Abstract: Materials and methods of manufacturing radiation shielded enclosures is presented that may replace the use of lead, granite and other heavy, expensive, toxic, environmentally unfriendly or otherwise undesirable materials and manufacturing methods. The present invention provides a high-density radiation shielding enclosure manufactured by cold casting a liquid refined iron ore or taconite composite material into a mold of an enclosure of an appropriate shape and size to house an x-ray imaging system. The method of manufacture may include applying an iron ore or tungsten composite caulking compound to the radiation shielding enclosure in order to seal any radiation leaks in the radiation shielding enclosure.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for translating a carriage from one position to another position utilizing an injection molded plastic translating system are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, an injection molded plastic translating system is utilized within a flatbed scanner to translate a scanhead carriage along a desired path during the scanning process. The plastic translating system is formed utilizing gas injection molding techniques, resulting in a plastic translating system that does not warp. Further, the plastic translating system is smooth to allow the scanhead carriage to be translated with substantially no vibration. Also, the plastic translating system of a preferred embodiment results in very little wear after many translations of the carriage.

Abstract: A transparency adaptor is described that includes a flat panel illuminator within the scanner lid of the scanner. The flat panel illuminator provides backlighting for scanning transparencies, such that light passes through the transparency only once and into the scanner optics within the scanner base. When the flat panel illuminator is lit during a scanning process, the light source within the scanner is not lit. In a second embodiment, the flat panel illuminator is removeably attached to the scanner lid. Another alternative is for the flat panel illuminator adapter to be a separate from the scanner, such that it is placed over a transparent document when needed, either plugging into the scanner or a separate power source during the scanning process.

Abstract: A transparency adaptor is described that includes a flat panel illuminator integral with an automatic document feeder accessory for a flat bed scanner. The flat panel illuminator provides backlighting for scanning transparencies, such that light passes through the transparency only once and into the scanner optics within the scanner base. When the flat panel illuminator is lit during a scanning process, the light source within the scanner is not lit. The flat panel illuminator transparency adapter unit is controlled by the same control cable used by the automatic document feeder unit. The automatic document feeder and the flat panel illuminator transparency adapter may be simultaneously operated in order to scan more than one transparent document automatically.