JP2592134Y2 - Sample loading device in X-ray fluorescence analyzer - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sample loading device in a fluorescent X-ray analyzer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An X-ray fluorescence analyzer is an apparatus that irradiates a sample with primary X-rays (radiation), detects X-ray fluorescence generated from the sample, and analyzes the composition of the sample. Some X-ray fluorescence analyzers of this type include a loading device that can load a sample without replacing a sample holder in which the sample is loaded. One example of this is shown in FIGS.

In FIG. 7, a sample holder 50 has four columns 53 between a holder base 51 and an upper plate 52, and a coil spring (provided between the holder base 51 and the sample table 54). The sample 56 is sandwiched between the sample table 54 and the upper plate 52 by the spring force of the spring 55. That is, the coil spring 55 is provided between the holder base 51 and the sample table 54, and the sample table 54 can move up and down. The four columns 53 guide the sample table 54 and are provided upright at positions where the sample 56 can be inserted and ejected from only one side as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b).

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The above sample holder 50
Is the position of loading the sample 56 in FIG.
A first position (not shown) between the input position and the input position where the
It is transported by the transport device. Further, the sample holder 5
The reference numeral 0 indicates that the sample is transferred by the second transfer device (not shown) between the input position and the analysis position for irradiating the sample 56 with the fluorescent X-ray. When the analysis is completed, the sample is transferred to the loading position P1 via the loading position by the second and first transfer devices, and after the sample 56 is discharged as shown in FIG. By rotating, another sample 56 to be analyzed next is supplied as shown in FIG.

[0005] As described above, if the loading position P1 of the sample 56 and the loading position of the sample holder 50 are set to different positions,
Not only does the cost increase, such as the use of a plurality of transfer devices, but also the transfer cycle time increases, so that the analysis cycle time also increases. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has as its object to simplify the entire transport device and shorten the analysis cycle time in a fluorescent X-ray analyzer.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a loading space forming apparatus for increasing a distance between a sample stage and an upper plate in a sample holder to create a loading space for a sample; A supply / discharge device for entering the space and discharging the sample from the sample holder, and supplying the next another sample to the loading space, wherein a first device formed between the columns of the sample holder for supplying the sample is provided. A frontage and a second frontage formed between the columns for discharging a sample are formed at positions facing each other, and a loading position for loading the sample holder into the analyzer and loading and discharging of the sample are performed. The loading position is set to the same position.

[0007]

In the present invention, the supply / discharge device discharges the sample from the second frontage, and then supplies the sample to the sample holder from the first frontage facing the second frontage. Here, since the first frontage is provided at a position facing the second frontage, there is no need to rotate the sample, so that the structure of the apparatus is simplified. Therefore, the loading position and the loading position can be set at the same position, thereby shortening the transport cycle time.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a planar layout of the loading device.
In this figure, a sample transport conveyor 15, a supply / discharge device 20, a loading space forming device 11, and a sample discharge chute 16 are provided near an input port Aa (input position P1) for inputting the sample holder 50 into the analyzer A. ing. As shown in FIG. 2, the sample holder 50 is loaded into the loading port Aa by a transfer mechanism (not shown). Sample holder 50
The sample 56 is transported together with the sample 56 to the analysis position P2 where the sample 56 is irradiated with the primary X-rays B1 and analyzed, as shown in FIG. The transport device 1 has a traveling device and a lifting device (not shown) in addition to the lifting table 2 shown in FIG.

An X-ray tube (radiation source) 57 applies a primary X-ray (radiation) B to a sample 56 loaded in a sample holder 50 below.
Irradiate 1. The irradiated primary X-rays B1 excite the atoms of the sample 56 to generate fluorescent X-rays B2. The generated fluorescent X-ray B2 is incident on the X-ray detector 59 via the spectral crystal 58, and the X-ray intensity is measured. Known X-ray fluorescence analysis is performed based on the measured intensity.

A pulse motor 3 is provided at the lower part of the
Is attached. The pulse motor 3 is provided with a rotation position detector. The rotation position detector detects this every time the pulse motor 3 makes one rotation, and stops the pulse motor 3 immediately after detecting the predetermined number of times. Let it. The output shaft 3a of the pulse motor 3 is connected to a turntable 5 via a coupling 4 or the like. The rotary table 5 is for mounting the sample holder 50, and is attached to the lift table 2 by a compression coil spring 60 so as to be vertically movable, while it is rotatably mounted to the lift table 2 by a first bearing 7. I have.

At the top of the rotary table 5 and at the bottom of the sample holder 50, a pair of engaging holes 5a and engaged pins 50a are provided, respectively. These engagement holes 5
a and the engaged pin 50a are engaged with each other to prevent the rotary table 5 and the sample holder 50 from rotating relative to each other. Therefore, when the pulse motor 3 is rotationally driven, the sample holder 50 is rotated.

At the analysis position P2, a holder presser 10 is rotatably mounted on the main body 8 of the analyzer via a second bearing 9. Therefore, at the analysis position P2, the sample holder 50 can be positioned by being pressed against the holder retainer 10, and can be rotated.

At the loading position P1 in FIG. 2, a sample 56 (FIG.
A loading space forming device 11 that enables the discharge and supply of (a)) is provided. This loading space forming device 1
As shown in FIG. 3B, as shown in FIG. 3B, the space between the sample table 54 and the upper plate 52 in the sample holder 50 is widened by pushing down the sample table 54 to form a space S for loading the sample 56. , A drive rack 12, a pinion 13, a hook 14, and the like. Loading space forming device 1
1, the pinion 13 and the hook 14 first rotate to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line as the drive rack 12 in FIG. 2 is driven downward, and thereafter, the pinion 13 and the hook 1
When the hook 4 is lowered as shown in FIG. 3B, the hook 14 engages with the sample table 54 to push down the sample table 54.

The support 53 of the sample holder 50 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7A, the sample 56 is set up so as to allow the supply of the sample 56 from the first frontage 50b and allow the discharge of the sample 56 from the second frontage 50c. The first frontage 50b and the second frontage 50c are formed at positions facing each other. The sample 56 is supplied to the sample holder 50 by a supply / discharge device 20 (FIG. 1) described later, and is supplied to the sample holder 5.
Emitted from 0. The other structure of the sample holder 50 is the same as that of the conventional example shown in FIG. 7, and the same or corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference characters and description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the main part of the present invention will be described. The sample transport conveyor 15 shown in FIG. 1 is a belt conveyor on which the sample 56 is placed and transports the sample 56 to the direction change position P3 or the NG box 17. An inspection device for checking whether or not the sample 56 has a predetermined size is provided near the sample transport conveyor 15. In addition, above the sample transport conveyor 15,
The supply / discharge device 20 for transporting the sample 56 in a direction Y orthogonal to the transport direction X of the sample transport conveyor 15 is provided.

In the supply / discharge device 20, a stopper 22 and a pusher 23 are connected to a drive motor 21 with a speed reducer as described below. As shown in FIG. 5A, a first arm 24 is fixed to an output shaft 21a of the drive motor 21 with a speed reducer, and a first pin 24a is attached to a distal end of the first arm 24. , A second arm 25 is rotatably mounted. A second pin 25a is attached to a tip of the second arm 25, and a slider 26A is attached to the second pin 25a.

A large-diameter toothed pulley 27L is rotatably attached to the output shaft 21a, while a small-diameter toothed pulley 27S is fixed to the first pin 24a. An endless belt 27B is wound around both pulleys 27L, 27S.
The diameter ratio of S is set to 2: 1. The center distance L1 between the output shaft 21a and the first pin 24a is set equal to the center distance L2 between the first pin 24a and the second pin 25a. Therefore, as is well known, the second pin 25a linearly moves in the Y direction with the rotation of the first arm 24 in FIG. 6 by the rotation of the drive motor 21 with the speed reducer (FIG. 1).

On the other hand, the slider 26A is movably attached to the slide base 26B in the direction of arrow Y, and the slide base 26B is movably attached to a guide rail 28 extending in the Y direction. . Therefore, the slider 26A attached to the second pin 25a linearly moves in the arrow Y direction. In addition,
The slider 26A is moved Y with respect to the slide base 26B.
It is urged by a spring force in the Y1 direction opposite to the direction.

At the tip of the lower end of the slider 26A,
The pusher 23 is fixed. Therefore, the pusher 23 linearly moves in the direction of the arrow Y to the supply position P10 indicated by the two-dot chain line, and moves the sample 56 to the transfer surface 2 on the analyzer A.
9 and is supplied to the loading space S. The slider 26A linearly moves in the direction of the arrow Y, enters the loading space S, further passes through the second frontage 50c to the discharge position P11, and places the sample 56 in the sample holder 50.
Discharged from The discharged sample 56 is supplied to the analyzed sample box 18 via the sample discharge chute 16 in FIG.
To fall.

As described above, the analyzer A has a loading position P1 for loading the sample holder 50 into the analyzer A, and a sample 5
6 is set to the same position as the loading position for loading and discharging. That is, the loading and discharging of the sample 56 is performed at the loading position P1 of the sample holder 50.

The first pin 2 of the second arm 25
The stopper 22 is fixed near 4a.
Therefore, the stopper 22 rotates around the horizontal output shaft 21a as shown in FIG. 5B and FIG. The contact surface of the stopper 22 and the pusher 23 in FIG. 1 with the sample 56 is formed in a valley shape.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. When the sample 56 is supplied to the analysis position P2 in FIG.
While rotating the pulse motor 3, the sample 56 is irradiated with the primary X-rays B <b> 1 from the X-ray tube 57. Each time the pulse motor 3 makes one rotation, a rotational position detector (not shown) detects this, and during a predetermined number of detections, the X-ray detector 59 sets the fluorescent X
The line B2 is detected. Thereafter, the pulse motor 3 continues to rotate further, and as soon as the rotational position detector detects the rotational position, the pulse motor 3 stops.

After this detection, the transport device 1 moves the sample holder 50
To the input port Aa in FIG. After the transfer, the loading space forming device 11 is operated to move the sample table 54 to the position shown in FIG.
After pressing down as shown in (b), as described later,
The supply / discharge device 20 (FIG. 1) discharges the sample 56 indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3A from the second frontage 50c,
The next sample 56 is supplied from the first frontage 50b. The supplied sample 56 is transported to the analysis position P2 in FIG.
Thus, the sample 56 is continuously analyzed.

Next, a method for supplying and discharging the sample 56 will be described. When the drive motor 21 with a speed reducer shown in FIG. 1 is driven, as shown in FIGS.
Enters the loading space S in the sample holder 50 and advances to the discharge position P11. Thereby, the sample 56 is pushed out of the sample holder 50 of FIG.
Falls along the analyzed sample box 18 along the
Is discharged from the sample holder 50. Thereafter, the drive motor 21 with the speed reducer rotates in the reverse direction, and the supply / discharge device 20 returns to the state of FIG.

Subsequently, the sample 56 is transferred to the sample transport conveyor 1.
When the sample 5 is transported to the direction change position P3 by the
6 comes into contact with the stopper 22 and is positioned, after which the sample transport conveyor 15 stops and the sample 56 stops at the direction change position P3. After this stop, the drive motor with speed reducer 21
5B, the stopper 22 shown in FIG. 5B rotates counterclockwise as shown by the arrow R, and the pusher 23
Start moving at a very small speed in the direction. Then, FIG.
As described above, the stopper 22 retreats upward, and the pusher 23 starts pushing the sample 56 in the Y direction while gradually increasing the speed. Further, the pusher 23 advances in the Y direction, advances to the supply position P10, and stops. As a result, the sample 56 moves onto the sample stage 54 of the sample holder 50. Subsequently, the drive motor with speed reducer 21 (FIG. 1) rotates in the reverse direction, and the supply / discharge device 20 returns to the state of FIG. On the other hand, the drive rack 12 in FIG. 3 rises, the hook 14 and the pinion 13 return to the solid line state, and the sample 56 is sandwiched between the upper plate 52 and the sample table 54 by the spring force of the coil spring 55. Is held.

Next, the operation when the sample 56 on the sample conveyor 15 shown in FIG. 1 is a defective product will be described.
In this case, before the sample 56 reaches the direction change position P3, the drive motor with speed reducer 21 is driven, and the stopper 22 is retracted upward as shown in FIG. 6B. This allows
The sample 56 on the sample transport conveyor 15 in FIG. 1 is transported by the sample transport conveyor 15 in the direction of the arrow X, and falls into the NG box 17.

In the above configuration, the loading device is configured as shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the first frontage 50b and the second frontage 50c
Are provided at positions facing each other. for that reason,
After the sample 56 is discharged from the sample holder 50, the next sample 56 can be supplied to the sample holder 50 without rotating the sample holder 50. Therefore, it is not necessary to rotate the sample holder 50 at the loading position P1 in FIG. 1, so that the sample holder 50 can be loaded at the loading position P1. As a result, there is no need to transport the sample holder 50 from the loading position to the loading position P1,
Since the transport cycle time is reduced, the analysis cycle time is reduced. Also, the structure of the loading device is simplified.

When the stopper 22 of FIG. 1 is retracted in the direction of the arrow X, the driving system of the stopper 22 and the pusher 23 becomes two, so that the structure of the supply / discharge device 20 becomes complicated. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the stopper 22 is retracted upward, so that the supply / discharge device 20 is
The stopper 22 and the pusher 23 can be driven by the two drive motors 21 with reduction gears. Therefore, the structure of the supply / discharge device 20 is simplified.

The slider 26A shown in FIG. 6 is slidably attached to a slide base 26B, and the slide base 26B is slidably attached to a guide rail 28. Therefore, since the length of the guide rail 28 can be reduced, the size of the supply / discharge device 20 is reduced.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, the supply and discharge device is provided with the second frontage for discharging the sample and the first frontage for supplying the sample so as to face each other. It is not necessary to rotate the sample holder when discharging and loading the sample, so that the sample can be loaded at the input position of the sample holder. Therefore, it is not necessary to transport the sample holder from the loading position to the loading position, so that the transport cycle time is shortened and the analysis cycle time is shortened. Also, the structure of the loading device is simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a sample loading device in a fluorescent X-ray analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the X-ray fluorescence analyzer at the input position.

3A and 3B are a plan cross-sectional view and a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating a method of supplying and discharging a sample.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the X-ray fluorescence analyzer at an analysis position.

FIG. 5 is a plan view and a side view of the supply / discharge device.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the operation of the supply / discharge device.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a conventional sample holder.

FIG. 8 is a plan sectional view showing a conventional sample supply / discharge method.

[Explanation of symbols]

11: loading space forming device, 20: supply / discharge device, 5
0: sample holder, 50b: first frontage, 50c: second frontage, 51: holder base, 52: upper plate, 53: support,
54: sample table, 55: coil spring (spring), 56
... Sample, P1 ... Position position,

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G01N 23/223 G01N 1/00-1/44

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] A plurality of supporting columns provided between the upper plate and the holder base, wherein the sample base and the upper plate are connected to each other by a spring force of a spring provided between the holder base and the sample base. A sample holder for holding a sample between them, a loading space forming device for increasing a distance between the sample table and the upper plate in the sample holder to create a loading space for the sample, and entering the loading space and discharging the sample from the sample holder And a supply / discharge device for supplying the next another sample to the loading space, a first frontage formed between the columns to supply the sample, and a first port formed between the columns to discharge the sample. The second frontage is formed at a position facing each other, and the loading position for loading the sample holder into the analyzer and the loading position for loading / discharging the sample are set at the same position. X-ray analysis equipment Loading device of the sample in.