JP2010175506A - X-ray analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To more certainly prevent the leakage of X-rays to the outside in an X-ray analyzer. <P>SOLUTION: The X-ray analyzer having an X-ray tube 12 includes an X-ray tube position detecting means 23 for detecting whether the X-ray tube 12 is attached at a predetermined attaching position and a power supply control device 42 for turning off the supply of power to the X-ray tube 12 from a power supply 100 when the X-ray tube position detecting means 23 detects that the X-ray tube 12 is not attached. By this constitution, since power is not fed to the X-ray tube 12 from the power supply 100 in a case that the X-ray tube 12 is not attached at the predetermined position, the leakage of X-rays is more certainly prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for preventing leakage of X-rays to the outside of an X-ray analyzer.

  The X-ray analyzer has a safety device for preventing X-rays from leaking outside the device, and an interlock circuit for turning off the X-ray power when such a safety device is not operating properly. Is provided. For example, the safety device includes a shielding lid that shields the X-ray irradiation chamber, a shielding lid locking mechanism that locks the shielding lid, and a shielding lid opening / closing sensor that detects whether the shielding lid is closed. The interlock circuit turns off the power supply for supplying power to the X-ray tube when the open state of the shielding lid is detected by the shielding lid opening / closing sensor. This prevents X-ray leakage outside the X-ray irradiation chamber.

  However, the conventional X-ray analyzer does not include means for detecting whether or not the shielding lid is locked by the lock mechanism. For this reason, even if the user forgets to lock after closing the shielding lid, power is supplied to the X-ray tube. Therefore, if the shielding lid is accidentally opened during X-ray irradiation, the shielding lid sensor detects the opening of the lid, and the X-ray is received in a short time until the power supply to the X-ray tube is cut off by the interlock circuit. May leak.

  Further, in the X-ray analysis apparatus, it is defined as one of safety standards that the X-ray analyzer can be designed so that X-ray irradiation can be stopped when a cover covering the entire apparatus is opened. Therefore, conventionally, means for detecting opening and closing of the device cover is provided as a safety device. Since an X-ray analyzer is usually provided with a plurality of covers, an open / close detection means is also provided for each cover in the conventional apparatus. However, if a plurality of sensors are used, the failure rate due to sensor failure increases as a whole device. In addition, wiring to individual sensors is required, resulting in a complicated structure of the apparatus.

  Furthermore, the X-ray analyzer is designed so that the X-ray leakage is not more than a specified value when the X-ray tube is installed at a predetermined position in the apparatus. Therefore, when the X-ray tube is installed out of a predetermined position after maintenance of the X-ray analyzer, the safety device and the interlock circuit are not useful.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent X-ray leakage outside the apparatus more reliably in an X-ray analyzer.

The X-ray analyzer according to the first aspect of the present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, is an X-ray analyzer having an X-ray tube.
a) X-ray tube position detecting means for detecting whether the X-ray tube is mounted at a predetermined mounting position;
b) power supply control means for turning off the power supply from the power source to the X-ray tube when the X-ray tube position detecting means detects that the X-ray tube is not attached;
It is characterized by having.

  The X-ray analyzer according to the second aspect of the present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, is an X-ray analyzer having an X-ray tube, wherein the X-ray tube is a predetermined connector for connecting the X-ray tube and the power source. It is characterized in that it can be connected only when it is attached to the position.

An X-ray analyzer according to a third aspect of the present invention, which has been made to solve the above-described problems, includes a shielding lid that covers an X-ray irradiation chamber, and shielding lid locking means that locks the shielding lid in a closed state. In the X-ray analyzer according to 1 or 2, wherein
a) a shielding lid lock detecting means for detecting a locked state by the shielding lid locking means;
b) Power supply control means for turning off the power supply from the power source to the X-ray tube when the non-locking state of the shielding cover is detected by the shielding cover lock detecting means;
It is characterized by having.

The X-ray analyzer according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, is the X-ray analyzer according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, having a plurality of device covers.
a) The plurality of device covers have a structure in which all other covers can be removed only when a specific cover is removed,
b) Cover opening / closing detection means only for the specific cover;
c) power supply control means for turning off the power supply from the power source to the X-ray tube when the cover open / close detection means detects the open state of the specific cover;
It is characterized by having.

  According to the X-ray analysis apparatus according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, when the X-ray tube is not attached at a predetermined position, power is not supplied from the power source to the X-ray tube. It becomes possible to prevent more reliably.

  Further, according to the X-ray analyzer according to the third aspect of the present invention, the shielding lid covering the X-ray irradiation chamber is not locked, and no power is supplied to the X-ray tube in a state where the shielding lid can be opened. . For this reason, it becomes possible to prevent X-ray leakage outside the apparatus.

  Further, according to the X-ray analysis apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, even when the apparatus has a plurality of apparatus covers, the opening / closing detection means for the specific cover detects whether or not all of the plurality of covers are closed. Is possible. Thereby, the X-ray leakage effect similar to the conventional one can be obtained with fewer detection means. By reducing the number of detection means, the failure rate due to the failure of the detection means as a whole interlock circuit can be reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent X-ray leakage with a simpler structure than before and in the same manner as before or more reliably. Any of the plurality of covers may be a specific cover, and a specific cover may be provided separately from the plurality of covers.

1 is an exploded perspective view of an X-ray analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Schematic which shows the internal structure of the X-ray analyzer which concerns on the Example of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the positional relationship of the X-ray tube of the X-ray analyzer which concerns on the Example of this invention, a photosensor, and a heat sink. The schematic diagram which shows the shielding cover locking mechanism of the X-ray analyzer which concerns on the Example of this invention. a) Front view of the shielding lid locking mechanism. b) is a side view of the shielding lid locking mechanism. c) is a plan view of the shielding lid locking mechanism. The block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the X-ray analyzer which concerns on the Example of this invention.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to examples.

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the X-ray analyzer according to the present embodiment. The X-ray analyzer includes an apparatus main body 1 and a plurality of apparatus covers (front under cover 2, left cover 3, right cover 4, front cover 5, rear cover) covering the front lower part, left and right side parts, and upper rear part of the apparatus main body 1. And a top cover 6). An X-ray irradiation chamber 7 is provided in the upper part of the first half of the apparatus main body 1.

  Both device covers are attached to the device main body 1 with screws. At this time, the screw hole 8b of the screw 8a for attaching the front under cover 2 is covered by the left cover 3 and the right cover 4 when the left cover 3 and the right cover 4 are attached to the apparatus body 1 (in FIG. 1, the left cover 3 side). Only the screw hole 8b is shown). A screw hole 9b of a screw 9a for attaching the left cover 3, a screw hole (not shown) of a screw for attaching the right cover 4, and a screw hole (not shown) of a screw attaching the front cover 5 are all rear top covers. When 6 is attached, it is covered with the rear top cover 6. Therefore, in order to open the left cover 3, the right cover 4, and the front cover 5, it is necessary to remove the rear top cover 6. Further, in order to open the front under cover 2, it is necessary to remove the left cover 3 and the right cover 4.

  In such a structure, it is necessary to remove the rear top cover 6 in order to open any cover of the apparatus body 1. In the present embodiment, a cover opening / closing sensor 43 (shown only in FIG. 5) is provided only on the rear top cover 6, and the X-ray irradiation is stopped when this sensor detects that the rear top cover 6 is opened. Has been taken. The cover opening / closing sensor 43 is constituted by a mechanical switch that is pressed by the rear top cover 6 when the rear top cover 6 is attached to the apparatus main body 1, for example.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the internal structure of the apparatus main body 1. An X-ray tube 12 and an X-ray detector 13 are disposed in the apparatus main body below the X-ray irradiation chamber 7. X-rays generated in the X-ray tube 12 are irradiated to the sample 11 from the X-ray irradiation port 21 (shown only in FIG. 3), and the characteristic X-rays emitted from the sample in response to the X-ray irradiation are X-ray detectors 13. Is detected. A liquid nitrogen cylinder 14 is disposed inside the rear portion of the apparatus main body 1. The X-ray irradiation chamber 7 is covered with a shielding lid 18, and the closed state of the shielding lid 18 is locked by a lock mechanism 19.

  FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the X-ray tube 12. The X-ray tube 12 is provided with a heat sink 22 composed of a large number of fins 22a. In addition, a transmission type photosensor 23 is provided at the attachment portion of the X-ray tube 12. When the X-ray tube 11 is attached at a predetermined position, one of the fins 22a of the heat sink 22 enters between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the photosensor 23 and blocks light from the light emitting element. Thereby, it is detected whether or not the X-ray tube 12 is attached at a predetermined position. That is, the photosensor functions as an X-ray tube position detection unit.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the shielding lid lock mechanism 19. a) is a front view of the shielding lid locking mechanism 19, b) is a side view, and c) is a plan view as seen from the upper part of the apparatus.

  The shielding lid lock mechanism 19 includes a U-shaped lock fitting 31, a hook 32, a stopper 33, a micro switch 34, a solenoid 35, and an operation shaft 36 inside the solenoid. The lock fitting 31 is attached to the shielding lid 18. When the shielding lid 18 is closed, first, the hook 32 is locked to the lock fitting 31. As a result, the shielding lid 18 does not open upward. When the shielding lid locking mechanism 19 is operated in this state, the solenoid operating shaft 36 moves in the direction of the microswitch 34, and the end of the operating shaft 36 (hereinafter referred to as the operating end 37) Get in between. As a result, the rotation of the hook 32 is prevented, and the hook 32 is not unlocked with respect to the lock fitting 31 and is locked.

  When the operating end 37 of the solenoid enters between the hook 32 and the stopper 33, the actuator portion of the micro switch 34 is pushed by the operating end 37. The micro switch 34 detects that the shielding lid 18 is in a locked state by the force received by the actuator unit. That is, the microswitch 34 functions as a shielding lid lock detecting unit.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the X-ray analyzer according to the embodiment of the present invention. The X-ray analyzer of this embodiment includes an X-ray tube 12, a connector 41 that connects the X-ray tube 12 and the power source 100, a power supply control unit 42 that controls power supply from the power source 100 to the X-ray tube 12, and a cover open / close sensor. 43, a photo sensor 22, a micro switch 34, and the like.

  The power supply control unit 42 turns off the power supply to the X-ray tube 12 based on detection results from the cover opening / closing sensor 43, the photosensor 22, and the microswitch 34. However, the X-ray tube 12 can be supplied with power by connecting the connector 41 to the power source 100.

Specifically, when the cover opening / closing sensor 43 detects that the rear top cover 6 has been opened, the power supply control unit 42 turns off the power supply to the X-ray tube 12. Therefore, in the conventional apparatus, it is possible to detect whether all the covers are open while reducing the number of cover open / close sensors provided for each of the plurality of covers to one, and the conventional X-ray analysis. X-ray leakage can be prevented equivalently or more reliably to the apparatus.
The power supply control unit 42 turns off the power supply to the X-ray tube 12 when the photosensor 22 detects that the X-ray tube 12 is not attached at a predetermined position. Further, the power supply control unit 42 turns off the power supply to the X-ray tube 12 when the micro switch 34 detects that the shielding lid 18 is not in the locked state.

  In the present embodiment, the power supply control unit 42 also turns off the power supply to the X-ray tube 12 even when the cover open / close sensor 43, the photosensor 22, and the microswitch 34 are disconnected. Thereby, when the opening of the cover cannot be detected due to a failure of the cover open / close sensor or the like, power is not supplied to the X-ray tube 12, and leakage of the X-ray can be prevented.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described above using the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and the following modifications are possible.
In the above embodiment, the specific cover is only the rear top cover. However, if it is a part of the apparatus cover, two or more apparatus covers may be used as the specific cover. A specific cover may be provided separately from the device cover.
The specific cover, the X-ray tube position detecting means, and the shielding lid lock detecting means are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and appropriate sensors such as a photo sensor, a micro switch, and a magnetic sensor can be used.
Moreover, in the said Example, although X-ray irradiation is controlled by detecting the attachment position of an X-ray tube, the electric power supply to an X-ray tube is carried out only when an X-ray tube is attached to a predetermined position. The connector may be configured to be connected to a power source.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Apparatus main body 2 ... Front under cover 3 ... Left cover 4 ... Right cover 5 ... Front cover 6 ... Rear top cover 7 ... X-ray irradiation chamber 8a, 9a ... Screw 8b, 9b ... Screw hole 11 ... Sample 12 ... X-ray Tube 13 ... X-ray detector 14 ... Liquid nitrogen cylinder 15 ... Shielding lid 16 ... Lock mechanism 21 ... X-ray irradiation port 22 ... Heat sink 22a ... Fin 23 ... Photo sensor 31 ... Lock fitting 32 ... Hook 33 ... Stopper 34 ... Micro switch 35 ... Solenoid 36 ... Operating shaft 37 ... Operating end 41 ... Connector 42 ... Power supply control unit 43 ... Cover open / close sensor 100 ... Power supply

Claims (4)

In an X-ray analyzer having an X-ray tube,
a) X-ray tube position detecting means for detecting whether the X-ray tube is mounted at a predetermined mounting position;
b) power supply control means for turning off the power supply from the power source to the X-ray tube when the X-ray tube position detecting means detects that the X-ray tube is not attached;
X-ray analyzer characterized by having.   An X-ray analyzer having an X-ray tube, wherein a connector connecting the X-ray tube and a power source can be connected only when the X-ray tube is attached at a predetermined position. The X-ray analyzer according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a shielding lid that covers the X-ray irradiation chamber; and a shielding lid locking means that locks the shielding lid in a closed state.
a) a shielding lid lock detecting means for detecting a locked state by the shielding lid locking means;
b) Power supply control means for turning off the power supply from the power source to the X-ray tube when the non-locking state of the shielding cover is detected by the shielding cover lock detecting means;
X-ray analyzer characterized by having. The X-ray analyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a plurality of device covers.
a) The plurality of device covers have a structure in which all other covers can be removed only when a specific cover is removed,
b) Cover opening / closing detection means only for the specific cover;
c) power supply control means for turning off the power supply from the power source to the X-ray tube when the cover open / close detection means detects the open state of the specific cover;
X-ray analyzer characterized by having.

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