JP2002082070A - X-ray foreign matter detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily modify a device composition in correspondence to type or state of an inspection target object and to prevent leakage of X-rays. SOLUTION: In a substantially center part of a casing 5, a front face and fore and aft faces in a conveying direction are opened to form an opening 5a, and a back face of a conveying part 3 is detachably fixed. A front face and fore and aft faces of the conveying part 3 are respectively covered by covers 32, 33, and 34 to shield the X-rays. When a sheet for X-ray shielding cannot be provided inside the device due to type or the like of a measurement target object, the conveying part 3 and the covers 32, 33, and 34 are exchanged to those with predetermined conveying lengths attenuating the X-rays. When prior and posterior step devices exist, the leakage of the X-rays can be prevented by the covers 32 and 33 protruding above conveyors of the prior and posterior step devices.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an X-ray foreign matter detection apparatus for detecting foreign matter inside a specimen while transporting the same. The present invention also relates to an X-ray foreign matter detection device that can easily prevent X-ray leakage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a front view showing the structure of an X-ray foreign matter detector. The X-ray foreign matter detection device 50 arranges a conveyor 51 for transporting the inspection object at the center, irradiates the inspection object with X-rays from the X-ray generation unit 52, and converts the X-rays transmitted through the inspection object into X-rays. Foreign matter in the inspection object detected by the detection unit 53 (for example,
Metal, bone, wood, synthetic resin, etc.). The X-ray foreign matter detector 50 includes a conveyor 51 so that the X-rays emitted from the X-ray generator 52 do not leak outside.
Is provided with a cover 55 formed of a metal material for X-ray shielding covering the entire length.

[0003] As shown in FIG.
Most of the X-rays irradiated from above pass through the inspection object,
The light reaches the X-ray detector 53. However, part of the X-rays is reflected by the object to be inspected and reflected in the direction indicated by the arrow in the drawing, and partly becomes leaked X-rays from the exit of the conveyor 51. Leakage X-rays have an effect on the human body and must be reduced as much as possible.

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 7, in an X-ray foreign matter detecting apparatus having a short conveying path of a conveyor 51, a shielding sheet (lead-containing rubber) is required to prevent leakage of X-rays. Sheet) 56, or as shown in FIG.
The configuration is such that the transport length of the conveyor 51 and the cover 55 is increased to a distance where the X-rays are attenuated and safe, thereby preventing leakage X-rays.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An X-ray foreign matter detector is
Since the inspection is mainly for the purpose of inspecting foreign matter for food, not only a package but also a raw material or the like may be transported without being packaged as an inspection object. In the case of such a test object, the structure shown in FIG. 7 causes the shielding sheet 56 to directly contact the test object, which is not hygienic. Further, when the work is light, the work may be caught on the sheet and the work may be jammed on the conveyor. In addition, when the length of the conveying path of the conveyor 51 is increased as shown in FIG. 8, the X-ray foreign matter detection device may not be disposed between the devices that are already fixed and installed in the front and rear stages. The position of the device must be changed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to easily change an apparatus configuration according to the type and state of an inspection object and prevent X-ray leakage. It is intended to provide a device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an X-ray foreign matter detection device according to the present invention comprises an X-ray generating unit in the middle of a transport operation, which transports an inspected object in a transport unit. In the X-ray foreign matter detection device for irradiating X-rays, detecting the X-rays with an X-ray detection unit and detecting foreign matter inside the object to be inspected, the transfer unit is accommodated, and the transfer unit is arranged. A housing having an opening that is open at the front and at the front and rear of the inspection object in the transportation direction, and a predetermined length of transportation that is detachably fixed to the opening of the housing on the back side and that transports the inspection object. And a cover that covers the front, rear, and front sides of the transport unit and the opening and that is detachable from the housing.

The transport unit is replaced with a transport unit having a predetermined transport length corresponding to the amount of X-rays emitted from the X-ray generation unit and attenuating the X-rays. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the unit is replaced with a unit protruding to a position covering the front end and the rear end of a predetermined transport length.

Further, when the transport unit of the front-rear device is continuously provided on one or both of the front and the rear in the transport direction of the transport unit, the cover is exposed to the X-rays emitted from the X-ray generation unit. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the X-rays have a predetermined transport length that attenuates the X-rays and cover the transport surface of the transport unit of the disposed upstream and downstream devices.

The cover is configured to be able to open a transfer surface of the transfer section, and a detecting means for detecting the opening of the cover, and a detecting means for detecting the opening of the cover by the detecting means, the detecting means detects the opening of the cover. A control unit for stopping and controlling the X-ray irradiation may be provided.

According to the above configuration, the opening is formed in the housing at a substantially central position in the height direction, and the back surface of the transport unit is detachably fixed. The opening is covered with three detachable covers, front and rear, to prevent leakage of X-rays. Further, the cover can be replaced with a cover having a predetermined transport length in which the X-rays emitted from the X-ray generator are attenuated.
It is also possible to use the transport units of the first and second stages. This allows
Even when the upstream and downstream devices of the X-ray foreign matter detection device are already existing conveyors, only the cover is additionally provided, and introduction can be made without greatly modifying the line.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the X-ray foreign matter detection device of the present invention. The X-ray foreign matter detection device mainly includes an X-ray generation unit 1 that generates X-rays, an X-ray detection unit 2 that receives X-rays from the X-ray generation unit 1, and an X-ray detection unit 2 that receives X-rays from the X-ray generation unit 1. And a transport unit 3 for transporting an inspection object (not shown).

The X-ray generator 1 is disposed on an upper part of a housing 5 forming a main body of the X-ray foreign matter detecting device, and emits X-rays downward. The X-ray detection unit 2 is built in a metal box of the transport unit 3 arranged at the lower part of the housing 5. X-ray generator 1
It is configured to receive the X-rays emitted from. X
The line detector 2 converts this X-ray into light and outputs it to an X-ray processor (not shown).

The housing 5 has an opening 5a in which the transport section 3 is disposed at the front side and forward and backward in the transport direction (see FIG. 2), and only the rear side is formed vertically continuously. . The transport unit 3 has a side surface (one side surface along the transport direction) of the metal box portion fixed to the housing 5 and transports the inspection object with a predetermined transport length. During this conveyance, the X-ray generation unit 1
Then, the inspection object is passed through the planar X-rays irradiated toward the X-ray detection unit 2 from. As shown in FIG. 1, the transport length of the transport unit 3 (the machine length of the X-ray detection device) is longer than the width of the housing 5, and the transport unit 3 protrudes from the housing 5 in the transport direction. The transport unit 3 includes a roller 8, a motor unit 4, and a transport belt 10. Two rollers 8 are arranged at the front and rear portions in the transport direction, each having a predetermined height in the height direction, and can accommodate the X-ray detection unit 2 on the inner surface side of the transport belt 10.

The transport section 3 is entirely covered by a front cover 32, a rear cover 33, and a front cover 34 so as to prevent leakage of X-rays. The front cover 32 and the rear cover 33 are formed with rollers 8a and 8d and an opening 35 having a predetermined height above the rollers 8a and 8d.

As shown in the figure, since the transporting portion 3 has a transporting length longer than that of the housing 5, the front cover 32 and the rear cover 33 have upper and lower portions such that the opening 35 protrudes most from the housing 5. Are formed with inclined surfaces having a predetermined angle, respectively. X-rays are reflected by the inclined surface toward the inside of the device, and leakage of X-rays from the opening 35 can be reduced. The front cover 34 is provided on the front side of the housing 5 and covers the front side of the transport unit 3. This front cover 34
Both sides are formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape along the shapes of the front cover 32 and the rear cover 33, and are pivotally supported by a hinge 36 provided at a lower portion so as to be openable to the front side.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the front cover 34 is opened. The front cover 32 has triangular covers 32a and 32b, respectively, as viewed from the front of the apparatus, at upper and lower positions with the opening 35 as a center. Similarly, the rear cover 33 has triangular covers 33a and 33b. The front cover 32 and the rear cover 33 are detachably fixed to the housing 5 with screws.

As shown in the figure, by opening the front cover 34, the transporting unit 3 provided inside the housing 5 has a total of five surfaces, that is, up, down, front and rear, and front, except for one surface which is fixed to the housing 5. It can be exposed and maintenance and inspection and cleaning can be easily performed. The front cover 32, the rear cover 33, and the front cover 34 cover the entire periphery of the transport unit 3 to prevent leakage of X-rays inside.

On the transport section 3, X-ray shielding sheets (not shown) can be suspended from a plurality of places along the transport direction. This shielding sheet is made of a lead-containing rubber sheet or the like, and can prevent X-rays inside the device from leaking from the opening 35. This shielding sheet can be used when the object to be inspected is a packaged product, but when the object to be inspected is a raw material or raw material and is not packaged,
This shielding sheet cannot be used. In addition, if the inspection object is lightweight or is a loose product, the shielding sheet may be caught on the shielding sheet to cause a conveyance failure. In such a case, the shielding sheet cannot be used. In addition, when the shielding sheet is not used, the inspection object having a large X-ray reflection amount (for example, in the case of a large bag containing a raw material such as flour, covers 32, 3 having a size enough to cover the transport unit 3).
In 3 and 34, the X-ray leaks from the opening 35.

In order to prevent the leakage of X-rays in the case where the shielding sheet cannot be used as described above or in the case where the inspection object having a large X-ray reflection amount is inspected, the transport unit 3 and the cover 32 are used. , 33, and 34 are used interchangeably.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state where the cover is replaced. At the time of this replacement, the front cover 32, the rear cover 33, and the front cover 34, which are long enough to prevent leakage of X-rays without providing a shielding sheet, are replaced and attached. In this case, the length between the ends of the front cover 32 and the rear cover 33 (the length in the transport direction of the transport unit 3) is
The distance is set so that X-rays are attenuated and safe. In addition, the transport section 3 is provided with openings 35 of the front cover 32 and the rear cover 33.
Replace it with one having a transport length located immediately below each other. Accordingly, the transport length of the inspection object in the apparatus can be lengthened, and when inspecting the above-described inspection object, external leakage of X-rays can be prevented without using a shielding sheet.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing another application example. The carry-in / out portions of the front-stage device 15 and the rear-stage device 16 are respectively arranged close to the pair of openings 35 of the X-ray foreign matter detection device. For example, the first-stage apparatus 15 is provided with a packaging machine for storing an inspection object in a tray or the like, and the second-stage apparatus 16 is provided with a sorting machine for selecting good or bad according to an X-ray inspection result. Pre-stage device 15
The conveyor 15a transfers the object to be inspected to the conveyor belt 10 from the opening 35 of the front cover 32, and transfers the inspection object from the opening 35 of the rear cover 33 to the conveyor 16a of the rear device 16.

In the case where the preceding apparatus 15 and the succeeding apparatus 16 are arranged close to each other and an object to be inspected for which a shielding sheet cannot be provided is inspected, the front and rear devices 15 and 16 can be replaced without replacing the transporting unit 3. Only the covers 32 and 33 can be replaced and used. As shown, the conveyors 15 of the front device 15 and the rear device 16 are provided on both sides of the housing 5, respectively.
a, 16a Front cover 32 projecting a predetermined length upward.
A, Replace with the rear cover 33A. These front covers 32
A, the rear cover 33A is formed to have a substantially U-shaped cross section, and each has an opening on a surface facing the transport direction and a surface facing the conveyors 15a and 16a. Although the front cover 34 is not shown in the drawings for convenience, the same one as in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be used without being replaced.

As described above, the front and rear covers 32A, 33
A is attached to the front and rear devices 15 and 16 so as to protrude, so that the position of the opening 35 is set at the conveyor 15a of the front and rear devices 15 and 16 around the transport unit 3.
16a, it is possible to continuously cover the transport surface up to a safe distance portion where the X-rays emitted by the X-ray generation unit 1 are attenuated and safe. Can be prevented. Also, an X-ray foreign matter detection device, a pre-stage device 1
5. Even if the arrangement of the post-stage devices 16 is fixed to each other and only the conveyance section 3 of the X-ray foreign matter detection device cannot be replaced with a long conveyance length to prevent X-ray leakage, the pre-stage devices 15 , Conveyors 15a, 16a of the succeeding stage device 16
The X-ray can be prevented from being leaked by utilizing the above.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a modification of the covers 32A and 33A. As shown, the covers 32, 33
Is configured to be openable and closable for maintenance and cleaning of the transport surfaces of the conveyors 15a and 16a. The covers 32A and 33A
Each is divided into two around a central axis along the transport direction, and a fixing portion 32 </ b> A
aA, 33Aa, and the front side is a fixed portion 32Aa, 33A.
a movable part 32Ab which rotates with respect to a through a hinge 37,
33 Ab. The rotation of the movable parts 32Ab, 33Ab is detected by the detection means 40 and output to the control unit of the X-ray foreign matter detection device.

In the example shown in the figure, the detecting means 40
A pair of proximity switches 40a and 40b are provided at positions facing the 2Ab and 33Ab and the conveyors 15a and 16a, respectively. Thereby, when the movable parts 32Ab and 33Ab rotate and the transport surfaces of the conveyors 15a and 16a are opened, a detection signal is output to the control unit. The control unit is an X-ray generation unit 1
When a detection signal is input during a period during which X-rays are being irradiated from, safety control such as stop control of X-ray irradiation is performed.

The detecting means 40 includes front and rear covers 32.
A and 33A are provided not only on the front cover 34 but also on the front cover 34 to perform the same safety control (not shown). In the above-described embodiment, the front side of the front and rear covers 32A and 33A is configured to be freely openable. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Various forms are conceivable, such as a configuration in which the transfer surface can be opened by rotating.

The transport length of the transport unit 3 and the covers 32A and 33A after the exchange described in the above embodiment are changed to a length corresponding to the X-ray dose emitted from the X-ray generating unit 1. If the X-ray dose is small, the transport unit 3
The transfer length of the cover 32A and 33A from the housing 5 may be small, and the transfer length of the transfer unit 3 and the protrusion amount of the covers 32A and 33A from the housing 5 may be set to be large if the X-ray amount is large. become.

[0029]

According to the present invention, the position of the three
A transport section with an open side is arranged, and the cover covers the three opening sections. The transport section and cover are replaced with a transport section of a predetermined transport length while preventing leakage of X-rays with only minimal component replacement. Will be able to In addition to replacing the transfer unit and the cover at the same time, when the front and rear devices are already arranged, only the cover that covers the transfer unit of the front and rear devices can be replaced and used. This makes it possible to easily change the device configuration according to the type and state of the inspection object while preventing leakage of X-rays. In particular, when it is not possible to provide an X-ray shielding sheet inside the apparatus due to the type of the object to be inspected, leakage of X-rays can be easily prevented only by replacing the cover with a predetermined transport length in which X-rays are attenuated. become. Further, by providing a detecting means on the cover and stopping the X-ray irradiation when the cover is opened, the safety of the apparatus can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an X-ray foreign matter detection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where a front cover of the apparatus is opened.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a replacement state of a cover.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a cover has been replaced using the front and rear devices.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an open state of a cover.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining X-ray leakage of the X-ray foreign matter detection device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of X-ray shielding using a shielding sheet.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration for preventing X-ray leakage when a shielding sheet is not used.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... X-ray generation part, 2 ... X-ray detection part, 3 ... conveyance part, 5 ... housing | casing, 5a ... opening part, 10 ... conveyance belt, 15 ... former apparatus, 16 ... latter apparatus, 15a, 16a ... conveyor, 3
2, 32A: front cover, 33, 33A: rear cover, 34
... front cover, 35 ... opening, 40 ... detecting means.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2G001 AA01 BA11 CA01 DA08 DA09 FA20 HA12 JA09 JA11 KA03 LA01 PA01 PA11 SA04 SA14 SA30

Claims (4)

[Claims] An X-ray is emitted from an X-ray generation unit in the middle of transportation to an inspection object while the inspection object is being transported by a transportation unit, and the X-ray is detected by an X-ray detection unit. In the X-ray foreign matter detection device for detecting foreign matter inside the inspection object, the transport unit is housed at a substantially central position in the height direction, and the front in which the transport unit is disposed and the front and rear in the transport direction of the inspection object are aligned. A housing having an opened opening, a back side fixed to the opening of the housing in a detachable manner, and a conveyance unit of a predetermined length for conveying the inspection object; and the conveyance unit and the front of the opening; An X-ray foreign matter detection device, comprising: a cover that covers the rear and front sides and is detachable from the housing. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transport unit is replaced with a transport unit having a predetermined transport length corresponding to an X-ray dose emitted from the X-ray generation unit and attenuating the X-rays. 2. The X-ray foreign matter detection device according to claim 1, wherein the X-ray foreign matter detection device is replaced with a protrusion protruding to a position covering a front end and a rear end of a predetermined transport length of the unit. 3. An X-ray amount that irradiates the cover from the X-ray generation unit when the conveyance unit of the front-rear device is continuously provided at one or both of the front and rear sides in the conveyance direction of the conveyance unit. 2. The X-ray foreign matter detection device according to claim 1, wherein the X-ray foreign matter detection device is replaced with a device having a predetermined conveyance length in which the X-rays are attenuated and covering a conveyance surface of a conveyance unit of the arranged upstream and downstream devices. 4. The cover is configured to be able to open a transfer surface of the transfer unit, a detection unit that detects opening of the cover, and a detection unit that detects the opening of the cover by the detection unit. The X-ray foreign matter detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a control unit configured to stop and control X-ray irradiation.