Patent Publication Number: US-2021166829-A1

Title: Airtight box for measurement, airtight apparatus, measurement system and measurement apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an airtight box for measurement suitable for measuring an anaerobic sample or the like, an airtight apparatus having a configuration in which the airtight box for measurement is connected to a glove box, a measurement system including the airtight apparatus, and a measurement apparatus which is suitable to be combined with the airtight box for measurement. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When an anaerobic substance that easily chemically reacts with components in the atmosphere (oxygen, nitrogen, water, etc.) is used as a sample, it is necessary to place the sample in a closed space that does not come into contact with the atmosphere and perform measurement and analysis on the sample. Further, even when a substance that is dangerous to a measurer and requires the measurer to exercise caution when handling it is used as a sample, it is also necessary to place the sample in a closed space and perform measurement and analysis on the sample while the sample is prevented from scattering or leaking to the outside. 
     Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-14569 (Patent Literature 1) discloses an atmosphere control glove box apparatus integrated with an X-ray diffraction apparatus that enables this kind of measurement and analysis. 
     In the conventional apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 1 includes a biaxial diffractometer ( 11 ) as an X-ray diffraction apparatus and a glove box ( 3 ) which are connected to each other via an intermediary chamber ( 9 ). A sample table ( 30 ) of the X-ray diffraction apparatus is arranged in the intermediary chamber ( 9 ). The sample is manually set on the sample table ( 30 ) in the intermediary chamber ( 9 ) via an internal space of the glove box ( 3 ) by using a glove ( 3   b ). 
     In the intermediary chamber ( 9 ), for example, an atmosphere in which an inert gas circulates is formed through the glove box ( 3 ). The measurement by the X-ray diffraction apparatus is performed while the sample is placed inside this intermediary chamber ( 9 ). 
     The conventional apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 1 has a configuration in which the X-ray diffraction apparatus and the intermediary chamber are integrated with each other and the periphery of the sample table of the X-ray diffraction apparatus is covered by the intermediary chamber. Therefore, the sample must be manually loaded and unloaded onto and from the sample table fixed to the X-ray diffraction apparatus via the inside of the glove box as described above, which has posed a problem in workability. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide an airtight box for measurement, an airtight apparatus, and a measurement system that are capable of easily measuring an anaerobic sample without exposing to the atmosphere. 
     In order to attain the above object, according to the present invention, an airtight box for measurement for placing therein a sample to be measured by a measurement apparatus installed outside, comprises: a housing that is hollow therein and has a connecting unit for connecting the housing to a glove box; a sample stage including a sample loading portion; and a measurement window that is provided in the housing to measure a sample loaded on the sample stage from the outside by the measurement apparatus, wherein the connecting unit of the housing is connected to a glove box which is arranged outside side by side together with the airtight box for measurement, whereby the inside of the housing communicates with the inside of the glove box, and the inside of each of the housing and the glove box is put into an airtight state. 
     According to the airtight box for measurement having the above-described configuration, it is possible to easily realize the measurement of an anaerobic sample in combination with the measurement apparatus without exposing to the atmosphere. 
     Here, the airtight box for measurement according to the present invention may comprise a transport stage that is installed in the housing and transports the sample stage, and the transport stage may be configured to extend a transport track of the sample stage up to the inside of the glove box connected to the housing. 
     By providing the transport stage for transporting the sample stage in the housing, the sample can be placed inside the housing without requiring an operator to insert his or her hand deeply inside the housing, so that workability can be enhanced. 
     Further, in the airtight box for measurement according to the present invention, a measurement position is set inside the housing. Therefore, the airtight box for measurement according to the present invention is preferably configured to further comprise a sample position adjustment mechanism for positioning the sample loaded on the sample stage at the measurement position. 
     By providing such a sample position adjustment mechanism, it is possible to accurately position the sample at the measurement position of the measurement apparatus and realize highly accurate measurement. 
     The airtight box for measurement according to the present invention may further comprise a pipe communicating with the inside of the housing, and the pipe may be configured to connect with at least one of a vacuum suction pipe and an inert gas supply source. 
     As a result, it is possible to quickly set the inside of the housing to a vacuum atmospheric state or an inert gas atmospheric state. 
     Further, in the airtight box for measurement according to the present invention in which the measurement apparatus is an X-ray analyzing apparatus and X-rays are incident and emitted through the measurement window, the housing is formed of a material that shields X-rays. For example, it is preferable that the housing is configured to prevent scattered X-rays in the airtight box for measurement from leaking to the outside. Note that the measurement window is formed of a material that transmits X-rays. 
     Further, it is preferable that the airtight box for measurement further comprises an X-ray shielding member for shielding intrusion of X-rays from the inside of the housing into the glove box. 
     By providing the X-ray shielding member, a work in the glove box can be performed in parallel with measurement by the X-ray analysis apparatus, so that the efficiency of the work can be enhanced. 
     An airtight apparatus according to the present invention comprises the airtight box for measurement having the foregoing configuration, and a glove box connected to the housing of the airtight box for measurement, and the inside of each of the housing and the glove box is put into an airtight state. 
     Since the airtight box for measurement is provided with the sample stage in the housing, the thus-configured airtight apparatus can be also used for measurement to be performed by using various measurement apparatuses without being integrated with each measurement apparatus, and thus it is highly versatile. 
     Here, the glove box may be configured to include a blocking member that blocks an opening portion communicating with the inside of the housing to partition off the inside of the glove box from the inside of the housing, thereby putting the inside of the glove box into an airtight state. 
     The inside of the glove box is partitioned off from the inside of the housing by this blocking member, so that a work environment that should be performed independently inside each of the glove box and the airtight box for measurement can be prepared in such a case that maintenance of the glove box or the airtight box for measurement is performed. 
     Further, a measurement system according to the present invention comprises a measurement apparatus and the airtight apparatus having the foregoing configuration, and measures a sample loaded on the sample stage through the measurement window by the measurement apparatus. 
     According to the thus-configured measurement system, since the airtight apparatus is provided with the sample stage in the housing, various measurements can be performed by combining an appropriately selected measurement apparatus with the airtight apparatus. 
     Further, the measurement system according to the present invention may be configured so that the measurement apparatus includes a controller for outputting a control signal for controlling the sample position adjustment mechanism and measure a sample loaded on the sample stage through the measurement window by the measurement apparatus. 
     Further, the measurement system according to the present invention may be configured such that an X-ray analysis apparatus having a goniometer is applied as the measurement apparatus, and a positioning member for fixing and positioning the airtight box for measurement to the goniometer is provided. 
     The positioning member makes it possible to position the sample stage provided in the airtight box for measurement at the measurement position of the X-ray analysis apparatus with higher accuracy. 
     A measurement apparatus according to the present invention is a measurement apparatus for measuring a sample loaded on the sample stage provided in the above-described airtight box for measurement through the measurement window, wherein an opening/closing door is provided, a measurement position is set inside the opening/closing door, and the opening/closing door includes a cutout through which a part of the housing is inserted to arrange the measurement window at a position corresponding to the measurement position. 
     By providing such a cutout in the opening/closing door, the measurement window of the airtight box for measurement can be arranged at a position corresponding to the measurement position with a simple configuration. 
     Here, the cutout formed in the opening/closing door allows a part of the housing having a flange at an intermediate portion thereof to pass through the cutout, and is formed to be smaller than an outer shape of the flange, and a mount portion of the flange is provided near the inside of the opening/closing door. 
     The inside and outside of the opening/closing door can be partitioned by the flange. 
     Further, the above-described measurement apparatus is preferably provided with a sensor for detecting a state where the opening/closing door is closed and the flange is mounted at the mount portion. 
     This sensor makes it possible to check the closed state of the opening/closing door and the state where the cutout is partitioned by the flange. 
     As described above, according to the present invention, desired measurement for an anaerobic sample can be easily realized without exposing to the atmosphere. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partially cross-sectional front view showing a schematic structure of a measurement system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the appearance of the measurement system according to the embodiment of the present invention in which a measurement apparatus is an X-ray diffraction apparatus; 
         FIG. 3A  is a plane view showing the appearance of the measurement system according to the embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 3B  is a front view of the appearance of the measurement system according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the appearance of an airtight box for measurement connected to a side wall of a glove box; 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view showing the appearance of a housing constituting the airtight box for measurement, and  FIG. 5B  is a perspective view showing a two-divided structure of the housing; 
         FIG. 6  is a side cross-sectional view showing a measurement window provided in the housing; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view showing the appearance of a transport stage; 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are front views showing a sample position adjustment mechanism to a measurement position: 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view showing a structure in which a tip portion of the housing is fixed to a goniometer of the X-ray diffraction apparatus, and  FIG. 9B  is an enlarged front view showing the fixed structure of the tip portion; 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are perspective views that give a bird&#39;s-eye view showing the appearance of the measurement apparatus and the airtight box for measurement in order to show an X-ray shielding structure provided between an opening/closing door of the X-ray diffraction apparatus and an intermediate flange of the housing; 
         FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of cutouts formed in the opening/closing door as viewed from a back surface side, and  FIG. 11B  is a perspective view of the X-ray shielding structure as viewed from a back surface side of the opening/closing door; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing a pipe connected to the glove box and the housing of the airtight box for measurement, and a blocking member for blocking an opening portion of the glove box; and 
         FIG. 13A  is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 13B  is also a front view of the other embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
     [Schematic Structure of Measurement System] 
       FIG. 1  is a partially cross-sectional front view showing a schematic structure of a measurement system according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, the schematic structure of the measurement system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
     The measurement system is configured by the combination of a measurement apparatus  10 , a glove box  20 , and an airtight box  30  for measurement. Further, the combination of the glove box  20  and the airtight box  30  for measurement constitutes the airtight apparatus. 
     The measurement apparatus  10  is an apparatus capable of irradiating a sample as a measurement target in the airtight box  30  for measurement with an electromagnetic wave from an energy source (a light source on an incident side) installed in the atmosphere, detecting photons emitted from the sample by a detector which is outside the airtight box for measurement and installed in the atmosphere and performing analysis. A non-destructive inspection machine that uses X-rays, ultraviolet rays, visible rays, terahertz waves, or the like can be arbitrarily selected and applied as the measurement apparatus  10  according to the purpose of measurement. For example, when a substance constituting a sample or a crystal structure of the substance or morphological analysis of the inside and outside of the sample is determined, an X-ray diffraction apparatus, a fluorescent X-ray apparatus, and an X-ray CT apparatus using an X-ray wavelength can be applied as the measurement apparatus  10 . 
     As is well known, the glove box (GB)  20  is a physical and chemical apparatus that has an internal space having a closed structure and is capable of performing various operations in the internal space in a state where it is shielded from the outside air. Rubber gloves that can be inserted into the internal space are provided on the front of the glove box  20  so that an operator can wear these rubber gloves on both hands and operates samples, tools, etc. inside the glove box  20 . 
     The glove box  20  is also provided with an auxiliary box called an antechamber  21  (pass box) which is arranged side by side together with the glove box  20  and used to insert/remove articles into/from the glove box  20 , and samples, tools, etc. are inserted into the glove box  20  via the antechamber  21 . After operations have been finished, the samples, the tools, and the like in the glove box  20  can be removed to the outside via the antechamber  21 . 
     The airtight box  30  for measurement includes a housing  31  having a hollow therein. The housing  31  has a laterally elongated shape, and one side end surface  31   a  (right end surface in  FIG. 1 ) thereof is opened. The opened side end surface  31   a  is connected to a side wall of the glove box  20  which is arranged outside side by side together with the airtight box  30  for measurement. The glove box  20  is provided with an opening portion  20   a  at a side wall portion thereof to which the housing  31  is connected, and this opening portion  20   a  is aligned with the opening of the side end surface  31   a  in the housing  31 , whereby the inside of the housing  31  can be caused to communicate with the inside of the glove box  20 . 
     Here, the inside of the housing  31  is configured to have no gap except for the opening of the side end surface  31   a.  Therefore, the inside of the housing  31  and the inside of the glove box  20  which are connected to each other are put into an airtight state. 
     Note that known connecting means can be appropriately selected and used as a method of connecting the housing  31  to the glove box  20 . For example, it is possible to construct a connecting structure by providing a flange on a side end edge of the housing  31 , bringing the flange into close contact with the side wall of the glove box  20  via packing, and fixing the flange to the side wall of the glove box  20  with fasteners such as bolts and nuts or the like. 
     A sample stage  34  and a transport stage  35  are provided inside the housing  31 . The sample stage  34  is mounted on the transport stage  35 . The transport stage  35  is transport means for transporting the sample stage  34  in an axial direction (right-and-left direction in  FIG. 1 ) of the housing  31 . The transport stage  35  can be configured by using, for example, a known slider mechanism. 
     Here, the transport stage  35  is configured to be able to transport the sample stage  34  to the inside of the glove box  20 . By extending a transport track of the sample stage  34  to the inside of the glove box  20  as described above, it is possible to load a sample onto the sample stage  34  in the glove box  20  and easily transport the sample stage  34  into the housing  31  as it is, thereby enhancing workability. 
     The sample stage  34  is provided with a sample loading portion, and the sample is loaded onto the loading portion. The work of loading the sample onto the sample stage  34  is performed inside the glove box  20  as described above. 
     Further, the housing  31  is provided with a measurement window  40 . The measurement window  40  is a component for measuring the sample loaded on the sample stage  34  from the outside of the housing  31  by the measurement apparatus  10 . The position at which the measurement window  40  is formed adjusted so that the sample placed inside the housing  31  can be measured by the measurement apparatus  10  to be used in combination. 
     Further, the measurement window  40  is closed by a window member to keep the inside of the housing  31  in an airtight state. A material to be applied to the window member is selected according to the measurement apparatus  10  to be used in combination. It is possible to perform analysis with the measurement apparatus  10  using X-rays, ultraviolet rays, visible rays, or terahertz waves by using, for example, a material such as beryllium, silicon nitride, glassy carbon, Ge (germanium), Si (silicon), diamond, sapphire, CaF2 (calcium fluoride), ZnSe (zinc selenide), ZnS (zinc sulfide), chalcogenide glass or quartz as the material for the window member. 
     Further, by using a material (transmitting therethrough light or the like) having a wavelength common to a plurality of measurement apparatuses  10  for the window member, it is also possible to configure the airtight box  30  for measurement with which measurements can be performed by the plurality of measurement apparatuses  10 . 
     A measurement position A is preset inside the housing  31 . The measurement position A preset inside the housing  31  is positionally adjusted so as to coincide with a measurement position (not shown) set in the measurement apparatus  10  when the measurement system is constructed by combining the airtight box  30  for measurement with the measurement apparatus  10 . 
     Further, when a measurement is performed, a sample loaded on the sample stage  34  is positioned at the measurement position A set inside the housing  31 . In order to perform this positioning, the airtight box  30  for measurement is provided with a sample position adjustment mechanism  41 . Various moving mechanisms capable of moving and adjusting the sample so that the measurement position coincides with the measurement position A can be applied to the sample position adjustment mechanism  41 . 
     For example, the positioning in the axial direction of the housing  31  can be realized by a configuration in which the transport stage  35  is provided with a stopper  42 , and the movement of the transport stage  35  is stopped by the stopper  42  when the sample loaded on the sample stage  34  has reached the measurement position A. Further, the positioning in the height direction can be realized by incorporating an elevating mechanism  43  into the sample stage  34  and adjusting the height position of the sample by driving the elevating mechanism  43 . 
     Note that with respect to a front-and-rear direction (a direction vertical to the paper surface of  FIG. 1 ), the front-and-rear positions of the sample stage  34  and the transport stage  35  may be adjusted in advance according to the measurement position A. Further, if necessary, a front-and-rear drive mechanism may be incorporated in the sample stage  34 . 
     Here, the elevating mechanism  43  incorporated in the sample stage  34  is controlled to be driven based on a control signal from a controller  50  installed in the measurement apparatus  10 , and positions the sample loaded on the sample stage  34  at the measurement position A. 
     The measurement window  40  described above is formed at a place corresponding to the measurement position A set inside the housing  31 . In other words, the measurement window  40  is formed in the housing  31  while positionally adjusted so that the measurement apparatus  10  can measure the sample placed at the measurement position A set inside the housing  31  through the measurement window  40 . 
     Further, a pipe  60  is connected to each of the glove box  20  and the housing  31  of the airtight box  30  for measurement. The pipe  60  is configured to be connectable to any one of a vacuum suction pump  62  and an inert gas supply source  63  by switching a valve  61 . As described above, the measurement system (and the airtight apparatus) of the present embodiment connects the pipe  60  to not only the glove box  20 , but also the housing  31  of the airtight box  30  for measurement, whereby the inside of the housing  31  can be directly evacuated and an inert gas can be directly supplied into the housing  31 . Therefore, the inside of the housing  31  can be quickly set to the same atmospheric state as the inside of the glove box  20 . 
     Note that the glove box  20  is provided with a blocking member  22  for blocking the opening portion  20   a.  The blocking member  22  is configured so as to be manually operated from the inside of the glove box  20  to be moved to and fixed at a position where the opening portion  20   a  is blocked. 
     The inside of the glove box  20  is partitioned off from the inside of the housing  31  by the blocking member  22 , whereby it is possible to prepare a work environment to be independently performed in each of the boxes  20  and  30  when maintenance of the glove box  20  and the airtight box  30  for measurement is performed or the like. For example, a maintenance work in the glove box  20  can be performed while maintaining the atmosphere inside the glove box  20 . Further, the maintenance of the airtight box  30  for measurement can be performed independently while maintaining the atmosphere inside the glove box  20 . 
     [Specific Configuration Example of Measurement System] 
     Next, a specific configuration example of the measurement system according to the embodiment of the present invention in which the measurement apparatus is an X-ray diffraction apparatus will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 12 . 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the appearance of the measurement system according to the present embodiment in which the measurement apparatus is an X-ray diffraction apparatus,  FIG. 3A  is a plan view showing the appearance of the measurement system according to the present embodiment, and  FIG. 3B  is a front view showing the appearance of the measurement system according to the present embodiment. 
     Note that the same parts as or corresponding parts to those of the schematic structure shown in  FIG. 1  are represented by the same reference signs. 
     The measurement system according to the present embodiment is configured by the combination of the X-ray diffraction apparatus  10  as the measurement apparatus, the glove box  20 , and the airtight box  30  for measurement. 
     The X-ray diffraction apparatus  10  is an apparatus often used in material study because it can provide information on the crystallinity, crystal structure, and crystal orientation of a material in a non-destructive and non-contact manner and can identify unknown substances. In general, the X-ray diffraction apparatus  10  includes an X-ray source for generating X-rays, a goniometer for accurately measuring an angle, and an X-ray detector for measuring X-ray intensity, and data processing system for controlling these components and calculates count values. 
     Generally, examples of the goniometer include a θ-2θ type goniometer in which the position of the X-ray source is fixed and the sample is rotated by an angle of θ at the same time when the X-ray detector is rotated by an angle of 2θ, and a θ-θ type goniometer in which the X-ray source and the X-ray detector operate while keeping the same angle with respect to a horizontally arranged sample. 
     In this embodiment, since it is necessary to deal with a sample having high fluidity and the sample stage  34  for loading the sample is installed in the airtight box, a configuration in which an X-ray diffraction apparatus  10  adopting the θ-θ type goniometer for the horizontally arranged sample is used as the measurement apparatus will be described. 
     These components constituting the X-ray diffraction apparatus  10  are accommodated and arranged inside an X-ray shielding cover  11 , and a safety measure is taken to prevent X-rays from leaking to the outside during measurement. 
     Further, the X-ray shielding cover  11  shown in the figure is provided with opening/closing doors  12  on the front surface thereof. In the present embodiment, a part of the housing  31  of the airtight box  30  for measurement is inserted into the X-ray shielding cover  11  so that the part of the housing  31  penetrates through the opening/closing doors  12 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the appearance of the airtight box for measurement connected to the side wall of the glove box. The airtight apparatus of the present embodiment is constructed by the combination of the glove box  20  and the airtight box  30  for measurement as shown in figures. 
     The airtight box  30  for measurement includes a housing  31 , a transport stage  35 , and a sample stage  34 . The housing  31  is connected to the side wall of the glove box  20 , and the inside of the housing  31  communicates with the inside of the glove box  20 . The housing  31  is made of a material that shields X-rays, and X-rays do not intrude into the housing  31  from portions other than the measurement window  40 . The transport stage  35  transports the sample stage  34  in the axial direction of the housing  31 , and further extends the transport path thereof to the inside of the glove box  20 . 
       FIG. 5A  is a perspective view showing the appearance of the housing constituting the airtight box for measurement, and  FIG. 5B  is a perspective view showing the two-divided structure of the housing. 
     The housing  31  is hollow therein and has a laterally elongated shape, and one side end surface  31   a  thereof is opened. A flange (side end flange  32 ) is formed on the side end edge of the housing  31  which is a peripheral edge of the opening. A connection structure is constructed in the housing  31  by bringing the side end flange  32  into contact with the side wall of the glove box  20  via a packing (not shown) and fixing the side end flange  32  to the side wall of the glove box  20  with fasteners such as bolts and nuts or the like (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 5B , the housing  31  is divided into two parts at a middle portion in the axial direction, and a housing element (a housing base end portion  31 A) on a base end portion side with respect to the middle portion is kept to be connected to the side wall of the glove box  20  whereas a housing element (a housing tip portion  31 B) on a tip portion side with respect to the middle portion is freely detachable. In other words, flanges (middle flanges  33 ) are formed at joint portions of the housing base end portion  31 A and the housing tip end portion  31 B, and the middle flanges  33  are brought into contact with each other via a packing (not shown) and fastened to each other by using fasters such as bolts and nuts or the like, thereby constructing an integrated housing  31 . 
     Further, the housing tip portion  31 B can be easily separated from the housing base end portion  31 A by merely removing the fasteners. By removing the housing tip portion  31 B in this way, operations such as maintenance and adjustment of the sample stage  34  and the transport stage  35  provided inside the housing  31  or change of the configuration of the sample stage  34  can be easily and quickly performed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5B , the measurement position A is set inside the housing  31 . The housing  31  is arranged relatively to the X-ray diffraction apparatus  10  in a state where the measurement position A is positioned at a measurement position set in the X-ray diffraction apparatus  10  (hereinafter may be referred to as an X-ray irradiation position). The sample is loaded on the sample stage  34  and is arranged at the measurement position A through the transport operation by the transport stage  35  and the elevating operation by the sample stage  34 . 
     The X-ray diffraction apparatus  10  irradiates the sample placed at the measurement position A inside the housing  31  with X-rays, and detects diffracted X-rays reflected from the sample by the X-ray detector. 
       FIG. 6  is a side cross-sectional view showing the measurement window provided in the housing. 
     The measurement window  40  includes an incidence-side measurement window  40   a  and an emission-side measurement window  40   b.  As described above, the sample is placed at the measurement position A set in the housing  31 . The incidence-side measurement window  40   a  is provided at a place where X-rays from the X-ray source  13  can be incident therethrough and the surface of the sample placed at the measurement position A can be irradiated with the X-rays. Further, the emission-side measurement window  40   b  is provided at a place where diffracted X-rays reflected from the surface of the sample placed at the measurement position A can be emitted to the X-ray detector  14  provided outside. 
     The measurement window  40  is blocked by a window member made of a material (for example, beryllium) having a characteristic of blocking the atmosphere, but transmitting X-rays therethrough. 
     Note that the measurement window  40  can be formed in a continuous linear shape extending from an upper portion of the front surface to an upper portion of the back surface through the upper surface, for example. 
       FIG. 7  is a front view showing the appearance of the transport stage. 
     The transport stage  35  is configured so that a slider  37  slides along a guide rail  36  fixed to the floor surface of the housing  31  to enable the sample stage  34  to be transported to the inside of the glove box  20 . The sample stage  34  is mounted on the upper surface of the slider  37 . 
     The slider  37  is provided with an operating handle  38  at an end portion thereof on the glove box  20  side. The operator can grasp the operating handle  38  from the inside of the glove box  20  and easily move the slider  37 . Note that although not shown in  FIG. 7 , the slider  37  includes an intermediate slider and an upper slider, and the intermediate slider engages with the upper slider and moves integrally with the upper slider in a process of moving the upper slider to the tip portion of the housing  31 . As a result, the sample stage  34  can be pulled out from the housing  31  and moved to the inside of the glove box  20 . 
     Note that it is also possible to install a drive motor for driving the transport stage  35  in the airtight box  30  for measurement and control the drive motor based on a control signal from the controller  50  (see  FIG. 1 ) provided in the measurement apparatus (X-ray diffraction apparatus)  10  to move the transport stage  35 . 
     The slider  37  of the transport stage  35  is provided with an X-ray shielding member  44  at a position where the X-ray shielding member  44  is closer to the glove box  20  than the sample stage  34 . The X-ray shielding member  44  is formed in a plate-like shape with a material capable of shielding X-rays, and arranged along the cross-section of the housing  31 . The internal space of the housing  31  is partitioned off by the X-shielding member  44 . Therefore, scattered X-rays generated around the sample stage  34  during the X-ray diffraction measurement are shielded by the housing  31  and the X-ray shielding member  44 , so that leakage of the X-rays to the glove box  20  side can be prevented. 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  are front views showing the sample position adjustment mechanism to the measurement position. 
     Like the schematic structure described above, the measurement position A is preset inside the housing  31 . 
     The stopper  42  is fixedly provided inside the housing  31  and on the floor surface near the tip of the housing  31 . The stopper  42  abuts against the sample stage  34  that has been moved to the tip of the housing  31  by the transport stage  35 , thereby restricting the movement of the sample stage  34 . The setup position of the stopper  42  is adjusted so that when the sample stage  34  abuts against the stopper  42 , the sample loaded on the sample stage  34  is positioned at the same position in the axial position as the measurement position A set in the housing  31 . 
     Further, the sample stage  34  is incorporated with the elevating mechanism  43  for adjusting the height position of the sample. The position adjustment in the height direction with respect to the measurement position A set in the housing  31  is performed by the elevating mechanism  43 . The stopper and the elevating mechanism  43  constitute the sample position adjustment mechanism  41  for positioning the sample loaded on the sample stage  34  at the measurement position A. 
       FIG. 9A  is a perspective view showing a structure in which the tip portion of the housing is fixed to the goniometer of the X-ray diffraction apparatus, and  FIG. 9B  is an enlarged front view showing a fixed structure of the tip portion. 
     The measurement position A set inside the housing  31  is positionally adjusted so as to coincide with the X-ray irradiation position (not shown) set in the X-ray diffraction apparatus  10  when the measurement system is constructed by combining the airtight box  30  for measurement with the X-ray diffraction apparatus  10 . However, in a case where the X-ray diffraction apparatus  10  and the airtight box  30  for measurement are arranged independently of each other, the tip portion of the housing  31  is likely to sag downward because the sample stage  34  is mounted inside the housing  31  extending in the axial direction, so that there is a risk that the measurement position A set inside the housing  31  may deviate from the X-ray irradiation position set in the X-ray diffraction apparatus  10 . 
     Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the tip portion of the housing  31  is fixed to the goniometer  15  of the X-ray diffraction apparatus  10  by a positioning member  16 , whereby the housing  31  of the airtight box  30  for measurement is positioned with respect to the goniometer  15 . 
     Specifically, the tip portion of the housing  31  is fixed to the goniometer  15  by using the positioning member  16  with the transport stage  35  abutting against the stopper  42  so as to cause the measurement position A set inside the housing  31  to coincide with the X-ray irradiation position set in the X-ray diffraction apparatus  10 . 
     As a result, the tip portion of the housing  31  is prevented from sagging, and the measurement position A can be stably positioned at the X-ray irradiation position. Further, by removing the positioning member  16 , the X-ray diffraction apparatus (measurement apparatus)  10  and the airtight apparatus (including the airtight box  30  for measurement and the glove box  20 ) can be easily separated from each other, so that each of the X-ray diffraction apparatus  10  and the airtight apparatus can be used as a single apparatus. 
       FIGS. 10A, 10B, 11A, and 11B  are diagrams showing an X-ray shielding structure provided between the opening/closing door of the X-ray diffraction apparatus and an intermediate flange of the housing. Specifically,  FIGS. 10A and 10B  are perspective views that give a bird&#39;s-eye view of the appearance of the X-ray diffraction apparatus and the airtight box for measurement.  FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of cutouts formed in the opening/closing door as viewed from the back surface side.  FIG. 11B  is a perspective view of the X-ray shielding structure as viewed from the back surface side of the opening/closing door (that is, the inside of an X-ray shielding cover). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 11A , cutouts  17  and  17  are formed in the opening/closing doors  12  provided on the front surface of the X-ray shielding cover  11 . These cutouts  17  and  17  form an opening for inserting a part of the housing  31  into the X-ray shielding cover  11 . These cutouts  17  and  17  mate with each other while the opening/closing doors  12  are closed, thereby forming one opening (see  FIG. 10B ). 
     In the housing  31  of the airtight box  30  for measurement, the housing tip end portion  31 B shown in  FIG. 5A  is inserted from the cutouts  17  into the X-ray shielding cover  11  and arranged there. Here, as shown in  FIG. 11B , the intermediate flange  33  of the housing  31  is arranged so as to cover the peripheral edge portions of the cutouts  17  from the back surface side of the opening/closing doors  12 . As a result, it is possible to prevent X-rays from leaking from the internal space of the X-ray diffraction apparatus covered by the X-ray shielding cover  11  through the cutouts  17  to the outside. In other words, the intermediate flange  33  of the housing  31  constitutes the X-ray shielding structure for the cutouts  17 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 11B , a closing check sensor  18  is installed on the opening/closing doors  12 , and the closing check sensor  18  detects a closed state of the opening/closing doors  12 . Further, an X-ray shielding check sensor  19  is installed to be shared to the opening/closing door and the intermediate flange  33 , and the X-ray shielding check sensor  19  detects that the peripheral edge portions of the cutouts  17  are covered by the intermediate flange  33  of the housing  31  from the back surface side. 
     Based on a detection signal from each of the proximity sensors  18  and  19 , it is possible to prevent any operation of the X-ray diffraction apparatus  10  under a state where the opening/closing doors  12  are left open or the housing  31  is not arranged before the operation is executed. 
     Note that the foregoing configuration may be modified so that the closed state of the opening/closing doors  12  can be also detected by the sensor (X-ray shielding check sensor  19 ) provided to be shared to the opening/closing door  12  and the intermediate flange  33 . In this case, the sensor (closing check sensor  18 ) provided to be shared to the opening/closing doors  12  may be omitted. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing the pipes connected to the glove box and the housing of the airtight box for measurement, and the blocking member for blocking the opening portion of the glove box. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the pipe  60  is connected to each of the glove box  20  and the housing  31  of the airtight box  30  for measurement. Like the schematic structure shown in  FIG. 1 , these pipes  60  are configured to be connectable to any one of the vacuum suction pump  62  and the inert gas supply source  63  by switching the valve  61 . 
     Further, the blocking member  22  is freely attachable to and detachable from the opening portion  20   a  of the glove box  20 . 
     The connection of the pipes  60  to the glove box  20  and the housing  31  as described above makes it possible to set the inside of the airtight box  30  for measurement to the same atmospheric state as the inside of the glove box  20  even when the opening portion  20   a  of the glove box  20  is blocked by the blocking member  22  during maintenance of the airtight box  30  for measurement. 
     Further, the connection of the pipe  60  to the airtight box  30  for measurement makes it possible to uniformly and quickly set the inside of the airtight box  30  for measurement to the same atmospheric state as the inside of the glove box  20 . 
     [Measurement Procedure] 
     According to the following procedure, the measurement system having the specific configuration described above can measure an anaerobic sample under an environment where the atmosphere is blocked. 
     A required atmosphere such as a vacuum atmosphere or an inert gas atmosphere is formed inside the glove box  20  and the housing  31 . In other words, the inside of the housing  31  connected to the glove box  20  can be forcibly exhausted in a short time by a vacuum suction pump. Further, after the forced exhaust by the vacuum suction pump, inert gas can be purged and enclosed to form a required atmosphere. 
     The X-ray diffraction apparatus  10  is operated while the sample stage  34  in the housing  31  is caused to abut against the stopper  42  (see  FIG. 7 ), thereby performing a height adjustment operation for the sample loading portion called half-split. Through this operation, the height of the sample loading portion is adjusted to the measurement position A in the housing  31 . 
     Thereafter, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , a measurement target sample and necessary tools and the like are inserted into the glove box  20  via the antechamber  21  which is arranged side by side together with the glove box  20 . 
     Next, the operator puts on the rubber gloves provided in the glove box  20  and operates the sample in the glove box from the outside to execute a pretreatment for X-ray diffraction measurement. Then, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the sample stage  34  installed inside the housing  31  is moved to the inside of the glove box  20 , and the sample is loaded onto the sample stage  34 . Subsequently, the sample stage  34  is moved into the housing  31 , and stopped when it abuts against the stopper  42  (see  FIG. 7 ). As described above, since the height has already been adjusted, the sample is placed at the measurement position A by stopping the sample stage  34  at a position where the sample stage  34  abuts against the stopper  42 . 
     Thereafter, the X-ray diffraction apparatus  10  is operated to perform X-ray diffraction measurement on the sample in the housing  31 . After the measurement is completed, the sample stage  34  in the housing  31  is moved to the inside of the glove box  20  again (see  FIG. 4 ), and the measured sample is removed from the sample stage  34 . Subsequently, after a necessary post-treatment is completed in the glove box  20 , the sample is taken out to the outside via the antechamber  21 . 
     Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications and applications can be implemented. 
     For example, the airtight box for measurement according to the present invention can be configured by using a well-known glove box. In that case, an existing glove box may be provided with a connecting unit to be connected to a connecting unit of the housing  31 . 
     Since an energy source (a light source on the incident side) and the detector of the measurement apparatus can be installed in the atmosphere, these units of a general-purpose measurement apparatus can be used in combination with the airtight apparatus of the present invention to configure the measurement system according to the present invention. 
     In that case, a sample stage (a component for placing the sample at the measurement position) which has been provided in the existing measurement apparatus is removed in advance, and the sample stage which has been provided inside the airtight box for measurement is used. 
     When an existing X-ray diffraction apparatus is provided with an opening/closing door for shielding X-rays, a cutout corresponding to the cutout  17  described above is formed in the opening/closing door, and a part of the housing of the airtight box for measurement is inserted into the inside of the opening/closing door through the cutout. 
     The sample position adjustment mechanism for positioning the sample loaded on the sample stage to the measurement position may be configured by incorporating the sample stage with an XYZ table capable of performing not only position adjustment in an up-and-down direction (Z direction), but also position adjustment in an axial direction (Y direction) and a front-and-rear or lateral direction (X direction) of the housing. 
       FIGS. 1 and 12  show the configuration in which the branched pipes  60  are connected to the glove box  20  and the housing  31  of the airtight box  30  for measurement so that the glove box  20  and the housing  31  of the airtight box  30  for measurement communicate with the vacuum suction device and the inert gas supply source. However, the present invention is not limited to the above configuration, and the pipes may be configured as follows. 
     For example, pipes may be independently connected to the glove box  20  and the housing  31  of the airtight box  30  for measurement respectively so that each of the glove box  20  and the housing  31  of the airtight box  30  for measurement individually communicates with the vacuum suction device and the inert gas supply source. 
     The pipes to communicate with the vacuum suction device and the inert gas supply source may be connected to a plurality of places in the glove box  20  and the housing  31  of the airtight box  30  for measurement, if necessary. 
     Further, the pipes communicating with the vacuum suction device and the inert gas supply source may be connected to not only the glove box  20  and the housing  31  of the airtight box  30  for measurement, but also, for example, the antechamber  21  (pass box) attached to the glove box  20 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 13A and 13B , the present invention may be configured so that the shaft portion of the goniometer  15  is provided with an insertion hole  15   a  which is sized to enable the housing  31  of the airtight box  30  for measurement to pass therethrough, the housing  31  of the airtight box  30  for measurement is inserted from the back side of the goniometer  15  through the insertion hole  15   a,  and a part of the housing  31  is arranged in the internal space of the X-ray shielding cover  11 . According to this configuration, it is not necessary to provide the cutout in the opening/closing door  12 . Therefore, there is no need for an X-ray shielding structure for the cutout, and further there is an advantage that the work from the front side of the X-ray diffraction apparatus  10  can be easily performed.