JP2001075206A - Holding device for sheet to be scanned - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a holding device stably and uniformly suck and hold a sheet to be scanned on a circular arc supporting surface by a small number of intake holes in the holding device of sheet to be scanned. SOLUTION: Plural X-shaped recessed parts 23d formed within a recessed circular arc supporting surface 23a by which a sheet 10 is sucked and held are formed on the circular arc supporting surface 23a, and an intake hole 23c is formed at the inside of the recessed part 23d, so that the suction area of the sheet 10 is increased without plurally providing the intake holes 23c and the sheet 10 is stably and nearly uniformly sucked and held on the circular arc supporting surface 23a by the small number of the intake holes 23c.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for holding a sheet to be scanned, and more particularly, to an improvement in holding a sheet to be scanned on a concave arc-shaped support surface of a support member holding the sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When radiation (X-rays, α-rays, β-rays, γ-rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc.) is irradiated, a part of the radiation energy is accumulated. Using a stimulable phosphor (stimulable phosphor) that emits stimulable light in accordance with the energy thus applied, radiation image information is temporarily recorded on a sheet-shaped stimulable phosphor (a stimulable phosphor sheet); The stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned with excitation light such as laser light to generate stimulated emission light, and the resulting stimulated emission light is photoelectrically read to obtain an image signal (radiation image information).
Based on this image signal, a recording medium such as a photographic photosensitive material, CR
There is known a radiation image recording / reproducing system for outputting a radiation image as a visible image on a display device such as a T (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-55).
-12429, 56-11395, 56-11397, Tokiko 1-6078
No. 4).

As a system utilizing this radiographic image recording / reproducing system, a substance to which a radioactive label is added is administered to an organism such as a rat, and the organism or a part of the tissue of the organism is used as a sample. By overlapping the stimulable phosphor layer provided on the stimulable phosphor sheet with the stimulable phosphor layer for a certain period of time, causing the stimulable phosphor to absorb radiation energy,
Thereafter, the stimulable phosphor layer is scanned with excitation light or the like to excite the stimulable phosphor, and the stimulable phosphor emitted from the stimulable phosphor is photoelectrically detected to generate a digital image signal. An autoradiography detection method (e.g., Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-60784) in which predetermined signal processing is performed and a visible image is reproduced on a display means such as a CRT or a photographic film to obtain distribution information of a radiolabeled substance in a sample. No., 1-60782, 4-39
No. 52).

[0004] Further, a fixed polymer such as a protein or nucleic acid sequence is selectively labeled with a labeling substance which generates chemiluminescence upon contact with a chemiluminescent substance, and the polymer selectively labeled with the labeling substance. And the chemiluminescent substance are brought into contact with each other, and the energy of the chemiluminescence in the visible light wavelength region caused by the contact between the chemiluminescent substance and the labeling substance is contained in the stimulable phosphor layer provided in the stimulable phosphor sheet. Accumulates in the stimulable phosphor, and then scans the stimulable phosphor layer with electromagnetic waves to excite the stimulable phosphor and photoelectrically detects the stimulable phosphor emitted from the stimulable phosphor. Chemiluminescence in which a digital image signal is generated, subjected to predetermined signal processing, and reproduced as a visible image on a display means such as a CRT or a photographic film, thereby obtaining information on a macromolecule such as genetic information. detection Law, such as has also been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open
3-205550, 4-232864).

The image reading apparatus used in these systems holds the stimulable phosphor sheet 10 on a concave arc-shaped support surface 23a as shown in FIG. 2, for example.
The sheet holding device 20 that can move in the direction (Y direction) along the generatrix of the arc supporting surface 23a, the excitation light source 40, and photoelectrically converts incident light to output an electric signal S corresponding to the amount of incident light. Photoelectric conversion means 50 such as a photomultiplier (PMT) and the arc supporting surface 23 of the sheet holding device 20
The light source 40 rotates in the direction of the arrow X with the central axis Y0 about a as a rotation axis, and is incident from the light source 40 toward the sheet 10 held on the circular-arc support surface 23a from the lens 31 provided on a part of the peripheral surface thereof. A spinner 30 serving as main scanning means for irradiating the beam-like excitation light L, condensing stimulated emission light M emitted from the sheet 10 irradiated with the excitation light L, and emitting the light to the photoelectric detection means 50; ing.

The spinner 30 is described in detail in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the light is emitted from the light source 40, reflected by the mirror 41 and the dichroic mirror 42, and
A mirror 32 for reflecting the excitation light L incident along 0 in the direction of the condensing lens 31 provided on the peripheral surface is provided inside, and this mirror 32 is emitted from the sheet 10,
It also functions to reflect the stimulated emission light M condensed by the condenser lens 31 to the PMT 50 along the rotation axis Y0. The spinner 30 is rotated in the direction of arrow X by a motor (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 4, a sheet holding device 20 of a reading device of the type described above has a concave arc-shaped support surface 23a for supporting a sheet 10 having a large number of intake holes 23c.
And a suction means (for example, a suction pump or the like) 29 for sucking air from the suction holes 23c and suction-holding the sheet 10 on the arc-shaped support surface 23a.

As shown in FIG. 5, the sheet 10 is carried into the arc supporting surface 23a along the circumferential direction of the arc supporting surface 23a by the conveying rollers 21 and 22, and is conveyed to the arc supporting surface 23a.
The arrival of the leading end 10a of the sheet 10 in the carrying direction of the sheet 10 reaches the stopper 23b provided at the upper end edge of the lever 24a by the lever 24 and the sensor 26 urged by the spring 24a. Stops the rotation of the transport rollers 21 and 22, and rotates the rear end positioning lever 25. The positioning lever 25 presses the rear end portion 10b of the sheet 10 in the carrying direction in the carrying direction (FIG. 2B). The sheet 10 is positioned on the arc support surface 23a at the rear end 10b in the carrying direction.

[0009]

As described above, a large number of intake holes 23c are formed in the arc-supporting surface 23a of the sheet holding device 20.
Since the formation of 3c is very troublesome, providing a large number of such intake holes 23c has a problem that the production cost is increased. On the other hand, the sheet 10 is
In order to stably and uniformly adsorb and hold the circular arc supporting surface 23a, it is desirable to form a large number of intake holes 23c.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a scanning sheet holding apparatus capable of stably holding a scanning sheet uniformly on a circular arc supporting surface by a small number of intake holes. The purpose is to do so.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a device for holding a sheet to be scanned, wherein a groove extending in the arc-supporting surface is formed on a concave arc-shaped support surface on which the sheet to be scanned is sucked and held. The suction hole is formed, and the sheet is sucked by the opening surface of the groove which spreads on the arc support surface.

That is, the apparatus for holding a sheet to be scanned according to the present invention comprises a support member having a concave, arc-shaped support surface for supporting the sheet to be scanned having an intake hole formed therein, and the sheet to be scanned being sucked through the intake hole. And a suction means for sucking and holding the sheet on the arc support surface, wherein one or two or more grooves are formed in the arc support surface,
The air intake hole is formed in the groove.

Here, the groove formed on the arc-supporting surface means a concave shape in which the opening area in the arc-supporting surface is larger than the opening area of the intake hole. Not only that, it also includes a concave shape having a spread like a seat surface.

The concave arc-shaped support surface means a part of the inner wall surface of the cylinder.

In the case where the sheet to be scanned is to be carried onto the arc support surface along the circumferential direction of the arc support surface, the groove extends in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the arc support surface. Preferably, the groove has no outer edge. The scanned sheet carried in along the arc support surface is bent in an arc shape by receiving a vertical reaction from the arc support surface, but the sheet attempts to return to the original shape due to its elasticity,
When the sheet is carried into the arc support surface, if the groove is a groove having an outer edge extending in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the arc support surface, the leading end of the sheet in the carry-in direction abuts against the wall surface of the groove. There is a risk that the sheet cannot be carried in smoothly,
This is because such a danger can be prevented if the groove does not have an outer edge extending in a direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the circular arc supporting surface. It is preferable to apply, for example, an X-shape as such a shape of the groove.

[0016]

According to the apparatus for holding a sheet to be scanned according to the present invention, the concave circular support surface on which the sheet to be scanned is suction-held is provided.
Since the groove extending in the arc support surface is formed and the intake hole is formed in the groove, the sheet can be sucked by the opening surface of the groove extending on the arc support surface without providing a large number of intake holes. Thus, the scanned sheet can be stably and uniformly held on the arc support surface by the small number of intake holes.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A specific embodiment of the device for holding a scanned sheet according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a main part of a specific embodiment of a scanning sheet holding apparatus according to the present invention. The illustrated sheet holding device 20 includes a support table (referred to as a platen) 23 having a plurality of suction holes 23c formed in a concave arc-shaped support surface 23a that supports the sheet 10, a sheet 10 that is sucked through the suction holes 23c, and And a suction pump 29 as suction means for sucking and holding the pressure on the arc support surface 23a.

Here, a plurality of X-shaped recesses 23d are formed in the arc-supporting surface 23a in detail.
3c is formed so as to open in these recesses 23d. Further, the sheet 10 is transported along the circumferential direction of the arc supporting surface 23 a of the platen 23 by the conveying rollers 21 and 22.
Is carried into the platen 23 by the
3a.

The holding device 20 for the sheet 10 according to the present embodiment.
Is used, for example, in the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. The image reading apparatus includes a sheet holding unit 20 that is movable in a direction (Y direction) along a generatrix of the arc support surface 23a.
And a laser light source 40 that emits a beam-like laser light L that excites the stimulable phosphor of the stimulable phosphor sheet 10, and outputs an electric signal S corresponding to the amount of incident light by photoelectrically converting the incident light. Photomultiplier (PMT) 50
The central axis Y0 of the arc supporting surface 23a of the sheet holding device 20 is rotated in the direction of the arrow X about the rotation axis, and the sheet 10 held on the arc supporting surface 23a is moved from the lens 31 provided on a part of the peripheral surface thereof. To the laser beam L incident from the light source 40,
And a spinner 30 that condenses stimulated emission light M emitted from the sheet 10 irradiated with the light and emits the light to the PMT 50.

The spinner 30 is described in detail in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the light is emitted from the light source 40, reflected by the mirror 41 and the dichroic mirror 42, and
The mirror 32 internally reflects the laser light L incident along the direction 0 toward the condensing lens 31 provided on the peripheral surface thereof. The stimulable luminescent light M condensed by 31 has an effect of reflecting the stimulable light M to the PMT 50 along the rotation axis Y0. The spinner 30 is rotated in the direction of arrow X by a motor (not shown). By the action of the spinner 30, the laser beam L is main-scanned on the sheet 10 held by the sheet holding device 20 at a constant speed in the circumferential direction of the arc supporting surface 23a of the sheet holding device 20, The stimulated emission light M emitted from the main-scanned sheet 10 is detected by the PMT 50.

On the other hand, since the sheet holding device 20 is sub-scanned in the direction of the arrow Y, the laser beam L scans substantially the entire surface of the sheet 10 by a combination of the sub-scanning and the main scanning. The radiation image information stored and recorded as the distribution of radiation energy is read.

Next, the holding device 2 for the sheet 10 of the present embodiment.
The operation of 0 will be described.

First, the first transport roller 21 provided at one end edge of the arc support surface 23a carries the sheet 10 into the platen 23 along the arc support surface 23a. Transport roller 2
When the sheet 10 is carried into the middle of the entire length of the cylindrical support surface 23a, the sheet 1
Further, the carry-in propulsion force is also given from the second carrying roller 22 provided at the substantially intermediate position, and the leading end 10a is carried in until the leading end portion 10a in the carrying direction comes into contact with the stopper 23b of the arc-shaped support surface 23a.

When the leading end 10a of the sheet 10 in the carrying direction abuts against the stopper 23b, a not-shown sheet leading end detector (for example, a leading end detecting lever 24 urged in a non-detecting direction by a spring 24a shown in FIG. An optical sensor 26 that detects the rotation of the sheet) detects the completion of the sheet conveyance, and a controller (not shown) controls the conveyance roller 2.
The conveyance of the sheet 10 is stopped, and the sheet 10 is
It stops at a predetermined position on 3a. At this time, the recess 23d
Is in a state in which the opening is closed by the sheet 10 carried in on the arc supporting surface 23a.

Next, the suction pump 23 starts the suction operation, and by this operation, the air pressure in the recess 23d whose opening is closed by the seat 10 becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure through the suction hole 23c, and the seat 10 becomes arcuate. Support surface 2
3a is held by suction.

As described above, according to the scanning sheet holding apparatus 20 of the present embodiment, the plurality of X-shapes formed in the arc supporting surface 23a are formed on the concave arc supporting surface 23a on which the sheet 10 is suction-held. Since the concave portion 23d is formed and the intake hole 23c is formed in the concave portion 23d, the suction area of the sheet 10 can be increased without providing a large number of the intake holes 23c, and the small number of the intake holes 23c Thus, the sheet 10 can be stably and substantially uniformly suction-held on the arc-shaped support surface 23a.

As described above, the sheet 10 is
3, the transport rollers 21 and 22
Then, reading of the radiation image information from the sheet 10 by the laser light source 40, the spinner 30, the PMT 50, and the like is started.

In the holding apparatus 20 for a sheet to be scanned according to the present embodiment, an X-shaped recess 23d is formed in the arc-supporting surface 23a, and an intake hole 23c is formed in the recess 23d. The shape of the groove in the holding device for a sheet to be scanned according to the present invention is not limited to the concave portion according to the present embodiment, but may be, for example, a groove shape 23d as shown in FIG. Circular concave seating surface 23 as shown
d, and these grooves 23d
May have a plurality of intake holes.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a holding device for a scanned sheet of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image reading apparatus using the holding device for a scanned sheet according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing another embodiment of the apparatus for holding a sheet to be scanned according to the present invention (indicated by arrow A in FIG. 1);

FIG. 4 is a view showing a conventional scanning sheet holding apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the scanned sheet is carried into the scanning sheet holding device shown in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Storable phosphor sheet 10a Leading edge in the loading direction 10b Trailing edge in the loading direction 20 Sheet holding device 21, 22 Conveying roller 22 Lever 23 Support (platen) 23a Arc support surface 23b Stopper 23c Intake hole 23d Depression (groove) 24 Tip detection lever 25 Rear end pressing lever 26 Optical sensor 27 Controller 29 Suction pump

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/04 H04N 1/04 EF term (Reference) 2H013 AC11 3F049 FA05 LB03 5B047 AA17 BA02 BA05 BB08 BC05 BC09 BC14 CA09 5C062 AB32 AC11 BD04 5C072 AA01 BA13 DA02 DA06 EA02 HA02 HA12 JA03 JA07 JA13 VA01

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A support member having a concave, arc-shaped support surface for supporting a scanned sheet having an intake hole, and sucking and holding the scanned sheet on the arc-support surface by sucking air from the intake hole. An apparatus for holding a scanned sheet, comprising: a suction unit; and one or more grooves are formed in the arc-shaped support surface, and the suction holes are formed in the grooves. Holding device. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scanning sheet is carried on the arc supporting surface along a circumferential direction of the arc supporting surface, and the groove has an outer edge extending in a direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction. 2. The holding device for a sheet to be scanned according to claim 1, wherein the groove is not formed. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the groove has an X-shape.