JP3222571B2 - X-ray diffractometer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an X-ray diffraction apparatus which stores an X-ray diffraction image of a sample on a radiation image storage plate and obtains X-ray diffraction information of the sample by reading the image. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various X-ray diffraction apparatuses have been developed which accumulate an X-ray diffraction image of a crystalline sample on a radiation image storage plate and obtain the X-ray diffraction information of the sample by reading the image. ing. In this type of X-ray diffractometer,
A sample held rotatably by an X-ray goniometer is irradiated with X-rays emitted from an X-ray source. At this time, diffracted X-rays from the sample are stored on a radiation image storage plate arranged at a predetermined position (image storage position). Thereafter, the radiation image storage plate whose storage has been completed is set at an image reading position in the radiation image reading apparatus, and the stored image is read.

Incidentally, this type of X-ray diffractometer initially has only one radiation image storage plate, and when one image storage is completed, the stored image is read and stored. There is a disadvantage that the next image accumulation work cannot be started until the image is erased.For example, when time-resolved analysis of a crystal is performed on a sample whose crystal form changes every moment, the time Certain limits have been placed on improving the resolution.

Therefore, in order to solve such a defect, an X-ray diffraction apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 has been conventionally proposed. This X-ray diffractometer is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-57947. The X-ray goniometer 2 rotatably holds the sample 1 to change the X-ray irradiation direction on the sample 1; Two radiation image storage plates 31 and 32 for storing an X-ray diffraction image generated from the sample when the sample is irradiated with X-rays;
A radiation image reading device 4 for reading the radiation image stored in the radiation image storage device 32, and moving one of the two radiation image storage plates 31 and 32 to the image storage position and reading the other image by the radiation image reading device 4 And a moving mechanism 5 for moving to a position. The arrow X in the figure
Indicates an incident X-ray.

Here, the radiation image storage plates 31, 32
Have a substantially arc-shaped plate shape. 2 and 3, the position where the first radiation image storage plate 31 exists is the image storage position, and the position where the second radiation image storage plate 32 exists is the image reading position. .

The first radiographic image storage plate 31 is provided with a first moving table 51 screwed to a first screw rod 51 of the moving mechanism 5.
The first screw rod 51 rotates to reciprocate linearly between the image storage position and the image reading position. On the other hand, the second radiation image storage plate 32 is mounted on an auxiliary moving table 32a, and the auxiliary moving table 32a is mounted on a second moving table 52c screwed to the second screw rod 52. The second screw rod 52 is provided in parallel with the first screw rod 51 described above. Further, the auxiliary moving table 32a includes a second moving table 52.
The screw 52g is screwed onto the screw rod 52g mounted on the second moving table 52c, and the rotation of the screw rod 52g causes the second moving table 52c to move in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction (axial direction of the second screw rod 52). It is possible to advance and retreat linearly. With such a configuration, the second radiation image storage plate 32 reciprocates in the axial direction of the second screw bar 52 (that is, the direction in which the image storage position and the image reading position are arranged), and Advancing and retreating in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the screw rod 52 is enabled, and by performing a moving operation by combining these moving operations, the position can be switched without colliding with the first radiation image storage plate 31. it can.

Although not described in detail, the radiation image reading device 4 is of a type that emits excitation light and detects emitted light from the tip of a rotary probe 41 rotatably mounted on a reading device main body 42. It is.

[0008]

In the conventional X-ray diffraction apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, first, the first radiation image storage plate 31 is positioned at the image storage position, and
The radiation image storage plate 32 is positioned at the image reading position. Then, in this state, the X-ray diffraction image is stored in the first radiation image storage plate 31.

When the accumulation of the X-ray diffraction image is completed,
The positions of the first and second radiation image storage plates 31 and 32 are exchanged with each other, and this time, the second radiation image storage plate 3
2, the X-ray diffraction image stored in the first radiation image storage plate 31 is read by the radiation image reading device 4.

When the storage of the X-ray diffraction image in the second radiation image storage plate 32 and the reading of the X-ray diffraction image from the first radiation image storage plate 31 are completed, the respective radiation image storage is performed again. The positions of the plates 31 and 32 are switched, and X
The accumulation of the X-ray diffraction image and the reading of the X-ray diffraction image are repeated.

By repeating the above operations one after another, when one X-ray diffraction image accumulating operation is completed, the reading of the next X-ray diffraction image can be immediately performed without waiting until the reading of the stored image is completed. The operation can be shifted to the accumulation operation, so that extremely efficient measurement can be performed. For example, a remarkable improvement in the time resolution in time-resolved analysis measurement of a crystal can be expected.

However, in the case of the X-ray diffraction apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, two radiation image storage plates 31 and 32 are arranged on the same surface while being separated from each other in a direction along the surface of the storage plate. Therefore, the moving mechanism 5 for moving and operating each of the radiation image storage plates 31 and 32 reciprocates the radiation image storage plates over a length of three or more radiation image storage plates as shown in the figure. A mechanism (screw rods 51, 52, guide rails, etc.) and a mechanism (screw rod 52g, guide rails, etc.) for reciprocating one of the radiation image storage plates in a direction perpendicular to the surface are required. There is a problem that the size of the moving mechanism 5 increases and the structure of the moving mechanism 5 becomes complicated.
In addition, there is a problem that a large installation space is required.

If the time required for reading processing is longer than the time required for accumulating X-ray diffraction images,
Improvement has also been required in that the difference between the processing times is required as a waiting time at the time of shifting to the next storage processing for each storage processing.

[0014] Further, since only two radiation image storage plates can be handled, it cannot be used for diffraction measurement that requires measurement of a large number of diffraction images without leaving a time interval. There was also a problem that the use of this was limited.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a moving mechanism for moving a radiation image storage plate to an image storage position and an image reading position can have a simple and compact structure. The installation space as an apparatus can be made compact, and even when the time required for reading processing is longer than the time required for accumulating X-ray diffraction images, a waiting time due to the difference between the processing times is required. An object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray diffraction apparatus capable of accumulating a large number of X-ray diffraction images continuously without improving the efficiency of the measurement processing and at the same time, enabling various diffraction measurements. I do.

[0016]

An X-ray diffractometer according to the present invention comprises an X-ray goniometer which rotatably holds a sample in order to change the X-ray irradiation direction on the sample, and which irradiates the sample with X-rays. A plurality of radiation image storage plates for storing X-ray diffraction images sometimes generated from the sample, a moving mechanism for moving these plurality of radiation image storage plates to an image reading position or an image storage position, A radiation image reading device that reads a radiation image from a radiation image storage plate set at an image reading position by a moving mechanism;

The moving mechanism includes a storage plate moving rotary plate for moving a plurality of radiation image storage plates on a circumference centered on the radiation image reading device, and a storage plate transfer rotary plate. The above configuration is provided with direction rotating means for switching the direction of the radiation image storage surface of each radiation image storage plate.

In each of the plurality of radiation image storage plates, a radiation image storage surface for storing a radiation image is in close contact with an outer peripheral surface of a cylinder having a rotation axis of the storage plate moving rotary plate as a center axis. It is formed in the shape of a curved arc plate.

Further, in the storage plate moving rotary plate, a plurality of storage plate mounting portions are set on a circumference centered on the radiation image reading device to hold a plurality of radiation image storage plates. An arbitrary radiation image storage plate held around the radiation image reading device is moved to an image storage position side facing the sample by a rotation operation around the radiation image reading device.

Further, the direction rotating means rotates the radiation image storage plate at the storage plate mounting portion of the storage plate moving rotary plate to change the direction of the radiation image storage surface of the radiation image storage plate. The center of the arc of the radiation image storage surface coincides with the center of rotation of the storage plate moving rotary plate, and is inwardly readable by the radiation image reading device. It is configured to switch to any one of the outward directions that can accumulate diffracted X-rays from the sample in accordance with the rotation axis of the sample.

[0021]

In the X-ray diffraction apparatus according to the present invention, a plurality of radiation image storage plates are arranged around a radiation image reading device, and the revolving motion of the radiation image storage plate centered on the radiation image reading device is stored in a moving mechanism. The rotation movement of each radiation image storage plate on the orbit of the orbital movement is realized by the direction rotating means of the moving mechanism, and any radiation image is stored by the orbital movement. The plate can be positioned on the image storage position side facing the sample. Then, the radiation image storage plate positioned on the image storage position side by the revolving motion is such that the center of the arc of the radiation image storage surface coincides with the rotation center of the storage plate moving rotary plate by the rotation motion, and An inward state where reading by the reading device is possible, or an outward state where the center of the arc of the radiation image storage surface coincides with the rotation axis of the sample and diffraction X-rays from the sample can be stored. Can be switched to either.

Therefore, the direction of the radiation image storage surface of the radiation image storage plate moved to the position facing the sample by the revolving motion is switched to the outward direction by the rotation motion, and the radiation image storage surface is moved to X. After the accumulation processing of the X-ray diffraction image is completed, the direction of the radiation image storage surface is switched to the inward state by the rotation, and the next radiation image storage plate is moved to a position facing the sample by the orbital movement. By repeating the above operation, the X-ray diffraction images can be successively accumulated in a plurality of radiation image accumulation plates.

Further, since the plurality of radiation image storage plates are arranged in a cylindrical shape surrounding the periphery of the radiation image reading device, all the radiation image storage surfaces are set inward by the direction rotating means. If this is done, the radiation images stored in each radiation image storage plate can be read all together.

Therefore, for example, it is possible to complete the radiation image accumulation processing on all of the plurality of radiation image accumulation plates in advance, and then perform the radiation image reading processing collectively thereafter. Therefore, even when the time required for the reading process is longer than the time required for the accumulation process of the X-ray diffraction images, a large number of X-ray diffraction images are continuously accumulated without the need for a waiting time due to the difference between the processing times. As a result, the efficiency of the measurement process can be improved, and at the same time, it can be applied to various diffraction measurements.

Further, when setting the dimensions of the radiation image storage plate, if the width dimension (that is, the size in the circumferential direction around the rotation center of the storage plate moving rotary plate) is set small, It is possible to equip a larger number of radiographic image storage plates without increasing the radius of the orbital motion by the rotating disk, and to reduce the installation space of the X-ray diffraction device compactly, It is possible to increase the storage capacity. In addition, since both the rotating plate for moving the storage plate and the direction rotating means that constitute the moving mechanism may be simple rotating motion mechanisms, it is suitable for simplification of the mechanism and easily enhances reproducibility of the moving position. Become.

[0026]

1 and 4 show an embodiment of an X-ray diffraction apparatus according to the present invention. The X-ray diffractometer according to this embodiment includes an X-ray goniometer 2 that rotatably holds the sample 1 in order to change the X-ray irradiation direction on the sample 1.
And two radiation image storage plates 11 and 12 for storing an X-ray diffraction image generated from the sample 1 when the sample 1 is irradiated with X-rays, and these radiation image storage plates 11 and 12
A moving mechanism 20 for moving the image to the image reading position or the image storing position, and a radiation image reading device 60 for reading a radiation image from the radiation image storage plates 11 and 12 set at the image reading position by the moving mechanism 20. It is a configuration provided. Note that an arrow X in the figure indicates an incident X-ray, and a reference numeral 70 indicates an X-ray generator.

Here, the sample 1 is a crystalline sample, and may be, for example, a covaloxime complex whose crystal form changes every moment. X-ray goniometer 2 is shown in FIG.
Are the same as those of the conventional example shown in FIG.

Each of the first radiation image storage plate 11 and the second radiation image storage plate 12 has a radiation image storage property on the inner peripheral surface of a circular arc plate-like substrate that is curved so as to be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of a cylinder. The radiation image accumulating material 11 is applied to the radiation image accumulating material.
a and 12a. The radiation image storage surfaces 11a and 12a of the radiation image storage plates 11 and 12 are
It has a curved surface (arc surface) that is curved so as to be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of a cylinder whose central axis is the rotation center axis Y of a storage plate moving rotary disk (shown by reference numeral 21 in FIG. 1) described later.

The radiation image storage plates 11, 1
When the radiation image accumulating substance applied to No. 2 is irradiated with radiation such as X-rays, the radiation image is accumulated as a latent image, and when the latent image is irradiated with predetermined excitation light, It has the property of emitting light corresponding to the latent image. The radiation image accumulating substance itself is a known substance.

The moving mechanism 20 includes a storage plate moving rotary plate 21 for moving the two radiation image storage plates 11 and 12 on a circumference around the radiation image reading device 60.
And a direction rotating means 22 for switching the directions of the radiation image storage surfaces 11a and 12a of the radiation image storage plates 11 and 12 on the storage plate moving rotary plate 21.

Here, the rotating plate 21 for moving the storage plate is
It has a ring shape having a hollow portion 21a through which the radiation image reading device 60 is inserted at the center, and a rotation driving mechanism (for example, a combination of a worm and a worm wheel, which can control the amount of rotation with high accuracy). The rotation operation is performed by a rotation drive mechanism or the like. The axis Y in FIG. 1 is a rotation center axis of the rotating plate 21 for moving the storage plate, and is set to be vertical in this embodiment. The rotation center axis Y coincides with the rotation center axis Z of the radiation image reading device 60. On the rotating plate 21 for moving the storage plate, two storage plate mounting portions 21b and 21c for holding the radiation image storage plates 11 and 12 have a circumference around the radiation image reading device 60 (ie, Circumference around axis Z)
It is set above, and by a rotation operation (rotation indicated by an arrow A in the figure) around the radiation image reading device 60,
An arbitrary radiation image storage plate held around the radiation image reading device 60 is moved to an image storage position side facing the sample 1.

The direction rotating means 22 is provided at the storage plate mounting portions 21b, 21c to store the radiation image storage plate 11,
The motor 12a is mounted on the rear surface of the rotating plate 21 for moving the storage plate. The direction rotating means 22 switches the direction of the radiation image storage surfaces 11a and 12a of the radiation image storage plates 11 and 12 to either an inward state or an outward state by a rotation operation by the motor 22a. .

Here, the inward state means that the center of the arc of the radiation image storage surfaces 11a and 12a coincides with the rotation center of the storage plate moving rotary plate 21 and the radiation image reading device 60 It means a state in which reading is possible (a state shown by a solid line in FIG. 1). Further, the outward state means that the center of the arc of the radiation image storage surfaces 11a and 12a coincides with the rotation axis P of the sample 1 by the X-ray goniometer 2, and the diffraction X-rays from the sample 1 can be stored. Switch to one of the different states.

FIG. 4 shows a case where the radiation image storage plate 11 is set to the inward direction and the radiation image storage plate 12 is set to the outward direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the position of the radiation image storage plate 12 set to the outward direction so as to face the sample 1 is the image storage position.
When both of the radiation image storage plates 11 and 12 are inward, both radiation image storage surfaces 11a and 12a have the rotation center axis Z (= Y) of the radiation image reading device 60 as the center axis. Construct a cylindrical surface. In this state, as will be described later, it becomes possible to read the radiation image storage surfaces 11a and 12a by the radiation image reading device 60. In other words, if it is in the inward direction, it can be said that it is at the image reading position.

The radiation image reading apparatus 60 includes a hollow shaft 61 that rotates about an axis Z that coincides with the rotation center axis Y of the rotating plate 21 for moving the storage plate, and a hollow shaft 61 that extends from the distal end of the hollow shaft 61. A probe 62 extending in the radial direction of the hollow shaft 61;
The balance arm 63 protrudes to the opposite side to the above, and a reading device main body (not shown) that supports the hollow portion 21a so as to be able to advance and retreat in the direction of the axis Z.

In this embodiment, the main body of the reading device (not shown) is provided below the rotating plate 21 for moving the storage plate, and a hollow shaft inserted through the hollow portion 21a of the rotating plate 21 for moving the storage plate. In addition to an axis moving mechanism for moving the 61 forward and backward in the direction of the axis Z, a light source for excitation light, a detection device for emitted light, and the like are incorporated.

In the inside of the hollow shaft 61 and the probe 62, the excitation light is guided from a light source provided in a reading device body (not shown) to the tip of the probe 62, and the light emitted from the radiation image storage plate is emitted. The light guiding means for guiding the light to the emitted light detection device provided in the reading device main body is inserted. With such a configuration, the radiation image reading device 60
Performs irradiation of excitation light and detection of emitted light from the tip of the probe 62. The emitted light detection means provided in the reading device main body is connected to an image processing device such as a computer.

The central axis Z of the hollow shaft 61 overlaps the central axis of the cylinder formed by the curved surfaces of the radiation image storage plates 11 and 12 at the image reading position. That is, when the probe 62 is rotated, the cylinder drawn by the tip of the probe 62 and the cylinder formed by the radiation image storage surfaces 11a and 12a of the radiation image storage plates 11 and 12 located at the image reading positions are concentric,
The radiation image storage surfaces 11a and 12a are located slightly outside the circle drawn by the probe 62. In FIG. 1, the radiation image storage plates 11 and 12 indicated by solid lines are in a state of being at the image reading position. Further, the radiation image storage plate 12 shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 shows a state when it is moved to an image storage position.

The rotation of the rotating plate 21 for moving the storage plate, the rotation of the radiation image storage plates 11 and 12 by the direction rotating means 22, the rotation of the probe 62 by the rotation of the hollow shaft 61, the axis Z of the hollow shaft 61 , And the timing of the X-ray diffraction image accumulation process and the reading process are all controlled by a controller (not shown).

However, in the case of this embodiment, the control device changes the execution timing of the reading process by the radiation image reading device 60 according to the time required for the reading process of the radiation image.

If the time required for the reading process is shorter than the time required for the X-ray diffraction image storage process, the control device, for example, first positions the first radiation image storage plate 11 at the image storage position. And the first radiation image storage plate 11
Is subjected to an X-ray diffraction image accumulation process. in the meantime,
The second radiation image storage plate 12 is a radiation image storage surface 12a.
Is kept in an inward state.

When the storage processing for the first radiation image storage plate 11 is completed, first, the radiation image storage plate 11 is rotated by 180 ° by the direction rotating means 22 to return to the inward state, and the storage plate is moved. By rotating the rotating disk 21 by 180 ° to position the radiation image storage plate 12 on the sample 1 side, and further by rotating the radiation image storage plate 12 by 180 ° by the direction rotation means 22, the radiation image storage plate 12 is moved outward. The second radiographic image storage plate 1
2, the X-ray diffraction image storage process is executed, and the reading process by the radiation image reading device 60 is executed on the first radiation image storage plate 11 retracted to the image reading position.

When the storage processing for the second radiation image storage plate 12 is completed, the second radiation image storage plate 1
2 is rotated by 180 ° by the direction rotating means 22 so as to be in an inward direction, and the rotating plate 21 for rotating the storage plate is rotated by 180 ° to position the radiation image storage plate 11 on the sample 1 side. By rotating the storage plate 11 by 180 ° by the direction rotating means 22, the storage plate 11 is turned to the outward direction, and the first radiation image storage plate 11
In addition to the execution of the accumulation processing of the line diffraction image, the reading processing by the radiation image reading device 60 is executed on the second radiation image accumulation plate 12 retracted to the image reading position.

Thereafter, similarly, the radiation image storage plates 11, 1
2 is alternately moved to the image storage position, and the storage processing and the reading processing are repeated, thereby enabling the continuous X-ray diffraction image storage processing.

The radiation image reading apparatus 60 scans the radiation image storage surface by feeding the hollow shaft 61 at a constant pitch in the Z-axis direction each time the hollow shaft 61 makes one rotation (ie, one rotation of the probe 62). I will do it.

On the other hand, when the time required for reading processing is longer than the time required for accumulating X-ray diffraction images,
The control device, for example, first positions the first radiation image storage plate 11 at the image storage position and causes the first radiation image storage plate 11 to execute an X-ray diffraction image storage process. During that time, the second radiation image storage plate 12 is kept in a standby state in an inward direction.

When the accumulation processing for the first radiation image accumulation plate 11 is completed, first, the radiation image accumulation plate 11 is rotated by 180 ° by the direction rotating means 22 to return to the inward state, and the accumulation plate is moved. By rotating the rotating disk 21 by 180 ° to position the radiation image storage plate 12 on the sample 1 side, and further by rotating the radiation image storage plate 12 by 180 ° by the direction rotation means 22, the radiation image storage plate 12 is moved outward. The second radiographic image storage plate 1
Then, an X-ray diffraction image accumulation process is executed for the sample No. 2. During the storage processing on the second radiation image storage plate 12, the radiation image storage plate 11 is kept on standby at the image reading position.

When the storage processing for the second radiation image storage plate 12 is completed, the second radiation image storage plate 1
2 is rotated by 180 ° so as to be directed inward, and both the first and second radiation image storage plates 11 and 12 face the radiation image storage surfaces 11a and 12a toward the radiation image reading device 60 side. . Then, the radiation image reading plates 60 cause the radiation image storage plates 11 and 1 facing each other.
2 are simultaneously read.

When the reading process for the radiation image storage plates 11 and 12 is completed, the first radiation image storage plate 1
1 is returned to the image storage position, and the storage processing for the first radiation image storage plate 11 is executed.

After that, if the accumulation processing is continuously performed on both the radiation image accumulation plates 11 and 12, then,
The procedure of setting both the radiation image storage plates 11 and 12 to the inward state and simultaneously performing the reading process on both the radiation image storage plates 11 and 12 is repeated.

Thus, even if the time required for the reading process is longer than the time required for the accumulation process of the X-ray diffraction image, two radiation images can be continuously formed without a waiting time due to the difference between the processing times. The accumulation process can be performed on the accumulation plates 11 and 12, and the reduction in the number of times of the reading process by the radiation image reading device 60 is also synergistically performed, and the waiting time due to the difference between the time required for the accumulation process and the time required for the reading process. Is substantially reduced to 以下 or less, and the efficiency of the measurement processing can be greatly improved.

As is apparent from the above description, the X-ray diffractometer of one embodiment uses the moving mechanism 2 to revolve the radiation image storage plates 11 and 12 around the radiation image reading device 60.
0 is realized by the rotating plate 21 for moving the storage plate.
Each radiation image storage plate 11, 1 on the orbit of the orbital motion
2 is realized by the direction rotating means 22 of the moving mechanism 20, and an arbitrary radiation image storage plate can be positioned on the image storage position side facing the sample 1 by the orbital movement. Then, the radiation image storage plate positioned on the image storage position side by the revolving motion is such that the center of the arc of the radiation image storage surface coincides with the rotation center Y of the storage plate moving rotary plate 21 by the rotation motion. The radiation image reading device 60 can read inward, or the center of the circular arc of the radiation image storage surface coincides with the rotation axis of the sample 1 so that diffracted X-rays from the sample 1 can be stored. It can be switched to any of the outward facing states.

Therefore, the direction of the radiation image storage surface of the radiation image storage plate moved to the position facing the sample 1 by the revolving motion is switched to the outward direction by the rotation motion, and the radiation image storage surface is moved relative to the radiation image storage surface. After the accumulation processing of the X-ray diffraction image is completed, the direction of the radiation image accumulation surface is switched to the inward state by the rotation, and the next radiation image accumulation plate is moved to a position facing the sample 1 by the orbital movement. By repeating the series of operations described above, X-ray diffraction images can be successively accumulated in the two radiation image accumulation plates 11 and 12.

The radiation image accumulating plates 11 and 12 provided on the accumulating plate moving rotary plate 21 are provided with the direction rotating means 22.
If both radiation image storage surfaces 11a and 12a are set in an inward state, the radiation image reading device 60
, And the radiation images stored in the radiation image storage plates 11 and 12 can be read at once.

Therefore, as described above, the radiation image storage processing can be completed for the two radiation image storage plates 11 and 12 in advance, and the radiation image reading processing can be performed collectively thereafter. Even if the time required for the reading process is longer than the time required for the accumulation process of the X-ray diffraction image due to such a use method, the X-ray diffraction image can be continuously generated without a waiting time due to the difference between the processing times. It can accumulate and improve the efficiency of the measurement process,
It can be used for various diffraction measurements.

In addition, since both the rotating plate 21 for moving the storage plate and the direction rotating means 22 constituting the moving mechanism 20 need only be a simple rotating movement mechanism, it is suitable for simplification of the mechanism, and at the same time, the moving mechanism can be made compact. As a result, space saving of the apparatus can be promoted, and the reproducibility of the movement position can be easily improved.

In the above-described embodiment, two radiation image storage plates are provided on the storage plate moving rotary plate 21. However, when setting the dimensions of the radiation image storage plate, the width dimension (the storage plate) is set. If the size in the circumferential direction around the rotation center of the moving rotary plate 21 is set small, a larger number of radiation image storage plates can be formed without increasing the radius of revolving motion of the storage plate moving rotary plate 21. It becomes possible to equip. FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which four radiation image storage plates 13, 14, 15, 1 are placed on a storage plate moving rotary plate 21.
6 shows a configuration in the case of being equipped. As described above, if the width of one radiation image storage plate is set to be small, it is possible to equip an arbitrary number of radiation image storage plates, thereby reducing the installation space as an X-ray diffraction device. It is possible to execute the image storage process many times continuously while keeping the size compact, and it is also possible to reduce the installation space and realize various diffraction measurements.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the hollow shaft 61 of the radiation image reading device 60 is movable in the axial direction in order to read and scan the entire image storage surface of the radiation image storage plate. 61 may be configured to simply rotate, and instead, may be configured to move the storage plate moving rotary disk 21 holding the radiation image storage plate in the direction of the axis Z.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the radiation image reading device 60 is configured such that the main body of the reading device is the rotary plate 21 for moving the storage plate.
, And the rotation operation and the forward / backward movement of the hollow shaft 61 are controlled from below the storage plate moving rotary plate 21. This is because of the operation of the movable part of the radiation image reading device 60 and the moving mechanism. This is for the purpose of facilitating the interlocking with the operation of 20 and making the device compact, and the present invention does not limit the positional relationship between such mechanisms to one embodiment.

[0060]

As is apparent from the above description, the X-ray diffractometer according to the present invention has a plurality of radiation image storage plates arranged around a radiation image reader, and the radiation image is focused on the radiation image reader. The revolving motion of the image storage plate is realized by the rotating plate for moving the storage plate of the moving mechanism, and the rotation of each radiation image storage plate on the orbit of the revolving motion is realized by the direction rotating means of the moving mechanism. Thus, an arbitrary radiation image storage plate can be positioned on the image storage position side facing the sample by the orbital motion. And
The radiation image storage plate positioned on the image storage position side by the revolving motion is such that the center of the arc of the radiation image storage surface coincides with the rotation center of the storage plate moving rotary plate by the rotation motion, and the radiation image reading device In the direction in which the X-rays can be read, or in the outward direction where the center of the arc of the radiation image storage surface coincides with the rotation axis of the sample and diffraction X-rays from the sample can be stored. Can be switched.

Therefore, the direction of the radiation image storage surface of the radiation image storage plate moved to the position facing the sample by the revolving motion is switched to the outward direction by the rotation motion, and the radiation image storage surface is moved to the X direction. After the accumulation processing of the X-ray diffraction image is completed, the direction of the radiation image storage surface is switched to the inward state by the rotation, and the next radiation image storage plate is moved to a position facing the sample by the orbital movement. By repeating the above operation, the X-ray diffraction images can be successively accumulated in a plurality of radiation image accumulation plates.

Further, since the plurality of radiation image storage plates are arranged in a cylindrical shape surrounding the periphery of the radiation image reading apparatus, all the radiation image storage surfaces are set inward by the direction rotating means. If this is done, the radiation images stored in each radiation image storage plate can be read all together.

Therefore, for example, it is possible to complete the radiation image storage processing on all of the plurality of radiation image storage plates in advance, and thereafter perform the radiation image reading processing collectively. Therefore, even when the time required for the reading process is longer than the time required for the accumulation process of the X-ray diffraction images, a large number of X-ray diffraction images are continuously accumulated without the need for a waiting time due to the difference between the processing times. As a result, the efficiency of the measurement process can be improved, and at the same time, it can be applied to various diffraction measurements.

In setting the dimensions of the radiation image storage plate, if the width dimension (ie, the size in the circumferential direction around the rotation center of the storage plate moving rotary plate) is set small, the storage plate movement It is possible to equip a larger number of radiographic image storage plates without increasing the radius of the orbital motion by the rotating disk, and to reduce the installation space of the X-ray diffraction device compactly, It is possible to increase the storage capacity. In addition, since both the rotating plate for moving the storage plate and the direction rotating means that constitute the moving mechanism may be simple rotating motion mechanisms, it is suitable for simplification of the mechanism and easily enhances reproducibility of the moving position. Become.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional X-ray diffraction apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a conventional X-ray diffraction apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sample 2 X-ray goniometer 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 Radiation image storage plate 11a, 12a Radiation image storage surface 20 Moving mechanism 21 Storage plate moving rotary plate 22 Orientation rotating means 60 Radiation image reading device 61 Hollow shaft 62 probe

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-62-161266 (JP, A) JP-A-3-167458 (JP, A) JP-A-2-12043 (JP, A) JP-A-3-57947 (JP) , A) Hikaru Hei 1-152250 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01N 23/20-23/207

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An X-ray goniometer that rotatably holds a sample so as to change an X-ray irradiation direction on the sample;
A plurality of radiation image storage plates for storing an X-ray diffraction image generated from the sample when the sample is irradiated with X-rays;
A moving mechanism for moving the plurality of radiation image storage plates to the image reading position or the image storage position; and a radiation image reading device for reading a radiation image from the radiation image storage plate positioned at the image reading position by the moving mechanism. An X-ray diffraction apparatus comprising: a storage plate moving rotary plate for moving the plurality of radiation image storage plates on a circumference centering on the radiation image reading device; And a direction rotating means for switching the direction of the radiation image storage surface of each radiation image storage plate on the storage plate moving rotary plate, and each of the plurality of radiation image storage plates, A radiation image accumulation surface for accumulating a radiation image is formed in a curved circular plate shape so as to be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of a cylinder having the rotation axis of the accumulation plate moving rotary disk as a central axis. Further, the storage plate moving rotary plate has a plurality of storage plate mounting portions set on a circumference centered on the radiation image reading apparatus to hold a plurality of radiation image storage plates, and The rotation operation around the image reading device is configured to move any radiation image storage plate held around the radiation image reading device to the image storage position side facing the sample, and the direction rotation unit is By rotating the radiation image storage plate at the storage plate attachment part of the storage plate moving rotary plate, the direction of the radiation image storage surface of the radiation image storage plate is adjusted so that the center of the arc of the radiation image storage surface is the storage plate. Inward direction that can be read by the radiation image reading device in accordance with the rotation center of the moving rotary plate, or
X-ray diffraction characterized in that the center of the arc of the radiation image storage surface coincides with the rotation axis of the sample and is switched to any one of outward directions where diffraction X-rays from the sample can be stored. apparatus.