Inventors:
Richard O. Peck - Lakewood CO
Gary M. Pageau - Englewood CO
Colin B. Williams - Denver CO
John T. Allen - San Diego CA
Bernard G. Wickersham - Parker CO
Leonard C. Bisgrove - Evergreen CO
Bruce D. Sellers - Aurora CO
Assignee:
The Titan Corporation - San Diego CA
International Classification:
G01N 2100
Abstract:
An article irradiation system includes a radiation source disposed along a horizontal axis; a plurality of article carriers; a process conveyor for supporting and transporting the article carriers past the radiation source at a first speed; an overhead power and free transport conveyor for transporting the article carriers from a loading area at a second speed that differs from the first speed; and a load conveyor adapted for engaging the article carriers and for transporting the engaged article carriers from the transport conveyor to the process conveyor at a speed that is varied during transport by the load conveyor in such a manner that the article carriers are so positioned on the process conveyor that there is a predetermined separation distance between adjacent positioned article carriers. A reroute conveyor is coupled to the process conveyor for transporting those article carriers carrying articles that have received radiation impinging upon only the first side of the articles. A rack disposed adjacent the reroute conveyor reorients about a vertical axis by 180 degrees the article carriers being transported by the reroute conveyor; and the reoriented article carriers are transported from the reroute conveyor to the process conveyor for retransportation past the radiation source so that a second side of the carried articles opposite to the first side receives impinging radiation from the radiation source.
