Patent Number: 06058159&
Section: claims

1. A scanner apparatus for scanning airport passenger luggage comprising: a tunnel housing comprised of:  a bed assembly housing comprised of a top portion which together with the tunnel housing forms a substantially enclosed area,  the bed assembly housing further comprising first and second side portions and wherein the first and second side portions of the tunnel housing are substantially fixed to the first and second side portions of the bed assembly housing, respectively;  an isolating device located at the entrance and exit openings of the tunnel housing;  a conveyor device for moving an object through the entrance opening of the tunnel housing and into the substantially enclosed area, subsequently through the substantially enclosed area, and thereafter out of the substantially enclosed area and out the exit opening of the tunnel housing, the conveyor device located substantially in the bed assembly housing; and  an analysis device for analyzing objects within the substantially enclosed area of the tunnel housing;  said scanner occupying an amount of floor space; (new line, indent) means for minimizing the occupied floor space comprising having the top portion and the side portions of the tunnel housing each having a thickness of about 0.125 inches.  wherein the analysis device is comprised of a detector array constructed of a substantially steel member which is used to connect the tunnel housing with the bed assembly housing.  a tunnel housing comprised of:  a bed assembly housing comprised of a top portion which together with the tunnel housing forms a substantially enclosed area,  an isolating device located at the entrance and exit openings of the tunnel housing;  a conveyor device for moving an object through the entrance opening of the tunnel housing and into the substantially enclosed area, subsequently through the substantially enclosed area, and thereafter out of the substantially enclosed area and out the exit opening of the tunnel housing, the conveyor device located substantially in the bed assembly housing; and  an analysis device for analyzing objects within the substantially enclosed area of the tunnel housing; and  wherein the tunnel housing further comprises:  and wherein the isolating device comprises:  providing a tunnel housing comprised of:  providing a bed assembly housing comprised of a top portion which together with the tunnel housing form a substantially enclosed area,  providing the bed assembly housing so that the bed assembly housing also has first and second side portions;  fixing the first and second side portions of the bed assembly housing to the first and second side portions of the tunnel housing, respectively.  locating an isolating device at the entrance and exit openings of the tunnel housing;  locating a conveyor device substantially in the bed assembly housing, the conveyor device used for moving an object through the entrance opening of the tunnel housing and into the substantially enclosed area, subsequently through the substantially enclosed area, and thereafter out of the substantially enclosed area and out the exit opening of the tunnel housing; and  providing an analysis device for analyzing objects within the substantially enclosed area of the tunnel housing;  said scanning conducted by a scanner occupying an amount of floor space;  minimizing the occupied floor space by having the top portion and the side portions of the tunnel housing each having a thickness of about 0.125 inches.  each of the top portion, and first and second side portions of the tunnel housing  has a thickness of about 0.125 inches.  providing a tunnel housing comprised of: a top portion, and first and second side portions,  an entrance opening and an exit opening;  providing a bed assembly housing comprised of a top portion which together with the tunnel housing form a substantially enclosed area;  locating an isolating device at the entrance and exit openings of the tunnel housing;  locating a conveyor device substantially in the bed assembly housing, the conveyor device used for moving an object through the entrance opening of the tunnel housing and into the substantially enclosed area, subsequently through the substantially enclosed area, and thereafter out of the substantially enclosed area and out the exit opening of the tunnel housing; and  providing an analysis device for analyzing objects within the substantially enclosed area of the tunnel housing, and  using the analysis device to connect the tunnel housing with the bed assembly housing;  said scanning conducted by a scanner occupying an amount of floor space;  minimizing the occupied floor space by having the top portion and the side portions of the tunnel housing each having a thickness of about 0.125 inches.  constructing a tunnel housing comprised of:  constructing a bed assembly housing comprised of a top portion which together with the tunnel housing form a substantially enclosed area;  locating an isolating device at the entrance and exit openings of the tunnel housing;  locating a conveyor device substantially in the bed assembly housing, the conveyor device used for moving an object through the entrance opening of the tunnel housing and into the substantially enclosed area, subsequently through the substantially enclosed area, and thereafter out of the substantially enclosed area and out the exit opening of the tunnel housing; and  constructing an analysis device for analyzing objects within the substantially enclosed area of the tunnel housing;  providing a first slot in one of the portions of the tunnel housing near its entrance opening and  providing a second slot in one of the portions of the tunnel housing near its exit opening;  and wherein the step of locating the isolating device comprises: 2. A scanner apparatus as recited in claim 1 3. A scanner apparatus comprising: 4. A method for scanning airport passenger luggage objects comprising the steps of: 5. A method for constructing a scanner for scanning objects as recited in claim 4, wherein 6. A method scanning airport passenger luggage objects comprising the steps of: 7. A method for constructing a scanner for scanning objects comprising the steps of: