Method and apparatus for inspecting an object, particularly a piece of luggage

• US 6,584,170 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2002
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH
• Original Assignee: Heimann Systems GmbH
• Inventors: Aust, Stefan, Meder, Claus, Koch, Cornelius
• Primary Examiner(s): Church, Craig E.
• Application Number:
  US10/061,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20030031293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 378/57, 378/58
• US Class Current: 378/57
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/044 using laminography or tomosynthesis
• 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

In a device and processes for inspecting an object (1), particularly a piece of luggage, in which radiation is emitted by a stationary radiation source (2) while the object (1) is transported in a straight line through the radiation with intensity levels of unabsorbed radiation being detected by a detector arrangement (3) and processed into an image of the object (1), the object (1) is rotated by a rotating device (8) through an angle after a pass through the radiation in order to change its transport position, and is subsequently transported through the radiation again with another image being produced. This facilitates improved inspection by reducing so-called “dark alarms.”

Claims

1. A method for inspecting an object, the method steps comprising:

emitting radiation by a stationary radiation source;

transporting the object in a straight line through the radiation;

detecting the intensity levels of unabsorbed radiation by a detector arrangement;

processing the detected intensity levels of the unabsorbed radiation into an image of the object; and

rotating the object through an angle after a pass through the radiation by a rotating device in order to change the object'"'"'s transport position, and subsequently transporting the object in a straight line through the radiation again, producing another image.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the radiation source emits radiation in a radiation plane and wherein the intensity levels of the unabsorbed radiation are detected by the detector arrangement in line-by-line fashion.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the object is transported through the radiation in alternating directions of transport, with an image being produced at each pass.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the object is transported through the radiation at least three times, with the object being rotated through an angle about the same axis of rotation prior to each pass.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the object is rotated through the same angle prior to each pass through the radiation.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the object is rotated about an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to a transport plane.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the individual images of an object are displayed on a screen in one of the following manners:

next to one another and in chronological sequence.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein an operator manually enters at least one of size and direction of an angle through which the object will be rotated prior to a pass.

9. The method according to claim 3, wherein respective angles of rotation and a chronological sequence of a display of individual images of the object on a screen are chosen such that an impression of a rotating object is produced.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the radiation is of X-rays.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of rotating and subsequently transporting said object through the radiation again is performed, depending upon an input.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said input is effected in response to the image of the object that displays the detected intensity levels of the unabsorbed radiation.

13. An apparatus for inspecting an object comprising:

a stationary radiation source;

a detector arrangement facing the radiation source;

a transport device that conveys in a straight line for transporting the object through radiation from the radiation source; and

an analysis unit with a computer that generates an image from intensity levels detected by the detector arrangement, and a screen that displays the generated image;

wherein the transport device has a rotating device for rotating the object after a pass through the radiation to change its transport position, and wherein the object is subsequently transported in a straight line through the radiation again.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the radiation source emits X-rays.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the rotating device has a transport plate that is pivotally mounted to be pivoted by a rotary actuator about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the transport plane.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the transport device has a transport plate that is mounted to be tilted by a tilt actuator about a tilt axis running in one of a direction of transport and a direction transverse to the direction of transport.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the transport device has a transport plate that is mounted to be at least one of rotated and tilted by an actuator wherein the transport plate with its actuator is carried in a linear guide.

18. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein is further included a control unit for controlling the transport device and a control-board unit that is connected with the control unit that can used to specify at least one of a number of passes and a size of an angle of rotation.

19. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein is further included a control unit with a computer that automatically controls at least one of a number of passes and a size of an angle of rotation.

20. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein is further included a screen and wherein a plurality of images of the object are displayed on the screen in one of the following manners:

next to one another and in chronological sequence.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the analysis unit processes individual images in such a way that they all face in the same direction when they are displayed on the screen.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the analysis unit displays the individual images of an object in their chronological order in such a way that an impression of a rotating object is produced.

23. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein display instrument is included for displaying to an operator current status parameters of an inspection process.

24. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the radiation source emits radiation in a fan-shaped radiation plane, and the detector arrangement contains detectors in linear arrangement.

25. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the transport device is reversible for transporting in a first direction and in an opposite direction.