Inspection device

• US 6,597,760 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2002
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH
• Original Assignee: Heimann Systems GmbH
• Inventors: Naumann, Dirk, Siedenburg, Uwe, Thoma, Helmut, Beneke, Knut
• Primary Examiner(s): Church, Craig E.
• Application Number:
  US10/152,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20020176533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 378/57
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/224 Multiple energy techniques using one type of radiation, e.g. X-rays of different energies

Abstract

In an inspection device for inspecting objects for explosives and other items prohibited for travel, particularly in carry-on baggage, a transport shaft (101) where there is little space, has incorporated thereabout radiation sources (10, 20, 30), which generate at least three beams (FX₁, FX₂, FX₃) at which are directed at corresponding linear detectors (11, 21, 31). This transport shaft (101) is extended by incorporation of equipment or system components (3, 4, 40) that are not part of the inspection system (100), or by additional system components (4, 40) being integrated into a housing (103) of the inspection device (100), with a necessary radiation protection for the inspection device in compliance with radiation protection regulations being provided by a shielding (102) placed on or around a piece of equipment or its system components (3) already existing in the transport system (1), ideally in front of the transport shaft (101).

Claims

1. An inspection device for the inspection of objects, in particular for the detection of contraband items in luggage, said inspection device comprising:

radiation sources with linear detectors directed thereat, said radiation sources and said linear detectors being arranged about a transport shaft, with said radiation sources producing at least three beams that observe the object from at least three radiation planes, wherein

said inspection device is integrated in a housing of a separate system or vice versa, and

in order to extend a radiation tunnel of said inspection device in front of said transport shaft, a shield that cooperates with said transport shaft is mounted about a system component that is part of said separate system.

2. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein said separate system is a transport system of a check-in counter.

3. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein a length of said shield is not shorter than one maximum suitcase length.

4. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein a system component of said separate system is equipped with shielding behind said transport shaft.

5. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein a maximum distance between a first radiation source and a last radiation source is determined by a length of an available belt, which is one maximum suitcase length.

6. The inspection according to claim 5, wherein a maximum distance between a last radiation plane and an end of said available belt must be no shorter than one half of said maximum suitcase length.

7. The inspection device according to claim 5, wherein a maximum distance between a last radiation plane and the end of a following system component must be no shorter than one half of said maximum suitcase length.

8. The inspection device according to claim 3, wherein the maximum suitcase length is approximately 100 cm.

9. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein there are three said radiation sources and three said linear detectors attached about said transport shaft.

10. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein at least two of said radiation sources are attached about a transport shaft in close proximity to one another in the transport direction of said object.

11. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein a maximum of two of said radiation sources are attached to any one side of said transport shaft.

12. The inspection device according to claim 11, wherein a remaining radiation source is located on a side of said transport shaft different from said two radiation sources.

13. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein none of said radiation sources are located beneath said transport system and said transport shaft.

14. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein two of said linear detectors are accommodated in a shared mount.

15. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein one of a closable curtain and a roller shutter is integrated into said shield.

16. The inspection device according to claim 15, wherein said one of said curtain and said roller shutter is attached at an entrance of said shield.

17. The inspection device according to claim 1, wherein a camera is provided inside said shield.

18. The inspection device according to claim 5, wherein the maximum suitcase length is approximately 100 cm.

19. The inspection device according to claim 6, wherein the maximum suitcase length is approximately 100 cm.

20. The inspection device according to claim 7, wherein the maximum suitcase length is approximately 100 cm.