IRRADIATION APPARATUS

• US 3,564,241 A
• Filed: 04/09/1968
• Issued: 02/16/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1967
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alfred Ludwig
• Original Assignee: Alfred Ludwig
• Inventors: Ludwig, Alfred
• Application Number:
  US04/719,863
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• US Class Current: 378/69
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 5/02 having no beam-forming means

Abstract

The continuous track has individual parallel track sections which are connected together by loops to form a single path for the loads. The conveyors move the loads by means of catches along the track. The loads are transferred at various points from one conveyor to another to change the speed of the loads so as to effect a slow movement of the loads in closely spaced relation past the radiation source.

Claims

1. An irradiation apparatus comprising:

an irradiation chamber;

a radiation source mounted within said chamber;

a continuous track for conveying a series of loads to be irradiated thereon, said track having a pair of parallel track sections on each side of said radiation source, and loop sections connecting adjacent track section to each other at the ends thereof;

a fast-moving conveyor for moving the loads at a first speed into said irradiation chamber onto one of said parallel track sections, said fast moving conveyor having a loop portion disposed in parallel relation to said loop section connecting said parallel track sections on opposite sides of said radiation source;

a pair of slow-moving conveyors, each slow-moving conveyor being disposed in parallel relation to a pair of said parallel track sections for moving the loads thereon at a second speed slower than said first speed, each said slow-moving conveyor being in overlapping relation at one end with said fast moving conveyor; and

a turning conveyor positioned in overlapping relation to each of said slow-moving conveyors at the opposite end thereof, each said turning conveyor being in parallel relation to said loop section connecting adjacent track sections of a pair of parallel track sections for moving the loads thereon at a third speed faster than said second speed whereby the loads are continuously moved at a fast speed in widely spaced relation on said fast conveyor onto said parallel track sections, subsequently moved at a slower speed in closely spaced relation on said parallel track sections, and moved at a fast speed on said loop portions in widely spaced relation.

2. An irradiation apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said conveyors includes a plurality of spaced catches for engaging successive loads to move the loads along said track.

3. An irradiation apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of transmissions, each transmission being positioned between adjacent overlapping conveyors to interconnect said overlapping conveyors.

4. An irradiation apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a drive means connected to said fast-moving conveyor outside said irradiation chamber for drivng said fast-moving conveyor.

5. An irradiation apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a parallel motion mechanism positioned adjacent said loop section connecting said parallel track sections on opposite sides of said radiation source, said mechanism projecting into the path of the loads to pivot each load 180* relative to said track on movement of the load past said mechanism.

6. An irradiation apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein each load is mounted on a pivotal box frame suspended from said continuous track.

7. In an irradiation apparatus comprising:

an irradiation chamber;

a radiation source mounted within said chamber;

a continuous track for conveying a series of loads to be irradiated thereon, said continuous track having at least two parallel track sections, each said track section being disposed on an opposite side of said radiation source, and a loop section for conveying the loads from one of said parallel track sections to the other parallel track section;

a fast-moving conveyor positioned in parallel with said loop section for moving the loads thereon at a first speed in widely spaced relation;

a slow-moving conveyor positioned in parallel with each said parallel track section for moving the loads thereon at a second speed slower than said first speed and in closely spaced relation, each slow moving conveyor being in overlapping relation with said fast-moving conveyor;

a transmission connecting each slow moving conveyor to said fast-moving conveyor to convey the loads in a continuous manner; and

a parallel motion mechanism positioned adjacent said loop sEction for pivoting the loads 180* relative to said track.

8. In an irradiation apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said conveyors include a plurality of spaced catches projecting into the path of the loads on said respective track sections for abutting the loads to move the loads along said track sections.