Sampling Device

Abstract

To provide a sampling device capable of sampling a sample with a simple configuration. The sampling device (10) includes a collection container (30) for receiving a sample, a shaft (50) that supports the collection container (30) at its tip and is rotatable about a central axis extending in the longitudinal direction, a forward / backward drive unit that moves the shaft (50) forward and backward, and an inversion mechanism (70) that inverts the shaft (50) about its central axis when the collection container (30) passes through a predetermined section. The inversion mechanism (70) includes guided members (72a, 72b) that extend radially outward from the shaft (50), and a cylindrical guide member (74) into which the shaft (50) fits.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sampling device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a sampling device that prevents scattering of sample dust and adhesion and residue of collected samples, thereby preventing mixing of collected samples and obtaining correct collected samples each time. This sampling device involves protruding a spoon from the spoon outlet to scoop up and pull in the sample, then inverting the spoon to drop the sample into a sample tray through the sample drop port, and is characterized by the following: doors are provided at the spoon outlet and sample drop port, which seal the spoon except when the spoon is being protruded or the sample is being dropped; a spoon hammer is provided to strike the spoon when the spoon is inverted; and a sample tray lifting device is provided to raise the sample tray to make it close to the sample drop port when the sample is being dropped into the sample tray.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a spoon-type sampling device in which a spoon-shaped sampling tool is attached to the tip of a rotating arm, a crushed material sample is collected using the sampling tool, the rotating arm is rotated to guide the sampling tool to a required position, and the crushed material sample inside the sampling tool is dispensed to the required position. This spoon-shaped sampling device is characterized in that the sampling tool is provided with a compressed air ejection hole, and compressed air from this ejection hole is used to blow away any adhering matter such as crushed powder and moisture on the inner surface of the sampling tool. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 4-126141 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-106955 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a sampling device that can sample a sample with a simple configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The invention described in claim 1 is a sampling device comprising a collection container for receiving a sample, a shaft that supports the collection container at its tip and can rotate around a central axis extending in the longitudinal direction, an advance / retract drive unit that moves the shaft forward and backward, and an inversion mechanism that inverts the shaft around the central axis when the collection container passes through a predetermined section.

[0007] The invention of claim 2 is the sampling device of claim 1, wherein the inversion mechanism has a guided member extending radially outward from the shaft and a cylindrical guide member into which the shaft enters while the collection container is in the inversion section, and a through guide groove is formed in the peripheral wall of the guide member, with both ends positioned on opposite sides when viewed from the tip side of the guide member, and the guided member is guided by the guide groove.

[0008] The invention described in claim 3 is the sampling device described in claim 2, further comprising a chute through which the sample is dropped from the collection container, and the section is set within a range in which the chute can receive the sample that falls from the collection container. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, a sampling device that can sample a sample with a simple configuration can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view illustrating a state in which a collection member provided in a sampling device according to an embodiment of the present invention is advanced. FIG. [Figure 2]10 is an explanatory side view of the sampling device with the collection member retracted. FIG. [Figure 3] An explanatory diagram of the inversion mechanism provided in the sampling device, where (A) is an explanatory diagram of the guide member viewed from the tip side (the side where the shaft is inserted), and (B) is an explanatory diagram of the guide member viewed from the side. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a development view of a guide member provided in the sampling device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which parts not relevant to the description may be omitted.

[0012] A sampling device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is a device for collecting samples that fall during transportation, for example, for the purpose of quality control or analysis. Here, the samples are, for example, coal, iron ore and biomass.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sampling device 10 includes a casing 20, a collection container 30, a chute 40, a shaft 50, a forward / backward driving unit (not shown), and an inverting mechanism 70 (see FIG. 2).

[0014] The casing 20 forms a rectangular parallelepiped internal space and is open at the tip end.

[0015] The collection container 30 is a container that receives the dropped sample, and is sometimes called a spoon.

[0016] The chute 40 is disposed below the tip of the casing 20 and serves as a receiver for receiving the sample discharged from the collection container 30. A dustproof lid 44 that can be moved up and down via bellows 42 is provided at the bottom of the chute 40. A sample can 46 for storing the samples received by the chute 40 is placed below the chute 40, and the sample can 46 is sealed by a lid 44 that descends under its own weight.

[0017] The shaft 50 is a rod-shaped member with the collection container 30 attached to its tip. The shaft 50 is arranged to extend in the longitudinal direction of the casing 20, and by moving back and forth relative to the casing 20 and rotating about its central axis, the collection container 30 moves back and forth and reverses to discharge its contents.

[0018] The advance / retract drive unit (not shown) is a drive source for advancing and retracting the shaft 50, and is disposed inside the casing 20. The advance / retract drive unit is, for example, an air cylinder. In detail, the advance / retract drive unit is configured to advance / retract the shaft 50 via a base member 602. The base member 602 is a plate-shaped member that has wheels 604 at its bottom and runs on rails. The base member 602 is also provided with a bearing unit 606 that rotatably supports the shaft 50.

[0019] The reversing mechanism 70 (see FIG. 2) has guided members 72a and 72b and a guide member 74, and is a mechanism for reversing the shaft 50, that is, the collection container 30, and can also be considered as a cam mechanism. As shown in FIG. 3(A), the guided members 72a and 72b are rod-shaped members extending radially outward from the shaft 50 in opposite directions, and are provided with rollers 722.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B), the guide member 74 is a cylindrical member and is attached to the surface of the rear end side of the casing 20 (the side opposite to the side from which the collection container 30 advances). The rear end of the shaft 50 can fit inside the guide member 74, and the peripheral wall of the guide member 74 is formed with a pair of through guide grooves 742a, 742b for guiding the guided members 72a, 72b, respectively, as shown in Figure 4.

[0021] When viewed from the tip side of the guide member 74, one end and the other end of each guide groove 742a, 742b are located on opposite sides, and are formed in a spiral shape from position Pa1 to position Pa2 shown in Figure 3(B), with the side of position Pa1 extending to the tip of the guide member 74. The same applies to the guide groove 742b, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The rollers 722 of the guided members 72a and 72b come into contact with the edges of the guide grooves 742a and 742b, respectively.

[0022] Next, the operation of the sampling device 10 to collect a sample will be described. First, in order to receive the falling sample in the collection container 30, as shown in Fig. 1, the advance / retract drive unit (not shown) advances the shaft 50 in the longitudinal direction via the base member 602. As a result, the advanced collection container 30 is open at the top and can receive the sample.

[0023] Next, to remove the sample from the collection container 30, the forward / backward drive unit (not shown) retracts the shaft 50 longitudinally via the base member 602. As the shaft 50 retracts, its rear end enters the guide member 74, as shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3A, the rollers 722 of the guided members 72a and 72b engage with the guide grooves 742a and 742b at positions Pa1 and Pb1, respectively. As the shaft 50 retracts further, the rollers 722 are guided along the guide grooves 742a and 742b, and the shaft 50 rotates as it retracts. When the guided members 72a and 72b reach positions Pa2 and Pb2, respectively, the shaft 50 rotates 180 degrees from its advanced position. In other words, the collection container 30 flips over above the chute 40, and its contents are discharged.

[0024] 2, the reversing section in which the collection container 30 is turned over is set to a range in which the chute 40 can receive the sample dropped from the collection container 30. In other words, in this reversing section, the guide grooves 742a and 742b are formed so as to be able to guide the guided members 72a and 72b, respectively.

[0025] Finally, the sample that falls when the collection container 30 is inverted is received by the chute 40 and collected in the sample can 46 below. The collected sample is then subjected to predetermined analyses.

[0026] As described above, the sampling device 10 according to this embodiment is equipped with only an advance / retract drive unit as a drive source for performing the operation of collecting a sample, and this advance / retract drive unit advances and retracts the shaft 50 to invert the collection container 30. In other words, the configuration is simple because a drive unit solely for inverting the collection container 30 is not required.

[0027] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and all changes in conditions that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention are within the scope of application of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 10 Sampling device 20 Casing 30 Collection container 40 shots 42 Accordion 44 Lid 46 Sample can 50 shaft 70 Reversal mechanism 72a, 72b Guided members 74 Guide member 602 Base material 604 wheels 606 Bearing section 722 Roller 742a, 742b guide groove

Claims

1. a collection container for receiving the sample; a shaft that supports the collection container at its tip and is rotatable about a central axis extending in the longitudinal direction; an advance / retract drive unit that advances and retracts the shaft; a reversing mechanism that reverses the shaft around the central axis when the collection container passes through a predetermined reversing section.

2. The reversing mechanism includes a guided member extending radially outward from the shaft; a cylindrical guide member into which the shaft enters while the collection container is in the inverted section; a guide groove is formed in the peripheral wall of the guide member, the guide groove extending through the peripheral wall so that both ends are positioned on opposite sides when viewed from the tip end of the guide member; 2. The sampling device according to claim 1, wherein the guided member is guided by the guide groove.

3. Further provided is a chute into which the sample is introduced from the collection container; 3. The sampling device according to claim 2, wherein the inversion section is set within a range that allows the sample dropped from the collection container by the chute to be received.

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