Radiation Inspection Equipment

Abstract

To provide a radiation inspection device that can reduce inspection work time as much as possible and can set a to-be-inspected object on a sample table unattended.SOLUTION: An inspection device body has a sample table 4 on which a to-be-inspected object W is placed and a radiation source 5 and a detector 6 arranged across the sample table 4. A shielded room 1 includes a housing unit 1a for the inspection device body and a conveying unit 1b for the to-be-inspected object W. A conveyance device 12 conveys the to-be-inspected object W from an outside of the shielded room 1 to an inside of the conveying unit 1b through an entrance 10 and an exit 11 provided in the conveying unit 1b. A robot 15 is provided in the shielded room 1 and moves the to-be-inspected object W between the conveyance device 12 provided in the conveying unit 1b and the sample table 4. A shielding wall 2 is provided between the housing unit 1a of the inspection device body in the shielded room 1 and the conveying unit 1b of the to-be-inspected object W, and has an opening part 3 that serves as a movement path of the to-be-inspected object W by the robot 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The embodiment of this embodiment relates to an in-line type radiation inspection apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] A radiological inspection device such as an X-ray CT scanner includes a radiation source that emits radiation, such as an X-ray beam, and a detector that faces the radiation source and detects the X-ray beam. An inspection table on which an object to be inspected is placed is located between the radiation source and the detector. The inspection table rotates once while the object to be inspected is irradiated with the X-ray beam, thereby obtaining fluoroscopic images from all directions. A CT image of the object to be inspected is obtained by reconstructing these fluoroscopic images. It is known that such a radiological inspection device is incorporated into the manufacturing line of the object to be inspected; this type of device is called an inline type.

[0003] Conventionally, inline-type inspection devices are installed along an inspection object transport line such as a belt conveyor or chain conveyor, and inspected objects on the line are removed and moved to the inspection device, and then returned to the line after inspection. In this case, since the radiation inspection device uses a radiation source, it is installed in a shielded room near the line, and inspected objects are moved in and out of the line to the inspection device in the shielded room using a crane or robot. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-264476 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2-184839 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-194582 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, with these conventional technologies, when incorporating an inspection system into a production line, it was necessary to manually set the object to be inspected onto the sample table inside the inspection system. While a method of using a robot to manually set the object from the production line onto the sample table is also available, this method still requires stopping the radiation irradiation, opening the sample door, and setting the object to be inspected onto the inspection system's sample table. This necessitates the need to turn the radiation off, open and close the sample door, and turn the radiation on again, which results in an extended inspection time.

[0006] To improve this, one technology involves installing two sample doors between the line and the inspection device, with a robot or similar device placed at each sample door. With this technology, the robot alternately opens and closes the two sample doors when moving the test object from the line, preventing radiation leakage even when the radiation is always on. However, even with this conventional technology, there are problems in that two sample doors are required, as well as multiple robots or similar devices to move the test objects.

[0007] This embodiment has been proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems. That is, the object of this embodiment is to provide a radiological inspection apparatus that can shorten the inspection work time as much as possible, by eliminating the need to turn radiation irradiation on and off or open and close the sample door every time an inspection object is placed in or taken out, and that allows the inspection object to be set on the sample table unmanned. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The radiation inspection apparatus of the embodiment has the following configuration. (1) An inspection device body having a sample table on which an object to be inspected is placed, and a radiation source and a detector arranged on either side of the sample table. (2) A shielded chamber including a housing section for the inspection device main body and a transport section for the object to be inspected that is provided separately from the housing section for the inspection device main body. (3) A transport device that transports the object to be inspected from outside the shielding chamber into the transport section through an entrance and an exit provided in the transport section. (4) A transfer device provided in the shielding chamber for transferring the object to be inspected between the transport device located in the transport section and the sample table. (5) A shielding wall provided between the housing section of the inspection device main body and the transport section of the object to be inspected in the shielding chamber, the shielding wall having an opening that serves as a path for the object to be inspected in the transfer device.

[0009] The radiation inspection apparatus according to the embodiment may further include the following configuration. (1) The sample table has a plurality of placement locations for the object to be inspected, and when one of the placement locations is located in the radiation irradiation area between the radiation source and the detector, the other placement locations are outside the radiation irradiation area, and the transfer device moves the object to be inspected between the placement location located outside the radiation irradiation area and the transport device. (2) The transfer device is a robot that is placed in the shielded chamber and has an arm that grips the object to be inspected. (3) The transfer device is a crane that is disposed on the ceiling of the shielded room and that moves the object to be inspected while suspending it between the transport device and the sample table. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a radiological inspection apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a radiological inspection apparatus according to a first embodiment; [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a detector in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a radiological inspection apparatus according to a second embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a radiological inspection apparatus according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] [1. First embodiment] [1-1.Configuration] The radiological inspection apparatus of the first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. The inspection device of this embodiment includes a shielded room 1 that has a radiation shielding function. The shielded room 1 includes a storage section 1a for the inspection device main body, and a transport section 1b for the object W to be inspected that is provided separately from the storage section 1a for the inspection device main body. A shielding wall 2 that has a radiation shielding function is provided between the storage section 1a for the inspection device main body and the transport section 1b for the object W to be inspected. The shielding wall 2 has an opening 3 that serves as a path for the object W to be inspected.

[0012] In this embodiment, an X-ray CT is used as the inspection device main body, but a simple transmission-type radiation detector may also be used. The inspection device main body has a sample table 4 on which an inspection object W is placed, and a radiation source 5 and a detector 6 arranged on either side of the sample table 4. An X-ray beam B is irradiated in a cone shape onto the inspection object W from the radiation source 5, and the X-ray beam B that has passed through the inspection object W is detected by the detector 6 as X-ray transmission data.

[0013] In this embodiment, the sample table 4 has two placement sections for the object to be inspected. Specifically, the sample table 4 has a support section 7 that moves in a direction intersecting the optical axis of the X-ray beam B, and two turntables 8a and 8b that are aligned on the support section 7 along the direction of movement of the support section 7. These turntables 8a and 8b are placement sections for the object to be inspected W. The two turntables 8a and 8b are mounted on the support section 7 so that when one turntable 8a is located at a perspective position within the X-ray beam B, the other turntable 8b is located at a position outside the irradiation range of the X-ray beam B, i.e., at a transfer position for the object to be inspected W. The sample table 4 has a table switching mechanism 9 and a drive mechanism (not shown) for the turntables 8a and 8b. The table switching mechanism 9 has a drive mechanism such as a linear motor and moves the support section 7 so that the two turntables 8a and 8b are alternately located inside and outside the X-ray beam B.

[0014] As described above, the transport section 1b for the objects to be inspected W is provided within the shielded chamber 1 across the shielding wall 2. The transport section 1b is provided with an entrance 10 and an exit 11, and a transport device 12 is provided that passes through the entrance 10 and the exit 11 to transport the objects to be inspected W from outside the shielded chamber 1 into the transport section 1b. The transport device 12 may be a conveyor such as a chain conveyor, a belt conveyor, or a bucket conveyor, or a chute or other device. In this embodiment, a conveyor that transports the objects to be inspected W while they are placed at predetermined intervals is used.

[0015] The object W to be inspected may be placed directly on the transport device 12, but in this embodiment, the object W to be inspected is supported on a holder 13, and the object W to be inspected is transported together with the holder 13. It is also preferable to provide a circular plate at the bottom of the holder 13 for lifting by the arm of a robot 15 or the claw of a crane 16, which will be described later, so that the object W to be inspected and the holder 13 do not easily come off the claw of the robot 15 or the crane 16 and fall.

[0016] A sorting device 14 for separating non-defective products from defective products is provided downstream of the exit 11 of the shielding chamber 1 in the conveying device 12. Any known sorting device can be used as this sorting device 14, but for example, a device can be used that sends non-defective products to the non-defective product line 12a side of the conveying device 12, and when defective products are carried, ejects the inspection objects W from the conveying device 12 to the defective product line 12b using a push rod, a robot arm, or the like.

[0017] A transfer device that transfers the object W between the transport device 12 and the turntables 8a, 8b is provided near the opening 3 provided in the shielding wall 2. In this embodiment, a robot 15 installed in the storage section 1a for the object W to be inspected is used as the transfer device. The robot 15 has a main body installed in the storage section 1a and an articulated arm extending from the main body, and the articulated arm is inserted from the opening 3 toward the transport device 12 to grasp and pick up the object W to be inspected, and then goes beyond the irradiation range of the X-ray beam B to place the object W on the turntable 8b that is outside the irradiation range.

[0018] 3, the detector 6 is connected to a reconstruction unit 20 that generates a CT image based on X-ray transmission data obtained by the detector 6, and a judgment unit 21 that judges whether the inspection object W is a good product or a defective product based on the CT image obtained by the reconstruction unit 20. The output side of the judgment unit 21 is connected to a sorting control unit 22, which controls the sorting operation of the sorting device 14 to sort good products and defective products.

[0019] [1-2. Effect] In this embodiment, the object W to be inspected is placed on a transport device 12 and carried into the transport section 1b of the shielding chamber 1 through the entrance 10. The object W to be inspected on the transport device 12, together with the holder 13, is lifted from above the transport device 12 by a robot 15, passes through the opening 3 in the shielding wall 2, and is placed on the turntable 8b located outside the X-ray beam B. In this state, the table switching mechanism 9 moves the support section 7 in a direction intersecting the X-ray optical axis, and the turntable 8b located outside the X-ray beam B is positioned within the X-ray beam B.

[0020] The turntable 8a rotates within the X-ray beam B, and X-ray transmission data from all circumferential directions of the object W to be inspected is collected by the detector 6. This X-ray transmission data from all circumferential directions is subjected to image reconstruction calculations by the reconstruction unit 20, and a CT image of the object W is generated. After the X-ray transmission data collection is completed, the object W is moved outside the X-ray beam B together with the support unit 7 and turntable 8a by the table switching mechanism 9. After that, the object W, whose inspection has been completed, is returned to the transport device 12 by the robot 15 outside the X-ray beam B.

[0021] The judgment unit 21 judges whether the test object W is good or bad based on the generated CT image, and based on the result, the sorting control unit 22 operates the sorting device 14 to sort good products to the good product line 12a of the conveying device 12 and defective products to the defective product line 12b.

[0022] During data collection of the object W on the turntable 8a that has been moved into the X-ray beam B, the object W on the turntable 8b, for which data collection has been completed earlier and which has been moved outside the X-ray beam B, is returned to the transport device 12 by the robot 15, and the next uninspected object W is placed from the transport device 12 on the turntable 8b outside the X-ray beam B. In this manner, the table switching mechanism 9 can move the turntable 8a carrying the inspected object W outside the X-ray beam B, and simultaneously move the turntable 8b carrying the next uninspected object W to the irradiation position of the X-ray beam B. As a result, X-ray transmission data of a plurality of objects W can be obtained successively.

[0023] [1-3.Effects] (1) In this embodiment, the transport device 12 is disposed inside the shielded chamber 1, and further, a shielding wall 2 is provided between the housing section 1a of the inspection device main body and the transport section 1b of the inspection object W inside the shielded chamber 1. This prevents X-rays scattered by the inspection object W and the like from leaking outside the shielded chamber 1. As a result, the radiation source 5 can be kept on all the time, thereby shortening the inspection time. (2) By providing two turntables 8a and 8b and moving them alternately within the irradiation range of the X-ray beam B, there is no need to wait for the work of replacing the object to be inspected W, which also reduces the inspection time. (3) There is no need to install a door for bringing the object W into or out of the shielding chamber 1, and the entrance 10 and exit 11 of the transport section 1b and the opening 3 of the shielding wall 2 are always open, so the object W can be moved smoothly from outside the shielding chamber 1 to the irradiation area of ​​the X-ray beam B in a short time.

[0024] [2. Second Embodiment] A second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. In the second embodiment, an overhead crane is used as a transfer device instead of the robot 15 of the first embodiment. That is, a crane 16 is provided in the ceiling of the shielded room 1, penetrating the opening 3 in the shielding wall 2 and extending from the transport unit 1b to the turntable 8b outside the irradiation range. A lifting section 16a of the crane 16 is provided with a claw-like gripping section 16b that opens and closes, and the inspection object W is transferred between the transport unit 12 and the turntable 8b while being clamped from above by this gripping section 16b.

[0025] In the second embodiment having such a configuration, similarly to the first embodiment, the inspection object W can be transferred inside the shielded chamber 1 while the radiation source 5 is turned on. Furthermore, by providing two turntables 8a and 8b on the support part 7, it becomes possible to transfer the inspection object W and perform a CT scan at the same time, thereby shortening the inspection time.

[0026] 3. Other Embodiments Although multiple embodiments according to the present invention have been described herein, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above-described embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are intended to be included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the claims.

[0027] For example, in the illustrated embodiment, two turntables 8a and 8b are used, but a single turntable may be used, although this will increase the inspection time. In this case, after transmission data collection is complete, the inspection object W is returned to the conveyor, and the next inspection object W is placed on a turntable outside the irradiation range from the transport device 12. Three or more turntables may also be used.

[0028] It is also possible to use a transfer device other than the crane 16 or the robot 15. When a simple transmission type radiation detection device other than a CT is used, a placement portion such as a positioning member or a stopper for the object W to be inspected can be provided on the support portion 7 without using a turntable as a placement portion for the object W to be inspected. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] W: Inspection object B...X-ray beam 1…shielded room 1a...accommodation section of inspection device main body 1b...Transport section for inspected objects 2…Shielding wall 3...Opening 4...Sample table 5…Radiation source 6...Detector 7...Support part 8a, 8b...Turntable 9...Table switching mechanism 10...Entrance 11...Exit 12...Transportation device 12a...Good quality line 12b...Defective product line 13...Holder 14... Sorting device 15...Robot 16...Crane 16a...Lifting section 16b...gripping part 20…Reconstruction section 21…Judgment section 22...Distribution control unit

Claims

1. an inspection apparatus body including a sample table on which an object to be inspected is placed, and a radiation source and a detector disposed on either side of the sample table; a shielded chamber including a housing section for the inspection device main body and a transport section for the object to be inspected that is provided separately from the housing section for the inspection device main body; a conveying device that conveys the object to be inspected from outside the shielding chamber into the conveying section through an entrance and an exit provided in the conveying section; a transfer device provided in the shielding chamber and configured to move the object to be inspected between the transport device located in the transport unit and the sample table; a shielding wall provided between the housing unit of the inspection device main body and the transport unit of the object to be inspected in the shielding chamber, the shielding wall having an opening that serves as a movement path of the object to be inspected in the transfer device; Equipped with the sample table includes two turntables as locations for placing the object to be inspected; a table switching mechanism that moves the sample table so as to alternately form a state in which one of the two turntables is placed at an inspection position that is a radiation irradiation area and the other is placed at a transfer position that is outside the radiation irradiation area, When one of the two turntables is located in the radiation irradiation area, the other turntable is located outside the radiation irradiation area; The transfer device is a radiation inspection apparatus that moves the inspection object between the turntable located outside the radiation irradiation area and the transport device.

2. 2. The radiological inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device is a robot that is disposed in the shielded chamber and has an arm that grips the object to be inspected.

3. 2. The radiation inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device is a crane that is disposed in a ceiling portion of the shielded room and that moves the inspection object while suspending it between the transport device and the sample table.

Images