Radiation detector holding device

Abstract

The present invention provides a radiation detector holding device that allows for easy operation of moving and braking the radiation detector. [Solution] The holding device 1 includes a base portion 10 to which the radiation detector 9 is fixed, a rod-shaped member 4R that guides the movement of the base portion 10 in the Z direction (vertical direction), a lifting portion 3R that pulls the base portion 10 upward, a brake portion 30 that has a brake member 31 that can contact the rod-shaped member 4R and is movably supported on the base portion 10, coil springs 41-44 that apply a biasing force to the brake portion 30 so that the brake member 31 moves toward the rod-shaped member 4R, and a handle portion 50 that has rotating bodies 511-514 that contact the brake portion 30 and is rotatably supported on the base portion 10. The position of the rotating bodies 511-514 relative to the base portion 10 automatically changes to a position that is in a braking state due to the biasing force of the coil springs 41-44.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a holding device for a radiation detector used for taking pictures of radiation such as X-rays.

Background Art

[0002] An upright type X-ray imaging table used for taking X-rays of the chest or the like includes a mechanism for holding a cassette in which an X-ray detector (film, imaging plate, etc.) is placed, and a mechanism for adjusting the position of the cassette in the height direction according to the subject. For example, the upright X-ray imaging table described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 52-12980 has a vertical column, a lifting table that is attached to the vertical column so as to be movable up and down, and a cassette holder provided on the lifting table. A balance weight is incorporated in the vertical column stand, and the balance weight and the lifting table are connected by a wire. The wire is suspended by a wire pulley attached to the top of the vertical column. The lifting table is always pulled upward by the weight of the balance weight connected via the wire. Therefore, the lifting table can be smoothly moved with a slight force.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Incidentally, the standing X-ray imaging table described in the aforementioned patent document has a handle used to move the lifting table up and down, and a stopper to temporarily stop the lifting table relative to the vertical support column. When moving the lifting table up and down, first the stopper is operated to release the lifting table's stopped state, and then the handle is grasped with the hand to move the lifting table. At this time, if the hand is released from the handle to operate the stopper, the lifting table may be pulled up by the weight of the balance weight and rise on its own. In particular, when the cassette is removed from the cassette holder, the load on the lifting table is lighter, so the lifting table may rise with force. Therefore, it is necessary to grasp the handle with one hand to prevent the lifting table from rising, while operating the stopper with the other hand, which presents a problem as it is difficult to operate with one hand.

[0005] This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a radiation detector holding device that allows for easy operation of moving and braking the radiation detector. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a holding device for movably holding a radiation detector, comprising: a base portion to which the radiation detector is fixed; a base guide portion that guides the movement of the base portion in a first direction that causes a height displacement; a brake portion that has a brake member that can contact the base guide portion, is movably supported on the base portion, and whose position relative to the base portion is movable; a biasing portion that applies a biasing force to the brake portion so that the brake member moves toward the base guide portion; a handle portion that has a brake action portion that contacts the brake portion, is movably supported on the base portion, whose position relative to the base portion is movable, and which is operated when the base portion is moved in the first direction, wherein the position of the brake action portion relative to the base portion automatically changes from a position when the brake member is released away from the guide portion to a position when the brake member is pressed against the base guide portion by a biasing force applied to the brake action portion via the brake portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a radiation detector holding device is provided that allows for easy operation of moving and braking the radiation detector. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figures 1A and 1B show an example of a holding device according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2A shows an example of a stand that supports the detector holder so that it can be raised and lowered. Figures 2B and 2C show an example of the detector holder. [Figure 3] Figures 3A and 3B show the main parts of the detector holder shown in Figures 2B and 2C. [Figure 4] Figures 4A and 4B show the detector holder with the cover of the operating section removed from the main part shown in Figures 3A and 3B. [Figure 5] Figure 5A shows the detector holder in the state shown in Figures 4A and 4B, with one of the operating units removed. Figure 5B shows the detector holder in the state shown in Figure 5A, with the operating unit support frame further removed. [Figure 6] Figure A6 is an exploded view of the operating section, and Figure 6B is an exploded view of the brake section. [Figure 7] Figures 7A and 7B illustrate the state of the operating section in the detector holder. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the detector holder shown in Figure 7A along the CC line. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, a holding device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figures 1A and 1B show an example of the holding device 1 according to this embodiment. The holding device 1 according to this embodiment is a device that movably holds a radiation detector 9 for detecting radiation such as X-rays, and is, for example, a standing type X-ray imaging stand. The radiation detector 9 is, for example, a cassette containing a film or imaging plate for detecting radiation.

[0010] In this specification, three mutually perpendicular directions (X, Y, Z) are defined to describe the relative positional relationships of the parts of the holding device 1. The X direction includes the X1 and X2 directions which are opposite to each other, the Y direction includes the Y1 and Y2 directions which are opposite to each other, and the Z direction includes the Z1 and Z2 directions which are opposite to each other. In the following description, for example, the Z direction will be considered parallel to the vertical direction. In addition, the Z1 direction may be described as the upward direction, the Z2 direction as the downward direction, the X1 direction as the rightward direction, the X2 direction as the leftward direction, the Y1 direction as the rearward direction, and the Y2 direction as the frontward direction. Figure 1A is a side view of the holding device 1 as seen from the right side (X1 side), and Figure 1B is a front view of the holding device 1 as seen from the rear side (Y1 side).

[0011] The holding device 1 includes a detector holding section 2 for holding the radiation detector 9 and a stand 7 that movably supports the detector holding section 2. Figure 2A is a perspective view of the stand 7, and Figures 2B and 2C are perspective views of the detector holding section 2.

[0012] Stand 7 includes support columns 6L and 6R extending in the Z direction (vertical direction), a base plate 5B to which the lower ends of support columns 6L and 6R are fixed, a top plate 5T to which the upper ends of support columns 6L and 6R are fixed, rod-shaped members 4L and 4R, and lifting sections 3R and 3L. When viewed from the front side (Y2 side) of stand 7, the lifting section 3R, rod-shaped member 4R, and support column 6R are located on the right side (X1 side), and the lifting section 3L, rod-shaped member 4L, and support column 6L are located on the left side (X2 side).

[0013] The rod-shaped members 4L and 4R are rod-shaped members that guide the movement of the detector holder 2 in the Z direction (vertical direction), which causes a height displacement, and each extends in the Z direction. The rod-shaped members 4L and 4R are examples of the base guide portion of the present invention.

[0014] The lifting sections 3R and 3L apply an upward lifting force to the detector holder 2. In the illustrated example, the lifting sections 3R and 3L each have a wire 3a, a hook 3b fixed to one end of the wire 3a, and a wire winding section 3c connected to the other end of the wire 3a. The hook 3b is connected to a hook attachment (16R, 16L) on the detector holder 2, which will be described later. The wire winding section 3c winds the wire 3a using the force of a spring (such as a coil spring). The lifting sections 3R and 3L are fixed to the underside of the top plate 5T, and the force with which the wire winding section 3c winds the wire 3a lifts the detector holder 2 upward. The winding force of the lifting sections 3R and 3L is set to roughly counteract the load on the detector holder 2. This makes it possible to smoothly raise and lower the detector holder 2 with minimal force.

[0015] The detector holder 2 includes a base portion 10 to which the radiation detector 9 is fixed, a mounting portion 60 for attaching the radiation detector 9 to the base portion 10, operating portions 20R and 20L used for operating (moving and braking) the detector holder 2, operating portion covers 17R and 18R covering the outside of operating portion 20R, and operating portion covers 17L and 18L covering the outside of operating portion 20L. When viewed from the front side of the detector holder 2, operating portion 20R is located on the right side and operating portion 20L is located on the left side.

[0016] In the examples of FIGS. 2B and 2C, the attachment portion 60 includes two rods 63 extending in the Z direction, an upper receiving portion 61 to which the upper ends of the two rods 63 are fixed, a rod fixing portion 65 to which the lower ends of the two rods 63 are fixed, a rod support portion 64 in which two insertion holes 641 through which the two rods 63 are inserted are formed, and a lower receiving portion 62 fixed to the main body frame 11 of the base portion 10. The rod support portion 64 is fixed to the back side (Y1 side) of the main body frame 11. The main body frame 11 has two insertion holes 110 through which the two rods 63 are inserted. The two rods 63 are guided by the insertion holes 110 of the main body frame 11 and the insertion holes 641 of the rod support portion 64 and are slidable up and down. As a result, the upper receiving portion 61 is movable in the vertical direction, and the distance between the upper receiving portion 61 and the lower receiving portion 62 can be adjusted. The radiation detector 9 generally has a rectangular plate shape and is fixed to the base portion 10 by pressing the upper receiving portion 61 and the lower receiving portion 62 against the edge portion of the radiation detector 9 from above and below in the vertical direction.

[0017] FIGS. 3A and 3B are views showing the main part of the detector holding portion 2 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and show the remaining part of the detector holding portion 2 excluding the attachment portion 60. FIGS. 4A and 4B are views showing a state in which the operation part covers (17R, 17L, 18R, 18L) are removed from the main part of the detector holding portion 2 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. FIG. 5A is a view showing a state in which the right operation part 20R is removed from the detector holding portion 2 in the state shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. FIG. 5B is a view showing a state in which an operation part support frame 12R, which will be described later, is removed from the detector holding portion 2 in the state shown in FIG. 5A. FIG. 6A is an exploded view of the operation part 20R, and FIG. 6B is an exploded view of the brake part 30 of the operation part 20R.

[0018] As shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the base portion 10 includes a main frame 11, rod-shaped member guide portions 141R and 142R through which the rod-shaped member 4R is inserted, rod-shaped member guide portions 141L and 142L through which the rod-shaped member 4L is inserted, an operation support frame 12R that supports the right operation portion 20R, and an operation support frame 12L that supports the left operation portion 20L.

[0019] In the illustrated example, the main frame 11 has a roughly rectangular plate shape, similar to the radiation detector 9, and is positioned roughly parallel to the XZ plane. Each edge of the main frame 11 has a folded portion that is folded back toward the rear side (Y1 side). The upper folded portion has a through hole 110 that penetrates in the Z direction, and the left, right, and lower folded portions have screw holes for fastening each component to the main frame 11 with screws.

[0020] The rod-shaped member guides 141R and 142R are fixed to the right-side folded portion of the main frame 11. The rod-shaped member guide 141R is positioned above the rod-shaped member guide 142R. The rod-shaped member guide 141R has an insertion hole 151R, and the rod-shaped member guide 142R has an insertion hole 152R. The insertion holes 151R and 152R extend coaxially in the Z direction, and the rod-shaped member 4R is slidably inserted through these insertion holes.

[0021] The rod-shaped member guides 141L and 142L are fixed to the left folded portion of the main frame 11. The rod-shaped member guide 141L is positioned above the rod-shaped member guide 142L. The rod-shaped member guide 141L has an insertion hole 151L, and the rod-shaped member guide 142L has an insertion hole 152L. The insertion holes 151L and 152L extend coaxially in the Z direction, and the rod-shaped member 4L is slidably inserted through these insertion holes.

[0022] In the example shown in Figure 5A, a hook holder 16R, which connects to the hook 3b of the lifting section 3R, is fixed to the rod-shaped member guide section 141R. Additionally, a hook holder 16L, which connects to the hook 3b of the lifting section 3L, is fixed to the rod-shaped member guide section 141L.

[0023] The operating section support frame 12R is located to the right of the main frame 11, flanking the rod-shaped member guides 141R and 142R, and is fixed to the rod-shaped member guides 141R and 142R. The operating section support frame 12L is located to the left of the main frame 11, flanking the rod-shaped member guides 141L and 142L, and is fixed to the rod-shaped member guides 141L and 142L.

[0024] The operating section support frames 12R and 12L each include three plate-like sections 121 to 123. The plate-like sections 121 and 122 are generally parallel to the XZ plane and face each other. Plate-like section 121 is located behind (towards Y1) plate-like section 122. The rotating body support section 52 of the handle section 50, which will be described later, is located between plate-like sections 121 and 122. Plate-like section 123 is generally parallel to the YZ plane and is connected to the lateral edges of plate-like sections 121 and 122. That is, plate-like section 123 of the operating section support frame 12R is connected to the right edge of plate-like sections 121 and 122, and plate-like section 123 of the operating section support frame 12L is connected to the left edge (towards X2) of plate-like sections 121 and 122.

[0025] As shown in Figure 6A, the operating unit 20R has a brake unit 30, a biasing unit 40, and a handle unit 50.

[0026] The brake section 30 is a component for braking the base section 10 against the rod-shaped member 4R, and has a brake member 31 that can contact the rod-shaped member 4R. The brake member 31 is a member that generates a strong frictional force against the rod-shaped member 4R it contacts, and is, for example, an elastic member (such as a rubber sheet) with numerous protrusions formed on the surface that contacts the rod-shaped member 4R, as shown in Figures 6A and 6B. The brake section 30 is movably supported on the operating section support frame 12R of the base section 10, and the position of the brake member 31 relative to the base section 10 is movable. In the example in Figure 6A, the base section 10 (brake member 31) is movable in the X direction.

[0027] The biasing unit 40 applies a biasing force to the brake member 31 so that the brake member 31 moves toward the rod-shaped member 4R. In the example shown in Figure 6A, the biasing unit 40 includes four coil springs (41-44), and the elastic force of these coil springs pulls the brake unit 30 in the direction of the rod-shaped member 4R (to the right in the illustrated example). One end of each coil spring (41-44) is fixed to the brake member fixing part 32 of the brake unit 30, which will be described later, and the other end is fixed to the operating unit support frame 12R.

[0028] The handle portion 50 is a component operated when moving the base portion 10 in the Z direction (vertical direction), and has a brake action portion 51 that contacts the brake portion 30. In the example in Figure 6A, the brake action portion 51 includes four rotating bodies (511 to 514), and these rotating bodies contact the brake portion 30. The handle portion 50 is movably supported on the operating portion support frame 12R of the base portion 10, and the position of the brake action portion 51 (rotating bodies 511 to 514) relative to the base portion 10 is movable.

[0029] When the movement of the base portion 10 relative to the rod-shaped member 4R is stopped (braking state), the brake member 31 of the brake portion 30 comes into contact with the rod-shaped member 4R. At this time, the biasing force of the biasing portion 40 presses the brake member 31 against the rod-shaped member 4R. When the user operates the handle portion 50 to move the detector holder 2, the force applied to the handle portion 50 changes the position of the brake action portion 51 against the biasing force of the biasing portion 40, and consequently, the position of the brake portion 30 in contact with the brake action portion 51 changes, and the brake member 31 moves away from the rod-shaped member 4R (brake release state). In the brake release state, the detector holder 2 (base portion 10) becomes movable in the Z direction. When the user stops operating the handle portion 50 (releases the force applied to the handle portion 50), the biasing force of the biasing portion 40 causes the brake portion 30 to move toward the rod-shaped member 4R, and consequently, the position of the brake action portion 51 in contact with the brake portion 30 changes. In other words, the biasing force of the biasing unit 40 applied to the brake action unit 51 via the brake unit 30 automatically changes the position of the brake action unit 51 relative to the base unit 10 from the position in the braking state to the position in the brake release state. Therefore, simply stopping the operation of the handle unit 50 automatically switches from the brake release state to the braking state.

[0030] In the example shown in Figure 6A, the handle portion 50 is rotatably supported on the operating section support frame 12R via a support shaft 54. The support shaft 54 ​​is an axis that extends in a direction (Y direction in the illustrated example) that intersects the direction in which the detector holding portion 2 moves (Z direction). The brake portion 30 is movable in a direction (X direction) that is perpendicular to the direction in which the support shaft 54 ​​extends (Y direction) and the direction in which the base portion 10 moves (Z direction). The operating section support frame 12R of the base portion 10 is provided with a brake guide portion 13 that guides the movement of the brake portion 30 in the X direction.

[0031] When an external force is applied to rotate the handle portion 50 on the support shaft 54, the external force applied to the brake portion 30 via the brake action portion 51 and the biasing force applied to the brake portion 30 by the biasing portion 40 cause the brake portion 30 to move in the X direction (towards X1 or X2) relative to the base portion 10. As a result, the position of the brake portion 30 relative to the rod-shaped member 4R changes in response to the user's operation of rotating the handle portion 50, and the presence or absence of contact between the rod-shaped member 4R and the brake member 31 (braking state, brake release state) is switched.

[0032] In the examples shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the brake unit 30 has a brake member fixing unit 32 to which the brake member 31 is fixed. The brake member fixing unit 32 is located opposite the support shaft 54 ​​with the rod-shaped member 4R in between. The brake member fixing unit 32 is movable in a direction (X direction) perpendicular to the direction in which the support shaft 54 ​​extends (Y direction) and the direction in which the base unit 10 moves guided by the rod-shaped member 4R (Z direction). The brake member 31 is fixed to the inner surface of the brake member fixing unit 32 facing the rod-shaped member 4R (the X1 side in the illustrated example).

[0033] In the example shown in Figure 6B, the brake member fixing portion 32 has a plate-shaped portion 325 that is generally parallel to the YZ plane, and four legs 321 to 324 that extend from the plate-shaped portion 325 toward the side where the rod-shaped member 4R is located. The legs 321 to 324 extend generally parallel to the direction of movement (X direction) of the brake member fixing portion 32. Legs 321 and 323 are located on the Z1 side relative to legs 322 and 324. Leg 321 is located on the Y1 side relative to leg 323 and faces leg 323 with the rod-shaped member 4R in between. Leg 322 is located on the Y1 side relative to leg 324 and faces leg 324 with the rod-shaped member 4R in between.

[0034] The legs 321-324 are slidably guided in the X direction by a brake guide 13 provided on the operating unit support frame 12R. The brake guide 13 has four grooves 131-134 corresponding to the four legs 321-324, as shown in Figure 6A, for example. Each of the grooves 131-134 forms a groove extending in the X direction into which the legs 321-324 are slidably fitted. Grooves 131 and 133 form grooves recessed towards Z1, and grooves 132 and 134 form grooves recessed towards Z2. Grooves 131 and 132 are provided on the plate-like portion 121, and grooves 133 and 134 are provided on the plate-like portion 122. In the example shown in Figure 6A, each groove (131-134) has a bottom member that forms the bottom surface of the groove and a side member that forms the side surface of the groove. The bottom member and the side member are both plate-shaped members that extend in the X direction. The bottom plate members are placed on the flat surface of the operating section support frame 12R (plate members 121, 122), and the side plate members are placed on top of them, thereby forming grooves that extend in the X direction.

[0035] In the examples shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the brake member fixing portion 32 has contact surfaces 320a and 320b that contact the brake action portion 51. The contact surfaces 320a and 320b are, for example, planes perpendicular to the direction of movement (X direction) of the brake member fixing portion 32. When the handle portion 50 rotates on the support shaft 54, the position where the brake action portion 51 contacts the contact surfaces 320a and 320b changes, and the position of the brake portion 30 relative to the rod-shaped member 4R changes in accordance with this change in position.

[0036] In the examples shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the rotating bodies (511-514) of the brake action unit 51 come into contact with the contact surfaces 320a and 320b of the brake member fixing unit 32. These rotating bodies are rotatable on an axis parallel to the direction in which the support shaft 54 ​​extends (Y direction). When the handle unit 50 rotates on the support shaft 54, the rotating bodies (511-514) roll while in contact with the contact surfaces (320a, 320b). As the rotating bodies (511-514) roll on the contact surfaces (320a, 320b), the contact position between the contact surfaces (320a, 320b) and the brake action unit 51 changes, and the frictional force associated with this change in contact position is reduced. This makes the automatic switching from the brake release state to the brake state when the rotation of the handle unit 50 is stopped smoother.

[0037] Furthermore, in the examples in Figures 6A and 6B, the contact surfaces 320a and 320b are spaced apart in the Y direction and, when viewed from a direction parallel to the X direction, are located at two locations with the rod-shaped member 4R in between. Contact surface 320a is located on the Y1 side relative to contact surface 320b. The rotating bodies 511 and 512 of the brake action unit 51 come into contact with contact surface 320a, and the rotating bodies 513 and 514 of the brake action unit 51 come into contact with contact surface 320b. Because the rotating bodies (511 and 512, 513 and 514) come into contact with contact surfaces 320a and 320b, which are spaced apart in the Y direction, the tilt of the brake unit 30 with respect to the Y direction is easily suppressed, so that the movement of the brake unit 30 in response to the rotation operation of the handle unit 50 becomes smoother.

[0038] The handle portion 50, as shown in Figure 6A for example, has a rotating body support portion 52 that supports the rotating bodies 511 to 514 of the brake action portion 51, and a lever 53 fixed to the rotating body support portion 52.

[0039] In the example shown in Figure 6A, the brake action section 51 includes a support member 521 that supports the rotating bodies 511 and 512, a support member 522 that supports the rotating bodies 513 and 514, and a support member 523 that supports the lever 53. The support members 521 to 523 are each plate-shaped members, with support members 521 and 522 arranged parallel to the XZ plane, and the support member arranged parallel to the YZ plane. Support member 521 is located on the Z1 side relative to support member 522, and the X1-side edges of support members 521 and 522 are connected to support member 523, respectively. The rotating bodies 511 to 514 are, for example, bearings. Support members 521 and 522 are provided with support shafts that protrude in the Y direction, and the inner circumference of the bearings is fixed to these support shafts. This allows the outer circumference of the bearings constituting the rotating bodies to rotate around the support shafts.

[0040] As shown in Figure 6A, the rotating bodies 511 and 512 are at the same distance from the support shaft 54. Similarly, the rotating bodies 513 and 514 are at the same distance from the support shaft 54. When the handle portion 50 is not rotated (when no force is applied to the handle portion 50), the rotating bodies 511 and 512 each contact the contact surface 320a, and the rotating bodies 513 and 514 each contact the contact surface 320b. In this case, the brake member 31 is pressed against the rod-shaped member 4R, resulting in a braking state. When the handle portion 50 is rotated in one direction (clockwise when viewed from the Y1 side), the rotating bodies 511 and 513 come into contact with the contact surfaces 320a and 320b, respectively, while the rotating bodies 512 and 514 move away from the contact surfaces 320a and 320b, respectively. In this case, the brake member fixing portion 32, which is pushed by the rotating bodies 511 and 513, moves away from the rod-shaped member 4R. As a result, the brake member 31 moves away from the rod-shaped member 4R, resulting in a brake release state (first brake release state). When the handle portion 50 is rotated in the other direction (counterclockwise when viewed from the Y1 side), the rotating bodies 512 and 514 come into contact with the contact surfaces 320a and 320b, respectively, while the rotating bodies 511 and 513 move away from the contact surfaces 320a and 320b, respectively. The brake member fixing portion 32, which is pushed by the rotating bodies 512 and 514, moves away from the rod-shaped member 4R. As a result, the brake member 31 moves away from the rod-shaped member 4R, resulting in a brake release state (second brake release state). Therefore, regardless of the direction in which the handle portion 50 is rotated, the brake member 31 will be released from the rod-shaped member 4R (first release state or second release state), and the detector holding portion 2 will be able to move in the Z direction.

[0041] The lever 53 is positioned further away from the rod-shaped member 4R than the support shaft 54 ​​when viewed from a direction parallel to the direction in which the support shaft 54 ​​extends (Y direction). In the example shown in Figure 6A, the lever 53 is positioned on the X1 side of the support shaft 54 ​​and protrudes toward the X1 side. By simply moving the lever 53 of the handle portion 50 in the direction in which the detector holder 2 is to be moved, the handle portion 50 rotates, and the brake member 31 moves away from the rod-shaped member 4R, resulting in a brake release state, making it possible to easily move the detector holder 2 in the desired direction.

[0042] The left-side operating unit 20L has a configuration (brake unit 30, biasing unit 40, handle unit 50) that is generally similar to the right-side operating unit 20R described above. However, in the operating unit 20L, the lever 53 of the handle unit 50 is removed. Also, in the operating unit 20L, the handle unit 50 is fixed to the base unit 10 so that it is always in a brake-release state (the brake member 31 is separated from the rod-shaped member 4L). For example, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the rotating body support unit 52 of the handle unit 50 is fixed to the operating unit support frame 12L of the base unit 10 with screws. This left-side operating unit 20L is a spare unit used to allow the lever 53 to be operated from the left side (X2 side) of the detector holding unit 2. In this case, the lever 53 is removed from the right-side operating unit 20R, and the handle unit 50 (rotating body support unit 52) ​​is fixed to the base unit 10 (operating unit support frame 12R) so that the brake is always released (the brake member 31 is separated from the rod-shaped member 4R).

[0043] Figures 7A and 7B illustrate the state of the operating section (20R, 20L) in the detector holder 2, and are views of the detector holder 2 from the Y1 side. In Figures 7A and 7B, parts of the operating section covers 18R and 18L are omitted so that the operating section (20R, 20L) is visible. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the detector holder 2 shown in Figure 7A along the CC line.

[0044] Figure 7A shows the braking state in which the brake member 31 is pressed against the rod-shaped member 4R, and Figure 7B shows the brake release state in which the brake member 31 is separated from the rod-shaped member 4R. In the braking state shown in Figure 7A, the rotating parts (511-514) of the handle portion 50 contact the contact surfaces (320a, 320b) of the brake member fixing portion 32, respectively, and the position of the brake member fixing portion 32 moves furthest toward X1. The brake member fixing portion 32 is pulled toward X1 by the biasing force of the biasing portion 40 (coil springs 41-44), and as shown in Figures 7A and 8, the brake member 31 is strongly pressed against the rod-shaped member 4R. As a result, the detector holding portion 2 is braked relative to the rod-shaped member 4R.

[0045] In the brake release state shown in Figure 7B, the handle portion 50 rotates counterclockwise compared to the braked state (Figure 7A). As a result of this rotation, the rotating bodies 512 and 514 come into contact with the contact surfaces 320a and 320b, respectively, while the rotating bodies 511 and 513 move away from the contact surfaces 320a and 320b, respectively. The brake member fixing portion 32 is pushed by the rotating bodies 512 and 514, moving towards X2 compared to the braked state (Figure 7A), and the brake member 31 moves away from the rod-shaped member 4R. As a result, the detector holding portion 2 is able to move in the Z direction along the rod-shaped member 4R.

[0046] As described above, according to this embodiment, by simply operating the handle portion 50 to move the detector holder portion 2, the brake member 31 separates from the rod-shaped member 4R and enters a brake-release state, so the detector holder portion 2 in the braked state can be easily moved.

[0047] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, when the operation of the handle portion 50 is stopped (the force applied to the handle portion 50 is removed), the brake portion 30 moves toward the rod-shaped member 4R due to the biasing force of the biasing portion 40, and consequently, the position of the brake action portion 51 in contact with the brake portion 30 changes. That is, the biasing force of the biasing portion 40 applied to the brake action portion 51 via the brake portion 30 automatically changes the position of the brake action portion 51 relative to the base portion 10 from the position in the braking state to the position in the brake release state. Therefore, no special operation is required to switch from the brake release state to the braking state, and the braking of the detector holder portion 2 can be performed easily and reliably. For example, even if the radiation detector 9 is not attached to the detector holder portion 2, simply stopping the operation of the handle portion 50 will automatically switch from the brake release state to the braking state, so the detector holder portion 2 can be effectively prevented from rising rapidly.

[0048] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but includes various variations.

[0049] In the embodiment described above, an example was given where the direction of movement of the base portion 10 (Z direction) is the vertical direction, but the Z direction may be inclined with respect to the vertical direction.

[0050] In the embodiments described above, the lifting sections 3R and 3L are mentioned as means for lifting the base section 10 upward, but any other means may be used to apply a lifting force to the base section 10. For example, a counterbalanced lifting method may be used in which the equipment holding section and a weight (counterweight) are connected to both ends of a wire that is attached to a pulley located above, and the loads of the two are adjusted to be roughly balanced. Alternatively, the equipment holding section may be lifted by power from an actuator or the like.

[0051] In the above-described embodiment, rod-shaped members 4R and 4L are given as examples of means for guiding the movement of the base portion 10 (base guide portion), but the shape of the base guide portion is not limited to a rod shape and may be any other shape (protrusion, concave, rail, etc.).

[0052] In the embodiment described above, the brake action part 51 rotates around the support shaft 54 ​​relative to the base part 10 by operating the handle part 50. However, the movement of the brake action part is not limited to rotation and may be any other manner, such as sliding relative to the base part. In other words, as long as the contact state (presence or absence of contact) between the brake member and the base guide part changes as the brake part moves in conjunction with the movement of the brake action part, the movement of the brake action part may be any manner other than rotation.

[0053] In the embodiments described above, the brake action unit 51 (rotating bodies 511-514) and the brake unit 30 are separate, but in other embodiments of the present invention, the brake action unit and the brake unit may be connected by any means (such as a link mechanism).

[0054] In the embodiment described above, the biasing section 40 is composed of coil springs 41 to 44, but in other embodiments of the present invention, the biasing section may include elastic members other than coil springs, and may also include biasing force sources other than elastic members (magnetic force, pressure, actuator, etc.).

[0055] The shapes and structures of the mechanical components described in the embodiments described above are examples and may be changed to other shapes and structures capable of performing similar functions. Also, in the embodiments described above, the number of multiple members having similar functions (for example, lifting sections 3R and 3L, operating sections 20R and 20L, etc.) may be one or two or more in other embodiments. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0056] 1...Holding device, 2...Detector holding part, 3R,3L...Lifting part, 3a...Wire, 3b...Hook, 3c...Wire winding part, 4R,4L...Rod-shaped member, 5T...Top plate, 5B...Bottom plate, 6R,6L...Support column, 7...Stand, 9...Radiation detector, 10...Base part, 11...Main body frame, 110...Through hole, 12R,12L...Operating part support frame, 121~124...Plate-shaped part, 13...Brake guide part, 131~134...Groove part, 141R,141L,142R,142L...Rod-shaped member guide part, 151R,151L,152R,152L...Through hole, 16R,1 6L…Hook holder, 17R,17L,18R,18L…Operating unit cover, 20R,20L…Operating unit, 30…Brake unit, 31…Brake member, 32…Brake member fixing part, 320a,320b…Contact surface, 321~324…Leg part, 40…Biasing part, 41~44…Coil spring, 50…Handle part, 51…Brake action part, 511~514…Rotating body, 52…Rotating body support part, 53…Lever, 54…Support shaft, 60…Mounting part, 61…Upper receiving part, 62…Lower receiving part, 63…Rod, 64…Rod support part, 641…Through hole, 65…Rod fixing part

Claims

1. A holding device for movably holding a radiation detector, The base portion on which the radiation detector is fixed, A base guide that guides the movement of the base portion in a first direction that causes a height displacement, A brake unit having a brake member that can contact the base guide portion, being movably supported on the base portion, and the position of the brake member relative to the base portion being movable, A biasing unit that applies a biasing force to the brake portion so that the brake member moves toward the base guide portion, It has a brake action part that contacts the brake part, is movably supported on the base part, the position of the brake action part relative to the base part is movable, and a handle part that is operated when the base part is moved in the first direction, The position of the brake acting part relative to the base part automatically changes due to the biasing force applied to the brake acting part via the brake part, from the position when the brake member is released from the guide part to the position when the brake member is pressed against the base guide part to the braking state. holding device.

2. The handle portion is rotatably supported on the base portion via a support shaft extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The base portion has a brake guide portion that guides the movement of the brake portion in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions. When an external force is applied that causes the handle portion to rotate on the support shaft, the external force applied to the brake portion via the brake action portion and the biasing force applied to the brake portion by the biasing portion cause the brake portion to move in the third direction relative to the base portion. The holding device according to claim 1.

3. The brake portion has a contact surface that contacts the brake action portion, When the handle portion rotates on the support shaft, the position in which the brake action portion contacts the contact surface changes. The holding device according to claim 2.

4. The braking unit is rotatable on an axis parallel to the second direction and has a rotating body that contacts the contact surface. When the handle portion rotates on the support shaft, the rotating body rolls while in contact with the contact surface. The holding device according to claim 3.

5. The base guide portion is a rod-shaped member extending in the first direction, The base portion has an insertion hole through which the rod-shaped base guide portion is slidably inserted, The brake portion is located opposite the support shaft with the base guide portion in between, is movable in the third direction, and has a brake member fixing portion on its inner surface facing the base guide portion to which the brake member is fixed. The brake member fixing portion has two contact surfaces that are spaced apart in the second direction, and the two contact surfaces are positioned with the base guide portion in between when viewed from a direction parallel to the third direction. The aforementioned braking mechanism is At least one of the rotating bodies that contacts the contact surface of one of the brake member fixing portions, The brake member fixing portion has at least one rotating body that is in contact with the other contact surface, The holding device according to claim 4.

6. The aforementioned braking mechanism is The first rotating body and the second rotating body are capable of contacting one of the contact surfaces in the brake member fixing portion, The brake member fixing portion has a third rotating body and a fourth rotating body that can contact the other contact surface, The first rotating body and the second rotating body are The distances from the aforementioned support shafts are equal to each other, In the braking state, each of them contacts the base guide portion, The third and fourth rotating bodies described above are The distances from the aforementioned support shafts are equal to each other, In the braking state, each of them contacts the base guide portion, In the first brake release state, The first rotating body contacts one of the contact surfaces and the third rotating body contacts the other contact surface. The second rotating body moves away from one of the contact surfaces, and the fourth rotating body moves away from the other contact surface. In the second brake release state, The second rotating body contacts one of the contact surfaces, and the fourth rotating body contacts the other contact surface. The first rotating body moves away from one of the contact surfaces, and the third rotating body moves away from the other contact surface. The holding device according to claim 5.

7. The handle portion has a lever provided at a location further away from the base guide portion than the support shaft when viewed from a direction parallel to the second direction. The holding device according to claim 6.

Images