GB934217A - Improvements in or relating to package irradiation systems - Google Patents

Abstract

934,217. Irradiating articles. UNITED KINGDOM ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY. Sept. 22, 1961 [Sept. 26, 1960], No. 33064/60. Class 98 (1). Articles such as packages are irradiated by being passed into a chamber within which are a plurality of rail track circuits, along which run trolleys conveying stacks of packages repeatedly past a radiation source; means are provided for conveying a package from a trolley on one rail to a different level on a trolley on another rail, and also for transferring packages from a trolley to the conveyers carrying the packages into or out of the irradiation chamber. In the form shown, monorail tracks 3, 4 are suspended from the roof of the cell 1, and trolleys 5 can run thereon. Each trolley has three spaced-apart support plates 6, so that three packages can be loaded on the trolley one above the other. The packages are introduced by a conveyer 8 into the irradiation chamber through an aperture in the wall (loading position a), and pushed by a push rod 9 on to the upper plate 6 of the outer trolley 5 (position b1] The trolley makes a complete circuit of the track, passing right round the irradiation source 2, and ending at position c1. Here it is pushed by a rod 10 on to the top plate 6 of the trolley 5 on to the inner track (position d1) and once more makes a complete traverse of the track in the opposite direction, finishing at position e1. In this position, the inner track 3 is lowered vertically, so that the top plate 6 of its trolley is level with the middle plate 6 of the outer trolley. The package is pushed across from one trolley to the other, so that it is now back on the outer trolley but occupying the middle position instead of the top position. The above procedure is repeated, with the package making the double circuit round the source 2 again, first on the outer and then the inner track. The inner track 3 is lowered again, and the package thus transferred to the bottom position on outer trolley 5. The double circuit is repeated once more, and then the package is finally pushed from its last position e4 to an unloading position f and conveyed out of the chamber. Thus the package is carried twice right round the source 2 at each of three different levels. Several packages may be traversed through the irradiation cell at the same time, in phased succession. Specification 927,364 is referred to.