Process and apparatus for irradiating product pallets

• US 20050058246A1
• Filed: 12/03/2001
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ion Beam Applications s.a.
• Original Assignee: Ion Beam Applications s.a.
• Inventors: Rose, Graham, Gregoire, Olivier, Stichelbaut, Frederic, Vander Donckt, Muriel
• Granted Patent: US 7,197,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/69
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/081 Gamma radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/082 X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/122 Chambers for sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 5/10 with provision for relative movement of beam source and object to be irradiated

Abstract

The present invention is related to a process for irradiation of a product pallet having four vertical faces by a photon beam such as an X-ray beam, a gamma source or similar, consisting in an irradiation procedure comprising the following steps: introducing the product pallet into an irradiation zone according to a horizontal translation movement, submitting said product pallet to said photon beam, the source of which having a vertical movement, the horizontal translation movement of the product pallet and the vertical movement of the beam resulting in the irradiation of a vertical face of said product pallet, moving out said product pallet from the irradiation zone. giving a rotation of substantially 90° to said product pallet using rotation means, repeating said irradiation process until at least the four vertical faces of said product pallet have been irradiated. The present invention is also related to an apparatus and to the use of said process or said apparatus for irradiating a product arranged on a pallet, said product being either of low or of high density.

Claims

1. Process for irradiation of a product pallet having four vertical faces by a photon beam such as an X-ray beam, a gamma source or similar, said process comprising the following steps:

introducing the product pallet into an irradiation zone according to a horizontal translation movement,

submitting said product pallet to said photon beam, the source of which having a vertical movement, the horizontal translation movement of the product pallet and the vertical movement of the source resulting in the irradiation of a vertical face of said product pallet,

moving out said product pallet from the irradiation zone,

giving a rotation of substantially 90°

to said product pallet using rotation means, said irradiation process being reproduced until at least the four vertical faces of said product pallet have been irradiated.

2. Process according to claim 1, wherein the rotation of the product pallet is performed outside the irradiation zone.

3. Process according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal and/or vertical spread of the photon beam is limited.

7. Process according to claim 1, wherein the product pallet is transferred in front of the photon beam in the irradiation zone according to a horizontal translation movement.

8. Process according to claim 1, wherein the speed of the product pallet according to the horizontal translation movement is varied or modulated.

9. Process according to claim 8, wherein the horizontal translation speed of the product pallet is lower when the centre of the product pallet is in front of the photon beam.

10. Process according to claim 1, wherein the speed of the vertical movement of the photon source is modulated.

11. Process according to claim 10, wherein the speed of the vertical movement of the photon source is lower when the centre of the product pallet is in front of the photon beam.

12. Process according to claim 10, wherein the speed of the vertical movement of the photon source is performed by scanning elements.

13. Process according to claim 1, wherein the intensity of the photon beam is modulated.

14. Process according to claim 1, wherein the product pallet consists in a first product pallet and a second product pallet, the second product pallet being under the first product pallet during a first irradiation process and the first product pallet being under the second product pallet during a further radiation process.

15. Process according to claim 1, wherein the total height of the product and the pallet is measured prior to irradiation in order to adapt the vertical scanning function.

16. Process according to claim 1, wherein the spread of the photon beam is adapted so as to allow an overscan of the product.

17. Process according to claim 1, wherein the scanning photon beam has an asymmetric width covering a longer area below the product than above.

18. Process according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation of the product pallets is performed by batches of pallets loaded with products of similar densities.

19. Process according to claim 1, wherein the rotating means comprise a turntable or curved conveyor part defining a 90°

turn.

28. Use of the process according to claim 1 for irradiating product pallets, said products being either of low density or high density.

4. Process for irradiation of a product pallet having four vertical faces by a photon beam such as an X-ray beam, a gamma source or similar, consisting in an irradiation procedure comprising the following steps:

introducing the product pallet into an irradiation zone according to a horizontal translation movement,

submitting said product pallet to said photon beam, the source of which having a vertical movement, the horizontal translation movement of the product pallet and the vertical movement of the beam source resulting in the irradiation of a vertical face of said product pallet,

moving out said product pallet from the irradiation zone,

wherein the horizontal and/or vertical spread of the photon beam is limited.

5. Process according to claim 4, further comprising the step of giving a rotation of substantially 90°

to said product pallet using rotation means, said irradiation process being reproduced until at least the four vertical faces of said product pallet have been irradiated.

6. Process according to claim 5, wherein the rotation of the product pallet is performed outside the irradiation zone.

20. Apparatus for irradiating a product pallet having four vertical faces by a photon beam such as a X-ray beam, a gamma source, having A photon beam source, Means for conveying said product pallet into and out of the irradiation zone, Means for translating said pallet inside the irradiation zone in front of the photon beam, Scanning means in order to involve a vertical movement to said photon beam, Means for rotating the product pallet of an angle of substantially 90°

.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising homogenisation means such as collimators in order to limit the horizontal and/or vertical spread of the photon beam.

24. Apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for modulating the horizontal translation speed of the conveying means of the product pallet in front of the photon beam.

25. Apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for modulating the vertical translation speed of the scanning means of the photon source.

26. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the means for rotating consist in a turntable.

27. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the means for rotating consist in a curved conveyor part defining a 90°

turn.

29. Use of the apparatus according to claim 20 for irradiating product pallets, said products being either of low density or high density.

22. Apparatus for irradiating a product pallet having four vertical faces by a photon beam such as a X-ray beam, a gamma source, having A photon beam source, Means for conveying said product pallet into and out of the irradiation zone, Means for translating said pallet inside the irradiation zone in front of the photon beam, Scanning means in order to involve a vertical movement to said photon beam, Homogenisation means such as collimators in order in limit the horizontal and/or vertical spread of the photon beam.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising means for rotating the product pallet of an angle of substantially 90°

.

30. Use of the apparatus according to claim 22 for irradiating product pallets, said products being either of low density or high density.