SYSTEM FOR INSPECTING THE CONTENTS OF A CONTAINER

A system for inspecting the contents of a container is provided. The system includes a first source for emitting sequential beams of penetrating electromagnetic radiation from a target in a first set of substantially parallel directions, a conveyor for moving the container relative to the first source, a first detector for detecting the penetrating radiation after interaction with the contents of the container and generating a first set of signals corresponding to each of the substantially parallel directions and a controller for characterizing the contents of the container based at least on the first set of signals. The first detector may be a scatter detector. Similarly, the first detector may be a transmission detector.