Patent ID: 6236055
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: G21K

Abstract:
An article irradiation system, comprisinga radiation source positioned for scanning a target region with radiation,a conveyor system, including a process conveyor, positioned for transporting articles in a substantially closed loop including the target region,radiation shielding material defining a chamber which substantially encloses the substantially enclosed loop and which encloses the radiation source, the target region and a portion of the conveyor system,wherein the radiation source is disposed on a particular axis inside the substantially closed loop defined by the conveyor system and is adapted for scanning the articles being transported in the substantially closed loop including the target region with radiation scanned in a plane transverse to the direction of transport of the articles by the process conveyor in the target region, andan intermediate wall of radiation shielding material positioned within the substantially closed loop in a direction transverse to the particular axis, the intermediate wall being separated in the transverse direction by air gaps from the radiation shielding material defining the chamber and being provided with dimensions in the transverse direction to inhibit radiation from the radiation source from reaching the radiation shielding material defining walls of the chamber.