The invention relates to an inspection and sorting apparatus, comprising a support frame supporting a transport mechanism with an endless transport belt extending along an inspection zone in which items transported on the transport belt along a transport path are inspected by an inspection mechanism and along a sorting zone in which items to be rejected are sorted out by being moved, by a sorting mechanism, out of the transport path in a direction transverse to the transport path to a sorting side, wherein, in an operation state of the apparatus, a space lateral to and alongside the sorting zone, into which the rejected items are moved, is covered by a housing cover but is open to the sorting zone and to the downside to allow the rejected items to further fall or slide down by gravity and/or the apparatus is provided with a side cover covering a region below the sorting zone laterally from the sorting side, wherein the housing cover and/or the side cover is movable between its/their covering position in the operation state of the apparatus and a release position granting lateral access to the sorting zone and/or to said region from the sorting side.
An inspection and sorting apparatus includes a support frame supporting a transport mechanism with an endless transport belt extending along an inspection zone with an inspection mechanism for transported items and a sorting zone with a sorting mechanism for moving rejected items transverse to a transport path to a sorting side. When in an operation state, a space lateral to and alongside the sorting zone is covered by a housing cover but is open to the sorting zone and to a downside to allow rejected items to further fall or slide down by gravity. Alternatively, or additionally, the apparatus includes a side cover covering a region below the sorting zone laterally from the sorting side. The housing cover and/or the side cover is movable between a covering position in the operation state of the apparatus and a release position granting lateral access to the sorting zone and/or to said region from the sorting side.
Methods and related systems for handling product settings of operating parameters of a product inspection system are disclosed. A radiation unit for causing radiation to impinge onto a subject product and a detector unit for detecting the radiation transmitted through or reflected from the subject product are controlled by a control unit. Validated status of validated product settings associated with a selected product are displayed at a visual display unit and access for modifying at least one of the validated product settings is denied. Removal of the validated status via user input into an input unit is requested. In response, a user sign-in request is displayed and received. In response to a successful user sign-in, an unvalidated status of the product settings associated with the selected product is displayed and access for modifying at least one of the product settings associated with the selected product is permitted.
G05B 19/418 - Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM]
4.
METHOD FOR HANDLING PRODUCT SETTINGS OF OPERATING PARAMETERS OF A PRODUCT INSPECTION SYSTEM, PRODUCT INSPECTION SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM
The present invention is related to a method for handling product settings of operating parameters of a product inspection system, said product inspection system comprising an electronic control unit, a radiation unit controlled by said control unit for causing radiation to impinge onto a subject product, a detector unit controlled by said control unit for detecting the radiation transmitted through or reflected from said subject product, a visual display unit in communication with said control unit and an input unit in communication with said control unit, the method comprising: Step 1: displaying a first on-screen representation of a validated status of validated product settings associated with a selected product on the visual display unit and denying access for modifying at least one of the validated product settings associated with the selected product; Step 2: requesting removal of the validated status via a user input into the input unit; Step 3: requesting, by the electronic control unit, in response to the removal request, a user sign-in, said user sign-in request being displayed in a second on-screen representation on the visual display unit; Step 4: entering a user sign-in via a user input into the input unit; Step 5: in response to a successful user sign-in operation, displaying a third on- screen representation of an unvalidated status of the product settings associated with the selected product on the visual display unit and permitting access for modifying at least one of the product settings associated with the selected product.
The method serves for operating a metal detector that comprises a balanced coil system (2) with a transmitter coil (21) that is connected to a transmitter unit (1) and with a first and a second receiver coil (22A, 22B) that are connected to an input of a receiver unit (3), which transmitter unit (1) comprises a transmitter signal path (tp) for which a transmitter signal (tx) with at least one fixed or selectable operating frequency and a related quadrature signal (tx90°) are provided, which transmitter signal (tx) is applied to an input of a transmitter amplifier (12) that forwards the amplified transmitter signal (tx) directly or via a transmitter matching unit (13) to the transmitter coil (21); which receiver unit (3) comprises at least one receiver signal path (rp) in which the modulated receiver signal (rs) received from the balanced coil system (2) is applied directly or via a receiver matching unit (31) to a receiver amplifier (33), which applies the amplified modulated receiver signal (rs) directly or indirectly to a receiver phase sensitive detector (34; 4534), which receiver phase sensitive detector (34, 4534) compares the modulated receiver signal (rs) with reference signals, which correspond to the transmitter signal (tx) and the quadrature signal (tx90°), to produce a demodulated complex receiver signal (rsc) with in-phase receiver signal components (rs-I) and quadrature receiver signal components (rs-Q), which in-phase receiver signal components (rs-I) and quadrature receiver signal components (rs-Q) are processed in a signal processing unit (45) which comprises at least one signal processing path (sp), in which signal components of the complex receiver signal (rsc) that relate to goods or noise are suppressed and in which signal components originating from metal contaminants are further processed. According to the invention at least one transmitter measurement channel (8) is provided, which receives a measurement signal (ms) taken from the transmitter signal path (tp) and which comprises a measurement amplifier (83), which amplifies and forwards the measurement signal (ms) directly or indirectly to a measurement phase sensitive detector (84; 4584), which measurement phase sensitive detector (84; 4584) compares the measurement signal (ms) with the reference signals, which correspond to the transmitter signal (tx) and the quadrature signal (tx90°), to produce a complex measurement signal (msc) with in-phase measurement signal components (ms-I) and quadrature measurement components (ms-Q), which complex measurement signal (msc) and complex receiver signal (rsc) are applied to a first correction module (451) in which signal components caused by instabilities of the transmitter unit (1) are removed from the complex receiver signal (rsc).
G01V 3/10 - Electric or magnetic prospecting or detectingMeasuring magnetic field characteristics of the earth, e.g. declination or deviation operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices using induction coils
G01N 27/90 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means by investigating magnetic variables for investigating the presence of flaws using eddy currents
G01V 3/38 - Processing data, e.g. for analysis, for interpretation or for correction
A radiation-shielding curtain (20) of the kind used at the conveyor entrance and exit openings of a radiographic inspection system or irradiation system is composed of a large number of straight, slender, vertically suspended rods (21) which have a convex outwardly rounded cross-sectional profile and a smooth low friction surface.
G21F 1/08 - MetalsAlloysCermets, i.e. sintered mixtures of ceramics and metals
G01N 23/04 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups , or by transmitting the radiation through the material and forming images of the material
A radiation-shielding curtain (20) of the kind used at the conveyor entrance and exit openings of a radiographic inspection system or irradiation system is composed of a large number of straight, slender, vertically suspended rods (21) which have a convex outwardly rounded cross-sectional profile and a smooth low friction surface.
A23L 3/26 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by irradiation without heating
A61B 6/10 - Safety means specially adapted therefor
G01N 23/02 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups , or by transmitting the radiation through the material
G21F 3/00 - Shielding characterised by its physical form, e.g. granules, or shape of the material
G21F 1/08 - MetalsAlloysCermets, i.e. sintered mixtures of ceramics and metals
G21F 1/10 - Organic substancesDispersions in organic carriers
8.
Method of operating a radiographic inspection system with a modular conveyor chain
A method of operating a radiographic inspection system is disclosed for a system in which a conveyor chain with identical modular chain segments transports articles under inspection. Two operating modes of the radiographic inspection system includes a calibration mode in which calibration data characterizing the radiographic inspection system with an empty conveyor chain are generated; and an inspection mode in which raw image data of articles under inspection with the background of the conveyor chain are acquired and arithmetically processed with calibration data into a clearer output image, without the interfering background of the conveyor chain.
G01V 5/00 - Prospecting or detecting by the use of ionising radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity
G01N 23/04 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups , or by transmitting the radiation through the material and forming images of the material
G01T 7/00 - Details of radiation-measuring instruments
9.
Method of operating a radiographic inspection system with a modular conveyor chain
A method of operating a radiographic inspection system is designed for a radiographic inspection system in which a conveyor chain with identical modular chain segments transports the articles being inspected. The method encompasses a calibration mode and an inspection mode of the radiographic inspection system. In the calibration mode, calibration data characterizing the radiographic inspection system with the empty conveyor chain are generated and stored as a template image. In the inspection mode, raw images (50) of the articles (3) under inspection with the background (41) of the conveyor chain are acquired and arithmetically merged with the template image. The method results in a clear output image (51) of the articles under inspection being obtained without the interfering background of the conveyor chain.
G01N 23/04 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups , or by transmitting the radiation through the material and forming images of the material
The method of operating a radiographic inspection system is specifically designed for a radiographic inspection system in which a conveyor chain with identical modular chain segments is transporting the articles under inspection. The method encompasses two operating modes of the radiographic inspection system, i.e. a calibration mode in which calibration data characterizing the radiographic inspection system with the empty conveyor chain are generated and stored as a template image, and an inspection mode in which raw images (50) of the articles (3) under inspection with the background (41) of the conveyor chain are acquired and arithmetically merged with the template image. As a result of the process, a clear output image (51) of the articles under inspection is obtained without the interfering background of the conveyor chain.
G01N 23/04 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups , or by transmitting the radiation through the material and forming images of the material
G01T 1/24 - Measuring radiation intensity with semiconductor detectors
G01T 1/29 - Measurement performed on radiation beams, e.g. position or section of the beamMeasurement of spatial distribution of radiation
11.
METHOD OF OPERATING A RADIOGRAPHIC INSPECTION SYSTEM WITH A MODULAR CONVEYOR CHAIN
The method of operating a radiographic inspection system is specifically designed for a system in which a conveyor chain with identical modular chain segments is transporting the articles under inspection. The method encompasses two operating modes of the radiographic inspection system, i.e. a calibration mode in which calibration data characterizing the radiographic inspection system with the empty conveyor chain are generated, and an inspection mode in which raw image data of the articles under inspection with the background of the conveyor chain are acquired and arithmetically processed with the help of the calibration data into a clear output image without the interfering background of the conveyor chain.
G01N 23/04 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups , or by transmitting the radiation through the material and forming images of the material
G01V 5/00 - Prospecting or detecting by the use of ionising radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity
B65G 17/08 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface having a load-carrying surface formed by a series of interconnected, e.g. longitudinal, links, plates, or platforms the surface being formed by the traction element
12.
CONVEYOR CHAIN FOR A RADIOGRAPHIC INSPECTION SYSTEM AND RADIOGRAPHIC INSPECTION SYSTEM
A Conveyor chain (11; 30; 40) in a radiographic inspection system comprises a multitude of rigid segments (12; 12a; 12b; 32) which extend over the entire width of the conveyor chain (11; 30; 40) and are configured at least in part as plates of a uniform thickness (t) and a uniform density. The segments (12; 12a; 12b; 32) are connected together in a closed loop in the lengthwise direction of the chain and have connector elements to couple each segment (12; 12a; 12b; 32) articulately to a following segment (12; 12a; 12b; 32) and a preceding segment (12; 12a; 12b; 32). Neighboring segments can flex against each other from a substantially straight line to a convex angle in relation to the chain loop, so that the conveyor chain (11; 30; 40) is able to conform to conveyor rollers or sprockets (22), but is essentially resistant to flexing in the opposite direction. The segments (12; 12a; 12b; 32) overlap each other to form at least one continuous, materially homogenous transport area of uniform thickness and density to provide at least one continuous gapless band of uniform transmissivity to radiation in the transport area of the conveyor chain (11; 30; 40), wherein the connector elements are located outside the transport area.
B65G 17/08 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface having a load-carrying surface formed by a series of interconnected, e.g. longitudinal, links, plates, or platforms the surface being formed by the traction element
A method of controlling an inspection system (100) which generates radiation from a source (102) and allows the radiation to be detected by a detector (122) during an exposure period (C) of a control waveform used to drive the detector (122), the control waveform comprising a reset pulse (R) in addition to the exposure period (C), the reset pulse (R) having a nominal duration and the method comprising calibrating the inspection system (100) by increasing the relative length of the reset pulse (R), to a calibration duration, when compared to the exposure period (C) whilst maintaining a substantially constant period (T) of the control waveform.
G01N 23/04 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups , or by transmitting the radiation through the material and forming images of the material
G01N 23/00 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups , or
G01V 5/00 - Prospecting or detecting by the use of ionising radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity
An x-ray inspection system (198) arranged to inspect at least one object and comprising: a source of radiation (200) a detector (216), in use, capable of detecting the radiation passing through an irradiation zone (214) and generating a periodic output of data therefrom; processing circuitry arranged to process the output generated by the detector (216); a speed determination means (228) arranged, in use, to determine and output to the processing circuitry the speed at which an object passes the detector (216); wherein the processing circuitry is arranged to vary the period of the output of the detector (216) according to the output from the speed determination means (228).
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