X-ray scanner for inspecting articles moving therethrough

• US 4,841,554 A
• Filed: 02/29/1988
• Issued: 06/20/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heimann GmbH
• Original Assignee: Heimann GmbH
• Inventors: Dietrich, Rolf, Von Unger, Eckart-Alfred, Thoma, Helmut, Doenges, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Janice A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freeman, John C.
• Application Number:
  US07/161,991
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 378/57, 378/62, 378/177, 378/195, 378/201, 378/208, 250/359.1
• US Class Current: 378/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4078 Fan-beams
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/043 using fluoroscopic examination, with visual observation or video transmission of fluoroscopic images
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/20 Detecting prohibited goods, e.g. weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, contraband or smuggled objects
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/02 Constructional details

Abstract

An x-ray scanner for inspecting articles moving therethrough, such as on a conveyor, has a frame on which an x-ray source, a collimator for the x-ray beam, and a radiation detector are mounted. The frame resists flexural and torsional stresses so as to maintain the relative positions of the x-ray source, the collimator, and the radiation receiver in the presence of such stresses. The scanner is mounted in a rack in which the frame is seated by a resilient support. The conveyor which is used to move articles through the x-ray beam between the x-ray source and the radiation receiver is supported by the rack, so that mechanical stresses to the conveyor, such as the placement of heavy articles thereon, are not conveyed to the frame, and therefore do not disturb the alignment of the components mounted on the frame, due to the intervention of the resilient support.

Claims

1. An x-ray scanner comprising:

an x-ray source which generates an x-ray beam emanating from a focus;

a collimator disposed with respect to said x-ray source for collimating said x-ray beam to generate a fan-shaped x-ray beam;

means for conveying a series of articles to be inspected through said fan-shaped x-ray beam;

a radiation detector disposed for receiving radiation from said x-ray beam attenuated by said articles and generating electrical signals corresponding to the intensity of the received radiation;

means for generating a visual image of said articles based on said signals;

a rack on which at least said means for conveying is mounted;

a frame to which said x-ray source, said collimator and said radiation receiver are mounted, said frame being resistant to flexural and torsional stresses; and

resilient means disposed between said frame and said rack for mounting said frame to said rack to substantially insulate said frame and the components mounted thereon from mechanical stresses caused by the operation of said means for conveying.

2. An x-ray scanner as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for individually mounting said collimator and said x-ray source to said frame.