Item detection components

Abstract

An object detection member is provided that has a simple structure and can easily and reliably detect a syringe using X-rays. The sheet is made of adhesive and has an X-ray blocking metal layer on at least one side.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an article detection member that is used to improve the safety of general waste by detecting and removing used syringes that have been mixed in with general waste. [Background technology]

[0002] Pen-type autoinjectors using painless needles are easy to use and can be used by patients independently of a doctor or other medical institution, but after use, they must be returned to the prescribing medical institution. However, some users discard the syringe with the needle still attached as normal garbage, or place it in a plastic bottle or milk or juice carton and discard it with the normal garbage. In such cases, contact with waste disposal workers or other people can cause injury or disease infection, leading to social unrest.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a radiation shielding sheet having a structure in which a sheet metal having the ability to block radiation such as X-rays is entirely sandwiched between upper and lower resin sheets. The resin sheets cover the entire sheet metal, and by joining the periphery, prevent the sheet metal from being exposed from the inside. This radiation shielding sheet is made by arranging and joining multiple sheets so that their peripheries overlap, thereby blocking radiation with the internal sheet metal and preventing radiation from leaking to the surrounding area.

[0004] However, the radiation shielding sheet described in Patent Document 1 is intended to prevent leakage of radiation such as X-rays into the surrounding area, and is intended for use with items that emit radiation. Therefore, it cannot be used with items that do not emit radiation, such as syringes.

[0005] Syringes are sometimes visually removed from general waste. However, because syringes are small and thin, visual detection is difficult. For syringes with needles still attached, the cap must be removed. Furthermore, when syringes are placed in a disposal container, if the container is soiled or colored or patterned, it is difficult to visually check the inside of the container, making syringe detection complicated.

[0006] Meanwhile, in the disposal of municipal and industrial waste, in order to remove non-combustible metal materials such as iron pieces from other waste, the waste is irradiated with X-rays to detect non-combustible metal materials. However, even if a syringe needle is made of metal, the needle itself is small and thin, making it difficult to detect it with X-rays even if it is mixed in with municipal waste. X-ray inspection using a syringe needle as a handhold requires a large, highly sensitive X-ray device, making it unsuitable for simple waste disposal. For these reasons, it has been difficult to detect syringes mixed in with general waste using X-rays. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-181888 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and aims to provide an object detection component that has a simple structure but can easily and reliably detect syringes mixed in with general waste using X-rays, without the need for a large, highly sensitive X-ray device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The object detection member of the present invention comprises a sheet that can be detachably wrapped around a syringe that is subjected to X-ray inspection along with general waste, and the sheet is characterized in that it has an X-ray blocking metal layer on at least one side and is formed with adhesive properties.

[0010] The present invention is characterized in that a cover sheet on which supplementary information including at least precautions for use and handling instructions is printed is attached to the sheet. The sheet is also characterized in that it is wrapped around the outer circumferential surface of the syringe at an appropriate position in the longitudinal direction. The sheet is also characterized in that it is in the form of a continuous roll tape with perforations for cutting formed between the sheets. Also, The X-ray blocking metal layer is a metal layer made of tungsten, stainless steel or lead. The X-ray blocking metal layer is characterized by being formed to match the outer shape and X-ray transmission amount of X-ray images of lithium ion batteries currently in circulation. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] By wrapping the object detection element of the present invention around an object and subjecting it to X-ray inspection, the X-ray image of the X-ray-blocking metal layer can detect that the object is a syringe, making it possible to separate syringes mixed in with general waste from other waste. The object detection element is a simple sheet with an X-ray blocking metal layer, and despite its simple structure, it can easily and reliably detect syringes mixed in with general waste using X-rays, eliminating the need for large, highly sensitive X-ray equipment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1(A) and 1(B) are perspective views showing examples of an object detection member. [Figure 2] 10A and 10B are perspective views showing application to a long tape and application to a roll tape. [Figure 3]FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the syringe is used for detection. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a front view together with a block diagram showing detection by an X-ray device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The object detection member of the present invention is formed from a sheet that can be detachably wrapped around a syringe that is subjected to X-ray inspection along with general waste, and this sheet has an X-ray blocking metal layer on at least one side and is formed with adhesive properties.

[0014] In the past, metal detectors, magnetic separators, and color sorters were used to detect foreign objects in general waste recycling, but in recent years, aluminum packaging and batteries such as lithium batteries and button batteries have been mixed in with the waste, making it impossible to remove them using the previous sorting methods. For recycling such waste, sorting becomes possible by using X-rays.

[0015] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of an article detection member 1 of the present invention. The article detection member 1 is formed from a sheet 3 having an X-ray blocking metal layer 2 provided on one side. In the illustrated example, the X-ray blocking metal layer 2 is formed in a horizontally elongated rectangular shape, but it may also be in a circular or triangular or other polygonal shape, and can be set to any shape and size as long as it is capable of blocking X-rays.

[0016] The sheet 3 of the article detection member 1 is formed to have adhesive properties. In Fig. 1(A), the X-ray blocking metal layer 2 is provided so as to be positioned within the plane of one side of the base layer 4 made of plastic. The base layer 4 of the sheet 3 has an adhesive 7 applied to at least the surface opposite the X-ray blocking metal layer 2 (the back surface of the base layer 4), which gives the article detection member 1 adhesive properties to an article and makes it detachable from the article.

[0017] 1(B), the X-ray blocking metal layer 2 is provided so as to cover the entire surface of one side of the base layer 4. Even in this case, an adhesive agent 7 can be applied to the surface of the base layer 4 opposite to the X-ray blocking metal layer 2 to form an adhesive sheet 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and adhesiveness can be imparted to the entire surface of one side of the base layer 4 by mixing an adhesive agent with powder of the X-ray blocking metal and adhering the mixture to cover the entire surface of the base layer 4.

[0018] In the present invention, the X-ray blocking metal layer 2 may be provided on both sides, not just one side. In either case, since the article detection member 1 has adhesive strength, it can be easily attached to the surface of an article and can also be easily peeled off from the surface of the article. Flexible olefin-based plastics or other commercially available plastics can be used as the base layer 4.

[0019] In the present invention, a cover sheet 5 is attached to at least one surface of the sheet 3 (base layer 4). The cover sheet 5 is formed by printing supplementary information on a plastic sheet, including at least information such as "instructions for use," "handling instructions" such as attachment, "storage instructions," and the "metal material" used in the X-ray blocking metal layer 2. This can improve convenience during use.

[0020] Tungsten, stainless steel, or lead is used as the metal for the X-ray blocking metal layer 2. These metals have good X-ray blocking properties. The X-ray blocking metal layer 2 is formed by mixing powder of these metals into a rubber sheet. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a foil layer of these metals may be formed on the base material layer 4, or a particle layer may be formed on the base material layer 4. The foil layer or particle layer can be easily formed on the base material layer 4, and can also have good X-ray blocking power.

[0021] Although lead, the metal in the X-ray blocking metal layer 2, has a certain degree of toxicity, it is used in sheet form, so lead does not scatter into the surrounding area and it can be used relatively safely. In addition, by providing a thin plastic sheet on the surface of the lead layer, it can be used safely. Tungsten is suitable for use because it is non-toxic, has a greater X-ray blocking power than lead, and is less susceptible to oxidation. Furthermore, tungsten is flexible and has a high degree of conformity to deformation, making it easy to use for the flexible substrate layer 4. Like tungsten, stainless steel is non-toxic, has a high X-ray blocking ability, and is resistant to oxidation. In addition, it has the advantages of being available in stable supply and inexpensive. These metals are In addition to mixing it into rubber sheets, The adhesive can be easily applied to the base layer 4 by mixing it into an adhesive and applying it to the surface of the base layer 4, or by vapor deposition.

[0022] 2(A) and (B) show an embodiment in which a plurality of object detection members 1 are connected in a continuous manner. As shown in Fig. 2(A), a long adhesive plastic tape is used as the base layer 4. A plurality of X-ray blocking metal layers 2 and cover sheets 5 are continuously formed in a laminated state on one side of the long tape. A cutting perforation 5 is formed between adjacent X-ray blocking metal layers 2, and individual object detection members 1 can be separated at the cutting perforation 5 as boundaries.

[0023] 2(B) shows the X-ray blocking metal layer 2 with perforations 5 for cutting formed between them, forming a continuous long tape in the form of a roll tape 9. The roll tape 9 has the advantage of being compact and easy to carry.

[0024] In the present invention, the X-ray blocking metal layer 2 is formed so that the X-ray transmittance of an X-ray image obtained by X-ray irradiation is less than a predetermined threshold value. In addition, the X-ray image having this transmittance has a predetermined shape (e.g., a rectangle) and a predetermined size or larger (e.g., 2 mm 2 The X-ray blocking metal layer 2 is formed so as to have the above-mentioned properties. In an X-ray image obtained by irradiating an article with a sheet 3 (article detection member 1) having such an X-ray blocking metal layer 2 attached thereto, the article can be distinguished from other general waste.

[0025] That is, a predetermined X-ray transmittance, a predetermined shape, and a predetermined size (area) in an X-ray image of the X-ray-blocking metal layer 2 are stored in a database as reference values, and when these values ​​are satisfied, the item is associated with and stored as a "syringe." As a result, if the X-ray image of the X-ray-blocking metal layer 2 obtained by a subsequent X-ray inspection is equal to or exceeds the reference values ​​in the database, the sheet 3 (item detection member 1) indicates a "syringe," and the item to which the sheet 3 is attached can be recognized as a syringe, making it possible to distinguish syringes from other general waste.

[0026] Next, a form in which this article detection member 1 (sheet 3) is used in a syringe 11 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. The syringe 11 has been used, and a syringe needle 13 remains attached to the tip of a syringe 12. A patient who wishes to discard the syringe uses the adhesive power of the article detection member 1 to attach the article detection member 1 to the outer surface of the syringe 12 of the syringe 11. The article detection member 1 is attached to the syringe 11 in a wrapped state covering the outer surface of the syringe 12. The article detection member 1 is wrapped around so as to cover the entire or most of the outer surface of the syringe 12. This makes it possible to reliably obtain an X-ray image of the X-ray blocking metal layer 2 by X-ray irradiation.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows the state in which the used syringe 11 obtained in FIG. 3 has been supplied to the X-ray device 15. The syringe 11 is supplied to the X-ray device 15 together with other general waste (not shown). X-rays emitted from the X-ray source 15a are detected by the X-ray detection tube 15b. If the article detection member 1 is attached to the outer surface of the syringe 11, as described above, the X-ray device 15 recognizes the article detection member 1, and therefore the syringe 11 can be detected from the general waste. This allows the syringe 11 to be subjected to a process of distinguishing it from other waste.

[0028] 4 also shows a detection unit 21 that processes the X-ray image. The detection unit 21 includes an image processing unit 22 to which the X-ray image is transmitted from the X-ray detector tube 15b, a database 23, a comparison unit 24, and a determination unit 25. In the image processing unit 22, if the X-ray image has an X-ray transmittance less than a predetermined threshold, the shape determining unit 26 determines the shape of this X-ray image, and the size determining unit 27 determines the size of the X-ray image.

[0029] In contrast, database 23 includes a shape data section 28 that stores data on the external shapes of lithium ion batteries that are commonly available in society, and a size data section 29 that stores data on the sizes of those lithium ion batteries.

[0030] The comparison unit 24 compares the shape data from the shape determination unit 26 (image processing unit 22) with the shape data from the shape data unit 28 of the database 23. At the same time, the comparison unit 24 compares the size data from the size determination unit 27 (image processing unit 22) with the size data from the size data unit 29 of the database 23. If the shape data and size data from the image processing unit 22 exceed the data from the database 23, the determination unit 25 determines that the X-ray image of the article detection member 1 corresponds to the X-ray image of a lithium-ion battery, and thereby detects that the article to which the article detection member 1 is attached is a syringe. This allows the syringe to be distinguished from other waste and disposed of.

[0031] The form shown in Figure 4 uses data on lithium ion batteries, which have a simple shape and are widely available in society, and is applied to the X-ray image of the object detection member 1, but this is not limited to this. As described above, the threshold value of the transmittance of the X-ray image of the object detection member 1, the shape of the image, and the size of the image can be appropriately set to serve as reference values ​​for suggesting a syringe. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 1. Item detection component 2 X-ray blocking metal layer 3 seats 4 Base material layer 5 Cover Sheet 6 Additional information 7. Adhesive 8 Cutting perforations 9 rolls of tape 11 Syringe 12 syringes 13 Syringe needle 15 X-ray equipment 21 Detection unit 22 Image processing section 23 Databases 24 Comparison section 25 Judgment section 26 Shape determination section 27 Size determination section 28 Shape data section 29 Size data section

Claims

1. The sheet is detachably wrapped around a syringe that is to be subjected to X-ray inspection together with general waste, The sheet has an X-ray blocking metal layer on at least one surface and is formed with adhesive properties, An article detection member characterized in that a cover sheet on which supplementary information including at least precautions for use and handling instructions is printed is attached to the sheet.

2. 2. An object detection member according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is wrapped around the syringe so as to cover the outer peripheral surface at an appropriate position in the length direction of the syringe.

3. 2. An object detection member according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is in the form of a continuous roll tape with perforations for cutting formed between the sheets.

4. 2. An object detection member according to claim 1, wherein the X-ray blocking metal layer is a metal layer made of tungsten, stainless steel or lead.

5. 5. The object detection member according to claim 1, wherein the X-ray blocking metal layer is formed to match the outer shape of an X-ray image and the amount of X-ray transmission of a lithium ion battery currently in circulation.

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