JP2003295369A - Radiation image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent light from leaking from a projection opening of an erasing means while smoothly discharging warmed air from inside the erasing means to outside a radiation image reader. <P>SOLUTION: The radiation image reader is equipped with a read means which reads radiation image information stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet 23 and an erasing means 70 which projects light emitted from a light source 73 provided in a specified housing 71 to erase the radiation image information and the erasing means 70 is equipped with a housing external exhaust pipe 72 which links the housing 71 with outside the reader, a housing internal exhaust pipe 75 which guides the air in the housing 71 warmed with the heat radiated by the light source 73 into the housing external exhaust pipe 72, and a blocking wall 81 which partitions the housing external exhaust pipe 72 and a projection opening 77 of the housing 71 from each other and is provided along an air exhaustion path in the housing 71. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radiation image reading device, and more particularly to a radiation image reading device for reading radiation image information accumulated on a stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, X has been used for the purpose of disease diagnosis.
A radiation image represented by a line image is used. As a method for obtaining such a radiation image, a radiation image reading method using a stimulable phosphor has been proposed and put into practical use in recent years. In this method, the stimulable phosphor is irradiated with the radiation that has passed through the subject to accumulate radiation energy corresponding to the radiation transmittance of each part of the subject. Then, the radiation energy accumulated by scanning the stimulable phosphor with stimulable excitation light is emitted as stimulable luminescent light, and the stimulable luminescent light is converted into an image signal by using a photoelectric conversion means. , A radiation image is obtained as digital image data.

The sheet-shaped stimulable phosphor (hereinafter referred to as "stimulable phosphor sheet") used in such a radiographic image reading system is usually housed in a portable flat case called a cassette. In this state, it is conveyed inside a predetermined radiation image reading apparatus. Inside the radiation image reading device, there is provided a reading unit including a light source that emits stimulated excitation light, a photoelectric conversion unit that converts the stimulated emission light into an image signal, etc., and is stored in the cassette. Radiation image information can be read from the stimulable phosphor sheet.

The radiation image reading apparatus is provided with erasing means for erasing the radiation image information by irradiating the stimulable phosphor sheet after reading the radiation image information with light. As a light source that emits light that erases radiation image information, a long rod-shaped halogen lamp that can irradiate light uniformly over the entire width of the stimulable phosphor sheet is often used.

A long rod-shaped halogen lamp which is a light source is
Usually, it is provided inside a predetermined housing. In this case, a reflecting mirror for reflecting the light emitted from the halogen lamp toward the radiation image information side, and an exhaust pipe for guiding the air heated by the heat emitted from the halogen lamp to the outside of the device. Etc. need to be provided inside the housing.

[0006]

In the erasing means having the above structure, the end of the exhaust pipe is exposed to the outside of the apparatus in order to discharge the air heated inside the erasing means to the outside of the apparatus. Therefore, the light outside the device enters the erasing means through the exposed end of the exhaust pipe. When the light outside the device that has entered the erasing means travels to the emission port that emits the light of the halogen lamp while reflecting on various parts inside the erasing device, and leaks from this emission port to the stimulable phosphor sheet side. There is.

As described above, when the light outside the apparatus that has entered from the end of the exhaust pipe of the erasing means leaks from the emission port that emits the light of the halogen lamp while proceeding while reflecting inside the erasing means, The radiation image information accumulated on the exhaustive phosphor sheet may be exhausted by the leaked light, which may prevent accurate acquisition of the radiation image information.

Conventionally, a sponge-like light-shielding filter is provided at the end of the exhaust pipe to prevent light outside the device from entering the interior of the erasing device from the end of the exhaust pipe. Was prevented from leaking. However, if a sponge-like light-shielding filter is provided at the end of the exhaust pipe, there is a problem in that it is difficult for the air heated inside the erasing means to be discharged to the outside of the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a radiation image reading apparatus, the object of the present invention is to prevent light entering the erasing means from the outside of the apparatus leaking from the emission port of the erasing means without hindering the discharge of air from the inside of the erasing means to the outside of the apparatus. Is to surely prevent.

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 provides a reading means for reading the radiation image information accumulated on the stimulable phosphor sheet, and a reading means provided in a predetermined housing. A radiation image reading device that erases the radiation image information by irradiating light emitted from a light source emitted from an emission port of the casing, wherein the erasing device includes the casing and the outside of the device. An exhaust pipe outside the casing that communicates with the casing, an exhaust pipe inside the casing that guides the air in the casing heated by the heat emitted from the light source to the exhaust pipe outside the casing, the exhaust pipe outside the casing, and the casing. And a light-shielding wall that is provided along the exhaust path of the air in the housing and that is separated from the emission port of the body.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the erasing means includes the light shielding wall that separates the exhaust pipe outside the housing from the emission port of the housing, so that the light incident from the exhaust pipe outside the housing is incident on the housing. It is possible to prevent leakage from the emission port. Further, since the light shielding wall is provided along the air exhaust path in the housing, it does not hinder the discharge of air from the housing to the outside of the apparatus.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the radiation image reading apparatus according to the first aspect, the erasing means includes a reflecting mirror that reflects the light emitted from the light source to the stimulable phosphor sheet side. In addition, the reflecting mirror and the exhaust pipe in the housing are integrally molded by an extrusion molding method.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the reflecting mirror provided in the casing of the erasing means and the exhaust pipe in the casing are integrally formed by an extrusion molding method, the reflecting mirror and the exhaust pipe in the casing are formed. It is possible to save the cost and labor for separately manufacturing the above, and also to eliminate the need for complicated work for assembling and joining the reflecting mirror and the exhaust pipe in the housing. As a result, an inexpensive erasing unit can be easily obtained, which can contribute to cost reduction of the entire radiation image reading apparatus.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the radiation image reading apparatus according to the second aspect, the erasing means includes a heat dissipation member for transmitting heat emitted from the light source to the inside of the exhaust pipe in the housing. The reflecting mirror, the exhaust pipe in the housing, and the heat dissipation member are integrally formed by an extrusion molding method.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the erasing means has a heat dissipation member for transmitting the heat emitted from the light source to the inside of the exhaust pipe in the housing, and therefore has a high heat dissipation effect.
Moreover, since the reflecting mirror, the exhaust pipe in the housing, and the heat radiating member are integrally formed by the extrusion molding method, the cost and time for separately manufacturing the reflecting mirror, the exhaust pipe in the housing, and the heat radiating member can be saved. In addition, the complicated work of assembling and joining the reflecting mirror, the exhaust pipe in the housing, and the heat radiation member is not necessary. As a result, an inexpensive erasing unit can be easily obtained, which can contribute to cost reduction of the entire radiation image reading apparatus.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a radiation image reading apparatus used in a radiation image reading method using a stimulable phosphor sheet will be described.

First, the structure of the cassette 1 conveyed inside the radiation image reading apparatus according to this embodiment will be described.

The cassette 1 is a front plate 10 which can be separated.
And a back plate 20. FIG. 1 is a perspective view when the front plate 10 and the back plate 20 of the cassette 1 are separated, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view when the front plate 10 and the back plate 20 of the cassette 1 are combined. is there. The cassette 1 protects the stimulable phosphor sheet 23 during photographing and during transportation, and also prevents the stimulable phosphor sheet 23 from being irradiated with light after photographing and erasing the accumulated image information. Works like.

The front plate 10 comprises a frame 11 and a front plate 12. The frame 11 is preferably made of a material such as aluminum or a hard resin that can withstand a large load applied during recumbent imaging or full-load imaging. The front plate 12 is preferably made of a material having a high radiation transmittance and rigidity such as aluminum or carbon fiber reinforced resin.

The back plate 20 is composed of a back plate body 21, a support plate 22 having a lead foil provided on the back surface, and a stimulable phosphor sheet 23. The stimulable phosphor sheet 23 comprises
It is fixed to the support plate 22. In the present embodiment, the back plate body 21 is made of a ferromagnetic resin so as to be attracted by the magnetic force of the magnet 54 of the sub-scanning unit 50 described later. Further, a ferromagnetic material sheet such as iron foil may be attached to the back surface 21a of the back plate, or a ferromagnetic material may be applied.

The front plate 10 and the back plate 20 include:
Insertion holes 13 and 24 used at a lock ON / OFF operation described later are provided. When the front plate 10 is covered with the back plate 20, the insertion hole 13 of the front plate 10 and the insertion hole 24 of the back plate 20 are arranged at corresponding positions.

The cassette 1 is provided with a lock mechanism for maintaining the front plate 10 and the back plate 20 in a combined state. Lock mechanism is lock ON / OFF
It is provided with an opening 31 provided on the side surface of the back plate main body 21 in accordance with the operation, and a lock claw 30 that can be projected or pulled in from the opening. Although not shown in FIG. 1, an opening is also provided on the other side surface of the back body 21, and a lock claw is provided so as to project and retract.

Here, the lock ON operation means the lock claw 3
This is an operation in which the front end of 0 is projected outward from the opening 31 and locked in the frame 11 of the front plate 10. Further, the lock-off operation means that the tip of the lock claw 30 is pulled into the inside of the opening 31 so that the frame 1 of the front plate 10 is closed.
It means to release the locked state with 1.

The back plate 2 in a state where the tip of the lock claw 30 is pulled inside the opening 31 (lock OFF state).
When the front plate 10 is covered with 0, a predetermined rod-shaped member is inserted into the insertion holes 13 and 24 and pushed only once, the tip of the lock claw 30 is opened by the push / latch mechanism.
The state shifts to a state in which the front plate 10 and the back plate 20 project outward from 1 (lock ON state), and the front plate 10 and the back plate 20 become inseparable.

On the other hand, when the lock bar is in the ON state, when a predetermined rod-shaped member is inserted into the insertion holes 13 and 24 and pushed only once, the lock and pawl 3 is pushed by the push / latch mechanism.
The leading edge of 0 shifts to a state in which the front end of 0 is pulled inside the opening 31 (lock OFF state), and the front plate 10 and the back plate 2
It becomes separable from 0.

On the back surface 21a of the back plate, a bar code label to be read by the code reading means 3a described later is attached. An identification number (ID number) of the stimulable phosphor sheet 23, a manufacturing date, a version number of the stimulable phosphor, a number indicating the size of the cassette 1, and the like are recorded as codes on the barcode label. .

Next, the configuration of the radiation image reading apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the structure of the radiation image reading apparatus. The radiation image reading device includes a device body 2, a cassette insertion port 3, a cassette ejection port 4,
Is equipped with. The apparatus main body 2 is composed of a conveyance reading unit 2a and a cassette insertion and ejection unit 2b, and the cassette insertion and ejection unit 2b has a structure that can be removed from the conveyance reading unit 2a as shown in FIG.

The main body 2a of the apparatus main body 2 is rotated while receiving the cassette 1 inserted from the cassette insertion port 3 and holding it, and is rotated to convey the cassette 1 to a sub-scanning unit 50 described later. The unit 40, the sub-scanning unit 50 for vertically moving the cassette 1 transported by the rotary transport unit 40, and the reading unit 60 for reading the image information accumulated in the stimulable phosphor sheet 23 in the cassette 1. And erasing means 70 for erasing the image information that has been read. The rotary transport unit 40 and the sub-scanning unit 50 are
They are provided on the same substrate 80.

The cassette insertion port 3 is provided with code reading means 3a for reading the code recorded on the bar code label on the back surface 21a of the back plate of the inserted cassette 1. Further, in the vicinity of the cassette insertion opening 3, the apparatus body 2 is supported while supporting the cassette 1 inserted in the cassette insertion opening 3.
An insertion roller 3b is provided to be inserted inside.

The rotary transport unit 40 receives and holds the cassette 1 inserted in the apparatus, and then the cassette 1
To the sub-scanning unit 50 described later.
The rotary conveyance unit 40 includes a receiving base 41 that receives and holds the cassette 1 inserted inside the apparatus, and a guide unit 42 that supports a downward surface of the cassette 1 received by the receiving base 41. The rotary shaft 43 can be freely rotated at least within a range from the dotted line a to the dotted line c (range of angle θ) about the rotating shaft 43.

FIG. 4 shows a pedestal 41 and a guide portion 42.
3 is a plan view showing a sub-scanning unit 50 described later. In FIG. 4, the rotary conveyance unit 50 including the pedestal 41 and the guide unit 42 is provided on the front side of the drawing, and the sub-scanning unit 50 described later
Are arranged on the back side of the drawing. Further, in FIG. 4, the back plate rear surface 21a of the cassette 1 (of six-section size) transported by the rotary transport unit 40 is
The state in which the magnetic attraction is applied to the attraction plate 54 of the sub-scanning unit 50 is shown.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cradle 41 is provided with a cassette body insertion port 3 and an insertion roller 3b, so that the apparatus main body 2
There is provided a cassette grip 41a for surely catching the lower end of the cassette 1 inserted inside.
Further, the cradle 41 is provided with a lock mechanism for the cassette 1.
A lock pin 41b for turning on / off is provided. By moving the lock pin 41b up and down,
The lock mechanism of the cassette 1 can be turned on or off.

The guide portion 42 is provided with a width-shifting means 42a capable of moving the cassette 1 in the direction of arrow M in FIG. 4 in accordance with the size of the cassette 1 read by the code reading means 3a. The cassette 1 received by the receiving base 41 and supported by the guide portion 42 is moved to the center by the width adjusting means 42a.

The sub-scanning section 50 is composed of a sub-scanning rail 51, a sub-scanning movable section 52, a sub-scanning moving plate 53 and a magnet 54, and holds the cassette 1 in the vertical direction (sub-scanning direction).
It functions as a holding / conveying unit that conveys to. Sub-scanning movable section 5
2 is a sub-scanning rail 5 by a driving means (not shown).
It is possible to move up and down on 1. In addition, the sub-scanning moving plate 5
Since 3 is fixed to the sub-scanning movable portion 52, as a result, the sub-scanning moving plate 53 can be moved in the vertical direction on the sub-scanning rail 52 by the driving means.

Since the magnet 54 is integrally attached to the sub-scanning moving plate 53, the magnet 54 is driven by the above-mentioned driving means.
It is movable in the vertical direction (sub-scanning direction). The cassette 1 is conveyed so as to reciprocate in the vertical direction by the drive means while being held by the magnet 54.

The reading means 60 is the laser scanning unit 6
1, a light guide 62, a condenser tube 63, a photoelectric conversion means, and the like. The laser scanning unit 61 irradiates the photostimulable phosphor sheet 23 with laser light (excitation light), and is proportional to the radiation energy accumulated in the photostimulable phosphor sheet 23 by the action of this laser light. The stimulated emission light (radiation image information) is emitted. The light guide 62 guides the emitted stimulated emission light to the condenser tube 63. The condenser tube 63 includes a photoelectric conversion unit such as a photomultiplier (not shown), and functions to convert the collected stimulated emission light into an electric signal.

The erasing means 70 is the main part of the present invention.
It has a function of emitting light to erase the radiation image information remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet 23. The configuration of the erasing means 70 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a partially transparent plan view of the erasing means 70 of the radiation image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 3 (a view seen from above the paper surface of FIG. 3), and FIG. 6 is VI-VI of FIG. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a portion, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion VII of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the erasing means 70 is provided with a long casing 71 and an outside casing exhaust pipe 72 attached to one end of the casing 71. Then, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the two halogen lamps 73, the reflecting mirror 74, the exhaust pipe 75 in the housing, and the fins 76 are housed inside the housing 71, and are fixed by a fixing means (not shown). It is fixed.

The halogen lamp 73 functions as a light source for irradiating the photostimulable phosphor sheet 23 fixed to the back plate 20 of the cassette 1 with light. The light emitted from the halogen lamp 73 is emitted to the stimulable phosphor sheet 23 side from the emission port 77 provided in the housing 71. Further, the reflecting mirror 74 functions to reflect the light emitted from the halogen lamp 73 to the stimulable phosphor sheet 23 side.

The exhaust pipe 75 in the housing is, as shown in FIG.
It is constituted by being surrounded by a part 74a of the back surface of the reflecting mirror 74 and a wall surface 75a arranged on the upper side, lower side and right side of the drawing, and is heated by the heat emitted from the halogen lamp 73. It functions to guide air to the outside of the device. The fins 76 are heat-dissipating members for efficiently transmitting the heat emitted from the halogen lamp 73 to the inside of the exhaust pipe 75 in the housing, and the exhaust pipe 75 in the housing from the part 74a on the back surface of the reflecting mirror 74 and the wall surface 75a. Is formed so as to project to the inner side of.

In this embodiment, the reflecting mirror 74, the wall surface 75a and the fins 76 which form the exhaust pipe 75 in the housing.
However, it is integrally formed by an extrusion molding method using aluminum as a material.

Inside the casing 71, an exhaust guide pipe 78 for guiding the heated air in the inside exhaust pipe 75 to the outside exhaust pipe 72 is provided. As shown in FIG. 7, the exhaust guide pipe 78 is smoothly connected to the first pipe portion 78a extending in the same direction as the extending direction of the side wall 72a of the exterior exhaust pipe 72 and the first pipe portion 78a. And a second pipe portion 78b extending substantially in the same direction as the extending direction of the wall surface 75a of the in-housing exhaust pipe 75. The heated air in the in-case exhaust pipe 75 sequentially passes through the second pipe portion 78b and the first pipe portion 78a of the exhaust guide pipe 78 and is guided to the outside-chamber exhaust pipe 72.

A light adjusting member 79 is provided in the vicinity of the emission port 77 of the housing 71. The light control member 79 functions to transmit the light in the predetermined wavelength region of the light emitted from the halogen lamp 73.

An end of the exhaust pipe 72 outside the housing is exposed to the outside of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 7, and an exhaust fan 80 is provided at this end. By sucking the air in the exhaust pipe 75 inside the housing and the exhaust pipe 72 outside the housing by the exhaust fan 80, the air heated by the heat emitted from the halogen lamp 73 can be discharged to the outside of the device. An exhaust hole 72b is provided at the end of the outside exhaust pipe 72.

In the erasing means provided in the radiographic image reading apparatus according to the present invention, the light outside the apparatus, which has entered through the exhaust hole 72b at the end of the exhaust pipe 72 outside the housing, advances while reflecting inside the housing 71. There is provided a light shielding means for preventing the light from being emitted from the light emission port 77. Hereinafter, the configuration of the light shielding means will be described with reference to FIG.

At the end of the first pipe portion 78a of the exhaust guiding pipe 78, a first light shielding wall 81 extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first pipe portion 78a is provided. The first light shielding wall 81 has a function of guiding the heated air inside the housing exhaust pipe 75 in a direction along the second pipe portion 78 b of the exhaust guide pipe 78, and at the end portion of the outside housing exhaust pipe 72. The light outside the device, which has entered through the exhaust hole 72b, is blocked from proceeding to the emission port 77 side of the housing 71.

The second light-shielding wall 8 is provided inside the housing 71.
Two are provided. The second light shielding wall 82 is the first light shielding wall 8
The first light shielding wall 81 is connected to the first light shielding wall 81 (see FIG. 7). The second light-shielding wall 81 also functions to block the light outside the device that has entered from the exhaust hole 72b at the end of the outside-exhaust pipe 72 from proceeding to the emission port 77 side of the casing 71. The light that has entered from the end portion of the exhaust pipe 72 outside the housing receives the first light shielding wall 81, the second light shielding wall 82, and the halogen lamp 7.
Effectively blocked by 3.

Further, in the vicinity of the emission port 77 of the casing 71,
A third light shielding wall 83 is provided. The third light shielding wall 83
Light that has passed through the passage formed by the first light shielding wall 81, the second light shielding wall 82, and the halogen lamp 73 is emitted from the emission port 7.
It functions to prevent reaching 7.

Although not shown, the exhaust guide pipe 78
The inner surface of the first tube portion 78a of the above is textured. The light incident from the exhaust hole 72b at the end portion of the outside-exhaust pipe 72 is provided with the first light-shielding wall 81, the second light-shielding wall 82, and the third light-shielding wall 82 by the inner surface of the textured first pipe portion 78a.
Before reaching the light shielding wall 83, it diffuses and is weakened. As a result, the light shielding effect can be further enhanced. That is,
In the present embodiment, the first pipe portion 78a of the exhaust guide pipe 78 also functions as a light shielding means.

In the vicinity of the cassette discharge port 4, a discharge roller 4a for discharging the cassette 1 containing the stimulable phosphor sheet 23 having read the image information to the outside of the apparatus. Further, the cassette discharge port 4 is provided with a stocker 4b for stocking a plurality of discharged cassettes 1 to 5 in number.

Next, the operation of the radiation image reading apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 8.

First, the cassette 1 on which the radiation image has been taken is inserted into the insertion opening 3 in the direction of arrow A1 in FIG. At this time, the insertion hole 13 (24) of the cassette 1 is on the lower side,
In addition, the front plate 13 of the front plate 10 is inserted so as to face obliquely downward. That is, the stimulable phosphor sheet 23 is inserted so that the reading surface faces diagonally downward. When the cassette 1 is inserted into the insertion slot 3, the code provided on the back plate back surface 21a is read by the code reading means 3a.

Cassette 1 inserted in cassette insertion opening 3
Is inserted into the inside of the apparatus main body 2 by the insertion roller 3b, and then received by the rotary transport unit 40 pedestal 42. The downward surface of the cassette 1 received by the receiving table 42 is supported by the guide portion 43. That is, the cassette 1 is held by the pedestal 42 and the guide portion 43 of the rotary transport unit 40.

Next, when the rotary transport unit 40 holding the cassette 1 rotates about the rotary shaft 43 in the direction A3 in FIG. 3 from the position of the dotted line a to the position of the dotted line c, the rotary transport unit. The pedestal 41 of 40 is arranged in a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the magnet 54 of the sub-scanning unit 50. Then, the back surface 21 a of the back plate of the cassette 1 having the magnetic material is magnetically attracted to the magnet 54 of the sub scanning unit 50.

The back plate 20 of the cassette 1 is the sub scanning unit 50.
When it is attracted to the magnet 54, the lock pin 41b housed in the pedestal 41 rises, and the lock pin 41b
Is inserted into the insertion hole 13 of the front plate 10 and the insertion hole 24 of the back plate 20 of the cassette 1. By this operation, the lock ON state of the cassette 1 shifts to the lock OFF state, and the front plate 10 and the back plate 20 can be separated. When the cassette 1 shifts to the lock-off state, the lock pin 41b descends and is housed in the pedestal 41.

When the lock ON state of the cassette 1 is released and the cassette 1 shifts to the lock OFF state, the rotary conveyance section 40 rotates in the direction of arrow A6 in FIG. 3 to move to the retracted position (for example, the position of the dotted line b). Stop. By this operation, the front plate 1
0 and the back plate 20 can be completely separated.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a state in which the front plate 10 and the back plate 20 are completely separated, and the rotary conveyance section 40 is stopped at the retracted position. When the back plate 20 is completely separated from the front plate 10 in this manner, the sub-scanning moving plate 53 and the back plate 20 are conveyed (subordinate) in the direction of arrow A4 in FIG. Scanned). During this sub-scanning operation, the stimulable phosphor sheet 23 is main-scanned by the laser light B emitted from the laser scanning unit 51.

When the laser beam B acts on the stimulable phosphor sheet 23, stimulated emission light (radiation image information) proportional to the radiation energy accumulated in the stimulable phosphor sheet 23 is emitted, and this stimulus is emitted. The emitted light passes through the light guide 62, is collected in the condenser tube 63, and is converted into an electric signal by the photoelectric conversion means. The stimulated emission light converted into an electric signal is subjected to predetermined signal processing as image data, and then is transmitted from the device body 2 via a communication cable (not shown) to an operation terminal, an image storage device, and an image display. The image is output to an image output device (not shown) such as a device or a dry imager.

When the reading of the image information from the stimulable phosphor sheet 23 is completed, the sub-scanning moving plate 53 and the back plate 20 are moved in the direction of arrow A5 (downward) in FIG. Be transported. While the back plate 20 is being conveyed in the direction of arrow A5, the erasing light C is emitted from the halogen lamp 73 of the erasing means 70, and the radiation image information remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet 23 is erased.

When the back plate 20 is stopped at a predetermined stop position, the rotary transport unit 40, which has been retracted to the retracted position, is rotated again to the position indicated by the dotted line c in FIG. 3, and the front plate 10 and the back plate 20 are separated from each other. Will unite. At this time, in order to ensure that the front plate 10 and the back plate 20 are united, the rotation transfer unit 40 is controlled to be stopped at a position where the front plate 10 is pressed against the back plate 20 with an appropriate pressing force.

When the front plate 10 and the back plate 20 are united, the lock pin 41b housed in the pedestal 41 is held.
Rises, and the tip of the lock pin 41b is inserted into the insertion hole 13 of the front plate 10 and the insertion hole 24 of the back plate 20. By this operation, the cassette 1 which has been in the lock-off state shifts to the lock-on state and becomes inseparable. When the cassette 1 shifts to the lock ON state, the lock pin 41b descends and is housed in the pedestal 41 again.

When the work of combining the front plate 10 and the back plate 20 is completed, the rotary conveyance section 40 is again moved to the arrow A in FIG.
It rotates in the direction of 6 to the position of the dotted line b and stops. At this time, the back plate back surface 21 a of the cassette 1 attracted to the magnet 54 of the sub-scanning unit 50 is peeled off from the magnet 54 by the rotating operation of the rotating and conveying unit 40.

After that, the cradle 41 conveys the cassette 1 toward the cassette discharge port 4 along the guide portion 42, and transfers the cassette 1 to the discharge roller 4b. Upon receiving the cassette 1, the discharge roller 4b performs a discharging operation until the cassette 1 is completely discharged from the cassette discharge port 4.

When the position of the cassette 1 immediately after being discharged from the cassette discharge port 4 is represented by 1a, the cassette 1 discharged to the position of 1a is the cassette 1 due to its own weight.
3 falls from the upper end in the direction of arrow A8 in FIG. 3 and finally moves to the position indicated by 1b. The bottom plate portion of the cassette discharge port 4 is tilted from the 1a side to the 1b side so that this operation is performed only by the weight of the cassette 1.

The erasing means 70 of the radiation image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment separates the outside-exhaust pipe 72 and the emission port 77 of the casing 71 from each other and extends along the exhaust path of the air inside the casing 71. Light shielding wall (the first light shielding wall 81 and the first pipe portion 78a of the exhaust gas guiding pipe 78) provided in the housing, and the second light shielding wall 8 provided at a position that does not hinder the discharge of air in the housing 71.
Since the second and third light shielding walls 83 are provided, the light incident from the exhaust hole 72b at the end of the outside-exhaust pipe 72 outside the casing is incident on the casing 7.
It is possible to prevent the air from leaking from the first emission port 77, and to achieve smooth discharge of air from the inside of the housing 71.

Further, in the radiation image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment, the erasing means 70 has the halogen lamp 73.
Since the fins 76 are provided as heat dissipation members for efficiently transmitting the heat emitted from the inside of the exhaust pipe 75 in the housing, a high heat exhausting effect is provided.

Moreover, since the reflecting mirror 74, the in-housing exhaust pipe 75 consisting of a part 74a of the rear surface of the reflecting mirror 74 and the wall surface 75a, and the fins 76 are integrally formed by extrusion molding, The cost and time for separately manufacturing the reflecting mirror 74, the exhaust pipe 75 in the housing, and the fins 76 can be saved, and in addition, the reflecting mirror 74, the exhaust pipe 75 in the housing, and the fins 76 can be assembled and joined together. No complicated work is required. As a result, the inexpensive erasing means 70 can be easily obtained, and the cost of the entire radiation image reading apparatus can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the reflecting mirror 74, the exhaust pipe 75 in the housing, and the fins 76 are integrally formed by extrusion molding using aluminum as a material. The in-housing exhaust pipe 75 and the fins 76 may be manufactured separately, and these may be assembled and joined. Further, in the above embodiments, the halogen lamp 73 is used as the light source of the erasing means 70, but a high-intensity fluorescent lamp, an LED array or the like can also be used as the light source.

[0071]

According to the invention described in claim 1, since the erasing means is provided with the light shielding wall which separates the exhaust pipe outside the casing and the emission port of the casing, the light incident from the exhaust pipe outside the casing is casing. It is possible to prevent leakage from the emission port of the body. Further, since the light shielding wall is provided along the air exhaust path in the housing, it does not hinder the discharge of air from the housing to the outside of the apparatus.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the reflecting mirror provided in the housing of the erasing means and the exhaust pipe in the housing are integrally formed by an extrusion molding method, the reflecting mirror and the exhaust pipe in the housing are formed. It is possible to save the cost and labor for separately manufacturing the above, and also to eliminate the need for complicated work for assembling and joining the reflecting mirror and the exhaust pipe in the housing. As a result, an inexpensive erasing unit can be easily obtained, which can contribute to cost reduction of the entire radiation image reading apparatus.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the erasing means has a heat dissipation member for transmitting the heat emitted from the light source to the inside of the exhaust pipe in the housing, and therefore has a high heat dissipation effect.
Moreover, since the reflecting mirror, the exhaust pipe in the housing, and the heat dissipation member are integrally formed by an extrusion molding method, the cost and time for separately manufacturing the reflecting mirror, the exhaust pipe in the housing, and the heat dissipation member can be saved. In addition, the complicated work of assembling and joining the reflecting mirror, the exhaust pipe in the housing, and the heat radiation member is not necessary. As a result, an inexpensive erasing unit can be easily obtained, which can contribute to cost reduction of the entire radiation image reading apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cassette transported inside a radiation image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment, in a state in which a front plate and a back plate forming the cassette are separated from each other.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cassette transported inside the radiation image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment, in a state in which a front plate and a back plate that form the cassette are combined.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the configuration of the radiation image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a rotary conveyance unit and a sub-scanning unit of the radiation image reading apparatus shown in FIG.

5 is a partially transparent plan view of erasing means of the radiation image reading apparatus shown in FIG.

6 is a sectional view of a VI-VI portion of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion VII of FIG.

8 is a side view showing a state in which a front plate and a back plate of the cassette conveyed inside the radiation image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 3 are separated, and a rotary conveyance unit is stopped at a retracted position.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 cassette 2 device body 2a Transport reading unit 2b Cassette insertion / ejection section 3 Cassette insertion slot 3a code reading means 3b Insertion roller 4 cassette outlet 4a discharge roller 4b stocker 10 front board 11 frames 12 Front plate 13 insertion hole 20 back plate 21 Back plate body 21a Back side of back plate 22 Support plate 23 Photostimulable phosphor sheet 24 insertion holes 30 lock claws 31 opening 40 Pivoting transport unit 41 cradle 41a cassette grip 41b lock pin 42 Guide 42a Width adjusting means 43 rotation axis 50 Sub-scan unit 51 Sub-scanning rail 52 Sub-scanning movable part 53 Sub-scanning moving plate 54 magnet 60 reading means 61 Laser scanning unit 62 light guide 63 Focus tube 70 Erasing means 71 housing 72 Outside exhaust pipe 72a side wall 72b Exhaust hole 73 halogen lamp 74 Reflector 74a Part of the back of the mirror 75 Exhaust pipe in housing 75a wall surface 76 fins 77 Exit 78 Exhaust induction pipe 78a First pipe part 78b Second pipe part 79 Light control member 80 exhaust fan 81 First Shading Wall 82 Second light shielding wall 83 Third Shading Wall 90 substrates

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A reading means for reading radiation image information accumulated on a stimulable phosphor sheet, and irradiating light emitted from a light source provided in a predetermined casing from an emission port of the casing. A radiation image reading apparatus comprising: an erasing unit for erasing the radiation image information, wherein the erasing unit is heated by heat emitted from the light source and an exhaust pipe outside the casing that communicates the casing with the outside of the device. An in-housing exhaust pipe that guides the air in the housing to the outside-of-housing exhaust pipe, and an air exhaust path of the inside of the housing that separates the outside-of-housing exhaust pipe from the emission port of the housing. A radiation image reading device, comprising: a light-shielding wall provided along the light-shielding wall. 2. The erasing means includes a reflecting mirror that reflects the light emitted from the light source toward the stimulable phosphor sheet, and the reflecting mirror and the exhaust pipe in the housing are integrated by an extrusion molding method. The radiographic image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the radiographic image reading device is formed in a specific shape. 3. The erasing means comprises a heat dissipation member for transmitting heat emitted from the light source to the inside of the exhaust pipe in the housing, and the reflecting mirror, the exhaust pipe in the housing and the heat dissipation member are extruded. The radiation image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the radiation image reading apparatus is integrally formed by a method.