ARTICLE IRRADIATION SYSTEM WITH AN ARTICLE TRANSPORTING CONVEYOR

摘要

An article irradiation system includes a radiation source (10) for scanning a target region (23) with radiation; a first conveyor system (12) for transporting articles from a loading area (22) through the target region to an unloading area (24); and radiation shielding material defining a tunnel closely encompassing portions of the conveyor system extending away from the target region toward the loading and unloading area for shielding the loading and unloading areas from the radiation source. The first conveyor system (12) is disposed in a path having curved turns between the target region and loading and unloading areas that the shielding material precludes a direct line of sight between such. A second conveyor system is coupled to the first conveyor system for transporting the articles from a first position to a second position on the first conveyor system that is before the target region and reorientates the article transported by the first conveyor system by onehundred-eighty degrees. A radiation shielding assembly (13) has a radiation shield which defines a corridor through which an electron beam is scanned.