A product cup production method and production line

By separating the roasting and product cup processing steps in the production of nuclear industrial product cups, and using automated equipment such as ultrasonic cleaning, roasting furnaces and weighing and scanning systems, efficient product cup production is achieved, solving the low production efficiency in traditional methods and the problem of low automation, the fully automated production of product cups has been achieved.

CN117198579BActive Publication Date: 2025-01-10CHINA NUCLEAR POWER ENGINEERING CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202311254008.6
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-09-26
Publication Date
2025-01-10
Estimated Expiration
2043-09-26

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Due to the existence of radioactive and extremely toxic materials during the production process of nuclear industrial product cups, traditional methods require manual operation, resulting in low automation, low production efficiency, and long roasting time period, resulting in a relatively small amount between pre-processing and post-processing. Long waiting time, occupies storage volume, and is cumbersome to operate.

Method used

Using separate baking treatment steps and product cup processing steps, the baking treatment steps are performed on the first production line, and the product cup processing steps are performed independently on the second production line, and materials are realized through automated equipment such as ultrasonic cleaning, baking, weighing and scanning codes. The efficient processing steps of the roasting process do not involve the operation of the product cup. The intersection point of the two is only the transfer of materials after roasting, which simplifies the operation process and improves production efficiency.

Benefits of technology

Within the same time, the processing volume and production efficiency are greatly improved, the operation process is simplified, the dependence on personnel operation experience is reduced, and the full automation production of product cups is realized, and the waiting time and storage volume occupancy problems in traditional methods are avoided.

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Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for producing a product cup, comprising a roasting treatment step and a product cup treatment step which are respectively performed, wherein the roasting treatment step comprises: roasting a radioactive material; the product cup treatment step comprises: performing a first product cup treatment sub-step on an empty product cup, and performing a second product cup treatment sub-step on the radioactive material and the empty product cup after the roasting treatment step. The method for producing a product cup of the present invention has simple steps, can be automatically implemented, and effectively improves production efficiency. The present invention also provides a product cup production line.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of nuclear industry technology, specifically relating to a method and production line for producing product cups. Background Technology

[0002] Due to the presence of radiation in nuclear industry production, the discharge of nuclear products must be carried out by purely mechanical operations, requiring fully automated discharge, and manual operation is not allowed.

[0003] Radioactive materials produced in the nuclear industry must be stored in sealed product cups. Therefore, product cups are the core operational objects on nuclear industry production lines. Due to the radioactivity and extreme toxicity of the stored materials, remote handling within heated chambers is necessary. The conventional production process for product cups involves sequential steps such as pre-treatment, material feeding, material roasting, and post-treatment. Pre-treatment and post-treatment include processes such as labeling, transportation, and unsealing. Post-treatment also includes welding and decontamination. The entire production process involves numerous steps and is cumbersome. Furthermore, the roasting cycle is lengthy, resulting in significant waiting times between pre-treatment and post-treatment for the same batch of product cups. This not only occupies storage space on the production line but also ultimately leads to low production efficiency. In the past, manual operation and master-slave robotic arms were used, resulting in low automation levels and difficulty in meeting production demands. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this invention is to address the aforementioned shortcomings in the existing technology by providing a product cup production method. This method has simple steps, can be automated, and effectively improves production efficiency. This invention also provides a product cup production line.

[0005] This invention provides a method for producing product cups, including a roasting process step and a product cup processing step, wherein the roasting process step includes roasting radioactive material; and the product cup processing step includes performing a first processing step on an empty product cup, and performing a second processing step on the radioactive material and the empty product cup after the roasting process.

[0006] Preferably, the roasting process and the product cup processing step are performed simultaneously, and the product cup processing step specifically includes:

[0007] Perform the first processing step on the empty product cup;

[0008] Receive radioactive material after the roasting process has been completed;

[0009] The radioactive material and the empty product cup are subjected to a second processing step of the product cup.

[0010] Preferably, the roasting process is performed on the first production line, and the product cup processing process is performed on the second production line, with the first and second production lines being set up independently.

[0011] Preferably, the roasting process specifically includes:

[0012] Pre-treat the air filter cup;

[0013] Radioactive material is placed in the pretreated air filter cup to obtain a material-loaded filter cup;

[0014] The filter cup with material is roasted, and then the radioactive material in the filter cup is discharged to obtain an empty filter cup.

[0015] Return the air filter cup to the position where the air filter cup is pretreated.

[0016] Preferably, the pretreatment of the air filter cup specifically includes: ultrasonic cleaning of the air filter cup.

[0017] Preferably, after the air filter cup is pretreated, the calcination step further includes:

[0018] The pretreated air filter cup is weighed to obtain a first weight value; and,

[0019] After placing the radioactive material into the pretreated air filter cup to obtain a filter cup with material, the calcination process further includes:

[0020] The filter cup with the material is weighed to obtain a second weighing value;

[0021] The amount of material in the filter cup is determined based on the first and second weighing values, and it is then determined whether the amount of material in the filter cup is qualified.

[0022] Preferably, the first processing step of the product cup specifically includes:

[0023] The empty product cup undergoes a first treatment, followed by removing the empty inner cup of the product cup from the outer cup of the empty product cup;

[0024] The empty inner cup undergoes a second treatment;

[0025] The receipt of the radioactive material after the roasting process is completed specifically includes:

[0026] The calcined radioactive material is placed in an empty inner cup to obtain an inner cup with material.

[0027] The second processing step of the product cup specifically includes:

[0028] The inner cup with material is subjected to a third process, and then the inner cup with material is placed in the outer cup to obtain a cup with material.

[0029] The cup containing the product undergoes a fourth processing step before being discharged.

[0030] Preferably, the first process specifically includes: weighing the empty product cup to obtain a third weighing value; the fourth process specifically includes: weighing the product cup with material to obtain a fourth weighing value; the second process of the product cup further includes: obtaining the amount of material in the product cup based on the third and fourth weighing values, and determining whether the amount of material in the product cup is qualified based on the amount of material in the product cup.

[0031] Preferably, the second process specifically includes: weighing the empty inner cup to obtain a fifth weighing value; the third process specifically includes: weighing the inner cup with material to obtain a sixth weighing value; the second process of the product cup further includes: obtaining the amount of material in the product cup based on the fifth and sixth weighing values, and determining whether the amount of material in the product cup is qualified based on the amount of material in the product cup.

[0032] Preferably, both the outer and inner cups of the product cup are provided with identification codes. The first process further includes: scanning the product cup with the code and associating the third weighing value with the identification code. The fourth process further includes: scanning the product cup with material and associating the fourth weighing value with the identification code. The step of obtaining the amount of material in the product cup based on the third weighing value and the fourth weighing value specifically includes: obtaining the amount of material in the product cup indicated by the identification code based on the third weighing value and the fourth weighing value associated with the same identification code.

[0033] The second process further includes: scanning the empty inner cup and associating the fifth weighing value with the identification code. The third process further includes: scanning the inner cup with material and associating the sixth weighing value with the identification code. The step of obtaining the amount of material in the product cup based on the fifth weighing value and the sixth weighing value specifically includes: obtaining the amount of material in the product cup indicated by the identification code based on the fifth weighing value and the sixth weighing value associated with the same identification code.

[0034] Preferably, the fourth process specifically includes:

[0035] Weld and seal the cup containing the product;

[0036] Wipe the cup containing the product until there is no radioactive dust on the outer surface of the cup.

[0037] The present invention also provides a product cup production line, comprising: a first production line and a second production line, wherein the first production line and the second production line are respectively and independently configured.

[0038] The first production line is used to roast radioactive materials, and the second production line is used to perform a first product cup processing step on empty product cups, and to perform a second product cup processing step on the radioactive materials and empty product cups after roasting.

[0039] Preferably, the first production line is specifically used to place radioactive materials in filter cups for roasting treatment. The first production line includes: an ultrasonic cleaner for ultrasonically cleaning the filter cups; a cylindrical filter for placing radioactive materials in the ultrasonically cleaned filter cups to obtain filter cups with material; a roasting furnace for roasting the filter cups with radioactive materials; and a first weighing and scanning system for scanning the filter cups and weighing the filter cups before and after the radioactive materials are placed in them. Multiple roasting furnaces are provided. The ultrasonic cleaner, cylindrical filter, first weighing and scanning system, and multiple roasting furnaces are respectively arranged in their respective hot chambers, and the hot chambers are connected by a line conveyor for transporting filter cups between the hot chambers.

[0040] Preferably, the second production line includes: a pouring device for placing the roasted radioactive material into the inner cup of the product cup; a first weighing and scanning system for scanning the inner cup and weighing the inner cup before and after the roasted radioactive material is placed in it; a second weighing and scanning system for scanning the outer cup and weighing the product cup before and after the roasted radioactive material is placed in the inner cup; a welding and sealing machine for welding and sealing the product cup; a wiping machine for wiping the product cup; and a discharge loader for discharging the product cup. The pouring device and the first weighing and scanning system are located in the same hot chamber, the second weighing and scanning system and the welding and sealing machine are located in the same hot chamber, and the wiping machine and the discharge loader are located in their respective hot chambers. The hot chambers are connected by a connecting conveyor for transporting the product cups between the hot chambers.

[0041] The product cup production method provided by this invention includes a roasting process step and a product cup processing step, which are performed separately. The roasting process step is used to provide roasting materials for the product cup processing step. That is, the traditional processing flow that needs to go through each process from beginning to end is divided into two processing flows that can be carried out simultaneously. Therefore, the steps in both processing flows are greatly shortened, simplifying the cumbersome process. Compared with the traditional method, the processing volume can be greatly increased in the same amount of time, effectively improving production efficiency.

[0042] Furthermore, the roasting process does not involve the object of operation in the product cup processing process (i.e., the product cup itself). The intersection of the two processes is only the transfer of materials after roasting. This ensures that the objects of operation in the two processes are completely different, thus avoiding excessive overlap that could lead to multiple repetitive processes and difficulty in controlling the production cycle. This further simplifies the operation process and improves production efficiency.

[0043] Because each processing step involves a single object, the complexity of the operation is further simplified, and it can be achieved through automated equipment, with low dependence on human experience. Attached Figure Description

[0044] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the layout of the product cup production line in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0045] The technical solutions of the invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the invention, not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the invention without creative effort are within the scope of the invention.

[0046] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper" and "lower" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience and simplification of the description and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0047] In the description of this invention, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0048] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "setting," "installation," "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0049] Example 1

[0050] The product cup production method of this embodiment is applicable to the filling and unloading of radioactive materials in nuclear industry product cups. It can utilize the production line described in Embodiment 2. The method includes a roasting process and a product cup processing step, performed separately, wherein:

[0051] The roasting process includes roasting the radioactive material to provide roasted radioactive material for the product cup processing step.

[0052] The product cup processing steps include: performing a first product cup processing step on the empty product cup, and performing a second product cup processing step on the radioactive material after the roasting process and the empty product cup.

[0053] In this product cup production method, the roasting process is used to provide roasting materials for the product cup processing step. That is, the traditional processing flow that requires going through each process from beginning to end is divided into two processing flows that can be carried out simultaneously. Therefore, the steps in both processing flows are greatly shortened, simplifying the cumbersome process. In the same amount of time, the processing volume can be greatly increased compared with the traditional method, effectively improving production efficiency.

[0054] Furthermore, this embodiment uses a filter cup for roasting. Not only does the filter cup itself facilitate rapid dehydration of the material, but it also ensures that the roasting process only involves the filter cup and does not involve the product cup in the product cup processing step. The intersection of the two processes is only the transfer of the material after roasting. This makes the two processes completely different, thus avoiding excessive overlap that could lead to multiple repetitive processes and difficulty in controlling the production cycle. This further simplifies the operation process and improves production efficiency.

[0055] Traditional, cumbersome operations require manual operation of master-slave robotic arms located inside the heating chamber to assist related equipment, thus heavily relying on human experience and having a low degree of automation. In contrast, this embodiment simplifies the process further because each processing step involves a single object, enabling automation and reducing reliance on human experience.

[0056] In this embodiment, the roasting process and the product cup processing step are performed simultaneously. The product cup processing step specifically includes:

[0057] Perform the first processing step on the empty product cup;

[0058] Receive radioactive material after the roasting process has been completed;

[0059] The radioactive material and the empty product cup are subjected to a second processing step of the product cup.

[0060] In the product cup processing step, a first processing step and a second processing step are performed before and after the radioactive material is placed in the empty product cup, respectively. Therefore, when the roasting process and the product cup processing step are performed simultaneously, the product cup processing step does not need to wait for the radioactive material during the roasting process; instead, it can perform the pre-processing step during roasting. In specific implementation, adjustments can be made based on the amount of material in each batch, the roasting time of the material, and the time required for the first processing step of the product cup, so that the time of the product cup processing step and the roasting process are matched, allowing the roasting process to continuously supply material to each product cup.

[0061] In this embodiment, the roasting process is performed on the first production line, and the product cup processing process is performed on the second production line. The first and second production lines are set up independently. This allows the roasting process and the product cup processing process to be performed completely separately, thus adopting a more suitable production process.

[0062] In this embodiment, the roasting process specifically includes:

[0063] Pre-treat the air filter cup;

[0064] Radioactive material is placed in a pretreated air filter cup to obtain a material-loaded filter cup;

[0065] The filter cup with material is roasted, and then the radioactive material in the filter cup is discharged to obtain an empty filter cup.

[0066] Return the air filter cup to the location where it was pretreated.

[0067] The roasting process is a cyclical process, and the entire production line can be continuously circulated. Through a limited number of filter cups, a continuous output of roasted materials can be achieved, reducing production input costs and meeting environmental protection requirements.

[0068] In this embodiment, the pretreatment of the air filter cup specifically includes: ultrasonic cleaning of the air filter cup. Ultrasonic cleaning can clean the air filter cup and remove residual materials.

[0069] In this embodiment, after the pretreatment step of the air filter cup, the calcination step further includes:

[0070] The pretreated air filter cup is weighed to obtain a first weight value; and,

[0071] After placing the material into a pretreated empty filter cup to obtain a filter cup with material, the roasting process also includes:

[0072] Weigh the filter cup with the material and obtain a second weighing value;

[0073] The amount of material in the filter cup is obtained based on the first and second weighing values. That is, the actual amount of material is obtained by subtracting the first weighing value (weight of the empty filter cup + amount of material) from the second weighing value (weight of the empty filter cup). The amount of material in the filter cup is compared with the first set range value to determine whether the amount of material in the filter cup is qualified. That is, it is determined whether the amount of material before roasting is qualified. The qualified amount of material can meet the requirements of the finished product after roasting.

[0074] The nuclear industry product cup includes an outer cup and an inner cup, with the nuclear industry material located in the inner cup. Therefore, the nuclear industry production line needs to process the outer cup and inner cup separately before assembling them into a product cup for output. In this embodiment, the first processing step of the product cup specifically includes:

[0075] The empty product cup undergoes a first treatment, followed by removing the empty inner cup of the product cup from the outer cup of the empty product cup;

[0076] The empty inner cup undergoes a second treatment;

[0077] Receiving radioactive material after the roasting process has been completed, specifically including:

[0078] The calcined radioactive material is placed in an empty inner cup to obtain an inner cup with material.

[0079] The second processing step for the product cup specifically includes:

[0080] The inner cup with material is subjected to a third process, and then the inner cup with material is placed in the outer cup to obtain a cup with material.

[0081] The cup containing the product undergoes a fourth processing step before being discharged.

[0082] That is, the operation steps before placing the roasted radioactive material into the empty product cup include the first processing, removing the inner cup, and the second processing; the operation steps after placing the roasted radioactive material into the empty product cup include the third processing, placing the inner cup, the fourth processing, and discharging.

[0083] In this embodiment, the first process specifically includes: weighing the empty product cup to obtain a third weight value; the fourth process specifically includes: weighing the product cup with filling to obtain a fourth weight value.

[0084] The second processing step of the product cup also includes: obtaining the amount of material in the product cup based on the third and fourth weighing values, that is, subtracting the third weighing value (weight of empty product cup) from the fourth weighing value (weight of empty product cup) to obtain the actual amount of material, and judging whether the amount of material in the product cup is qualified by comparing it with the second set range value, that is, judging whether the amount of roasted material in the product cup is qualified.

[0085] In this embodiment, the second process specifically includes: weighing the empty inner cup to obtain a fifth weighing value; the third process specifically includes: weighing the inner cup with material to obtain a sixth weighing value.

[0086] The second processing step of the product cup also includes: obtaining the amount of material in the product cup based on the fifth and sixth weighing values, that is, subtracting the fifth weighing value (weight of empty inner cup) from the sixth weighing value (weight of empty inner cup) to obtain the actual amount of material, and judging whether the amount of material in the product cup is qualified by comparing it with the second set range value, that is, judging whether the amount of roasted material in the product cup is qualified.

[0087] The two judgment processes yield two sets of material quantity values ​​in the product cups. By comparing the two values, it is possible to further confirm whether the values ​​are incorrect, thus ensuring the quality of the product after discharge.

[0088] In this embodiment, both the outer and inner cups of the product cup are equipped with identification codes.

[0089] The first process also includes: scanning the product cup and associating the third weighing value with the identification code. The fourth process also includes: scanning the product cup with material and associating the fourth weighing value with the identification code, and obtaining the amount of material in the product cup based on the third weighing value and the fourth weighing value. Specifically, it includes: obtaining the amount of material in the product cup indicated by the identification code based on the third weighing value and the fourth weighing value associated with the same identification code.

[0090] The second process also includes: scanning the barcode of the empty inner cup and associating the fifth weighing value with the identification code. The third process also includes: scanning the barcode of the inner cup with material and associating the sixth weighing value with the identification code, and obtaining the amount of material in the product cup based on the fifth weighing value and the sixth weighing value. Specifically, this includes: obtaining the amount of material in the product cup indicated by the identification code based on the fifth weighing value and the sixth weighing value associated with the same identification code.

[0091] By setting identification codes, not only can the inner and outer cups of the same group correspond to each other, but each weighing value can also be directly associated with the code. This further optimizes the processing method during mass production and avoids problems such as mismatch caused by numerous values.

[0092] In this embodiment, both the inner and outer cups of the product cup are equipped with lids. The first process further includes: opening the lid of the product cup to facilitate the removal of the inner cup. The fourth process further includes: closing the lid of the product cup with material. The second process further includes: opening the lid of the empty inner cup to facilitate the placement of the roasted radioactive material. The third process further includes: closing the lid of the inner cup with material.

[0093] In this embodiment, the fourth process further includes: welding the product cup containing the material to prevent direct contact between the inner cup and the air; and wiping the product cup containing the material until there is no radioactive dust on the outer surface of the product cup. Welding completely seals the product cup, and wiping the product cup is the final cleaning step.

[0094] In this embodiment, the entire production process is roughly as follows: After cleaning and weighing the air filter cup, the material is placed inside and weighed again to accurately obtain the amount of radioactive material added (before roasting). Then, the filter cup with the added radioactive material is roasted to obtain a filter cup with material. While operating the air filter cup, the outer cup of the empty product cup is scanned and weighed. The cup lid is opened, the inner cup is taken out, the inner cup lid is opened, scanned and weighed, and the roasted radioactive material of the filter cup with material is poured into the inner cup. Then, the inner cup with material is weighed to accurately obtain the content of the material in the inner cup. After the inner cup is covered, the outer cup of the empty product cup is placed inside to obtain the product cup with material. At the same time, after the material of the filter cup with material is poured into the inner cup, the air filter cup continues to be cleaned and weighed for use. After the product cup with material is covered, it is scanned, weighed, recorded, and welded. The product cup with material is wiped clean and then output. The roasting process takes a long time, so the product cup processing steps can complete the weighing, barcode scanning, opening, and removal of the inner cup, as well as the barcode scanning and weighing of the inner cup, during this period. The production cycles of the two processes are well-matched, making full use of the roasting time and avoiding excessively long intervals between processes, thus effectively improving production efficiency. The fully automated production of product cups can be achieved without manual operation through automated equipment, and the production cycle can be repeated to form a closed loop.

[0095] Example 2

[0096] The product cup production line of this embodiment can be used to implement the production method in Embodiment 1. The production line includes a first production line and a second production line, which are independently set up.

[0097] The first production line is used to roast radioactive materials to provide roasted radioactive materials to the second production line. The second production line is used to perform a first product cup processing step on empty product cups, and to perform a second product cup processing step on the radioactive materials and empty product cups after the roasting process is completed.

[0098] In this setup, the first and second production lines are set up separately. The roasting process takes a relatively long time, so the second production line can complete the weighing, barcode scanning, opening, and inner cup removal of the product cups, as well as the barcode scanning and weighing of the inner cups, during this period. The production rhythms are matched with each other, making full use of the roasting time, avoiding excessively long intervals between processes, and effectively improving production efficiency.

[0099] In this embodiment, the first production line is specifically used to place radioactive materials in filter cups for roasting treatment. The first production line includes:

[0100] An ultrasonic cleaner is used to clean filter cups using ultrasonic waves.

[0101] A cartridge filter is used to place materials into a filter cup that has been ultrasonically cleaned to obtain a filter cup with material.

[0102] A roasting furnace is used to roast filter cups containing radioactive materials.

[0103] The first weighing and barcode scanning system is used to scan the filter cups and weigh them before and after radioactive material is placed inside.

[0104] The roasting furnace is equipped with multiple furnaces. The ultrasonic cleaner, the cylindrical filter, the first weighing and scanning system, and the multiple roasting furnaces are respectively set in their respective hot chambers. The hot chambers are connected by a line conveyor, which is used to transport filter cups between the hot chambers.

[0105] The second production line includes:

[0106] The feeding device is used to place the roasted radioactive material into the inner cup of the product cup.

[0107] The first weighing and barcode scanning system is used to scan the inner cup and to weigh the inner cup before and after the calcined radioactive material is placed inside.

[0108] The second weighing and scanning system is used to scan the outer cup and to weigh the product cup before and after the calcined radioactive material is placed in the inner cup. Specifically, it first weighs the empty product cup, and then weighs the product cup with material in it again after the inner cup with material is placed in the outer cup and the outer cup is closed.

[0109] A welding and sealing machine is used to weld and seal product cups.

[0110] A wiping machine used for wiping product cups.

[0111] Discharge loader, used for discharging product cups.

[0112] The material pouring device and the first weighing and scanning system are located in the same hot chamber, the second weighing and scanning system and the welding and sealing machine are located in the same hot chamber, and the wiping machine and the unloading loader are located in their respective hot chambers. The hot chambers are connected by a connecting conveyor, which is used to transport product cups between the hot chambers.

[0113] Specifically, the first weighing and barcode scanning system in the first production line and the first weighing and barcode scanning system in the second production line are the same system. The two sets of equipment overlap in the hot chamber equipped with the first weighing and barcode scanning system to realize the transfer of materials after roasting. Both the first weighing and barcode scanning system and the second weighing and barcode scanning system include a weighing system and a barcode scanning system.

[0114] like Figure 1 As shown, the heating chambers include chambers 1 to 9, and a glove box 10 adjacent to chamber 9 is also provided. The first production line is distributed in chambers 1 to 6 to realize the roasting process. Chambers 1 to 5 and chamber 6 are connected by a conveyor belt between the chambers. Due to the long roasting time, multiple chambers are set up for roasting. The components in chambers 3 to 5 are identical and are all used for roasting filter cups with material. Each roasting furnace can process two batches of roasted material at a time, so this production line can process six batches of roasted material at a time. Figure 1 Only chamber number 3 is shown. Multiple roasting furnaces can double the material processing capacity, further improving production efficiency.

[0115] An ultrasonic cleaner is installed in hot chamber 1, a cartridge filter in hot chamber 2, a calcining furnace in hot chamber 3, and a material unloading device, a lid opening device, a first weighing system, and a first barcode scanning system (first weighing and barcode scanning system) in hot chamber 6. Each of hot chambers 2-6 is equipped with a ground-rail transfer frame. A robotic arm places the air filter cups into hot chamber 1 from station 11. The air filter cups are cleaned using an ultrasonic cleaner in hot chamber 1. After cleaning, the hot chamber conveyor transports the air filter cups to hot chamber 6. After entering through port 60 of hot chamber 1, the air filter cups are transported to the first weighing system via a ground rail transfer frame. After weighing, they are output from port 60. Then, the air filter cups enter hot chamber 2 from port 20, where material is added through a cylindrical filter. After adding material, the filter cups return to hot chamber 6 for weighing again. Then, they enter hot chamber 3 from port 30 of hot chamber 3 via a hot chamber line conveyor. After being roasted in a roasting furnace, they are obtained as filter cups with material. The filter cups with material are output from port 30 of hot chamber 3 and arrive at port 60 to await the next step.

[0116] The second production line is located in hot chambers 6 to 9. Hot chambers 6 and 7 are connected by the first adjacent conveyor, hot chambers 7 and 8 are connected by the second adjacent conveyor, and hot chambers 8 and 9 are connected by the third adjacent conveyor. Hot chamber 9 is connected to glove box 10 via a product cup unloading trolley. Hot chamber 6 is also equipped with a vacuum double-lid opening device. Hot chamber 7 is equipped with a second barcode scanning system, a second weighing system (second weighing and barcode scanning system), and a welding and sealing machine. Hot chamber 8 is equipped with a wiping machine. Hot chamber 9 is equipped with an unloading loader. Hot chambers 7 to 9 are also equipped with bridge-type transfer frames.

[0117] While processing the air filter cup, the entire product cup is conveyed to station 91, and then sequentially transported through station 81 and station 80 via the third and second adjacent conveyors. It enters hot chamber 7 at station 71, where it is scanned by the second barcode scanning system and weighed by the second weighing system. It then exits from station 70 and enters hot chamber 6 at station 6. Inside hot chamber 6, a vacuum double-lid opening device is used to open the outer cup, and then the empty inner cup is removed. After the vacuum double-lid opening device opens the lid of the empty inner cup, it is weighed by the first weighing system and scanned by the first barcode scanning system. It is then transferred to the unloading device via a ground rail transfer frame, where the material from the filter cup is poured into the empty inner cup, and then weighed and scanned again by the first weighing system and the first barcode scanning system. At this time, the air filter cup is output from port 60 and transported to port 11. The above air filter cup ultrasonic cleaning process is repeated. The vacuum double-cap opening device closes the inner cup cap and places it into the outer cup. Then the outer cup is closed and transported to hot chamber 7. After being scanned by the second scanning system and weighed by the second weighing system in hot chamber 7, it is welded by the welding machine and output from port 71. It enters hot chamber 8 from port 80. After being wiped by the wiping machine, it is output from hot chamber 81. Then, it enters hot chamber 9 from port 90. After being discharged from port 91 by the unloading loader, the product cup discharge trolley transports the product cup to glove box 10. The product cup is output through the cantilever transfer frame in glove box 10. The complete product cup is automatically produced.

[0118] In this setup, the two processing units are separate, so a problem in one unit does not affect the continued production of the other. Furthermore, the components of both the first and second production lines are housed in separate heat chambers, allowing for independent source removal and maintenance, ensuring that other components remain unaffected.

[0119] To ensure safe and reliable production at the end of the product line, the original production line relied on manual operation. Previously, this involved manually driven, master-slave, purely mechanical robotic arms within the glove box. Now, this is achieved using robots suitable for the hot chamber, coordinate measuring machines, ground-rail systems, and electrically driven robots. All components are highly radiation-resistant and easily inspectable / maintainable automated equipment. Through hot chamber partitioning, shielding walls, and maintenance rooms, radiation criticality safety is emphasized. The production line employs independent production units and a source removal design. If any hot chamber malfunctions, the material within that chamber can be isolated and the source removed without affecting the entire production line. During welding and cutting within the hot chamber, the two weld seams fuse together seamlessly, eliminating air layers and gaps, thus achieving a leak-free mechanism at the hot chamber end.

[0120] Regarding source removal instructions: When equipment in each hot chamber malfunctions and requires repair, if radioactive materials are in the hot chamber, they must be transferred to a temporary shielding container or other normally operating hot chamber before entering the maintenance area for hot chamber maintenance. This material transfer process is called source removal.

[0121] Floor-mounted transfer frames are installed in hot chambers 2 through 6, while bridge-type transfer frames are installed in hot chambers 7 through 9. If the X-axis motor of the transfer frame is damaged, an external motor can be directly replaced. For temporary emergency handling, a special tool can be used to drive the motor and extend the shaft; all other operations should follow the normal operating procedures for source removal.

[0122] When the built-in motor of the Y-axis of the transfer frame malfunctions, the Y-axis of the ground rail transfer frame is controlled by the master-slave robotic arm via the handwheel. The remaining operations follow the normal working procedure to transport the filter cups to the station exit for delivery. Hot chamber No. 2 is equipped with a cylindrical filter. The transfer frame is used to transfer filter cups between the cup placement platform and the filter lifting platform. During source removal, the source removal operation is tested sequentially for two different source statuses: "filter cup located on the cup placement platform" and "filter cup located on the filter lifting platform."

[0123] If the Z-axis motor of the transfer frame is damaged, the external motor can be directly replaced. For temporary emergency handling, a special tool can be used to drive the motor and then the shaft outward; the remaining operations should follow the normal operating procedures for removing the source.

[0124] When the air supply to the transfer rack's pneumatic gripper is interrupted, the gripper is connected to a temporary air source, and the remaining operations follow the normal working procedure to transport the filter cup to the station entrance for delivery.

[0125] When the cartridge filter malfunctions and the filter cup is in the high position: If the robotic arm or transfer frame cannot remove the filter cup, personnel must directly enter the upper chamber of hot chamber No. 2, quickly drive the motor handwheel, lower the lifting device, and then quickly evacuate. The source removal process can then proceed according to normal operating procedures. Alternatively, the material inside the filter cup can be re-dissolved and recovered using chemical reagents to complete the source removal, after which personnel can re-enter the upper chamber for maintenance. When the filter cup is in the low position: If the robotic arm or transfer frame can remove the filter cup, the source removal process can proceed according to normal operating procedures.

[0126] When the conveyor malfunctions, the external motor can be directly replaced. For temporary emergency handling, a special tool can be used to drive the motor's rear shaft, in conjunction with the ground rail transfer frame; the remaining operations should follow the normal operating procedures for source removal.

[0127] When the roasting furnace malfunctions, the external motor can be directly replaced. For temporary emergency handling, the handwheel of the roasting furnace lifting device can be manually driven; other operations should follow the normal working procedure to remove the source. The initial source status is set to "filter cup located on the roasting furnace lifting platform".

[0128] When the built-in motor of the Y-axis of the local rail transfer frame is damaged, considering that all three robotic arms in the (roasting) hot chambers 3-5 can replace the circular clamps and directly operate the filter cups, the direct source removal operation of the robotic arms was tested. The source removal operation was tested in turn for two different source states: "filter cup is located on roasting furnace lifting platform 1" and "filter cup is located on roasting furnace lifting platform 2".

[0129] If the rotary module of the unloading device is damaged, the external motor can be replaced directly. For temporary emergency handling, a special tool can be used to drive the motor and drive the shaft outwards; the remaining operations should follow the normal operating procedure for source removal.

[0130] When the unlocking module of the dispensing device malfunctions, the unlocking module is unlocked by operating the handwheel of the unlocking module via a mobile robotic arm. The remaining operations follow the normal working procedure to transport the filter cup to the station outlet for delivery. The initial source item status is set to "Filter cup located on the cup placement platform of the dispensing device".

[0131] When the weighing system malfunctions, the source can be removed using a transfer frame.

[0132] When the air gripper of the vacuum double cap is shut off, the air gripper is connected to a temporary air source, and the remaining operations follow the normal working procedure to transport the product cup to the double cap station (i.e., station 60 or 61) for delivery.

[0133] When the suction cup of the vacuum double cap is de-aired, the air gripper is connected to a temporary air source, and the remaining operations follow the normal working procedure to transport the product cup to the double cap station (i.e., station 60 or 61) and send it out.

[0134] The Z1 axis motor of the vacuum double-cap system is damaged. The Z1 axis lifting and lowering is operated by controlling the Z1 axis handwheel of the vacuum double-cap system via a mobile robotic arm. The remaining operations follow the normal working procedure to transport the product cup to the double-cap station for delivery. The initial source item status is set to "Product cup is located at the cap opening station".

[0135] The Z2 axis motor of the vacuum double-cap system is damaged. The Z2 axis lifting and lowering is operated by controlling the Z2 axis handwheel of the vacuum double-cap system via a mobile robotic arm. The remaining operations follow the normal working procedure to transport the product cup to the double-cap station for delivery. The initial source item status is set to "Product cup is located at the cap opening station".

[0136] If the X-axis motor of the vacuum double-cover is damaged, the external motor can be directly replaced. For temporary emergency handling, a special tool can be used to drive the motor and extend the shaft; the remaining operations should follow the normal operating procedures for removing the source.

[0137] The horizontal movement motor of the welding and sealing machine is damaged. The horizontal movement of the welding torch is controlled by the master and slave handwheels. The remaining operations follow the normal working procedure to transport the product cup to the station outlet for delivery. The initial source item status is set to "Product cup is inside the welding and sealing machine".

[0138] The lifting motor of the welding and sealing machine is damaged. The vertical lifting handwheel of the welding torch is operated by the master and slave manual control. The remaining operations follow the normal working procedure to transport the product cup to the station outlet for delivery. The initial source item status is set to "Product cup is located inside the welding and sealing machine".

[0139] The lifting cylinder of the welding and sealing machine is shut off, and a temporary air source is connected to the cylinder. The remaining operations follow the normal working procedure to transport the product cup into the temporary shielded container. The initial source item status is set to "Product cup is located inside the welding and sealing machine".

[0140] The barcode scanning system is malfunctioning; the source is being removed using a transfer rack.

[0141] If the wiping machine is damaged, the external motor can be replaced directly. For temporary emergency handling, a special tool can be used to drive the motor's rear shaft, in conjunction with a bridge-type transfer frame; the remaining operations should follow the normal operating procedures for source removal.

[0142] If the X-axis motor of the unloading loader is damaged, the external motor can be directly replaced. For temporary emergency handling, a special tool can be used to drive the motor to the rear shaft; the remaining operations should follow the normal operating procedures for removing the source.

[0143] The Z1 axis motor of the discharge loader is damaged. The Z1 axis lifting operation is performed by controlling the Z1 axis handwheel of the discharge loader through the master and slave manual control. The remaining operations are carried out in accordance with the normal working procedure to transport the product cup into the shielded container, and then cover the hanger cover and the shielded container cover in sequence.

[0144] The Z2 axis motor of the discharge loader is damaged. The Z2 axis lifting operation is performed by controlling the Z2 axis handwheel of the discharge loader through the master and slave manual control. The remaining operations are carried out in accordance with the normal working procedure to transport the product cup into the shielded container, and then cover the hanger cover and the shielded container cover in sequence.

[0145] Connect the air-stop suction cup of the Z2 axis of the unloading loader to the temporary air source. Follow the normal operating procedure to transport the product cup into the shielded container, and then cover the hanger cover and the shielded container cover in sequence.

[0146] If the adjacent conveyor malfunctions, the external motor can be directly replaced. For temporary emergency handling, a special tool can be used to drive the motor's rear shaft in conjunction with the unloading loader; the remaining operations should proceed according to the normal working procedures for source removal.

[0147] After the equipment in each hot chamber malfunctions and the source of the malfunction is removed, the inspection and maintenance operations for each faulty component, unit, and piece of equipment are carried out based on the existing hot chamber inspection and maintenance conditions. The principle of hot chamber equipment inspection and maintenance operations is direct inspection and maintenance after source removal. The basic methods are as follows: When the equipment in the upper chamber malfunctions: personnel wearing air suits enter the upper chamber directly through the vertical airlock to complete the inspection and maintenance of the faulty equipment. The cantilever crane in the upper chamber serves as an auxiliary operation tool for inspection and maintenance. When the equipment in the middle chamber malfunctions: personnel enter the maintenance chamber through the steel platform of the hot chamber maintenance area and complete the inspection and maintenance of the faulty equipment using a half-body suit and DPTE. The electrically driven manipulator or articulated manipulator in the middle chamber serves as an auxiliary operation tool for inspection and maintenance. When the equipment in the lower chamber malfunctions: personnel wearing air suits enter the lower chamber directly through the horizontal airlock to complete the inspection and maintenance of the faulty equipment.

[0148] In summary, this production line is a fully automated production line targeting the key process of nuclear industry product discharge. The entire production line includes 9 hot chambers and 1 glove box. The core operating objects are filter cups and product cups. The entire production line is centered on these two operating objects to realize the automation of various process transformations and logistics processes.

[0149] This production line features a redesigned and optimized existing glove box and production process. Utilizing modern, specialized hot-chamber robots, the entire production line has been completely redesigned. Considering the high radiation characteristics of the on-site environment, the production line's radiation resistance and equipment maintainability have been optimized. A hot-chamber partitioning approach has been proposed to reduce radiation criticality safety issues. The hot chamber is divided into 9 hot chambers and 1 glove box, each a separate production unit. A problem in one unit will not affect the production of other units. Simultaneously, each piece of equipment has an independent source removal function, solving the problem of radioactive sources remaining in place after individual equipment damage, requiring personnel to enter for maintenance. The removal of radioactive sources from the hot chambers is accomplished using manual source removal fixtures in the maintenance hall. This addresses the issues of previously relying entirely on manual operation with robotic arms, which involved long operation times and prolonged exposure of operators to ionizing radiation. It also solves problems such as material leakage, spillage, and drops during manual operation or transfer in special environments. Furthermore, it increases the source removal pathways, resolving situations where equipment damage necessitates personnel to inspect and maintain equipment in the presence of radioactive sources.

[0150] It is understood that the above embodiments are merely exemplary implementations used to illustrate the principles of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. For those skilled in the art, various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention, and these modifications and improvements are also considered to be within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for producing a product cup, characterized in that: The method comprises a roasting process step and a product cup process step which are respectively performed, wherein the roasting process step and the product cup process step are performed simultaneously, The calcination step includes: calcining the radioactive material, specifically including: Pre-treat the empty filter cup; Placing the radioactive material in the pre-treated empty filter cup to obtain a filter cup with material; The filter cup with material is subjected to a roasting treatment, and then the radioactive material in the filter cup with material is discharged to obtain an empty filter cup; Returning the empty filter cup to the position where the empty filter cup is pre-treated; The product cup processing steps specifically include: performing a product cup first processing sub-step on the empty product cup; Receiving radioactive materials after the roasting process; The second product cup treatment step is performed on the radioactive material and the empty product cup after the roasting treatment step.

2. The method for producing a product cup according to claim 1, characterized in that: The roasting process step is performed on a first production line, and the product cup process step is performed on a second production line. The first production line and the second production line are independently arranged.

3. The method for producing a product cup according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pretreatment of the air filter cup specifically includes: ultrasonic cleaning of the air filter cup.

4. The method for producing a product cup according to claim 1, characterized in that: After the air filter cup is pretreated, the calcination step further comprises: Weighing the pretreated empty filter cup to obtain a first weighing value; After placing the radioactive material in the pre-treated empty filter cup to obtain a filter cup with material, the calcination step further comprises: Weighing the filter cup with material to obtain a second weighing value; and, The amount of material in the filter cup is obtained according to the first weighing value and the second weighing value, and whether the amount of material in the filter cup is qualified is determined according to the amount of material in the filter cup.

5. The method for producing a product cup according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first processing step of the product cup specifically includes: performing a first treatment on the empty product cup, and then removing the empty inner cup of the product cup from the outer cup of the empty product cup; Performing a second treatment on the empty inner cup; The receiving of the radioactive material after the roasting step specifically includes: Placing the calcined radioactive material in an empty inner cup to obtain an inner cup with material; The second processing step of the product cup specifically includes: Performing a third treatment on the inner cup with material, and then placing the inner cup with material in the outer cup to obtain a product cup with material; The product cup with material is subjected to the fourth treatment and then discharged.

6. The method for producing a product cup according to claim 5, characterized in that: The first process specifically includes: weighing the empty product cup to obtain a third weighing value, The fourth process specifically includes: weighing the product cup with material to obtain a fourth weighing value, The second processing step of the product cup also includes: The amount of material in the product cup is obtained according to the third weighing value and the fourth weighing value, and whether the amount of material in the product cup is qualified is determined according to the amount of material in the product cup.

7. The method for producing a product cup according to claim 6, characterized in that: The second process specifically includes: weighing the empty inner cup to obtain a fifth weighing value, The third process specifically includes: weighing the inner cup with material to obtain a sixth weighing value, The second processing step of the product cup also includes: The amount of material in the product cup is obtained according to the fifth weighing value and the sixth weighing value, and whether the amount of material in the product cup is qualified is determined according to the amount of material in the product cup.

8. The method for producing a product cup according to claim 7, characterized in that: The outer cup and the inner cup of the product cup are both provided with identification codes. The first process further includes: scanning the empty product cup, associating the third weighing value with the identification code, The fourth process further includes: scanning a code on the product cup with material, associating the fourth weighing value with the identification code, The obtaining of the amount of material in the product cup according to the third weighing value and the fourth weighing value specifically includes: obtaining the amount of material in the product cup indicated by the identification code according to the third weighing value and the fourth weighing value associated with the same identification code; The second process further includes: scanning the empty inner cup, associating the fifth weighing value with the identification code, The third process further includes: scanning the code of the inner cup with material, associating the sixth weighing value with the identification code, The obtaining of the amount of material in the product cup according to the fifth weighing value and the sixth weighing value specifically includes: obtaining the amount of material in the product cup indicated by the same identification code according to the fifth weighing value and the sixth weighing value associated with the same identification code.

9. The method for producing a product cup according to claim 5, characterized in that: The fourth process specifically includes: Weld and seal the product cup with material; Wipe the product cup with material until there is no radioactive dust on the outer surface of the product cup with material.

10. A product cup production line, characterized in that: include: a first production line and a second production line, wherein the first production line and the second production line are independently arranged and perform production processing simultaneously, The first production line is used to roast radioactive materials. The second production line is used to perform a first product cup processing step on an empty product cup, and to perform a second product cup processing step on radioactive materials that have completed a roasting process and an empty product cup.

11. The product cup production line according to claim 10, characterized in that: The first production line is specifically used to place radioactive materials in filter cups for roasting. The first production line comprises: Ultrasonic cleaner, used for ultrasonic cleaning of the filter cup, Cartridge filter, used for radioactive materials, put the material in the filter cup after ultrasonic cleaning to obtain the filter cup with material. The roasting furnace is used to roast the filter cup with radioactive materials. The first weighing and scanning system is used to scan the filter cup and weigh the filter cup before and after the radioactive material is placed in the filter cup. There are multiple roasting furnaces, and the ultrasonic cleaner, the cartridge filter, the first weighing and scanning system and the multiple roasting furnaces are respectively arranged in their respective hot chambers, and the hot chambers are connected by a line conveyor, and the line conveyor is used to transport the filter cups between the hot chambers.

12. The product cup production line according to claim 10, characterized in that: The second production line comprises: The pouring device is used to place the roasted radioactive material into the inner cup of the product cup. The first weighing and scanning system is used to scan the inner cup and weigh the inner cup before and after the calcined radioactive material is placed in the inner cup. The second weighing and scanning system is used to scan the outer cup and weigh the product cup before and after the calcined radioactive material is placed in the inner cup. Sealing machine, used to seal the product cup. Wiping machine, used to wipe the product cup, Outfeed loader for outfeeding product cups, The pouring device and the first weighing and scanning system are arranged in the same hot chamber, the second weighing and scanning system and the welding and sealing machine are arranged in the same hot chamber, the wiping machine and the discharge loader are respectively arranged in their respective hot chambers, and the hot chambers are connected by an adjacent conveyor, and the adjacent conveyor is used to transport product cups between the hot chambers.

Citation Information

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