JP2009288200A - X-ray inspection apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an X-ray inspection apparatus capable of effectively preventing external leakage of X-rays. <P>SOLUTION: The X-ray inspection apparatus 1 comprises shield boxes 2, 3, an X-ray irradiating section and an X-ray detecting section disposed in the shield boxes 2, 3, a belt conveyor unit 8 transferring an object 100 so that the object 100 passes through an X-ray irradiation path 60 between the X-ray irradiating section and the X-ray detecting section, and an X-ray shielding member 19 attached to the belt conveyor unit 8 under the X-ray irradiating section to surround part of the X-ray irradiation path 60 related to an X-ray irradiating direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an X-ray inspection apparatus.

  An X-ray inspection apparatus according to the background art is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 below. An X-ray aperture cylinder is connected to the output section of the X-ray source, and a reflection X-ray removal cylindrical plate is disposed so as to cover the periphery of the X-ray aperture cylinder. The X-ray source is disposed above the upper surface of the casing ceiling. The X-ray diaphragm cylinder is disposed through the ceiling of the housing. The reflection X-ray removing cylindrical plate is fixed to the lower surface of the ceiling of the casing. In addition, an article carry-in port and a carry-out port are formed in the housing. According to the following Patent Document 1, it is stated that external leakage of X-rays can be prevented by arranging a reflection X-ray removing cylindrical plate.

JP-A-6-347424 (FIG. 3)

  According to the X-ray inspection apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, a reflection X-ray removal cylindrical plate is disposed on the lower surface of the ceiling of the housing. Therefore, the radiation angle of the X-rays emitted from the ceiling (X-ray aperture cylinder) of the housing toward the inside of the housing is limited by the reflection X-ray removal cylindrical plate. For this reason, it is considered that X-rays emitted from the ceiling of the housing can be prevented from leaking directly from the carry-in port and the carry-out port to the outside.

  However, in the X-ray inspection apparatus, X-rays emitted from the X-ray source and applied to the test object may be scattered by the test object. In this case, depending on the reflection X-ray removal cylindrical plate disposed on the lower surface of the ceiling of the casing as disclosed in Patent Document 1, scattered X-rays traveling from the test object toward the carry-in port or the carry-out port. Cannot prevent external leakage. That is, according to the X-ray inspection apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that countermeasures against external leakage of X-rays (particularly scattered X-rays) are insufficient.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object thereof is to obtain an X-ray inspection apparatus capable of effectively suppressing external leakage of X-rays.

  An X-ray inspection apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention performs an inspection on an article by irradiating the article to be inspected with X-rays and detecting the X-ray transmitted through the article. An apparatus, a shield box, an X-ray irradiation unit and an X-ray detection unit arranged in the shield box, and an X-ray irradiation path between the X-ray irradiation unit and the X-ray detection unit. An X-ray shielding member that is attached to the transfer unit below the X-ray irradiation unit and surrounds a part of the X-ray irradiation path with respect to the X-ray irradiation direction. Are provided.

  According to the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the first aspect, the X-ray shielding member is attached to the transport unit below the X-ray irradiation unit. That is, compared with the case where it arrange | positions on the ceiling of a shield box, the X-ray shielding member is arrange | positioned in the position nearer to articles | goods. Therefore, even when the X-rays irradiated to the article from the X-ray irradiation unit are scattered by the article, at least a part of the scattered X-rays can be shielded by the X-ray shielding member. As a result, it is possible to avoid or suppress the situation where X-rays leak outside the shield box.

  In the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the first aspect, the transport unit is detachably attached to the shield box, and the X-ray shielding member is It is detachably attached to the transport unit.

  According to the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the second aspect, at the time of cleaning, by removing the transport unit from the shield box, the X-ray shielding member is also taken out of the shield box along with the transport unit. The X-ray shielding member can be removed from the part. Thus, since the removal operation | work of an X-ray shielding member is easy, it becomes possible to improve the cleaning property of an X-ray shielding member.

  In the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the second aspect, there is a gap between the upper end of the X-ray shielding member and the lower end of the X-ray irradiation unit. It is characterized by being provided.

  According to the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the third aspect, the X-ray shielding member and the X-ray irradiation unit do not contact each other when the conveyance unit is pulled out from the shield box by sliding in the lateral direction. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the X-ray shielding member or the X-ray irradiation unit is damaged due to this contact.

  In the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the X-ray inspection apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the X-ray shielding member is located at a predetermined location in the shield box. It is further characterized by further comprising detection means for detecting whether or not it is located.

  According to the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the fourth aspect, when the detection means detects that the X-ray shielding member is not located at a predetermined location in the shield box, the operator is notified by an alarm. Thus, the inspection can be prevented from being executed. As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the X-ray leaks to the outside due to the inspection being performed in an inappropriate state.

  The X-ray inspection apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is the X-ray inspection apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, in particular, the X-ray shielding member includes a transfer surface of the transfer unit. An article passage window is provided directly above, and the shield box is provided with an article passage opening at a location corresponding to an end of the conveyance surface in the article conveyance direction. The portion is located below the window.

  According to the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the opening of the shield box is located below the window of the X-ray shielding member. Therefore, even when the scattered X-rays from the article pass through the window and leak to the outside of the X-ray shielding member, the scattered X-rays pass through the opening and leak to the outside of the shield box. It can be avoided or suppressed.

  According to the present invention, external leakage of X-rays can be effectively suppressed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the element which attached | subjected the same code | symbol in different drawing shall show the same or corresponding element.

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing a configuration of an X-ray inspection apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this specification, the front view is a view of the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 (or part thereof) viewed from a direction parallel to the X axis of the coordinate axis shown in the figure, and viewed from a direction parallel to the Y axis. The figure is a side view.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 includes shield boxes 2 to 5, a lower housing 6, and a belt conveyor unit 8. The shield boxes 2 to 5 prevent X-rays from leaking outside the X-ray inspection apparatus 1. A monitor 11 with a touch panel function is attached to the front plate 2A of the shield box 2. The internal spaces of the shield boxes 3 to 5 are connected, and the belt conveyor unit 8 is disposed across the internal spaces of the shield boxes 3 to 5.

  A central lower end portion of the front plate 12 of the shield box 3 is fixed to an upper end portion of the support plate 13. The lower end portion of the support plate 13 is attached to the lower housing 6. The support plate 13 is rotatable around a horizontal axis along its lower side. The inside of the shield box 3 can be exposed by tilting the front plate 12 forward from the state of FIG. The shield boxes 4 and 5 are detachably attached to the shield box 12. A computer 14 for performing operation control and data processing of the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 is disposed inside the lower housing 6. The lower housing 6 is supported by support legs 7 fixed to the side surfaces thereof.

  FIG. 2 is a front view showing the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 in a state in which the front plate 2A and the shield boxes 4 and 5 are removed and the front plate 12 is tilted forward. An X-ray source 15 and a guide cylinder 16 are disposed inside the shield box 2. The guide tube 16 guides X-rays generated by the X-ray source 15 downward. A slit 17 is formed on the upper surface of the shield box 3. X-rays emitted from the lower end of the guide tube 16 are formed into a fan shape by passing through the slit 17 and are irradiated downward (Z-axis direction in the figure) into the shield box 3. That is, the X-ray source 15, the guide tube 16, and the slit 17 function as an X-ray irradiation unit for irradiating the shield box 3 with X-rays.

  The belt conveyor unit 8 has a trapezoidal outer shape whose center is higher than both ends. A belt 44 is wound around the outer periphery of the belt conveyor unit 8. An X-ray sensor 18 that functions as an X-ray detection unit is disposed inside the belt conveyor unit 8. Further, an X-ray shielding member 19 is attached to the belt conveyor unit 8 at a position below the slit 17. Details of the X-ray shielding member 19 will be described later.

  The belt conveyor unit 8 is supported by support legs 9. A caster 10 is fixed to the lower end of the support leg 9. The belt conveyor unit 8 can be pulled out of the shield box 3 by sliding the belt conveyor unit 8 forward (X-axis direction in the drawing) from the state of FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a front view showing the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 with the belt conveyor unit 8 pulled out, and FIG. 4 is a front view showing the belt conveyor unit 8 pulled out. Since the X-ray shielding member 19 is attached to the belt conveyor unit 8, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the X-ray shielding member 19 is also pulled out from the shield box 3 by pulling out the belt conveyor unit 8. .

  Hereinafter, an outline of the operation of the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. However, actually, the inspection is executed in a state where the shield boxes 4 and 5 are attached and the front plate 12 is closed (that is, the state of FIG. 1).

  The article 100 that is the inspection object is supplied from the upstream side (left side in FIG. 2) of the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 to the upstream end (left end in FIG. 2) of the belt conveyor unit 8. The article 100 is, for example, a food, and more specifically, raw minced meat that is not packaged.

  The supplied article 100 is conveyed from the upstream to the downstream on the belt 44 and eventually passes through the X-ray irradiation path between the slit 17 and the X-ray sensor 18. The X-ray sensor 18 detects X-rays irradiated from the slit 17 and transmitted through the article 100. The detection signal output from the X-ray sensor 18 is input to the computer 14 shown in FIG. If foreign matter is mixed in the article 100, the intensity of X-rays detected by the X-ray sensor 18 is extremely reduced at the foreign matter mixed location. Based on the detection signal input from the X-ray sensor 18, the computer 14 determines the presence / absence, size, mixed location, etc. of the foreign matter in the article 100. The determination result is displayed on the monitor 11 shown in FIG.

  After passing through the X-ray irradiation path, the article 100 is discharged from the downstream end (right end in FIG. 2) of the belt conveyor unit 8. Although not shown in FIG. 2, an arbitrary sorting mechanism is provided on the downstream side (right side in FIG. 2) of the X-ray inspection apparatus 1, and the article 100 determined to be defective is It is excluded from the normal route by the minute mechanism.

  Hereinafter, the X-ray shielding member 19 will be described in detail. 5, 6 and 7 are a perspective view, a side view and a top view showing the structure of the X-ray shielding member 19, respectively. The X-ray shielding member 19 generally has a hollow rectangular parallelepiped shape. The four side surfaces of the rectangular parallelepiped are constituted by four shielding plates 20 to 23, and the upper and bottom surfaces of the rectangular parallelepiped are both open. A notch portion 26 and a protruding portion 28 protruding toward the inside of the rectangular parallelepiped are formed at the lower portion of the shielding plate 22. Bending portions 24 and 25 that are bent toward the inside of the rectangular parallelepiped are formed at the lower ends of the shielding plates 20 and 21, respectively. In addition, windows 29 and 30 for allowing the article 100 to pass therethrough are formed below the shielding plates 20 and 21, respectively. A hook structure 27 is fixed to the lower part of the shielding plate 23.

  8 to 10 are top views showing the structure of the belt conveyor unit 8. Referring to FIG. 8, an X-ray sensor 18 (not shown in FIG. 8) is disposed inside the housing 31. A groove 43 penetrating the upper surface of the housing 31 is formed on the upper surface of the housing 31 above the location where the X-ray sensor 18 is disposed. A recess 42 is formed on the upper surface of the housing 31 at a location where the X-ray shielding member 19 is to be attached. A support base 40 is fixed to the housing 31 at a location where the X-ray shielding member 19 is to be attached. A snap lock 41 is fixed to the support base 40. Rollers 32 to 35 and frames 36 to 39 for supporting a belt 44 (not shown in FIG. 8) are disposed on the upper surface of the housing 31. The groove 43 is exposed from the gap between the frame 37 and the frame 38.

  FIG. 9 shows the belt 44 wound around the structure of FIG. FIG. 10 shows a structure in which the X-ray shielding member 19 is attached to the structure of FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a side view showing a mounting structure of the X-ray shielding member 19. A projecting portion 50 is formed at the end of the frame 38 (and the frame 37). By fitting the projecting portion 50 into the cutout portion 26 of the shielding plate 22, the shielding plate 22 and the frame 38 (and the frame 37) are formed. ) Are fixed to each other. In addition, the shield plate 23 is placed on the support base 40, the arm portion of the snap lock 41 is passed through the hook structure 27 of the shield plate 23, and then the snap lock 41 is locked. 40 are fixed to each other. Thus, the shielding plate 22 is fixed to the frame 38 (and the frame 37), and the shielding plate 23 is fixed to the support base 40, whereby the X-ray shielding member 19 is attached to the belt conveyor unit 8. Further, the X-ray shielding member 19 can be removed from the belt conveyor unit 8 by releasing the lock of the snap lock 41. That is, the X-ray shielding member 19 is detachably attached to the belt conveyor unit 8.

  FIG. 12 is a perspective view schematically showing the positional relationship between the X-ray shielding member 19 and the X-ray irradiation path 60. As shown in FIG. 12, the X-ray shielding member 19 is arranged so as to surround a part of the X-ray irradiation path 60 (a part in the Z-axis direction). In other words, a part of the X-ray irradiation path 60 in the Z-axis direction is surrounded by the shielding plates 20-23.

  FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional structure of the belt conveyor unit 8 with respect to the location where the X-ray sensor 18 is disposed. The X-ray sensor 18 has a plurality of X-ray detection elements arranged along the X-axis direction.

  Among the plurality of X-ray detection elements constituting the X-ray sensor 18, the X-ray detection element 18 </ b> A located at one end of the X-ray sensor 18 has the X-ray shielding member 19 set at a correct location in the shield box 3. It is used as a detection means for detecting whether or not there is. When the X-ray shielding member 19 is set at a correct location, the path 61 at the end of the X-ray irradiation path 60 is blocked by the protruding portion 28 of the X-ray shielding member 19. Therefore, since the X-ray detection element 18A does not detect X-rays (or the intensity of the detected X-rays is remarkably low), it can be detected that the X-ray shielding member 19 is set at the correct location.

  Similarly, among the plurality of X-ray detection elements constituting the X-ray sensor 18, the X-ray detection element 18 </ b> B located at the other end of the X-ray sensor 18 has the belt conveyor unit 8 placed at a correct location in the shield box 3. It is used as a detecting means for detecting whether or not it is set. When the belt conveyor unit 8 is set at a correct location, the path 62 at the end of the X-ray irradiation path 60 is blocked by the upper surface of the housing 31. Therefore, since the X-ray detection element 18B does not detect X-rays (or the intensity of the detected X-rays is extremely low), it can be detected that the belt conveyor unit 8 is set at the correct location.

  Thus, according to the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the X-ray shielding member 19 is disposed below the slit 17 (X-ray irradiator) on the belt conveyor unit 8 ( It is attached to the transport unit. That is, the X-ray shielding member 19 is disposed at a position closer to the article 100 as compared to the case where it is disposed on the ceiling of the shield box 3. Therefore, even when X-rays irradiated to the article 100 from the X-ray irradiation unit are scattered by the article 100, at least a part of the scattered X-rays can be shielded by the X-ray shielding member 19. As a result, it is possible to avoid or suppress the situation where X-rays leak outside the shield boxes 3 to 5.

  Further, according to the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the belt conveyor unit 8 is detachably attached to the shield box 3, and the X-ray shielding member 19 is detachably attached to the belt conveyor unit 8. ing. Therefore, at the time of cleaning, by removing the belt conveyor unit 8 from the shield box 3, the X-ray shielding member 19 is also taken out from the shield box 3 along with the belt conveyor unit 8. In this state, the X-ray shielding member 19 can be removed from the belt conveyor unit 8. Thus, since the removal operation | work of the X-ray shielding member 19 is easy, the cleaning property of the X-ray shielding member 19 can be improved.

  Further, according to the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a gap is provided between the upper end of the X-ray shielding member 19 and the X-ray irradiation unit. Accordingly, when the belt conveyor unit 8 is pulled out from the shield box 3 by sliding in the lateral direction, the X-ray shielding member 19 and the X-ray irradiation unit do not contact each other. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the X-ray shielding member 19 or the X-ray irradiation unit is damaged due to this contact.

  Further, according to the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the X-ray detection element 18 </ b> A positions the X-ray shielding member 19 at a predetermined location in the shield box 3. It can be detected whether or not. Therefore, when it is detected that the X-ray shielding member 19 is not located at a predetermined location, the inspection can be prevented from being performed by notifying the operator by an alarm or the like. As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the X-ray leaks to the outside due to the inspection being performed in an inappropriate state.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the X-ray shielding member 19 has windows 29 and 30 for passing articles. Therefore, a part of the scattered X-rays from the article 100 can leak out of the X-ray shielding member 19 through the windows 29 and 30. Hereinafter, countermeasures against scattered X-rays leaked to the outside of the X-ray shielding member 19 will be described.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the windows 29 and 30 of the X-ray shielding member 19 and the openings 70 and 71 of the shield boxes 4 and 5. An opening 70 for allowing the article 100 to pass therethrough is formed in the lower part of the shield box 4 so that the article 100 can be carried into the X-ray inspection apparatus 1. Further, an opening 71 for allowing the article 100 to pass through is formed below the shield box 5 in order to carry the article 100 out of the X-ray inspection apparatus 1. In detail, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, windows 29 and 30 for allowing the article 100 to pass through are formed in the X-ray shielding member 19.

  As shown in FIG. 14, when the height of the lower end of the opening 70 is H1, the height of the upper end is H2, the height of the lower end of the window 29 is H3, and the height of the upper end is H4, the height H2 is high. Lower than H3. That is, the opening 70 is positioned below the window 29. Similarly, when the height of the lower end of the opening 71 is H5, the height of the upper end is H6, the height of the lower end of the window 30 is H7, and the height of the upper end is H8, the height H6 is higher than the height H7. Low. That is, the opening 71 is located below the window 30.

  Therefore, even if the scattered X-rays L1 and L2 from the article 100 pass through the windows 29 and 30 and leak to the outside of the X-ray shielding member 19, the scattered X-rays L1 and L2 pass through the openings 70 and 71. The situation of passing through and leaking outside the shield boxes 4 and 5 can be avoided or suppressed.

It is a front view which shows the structure of the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the internal structure of a X-ray inspection apparatus. It is a front view which shows the X-ray inspection apparatus in the state where the belt conveyor unit was pulled out. It is a front view which shows the belt conveyor unit pulled out. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a X-ray shielding member. It is a side view which shows the structure of a X-ray shielding member. It is a top view which shows the structure of a X-ray shielding member. It is a top view which shows the structure of a belt conveyor unit. It is a top view which shows the structure of a belt conveyor unit. It is a top view which shows the structure of a belt conveyor unit. It is a side view which shows the attachment structure of a X-ray shielding member. It is a perspective view which shows typically the positional relationship of an X-ray shielding member and an X-ray irradiation path | route. It is sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of a belt conveyor unit. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of the window of an X-ray shielding member, and the opening part of a shield box.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 X-ray inspection apparatus 2-5 Shield box 8 Belt conveyor unit 15 X-ray source 16 Guide pipe | tube 17 Slit 18 X-ray sensor 18A X-ray detection element 19 X-ray shielding member 20-24 Shielding board 28 Protrusion part 29,30 Window 60 X-ray irradiation path 70, 71 opening

Claims (5)

An X-ray inspection apparatus that inspects an article by irradiating the article to be inspected with X-rays and detecting the X-ray transmitted through the article,
A shield box,
An X-ray irradiation unit and an X-ray detection unit arranged in the shield box;
A transport unit that transports the article so that the article passes through an X-ray irradiation path between the X-ray irradiation unit and the X-ray detection unit;
An X-ray inspection apparatus comprising: an X-ray shielding member that is attached to the transport unit below the X-ray irradiation unit and surrounds a part of the X-ray irradiation path in the X-ray irradiation direction. The transport unit is detachably attached to the shield box,
The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the X-ray shielding member is detachably attached to the transport unit.   The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a gap is provided between an upper end of the X-ray shielding member and a lower end of the X-ray irradiation unit.   The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising detection means for detecting whether or not the X-ray shielding member is located at a predetermined location in the shield box. The X-ray shielding member is provided with an article passage window immediately above the transport surface of the transport unit.
The shield box is provided with an article passage opening at a location corresponding to the end of the conveyance surface in the article conveyance direction.
The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening is positioned below the window.

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