Sample rack

Abstract

This invention provides a sample holder that simplifies sample replacement by using a resin component and suppresses degradation of the resin component caused by X-rays. A sample holder for fluorescence X-ray analysis comprises: a cylindrical body having a hole on a portion of its upper end face and an opening at its lower end; a receiving tray disposed inside the cylindrical body and holding a sample; an elastomer applying upward force to the receiving tray; a resin component having an arch portion and contacting the lower end of the elastomer; and a base plate disposed below the resin component. The cylindrical body, receiving tray, and base plate are formed of metal. The arch portion has claw portions at its ends and a pressing portion that is pressed inward, and elastically deforms inward by pressing the pressing portion. The cylindrical body has a fitting portion for engaging the claw portions and an exposed portion for the pressing portion to protrude outward. The resin component is disposed between the receiving tray and the base plate, and the portion other than the pressing portion is surrounded by the cylindrical body, receiving tray, and base plate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a sample holder. Background Technology

[0002] As a device for determining the elements contained in a sample or the concentration of such elements, there is a fluorescence X-ray analysis apparatus. When performing measurements using a fluorescence X-ray analysis apparatus, a sample holder is sometimes used. For example, in order to hold a sample placed on a tray inside a housing, a sample holder is known to have a structure that allows a pressing cover to be placed over the sample (see Patent Documents 1 to 3 below).

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 59-80738

[0006] Patent Document 2: Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 56-009042

[0007] Patent Document 3: Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 6-58350 Summary of the Invention

[0008] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0009] Previous sample holders used threaded connection (Patent Document 1 above), screw fixing (Patent Document 2 above), and plunger fitting into a groove (Patent Document 3 above) as methods for fixing the housing and pressing the cap.

[0010] In structures secured by threaded connections or screws, each sample change requires multiple rotations of the pressing cap or screws, resulting in significant time consumption. Furthermore, threaded connections or screw fixation can loosen due to vibration, potentially causing the sample holder to dislodge inside the fluorescence X-ray analyzer. In structures where the plunger is fitted into a slot, there is also the possibility of the plunger detaching from the slot inside the fluorescence X-ray analyzer, causing the sample holder to loosen, and there is also the issue of high component costs.

[0011] This disclosure was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a sample holder that simplifies sample replacement by using a resin component and is able to suppress the deterioration of the resin component caused by X-rays.

[0012] Technical solutions for solving the problem

[0013] (1) A sample holder for fluorescence X-ray analysis according to one aspect of this disclosure is characterized by having: a cylindrical body having a hole provided on a portion of the upper surface and an opening at the lower end; a receiving tray disposed inside the cylindrical body and holding a sample; an elastomer that applies upward force to the receiving tray; a resin member having an arc portion and contacting the lower end of the elastomer; and a base plate disposed below the resin member, wherein the cylindrical body, the receiving tray, and the base plate are formed of metal, the arc portion having a claw portion provided at the end and a pressing portion that is pressed inward, and elastically deforming inward by pressing the pressing portion, an engagement portion for engaging the claw portion and an exposure portion for exposing the pressing portion outward are formed in the cylindrical body, the resin member is disposed between the receiving tray and the base plate, and the portion other than the pressing portion is surrounded by the cylindrical body, the receiving tray, and the base plate.

[0014] (2) According to the above-described manner of the present disclosure, the cylindrical body has a cylindrical body and an upper surface body provided with holes.

[0015] (3) According to the above-described manner of the present disclosure, the cylindrical body is integrally formed.

[0016] (4) According to the above-described manner of the present disclosure, the receiving tray further has a recess for placing the sample on the surface on which the sample is placed.

[0017] (5) According to the above method of the present disclosure, the receiving plate has a protrusion on the bottom surface, and the upper end of the elastic body is engaged with the protrusion of the receiving plate.

[0018] (6) According to the above-described manner of the present disclosure, the resin component has a hook-shaped locking portion, and the lower end of the elastomer is locked by the locking portion of the resin component.

[0019] (7) According to the above-described manner of the present disclosure, the cylindrical body, the receiving plate and the bottom plate are formed of an alloy with aluminum as the main component.

[0020] (8) According to the above-described manner of the present disclosure, the fitting portion is a groove for fitting the claw portion.

[0021] (9) According to the above-described manner of the present disclosure, the exposed portion is a cut for the pressing portion to be exposed outward.

[0022] Invention Effects

[0023] According to this disclosure, a sample holder can be provided that simplifies sample replacement and prevents samples from becoming loose inside the fluorescence X-ray analysis apparatus. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a top-down view of the sample holder.

[0025] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing the structural parts of the sample holder.

[0026] Figure 3 This is a bottom view of the sample holder.

[0027] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing the IV-IV cross section of the sample holder.

[0028] Figure 5 A diagram showing the VV cross-section of the sample holder.

[0029] Figure 6 This diagram illustrates the state of a sample holder positioned on the sample stage of an up-illuminated fluorescence X-ray analysis apparatus. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 This is a top-down view of the sample holder 100. Figure 2 This is a diagram showing the various structural parts of the sample holder 100, and it is a diagram after the sample holder has been disassembled in the vertical direction. Figure 3 (a) is a bottom view of the sample holder 100 with the base plate 210 removed. Figure 3 (b) is a bottom view of the sample holder 100 with the base plate 210 installed. Figure 4 To indicate Figure 3 (b) is a view of section IV-IV. Figure 5 To indicate Figure 3 The VV section diagram of (b). Figure 2 As shown, the sample holder 100 has a cylindrical body 202, a receiving tray 204, an elastomer 206, a resin component 208, and a base plate 210.

[0031] The cylindrical body 202 has a hole provided on a portion of its upper surface and an opening at its lower end. Furthermore, the cylindrical body 202 has a fitting portion 404 for engaging the claw portion 218 (described later) and an exposed portion 216 for a portion of the bow portion 220 (described later) to protrude outwards. Specifically, for example, the cylindrical body 202 has a cylindrical body 212 and an upper surface body 214 with a hole, and the upper surface body 214 disposed on the cylindrical body 212 has a structure for being fixed by screws. Figure 1 as well as Figure 2As shown, the upper surface body 214 has a central aperture for exposing the sample 402 and has a circular plate shape. The upper surface body 214 serves as a so-called sample mask to expose unanalyzed portions of the sample 402 to unwanted X-rays. The cylindrical body 202 can also be fitted with an upper surface body 214 of different aperture diameters onto the cylindrical body 212. (As shown...) Figure 4 As shown, the fitting portion 404 is, for example, a groove for fitting the claw portion 218. Furthermore, as... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the exposed portion 216 is a cut for a portion of the bow portion 220 to be exposed outwards. Furthermore, as... Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 As shown, the cylindrical body 212 may have a hole on its side that functions as an air vent when measurements are performed in a vacuum environment, but this hole may not be provided. Furthermore, the cylindrical body 202 may be formed integrally without separating it into the cylindrical body 212 and the upper surface body 214.

[0032] The receiving tray 204 is disposed inside the cylindrical body 202 and holds the sample 402. Specifically, the receiving tray 204 has a circular plate shape with an outer diameter approximately the same as the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 212. Furthermore, as... Figure 4 As shown, the receiving plate 204 has a protrusion on its bottom surface, which fits into the upper end of the elastomer 206. Furthermore, the receiving plate 204 may also have a recess on the surface on which the sample 402 is placed, for placing the sample 402. In addition, since... Figure 4 The sample 402 is a solid and larger than the diameter of the recess, thus creating a space between the sample 402 and the receiving plate 204 (above the recess). If the sample 402 is a powder or smaller than the diameter of the recess, the sample 402 is placed within the recess.

[0033] The elastomer 206 exerts force upwards on the mating disc 204. Specifically, for example, as... Figure 2 as well as Figure 4 As shown, the elastic body 206 is a spring. The lower end of the elastic body 206 is locked by the locking portion 228 of the resin member 208, and the upper end of the elastic body 206 is engaged with the protrusion of the receiving plate 204. Thus, the elastic body 206 exerts force on the receiving plate 204 towards the upper surface body 214.

[0034] The resin component 208 is formed from resin and can be mass-produced inexpensively. For example, the resin component 208 can also be injection molded from PEEK (Poly Ether Ether Ketone) resin, which has high mechanical strength and high resistance to X-rays. The resin component 208 has an arch 220 with claws 218 at the end that elastically deform inward by pressing, and contacts the lower end of the elastomer 206. Specifically, for example, as Figure 3As shown in (a), the resin member 208 has a base 222 near the center and an arch 220 extending from the base 222 along the inner wall of the cylindrical body 202, and is formed of elastically deformable resin. Furthermore, the arch 220 has a curved portion 224 that elastically deforms inward by pressing, a claw portion 218 provided at the front end of the curved portion 224, and a pressing portion 226 for applying force from the outside. Two arch portions 220 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the base 222. Figure 4 As shown, the resin component 208 is fixed to the cylindrical body 202 by fitting two claw portions 218 into the groove (fitting portion 404) provided on the cylindrical body 212. At this time, as Figure 5 As shown, two pressing portions 226 protrude from the cutouts in the cylindrical body 212. The two pressing portions 226 are positioned opposite each other relative to the center of the base 222, and are pressed inwards by the user when the resin member 208 is removed from the cylindrical body 202. Since the curved portion 224 is formed relatively thin, it elastically deforms inwards upon pressing. Therefore, when the two pressing portions 226 are pressed inwards, the two curved portions 224 bend inwards towards the inside of the cylindrical body 202. When the two curved portions 224 bend inwards towards the inside of the cylindrical body 202, the claw portion 218 disengages from the groove (fitting portion 404) in the cylindrical body 212. In this state, the resin member 208 can be separated from the cylindrical body 202, allowing it to be removed from the cylindrical body 202.

[0035] Furthermore, the resin component 208 has a hook-shaped locking portion 228, and the lower end of the elastomer 206 is locked by the locking portion 228. Specifically, for example, as Figure 2 As shown, the base 222 has two hook-shaped locking portions 228 near the end of its surface facing the elastomer 206. The two locking portions 228 are positioned at approximately the same diameter as the resin member 208 side of the elastomer 206, which serves as a spring. The elastomer 206 is locked to the resin member 208 side by the hooks of the locking portions 228, thereby fixing its positional relationship with the resin member 208.

[0036] Furthermore, the resin component 208 has screw holes 302 on the side facing the base plate 210 for fixing the base plate 210.

[0037] A base plate 210 is disposed on the underside of the resin member 208. Specifically, the base plate 210 has a circular plate shape with a diameter approximately the same as the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 202. Furthermore, the base plate 210 has holes 230 at positions corresponding to screw holes 302 provided in the resin member 208. The base plate 210 is fixed to the resin member 208 by screws passing through the holes in the base plate 210 and the screw holes 302 provided in the resin member 208.

[0038] The cylindrical body 202, the receiving tray 204, and the base plate 210 are made of metal. Specifically, for example, the cylindrical body 202, the receiving tray 204, and the base plate 210 are made of an alloy with aluminum as the main component. The alloy with aluminum as the main component is lighter than the existing sample holder 100 made of stainless steel, thus reducing weight. Furthermore, "aluminum as the main component" means, for example, that aluminum is the most abundant element among the elements constituting the cylindrical body 202, the receiving tray 204, and the base plate 210. Moreover, the aluminum content contained in the cylindrical body 202, the receiving tray 204, and the base plate 210 can be a specified proportion (e.g., a mass percentage concentration of 10%) or higher.

[0039] As described above, the receiving tray 204 engages with the elastomer 206, the elastomer 206 is held in place by the resin member 208, and the base plate 210 is fixed to the resin member 208. Furthermore, the resin member 208 is fixed to the cylindrical body 202 by engaging with the claw portion 218 of the resin member 208 through the groove (fitting portion 404) of the cylindrical body 202. The user can remove the resin member 208 from the cylindrical body 202 by separating it from the cylindrical body 202 while pressing the pressing portion 226, thus allowing the sample 402 placed on the receiving tray 204 to be retrieved. Separating the resin member 208 from the cylindrical body 202 while pressing the pressing portion 226 is simpler than disassembling the sample holder 100, which is fixed by screws or threads. Therefore, according to this disclosure, the sample 402 can be easily replaced.

[0040] Furthermore, by placing the base plate 210 on the lower surface of the resin component 208, the deterioration of the resin component 208 can be mitigated. Specifically, Figure 6This diagram illustrates the state in which the sample holder 100 of this disclosure is placed on the sample stage 602 of an up-illuminated fluorescence X-ray analysis apparatus. The sample holder 100 is disposed in a hole provided in the sample stage 602. Since the resin member 208 is formed of resin so that it can be elastically deformed, it deteriorates significantly due to exposure to X-rays compared to other structural members formed of metal. However, according to this disclosure, the resin member 208 is disposed between the receiving plate 204 and the base plate 210, and the portion other than the pressing part 226 is surrounded by the cylindrical body 202, the receiving plate 204, and the base plate 210. Furthermore, the pressing part 226 is disposed at the lower end of the sample holder 100, so the pressing part 226 exposed from the cylindrical body 202 is located below the hole in the sample stage 602. During the X-ray irradiation of sample 402 by the fluorescence X-ray analyzer, X-rays travel in all directions inside the measurement chamber, but the X-rays irradiating sample 402 are dominant (high intensity), while the X-rays irradiating the lower side of the aperture of sample stage 602 are sparse (weak intensity). Therefore, the intensity of the X-rays irradiating the exposed pressing part 226 is weak. Thus, the structure disclosed herein can also reduce the degradation of resin component 208 caused by X-rays. Furthermore, by covering the lower surface of sample holder 100 with base plate 210, it is possible to prevent contamination of the interior of the fluorescence X-ray analyzer by powder or other substances peeled or detached from sample 402.

[0041] Label Explanation

[0042] 100 Sample holder, 202 Cylindrical body, 204 Receiving plate, 206 Elastomer, 208 Resin component, 210 Base plate, 212 Cylindrical body, 214 Upper surface body, 216 Exposed part, 218 Claw part, 220 Bow part, 222 Base, 224 Bending part, 226 Pressing part, 228 Locking part, 230 Hole provided on the base plate, 302 Screw hole, 402 Sample, 404 Fitting part, 602 Sample stage.

Claims

1. A sample holder for fluorescence X-ray analysis, characterized in that, have: A cylindrical body having a hole on a portion of its upper surface and an opening at its lower end; A receiving tray, which is disposed inside the cylindrical body, and holds the sample; An elastomer that applies upward force to the receiving plate; A resin component having an arch portion and contacting the lower end of the elastomer; as well as A base plate, which is disposed on the underside of the resin component, The cylindrical body, the receiving plate, and the base plate are made of metal. The bow portion has a claw portion at its end and a pressing portion that is pressed inward, and it elastically deforms inward by pressing the pressing portion. The cylindrical body has a fitting portion for engaging the claw portion and an exposed portion for the pressing portion to protrude outwards. The resin component is disposed between the receiving plate and the base plate, and the portion other than the pressing part is surrounded by the cylindrical body, the receiving plate, and the base plate. The base plate is fixedly connected to the resin component.

2. The sample holder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cylindrical body has a cylindrical body and an upper surface body with holes.

3. The sample holder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cylindrical body is formed integrally.

4. The sample holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The receiving tray also has a recess on the surface on which the sample is placed for placing the sample.

5. The sample holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The receiving plate has a protrusion on its bottom surface. The upper end of the elastomer engages with the protrusion of the receiving plate.

6. The sample holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The resin component has a hook-shaped locking portion. The lower end of the elastomer is held in place by the locking portion of the resin component.

7. The sample holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The cylindrical body, the receiving plate, and the base plate are formed of an alloy with aluminum as the main component.

8. The sample holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The fitting part is a groove for fitting the claw part.

9. The sample holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The exposed portion is a cut for the pressing portion to be exposed outwards.

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