US 6,453,003 B1 · Apparatus for transilluminating objects

Abstract

This invention concerns an apparatus to transilluminate objects. In known apparatus (1) there are two radiation sources (10, 20) in a transport path of a transport device (3), below to the right and left, as well as a third radiation source (30) arranged horizontal to the transport path (3), with the two radiation sources (10, 20) lying close together, one behind the other. Three detector apparatus (11, 14, 31) are arranged opposite these radiation sources (10, 20, 30). Thus, a so called multi-view from three beam directions is created, with beam paths (FX1.1, FX2.2, FX3) extending perpendicular to a transport direction. Contrary thereto, in the solution described herein, various radiation beam paths (FX1.1, FX1.2, FX2.1, FX2.2, FX3) cross so that not every beam radiation path extends perpendicular to the transport direction. This has the advantage that the apparatus can be structured in a space saving manner. In a particular embodiment, using three radiation sources (10, 20, 30) and five detector apparatus (11, 12, 21, 22, 31) in a single apparatus, an object (4) to be transilluminated is transilluminated from five different beam directions during its transport through a transillumination space (5) and a quasi 3-D (three-dimensional) model (6) of the object (4) is thereby, simultaneously created. In this regard, two of the detector apparatus (12, 21) are arrange angularly displaced from one another, within one another, to be directed toward corresponding rays (FX1.2, FX2.1) of the beam radiation sources (10, 20). With the help of signals obtained therefrom, in addition to the absorption rate, also the thickness or volume, and therefrom the density, of the items (4.1) in the object (4) can be determined. From the absorption rate and the density, the type of material found in the object (4) and the transilluminated items (4.1) can be exactly determined.

Claims16

Dependent claims

Apparatus (1) for transilluminating objects (4) which, with the help of a transport device (3), are moved through a transillumination space (5) whereby there are at least first and second radiation sources (10, 20, 30) spaced from one another in a transport direction and at least first, second and third detector apparatus (11, 12, 21, 22, 31) mounted about the transport device (3), each of said detector apparatus being elongated with portions thereof extending about at least two sides of said transillumination space for receiving one of first, second and third ionized beams, wherein:

at least each of the first and second ionized beams (FX1.1, FX 1.2, FX2.1, FX2.2, FX3) comes from a different one of said first and second radiation sources (10, 20, 30);
said first and second ionized beams intersect one another;
one of said first and second ionized beams is at an angle not perpendicular to the transport direction of said transport device;
at least said first and second detector apparatus (11, 12, 21, 22, 31) are aligned to receive said first and second ionized beams;
and said first and second detector apparatus have portions thereof positioned on opposite sides of said transillumination space crossing one another along said first and second ionized beams (FX1.1, FX1.2, FX2.1, FX2.2, FX3) so that said first and second detector apparatus are interlaced with one another.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for transilluminating objects

Life of this patent

Apparatus for transilluminating objects

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16