JP2763687B2 - Cassette - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cassette for storing sheets such as stimulable phosphor sheets and X-ray films. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cassette having a holding function capable of storing a sheet-like material even in a vertical state with a discharge port facing downward.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Radiation (X-ray, α-ray,
(β-rays, γ-rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc.), and accumulates a part of this radiation energy. When this phosphor is irradiated with excitation light such as visible light, the stored energy It is known to exhibit photostimulated luminescence according to
Phosphors exhibiting such properties are called stimulable phosphors (stimulable phosphors).

Using this stimulable phosphor, radiation image information of a subject such as a human body is temporarily recorded on a sheet having a layer made of a stimulable phosphor (hereinafter referred to as a phosphor sheet).
The phosphor sheet is two-dimensionally scanned with excitation light such as laser light to generate stimulated emission light, and the stimulated emission light is photoelectrically read to obtain an image signal. A radiation image information recording / reproducing system for outputting a radiation image of a subject as a visible image on a recording material such as a material or a display device such as a CRT has been proposed by the present applicant (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 55-12429 and 56-56). Publication No. -11395).

In such a radiation image information recording / reproducing system, image recording and reading on a phosphor sheet are conventionally performed as follows.

[0005] First, the radiation image information is stored and recorded on the phosphor sheet by storing the phosphor sheet in a light-shielding storage member called a cassette and irradiating it with radiation through a subject, or by using a radioactive marker. This is performed by closely contacting a subject containing

[0006] The phosphor sheet on which the image has been recorded is loaded into a radiation image information reading device (hereinafter referred to as a reading device) while being stored in the cassette. When the cassette is loaded in the reading device, the phosphor sheet is taken out of the cassette by the sheet feeding mechanism of the reading device, and is conveyed to the image reading unit.

In the image reading section, excitation light having a constant intensity emitted from an excitation light source such as a He-Ne laser is reflected and deflected in the main scanning direction by an optical deflector such as a galvanometer mirror, and the fθ lens and the like. The phosphor sheet is irradiated through various optical elements.

[0008] Here, the phosphor sheet is a belt conveyor,
The sheet is conveyed by a conveying means such as a nip roller in a sub-scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction. Therefore, the excitation light deflected in the main scanning direction can scan the phosphor sheet two-dimensionally and entirely.

[0009] From the portion of the phosphor sheet irradiated with the excitation light, stimulated emission light is generated in accordance with the radiation image information stored and recorded there. The stimulated emission light is directly incident on the incident surface of the light guide, or is reflected by a condensing mirror disposed opposite to the incident surface to be incident on the incident surface of the light guide, transmitted by the light guide, and excited. After passing through a filter that cuts light in the wavelength range of light, the light enters a photomultiplier tube, is photoelectrically converted into an electric signal, is processed, and is then reproduced as a visible image on a CRT or a photographic photosensitive material. Recorded and stored on a recording medium.

As described above, in the radiation image information recording / reproducing system, the phosphor sheet is basically handled in a state of being housed in a light-shielding casing called a cassette.
This is because, when the phosphor sheet is irradiated with light, the image information stored and recorded is erased, and ultraviolet light contained therein is also stored and recorded as image information.

Therefore, it is preferable that the phosphor sheet is handled as light-shielded as possible. For this reason, in a usual reading device, as described above, the phosphor sheet on which the image information is stored and recorded is set in the cassette. Load it while storing it,
The phosphor sheet is taken out of the cassette inside the apparatus and image information is read. In addition, the stimulable phosphor sheet that has been read is configured to be stored in the cassette again after the remaining radiation image information is erased.

[0012]

Here, the cassette for accommodating the phosphor sheet is usually constituted by a housing and a lid thereof, and one side of the lid is supported by the housing to open and close. It is configured to be possible.

In a conventional reader using such a cassette and a phosphor sheet, when a cassette containing a phosphor sheet is loaded at a predetermined position, the cassette is opened and closed by a link mechanism, or a suction cup or the like is used. The cover is opened by adsorbing the adsorbing means on the lid, and then the phosphor sheet is set on the cassette (housing) by the adsorbing means.
The sheet is taken out, transported to a predetermined position of a transport unit including a roller pair, a belt conveyor, a transport guide, and the like, and transported to a reading position. The phosphor sheet that has been read is erased from the remaining radiation image information and stored in the cassette again as described above, and is used for the next image recording (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-90641, 62-61). 164039
And Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2-123232.

That is, in the conventional reading apparatus, in order to take out the phosphor sheet from the cassette and store it again, a cover opening mechanism of the cassette using a link mechanism and suction means, and a phosphor sheet using the suction means are used. Single wafer mechanism,
Further, a control device for performing these functions is required, and the device becomes complicated and large-scale, and the device becomes expensive.

In order to solve such a problem, the present applicant has disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 62-90643 and 62-92934 that a cassette is loaded in a substantially vertical direction with an opening (discharge port) downward. Then, a reading device having a configuration in which a phosphor sheet is dropped by its own weight by opening a cassette using a wedge, a solenoid, or the like, and a sheet takeout mechanism are proposed. According to these devices, it is not necessary to use a link mechanism, a suction means, or the like as the lid opening mechanism and the sheet-feeding mechanism, and the apparatus can be simplified.

However, in these devices (mechanisms), since the cassette is loaded with the opening end side downward, it is very difficult to store the phosphor sheet, which has been read, in this cassette without any change. For this purpose, it is necessary to move the cassette to another place so that the opening end faces upward, or to store the phosphor sheet, which has been manually read by the operator, in the cassette.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to load a phosphor sheet or the like in a state of being loaded in a reading device or the like in a substantially vertical direction with a sheet-like material outlet facing downward. An object of the present invention is to provide a cassette having a sheet-like material holding function, which can accommodate a sheet-like material.

[0018]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for storing and discharging a sheet-like material and inserting the sheet-like material take-out means and the storage means .
Part of the opposite surface of the sheet-like material and connected to it
That a housing opening portion to open the end face is formed in the lateral direction, the the casing cover member provided to be freely opened and closed with respect to the open portion of the side to be opened portion of the housing Sheet
Provided on the inner wall surface of the facing surface, the inner wall surface, by sandwiching the sheet housed together with the inner wall surface facing, also held by a frictional force said sheet in the open release state of the lid And a holding means.

Further, the sheet has an image recording layer.
Sheet-like material, and the image-recording layer side of the sheet-like material.
The surface of the
The holding means is provided on an inner wall surface having an open portion, and
It is preferable that the holding means is in contact with the back side of the sheet-like material.
New The opposite inner wall surface without the open portion is
The image recording layer of the sheet-like material should not be damaged by sliding contact.
It is preferable that it is covered with a protective member having appropriate moderate lubricity.
Good.

[0020]

The cassette according to the present invention is made of a phosphor sheet or X-ray.
For accommodating a sheet-like material such as a linear film, and holding the sheet-like material on an inner wall surface together with an opposed inner wall surface.
This allows the stored sheets to be opened regardless of the opening of the lid
Holding means for holding the object with a frictional force in the falling direction.

Such a cassette of the present invention, for example, stores a phosphor sheet and is vertically loaded in a radiation image information reading apparatus with the discharge port facing downward, and after discharging the stored phosphor sheet, the cassette is left as it is. Even if the phosphor sheet that has been read in this state is stored, the phosphor sheet can be held without falling.

Therefore, by applying the cassette of the present invention, it is possible to discharge and store a sheet-like material in a state of being loaded vertically in a radiation image information reading device or the like. Not only facilitates the take-out mechanism of the phosphor sheet, but also allows automatic storage of the sheet in the vertical direction without the need to move the cassette, greatly improving workability. It is.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A cassette according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example in which the cassette of the present invention is applied to a phosphor sheet cassette.

The cassette 10 shown in FIG. 1 stores the phosphor sheet 12, and basically stores a part of the surface facing the phosphor sheet 12, which stores the phosphor sheet 12, and The housing 16 includes a housing 16 having an open end surface 14 in the short direction connected thereto, and a lid 18 for closing an open portion of the housing 16. Further, the inner wall surface of a surface 16a of the housing 16 on which the lid 18 is disposed (hereinafter, this surface is referred to as a back surface 16a and the other surface is referred to as a recording surface 16b) is brought into contact with the phosphor sheet 12 and the falling direction. An elastic member 20 (see FIG. 2) capable of holding the phosphor sheet 12 is fixed to the phosphor member 12.

The housing 16 and the lid 18 are formed of various known materials such as various resins and metals such as aluminum, and the lid 18 is formed on the open side surface by a known means such as a hinge. One side is openable and closable in the direction of arrow a in the figure. The housing 16 and the lid 18 may be configured as separate members, or may be configured by integrally molding resin or the like so that the lid 18 can be opened and closed.

In the illustrated example of the cassette 10, the lid 1
A lock mechanism (not shown) is formed on the open end face 28 of the housing 8, and the lock mechanism is lightly engaged with the open end face of the housing 16 so as to prevent the cassette 10 from being inadvertently opened. .

The phosphor sheet 12 is provided in such a cassette 1.
0, the recording layer is directed toward the recording surface 16b , and the cassette 1
0 is stored. Here, as described above, the cassette 10
An elastic member 20 for holding the phosphor sheet 12 is disposed on the inner wall surface of the back surface 16a of the first embodiment. That is, the elastic member 20 abuts on the back surface of the phosphor sheet 12 and shares with the opposing inner wall surface.
The housing 1 regardless of whether the lid 18 is opened or closed.
6 holds the phosphor sheet 12 stored therein .

FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing a cross section taken along the line II-II of the cassette 10, and FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of a rear end portion (hereinafter, referred to as a rear end portion) in the discharge direction. Is shown.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an elastic member 20 is provided on the inner wall surface of the rear surface 16a of the rear end portion of the cassette 10.
Is fixed, and the rear end portion of the phosphor sheet 12 is held between the elastic member 20 and the recording surface 16b, so that the phosphor sheet 12 is held with a force greater than the drop force due to its own weight. Therefore, the stored phosphor sheet 12 does not fall even when the end 14 which is the discharge end is downward (vertical direction).

Therefore, even when the phosphor sheet 12 that has been read is stored in the cassette 10 again even when the phosphor sheet 12 is loaded vertically in a radiation image information reading device or the like, the rear end of the phosphor sheet 12 is As shown in FIGS. 3 (a) → (b), it is pushed and held between the elastic member 20 and the recording surface 16b, so that the cassette is not moved (e.g., loaded in the apparatus) even if the cassette is not moved. The phosphor sheet 12 that has been read (erased) in (state) can be stored and held.

Further, since the elastic member 20 is disposed on the back side with respect to the recording layer of the phosphor sheet 12, it does not hinder the recording of the radiation image information. Further, since the recording layer of the phosphor sheet 12 is pressed toward the recording surface, the image quality can be improved.

The material and the shape of the elastic member 20 are not particularly limited. For example, when the phosphor sheet 12 is sandwiched together with the inner wall of the cassette 12 and the end face 14 which is the discharge port is lowered, the phosphor sheet 12 A material and a shape that can obtain a frictional force without falling due to its own weight may be appropriately selected.

Specific examples of the elastic material preferably applied include rubber materials such as Pef (manufactured by Toray Industries Co., Ltd.), urethane rubber, and porous resin materials such as sponge.

The shape is not particularly limited, and a shape capable of holding the phosphor sheet 12 may be appropriately set according to the elastic material to be applied.

In the illustrated example, the elastic member 20 is
Although the fluorescent sheet 12 is disposed on the inner wall surface of the cassette 6a and sandwiched between the recording sheet 16a and the recording surface 16a, the present invention is not limited to this, and the inner wall surface on the side surface (end surface) of the cassette is elastic. A configuration may be adopted in which a member is arranged and the phosphor sheet is held by frictional force.

The position where the elastic member 20 is provided is not limited to the rear end of the illustrated example, but may be near the center of the cassette, near the discharge port, or the like.

Although the illustrated cassette 10 has a configuration in which the phosphor sheet 12 is held by using the elastic member 20, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which the phosphor sheet 12 is held using a leaf spring 22 made of metal or resin.
The shape, strength, arrangement position and the like of the leaf spring are determined by the phosphor sheet 12.
May be set appropriately so as to obtain a frictional force without falling due to its own weight.

In the illustrated example of the cassette 10 of the present invention, since the recording layer of the phosphor sheet 12 is in contact with the inner wall surface of the recording surface 16b, it is preferable that a protective member for the recording layer is disposed on this surface. As the protective member, any of various known materials can be used as long as the protective member has appropriate lubricity and does not damage the recording layer of the phosphor sheet 12 even when it is in sliding contact with the recording layer. Examples include Peff (manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.) and Tyvek (manufactured by DuPont).

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a radiation image information reading apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a reading apparatus) to which the cassette 10 of the present invention is applied, and the operation of the cassette 10 of the present invention will be described.

The reader 30 in the illustrated example is provided with a phosphor sheet 1.
2, a cassette loading section 32 for loading the cassette 10, a reading section 34 for reading the radiation image information recorded on the phosphor sheet, and a cassette loading section 32. Conveying device 36 for conveying the phosphor sheet discharged from the unit 32 to the reading unit 34
And an erasing unit 38 for erasing the radiation image information remaining on the phosphor sheet after the reading is completed. In addition,
In FIG. 5, a dashed line indicates a transport path of the phosphor sheet 12.

In the reading device 30, the cassette 10 is loaded into the cassette loading section 32 from the loading port 40 with the end face 14 which is the discharge port of the phosphor sheet 12 facing downward.
The support rollers 42 support the roller at a predetermined position.

When the cassette 10 is loaded, the suction means,
Opening means (not shown) such as a wedge opens the lid 18 as shown in FIGS. Here, the phosphor sheet 1
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3B, the cover 2 has a rear end portion held by the elastic member 20.
Even when 8 is opened, the phosphor sheet 12 does not fall freely and is held in the cassette 10.

When the cover 18 is opened, the take-out roller 44 moves in the direction of arrow a to abut on the back surface of the phosphor sheet 12 and rotates so as to convey it downward.
The phosphor sheet 12 is discharged from the cassette 10.

The discharged phosphor sheet 12 is received by the roller pair 46 and is guided downward by the roller pairs 52 and 54 while being guided by the guide members 48 and 50, and further guided by the guide members 56, 58 and 60. Then, the sheet is conveyed to the reading unit 34 by the pair of rollers 62 and 64.

The phosphor sheet 12 carried into the reading section 34
Are supported by the conveyance guide 66 and the sub-scanning roller pair 68
And 70, the entire surface is irradiated with the excitation light L while being nipped and conveyed at a predetermined reading speed in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow d.

The excitation light L is emitted from an excitation light source 72 such as a He-Ne laser, is reflected in a predetermined direction by mirrors 74 and 76, is incident on a galvanometer mirror 78, and has a main scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the arrow d direction. Is reflected and deflected into the phosphor sheet 12. Here, the phosphor sheet 12 is conveyed in the direction of arrow d as described above, and as a result, the entire surface is irradiated two-dimensionally with the excitation light. The part where the reading of the phosphor sheet 12 has been completed is
The sheet is further conveyed and is supported by the guide member 84.

From the position of the phosphor sheet 12 irradiated with the excitation light L, stimulated emission light corresponding to the stored and recorded radiation image information is emitted. This stimulated emission light is collected by the condensing guide 8
The light is condensed by 0, is incident on a photodetector 82 such as a photomultiplier, and is photoelectrically converted. The electric signal is sent to a control circuit (not shown), processed, transferred to an image forming apparatus, a CRT, or the like, and reproduced as a visible image.

When the image reading is completed, the phosphor sheet 1
2 is conveyed in the direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction (the direction of arrow d), is guided by the guide members 60, 58, and 56 and rises into the erasing section. In the erasing section 38, the phosphor sheet 12 is irradiated with erasing light from the erasing light source 86, and the radiation image information remaining after the reading is completed is erased.

After the erasing of the remaining radiation image information in the erasing section 38, the phosphor sheet 12 is
While being guided by 8, it is further transported upward by the roller pairs 52 and 46, and is loaded into the cassette 10 from the end face 14.

When the phosphor sheet 12 is carried into the cassette 10, the take-out roller 44 contacts the phosphor sheet 12 and rotates so as to convey the phosphor sheet 12 upward.
The phosphor sheet 12 is completely stored in the cassette 10.

At this time, the rear end portion of the phosphor sheet 12 is inserted between the elastic member 20 and the recording surface 16b as shown in FIGS. Will be retained. Therefore, even if the take-out roller 44 is separated from the phosphor sheet 12, the phosphor sheet 12 is held in the cassette 10 without dropping, and the cover 18 can be closed and taken out from the reading device 30.

In the above description, the cassette of the present invention is applied to the phosphor sheet cassette. However, the cassette of the present invention can be suitably applied to an X-ray film and the like.

Although the cassette according to the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.

[0055]

As described above in detail, according to the cassette of the present invention, even when the phosphor sheet is stored and loaded into the radiation image information reading apparatus with the opening (discharge port) downward, the cassette is loaded. In this state, the phosphor sheet can be stored and held. Therefore, by applying the cassette of the present invention, it is possible to discharge and store a sheet-like material in a state of being vertically mounted on a radiation image information reading device or the like. In addition to facilitating the sheet take-out mechanism, the sheet-like material can be automatically stored in the vertical direction without the need to move the cassette, and the operability can be greatly improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing a cross section taken along line II-II of the cassette shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of another example of the cassette according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a radiation image information reading apparatus to which the cassette shown in FIG. 1 is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 cassette 12 phosphor sheet 14 end face 16 housing 18 lid 20 elastic member 22 leaf spring 30 radiation image information reading device 32 cassette loading portion 34 reading portion 36 transport device 38 erasing portion 40 loading port 42 support roller 44 take-out roller 46, 52, 54, 62, 64 Roller pairs 48, 50, 56, 58, 60, 84 Guide member 72 Excitation light source 74, 76 Mirror 78 Galvanometer mirror 80 Condensing guide 82 Photodetector

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A for inserting the take-out means and the storage means of the sheet as well as store and discharge the sheet
A part of the facing surface of the sheet-like material and connected to it
A housing having an open portion for opening an end face in the short direction, a lid provided to be openable and closable with respect to the open portion of the housing, and the sheet on a side of the housing where a part is opened Of the object-facing surface
Provided on the inner wall surface, the inner wall surface, a sheet that is housed together with the opposite inner wall surface to clamp, release opening of the lid
And a holding means for holding the sheet-like material by frictional force even in a folded state. (2) The sheet has a sheet having an image recording layer.
The surface of the sheet-like material on the image recording layer side
Is brought into contact with the opposite inner wall surface without the open portion, and the open
The holding means is provided on an inner wall surface having a
The said holding | maintenance means is made to contact | abut the back surface side of an object, The Claim 1
Cassette. (3) The facing inner wall surface without the open portion is
The image recording layer of the sheet-like material should not be damaged by sliding contact.
Claims: Covered with a protective member having appropriate moderate lubricity
2. The cassette according to 2.