Method and apparatus for examining luggage by x-ray scanning

• US 6,301,327 B1
• Filed: 09/02/1999
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Homeland Protection Incorporated (Safran SA)
• Original Assignee: Yxlon International X-Ray GmbH (Comet Holding AG)
• Inventors: Geistmann, Bernd, Dau, Hans-Detlef, Peemöller, Horst, Martens, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Church, Craig E.
• Application Number:
  US09/388,711
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 378/57, 378/58
• US Class Current: 378/57
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/22 Active interrogation, i.e. by irradiating objects or goods using external radiation sources, e.g. using gamma rays or cosmic rays

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for examining luggage by X-ray scanning, wherein the pieces of luggage to be examined are moved on a conveyor belt into a scanner which contains the X-ray components, i.e., an X-ray unit and a detector unit. The scanner together with the X-ray unit and the detector unit is moved over the piece of luggage which stands still. After each scanning process, the piece of luggage is moved on the conveyor belt in a timed manner and the step of scanning the piece of luggage is repeated.

Claims

1. An apparatus for examining a piece of luggage by X-ray scanning, the apparatus comprising a scanner comprising an X-ray unit and a detector unit and a conveyor belt for moving the piece of luggage to be examined into the scanner, the apparatus further comprising means for swivelling the scanner about an axis extending perpendicularly of a conveyor plane such that the scanner carries out a circular arc-shaped swivelling movement over the piece of luggage for carrying out a scanning procedure, and means for stopping the movement of the conveyor belt with the piece of luggage when a scanning procedure begins and for repeating the scanning procedure in a timed manner in dependence on dimensions of the piece of luggage.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a, scanning axis of the scanner between the X-ray unit and the detector unit is inclined relative to a vertical direction.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the swivel axis of the scanner is inclined relative to the vertical direction.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scanner is mounted on a frame construction forming an angle, and wherein the swivel axis of the scanner forms a center axis of the frame construction.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the swivel axis extends approximately through a center of the conveyor belt.