X-radiation scanning system having an automatic object identification and attribute information acquisition and linking mechanism integrated therein

Abstract

An x-ray object scanning-tunnel system for automatically acquiring and linking object identity and attribute information about each object transported therethrough while bearing a bar code symbol and/or graphical indicia on the exterior surface thereof. The system comprises a scanning-tunnel housing through which one or more objects can be transported for capturing and processing digital images of the bar code symbol and/or identifying graphical indicia on the object so as to tread the bar code symbol and/or identifying graphical indicia, and identify the object by producing object identification information. An x-ray scanning subsystem mounted within the scanning-tunnel housing, produces an x-radiation energy beam for scanning the interior and/or contents of each object, and automatically generating x-radiation images of the object's interior and/or contents. An information linking computer subsystem automatically links (i) x-radiation images of the interior and/or contents of each transported object, with (ii) object identification information, for storage within a relational database management system (RDBMS) for subsequent access and retrieval.