JP2004102066A - Image information reader - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently cool an image information reader even when the image information reader is disposed close to a wall surface in a room. <P>SOLUTION: While an air outlet 26 is provided on the bottom surface 18 of a device main body 16 housing a laser light radiating means 12 and a light converging means 14, air intakes 30a to 30e are provided on flanks 20a to 20d and a ceiling surface 22 to constitute the image information reader 10. When the image information reader 10 is arranged for use at a corner part in the room to put flanks 20c and 20d close to wall surfaces W1 and W2, air sucking fans 32c and 32d arranged at the air intakes 30c and 30d are turned off and air sucking fans 32a, 32b and 32e and an air exhaust fan 28 are turned on. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image information reading apparatus that reads image information by irradiating a sheet-like recording medium with scanning light.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a system for temporarily recording radiation image information of a subject such as a human body and reproducing the radiation image information on a photographic photosensitive material such as a photographic film or outputting it as a visible image on a screen of a display device, for example, storage That use a fluorescent material (stimulable phosphor) are known.
[0003]
The stimulable phosphor accumulates a part of the radiation energy of the radiation (X-ray, α-ray, γ-ray, electron beam, ultraviolet ray, etc.) irradiated to the stimulable phosphor, and is later excited light such as visible light. Refers to a phosphor that exhibits photostimulated luminescence in response to the stored radiation energy. Such a stimulable phosphor is usually formed into a sheet shape and used as a stimulable phosphor sheet.
[0004]
In the system, a reading unit that reads image information recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet, an erasing unit that erases image information remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet after reading, the reading unit, and the erasing unit An image information reading device provided with a device main body that accommodates the device is employed. In this image information reading apparatus, a cassette for storing a stimulable phosphor sheet in which radiographic image information of a subject is accumulated and recorded by an external photographing apparatus is inserted into a loading unit.
[0005]
Next, in the state where the cassette is opened, the stimulable phosphor sheet is taken out from the cassette under the action of the sheet body single wafer mechanism, and this stimulable phosphor sheet is transferred to the reading unit via the sheet body transport mechanism. Be transported. The stimulable phosphor sheet that has been read by the reading unit is subjected to afterimage processing by the erasing unit, and is then accommodated in a cassette disposed in the loading unit.
[0006]
As one type of the image information reading apparatus as described above, the one shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of Patent Document 1 is exemplified.
[0007]
In the image information reading apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when the end face of the apparatus main body provided with a cassette loading unit that accommodates a sheet-like recording medium is a front surface, an exhaust port is provided on the right side and an intake port is provided on the left side. It is disclosed that an exhaust port is provided on each of the mouth and the back surface.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-135490 (see FIGS. 6 and 7)
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when using the image information reading apparatus, it is common to arrange the image information reading apparatus in, for example, a corner of a room so as not to hinder traffic. is there. However, when the image information reading device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is arranged at a corner of a room, the intake or exhaust port may be close to the wall surface depending on the arrangement direction. For this reason, the intake efficiency or the exhaust efficiency is lowered, and it is not easy to dissipate the heat generated with the use of the image information reading apparatus into the air.
[0010]
In order to eliminate this point, the image information reading device may be arranged in such a direction that the intake port or the exhaust port is not close to the wall surface. However, this causes another problem that the arrangement direction of the image information reading apparatus is substantially limited. In other words, the image information reading apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that it cannot be freely installed in a desired direction.
[0011]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and there is a ventilation port that can reliably suck and / or exhaust the air even when it is arranged in a corner of a room. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image information reading apparatus that can be installed freely in the direction of the image and that can avoid an increase in temperature.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image information reading apparatus for reading an image by irradiating a sheet-like recording medium with scanning light,
Scanning light irradiation means for irradiating the sheet-like recording medium with scanning light;
Condensing means for condensing stimulated emission light emitted from the sheet-like recording medium irradiated with scanning light;
An apparatus main body for accommodating the scanning light irradiation means and the light collecting means;
With
The apparatus main body has a plurality of end faces,
A loading section for loading a container containing the sheet-like recording medium is provided on the upper end surface, and a ventilation port that functions as at least one of an intake port and an exhaust port is provided on four or more of the end surfaces. It is characterized by that.
[0013]
By adopting such a configuration, even when the ventilation port provided on the end surface with the apparatus main body is close to the wall surface of the corner portion of the room, the ventilation port is provided via the ventilation port provided on the other end surface. Air can be circulated in the apparatus main body. As a result, various devices such as the scanning light irradiating means and the condensing means can be reliably cooled, so that the temperature of the image information reading apparatus can be prevented from rising excessively. In addition, since the apparatus main body can be as close to the wall surface as possible, the installation space for the image information reading apparatus can be reduced.
[0014]
Note that the ventilation port may have a function only as one of the intake port and the exhaust port, or may have both functions of the intake port and the exhaust port. In other words, the ventilation port here is one that can introduce the atmosphere into the inside of the device body, one that can discharge the atmosphere from the inside of the device body, or one that can both. Also good.
[0015]
Here, it is preferable to arrange a ventilation fan in the ventilation port. This is because the ventilation efficiency and thus the cooling efficiency of the image information reading apparatus can be improved.
[0016]
The apparatus body is preferably a housing having six end surfaces, and an exhaust port is provided on the lower end surface of the housing, and an intake port is provided on at least two of the remaining end surfaces. Then, a support member that supports the apparatus main body while being separated from the grounding surface may be attached to the lower end surface.
[0017]
In this case, since the exhaust port is provided on the bottom surface, the dust or dust existing on the floor surface of the room is not sucked. For this reason, it can suppress that a foreign material enters in an apparatus main body.
[0018]
The support member is preferably a roller. Thereby, the image information reading apparatus can be easily moved.
[0019]
Furthermore, each ventilation fan is preferably capable of being energized or deactivated independently of each other. Since the ventilation efficiency is improved by the ventilation fan, the cooling efficiency of the image information reading apparatus can be further improved. In addition, in this case, for example, it is possible to prevent the ventilation fan disposed at the ventilation port where the desired ventilation efficiency cannot be obtained from being energized, so that the power consumption can be reduced.
[0020]
In addition, you may make it provide a convex part in the end surface which has a ventilation port. In this case, since the clearance is ensured between the wall surface and the ventilation port when the convex portion comes into contact with the wall surface, even if the wall surface is close to the ventilation port, the ventilation efficiency, in other words, the image information. It is possible to avoid a decrease in the cooling efficiency of the reading device.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the image information reading apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0022]
An overall schematic perspective view of the image information reading apparatus according to the present embodiment is shown in FIG. 1, and a schematic longitudinal sectional view is shown in FIG. This image information reading apparatus 10 condenses the photostimulated luminescence emitted from the image recording surface of the laser phosphor irradiating means 12 as the scanning light irradiating means and the storage phosphor sheet S as the sheet-like recording medium. Means 14 and an apparatus main body 16 that accommodates the laser light irradiation means 12 and the light condensing means 14 are provided.
[0023]
The apparatus main body 16 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing having a bottom surface 18, four side surfaces 20 a to 20 d, and a ceiling surface 22 that is an upper end surface. Further, casters 24 for supporting the apparatus main body 16 are installed at the four corners of the bottom surface 18. For this reason, the bottom surface 18 of the apparatus main body 16 is separated from the grounding surface. By this caster 24, the entire image information reading apparatus 10 can be easily moved.
[0024]
The bottom surface 18 is provided with an exhaust port (ventilation port) 26 substantially flush with the bottom surface 18, and an exhaust fan 28 is disposed at the exhaust port 26. Here, as described above, the bottom surface 18 is separated from the grounding surface due to the presence of the casters 24, so that the exhaust port 26 is prevented from being blocked by the grounding surface.
[0025]
The four side surfaces 20a to 20d and the ceiling surface 22 of the apparatus main body 16 are provided with intake ports (ventilation ports) 30a to 30e, respectively. Intake ports 32a to 32e are respectively provided with intake fans 32a to 32e. Each of the intake fans 32a to 32e and the power switch of the exhaust fan 28 are incorporated in a touch panel 33 installed on the ceiling surface 22. Yes. That is, each of the intake fans 32a to 32e and the exhaust fan 28 can be energized or deactivated independently of each other.
[0026]
Note that the touch panel 33 also functions as an operation unit and a monitor.
[0027]
On the ceiling surface 22 of the apparatus main body 16, a cassette loading unit 36 for loading and unloading the cassette 34 is provided on the side of the touch panel 33. Here, the cassette 34 includes a housing 38 that houses the stimulable phosphor sheet S, and a lid 42 that opens and closes the opening 40 of the housing 38.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 2, the cassette loading section 36 is provided with a support section 44 extending in the vertical direction for holding the cassette (container) 34 in a vertical posture. A locking portion 46 that restricts the downward displacement of the cassette 34 is formed at the lower end portion of the support portion 44 so as to protrude in the horizontal direction. In the vicinity of the support portion 44, an unlocking means (not shown) for opening the lid 42 is provided.
[0029]
Inside the apparatus main body 16, below the cassette loading unit 36, there are provided a suction plate 48 and a roller pair 50 that sends out the stimulable phosphor sheet S delivered from the suction plate 48.
[0030]
A vertical conveyance path 52 through which the stimulable phosphor sheet S is conveyed in the vertical direction is formed inside the apparatus main body 16, and the erasing unit 54 and the reading unit 56 are arranged in this order from above along the vertical conveyance path 52. Is provided. In the vicinity of the vertical conveyance path 52, a plurality of pairs of rollers 58 are provided. The roller pair 58 is rotationally driven via a driving unit (not shown).
[0031]
A plurality of erasing light sources 62 are arranged in parallel inside the light source box 60 constituting the erasing unit 54. The erasing light source 62 emits erasing light EL for erasing image information recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet S.
[0032]
The reading unit 56 includes the laser light irradiation means 12 and a reading optical system 64 that photoelectrically reads the stimulated emission light generated from the stimulable phosphor sheet S.
[0033]
In the laser beam irradiation means 12, the laser beam L, which is excitation light, is extracted in the main scanning direction (sub-scanning direction) with respect to the stimulable phosphor sheet S taken out from the cassette 34 and conveyed in the sub-scanning direction (arrow A direction). (In a direction substantially perpendicular to). The stimulable phosphor sheet S emits stimulated emission light when irradiated with the laser light L.
[0034]
The reading optical system 64 has a light collecting guide 66 whose one end is disposed along the main scanning line at the scanning position of the laser light L on the stimulable phosphor sheet S, and the other end of the light collecting guide 66. And a photomultiplier 68 to be mounted.
[0035]
A controller 70 is disposed on the lower side of the apparatus main body 16. The controller 70 controls various processes in the apparatus main body 16, and stores read image data, for example, an output machine or a network. Output to.
[0036]
The image information reading apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is basically configured as described above. Next, the function and effect will be described.
[0037]
When the image information reading apparatus 10 is used, it is usually disposed at a corner of a room as shown in FIGS. At this time, since the intake ports 30c and 30d provided on the side surfaces 20c and 20d of the apparatus body 16 are close to the wall surfaces W1 and W2 of the room, it is predicted that the intake efficiency at the intake ports 30c and 30d is extremely low.
[0038]
Therefore, in this case, only the intake fans 32a, 32b, and 32e disposed in the remaining intake ports 30a, 30b, and 30e that are not close to the wall surfaces W1 and W2 are energized via the touch panel 33, while the exhaust ports are The exhaust fan 28 disposed in the engine 26 is energized. As a result, air is sucked from the intake ports 30a, 30b, and 30e, flows through the apparatus main body 16, and is discharged from the exhaust port 26.
[0039]
Next, the cassette 34 that houses the stimulable phosphor sheet S on which the radiographic image information of a subject such as a human body imaged by an imaging device (not shown) is stored is loaded into the cassette loading unit 36 (see FIG. 2). At this time, the cassette 34 is introduced into the apparatus main body 16 while being guided by the support portion 44 of the cassette loading portion 36, and is positioned and fixed by the locking portion 46.
[0040]
As described above, an unlocking means (not shown) is provided in the vicinity of the support portion 44. After the cassette 34 is inserted into the cassette loading portion 36, the lid 42 is locked under the action of the unlocking means. At the same time, the lid 42 is swung to a predetermined angular position, and the opening 40 is opened.
[0041]
Next, the suction plate 48 moves into the cassette 34. The stimulable phosphor sheet S accommodated in the cassette 34 is sucked and held by the suction disk 48. Further, when the suction plate 48 moves to the roller pair 50 side from the cassette 34 in a state where the stimulable phosphor sheet S is sucked and held, the lower end of the stimulable phosphor sheet S is sandwiched between the roller pair 50. And the adsorption | suction holding | maintenance of the stimulable phosphor sheet S by the suction disk 48 is cancelled | released, and the stimulable phosphor sheet S is conveyed by the roller pair 58 toward the perpendicular downward direction.
[0042]
Next, the laser beam L is irradiated from the laser beam irradiation means 12 to the recording surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet S which is sub-scanned and conveyed in the direction of arrow A under the action of the roller pair 58, and main scanning is performed. . That is, with this irradiation, photostimulated luminescence is generated from the recording surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet S, and the photostimulated luminescence is photoelectrically read by the photomultiplier 68 through the light collection guide 66.
[0043]
The storage phosphor sheet S that has been read is conveyed in the vertical upward direction (arrow B direction) under the action of a roller pair 58 that is rotated in the reverse direction by a drive source (not shown), and is transferred to the erasing unit 54. Sent. Then, by irradiating the recording surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet S with the erasing light EL from the erasing light source 62 constituting the erasing unit 54, the radiation image information recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet S is erased. The
[0044]
The storable phosphor sheet S after the erasing process is sequentially conveyed by the roller pair 50 and the suction disk 48 and is finally accommodated again in the cassette 34 loaded in the cassette loading unit 36.
[0045]
While the above operation is performed, since the laser beam L, the erasing light EL, and the like are irradiated in the apparatus main body 16, the light L and EL become heat sources, and the temperature of the apparatus main body 16 starts to rise.
[0046]
However, in this case, as described above, the air is sucked from the intake ports 30a, 30b, and 30e and is smoothly discharged from the exhaust port 26. That is, the atmosphere is circulating in the apparatus main body 16. The erasing unit 54, the reading unit 56, the controller 70, and the like are efficiently cooled by the circulating air, and as a result, the temperature of the image information reading device 10 can be prevented from rising excessively.
[0047]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, among the plurality of end surfaces of the apparatus main body 16, the ventilation ports that act as either the intake port or the exhaust port are provided on four or more surfaces. In the present embodiment, specifically, the exhaust port 26 is provided on the bottom surface 18 of the apparatus main body 16, and the intake ports 30a to 30e are provided on the side surfaces 20a to 20d and the ceiling surface 22. Even in an environment in which any one of 30e is close to the wall surfaces W1 and W2, the air can be smoothly circulated in the apparatus main body 16. Therefore, various devices and mechanisms accommodated in the apparatus main body 16 can be reliably cooled.
[0048]
Further, since the apparatus main body 16 can be made as close as possible to the wall surfaces W1 and W2, there is an advantage that the installation space for the image information reading apparatus 10 can be reduced.
[0049]
Further, in this case, since the exhaust port 26 is provided in the bottom surface 18, dust or dust existing on the floor surface of the room is not sucked. For this reason, it can also suppress that a foreign material enters the apparatus main body 16.
[0050]
In addition, since the intake fans 32c and 32d disposed in the intake ports 30c and 30d where the desired intake efficiency cannot be obtained because they are close to the wall surfaces W1 and W2, the power consumption is reduced. it can.
[0051]
The above effects can be similarly obtained even when the three surfaces of the apparatus main body 16 are surrounded by the wall surfaces W1, W2 and the furniture F as shown in FIG.
[0052]
In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, you may make it provide the frame 80 which functions as a convex part in the apparatus main body 16. As shown in FIG. In this case, a desired clearance is secured between the wall surfaces W1 and W2 and the intake ports 30a to 30e by the frame body 80 coming into contact with the wall surfaces W1 and W2. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a reduction in intake efficiency.
[0053]
In the present embodiment, only one exhaust port 26 is provided, but it is needless to say that an exhaust port may be further provided on any of the side surfaces 20a to 20d and the ceiling surface 22. Alternatively, any of the intake ports 30a to 30e may act as an exhaust port.
[0054]
Further, the image information reading apparatus 10 may be configured without providing the intake fans 32a to 32e or the exhaust fan 28.
[0055]
Furthermore, a sensor that senses that the end surface is close to the wall surfaces W1 and W2 by a predetermined distance or more is disposed in the vicinity of the intake fans 32a to 32e, and the intake fans 32a to 32e are automatically stopped under the control action of the sensors. You may make it make it.
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the image information reading apparatus of the present invention, ventilation openings are provided on four or more sides of the apparatus main body. For this reason, when this image information reading apparatus is arranged at a corner of a room, even if a ventilation port provided on one end face is close to the wall surface of the corner, it is provided on the other end face. Since air can be circulated in the apparatus main body through the ventilation port, an effect that the image information reading apparatus can be efficiently cooled is achieved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall schematic perspective view of an image information reading apparatus according to an embodiment.
2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the image information reading apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG.
3 is a schematic perspective explanatory view showing a state in which the image information reading device of FIG. 1 is arranged at a corner of a room. FIG.
4 is a plan view of FIG. 3;
5 is a plan view showing a state in which three sides of the image information reading apparatus of FIG. 1 are surrounded by a wall surface.
FIG. 6 is an overall schematic perspective view of an image information reading apparatus in which a frame body is provided in the apparatus main body.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image information reading device 12 ... Laser beam irradiation means 14 ... Condensing means 16 ... Apparatus main body 18 ... Bottom surface 20a-20d ... Side surface 22 ... Ceiling surface 24 ... Caster 26 ... Exhaust port 28 ... Exhaust fan 30a-30e ... Intake port 32a to 32e ... intake fan 33 ... touch panel 34 ... cassette 36 ... cassette loading unit 48 ... suction plate 50, 58 ... roller pair 54 ... erasing unit 56 ... reading unit 62 ... erasing light source 64 ... reading optical system 66 ... condensing guide 68 ... Photomultiplier 70 ... Controller 80 ... Frame body EL ... Erase light F ... Furniture L ... Laser light S ... Storage phosphor sheet W1, W2 ... Wall surface

Claims (6)

An image information reading apparatus for reading an image by irradiating a sheet-like recording medium with scanning light,
Scanning light irradiation means for irradiating the sheet-like recording medium with scanning light;
Condensing means for condensing stimulated emission light emitted from the sheet-like recording medium irradiated with scanning light;
An apparatus main body for accommodating the scanning light irradiation means and the light collecting means;
With
The apparatus main body has a plurality of end faces,
A loading portion for loading a container containing the sheet-like recording medium is provided on the upper end surface, and a ventilation port that functions as at least one of an intake port and an exhaust port is provided on four or more of the end surfaces. An image information reading apparatus. The image information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a ventilation fan is disposed in the ventilation port. 3. The image information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus main body is a casing having six end faces, and an exhaust port is provided at a lower end face of the casing and at least two of the remaining end faces. An inlet is provided,
A support member for supporting the apparatus main body at a distance from the grounding surface is attached to the lower end surface. 4. The image information reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the support member is a roller. 5. The image information reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ventilation fans are energized or deactivated independently of each other. 6. 6. The image information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a convex portion is provided on an end face having the ventilation port.

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