JP2015087361A - X-ray inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an X-ray inspection device which can obtain a clear image without unclearness and furthermore which prevents contrast of the image from being deteriorated.SOLUTION: An X-ray inspection device 1 includes: an X-ray generator 2; a belt conveyance device 3 which moves an object 12 to be inspected irradiated with an X-ray 6 from the X-ray generator 2 to the X-ray generator 2; an X-ray detection part 4 which is provided at a position capable of coming into contact with the object 12 to be inspected on the side opposite to the X-ray generator 2 across the object 12 to be inspected; and a friction protective member 5 mounted on an X-ray detection surface 16 of the X-ray detection part 4.

Description

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

  For example, an X-ray inspection apparatus that irradiates an inspection object such as a food product, a pharmaceutical product, or an industrial product with X-rays and detects a foreign substance or the like in the inspection object from an X-ray transmission amount is known. . In this type of X-ray inspection apparatus, an X-ray generation apparatus is provided, for example, above, and X-rays are irradiated from above onto an object to be inspected that is conveyed by a belt conveyor in a sample conveyance path. And the X-ray which passes through the clearance gap between the 1st belt and 2nd belt which comprises a belt conveyor is detected by the X-ray detection part arrange | positioned under it. Contrary to the above, the X-ray inspection apparatus is provided with an X-ray generator below, and the X-ray passing through the gap between the first belt and the second belt is placed above the object to be inspected. Some are detected by X-ray detectors arranged apart from each other (see Patent Document 1, etc.).

JP-A-8-114560 JP 2001-311700 A

However, in the X-ray inspection apparatus having the conventional configuration described above, the distance from the lower surface of the object to be inspected to the X-ray detection unit is increased. This is because a distance corresponding to the thickness of the belt conveyor as the sample transport means, for example, about 150 mm, must be secured between the object to be inspected and the X-ray detection unit. As a result, the X-rays spread before reaching the X-ray detection unit, the image becomes larger, blurring occurs, and it is difficult to obtain a high-definition image.
Even in the case of the above X-ray inspection apparatus in which the X-ray generation apparatus is provided below, the X-ray detection unit is spaced apart above the object to be inspected. Hard to get. In this configuration, the X-ray transmitted through the object to be inspected is not obstructed and directly enters the X-ray detection unit, so that the contrast is good.

  On the other hand, there is a configuration in which the distance between the inspection object and the X-ray detection unit is shortened (see Patent Document 2). In this X-ray inspection apparatus, an X-ray detection unit is arranged in a space of a belt conveyor as a transport system so that X-rays pass through one belt on the upper surface, and an inspection object and an X-ray detection unit Is approaching. However, as the X-ray detection unit approaches the object to be inspected, that is, approaches 20 mm, which is the thickness of one belt, the blur is reduced, but the contrast deteriorates because the X-rays pass through the belt. To do. In particular, when the object to be inspected is thin or has no thickness and no height, the contrast is not enhanced due to the thickness of the belt, and the image becomes unclear.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray inspection apparatus that can obtain a clear image without blurring and that does not deteriorate the contrast of the image.

Next, means for solving the above problems will be described with reference to the drawings corresponding to the embodiments.
The X-ray inspection apparatus 1 according to claim 1 of the present invention includes an X-ray generator 2,
Conveying means 3 for moving the inspection object 12 irradiated with the X-rays 6 from the X-ray generator 2 with respect to the X-ray generator 2;
An X-ray detector 4 is provided at a position where the inspection object 12 is sandwiched between the inspection object 12 and the X-ray generation apparatus 2 so as to contact the inspection object 12 and detects the X-ray 6 transmitted through the inspection object 12. When,
A wear protection member 5 attached to the X-ray detection surface 16 of the X-ray detection unit 4;
It is characterized by comprising.

  In the X-ray inspection apparatus 1, when the inspection object 12 is conveyed by the conveying means 3 and reaches the position where the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 is provided, the X-ray 6 from the X-ray generator 2 is irradiated onto the inspection object 12. Is done. The X-ray 6 passes through the inspection object 12 and exits to the opposite side to the X-ray generator 2. An X-ray detection unit 4 is provided on the opposite side of the inspection object 12 from the X-ray generator 2, and the X-ray detection unit 4 is provided at a position where it can come into contact with the inspection object 12 to be conveyed. In the X-ray detection unit 4, the wear protection member 5 is attached to the X-ray detection surface 16 into which X-rays transmitted through the inspection object 12 enter, that is, the X-ray detection surface 16 is protected. Thus, the inspection object 12 comes into contact with the wear protection member 5. The X-ray 6 that has passed through the inspection object 12 and exited from the inspection object 12 immediately enters the X-ray detection unit 4 from the X-ray detection surface 16 via the wear protection member 5 in contact with the inspection object 12 and is detected. Is done. That is, the X-ray 6 is detected by the X-ray detection unit 4 without passing through the gap between the inspection object 12 and the X-ray detection unit 4. As described above, in this configuration, the X-ray 6 that has passed through the inspection object 12 enters the X-ray detection unit 4 immediately without passing through the gap between the inspection object 12 and the X-ray detection unit 4. Is done. For this reason, the X-ray 6 detected by the X-ray detection unit 4 is not greatly expanded compared to the case where the X-ray detection unit is spaced apart from the inspection object 12 as in the conventional apparatus. Thereby, the blur of the detected image is suppressed. Further, since the X-ray 6 that has come out of the inspection object 12 is directly detected by the X-ray detection unit 4 without passing through the belt or the like of the conveying means, contrast deterioration does not occur.

The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention is the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 according to claim 1,
The wear protection member 5 is detachably attached to the X-ray detection surface 16 of the X-ray detection unit 4 and is attached.

  In the X-ray inspection apparatus 1, when the wear protection member 5 is worn down due to the sliding contact of the inspection object 12, the wear protection member 5 is removed from the X-ray detection surface 16, and the new wear protection member 5 is detected by X-ray. Attached to surface 16. That is, the wear protection member 5 can be easily replaced.

  According to the X-ray inspection apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, an X-ray detection is provided in which an X-ray detection unit is provided at a position where it can come into contact with the object to be transported and X-rays transmitted through the object to be inspected enter. A wear protection member is attached to the surface, and X-rays that have passed through the inspection object and escaped from the inspection object are transmitted from the X-ray detection surface through the wear protection member that is in contact with the inspection object. The detection unit can be immediately entered and detected. That is, since X-rays are detected by the X-ray detection unit without passing through the gap between the object to be inspected and the X-ray detection unit, a clear image without blur is obtained in the X-ray detection unit, Moreover, the contrast of the image does not deteriorate. Since the X-ray detection unit is equipped with a wear protection member, the X-ray detection unit itself is protected even if an object to be inspected comes into contact with it. To obtain the effect.

  According to the X-ray inspection apparatus of claim 2 according to the present invention, the wear protection member is made detachable in a replaceable manner, so that the wear protection member is worn down by the contact of the object to be inspected and the sliding contact by conveyance. Even if damage or the like occurs, the wear protection member can be removed and a new wear protection material can be attached, allowing easy replacement, and suppressing wear of the X-ray detection unit at a low cost.

It is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part enlarged view of FIG. (A) is an operation explanatory diagram before the object to be transported reaches the X-ray generator, (b) is an operation explanatory diagram when the object to be transported reaches the X-ray generator, and (c) is the transport It is operation | movement explanatory drawing immediately after the to-be-inspected object passed the X-ray generator. It is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on the modification of a horizontal type whose X-ray irradiation direction is a horizontal direction. It is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of the X-ray inspection apparatus which concerns on the other modification whose X-ray irradiation direction is a downward direction from the top.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of an X-ray inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG.
The X-ray inspection apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an X-ray generator 2, a belt conveyance device 3 that is a conveyance means, an X-ray detection unit 4, and a wear protection member 5 in the main part of the configuration.

  The X-ray generator 2 is configured to prevent leakage of the X-ray 6 by covering the periphery of an X-ray tube (not shown) that generates the X-ray 6 with a shielding plate (not shown). The shielding plate is formed by internally attaching a shielding material such as lead. The X-ray generator 2 is fixed to a casing 7 that forms the main body of the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 and irradiates the X-ray 6 upward. X-rays 6 are irradiated in a substantially conical shape extending upward from the X-ray tube, and then, as indicated by an arrow line in FIG. 1 through a slit-like long hole formed in the top plate portion of the X-ray generator 2. Then, the light is irradiated in the form of a substantially triangular screen (plane) spreading upward in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface.

  The belt conveyance device 3 is fixed to the housing 7. The belt conveyance device 3 includes a first belt conveyor 10 and a second belt conveyor 11 that are each provided with a pair of a driving roller 8 and a driven roller 9 in a horizontal direction. The inspection object 12 is placed on the belt 13 on the upper side of the first belt conveyor 10 and the second belt conveyor 11 and conveyed to the left in FIG. Accordingly, the belt conveyance device 3 moves the inspection object 12 irradiated with the X-ray 6 from the X-ray generation device 2 with respect to the X-ray generation device 2.

  The downstream side in the transport direction of the first belt conveyor 10 (the left end side of the conveyor 10 in FIG. 1) and the upstream side in the transport direction of the second belt conveyor 11 (the right end side in the conveyor 11 in FIG. 1) are slightly separated from each other. An irradiation gap 14 (see FIG. 2) is formed. The X-rays 6 emitted from the X-ray generator 2 are irradiated upward through the X-ray irradiation gap 14. As a result, the X-ray 6 is applied from the lower side to the inspection object 12 when being transferred from the upper belt 13 of the first belt conveyor 10 to the upper belt 13 of the second belt conveyor 11. It comes to be irradiated directly.

  The X-ray detection unit 4 is arranged on the top of the housing 7 and is configured to receive the X-rays 6 irradiated from the X-ray generator 2. The X-ray detection unit 4 detects X-rays when an X-ray detection element housed in a case that is a metal box receives X-rays. The case 15 has a slit (not shown) on the lower surface formed substantially flat. The slit is attached to a long hole drilled so as to extend in a lateral direction (perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2) in the lower surface of the metal plate, and a resin material that transmits X-rays 6 is waterproofed with a silicon material or the like. The slit passes the planar X-ray 6 irradiated from the X-ray generator 2. That is, the horizontal direction in which the slit is formed is a direction through which the planar X-ray 6 can pass. The X-ray 6 is received by the X-ray detection element housed in the case. In this configuration, the lower surface portion including the slit is the X-ray detection surface 16 of the X-ray detection unit 4. The X-ray detection unit 4 optically converts the X-ray 6 received by the X-ray detection element, further converts it into an electrical signal, and outputs it to an X-ray processing unit (not shown).

  The X-ray detection unit 4 is fixed to the housing 7 on the opposite side of the X-ray generator 2 with the inspection object 12 interposed therebetween. The X-ray detection unit 4 is immovable with respect to the X-ray generator 2 and is fixed to the housing 7 in a direction along the conveyance direction of the inspection object 12. In this configuration, the X-ray detection unit 4 is provided at a “position where the X-ray detection unit 4 can come into contact with” the X-ray detection surface 16 of the X-ray detection unit 4, X-rays 6 that pass through the inspection object 12 are detected. The distance S between the X-ray detection unit 4 and the inspection object 12 is S = HT−0, where H is the distance from the belt 13 to the X-ray detection unit 4 and T is the thickness of the inspection object 12. ing.

  On the other hand, it is desirable that the X-ray detection unit 4 is provided so as to be movable in a direction in which the X-ray detection unit 4 approaches and separates from the inspection object 12 by an adjustment mechanism. Examples of the adjustment mechanism include a mechanism in which each of a plurality of nuts (not shown) fixed to the case 15 is screwed onto a plurality of stud bolts (not shown) that are rotatably provided from the housing 7. Thereby, the X-ray detection unit 4 can move in the approaching / separating direction with respect to the inspection object 12 by rotating the stud bolt. With this adjustment mechanism, the X-ray detection unit 4 can be positioned with high accuracy at the “position where the X-ray detection unit 4 can come into contact with the inspection object 12”.

Note that the X-ray detection unit 4 may be arranged at a position where the inspection object 12 is slightly pressed when the inspection object 12 has a flexible bulging portion that can be crushed, such as a pouch. Good. Accordingly, the inspection object 12 such as a pouch is corrected to a flat shape, and more accurate detection of the X-ray 6 is realized. The position of the X-ray detection unit at this time can be realized by the adjustment mechanism described above.
Furthermore, in consideration of the case where the crushable inspection object 12 such as a pouch is conveyed while being in contact, it is desirable that the X-ray detection surface 16 of the case 15 be chamfered at least at the upstream receiving edge. For example, a taper 17 as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. Thereby, the taper 17 makes it difficult for the inspection object 12 in the bulging state to be caught, and can be brought into contact with the X-ray detection unit 4.

  The wear protection member 5 is attached to the X-ray detection surface 16 of the X-ray detection unit 4. The wear protection member 5 protects the X-ray detection unit 4 provided at a position where it can come into contact with the object to be inspected 12 from contact with the object to be inspected 12. Prevent wear and tear of itself. That is, the wear protection member 5 covers the X-ray detection surface 16 of the X-ray detection unit 4 so as to protect even if the object 12 to be inspected is in contact with the X-ray detection unit 4. It is. When the taper 17 is provided, the wear protection member 5 is attached along the taper 17. The wear protection member 5 is preferably detachably attached to the X-ray detection unit 4.

  As the wear protection member 5, a sheet-like shape is preferable, and for example, a resin sheet is used. As a material for the resin sheet, it is desirable that the material has good wear resistance and is resistant to X-rays 6. Examples of the resin sheet having such characteristics include polyimide having heat resistance and electrical insulation.

  In addition, it is more desirable that the resin sheet is replaceable, that is, can be replaced by providing the adhesive on one surface by means of lamination, coating, or sticking. As this type of resin sheet, for example, a commercially available polyimide seal or polyimide tape can be used.

  In addition, the wear protection member 5 may be any material as long as it has the above-mentioned characteristics such as wear resistance, heat resistance, electrical insulation and X-ray resistance, and in particular, X-ray resistance and wear resistance. For example, a sheet material or a film material made of carbon may be used.

Next, the operation of the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be described.
3A is an operation explanatory diagram before the object to be transported reaches the X-ray generator, FIG. 3B is an operation explanatory diagram when the object to be transported reaches the X-ray generator, and FIG. These are operation | movement explanatory drawings immediately after the to-be-inspected object passed the X-ray generator.
In the X-ray inspection apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 3A, the inspection object 12 is transferred by the transfer means 3, and reaches the position where the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 is provided as shown in FIG. Then, the X-ray 6 from the X-ray generator 2 is irradiated to the inspection object 12. The X-ray 6 passes through the moving inspection object 12 and exits to the opposite side of the X-ray generator 2. An X-ray detection unit 4 is provided on the opposite side of the inspection object 12 from the X-ray generator 2, and the X-ray detection unit 4 is provided at a position where it can come into contact with the inspection object 12 to be conveyed. That is, the inspection object 12 contacts the wear protection member 5 attached to the X-ray detection surface 16 of the X-ray detection unit 4. The X-ray 6 that has passed through the inspection object 12 and escaped from the inspection object 12 immediately enters and is detected by the X-ray detection unit 4 via the wear protection member 5 that is in contact with the inspection object 12. That is, the X-ray 6 is detected by the X-ray detection unit 4 without passing through the gap between the inspection object 12 and the X-ray detection unit 4.

  In this configuration, the inspection objects 12 having substantially the same size and shape are continuously inspected instead of inspecting the inspection objects having various sizes. Examples of the inspected object 12 include, in addition to general regular food products and industrial products, for example, those having a thickness of several millimeters (for example, a tape-shaped medicine bag containing powdered medicine). Further, as the inspection object 12, a pouch or the like whose surface is raised by laminating a soft material such as a poultice can be used. Further, as the object to be inspected 12, a medicine packaging body, a so-called medicine packaging 20, etc. (refer to FIG. 4), which is a tape-like sheet in which a medicine containing portion 18 containing tablets at predetermined intervals is projected. be able to.

  Since the X-ray detection unit 4 is installed at a position where the X-ray detection unit 4 can come into contact with the object to be inspected 12, the X-ray detection unit 4 comes into contact with the object to be inspected 12 newly conveyed at regular intervals. . Therefore, the inspection object 12 moves, that is, slidably contacts with the X-ray detection unit 4.

  In addition, when the to-be-inspected object 12 is a tape-shaped medicine bag, a pouch or the like, the outer shape may change even if the volume is constant. For example, it is a case where the powder medicine is shifted to one end side in the conveying direction and most of the powder medicine is accommodated. In such a case, a slight gap may be rarely formed between the inspection object 12 and the X-ray detection unit 4. The “position where the X-ray detection unit 4 can come into contact with the inspection object 12” in this specification refers to the detection of the inspection object 12 and the X-rays depending on the material characteristics of the inspection object 12 and the dimensional tolerance of the product. The positional relationship in the case where a slight gap is formed between the portion 4 and the portion 4 is also included. In addition, even if the inspection object 12 and the X-ray detection unit 4 are not in contact with each other, the positional relationship in the case where the distance between them is almost zero is also included.

  As described above, in this configuration, the X-ray 6 transmitted through the inspection object 12 basically does not pass through the gap between the inspection object 12 and the X-ray detection unit 4 and is in contact with the inspection object 12. The line detection unit 4 is immediately entered and detected. For this reason, the X-ray 6 detected by the X-ray detection unit 4 is not greatly expanded compared to the case where the X-ray detection unit is spaced apart from the inspection object 12 as in the conventional apparatus. Thereby, the blur of the detected image is suppressed. Further, since the X-ray 6 that has passed through the inspection object 12 is directly detected by the X-ray detection unit 4 without passing through the belt 13, the contrast does not deteriorate.

  After the X-ray 6 that has passed through the inspection object 12 is detected by the X-ray detection unit 4, the inspection object 12 is conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction by the belt conveyance device 3 as shown in FIG. Is done. Thereby, the X-ray inspection of one inspection object 12 is completed. The X-ray generator 2 and the X-ray detector 4 are prepared for the X-ray inspection of the next inspection object 12 sent by the belt conveyance device 3.

  Further, in the X-ray inspection apparatus 1, when the wear protection member 5 is worn down or damaged due to the sliding contact of the inspection object 12, the wear protection member 5 is moved to the X-ray detection surface 16 of the X-ray detection unit 4. And a new wear protection member 5 is attached. That is, the wear protection member 5 can be easily replaced. As described above, according to the X-ray generator 2, the wear protection member 5 can be easily replaced, so that the wear of the X-ray detection unit 4 can be suppressed at a low cost, that is, the X-ray detection unit 4 itself and the case 15 Costs can be suppressed by eliminating the need for replacement.

Next, a modified example of the X-ray inspection apparatus will be described.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of an X-ray inspection apparatus according to a lateral type modification in which the X-ray irradiation direction is a horizontal direction.
In the above embodiment, the vertical type X-ray inspection apparatus 1 in which the irradiation direction of the X-rays 6 is the vertical direction has been described. However, the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present invention has other irradiation directions of the X-rays 6. May be. The X-ray inspection apparatus 21 shown in FIG. 4 is a horizontal type in which X-rays 6 are irradiated from the side, that is, the X-rays 6 are in the horizontal direction. The conveyance means 3 of the X-ray inspection apparatus 21 has no conveyance belt and includes a roller 22.

  In the X-ray inspection apparatus 21, the inspection object 12 is a so-called medicine packaging 20 in which a tablet or the like is contained in a sheet. The sheet itself is conveyed by a roller 22 or the like, and inspected by allowing the X-ray 6 to pass through the drug containing portion 18 which is a protruding portion. In this case, the wear protection member 5 attached to the X-ray detection surface 16 of the X-ray detection unit 4 is in contact with the smooth surface 19 on which the medicine accommodating portion 18 that is the back surface of the sheet does not protrude. As a result, the X-ray 6 is irradiated while being in contact with the inspection object being conveyed, that is, moving.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of an X-ray inspection apparatus according to another modification example in which the X-ray irradiation direction is from the top to the bottom.
As a further modification of the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 of the type in which the irradiation direction of the X-ray 6 is directed upward and the horizontal type X-ray inspection apparatus 21 in which the X-ray 6 is in the horizontal direction, as shown in FIG. Alternatively, the X-ray inspection apparatus 31 may be configured such that the irradiation direction of the X-ray 6 is from the top to the bottom.

  In this X-ray inspection apparatus 31, the inspection object 32 is the same chemical packaging as the above, the inspection object 32 is transported substantially horizontally, and the lower surface of the transported inspection object 32 is transferred to the X-ray detection unit 4. It becomes a contact state. In this example, the upper surface of the X-ray detection unit 4 becomes the X-ray detection surface 16 and the wear protection member 5 is attached. For example, the inspected object 32 includes a protruding medicine container and a smooth surface, and the sheet 33 that is the smooth surface is placed on the X-ray detection unit 4 and brought into contact with the sheet 33 and is conveyed. The X-ray 6 is irradiated from the X-ray generator 2 disposed above. In FIG. 5, the conveying means is not shown, but it may be configured to be conveyed by the above-described roller 22 or the like, or the inspection belt 32 may be configured as a conveying belt similar to the above or further. It is good also as conveying.

  Also in this X-ray inspection apparatus 31, the wear protection member 5 is attached to the X-ray detection surface 16 of the X-ray detection unit 4 in contact with the inspection object 32, and is protected from sliding contact with the inspection object 32, In addition, by adopting a replaceable configuration, it is possible to attach a new wear protection member 5 when it is worn down.

  In the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the case where the inspection object 12 is carried on the belt 13 by gravity has been described as an example. However, the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to this. . The conveyance means 3 of the X-ray inspection apparatus may be one that conveys the inspection object 12 in the vertical direction. Further, the conveying means 3 does not necessarily require the belt 13. The conveying means 3 is, for example, a feed means such as a hook or a sprocket that engages the object to be inspected 12 or an example using a roller as shown in FIG. It is also possible to have a configuration in which the inspected object 12 is conveyed from above and below or from the left and right.

  In the X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present invention, the irradiation direction of the X-ray 6 may be from any of the horizontal direction, the vertical direction, and the oblique direction.

  Therefore, according to the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment and the X-ray inspection apparatus 21 according to the modification, a clear image without blur can be obtained, and the contrast of the image does not deteriorate.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 21, 31 ... X-ray inspection apparatus 2 ... X-ray generator 3 ... Conveyance means (belt conveyance apparatus)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 ... X-ray detection part 5 ... Wear protection member 6 ... X-ray 12 ... Test object 16 ... X-ray detection surface

Claims (2)

An X-ray generator (2);
Conveying means (3) for moving an object (12) irradiated with X-rays (6) from the X-ray generator with respect to the X-ray generator;
An X-ray detection unit (4) that detects X-rays that pass through the inspection object, provided at a position that can be in contact with the inspection object on the opposite side of the X-ray generation device with the inspection object interposed therebetween;
A wear protection member (5) attached to the X-ray detection surface (16) of the X-ray detection unit;
An X-ray inspection apparatus comprising: The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1,
The X-ray inspection apparatus, wherein the wear protection member is attached to the X-ray detection surface of the X-ray detection unit so as to be replaceable and detachable.

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