Synchronized markers for X-ray systems

A belt including synchronized reference markers for use in a multiple-scanner X-ray system, comprising:

• a plurality of X-ray reactive markers arranged to be evident in an upper X-ray of an upper scanned belt section above a sliding bed, and in a lower X-ray of a lower scanned belt section below the sliding bed, during belt movement;
• and
• a plurality of visual markers arranged to be visible as part of upper visual marker information during belt movement;
• wherein the plurality of X-ray reactive markers and the plurality of visual markers are positionally synchronized relative to each other and the belt to cause upper visual marker information, corresponding to a visual appearance of the upper scanned belt section, to be consistent with i) upper X-ray marker information in the upper X-ray, and ii) lower X-ray marker information in the lower X-ray.

A method of including synchronized reference markers on a belt for use in a multiple-scanner X-ray system, comprising:

• setting on the belt at least one instance of a pattern of a plurality of X-ray reactive markers, the X-ray reactive markers being spaced apart from one another to accommodate items to be scanned;
• setting on the belt at least one instance of the pattern of a plurality of visual markers, spaced apart to accommodate items to be scanned;
• setting on the belt at least one instance of a sub-pattern comprising X-ray reactive or visual markers, which is a subset section of the pattern, the sub-pattern being formed by markers spaced apart from one another to accommodate items to be scanned;
• wherein X-ray reactive markers and the visual markers are spaced from each other and aligned relative to conveyance of an upper belt portion and a lower belt portion of the belt to be positionally synchronized when the belt is used in a multiple-scanner X-ray system to cause upper visual marker information, corresponding to a visual appearance of an upper scanned belt section, to be consistent with i) upper X-ray marker information in an upper X-ray, and ii) lower X-ray marker information in a lower X-ray.