Sample holder

Abstract

A sample holder that allows for easy sample replacement and is not likely to come apart inside a fluorescent X-ray analyzer is provided. [Solution] A sample holder for fluorescent X-ray analysis, comprising a cylindrical body (212) with a hole partially formed on the upper end surface and an open lower end, a tray (204) arranged inside the cylindrical body and on which the sample is placed, an elastic body (206) that urges the tray upward, and a support member (208) made of resin, with a claw (218) at the end and a bow (220) that elastically deforms inward when pressed, that contacts the lower end of the elastic body, and the cylindrical body is formed with a fitting portion into which the claw fits, and an exposed portion (216) where part of the bow is exposed to the outside.

Description

Technical Field

[0004] , , , , , , , , ,

[0005]

[0001] This invention relates to a sample holder.

Background Art

[0002] As a device for measuring the elements contained in a sample and the concentration of the elements, there is a fluorescent X-ray analyzer. When performing measurement using a fluorescent X-ray analyzer, a sample holder may be used. For example, a sample holder having a configuration in which a pressing lid is placed over a sample to fix the sample placed on a tray inside a case is known (see Patent Documents 1 to 3 below).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Conventional sample holders have adopted methods such as screwing (Patent Document 1 above), screwing (Patent Document 2 above), or fitting a plunger into a groove (Patent Document 3 above) as a method of fixing the case and the pressing lid.

[0005] In the case of a configuration fixed by screwing or screwing, every time the sample is exchanged, it is necessary to rotate the pressing lid or the screw many times, which is time-consuming. In addition, screwing or screwing may loosen due to vibration, and there is a possibility that the sample holder may come apart inside the fluorescent X-ray analyzer. In the case of a configuration in which a plunger is fitted into a groove, there is also a possibility that the plunger may come out of the groove inside the fluorescent X-ray analyzer and the sample holder may come apart, and there is also a problem that the component price is high.

[0006] This disclosure has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide an inexpensive sample holder that allows for easy sample replacement and prevents the sample from becoming disorganized inside the X-ray fluorescence analyzer. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) A sample holder for X-ray fluorescence analysis according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a cylindrical body having a hole partially provided on its upper end surface and an open lower end; a tray disposed inside the cylindrical body on which a sample is placed; an elastic body that biases the tray upward; and a support member made of resin, having a bow-shaped portion with claws at its end that elastically deforms inward when pressed, and in contact with the lower end of the elastic body, wherein the cylindrical body has a fitting portion into which the claws fit and an exposed portion into which a part of the bow-shaped portion is exposed to the outside.

[0008] (2) In the above embodiment of the present disclosure, the cylindrical body is characterized by having a cylindrical body and an upper body having a hole.

[0009] (3) In the above embodiment of the present disclosure, the cylindrical body is characterized in that it is integrally formed.

[0010] (4) In the above embodiment of the present disclosure, the tray is further characterized in that the surface on which the sample is placed has a recess on which the sample is placed.

[0011] (5) In the above embodiment of the present disclosure, the tray has a protrusion on its bottom surface, and the upper end of the elastic body fits with the protrusion of the tray.

[0012] (6) In the above embodiment of the present disclosure, the support member has a claw-shaped locking portion, and the lower end of the elastic body is locked by the locking portion of the support member.

[0013] (7) In the above aspect of the present disclosure, the sample holder further has a bottom plate disposed below the support member, which is characterized in that.

[0014] (8) In the above aspect of the present disclosure, the cylindrical body, the tray, and the bottom plate are formed of metal, which is characterized in that.

[0015] (9) In the above aspect of the present disclosure, the cylindrical body, the tray, and the bottom plate are formed of an alloy mainly composed of aluminum, which is characterized in that.

[0016] (10) In the above aspect of the present disclosure, the fitting portion is a recess into which the claw portion fits, which is characterized in that.

[0017] (11) In the above aspect of the present disclosure, the exposed portion is a notch where a part of the bow portion is exposed to the outside, which is characterized in that.

Advantages of the Invention

[0018] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a sample holder in which the sample replacement operation is simple and there is no risk of scattering inside the X-ray fluorescence analyzer.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] It is a plan view of the sample holder. [Figure 2] It is a view showing each component of the sample holder. [Figure 3] It is a bottom view of the sample holder. [Figure 4] It is a view showing the IV-IV cross section of the sample holder. [Figure 5] It is a view showing the V-V cross section of the sample holder. [Figure 6] It is a view showing a state where the sample holder is installed on the sample stage of an upper surface irradiation type X-ray fluorescence analyzer.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment for implementing the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a top view of the sample holder 100. FIG. 2 is a view showing each component of the sample holder 100, which is a view of the sample holder disassembled in the vertical direction. FIG. 3(a) is a bottom view of the sample holder 100 with the bottom plate 210 removed, and FIG. 3(b) is a bottom view of the sample holder 100 with the bottom plate 210 attached. FIG. 4 is a view showing the IV-IV cross section of FIG. 3(b). FIG. 5 is a view showing the V-V cross section of FIG. 3(b). As shown in FIG. 2, the sample holder 100 includes a cylindrical body 202, a tray 204, an elastic body 206, and a support member 208. Note that the sample holder 100 may have a bottom plate 210.

[0021] The cylindrical body 202 has a hole partially provided on the upper end surface and an open lower end. Further, the cylindrical body 202 is formed with a fitting portion 404 into which a claw portion 218 (described later) fits, and an exposed portion 216 where a part of an arch portion 220 (described later) is exposed to the outside. Specifically, for example, the cylindrical body 202 has a cylindrical barrel 212 and an upper surface body 214 provided with a hole, and the upper surface body 214 disposed on the barrel 212 is fixed with screws. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper surface body 214 has a hole through which the sample 402 is exposed at the central portion and has a disk-like shape. The upper surface body 214 is a so-called sample mask for preventing unnecessary X-rays from irradiating the portion of the sample 402 that is not analyzed. The cylindrical body 202 may be one in which the upper surface body 214 having different hole diameters is exchanged and attached to the barrel 212. As shown in FIG. 4, the fitting portion 404 is, for example, a depression into which the claw portion 218 fits. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the exposed portion 216 is a notch where a part of the arch portion 220 is exposed to the outside. Note that, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the barrel 212 may be provided with holes on the side surface that function as air holes when measurement is performed in a vacuum environment, but these holes may not be provided. Further, the cylindrical body 202 may be integrally formed without being separated into the barrel 212 and the upper surface body 214.

[0022] The receiving tray 204 is positioned inside the cylindrical body 202, and the sample 402 is placed on it. Specifically, the receiving tray 204 has a disc-like shape with an outer diameter approximately the same as the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 212. Also, as shown in Figure 4, the receiving tray 204 has a convex portion on its bottom surface that fits into the upper end of the elastic body 206. Furthermore, the receiving tray 204 may have a recess on the surface on which the sample 402 is placed, on which the sample 402 is placed. Note that in Figure 4, since the sample 402 is solid and larger than the diameter of the recess, there is a space between the sample 402 and the receiving tray 204 (above the recess). If the sample 402 is a powder or smaller than the diameter of the recess, the sample 402 is placed in the recess.

[0023] The elastic body 206 biases the receiving tray 204 upward. Specifically, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, for example, the elastic body 206 is a spring. The lower end of the elastic body 206 is locked by the locking portion 228 of the support member 208, and the upper end of the elastic body 206 fits with the protrusion of the receiving tray 204. As a result, the elastic body 206 biases the receiving tray 204 toward the upper body 214.

[0024] The support member 208 is made of resin and can be mass-produced inexpensively. For example, the support member 208 may be injection-molded from PEEK (Poly Ether Ether Ketone) resin, which has high mechanical strength and high resistance to X-rays. The support member 208 has a claw portion 218 at its end and an arch portion 220 that elastically deforms inward when pressed, and contacts the lower end of the elastic body 206. Specifically, for example, as shown in Figure 3(a), the support member 208 has a base portion 222 near the center and an arch portion 220 that extends from the base portion 222 along the inner wall of the cylindrical body 202, and is made of an elastically deformable resin. The arch portion 220 also has a curved portion 224 that elastically deforms inward when pressed, a claw portion 218 provided at the tip of the curved portion 224, and a pressing portion 226 to which force is applied from the outside. Two arch portions 220 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the base portion 222. As shown in Figure 4, the support member 208 is fixed to the cylindrical body 202 by fitting two claw portions 218 into recesses (fitting portions 404) provided in the cylindrical body 212. At this time, as shown in Figure 5, two pressing portions 226 are exposed from notches provided in the cylindrical body 212. The two pressing portions 226 are positioned opposite the center of the base portion 222 and are pressed inward by the user when removing the support member 208 from the cylindrical body 202. The curved portion 224 is formed thin so as to elastically deform inward when pressed, so when the two pressing portions 226 are pressed inward, the two curved portions 224 each curve inward of the cylindrical body 202. When the two curved portions 224 each curve inward of the cylindrical body 202, the claw portions 218 are disengaged from the recesses (fitting portions 404) provided in the cylindrical body 212. In this state, the support member 208 and the cylindrical body 202 can be separated, allowing the support member 208 to be removed from the cylindrical body 202.

[0025] Furthermore, the support member 208 has a claw-shaped locking portion 228 that locks the lower end of the elastic body 206. Specifically, as shown in Figure 2 for example, the base portion 222 has two claw-shaped locking portions 228 near the end of the surface facing the elastic body 206. The two locking portions 228 are positioned at a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the elastic body 206 on the support member 208 side. The positional relationship between the elastic body 206 and the support member 208 is fixed when the support member 208 side is locked into the claws of the locking portion 228.

[0026] Furthermore, the support member 208 has a screw hole 302 on the side facing the bottom plate 210 for fixing the bottom plate 210.

[0027] The base plate 210 is positioned below the support member 208. Specifically, the base plate 210 has a disc-like shape with a diameter approximately the same as the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 202. The base plate 210 also has a hole 230 at a position corresponding to the screw hole 302 provided in the support member 208. The base plate 210 is fixed to the support member 208 by a screw that passes through the hole in the base plate 210 and the screw hole 302 provided in the support member 208.

[0028] The cylindrical body 202, the tray 204, and the bottom plate 210 are made of metal. Specifically, for example, the cylindrical body 202, the tray 204, and the bottom plate 210 are made of an alloy mainly composed of aluminum. Since an alloy mainly composed of aluminum is lighter than the conventional sample holder 100 made of stainless steel, the weight can be reduced. Note that "mainly composed of aluminum" means, for example, that aluminum is the element with the highest content among the elements that make up the cylindrical body 202, the tray 204, and the bottom plate 210. Alternatively, it may mean that the aluminum content in the cylindrical body 202, the tray 204, and the bottom plate 210 is a predetermined percentage (for example, a mass percentage concentration of 10%) or more.

[0029] As described above, the tray 204 is fitted with the elastic body 206, the elastic body 206 is locked to the support member 208, and the bottom plate 210 is fixed to the support member 208. The support member 208 is then fixed to the cylindrical body 202 by fitting the claw portion 218 of the support member 208 into the recess (fitting portion 404) of the cylindrical body 202. The user can remove the support member 208 from the cylindrical body 202 by pressing the pressing portion 226 and separating the support member 208 from the cylindrical body 202, thereby removing the sample 402 placed on the tray 204. Separating the support 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 bolts. Therefore, according to this disclosure, the sample 402 can be easily replaced.

[0030] Furthermore, by positioning the bottom plate 210 on the lower surface of the support member 208, deterioration of the support member 208 can be reduced. Specifically, Figure 6 shows the sample holder 100 according to this disclosure installed on the sample stage 602 of a top-irradiation type X-ray fluorescence analyzer. The sample holder 100 is positioned in a hole provided in the sample stage 602. Since the support member 208 is made of resin so as to be elastically deformable, it deteriorates more significantly due to X-ray exposure than other components made of metal. However, according to this disclosure, the support member 208 is positioned between the tray 204 and the bottom plate 210, and the part other than the pressing portion 226 is surrounded by the cylindrical body 202, the tray 204, and the bottom plate 210. Also, since the pressing portion 226 is positioned at the lower end of the sample holder 100, the pressing portion 226 exposed from the cylindrical body 202 is located below the hole in the sample stage 602. While the X-ray fluorescence analyzer is irradiating the sample 402 with X-rays, X-rays are present inside the measurement chamber traveling in various directions. However, the X-rays irradiating the sample 402 are the main ones (high intensity), and X-rays irradiating below the hole in the sample stage 602 are rare (low intensity). Therefore, the intensity of the X-rays irradiating the exposed pressing part 226 is weak. Accordingly, this disclosure configuration can reduce the deterioration of the support member 208 due to X-rays. Furthermore, by covering the lower surface of the sample holder 100 with the bottom plate 210, contamination of the inside of the X-ray fluorescence analyzer by powder that has peeled off or chipped from the sample 402 can be prevented. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0031] 100 Sample holder, 202 Cylindrical body, 204 Receiving tray, 206 Elastic body, 208 Support member, 210 Bottom plate, 212 Cylindrical body, 214 Top body, 216 Exposed part, 218 Claw part, 220 Bow part, 222 Base part, 224 Curved part, 226 Pressing part, 228 Locking part, 230 Hole provided in the bottom plate, 302 Screw hole, 402 Sample, 404 Fitting part, 602 Sample stage.

Claims

1. a cylindrical body having a hole partially formed in an upper end surface and an open lower end; a tray disposed inside the cylindrical body and on which a sample is placed; an elastic body that urges the tray upward; a support member made of resin, having a claw portion at an end thereof and a bow portion that is elastically deformed inward when pressed, the support member being in contact with the lower end of the elastic body; and A sample holder for fluorescent X-ray analysis, characterized in that the cylindrical body is formed with a fitting portion into which the claw portion fits and an exposed portion where a part of the bow portion is exposed to the outside.

2. 2. The sample holder according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body has a cylindrical body and an upper body having a hole.

3. 2. The sample holder of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body is integrally formed.

4. 4. The sample holder according to claim 1, wherein the tray further has a recess on the surface on which the sample is placed, in which the sample is placed.

5. The tray has a convex portion on the bottom surface, The upper end of the elastic body is fitted into the protrusion of the tray.

4. A sample holder according to claim 1.

6. The support member has a claw-shaped engaging portion, A lower end of the elastic body is locked by the locking portion of the support member.

4. A sample holder according to claim 1.

7. 4. The sample holder according to claim 1, further comprising a bottom plate disposed below the support member.

8. 8. The sample holder according to claim 7, wherein the cylindrical body, the tray, and the bottom plate are made of metal.

9. 9. The sample holder according to claim 8, wherein the cylindrical body, the tray, and the bottom plate are made of an alloy containing aluminum as a main component.

10. 4. The sample holder according to claim 1, wherein the fitting portion is a recess into which the claw portion fits.

11. 4. The sample holder according to claim 1, wherein the exposed portion is a notch that exposes a part of the bow portion to the outside.

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