JP2511222Y2 - Automatic operation controller for fluorescent X-ray analyzer - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic operation controller for controlling the operation of a fluorescent X-ray analyzer from the end of analysis to the start of next analysis.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An X-ray fluorescence analyzer is a fluorescent X-ray generator which irradiates an analysis sample with primary X-rays to generate X-ray fluorescence from the analysis sample.
The X-ray detector measures the X-ray, and elemental analysis of the analysis sample is performed based on the measurement value of the X-ray detector. Recent X-ray fluorescence analyzers can automatically analyze a plurality of analysis samples according to preset analysis contents, thereby reducing the burden on the operator. Further, the fluorescent X-ray analyzer is generally used in the daytime, and the tube voltage and the tube current of the X-ray tube are kept at the minimum load or in the off state, that is, in the rest state at night. This prolongs the life of the X-ray tube and saves power consumption.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, at the end of the analysis work on the day, the operator waits for the analysis of the analyzer to be completed, and then puts the X-ray tube in a dormant state. Therefore, the burden on the operator cannot be reduced.

Further, when starting up on the next day, it is necessary to perform aging for gradually increasing the tube voltage and the tube current of the X-ray tube as shown in FIG. 2 before starting the analysis work. For this aging, it is necessary to select an appropriate rising process of the tube voltage and the tube current according to the rest time and the rest state of the X-ray tube. However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, each operator grasps the end date and time of the previous analysis work, sets the aging state appropriately from the pause time until the start time of the analysis work on the day, and as shown in this figure. Aging. Therefore, the burden on the operator has not been reduced yet.

Further, there is a possibility that an operator misunderstands the down time and mistakes the aging state, or mistakes in selecting the down time or the aging state corresponding to the down state. If correct aging is not performed in this manner, there are problems such as shortening the life of the X-ray tube and causing an analysis error.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems. By automating the operation from the end of an analysis to the start of the next analysis, the operator's burden is lightened and fluorescent light capable of performing appropriate aging can be obtained. An object is to provide an automatic operation control device for an X-ray analysis device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises first to third control means, an end detection means, and a selection means. The first control means controls the measuring device to measure the fluorescent X-ray of the set analytical sample. The end detection means detects the time when the operation ends. The second control means switches the measuring device to the set resting state after the operation is completed. The selection means is
The tube voltage of the X-ray tube before the next analysis based on the pause time from the operation end time detected by the end detection means to the next operation start time and the idle state of the measuring instrument.
Alternatively, a plurality of aging states that differ in how the tube current is increased are selected. The third control means brings the measuring instrument into an operating state and causes the measuring instrument to age the X-ray tube according to the aging state selected by the selecting means before starting the next analysis.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the second control means switches the measuring instrument to the set rest state after the operation is completed,
Since the control means puts the measuring instrument in the operating state and causes the measuring instrument to age the X-ray tube before starting the analysis, the ending operation and the starting operation of the analysis work can be automatically performed. Moreover, the end detection means detects the operation end time, and based on the pause time from the end of this operation to the set operation start,
How the selection means raises the tube voltage or tube current of the X-ray tube
Since a plurality of aging states different from each other are selected, it is possible to select an appropriate aging state, unlike the case where the operator selects the aging state by intuition or memory.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, the fluorescent X-ray analysis apparatus includes a control device 10 and a measuring instrument 20 controlled by the control device 10.
It has and. The measuring device 20 is a target (not shown)
X-ray tube 21 for generating primary X-rays by colliding electrons with the X-ray tube 21 and an X-ray tube 21 for applying a voltage and supplying a current to the X-ray tube 21.
It has a line generator 22. The X-ray generator 22 includes a tube voltage and tube current detector (not shown). X-ray tube 21
Irradiates an analysis sample (not shown) with primary X-rays. The fluorescent X-ray generated from the analysis sample by this irradiation is measured by the X-ray detector 23.

The X-ray tube 21 is cooled by a cooling device 24 and kept at a temperature within a predetermined range. The cooling device 24 uses the water supply device 28 to supply the secondary cooling water 25 for cooling the X-ray tube 21 to the X-ray tube.
21 to supply. The cooling device 24 takes in the primary cooling water 26 for cooling the secondary cooling water 25 into the water supply device 28, and a valve for stopping the supply of the primary cooling water 26.
Equipped with 27.

The control device 10 includes first to fourth control means 11 to 14, a setter 15, an end detection means 16 and a selection means 17.
It has. From the setter 15, the operator inputs the following setting items as the contents of the automatic operation control. 1) Content of analysis measured by the end of analysis (measurement) 2) Rest state of X-ray tube 21 after the end of analysis (measurement) 3) Start time (day, hour) of next analysis (measurement) 4) Selection of inspection operation In addition, as the inspection operation, the crest value (pulse height of the pulse signal) from the X-ray detector 23 is automatically adjusted to a fixed value for a predetermined sample, and the drift of the measurement intensity is corrected. Standardized sample measurement (update of instrument drift calibration constant) and analysis of quality control sample to confirm whether composition can be analyzed correctly.

The first control means 11 receives the analysis content signal a from the setting device 15 and outputs the analysis operation signal a1 to the measuring device 20 to measure the fluorescent X-ray of the set analytical sample. 20
Make the measurement (analysis) complete. The end detecting means 16 detects the time when the operation ends by the end signal c from the measuring device 20.

The second control means 12 receives the pause signal b from the setting device 15 and the end signal c from the measuring device 20, and outputs the pause signal h to control the measuring device 20 to set the setting. The measuring device 20 is switched to the rest state after the operation is completed. In the resting state, the load of the X-ray tube 21 is set to the minimum load (20kV, 2
(about mA) and an off state in which the tube voltage and tube current of the X-ray tube 21 are turned off , that is, a part of the measuring instrument 20 is turned off.
A state in which the measuring instrument 20 is turned on and a method in which the entire measuring device 20 is set in a dormant state can be considered. When set to the off state, the valve 27 of the water supply device 28 is closed to stop the water supply of the primary cooling water 26, thereby preventing a water leakage accident and reducing the running cost.

The selecting means 17 has an operation start time signal d from the setter 15 and an operation end time signal e from the end detecting means 16.
Is input and the two signals d and e are compared to calculate the time from the end of the operation to the start of the next operation, that is, the rest time. The selecting means 17 receives the pause signal b and has a map of the aging state determined based on the pause time and the pause state of the measuring device 20, and based on the pause time and the pause state, the next time Select the aging state of the X-ray tube before analysis. The aging state means the values of the tube voltage and the tube current and how to increase them with respect to time as shown in FIG.

The third control means 13 of FIG. 1 receives the aging signal f from the selection means 17, and outputs the operation signal f1 to the measuring instrument 20 at the operation start time input to the setting device 15, and X The wire tube 21 is turned on, or another operating power source in the measuring instrument 20 is turned on. Further, the third control means 13 outputs the aging operation signal f2 in accordance with the aging state selected by the selection means 17, and the aging of the X-ray tube 21 is performed on the X-ray generator 22 before the next analysis is started. To perform. The fourth control means 14 receives the inspection item signal g from the setting device 15 and outputs the inspection operation signal g1 to cause the measuring device 20 to perform the set inspection operation after the aging.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. First, when the end of the analysis work of the day is approaching, the operator uses the setting device 15 to set and check the analysis contents to be measured by the end of the analysis (measurement), the dormant state of the measuring device 20, and the next analysis start time. Select an item. First control means 11
Causes the measuring device 20 to operate according to the content of the above analysis to perform a predetermined analysis.

After this analysis is completed, the second control means 12
Is based on the rest signal b and the end signal c
To a predetermined dormant state. The X-ray generator 22
When the tube voltage and tube current of the X-ray tube 21 are turned off, the valve 27 is interlocked and closed, and the primary cooling water 26 is shut off.

At the set next operation start time,
The third control means 13 outputs the operation signal f1 to the measuring device 20, switches the measuring device 20 to the operating state, and further adjusts the tube voltage and the tube of the X-ray tube 21 according to the aging state selected by the selecting means 17. As shown in FIG. 2, the current is gradually and discontinuously increased to perform a predetermined aging. After this aging, the fourth control means 14 in FIG. 1 causes the measuring instrument 20 to perform a predetermined inspection operation. When the tube voltage and the tube current of the X-ray tube 21 are in the off state, the valve 27 is opened and the primary cooling water 26 is sent simultaneously with the start of aging.

As described above, in this automatic operation control device,
After the analysis is completed, the measuring instrument 20 is automatically held in the set rest state, and the measuring instrument 20 is kept in the X-ray tube before the analysis is started.
Since 21 aging and inspection operations are automatically performed, the end operation and the start operation of the analysis work can be automatically performed. Therefore, the burden on the operator is reduced.

Moreover, the end detecting means 16 detects the operation end time, and the selecting means 17 selects the X-ray tube 21 based on the idle time and the idle state from the operation end to the set operation start .
Since a plurality of aging states with different ways of increasing the tube voltage or tube current are selected, it is possible to select an appropriate aging state, unlike the operator selecting the aging state by intuition or memory. it can. Therefore, proper aging can be performed.

In this embodiment, the setting device 15 has a function of storing the operation start time signal d, but this function may be provided outside the control device 10. If this function is provided outside the control device 10, the power supply of the control device 10 can be turned off in the hibernation state, and all of the measuring instrument 20 and the like can be in the hibernation state.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, the measuring instrument is automatically switched to a predetermined rest state after the end of analysis, and the aging of the X-ray tube is automatically performed before the next analysis is started. This reduces the burden on the operator. Also, the end detection means detects the operation end time,
Based on the rest time and rest state from the end of this operation to the start of the set operation, the selecting means selects the tube voltage of the X-ray tube or
Since multiple aging states with different ways of increasing the tube current are selected, it is possible to select the proper aging state, unlike the operator selecting the aging state by intuition or memory, and thus, the proper aging is performed. It can be carried out.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an automatic driving control device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram showing an aging state.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Control device, 11 ... First control means, 12 ... Second control means,
13 ... Third control means, 16 ... End detection means, 17 ... Selection means,
20 ... Measuring instrument, 21 ... X-ray tube.

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An automatic operation control device of a fluorescent X-ray analyzer for irradiating an analytical sample with primary X-rays from an X-ray tube to measure and analyze fluorescent X-rays generated from the analytical sample. Control means for measuring fluorescent X-rays of the set analytical sample, end detection means for detecting the operation end time of the measuring instrument, and the measuring instrument in the set rest state. Based on the second control means for switching after the end of operation, the stop time from the operation end time detected by the end detection means to the set next operation start time, and the rest state of the measuring instrument, the next How to increase the tube voltage or tube current of the X-ray tube before analysis
Selection means for selecting a plurality of different aging states, and put the measuring instrument in an operating state, according to the aging state selected by the selection means, before the next analysis start,
An automatic operation control device for a fluorescent X-ray analysis device, comprising: a third control means for causing the measuring instrument to age an X-ray tube.