Compact scanner apparatus and method

• US 6,058,159 A
• Filed: 09/23/1998
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Control Screening LLC
• Original Assignee: Control Screening LLC
• Inventors: Maes, Michael Patrick, Conway, Granville Todd, Conway, Brad
• Primary Examiner(s): Terrell, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DILLON JR, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US09/164,986
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 198/502.1, 198/502.2, 198/840, 198/841, 198/950, 250/358.1, 250/359.1, 250/453.11, 250/491.1, 250/506.1, 250/519.1, 378/57, 378/68, 378/98.2, 378/98.6, 378/208, 378/198
• US Class Current: 378/68
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/04 and forming images of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/20 Detecting prohibited goods, e.g. weapons, explosives, hazardous substances, contraband or smuggled objects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 198/95 Conveyor transverses wall aperture

Abstract

A scanner apparatus comprises a tunnel housing having a top, two sides and entrance and exit openings; a bed assembly having a top and side portions wherein the side portions of the bed assembly are substantially fixed to the side portions of the tunnel housing to form a substantially enclosed area; an isolating device located at each of the entrance and the exit of the tunnel housing; a conveyor device for moving an object though the tunnel housing; and an analysis device for analyzing objects within the substantially enclosed area in the tunnel housing. The scanner apparatus has an essentially frameless structure which enhances its capability for scanning tall, wide items.

Claims

1. A scanner apparatus for scanning airport passenger luggage comprising:

a tunnel housing comprised of;

a top portion, and first and second side portions,

an entrance opening and an exit opening;

a bed assembly housing comprised of a top portion which together with the tunnel housing forms a substantially enclosed area,

the bed assembly housing further comprising first and second side portions and wherein the first and second side portions of the tunnel housing are substantially fixed to the first and second side portions of the bed assembly housing, respectively;

an isolating device located at the entrance and exit openings of the tunnel housing;

a conveyor device for moving an object through the entrance opening of the tunnel housing and into the substantially enclosed area, subsequently through the substantially enclosed area, and thereafter out of the substantially enclosed area and out the exit opening of the tunnel housing, the conveyor device located substantially in the bed assembly housing; and

an analysis device for analyzing objects within the substantially enclosed area of the tunnel housing;

said scanner occupying an amount of floor space;

(new line, indent) means for minimizing the occupied floor space comprising having the top portion and the side portions of the tunnel housing each having a thickness of about 0.125 inches.

2. A scanner apparatus as recited in claim 1

wherein the analysis device is comprised of a detector array constructed of a substantially steel member which is used to connect the tunnel housing with the bed assembly housing.

3. A scanner apparatus comprising:

a tunnel housing comprised of;

a top portion, and first and second side portions,

an entrance opening and an exit opening;

a bed assembly housing comprised of a top portion which together with the tunnel housing forms a substantially enclosed area,

an isolating device located at the entrance and exit openings of the tunnel housing;

a conveyor device for moving an object through the entrance opening of the tunnel housing and into the substantially enclosed area, subsequently through the substantially enclosed area, and thereafter out of the substantially enclosed area and out the exit opening of the tunnel housing, the conveyor device located substantially in the bed assembly housing; and

an analysis device for analyzing objects within the substantially enclosed area of the tunnel housing; and

wherein the tunnel housing further comprises;

a first slot in one of its portions near its entrance opening and

a second slot in one of its portions near its exit opening;

and wherein the isolating device comprises;

a first rod having a first curtain extending therefrom, wherein the first slot of the tunnel housing is adapted to receive the first curtain therein such that when the first curtain is inserted in the first slot, the first rod is mounted on the top portion of the tunnel housing and the first curtain extends through the first slot to substantially cover the entrance opening of the tunnel housing; and

a second rod having a second curtain extending therefrom, wherein the second slot of the tunnel housing is is adapted to receive the second curtain therein such that when the second curtain is inserted in the second slot, the second rod is mounted on the top portion of the tunnel housing and the second curtain extends through the second slot to substantially cover the exit opening of the tunnel housing.

4. A method for scanning airport passenger luggage objects comprising the steps of:

providing a tunnel housing comprised of;

a top portion, and first and second side portions,

an entrance opening and an exit opening;

providing a bed assembly housing comprised of a top portion which together with the tunnel housing form a substantially enclosed area,

providing the bed assembly housing so that the bed assembly housing also has first and second side portions;

fixing the first and second side portions of the bed assembly housing to the first and second side portions of the tunnel housing, respectively.

locating an isolating device at the entrance and exit openings of the tunnel housing;

locating a conveyor device substantially in the bed assembly housing, the conveyor device used for moving an object through the entrance opening of the tunnel housing and into the substantially enclosed area, subsequently through the substantially enclosed area, and thereafter out of the substantially enclosed area and out the exit opening of the tunnel housing; and

providing an analysis device for analyzing objects within the substantially enclosed area of the tunnel housing;

said scanning conducted by a scanner occupying an amount of floor space;

minimizing the occupied floor space by having the top portion and the side portions of the tunnel housing each having a thickness of about 0.125 inches.

5. A method for constructing a scanner for scanning objects as recited in claim 4, wherein

each of the top portion, and first and second side portions of the tunnel housing

has a thickness of about 0.125 inches.

6. A method scanning airport passenger luggage objects comprising the steps of:

providing a tunnel housing comprised of;

a top portion, and first and second side portions,

an entrance opening and an exit opening;

providing a bed assembly housing comprised of a top portion which together with the tunnel housing form a substantially enclosed area;

locating an isolating device at the entrance and exit openings of the tunnel housing;

locating a conveyor device substantially in the bed assembly housing, the conveyor device used for moving an object through the entrance opening of the tunnel housing and into the substantially enclosed area, subsequently through the substantially enclosed area, and thereafter out of the substantially enclosed area and out the exit opening of the tunnel housing; and

providing an analysis device for analyzing objects within the substantially enclosed area of the tunnel housing, and

using the analysis device to connect the tunnel housing with the bed assembly housing;

said scanning conducted by a scanner occupying an amount of floor space;

minimizing the occupied floor space by having the top portion and the side portions of the tunnel housing each having a thickness of about 0.125 inches.

7. A method for constructing a scanner for scanning objects comprising the steps of:

constructing a tunnel housing comprised of;

a top portion, and first and second side portions, and

an entrance opening and an exit opening;

constructing a bed assembly housing comprised of a top portion which together with the tunnel housing form a substantially enclosed area;

locating an isolating device at the entrance and exit openings of the tunnel housing;

locating a conveyor device substantially in the bed assembly housing, the conveyor device used for moving an object through the entrance opening of the tunnel housing and into the substantially enclosed area, subsequently through the substantially enclosed area, and thereafter out of the substantially enclosed area and out the exit opening of the tunnel housing; and

constructing an analysis device for analyzing objects within the substantially enclosed area of the tunnel housing;

providing a first slot in one of the portions of the tunnel housing near its entrance opening and

providing a second slot in one of the portions of the tunnel housing near its exit opening;

and wherein the step of locating the isolating device comprises;

inserting a first rod having a first curtain extending from it, through the first slot,

substantially fixing the first rod to a portion of the tunnel housing near the entrance opening of the tunnel housing;

inserting a second rod having a second curtain extending from it, through the second slot, and

substantially fixing the second rod to a portion of the tunnel housing near the exit opening of the tunnel housing.