Weighing device for radioactive sample

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of performance inspection after material irradiation, in particular to a radioactive sample weighing device which comprises a shielding box. A balance; the shielding box is arranged in the shielding box; the sample bottle placing seat is arranged in the shielding box and is used for placing a sample bottle to be weighed; the mechanical arm is arranged in the shielding box, a clamping device is arranged at the action tail end of the mechanical arm, and the mechanical arm is used for clamping the sample bottle in the sample bottle placing seat based on the clamping device and moving the sample bottle to a balance so as to weigh the mass of a radioactive sample object in the sample bottle. According to the radioactive sample weighing device, radioactive samples can be accurately weighed, and the operation of workers and the irradiation dose can be reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of material performance inspection after irradiation, and in particular to a weighing device for radioactive samples. Background Art

[0002] In the performance inspection of nuclear fuel / materials after irradiation (such as fuel consumption measurement, nuclide analysis), it is necessary to accurately weigh the radioactive nuclear fuel / materials, which is crucial to the accuracy of the experimental results. There are generally two ways to weigh radioactive materials. One is to weigh outside the shielded glove box. The advantage of weighing in the radioactive fume hood outside the shielded glove box is that the experimental operation is more convenient and the experimental error can be reduced, but the workers will be exposed to high radiation doses. For some special radioactive samples, there may be a risk of radioactive aerosol escape, which can easily cause internal irradiation to the human body, so this method is generally not used. The other is to weigh in the shielded glove box. Due to the limited field of view of the shielded glove box, the rubber gloves are difficult to operate and have limited shielding ability, and the operator's hands and arms will still be exposed to radiation. Summary of the invention

[0003] In view of this, an object of the present invention is to provide a weighing device for radioactive samples to solve the problem in the prior art that workers are easily exposed to radiation when weighing radioactive samples.

[0004] In order to solve the above problems, the present application provides a weighing device for radioactive samples, comprising:

[0005] Shielding box;

[0006] A balance; arranged in the shielding box;

[0007] A sample bottle placement seat is arranged in the shielding box and is used to place the sample bottle to be weighed;

[0008] A robotic arm is arranged in the shielding box, and a clamping device is arranged at the moving end of the robotic arm. The robotic arm is used to clamp the sample bottle in the sample bottle placement seat based on the clamping device and move the sample bottle to a balance to weigh the mass of the radioactive sample object in the sample bottle.

[0009] Optionally, the robotic arm is a multi-axis robotic arm.

[0010] Optionally, the clamping device is an electric jaw clamp, and the electric jaw clamp includes a clamping arm.

[0011] Optionally, the electric gripper clamp includes at least two gripping parts of different sizes.

[0012] Optionally, the clamping portion is made of polytetrafluoroethylene.

[0013] Optionally, the sample bottle placement seat includes at least 2 container placement positions of different sizes.

[0014] Optionally, the device further comprises a barcode scanner, which is disposed in the shielding box and is used to scan a label on a sample bottle to record the sample object.

[0015] Optionally, a barcode scanner rack is installed below the barcode scanner, and the barcode scanner rack is used to match the scanning height of the barcode scanner with the height at which the sample bottle is taken out from the sample bottle placement seat.

[0016] Optionally, a balance shock-absorbing platform is provided below the balance, and a counterweight block is provided below the balance shock-absorbing platform.

[0017] Optionally, a wind shield is provided on the outside of the balance, and the wind shield is controllably connected to a servo control mechanism.

[0018] The weighing device for radioactive samples in the present application can automatically move the sample bottle to the balance by arranging a balance and a mechanical arm for clamping and moving the sample bottle in a shielding box, thereby realizing automatic weighing of the radioactive sample object in the sample bottle, reducing the radiation risk of personnel during the experiment, and realizing the delicate operation of fully automatic weighing of radioactive samples.

[0019] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of the present invention. In order to more clearly understand the technical means of the present invention, it can be implemented according to the contents of the specification. In order to make the above and other purposes, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the specific implementation methods of the present invention are listed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiments below. The accompanying drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments and are not to be considered as limiting the present invention. Moreover, the same reference symbols are used throughout the accompanying drawings to represent the same components. In the accompanying drawings:

[0021] Figure 1 This is an overall schematic diagram of a weighing device for radioactive samples in the present application;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the front structure of the electric gripper clamp in this application;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the sample bottle placement seat in this application;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a flow chart of the use of the weighing device for radioactive samples in this application.

[0025] Reference numerals include:

[0026] 1-mechanical arm, 2-electric gripper, 3-barcode scanner, 4-sample bottle position, 5-container bottle position, 6-counterweight, 7-sample bottle holder, 8-balance shock-absorbing platform, 9-balance, 10-electric wind shield, 11-barcode scanner stand, 12-mounting base plate, 13-first clamping part, 14-second clamping part, 15-clamping arm, 16-electric clamping claw. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Various aspects and features of the present application are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] It should be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments of the present application. Therefore, the above description should not be considered as limiting, but only as an example of an embodiment. Other modifications within the scope and spirit of the present application will occur to those skilled in the art.

[0029] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present application and, together with the general description of the present application given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present application.

[0030] These and other characteristics of the present application will become apparent from the following description of a preferred form of embodiment given as a non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0031] It should also be understood that although the present application has been described with reference to some specific examples, those skilled in the art will be able to readily implement many other equivalent forms of the present application.

[0032] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present application will become more apparent in view of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0033] Specific embodiments of the present application are described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, it should be understood that the embodiments applied for are merely examples of the present application, which may be implemented in a variety of ways. Well-known and / or repeated functions and structures are not described in detail to avoid unnecessary or redundant details that obscure the present application. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details applied for herein are not intended to be limiting, but merely serve as a basis and representative basis for the claims to teach those skilled in the art to use the present application in a variety of ways with substantially any suitable detailed structure.

[0034] This specification may use the phrases "in one embodiment," "in another embodiment," "in yet another embodiment," or "in other embodiments," all of which may refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments according to the present application.

[0035] In order to solve the problem in the prior art that the shielded glove box has limited vision, the rubber gloves are difficult to operate and have insufficient shielding ability, and the operator's hands and arms are still exposed to radiation, such as Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment proposes a weighing device for radioactive samples, including: a radiation-proof shielding box, and a mounting base 12 arranged in the shielding box, on which a sample bottle holder 7, a mechanical arm 1 and a balance 9 are arranged. The sample bottle holder 7 and the mechanical arm 1 are located on one side of the mounting base 12, and the balance 9 is arranged on the other side of the mounting base 12. This layout is conducive to the mechanical arm 1 to obtain the sample bottle on the sample bottle holder 7, so that the mechanical arm 1 can transport the sample bottle to the balance 9 through the shortest path.

[0036] The robot arm 1 in this embodiment is a multi-dimensional motion robot arm, which includes a lifting assembly, and a horizontally operating robot arm is installed at the end of the lifting assembly, so that the lifting assembly and the robot arm cooperate to form a composite three-dimensional motion. A clamping device is provided at the end of the robot arm. The clamping device includes an electric clamp 16 and a clamp 2, the electric clamp 16 is connected to the end of the robot arm, the clamp 2 is connected to the electric gripper 16, and the clamp 2 is controllably connected to the driving device, and is used to perform a clamping action or an opening action under the drive of the driving device to realize the clamping and release of the sample bottle.

[0037] The weighing device for radioactive samples in the present application can automatically move the sample bottle to the balance by arranging a balance and a mechanical arm for clamping and moving the sample bottle in a shielding box, thereby realizing automatic weighing of the radioactive sample object in the sample bottle, reducing the radiation risk of personnel during the experiment, and realizing the delicate operation of fully automatic weighing of radioactive samples.

[0038] During the specific implementation of this embodiment, a barcode scanner 3 is also provided at the sample bottle placement seat 7. The barcode scanner 3 in this embodiment is installed on the mounting base 12 through the barcode scanner frame 11. The position of the barcode scanner 3 is adjacent to the sample bottle placement seat 7. The sample bottle placement seat 7 in this embodiment is generally an "L"-shaped structure. The barcode scanner 3 is located at the corner of the sample bottle placement seat 7. Therefore, after clamping the sample bottle at any position of the sample bottle placement seat 7, the robot arm 1 only needs to perform a small movement to move the sample bottle to the barcode scanner 3 for scanning.

[0039] On the basis of the above embodiment, the present application provides another embodiment to provide a weighing device for radioactive samples, and the weighing device in this embodiment also includes: a balance shock-absorbing platform 8, and a plurality of counterweights 6 are installed at the lower part of the balance shock-absorbing platform 8. The function of the counterweights 6 is to maintain the position of the balance shock-absorbing platform 8, and even if other components on the balance shock-absorbing platform 8 move, the balance shock-absorbing platform 8 can still remain stable and not vibrate. The balance 9 is arranged on the balance shock-absorbing platform 8, and a wind shield 10 is also arranged outside the balance 9. The wind shield is connected to the servo control mechanism in a controlled manner, and the wind shield 10 can be servo-opened or closed.

[0040] like Figure 2 As shown, the main body of the clamping device / electric gripping fixture 2 in this embodiment is an electric clamping jaw 16, and the front part of the electric clamping jaw 16 forms two action ends, each action end is provided with a clamping arm 15, and the inner sides of the two clamping arms have grooves corresponding to the positions, and the corresponding grooves on the two clamping arms cooperate to form a holding part for clamping the sample bottle. In this embodiment, the front ends of the two clamping arms form a first clamping part 13, and the groove corresponding to the first clamping part 13 has a smaller diameter. The first clamping part 13 is used to clamp the sample bottle, and the rear ends of the two clamping arms form a second clamping part 14, and the groove corresponding to the second clamping part 14 has a larger diameter. The second clamping part 14 is used to clamp the container bottle.

[0041] like Figure 3 As shown, the sample bottle placement seat 7 in this embodiment has multiple placement positions. In this embodiment, there are 5 sample bottle positions 4 and they are arranged in a straight line along the first direction, and there are 2 container bottle positions 5 and they are arranged in a straight line along the second direction. The first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other.

[0042] Another embodiment of the present application provides a weighing device for radioactive samples. In this embodiment, the mechanical arm 1, the barcode scanner 3, the sample bottle placement seat 7, and the weighing components such as the balance are all detachable independent parts, and the control part hardware and software are all outside the shielding box. In this embodiment, the mechanical arm 1 is a multi-axis mechanical arm, and specifically a four-axis mechanical arm or a six-axis mechanical arm can be used. The mechanical arm drive and control are designed as an integrated device, the controller is built-in, all the circuits are wrapped inside the mechanical arm 1, and the mechanical arm 1 is fixed on the mounting base plate 12. The electric gripper fixture 2 is used in conjunction with the mechanical arm 1. The opening and closing degree and shape of the clamp arm 15 of the electric gripper fixture 2 are determined according to the outer diameter size of the sample bottle and the weighing bottle. The mechanical arm 1 and the electric gripper fixture 2 are used for operations such as grasping and transferring the sample bottle and the weighing bottle and dumping the sample. The inner side of the clamp arm 15 of the electric gripper fixture 2 is frosted to prevent the sample from falling due to being too smooth.

[0043] The barcode scanner 3 is used to record information such as the number of the sample being weighed.

[0044] The electronic balance 9 adopts a standard one-ten-thousandth or one-hundred-thousandth balance 9. The electronic balance 9 has an automatic tare and zero calibration function and is equipped with an anti-static device. The electric windshield 10 is matched with the balance 9, closed by a motor drive, and an infrared sensor is set. The windshield is opened after sensing the signal, and can be automatically closed when the robot arm 1 puts the sample bottle in place and exits. The display part of the balance 9 is removed and displayed on the integrated control software. The shock-absorbing platform and the counterweight 6 are used to maintain the stability of the balance 9. The sample bottle placement seat 7 is used to place samples and weighing bottles. The mounting base 12 is used to fix the relative position of each module, which can be used for the robot arm 1 to move and accurately control. The movement of the robot arm 1 is controlled by a program, and the cooperation of various components can realize the fully automatic weighing of radioactive samples.

[0045] In this embodiment, the automatic weighing device presents a left-right structure as a whole. The multi-axis robot arm 1 is located on the right rear side of the mounting base plate 12, the balance 9 is located on the left side of the mounting base plate 12, and the barcode scanner 3 and the sample bottle holder 7 are located on the right front side of the mounting base plate 12. There are multiple height-adjustable foot pads under the mounting base plate 12. The multi-axis robot arm 1, the sample bottle holder 7, and the barcode scanner 3 are fixed to the mounting base plate 12 by screws. The balance shock-absorbing platform 8 is fixed to the mounting base plate 12 by 4 fixing seats. The counterweight 6 is placed under the balance shock-absorbing platform 8, and the balance 9 is placed on the balance shock-absorbing platform 8. The balance 9 is limited by the balance 9 limit block, and the electric gripper 16 fixture 2 is fixed to the end of the multi-axis robot arm 1 by screws. The barcode scanner 3 is fixed to the barcode scanner 3 seat by screws.

[0046] The electric clamp 16 is made of aluminum, the sample bottle holder 7 can be made of stainless steel or polytetrafluoroethylene, the mounting base, counterweight module, scanner 3 bracket, etc. are all made of stainless steel, and the electric clamp 16 corresponding to the first clamping part 13 and the second clamping part 14 are both made of polytetrafluoroethylene.

[0047] like Figure 4As shown, the action process of the above-mentioned weighing device for radioactive samples is as follows: use the manipulator equipped with the glove box to manually clamp the empty container bottle to the sample bottle placement seat 7; use the manipulator equipped with the glove box to manually clamp the sample bottle to the sample bottle placement seat 7; control the robot arm 1 and use the manipulator-specific clamp on the robot arm 1 to clamp the empty container bottle to the balance 9, and the electric wind shield 10 of the balance 9 automatically opens; control the manipulator-specific clamp 15 on the robot arm 1 to automatically clamp the empty container bottle to the balance 9, and the electric wind shield 10 of the balance 9 automatically closes after exiting, and the empty container bottle is automatically peeled after stabilization; the electric wind shield 10 automatically opens, and the manipulator-specific clamp 15 on the robot arm 1 automatically clamps the radioactive sample on the sample bottle placement seat 7 and scans the sample number and then introduces the empty container bottle, and the electric wind shield 10 of the balance 9 automatically closes; after stabilization, the sample weight is read, the electric wind shield 10 automatically opens, and the manipulator-specific clamp 15 on the robot arm 1 automatically clamps the empty container bottle to the sample bottle placement seat 7. Except that the empty container bottles and sample bottles need to be manually picked up and placed on the sample bottle placement seat 7, the remaining steps are all operated by the program to control the robot arm 1 or the balance 9, and the control part and the data reading part of the device are both outside the shielding box.

[0048] This device realizes the precise operation of fully automatic weighing of radioactive samples, reducing the risk of radiation to personnel during the experiment. This device has a simple structure, is easy to operate, occupies a small space, has a high degree of automation, and produces accurate and reliable weighing results, and is suitable for small spaces such as glove boxes and shielding boxes.

[0049] The above embodiments are only exemplary embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. The protection scope of the present application is defined by the claims. Those skilled in the art may make various modifications or equivalent substitutions to the present application within the essence and protection scope of the present application, and such modifications or equivalent substitutions shall also be deemed to fall within the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A weighing device for radioactive samples, characterized in that: include: Shielding box; Balance; being arranged in the shielding box; A sample bottle placement seat is arranged in the shielding box and is used to place the sample bottle to be weighed; A robotic arm is arranged in the shielding box, and a clamping device is arranged at the moving end of the robotic arm. The robotic arm is used to clamp the sample bottle in the sample bottle placement seat based on the clamping device and move the sample bottle to a balance to weigh the mass of the radioactive sample object in the sample bottle.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The robotic arm is a multi-axis robotic arm.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The clamping device is an electric clamping jaw, and the electric clamping jaw includes a clamping arm.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The electric gripper clamp includes at least two gripping parts with different sizes.

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The clamping part is made of polytetrafluoroethylene.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sample bottle placement seat includes at least two container placement positions with different sizes.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The device also includes a barcode scanner, which is arranged in the shielding box and is used to scan the label on the sample bottle to record the sample object.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that: A barcode scanner rack is installed below the barcode scanner, and the barcode scanner rack is used to match the scanning height of the barcode scanner with the height at which the sample bottle is taken out from the sample bottle placement seat.

9. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: A balance shock-absorbing platform is arranged below the balance, and a counterweight is arranged below the balance shock-absorbing platform.

10. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: A wind shield is arranged outside the balance, and the wind shield is controllably connected to a servo control mechanism.

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