JP2000338616A - Image information reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide high-quality and efficient image reading processing by detecting the front and back sides of a storable phosphor sheet in a cassette loaded in a cassette loading part with simple constitution. SOLUTION: A sheet part 38 for taking out a storable phosphor sheet 22 from a cassette 18 loaded in a cassette loading part 20, a reading part 86 for performing the reading processing of the sheet 22, a front and back side detection part 44 detecting the front and back sides of the sheet 22 taken out by a single sheet part 38, and a controller 110 capable of selecting an action for restoring the sheet 22 to the cassette 18 when the front and back side of the sheet 22 are reversed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image information reading apparatus for loading a cassette containing a stimulable phosphor sheet and reading radiation image information stored and recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, stimulable phosphors (stimulable phosphors)
There is known a system that once records radiation image information of a subject such as a human body, reproduces the radiation image information on a photographic photosensitive material such as a photographic film, or outputs a visible image on a CRT or the like. I have.

The stimulable phosphor is composed of radiation (X-ray, α-ray, γ
(E.g., a beam, an electron beam, or an ultraviolet ray), a part of the radiation energy is accumulated, and a phosphor that emits stimulated light in response to the accumulated energy when irradiated with excitation light such as visible light. This stimulable phosphor is usually formed into a sheet and used as a stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0004] In the above system, for example, a reading section for reading image information recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet and an erasing section for erasing image information remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet after the reading process are provided. An image information reading device provided with the image reading device is employed. In this image information reading device,
A cassette containing a stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiation image information of a subject is recorded by an external photographing device is inserted into the loading section.

[0005] Next, with the cassette opened, the stimulable phosphor sheet is taken out of the cassette under the action of the sheet body sheet means, and the stimulable phosphor sheet is read through the sheet body conveying means. Transported to the department. The stimulable phosphor sheet on which the reading section has performed the reading processing of the radiation image information is stored in a cassette disposed in the loading section after the erasing section performs the erasing processing of the afterimage.

[0006]

A stimulable phosphor sheet of this type includes a single-sided sheet member that emits stimulated emission light from a recording surface (phosphor layer) provided on an opaque base surface, and the recording surface. And a double-sided sheet member that emits stimulated emission light from both sides of the transparent base surface. In particular, since the distinction between the recording surface and the base surface is unclear in the double-sided sheet body, there is a possibility that the operator may mistake the front and back of the double-sided sheet body when inserting the double-sided sheet body into the cassette.

As described above, when the cassette is loaded into the image information reading apparatus in a state where the double-sided sheet is housed in the cassette with its front and back reversed, the base on the back side of the double-sided sheet is used. A scanning process is two-dimensionally performed on the surface by a reading unit included in the image information reading apparatus. As a result, a problem has been pointed out that image information carried on the double-sided sheet member cannot be read properly. This kind of problem may also occur in a cassette that accommodates a single-sided sheet body.

The present invention has been made to solve this kind of problem, and it is possible to detect the front and back of a stimulable phosphor sheet in a cassette loaded in a cassette loading section and carry the stimulable phosphor sheet carried on the stimulable phosphor sheet. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image information reading apparatus capable of reading out existing image information with high accuracy and efficiency.

[0009]

In the image information reading apparatus according to the present invention, when the stimulable phosphor sheet is taken out from the cassette loaded in the cassette loading section via the sheet portion, the stimulable phosphor sheet is taken out. The front and back of the sheet are directly detected via the front and back detection unit. Then, when it is detected that the front and back of the stimulable phosphor sheet are opposite to the prescribed state, an operation of returning the stimulable phosphor sheet to the cassette can be selected. Therefore, in the image information reading apparatus, the stimulable phosphor sheet is not transported to the processing unit, for example, the reading unit in a state where the sheet is turned upside down, and the reading process is not performed. Effective prevention can be achieved.

Further, according to the present invention, when it is detected that the front and back sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet taken out of the cassette by the sheet unit are opposite to the prescribed state, the stimulable phosphor sheet is operated under the action of the reversing conveyance unit. After the phosphor sheet is inverted, it is sent to the reading unit. Thereby, the stimulable phosphor sheet is
After the front and back are corrected, the sheet is transported to a processing unit such as a reading unit, so that an appropriate image can be obtained. that time,
After it is determined that the stimulable phosphor sheet is upside down,
An operation of returning the stimulable phosphor sheet to the cassette can also be selected.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an image information reading apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

A touch panel 14 having the functions of an operation section and a monitor is provided above the front surface (operation surface) of the apparatus main body 12 constituting the image information reading apparatus 10. Below the touch panel 14, a single cassette is provided. A cassette loading section 20 to which the cassette 18 can be attached and detached is provided. The cassette 18
The housing 24 has a housing 24 for accommodating the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 and a lid 28 capable of opening and closing the opening 26 of the housing 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, a stimulable phosphor sheet 22 has a recording surface (phosphor layer) 32 on a transparent base surface 30.
Are provided to form a double-sided sheet body that emits stimulated emission light from both sides by irradiation with excitation light. In addition,
As the stimulable phosphor sheet 22, a single-sided sheet body provided with a recording surface (phosphor layer) on an opaque base surface and emitting stimulated emission light from the recording surface side by irradiation of excitation light may be used. .

As shown in FIG. 1, the cassette loading section 20 is provided with a support base 34 for mounting the cassette 18 and a shutter member 36 for shielding the inside of the apparatus main body 12 from light. Be placed. Inside the cassette loading section 20, the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is taken out from the cassette 18, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 after the reading process and the erasing process described later is loaded into the cassette 1.
8 is attached. The single-wafer portion 38 is a cassette 18 with the lid 28 opened at the cassette loading portion 20.
Suction disks 40a and 40b which can freely enter the
And a pair of rollers 42 for receiving the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 from Oa and 40b and nipping and transporting the same.

At a position close to the single-wafer portion 38, a front / back detection unit 44 for detecting the front and back of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 taken out by the single-wafer portion 38, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is inverted. Transport section 46 for the operation. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front / back detection unit 44
It constitutes a reflection type sensor, and includes a light projector 48 and a light receiver 50, and the light projector 48 and the light receiver 50 are mounted on a casing 52. The casing 52 is arranged to be inclined by a predetermined angle θ ° with respect to the plane direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22, and the light S emitted from the light projector 48 has a smooth surface, that is, the stimulable phosphor sheet 22. Is arranged such that when reflected by the recording surface 32, a part of the reflected light S0 does not enter the light receiver 50.

As shown in FIG. 2, the reverse transport section 46 is disposed close to the downstream side of the roller pair 42, and has a first guide surface 54 that curves downward in the vertical direction and a second guide surface 54 that curves upward in the vertical direction. A guide member 60 having a guide surface 56 and a third guide surface 58 extending in the vertical direction is provided. The guide member 60 has an oblong guide groove 6 inclined with respect to the vertical direction.
2, bearings 64a,
64b are arranged. On the lower side of the guide member 60, a rod 68 extending from the solenoid 66 is provided with a link 7.
The spring 72 is engaged with the upper side of the guide member 60 and pulls the guide member 60 obliquely upward.

The end of the guide member 60 on the roller pair 42 side is in contact with guide stoppers 74a and 74b which are vertically spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, thereby restricting the range of movement. A switchback portion 78 is provided above the guide member 60 via a pair of rollers 76. The guide portion 80 is used to turn the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 upside down.
The stimulable phosphor sheet 22 can be once disposed through the hologram.

As shown in FIG. 1, an erasing section 84 and a reading section 86 are provided below the reversing transport section 46 via a transport system 82. The transport system 82 includes a plurality of paired rollers 88, and first and second erasing units 90a and 90b constituting an erasing unit 84 are provided on a vertical transport path formed by the roller pairs 88. . The first and second erasing units 90a and 90b are disposed so as to face the recording surface 32 and the base surface 30 of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22, and the first and second erasing units 9 are provided.
0a and 90b each include a plurality of erasing light sources 92.
a, 92b are arranged in the vertical direction.

A horizontal transport path is formed at the lower end of the vertical transport path formed by the roller pair 88, and a reading section 86 is disposed above the horizontal transport path. Reading unit 86
The main scanning of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 taken out of the cassette 18 in the sub-scanning direction (the direction of arrow A) is performed by the sub-scanning conveyance mechanism 94 and the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 conveyed in the sub-scanning direction. An optical system 96 for irradiating a laser beam L in a direction (a direction substantially orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction), and first and second optically reading stimulated emission light generated from the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 by the irradiation of the laser beam L. Second condensing system 9
8a and 98b.

The sub-scanning transport mechanism 94 includes first and second roller pairs 100 and 102 which are driven to rotate in synchronization with each other. The first and second roller pairs 100 and 102 can be opened and closed, respectively. The first light condensing system 98a is arranged along the main scanning line at the irradiation position of the laser beam L on the recording surface 32 of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 along the main scanning line.
And a first light guide mounted on the first light guide 104a.
A photomultiplier 106a. The second light condensing system 98b is arranged on the base surface 30 side of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22, and the second light condensed along the main scanning line on the base surface 30 side of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22. Guide 1
04b, and a second photomultiplier 106b attached to an end of the second light guide 104b.

A controller (control unit) 110 is mounted on the upper part of the apparatus main body 12.
While performing drive control of the entire image information reading apparatus 10,
When the front / back detection unit 44 detects that the front and back of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 are opposite to the prescribed state, the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is placed on the touch panel 14 by the cassette 1.
8 is displayed.

Next, the operation of the image information reading apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described.

First, a cassette 18 accommodating a stimulable phosphor sheet 22 in which photographic image information of a subject such as a human body is stored and recorded by a photographic device (not shown) constitutes a cassette loading section 20 of the image information reading device 10. It is introduced into the apparatus main body 12 along the table 34. This cassette 18
The shutter 18 is pushed open by its tip, the tip of the cassette 18 is inserted into the apparatus main body 12, and the lid 28 is opened to a predetermined position.

Next, the suction disks 40a and 40b are moved into the cassette 18, and the base surface 30 (or the recording surface 32) of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is sucked and held by the suction disks 40a and 40b. Suction cups 40a, 40
b is removed from the cassette 18. For this reason, the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 in the cassette 18 is
The cassette 18 is taken out from the opening 26 of the cassette 18 by being sucked.

Then, the tip of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is sandwiched between the pair of rollers 42, and the light projector 48 constituting the front and back detection unit 44 is driven, and the non-image area of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is Alternatively, the light S is emitted to the tip end side in the image area. As shown in FIG.
When the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is accommodated in the cassette 18 with the base surface 30 facing upward (specified state), the base surface 30 is irradiated with light S from the projector 48. Since the light S is specularly reflected on the base surface 30 which is a smooth surface having gloss, the reflected light S0 is not incident on the light receiver 50, and the level of the incident light on the light receiver 50 side is equal to or less than a predetermined value (threshold). It is detected that the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is being conveyed in a prescribed state.

Then, while the roller pair 42 is rotated, the stimulable phosphor sheet 2 is formed by the suction plates 40a and 40b.
2 is released, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is released.
Is transferred to the transport system 82 under the guidance of the first guide surface 54 of the guide member 60 constituting the reversing transport section 46 by being nipped by the roller pair 42 (see FIG. 2). In the transport system 82, the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is transported downward in the vertical direction under the rotation of the plurality of roller pairs 88, and then transported in the horizontal direction to be sent to the reading unit 86.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the reading section 86,
While the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is sub-scanned and conveyed in the direction of arrow A under the action of the first and second roller pairs 100 and 102 constituting the sub-scanning conveyance mechanism 94, the recording surface 32 of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is The laser beam L is main-scanned from the optical system 96 on the side. As a result, the stimulated emission light emitted from the recording surface 32 side of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is
8a, the stimulated emission light transmitted through the transparent base surface 30 and emitted from the back surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is photoelectrically read by the second condensing system 98b.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 22 after the reading process
Are transported upward in the vertical direction via a transport system 82, and are provided in a plurality of erasing light sources 92a, provided in first and second erasing units 90a, 90b constituting an erasing section 84.
The erasing process of the radiographic image information remaining on both surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is performed via 92b. After the erasing process, the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is placed on the empty cassette 1 placed in the cassette loading section 20 under the action of the sheet portion 38.
8 is sent.

If the front and back of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 housed in the cassette 18 are opposite to the prescribed state, the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is moved to the suction disks 40a, 4b.
After being sucked by Ob and taken out of the cassette 18, it is detected via the front and back detection unit 44. That is,
As shown in FIG. 4, the recording surface 3 of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22
When the upper side 2 is disposed, the light S from the projector 48 constituting the front and back detection unit 44 is reflected by the recording surface 32 which is a mat surface, and a part of the scattered light S1 is incident on the light receiving unit 50. For this reason, the detection level in the light receiver 50 becomes higher than a predetermined value (threshold), and it is detected that the front and back of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 are opposite to the prescribed state.

Next, the controller 110 displays on the touch panel 14 that the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is upside down, and returns the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 to the cassette 18 to the operator. The operation of inverting the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 and sending it to the reading unit 86 can be selected.

Here, when the processing of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is continued, the solenoid 66 is driven and the rod 68 is driven.
The guide member 60 is pulled obliquely downward through the link 70. The guide member 60 has a guide groove 62 and bearings 64 a, 64 against the elastic force of the spring 72.
It moves obliquely downward under the guiding action of b, and its tip is abutted and supported by the guide stopper 74a (see FIG. 5).

Therefore, the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is conveyed vertically upward along the second guide surface 56 of the guide member 60 under the rotation of the roller pair 42, and is sent from the roller pair 76 to the switchback section 78. Can be Further, when the roller pair 76 is driven in the reverse direction, the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is turned upside down (prescribed state) so that the conveying system is guided by the third guide surface 58 of the guide member 60. 82. Thereafter, the drive of the solenoid 66 is stopped, and the guide member 60 moves obliquely upward under the tension of the spring 72.

As described above, in the first embodiment, when the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is taken out of the cassette 18 loaded in the cassette loading section 20, the front and back of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 are detected by the front / back detection section 44. Is detected directly via When the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is opposite to the prescribed state, specifically, when the recording surface 32 faces upward, the controller 110 places the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 on the touch panel 14 in a cassette. 18 is displayed in a selectable manner. Therefore, the operator can immediately return the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 to the cassette 18.

On the other hand, when the processing in the image information reading device 10 is continued, the controller 110
Of the guide member 60 by driving the solenoid 66 constituting the
Is moved from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG.
For this reason, the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is provided on the second guide surface 5.
After being sent out to the switchback unit 78 once along the line 6 and turned upside down, it is sent out to the reading unit 86.

As a result, the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 stored in the cassette 18 with its front and back reversed is inverted by the reversing / conveying section 46 in the image information reading apparatus 10 and then sent out to the reading section 86. It becomes possible. Therefore, an effect is obtained that the reading process of the image information carried on the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 by the reading unit 86 is efficiently performed with high quality.

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural explanatory view of the front and back detection unit 120 constituting the image information reading apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same components as those of the front and back detection unit 44 configuring the image information reading apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the front / back detection unit 120, the light projector 48 and the light receiver 50 are arranged at positions symmetrical with respect to an axis orthogonal to the surface direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22. That is, the light S derived from the light projector 48 is configured to be reflected by the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 and enter the light receiver 50.

In the stimulable phosphor sheet 22, the recording surface 32
Form a matte surface, the reflected light S2 reflected on the recording surface 32 is incident on the light receiver 50, and the reflected light S2 reflected on the base surface 30, which is a smooth surface, is reflected on the light receiver 50. The detection level is different from that at the time when the light is incident on 50. Therefore, by setting a predetermined detection level as a threshold, the front and back of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 can be detected.

Further, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, black markings 130a and 130b are provided on the base surface 30 side of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 in correspondence with the ends of the ends, and the front / back detection is performed. Mark the part 120 with the marking 1
It is arranged corresponding to 30a (or 130b).

For this reason, when the base surface 30 of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is in the upward state, the front and back detection unit 120 detects the reflected light S2 at the marking 130a (or 130b).
On the other hand, when the recording surface 32 of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22 is facing upward, the reflected light S2 on the recording surface 32 is detected. Therefore, the detection level changes between the front and back of the stimulable phosphor sheet 22, and this stimulable phosphor sheet 2
2 can be detected.

In the first and second embodiments, a double-sided sheet is used as the stimulable phosphor sheet 22, and the image information reading apparatus 10 that processes the double-sided sheet has been described as an example. May be applied to an image information reading apparatus that processes the image data.

[0042]

In the image information reading apparatus according to the present invention, when the stimulable phosphor sheet is taken out from the cassette loaded in the cassette loading section, the front and back of the stimulable phosphor sheet are detected. By selecting an operation such as returning the luminescent phosphor sheet to the cassette, inappropriate image information reading processing can be reliably prevented.

Further, when the front and back of the stimulable phosphor sheet are opposite to the prescribed state, the stimulable phosphor sheet is reversed via the reversing conveyance section in the image information reading apparatus, and then the reading section is moved to the reading section. Send out. Thereby, the image reading process of the stimulable phosphor sheet is performed with high accuracy and efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration explanatory view of an image information reading apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a front and back detection unit and a reverse conveyance unit that constitute the image information reading apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram when a base surface is detected by the front and back detection unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram when a recording surface is detected by the front / back detection unit.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram when the reverse transport unit is driven.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a front and back detection unit included in an image information reading apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory plan view showing a state where marking is provided on the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image information reading device 12 ... Device main body 14 ... Touch panel 18 ... Cassette 20 ... Cassette loading part 22 ... Storable phosphor sheet 30 ... Base surface 32 ... Recording surface 38 ... Sheet part 40a, 40b ... Adsorber 42, 76 , 88: Roller pair 44, 120: Front / back detection unit 46: Reverse conveyance unit 48: Light emitter 50: Light receiver 54, 56, 58: Guide surface 60: Guide member 62: Guide groove 64a, 64b: Bearing 66: Solenoid 72: Spring 74a, 74b Guide stopper 78 Switchback unit 82 Transport system 86 Reading unit 90 Erasing unit 130a, 130b Marking

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A cassette loading section for detachably loading a cassette capable of accommodating a stimulable phosphor sheet, a sheet unit for taking out the stimulable phosphor sheet from the cassette, and accumulating in the stimulable phosphor sheet. A reading unit that reads recorded radiation image information; a front and back detection unit that detects front and back of the stimulable phosphor sheet taken out by the sheet unit; and a front and back of the detected stimulable phosphor sheet. An image information reading apparatus, comprising: a control unit capable of selecting an operation of returning the stimulable phosphor sheet to the cassette when the state is opposite to the prescribed state. 2. A cassette loading section for detachably loading a cassette capable of accommodating a stimulable phosphor sheet, a sheet unit for taking out the stimulable phosphor sheet from the cassette, and accumulating in the stimulable phosphor sheet. A reading unit that reads recorded radiation image information; a front and back detection unit that detects front and back of the stimulable phosphor sheet taken out by the sheet unit; and a front and back of the detected stimulable phosphor sheet. An image information reading apparatus, comprising: a reversing conveyance section for reversing the stimulable phosphor sheet and sending the stimulable phosphor sheet to the reading section when the stimulable phosphor sheet is reversed from the prescribed state. 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an operation of returning the stimulable phosphor sheet to the cassette when the front and back sides of the detected stimulable phosphor sheet are opposite to the prescribed state is selectable. An image information reading device comprising a simple control unit.