Apparatus and method for detecting foreign materials in a container

摘要

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.