JPH09127021A - X-ray inspection apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an X-ray inspection apparatus whose operating efficiency in enhanced by adjusting the amount of X-rays irradiating an X-ray inspection chamber surrounding a part of a conveyor to be a cylindrical shape according to a cargo to be viewed with X-ray, installing shielding doors at opening parts as its entrance and its exit, and hanging shielding curtains. SOLUTION: A cargo 2 is transferred by a conveyor 3, an X-ray inspection chamber 4 which surrounds a part of it to be a cylindrical shape is formed, an X-ray generator 5 which radiates X-rays toward the cargo 2 and an X-ray detector 6 which detects the X-rays are installed inside, and the generator 5 adjusts the energy amount of irradiation X-rays according to the cargo 2. Shielding doors 9, 9 which shield the X-rays strongly and which are opened and shut freely and shileding curtains 10, 10 which shield the X-rays weakly are installed at opening parts 7, 8 as the entrance and the exit of the inspection chamber 4. Thereby, the cargo 2 which is inspected with low-energy X-rays, is shielded from the X-rays weakly by the curtains 10, 10, and it can be inspected quickly. The cargo 2 which is inspected a high-energy X-rays, is shielded from the X-rays strongly by the shielding doors 9, 9 so as to prevent them from being leaked to the outside. Many kinds of cargos 2 can be X-rayed by one apparatus.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an X-ray inspection apparatus for irradiating a cargo with X-rays for fluoroscopic inspection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an X-ray inspection apparatus for irradiating a cargo with X-rays for fluoroscopic inspection, an airport baggage inspection apparatus is well known, and an X-ray tube of 150 kv or less is generally used. 150
When performing fluoroscopy with low-energy X-rays of kv or less, it is possible to shield X-rays leaking out of the X-ray inspection device with a simple shielding means, so that a carten-like shield is provided at the cargo exit and entrance. We carry out fluoroscopic inspection of cargo using an X-ray inspection system in which materials are suspended.

In recent years, an X-ray inspection apparatus for irradiating high energy X-rays of 300 kv has come to be used for large cargoes which are difficult to see through with low energy X-rays. Since this X-ray inspection apparatus cannot prevent the external emission of X-rays by the above-mentioned simple shielding means, it has doors shielded with lead plates at the exit and the entrance of the cargo instead. is there.

[0004]

However, when the ease of passing X-rays such as the size of the cargo to be inspected differs depending on the size of the cargo to be inspected, it is necessary to use a different X-ray inspection apparatus for each cargo. There is a problem in that a separate cargo transfer route is set for each line inspection device, and sorting work is required for that purpose.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a cargo that can be seen through low-energy X-rays such as a small cargo with a single X-ray inspection apparatus cannot be seen through a high-energy X-ray such as a large cargo. An object of the present invention is to provide an X-ray inspection apparatus that can perform inspection up to and improve the efficiency of inspection work.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object,
The invention according to claim 1 is an X-ray inspection apparatus that irradiates X-rays to a cargo conveyed by a conveyor so as to see through the X-ray inspection chamber formed by surrounding a part of the conveyor in a tubular shape. An X-ray generator that adjusts the amount of X-ray energy according to the cargo to be radiated and irradiates the inside of the X-ray inspection room, and an X-ray inspection room opening / closing opening that can be opened and closed to shield X-rays strongly. It is provided with a shielding door and a shielding curtain which is hung from each of these openings and shields X-rays weakly.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the upper end side of the shielding curtain is wound around a curtain roller and is hung so that it can be wound up and down freely.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the X-ray examination room, an entrance sensor for detecting the entry of cargo to control the opening and closing of the shielding door of the entrance opening is provided, and the opening and closing of the shielding door of the exit opening is provided. An exit sensor for detecting the arrival of the cargo at the exit position is provided to control the cargo.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, an X-ray inspection apparatus 1 includes a conveyor 3 for transferring a cargo 2 and a cargo 2 on the conveyor 3.
A cylindrical X-ray inspection room 4 that shields the X-rays, an X-ray generator 5 that irradiates the cargo 2 in the X-ray inspection room 4 with X-rays, and X-rays emitted from the X-ray generator 5 are detected. X-ray detector 6 for shielding, an entrance opening 7 and an exit opening 8 of the X-ray examination chamber 4, a shielding door 9 that strongly shields X-rays, and an entrance opening 7 and an exit of the X-ray examination chamber 4. A shield curtain 10 that shields X-rays weakly at the opening 8.

The conveyor 3 is a roller conveyor, and transfers the cargo 2 with the cargo 2 placed on the rollers 11. The operation control such as the stop of the conveyor 3, the change of the transfer direction, the change of the transfer speed and the like are all controlled by an operation control device (not shown).

The X-ray inspection chamber 4 is formed by surrounding a part of the conveyor 3 with a top plate 12, a bottom plate 13 and side plates 14 and 15 in a tubular shape, and has an entrance opening 7 at the front end and a rear end. Has an outlet opening 8. Top plate 12, bottom plate 13 and side plates 14, 1
The lead plate 5 is provided inside and is formed so as to block the passage of X-rays. Inlet opening 7 and outlet opening 8
Are openings formed at the front end and the rear end of the X-ray inspection chamber 4 for allowing the cargo on the conveyor 3 to enter or leave the X-ray inspection chamber 4. The openings 7 and 8 are the conveyor 3
Is a rectangular opening formed from the transfer surface 48 to the vicinity of the top plate 12 of the X-ray inspection chamber 4 with substantially the same width as the conveyor 3.
It has such a size that the cargo 2 transferred by the conveyor 3 can pass through.

As shown in FIG. 4, guide rails 32 for guiding the opening and closing of the shield door 9 are provided at the upper ends of the inlet opening 7 and the outlet opening 8 on both left and right sides. The guide rail 32 is a groove that opens downward, and guides the guide pins 33a and 33b described later by slidably engaging them. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, one side plate 14 of the X-ray examination chamber 4 has a long strip of X-rays radiated from the X-ray generator 5 in the form of a long strip in the other side plate 1.
The slit 16 for irradiating toward the 5 side is formed.

The X-ray generator 5 irradiates X-rays into the X-ray examination room 4 through the slits 16.
It is provided outside the X-ray examination room 4 in the vicinity of 6. Specifically, the X-ray generator 5 is provided in a shielded room 17 that is integrally provided in the side plate 14 of the X-ray examination room 4, and X
The X-rays emitted from the line generator 5 are prevented from being emitted to the outside of the shielded room 17 from other than the slit 16. Also,
The X-ray generator 5 has an energy variable X-ray tube (not shown) or a plurality of energy fixed X-ray tubes arranged therein, and is formed so that the amount of energy of the radiated X-rays can be adjusted.

As shown in FIG. 5, the X-ray detector 6 comprises a support frame 18 provided in the X-ray examination chamber 4 and a plurality of X-ray sensors 19 provided in a line on the support frame 18. . As shown in FIG. 1, the support frame 18 includes side plates 15 and a top plate 12.
Is an L-shaped frame body provided along the slit 16
It is provided at a position where the X-rays emitted from it directly strike. The support frame 18 has a front shield plate 26 at the front end and a rear shield plate 27 at the rear end in order to prevent the scattered X-rays from being scattered in the front-rear direction, and has a U-shaped cross section that opens toward the slit 16. Have a shape.

An X-ray sensor signal processing board 2 for supporting a plurality of X-ray sensors 19 in a line inside the support frame 18 and converting a signal detected by the X-ray sensor into image data.
0 is provided. This X-ray sensor signal processing board 2
0 is provided in a straight line in the vertical direction on the side portion 21 of the support frame 18 along the side plate 15, and the upper portion 22 along the top plate 12 is provided.
Is provided in a straight line in the left-right direction. A plurality of X-ray sensors 19 are linearly provided at the end portion of the X-ray sensor signal processing substrate 20 near the slits 16, and the X-ray intensity at each position is detected. There is.

Further, inside the support frame 18, an incident width regulating body 23 for regulating the width of the X-rays incident on the X-ray sensor 19 is provided. This incident width regulation body 23 is X
A front regulation plate 24 that regulates the width of the X-ray on the front side of the line sensor 19 and a rear regulation plate 25 that regulates the width of the X-ray on the rear side of the X-ray sensor 19. One end of the front regulating plate 24 is attached to the front shielding plate 26 of the support frame 18, and the other end is X-shaped.
The line sensor 19 is formed so as to project near the slit 16 side (X-ray incident side). The rear regulating plate 25 has one end attached to the rear shielding plate 27 of the support frame 18 and the other end protruding from the vicinity of the slit 16 side (X-ray incident side) of the X-ray sensor 19. In this way, the incident width regulator 23, the front shield plate 26, and the rear shield plate 27 reflect X-rays that do not directly hit the X-ray sensor 19 in the incident direction and prevent X-rays from scattering in the front-back direction. .

As shown in FIG. 2, the shielding door 9 is a left-right double door provided in each of the entrance opening 7 and the exit opening 8 of the X-ray examination chamber 4, and is either the entrance opening 7 or the exit opening. It is composed of a left shielding door 28 located on the left side of the portion 8 and a right shielding door 29 located on the right side of the inlet opening 7 or the outlet opening 8.

As shown in FIG. 4, the left shielding door 28 is composed of two door plates connected to each other via a hinge 49, and includes a first door plate 30 located on the left side and a first door plate 30 located on the right side. It is composed of the second door plate 31. The first door plate 30 is a plate member whose left end support shaft 44 is pivotally supported at the left end positions of the openings 7 and 8, and is adapted to rotate inward from the openings 7 and 8. . The left end side portion of the second door plate 31 is connected to the right end of the first door plate 30 via a hinge 49, and the first door plate 3
It is designed to rotate with respect to zero. A first guide pin 33a slidably engaged with the guide rail 32 is provided at the upper right portion of the second door plate 31 so as to project upward. A shield seal plate 36 is provided on the inner surface of the right end of the first door plate 30 so as to project to the right side so that X-rays are not emitted from the connecting portion with the second door plate 31. A shielding seal plate 36 is provided on the inner surface at the right end of the second door plate 31 so as to project to the right side, and is formed so that X-rays are not emitted from the gap between the second door plate 31 and the right shielding door 29. .

Then, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the first
A first door opening / closing motor 43 for rotating a support shaft 44 of the door plate 30 is provided above the left end of the door plate 30. This first
When the door opening / closing motor 43 is rotated in the reverse direction, the left shield door 2
8 will open and close. The operation control of the first door opening / closing motor 43 is usually automatically performed by the above-mentioned operation control device (not shown), and operates in conjunction with the entry sensor 39 and the exit sensor 40 described later. Is provided.

The right shielding door 29 is also composed of two door plates connected in the same manner, and is composed of a third door plate 34 located on the right side and a fourth door plate 35 located on the left side. The third door plate 34 is
The support shaft 46 at the right end is a plate member pivotally supported at the position of the right end of the openings 7, 8 and is adapted to rotate inward from the openings 7, 8. The right end portion of the fourth door plate 35 is connected to the left end of the third door plate 34 via a hinge 49. A second guide pin 33b slidably engaged with the guide rail 32 is provided on the upper left portion of the fourth door plate 35 so as to project upward. Further, a shielding seal plate 36 is provided on the inner surface on the left end of the third door plate 34 so as to project rightward,
It is formed so that X-rays are not emitted from the connecting portion with the fourth door plate 35.

A second door opening / closing motor 45 for rotating the support shaft 46 is provided above the right end of the third door plate 34. When the second door opening / closing motor 45 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions, the right shielding door 29 is opened and closed. The operation control of the second door opening / closing motor 45 is usually automatically performed by the above-mentioned operation control device (not shown), and the entry sensor 39 and the exit sensor 4 which will be described later.
It is provided to operate in conjunction with 0.

The door plates 30, 31, 34, 35 described above are used.
Has a lead plate inside and the X-rays
It is formed so as to pass through 0, 31, 34, and 35 and not be emitted to the outside.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the shielding curtain 10 is a substantially goodwill curtain provided inside the shielding door 9 so that it can be rolled up. The shielding curtain 10 is formed by alternately stacking a plurality of shielding film bodies 37, which are strip-shaped rubber films, so that cargo on the conveyor 3 can pass through between the shielding film bodies 37. Has been formed. The shielding film body 37 is formed by kneading powdery lead so as not to transmit X-rays. The shield curtain 10 is hung on the curtain roller 38 by attaching the upper end thereof to the rotatable curtain roller 38, and is also provided so as to be able to be wound up. The curtain roller 38 is a roller pivotally supported by the left and right side plates 14 and 15, and is provided near the top plate 12 inside the shielding door 9 so as to be orthogonal to the traveling direction of the conveyor 3. Curtain roller 38
A winding motor (not shown) is connected to the curtain roller 38, and the curtain roller 38 can be rotated in both forward and reverse directions by rotating the winding motor. Further, the operation control of the hoisting motor is usually automatically performed by the above-mentioned operation control device (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the side plates 14 and 15 of the X-ray examination room 4 have a pair of entry sensors 39 for detecting entry of the cargo 2 and arrival of the cargo 2 at the exit position. And a pair of exit sensors 40 for detecting The entrance sensor 39 and exit sensor 40 provided on the side plate 14 are infrared transmitters 41, and the entrance sensor 39 and exit sensor 40 provided on the side plate 15 are infrared detectors 42. Infrared transmitter 4
1 indicates that the infrared ray detector 42 continuously irradiates infrared rays, and when the infrared ray detector 42 stops detecting infrared rays, the cargo 2 exists between the infrared ray transmitter 41 and the infrared ray detector 42. is there. In this way, the presence or absence of cargo is determined by whether infrared rays can pass between the pair of entrance sensors 39 or exit sensors 40.

The entrance sensor 39 is provided in a symmetrical position immediately in front of the X-ray detector 6 so that it can detect that the cargo 2 is in an inspectable state, and the exit sensor 40 allows the cargo 2 to reach the exit position. It is provided in a symmetrical position immediately in front of the shielding curtain 10 so that it can be detected. The height at which the entrance sensor 39 and the exit sensor 40 are attached is a position on the conveyor 3 which is about the height, and it is provided so that a cargo having a low height can be accurately detected.

Next, the operation will be described.

When the cargo 2 is a relatively large cargo that cannot be fluoroscopically inspected with low energy X-rays, the above-mentioned hoisting motor (not shown) is rotated to rotate the curtain roller 38 and the shield curtain 10 in advance. Roll up. Then, the conveyor 3 is operated while detecting whether or not the cargo 2 is present in the X-ray inspection room 4 by the entrance sensor 39, and the cargo 2 is X-rayed.
The line inspection device 1 is transferred toward the inlet opening 7. When the entrance sensor 39 detects that the cargo 2 has been transferred to the front of the X-ray detector 6, the door opening / closing motor 43 is operated to close the left shielding door 28 and the right shielding door 29.

When the left shielding door 28 is closed, the support shaft 44 is rotated by the first door opening / closing motor 43, so that the first door plate 30 rotates outward about the left end and the second door. The left end of the plate 31 is pushed rightward. Since the left end of the second door plate 31 is connected to the right end of the first door plate 30 and the first guide pin 33a at the right end is slidably guided by the guide rail 32, the second door plate 31 is outwardly centered on the right end. Slide right while rotating. Then, when the first door plate 30 is rotated to the direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the conveyor 3, the first door plate 30 and the second door plate 31 are aligned with each other, and the left shielding door 2
8 will be closed. When the right shielding door 29 is closed, the second door opening / closing motor 45 rotates the support shaft 46 in the opposite direction to the support shaft 44, so that the third door plate 3 is closed.
The fourth and fourth door plates 35 move symmetrically with the first door plate 30 and the second door plate 31 of the left shield door 28, and the right shield door 29 is closed.

When all the shielding doors 9 are closed in this way, the X-ray generator 5 and the X-ray detector 6 are operated while the conveyor 3 is still operating, and the cargo 2 is seen while being moved. Perform an inspection. At this time, the X-ray generator 5
High-energy X-rays exceeding 50 kv are emitted, but since the entrance opening 7 and the exit opening 8 are strongly shielded by the shielding doors 9 and 9, respectively, the X-rays in the X-ray examination room 4 are emitted to the outside. It will not be done.

The X-rays are continuously emitted, and the X-rays emitted from the X-ray generator 5 pass through the slit 16 and enter the X-ray examination room 4. Therefore, the X-rays irradiate the cargo 2 in a straight line in the vertical direction and reach the X-ray detector 6. The X-rays that have reached the X-ray detector 6 further pass through the detection slit 47 formed by the incident width regulation body 23 and reach the X-ray sensor 19. The X-ray sensor 19 converts the state of X-rays applied to the X-ray sensor 19 into an electric signal, and transmits this electric signal to the X-ray sensor signal processing board 20. The X-ray sensor signal processing board 20 converts the electric signal transmitted from the X-ray sensor 19 into image data.

When the cargo 2 is moved to the exit position near the rear end of the X-ray inspection room 4 and the exit sensor 40 detects the presence of the cargo 2, the X-ray generator 5 and the X-ray detector 6 are stopped,
The left shielding door 28 and the right shielding door 29 are opened. At this time,
By rotating the first door opening / closing motor 43 and the second door opening / closing motor 45 in the direction opposite to the closing direction, the first door plate 3
0, the 2nd door board 31, the 3rd door board 34, and the 4th door board 35 move in the direction opposite to the time of closing. First door plate 30 and second door plate 31
Is folded on the left side of the conveyor 3 in parallel with the conveyor 3, and the third door plate 34 and the fourth door plate 35 are folded on the right side of the conveyor 3 in parallel with the conveyor 3.

The cargo 2 is transferred to the outside of the X-ray inspection room 4 by the conveyor 3 as it is, and the fluoroscopic inspection of the cargo 2 is completed.

When the cargo 2 is of a relatively small size and can be fluoroscopically inspected with low energy X-rays, the hoisting motor (not shown) is rotated to rotate the curtain roller 38 to suspend the shielding curtain 10 in advance. Leave it down. Then, the conveyor 3 is operated while detecting whether or not the cargo 2 is present in the X-ray inspection room 4 by the entrance sensor 39, and the cargo 2 is X-rayed.
The line inspection device 1 is transferred toward the inlet opening 7. Cargo 2
Enters the X-ray examination room 4 through the shielding curtain 10 near the entrance opening 7. At this time, the shielding curtain 10
Is formed by alternately stacking a plurality of shielding film bodies 37, which are strip-shaped rubber films, so that the cargo 2 is
Quickly and easily X by scraping off the goodwill shielding film 37.
The line inspection room 4 will be entered.

With the entrance sensor 39, the cargo 2 detects the X-ray detector 6
Conveyor 3 detects that it has been transferred immediately before
The X-ray generator 5 and the X-ray detector 6 are operated in a state where the is operated, and a fluoroscopic inspection is performed while moving the cargo 2. At this time, the X-ray generator 5 emits low-energy X-rays of 150 kv or less, and the entrance opening 7 and the exit opening 8 are weakly shielded by the shielding curtains 10 and 10, respectively. The X-rays in the X-ray examination room 4 are not emitted to the outside.

When the cargo 2 is moved to the exit position near the rear end of the X-ray inspection room 4 and the exit sensor 40 detects the presence of the cargo 2, the X-ray generator 5 and the X-ray detector 6 are stopped.

The cargo 2 is transported by the conveyor 3 as it is, and passes through the shielding curtain 10 near the exit opening 8. Then, it is transferred to the outside of the X-ray inspection room 4, and the fluoroscopic inspection of the cargo 2 is completed.

In this way, the entrance opening 7 of the X-ray examination room 4
And an openable and closable shielding door 9 for strongly shielding X-rays, and a shielding curtain 10 for weakly shielding X-rays at the exit opening 8.
Since 10 and 10 are provided respectively, cargoes that can be fluoroscopically inspected with low energy X-rays can be quickly fluoroscopically inspected by the shielding curtains 10 to weakly shield X-rays, and cargos using high energy X-rays can be used. Since the X-rays can be strongly shielded by the shielding doors 9 and 9, a wide variety of cargos can be fluoroscopically inspected by one X-ray inspection device while preventing the emission of X-rays to the outside of the X-ray inspection device. You can

Since the shielding curtain 10 is attached to the rotatable curtain roller 38 and is hung so that it can be rolled up freely, it can be rolled up when the shielding doors 9 are used, and the shielding curtain 10 is rolled up in the cargo 2. It is possible to prevent the cargo 2 from falling over.

Since the X-ray inspection room 4 is provided with the entrance sensor 39 for detecting the entrance of the cargo 2 and the exit sensor 40 for detecting the arrival of the cargo 2 at the exit position, the shield doors 9, 9 are provided.
It is possible to detect the opening and closing timing of the shield door 9,
The opening and closing of 9 can be automated.

The X-ray generator 5 is installed in the shielded room 1 outside the X-ray examination room 4.
It is provided in the inside of the X-ray inspection chamber 7 so that the X-rays pass through the slit 16 and enter the X-ray inspection room 4.
Useless X-rays that do not reach the X-ray detector 6 can be prevented from entering the X-ray inspection chamber 4, and the amount of X-rays scattered and directed to the entrance opening 7 and the exit opening 8 can be reduced. .

An X-ray sensor 19 is provided on the support frame 18, a front shield plate 26 is provided at the front end of the support frame 18, and a rear shield plate 27 is provided at the rear end, so that the support frame 18 is slit 16.
Since it is formed in a U-shaped cross-section that opens toward
It is possible to prevent the line from being scattered in the front-back direction.

Since the entrance width regulating body 23 for regulating the width of the X-rays is provided on the slit 16 side (X-ray incident side) of the X-ray sensor 19 of the support frame 18, the X-rays which do not directly hit the X-ray sensor 19 are incident. The front shield plate 26 and the rear shield plate 27 can prevent the X-rays from being scattered in the front-rear direction.

[0044]

In summary, according to the present invention, the following excellent effects can be obtained.

(1) According to the configuration of claim 1, X
A single X-ray inspection device can be used to perform a fluoroscopic inspection of a wide variety of cargos while preventing the radiation from being emitted to the outside of the X-ray inspection device.

(2) According to the structure described in claim 2, it is possible to prevent the shielding curtain from being caught by the cargo.

(3) According to the third aspect of the invention, the opening and closing of the shielding door can be automated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of an X-ray inspection apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG.

3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 1;

5 is a sectional view taken along the line v-v of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 X-ray inspection apparatus 2 Cargo 3 Conveyor 4 X-ray inspection room 5 X-ray generator 7 Entrance opening 8 Exit opening 9 Shield door 10 Shield curtain

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An X-ray inspection apparatus that irradiates a cargo conveyed by a conveyor with X-rays to allow it to be seen through, and an X-ray inspection room formed by surrounding a part of the conveyor in a tubular shape and a cargo to be seen through. An X-ray generator that adjusts the amount of energy of X-rays to irradiate the interior of the X-ray inspection chamber, and a shield door that is openably and closably provided at the opening of the entrance of the X-ray inspection chamber to strongly shield the X-rays. An X-ray inspection apparatus comprising: a shield curtain that is hung from each of these openings and that shields X-rays weakly. 2. The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shielding curtain has an upper end side wound around a curtain roller and is hung up and down freely. 3. An X-ray inspection room is provided with an entrance sensor for detecting the entrance of a cargo to control the opening and closing of the shield door at the entrance opening, and at the same time, to control the opening and closing of the shield door at the exit opening. The X-ray inspection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an exit sensor that detects arrival at the exit position.