1. A method of performing microbeam radiation therapy on a subject, comprising:
producing a high-energy radiation beam in a first direction;
producing planar microbeams using the high-energy radiation beam in the first direction, wherein the microbeams have a width, wherein the planar microbeams produce scattered electrons; and
applying a magnetic field in a direction lying in a plane substantially parallel to the planar microbeams, wherein the strength of the magnetic field corresponds to the width of the microbeam,
wherein the magnetic field is produced in non-targeted normal tissues of the subject.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field causes the scattered electrons in the magnetic field to move in a circular path with a radius in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of the applied magnetic field.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein radius is less than 0.2 of the width of the microbeams.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein radius is less than 0.1 of the width of the microbeams.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein radius is less than 0.05 of the width of the microbeams.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein radius is less than 0.01 of the width of the microbeams.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field is produced by a permanent magnet.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field is produced by an electromagnet.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the magnetic field is produced by a super conducting magnet.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
producing a high-energy radiation beam in a second direction;
producing second planar microbeams using the high-energy radiation beam in the second direction, wherein the microbeams have a second width, wherein the second planar microbeams produce scattered electrons; and
applying a second magnetic field in a second direction lying in a plane substantially parallel to the second planar microbeams, wherein the strength of the magnetic field corresponds to the second width of the second microbeams.
11. A microbeam radiation therapy system, comprising:
a high-energy radiation beam;
a collimator with slits, wherein the collimator only passes the high-energy radiation beam through the slits;
a beam filtering and limiting system; and
a magnet producing a magnetic field in a direction substantially parallel to slits of the collimator, wherein the magnetic field intersects the high-energy radiation beam that passes through the slits, and wherein the magnetic field is produced in non-targeted normal tissues of a subject.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the magnet produces a magnetic field that causes scattered electrons in the magnetic field to move in a circular path with a radius in a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of the applied magnetic field.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein radius is less than 0.2 of the width of the microbeams.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein radius is less than 0.1 of the width of the microbeams.
15. The system of claim 12, wherein radius is less than 0.05 of the width of the microbeams.
16. The system of claim 12, wherein radius is less than 0.01 of the width of the microbeams.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet.
18. The system of claim 11, wherein the magnet is an electromagnet.
19. The system of claim 11, wherein the magnet is a super conducting magnet.
20. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is configured to provide radiation treatment in two different directions.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. In a reciprocating mold plate patty-forming machine, a knockout drive for reciprocating a knockout plunger to discharge molded food patties from a cavity in the mold plate, the mold plate being reciprocated by a mold plate drive between a cavity fill position and a cavity discharge position, the knockout drive comprising:
at least one knockout plunger;
an electric motor mechanically independent of the mold plate drive, said electric motor having a rotary output shaft;
a rotary-to-linear motion apparatus operatively connected to said rotary output shaft of said electric motor; and
at least one knockout member operatively connected to said rotary-to-linear motion apparatus, said knockout member connected to the knockout plunger to reciprocate said knockout plunger.
2. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said electric motor comprises a precise position controlled motor.
3. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said at least one knockout plunger comprises a plurality of knockout plungers, and comprising a knockout frame carrying said knockout plungers, and wherein said rotary-to-linear device comprises a crank rod extending perpendicular to an axis of said rotary output shaft and operatively, pivotally connected eccentrically to said axis of said rotary output shaft, said crank rod pivotally connected at an opposite end to said knockout frame.
4. The improvement according to claim 3, comprising a housing configured for containing an oil bath, said crank rod located within said housing.
5. The improvement according to claim 4, wherein said housing comprises a top wall and a sleeve that sealingly penetrates through said top wall, said sleeve fixed to a top end of said crank rod to reciprocate with said crank rod.
6. The improvement according to claim 3, comprising a crank hub fixed to said output shaft to rotate therewith, said crank rod pivotally connected to said crank hub.
7. The improvement according to claim 6, comprising a roller bearing carried by said housing, wherein said crank hub is journaled for rotation by said roller bearing.
8. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said at least one knockout member comprises a beam and two knockout rods fixed to said beam, and a knockout support fixed to said knockout rods, said knockout support carrying said knockout plungers.
9. The improvement according to claim 1, comprising a housing configured as an oil reservoir, said rotary-to-linear motion apparatus located within said oil reservoir, wherein said knockout rods are guided for linear movement by penetrating through walls of said housing.
10. In a patty forming apparatus that comprises a reciprocating mold plate that includes a fill position in which cavities of the mold plate are filled with food product and a discharge position wherein knockout plungers mechanically drive the patties from the cavities, the improvement comprising:
a precise position controlled motor having a rotary output shaft;
a rotary-to-linear motion conversion device receiving rotary motion from said rotary output shaft;
a plurality of knockout plungers operatively connected to said rotary-to-linear motion conversion device to be driven into linear motion to pass into said cavities to discharge patties, and subsequently to withdraw from said cavities.
11. The improvement according to claim 10, wherein said precise position controlled motor comprises a servomotor.
12. The improvement according to claim 10, comprising a frame carrying said knockout plungers, and wherein said rotary-to-linear device comprises a crank rod extending perpendicular to an axis of said rotary output shaft and operatively, pivotally connected eccentrically to said axis of said output shaft, said crank rod pivotally connected at an opposite end to said frame.
13. The improvement according to claim 12, comprising a housing configured for containing an oil bath, said crank rod located within said housing.
14. The improvement according to claim 13, wherein said housing comprises a top wall and a sleeve that sealingly penetrates through said top wall, said sleeve fixed to a top end of said crank rod to reciprocate with said crank rod.
15. The improvement according to claim 12, comprising a crank hub fixed to said output shaft to rotate therewith, said crank rod pivotally connected to said crank hub.
16. The improvement according to claim 15, comprising a roller bearing carried by said housing, wherein said crank hub is journaled for rotation by said roller bearing.
17. The improvement according to claim 12, wherein said frame comprises a beam and two knockout rods fixed to said beam, and a knockout support fixed to said knockout rods, said knockout support carrying said knockout plungers.
18. The improvement according to claim 17, wherein said beam comprises a yoke and said crank rod comprises a distal apertured end portion pinned to said yoke.
19. The improvement according to claim 18, comprising a crank hub fixed to said output shaft to rotate therewith, said crank rod pivotally connected to said crank hub; and
a housing configured for containing an oil bath, said crank rod and said crank hub located within said housing, wherein said knockout rods are guided for linear movement by penetrating through walls of said housing.
20. The improvement according to claim 10, comprising a frame carrying said knockout plungers, and wherein said rotary-to-linear device comprises a crank rod extending perpendicular to an axis of said rotary output shaft and operatively, pivotally connected eccentrically to said axis of said output shaft, said crank rod pivotally connected at an opposite end to said frame; and
a crank hub fixed to said output shaft to rotate therewith, said crank rod pivotally connected to said crank hub and wherein said crank rod is pivotally connected to said crank hub by a pin and a roller bearing surrounding said pin, said crank rod having a base annular end surrounding said roller bearing.
21. Tooling for a knockout drive of a reciprocating mold plate patty-forming machine comprising:
an electric motor mechanically independent of the mold plate drive said electric motor having a rotary output shaft;
a rotary-to-linear motion apparatus operatively connected to said rotary output shaft of said electric motor; and
at least one knockout member operatively connected to said rotary-to-linear motion apparatus, said knockout member connectable to a knockout plunger to reciprocate said knockout plunger.
22. The tooling according to claim 21, wherein said electric motor comprises a precise position controlled motor.
23. The tooling according to claim 21, comprising a knockout frame configured to carry a plurality of knockout plungers, and wherein said rotary-to-linear device comprises a crank rod extending perpendicular to an axis of said rotary output shaft and operatively, pivotally connected eccentrically to said axis of said rotary output shaft, said crank rod pivotally connected at an opposite end to said knockout frame.
24. The tooling according to claim 23, comprising a housing configured for containing an oil bath, said crank rod located within said housing.
25. The tooling according to claim 24, wherein said housing comprises a top wall and a sleeve that sealingly penetrates through said top wall, said sleeve fixed to a top end of said crank rod to reciprocate with said crank rod.
26. The tooling according to claim 23, comprising a crank hub fixed to said output shaft to rotate therewith, said crank rod pivotally connected to said crank hub.
27. The tooling according to claim 26, comprising a roller bearing carried by said housing, wherein said crank hub is journaled for rotation by said roller bearing.
28. The tooling according to claim 21, wherein said at least one knockout member comprises a beam and two knockout rods fixed to said beam, and a knockout support fixed to said knockout rods, said knockout support configured to carry a plurality of knockout plungers.
29. The tooling according to claim 21, comprising a housing configured as an oil reservoir, said rotary-to-linear motion apparatus located within said oil reservoir, wherein said knockout rods are guided for linear movement by penetrating through walls of said housing.
30. A patty forming apparatus, comprising:
a reciprocating mold plate having mold cavities;
a drive for reciprocating said mold plate between a cavity fill position and a patty discharge position;
a food product feed for delivering pressurized food product into said cavities at said fill position;
a plurality of knockout plungers corresponding in number to said cavities, said plungers arranged above said mold cavities when said mold plate is in said patty discharge position;
a precise position controlled motor having a rotary output shaft;
a rotary-to-linear motion conversion device operatively connected to said rotary output shaft and to said plurality of knockout plungers, said rotary-to-linear motion conversion device receiving rotary power from said rotary output shaft and driving said plurality of plungers into said mold cavities to discharge patties from said mold cavities.
31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said precise position controlled motor comprises a servomotor.
32. The apparatus according to claim 30, comprising a frame carrying said knockout plungers, and wherein said rotary-to-linear device comprises a crank rod extending perpendicular to an axis of said rotary output shaft and operatively, pivotally connected eccentrically to said axis of said output shaft, said crank rod pivotally connected at an opposite end to said frame.
33. The apparatus according to claim 32, comprising a housing configured for containing an oil bath, said crank rod located within said housing.
34. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said housing comprises a top wall and a sleeve that sealingly penetrates through said top wall, said sleeve fixed to a top end of said crank rod to reciprocate with said crank rod.
35. The apparatus according to claim 32, comprising a crank hub fixed to said output shaft to rotate therewith, said crank rod pivotally connected to said crank hub.
36. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said rotary-to-linear motion apparatus, said electric motor, and said at least one knockout member are adjustable together in longitudinal position.