Baggage inspection conveyor baffle and method

• US 4,879,735 A
• Filed: 05/31/1988
• Issued: 11/07/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert W. Owens
• Original Assignee: Robert W. Owens
• Inventors: Owens, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hynds, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US07/200,247
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 378/57, 378/58, 378/51, 250/358.1, 250/359.1, 250/360.1, 250/515.1
• US Class Current: 378/57
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/20 Detecting prohibited goods, e.g. weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, contraband or smuggled objects

Abstract

An improved X-ray baggage inspection device having an input port with a baffle pivotally suspended from an upper edge to substantially occlude an upper selected region of the input port, leaving an open space adjacent to a baggage conveyor having a configuration suited for the passage of briefcase type baggage horizontally disposed upon the conveyor, but which will pivot inward in response to all types of baggage having a height exceeding a preselected distance between the conveyor and the lower edge of the baffle.

Claims

1. In an x-ray baggage inspection device including a means for non-intrusive inspection of baggage and a housing disposed above a conveyor, said housing having an input port with an upper boundary and a lower boundary, said lower boundary defined by said conveyor, wherein said conveyor transports baggage through said housing from said input port to an exit port, the improvement comprising:

a substantially rigid baffle having an upper edge and a lower edge, said baffle being pivotally suspended from said upper boundary of said housing at said upper edge, substantially occluding an upper selected region of said input port, said lower edge being spaced a preselected distance above said conveyor, leaving an open space adjacent to said conveyor having a configuration suited for the passage beneath said lower edge of briefcase type baggage horizontally disposed upon said conveyor, wherein said substantially rigid baffle pivots inward in response to oversize baggage having a height exceeding said preselected distance between said conveyor and said lower edge of said baffle when horizontally disposed on said conveyor.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said baffle is pivotally suspended from said upper boundary in a position substantially normal relative to said conveyor, but movable into an angular position relative to said conveyor in response to baggage having a height exceeding said preselected distance between said conveyor and said lower edge of said baffle.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said baffle comprises a substantially flat monolithic rectangular plate.

2. An apparatus according to claim wherein said upper edge of said baffle is pivotally suspended from said upper boundary by a hinge.

5. An improved baggage inspection device, comprising in combination:

conveyor means for transporting baggage from a first location to a second location;

a housing disposed above said conveyor means having an input port proximal to said first location and an output port proximal to said output port, each having an upper boundary defined by said housing and a lower boundary defined by said conveyor means;

means for non-intrusive inspection of said baggage horizontally disposed upon said conveyor means;

a substantially rigid planar baffle pivotally suspended from said upper boundary of said input port for substantially covering an upper selected region of said input port leaving a lower selected region of said input port proximal to said conveyor means uncovered, providing a clearance between said baffle and said conveyor means of substantially at least eight inches vertical height, wherein said lower selected region of said input port accomodates the passage of briefcase type baggage only when horizontally disposed upon said conveyor means, and wherein said substantially rigid planar baffle pivots to allow the passage of oversize baggage having a horizontal height exceeding said clearance.

6. A method of inspecting baggage with an x-ray baggage inspection device having an input port with an upper boundary disposed above a baggage conveyor, said conveyor substantially defining a lower boundary of said input port, comprising the steps of:

pivotally mounting a substantially planar rigid baffle to the upper boundary, the baffle having a lower edge disposed a selected distance above the conveyor, the selected distance being sufficient to accomodate briefcase type baggage horizontally disposed on said conveyor, but not briefcase type baggage vertically disposed;

placing briefcase type baggage on said conveyor in a horizontal position and passing said briefcase type baggage beneath said baffle with said conveyor;

placing oversize baggage on said conveyor in a horizontal position, said baggage having a height, measured when horizontally disposed, that is greater than said selected distance, and moving said oversize baggage into contact with said baffle, pivoting said baffle with said oversize baggage, and passing said oversize baggage through said x-ray baggage inspection device; and

non-intrusively inspecting both briefcase type baggage and oversize baggage passed through the baggage inspection device on said baggage conveyor.