JP2007033403A - X-ray inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an X-ray inspection device dispensing with installation of a sorting device downstream of a carrying channel cover near an X-ray inspection means, attaining miniaturization, and facilitating maintenance work from the front side. <P>SOLUTION: This X-ray inspection device comprises a conveyor 10, the X-ray inspection means 20, an opening/closing cover 32 which covers the carrying channel 10a of a predetermined conveyance section D2 downstream in the carrying direction from an inspection region, a sorting/discharging mechanism 40 which selectively discharges an inspection object out of the carrying channel based on the inspection result of the inspection means, and a discharge object containing box 50 which contains the discharged inspection object W. The opening/closing cover 32 is a front open type which opens on the upper surface of the carrying channel 10a of the predetermined conveyance section D2 and on the front side in its width direction in an open state. The sorting/discharging mechanism 40 is placed on the inner side of the opening/closing cover 32. The discharge object containing box 50 is equipped to the rear side in the width direction of the carrying channel 10a of the predetermined conveyance section D2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an X-ray inspection apparatus, and more particularly to an X-ray inspection apparatus in which a cover that covers a conveyance path is provided in a predetermined conveyance section near an X-ray inspection means.

  As a conventional X-ray inspection apparatus, an X-ray is applied to an object to be inspected at a predetermined inspection position in a conveyance path, and the presence of a foreign substance in the object to be detected is detected from a distribution of transmitted X-ray dose at that time. A foreign object detection apparatus is known. In this X-ray foreign object detection apparatus, for example, an X-ray line sensor composed of a plurality of X-ray detection elements is arranged as a means for detecting transmitted X-ray dose so as to be substantially orthogonal to the conveyance path. In addition, it has been devised to enable inspection with a required resolution and prevent leakage of X-rays to the outside (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Further, in such an inspection system using an X-ray inspection apparatus, when a defect detection signal such as a foreign object is output from the X-ray inspection apparatus, a sorting device disposed downstream in the transport direction is operated to detect the object including the foreign object. Many inspection items are discharged outside the transport path.

As the sorting and discharging method, a flipper method, a pusher method, a dropout method, an air jet method and the like are generally known, but in order to provide a sorting and discharging mechanism according to the shape of the object to be inspected and the transport form, for example, A long and short link arm that is spaced apart in the conveying direction is provided on one side of the conveyor belt in the width (width) direction so as to support the discharge plate, and the link mechanism including both links and the discharge plate is driven by the air cylinder. The rotation of the revolving component due to the rotation of the two links and the rotation of the rotation component due to the difference in the length of the two links, the discharge plate convey the discharge plate so as to draw an arcuate miracle as a whole There is one that allows a long and narrow inspection object to be discharged at a high speed by moving it in and out of a belt (for example, see Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-318060 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-60102

  However, in the conventional X-ray inspection apparatus as described above, a predetermined conveyance section within a certain vicinity of the X-ray inspection means in the X-ray inspection apparatus due to safety of work or regulations considering the operator. Is often required to be covered with a cover.

  In such a case, since the sorting device is disposed further downstream than the predetermined conveying section covered with the cover, the inspection system has a large installation area.

  Conventionally, since it is necessary to secure a certain work space on the conveyance path, the sorting device, at least the discharge mechanism, is arranged on one side in the width direction of the conveyance path. For this reason, especially when a waste storage box is provided for storing the discharged waste until the inspection target reaches a predetermined amount, both sides of the transport path are blocked by the sorting device and the waste storage box. Therefore, there is a problem that not only the X-ray inspection apparatus is enlarged but also the maintenance workability is poor.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems of the prior art, and eliminates the need to install a sorting device on the downstream side of the conveyance path cover in the vicinity of the X-ray inspection means, and can be made compact. In addition, an X-ray inspection apparatus capable of facilitating maintenance work and the like from the front side is provided.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention irradiates X-rays to the inspection object on the conveyance path in a predetermined inspection area of the conveyor, a conveyor that conveys the inspection object along a predetermined conveyance path, X-ray inspection means for inspecting the inspection object based on the X-ray transmission amount of the inspection object, and a closed covering the conveyance path of the predetermined conveyance section in the vicinity of the inspection means and downstream of the predetermined inspection area in the conveyance direction. An open / close cover that can be in an open state that opens the state and the conveyance path of the predetermined conveyance section, and operates based on the inspection result of the inspection means at a predetermined discharge position downstream of the predetermined inspection region in the conveyance direction, and the inspection result In an X-ray inspection apparatus comprising: a sorting discharge mechanism that discharges an inspection object that has a predetermined result to the outside of the conveyance path; and a discharge storage box that stores the inspection object discharged by the sorting discharge mechanism , The opening cover is in front The upper surface of the conveyance path in the predetermined conveyance section and the front side in the width direction of the conveyance path are opened in the open state, the sorting and discharging mechanism is provided on the inner side of the opening / closing cover, and the width direction of the conveyance path in the predetermined conveyance section The said waste storage box is arrange | positioned at the back side.

  In this X-ray inspection apparatus, a sorting / discharging mechanism is disposed on the inner side of an open front opening / closing cover that covers a predetermined conveyance section within a certain vicinity of X-ray inspection means required for work safety. Since the waste storage box is disposed on the rear side of the cover, it is not necessary to install a sorting device on the downstream side of the opening / closing cover in the transport direction. Moreover, when the opening / closing cover is opened, the inspection object and the sorting / discharging mechanism in the predetermined transport section can be easily exposed to the work space from the front side, and the maintenance work is facilitated. Here, the front side in the width direction of the conveyance path is the front side of the X-ray inspection apparatus on the work space side where an operation / display panel or the like is arranged.

  In the X-ray inspection apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the sorting / discharging mechanism is supported by the opening / closing cover.

  In this configuration, when the opening and closing cover is opened, the sorting and discharging mechanism is moved out of the sorting work space corresponding to the predetermined conveying section at the same time, so when the opening and closing cover is opened, the conveying path can be completely opened. At that time, not only the object to be inspected placed on the conveyance path can be easily handled, but also replacement of a member (for example, endless conveyance belt) constituting the conveyance path, cleaning work, and the like become very easy. In addition, since the sorting device is not arranged on the front side, the maintenance work space is widened.

  In the X-ray inspection apparatus of the present invention, the discharge storage box has a receiving port for receiving the inspection object discharged out of the conveyance path, and has different vertical heights in the vicinity of the receiving port. It is preferable to have a plurality of discharge sensors for detecting the inspection object at a plurality of positions, and to detect the full state of the discharge storage box by the plurality of discharge sensors.

  In this case, it is possible to reliably detect the discharge of the inspection object by using a plurality of discharge sensors with different detection heights, and it is possible to detect the near fullness before the fullness by stepwise capacity detection. Become.

  In the present invention, it is needless to say that the sorting and discharging mechanism is not necessarily supported by the opening / closing cover, and can be independently installed on the conveying path of the predetermined conveying section as long as it is on the inner side of the opening / closing cover. .

  According to the present invention, the sorting / discharging mechanism is disposed in the front opening / closing cover that covers the predetermined conveyance section in the vicinity of the X-ray inspection means required for work safety, while the discharge storage box is disposed behind the opening / closing cover. Therefore, it is not necessary to install a sorting device on the downstream side of the opening / closing cover in the conveying direction, so that compactness can be achieved, and maintenance work from the front side can be facilitated.

  That is, as described in claim 1, the opening / closing cover is an open type that opens the upper surface of the conveying path and the front side in the width direction of the conveying path when the opening / closing cover is in an open state, and the sorting and discharging mechanism is located on the inner side of the opening / closing cover. If the discharge storage box is arranged on the rear side in the conveyance path width direction of the predetermined conveyance section, the opening / closing cover using the conveyance section in the vicinity of the X-ray inspection means required for work safety is used. Since it is possible to sort and discharge to the waste storage box on the rear side, it is not necessary to install a sorting device on the downstream side in the transport direction from the opening and closing cover, and it is possible to avoid the enlargement of the inspection system, Since the inspection object and the sorting / discharging mechanism in the predetermined conveyance section can be easily exposed to the work space from the front side when the opening / closing cover is opened, the maintenance work can be facilitated.

  Further, as described in claim 2, if the sorting and discharging mechanism is supported on the inner surface side of the opening / closing cover, the conveying path can be completely opened when the opening / closing cover is opened, and at that time, on the conveying path. It is possible to greatly facilitate the handling of the object to be inspected and the replacement / cleaning work of the members constituting the conveyance path.

  Further, as described in claim 3, the discharge storage box has a receiving port for receiving the inspection object discharged out of the conveyance path, and at a plurality of positions having different vertical heights in the vicinity of the receiving port. If there are multiple discharge sensors that detect the object to be inspected, and these discharge sensors enable detection of the full state of the waste storage box, the multiple discharge sensors with different detection heights can reliably detect the inspection object. In addition, it is possible to detect that the vehicle is almost full before it is full by detecting the amount of discharge and performing stepwise capacity detection.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
1 to 6 are views showing an X-ray inspection apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the configuration will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a conveyor 10 including a predetermined conveyance path 10 a that moves from left to right in FIG. 1, and an X-ray shielding function. An X-ray inspection means 20 having a known X-ray source and X-ray detector in a housing 21 having a surface, and a transport path 10a in the vicinity of the X-ray inspection means 20 is covered while the transport path 10a and its width are covered. Front-opening type first and second opening / closing covers 31, 32 that can open the front side (the lower side in FIG. 1A) of the direction, and the second opening / closing on the conveyance path 10a. A sorting / discharging mechanism 40 disposed on the inner side of the cover 32 and a discharge storage box 50 disposed on the rear side (upper side in FIG. 1A) in the width direction of the transport path 10a are provided. Yes. Here, the front side in the width direction of the transport path 10a is the front side of the apparatus. On the front side, the X-ray inspection means 20 includes a front-opening opening / closing cover 22 described later and the X-ray. An open front opening / closing door 26 located on the front side of the source, a start / stop button 27 located below the opening / closing door 26, a display unit 29 located above the opening / closing door 26, and the like are provided. .

  The conveyor 10 is, for example, a belt in which an endless conveyance belt 13 is detachably wound around a plurality of substantially horizontal parallel rollers 11a, 11b, 12a, and 12b, and a flat conveyance path 10a is formed on an upper running portion (upper surface forming portion). It is a conveyor, and the endless transport belt 13 is rotated by driving one of the parallel rollers 11a and 11b positioned at both ends of the transport path 10a, for example, the roller 11b by the motor unit 14 (see FIG. 2). It has become. In addition, when the endless conveyor belt 13 rotates, the conveyor 10 is used as a product of an object to be inspected W placed on the upper running portion, for example, a food or medicine stored in a box or other container. The X-ray inspection means 20 is transferred at a corresponding transfer speed through the housing 21. In order to allow the endless transport belt 13 to be attached and detached, for example, the roller support mechanism portion is movable so that the entire parallel roller 11a or the front end side of the parallel rollers 11a and 11b can be brought close to the parallel roller 11a. It has become.

  Although not shown in detail, the X-ray inspection means 20 generates X-rays as its X-ray source, for example, by causing thermoelectrons from the cathode filament to collide with the anode target with a high voltage between the cathode and anode. An X-ray tube is provided, and the generated X-ray is directed downward and shaped into a fan-shaped beam extending in the width direction of the transport path 10a by a slit (not shown) and irradiated. Further, the X-ray detector of the X-ray inspection means 20 is composed of an X-ray line sensor extending in the expanding direction of the X-ray beam below the transport path 10a (upper section) of the conveyor 10, and the extension X-ray detection at a predetermined resolution can be performed by a plurality of X-ray detection elements arranged at predetermined intervals in the direction. Therefore, when the inspection object W passes through the casing 21 of the X-ray inspection means 20 by the operation of the conveyor 10, the X-ray inspection means 20 is inspected on the conveyance path 10a in the predetermined inspection area D1 of the conveyor 10. While irradiating the object W with X-rays, the distribution of the X-ray transmission amount (absorption amount) in the inspection object W can be inspected based on the X-ray transmission amount.

  Further, on the front side of the housing 21 of the X-ray inspection means 20, the lower hinge portions 22a and 22b are centered on the front and rear sides between the open side indicated by solid lines and the closed position indicated by virtual lines in FIG. An opening / closing cover 22 capable of X-ray shielding that can be turned in the vertical direction is provided. The opening / closing cover 22 is configured such that the lower hinge portions 22a and 22b can be attached to and detached from the housing 21 when opened.

  Further, in both sides of the casing 21 of the X-ray inspection means 20 in the conveyer conveyance direction, a comb shape is formed as shown in FIG. 2 in order to allow passage of the inspection object W while shielding X-rays. For example, X-ray shielding sheet members 25A and 25B made of lead-containing rubber, and side cover portions 23a extending in a hook shape obliquely downward from both side surfaces of the housing 21 toward the first and second opening / closing covers 31 and 32, 23b, and the X-ray shielding sheet members 25A and 25B are arranged in a pair as shown in FIG. 1 (a) or at least a pair so as to be closer to the inside thereof. The other portions of the casing 21 that form the periphery of the inspection space are equipped with X-ray shielding members (not shown), and the X-ray inspection means 20 is provided in the predetermined inspection area D1 of the conveyor 10. The structure is such that X-rays are not substantially leaked to the outside (for example, a leakage X-ray dose of 1 μSv / h or less).

  The first opening / closing cover 31 is formed so as to cover the upper surface of the conveyance path 10a of the predetermined conveyance section D0 upstream of the predetermined inspection area D1 of the conveyor 10 in a substantially horizontal state, and the rear edge thereof is formed with a plurality of hinge members (butterflies). It is supported by the machine frame 1 so that it can be opened and closed in the vertical and forward / backward directions. A handle 31 c is mounted on the front side of the first opening / closing cover 31. That is, the first opening / closing cover 31 is a front opening type that can open the front surface side (one side in the width direction) on the transport path 10a by operating the handle portion 31c.

  The second opening / closing cover 32 is formed so as to cover the upper surface of the transport path 10a of the predetermined transport section D2 downstream of the predetermined inspection area D1 of the conveyor 10 in a substantially horizontal state, and its rear edge is formed of a plurality of hinge members (butterflies). It is supported by the discharge storage box 50 (or the machine base frame 1) by 32a and 32b so that it can be opened and closed in the vertical and front-rear directions. A plurality of closed state lock mechanisms 32 a and 32 b and handles 32 e and 32 f are mounted on the front surface side of the second opening / closing cover 32. That is, the second opening / closing cover 32 is of a front opening type that can be opened by operating the handle portions 32e and 32f, and is in a closed state that covers the transport path 10a in the predetermined transport section D2 and transport in the predetermined transport section D2. It is an open / close cover that can be in an open state in which the road 10a and its front side are opened. The closed state lock mechanisms 32a and 32b are known ones that can be unlocked by lifting the lower end portion.

  The first opening / closing cover 31 and the second opening / closing cover 32 have a length sufficient to cover the conveyance path 10a outside the X-ray shielding sheet members 25A and 25B, respectively, following the side cover portions 23a and 23b. The lengths of the predetermined conveying sections D0 and D2 corresponding to the lengths are required to be a certain length in accordance with the safety of work or legal regulations considering workers.

  On the other hand, the sorting / discharging mechanism 40 provided inside the second opening / closing cover 32 has the X-ray inspection means 20 at the predetermined discharge position Ps on the downstream side in the transport direction from the predetermined inspection area D1 which is the X-ray inspection area. When the X-ray inspection result is a predetermined result, for example, NG determination (defect determination) due to contamination, the inspection object W is moved to the outside of the conveyance path 10a. And the rear side (the upper side in FIG. 1A; the rear side in the width direction of the conveyance path). Then, the inspection object W discharged by the sorting / discharging mechanism 40 is put into the discharge storage box 50 arranged on the rear side.

  Specifically, the sorting / discharging mechanism 40 is supported by the second opening / closing cover 32. That is, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the sorting and discharging mechanism 40, one end side of a plurality of equal-length links (which may be slightly different) 41 </ b> F and 41 </ b> R is on the inner surface side of the second opening / closing cover 32. While being supported rotatably by a pair of fixed studs 42a and 42b, the other end sides of the isometric links 41F and 41R are equidistant from the studs 42a and 42b on a pusher 43 made of sheet metal (for example, stainless steel plate). Are connected to a pair of studs 42c, 42d fixed to each other so that the equal-length links 41F, 41R become a pair of long links, and the second opening / closing cover 32 between the studs 42a, 42b and A parallel link mechanism is configured in which the pusher 43 between the studs 42c and 42d is a pair of short links (indicated by 32k and 43b in FIGS. 4 and 5).

  In addition, an operation lever portion 41Ra is integrally connected to one side, for example, the base end side of the back-side equal-length link 41R, and the operation rod portion 44a of the air cylinder 44 is connected to the rotation end side of the operation lever portion 41Ra. Are pin-coupled via a pin 44e. The cylinder base end portion 44b of the air cylinder 44 is rotatably supported by a stud 44b fixed to the inner surface side of the second opening / closing cover 32, and the equal length link 41F, 41R swings back and forth (up and down in FIG. 3), and the pusher 43 moves back and forth. Further, the length L2 (see FIG. 5) of the operation lever portion 41Ra is set to a predetermined lever ratio L2 / L1 (for example, 1/3) with respect to the length L1 of the equal length links 41F and 41R, and the air cylinder The amount of movement of the pusher 43 is increased in accordance with the lever ratio with respect to the amount of expansion / contraction of 44.

  Further, a pinch prevention plate 45 made of sheet metal (for example, stainless steel plate) is provided on the other side, for example, the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the equal-length link 41F on the front side. It is fastened and fixed so as to be replaceable.

  The pusher 43 is formed by fixing a sheet metal part 43a bent into a “U” -shaped cross section to a thick sheet metal part 43b to which studs 42c and 42d are fixed. Secures high rigidity. A male screw is formed at the tip of each of the studs 42a to 42d, and a nut or the like (no symbol) is attached thereto.

  A pair of compressed air supply / discharge ports 44c and 44d are provided at both ends of the air cylinder 44, and a working fluid (compressed air) from a compressed air supply source (not shown) installed inside the lower part of the machine base frame 1 is illustrated. The operation rod portion 44a of the air cylinder 44 extends from the solid line position shown in FIG. 3 to the position indicated by the phantom line and contracts conversely.

  Note that the above-described compressed air supply source and flow path switching valve are controlled by a discharge control unit (not shown), and this discharge control unit is, for example, an inspection result for each inspection object W from the control unit in the X-ray inspection means 20. By receiving the sensor information and timing information related to the signal and the conveyance timing, and operating the air cylinder 44 at the required discharge timing, only the defective inspected object W mixed with foreign matters when a defect occurs is discharged into the discharge storage box 50. It is supposed to let you. Since such control of sorting and discharging itself is known, it will not be described in detail here.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 4, on the inner side of the second opening / closing cover 32, the base ends of the studs 42a and 42b and the equal-length links 41F and 41R and the air cylinder 44 are provided from the lower side. A screw-removable inner surface cover 32g that covers and prevents the object W from being caught is mounted.

  As shown in FIGS. 3B and 4, the discharge storage box 50 has a receiving port 51 for receiving the inspection object W discharged out of the conveyance path 10 a, and as shown in FIG. In the vicinity of the mouth 51, for example, a plurality of optical discharge sensors 61 and 62 for detecting the inspection object W at a plurality of positions having different vertical heights are provided. And the control part of the X-ray detection means 20 and the said discharge | emission control part are the presence or absence of discharge | emission of the to-be-inspected object A determined by these discharge sensors 61 and 62 NG, and the presence or absence of the full state of the discharge storage box 50. Each can be detected.

  Specifically, when the inspection object W discharged as NG determination is discharged to the discharge storage box 50 by the pusher 43, the inspection object W is detected by the plurality of discharge sensors 61 and 62, respectively. Thus, it is confirmed that the inspection object W has been reliably discharged / injected into the discharge storage box 50, and if the inspection object W is not detected by any of the plurality of discharge sensors 61, 62, the sorting discharge operation is performed. It is discriminated that it is defective.

  Further, the plurality of discharge sensors 61 and 62 are discharged when the lower discharge sensor 62 of the plurality of discharge sensors 61 and 62 detects the inspection object W stored in the discharge storage box 50 for a predetermined time or more. The exhaust storage box 50 is detected by detecting that the storage box 50 is almost full, and both the plurality of discharge sensors 61 and 62 detect the inspection object W stored in the exhaust storage box 50 for a predetermined time or more. It is arranged so that a full state can be detected.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  In the X-ray inspection apparatus of the present embodiment described above, when the type of each inspection object W is set in advance and an input for specifying the type of the inspection object W is made, the inside of the X-ray inspection means 20 is set. The control unit executes the conveyance control of the conveyor 10, the generation of the X-ray image based on the detection information of the X-ray detector, the determination processing for the presence or absence of foreign matter, and the like by a predetermined control program, and the X-ray inspection is performed.

  For example, when an input for specifying the type of the inspection object W is made on a menu screen (not shown), first, each set parameter that has been set first is read from the type parameter file, and an operation input that instructs the start of inspection If there is, the conveyance of the inspection object W by the conveyor 10 is started. The X-ray source of the X-ray inspection means 20 is energized at a predetermined timing after the apparatus is started by the start / stop switch 27, while either of the open / close covers 31, 32 is opened or started / stop switch. The energization is cut off when the stop switch 27 is pressed.

  Next, when the entry of the inspection object W into the inspection space is detected by an unillustrated approach detection sensor or when a certain time has elapsed from the start of conveyance, for example, the length of the inspection object W is determined from a change in the detection state of the entry detection sensor. And a non-conveyance section corresponding to the interval between the inspection objects W adjacent in the front and rear directions in the conveyance direction are specified, and a sampling period for performing repeated scanning of the X-ray detector is determined.

  Next, when the inspection object W on the transport path 10a passes through the X-ray inspection means 20, image processing is executed in the control unit of the X-ray inspection means 20 based on detection information of the X-ray detector, for example, An X-ray transmission image or an X-ray absorption image for each inspection object W is created as a digital gray image, and the presence / absence of a foreign object is determined based on the X-ray image. The X-ray image and the determination result are displayed on the display unit 29. Is displayed.

  Assuming that an inspection object W determined to contain foreign matter has occurred, the inspection object W passes through the inside of the casing 21 (predetermined inspection area D1) of the X-ray inspection means 20 and is conveyed downstream. The predetermined conveyance section D2 is reached.

  At this time, the discharge control unit that has received the NG determination result (predetermined inspection result signal) and the conveyance timing information about the inspection object W from the control unit in the X-ray inspection means 20 performs the air cylinder at the required discharge timing. 44, the plurality of inspection objects W are conveyed at predetermined intervals on the conveyance path 10a of the conveyor 10, and only the defective inspection object W mixed with foreign matter by the pusher 43 is discharged into the discharge storage box 50. To discharge.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6A, first, an NG determination is made in a state where the pusher 43 and the pinching prevention plate 45 are waiting outside the conveyance path 10a which is the conveyance width region of the inspection object W. When the inspected object W (A in FIG. 6; hereinafter, also referred to as the inspected object A) reaches a predetermined vicinity region of the pusher 43, the isometric links 41F and 41R and the pusher 43 located at the solid line position in FIG. The air cylinder 44 is actuated to the extension side so that the air cylinder 44 moves to the imaginary line position side in the figure, and the pusher 43 and the pinching prevention plate 45 are changed from the state of FIG. 6A to the state of FIG. 6B. The pusher 43 comes into contact with the inspection object W determined to be NG.

  Next, the pusher 43 and the pinching prevention plate 45 further move from the state of FIG. 6B to the state of FIG. 6C, and the inspection object A determined as NG comes out of the conveyance path 10a. So that it is pushed backwards. At this time, since the stroke and the moving speed of the pusher 43 are relatively high, the inspection object A determined to be NG is thrown into the discharge storage box 50 side by the pusher 43 at a relatively high speed. The stroke and the moving speed of the pusher 43 are set in advance according to the conveyance speed and the conveyance pitch of the inspection object W. For example, when 150 inspection objects W are conveyed per minute, the pusher 43 is The discharge operation is performed in about 150 to 200 milliseconds in consideration of the variation in the interval of the inspection object W, and a speed that satisfies the discharge operation is required.

  Next, the pusher 43 and the pinching prevention plate 45 are retracted so as to shift from the state of FIG. 6C to the state of FIG.

  In this state, the inspection object W (B in FIG. 6, hereinafter also referred to as inspection object B) positioned immediately after the inspection object A determined as NG among the subsequent non-defective inspection objects W is the pusher. 43, when the pusher 43 performs the discharging operation, the pinching prevention plate 45 enters the conveyance path 10a prior to the pusher 43 so as to block the path of the subsequent inspection object B, and Even when the discharge operation of the pusher 43 is completed, the rear end edge of the pusher 43 does not come out before the pinching prevention plate 45. Therefore, the subsequent inspection object B does not approach the pusher 43 too much, and the subsequent inspection object B is not caught on the rear edge of the pusher 43 at the time when the discharge operation of the pusher 43 is completed or immediately thereafter. The subsequent inspection object B is not sandwiched between the sorting and discharging mechanism 40 that operates.

  When a plurality of defective products are generated while the above inspection is continued to some extent, the inspection object W discharged NG is stored in the discharge storage box 50. When the inspection object W discharged in this manner is discharged to the discharge storage box 50 by the pusher 43, the discharge of the inspection object W is reliably detected by the detection information of the plurality of discharge sensors 61 and 62, and at high speed. It is also confirmed that there is no discharge operation failure in the sorting and discharging mechanism 40 that operates. Here, at the timing (period) when sensor information is taken in from the plurality of discharge sensors 61 and 62 as discharge detection information, the inspection object W is stored in the discharge storage box 50 from the start of the operation of the air cylinder 44 to the discharge side. This is a predetermined discharge detection period set in advance as a sufficient time until it is determined that the discharge operation is defective if discharge of the inspection object W is not detected within this discharge period.

  On the other hand, outside the discharge detection period, detection information of the discharge sensors 61 and 62 is monitored as detection information for performing stepwise full detection of the inspection object W stored in the discharge storage box 50. Therefore, when the number of defects exceeds a predetermined value, first, among the plurality of discharge sensors 61, 62, the lower discharge sensor 62 detects the inspection object W stored in the discharge storage box 50 for a certain time or more. The exhaust storage box 50 is almost full, and when the exhaust storage box 50 is full, both the plurality of discharge sensors 61 and 62 are inspected W stored in the exhaust storage box 50. Is detected for a certain time or more, and the full state in the discharge storage box 50 is detected step by step. Then, based on these pieces of detection information, the X-ray inspection apparatus is automatically stopped before full detection, for example. When the discharge storage box 50 is almost full, an alarm display for notifying the state is displayed.

  As described above, in the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment, the front opening-type second opening / closing cover 32 that covers the predetermined conveyance section D2 within a certain vicinity of the X-ray inspection means 20 required for work safety is provided. Since the sorting / discharging mechanism 40 is disposed on the inner side, and the discharge storage box 50 is disposed on the rear side of the opening / closing cover 32, the sorting device is disposed downstream of the opening / closing cover in the transport direction as in the prior art. No need to install. In addition, when the second opening / closing cover 32 is opened, the inspection object W and the sorting / discharging mechanism 40 in the predetermined conveyance section D2 can be easily exposed to the work space from the front side. Maintenance work can be easily performed in the work space on the front side of the apparatus for the processing of the objects W and the sorting and discharging mechanism 40. As a result, the X-ray inspection system can be made compact by eliminating the need to install a sorting device downstream of the opening / closing cover 32 in the conveying direction, and maintenance work from the front side of the device can be facilitated. it can.

  When the second opening / closing cover 32 is opened, the sorting / discharging mechanism 40 is moved out of the sorting work space corresponding to the predetermined conveying section D2 at the same time, so that the conveying path 10a is opened when the second opening / closing cover 32 is opened. The top can be completely opened, and the workpiece W placed on the transport path 10a can be easily handled at that time, and the endless transport belt 13 constituting the transport path 10a can be replaced. Cleaning work becomes very easy. In addition, since the sorting device is not arranged on the front side, the maintenance work space is widened. Since the endless conveyor belt 13 can be replaced or cleaned in either a state in which the opening / closing cover 22 is opened or a state in which the opening / closing cover 22 is separated from the casing 21 by the lower hinge portions 22a, 22b, such maintenance is possible. Work is even easier.

  Furthermore, in the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment, the discharge storage box 50 performs the reliable discharge detection of the inspection object W by the plurality of discharge sensors 61 and 62 having different detection heights, and It is possible to detect that the fullness is almost full before the fullness is detected by the stepwise detection of the accommodation amount in the height direction by the discharge sensors 61 and 62.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 7 is a view showing an X-ray inspection apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the embodiment described below, the X-ray detection unit and other basic configurations and operations thereof are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment described above. The same reference numerals as in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a sorting / discharging mechanism 70 having a flipper arm 71 is provided inside the second opening / closing cover 32, and this sorting / discharging mechanism 70 is located near the receiving port 51 of the discharge storage box 50. Alternatively, it is supported by the machine frame 1.

  The flipper arm 71 of the sorting and discharging mechanism 70 opens the receiving port 51 of the discharged material storage box 50 and closes the receiving port 51 and the discharging position for introducing the inspection object W that has reached the discharging position Ps into the receiving port 51. At the same time, the drive control unit 72 controls the rotation so that the inspection object W that has reached the discharge position Ps is positioned at one of the non-discharge positions that allow the inspection object W to be conveyed downstream as it is. The drive control unit 72 is a well-known one, and has a mechanical part (not shown), which converts an air cylinder (not shown) and its linear motion output into rotation of the flipper arm.

  Further, the sorting and discharging mechanism 70 operates based on the inspection result of the X-ray inspection means 20, and the X-ray inspection result is a predetermined result, for example, NG determination (defect determination) due to foreign matter contamination. The flipper arm 71 is rotated to the discharge position before the inspection object W determined to be NG has reached the discharge position Ps, and the inspection object W that has reached the discharge position Ps is transferred to the receiving port 51 of the discharge storage box 50. And guide it into the receiving port 51. On the other hand, if the X-ray inspection result is not NG determination, the non-defective inspection object W reaching the discharge position Ps is transferred to the conveyor by positioning the flipper arm 71 at the non-discharge position and closing the receiving port 51. 10 is allowed to be conveyed downstream as it is.

  Also in the present embodiment, the sorting and discharging mechanism 70 is provided on the inner side of the front opening-type second opening / closing cover 32 that covers the predetermined conveyance section D2 within a certain vicinity of the X-ray inspection means 20 required for work safety. On the other hand, since the waste storage box 50 is disposed on the rear side of the opening / closing cover 32, it is not necessary to install a sorting device on the downstream side in the transport direction from the second opening / closing cover 32. In addition, when the second opening / closing cover 32 is opened, the inspection object W and the sorting / discharging mechanism 70 in the predetermined conveyance section D2 can be easily exposed to the work space from the front side. Maintenance work can be easily performed in the work space on the front side of the apparatus for the processing of the objects W and the sorting and discharging mechanism 70. As a result, the X-ray inspection system can be made compact by eliminating the need to install a sorting device downstream of the opening / closing cover 32 in the conveying direction, and maintenance work from the front side of the device can be facilitated. it can.

  In addition, since the flipper type sorting and discharging mechanism 70 is used, it is possible to deal with various inspection objects and high reliability.

[Third embodiment]
8 and 9 are views showing an X-ray inspection apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 8, an air jet type sorting / discharging mechanism 80 is provided inside the second opening / closing cover 32, and the sorting / discharging mechanism 80 is mounted on a machine base via a support plate 82 and a hinge member 83. The frame 1 is supported so as to be movable in the front-rear direction.

  The sorting and discharging mechanism 80 has, at its tip, a nozzle unit 81a that can eject compressed air from at least one nozzle, for example, a plurality of nozzles 81b and 81c, toward the predetermined discharge position Ps on the conveyance path 10a. It has a nozzle pipe 81 attached. Then, the compressed air is selectively supplied to the nozzle pipe 81 from a compressed air supply source 95 shown in FIG. 9 via an ejection operation switching valve and a flexible pipe (not shown).

  Since the air jet type sorting and discharging mechanism itself is known, the detailed configuration is not mentioned here, but the sorting and discharging mechanism 80 is operated based on the inspection result of the inspection means 20. That is, when the X-ray inspection result is a predetermined result, for example, NG determination (defect determination) due to foreign matter contamination, when the inspection object W determined to be NG reaches the discharge position Ps, compressed air is supplied to the nozzle pipe 81. The compressed air from the source 95 is supplied, and the inspection object W that the air jet (jet air) ejected from the nozzles 81b and 81c reaches the predetermined discharge position Ps on the transport path 10a is received by the receiving port 51 of the discharge storage box 50. It is supposed to blow away. On the other hand, when the X-ray inspection result is not NG determination, the compressed air from the compressed air supply source 95 is not supplied to the nozzle pipe 81, and the non-defective inspection object W that has reached the discharge position Ps is left as it is by the conveyor 10. It is conveyed downstream.

  The discharge storage box 50 has a receiving port 51 for receiving the inspection object W discharged to the outside of the transport path 10a, and has a height in the vertical direction in the vicinity of the receiving port 51, as in the above-described embodiment. For example, there are a plurality of optical discharge sensors 91 that detect the inspection object W at a plurality of different positions, and these discharge sensors 91 consider air jet type sorting discharge and the variety of inspection objects. Many (three or more) are installed over a wide area.

  These discharge sensors 91 not only enable reliable discharge detection in a wide range due to different installation heights, but also at least on the lower side, similar to the discharge sensors 61 and 62 of the first embodiment. Two sensors can detect the exhaust storage box 50 in a full state in stages.

  Also in the present embodiment, the sorting and discharging mechanism 80 is provided on the inner side of the front opening-type second opening / closing cover 32 that covers the predetermined conveyance section D2 within a certain vicinity of the X-ray inspection means 20 required for work safety. On the other hand, since the waste storage box 50 is disposed on the rear side of the opening / closing cover 32, it is not necessary to install a sorting device on the downstream side in the transport direction from the second opening / closing cover 32. In addition, when the second opening / closing cover 32 is opened, the inspection object W and the sorting / discharging mechanism 80 in the predetermined conveyance section D2 can be easily exposed to the work space from the front side. Maintenance work can be easily performed in the work space on the front side of the apparatus for the processing of the objects W and the sorting and discharging mechanism 80. As a result, the X-ray inspection system can be made compact by eliminating the need to install a sorting device downstream of the opening / closing cover 32 in the conveying direction, and maintenance work from the front side of the device can be facilitated. it can.

  In addition, since the air jet type sorting and discharging mechanism 80 is used, a support mode with high openness that allows the nozzle pipe 81 of the sorting and discharging mechanism 80 to be tilted forward as shown in FIG. 8 can be obtained. Of course, the nozzles 81b and 81c of the nozzle pipe 81 can be supported on the front inner wall portion of the second opening / closing cover 32 in an arbitrary posture.

  Further, by the plurality of discharge sensors 91 having different detection heights, reliable discharge detection of the inspection object W and stepwise storage amount detection for detecting that the discharge storage box 50 is almost full before the discharge storage box 50 is full. Can do.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the sorting and discharging mechanism is disposed in the open front opening / closing cover that covers a predetermined conveyance section in the vicinity of the X-ray inspection means required for work safety, while the opening / closing cover is disposed behind the opening / closing cover. By arranging the waste storage box, it is not necessary to install a sorting device on the downstream side of the opening / closing cover in the transport direction, making it possible to achieve compactness and facilitating maintenance work from the front side. This is useful for X-ray inspection apparatuses, particularly X-ray inspection apparatuses in which a cover for covering the conveyance path is provided in a predetermined conveyance section near the X-ray inspection means.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is the top view, (b) is the front view. It is the side view seen from the downstream which shows the whole structure of the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the selection discharge mechanism of the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is the principal part top view, (b) is the front sectional drawing. It is the side surface cross section which looked at the downstream from the isometric link fulcrum part which shows the structure of the selection discharge mechanism of the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is typical structure explanatory drawing of the selection discharge mechanism of the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is typical operation explanatory drawing of the selection discharge mechanism of the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the top view which shows the whole structure of the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the principal part structure of the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, (a) is the top view, (b) is the front view containing the partially opened and closed cover. It is the side view seen from the downstream which shows the whole structure of the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Machine frame 10 Conveyor 10a Conveyance path 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b Parallel roller 13 Endless conveyance belt 14 Motor unit 20 X-ray inspection means 21 Case 23a, 23b Side cover part 25A, 25B X-ray shielding sheet member 32 2nd Open / close cover (open / close cover)
40, 70, 80 Sorting discharge mechanism 43 Pusher 45 Pinch prevention plate 50 Waste storage box 51 Receiving port 61, 62, 91 Multiple discharge sensors 71 Flipper arm 72 Drive controller 81 Nozzle pipe 81a Nozzle unit D1 Predetermined inspection area D2 Predetermined Transport section

Claims (3)

A conveyor (10) for transporting an object to be inspected along a predetermined transport path, and irradiating the object to be inspected on the transport path in a predetermined inspection area of the conveyor with an X-ray transmission amount of the object to be inspected An X-ray inspection means (20) for inspecting an object to be inspected, a closed state covering the conveyance path of a predetermined conveyance section in the vicinity of the inspection means and downstream of the predetermined inspection area in the conveyance direction, and the predetermined conveyance section An opening / closing cover (32) that can be open to open the conveyance path, and a predetermined discharge position downstream of the predetermined inspection area in the conveyance direction based on the inspection result of the inspection means, X-rays comprising a sorting / discharging mechanism (40) for discharging the inspection object, which is the result, out of the conveyance path, and a discharge storage box (50) for storing the inspection object discharged by the sorting / discharging mechanism. In inspection equipment,
In the opened state, the opening / closing cover opens the upper surface of the conveying path of the predetermined conveying section and the front side in the width direction of the conveying path,
The sorting and discharging mechanism is equipped on the inner side of the opening and closing cover,
The X-ray inspection apparatus, wherein the discharge storage box is disposed on the rear side in the width direction of the transport path of the predetermined transport section.   The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sorting and discharging mechanism is supported by the opening / closing cover. The discharge storage box has a receiving port for receiving the inspection object discharged out of the conveyance path, and detects the inspection object at a plurality of positions having different vertical heights in the vicinity of the reception port. Discharge sensor (61, 62; 91),
The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a full state of the discharge storage box can be detected by the plurality of discharge sensors.

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