Contamination inspecting device for portable articles

An automatic radiation inspection system for inspecting portable articles from a radiation control area in a nuclear power installation, the device comprising:

• a means for conveying articles to be inspected through an inspection station;
• a plane scintillator means for detecting radiation on articles to be inspected and for detecting background radiation of an area surrounding the inspection position prior to inspecting the articles to be inspected;
• a stationary scintillator means for detecting radiation on articles to be inspected and for detecting background radiation of an area surrounding the inspection position prior to inspecting the articles to be inspected, said stationary scintillator means being fixedly positioned at the inspection station so as to have the articles to be inspected pass therethrough on said conveyor means;
• a five-axes gate-type underriding mechanism having a head which can travel and revolve in five axes so as to enable said plane scintillator means to three-dimensionally survey plural surfaces of the articles to be inspected, said plane scintillator means being operatively mounted on the head, said underriding mechanism further including an X-axis rail, a Y-axis rail, a Z-axis rail, vertical revolving means for enabling the head to revolve around a vertical revolving axis, and a horizontal revolving means for enabling the head to revolve around a horizontal revolving axis;
• control means operatively connected to said conveying means, said plane scintillator, said stationary scintillator and said underriding mechanism, for controlling operation of said conveying means and said underriding mechanism during surveying of the articles to be inspected based on the background radiation detected;
• and
• a monitor means for displaying detected radiation results after surveying the articles to be inspected.

A robotic radiation inspection system for inspecting portable articles from a radiation control area in a nuclear power installation, the device comprising:

• a means for conveying articles to be inspected through an inspection station;
• a plane scintillator means for detecting radiation on articles to be inspected and for detecting background radiation of an area surrounding the inspection position prior to inspecting the articles to be inspected;
• a stationary scintillator means for detecting radiation on articles to be inspected and for detecting background radiation of an area surrounding the inspection position prior to inspecting the articles to be inspected, said stationary scintillator means being fixedly positioned at the inspection station so as to have the articles to be inspected pass therethrough on said conveyor means;
• a five-axes robot arm system having a head which can travel and revolve in five axes so as to enable said plane scintillator means to three-dimensionally survey plural surfaces of the articles to be inspected, said plane scintillator means being operatively mounted on the head, said robot arm system further including vertical revolving means for enabling the head to revolve around a vertical revolving axis and a horizontal revolving means for enabling the head to revolve around a horizontal revolving axis;
• and
• control means operatively connected to said conveying means, said plane scintillator, said stationary scintillator and said robot arm system, for controlling operation of said conveying means and said robot arm system during surveying of the articles to be inspected based on the background radiation detected.