System for, and method of, irradiating articles to sterilize the articles

• US 6,492,645 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1999
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Titan (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SureBeam Corporation
• Inventors: Parker, Russell, Sullivan, George M., Loda, Gary K., Williams, Colin Brian, Allen, John Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): BERMAN, JACK I
• Application Number:
  US09/456,061
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 250/455.11, 250/453.11, 250/492.1, 250/492.3, 378/69
• US Class Current: 250/453.11
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/263 with corpuscular or ionising radiation, i.e. X, alpha, beta or omega radiation laser plasma radiation A23L3/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/087 Particle radiation, e.g. electron-beam, alpha or beta radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 5/10 with provision for relative movement of beam source and object to be irradiated

Abstract

A first robotic assembly transfers articles from carriers on a transport mechanism at a loading area to a first load conveyor. The conveyor transfers the articles to a process conveyor which moves the articles through a target region at a substantially constant speed. The process conveyor then transfers the articles to a second load conveyor. A second robotic assembly then transfers the articles to article carriers on the transport mechanism at an unloading area. The load and process conveyors may be divided into two tracks. First and second radiation sources respectively disposed at first and second gaps in the process conveyor in the target region respectively irradiate the articles in both tracks in opposite directions from positions above and below the articles. Articles on the tracks may be (a) diverged on the first load conveyor to separate the articles from the dividers, (b) converged on the process conveyor to minimize the width of the radiation sources and (c) diverged on the second load conveyor. If one of the radiation sources is not operative, the other source may irradiate the opposite sides of the articles during article movements sequentially on the first tracks of the first load conveyor, the process conveyor and the second load conveyor and then sequentially on the second tracks of the first load conveyor, the process conveyor and the second load conveyor. The articles are inverted during their transfer from the first track of the second load conveyor to the second track of the first load conveyor.

Claims

1. A system for irradiating articles, including,

at least first, second and third process conveyor segments disposed in spaced relationship to one another for moving the articles, there being a gap between the first and second process segments and a gap between the second and third process segments, each of the process conveyor segments being movable at a speed consistent with the speeds of the other process conveyor segments,

a first radiation source disposed relative to the articles on the process conveyor segments, in the gap between the first and second process conveyor segments, for directing radiation in a first direction to the articles,

a second radiation source disposed relative to the articles on the process conveyor segments, in the gap between the second and third process conveyor segments, for directing radiation to the articles in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the second radiation source being displaced from the first radiation source in the direction of the movement of the articles on the process conveyor segments,

a loading area for the articles, the loading area being disposed before the process conveyor segments in the direction of movement of the articles on the process conveyor segments, and an unloading area for the articles, the unloading area being disposed after the process conveyor segments in the direction of movement of the articles on the process conveyor segments.

2. An irradiation system as set forth in claim 1, including,

a divider in the process conveyor segments for producing two spaced and parallel tracks on the process conveyor segments, each of the tracks being constructed to transport the articles on the track separate from the articles on the other track but simultaneously with the articles on the other track.

3. A radiation source as set forth in claim 2, including,

each of the tracks in each of the process conveyor segments including rollers disposed to move the articles on the track toward the articles on the other track, during the movement of the articles toward the first and second radiation sources, to obtain a disposition of the articles on the first and second tracks in substantially contiguous relationship to each other at the positions of the first and second radiation sources,

each of the first and second radiation sources being provided with a width corresponding substantially to the combined widths of the articles on the two (2) spaced tracks.

4. A system as set forth in claim 3 wherein

the process conveyor segments are disposed in a horizontal plane and wherein

one of the radiation sources is disposed above the articles on the process conveyor segments and points downwardly toward the articles on the process conveyor segments and wherein

the other of the radiation sources is disposed below the articles on the process conveyor segments and points upwardly toward the articles on the process conveyor segments.

5. A system for irradiating articles disposed in article carriers, including,

a process conveyor having first, second and third segments disposed in a series relationship and separated from one another to define first and second gaps each having a length less than the width of the articles,

a first load conveyor for transporting the articles and for transferring the articles to the first segment in the process conveyor, a second load conveyor for receiving the articles from the third segment in the process conveyor and for transporting the articles,

a first radiation source disposed relative to the first gap for directing radiation toward the first gap in a first direction toward the articles on the process conveyor, and

a second radiation source disposed relative to the second gap for directing radiation toward the second gap toward the articles on the process conveyor in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein

the cumulative radiation from the first and second sources at each position in the articles on the process conveyor is between first and second limits.

7. A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein

the load conveyors and the process conveyor have dividers for producing a pair of parallel tracks each for transporting articles between the loading area and the unloading area at the same time that the other track transports articles between the loading area and the unloading area.

8. A system as set forth in claim 7, including,

structure for diverging the articles on each of the tracks in the first load conveyor from the divider during the movement of the articles on the first load conveyor toward the process conveyor.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8, including,

structure for converging the articles on each of the tracks toward the divider during the movement of the articles on the process conveyor toward the first radiation source.

10. A system as set forth in claim 9, including,

structure for maintaining the convergence of the articles on each of the tracks on the process conveyor during the movement of the articles on the process conveyor from the first radiation source toward the second radiation source.

11. A system as set forth in claim 6, including,

the load conveyors and the process conveyor having dividers for producing a pair of parallel tracks each for transporting articles between the loading area and the unloading area at the same time that the other track transports articles between the loading area and the unloading area,

structure for diverging the articles on each of the tracks on the first load conveyor from the divider during the movement of the articles on the first load conveyor toward the process conveyor,

structure for converging the articles on the process conveyor toward the divider during the movement of the articles on the process conveyor toward the first radiation source, and

structure for maintaining the convergence of the article carriers on each of the tracks of the process conveyor during the movement of the articles on the process conveyor from the first radiation source toward the second radiation source.

12. A system for irradiating articles, including,

a radiation source,

a process conveyor for moving the articles past the radiation source for an irradiation of the articles by the radiation source,

a load conveyor disposed relative to the process conveyor for transferring the articles to the process conveyor at a speed for movement of the articles on the process conveyor,

a divider on the load conveyor for dividing the load conveyor into a pair of parallel tracks each constructed to transport individual ones of the articles at the same time as the transport of other ones of the articles on the other track, and

members disposed on the tracks for converging the articles on the tracks toward one another for movement of the articles in the converged relationship on the process conveyor past the radiation source.

13. A system as set forth in claim 12 wherein

the members constitute rollers rotatable in a direction to advance the articles toward the radiation source and to converge the articles during the advance of the articles toward the radiation source.

14. A system as set forth in claim 12 wherein

the radiation source has a width to irradiate the articles on the tracks in the converged relationship of the articles on the tracks on the process carrier.

15. A system as set forth in claim 12 wherein

the members constitute first members and wherein the first members are disposed on the process conveyor before the radiation source in the direction of movement of the articles on the tracks to converge the articles and wherein

second members are disposed on the load conveyor on the tracks at a position after the movement of the articles past the radiation source for diverging the articles on each of the tracks away from the articles on the other track.

16. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein

the divider is disposed to define the tracks at the position of the diverging relationship of the articles on the tracks on the load conveyors and at the position of the converging relationship of the articles on the tracks on the process conveyor.

17. A system for irradiating articles, including,

a radiation source,

a process conveyor for moving the articles past the radiation source for an irradiation of the articles by the radiation source,

a load conveyor disposed relative to the process conveyor for transferring the articles to the process conveyor at a speed for movement of the articles on the process conveyor,

a divider on the load conveyor for dividing the load conveyor into a pair of parallel tracks each constructed to transport articles at the same time as the transport of articles on the other track, and

members disposed on the tracks on the load conveyor for diverging the articles on each of the tracks on the load conveyor away from the articles on the other track on the load conveyor for movement of the articles in the diverged relationship on the load conveyor.

18. A system as set forth in claim 17 wherein

the members constitute rollers rotatable in a direction to advance the articles toward the radiation source and away from the divider.

19. A system as set forth in claim 17 wherein

the divider is disposed on the load conveyor to define the tracks at the position of the diverging relationship of the articles on the tracks.

23. A system as set forth in claim 19 wherein

the cumulative radiation from the first and second radiation sources at each position in the articles is between first and second limits.

20. A system for irradiating first and second opposite sides of articles, including,

a radiation source,

a first load conveyor divided into first and second tracks and disposed before the radiation source in the direction of movement of the articles and constructed to move the articles on the tracks,

a process conveyor responsive to the movement of the articles on the first load conveyor for receiving the articles from the first load conveyor, the process conveyor being operative to move the articles past the radiation source for an irradiation of the first sides of the on the process conveyor by the radiation source,

a second load conveyor divided into first and second tracks and disposed after the radiation source in the direction of the movement of the articles and constructed to receive on its first and second tracks the articles respectively disposed on the first and second tracks of the process conveyor after the irradiation of the articles on the process conveyor by the radiation source,

the radiation source being constructed to initially irradiate the articles on the first track of the process conveyor and to subsequently irradiate the articles on the second track of the process conveyor,

a third process conveyor coupling the first track on the second load conveyor and the second track on the first load conveyor for transferring the articles from the first track on the second load conveyor to the second track on the first load conveyor, after the irradiation by the source of the articles on the first track of the process conveyor, for movement of the articles past the radiation source a second time for irradiation of the second sides of the articles on the process conveyor by the radiation source, and

a device coupled to the third load conveyor for inverting the articles transferred to the third load conveyor from the first track in the second load conveyor to obtain the irradiation of the second sides of the articles by the radiation source.

21. A system as set forth in claim 20, including,

each of the first, second and third load conveyors being formed from rollers at progressive positions along the load conveyors and the first and second tracks on each of the first and second load conveyors being defined by dividers extending along the load conveyors in the direction of movement of the articles on the load conveyors.

22. A system as set forth in claim 20, including,

a loading area disposed relative to the first load conveyor for providing for a transfer of the articles from the loading area to the first track on the first load conveyor, and

an unloading area disposed relative to the second track on the second load conveyor for receiving the articles after the irradiation of the first and second sides of the articles by the radiation source.

24. A system as set forth in claim 20, including,

a loading area disposed relative to the first load conveyor for providing for a transfer of the articles from the loading area to the first track on the first load conveyor, and

an unloading area disposed relative to the second track on the second load conveyor for receiving the articles after the radiation of the first and second sides of the articles by the radiation source,

the cumulative radiation from the first and second radiation sources at each position in the articles being between first and second limits, and

the process conveyor being constructed to convey the articles on the process conveyor at a substantially constant speed past the radiation source.

25. A system for irradiating articles, including,

a load conveyor divided into first and second tracks and disposed to receive individual ones of the articles on the first track and simultaneously to receive others of the articles on the second track,

a process conveyor disposed relative to the first load conveyor for receiving the articles from the first and second tracks on the first load conveyor and having first and second tracks and constructed to receive on the first and second tracks the articles respectively from the first and second tracks on the first load conveyor, the process conveyor being constructed to move the articles on the process conveyor at a particular speed and being provided with first and second gaps spaced from each other in the direction of movement of the articles on the process conveyor,

a first radiation source disposed at the first gap for directing radiation toward the first gap and through the articles on the process conveyor in a first direction transverse to the direction of movement of the articles on the process conveyor and through a width encompassing the articles on the first and second tracks of the process conveyor, and

a second radiation source disposed at the second gap for directing radiation toward the second gap and through the articles in a second direction opposite to the first direction and through a width encompassing the articles on the first and second tracks of the process conveyor.

26. A system as set forth in claim 25, including,

a loading area disposed relative to the load conveyor for providing for a transfer of the articles from the loading area to the first and second tracks of the load conveyor,

the load conveyor constituting a first load conveyor,

a second load conveyor having first and second tracks for respectively receiving the articles from the first and second tracks of the process conveyor after the irradiation of the articles on the first and second tracks of the process carrier by the first and second radiation sources, and

unloading area for receiving the article carriers on the first and second tracks of the second load conveyor.

27. A system as set forth in claim 25, including,

the articles having first and second opposite sides,

a third load conveyor having a track extending from the first track of the second load conveyor to the second track of the first load conveyor,

an inverter on the third load conveyor for inverting the article carriers on the third load conveyor, and

a controller responsive to a failure of one of the first and second radiation sources for activating the third load conveyor to receive the article carriers on the first track of the second load conveyor and for activating the inverter to provide for an inversion of the articles on the third load conveyor and for transferring the inverted articles to the second track on the first load conveyor for an irradiation of the second side of the articles by the one of the first and second radiation sources.

28. A system as set forth in claim 25, including,

the articles having first and second opposite sides, and

the controller being associated with the first and second load conveyors for providing for an irradiation of the second sides of the articles by one of the first and second radiation sources, after the irradiation of the first sides of the articles by the one of the radiation sources, when the other one of the radiation sources is unable to provide such irradiation of the second sides of the articles.

29. A system as set forth in claim 27 wherein

the controller provides for an inversion of the articles after the irradiation of the first sides of the articles by the one of the radiation sources and provides for another movement of the articles past the one of the radiation sources after the inversion of the articles to obtain an irradiation of the second sides of the articles by the one of the radiation sources.

30. A system for irradiating articles disposed on article carriers, including,

a first load conveyor,

a transport mechanism for advancing the article carriers,

a first robotic device for removing the articles individually from the article carriers on the transport mechanism and for transferring the articles to the first load conveyor,

a source of radiation,

a process conveyor for receiving the articles from the first load conveyor and for moving the articles past the radiation source at a substantially constant speed for an irradiation of the articles by the radiation source,

a second load conveyor for receiving the irradiated articles from the process conveyor and for moving the irradiated articles toward the article carriers on the transport mechanism, and

a second robotic device for removing the irradiated articles individually from the second load conveyor and for transferring the irradiated articles to the article carriers on the transport mechanism,

the articles having first and second opposite sides,

the source of radiation constituting a first source of radiation,

a second source of radiation,

there being first and second gaps in the process conveyor,

the first source of radiation being disposed at the first gap in the process conveyor to direct the radiation in a first direction toward the first side of the articles,

the second source of radiation being disposed at the second gap in the process conveyor to direct the radiation toward the second side of the articles in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

32. A system as set forth in claim 30, including,

each of the load conveyors and the process conveyor including first and second tracks each constructed to transport articles at the same time as the transport of articles by the other track,

a third load conveyor coupling the first track on the second load conveyor and the second track on the first load conveyor to obtain a transfer of articles from the first track on the second load conveyor to the second track on the first load conveyor after the irradiation of the first side of the articles on the first track of the first load conveyor by one of the sources of radiation when the other one of the sources of radiation fails to irradiate the second side of the articles, and

an inverter for inverting the articles during the transfer of the articles from the first track of the second load converter to the second track of the first load converter,

the articles being irradiated on the second side of the articles upon the movement of the articles on the second track of the first load conveyor and the transfer of the articles to the process conveyor for movement past the radiation source.

33. A system as set forth in claim 30 wherein

the source of radiation irradiates the articles on the process conveyor at every position in the articles with a strength between first and second limits.

31. A system as set forth in claim 31 wherein

apparatus is provided for obtaining a radiation of the first and second opposite sides of the articles on the process conveyor by one of the first and second sources of radiation when the other one of the sources of radiation is unable to irradiate the articles on the process conveyor.

34. A method of irradiating articles disposed on article carriers, including the steps of:

moving the article carriers on a transport mechanism,

transferring articles in sequence from the article carriers to a first load conveyor during the movement of the article carriers on the transport mechanism,

moving the articles on the first load conveyor to a process conveyor,

moving the articles at a substantially constant speed on the process conveyor past sources of radiation to irradiate opposite sides of the articles wherein

there are first and second sources of radiation and wherein

the first source of radiation irradiates the first opposite side of the articles on the process conveyor and

the second source of radiation irradiates the second opposite side of the articles on the process conveyor,

transferring the irradiated articles from the process conveyor to a second load conveyor for movement of the irradiated articles to the transport mechanism, and

transferring the irradiated articles on the second load conveyor to article carriers on the transport mechanism, and wherein

the articles are inverted when one of the sources of radiation fails to irradiate the articles on the process conveyor and wherein

 

the other one of the sources of radiation irradiates the inverted articles on the process conveyor to obtain an irradiation of the second opposite side of the articles.

35. A method of irradiating articles disposed on article carriers, including the steps of:

moving the article carriers on a transport mechanism,

transferring articles in sequence from the article carriers to a first load conveyor during the movement of the article carriers on the transport mechanism,

moving the articles on the first load conveyor to a process conveyor,

moving the articles at a substantially constant speed on the process conveyor past sources of radiation to irradiate opposite sides of the articles,

transferring the irradiated articles from the process conveyor to a second load conveyor for movement of the irradiated articles to the transport mechanism, and

transferring the irradiated articles to article carriers on the transport mechanism,

the first and second load conveyors and the process conveyor are divided to form two parallel tracks and wherein

the articles are simultaneously disposed on the first and second tracks of each of the first and second load conveyors and wherein

the articles on the two tracks of the first load conveyor are diverged before the transfer of the articles to the process conveyor and wherein

the articles on the process conveyor are converged before the irradiation of the articles by the radiation source.

36. A method of irradiating articles disposed on article carriers, including the steps of:

moving the article carriers on a transport mechanism,

transferring articles in sequence from the article carriers to a first load conveyor during the movement of the article carriers on the transport mechanism,

moving the articles on the first load conveyor to a process conveyor,

moving the articles at a substantially constant speed on the process conveyor past sources of radiation to irradiate opposite sides of the articles,

transferring the irradiated articles from the process conveyor to a second load conveyor for movement of the irradiated articles to the transport mechanism, and

transferring the irradiated articles to article carriers on the transport mechanism,

the articles are inverted when the one of the sources of radiation fails to irradiate the articles and wherein

the other one of the sources of radiation irradiates the inverted articles to obtain an irradiation of the second side of the articles and wherein

the first and second load conveyors and the process conveyor are divided to form two parallel tracks and wherein

the articles are simultaneously disposed on the first and second tracks of the first and second load conveyors and wherein

the articles on the two tracks of the first load conveyor are diverged and wherein

 

the articles on the process conveyor are converged before the irradiation of the articles by the radiation sources or by the other one of the radiation sources when the one of the radiation sources fails to irradiate the articles.

37. A method of irradiating articles disposed on article carriers, including the steps of:

providing a transport mechanism for the article carriers,

transferring articles in sequence to a first load conveyor from each of the successive article carriers on the transport mechanism,

transporting the articles in sequence at a first speed on the first load conveyor to a process conveyor,

moving the articles in sequence on the process conveyor at a substantially constant speed less than the first speed,

irradiating first and second opposite sides of the articles on the process conveyor,

transferring the irradiated articles to a second load conveyor,

providing for the movement of the articles on the second load conveyor at a speed greater than the speed of the articles on the process conveyor, and

transferring the articles on the second load conveyor to article carriers on the transport mechanism, and wherein

first and second sources of radiation are respectively disposed on first and second opposite sides of the articles disposed on the process conveyor to irradiate opposite sides of the articles and wherein

the first side of the articles is irradiated in a first pass of the articles past one of the radiation sources and wherein

the second side of the articles is irradiated in a second pass of the articles past the one of the radiation sources when the other one of the radiation sources is not operative to irradiate the articles.

38. A method as set forth in claim 37 wherein

the articles are inverted in the time between the first and second passes of the articles past the one of the radiation sources.

39. A method of irradiating articles, including the steps of:

providing at least one source of radiation,

providing a loading area, displaced from the source of radiation, for holding the articles,

providing an unloading area displaced from the at least one source of radiation and the loading area,

providing for a transfer of the articles from the loading area to a first load conveyor,

providing for a transfer of the articles from the first load conveyor to a process conveyor to obtain a movement of the articles past the at least one source of radiation for an irradiation of the articles on the process conveyor by the at least one radiation source,

providing for a transfer of the articles from the process conveyor to a second load conveyor for a transport of the articles to the unloading area,

providing for a division of the first and second load conveyors and the process conveyor into a pair of tracks each constructed to transport articles at the same time as the transport of articles on the other track,

providing for a divergence of the articles on the first and second tracks of the first load conveyor after the transfer of the articles to the first load conveyor from the loading area, and

providing for a convergence of the articles on the process conveyor before the movement of the articles on the process conveyor past the at least one radiation source.

40. A method as set forth in claim 39 wherein

the process conveyor provides for a movement of the articles past the at least one source of radiation at a particular speed and wherein

the process conveyor is provided in segments with a gap between each pair of successive segments and wherein

the at least one source of radiation constitutes first and second sources of radiation each disposed at an individual one of the gaps in the process conveyor and wherein

the first source of radiation is disposed relative to the articles on the process conveyor to irradiate the first side of the articles in a first direction and wherein

the second source of radiation is disposed relative to the articles on the process chamber to irradiate the second side of the articles in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

41. A method as set forth in claim 39 wherein

the at least one source of radiation constitutes first and second sources of radiation and wherein

the first source of radiation irradiates the articles in a first direction through the articles from the first side of the articles and wherein

the second source of radiation irradiates the articles in a second direction through the articles from the second side of the articles where the second direction is opposite to the first direction and wherein

the cumulative amount of irradiation of the articles at every position in the articles by the first and second sources of radiation is between first and second particular limits.

42. A method as set forth in claim 39 wherein

the first and second opposite sides of the articles constitute the tops and bottoms of the articles and wherein

the first and second sources of radiation are respectively disposed above and below the articles on the process conveyor and wherein

the cumulative amount of irradiation of the articles on the process conveyor at every position in the articles by the first and second sources of radiation is between first and second particular limits.

43. A method of irradiating articles disposed in a non-uniform relationship on article carriers, including the steps of:

providing a loading area,

providing an unloading area displaced from the unloading area,

providing a transport mechanism movable past the loading and unloading areas with the article carriers disposed on the transport mechanism,

providing a process conveyor,

providing a controlled transfer of each of the articles in sequence from each of the successive article carriers on the transport mechanism in a substantially uniform relationship relative to the process conveyor for each of the articles,

providing a movement of the articles on the process conveyor past at least one source of radiation to obtain an irradiation of the articles on the process conveyor, and

providing a transfer of the irradiated articles to the article carriers on the transport mechanism as the article carriers move on the transport mechanism past the unloading area wherein

the process conveyor includes first and second tracks and wherein

articles are disposed on each of the first and second tracks of the process conveyor at the same time that articles are disposed on the other one of the tracks of the process conveyor and wherein

each of the first and second radiation sources radiates the articles on the first and second tracks of the process conveyor and wherein

the articles are disposed on one of the tracks of the process conveyor in a first movement of the articles past one of the radiation sources when the other one of the radiation sources is not operative to irradiate the articles on the process conveyor and wherein

 

the articles are disposed on the other one of the tracks of the process conveyor in a second movement of the articles past the one of the radiation sources when the other one of the radiation sources is not operative to irradiate the articles on the process conveyor and wherein

 

the articles are transferred from the one of the tracks to the other one of the tracks and are inverted between the times of the first and second movements of the articles past the one of the radiation sources.

44. A method of irradiating articles including the steps of:

providing a process conveyor,

dividing the process conveyor into two (2) tracks, each movable at the same speed as the other track and each constructed to hold the articles to be irradiated,

providing a radiation source constructed to irradiate articles,

moving the process conveyor past the radiation from the radiation source to obtain an irradiation of the articles on the two tracks, and

converging the articles on each of the tracks toward the divider during the movement of the process conveyor toward the radiation source to minimize the width of the radiation from the radiation source.

45. A method as set forth in claim 44, including the steps of:

providing a load conveyor for conveying the articles toward the process conveyor and dividing the load conveyor into two (2) tracks corresponding to the two (2) tracks on the process conveyor,

transferring the articles from the load conveyor to the process conveyor for the movement of the articles by the process conveyor toward the radiation source,

diverging the articles on the two (2) tracks on the load conveyor during the movement of the articles on the load conveyor toward the process conveyor, and

transferring the articles from a loading area to the load conveyor for movement of the articles to the process conveyor.

46. A method as set forth in claim 44 including the steps of:

providing a load conveyor for conveying the articles from the process conveyor after the irradiation of the articles by the radiation source,

dividing the load conveyor into two (2) tracks corresponding to the two (2) tracks on the process conveyor,

transferring the articles on the two (2) tracks on the process conveyor to the two (2) tracks on the load conveyor after the irradiation of the articles on the process conveyor,

diverging the articles from the divider during the movement of the articles on the load conveyor, and

transferring the articles from the level conveyor to an unloading area.

47. A method as set forth in claim 46 wherein

the process conveyor conveys the articles at a substantially constant speed past the radiation from the radiation source and wherein

the load conveyors convey the articles at a different speed than the speed at which the articles are conveyed on the process conveyor.

48. A method as set forth in claim 44 wherein

the process conveyor is formed from three (3) segments disposed in a series relationship and wherein

the second segment is separated by gaps from the first and third segments and wherein

the gaps have a length less than the length of the articles and wherein

first and second radiation sources are respectively disposed in the gaps separating the second segment from the first and third segments and wherein

the first and second radiation sources are disposed on the opposite sides of the process conveyor and wherein

 

the first radiation source is pointed toward the article on the process conveyor in a direction opposite to the direction in which the second radiation source is pointed.

49. A method as set forth in claim 45 wherein

the articles are disposed in a non-uniform relationship to one another on the load conveyor and are transferred to the process conveyor for disposition on the process conveyor in a substantially uniform relationship to one another.

50. A method as set forth claim 45 wherein

rollers are provided on the process conveyor to converge the articles on the first and second tracks on the process conveyor toward the divider and wherein

rollers are provided in the load conveyor to diverge the articles on the load conveyor from the divider on the load conveyor.

51. A method as set forth in claim 48, including the steps of:

providing for one of the radiation sources to irradiate first and second opposite sides of the article when the other one of the first and second radiation sources is inoperative.

52. A method as set forth in claim 48, including the steps of:

extending a third load conveyor from the first track of the second load conveyor to the second track of the first load conveyor,

inverting the articles on the third load conveyor, and

activating the third load conveyor to receive the articles on the first track of the second load conveyor and to invert the articles and to transfer the inverted articles to the second track on the first load conveyor to obtain a radiation of the second side of the articles on the second track of the first load conveyor.

53. A system for irradiating articles, including,

a process conveyor for conveying the articles in a first direction and including a divider for separating the conveyor into first and second tracks,

a source of radiation for providing radiation in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and

structure for converging the articles in the two (2) tracks on the process conveyor toward the divider on the process conveyor during the movement of the articles on the process conveyor, thereby to limit the width of the radiation source.

54. A system as set forth in claim 53 wherein

the process conveyor is divided into three (3) segments disposed in a series relationship and wherein

the second segment is respectively separated by first and second gaps from the first and third segments and wherein

the gaps have a length less than the length of the articles and wherein

the source of radiation comprises first and second sources of radiation and wherein

 

the first radiation source is disposed adjacent the first gap on a first side of the article and the second radiation source is disposed adjacent the second gap on a second side of the article opposite to the first side of the articles.

55. A system as set forth in claim 53, including

a load conveyor disposed relative to the process conveyor for conveying the articles and for transferring the articles to the process conveyor,

the load conveyor including a divider for separating the load conveyor into first and second tracks each constructed to convey articles at the same time as the conveyance of articles by the other track,

the load conveyor being constructed to diverge the articles from the divider during the conveyance of the articles on the load conveyor.

56. A system as set forth in claim 53, including

a load conveyor disposed relative to the process conveyor for conveying the articles after the irradiation of the articles by the source of radiation,

the load conveyor including a divider for separating the load conveyor into first and second tracks each constructed to convey articles at the same time as the conveyance of articles by the other track,

the load conveyor being constructed to diverge the articles from the dividers during the conveyance of the articles on the load conveyor.

57. A system as set forth in claim 55, including

a loader for providing articles to the load conveyor,

the process conveyor being constructed to convey the articles on the process conveyor at a substantially constant speed,

the load conveyor and the process conveyor being disposed relative to each other and constructed to provide the conveyance of the articles on the load conveyor at a different speed than the speed of the articles on the process conveyor and to provide for a substantially uniform spacing of the articles on the process conveyor.

58. A system as set forth in claim 55 wherein

the articles are disposed in a non-uniform relationship to one another on the load conveyor and wherein

a controller is provided in association with the load conveyor and the process conveyor to transfer the articles from the load conveyor to the process conveyor in a substantially uniform relationship to one another on the process conveyor.

59. A system as set forth in claim 55 wherein

rollers are provided on the process conveyor to converge the articles on the first and second tracks on the process conveyor toward the divider and wherein

rollers are provided on the load conveyor to diverge the articles on the conveyor from the divider.

60. A system as set forth in claim 55 wherein

a second load conveyor is disposed relative to the process conveyor to receive the articles from the process conveyor after the irradiation of the articles and is provided with a divider to separate the second load conveyor into first and second tracks and wherein the articles are irradiated by a first radiation source disposed on a first side of the articles and by a second radiation source disposed on a second side of the articles opposite to the first side and wherein

the first and second load conveyors are interrelated to provide for one of the radiation sources to irradiate the two (2) opposite sides of the articles when the other one of the radiation sources is inoperative.

61. A system as set forth in claim 60, wherein

the interrelationship between the first and second load conveyors is provided by a third load conveyor to transfer the articles from the first track on the second load conveyor to the second track on the first load conveyor when the second radiation source is inoperative and wherein

an inverter is disposed relative to the third load conveyor to invert the articles on the third load conveyor, thereby providing for an irradiation of the first side of the articles by the first radiation source during the disposition of the articles on the first track of the first load conveyor and for an irradiation of the second side of the articles by the second radiation source during the disposition of the articles on the second track of the first load conveyor.

62. A system for irradiating articles, including

a source of radiation,

a process conveyor for moving the articles on the process conveyor past the source of radiation for irradiating the articles,

a divider on the process conveyor for dividing the process conveyor into first and second tracks, and

members on the first and second tracks of the process conveyor for conveying the articles on the tracks toward the divider during the movement of the articles on the process conveyor toward the radiation from the source.

63. A system as set forth in claim 62 wherein

the radiation source is on a first side of the process conveyor to radiate a first side of the articles and wherein

a second radiation source is on a second side of the process conveyor to radiate a second side of the articles opposite to the first side of the articles.

64. A system as set forth in claim 63 wherein

gaps are provided in the process conveyor at the positions of the radiation from the first and second sources.

65. A system as set forth in claim 62 wherein

the articles are moved by the process conveyor past the source of radiation at a substantially constant speed.

66. A system as set forth in claim 63 wherein

gaps are provided on the process conveyor at the positions of the radiation from the first and second sources, and

the articles are moved by the process conveyor past the source of radiation at a substantially constant speed.

67. A method of irradiating articles, including the steps of:

providing a divider on a process conveyor in a longitudinal direction corresponding to a direction of movement of the process conveyor,

directing radiation toward the articles on the process conveyor during the movement of the articles on the process conveyor, and

converging the articles on the process conveyor during their movement on the process conveyor toward the radiation from the source.

68. A method as set forth in claim 67 wherein

the process conveyor moves at a substantially constant speed past the radiation from the source.

69. A method as set forth in claim 67 wherein

the source of radiation constitutes a first source of radiation and wherein

a second source of radiation is disposed on a second side of the articles opposite to the first side of the articles and wherein

first and second gaps are provided in the process conveyor at spaced positions in the direction of movement of the process conveyor respectively corresponding to the position of the first and second sources of radiation.

70. A method as set forth in claim 69 wherein

the first and second sources of radiation are respectively disposed to pass radiation through the first and second gaps to the articles on the process conveyor and wherein

the dimensions of the gaps in the direction of movement of the process conveyor is less than the dimension of the articles in the direction of movement of the process conveyor.

71. A method as set forth in claim 68 wherein

the source of radiation constitutes a first source of radiation and wherein

a second source of radiation is disposed on a second side of the articles opposite to the first side of the articles and wherein

first and second gaps are provided in the process conveyor at spaced positions in the direction of movement of the process conveyor, and

wherein the first and second sources of radiation are respectively disposed to pass radiation through the first and second gaps and wherein

the dimensions of the gaps in the direction of movement of the process conveyor is less than the dimension of the articles in the direction of movement of the process conveyor.