Sealed container weld-seal cutting apparatus and radioactive material production line

Abstract

This invention discloses a sealing container welding and cutting device, including a sealing station, a welding and cutting section, and a container holding section. The welding and cutting section and the container holding section are located outside the sealing chamber. The sealing station is connected to the wall of the sealing chamber and has an inner hole. The inner hole acts as a sealing sleeve for the container, driving its rotation. The container's cylindrical opening protrudes into the sealing chamber through the inner hole to receive materials and a cap. The welding and cutting section welds the cylindrical opening and cap together from the outside of the container and cuts the container from the middle of the cap to form a product section outside the sealing chamber and a waste section inside the inner hole. The container holding section supports the cylindrical opening as it advances into the inner hole, pushing the waste section into the sealing chamber so that the cylindrical opening protrudes into the sealing chamber, and supports the product section as it retracts. The device of this invention has good sealing and containment capabilities, high reliability, and convenient operation and maintenance. This invention also provides a radioactive material production line.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention specifically relates to a sealing container welding and cutting equipment and a radioactive material production line. Background Technology

[0002] Product discharge is the final critical step in the radioactive material sealed chamber production line. Because the final product has high radioactivity and toxicity, all production processes must be carried out within a sealed chamber.

[0003] Furthermore, the product discharge process must ensure that the atmosphere inside the sealed enclosure does not leak out. Currently, the main product discharge methods include plastic bag sealing and double-cap systems. Plastic bag sealing devices can effectively solve the atmosphere maintenance problem, but due to the low strength, short lifespan, and poor safety of plastic bags, their application range is very limited. While double-cap systems can better compensate for the shortcomings of bag sealing, their complex structure, high manufacturing difficulty, higher failure rate, and numerous supporting facilities result in higher costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this invention is to address the aforementioned shortcomings in the prior art by providing a sealing container welding and cutting device. This device has good sealing and containment capabilities, a simple structure, high reliability, and is convenient for inspection, maintenance, and operation. This invention also provides a radioactive material production line.

[0005] This invention provides a sealing container welding and cutting device, including a sealing station, a welding and cutting section, and a container holding section. The welding and cutting section and the container holding section are located outside the sealing chamber. The sealing station is rotatably connected to the wall of the sealing chamber. The sealing station has an inner hole that allows the container to pass through, and the inner hole acts as a sealing sleeve for the container, driving the container to rotate. The opening of the container's cylinder protrudes into the sealing chamber through the inner hole to receive materials and a cap. The welding and cutting section is used to operate the container as it rotates with the sealing station to weld the cylinder and cap together from the outside of the container, and to cut the container from the middle of the cap to form a product section located outside the sealing chamber and a waste section located inside the inner hole. The container holding section is used to support the cylinder as it advances into the inner hole and pushes the waste section into the sealing chamber, so that the opening of the cylinder protrudes into the sealing chamber, and to support the product section as it retracts.

[0006] Furthermore, the sealing port includes a movable sleeve, a rotating flange, and a first sealing ring. The rotating flange is rotatably connected to the wall of the sealing chamber and has a through hole that allows the movable sleeve to pass through. The movable sleeve has a cylindrical structure with a central hole that is the inner hole. The movable sleeve is nested in the through hole of the rotating flange and is sealed to the rotating flange by the first sealing ring. This allows the movable sleeve to rotate synchronously with the rotating flange while moving axially relative to the rotating flange to achieve replacement of the movable sleeve.

[0007] Furthermore, the movable sleeve to be replaced is pushed by the new movable sleeve and moved axially relative to the rotating flange into the sealing chamber to achieve replacement. The first sealing ring is provided with multiple rings, each of which is distributed along the axial direction of the movable sleeve to serve as a radial seal between the movable sleeve and the rotating flange. The area between adjacent first sealing rings serves as an axial sealing transition zone when the movable sleeve is replaced.

[0008] Furthermore, the sealing station also includes a rotary mechanism, a fixed flange, and a rotary sealing device. The fixed flange is in the shape of a bushing, which penetrates and is fixedly connected to the wall of the sealing chamber. The rotary flange is rotatably sealed in the fixed flange through the rotary sealing device. The axial length of the rotary flange is greater than the axial length of the fixed flange, so that it can be connected to the rotary mechanism through a segment protruding outside the sealing chamber. Under the drive of the rotary mechanism, the movable sleeve and the container are rotated.

[0009] Furthermore, the sealing port also includes a rotating shaft cover plate, which has an annular plate structure and is connected to the end face of the fixed flange facing the inner side of the sealing chamber. The annular covering area of ​​the rotating shaft cover plate extends radially from the outer surface of the fixed flange to the inner surface of the rotating flange.

[0010] Furthermore, multiple second sealing rings are installed on the inner bore surface. Each second sealing ring is distributed along the axial direction of the inner bore to serve as multiple radial seals between the inner bore and the container. The area between adjacent second sealing rings serves as an axial sealing transition zone when the cylinder pushes the waste section to move.

[0011] Furthermore, the welding and cutting section includes a welding and cutting head, a position adjustment mechanism, and a support column. The position adjustment mechanism is arranged on the support column parallel to the axial direction of the inner hole. The driving end is connected to the welding and cutting head to drive the welding and cutting head to move sequentially along the axial direction of the inner hole to the first welding position, the second welding position, and the cutting position. The first welding position, the second welding position, and the cutting position are all located in the axial region where the inner cap of the container is located. The cutting position is located between the first welding position and the second welding position. The welding and cutting head is used to weld the cylinder and the cap at the first welding position and the second welding position, and to cut the container at the cutting position.

[0012] Furthermore, the welding and cutting head includes a first welding and cutting head and a second welding and cutting head, which are used to perform welding and cutting operations respectively. The welding and cutting part also includes a first feeding mechanism, a second feeding mechanism and a mounting base. The first feeding mechanism and the second feeding mechanism are arranged on the mounting base along intersecting straight lines, and the intersection of the arrangement directions is located on the inner hole axis. The driving ends of the first feeding mechanism and the second feeding mechanism are respectively connected to the first welding and cutting head and the second welding and cutting head to drive the first welding and cutting head and the second welding and cutting head to feed along their respective arrangement directions. The mounting base is connected to the support column through a position adjustment mechanism.

[0013] Furthermore, the container holding part includes a gripper, a base, and a holding drive assembly. The gripper is connected to the base and is used to open and close to grip and release the cylinder. The base is perpendicular to the inner hole axis and is located outside the sealed box at a position relative to the inner hole. The holding drive assembly is used to drive the base to move axially along the inner hole, so as to drive the gripper to grip and lift the cylinder into the inner hole and to hold the product segment back.

[0014] The present invention also provides a radioactive material production line, including a sealed chamber, a transport device, and the aforementioned sealed container welding and cutting device. The sealed container welding and cutting device is installed in the sealed chamber and is used to insert an empty container into the sealed chamber to receive materials and caps, and to weld and cut the container to form a product segment that seals the materials inside. The transport device is provided in two sets: one set is located inside the sealed chamber and is used to transfer materials and caps to the container body; the other set is located outside the sealed chamber and is used to transport the supply body to the sealed container welding and cutting device and to transport the product segment formed by the sealed container welding and cutting device to complete the discharge.

[0015] The sealing container welding and cutting equipment of the present invention places the welding and cutting part and the container holding part, which operate on the container, outside the sealing chamber, which facilitates the inspection and maintenance of various driving components, greatly reduces the risk of radioactive material leakage or accidental contact with personnel, and improves operational safety. The sealing station port rotates through and connects to the sealing chamber. Its inner hole serves as the core of dynamic sealing and transmission, combining the functions of a rotary bearing and dynamic sealing. It not only achieves airtight isolation of the container in the rotation state, but also simultaneously drives the container to complete welding and cutting operations, eliminating the need for an additional, complex, and potentially difficult-to-seal transmission mechanism.

[0016] When sealing materials using this equipment, the container's opening extends directly into the sealing chamber through the sealing station, while the cylindrical body remains on the outside. This effectively "protrudes" the boundary of the sealing chamber onto the container's cylindrical body, creating a protrusion that can be operated from an external device. The material and the cap are loaded directly into the cylindrical body from the controlled, isolated environment of the sealing chamber. Then, through welding and cutting, sections are formed, each sealed by a separate half of the cap. The outer section is the product section that can be directly removed and discharged, while the waste section retained in the inner hole serves as a plug to seal the inner hole before the next discharge. Therefore, the entire process ensures that the radioactive material and the environment within the sealing chamber remain in a closed state from beginning to end, eliminating the risk of exposure to the external environment. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the sealing container welding and cutting equipment in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the sealing container welding and cutting equipment in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the cross section at point AA;

[0020] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the cross-section at point BB;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the sealing station structure of the sealing container welding and cutting equipment in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the welding and cutting section structure of the sealing container welding and cutting equipment in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 7 This is another structural schematic diagram of the welding and cutting section of the sealing container welding and cutting equipment in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the container support part structure of the sealing container welding and cutting equipment in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the container cap structure of the sealing container welding and cutting equipment in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the container structure of the sealing container welding and cutting equipment in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0027] In the diagram: 1. Sealing port; 11. Inner bore; 12. Movable sleeve; 13. Rotary flange;

[0028] 14. First sealing ring; 15. Rotary mechanism; 16. Fixed flange; 161. Rotary support;

[0029] 17. Rotary sealing device; 18. Second sealing ring; 19. Shaft cover plate; 2. Welded section;

[0030] 21. Welding cutter head; 211. First welding cutter head; 212. Second welding cutter head; 22. Position adjustment mechanism; 23. Support column; 24. First feed mechanism; 25. Second feed mechanism; 26. Mounting base; 27. Laser rangefinder sensor; 3. Container holding part; 31. Gripper; 32. Base; 33. Holding drive assembly; 4. Container; 41. Cylinder; 42. Plug; 421. First handle; 422. Positioning post; 423. Second handle; 424. Hollow area; 43. Product section; 44. Waste section; 5. Sealed chamber. Detailed Implementation

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] Example 1

[0036] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the sealing container welding and cutting equipment of this embodiment includes a sealing station 1, a welding and cutting section 2, and a container holding section 3. The welding and cutting section 2 and the container holding section 3 are disposed outside the sealing chamber 5. The sealing station 1 is rotatably connected to the wall of the sealing chamber 5. The sealing station 1 is provided with an inner hole 11 that allows the container 4 to pass through, and the inner hole 11 acts as a sealing sleeve for the container 4 to drive the container 4 to rotate. The opening of the cylinder 41 of the container 4 extends into the sealing chamber 5 through the inner hole 11 to receive materials and the lid. The plug 42 and the welding and cutting part 2 are used to operate the container 4 that rotates with the sealing station 1 to weld the cylinder 41 and the plug 42 together from the outside of the container 4, and to cut the container 4 from the middle of the plug 42 to form a product section 43 located outside the sealing chamber 5 and a waste section 44 located inside the inner hole 11. The container holding part 3 is used to hold the cylinder 41 forward into the inner hole 11 and push the waste section 44 into the sealing chamber 5 so that the opening of the cylinder 41 protrudes into the sealing chamber 5, and to hold the product section 43 back.

[0037] In this embodiment, the welding and cutting section 2 and the container holding section 3, which operate on the container 4, are located outside the sealed chamber 5. This facilitates the inspection and maintenance of various drive components, greatly reduces the risk of radioactive material leakage or accidental contact with personnel, and improves operational safety. The sealing station port 1 rotates through and connects to the sealed chamber 5. Its inner hole serves as the core of dynamic sealing and transmission, combining the functions of a rotary bearing and dynamic sealing. This achieves airtight isolation of the container 4 in the rotating state while simultaneously driving the container 4 to complete welding and cutting operations, eliminating the need for an additional, complex, and potentially difficult-to-seal transmission mechanism.

[0038] When sealing materials using this equipment, the opening of container 4 extends directly into the sealing chamber 5 through the sealing station port 1, while the cylindrical body 41 is on the outside. This is equivalent to the boundary of the sealing chamber 5 "protruding" outwards onto the cylindrical body 41 of container 4, forming a protrusion that can be operated by an external device. The material and the cap 42 are directly loaded into the cylindrical body 41 from the controlled and isolated environment of the sealing chamber 5. Then, through welding and cutting, sections are formed by sealing the two halves of the cap 42. The outer section is the product section 43 that can be directly removed and discharged, while the waste section 44 that remains in the inner hole 11 serves as a plug to seal the inner hole 11 before the next discharge. It can be seen that the entire process ensures that the radioactive material and the environment inside the sealing chamber 5 are kept in a closed state from beginning to end, eliminating the risk of exposure to the external environment.

[0039] In this embodiment, the equipment is arranged vertically, meaning that the sealing port 1 is rotatably connected to the bottom wall of the sealing chamber 5, the inner hole 11 is a vertical hole, and the welding and cutting part 2 and the container holding part 3 are located below the bottom wall of the sealing chamber 5. This layout further facilitates the unloading of materials and the cap 42 into the cylinder 41, and after welding and cutting, the lower section of the container 4, as the product section 43, is directly placed on the container holding part 3.

[0040] In this embodiment, as Figure 5 As shown, the sealing port 1 includes a movable sleeve 12, a rotating flange 13, and a first sealing ring 14. The rotating flange 13 is rotatably connected to the wall of the sealing chamber 5 and has a through hole that allows the movable sleeve 12 to pass through. The movable sleeve 12 has a cylindrical structure with a central hole as an inner hole 11. The movable sleeve 12 is nested in the through hole of the rotating flange 13 and is sealed to the rotating flange 13 by the first sealing ring 14. This allows the movable sleeve 12 to move axially relative to the rotating flange 13 while rotating synchronously with the rotating flange 13, so that the movable sleeve 12 can be replaced.

[0041] This embodiment separates the rotation function from the sealing function of the inner bore 11 by nesting the movable sleeve 12 within the rotating flange 13, allowing for replacement by a separate component. This enables replacement in case of seal failure or wear failure of the inner bore 11. Furthermore, the nested structure achieves radial sealing through the first sealing ring 14 while allowing axial movement for replacement. Since the sealing ring is a vulnerable component of this equipment, easy replacement indirectly improves the reliability and maintainability of the equipment.

[0042] In this embodiment, the movable sleeve 12 to be replaced is pushed axially relative to the rotating flange 13 by the new movable sleeve 12 and moved into the sealing chamber 5 to achieve replacement. Multiple first sealing rings 14 are provided, each distributed axially along the movable sleeve 12 to serve as a radial seal between the movable sleeve 12 and the rotating flange 13. The area between adjacent first sealing rings 14 serves as an axial sealing transition zone during the replacement of the movable sleeve 12. This axial replacement method, where the new movable sleeve 12 pushes the old movable sleeve 12, avoids direct manual contact with contaminated components. The multiple axially distributed first sealing rings 14 form multiple radial sealing barriers, and the transition zone between adjacent sealing rings maintains a segmented sealing effect during replacement, ensuring continuous airtightness during replacement and reducing the risk of single-point failure.

[0043] In this embodiment, the sealing port 1 further includes a rotary mechanism 15, a fixed flange 16, and a rotary sealing device 17. The fixed flange 16 is sleeve-shaped, penetrating and fixedly connected to the wall of the sealing chamber 5. The rotary flange 13 is rotatably and sealingly fitted into the fixed flange 16 via the rotary sealing device 17. The axial length of the rotary flange 13 is greater than the axial length of the fixed flange 16, so that it can be connected to the rotary mechanism 15 through a segment protruding outside the sealing chamber 5. Driven by the rotary mechanism 15, the movable sleeve 12 and the container 4 are rotated. The sleeve-shaped design of the fixed flange 16 provides a stable rotary support foundation. The sleeve structure of the fixed flange 16 and the rotary flange 13, together with the rotary sealing device 17, realizes a reliable connection between the rotary dynamic seal and the static chamber wall. The extended design of the rotary flange 13 allows its exposed end to connect to the rotary mechanism 15, isolating the drive source outside the chamber, ensuring transmission stability and preventing contamination of the drive components. Specifically, a gear ring or similar method can be used for peripheral surface rotary drive. The rotary sealing device 17 in this embodiment can be a magnetohydrodynamic sealing device.

[0044] In this embodiment, the sealing port 1 further includes a rotating shaft cover plate 19. The rotating shaft cover plate 19 has an annular plate-like structure and is connected to the end face of the fixed flange 16 facing the inner side of the sealing chamber 5. The annular covering area of ​​the rotating shaft cover plate 19 extends radially from the outer surface of the fixed flange 16 to the inner surface of the rotating flange 13. The annular rotating shaft cover plate 19 spans the joint area between the fixed flange 16 and the rotating flange 13, forming a radially covering supplementary sealing surface, effectively sealing the flange assembly gap, preventing radioactive particles from leaking out of the chamber from the rotating joint, and improving the reliability of the static seal.

[0045] The welding and cutting section 2 requires cables for deployment and matching. In this embodiment, a layout scheme is adopted in which the sealed station port 1 drives the container 4 to rotate and the welding and cutting head 21 is relatively stationary. This can effectively avoid the bending, snagging, fatigue damage and other situations caused by the cable moving.

[0046] In this embodiment, multiple second sealing rings 18 are installed on the surface of the inner bore 11. Each second sealing ring 18 is distributed axially along the inner bore 11 to provide multiple radial seals between the inner bore 11 and the container 4. The area between adjacent second sealing rings 18 serves as an axial sealing transition zone when the cylinder 41 pushes the waste section 44. The multiple second sealing rings 18 axially distributed on the surface of the inner bore 11 form a segmented radial seal, accommodating the axial displacement of the container 4 cylinder 41 during the pushing process. The transition zone between adjacent sealing rings allows for step-by-step switching of sealing points during the movement of the waste section, avoiding seal failure caused by single-point wear, while maintaining airtightness throughout the pushing process. In this embodiment, at least three first sealing rings 14 and two sealing rings 18 are provided.

[0047] In this embodiment, the welding and cutting section 2 includes a welding and cutting head 21, a position adjustment mechanism 22, and a support column 23. The position adjustment mechanism 22 is arranged parallel to the axial direction of the inner hole 11 on the support column 23. The driving end is connected to the welding and cutting head 21 to drive the welding and cutting head 21 to move sequentially along the axial direction of the inner hole 11 to the first welding position, the second welding position, and the cutting position. Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, the first welding position, the second welding position, and the cutting position are all located in the axial region of the inner cap 42 of the container 4. The cutting position is located between the first welding position and the second welding position. The welding-cutting head 21 is used to weld the cylinder 41 and the cap 42 at the first welding position and the second welding position, and to cut the container 4 at the cutting position. The welding-cutting head 21 achieves integrated switching between welding and cutting positions through the axial position adjustment mechanism 22, concentrating the first welding position, the second welding position, and the intermediate cutting position in the container cap area. The multi-station operation of the single welding-cutting head 21 reduces the space occupied by the equipment. The axial movement path is consistent with the axis of the container 4, ensuring processing accuracy and avoiding multiple positioning errors. In this embodiment, the welding-cutting head 21 is a laser head. In other embodiments, a plasma welding head can also be used as appropriate.

[0048] In this embodiment, the welding and cutting head 21 includes a first welding and cutting head 211 and a second welding and cutting head 212, which are used to perform welding and cutting operations respectively. The functions of the first welding and cutting head 211 and the second welding and cutting head 212 are interchangeable, that is, the welding and cutting functions can be switched, which is equivalent to a backup structure for each other, increasing the reliability of the equipment.

[0049] The welding and cutting section 2 also includes a first feed mechanism 24, a second feed mechanism 25, and a mounting base 26. The first feed mechanism 24 and the second feed mechanism 25 are arranged on the mounting base 26 along intersecting straight lines, such as... Figure 4 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the intersection of the arrangement directions is located on the axis of the inner hole 11. The drive ends of the first feed mechanism 24 and the second feed mechanism 25 are respectively connected to the first welding cutter head 211 and the second welding cutter head 212 to drive the first welding cutter head 211 and the second welding cutter head 212 to feed along their respective arrangement directions. The mounting base 26 is connected to the support column 23 through the position adjustment mechanism 22. The first welding cutter head 211 and the second welding cutter head 212 are used separately for welding and cutting, improving process quality. The cross-arranged feed mechanisms make the movement trajectories of the two welding cutter heads intersect on the axis of the inner hole 11, achieving precise spatial positioning.

[0050] In this embodiment, the welding and cutting section 2 can also be equipped with a laser range sensor 27. The laser range sensor 27 is mounted on the mounting base 26 and is used to sense the distance between the first welding and cutting head 211, the second welding and cutting head 212 and the container 4.

[0051] In this embodiment, as Figure 8 As shown, the container holding part 3 includes a gripper 31, a base 32, and a holding drive assembly 33. The gripper 31 is connected to the base 32 and is used to open and close to grip and release the cylinder 41. The base 32 is perpendicular to the axis of the inner hole 11 and is located outside the sealed chamber 5 at a position opposite to the inner hole 11. The holding drive assembly 33 is used to drive the base 32 to move axially along the inner hole 11, so as to drive the gripper 31 to grip and lift the cylinder 41 into the inner hole 11 and to hold the product section 43 back. The combined action of the opening and closing of the gripper 31 and the movement of the base 32 realizes the fully automatic gripping, pushing, and retraction of the cylinder 41 and the product section 43. The vertical axis design of the base 32 ensures that the pushing direction is precisely aligned with the inner hole 11, the gripping force of the gripper 31 prevents the cylinder 41 from deviating, and the axial stroke control of the holding drive assembly 33 ensures the accuracy of the pushing displacement of the waste section 44. In this embodiment, the container support part 3 is arranged vertically directly below the inner hole 11 to support the container 4 for lifting and lowering.

[0052] In this embodiment, the cap 42 of the container 4 includes a first handle 421, a positioning post 422, a second handle 423, and a hollow region 424. The cap 42 is a double-layered hollow cap structure with a hollow region 424. The first handle 421 is located on the top layer, and the second handle 423 is located on the bottom layer below the hollow region 424. The first handle 421 is used to grasp the hollow cap and place it into the open-top sealed container 4; the second handle 423 is used to facilitate grasping the lower section of the sealed container 4 after the welding and cutting operation is completed. The positioning post 422 is connected below the bottom layer and is used to abut against the material inside the container 4 to determine the placement height of the hollow cap in the open-top sealed container 4. The cap 42 is divided into three heights from top to bottom: the first height is located on the top layer as the first welding position, the third height is located on the bottom layer as the second welding position, and the second height is located in the hollow region as the cutting position. The hollow region 424 is set during the manufacturing of the hollow cap to ensure a clean cutting atmosphere after welding and cutting.

[0053] In general, the equipment in this embodiment can be used for the safe transfer of highly hazardous items such as radioactive or toxic materials from a sealed chamber, belonging to the field of welding and sealing technology. It mainly involves the sealed chamber 5, the rotary sealing station 1, the laser welding and cutting section 2, the container holding section 3, the sealed container 4 itself, and the adaptive connection and control electrical control system, which may include components such as a control console, control cabinet, and cables. The rotary sealing station 1 is installed on the bottom plate of the sealed chamber 5, and the rotary sealing station 1 and the sealed container 4 together form the sealing boundary of the chamber bottom plate. The sealed container 4 is installed inside the rotary sealing station 1, and the interior of the container 4 communicates with the interior space of the chamber, allowing it to hold and accommodate items inside the chamber. By placing a hollow plug (cap 42) inside the container 4 and performing laser welding and cutting operations on the hollow plug and the container 4 from the outside, the items can be sealed in the lower section of the container 4 to complete the transfer out of the chamber, while the upper section of the container 4 continues to maintain a seal with the station, preventing leakage of the chamber atmosphere. This equipment solves the problem of safely transferring highly dangerous items such as radioactive and toxic materials from sealed chamber 5. The device also has the advantages of simple construction, compact structure, high reliability, and convenient inspection and maintenance.

[0054] When using this equipment to process container 4, a preparation process is first performed. The upper waste section 44 of the previous welded and cut container 4 is in the inner hole 11 of the rotary sealing station 1. No new container 4 is placed on the base 32. The support drive assembly 33 is in the low position of the lifting stroke, and the gripper 31 is in the loose state.

[0055] At the start of processing, the cup insertion is performed first, that is, the new open container 4 (i.e., cylinder 41) is placed on the container base 32 and clamped and fixed by the gripper 31. At this time, the center of container 4 coincides with the center of the inner hole 11 of the rotary sealing station 1 in the projection direction.

[0056] Afterwards, the container is lifted, and the base 32 is driven to rise by the container lifting module (support drive assembly 33). The container 4 can be pushed into the inner hole 11 of the station opening, and the outer wall of the container 4 forms a sealed enclosure boundary with the inner elastic sealing ring (second sealing ring 18) of the rotary sealing station opening 1. The new container 4 pushes the waste section 44 generated in the previous step into the sealing station opening 1, and the new container 4 enters the state of waiting to be filled. Then, the filling and plugging are carried out. The transfer device inside the sealing chamber 5 transfers the items to the sealing container 4 and transfers and loads the hollow plug into the sealing container 4. Inside the chamber, the items to be transferred are first placed into the container 4, and then the hollow plug is placed into the container 4. In this embodiment, the internal processing dimensions of the container 4 can be controlled so that the hollow plug can stay at a certain fixed height of the container 4, and the outer diameter of the hollow plug can be controlled so that the hollow plug and the inner surface of the container 4 can move in and out flexibly. At the same time, it is ensured that the two are in a close fit.

[0057] Next, welding and cutting are performed. The movable sleeve 12 of the sealing station 1 and the rotating flange 13 can drive the container 4 to rotate centrally via the rotary mechanism 15. A rotary support 161, such as a bearing pair, can be rotatably connected between the fixed flange 16 and the rotating flange 13, and a rotary seal enclosure boundary is formed through the magnetohydrodynamic rotary sealing device 17. After the first welding cutter 211 is adjusted to a suitable position by the first feed mechanism 24 and the position adjustment mechanism 22 (which can be combined with the use of the laser range sensor 27, the rotary mechanism 15, and each feed mechanism to ensure that the welding cutter 21 and the outer surface of the container 4 always maintain a relatively fixed distance), arc welding is initiated to complete the first weld seal between the new cylinder 41 and the cap 42; then, it is fed along the axial direction of the sealed container 4, and the arc welding process is repeated to complete the second weld seal between the cylinder 41 and the cap 42. After that, the first welding cutter 211 is withdrawn, and the sealed container stops rotating. The second welding cutter 212 is adjusted to a suitable position by the second feeding mechanism 25 and the position adjustment mechanism 22, ready to cut. The rotating flange 13 rotates the container 4, so that the second welding cutter 212 completes the cutting work on the cylinder 41 and the cap 42. The cutting position is in the middle of the two welds. After cutting, the upper part of the container 4 forms a waste section 44, and the lower part forms a product section 43, which serves as a complete sealed container containing the items.

[0058] Finally, during discharge, the gripper 31 clamps the product segment 43, supporting the drive assembly 33, which in turn drives the base 32 and the product segment 43 to descend to the lowest position. The gripper 31 then releases, completing the discharge from container 4. The waste segment 44 remains inside the station opening, forming a sealed boundary between the container and the inner elastic sealing ring of the station opening.

[0059] When a new container 4 cylinder 41 is placed on the base 32 and lifted into the station opening, the new cylinder 41 will push the waste section 44 formed by the previous welding and cutting operation into the sealed chamber 5. Since the number of inner elastic sealing rings of the station opening is ≥3, the sealing and containment boundary of the chamber will never be damaged during the process of the new cylinder 41 being pushed into the station opening and the waste section 44 formed by the previous welding and cutting operation being pushed into the sealed chamber 5.

[0060] In summary, the device in this embodiment has good sealing and containment capabilities, and can effectively maintain the atmosphere in the sealed chamber; it has a simple structure, low failure rate, and high reliability; in the event of a failure, it can perform rapid inspection and maintenance operations; the main drive components and electrical control cables are located outside the chamber, without the need for additional penetration through the chamber.

[0061] Example 2

[0062] The radioactive material production line of this embodiment includes a sealed chamber 5, transport equipment, and the sealed container welding and cutting equipment from Embodiment 1. The sealed container welding and cutting equipment is installed in the sealed chamber 5 to insert an empty container 4 cylinder 41 into the sealed chamber 5 to receive materials and a cap 42, and to weld and cut the container 4 to form a product segment 43 that seals the materials inside. Two sets of transport equipment are provided: one set is located inside the sealed chamber 5 to transfer materials and caps 42 to the container 4 cylinder 41, and the other set is located outside the sealed chamber 5 to transport the supply cylinder 41 to the sealed container welding and cutting equipment, and to transport the product segment 43 formed by the sealed container welding and cutting equipment for discharge. The transport equipment built into the sealed chamber 5 realizes the closed transport of radioactive materials and caps 42, and works in conjunction with the welding and cutting equipment to complete the entire process of material filling, sealing, and cutting. The two sets of transport equipment can be equipped with different clamping components or action structures depending on their respective functions and the items being transported; they are not completely identical equipment. External transport equipment connects the cylinder 41 supply and the product section discharge, forming an automated closed-loop production of radioactive materials from empty cylinders to sealed products, minimizing human intervention and the risk of contamination exposure.

[0063] 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 sealing container welding and cutting device, characterized in that: It includes a sealing port (1), a welding and cutting section (2), and a container holding section (3), with the welding and cutting section (2) and the container holding section (3) located outside the sealing chamber (5). The sealing port (1) is rotatably connected to the wall of the sealing chamber (5). The sealing port (1) is provided with an inner hole (11) that allows the container (4) to pass through, and the inner hole (11) serves as a sealing sleeve for the container (4) to drive the container (4) to rotate. The opening of the cylindrical body (41) of the container (4) extends into the sealed chamber (5) through the inner hole (11) to receive materials and the cap (42). The welding and cutting section (2) is used to operate the container (4) that rotates with the sealing station (1) to weld the cylinder (41) and the cap (42) from the outside of the container (4) and to cut the container (4) from the middle of the cap (42) to form a product section (43) located outside the sealing chamber (5) and a waste section (44) located inside the inner hole (11). The container holding part (3) is used to hold the cylinder (41) forward into the inner hole (11) and push the waste section (44) into the sealed chamber (5) so that the opening of the cylinder (41) protrudes into the sealed chamber (5) and the product holding part (43) retracts. The sealing port (1) includes a movable sleeve (12), a rotating flange (13), and a first sealing ring (14). A rotating flange (13) is rotatably connected to the wall of the sealed chamber (5) and has a through hole that allows the movable sleeve (12) to pass through. The movable sleeve (12) has a cylindrical structure, and the central hole is the inner hole (11). The movable sleeve (12) is nested in the through hole of the rotary flange (13) and is sealed to the rotary flange (13) by the first sealing ring (14), so that the movable sleeve (12) can rotate synchronously with the rotary flange (13) while allowing the movable sleeve (12) to move axially relative to the rotary flange (13) to achieve replacement of the movable sleeve (12).

2. The sealing container welding and cutting equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The movable sleeve (12) to be replaced is pushed by the new movable sleeve (12) and moved axially relative to the rotating flange (13) into the sealing chamber (5) to achieve replacement. The first sealing ring (14) is provided with multiple rings, and each first sealing ring (14) is distributed along the axial direction of the movable sleeve (12) to serve as a radial seal between the movable sleeve (12) and the rotating flange (13), and the area between adjacent first sealing rings (14) serves as an axial sealing transition area when the movable sleeve (12) is replaced.

3. The sealing container welding and cutting equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing port (1) also includes a rotary mechanism (15), a fixed flange (16), and a rotary sealing device (17). The fixed flange (16) is in the shape of a bushing, penetrating and fixedly connected to the wall of the sealed chamber (5). The rotating flange (13) is rotatably sealed in the fixed flange (16) by the rotary sealing device (17). The axial length of the rotating flange (13) is greater than the axial length of the fixed flange (16). The rotating mechanism (15) is connected to the rotating mechanism (15) through a segment protruding outside the sealing chamber (5). Under the drive of the rotating mechanism (15), the movable sleeve (12) and the container (4) are rotated.

4. The sealing container welding and cutting equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that: The sealing port (1) also includes a rotating cover plate (19), which is an annular plate structure and is connected to the end face of the fixed flange (16) facing the inner side of the sealing chamber (5). The annular covering area of ​​the rotating cover plate (19) extends radially from the outer surface of the fixed flange (16) to the inner surface of the rotating flange (13).

5. The sealing container welding and cutting equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: Multiple second sealing rings (18) are installed on the surface of the inner hole (11). Each second sealing ring (18) is distributed along the axial direction of the inner hole (11) to serve as multiple radial seals between the inner hole (11) and the container (4). The area between adjacent second sealing rings (18) serves as an axial sealing transition zone when the cylinder (41) pushes the waste section (44) to move.

6. The sealing container welding and cutting equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The welding and cutting section (2) includes a welding and cutting head (21), a position adjustment mechanism (22), and a support column (23). The position adjustment mechanism (22) is arranged on the support column (23) parallel to the axial direction of the inner hole (11). The drive end is connected to the welding and cutting head (21) to drive the welding and cutting head (21) to move sequentially to the first welding position, the second welding position and the cutting position along the axial direction of the inner hole (11). The first welding position, the second welding position, and the cutting position are all located in the axial region of the inner cap (42) of the container (4). The cutting position is located between the first welding position and the second welding position. The welding cutter (21) is used to weld the cylinder (41) and the cap (42) at the first welding position and the second welding position, and to cut the container (4) at the cutting position.

7. The sealing container welding and cutting equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that: The welding and cutting head (21) includes a first welding and cutting head (211) and a second welding and cutting head (212), which are used to perform welding and cutting operations, respectively. The welding and cutting section (2) also includes a first feeding mechanism (24), a second feeding mechanism (25), and a mounting base (26). The first feed mechanism (24) and the second feed mechanism (25) are arranged on the mounting base (26) along intersecting straight lines, and the intersection of their arrangement directions is located on the axis of the inner hole (11). The driving ends of the first feed mechanism (24) and the second feed mechanism (25) are respectively connected to the first welding cutter (211) and the second welding cutter (212) to drive the first welding cutter (211) and the second welding cutter (212) to feed along their respective arrangement directions. The mounting base (26) is connected to the support column (23) via the position adjustment mechanism (22).

8. The sealing container welding and cutting equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The container holding part (3) includes a gripper (31), a base (32), and a holding drive assembly (33). The gripper (31) is attached to the base (32) and is used to open and close to grip and release the cylinder (41). The base (32) is perpendicular to the axis of the inner hole (11) and is located outside the sealed chamber (5) at a position opposite to the inner hole (11). The support drive assembly (33) is used to drive the base (32) to move axially along the inner hole (11) so as to drive the gripper (31) to clamp and lift the cylinder (41) into the inner hole (11) and the support product section (43) to retract.

9. A production line for radioactive materials, characterized in that: Includes a sealed chamber (5), transport equipment, and the sealing container welding and cutting equipment as described in any one of claims 1 to 8. The sealing container welding and cutting equipment is installed in the sealing chamber (5) to insert the empty container (4) cylinder (41) into the sealing chamber (5) to receive the material and the cap (42), and to weld and cut the container (4) to form a product section (43) that seals the material inside. The transport equipment is provided in two sets. One set is located inside the sealed chamber (5) for transferring materials and caps (42) to the container (4) cylinder (41). The other set is located outside the sealed chamber (5) for transporting the supply cylinder (41) to the sealed container welding and cutting equipment, and for transporting the product segment (43) formed by the sealed container welding and cutting equipment to complete the discharge.

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