from the radiation source and at least one beam path extending substantially vertically from the radiation source;
a first conveyor system for transporting articles through the horizontal beam path having a process loop for transporting articles through the horizontal beam path one or more times comprising a rotator in the process loop for rotating the articles and a beam pass conveyor; and
a second conveyor system for transporting articles, through the vertical beam path, having a process loop to transport articles under or above the vertical beam path one or more times comprising a beam pass conveyor, wherein at least one of the conveyor systems has a means for entraining articles preceding a beam pass conveyor.
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Abstract
A system for irradiating articles is disclosed. The system has multiple beam paths and is capable of irradiating articles with x-rays or electron beams (e-beams). The system is comprised of a single radiation source producing multiple beam paths. At least one of the beam paths is configured to irradiate articles with x-rays and at least one other beam path is configured to irradiate articles with e-beams. The beam paths are each positioned to scan product carried on conveyors. The x-ray beam paths and e-beam have separate conveyor systems that operates independently from each other.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An irradiation system comprising:
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a radiation source having at least one beam path extending substantially horizontally from the radiation source and at least one beam path extending substantially vertically from the radiation source;
a first conveyor system for transporting articles through the horizontal beam path having a process loop for transporting articles through the horizontal beam path one or more times comprising a rotator in the process loop for rotating the articles and a beam pass conveyor; and
a second conveyor system for transporting articles, through the vertical beam path, having a process loop to transport articles under or above the vertical beam path one or more times comprising a beam pass conveyor, wherein at least one of the conveyor systems has a means for entraining articles preceding a beam pass conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An irradiation system comprising:
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an upper level;
a lower level;
a middle level a radiation source, located on the middle level, having at least one beam path extending substantially horizontally from the radiation source, at least one beam path extending substantially downward from the radiation source, and at least on beam path extending substantially upward from the radiation source;
a first conveyor system, located on the middle level for transporting articles through the horizontal beam path one or more times and having a rotator for rotating the articles a second conveyor system, located on the lower level, for transporting articles under the vertical beam path through the vertical beam path one or more times; and
a third conveyor, located on the upper level, for transporting articles over the vertical beam path one or more times.
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14. An irradiation system comprising:
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a radiation source having at least one beam path;
a conveyor system for transporting articles through at least one beam path, wherein the conveyor system has an entrainment conveyor adjacent to a beam pass conveyor, wherein the entrainment conveyor precedes the beam pass conveyor and travels at a faster rate of speed than the beam pass conveyor, whereby articles traveling on the faster entrainment conveyor can be slowed when meeting up with articles traveling on the slower beam pass conveyor, wherein the beam pass conveyor transports articles through the beam path on a continuous chain. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An irradiation system comprising:
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a radiation source having at least one beam path;
a plurality of totes for carrying articles;
a conveyor system for transporting the totes through the beam path;
wherein the conveyor system has a process loop to transport totes through the beam path a plurality of times;
a tote stacker in the process loop for stacking totes prior to transporting through the beam path; and
a tote destacker in the process loop for separating stacked totes after transporting through the beam path. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification