Patent Number: 048662810
Section: abstract

The irradiation plant comprises an irradiation chamber (1) with a radiation source (2) and a conveyor system. The path taken by each conveyor unit is individually preselectable by control elements secured to the unit. Articles for irradiation are loaded on to conveyor units and brought along tracks (10, 11) and shift devices (8, 8a) of two transverse tracks (4, 4A) to and from the irradiation tracks (3). When a radiation track (3) is loaded or unloaded by the shift devices (8, 8A), there is always a shift device (8, 8A) for each transverse track (4, 4A) at each end of the irradiation track (3). Sensors are present at the branches and transitions between the tracks of the conveyor system and are supplied to a control system which ensures that after each process of loading or unloading an irradiation track (3), not more than one of the two facing shift devices (8, 8A) is loaded. By means of this irradiation plant, smaller quantities of differently-irradiated articles can be irradiated simultaneously and the plant seldom needs resetting. Operation of the plant is much more economical than for known irradiation plants.