The present disclosure relates to an X-ray inspection apparatus.
Conventionally, as described in Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-155561), an X-ray inspection apparatus having a pair of conveying units arranged side by side with an X-ray passing region interposed therebetween is known. In this apparatus, an X-ray irradiation unit is provided on one (an upper one) of the pair of conveying units, and an X-ray detection unit is provided on the other (a lower one) of the pair of conveying units. An X-ray emitted from the X-ray irradiation unit passes through an article, passes through the X-ray passing region, and enters the X-ray detection unit. The X-ray is converted into light and further converted into an electric signal, and an X-ray transmission image is generated in a control unit. Both the conveying units are provided with an X-ray shielding member that shields the X-ray at an end of the X-ray passing region. With this configuration, it is possible to determine whether each of the pair of conveying units is attached based on the X-ray transmission image.
In the above-described conventional device, it is possible to determine whether each of the pair of conveying units is attached. Unlike this configuration, another configuration such as providing an interlock switch is also conceivable. However, in order to determine whether each of the pair of conveying units is attached, two interlock switches are required. This is disadvantageous in terms of cost and compactness (space saving).
An object of the present disclosure is to provide an X-ray inspection apparatus capable of determining attachment of the pair of conveying units with only one sensor unit.
(1) An X-ray inspection apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a conveying unit configured to convey an article; an irradiation unit configured to irradiate the article conveyed by the conveying unit with an electromagnetic wave; a detection unit configured to detect the electromagnetic wave emitted from the irradiation unit and transmitted through the article; an inspection unit configured to inspect the article based on a detection result of the detection unit; and a determination unit configured to determine attachment of the conveying unit. The conveying unit includes first and second conveying units arranged side by side with a passing region through which the electromagnetic wave from the irradiation unit to the detection unit passes therebetween. The determination unit includes: a support portion attached to the first conveying unit; a swing member swingably attached to the second conveying unit and at least partially in contact with the support portion when the first and second conveying units are attached; and a sensor unit configured to detect whether the swing member is present at a predetermined position in a state where the swing member is in contact with the support portion.
According to this X-ray inspection apparatus, when the first conveying unit is attached and the second conveying unit is further attached, at least a part of the swing member is in contact with the support portion. Then, only when this state (condition) is established, the sensor unit detects that the swing member is present at the predetermined position. Therefore, attachment of the pair of conveying units can be determined only by one sensor unit.
(2) In the X-ray inspection apparatus according to (1), the swing member may include a magnet, and the sensor unit may be a magnetic proximity switch for detecting whether the magnet is present at a predetermined position. In this case, since a position of the swing member can be detected in a non-contact manner, configuration of the sensor unit is simplified, and the degree of freedom in layout is also high.
(3) In the X-ray inspection apparatus according to (1) or (2), the support portion and the swing member may be arranged between a conveying surface of the first and second conveying units and a side wall of a housing extending in a vertical direction on a side of the conveying surface, and the sensor unit may be disposed on an inner surface side of the side wall. In this case, since the sensor unit is disposed inside the housing, a wide area of the conveying surface can be secured.
(4) In the X-ray inspection apparatus according to any one of (1) to (3), the second conveying unit may be provided with a restriction mechanism for restricting a swing range of the swing member. In this case, when the second conveying unit is attached, the swing member can be appropriately and reliably brought into contact with the support portion.
(5) In the X-ray inspection apparatus according to any one of (1) to (4), the inspection unit may stop irradiation with the electromagnetic wave when the determination unit does not determine attachment of the first and second conveying units. In this case, erroneous operation of the X-ray inspection apparatus is prevented.
(6) In the X-ray inspection apparatus according to any one of (1) to (5), the inspection unit may provide notification that there is an abnormality when the determination unit does not determine attachment of the first and second conveying units. In this case, the X-ray inspection apparatus can be prevented from being erroneously operated, and the X-ray inspection apparatus can be stopped even when any of the conveying units is detached during operation.
According to the present disclosure, attachment of the pair of conveying units can be determined only by one sensor unit.
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that in the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.
As illustrated in
The apparatus body 2 houses the control unit 10 and the like. The support legs 3 support the apparatus body 2. The shield box 4 is provided in the apparatus body 2. The shield box 4 prevents leakage of X-rays to the outside. An inspection region R in which the article G is inspected by the X-ray is provided inside the shield box 4. A carry-in port 4a and a carry-out port 4b are formed in the shield box 4. The article G before inspection is carried into the inspection region R from the carry-in conveyor 20a through the carry-in port 4a. The article G after inspection is carried out from the inspection region R to the carry-out conveyor 30a via the carry-out port 4b. Each of the carry-in port 4a and the carry-out port 4b is provided with an X-ray shielding curtain (not illustrated) that prevents leakage of X-rays.
The conveying unit 5 is disposed in the shield box 4. The conveying unit 5 conveys the article G from the carry-in port 4a to the carry-out port 4b via the inspection region R in a conveying direction A. The conveying unit 5 is, for example, a belt conveyor stretched between the carry-in port 4a and the carry-out port 4b.
The apparatus body 2 has, for example, a housing 9 made of a material capable of shielding electromagnetic waves such as X-rays. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The X-ray detection unit 7 is disposed in the lower portion 9c of the housing 9. The X-ray detection unit 7 detects the X-ray emitted by the X-ray irradiation unit 6 and transmitted through the article G. The X-ray detection unit 7 is configured as, for example, a line sensor. Specifically, the X-ray detection unit 7 includes a plurality of photodiodes arranged one-dimensionally in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction A, and a scintillator disposed on the X-ray incident side with respect to each photodiode. In this case, in the X-ray detection unit 7, the X-ray incident on the scintillator is converted into light, and the light incident on each photodiode is converted into an electric signal.
As illustrated in
The control unit 10 is disposed in the apparatus body 2. The control unit 10 controls an operation of each unit of the X-ray inspection apparatus 1. The control unit 10 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), and the like. The control unit 10 receives an A/D converted signal output from the X-ray detection unit 7. The control unit 10 functions as an inspection unit that generates the X-ray transmission image of the article G based on the signal output from the X-ray detection unit 7 and inspects the article G based on the X-ray transmission image.
As illustrated in
The conveying unit 20 disposed upstream in the conveying direction A includes a frame 21, a plurality of conveying rollers 22 and 23, and a conveying belt 24. The frame 21 is attached to the apparatus body 2 (shield box 4) via a motor box 26. The conveying rollers 22 and 23 are rotatably supported by the frame 21. As an example, the conveying roller 23 disposed upstream in the conveying direction A is a driving roller, and the conveying roller 22 disposed downstream in the conveying direction A is a driven roller. The conveying belt 24 is an endless belt, and is stretched between the conveying rollers 22 and 23. In a state where the conveying unit 20 is attached to the apparatus body 2, a part of the frame 21 is engaged with and fixed to a part of the shield box 4. The frame 21 and a conveying surface 24a of the conveying belt 24 extend parallel (horizontally) to the conveying direction A.
The conveying unit 30 disposed downstream in the conveying direction A includes a frame 31, a plurality of conveying rollers 32 and 33, and a conveying belt 34. The frame 31 is attached to the apparatus body 2 (shield box 4) via a motor box 36. The conveying rollers 32 and 33 are rotatably supported by the frame 31. As an example, the conveying roller 32 disposed downstream in the conveying direction A is a driving roller, and the conveying roller 33 disposed upstream in the conveying direction A is a driven roller. The conveying belt 34 is an endless belt, and is stretched between the conveying rollers 32 and 33. In a state where the conveying unit 30 is attached to the apparatus body 2, a part of the frame 31 is engaged with and fixed to a part of the shield box 4. The frame 31 and a conveying surface 34a of the conveying belt 34 extend parallel (horizontally) to the conveying direction A.
The X-ray inspection apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a determination unit 15 that determines attachment of the conveying unit 20 and the conveying unit 30. The determination unit 15 determines attachment of both the conveying unit 20 and the conveying unit 30 without depending on the X-ray transmission image (without irradiating the X-ray from the X-ray irradiation unit 6). Hereinafter, the determination unit 15 will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Configurations of the stopper 60 and the actuator 70 will be described in detail. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The magnet 77 is, for example, a block-shaped permanent magnet. The swing member 74 including the holding portion 76 and the magnet 77 integrated together swings in a predetermined range around the support shaft 72. As illustrated in
In a state where the conveying unit 20 and the conveying unit 30 are attached to the apparatus body 2, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As described above, the determination unit 15 is an interlock switch mechanism that detects that two conveyors are appropriately installed. The control unit 10 determines whether both of the conveying units 20 and 30 are attached on the basis of the detection result of the magnetic proximity switch 80.
For example, in a case where the conveying unit 20 is attached and the conveying unit 30 is not attached, since the swing member 74 (magnet 77) is not present near the magnetic proximity switch 80, the control unit 10 can determine that both of the conveying units 20 and 30 are not attached. Further, in a case where the conveying unit 30 is attached and the conveying unit 20 is not attached, since the swing member 74 is located at the natural hanging position P2, the control unit 10 can determine that both of the conveying units 20 and 30 are not attached.
According to an appropriate conveyor attachment procedure, the operator first attaches the conveying unit 20 and subsequently attaches the conveying unit 30. Thus, the actuator 70 approaches the stopper 60 from above, and the holding portion 76 is placed on the support base 62. In a case where both of the pair of conveying units 20 and 30 are attached, since the swing member 74 is located at the contact stop position P1, the control unit 10 can determine that both of the conveying units 20 and 30 are attached. Note that in a case where the conveying unit 30 is attached first, since the presence of the actuator 70 prevents the stopper 60 from descending, it is physically impossible to attach the conveying unit 20. Therefore, also in this case, the swing member 74 is located at the natural hanging position P2, and the control unit 10 can determine that both of the conveying units 20 and 30 are not attached.
When determining that both of the pair of conveying units 20 and 30 are not attached, the control unit 10 stops X-ray irradiation by the X-ray irradiation unit 6. Further, the control unit 10 controls the display operation unit 8 to display a result of determination described above. The control unit 10 controls the notification lamp 11 to provide notification of the result of the determination described above.
According to the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, when the conveying unit 20 is attached and the conveying unit 30 is further attached, at least a part of the swing member 74 is in contact with the support base 62 and located at the contact stop position P1. Then, only when this state (condition) is established, the magnetic proximity switch 80 detects that the swing member 74 is present at the predetermined position. Therefore, attachment of the pair of conveying units 20 and 30 can be determined only by one magnetic proximity switch 80.
A position of the swing member 74 can be detected in a non-contact manner by detection of the magnet 77 by the magnetic proximity switch 80. Thus, configuration of the magnetic proximity switch 80 is simplified, and the degree of freedom in layout is also high.
Since the magnetic proximity switch 80 is disposed inside the housing 9, a wide area of the conveying surfaces 24a and 34a can be secured.
Since the restriction mechanism 70X restricts the swing range of the swing member 74, when the conveying unit 30 is attached, the swing member 74 can be appropriately and reliably brought into contact with the support base 62.
In the X-ray inspection apparatus 1, the control unit 10 stops the X-ray irradiation when the determination unit 15 does not determine attachment of the conveying units 20 and 30. This prevents the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 from being erroneously operated.
Further, in the X-ray inspection apparatus 1, when the determination unit 15 does not determine attachment of the conveying units 20 and 30, the control unit 10 provides notification that there is an abnormality. Thus, the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 is prevented from being erroneously operated, and the X-ray inspection apparatus 1 can be stopped even when any of the conveying units is detached during operation.
Although the embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the actuator 70 may be attached to the conveying unit 20, and the stopper 60 may be attached to the conveying unit 30. In this case, the conveying unit 20 corresponds to the second conveying unit, and the conveying unit 30 corresponds to the first conveying unit. The sensor unit may be a contact type switch instead of the magnetic proximity switch 80.
The electromagnetic wave irradiated by the irradiation unit and detected by the detection unit is not limited to the X-ray.
At least a part of the embodiment described above may be arbitrarily combined.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2023-043847 | Mar 2023 | JP | national |