JP5068702B2 - Sample analyzer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is a sample for analyzing elements such as carbon (C), nitrogen (N), hydrogen (H), sulfur (S), oxygen (O) contained in measurement samples such as steel, non-ferrous metals, and ceramics. In particular, the present invention relates to a mechanism for detecting upside down inversion of a sample container such as a crucible.

  In this type of sample analyzer, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, a measurement sample is accommodated in a crucible sandwiched between an upper electrode and a lower electrode, and a voltage is applied to heat the measurement sample in the crucible. There is a sample analyzer for analyzing the element of the measurement sample by analyzing the gas generated by dissolution.

  And this elemental analyzer is made to drop a crucible from a crucible accommodating part, to install in a crucible installation part, and to convey the crucible installed in the said crucible installation part on a lower electrode.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 7, the crucible installation portion has a cup shape opened to the top, and the crucible is placed on the bottom surface of the recess of the crucible installation portion. And the presence or absence of the crucible on the crucible installation part is detected by the photoelectric sensor. Specifically, the light emitted from the light emitting part of the photoelectric sensor is reflected by the side surface of the crucible on the crucible installation part, and the presence or absence of the crucible is detected based on whether or not the reflected light is detected by the light receiving part of the photoelectric sensor. Is done.

  However, in such a configuration, even if the crucible is installed upside down, the light of the photoelectric sensor is irradiated and reflected on the crucible, so that it can be detected that the crucible is installed. There is a problem that it cannot be detected that the projector is installed upside down.

Further, in order to detect that the crucible is installed upside down, it is necessary to provide a sensor for detecting that the crucible is installed upside down. There is a problem such as a complicated configuration.
Japanese Patent No. 2949501

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems all at once, and makes it possible to discriminate upside down of a sample container in which a sample such as a crucible is accommodated while having a simple and inexpensive configuration. Is the main intended issue.

  In other words, the sample analyzer according to the present invention is a sample analyzer that includes a container setting portion in which an upper portion is opened and a sample container for storing a sample is set, and analyzes the sample stored in the sample container, The container installation part has a mounting projection that is placed when the sample container is placed in the upside down direction and is placed in the sample container when the sample container is placed upside down. Features.

  If it is such, the height position of the sample container on a container installation part will differ by the case where a sample container is installed in the container installation part in the vertical direction and the case where it is installed upside down. Specifically, it is lower when installed upside down than when installed upside down. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether the sample container is turned upside down while having a simple and inexpensive configuration in which only the mounting protrusion is provided on the sample setting portion. In other words, the operator can visually discriminate by the height position of the sample container, and when the presence / absence of the sample container and the up / down direction are determined by the sensor, the sample container is detected only when the sensor is installed in the normal direction. By arranging them at a height that can be obtained, it is possible to determine the presence / absence of the sample container and the normal / reverse direction with only one sensor.

  In order to suitably prevent the sample container from overturning when placed on the placement projection in the upside down direction, the container placement portion is provided on the side periphery of the placement projection, It is desirable to provide a fall prevention surface for preventing the sample container from toppling over when the sample container is placed in the vertical direction.

  In order to be able to automatically detect the presence / absence and inversion of the sample container on the container installation part, the container detection that detects the sample container only when the sample container is installed in the vertical direction on the mounting projection described above. It is preferable that a sensor is further provided, and a reversal detection mechanism is configured by the container installation portion and the container detection sensor.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to determine whether the sample container such as a crucible is turned upside down while having a simple and inexpensive configuration.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the sample analyzer 100 of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the configuration of the crucible supply mechanism 3, FIG. 3 is a front view of the guide tube, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the inversion detection mechanism 4 and the inversion detection method.

<Device configuration>
The sample analyzer 100 according to the present embodiment heats and dissolves a metal sample (hereinafter simply referred to as a sample) accommodated in the crucible R, and analyzes a gas component generated at that time, thereby analyzing the sample in the sample. The crucible supply for measuring the contained elements, and supplying the crucible transport mechanism 2 for transporting the crucible R to the analysis apparatus main body 1, the crucible transport mechanism 2 and the crucible R transported to the crucible transport mechanism 2 And a mechanism 3.

<< Analyzer body 1 >>
If it demonstrates from the analyzer main body 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper electrode 12 and the lower electrode 11 are provided in the front surface of this analyzer main body 1 at intervals up and down, and a sample is provided on the lower electrode 11. It is comprised so that the crucible R which accommodated can be mounted. The crucible position placed on the lower electrode 11 shown in FIG. 1 is the heating position P1. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 13 denotes a detection sensor (for example, a photoelectric sensor) that detects the presence or absence of a crucible on the lower electrode 11. The crucible R is made of graphite having a cylindrical shape with an open top, and the lower end has a tapered shape. In addition, the crucible R may be one in which an annular concave groove is formed on the outer periphery of the lower end portion in addition to a taper shape whose lower end portion is tapered.

  At the time of analysis, the lower electrode 11 slides upward with respect to the crucible R placed at the heating position P <b> 1, and the crucible R is sandwiched between the upper electrode 12. In this state, when a sample is loaded into the crucible R from the sample loading port 12A provided above the upper electrode 12, a current is applied between the electrodes 11 and 12, and the crucible R generates heat to generate heat. The sample is heated and melted. The gas generated from the heated sample is sent to an analysis unit (not shown) to measure the component, and from the result, the element originally contained in the sample is analyzed.

  For example, when measuring the amount of oxygen in a sample, CO (carbon monoxide), which is a reaction product, is generated by heating the sample, and the CO is detected using, for example, a non-dispersive infrared detector that constitutes the analysis unit. Measure and calculate the amount of oxygen present in the sample based on the CO value. In addition, components such as hydrogen and nitrogen can be measured by setting a reaction product and an analysis unit corresponding to the reaction product. After the analysis, the used crucible R is discarded together with the sample by the crucible transport mechanism 2.

<< Crucible transport mechanism 2 >>
As shown in FIG. 1, the crucible transport mechanism 2 transports a crucible R installed in a crucible installation section 33 to be described later to a heating position P1 in the analyzer main body 1, and a heating position P1 (lower electrode 11). The arm portion 21 is capable of moving forward and backward, a drive mechanism (not shown) for driving the arm portion 21, and a pair of gripping claws 22 attached to the tip of the arm portion 21. It is controlled by a command from a control device (not shown).

  The base end portion of the arm portion 21 is connected to a rotation shaft of a driving mechanism provided on the base 101, and the arm portion 21 is moved to a heating position P1 and a retracted position separated from the heating position P1 by this driving mechanism. Rotate between and move forward and backward. Here, the retracted position is located outside the crucible installation portion 33 with respect to the heating position P1. Further, at least one of the gripping claws 22 has, for example, a generally square shape. Each gripping claw 22 is slidably held on the arm portion 21 at the base end portion, and is slid so as to reduce the distance between the gripping claws 22 in response to a command from the control device. It is comprised so that the side peripheral surface of the said crucible R can be narrow-pressure-gripped between center parts.

  The operation of the crucible transport mechanism 2 will be described. During the crucible transport, the arm unit 2 rotates from the retracted position and reaches the crucible installation unit 33. Then, the gripping claws 21 grip the crucible R in the crucible installation part 33. Then, it rotates again and moves to the heating position P1, and the crucible R is placed on the heating position P1 (on the lower electrode 11). After placement, the arm unit 2 returns to the retracted position. Further, after the analysis, the arm portion 21 moves from the retracted position to the heating position P1, and the gripping claws 21 grip the crucible R on the lower electrode 11, transport it to a waste container (not shown), and discard it.

<< Crucible supply mechanism 3 >>
The crucible supply mechanism 3 automatically supplies the crucible R conveyed by the crucible conveyance mechanism 2, and as shown in FIG. 2, in particular, a crucible accommodating portion 31 capable of accommodating a plurality of crucibles R, and crucible accommodation. A guide path 32 for dropping the crucible R from the section 31 by its own weight, and a crucible installation section 33 for receiving the dropped crucible R provided at the exit of the guide path 32 are provided.

  The crucible container 31 holds an inclined surface 311 on which a plurality of crucibles R are placed in parallel, a discharge port 312 provided below the inclined surface 311, and a crucible R sliding down below the inclined surface 311. And a crucible discharge mechanism 313 that moves to the discharge port 312. The crucible discharge mechanism 313 includes, for example, a rotating body (see FIG. 1) that has a concave portion that accommodates the crucible R on its side surface and rotates around one axis, and a drive unit (not shown) that rotates the rotating body. It is possible to move the crucible R accommodated in the recess to the discharge port 312 by rotating it. Then, the crucible R moved to the upper part of the discharge port 312 by the crucible discharge mechanism 313 falls from the discharge port 312 and is discharged by its own weight. In this case, since the crucibles R are accommodated in parallel, as many crucibles R as possible can be accommodated. Moreover, since it discharges using the dead weight of the crucible R, the structure of the discharge mechanism 313 can be simplified.

  The guide path 32 drops the crucible R in a substantially vertical direction and guides the crucible R to the crucible installation part 33. As shown in FIG. 2, the guide path 32 communicates with the discharge port 312 of the crucible accommodating part 31 and is substantially vertical. Is formed.

  The guide path 32 is for dropping the crucible R introduced from the crucible housing part 31 in a vertically positive state, and when the crucible R falls, it has an inner diameter that does not turn upside down, for example, the longest of the crucible R. The inner diameter is smaller than the length of the diagonal.

  On the side wall of the guide tube 5, foreign matter other than the crucible R introduced from the discharge port 312 (for example, fragments of the crucible R) is discharged outside the guide tube 5 without reaching the outlet (outlet port 32 b). For example, one or a plurality of slit-like through holes 5A are provided (three in FIG. 3). Specifically, in the guide tube 5, a through hole 5 </ b> A is provided below the side wall of the bent portion 51 provided substantially perpendicular to the inclined surface 311. Thereby, the fragments are discharged out of the guide tube 5 through the through holes 5A by their own weight. Further, the clogging of the crucible R in the guide path 32 can be confirmed by the through hole 5A.

  Further, a tapered portion 321 for reducing the falling speed of the crucible R is formed in the vicinity of the exit of the guide path 32. The minimum diameter of the tapered portion 321 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the crucible R, and the crucible R can pass through. Further, the downstream side of the tapered portion 321 in the guide path 32 has the same diameter as the minimum diameter of the tapered portion 321. If this is the case, the falling speed of the crucible R in the vicinity of the exit of the guide path 32 can be reduced, and damage to the crucible R when landing on the crucible installation portion 33 can be prevented. Moreover, the position shift of the installation position in the crucible installation part 33 can be prevented, and it can install accurately.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the crucible installation portion 33 is provided at the distal end portion of the drive shaft 341 of the elevating mechanism 34 formed of an air cylinder or the like provided on the base 101. The crucible installation unit 33 is connected to the guide path 32 and moves up and down between a receiving position Q1 that receives the crucible R that has fallen and a crucible conveying position Q2 that is spaced vertically downward from the receiving position Q1. is there. The details of the crucible installation unit 33 will be described later.

<< Reversal detection mechanism 4 >>
Therefore, the crucible supply mechanism 3 of the present embodiment includes a reversal detection mechanism 4 for detecting upside down reversal of the crucible R, as shown in FIGS. The crucible reversal detection mechanism 4 includes a crucible installation unit 33 and a crucible detection sensor 41.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the crucible installation portion 33 has a recess 331 x that can accommodate the crucible R, and is provided in the crucible receiving body 331 that receives the crucible R, and the recess 331 x of the crucible receiving body 331. And a mounting projection 332.

  The crucible receiving body 331 has a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape and is formed of a transparent resin that allows the inside to be visually recognized. The inner diameter of the concave portion 331x is larger than the outer diameter of the crucible R. A tapered surface 331t is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the upper end portion of the crucible receiving body 331. Then, as the crucible installation part 33 moves from the crucible transport position Q2 to the receiving position Q1, the crucible receiving body 331 is fitted with the tapered surface 5t provided on the outlet side end surface of the guide tube 5 forming the guide path 32. And the positioning function which positions the mounting protrusion 332 and the guide path 32 is exhibited (refer FIG. 2).

  The mounting protrusion 332 is provided coaxially in the recess 331x of the crucible receiving body 331, and when the crucible R is installed in the vertical direction, the crucible R is mounted on the substantially horizontal upper surface 332a. On the other hand, the mounting protrusion 332 is accommodated in the crucible R when the crucible R is installed upside down. With this configuration, the height position of the crucible R in the crucible installation portion 33 differs between the case where the crucible R is installed in the upside down direction and the case where the crucible R is installed upside down.

  The mounting protrusion 332 of this embodiment is fixed to the bottom surface 331x1 of the concave portion of the crucible receiving body 331. However, the mounting protrusion 332 passes through a through hole provided in a substantially central portion of the crucible receiving body 331. It may be fixed to the drive shaft 341.

  Specifically, the mounting protrusion 332 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and its diameter is set slightly smaller than the opening diameter of the crucible R. More specifically, the diameter of the mounting protrusion 332 is made as large as possible within a range smaller than the opening diameter of the crucible R in order to stably place the crucible R in the vertical direction. When installed upside down, the crucible R is fitted to the mounting protrusion 332 by its own weight.

  Further, the length of the mounting protrusion 332 is longer than any depth dimension in the various crucibles R used, and the size of the crucible R is not limited. That is, it is the length that the opening of the crucible R does not contact the concave bottom surface 331x1 when installed upside down. That is, the length of the mounting protrusion 332 is set so that a space is formed between the recess bottom surface 331x1 and the opening end surface of the crucible R when installed in the upside down direction. Thereby, even if foreign matters such as fragments of the crucible R are accumulated in the recess 331x, the crucible receiving body 331 can accommodate the crucible R upside down.

  Furthermore, the mounting protrusion 332 has a length that fits in the recess 331x of the crucible receiving body 331. As a result, the inner peripheral surface 331x2 of the recess 331x of the crucible receiving body 331 is provided on the upper portion of the mounting projection 332 around the mounting projection 332 at equal intervals from the outer peripheral surface. Then, the inner peripheral surface 331x2 of the recess 331x exhibits a function as a tipping prevention surface that prevents the crucible R from falling over when the crucible R is installed on the mounting projection 332 in the positive direction.

  The crucible detection sensor 41 uses light to detect the crucible R when the crucible R is installed on the mounting protrusion 332 in the vertical direction. Specifically, a photoelectric sensor is used, and the trajectory of the light L1 that exits the light emitting part of the photoelectric sensor and reaches the light receiving part is reflected by the outer peripheral surface of the crucible R installed in the crucible installation part 33 in the vertical direction. And is configured to reach the light receiving unit.

  The specific installation position of the crucible detection sensor 41 is provided to the side of the crucible transport position Q2 of the crucible installation part 33, as shown in FIG. More specifically, the height position of the light L1 emitted from the light emitting portion of the crucible detection sensor 41 is a height position T1 when installed in the vertical direction and a height position T2 when installed in the upside down direction. It is provided so as to be located between them. Here, the height positions T1 and T2 refer to the height position of the uppermost end of the crucible R in each installation state. For example, it is the height position of the upper surface where the opening of the crucible R is provided when installed in the vertical direction, and it is the height position of the bottom surface of the crucible R when installed in the upside down direction. In this embodiment, when installed upside down, the crucible R is accommodated and hidden in the crucible receiving body 331 in a side view, and therefore is higher than the height position of the uppermost end of the crucible receiving body 331. In the position.

  With such a configuration, when the crucible R is installed vertically upward, the light L1 emitted from the light emitting unit is reflected by the side surface of the crucible R and received by the light receiving unit. On the other hand, when the crucible R is installed upside down, the light L1 emitted from the light emitting unit is not reflected by the outer peripheral surface of the crucible R and is not received by the light receiving unit. As described above, when the crucible R is not installed in the crucible installation unit 33, or when it is installed upside down even though it is installed, the light receiving unit does not receive the light L1. Inversion of the crucible R can be detected. Further, the detection signal of the light receiving unit is output to notifying means (not shown) so as to notify the operator with an alarm sound or the like. The crucible detection sensor 41 is not limited to the reflective type described above, and may be a transmissive type or a type using ultrasonic waves.

  <Effect of this embodiment>

  According to the sample analyzer 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the crucible R is placed on the crucible installation unit 33 when the crucible R is installed in the crucible installation unit 33 in the upside down direction and the upside down direction. The height position of the crucible R is different. Specifically, the height of the crucible R is lower when it is installed upside down than when it is installed upside down. And since it arrange | positions at the height which can detect the crucible R when a sensor is installed in the normal direction, the presence / absence of the crucible R and the vertical direction can be discriminated by the sensor with only one sensor. Furthermore, the crucible R can be stably installed in the crucible installation section 33 simply by dropping foreign matter such as debris of the crucible R around the mounting projection 332, and the crucible installation section 33 can be easily cleaned.

  <Other modified embodiments>

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to members corresponding to the above-described embodiment.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a discharge port 331 </ b> A may be provided on the bottom wall of the crucible receiving body 331 for dropping and discharging foreign matters such as fragments of the crucible R from the crucible receiving body 331. In this case, foreign matter such as debris of the crucible R does not accumulate in the crucible receiving body 331, and when the crucible R is installed upside down, the crucible R is not obstructed by the foreign matter and the mounting protrusion 332 can be securely fitted.

  In addition, the mounting projection of the embodiment has a columnar shape and the diameter thereof is smaller than the opening diameter of the crucible, but the shape of the mounting projection is not limited to the columnar shape, and the crucible is installed upside down. In this case, the shape is not limited as long as it is accommodated in the crucible. For example, the mounting protrusion may have a prismatic shape.

  Furthermore, the length of the mounting protrusion is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be set according to the length of the crucible (depth of the recess). For example, the length of the mounting protrusion may be a length such that the opening of the crucible contacts the bottom surface of the recess when it is installed upside down. Even in this case, the crucible height position in the crucible installation part differs depending on whether the crucible is installed upside down or upside down, so the presence or absence of the crucible and the upside down of the crucible must be detected. Can do.

  In the above-described embodiment, the crucible installation unit is a unit in which the crucible is installed through the guide path from the crucible housing unit, but the operator may manually install the crucible using tweezers, for example.

  In addition to the graphite crucible, a ceramic crucible may be used. In this case, the analyzer main body includes a high-frequency heating furnace, and may analyze carbon, sulfur, etc. present in the sample.

  In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the sample container is used for a sample analyzer that is a crucible. However, the sample container may be a sample analyzer that houses a sample in the sample container and analyzes the sample. .

  In addition, some or all of the above-described embodiments and modified embodiments may be combined as appropriate, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. .

The typical block diagram of the sample analyzer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The typical block diagram of the crucible supply mechanism in the embodiment. The front view of the guide tube in the embodiment. The expanded sectional view which shows the structure of a crucible installation part. The figure which shows an inversion detection mechanism and an inversion detection method. Sectional drawing of the crucible installation part which concerns on deformation | transformation embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of the conventional crucible installation part.

Explanation of symbols

100 ... Sample analyzer R ... Crucible (sample container)
33 ... crucible installation part (container installation part)
332... Placement projection 331x2... Inner peripheral surface of the recess (falling prevention surface)
41 ・ ・ ・ Crucible detection sensor (container detection sensor)
4 ... Reverse detection mechanism

Claims (2)

A sample analyzer for analyzing a sample contained in a crucible , comprising a crucible installation portion in which a crucible having an open top is installed,
The crucible installation part is, the crucible is placed when installed the crucible vertically positive direction, have a mounting projection which is housed in the crucible when installed the crucible upside down,
It is composed of a light emitting part and a light receiving part, further comprising a container detection sensor for detecting the crucible above the placement protrusion,
From the light emitting portion between the uppermost end of the crucible when the crucible is installed on the mounting projection in the upside down direction and the bottom surface of the crucible when the crucible is installed upside down on the mounting projection. The length of the mounting protrusion is set so that there is an intersection of the emitted light and the outer peripheral surface of the crucible installed in the vertical direction on the mounting protrusion,
The sample analysis apparatus , wherein the container detection sensor detects the crucible when the crucible is installed on the mounting protrusion in the vertical direction . The said crucible installation part is provided in the circumference | surroundings of the said mounting protrusion, and when the crucible is mounted on the said mounting protrusion in the normal up-down direction, the crucible is provided with a fall prevention surface that prevents the crucible from falling. The sample analyzer described.