JPH1194729A - Spectrophotometer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a spectrophotometer in which a sample can be set easily to a measuring position on an integrating sphere. SOLUTION: A spectrophotometer having an integrating sphere 3 in a measuring section is provided with a sample holder 5 which is formed in such a way that a sample S can be held between two platy members which are coupled with each other at one ends with spring hinges, etc., in an openable state. The sample holder 5 is constituted so that the holder 5 may be attached to and detached from the measuring window 4 of the sphere 3. Therefore, samples having various shapes and thicknesses can be set easily on the outside of the device where no restriction is posed on the space.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a spectrophotometer capable of measuring reflection and transmission using an integrating sphere, which is one of the main application fields of the spectrophotometer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a thin plate-shaped amorphous and non-constant sample such as paper is attached to a measuring portion of an integrating sphere, a fixed sample holder as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 has been used. Was. That is, in FIGS. 5 and 6, an integrating sphere 53 is accommodated in a housing 52, and a small predetermined size measurement window (not shown) is provided in the integrating sphere 53 and the housing 52 at a sample setting position 50. . The sample holder 56 is configured by providing a holder plate c at the tip of an arm b rotatable about an axis a.

When the sample S is mounted on the measuring section of the integrating sphere 53, the sample S is inserted directly into the space between the integrating sphere 53, the housing 52 and the holding plate c by directly sandwiching the sample S between tweezers or a finger. The arm b of the holding member 56 is rotated, and the sample S is pressed against the integrating sphere 53 by the holding plate and is brought into close contact with the integrating sphere 53.

[0004]

In the method shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a sample S having an inconsistent size and thickness must be attached to the narrow integrating sphere measuring section 50, and it is difficult to set the sample S. In addition, there is a problem that it is difficult to confirm the measured position of the sample.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a spectrophotometer that can easily set a sample at a measurement position on an integrating sphere.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a spectrophotometer having an integrating sphere in a measuring section, wherein a sample can be held between two openable and closable plate-like members. A simple sample holder is provided so that it can be attached to and detached from the integrating sphere. In order to make the plate-like member openable and closable, it is optimal to connect one end thereof with a hinge with a spring.

[0007] Thus, samples of various shapes and thicknesses can be easily set at the measurement position outside the apparatus having no space restriction, and the efficiency of the measurement operation can be increased.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention is a spectrophotometer provided with an integrating sphere in a measuring section, wherein one end is connected by a hinge with a spring, and two opposing plates which can be opened and closed are provided. A sample holder that can hold a sample between members is provided so that it can be attached to and detached from the integrating sphere.Specimens of various shapes and thicknesses can be attached to the sample holder outside the device without space restrictions. This is set, and this is set in the measuring section of the integrating sphere, and measurement is performed.

An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a spectrophotometer according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a sample holder used in the apparatus shown in FIGS.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a substantially cubic case 2 is fixed on a base 1, and an integrating sphere 3 is fixedly arranged inside the case 2 so as to be inscribed concentrically with the case 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes a relatively small measuring window having a predetermined size and shape (for example, a circular shape) provided at a position where the integrating sphere 3 is inscribed in the YZ plane in front of the housing 2, L denotes a measuring light beam incident on the integrating sphere 3, and 5 denotes a measuring light beam. It is a sample holder placed at a predetermined position at the time of measurement, and has a measurement opening (window) 5e which serves as a passage of a light beam at the time of transmission measurement at the lower portion, and a sample S, for example, paper, film, sheet, etc. is measured. It is set at a predetermined position across the opening 5e. M is a measurement position mark written on the surface of the housing 2, corresponding to just above the center of the measurement window 4 of the housing 2 and the integrating sphere 3. A measurement position mark m on the sample side is also attached to a predetermined position on the top of the sample holder 5 (a position that should correspond to the measurement position mark M at the time of measurement), and a measurement position line m1 extending downward from the mark m is written. You. A measurement position line m2 is described in the Y direction. Reference numeral 6 denotes a pressing mechanism for pressing the sample holder 5 to the integrating sphere side and temporarily fixing the same, and is a pivotable pivotable in a horizontal plane by a shaft 6b attached to a fixing member 6a fixed on the base 1. The pressing plate 6d is fixed to the arm 6c. The pressing plate 6d may be configured to be rotatable around a vertical axis without being fixed to the arm 6c. FIG. 4 shows this schematic embodiment, in which a block 6e is fixed to a pressing plate 6d, and an axis 6 in the Z-axis direction is attached to the block 6e.
f is provided, and the shaft 6f is rotatably held by the turning arm 6c.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view showing a specific example of the structure of the sample holder 5, which is enlarged from FIGS. 1 and 2.
The sample holder 5 is formed by connecting one end of two opposing plate-shaped members, that is, a base plate 5a and a holding plate 5b, to be openable and closable with a hinge 5d with a spring. (Measurement window) is provided, and the holding plate 5b
The other end is provided with a hook portion 5c for preventing the sample from falling off. Reference numeral 5b 'indicates an open state of the holding plate 5b. When the sample holder 5 is closed, for example, the other end of the base plate 5a is formed shorter than the inner side surface of the hook portion 5c of the holding plate 5b. The hook portion 5c is formed so as not to contact the hook portion 5c. Thus, samples of various thicknesses can be held at predetermined positions between 5a and 5b without dropping.

To set the sample S on the sample holder 5,
The two plates 5a and 5b are set to the "open" state outside the integrating sphere device, and a measurement sample such as a paper, a film, a sheet, or the like is sandwiched under the measurement opening (measurement window) 5e under the plate. Press and fix with spring force. Since the measurement position on the sample S is the measurement opening position of the sample holder 5 (more precisely, near the intersection of the lines m1 and m2), it can be easily confirmed.

The holder 5 on which the sample S is set at a predetermined position
Is applied to the measurement window 4 of the integrating sphere 3 (in this case), and the left and right, ie, the Y-direction position is adjusted so that the mark m of the holder coincides with the measurement position mark M on the upper surface of the integrating sphere 3. The center of the measurement window 4 and the center of the window 5e of the holder are aligned. In addition,
This adjustment can be omitted by providing a guide groove in the Z-axis direction for regulating the left and right side ends of the sample holder 5 on the surface of the housing 2. In this case, since the thickness of the outer surface of the sample holder 5 varies depending on the thickness of the sample S, the guide member needs to be configured to be somewhat elastically deformable in the Y-axis direction to cope with this. The height direction can be easily adjusted by the processing accuracy of the part with reference to the base surface, so that no adjustment is required.

At the time of measurement, the sample holder 5 is placed on the wall of the integrating sphere.
And the sample S is pressed and fixed by the sample pressing mechanism 6 so that the sample S comes into close contact with the measurement window 4 of the integrating sphere 3 and the reflectance of the sample S can be measured. As a method of fixing the sample holder 5, a method of directly connecting the sample holder 5 and the integrating sphere 3 may be used.

When it is desired to know the measurement site on the sample S, the measurement window 4 of the integrating sphere is covered with the sample S, but the measurement lines m1 and m1 in the Z and Y directions marked on the sample holder are provided. The center of the measurement site can be known from the intersection of m2.

Although the above embodiment is for the case of reflection measurement, the same method can be used for transmission measurement.

[0017]

According to the present invention, samples having various shapes and thicknesses can be easily set in advance outside the apparatus having no space restriction, and the efficiency of the measuring operation can be increased. Further, if a plurality of sample holders are easily provided, a sample to be measured can be set in advance, or a spare can be provided when the holder becomes dirty. Neither is possible with a conventional fixed sample holder.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an integrating sphere spectrophotometer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an integrating sphere spectrophotometer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a sample holder in the spectrophotometer of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the pressing mechanism in the spectrophotometer of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional integrating sphere spectrophotometer.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the spectrophotometer of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 S Sample L Measurement light beam M Measurement position mark on integrating sphere m Measurement position mark m1, m2 Measurement display line on sample holder R Reference light beam 1 Base 2 Housing 3 Integrating sphere 4 Integrating sphere 4 Measurement window of integrating sphere 5 Sample Holder 5e Measurement window of sample holder 6 Pressing mechanism

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A spectrophotometer having an integrating sphere in a measuring section, comprising a sample holder formed between two openable and closable plate members so as to hold a sample, which can be attached to and detached from the integrating sphere. A spectrophotometer characterized by having a configuration as described above.