Method and apparatus for improving baggage screening examination

• US 20050111618A1
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Recovery Technologies Incorporated (Bulk Handling Systems)
• Original Assignee: Select Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Roos, Charles E., Hill, Richard E., Sommer, Edward J. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,286,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/57
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/368 Arrangements or installations for routing, distributing or loading baggage
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/20 Detecting prohibited goods, e.g. weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, contraband or smuggled objects

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for screening articles such as baggage, utilizing a computerized touch sensitive screen or other computerized pointing device for operator identification and electronic marking of objects within the article to be further examined. Baggage is eletromagnetically (i.e., x-ray) scanned while traveling on a conveyer and an electronic image is taken of each article and stored in a computer. An operator positioned at a computerized touch sensitive screen views electronic images of the articles to be screened as they are conveyed past a sensor array which transmits sequences of images of the series either directly or through a computer to the touch sensitive display screen. The operator manually “touches” objects within the articles displayed on the screen to be identified on coupled interactive screens thereby registering the objects selected within the computer. The computer then provides sequential information identifying actions to be taken and information and data to be recorded. The system continually scans articles as they pass the scanning station and proceed for further processing, which ultimately may include being added to a vehicle as baggage or freight. The present system utilizes a plurality of visual display devices, each with an examiner, which are likely located remotely of the screening operation. Each examination continues independently of the scanning such that there is no interruption in the flow of articles should an examiner detect an object of interest and worthy of further examination, either by screen or by physical examination.

Claims

1. A method for inspecting a series of articles containing discrete objects to select for further examination certain discernable objects within an article in the series comprising steps of:

(a) conveying a series of articles containing discrete objects into and through an inspection zone;

(b) irradiating each of the articles in said series of articles containing discrete objects with incident electromagnetic radiation while in said inspection zone;

(c) measuring the electromagnetic radiation emanating from each of said irradiated articles in said series of articles containing discrete objects;

(d) processing said measured electromagnetic radiation to produce one or more electronic images of each of said irradiated articles in said series of articles containing discrete objects and presenting said electronic images for visual display;

(e) interactively selecting, from said visual display, discrete objects discernable within the image of an irradiated article in said series of articles containing discrete objects; and

(f) displaying said image on an additional visual display for presenting an electronic image of discrete objects.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said selections are visually marked on the image of an irradiated article in said series of articles containing discrete objects presented on said displays.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said images are electronically registered within a computer.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said selections are electronically registered within said computer.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said selections and said images stored in a searchable database of a computer.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said selecting of discrete objects of an irradiated article takes place on a visual display at a location remote from the location where said irradiating occurs.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said selecting of discrete objects of an irradiated article is performed concurrently with the irradiation of a second article of said series of articles.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said images are electronically registered in an image queue to be accessed at a visual display.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said selecting of discrete objects of several of a series of irradiated articles concurrently takes place on a plurality of visual displays.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said computer records the completion of selecting of objects on a visual display.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said after said computer records the completion of selecting of objects on a visual display, the next image in the image queue is sequentially displayed on said visual display.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said computer sequentially forwards the successive images of said irradiated articles serially to one of each of said visual displays.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the successive images of irradiated articles forwarded to a visual display is stored in an image queue for said display.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the successive images of irradiated articles stored in the image queue of a visual display are successively displayed on said visual display after completion of the selection of objects of the displayed image.

15. A method for inspecting each of a series of articles to select for further examination articles within the series comprising steps of:

(a) conveying each of a series of articles into and through an electromagnetic scanning zone;

(b) electromagnetically scanning said series of articles as each are conveyed through said scanning zone;

(c) producing a first electronic image of a first article within said series of articles from said electromagnetic scanning;

(d) presenting said first electronic image for visual display

(e) visually inspecting said displayed first electronic image;

(f) electromagnetically scanning a second article within said series of articles conveying through said scanning zone and storing within computer memory electronic data of a second electronic image corresponding to said second article during a time interval overlapping with performing said visual inspection step (e);

(g) presenting said second electronic image for visual display

(h) visually inspecting said displayed second electronic image; and

(i) selecting for further examination at least one article from said series of articles.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said electromagnetic scanning comprises x-ray scanning.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said selecting is performed by use of a computerized pointing device.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said selecting is performed by use of activating an electrical switch.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said selecting is performed by use of a verbal communication.

20. The method of claim 15 including further examination to at least one of said selected articles.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said further examination includes locating at least one of said selected articles among said series of articles.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said locating is performed using radio frequency identification sensing.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said locating is performed by bar code sensing.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein said locating is performed by conveyor belt position tracking.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein said locating is performed by computerized software position tracking.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein said locating is performed by video position tracking.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein said locating is performed by position sensor tracking.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein said locating is performed by lighting system position annunciation.

29. The method of claim 22 wherein said locating is performed by visual system position annunciation.

30. The method of claim 22 wherein said locating is performed by wireless system annunciation.

31. The method of claim 22 wherein said locating is performed by audible alarm position annunciation.

32. The method of claim 20 wherein said further examination further includes removing at least one of said located articles from said series of articles.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said removing is performed by automated removal.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein said removing is performed by manual removal.

35. The method of claim 15 wherein at least one of said electronic images is visually displayed at a location remote from said electromagnetic scanning zone.

36. A method for inspecting each of a series of articles to select for further examination articles within the series comprising steps of:

(a) conveying each of a series of articles into and through an electromagnetic scanning zone;

(b) electromagnetically scanning said series of articles as they are conveyed through said scanning zone;

(c) producing an electronic image of each articles within said series of articles by said electromagnetic scanning;

(d) presenting for separate visual display each of at least two of said article electronic images for concurrent visual examination; and

(e) visually examining said displayed electronic images and selecting for further examination at least one of said articles from said series of articles.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein said electromagnetic scanning comprises x-ray scanning.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said selecting is performed by use of a computerized pointing device.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein said selecting is performed by use of activating an electrical switch.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein said selecting is performed by use of a verbal communication.

41. The method of claim 36 including further examination to at least one of said selected articles.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein said further examination includes locating at least one of said selected articles among said series of articles.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein said locating is performed using radio frequency identification sensing.

44. The method of claim 42 wherein said locating is performed by bar code sensing.

45. The method of claim 42 wherein said locating is performed by conveyor belt position tracking.

46. The method of claim 42 wherein said locating is performed by computerized software position tracking.

47. The method of claim 42 wherein said locating is performed by video position tracking.

48. The method of claim 42 wherein said locating is performed by position sensor tracking.

49. The method of claim 42 wherein said locating is performed by lighting system position annunciation.

50. The method of claim 42 wherein said locating is performed by visual system position annunciation.

51. The method of claim 42 wherein said locating is performed by wireless system annunciation.

52. The method of claim 42 wherein said locating is performed by audible alarm position annunciation.

53. The method of claim 41 wherein said further examination further includes removing at least one of said located articles from said series of articles.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein said removing is performed by automated removal.

55. The method of claim 53 wherein said removing is performed by manual removal.

56. The method of claim 36 wherein at least one of said electronic images is visually inspected at a location remote from said electromagnetic scanning zone.

59. The method of claim 37 wherein said selecting is performed by use of a computerized pointing device.

60. The method of claim 37 wherein said selecting is performed by use of activating an electrical switch.

61. The method of claim 37 wherein said selecting is performed by use of a verbal communication.

57. A method for inspecting each of a series of articles to select for further examination articles within the series comprising steps of:

(a) conveying each of a series of articles into and through an electromagnetic scanning zone;

(b) electromagnetically scanning said series of articles as each are conveyed through said scanning zone so that at least two successive scans of articles passing through said scanning zone are performed without stopping the flow of articles between scans;

(c) producing a series of electronic images of articles within said series of articles from said electromagnetic scanning;

(d) presenting said electronic images for visual display;

(e) visually inspecting said displayed electronic images; and

(f) selecting for further examination at least one article from said series of articles.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein said electromagnetic scanning comprises x-ray scanning.

62. The method of claim 57 further comprising providing said further examination to at least one of said selected articles.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein said further examination includes locating at least one of said selected articles among said series of articles.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein said locating is performed using radio frequency identification sensing.

65. The method of claim 63 wherein said locating is performed by bar code sensing.

66. The method of claim 63 wherein said locating is performed by conveyor belt position tracking.

67. The method of claim 63 wherein said locating is performed by computerized software position tracking.

68. The method of claim 63 wherein said locating is performed by video position tracking.

69. The method of claim 63 wherein said locating is performed by position sensor tracking.

70. The method of claim 63 wherein said locating is performed by lighting system position annunciation.

71. The method of claim 63 wherein said locating is performed by visual system position annunciation.

72. The method of claim 63 wherein said locating is performed by wireless system annunciation.

73. The method of claim 63 wherein said locating is performed by audible alarm position annunciation.

74. The method of claim 58 wherein said further examination further includes removing at least one of said located articles from said series of articles.

75. The method of claim 74 wherein said removing is performed by automated removal.

76. The method of claim 74 wherein said removing is performed by manual removal.

77. The method of claim 58 wherein at least one of said electronic images is visually displayed at a location remote from said electromagnetic scanning zone.

78. Apparatus for inspecting each of a series of articles to select for further examination articles within the series comprising:

(a) a conveyor system for conveying said series of articles into and through an electromagnetic scanning zone;

(b) an electromagnetic scanner for taking electromagnetic measurements of each of said series of articles as they are conveyed through said scanning zone;

(c) a computer system for producing a series of electronic images of articles within said series of articles from said electromagnetic measurements;

(d) a data processing system for selectively routing said electronic images among various visual displays

(e) at least two visual displays for visually presenting at least two different of said electronic images, one image on each display, so that the durations of the visual presentations overlap in time; and

(f) means for selecting for further examination at least one of said articles from said series of articles during visual inspection of said images displayed in step (e).

79. The apparatus of claim 78 wherein said electromagnetic scanner comprises an x-ray scanner.

80. The apparatus of claim 78 wherein said means for selecting comprises a computerized pointing device.

81. The apparatus of claim 78 wherein said means for selecting comprises an electrical switch.

82. The apparatus of claim 78 wherein said means for selecting comprises the human voice.

83. The apparatus of claim 78 further comprising means to locate at least an said articles selected by (f).

84. The apparatus of claim 83 wherein means to locate articles comprises at least one of (a) a radio frequency identification article tagging and tracking system, (b) a bar code article tagging and tracking system, (c) a conveyor encoder to track conveyor position, (d) computer software to track conveyor position, (e) a video system to track article position, (f) a system of discrete sensors for position tracking, (g) a lighting system to annunciate article arrival at a position, (h) a visual indicator to annunciate article arrival at a position, (i) a wireless system to annunciate article arrival at a position, (j) an audible alarm to annunciate article arrival at a position.

85. The apparatus of claim 78 further comprising means to remove from said series of articles at least one of articles from said conveyer.

86. The apparatus of claim 78 further comprising data handling means to transmit and display means to display at least one of said electronic images at a location remote from said electromagnetic scanner.