TEST APPARATUS FOR X-RAY INSPECTION

Abstract

A test apparatus for challenging contaminant monitoring apparatus. The test apparatus includes contaminant provisions having a pre-selected property including any one or more of the group including composition, material, mass, size and/or shape of a contaminant. The test apparatus also includes identification provisions for identifying the presence of the contaminant provisions and/or for identifying the identity of the test apparatus. The contaminant provisions and the identification provisions are detectable and/or discriminateable by X-rays.

Claims

1-34. (canceled)

35. A test apparatus for challenging contaminant monitoring apparatus, the test apparatus comprising: contaminant means having a pre-selected property comprising any one or more of the group comprising composition, material, mass, size and/or shape of a contaminant; and identification means for identifying a presence of the contaminant means and/or for identifying an identity of the test apparatus; wherein the contaminant means and the identification means are detectable and/or discriminateable by X-rays.

36. The test apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the identification means is an X-ray-readable identification means.

37. The test apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the identification means is readable by X-rays so as to identify one or more pre-selected properties of a contaminant means.

38. The test apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the contaminant means and identification means are separate and distinct contaminant means and identification means.

39. The test apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the identification means comprises a metallic plate, or a plate of material substantially opaque to X-rays.

40. The test apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the identification means comprises one or more apertures and/or recesses, which are capable of being detected through X-ray scanning.

41. The test apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein the apertures or recesses provide an array, which is capable of conveying data to said contaminant monitoring apparatus, the array comprising: means for identifying the presence of the contaminant means; means for identifying the identity of the test apparatus; and/or means for identifying one or more pre-selected properties of the contaminant means.

42. The test apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the test apparatus further comprises a housing for receipt of the contaminant means and the identification means, wherein the housing comprises a material having a relatively low absorption of X-rays.

43. The test apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the plate of material substantially opaque to X-rays comprises: a plastics material comprising a dopant which makes the plate substantially opaque to X-rays; or a coated or laminated plastics material in which a coating or layer comprises a material substantially opaque to X-rays.

44. A contaminant monitoring apparatus for scanning one or more items to be scanned, said contaminant monitoring apparatus comprising: a test apparatus comprising a contaminant means and an identification means; and X-ray scanning means for scanning the test apparatus; wherein the X-ray scanning means is configured to detect and/or discriminate between the contaminant means and the identification means.

45. The apparatus as claimed in claim 44, wherein the test apparatus comprises: contaminant means having a pre-selected property comprising any one or more of the group comprising composition, material, mass, size and/or shape of a contaminant; and identification means for identifying a presence of the contaminant means and/or for identifying an identity of the test apparatus; wherein the contaminant means and the identification means are detectable and/or discriminateable by X-rays.

46. The apparatus as claimed in claim 44, wherein the X-ray scanning means comprises: means for identifying a presence of the contaminant means; means for identifying an identity of the test apparatus; and/or means for identifying one or more pre-selected properties of the contaminant comprising any one or more of the group comprising composition, material, mass, size and/or shape of the contaminant.

47. The apparatus as claimed in claim 44 comprising a single X-ray detector for scanning both the contaminant means and identification means, or a plurality of X-ray detectors which each scan both the contaminant means and the identification means.

48. The apparatus as claimed in claim 44, wherein the X-ray scanning means is capable of reading the identification means of the test apparatus.

49. The apparatus as claimed in claim 48, wherein the X-ray scanning means is capable of reading an array of apertures and/or recesses, or other indicia forming the identification means of the test apparatus.

50. The apparatus as claimed in claim 49, wherein, in use, data relating to one or more pre-selected properties of the contaminant means is directly sourced from the array provided by the test apparatus, or from a combination of the detected array and a database of such properties associated with known arrays.

51. A method for challenging contaminant monitoring apparatus, the method comprising: submitting a test apparatus comprising contaminant means and identification means to the contaminant monitoring apparatus; and X-ray scanning the test apparatus so as to detect and/or discriminate between the contaminant means and the identification means.

52. The method as claimed in claim 51 comprising X-ray scanning so as to: identify a presence of the contaminant means; identify an identity of the test apparatus; and/or identify one or more pre-selected properties of a contaminant comprising any one or more of the group comprising composition, material, mass, size and/or shape of a contaminant.

53. The method as claimed in claim 51 comprising X-ray reading the identification means.

54. The method as claimed in claim 53 comprising X-ray reading an array of apertures and/or recesses, or other indicia forming the identification means of the test apparatus.

55. The method as claimed in claim 51 comprising scanning and determining a property of the contaminant means comprising any one or more of the group comprising composition, material, mass, size and/or shape of a contaminant.

56. The method as claimed in claim 55 comprising comparing a detected property of the contaminant means with a predicted property of the contaminant means.

57. The method as claimed in claim 56 comprising adhering to a schedule for submitting a specific test apparatus to the contaminant monitoring apparatus and comparing the detected property with the predicted property.

58. The method as claimed in claim 51 comprising analyzing a scan of the test apparatus so as to: (i) identify a region encapsulating the identification means and creating a masked region to remove said region from further analysis, and (ii) identify a region encapsulating the contaminant means and further analyzing the contents of such region to determine a property of a contaminant.

59. The method as claimed in claim 51 wherein the contaminant means has a pre-selected property comprising any one or more of the group comprising composition, material, mass, size and/or shape of a contaminant; and the identification means, for identifying a presence of the contaminant means and/or for identifying an identity of the test apparatus; wherein the contaminant means and the identification means are detectable and/or discriminateable by X-rays.

Description

[0077] The invention will now be disclosed, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0078] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a test apparatus;

[0079] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a further test apparatus; and

[0080] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a yet further test apparatus.

[0081] A test apparatus, generally identified by reference 1, is shown in FIG. 1, which test apparatus 1 includes a housing 2, and a contaminant 3 and an identification 4 located within the housing 2. In this embodiment, the contaminant 3 and identification 4 are fully encapsulated by the housing 2, but it is not necessary for them to be fully-encapsulated. The test apparatus 1 is a type of apparatus which is used to challenge X-ray contaminant monitoring apparatus, so as to verify correct operation of the primary function of the contaminant monitoring apparatus to detect contaminants in food products on a production line.

[0082] The housing 2 securely holds the contaminant 3 and identification 4 in a spaced relationship, such that the contaminant 3 and identification 4 are separate and individually detectable and/or discriminateable by X-rays. The housing 2 is manufactured from acrylic, although it could be manufactured from another material which has a relatively low absorption of X-rays, for example polyethylene.

[0083] The contaminant 3 may be an actual contaminant or a simulated contaminant, for example a piece of metal, bone or glass of specific size and weight, or of other pre-selected properties. More generally, contaminant 3 has one or more pre-selected properties relating to, for example, the composition, material, mass, size and/or shape of the contaminant.

[0084] The identification 4, which is a metal plate (although it could be a plate of material substantially opaque to X-rays), includes a plurality of circular apertures 5 through the plate which are arranged in an array 6, which array 6 and apertures 5 can be read by an X-ray scanner so as to identify the test apparatus 1 per se, and identify one or more pre-selected properties of the contaminant 3. The metal plate is manufactured from stainless steel, and each aperture 5 is approx. 2 mm in diameter.

[0085] Alternatively, a test apparatus, identified generally by reference 10, is shown in FIG. 2. The test apparatus 10 has various similarities with the test apparatus 1 of FIG. 1, and only the differences will be discussed in detail. In particular, the main difference is an identification 14 of test apparatus 10, which is a metal plate (although it could be a plate of material substantially opaque to X-rays) having no array, apertures or recesses therein. Properties of the contaminant 3 are determinable by X-ray scanning the contaminant 3, however, only limited information can be conveyed by the identification 14 of test apparatus 10. As such, test apparatus 10 provides a simplified test apparatus 10 for use with contaminant monitoring apparatus where one simply wishes to test and identify the presence or existence of a contaminant, rather than be able to verify or cross-reference one or more pre-selected properties of the contaminant.

[0086] The identification 4; 14 is of sufficient dimensions so as to not go unnoticed by contaminant monitoring apparatus. By way of example, the identification 4; 14 could have minimum dimensions of approx. 10 mm by 10 mm as viewed by the X-ray scanner, and could extend up to, say, 50 mm by 50 mm. Beyond this limit practicality reduces, although there are no real maximum dimensions. Test apparatus 1; 10 is intended to be placed on a production line and passed through contaminant monitoring apparatus, which are provided to scan and detect contaminants in food products passing along the production line. Test apparatus 1: 10 may be placed on a moving production line, preventing the need to slow down or stop the production line.

[0087] A contaminant monitoring apparatus (not shown) includes an X-ray scanner for identifying and locating any contaminants in the food product being scanned. Such apparatus are known in the art. Where the present invention differs is that there is no need for additional line-of-sight scanners for detecting the identity of the test apparatus 1; 10. X-ray scanning is used to detect and/or discriminate between the contaminant 3 and the identification 4, as they are both responsive to X-rays.

[0088] Accordingly, the contaminant monitoring apparatus includes additional hardware for processing and analysing the X-ray images of the contaminant 3 and identification 4. The contaminant monitoring equipment is programmed to provide a schedule of challenges, which involves submitting a specific test apparatus 1; 10 to the contaminant monitoring apparatus at the required time or interval indicated in the schedule. Such a schedule is provided so as to be able to log and audit the challenges introduced to the contaminant monitoring apparatus and verify that its contaminant detecting function is working correctly. By way of an alternative, the contaminant monitoring apparatus may include a plurality of X-ray scannersin particular, the apparatus could use DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), involving the use of scanning at two different energy levels,

[0089] The contaminant monitoring apparatus includes a diverteror the apparatus is arranged to implement diversionsuch that any food product in which there is believed to be a contaminant or detected test apparatus 1; 10, or even any food product surrounding the detected test apparatus 1; 10 or contaminant-containing food product, can be diverted from the main production line. Once diverted, the test apparatus is retrieved for further use and the food products are either disposed of or further tested.

[0090] In use, the test apparatus 1:10 is submitted to the contaminant monitoring apparatus so as to check it is working effectively. Test apparatus 1; 10 is passed through the X-ray scanner of the monitoring apparatus either at the same time or independently of one or more food products. The X-ray scanner of the apparatus detects and/or discriminates between the contaminant 3 and the identification 4.

[0091] With respect to test apparatus 10, the apparatus detects the presence or existence of the identification 4 and one or more properties of the contaminant 3. Accordingly, one can easily verify that the test apparatus 10 has been passed through the contaminant monitoring apparatus, but one cannot verify that the detected contaminant is expected from such a test apparatus 10.

[0092] With respect to test apparatus 1, the X-ray scanner reads the array 6 of apertures 5, forming the identification 4, and detects one or more properties of the contaminant 3. In so doing, the apparatus determines one or more predicted properties of the contaminant 3 from the identification 4 and the apparatus determines one or more detected properties of the contaminant 3 through X-ray scanning the contaminant per se. The predicted one or more properties and the detected one or more properties are then compared so as to verify that the predicted and determined properties are substantially the same. This particular feature prevents misuse of the contaminant monitoring apparatus, such that an operator cannot, by mistake or deliberately, introduce anything other than the expected test apparatus without such misuse being detected. Data relating to one or more pre-selected properties of the contaminant 3 is either directly sourced from the array 6 or from a combination of information from the detected array 6 and a database of such pre-selected properties associated with known detectable arrays. Certification data specific to the contaminant may be incorporated in the array 6 or retrieved from a database using the array 6. More generally, certification data may be incorporated in the identification means or may be retrieved from a database using the identification means. Such certification data may provide a unique reference for the purpose of validation, being either a serial number or certification number.

[0093] In a further embodiment, once scanned, a resulting X-ray scan of the test apparatus 1; 10 is analysed so as to identify a regionshown in FIG. 1 by a stippled line having a reference 7encapsulating the identification 4 and create a masked region 7 to remove such region 7 from further analysis. In particular, the masked region 7 prevents the identification 4which is also a contaminant in this exemplary embodimentfrom being analysed further, and thus prevents a false auditing trail. The resulting X-ray scan is also analysed so as to identify a further regionshown in FIG. 1 by a stippled line having a reference 8encapsulating the contaminant 3, which region 8 is then further analysed so as to determine one or more detected properties of the contaminant 3.

[0094] Although the test apparatus has been described above as including a housing, and contaminant and identification located within the housing, in a simplified version the test apparatus could be configured such that the identification also provides the housing. For practical reasons, the contaminant would be capable of being differentiated from the identification, as per the claimed invention, and this would involve a form of separation which would make them detectable and/or discriminateable by X-rays. Accordingly, the present invention also provides a test apparatus consisting of an identification means and a contaminant means.

[0095] FIG. 3 shows a further alternative test apparatus, identified generally by reference 1. The test apparatus 1 has various similarities with the test apparatus 1 of FIG. 1, and only the differences will be discussed in detail. In particular, the main difference is the absence of a separate contaminant 3. In this example, a contaminant and an identification is provided by a single contaminant/identification 24. The contaminant/identification 24 is a metal plate (although it could be a plate of material substantially opaque to X-rays) and it includes a plurality of circular apertures 5 which are arranged in an array. Such apertures 5 can be read by an X-ray scanner so as to identify the test apparatus 1 per se, and/or identify one or more pre-selected properties of the contaminant 24. The metal plate is manufactured from stainless steel, and each aperture 5 is approx. 2 mm in diameter. Test apparatus 1 may be used in a contaminant monitoring apparatus in a similar way to the test apparatus 1:10; however, detection of properties of the contaminant per se is more limited.

[0096] Preferably, so that an operator of contaminant monitoring apparatus can identify which test apparatus to put through the monitoring apparatus, the test apparatus may include an operator-readable identification or other indicia, which is in addition to the identification means which is detectable and/or discriminateable by X-rays. Most preferably, the operator-readable identification is a code, or potentially a serial number, which may also include a manufacturer's name and/or one or more details of the contaminant. For example, such a code might read: Size of contaminant 5.0 mm, Material of contaminant SS316 (Stainless steel grade 316), and Certification number 7737, together with manufacturer and manufacturer's part number.