Nonintrusive inspection system

• US 7,050,536 B1
• Filed: 03/21/2005
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Morpho Detection LLC (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Invision Technologies, Inc. (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Kresse, David E., Baylis, William H., Fenkart, Gerhard, Mesqui, François A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruce, David V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SONG, HOON K
• Application Number:
  US11/086,177
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 378/57, 378/4, 378/51, 378 53- 55, 378/9, 378 68- 69
• 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 5/226 using tomography

Abstract

An x-ray technique-based nonintrusive inspection apparatus is provided which is capable of inspecting 600 containers an hour which is small, and which is easily maintainable. Features of the apparatus include “radiation locking” with “active curtains”, “continuous scanning” utilizing an x-ray line scanner subsystem and a CT scanner subsystem, good structural integrity, radiation containment in a self-shielding manner, an easily maintainable driving arrangement, shielding curtains that can be raised and lowered quickly, a container jam release mechanism, and efficient air conditioning.

Claims

1. A method of non-intrusively inspecting an object (60), utilizing an x-ray technique-based nonintrusive inspection apparatus, including:

scanning a front portion (70, 74) of the object utilizing an x-ray line scanner subsystem (32);

scanning a section (72A) within the front portion utilizing a CT scanner subsystem (34); and

scanning a rear portion (78) of the object, utilizing the x-ray line scanner subsystem, after the section in the front portion is scanned with the CT scanner subsystem.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the object is scanned while being moved relative to the x-ray line scanner subsystem and the CT scanner subsystem and the front portion and the rear portion are scanned without altering the direction of movement of the object relative to the x-ray line scanner subsystem and the CT scanner subsystem.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the movement of the object relative to the x-ray line scanner subsystem and the CT scanner subsystem is progressively reduced after the section is scanned by the x-ray line scanner subsystem but before the section is scanned by the CT scanner subsystem.

4. An x-ray technique-based nonintrusive inspection apparatus (8) which includes:

at least one tunnel section (14) having first and second opposed ends (42, 44);

a conveyor system (20) having at least one belt (50), at least partially located within the tunnel section, which, upon movement, is capable of transporting an object from the first end to the second end of the tunnel section;

an x-ray line scanner subsystem (32) which is positioned to scan at a first plane within the tunnel section;

a CT scanner subsystem (34) which is positioned to scan at a second plane within the tunnel section, wherein the same belt of the conveyor system conveys the object from first plane to the second plane; and

at least one shielding arrangement (26) secured to one end of the tunnel section, having a curtain roller (54) and a radiation resistant curtain (56) secured to the curtain roller.

5. An x-ray technique-based nonintrusive inspection apparatus (8) which includes:

a base frame (38);

a support structure (40) having a lower end (104, 106) secured to the base frame and extending upwardly therefrom;

an x-ray line scanner subsystem (32) mounted to the support structure;

a CT scanner subsystem (34) rotatably mounted to the support structure; and

at least one shielding arrangement (26), having a curtain roller (54), and a radiation resistant curtain (56) secured to the curtain roller, wherein the curtain roller is rotatably mounted to the support structure.