JP2007017674A - Cleaning method for image reading device, image reading device, and cassette for cleaning - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning method for an image reading device where the maintenance of an image reading device is facilitated, and by which a user can safely and easily realize the recovery in the function of the device, to provide an image reading device, and to provide a cassette for cleaning. <P>SOLUTION: The cleaning method is used for an image reading device where image information is read out from a cassette comprising: a front member; a back member; and a stimulable phosphor sheet added to the side of the back member, and in which the front member and the back member are separable. The cassette for cleaning comprising: the front member; the back member; and a cleaning member provided at the side of the back member, wherein, the position of the tip is movable to the thickness direction of the cassette, and in which the front member and the back member are separable is inserted from the insertion port of the image reading device, the back member of the cassette for cleaning is separated from the front member, as the back member is carried to a subscanning direction, a reading means is cleaned by the cleaning member, and thereafter, the cassette for cleaning is discharged from an exhaust port. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning method for an image reading apparatus, an image reading apparatus, and a cleaning cassette for reading image information from a cassette in which a front member and a back member can be separated.

  Radiation accumulated from the stimulable phosphor sheet by irradiating the stimulable phosphor sheet with a part of the radiation energy and irradiating excitation light such as laser light The medical radiation image is read out by stimulating light emission according to energy, condensing it with a condensing system such as a light guide or a condensing mirror, and photoelectrically converting the condensed stimulating light light to obtain an image signal. A radiation image reading apparatus is known. In such a radiographic image reading apparatus, a condensing system such as a light guide or a condensing mirror condenses weak stimulating light, so that dust that has entered the apparatus is placed on the surface of the light guide or condensing mirror. When deposited, it tends to adversely affect light collection. In order to remove the dust adhering to such a condensing system, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a sheet-like substrate wider than the width of the photostimulable phosphor sheet, and a width direction on the sheet-like substrate. It is disclosed that a cleaning sheet composed of a belt-shaped brush is conveyed so that the cleaning brush of the cleaning sheet wipes the light collecting surface of the light collecting mirror and the light incident surface of the light guide to remove dust. However, in this method, the dust removed from the optical part such as the condensing surface and the incident surface adheres to the nip roller or the like during the transport of the sheet-like substrate, and finally, this dust is again applied to the photostimulable phosphor sheet. There was a risk of adhesion, which was not practical.

  Further, in Patent Document 2 below, a cleaning cassette including a cleaning sheet that adsorbs dust and dirt is operated on a conveyance / detachment unit and a moving unit provided in the radiation image reading apparatus, thereby forming an outer surface of the cleaning cassette. Disclosed is a cleaning cassette that is configured to act on a holding surface that holds the outer surface of a cassette of a radiographic image reading apparatus to clean the holding surface. However, cleaning of the image reading system of the radiographic image reading apparatus is disclosed. There is no description to do.

Further, in Patent Document 3, the radiation image reading apparatus is provided with a condensing guide brush on a mirror mount, and rotates the mirror mount as necessary to adhere to the incident surface of the adjacent condensing guide. The dust attached to the collector mirror is removed by removing the dust with the collector guide brush, and by arranging the collector mirror brush in the rotation area of the mirror mount and rotating the mirror mount as necessary. It removes by the brush for condensing mirrors is disclosed. These condensing guide brushes and condensing mirror brushes directly act on the entrance surface of the condensing guide and the condensing mirror.
JP-A-10-123636 JP 2003-295366 A JP 2004-279928 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus cleaning method, an image reading apparatus, and a cleaning cassette, in which maintenance of the image reading apparatus is simplified and a user can safely and easily recover the function of the apparatus. And

  In order to achieve the above object, a cleaning method for an image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a front member, a back member, and a photostimulable phosphor sheet attached to the back member side, and the front member; A cleaning method for an image reading apparatus that reads image information from a cassette in which the back member is separable, wherein the image reading apparatus separates an insertion port for inserting the cassette, and a front member and a back member of the cassette. Separating means, sub-scanning means for sub-scanning the back member separated from the front member by the separating means, and image information held on the photostimulable phosphor sheet attached to the back member. A reading unit for reading, a uniting unit for uniting the front member and the back member again, and a uniting unit A discharge port for discharging the combined cassette; and a conveying means for moving the cassette; and a front member, a back member, and a tip end position in the cassette thickness direction provided on the back member side A cleaning cassette that can be moved, and the front member and the back member are separable from the insertion port, the back member of the cleaning cassette is separated from the front member, and the back The reading unit is cleaned by the cleaning member while conveying the member in the sub-scanning direction, and then the cleaning cassette is taken out from the discharge port.

  According to the cleaning method of the image reading apparatus, the cleaning cassette is automatically inserted by the cleaning member in the cleaning cassette by inserting the cleaning cassette from the insertion opening of the image reading apparatus and taking out from the discharge opening. Therefore, the maintenance of the image reading apparatus can be simplified. In addition, since the cleaning member moves its tip position in the cassette thickness direction, the reading unit can be reliably cleaned even if there is unevenness on the reading unit side. Further, dust and the like removed from the reading means are accommodated in the cleaning cassette and discharged out of the apparatus, so that there is no secondary contamination in the image reading apparatus.

  The image reading apparatus of the present invention can execute the above-described cleaning method. According to this image reading apparatus, the reading means in the image reading apparatus can be automatically and easily cleaned by the cleaning member in the cleaning cassette. In addition, since the cleaning member moves its tip position in the cassette thickness direction, the reading unit can be reliably cleaned even if there is unevenness on the reading unit side. Further, dust and the like removed from the reading means are accommodated in the cleaning cassette and discharged out of the apparatus, so that there is no secondary contamination in the image reading apparatus.

  In the image reading apparatus, the reading unit is configured to collect a light scanning unit for irradiating the photostimulable phosphor sheet with scanning light, and to collect the photostimulated luminescent light generated by the photostimulable phosphor sheet. If the optical scanning unit and the condensing unit can be cleaned with a cleaning member, the user can be safe even if the optical scanning unit and the condensing unit are deteriorated in reading function due to adhesion of dust or the like. And the reading function can be recovered easily.

  Also, a cassette identification unit for identifying the type of cassette to be mounted is provided, and when the cassette identification unit identifies the cleaning cassette, a cleaning sequence can be automatically started, so that maintenance of the image reading apparatus is easy. Turn into.

  The cleaning cassette according to the present invention can be used in the above-described cleaning method or the above-described image reading apparatus. According to this cleaning cassette, the reading means in the image reading apparatus can be automatically and easily cleaned by the cleaning member in the cleaning cassette. In addition, since the cleaning member moves its tip position in the cassette thickness direction, the reading unit can be reliably cleaned even if there is unevenness on the reading unit side. Further, dust and the like removed from the reading means are accommodated in the cleaning cassette and discharged out of the apparatus, so that there is no secondary contamination in the image reading apparatus.

  In the cleaning cassette, since the cleaning member extends obliquely with respect to the sub-scanning direction, it is possible to clean the reading means such as the optical scanning unit and the condensing unit to which dust or the like has adhered from the one end to the other in order. , Dust and the like can be reliably removed.

  In addition, the cleaning cassette may include a suction iron foil for holding the back member during the sub-scanning conveyance, and the iron foil and the cleaning member are electrically connected to each other. Preferably, charging due to rubbing with the cleaning member can be prevented, and adhesion of dust can be prevented.

  According to the image reading apparatus cleaning method, the image reading apparatus, and the cleaning cassette of the present invention, the maintenance of the image reading apparatus can be simplified, and the function recovery of the apparatus can be realized safely and easily by the user.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a front member (A) and a back member (B) of a radiographic imaging cassette that can be loaded into the radiographic image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment are separated. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section of the cassette in which the front member and the back member of FIG. 1 are combined.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a radiographic imaging cassette (hereinafter also simply referred to as “cassette”) 1 is a front member 10 and a back disposed so as to face the front member 10. The member 20 is configured to be a thin rectangular body as a whole, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 28 is configured to be accommodated in the internal space while being fixed to the support plate 27 on the back member 20 side. Yes. The front member 10 and the back member 20 are detachable and separable.

  The cassette 1 is irradiated with radiation from the front member 10 side to perform radiation imaging, and can accumulate and record a radiation image on the stored photostimulable phosphor sheet 28. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the photostimulable (accumulative) phosphor sheet 28 is a photostimulable (accumulative) phosphor based on CsBr formed on a support plate 27 by, for example, a vapor phase growth method. The photostimulable phosphor layer 28a is made of.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the front member 10 has a frame member 11 having an outer frame having a frame 17 on the short side and a frame 18 on the long side, and the front member 10 inscribed in front of the inner surface of the frame member 11. A face plate 13. As shown in FIG. 2, the frame member 11 includes a frame front surface portion 114 facing the front surface side, a frame side surface portion 110 bent from the end of the frame front surface portion 114 to the rear surface side at a substantially right angle, and a frame side surface portion 110. The frame rear surface portion 111 is further bent inward in the width direction substantially perpendicularly from the end portion, and the inclined surface portion 112 is bent from the end portion of the frame rear surface portion 111 toward the frame front surface portion 114 at a predetermined angle. Further, a light-shielding protrusion 115 that protrudes in the same direction as the frame side surface portion 110 is provided on the back surface of the frame front surface portion 114.

  As shown in FIGS. 1B and 2, the back member 20 includes a back member main body 21, a photostimulable phosphor sheet 28, and a support plate 27 that supports the photostimulable phosphor sheet 28. The back member main body 21 includes a back member rear surface portion 209 and a back member side surface portion 211 bent from the back member rear surface portion 209 to the front surface side at a substantially right angle. In addition, an inner wall 213 and a rib 214 projecting in the same direction as the back member side surface portion 211 are provided on the front surface of the back member rear surface portion 209. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the recess 22 is formed in a space surrounded by the back member rear surface portion 209, the back member side surface portion 211, and the inner wall 213.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, an insertion hole 34 is formed in the back member side surface portion 211 on one end side in the short side direction of the cassette 1 so as to correspond to the notch portion 14 on the front member 10 side. In addition, openings 31 a and 31 b and the like are formed on the longitudinal direction end portion side of the back member side surface portion 211, and an opening portion 33 a and the like are formed on the width direction end portion side of the back member side surface portion 211.

  For example, a back plate 23 having a configuration in which a lead foil is coated with a PET film is fixed to the rib 214 of the back member 20. On the back plate 23, a support plate 27 is bonded to the opposite surface of the photostimulable phosphor layer 28a with a strength capable of being replaced by a double-sided tape or an adhesive. In this way, the photostimulable phosphor sheet 28 is accommodated on the back member 20 side.

  Further, since the back member main body 21 is attracted and held by the magnetic force of the magnet in the radiation image reading apparatus, the back member main body 21 itself is used as a magnetic part so that it can be attracted to the magnet by the magnetic force. It is preferable to form. Alternatively, the back member main body 21 may be formed of a normal plastic, and a magnetic sheet (not shown) such as iron foil may be provided on the back surface 24 of the back member 20 as a magnetic part. Further, a magnetic part may be applied to the back surface 24 of the back member 20 by applying a magnetic substance.

  In the cassette 1 described above, when the back member 20 and the front member 10 are combined as shown in FIG. 2, the light shielding protrusion 115 of the front member 10 enters the recess 22 of the back member 20, and the back member enters the recess 12 of the front member 10. Twenty back member side parts 211 enter. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lock claws 30a, 30b, etc. on the back member 20 slide through the openings 31a, 31b etc. to the concave portion 12 side of the front member 10, and the lock claws 32a, etc. further open. By sliding and projecting toward the concave portion 12 side of the front member 10 through 33a and the like, the back member 20 and the front member 10 are locked, and the lock claws 30a, 30b, 32a and the like slide into the back member 20 and retreat. Thus, a lock mechanism is configured so that the lock between the back member 20 and the front member 10 is released.

  With the structure as described above, the back member 20 and the front member 10 are integrally combined to form the cassette 1, and the light is shielded so that external light does not reach the stimulable phosphor sheet 28, and the lock mechanism The back member 20 and the front member 10 are locked and kept in a combined state, and radiation imaging or the like is performed in this combined state. Further, the locked state is released by releasing the lock mechanism, and the combined front member 10 and back member 20 can be separated.

  Due to the locking mechanism, in the cassette 1, the notch portion 14 of the front member 10 is in a positional relationship corresponding to the insertion hole 34 of the back member 20 when the front member 10 and the back member 20 are combined, and the notch portion 14. Each time the insertion member is inserted and the slide plate 50 is slid to push the push latch portion (not shown), the lock claws 30a, 30b, 32a, etc. are slid to switch between locking and unlocking (pushing) The latch method is adopted. The push latch method is well known as a mechanism used when a ballpoint pen core is taken in and out of the ballpoint pen exterior.

  As described above, in the cassette 1, switching between the ON state in which the back member 20 is locked to the front member 10 and the separable OFF state is easily performed by a push latch mechanism that switches each time the lock and unlock are pressed once. be able to. Further, the lock of the cassette 1 is released by the push latch mechanism, the front member 10 and the back member 20 are separated in the radiation image reading apparatus, the stimulable phosphor sheet 28 is exposed, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 28 is exposed. The radiographic image information stored and recorded in can be read.

  Next, the above-described radiographic imaging cassette 1 is taken in, the front member 10 and the back member 20 are separated, and the radiographic image reading apparatus that reads and records the radiographic image accumulated and recorded in the photostimulable phosphor sheet 28 by radiography. Will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the radiation image reading apparatus of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the radiation image reading apparatus of FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view of an essential part for explaining the cassette separating operation of the radiographic image reading apparatus of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the apparatus main body 2 includes an insertion port 3 for the cassette 1, a discharge port 4 for the cassette 1, and two units, a conveyance reading unit 2 a and a cassette insertion / discharge unit 2 b. The cassette insertion / ejection unit 2b has a structure that can be easily detached from the conveyance reading unit 2a. Further, an anti-vibration rubber 730 is disposed between the conveyance reading unit 2a and the cassette insertion / ejection unit 2b, so that vibration during insertion or ejection of the cassette is not easily transmitted to the conveyance reading unit 2a.

  Further, the sub-scanning unit 500 and the cassette transport mechanism 40 in the cassette insertion / ejection unit 2 b are constructed on the same substrate 710. By disposing the vibration isolating rubber 720 between the substrate 710 and the bottom plate 700, a vibration isolating structure that does not propagate the vibration of the cassette insertion / ejection unit 2b to the sub-scanning unit 500 is realized. Further, an anti-vibration rubber 740 is disposed between the upper end of the sub-scanning unit 500 and a device frame (not shown), and the anti-vibration structure for the sub-scanning unit 500 is reinforced.

  With such an anti-vibration structure, the cassette is inserted into the insertion port 3 and the cassette is taken out from the discharge port 4 while image information is being read from the photostimulable phosphor sheet 28 by the conveyance reading unit 2a. Even if the apparatus main body 2 is vibrated, noise caused by vibration can be prevented in the read image information. In addition, since the sub-scanning unit 500 and the transport mechanism 40 are constructed on the same substrate 710, when the back member 20 is delivered from the transport mechanism 40 to the sub-scanning unit 500, the delivery position is not blurred. Thereby, the separation / merging work of the front member 10 and the back member 20 can be stably and accurately performed.

  Next, the operation of the radiation image reading apparatus will be described. Although the cassette 1 is assumed to be a half-cut cassette, the present invention is not limited to this.

  The cassette 1 containing the photostimulable phosphor sheet 28 on which the radiographic image has been taken is inserted into the insertion port 3 in the direction of the arrow A1 as shown in FIG. At this time, the cassette 1 is inserted such that the insertion hole 14 is on the lower side and the front plate 13 of the front member 10 is directed obliquely downward. That is, the stimulable phosphor sheet 28 is inserted so that the reading surface faces obliquely downward. When the cassette 1 is inserted into the insertion port 3, the presence of the cassette 1 is recognized by a cassette detection sensor (not shown), and the cassette is moved to the center of the insertion port 3 by the width adjusting portion 47 arranged in the insertion port 3. It is justified.

  When the cassette 1 is shifted to the center of the insertion port 3, the position of the code storage element 20a (FIG. 2) on the outer surface of the back member 20 and the code reading unit 45 coincides and is recorded in the code storage element 20a. The code is read by the code reading unit 45.

  When the code reading unit 45 reads the code correctly, the type and cassette size of the cassette are detected from the read code, and adjustment is started according to the width of the transport mechanism 40 according to the cassette size. 4 starts to move in the direction of arrow M according to the size of the cassette 1.

  Next, the insertion roller 42 is operated to take the cassette 1 into the apparatus main body 2 in the direction of the arrow A2 along the dotted line a. The transport mechanism 40 is already waiting at the position of the dotted line a when the insertion roller 42 is operated, and receives the cassette 1 carried by the insertion roller 42 from the insertion port 3. When the cassette grips 402a and 402b on the lifting platform 402 (operating along the transport mechanism 40) catch the lower end of the cassette 1, the lifting platform 402 transports the cassette 1 in the direction of arrow A2 along the transport mechanism 40. 4, the upper end of the cassette 1 is controlled to stop at the position indicated by the arrow Z.

  When the cassette 1 stops at the position indicated by the arrow Z, the front ends of the grip claws 403a and 403b are inserted into the recesses of the grip recesses 16a and 16b existing on the side surface 110 of the front member. 10 is fixed.

  The transport mechanism 40 has a rotation shaft 404, and can freely rotate and move at least within a range from a dotted line a to a dotted line c with the rotation shaft 404 as a rotation center. When the cassette 1 is taken into the apparatus main body 2 by the transport mechanism 40, the transport mechanism 40 rotates from the position of the dotted line a to the position of the dotted line c in the direction of the arrow A3 with the rotation shaft 404 as the rotation center. When the transport mechanism 40 rotates to the position of the dotted line c, the outer surface of the back member 20 of the cassette 1 having a magnetic material is attracted by a magnetic force to the planar magnet 540 provided on the sub-scanning moving plate 530 of the sub-scanning unit 500. Is done. At this time, since the back member 20 has appropriate flexibility, the flatness of the back member 20 follows that of the magnet 540 when adsorbed on the flat surface of the magnet 540.

  A lock pin (bar-shaped member) 402c for turning on / off the lock mechanism of the cassette 1 is disposed on the lifting platform 402, and the lock mechanism of the cassette 1 is turned on / off by the vertical movement of the lock pin 402c. can do. Further, the upper end (upper reference position Z) of the cassette 1 projects upward from the sub-scanning moving plate 530 of the sub-scanning unit 500 for the purpose of detecting the upper end or the side end of the cassette 1 during sub-scanning. Is configured to do.

  When the back member 20 is attracted to the magnet 540, the lock pin 402c housed in the lifting platform 402 rises, and the tip of the lock pin 402c is inserted into the insertion hole 14 of the front member 10 (see FIG. 4). . By this operation, the lock of the cassette 1 in the lock-on state is released, and the state shifts to the lock-off state. That is, the back member 20 and the front member 10 are separable. When the cassette 1 shifts to the lock-off state, the lock pin 402c is lowered and stored in the lifting platform 402 again.

  When the cassette 1 is unlocked and shifts to the lock-off state, the transport mechanism 40 rotates in the direction of the arrow A6 and stops at the retracted position (for example, the position of the dotted line b). By this operation, the back member 20 and the front member 10 are completely separated.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the back member 20 and the front member 10 are completely separated, the transport mechanism 40 stops at the retracted position, and the front member 10 is retracted from the back member 20 at a sufficient angle, so that the back member 20 is When the sub-scanning operation is performed, the back member 20 and the front member 10 can be prevented from interfering with each other.

  As described above, when the back member 20 is completely separated from the front member 10, the sub-scanning unit 500 is actuated by the drive unit (not shown), and the back member 20 moves in the sub-scanning direction (upward direction) of the arrow A4. Carried (sub-scanned). During the sub-scanning operation, the photostimulable phosphor sheet 28 is main-scanned in the direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction by the laser beam B emitted from the laser scanning unit 121.

  When laser light acts on the photostimulable phosphor sheet 28, photostimulated light (image information) proportional to the radiation energy accumulated in the photostimulable phosphor sheet 28 is generated. Then, the light is collected in the condenser tube 123, and then the stimulated light is converted into an electric signal by a photoelectric conversion element (not shown) such as a photomultiplier. The stimulated light converted into the electrical signal is subjected to predetermined signal processing as image data, and then output to another image output device (not shown).

  When the reading of the image information from the photostimulable phosphor sheet 28 is completed as described above, the driving unit (not shown) operates the sub-scanning unit 500, and the direction of the arrow A5 of the back member 20 as shown in FIG. Conveyance to (downward) starts. While the back member 20 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow A5, the erasing light E is emitted from the erasing means 124, and the image information remaining on the photostimulable phosphor sheet 28 is erased.

  Next, when the back member 20 is lowered to the position delivered to the magnet 540, the drive unit (not shown) stops the movement of the back member 20 by the sub-scanning unit 500. When the back member 20 stops at the position delivered to the magnet 540, the transport mechanism 40 that has been retracted to the retracted position rotates again to the position of the dotted line c, and the back member 20 and the front member 10 are united. When the back member 20 and the front member 10 are combined, the lock pin 402c housed in the lifting platform 402 is raised, and the tip of the lock pin 402c is inserted into the insertion hole 14 of the front member 10. By this operation, the cassette 1 that has been in the lock-off state is locked and shifts to the lock-on state. That is, the back member 20 and the front member 10 cannot be separated. When the cassette 1 shifts to the lock-on state, the lock pin 402c is lowered and stored in the lifting platform 402 again.

  As described above, when the uniting operation of the back member 20 and the front member 10 is completed, the transport mechanism 40 again rotates in the direction of the arrow A6 to the position of the dotted line b and stops. When the transport mechanism 40 stops at the position of the dotted line b, the fixed state of the front member 10 by the grip claws 403a and 403b is released, and the cassette 1 becomes transportable on the transport mechanism 40.

  When the fixed state of the front member 10 is released, the lifting platform 402 transports the cassette 1 to the discharge port 4 in the direction of arrow A7 along the transport mechanism 40, and delivers the cassette 1 to the discharge roller 43. When the discharge roller 43 receives the cassette 1, the discharge roller 43 performs a discharge operation until the cassette 1 is completely discharged to the discharge port 4. When the cassette 1 is completely discharged to the discharge port 4, the transport mechanism 40 rotates and moves to the position of the dotted line a in the direction of arrow A6, and shifts to a state where the next cassette 1 can be received.

  As described above, the photostimulable phosphor sheet 28 in the cassette 1 is taken out in a non-contact manner by the radiation image reading apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 to read the radiation image information, and returned to the cassette. Can be stored again.

  Next, a cleaning cassette that can be mounted on the radiation image reading apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a cleaning cassette that can be attached to the radiation image reading apparatus shown in FIGS. 7 is a plan view showing the inner surface of the back member of the cleaning cassette of FIG. 8 is a view of the end of the cleaning member of the cleaning cassette of FIG. 6 as viewed from the direction x of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the cleaning cassette 200 includes a front member 210 having substantially the same shape as the front member 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2, and a back member 220 having substantially the same shape as the back member 20. The member 210 and the back member 220 can be combined and can be separated from the combined state, and can be attached to the radiographic image reading apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 in the combined state. The front member 210 and the back member 220 can be integrally formed from a resin material by injection molding.

  The cleaning cassette 200 is configured to be approximately the same size as the cassette 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and includes a lock mechanism that can be turned on / off by a similar push latch mechanism. Can be maintained, and can be separated by turning off.

  As shown in FIG. 6, an iron foil 221 is affixed to almost the entire inner bottom portion of the back member 220, and the cleaning cassette 200 is inserted into the radiographic image reading apparatus of FIGS. The outer surface of the member 220 is attracted by a magnetic force to a planar magnet 540 provided on the sub-scanning moving plate 530 of the sub-scanning unit 500 with an iron foil 221.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a cleaning member 225 configured to be elongated as a whole is provided on the iron foil 221 on the inner bottom portion of the back member 220, and the longitudinal direction of the back member 220 which is the longitudinal direction of FIG. 7. It is arranged so as to extend obliquely with respect to the direction (which coincides with the sub-scanning direction A4 in FIG. 3 in the radiation image reading apparatus). Note that the short side dimension in the horizontal direction (main scanning direction by polygon mirror scanning or the like) is a dimension that covers a range substantially equivalent to the maximum reading width (usually equivalent to 14 inches).

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the cleaning member 225 includes a cleaning base material 222 made of an elongated metal plate, and a brush 223 made of a large number of flexible metal wires provided on the front end surface of the cleaning base material 222. The cleaning substrate 222 is pivotally supported on a rotating shaft 222a fixed on the iron foil 221, and is urged in the rotation direction r of FIG. 6 by an urging member (not shown) such as a spring. ing.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, in the cleaning cassette 200, the cleaning base material 222 has both end sides against the urging force in the rotation direction r so that the brush 223 is separated from the inner surface 210 a of the front member 210. Thus, it is pressed by the protruding member 224 protruding from the inner surface 210a of the front member 210.

  When the back member 220 is separated from the front member 210, the pressing by the protruding member 224 is released, and the cleaning base material 222 is rotated in the rotation direction r by the urging force, and the surface of the iron foil 221 is indicated by a broken line in FIG. The position is inclined to less than 90 degrees.

  The brush 223 of the cleaning member 225 performs cleaning in a state where the cleaning member 222 rotates in the rotation direction r ′ together with the cleaning substrate 222 while contacting the portion to be cleaned against the biasing force in the rotation direction r and curving the tip. Do. As a result, even if the cassette thickness direction position of the cleaning target portion changes, the brush 223 follows the change and rotates in the rotation direction r or r ′ while the tip position moves, thereby cleaning the brush 223. It can be carried out. Further, the brush 223 is electrically connected to the iron foil 221 through the cleaning base material 222, can suppress charging due to rubbing due to cleaning, and can suppress adhesion of dust and the like.

  Next, an operation for performing cleaning by mounting the above-described cleaning cassette of FIGS. 6 to 8 on the radiation image reading apparatus of FIGS. 3 to 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a side view of a main part showing a state in which cleaning is performed by the cleaning member in the cleaning cassette in the radiographic image reading apparatus of FIGS. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the cleaning operation in the radiographic image reading apparatus of FIGS. 3 to 5 by the cleaning cassette of FIGS.

  The cleaning cassette 200 shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 operates in substantially the same manner as in the case of the cassette 1 in which the photostimulable phosphor sheet 28 is accommodated from being inserted into the insertion port 3 until being discharged into the discharge port 4. .

  That is, when the cleaning cassette 200 is inserted into the insertion port 3 in the radiographic image reading apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 (S01), it is recorded in the code storage element 200a (FIG. 6) attached to the outer surface of the back member 220. The code is read by the code reading unit 45 (S02). As a result, the inserted cassette is identified as the cleaning cassette, so that the radiographic image reading apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 enters the cleaning mode and the cleaning sequence starts. In the following operations, the laser scanning unit 121 and the photo The multiplier and the erasing unit 124 do not operate, and image reading and erasing are not executed.

  Next, the cleaning cassette 200 is transported by the transport mechanism 40 of FIG. 3 (S03), and the outer surface of the back member 220 is magnetically applied to the planar magnet 540 provided on the sub-scanning moving plate 530 of the sub-scanning unit 500. When attracted and held (S04), the lock of the cleaning cassette 200 in the lock-on state is released and shifted to the lock-off state in the same manner as in FIG. The front member 210 is separated from the back member 220 (S05).

  As a result of the above separation, the cleaning member 225 is rotated in the rotation direction r by the urging force of the urging member (not shown) and the inclined position as shown by the broken line in FIG. 5 is exposed in the radiation image reading apparatus 5 (S06).

  Next, the sub-scanning unit 500 of FIG. 3 operates, and the back member 220 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction (upward direction) A4 together with the sub-scanning moving plate 530 (S07).

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the radiographic image reading apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, reading means such as the laser scanning unit 121, the light guide 122, and the condenser tube 123 are sealed in the housing 150 for dust prevention or the like. The laser beam B is emitted from the laser scanning unit 121 through a slit-shaped opening 150a provided in the housing 150, and the stimulated emission light is condensed through the slit-shaped opening 150b. The slit-shaped openings 150a and 150b extend in the main scanning direction (perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 9), and are covered with a light-transmitting member 151 such as a glass plate to seal the inside of the housing 150.

  As the back member 220 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction (upward direction) A4, the brush 223 of the cleaning member 225 is formed on the stepped portion 151a between the casing 150 and the translucent member 151 or the surface of the translucent member 151. Cleaning is performed by contact (S08). At this time, even if the distance between the brush 223 and the contact portion varies, the brush 223 contacts the surface of the stepped portion 151a or the translucent member 151 at a position where the brush 223 rotates in the rotation direction r ′. 223 can continue to contact.

  Further, at the time of the above-mentioned contact, the cleaning member 225 that is elongated as a whole is inclined in the sub-scanning direction A4 as shown in FIG. 7, so that the brush 223 starts to contact from one end side of the step portion 151a, and the back member Along with the conveyance of 220, cleaning is performed while sequentially contacting from the central portion to the other end portion. As a result, the cleaning member is not inclined, and a large number of flexible metal thin wires of the brush 223 are compared with the case where the cleaning member is orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction as in Patent Document 1, and the translucent member 151 to be cleaned and Since it does not detach simultaneously from the vicinity, it is possible to prevent the accumulated dust from jumping and scattering in the apparatus.

  Note that the cleaning member 225 similarly performs cleaning when the sub-scanning unit 500 is transported in the direction of arrow A5 (downward).

  When the sub-scanning unit 500 moves in the sub-scanning direction A4 together with the back member 220 and then moves in the downward direction A5 as described above, when cleaning is performed again (S09), the process returns to step S07 to return to the sub-scanning unit 500. Moves again with the back member 220 in the sub-scanning direction A4. Note that the user can appropriately set whether or not to perform cleaning again.

  When the cleaning is not performed again, the transport mechanism 40 is rotated, the back member 220 and the front member 210 are combined (S10), the front member 210 and the back member 220 are locked again, and then the cleaning cassette 200 is moved. It is transported by the transport mechanism 40 (S11) and discharged to the discharge port 4 (S12).

  At the time of combining in the above step S10, the cleaning member 225 is moved from the state in which the cleaning base material 222 is rotated in the rotation direction r by the urging force as indicated by the broken line in FIG. By being pressed, it fits in the cleaning cassette 200.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the cleaning cassette 200 is inserted from the insertion port 3 of the radiographic image reading apparatus shown in FIGS. The translucent member 151 covering the slit-like openings 150a and 150b on the front surface of the housing 150 that accommodates 122 and the condenser tube 123 and the vicinity thereof can be automatically and easily cleaned by the cleaning member 225 in the cleaning cassette 200. As a result, dust or the like that adheres to the translucent member 151 and its vicinity and degrades the reading function can be automatically removed easily, the reading function is restored, and the maintenance of the radiation image reading apparatus can be simplified.

  Further, the brush 223 of the cleaning member 225 moves in the cassette thickness direction by contacting the translucent member 151 and the vicinity thereof and following the unevenness, so that the unevenness is formed in the vicinity of the translucent member 151. Even if there is, there is reliable contact and cleaning. Further, the dust and the like removed from the translucent member 151 and the vicinity thereof are accommodated in the cleaning cassette 200 and discharged out of the apparatus, so that there is no secondary contamination in the radiographic image reading apparatus.

  As described above, the best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. For example, in this embodiment, the brush 223 of the cleaning member 225 is made of a flexible thin metal wire, but may be made of a flexible thin wire such as a resin material. In this case, the brush 223 is made of a conductive resin. Also good.

It is a perspective view which shows the state which the front member (A) and back member (B) of the cassette for radiographic imaging which can be loaded in the radiographic image reading apparatus by this Embodiment isolate | separated. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the cross section of the cassette which the front member and back member of FIG. 1 united. It is a side view which shows schematic structure of the radiographic image reading apparatus of this Embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the radiation image reading apparatus of FIG. 3. It is a principal part side view for demonstrating the isolation | separation operation | movement of the cassette of the radiographic image reading apparatus of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the cleaning cassette by this Embodiment which can be mounted | worn with the radiographic image reading apparatus shown in FIGS. It is a top view which shows the inner surface of the back member of the cleaning cassette of FIG. FIG. 8 is a view of an end portion of the cleaning member of the cleaning cassette of FIG. 6 viewed from a direction x of FIG. 7. FIG. 6 is a side view of an essential part showing a state in which cleaning is performed by a cleaning member in a cleaning cassette inside the radiographic image reading apparatus of FIGS. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a cleaning operation in the radiographic image reading apparatus of FIGS. 3 to 5 by the cleaning cassette of FIGS.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cassette 3 Insertion port 4 Ejection port 10 Front member 20 Back member 28 Stimulable phosphor sheet 40 Conveying mechanism 45 Code reading part 121 Laser scanning unit 122 Light guide 123 Condensing tube 150 Case 150a Slit-like opening 150b Slit-like opening 151 Translucent member 151a Stepped portion 200 Cleaning cassette 200a Code storage element 210 Front member 220 Back member 221 Iron foil 222 Cleaning substrate 222a Rotating shaft 223 Brush 225 Cleaning member 500 Sub-scanning portion 530 Sub-scanning moving plate 540 Magnet A4 Sub- Scan direction

Claims (7)

An image reading apparatus having a front member, a back member, and a photostimulable phosphor sheet attached to the back member side and reading image information from a cassette in which the front member and the back member are separable A cleaning method,
The image reading apparatus includes a slot for inserting the cassette, a separating unit that separates a front member and a back member of the cassette, and sub-scanning that sub-scans the back member separated from the front member by the separating unit. Means, reading means for reading image information held on the photostimulable phosphor sheet attached to the back member, union means for reunion of the front member and the back member, and union by the union means A discharge port for discharging the cassette, and a conveying means for moving the cassette,
A cleaning member provided on the back member side and movable at a tip position in the cassette thickness direction, and capable of separating the front member and the back member. Insert from the insertion slot,
Separating the back member of the cleaning cassette from the front member;
Cleaning the reading means by the cleaning member while transporting the back member in the sub-scanning direction;
Thereafter, the cleaning cassette is removed from the discharge port.   An image reading apparatus capable of executing the cleaning method according to claim 1.   The reading means includes an optical scanning unit for irradiating the photostimulable phosphor sheet with scanning light, a condensing unit for condensing the photostimulated emission light generated by the photostimulable phosphor sheet, The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, comprising:   4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a cassette identification unit that identifies a type of a cassette to be mounted, and automatically starts a cleaning sequence when the cassette identification unit identifies the cleaning cassette. 5.   A cleaning cassette usable for the cleaning method according to claim 1 or the image reading apparatus according to claim 2, 3 or 4.   The cleaning cassette according to claim 5, wherein the cleaning member extends obliquely with respect to the sub-scanning direction. 6. The cleaning cassette includes a suction iron foil for holding the back member during the sub-scanning conveyance in the back member, and the iron foil and the cleaning member are electrically connected to each other. 6. A cleaning cassette according to 6.

Images