PRODUCTION IRRADIATOR

• US 3,676,675 A
• Filed: 05/29/1969
• Issued: 07/11/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jackson A. Ransohoff, Lewis P. Sarkozi
• Original Assignee: Jackson A. Ransohoff, Lewis P. Sarkozi
• Inventors: Ransohoff, Jackson A., Sarkozi, Lewis P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lawrence, James W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nelms, D. C.
• Application Number:
  US04/829,080
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 198/85 250/16R,52,16S
• US Class Current: 378/69
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 5/02 having no beam-forming means

Abstract

Irradiation of material in packages is carried out continuously by a unique conveyor arrangement which transports closely spaced carriers containing the packages in vertical runs past a radiation source. The radiation conveyor utilizes extension arms to increase the radius of outside turns and allow the carriers to be spaced closer to the source and to each other. A transfer conveyor is provided to obviate the need for inside turns so that individual carriers and adjacent vertical runs may be closely spaced in the radiation zone. A loading station provides means for the horizontal loading and unloading of the packages in increments to provide for the integration of the radiation dose horizontally across the carrier length. An effective labyrinth radiation shield above the source shields the loading station. The radiation dosage per pass through the system may be varied by varying the speed of the conveyor or the strength of the radiation source plaque.

Claims

1. A production irradiator for use with a radiation source plaque, the irradiator comprising:

a. an endless irradiation conveyor having at least two vertical runs, in close proximity to the radiation source, b. conveyor drive means for driving the conveyor, c. a loading station with a portion of the conveyor extending therethrough, d. a plurality of hollow carriers for carrying material to be irradiated, e. carrier and conveyor connecting means for connecting each of the carriers to the conveyor so that all carriers in a vertical run of the conveyor are closely spaced, and a line defined by the center of moment of the carriers during movement of the carriers on the vertical runs of the conveyor is spaced from and parallel to the same vertical run of the conveyor, the conveyor and connecting means including extension arms spaced apart along the conveyor, the extension arms are in one vertical run of the conveyor extending toward an adjacent vertical run of the conveyor, a bracket extending from each carrier, a portion of each bracket cooperating with a corresponding extension arm to pivotally hang each carrier from the corresponding extension arm, f. radiation bridge shield means between the radiation source and the loading station, g. and transfer means for transferring the carriers from the top of one vertical run to the top of a succeeding vertical run, the transfer means include a transfer conveyor positioned between succeeding vertical runs near the top of such runs and driven at a speed faster than the irradiation conveyor, the transfer conveyor having extending arms extending toward the extension arms of the irradiation conveyor in the vertical runs, the transfer conveyor extension arms cooperating with the portion of the brackets on the carriers to lift the carriers away from the arms of the irradiation conveyor of one adjacent vertical run and place the carriers in extension arms of the irradiation conveyor on the next succeeding adjacent vertical run.

2. A production irradiator as in claim 1 wherein the transfer conveyor extension arms have extending pins for cooperation with inverted cup shaped portions of the brackets on the carriers.

3. An irradiator for use with a radiation source, the irradiator comprising:

a primary radiation shield shielding an interior space containing the radiation source, a conveyor system including a conveyor which makes at least two vertical runs through the radiation zone and a plurality of open ended containers carried thereby, a plurality of extension arms extending from the conveyor, a pivotal connection between the extension arms and each container, the conveyor system being entirely within the primary radiation shield and passing the radiation source and a loading station, transfer means for transferring containers from the top of one vertical run to the top of a succeeding vertical run, the transfer means includes a transfer conveyor driven in timed relationship and at a speed greater than the carrier conveyor, a loading port in the primary radiation shield at the loading station and aligned with the hollow open-ended containers, and a labyrinth shield between the radiation source and the loading station.

4. A production irradiator for use with a radiation source, the irradiator being of the type including:

an endless irradiator conveyor having at least two vertical runs in close proximity to the radiation source means for driving the conveyor, a plurality of containers carried by the conveyor for holding the material to be irradiated, means for loading the convEyor at a loading station, with the improvements comprising;

a suspension system for supporting the containers from the conveyor so that the containers are positioned immediately adjacent one another during the vertical runs of the conveyor, the suspension system including extension arms extending from the conveyor perpendicular to the vertical runs on the conveyor and the radiation source, and a pivotal connection between each extension arm and container so that the center of moment of each container moves in a path parallel to and offset from the vertical run of the container, and a transfer system for transferring each container from the top of one vertical run to another, the transfer system including a separate transfer conveyor driven in timed relation and faster than the irradiation conveyor.

5. A production irradiator as defined in claim 4 wherein the transfer conveyor includes extending arms extending toward the extension arms of the irradiation conveyor in the vertical runs, the transfer conveyor extension arms cooperating with the carriers to lift the carriers away from the extension arms of the irradiation conveyor of one adjacent vertical run and place the carriers in the extension arms of the irradiation conveyor on the next succeeding adjacent vertical run.

6. A production irradiator as defined in claim 5 wherein the extension arms are attached to the irradiation conveyor, and the pivotal connection is defined by a cup pivoted to an end of each extension arm which cup cooperates with a pin extending from a bracket mounted on each end of each container.

7. A production irradiator as defined in claim 6 wherein the containers are hollow and open ended and the loading station is shielded from the radiation source by a radiation bridge.