Tote Stacking for Uniform Irradiation Dose
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing irradiation systems for goods using X-rays or electron beams face challenges in achieving uniform dose deposition, especially along the vertical axis, due to variations in transport unit heights and densities, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage to goods.
Innovation Solution
The system loads transport units into totes with adjustable support elements, optimizing the arrangement to maintain a consistent irradiation axis, and uses a conveyor to drive the totes through an irradiation volume, allowing for one- or two-level irradiation modes to ensure uniform dose distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If goods are stacked on pallets or in containers with varying heights and densities, then the throughput and flexibility of the irradiation system are improved, but the dose deposition uniformity deteriorates due to absorption variations along the irradiation axis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical stacking dimension by loading multiple transport units (N≥1) vertically within a single tote, allowing the irradiation system to process taller configurations while maintaining uniform dose deposition through optimized X-ray beam geometry and multiple irradiation passes that account for vertical absorption gradients
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary optimization of the irradiation parameters, including X-ray beam energy selection and scanning trajectory planning, before the irradiation process to pre-compensate for the expected absorption variations caused by different transport unit heights and densities, thereby ensuring uniform dose distribution
2Device complexity
If a single-level irradiation system is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the dose uniformity ratio along the vertical axis deteriorates due to rapid dose absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic action by implementing multiple irradiation passes with the tote being repositioned or rotated between passes, allowing the X-ray beam to irradiate different portions of the stacked transport units from different angles, thereby achieving uniform dose distribution without requiring complex multi-level hardware
3Adaptability or versatility
If the irradiation volume is increased to accommodate taller transport units, then the adaptability is improved, but the energy consumption increases due to larger irradiation volume
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts irradiation parameters including X-ray beam energy levels, scanning speed, and exposure time based on the detected height and density characteristics of the loaded transport units, optimizing the balance between adaptability to different configurations and energy efficiency by avoiding unnecessary irradiation of empty or low-density regions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces the dose uniformity ratio (DUR) along the vertical axis, ensuring more uniform irradiation across goods of varying heights and densities, while also minimizing energy waste and increasing throughput.
Implementation Method 1
X-rays are generated by interacting accelerated (energetic) electrons with atoms in a target material. As high energy electrons pass in the vicinity of a nucleus all or part of the electron's energy is dissociated from it and propagates in space as electromagnetic radiation (= X-ray)
Implementation Method 2
The energy of the electrons for both X-rays generation or for direct use of the electron beam can be increased by accelerating the electrons in an accelerator
Implementation Method 3
a conveyor (3) configured for driving the goods loaded in two or more transport units (1.i) of unit height (h1i) measured along a vertical axis (Z) normal to the irradiation axis (X), along a transverse axis (Y) normal to both irradiation and vertical axes (X), (Z), through the irradiation volume
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2(a)~3(b)
Figure 4(a)~4(b)
AI summary
The present invention concerns an apparatus for irradiating goods with a radiation (11x) selected from X-rays or electron beam, comprising • a source (11) of radiation (11x) configured for emitting the radiation (11x) along an irradiation volume (Xv) centred on an irradiation axis (X), • a conveyor (3) configured for driving the goods loaded in two or more transport units (1.i) of unit height (h1i) measured along a vertical axis (Z) through the irradiation volume such as to expose a first portion of the goods to the radiation, wherein, the transport units (1.i) are loaded in totes (5) of tote height, and wherein the conveyor (3) is configured for driving the totes (5) carrying N transport units (1.i) loaded with the goods, such that a tote (5) holds N transport units, with N∈N and N ≥ 1, arranged on top of one another extending over a total height (ht) and wherein, each transport unit (1.i) is held in place in a tote (5) by one or more support elements (5s), such that ∘ The total height (ht) is comprised between 40% and 100% of the tote height (h5) (i.e., 40% h5 ≤ ht ≤ h5), ∘ The N transport units (1.1-1.N) loaded in a tote span over at least 70%, preferably at least 80% of the total height (ht) (i.e., ∑i=1Nh1.i≥70%ht), ∘ The total height (ht) is centred relative to the tote height (h5) within ±20% (i.e., (Ht1 - ½ ht) = ½ h5 ± 20%)..