Methods for Improving Processing Speed For Object Inspection
AssigneeRapiscan Systems, Inc.
InventorsAndreas Pfander, Ronald James Hughes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present specification describes methods and systems for inspecting objects by means of penetrating radiation where objects are conveyed through the penetrating radiation and subsequent images of objects are reviewed by an operator. Specifically, the present specification describes a system that decouples the synchronization between cessation of image generation on the display and image acquisition through conveyance of the article. Further, the present specification discloses methods for compensating for image acquisition inefficiencies involving article separation by the queuing conveyor and the post-stop back belt process, resulting in throughput enhancement.
Claims20
A method of inspecting an object translated forward on a conveyor through an X-ray inspection system wherein the object is scanned with penetrating radiation to generate scan image data for display on a viewing device such that the scan image data initially scrolls in synchronization with the movement of the object, the method comprising:
- stopping scrolling of the scan image data on the viewing device by an operator to examine said scan image data;
- asynchronously continuing the forward movement of the conveyor for a buffer time Bt to collect additional image data of an object while the operator is examining said scan image data;
- stopping the scan process after the buffer time Bt is over;
- storing the acquired additional image data in a buffer memory until the scan process is started again;
- and
- displaying the buffered image data on a viewing device upon restarting the scan process.
A method of inspecting an object translated forward on a conveyor through an X-ray inspection system wherein the object is scanned with penetrating radiation to generate scan image data for display on a viewing device, such that the scan image initially scrolls in synchronization with the movement of the object, the method comprising:
- stopping scrolling of the scan image data on the viewing device by an operator to examine said scan image data;
- asynchronously continuing the forward movement of the conveyor to collect additional image data of at least one queued object while the operator is examining said scan image data;
- storing said acquired additional image data of the at least one queued object in a memory until scrolling of scan image data is started again;
- and
- displaying said additional image data of the at least one queued object on a viewing device upon restarting scrolling of scan image data.
An X-ray inspection system for scanning an object being moved forward there through on a conveyor and displaying scan image data of the object on a viewing device such that the scan image data initially scrolls in synchronization with the movement of the object, the X-ray inspection system being operated in accordance with a method comprising:
- stopping scrolling of the scan image data on the viewing device by an operator to examine said scan image data;
- asynchronously continuing the forward movement of the conveyor for a buffer time Bt to collect additional image data of an object while the operator is examining said scan image data;
- stopping the scan process after the buffer time Bt is over;
- storing said acquired additional image data in a buffer memory until the scan process is started again;
- and
- displaying said buffered image data on a viewing device upon restarting the scan process.
An X-ray inspection system for scanning an object being moved forward there through on a conveyor and displaying scan image data of the object on a viewing device such that the scan image data initially scrolls in synchronization with the movement of the object, the X-ray inspection system being operated in accordance with a method comprising:
- stopping scrolling of the scan image data on the viewing device by an operator to examine said scan image data;
- asynchronously continuing the forward movement of the conveyor to collect additional image data of at least one queued object while the operator is examining said scan image data;
- storing said acquired additional image data of the at least one queued object in a memory until scrolling of scan image data is started again;
- and
- displaying said additional image data of the at least one queued object on a viewing device upon restarting the scrolling of scan image data.
A method of inspecting at least one object being moved forward on a conveyor through an X-ray inspection system wherein a first object is scanned with penetrating radiation to generate scan image data for display on a viewing device such that the scan image data initially scrolls in synchronization with the movement of the first object, the method comprising:
- stopping scrolling of the scan image data on the viewing device by an operator to examine said scan image data of said first object;
- asynchronously continuing the forward movement of the conveyor for a buffer time Bt to collect additional image data of a second object while the operator is examining said scan image data of said first object;
- stopping the scan process after collecting image data of said second object;
- storing said acquired additional image data of a second object in a memory until the scan process is started again;
- and
- displaying said buffered image data on a viewing device upon restarting the scan process.
A method of inspecting at least one object being moved forward on a conveyor through an X-ray inspection system wherein a first object is scanned with penetrating radiation to generate scan image data for display on a viewing device such that the scan image data initially scrolls in synchronization with the movement of the first object, the method comprising:
- stopping scrolling of the scan image data on the viewing device by an operator to examine said scan image data of said first object;
- asynchronously continuing the forward movement of the conveyor for a buffer time Bt to collect additional image data of a second object while the operator is examining said scan image data of said first object;
- storing said acquired additional image data of a second object in a memory until the scrolling of scan image data is started again;
- repeating the steps of collecting additional image data and storing said acquired data for third through nth objects until the buffer time Bt is over;
- and
- displaying said buffered image data on a viewing device upon restarting scrolling of scan image data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.