JP2002220131A - Conveyance mechanism for sheet body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively prevent bending of a sheet body and reduce contact resistance of the sheet body as much as possible by a simple configuration. SOLUTION: A second erasing unit 100b is provided with a plurality of pairs of rollers 62 consisting a horizontal conveyance passage 70 and holding edge parts Sa, Sb of a storage phosphor sheet S to reciprocate and convey in substantially horizontal direction and a first holding guide 110 and a second holding guide 112 provided in the horizontal conveyance passage 70, holding bending of the storage phosphor sheet S on an inner side more than the edge parts Sa, Sb, and having different arrangement forms by corresponding to front and rear shapes of the storage phosphor sheet S, respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet transport mechanism for transporting a sheet having an asymmetric shape with respect to the transport direction through ears provided on both sides of the 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
(Rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc.), a part of this radiation energy is accumulated, and after irradiation with excitation light such as visible light, a phosphor that emits stimulated emission according to the accumulated energy is referred to. The stimulable phosphor is usually used as a sheet-shaped stimulable phosphor sheet (sheet body) because of its easy handling.

In the above-described system, for example, an imaging unit for temporarily recording radiation image information of a subject on a stimulable phosphor sheet, and irradiating the stimulable phosphor sheet with the radiation image information recorded thereon with excitation light to emit the excitation light. A reading unit that reads the radiation image information photoelectrically, and an erasing mechanism that erases the radiation image information remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet after reading the radiation image information are integrally incorporated into the stimulable phosphor sheet. So-called circulating or reciprocating in the device,
A built-in type image information reading device is employed.

In the above system, for example, a cassette loading section for loading a cassette containing a stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiation image information is recorded in advance, and a stimulable phosphor sheet taken out of the cassette are provided. A cassette-type image information reading apparatus incorporating a reading unit for reading the carried radiation image information and an erasing mechanism for erasing the radiation image information remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet is employed.

This type of image information reading apparatus employs a transport mechanism for transporting the stimulable phosphor sheet through ears provided on both sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet. This is to prevent the recording surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet from sliding against another member such as the conveyance guide to cause abrasion or the like. For this reason, the transport mechanism usually includes a nip roller pair that sandwiches only the ears of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and is configured to transport the stimulable phosphor sheet under the rotation of the nip roller pair. ing.

In this case, in the horizontal transport section for transporting the stimulable phosphor sheet in the horizontal direction, only the ears of the stimulable phosphor sheet are held. It is easy to bend downward. So, usually,
In order to hold the bending of the stimulable phosphor sheet inside the ear portion, a plurality of guide means are uniformly arranged along the transport path.

[0008]

However, in many cases, the stimulable phosphor sheet is set to have an asymmetric shape in the front-rear direction with respect to the transport direction. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the stimulable phosphor sheet S has ears Sa and Sb on both sides.
Are provided, and reinforcing plates Sc and Sd made of, for example, a carbon material are fixed on the back surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet S corresponding to the front and rear in the transport direction.
One end of the stimulable phosphor sheet S has a curved central portion in the width direction, and the reinforcing plate Sc is set in this curved shape.
The reinforcing plate Sd is set in a narrow plate shape.

For this reason, when the stimulable phosphor sheet S is reciprocated in the horizontal transport section, the amount of bending at the front and rear ends of the stimulable phosphor sheet S depends on the shape of the reinforcing plates Sc and Sd. It differs depending on the dimensions and the like. Therefore, there are places where the number of guide means arranged is equal to or more than the number necessary to prevent the stimulable phosphor sheet S from bending, and the stimulable phosphor sheet S is unnecessarily large with respect to the guide means. It will come in sliding contact. As a result, a problem has been pointed out that the contact resistance to the stimulable phosphor sheet S increases and it becomes difficult to satisfactorily convey the stimulable phosphor sheet S.

The present invention is to solve this kind of problem, and it is possible to effectively prevent the bending of the sheet and to reduce the contact resistance of the sheet as much as possible with a simple structure. An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet body transport mechanism.

[0011]

According to the sheet conveying mechanism of the present invention, the sheet body is bent by a horizontal conveying section which holds the ears of the sheet and reciprocates the sheet in a substantially horizontal direction. Are held inside the ears, and first and second holding guides having different arrangements are provided corresponding to the front and rear shapes of the sheet body. Therefore, when the sheet is reciprocated in the substantially horizontal direction, the first
In addition, the second holding guide can be set to a minimum necessary for holding the deflection of the sheet member, and the contact resistance to the sheet member can be effectively reduced with a simple configuration.

Further, the first and second holding guides have a plurality of rollers that can rotate in synchronization with a sheet conveying speed. Therefore, for example, the contact resistance in the image area of the sheet member can be reduced as much as possible, and the deterioration of the sheet member can be prevented.

Further, the sheet body has a widthwise central portion set to a curved shape at one end in the front-rear direction, and first and second reinforcing carbon plates are attached to both front and rear ends. As described above, even with various sheet members having different amounts of bending at the front and rear ends, the sheet members can be smoothly and satisfactorily conveyed by using the first and second holding guides.

[0014]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a radiation image information reading apparatus 10 incorporating a transport mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic internal view of the radiation image information reading apparatus 10. FIG.

The radiation image information reading apparatus 10 is configured such that an apparatus main body 14 disposed on a floor surface (installation surface) 12 and a subject, for example, a patient (not shown) are directly placed in a recumbent posture (lying posture).
And an elevating mechanism 18 for moving the imaging table 16 up and down with respect to the apparatus main body 14.
The apparatus main body 14 includes a first main body 2 that accommodates the elevating mechanism 18.
0, and a second main body 22 which is configured separately from the first main body 20. A controller 24 and a switch 26 are connected to the second main body 22. An X-ray irradiator 27 is arranged above the imaging table 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lifting mechanism 18 includes a first
The first swing arms 30a, 30b are swingably supported on one end of the main body 20 via support shafts 28a, 28b, and are supported on the other end of the first body 20 via support shafts 32a, 32b. Swing arms 34a and 34b supported to be swingable
And The first oscillating arms 30a, 30b and the second oscillating arms 34a, 34b are connected at a substantially central portion, and the oscillating of the first oscillating arms 30a, 30b and the second oscillating arms 34a, 34b. The moving tip is the imaging table 1
6 is engaged with the bottom of a lifting base 38.

The elevating base 38 is provided with a photographing section 40 for temporarily recording radiation image information of a subject on a stimulable phosphor sheet (sheet body) S, while the apparatus main body 14 stores the radiation image information. The reading section 42 that irradiates the readout stimulable phosphor sheet S with laser light L as excitation light and reads the radiation image information photoelectrically, and the radiographic image remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet S after reading. Erasing section 44 for erasing information, and radiation image information reading apparatus 10
Inside, for example, a circulation transport system (transport mechanism) 46 for circulating the three stimulable phosphor sheets S is incorporated.

The photographing section 40 includes a positioning member 50 for positioning the stimulable phosphor sheet S, and the photographing section 40.
And a holding plate 54 that can swing through a fulcrum 52 that holds the stimulable phosphor sheet S. Near the entrance of the photographing unit 40, a pair of rollers
a, and a roller pair 60b is provided at a predetermined distance from the roller pair 60a. Roller pair 6
The reference numerals 0a and 60b are supported by the elevating base 38 and move up and down integrally with the elevating base 38.

A plurality of pairs of rollers 62 constituting a circulating transport system 46 are disposed in the first main body 20, and a pair of rollers 64 independent of the circulating transport system 46 are provided in the second main body 22. Be placed. Roller pair 60a, 60b, 62
And 64 are ears Sa and Sb of the stimulable phosphor sheet S.
It is configured to convey only the pinch.

The circulating transport system 46 includes a vertical transport path 66 extending vertically from the photographing section 40, a horizontal transport path 68 extending horizontally from the lower end of the vertical transport path 66 and reaching the roller pair 64. The traveling direction is 180 due to the roller pair 64.
After being changed by ゜, a horizontal transport path (horizontal transport section) 70 that passes through the reading section 42 and extends in a substantially horizontal direction to the end of the erasing section 44, and the forward direction of the horizontal transport path 70 is changed by 180 degrees. A switchback path 72 connected to the vertical path 66 after the switchback is performed after the change by ゜. In the switchback transport path 72, a pair of rollers 74 that can be rotated forward and backward is disposed.

The circulating transport system 46 has three stimulable phosphor sheets S.
As one standby position, a first standby position ST1 which is a setting position of the imaging unit 40, and a second standby position
A standby position ST2 and a third standby position ST3 arranged in the erasing section 44 are provided.

The reading section 42 is provided in the second main body section 22 and has a sub-scanning conveyance means 80 for sub-scanning and conveying the stimulable phosphor sheet S in the horizontal direction (the direction of arrow A), and a sub-scanning conveyance. A laser beam irradiating unit 82 for irradiating the stimulable phosphor sheet S with laser light L as excitation light in a substantially vertical direction to perform main scanning, and irradiating the stimulable phosphor sheet S with the stimulable phosphor sheet S, First and second light converging systems 84 and 86 for photoelectrically reading the stimulated emission light are provided.

The sub-scanning conveyance means 80 includes first and second roller pairs 88 and 90 which are driven to rotate in synchronization with each other. The first condensing system 84 includes a first light guide 92a disposed along a main scanning line at a position irradiated with the laser light L on the recording surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet S, and an upper portion of the first light guide 92a. And a first photomultiplier 94a attached to the first photomultiplier 94a. The second light condensing system 86 includes a second light guide 92b disposed along the main scanning line on the back surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet S.
And a second photomultiplier 94b attached to an end of the second light guide 92b.

The erasing section 44 includes a first erasing unit 100a arranged on the recording surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet S and a second erasing unit 100b arranged on the back side of the stimulable phosphor sheet S. Prepare.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the second erasing unit 100b has a casing 102 in which the size of the stimulable phosphor sheet S in the width direction (direction of arrow B) is accommodated. And four sets of erasing light sources 10
4a to 104d are arranged. Light sources 104a to 104d
Are provided with four fluorescent lamps 108, respectively. The first erasing unit 100a has the same configuration as the second erasing unit 100b, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the second erasing unit 100b, a horizontal transport path 70 is formed, and the ears Sa and Sb of the stimulable phosphor sheet S are formed.
Roller pairs 6 that reciprocate in a substantially horizontal direction while holding
2, provided in the horizontal transport path 70, and retains the bending of the stimulable phosphor sheet S inside the ears Sa and Sb, and corresponds to the front-rear shape of the stimulable phosphor sheet S. First and second holding guides 110 and 112 having different arrangement forms are provided.

The first holding guide 110 is set in accordance with the front end shape of the stimulable phosphor sheet S, that is, the front end shape in which the central portion in the width direction is curved and the reinforcing plate Sc is provided. The second holding guide 112 is set corresponding to the rear end shape of the stimulable phosphor sheet S, that is, the rear end shape provided with the narrow plate-like reinforcing plate Sd.

More specifically, the first holding guide 110 is disposed downstream of the light sources 104a to 104d with respect to the transport direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet S (the direction of arrow C), and guide rollers 114a to 114d. , 116a to 116d and 118a to 118d are sequentially arranged in the direction of arrow C. The guide rollers 114a, 114b and 114c, 114d are rotatably mounted on the rotating shafts 120a, 120b constituting the roller pair 62, and are arranged corresponding to both widthwise edges of the stimulable phosphor sheet S. You.

The guide rollers 116a to 116d are rotatably mounted on a shaft 122 extending in the direction of arrow B, while the guide rollers 118a, 118b and 118c, 11
8d refers to the rotating shafts 120a, 1
20b is rotatably mounted. Guide roller 116a
To 116d and 118a to 118d are guide rollers 1
Each position is set corresponding to 14a-114d.

The second holding guide 112 moves the light source 104a in the transport direction (the direction of arrow C) of the stimulable phosphor sheet S.
To the guide roller 1
24a to 124d and 126a and 126b are sequentially arranged in the direction of arrow C. Guide roller 12
4a, 124b and 124c, 124d are roller pairs 6
2 and rotatably mounted on the rotating shafts 120a and 120b, and guide rollers 126a and 126b.
Is rotatably mounted on the rotating shafts 128a and 128b.

The operation of the radiation image information reading apparatus 10 thus configured will be described below.

First, an ID card in which ID information such as an ID number and a name of a patient are recorded is created, and the ID card is read by a console (not shown). In this console, a photographing site such as the chest and abdomen of the patient and a photographing menu are selected. Further, the photographing size is selected as needed, and then the patient as the subject is moved to the photographing table 16.
Place on top. At this time, the height position (the direction of the arrow Z) of the imaging table 16 is adjusted according to the condition of the patient, the height of the patient, or the transport mode of a wheelchair or a stretcher.

Then, the X-ray irradiating means 27 is driven in a state where the patient is lying on the imaging table 16 in the lying position (lying position), and the radiation image information of the patient is stored in the imaging unit 40. The image is recorded (photographed) on the phosphor sheet S.
At this time, the other stimulable phosphor sheets S are the second and third phosphor sheets.
They are arranged at standby positions ST2 and ST3 (see FIG. 2).

After the photographing process, the stimulable phosphor sheet S is taken out of the photographing section 40 with the ears Sa and Sb held therebetween under the rotating action of the roller pair 60a constituting the circulating transport system 46, and is taken out from the photographing section 40. , 62 and the vertical transport path 6
6 to the horizontal transport path 68. Further, the stimulable phosphor sheet S is transported from the first main body 20 to the second main body 22 under the rotating action of the plurality of roller pairs 62, and the transport direction is changed upward by 180 ° through the roller pairs 64. Then, the image data is sent to the sub-scanning / conveying means 80 constituting the reading section 42.

In the sub-scanning conveyance means 80, the first and second roller pairs 88 and 90 are driven by a motor (not shown).
Are rotated in synchronization with each other, and the stimulable phosphor sheet S is attached to the first and second roller pairs 88 and 90 by the ears Sa and Sb.
And is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction in the direction of arrow A. that time,
The laser beam L is derived from the laser beam irradiating means 82 and is irradiated on the recording surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet S to perform main scanning.

Thus, the stimulated emission light emitted from the recording surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet S is photoelectrically read by the first condensing system 84, and is transmitted through the transparent base surface to transmit the stimulable phosphor sheet S. The stimulated emission light emitted from the back side of the body sheet S is photoelectrically read by the second light condensing system 86.

The stimulable phosphor sheet S after the reading process
Is transported from the second main body portion 22 to the first main body portion 20 side,
It is sent to the erasing section 44 along the horizontal transport path 70. In the erasing section 44, the first and second erasing units 100a,
The erasing light is applied to both surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet S via the erasing light sources 104a to 104d constituting the stimulable phosphor sheet 100b, and the erasing process of the radiation image information remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet S is surely performed. Done.

After the erasing process, the stimulable phosphor sheet S is sent to the switchback conveyance path 72 from the horizontal conveyance path 70 by changing the conveyance direction by 180 ° downward. When the roller pair 74 constituting the switchback transport path 72 is rotated in the reverse direction, the stimulable phosphor sheet S is transferred from the switchback transport path 72 to the vertical transport path 66,
It is arranged in the photographing unit 40 via the roller pair 60a, 60b.

The erasing section 44 has a third standby position S
T3 is provided, and the stimulable phosphor sheet S is reciprocated by the erasing section 44. Here, as shown in FIG. 5, one end of the stimulable phosphor sheet S has a curved central portion in the width direction, and the reinforcing plate Sc is set corresponding to the curved shape, while the reinforcing plate Sd is , Corresponding to a narrow plate shape. For this reason, the amount of deflection at the front and rear ends of the stimulable phosphor sheet S is different due to the shapes and dimensions of the reinforcing plates Sc and Sd.

In this case, in the present embodiment, the first and second holding guides 1 having different arrangements respectively corresponding to the reinforcing plates Sc and Sd which are the front and rear shapes of the stimulable phosphor sheet S.
10, 112 are provided. 3 and 4
As shown in FIG. 5, the first holding guide 110 includes guide rollers 114a to 114d, 116a to 116d, and 118.
a to 118d, and the second holding guide 112
Are guide rollers 124a to 124d and 126a,
126b is provided.

Accordingly, the first and second holding guides 11
Numerals 0 and 112 are set to the minimum necessary to be able to hold the deflection of the stimulable phosphor sheet S when the stimulable phosphor sheet S is reciprocated in the substantially horizontal direction. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the effect that the contact resistance to the stimulable phosphor sheet S can be effectively reduced with a simple configuration is obtained.

Further, guide rollers 114a-114
d, 116a-116d, 118a-118d, 124
a to 124d and 126a and 126b are configured to be rotatable in synchronization with the transport speed of the stimulable phosphor sheet S. Thereby, the contact resistance in the image area of the stimulable phosphor sheet S can be reduced as much as possible, and the radiation image information reading processing performed using the stimulable phosphor sheet S can be performed with high quality. This has the advantage of being workable.

Although the present embodiment has been described using the belt-in type radiation image information reading apparatus 10 in which three stimulable phosphor sheets S are accommodated and circulated, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the present invention can be applied to a cassette-type radiation image information reading apparatus. In addition, although the stimulable phosphor sheet S is used as the sheet body, the present invention is not limited to this.

[0044]

According to the sheet conveying mechanism of the present invention,
A horizontal conveyance unit that holds the ears of the sheet body and reciprocates the sheet body in a substantially horizontal direction holds the bending of the sheet body inside the ears and corresponds to the front-rear shape of the sheet body. First and second holding guides having different arrangement forms are provided. For this reason, the first and second holding guides can be set to the minimum necessary to be able to hold the bending of the sheet body when the sheet body is reciprocated in the substantially horizontal direction. It is possible to effectively reduce the contact resistance to the sheet member. Thus, the sheet body can be smoothly conveyed, and the quality of the sheet body can be maintained high.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective explanatory view of a radiation image information reading apparatus incorporating a transport mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the schematic internal configuration of the radiation image information reading apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective explanatory view of a horizontal transport path and first and second holding guides constituting the transport mechanism.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory plan view of the horizontal transport path and the first and second holding guides.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a stimulable phosphor sheet.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Radiation image information reading apparatus 14 ... Device main body 16 ... Imaging stand 18 ... Elevating mechanism 20, 22 ... Main body part 24 ... Controller 26 ... Switch part 27 ... X-ray irradiation means 42 ... Reading part 44 ... Erasing part 46 ... Circulation conveyance System 66 Vertical transport path 68 Horizontal transport path 70 Horizontal transport path 72 Switchback transport path 80 Subscanning transport means 82 Laser beam irradiating means 84, 86 Focusing system 100a, 100b Erasing unit 102 Casing 104a to 104d: light source for erasing 108: fluorescent lamp 110, 112 ... holding guide 114a to 114d, 116a to 116d, 118a to
118d, 124a to 124d, 126a, 126b ...
Guide roller S: stimulable phosphor sheet Sa, Sb: ear Sc, Sd: reinforcing plate ST1, ST2,
ST3: Standby position

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A sheet transport mechanism for transporting a sheet asymmetrically in front and rear with respect to a transport direction through ears provided on both sides of the sheet, wherein A horizontal transport unit that holds the ears and reciprocates the sheet body in a substantially horizontal direction; and a horizontal transport unit that is provided in the horizontal transport unit and holds the bending of the sheet body inside the ears and the sheet body. And a first and second holding guides having different arrangement forms corresponding to the front and rear shapes of the sheet body. 2. A sheet conveying device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second holding guides include a plurality of rollers rotatable in synchronization with a conveying speed of said sheet. Transport mechanism. 3. The conveying mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the sheet body has a widthwise center portion set at one end in the front-rear direction and a first and second reinforcing carbon at both front and rear ends. A sheet conveying mechanism, wherein a plate is attached.