Patent ID: 8546769

Claim:
A charged particle beam irradiation apparatus that includes a plurality of irradiation chambers, and irradiates irradiation targets in the irradiation chambers with a charged particle beam, the apparatus comprising: an accelerator that accelerates the charged particle beam; a first transport line that transports the charged particle beam which is delivered from the accelerator; a plurality of second transport lines that are provided for each of a plurality of irradiation chambers and further transport the charged particle beam to be transported by the first transport line to the respective irradiation chambers; and a line switching unit that is provided between the first transport line and the plurality of second transport lines, induces the charged particle beam from the first transport line to any of the plurality of second transport lines, and can selectively switch the second transport line of an induction place, wherein the plurality of irradiation chambers is radially disposed around the line switching unit, the line switching unit includes an electromagnet that induces the charged particle beam, and a rotating mechanism that rotates the electromagnet, and the plurality of second transport lines of the induction place are switched by rotating the electromagnet; and wherein the line switching unit includes: a tubular connection line that is provided with the electromagnet, mediates the connection between the first transport line of a tubular shape and one of the plurality of second transport lines of a tubular shape, and causes the charged particle beam to pass therethrough; a rotation support portion that rotatably supports the connection line and the electromagnet around a connection portion between one end of the connection line and the first transport line; and a movement connection portion that is provided in another end of the connection line and is moved in each position capable of being connected to the respective second transport lines along with rotation of the connection line and the electromagnet, and wherein, in an upstream end portion of the second transport line, a second transport line opening and closing valve which opens and closes the second transport line is provided, and the movement connection portion includes: a connection line opening and closing valve that opens and closes the connection line; and a tubular expansion and contraction portion that is provided at a downstream side further than the connection line opening and closing valve, and is attached to and detached from the upstream end portion of the second transport line by being expanded and contracted in an advancement direction of the charged particle beam.