JP2012078303A - X-ray inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an X-ray inspection device that smoothly passes an object to be inspected having small specific gravity through the device without problems with hygiene, while preventing the leak of X-ray.SOLUTION: An inclined shoot 20 for an object to be inspected w to glide and move is provided on at least one of a conveyance path on an import side and an export side that communicate with an X-ray inspection chamber 10. X-ray shields 22a, 22b made of a metal plate are swingably suspended from above the inclined shoot 20 so that the X-ray shields 22a, 22b are pushed open by the object to be inspected w that glides and moves along the inclined shoot 20.

Description

  The present invention relates to an X-ray inspection apparatus that inspects whether or not a foreign object (metal, stone, glass, bone, or the like) is mixed in an object to be inspected such as food or medicine.

  As such an X-ray inspection apparatus, X-rays are irradiated from above on an inspection object placed on a conveyor and transported and moved in an X-ray inspection room, and transmitted X-rays are detected by an X-ray detector disposed below the conveyor. Constructed in this way, the entrance and exit leading to the X-ray examination room are provided with a warm (noren) X-ray shield made of a rubber sheet containing lead, and the X-ray is externally passed through the entrance and exit. To prevent leakage.

  The object to be inspected conveyed by the conveyor pushes and opens the X-ray shield on the carry-in side, is carried into the X-ray examination room and irradiated with X-rays, and then pushes and opens the X-ray shield on the carry-out side. It is carried out of the X-ray examination room. When the above-mentioned rubber sheet containing lead is used as this X-ray shield, for example, when a stripped food such as raw meat is inspected as an object to be inspected, the rubber sheet directly touches the object to be inspected. There is a possibility that a sanitary problem that the lead component contained in the sheet adheres to the object to be inspected, which restricts the inspection object.

  On the other hand, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, an X-ray shield made of a metal plate is suspended so as to freely swing back and forth in the transport direction, and X-ray shielding is performed by the object to be transported. Those configured to push the body open are known.

JP 2010-127699 A

  However, the X-ray shield made of a metal plate is not particularly likely to cause sanitary problems even when directly touching raw food, but on the other hand, the X-ray shield itself is a rubber sheet. Compared with this, it is more difficult to bend and the weight is increased. Therefore, when the inspection object pushes open the X-ray shield, the push-open reaction force acting on the inspection object increases. For this reason, an object having a small specific gravity or a light object to be inspected cannot push the X-ray shield and pass smoothly, or the object to be inspected is deformed by contact with the X-ray shield. There is a problem that the risk of damage or damage increases.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such a situation, and while using a metal X-ray shield that does not have any sanitary problems, while allowing an object to be inspected with a low specific gravity to pass smoothly. An object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray inspection apparatus that can effectively prevent leakage of X-rays.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.

 (1) In the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present invention, an inclined chute on which an object to be slidably moves is arranged on at least one of the carry-in side and the carry-out side communicating with the X-ray examination room. An X-ray shield is suspended from above the inclined chute so as to be swingable, and the X-ray shield is pushed open by an object to be slid along the inclined chute.

  The inclined chute slides the inspection object from the top to the bottom along the inclined surface, and the inclination angle and length of the inclined chute depends on the type of the inspection object and the height of the conveyance path. Any selection may be made accordingly.

  The X-ray shield suspended from above is preferably plate-shaped, and may be composed of a single plate-shaped body, or a vertical cut (slit) is formed in a single plate-shaped body in the width direction. A plurality of strip-like or rod-like members may be arranged in the width direction so as to form a warm shape. The number of X-ray shields is arbitrary, and may be singular or plural.

  According to the X-ray inspection apparatus of the present invention, the metal X-ray shield is pushed open by the object to be slid along the inclined chute, and the weight of the original drooping posture is reduced as the object passes. Return. In this case, since the lower end of the suspended X-ray shield swings rearward and upward, the object to be inspected linearly moves rearward and downward, so that the X-ray shield is pushed backward by the object to be inspected. The rocking angle of the body is smaller than the rocking angle when the object to be inspected is moved horizontally, and the push-open reaction force acting on the object to be inspected from the X-ray shield is reduced correspondingly. The wire shield can be pushed open.

 (2) In another embodiment of the X-ray inspection apparatus of the present invention, the plurality of X-ray shields are suspended from above the inclined chute at intervals greater than the length in the conveyance direction of the inspection object. .

  According to this embodiment, since the plurality of X-ray shields are suspended with an interval larger than the length in the transport direction of the inspection object, the X-ray shields on the upstream side in the transport direction pass the inspection object. Accordingly, after returning to the drooping posture, the X-ray shield on the downstream side in the transport direction is pushed open by the inspection object, and both the X-ray shields on the upstream and downstream sides in the transport direction are pushed by the inspection object together. Since it is not pushed open, one of the X-ray shields on the upstream side or downstream side returns to the hanging position and shields the X-rays, so that X-ray leakage during the passage of the inspection object is reliably prevented. can do.

 (3) In a preferred embodiment of the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present invention, the inclined chute is rotatably arranged in the carrying path on the carry-out side, and the inclined chute is downstream in the conveying direction with the inspection object as a non-defective product. The inspection object is sorted into a non-defective product and a defective product by rotating between a guiding posture for guiding the inspection object and a discharge posture for discharging the inspection object as a defective product to the outside of the transport direction.

  According to this embodiment, defective products whose contamination is detected by inspection are sorted by a tilting chute that can be rotated immediately after inspection and removed out of the conveyance path, and only non-defective products that are free from contamination are separated by a predetermined conveyance path. It will be carried out. In this case, the inclined chute functions as a defective distribution member, and a dedicated distribution member such as a distribution arm or a distribution pusher becomes unnecessary.

 (4) In another embodiment of the X-ray inspection apparatus of the present invention, an X-ray shielding case is attached to at least one of the carry-in side and the carry-out side of the X-ray examination room. An inclined chute and the X-ray shield are provided.

  According to this embodiment, for example, various inspection objects can be obtained by attaching X-ray shielding cases of various specifications with different angles and lengths of inclined chutes and sizes and numbers of X-ray shielding bodies to the X-ray examination room. A suitable X-ray inspection apparatus can be configured.

 (5) In another embodiment of the X-ray inspection apparatus of the present invention, the inclined chute and the X-ray shield are provided only on one of the transport paths on the carry-in side or the carry-out side, and the other transport path is provided. It is covered with an X-ray shielding cover over the required length.

  The required length is preferably a length that exceeds the required length so that the intensity of the leaked X-ray at a location where the X-ray shielding cover does not exist is attenuated to an allowable value or less.

  According to this embodiment, the opportunity for the inspection object to touch the X-ray shield is only at the time of carrying in or out, and it is suitable for the X-ray inspection of the inspection object that is desired to avoid pressing contact with other objects as much as possible. . It should be noted that if the carrying path is configured such that both the carry-in side and the carry-out side are covered with a long X-ray shielding cover, the entire length of the X-ray inspection apparatus becomes long, which is not practical.

  As described above, according to the present invention, while using a metal X-ray shield that is free from sanitary problems, it is possible to prevent X-rays from leaking while smoothly passing an inspected object having a low specific gravity. Can do.

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of an X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an overall front view of the X-ray inspection apparatus. FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal sectional front view showing the main configuration of the X-ray inspection apparatus. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the transport system. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal front view of the main part on the carry-in side. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal front view of the main part on the carry-out side. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal front view showing another embodiment.

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

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a perspective view of an X-ray inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal sectional front view showing a main configuration thereof. 4 is a perspective view of the transport system.

  The X-ray inspection apparatus includes an inspection apparatus main body 1, and one side surface of the inspection apparatus main body 1 is provided at the downstream end in the transport direction of the carry-in belt conveyor 2, and the other side surface is provided on the carry-out device 3. It is connected.

  The inspection object w is carried into the inspection apparatus main body 1 by the carry-in belt conveyor 2, subjected to foreign matter inspection by X-ray irradiation inside the inspection apparatus main body 1, and then carried out of the inspection apparatus main body 1 by the carry-out device 3. . The inspection apparatus main body 1 and the carry-out apparatus 3 are each provided with jack bolts 40 and 41 so that the height can be adjusted.

  The carry-out device 3 is equipped with a carry-out belt conveyor 4 on which the inspected object w is placed and horizontally conveyed, and the conveyance path is covered with an X-ray shielding cover 6 made of a metal plate.

  The inspection apparatus main body 1 includes a conveyance inspection unit 7 and an X-ray irradiation unit 8 disposed thereon.

  On the transport inspection unit 7, the inspection object 9 is placed on the inspection object w and horizontally conveyed so as to cross the X-ray irradiation region, and as shown in FIG. An X-ray examination room 10 for inspecting by irradiating X-rays is provided. In addition, the conveyance inspection unit 7 swings the front cover 7a toward the front to largely open it, so that maintenance such as cleaning and inspection inside the unit can be easily performed.

  The X-ray irradiation unit 8 accommodates an X-ray lamp 11 that emits X-rays toward the X-ray inspection chamber 10 of the transport inspection unit 7 and various control devices (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the front surface of the X-ray irradiation unit 8, a touch panel 12 for various settings and display, a power key switch 13, an emergency stop switch 14, an X-ray irradiation indicator lamp 15, and an X-ray Instruments such as the cumulative irradiation time meter 16 are provided.

  The inspection conveyor 9 is formed by stretching three wide belts made of a resin material or the like that can transmit X-rays. The inspection object w on the belt and the belt are transmitted through the belt winding loop. An X-ray line sensor 17 that detects the X-rays that have been transmitted is provided across the conveyor width.

  On the carry-in side of the X-ray examination room 10, as shown in the longitudinal front view of FIG. 5, an X-ray shielding case 18 formed by forming a metal plate in a box shape is attached and formed on the front surface of the case. The rear end of the carry-in conveyor 2 is inserted into the opening 19.

  Further, in the X-ray shielding case 18, a metal plate such as a stainless steel plate is used so that the inspection object w carried by the carry-in conveyor 2 is slid back and guided to the front end portion of the inspection conveyor 9. An inclined chute 20 is arranged. The surface of the inclined chute 20 is polished so that the inspected object w smoothly slides.

  A pair of X-ray shields 22a and 22b made of a thin metal plate such as a stainless steel plate from two places upstream and downstream in the transport direction of the inner wall surface of the X-ray shielding case 18 above the transport path by the inclined chute 20. Is suspended so as to freely swing back and forth around a horizontal pivot point a. Each X-ray shield 22a, 22b is suspended so that the gap between the lower end thereof and the inclined surface of the inclined chute 20 is as small as possible, and the leakage of X-rays from the gap is suppressed. ing.

  Thus, since the inclined inclined chute 20 and the X-ray shields 22a and 22b face the carry-in entrance of the X-ray examination chamber 10, the X-rays from the X-ray examination chamber 10 are inclined to the inclined chute 20 and the X-ray shield 22a. , 22b to effectively prevent leakage from the opening 19 of the X-ray shielding case 18 to the outside.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the X-ray shields 22 a and 22 b are pushed open by the inspection object w that slides from the upper side to the lower side along the inclined surface of the inclined chute 20, and as the inspection object w passes. It returns to its original hanging posture with its own weight. In this case, since the lower end of the X-ray shields 22a and 22b swings rearward and upward, the inspection object w linearly moves rearward and downward, so that the X-ray shielding is pushed backward by the inspection object w. The swing angle of the bodies 22a and 22b is smaller than the swing angle when the inspection object w is moved horizontally, and the push-open reaction force acting on the inspection object w from the X-ray shield 22 is correspondingly reduced. It will be small. As a result, even if the object to be inspected w has a low specific gravity, it can pass through the X-ray shields 22a and 22b smoothly.

  Here, if the distance between the X-ray shields 22a and 22b on the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction is set larger than the length in the transport direction of the inspection object w, the X-ray shield 22a on the upstream side in the transport direction. , The X-ray shield 22b on the downstream side in the transport direction is pushed open by the test object w, and both X-ray shields 22a and 22b are returned. Are not pushed together by the object to be inspected, and are always in a path shielding posture in which one X-ray shield 22a or 22b hangs down, effectively preventing X-ray leakage when the object to be inspected w passes. Can be prevented.

  On the carry-out side of the X-ray examination room 10, as shown in the longitudinal front view of FIG. 6, an X-ray shielding case 23 configured in a box shape with a metal plate is attached. The X-ray shielding case 23 is made of a metal plate such as a stainless steel plate so that the inspected object w that has been transported by the inspection conveyor 9 is slid downward and guided to the carry-out belt conveyor 4. An inclined chute 24 is provided. The surface of the inclined chute 24 is polished so that the inspection object w smoothly slides.

  In addition, an X-ray shield 26 made of a thin metal plate such as a stainless steel plate can freely swing back and forth around a horizontal shaft fulcrum b from the inner wall surface of the X-ray shield case 23 above the conveyance path by the inclined chute 24. It is drooping. The X-ray shield 26 is suspended so that the lower end thereof is close to the inclined surface of the inclined chute 24.

  Thus, since the inner wall of the X-ray shielding body 26 and the X-ray shielding case 23 faces the carry-out port of the X-ray examination room 10, the X-rays from the X-ray examination room 10 are blocked by the X-ray shielding body 26 and the X-ray shielding. It is blocked by the inner wall of the case 23 and can effectively prevent leakage to the outside.

  Further, the inspection object w to be inspected carried out from the X-ray examination room 10 is slid to the carry-out belt conveyor 4 of the lower carry-out device 3 via the inclined chute 24, so the carry-out port of the X-ray examination room 10 And the position of the opening of the carry-out device 3 can be shifted up and down, and X-rays from the carry-out port of the X-ray examination chamber 10 can be prevented from entering the carry-out device 3.

  The inclined chute 24 includes a front chute 24a that is fixedly arranged so as to face the end of the inspection conveyor 9, a rear chute 24b that is fixedly arranged so as to be desired for the carry-out belt conveyor 4, and an intermediate chute 24c positioned therebetween. It is divided into three. The intermediate chute 24c is supported so as to be able to turn like a balance around a shaft support point c between the front and rear, and is driven and turned by an air cylinder 27 shown in FIG.

  The X-ray shield 26 is pushed backward by the inspection object w that slides along the inclined chute 24 and returns to the original drooping posture by its own weight as the inspection object w passes. Also in this case, since the lower end of the X-ray shield 26 swings rearward and upward, the inspection object w moves rearward and downward, so that the X-ray shield is pushed by contact with the inspection object w. The swing angle of 26 is small, and the reaction force acting on the inspection object w from the X-ray shield 26 is small.

  The intermediate chute 24c has a function of sorting and sorting non-defective products that do not contain foreign substances and defective products that contain foreign substances. Usually, the intermediate chute 24c is in a rearward downward guiding posture that is continuous with the front chute 24a and the rear chute 24b. When a defective product in which foreign matter is detected is passed through and guided to the carry-out belt conveyor 4, the product is rotated forward to a discharge posture, and the defective product is dropped and discharged to the lower front and fixedly arranged. It is led to a discharge port 29 shown in FIG. 1 through a guide chute 28 and is collected in a container 30 installed outside the apparatus.

  According to this embodiment, an X-ray shielding case 18 having an inclined chute 20 and an X-ray shield 22 is attached to the carry-in side of the X-ray examination room 10, while the inclined chute 24 and X are arranged on the carry-out side. Since the X-ray shielding case 23 provided with the ray shield 26 is attached, X-rays from the X-ray examination room 10 are blocked by the inclined chute 20 and the X-ray shields 22 and 26 and the X-ray shield. 22a, 22b, and 26 are respectively pushed and opened by the inspection object w that slides along the inclined chutes 20 and 24, and at that time, the pushing-opening reaction force acting on the inspection object w becomes small. While using the metal X-ray shields 22a, 22b, and 26 that have no sanitary problem, it is possible to smoothly pass through the X-ray shield even for an inspection object with a small specific gravity or a lightweight inspection object.

  Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the inclined chute 24 on the carry-out side can sort the non-defective product and the defective product of the inspection object w, and it is necessary to provide a dedicated sorting member such as a sorting arm and a sorting pusher. Absent.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 7 is a schematic longitudinal sectional front view corresponding to FIG. 3 of another embodiment of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, the X-ray shielding cover 6 of the carry-out device 3 is configured to have a tunnel-like conveyance path that is longer than the distance at which the intensity of the leaked X-ray from the X-ray examination room 10 is attenuated to an allowable value or less. In addition, the inspection conveyor 9 and the carry-out belt conveyor 4 are horizontally arranged at the same level so that the above-described inclined chute 24 and X-ray shield 26 are not provided on the carry-out side. In this case, it is preferable to provide an intermediate conveyor 31 that distributes defective products between the conveyors 9 and 4 by changing the posture rotation.

(Other embodiments)
As a means for distributing non-defective products and defective products in the transport path on the carry-out side, the defective products may be guided to the discharge port by a dedicated distributing member that is driven, such as a swing arm or a pusher.

  Since the X-ray inspection apparatus main body 1 has a basic function of performing X-ray inspection while transporting the inspection object w by itself, for example, the angle and length of the inclined chutes 20 and 24, the X-ray shield 22a , 22b, 26 are provided with X-ray shielding cases 18, 23 of various specifications having different sizes and numbers on the outer surface of the conveyance inspection unit 7, thereby configuring an X-ray inspection apparatus suitable for various inspection objects w. It is possible to meet a wide range of user requests.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 X-ray inspection apparatus main body 6 X-ray shielding cover 7 Conveyance inspection unit 10 X-ray inspection room 20 Inclination chute 22a, 22b X-ray shielding body 24 Inclination chute 26 X-ray shielding body w Inspection object

Claims (5)

  An inclined chute on which the object to be inspected slides is disposed on at least one of the carrying-in side and the carrying-out side communicating with the X-ray examination room, and the metal X-ray shield swings from above the inclined chute. An X-ray inspection apparatus characterized in that the X-ray shield is drooped so that the X-ray shield is pushed open by an inspection object that slides along an inclined chute. A plurality of the X-ray shields are suspended from above the inclined chute at intervals greater than the length in the transport direction of the object to be inspected,
The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1. The inclined chute is rotatably arranged on the carry-out conveyance path, and the inclined chute is guided as a non-defective product to the downstream side in the conveying direction, and the inspected product is conveyed as a defective product. Sorting and sorting the inspection object into a non-defective product and a non-defective product by rotating over a discharging posture to discharge out of the direction,
The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. An X-ray shielding case is attached to at least one of the loading side and the unloading side of the X-ray examination room, and the inclined chute and the X-ray shielding body are provided in the X-ray shielding case.
The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1. The inclined chute and the X-ray shield are provided only on one conveyance path on the carry-in side or the carry-out side, and the other conveyance path is covered with an X-ray shielding cover over a required length.
The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1.

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