Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for detecting foreign material in containers in a product stream. Two X-ray emitters and two sensor arrays are positioned in a constellation to improve the detection of foreign material. A first x-ray emitter is positioned so that it projects an x-ray beam in a downward manner through the product stream. A second x-ray emitter is positioned so that it projects an x-ray beam in an upward manner through the product stream. Two sensor arrays are each positioned in receiving relation to each of the x-ray beams to receive and provide signals from each of the beams after they have interacted with the product stream. Signals from each of the two sensor arrays are processed and compared with user defined thresholds to detect and indicate the presence of foreign material in containers.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for detecting foreign material in containers in a product stream traveling on a conveyor. Two X-ray emitters and to sensor arrays are positioned in a constellation to improve the detection of foreign material. A first x-ray emitter is positioned so that it projects an x-ray beam both toward the product stream and also in a downward manner through the product stream. A second x-ray emitter is positioned so that it projects an x-ray beam both toward the products stream and in an upward manner through the product stream. Two sensor arrays are each positioned in receiving relation to each of the x-ray beams to receive and provide signals from each of the beams after they have interacted with the product stream. Signals from each of the two sensor arrays are processed and compared with user defined thresholds to detect and indicate the presence of foreign material in containers.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for acquiring an image of an object and its contents from a stream of objects as they are transported by a conveyor. The image of the object is acquired by projecting a beam of electromagnetic radiation through the object and converting the resultant electromagnetic radiation by a sensor. The sensor accumulates the resultant electromagnetic radiation over a period of time that is a pre-defined relationship or function of the spatial relationship between the position of the object and the beam of electromagnetic radiation. A setup means is provided which allows a user to pre-define a set of constants in the pre-defined relationship.

Abstract: A closed forced air system cools the electronic circuitry in a control console of an x-ray inspection station directed to food products in containers. A U-shaped tubular duct located beneath the console enclosure has both upwardly-directed ends attached to the bottom panel of the enclosure with openings provided for airflow communication, thus creating a closed loop air passageway. A pair of electric fans are installed at the upper ends of the U-shaped duct in manner to circulate air flow through the loop. Air in the enclosure, warmed by the electronic control circuitry, is drawn by one fan down into one arm of the U. The duct acts as a heat dissipater, and cool air at the opposite arm of the U is drawn by the other fan back up into the enclosure. The bottom of the U-shaped duct is attached to a front region of a support platform at the floor level and thus the arms of the U serve as a front pair of supports.

Abstract: A shutter-shield system for radiation protection is applied to a an x-ray generator in a shielded station for inspecting products moving through the station on a conveyor. Deployed in a sliding attachment on a collimator housing of the x-ray generator, a shutter plate is made movable by an actuator and is configured with an aperture that, in the absence of power applied to the actuator, is made to align with a fixed aperture of the collimator so as to allow emission of the x-ray beam as required for normal inspection purposes. Whenever an anomaly in the product loading on the conveyer creates a gap that could otherwise cause an increase in environmental radiation levels, powering the actuator moves the shutter plate to an offset location that offsets the apertures to an effectively closed state to initiate a standby condition wherein x-ray radiation is substantially confined to the interior region of the collimator, without having to shut down the x-ray generator itself.

Abstract: For suppressing extraneous radiation from an x-ray type food inspection station enclosure having an entry tunnel and an exit tunnel, two pairs of swinging shield doors are provided, one pair located in the entry tunnel and one pair located in the exit tunnel. In a preferred embodiment, each door is actuated by a dedicated pneumatic door actuator located above the door and placed under control of a microprocessor system that also controls the entire conveyor and x-ray inspection process, in particular closing the doors in the event of a gap in the series of containers that could otherwise allow excessive x-ray leakage from the tunnel. As a fail-safe measure, the shield doors are configured with a slip clutch drive and a mechanical override system that tends to close the doors to maintain x-ray radiation suppression in the event of failure of a door actuator or power source thereof.

Abstract: The document scanner of the present invention includes a reading assembly of simple, compact and light-weight construction. The reading assembly includes an optical system having a relatively short focal length. The reading assembly is thus simply configured in a compact manner close to the document to be scanned. The optical system is also configured to extend in a particular direction beyond the document viewing area for improved resolution of images from a bound document adjacent the binding. The reading assembly further includes a compact and light-weight illumination source which is low in power consumption, and thus, may be powered by batteries. The stand-alone document scanner of the present invention is particularly suited to portability.