JP2005096248A - Image forming apparatus and image formation method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which can surely prevent image loss of a breast wall part and formation of omission parts near the breast wall part even when a film size is changed or there is an error in size dimensions in the case where a mammography image is formed to a film, and to provide an image formation method. <P>SOLUTION: In the image formation method, the film is loaded at a film loading part. The loaded film is secured to a film guide and positioned. The film at the film loading part is transferred so that a film side secured to the film guide maintains a predetermined positional relation to an exposure part. At the time of forming a latent image corresponding to mammography image information by carrying out exposure to the transferred film, the breast wall part of the mammography image information is formatted to be located at the film side secured to the film guide. Image formation is carried out to start image writing from the side of the film side, and the film to which the latent image is formed is developed and visualized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method suitable for forming a mammography image.

  When a mammography image (mammography image) is output to a 6-cut (8 × 10 inch) or 4-cut (10 × 12) size film, the chest wall image K is displayed on the film sheet as shown in FIG. In general, the output is such that the mammography image end where the chest wall is located and the film end (film side) are matched as much as possible. In the case of the mammography image M, the chest wall image K is an important part for diagnosis.

  In general, in an image forming apparatus such as a laser imager, the position of a conveyed film is corrected and the positional relationship between a laser writing start position and a film edge is maintained before laser writing. In rare cases, the position of the film to be transported can be detected by using a PSD (position sensor) such as a CCD to detect the position of the film being transported (position that includes the positional deviation that occurred during the transport process), and the laser writing timing can be varied. It is also done. In this method, the electrical parts are expensive, and the correction of one-sided correction can be made relatively easily. However, the bending (oblique conveyance) can be dealt with by the fineness of the pitch of CCDs, complicated signal processing, and high speed. Coupled with being asked for sex, it is not used.

  Further, if the film is displaced as shown by the broken line in FIG. 21B, the film on which the mammography image M is formed does not appear to have any defects at first glance, but the chest wall portion of the most important part for diagnosis The image K is lost.

  Further, when the film is displaced as shown by the broken line in FIG. 21 (c), an important portion for diagnosis is not lost, but the vicinity of the important chest wall image K is not irradiated with laser, so that the unfinished portion SS is included in the finished film. Can be done. When the observation is performed with the Schaukasten through the unexposed portion SS, the light passes through strongly, and this causes an adverse effect (dazzling and glare) on the diagnosis in the vicinity of the chest wall image K of the observer.

  Note that, in the thermal development method using the opposed roller method in the laser imager, the leading and trailing edges of the film tend to be unstable in density, so the transport direction is preferably the horizontal direction in FIG.

  By the way, in order to make the image position on the sheet film constant in the laser imager, so-called position regulation is performed in which a film position shift generated under conveyance is corrected before exposure. This method includes two methods: a one-side reference method disclosed in Patent Document 1 and a center reference (center position reference) disclosed in Patent Document 2.

  The former method is a method in which each size film is positioned by pressing one side of the film side toward the reference side stopper while moving the other side against the reference side stopper. The latter method is a method of correcting the center position including film bending while pressing the film from both sides of the film.

  By the way, in the JIS standard, the film size has a tolerance of ± 1 mm, and there is a difference of 2 mm in the range between the maximum size and the minimum size. The positioning of the film that outputs the mammography image needs to adopt a method that does not cause image loss even if the film size error is included.

  In the case of the center reference (center position reference), assuming that FIG. 22A is a standard size, after the film is brought closer to the center, the maximum size as shown in FIG. 22B or as shown in FIG. For each minimum size, the film size must be detected each time and the image writing position must be controlled each time, which complicates the control.

Further, in Patent Document 3 below, the breast wall side of the breast in the radiographic image of one breast is a film in order to facilitate comparative interpretation when making a diagnosis on a shaker stent on a film in which the radiographic images of the left and right breasts are reproduced. An image processing apparatus is disclosed in which the reproduction position is adjusted so that the images of the left and right breasts can be viewed with the chest wall side of each breast back to back, so that the images can be reproduced on the side edges of the breasts. There is no disclosure.
JP 11-301889 A JP 2000-255839 A JP 2002-158853 A

  In the present invention, in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, when a mammography image is formed on a film, even if the film size is changed or there is an error in the size dimension, an image defect in the chest wall and an element in the vicinity of the chest wall. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of reliably preventing the formation of a missing portion.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first image forming apparatus according to the present invention is capable of loading at least one size of film, and positions the loaded film with one side locked by a film guide. A film loading unit; an exposure unit that scans and exposes the film to form a latent image corresponding to image information; and a film side that holds the film of the film loading unit on the film guide is predetermined with respect to the exposure unit. Conveying means for maintaining the positional relationship, developing means for visualizing the film on which the latent image is formed, and control means for controlling the exposure means so as to form a latent image corresponding to the image information When the mammography image is output, the control means is configured such that the chest wall portion of the mammography image information is the fill image. Format so as to be located in locked film edges to guide, and performs image formation to begin scanning exposure from the film side.

  According to this image forming apparatus, when a mammography image is formed on a film, the mammography image information is formatted so that the chest wall portion is positioned on the side of the film locked by the film guide and scanned from the side of the film. Since exposure is started, the chest wall can be matched to the film side even if the film size is changed or there is an error in the size, ensuring the formation of an image defect on the chest wall and a blank area near the chest wall. Can be prevented.

  In the image forming apparatus, the loadable film has a six-cut size, and a 10-inch side is locked to the fixed film guide, so that the mammography image can be handled in the six-cut size.

  A first image forming method according to the present invention includes a step of loading at least one film into a film loading unit, locking and positioning the loaded film on a film guide, and a film of the film loading unit to the film guide. A step of transporting the film side locked to the exposure unit so as to maintain a predetermined positional relationship, and scanning exposure of the transported film to form a latent image corresponding to mammography image information, The mammography image information is formed so that the chest wall portion is positioned on the film side locked by the film guide and image formation is performed so that scanning exposure is started from the film side, and the latent image is formed. And developing and visualizing the film.

  According to this image forming apparatus, when a mammography image is formed on a film, the mammography image information is formatted so that the chest wall portion is positioned on the side of the film locked by the film guide and scanned from the side of the film. Since exposure is started, the chest wall can be matched to the film side even if the film size is changed or there is an error in the size, ensuring the formation of an image defect on the chest wall and a blank area near the chest wall. Can be prevented.

  A second image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a film loading unit capable of loading and holding a film of at least one size, a conveyance unit for conveying the film of the film mounting unit, and scanning exposure for the film to obtain image information. Exposure means for forming a latent image corresponding to the above, a position regulating means for making the conveyed film have a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the exposure means, and a developing means for visualizing the film on which the latent image is formed. In the image forming apparatus, the position restricting unit includes a fixed guide that is locked so that one side of the film conveyed from the film loading unit is always at a fixed position, and the film is opposed to the one side. And a moving means for moving the one side until the one side comes into contact with the fixed guide, wherein the exposure means is opposed to the one side that is the fixed position. Characterized in that to start the scanning exposure towards the sides.

  According to this image forming apparatus, the position regulating means placed in front of the exposure means holds the side opposite to one side of the film to be conveyed and moves until the one side comes into contact with the fixed guide. The position of one side is regulated by a fixed guide so as to be positioned, and scanning exposure is started from one side that is a fixed position toward the opposite side, so even if the film size is changed or there is an error in the size dimension The chest wall portion of the image and the like can be matched with the film side, and it is possible to reliably prevent the image defect of the chest wall portion and the formation of the blank portion near the chest wall portion.

  In the image forming apparatus, when the image information is mammography image information, it is preferable that the image forming apparatus includes a format unit that forms an image so that a chest wall portion included in the mammography image information corresponds to the one side at the fixed position. .

  The second image forming method according to the present invention includes a step of conveying a film loaded in a film loading unit, a side opposite to one side of the conveyed film, and the one side hitting a fixed guide. The position of the one side is regulated by the fixed guide so as to be always at a fixed position by moving until contact, and the fixed position is set when the film is exposed to form a latent image corresponding to image information. And a step of forming an image so as to start exposure scanning from one side toward the opposite side, and a step of developing and visualizing the film on which the latent image is formed.

  According to this image forming method, the side opposite to one side of the conveyed film is locked and moved until the one side comes into contact with the fixed guide so that the one side is always at a fixed position. Since the position is regulated and scanning exposure starts from one side that is a fixed position to the opposite side, even if the film size is changed or there is an error in size, the chest wall of the image matches the film side. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the image defect of the chest wall part and the formation of the blank part near the chest wall part.

  In the image forming method, when the image information is mammography image information, it is preferable to perform image formation so that a chest wall portion included in the mammography image information corresponds to the one side that is the fixed position.

  A third image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a film loading unit capable of loading and holding a film of at least one size, a conveyance unit for conveying the film of the film mounting unit, and scanning exposure for the film to obtain image information. Exposure means for forming a latent image corresponding to the above, a position regulating means for making the conveyed film have a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the exposure means, and a developing means for visualizing the film on which the latent image is formed. In the image forming apparatus, the position restricting unit locks and moves the one side so that one side of the film conveyed from the film loading unit is always at a fixed position, and the one side is fixed. The position is regulated so as to be determined to be a position, and the exposure means starts scanning exposure from the one side that is the fixed position toward the opposite side.

  According to this image forming apparatus, the position restricting means placed in front of the exposure means is engaged and moved so that one side of the conveyed film is always at a fixed position, and that one side is fixed. The position is regulated so that the position is fixed, and scanning exposure is started from one side that is set to the fixed side toward the opposite side. Even if the film size is changed or there is an error in the size, the chest wall of the image, etc. Can be matched to the film side, and the image defect of the chest wall portion and the formation of the blank portion near the chest wall portion can be reliably prevented.

  In the image forming apparatus, when the image information is mammography image information, it is preferable that the image forming apparatus includes a format unit that forms an image so that a chest wall portion included in the mammography image information corresponds to the one side at the fixed position. .

  The third image forming method according to the present invention includes a step of transporting a film loaded in a film loading unit, and the movement of the one side of the film that is transported by locking the one side so that the one side is always at a fixed position. A step of restricting the position so that the one side is set at a fixed position, and a side facing from the one side that becomes the fixed position when the film is scanned and exposed to form a latent image corresponding to the image information. A step of forming an image so as to start scanning exposure toward the surface, and a step of developing and visualizing the film on which the latent image is formed.

  According to this image forming method, one side of the conveyed film is locked and moved so that one side is always at a fixed position, and the position is regulated so that the one side is set at a fixed position. Since scanning exposure is started from one side to the opposite side, the chest wall portion of the image can be matched with the film side even if the film size is changed or there is an error in the size dimension. It is possible to reliably prevent the formation of an image defect in the portion and a blank portion near the chest wall.

  In the image forming method, when the image information is mammography image information, it is preferable to perform image formation so that a chest wall portion included in the mammography image information corresponds to the one side that is the fixed position.

  According to the image forming apparatus and the image forming method of the present invention, when a mammography image is formed on a film, even if the film size is changed or there is an error in the size dimension, the image defect in the chest wall portion and the omission in the vicinity of the chest wall portion are present. The formation of the portion can be reliably prevented.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a main part of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 and shows a state in which the first loading unit is pulled out. FIG. 3 is a view schematically showing an exposure unit of the image forming apparatus of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 is loaded with a package in which a predetermined number of photothermographic films (hereinafter also referred to as “films”) that are sheet-like photothermographic materials are packaged. A supply unit 110 having first and second loading units 11 and 12 and a conveyance unit 5 that conveys the film one by one for exposure and development; and a film fed from the supply unit 110 is exposed to expose a latent image Cooling unit including an exposure unit 120 for forming the image, a heat developing unit 130 for thermally developing the film on which the latent image is formed, a densitometer 200 for measuring the density of the developed film and obtaining density information, a conveyance roller 144, and the like. Unit 150.

  The first and second loading units 11 and 12 of the supply unit 110 can be loaded with films of different sizes, and the films are conveyed one by one from the first loading unit 11 or the second loading unit 12. It is conveyed in the arrow direction (1) of FIG. 1 by the part 5 and the conveyance roller pair 139, 141. Then, the film is conveyed in the arrow direction (2) and a latent image is formed by the exposure unit 120. Next, the film is conveyed in the arrow direction (3) by the pair of conveyance rollers 142 and 143, and the latent image is visible in the heat developing unit 130. Then, it is further conveyed in the direction of arrow (4), cooled by the cooling conveyance unit 150, and then discharged to the discharge unit 160. The conveyance roller pairs 139, 141, 142, 143 and the like are rotationally driven by a motor 151 and the like in FIG. 4, and the motor 151 and the like are controlled by a control unit 152 constituted by a central processing unit (CPU) as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first loading unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 100 includes a storage tray unit 3 that can store a film by loading the film in a film package state, and a film that is provided integrally with the storage tray unit 3. A roller-feed type transport unit 5 for transporting the sheets one by one to the outside of the delivery device, and a removal unit 6 that winds and removes the barrier bag of the film package that is integrally provided on the back side of the storage tray unit 3 and loaded. And comprising.

  The first loading unit 11 is configured to be accommodated in the apparatus casing 1a of the image forming apparatus 100 and to be pulled out from the apparatus casing 1a. That is, the entire storage tray section 3 is configured to be able to be pushed into and pulled out from the apparatus housing 1a on the front surface of the apparatus, and when it is pulled out from the apparatus casing 1a in the direction H 'as shown in FIG. Thus, the film package can be loaded and maintained, and when it is pushed into the apparatus housing 1a in the direction H in FIG. 2, the light from the outside is blocked and the film can be transported at the transport position. As described above, the storage tray unit 3 of the first loading unit 11 is configured to be movable between the transport position inside the apparatus and the loading position outside the apparatus.

  Next, the conveyance unit and the removal unit in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a side view schematically showing a transport unit provided in the first loading unit 11 of FIG. FIG. 10 is a side sectional view schematically showing a barrier bag removing unit in the first loading unit 11 of FIG. FIG. 11 is a partially broken perspective view of a film package that can be loaded into the first and second loading sections of FIGS. 1 and 2.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the transport unit 5 is configured so that the transport roller 91 that contacts the surface BC of the film F placed in a stacked state on the mounting table 4 with a predetermined pressing force P11 rotates in the rotation direction r. The upper film F is fed to the nip roller pair 92, 93 side, and the driving roller 92 is transported while applying the nip force P12 from the driven roller 93 side to the driving roller 92 side with the film F being sandwiched between the two rollers 92, 93. The sheet is conveyed in the conveyance direction J by rotating in the rotation direction r ′ in synchronization with 91.

  In addition, when the film is transported as described above, the uppermost film F and the one or two films below it may be sent out by the transport roller 91 and transported by the nip roller pair 92, 93. It is composed of a reversible roller with a torque limiter. When a plurality of films F are sandwiched between the pair of nip rollers 92 and 93, the friction coefficient between the films F is lower than the friction coefficient between the driving roller 92 and the film F, so that the torque from the driving roller 92 is driven to the driven roller 93 side. The torque limiter is detected without being transmitted to the drive roller 92, and the driving roller 92 and the transport roller 91 synchronized therewith are reversely rotated to return the excessively transported film F to its original state.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the film package P that can be loaded in the storage tray 3 is a state in which, for example, half-cut film F is stacked and positioned on a positioning member D as positioning means as a bundle of about 125 sheets. In the barrier bag B which is a light shielding means, it is housed in a light tight manner. A plurality of engagement holes a that engage with the engagement claws 26 (FIG. 3) in the barrier bag removing device are formed at the side end of the barrier bag B.

  A barrier bag removing section 6 is provided on the depth side of the storage tray section 3 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the barrier bag removing unit 6 loads the film package P of FIG. 11 onto the mounting table 4 of the storage tray unit 3 of FIG. 2, and one of the guide roller pairs 11 </ b> A is a two-dot chain line of FIG. 10. The plurality of engaging holes a at the side ends of the film package P are engaged with the engaging claws 26 in the state of being moved upward, and then the side end surfaces of the film package P are sandwiched by the guide roller pair 11A. A driving roller 30 provided around 26 is driven to rotate in the rotation direction c, and the barrier bag B is removed by winding the barrier bag B around the driving roller 30, and the laminated film positioned on the positioning member D F is exposed in the storage tray section 3. Before removing the barrier bag B, the other side end face b of the barrier bag B is cut so as to be easily wound.

  Next, a positioning mechanism that positions the film so as to be transported in a fixed position in the first and second loading sections in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 12A is a diagram showing the storage tray portion of FIG. 2 including a film positioning mechanism, and is a cross-sectional view (a) showing a state before the storage tray portion is broken in the width direction of the film and before alignment. It is sectional drawing (b) which shows the state after alignment.

  As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the storage tray unit 3 includes a mounting table 4 on which the film F is mounted, and a storage tray provided around the mounting table 4 so as to include the mounting table 4 therein. Part 3. The mounting table 4 is composed of a flat plate-like member, and has a stepped recess 7 serving as a storage space for the push-up plate 11 at the center.

  The storage tray unit 3 further includes a push-up plate 11B provided so as to be accommodated in the stepped recess 7 of the mounting table 4, and push-up members 14A provided on the left and right of the drawing for raising the push-up plate 11B. 15A and motors M1 and M2 as driving means for separately driving the push-up members 14A and 15B, respectively, and constitutes a positioning mechanism 10 that aligns the film F laminated on the mounting table 4 at a fixed position. ing.

  The push-up plate 11B is a rectangular plate-like member that directly supports the film F from below, and is accommodated so as to support the film in the step recess 7 when not in operation, and is lifted from the step recess 7 by the push-up members 14A and 15A during operation. The film F is moved upward to lift the film F on the mounting table 4 to the transport position of the transport unit 5 in FIG.

  The film F is removed from the film package P of FIG. 11 loaded in the storage tray unit 3 by the barrier bag removal unit 6 of FIG. It is exposed at. In this state, the push-up members 14A and 15A are provided on the left and right in the width direction of the film F perpendicular to the transport direction of the film F, operate individually by the motors M1 and M2, and lift the push-up plate 11 upward. At this time, as shown in FIG. 12 (b), the push-up member 14A is moved upward by the motor M1 without operating the push-up member 15A, and the push-up plate 11B is tilted and lifted upward. The film F laminated on the film F can be tilted, and locked against the film guide G, and the side end F1 of the film F is aligned at a fixed position.

  Thereafter, when the other motor M2 is driven and the push-up member 15A is moved upward, the push-up plate 11B returns to the horizontal state, the film F on the mounting table 4 returns to the horizontal position, and the uppermost plate As shown in FIG. 9, the film F comes into contact with the transport roller 91 of the transport section 5 at the transport position and can be transported. Then, the transport roller 91 and the nip roller pairs 92 and 93 are driven, and the uppermost film F can be separated from the underlying film and transported in the transport direction J.

  A film guide is also provided on the side edge F2 side of the film. Contrary to the above, the push-up member 15A is moved upward by the motor M2 without operating the push-up member 14A, and the push-up plate 11B is tilted. The film F laminated on the mounting table 4 may be tilted by being lifted upward, and held against the film guide, and the side end F2 of the film F may be aligned at a certain position.

  As described above, the side edge F1 of the film F can be aligned at a certain position on the front side of the apparatus (front side in FIG. 2, left side in FIG. 9) in the storage tray portion 3 in FIG. Accordingly, the film F is conveyed as (1) and (2) in FIG. 1 with the side edges (film sides) F1 aligned with respect to the front side of the apparatus regardless of the size, and is transferred to the exposure unit 120. Be transported. Each configuration of the second loading unit 12 is the same as that of the first loading unit 11 described above.

  As described above, the film F is conveyed to the exposure unit 120 in a state in which the side edge F1 is aligned and aligned with respect to the front side of the apparatus (one-side reference conveyance method). Access becomes easy, and it becomes easier to handle jam troubles.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, a film position regulating unit that regulates the side edge position of the film disposed upstream of the conveyance roller pair 142 and downstream of the conveyance roller pair 141 of the exposure unit 120 in FIG. To explain.

  FIG. 14 is a perspective view schematically showing a film position restricting portion disposed between the conveying roller pair 141 of FIG. 1 and the conveying roller pair 142 of the exposure unit 120. FIG. 15 is a plan view for explaining the position restriction with respect to the side edge part of the film by the film position restriction part of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the film position restricting portion 145 has a width direction W of the film and the opposite direction so that it can come into contact with the side end F1 of the film F being conveyed on the conveyance bottom plate 146 by the conveyance roller pair 141 and the like. A pushing portion 147 that can move to W ′ and push the film, a motor 148 that moves the pushing portion 147 in the film width direction W and W ′, and a motor that rotates by the rotation of the motor 148 and has a screw formed on the outer periphery thereof. And a fixed guide 147a which is opposed to the pressing portion 147 and is locked to the side end F2 of the film to restrict the position of the film to a fixed position and serves as a reference position for the position restriction.

  The rotating shaft 149 is screwed into a female screw portion formed on the side surface of the pressing portion 147 and rotated by the motor 148, whereby the pressing portion 147 can move in the film width direction W, W '. Further, a detection sensor 141a for detecting the film F conveyed from the direction (1) in FIGS. 1 and 14 is arranged on the upstream side of the conveyance roller pair 141.

  The operation of the film position regulating unit 145 in FIG. 14 will be described. When the film F is transported from the direction (1) of FIGS. 1 and 14 and detected by the detection sensor 141a on the upstream side of the transport roller pair 141, further transported by the transport roller pair 141, and approaching the transport bottom plate 146, the pressure release is released. A mechanism (not shown) is activated to open the nip of the conveying roller pair 141, and the motor 148 is activated with a predetermined time delay from the detection timing of the detection sensor 141a.

  When the film F is conveyed as shown by the broken line in FIG. 15, the pushing portion 147 moves in the width direction W by a fixed stroke S from the broken line position in FIG. 15 to the solid line position by the rotation of the rotating shaft 149 by the motor 148. Then, the film F moves to the fixed guide 147a side, and the side end F2 comes into contact with the fixed guide 147a. Thereafter, the pushing portion 147 moves in the direction W ′ and returns to the original position indicated by the broken line in FIG. At the same time, the nip is formed again on the transport roller pair 141, so that the film is transported along the fixed guide 147a.

  In addition, after the film F is positioned at a fixed position by the fixed guide 147a, the pushing portion 147 returns to the original position indicated by the broken line in the figure, so that the sub-scanning is performed by the load caused by the film contacting both the pushing portion 147 and the fixed guide 147a. Occasionally, uneven feeding in the sub-scanning direction can be prevented.

  As described above, the position of the film F in the width direction W is regulated while the film F is being conveyed, the side edge F2 constituting one side in the longitudinal direction of the film F is regulated to a certain position, and the film F is oriented in the direction. It can be conveyed to (2) and sent to the exposure unit 120 in FIG.

  Next, the exposure unit will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the exposure unit 120 deflects the laser light L, which has been intensity-modulated based on the image data s, by the rotary polygon mirror 113 and performs main scanning on the film F, and also converts the film F into the laser light L. On the other hand, it is sub-scanned by relative movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction, and a latent image is formed on the film F using the laser beam L.

  A more specific configuration of the exposure unit 120 will be described below. In FIG. 3, image data s, which is a digital signal output from the image data output device 121, is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 122 and input to the modulation unit 123. Based on the analog signal, the modulation unit 123 controls the driver 124 of the laser light source unit 110a to irradiate the laser beam L modulated from the laser light source unit 110a.

  The laser light L emitted from the laser light source unit 110a passes through the lens 112, is converged only in the vertical direction by the cylindrical lens 115, and rotates on the polygonal mirror 113 rotating in the direction of arrow A in FIG. Incident light is incident as a vertical line image. The rotary polygon mirror 113 reflects and deflects the laser light L in the main scanning direction, and the deflected laser light L passes through an fθ lens 114 including a cylindrical lens formed by combining two lenses and then enters the optical path. The arrow X is reflected on the surface to be scanned 117 of the film F reflected by the mirror 116 extending in the main scanning direction and conveyed (sub-scanned) in the arrow Y direction by the conveying roller pair 142. Main scanning is repeated in the direction. That is, the laser beam L is scanned over the entire surface to be scanned 117 on the film F.

  When the main scanning in the X direction is started, the laser light is detected by a horizontal detection sensor 125 disposed on one end side as shown in FIG. 3, and scanning exposure is started from a predetermined position with reference to the detection timing. The image is formed from the side end F2 constituting one side of the film F in the vertical direction.

  The cylindrical lens of the fθ lens 114 converges the incident laser light L on the scanning surface 117 of the film F only in the sub-scanning direction, and the distance from the fθ lens 114 to the scanning surface. Is equal to the focal length of the entire fθ lens 114. As described above, the exposure unit 120 includes the fθ lens 114 including the cylindrical lens and the mirror 116 so that the laser light L is once converged on the rotary polygon mirror 113 only in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, even if the rotary polygon mirror 113 is tilted or the shaft is shaken, the scanning position of the laser beam L is not shifted in the sub-scanning direction on the surface to be scanned 117 of the film F. It can be formed. The rotary polygon mirror 113 has an advantage that it is superior in scanning stability compared to other optical polarizers such as a galvanometer mirror. As described above, a latent image based on the image data s is formed on the film F.

  The details of a specific chemical reaction in which a latent image is formed as described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a film F made of a heat developing material, and is a diagram schematically showing a chemical reaction in the film F at the time of exposure.

  In the film F, a photosensitive layer mainly composed of a heat-resistant binder is formed on a support (base layer) made of PET, and a protective layer mainly composed of a heat-resistant binder is further formed thereon. The photosensitive layer contains silver halide grains, silver behenate (Beh. Ag), which is a kind of organic acid silver, and a reducing agent and a toning agent. Moreover, the back surface layer which has a heat resistant binder as a main component is provided also in the back surface of the support body.

  When the exposure unit 120 irradiates the film F with the laser beam L during exposure, the silver halide grains are exposed to a region irradiated with the laser beam L as shown in FIG. Is done.

  4 to 6 are diagrams showing a configuration of the heat developing unit 130 for heating the film F. More specifically, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the heat developing unit 130, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV and viewed in the direction of the arrow, and FIG. 6 is a view of the configuration of FIG. 4 viewed from the front.

  The thermal development unit 130 includes a heating drum 14 as a heating member that can be heated while holding the film F in close contact with the outer periphery. The heating drum 14 has a function of forming the latent image formed on the film F as a visible image by maintaining the film F at a predetermined heat development time above a predetermined minimum heat development temperature. Here, the minimum heat development temperature is a minimum temperature at which the latent image formed on the film F starts to be thermally developed, and is, for example, 95 ° C. or higher. On the other hand, the heat development time refers to a time that should be maintained at a temperature equal to or higher than the minimum heat development temperature in order to develop the latent image on the film F to a desired development characteristic. In addition, it is preferable that the film F is a thing which is not substantially thermally developed at 40 degrees C or less.

  A specific chemical reaction content in which the latent image is visualized by the heating will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 7 schematically showing a chemical reaction in the film F during heating.

  When the film F is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the minimum heat development temperature, silver ions (Ag +) are released from the silver behenate, and the behenic acid released from the silver ions forms a complex with the toning agent, as shown in FIG. To do. Thereafter, silver ions are diffused, and a reducing agent acts on the exposed silver halide grains as nuclei, and a silver image is formed by a chemical reaction. Thus, the film F contains photosensitive silver halide grains, an organic silver salt, and a silver ion reducing agent, and is not substantially thermally developed at a temperature of 40 ° C. or lower, for example, at a temperature of 95 ° C. or higher. Heat developed.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a plurality of rotatable opposing rollers 16 having a smaller diameter than the heating drum 14 as a guide member and a pressing member are provided outside the heating drum 14. Are arranged so as to face each other in parallel.

  The opposing roller 16 is made of stainless steel, and the upstream three pieces 16a, 16b, 16c are configured as solid large-diameter rollers having a diameter of, for example, 12 mm, and the opposing roller 16d adjacent to the downstream and the most downstream opposing roller The remaining counter rollers 16 up to 16e are formed into tubular small diameter rollers having a diameter of, for example, 8 mm. The counter roller 16 preferably has a heat capacity of 0.16 kJ / K or more, and the stainless steel as the material of the counter roller 16 has a heat capacity of about 0.18 kJ / K.

  At both ends of the heating drum 14, three guide brackets 21 supported by the frame 18 are provided on one side. By combining the guide bracket 21, opposing C-shapes are formed at both ends of the heating drum 14.

  The guide bracket 21 integrally holds a plurality of opposing rollers 16 at both ends, and the holding position by the guide bracket 21 can be adjusted. That is, by adjusting the position of the guide bracket 21, the positions of the plurality of opposing rollers 16 with respect to the heating drum 14 can be adjusted. Thereby, since the parallelism between the heating drum 14 and the opposing roller 16 in the axial direction of the heating drum 14 can be adjusted appropriately, the film can be uniformly adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 14. In particular, when a smooth surface layer such as a fluororesin is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 14 as described later, density unevenness is likely to occur due to such a deviation in parallelism, but the parallelism can be adjusted. By configuring, it is possible to realize a configuration capable of preventing such density unevenness.

  Each guide bracket 21 has nine elongated holes 42 extending in the radial direction. From this long hole 42, shafts 40 provided at both ends of the opposing roller 16 protrude. One end of each coil spring 28 is attached to the shaft 40, and the other end of each coil spring 28 is attached near the inner edge of the guide bracket 21. Accordingly, each counter roller 16 is urged toward the outer periphery of the heating drum 14 with a predetermined force based on the urging force of each coil spring 28. When the film F enters between the outer periphery of the heating drum 14 and the opposing roller 16, the film F is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 14 with such a predetermined force, thereby heating the film F uniformly over the entire surface. To do.

  A shaft 22 coaxially connected to the heating drum 14 extends outward from the end member 20 of the frame 18 and is rotatably supported by the end member 20 by a shaft bearing 24. A gear (not shown) is formed on a rotating shaft 23 of a microstep motor (not shown) disposed below the shaft 22 and attached to the end member 20. On the other hand, a gear is also formed on the shaft 22. The power of the microstep motor is transmitted to the shaft 22 via a timing belt 25 (a belt on which the gear is engraved) that connects both gears, whereby the heating drum 14 rotates. Note that power transmission from the rotary shaft 23 to the shaft 22 may be performed via a chain or a gear train instead of a timing belt.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the opposing roller 16 is provided in the circumferential direction of the heating drum 14, and the two reinforcing members 30 (FIG. 6) connect the both end members 20 of the frame 18. It connects and supports the both-ends member 20 additionally.

  A plate-like heater 32 is attached to the inner periphery of the heating drum 14 over the entire periphery, and the outer periphery of the heating drum 14 is heated under the control of the control electronic device 34 shown in FIG. Yes. Power is supplied to the heater 32 through a slip ring assembly 35 connected to the electronic device 34.

  The heater 32 is attached to the inner periphery of the heating drum 14 in order to heat the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 14. As the heater 32 for heating the heating drum 14, for example, an etched resistive foil heater can be used.

  The electronic device 34 for controlling the heater rotates together with the heating drum 14 so that the electric power supplied to the heater 32 can be adjusted according to the temperature information sensed by the temperature detecting means disposed on the heating drum 14. It has become. The control electronic device 34 controls the outer surface temperature of the heating drum 14 by controlling the heater 32 so that the temperature is suitable for the development of the specific film F. In the present embodiment, the heating drum 14 can be heated to a temperature of 60 ° C to 160 ° C.

  Here, it is preferable to maintain the temperature in the width direction of the heating drum 14 within 2.0 ° C. (particularly within 1.0 ° C.) by the heater 32 and the control electronic device 34. In the present embodiment, the temperature is maintained within 0.5 ° C.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the heating drum 14 includes a rotatable cylindrical aluminum support tube 36, a flexible elastic layer 38 made of silicon rubber or the like attached to the outside of the support tube 36, and an elastic layer. And a smooth surface layer 39 formed as an outermost peripheral surface by coating the outer periphery of 38 with a fluororesin by coating or the like.

  The thickness and thermal conductivity of the elastic layer 38 are selected so that continuous processing of the plurality of films F can be performed efficiently, and the thermal conductivity is preferably 0.5 W / k or more. The hardness of the elastic layer 38 is preferably JIS-A hardness 20 to 70 degrees. The elastic layer 38 may be indirectly attached to the support tube 36.

  The elastic layer 38 can be composed of rubber or a rubber-like member, and the rubber or rubber-like member widely includes various materials having elasticity similar to that of the rubber material in addition to various rubber materials and thermoplastic elastomers. For example, various rubber materials, resin materials, thermoplastic elastomers and the like may be used alone or in combination. In this case, the various rubber materials are not limited. For example, in addition to a solid rubber material, a liquid reaction cured product obtained by curing a liquid viscoelastic body may be used.

  Solid rubber materials include, for example, ethylene propylene terpolymer (EPDM), butyl rubber, polyisobutylene, ethylene propylene rubber, chlorofrene rubber, natural rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene-isobrene-styrene, For polymers using styrene-butadiene-styrene, urethane rubber, etc. alone or in combination, vulcanizing agents, cross-linking agents, vulcanization accelerators, vulcanization acceleration assistants conventionally used in the rubber industry in general. And vulcanized (or cross-linked) containing chemicals such as an agent, tackifier, filler, plasticizer, anti-aging agent, and solvent.

  The liquid rubber material includes, for example, urethane, liquid polybutadiene, modified silicon, silicon, polysulfide and the like. In addition, it is preferable to use these materials by adding a predetermined amount of a curing agent for solidification, mixing and reaction curing. The elastic layer 38 may be formed in a dense state or a sponge shape.

  Examples of the fluororesin applied to form the smooth surface layer 39 include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), tetrafluoroethylene and herfluoroalkoxy. Compounds such as a copolymer of ethylene (PFA), a copolymer of ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), and a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluorobroylene (FEP) are used.

  When the film F is heated around the heating drum 14 for heat development, for example, a gas containing a chemical component such as an organic acid is generated, but fluorine that constitutes the smooth surface layer 39 provided on the surface of the elastic layer 38. Since the resin has chemical resistance, it does not react with gas components such as organic acids and does not deteriorate. In addition, the fluororesin blocks such gas components from permeating, and the elastic layer 38 made of silicon rubber or the like does not come into contact with gas components such as organic acids, so that the gas components do not deteriorate or deteriorate. . Therefore, the elastic layer 38 hardly changes in its shape and physical properties over time, so that the initial elastic force and thermal conductivity can be maintained.

  The thickness of the smooth surface layer 39 is preferably 10 μm or more from the viewpoint of preventing deterioration of the elastic layer 38 due to a gas component such as an organic acid, and preferably 60 μm or less from the viewpoint of preventing uneven density.

  Further, the urging force of the coil spring 28 determines the pressing force of the facing roller 16 so that the film F is securely adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 14 and is stably conveyed while receiving sufficient heat transfer. Therefore, care must be taken in selecting the value. That is, if the biasing force of the coil spring 28 is too small, heat is conducted non-uniformly to the film F, so that image development may be incomplete, and film conveyance may become unstable.

  Next, a guide member for first guiding the film F away from the heating drum 14 in FIG. 5 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, a guide member 210 for separating the developed film F from the heating drum 14 and guiding it in the conveyance direction is located below the most downstream counter roller 16e between the heating drum 14 and the conveyance roller pair 144a. Has been placed. That is, the guide member 210 is arranged such that the guide surface 300 first guides the film F after the film F is conveyed between the heating drum 14 and the opposing roller 16 and separated from the outermost smooth surface layer 39. Has been.

  In the image forming apparatus 100 of FIG. 1, the film in the softened state after heat development on the guide surface 300 of the guide member 210 of FIG. 5 arranged close to the heating drum 14 is cooled and conveyed in FIG. 1 of the next step through the conveyance roller pair 144a. It is possible to guide to the portion 150 stably.

  Next, a control system for controlling the main part of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a control system for controlling the image writing position in the exposure unit of FIG.

  4 and 15 includes a central processing unit (CPU), and the image information is mammographic image information based on the incidental information attached to the image information received from the image data output apparatus 121 in FIG. If it is mammographic image information, it is formatted so that a chest wall image by mammography is formed along the side edge (film side) F2 of the film F.

  That is, when the horizontal detection sensor 125 of FIG. 3 detects the laser beam in the main scanning direction, the laser beam is modulated by the modulation unit 123 in synchronization with this detection, and the side of the film F (film side) F2 is modulated. By starting scanning exposure, the chest wall image of the mammography image is formed so as to coincide with the side edge F2 of the film F.

  Further, when the control unit 152 detects the film F conveyed by the detection sensor 141a in the film position regulating unit 145 of FIG. 14, the control unit 152 operates the motor 148 at the detection timing, and the pushing unit 147 has a constant stroke S. Only moves and regulates the position of the film.

  Next, an operation when the image forming apparatus 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2 receives mammography image information from the image data output apparatus 121 of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 17.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram (a) and (b) schematically showing a state in which an image of the chest wall portion is formed on the film of each size along the side end (film side). FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining the operation when the image forming apparatus 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2 receives mammography image information.

  Referring to FIG. 17, a film is loaded from the film package P of FIG. 11 into the first and second loading sections 11 and 12 (S01). For example, the first loading unit 11 is loaded with a six-cut (8 × 10 inch) size film, and the second loading unit 12 is loaded with a four-cut (10 × 12) size film.

  When image data is input from the image data output device 121 of FIG. 3 (S02) and the image information is determined to be mammography image information (S03), along the side edge (one side of the film) F2 of the film F of FIG. Formatting is prepared so that an image of the chest wall is formed (S04).

  For example, a six-cut (8 × 10 inch) size film F is conveyed in the first loading unit 11 after its side end F1 is tilted and locked and aligned with the film guide G as shown in FIG. The part 5 and the transport roller pair 139, 141 transport to the position restricting part 145 of FIGS. 14 and 15 (S05).

  And while the film F is conveyed by the position control part 145, the pushing part 147 moves only the predetermined stroke S as shown in FIG. 15, thereby position-controlling the side edge F2 of the film F (S06), FIG. It is conveyed to the exposure unit 120 in FIG.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the exposure unit 120 starts scanning exposure with the laser beam from the film side F2 in the main scanning direction (X direction) based on the detection by the horizontal detection sensor 125 as shown in FIG. However, scanning exposure is performed so as to form an image of the chest wall on the film side F2 side in accordance with the format of step S04 (S07). With this format, a mammography image M is formed on the film F as shown in FIG. 13A, and a chest wall image K is formed along the film side F2.

  The film on which the latent image is formed as described above is conveyed by the pair of conveying rollers 142 and 143 (S08), and is thermally developed by the heat developing unit 130 to visualize the latent image (S09). Next, the thermally developed film is cooled while being transported by the transport roller 144 by the cooling transport unit 150 (S10), and discharged to the discharge unit 160 (S11).

  Even when a four-cut (10 × 12) size film F ′ (larger than six cuts) loaded in the second loading unit 12 of FIG. As described above, the pushing portion 147 moves by a predetermined stroke S smaller than that in the case of the six-cut size, and the side end F2 of the film F ′ comes into contact with the fixed guide 147a, so that the position is regulated at a certain position.

  As described above, the mammography image M is formed on the film F or F ′ as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, and the chest wall image K is formed along the film side F2 so as to match the film side F2. Therefore, there is no defect in the chest wall image, and no blank portion is formed near the chest wall. That is, there is no displacement as shown by the broken line in FIG. 21B, no defect of the chest wall image K occurs, and there is no displacement as shown by the broken line in FIG. There is no blank portion SS near the portion, and there is no need to blacken the blank portion.

  In addition, since the chest wall image K is formed along the film side whose position is regulated at a fixed position, the chest wall image K can be matched with the film side F2 even if the film size changes. Similarly, even if there is an error in the width direction W of the film, the chest wall image K is formed along the side of the film whose position is regulated at a certain position, so that the formation position of the chest wall image K is not affected.

  Further, in the film position restricting portion 145 of FIGS. 14 and 15, the film position restricting portion 145 can be easily controlled by making the stroke S of the pushing portion 147 constant regardless of the film size. Since it is necessary to set the stroke S so that this film abuts against the fixed guide 147a at the reference position, when the position of the maximum size film is restricted by the fixed guide 147a, the film is bent into a convex shape. For this reason, when the pushing part 147 returns to the original position, it is necessary to control the pushing part 147 to return slowly in order to prevent the energy stored in the bending from being released at once and the film posture from being lost.

  Next, in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, the movement for regulating the film position is performed on the side F1 facing the film side F2 on the side where scanning exposure is started. An example in which the position restriction is performed will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 is a plan view similar to FIG. 15 showing a modification of the film position restricting portion of FIGS.

  Compared with FIGS. 14 and 15, the film position regulating portion in FIG. 18 is configured by omitting the fixed guide 147 a and arranging a push-in portion 147 b that can be moved and pushed in the same manner as in FIG. 14 on the film side F 2 side. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 18, when the film F or F ′ is conveyed from the direction of the arrow (1), the pushing portion 147b moves in the direction W ′ from the broken line position to the solid line position in the direction W ′. Regardless of the size, F or F ′ is regulated at the side end F 2, transported in the arrow direction (2) at a fixed position, and sent to the exposure unit 120.

  Accordingly, scanning exposure can be started from the side edge F2 in the same manner as in FIG. 17, and a mammography image M is formed on the film F or F ′ in the same manner as in FIGS. Since K can be formed along the film side F2 and matched with the film side F2, there is no defect in the chest wall image and no blank portion is formed in the vicinity of the chest wall. Further, the stroke S 'of the pressing portion 147b may be constant regardless of the size of the film.

  Further, according to the configuration of FIG. 18, it is not necessary to sandwich the film between the pushing portion and the fixed guide, so the stroke S of the film position regulating portion 145 is made constant as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. Sometimes, when the maximum size film is bent into a convex shape and the pushing portion 147 returns to the original position, the film posture does not collapse regardless of the film size and the size error of the film.

  14 and 15, when a film having a different size is conveyed, the stroke S of the push-in portion 147 may be changed in accordance with the film size. The variation of ± 1 mm in film size must be taken into consideration, and considering the minimum width film as a standard, the maximum width film is pushed by an extra 2 mm. In the configuration of FIG. 18, since the film is moved on the side end F2 side and the position is restricted to a certain position, the variation in the film size is not related.

  Further, in the configuration of FIGS. 14 and 15 or the configuration of FIG. 18 described above, the film F is inclined and aligned to the side end F1 side as shown in FIG. You may make it align inclining to the side end F2 side. Or you may abbreviate | omit the film positioning step by the positioning mechanism 10 of Fig.12 (a), (b).

  Next, the film position restricting portion in FIG. 14, FIG. 15 or FIG. 18 is omitted, and the film is transported in a state where the side end of the film F is positioned and aligned by the positioning mechanism 10 in FIG. The operation of an example in which scanning exposure is started from the side end will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 19, a film is loaded from the film package P of FIG. 11 into the first and second loading sections 11 and 12 (S21). For example, the first loading unit 11 is loaded with a six-cut (8 × 10 inch) size film, the second loading unit 12 is loaded with a four-cut (10 × 12) size film, and the six-cut (8 × 10 inch) film is loaded. ) The size film F is tilted in the direction opposite to that shown in FIG. 12B by the first loading unit 11 and its side end F2 is locked and aligned with the film guide to regulate the position at a fixed position (S22).

  When image data is input from the image data output device 121 of FIG. 3 (S23) and the image information is determined to be mammography image information (S24), the chest wall along the side edge (film side) F2 of the film F of FIG. Preparation for formatting is performed so as to form the image (S25).

  On the other hand, the film F is conveyed to the exposure unit 120 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 with the side edge F2 being regulated (S26), and the exposure unit 120 detects the horizontal detection sensor 125 for the film F as shown in FIG. Based on the above, scanning exposure is started in the main scanning direction (X direction) from the film side F2 with laser light, and scanning exposure is performed so as to form an image of the chest wall portion on the film side F2 side according to the above format while performing sub-scanning in the Y direction. (S27). With this format, a mammography image M is formed on the film F as shown in FIG. 13A, and a chest wall image K is formed along the film side F2.

  The film on which the latent image is formed as described above is conveyed by the pair of conveying rollers 142 and 143 (S28), and is thermally developed by the heat developing unit 130 to visualize the latent image (S29). Next, the thermally developed film is cooled while being conveyed by the conveyance roller 144 by the cooling conveyance unit 150 (S30), and discharged to the discharge unit 160 (S31).

  As described above, the mammography image M can be formed on the film F in the same manner as in FIG. 13A, and the chest wall image K can be formed along the film side F2 so as to match the film side F2. There is no defect in the chest wall image, and no blank portion is formed near the chest wall. In addition, when the size of the film is changed to four cuts or the like, the position of the film is similarly regulated in the loading section, and the chest wall image K is formed along the film side F2 as shown in FIG. 13B. Can do.

  Note that the positioning mechanism 10 in FIG. 12 may tilt the film as shown in FIG. 12B to align the side end F1, and in this case, the film of the film F in the exposure unit 120 in FIG. By changing the rotation direction of the rotary polygon mirror 113 so that scanning exposure with laser light is started in the main scanning direction opposite to the X direction from the side F1, the chest wall image is moved along the film side F1. Can be formed.

  As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. For example, the storage tray portion 3 in FIGS. 12A and 12B is not inclined, and for example, as shown in FIG. 20A, a large number of four pieces or the like loaded in the storage tray portion 3 is used. The film F ′ having a size is urged from the side F2 opposite to the side end F1 by a spring 3s through a slide member 3g slidable in the horizontal direction in the figure, and the side end F1 is pressed against the film guide 3k. F ′ may be aligned at a fixed position at the side end (film side) F1. In this case, when a small-sized film F such as six pieces is loaded, as shown in FIG. 20B, the spring 3s further slides the slide member 3g in the horizontal direction in the figure to bias the side end F1. By pressing the film guide 3k against the film guide 3k, the film F can be aligned at a fixed position at the side end (film side) F1. In FIG. 20, the spring 3s and the slide member 3g may be disposed on the side end F1 side of the film, and the film guide 3k may be disposed on the side end F2 side.

  14 and 15 is arranged in the vicinity of the upstream side of the exposure unit 120 to transport the film to the exposure unit 120 while maintaining a predetermined positional relationship. It can arrange | position to a conveyance part and can convey a film, maintaining the predetermined positional relationship with respect to the exposure part 120. FIG.

  Further, in FIG. 5, the number of the opposed rollers having a large upstream heat storage capacity can be increased or decreased as appropriate, and the wall thickness may be appropriately increased from a large-diameter tubular roller. Further, the material may be composed of a steel material other than stainless steel or an aluminum material. Further, the diameter of the opposing roller may be changed in three steps or more, or rollers having different diameters may be alternately arranged.

1 is a front view showing a main part of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1 and shows a state in which a first loading unit is pulled out. It is a figure which shows schematically the exposure part of the image forming apparatus of FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a heat development unit 130 in FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the structure of FIG. 4 by the IV-IV line and looked at the arrow direction. It is the figure which looked at the structure of FIG. 4 from the front. It is sectional drawing of the film in this Embodiment, and is the figure which showed typically the chemical reaction in the film at the time of the exposure by a laser beam. It is sectional drawing of the film in this Embodiment, and is the figure which showed typically the chemical reaction in a film when the film in which the latent image like FIG. 7 was heated was heated. It is a side view which shows roughly the conveyance part provided in the 1st loading part 11 of FIG. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view schematically showing a barrier bag removing unit in the first loading unit 11 of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a film package that can be loaded into the first and second loading sections of FIGS. 1 and 2. It is a figure which shows the storage tray part of FIG. 2 containing the film positioning mechanism, Comprising: The storage tray part is fractured | ruptured in the width direction of a film, Sectional drawing (a) which shows the state before an alignment, and the state after an alignment are shown It is sectional drawing (b). In this Embodiment, it is a figure (a) and (b) which show typically the state in which the image of the chest wall part was formed in the film of each size along the side edge (film side). FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a film position restricting unit disposed between a conveying roller pair 141 of FIG. 1 and a conveying roller pair 142 of an exposure unit 120. It is a top view for demonstrating the position control with respect to the side edge part of the film by the film position control part of FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a control system that controls an image writing position in the exposure unit of FIG. 3. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation when the image forming apparatus 100 in FIGS. 1 and 2 receives mammography image information. It is the same top view as FIG. 15 which shows the modification of the film position control part of FIG. 14, FIG. 14, 15, or 18 is omitted, and the film F is transported in a state where the side end of the film F is positioned and aligned by the positioning mechanism of FIG. 12, and scanning exposure is performed from the positioned side end. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement of the example made to start. It is a figure which shows the modification of the positioning mechanism of the film of FIG. 12, and is sectional drawing (a) which shows the state which fractured | ruptured the storage tray part of FIG. 2 containing this positioning mechanism in the width direction of a film, and accommodated the large size film It is sectional drawing (b) which shows the state which accommodated the small size film. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a target state of a mammography image, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a conventional problem. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the problem in the case of the conventional center reference | standard (center position reference | standard), the figure (a) when a film is a standard size, the figure (b) when it is a maximum size, and the figure when it is a minimum size (C).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming apparatus 5 Conveyance part 10 Positioning mechanism 11,12 Loading part 14 Heating drum 120 Exposure part 139,141,142,143 Pair of conveyance rollers 121 Image data output device 125 Horizontal detection sensor 130 Thermal development part 141a Detection sensor 145 Film position Restricting part 147 Pushing part 147a Fixed guide 148 Motor 149 Rotating shaft 152 Control part F Film F1 side end, film side F2 Side end opposite to side end F1 (film side)
G Film guide K Chest wall image M Mammography image S Stroke

Claims (11)

Film loading means capable of loading at least one size of film and positioning the loaded film with one side of the film being locked by a film guide, and a latent image corresponding to image information scanned and exposed to the film An exposure means for forming the film, a transport means for transporting the film of the film loading means so that a film side locked to the film guide maintains a predetermined positional relationship with the exposure means, and the latent image is formed. An image forming apparatus comprising: a developing unit that visualizes the formed film; and a control unit that controls the exposure unit so as to form a latent image corresponding to the image information.
When outputting a mammography image, the control means formats the mammography image information so that the chest wall portion is positioned on the film side locked by the film guide, and starts scanning exposure from the film side. An image forming apparatus that performs image formation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the loadable film has a six-cut size, and a 10-inch side of the film is locked to the fixed film guide. Loading at least one film into a film loading section and locking and positioning the loaded film on a film guide;
Transporting the film loading portion so that the film side locked to the film guide maintains a predetermined positional relationship with the exposure portion;
When the transported film is scanned and exposed to form a latent image corresponding to mammographic image information, the chest wall portion of the mammographic image information is formatted so as to be positioned on the side of the film locked to the film guide. Forming an image so as to start scanning exposure from the film side, and
And developing and visualizing the film on which the latent image has been formed. Film loading means capable of loading and holding at least one size of film;
Conveying means for conveying the film of the film placing means;
Exposure means for scanning and exposing the film to form a latent image corresponding to image information;
Position regulating means for making the conveyed film have a predetermined positional relationship with the exposure means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a developing unit that visualizes the film on which the latent image is formed;
The position restricting means, the fixed guide for locking so that one side of the film conveyed from the film loading means is always at a fixed position, and the film, the side facing the one side is locked, Moving means for moving the one side until it comes into contact with the fixed guide,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exposure unit starts scanning exposure from one side at the fixed position toward the opposite side. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: formatting means for forming an image so that a chest wall portion included in the mammography image information corresponds to the one side at the fixed position when the image information is mammography image information. The image forming apparatus described in 1. Transporting the film loaded in the film loading section;
A step of locking the side facing the one side of the film to be conveyed and moving the side until the side abuts the fixed guide so that the position of the side is always fixed by the fixed guide; ,
Performing image formation so as to start exposure scanning from one side that is the fixed position toward the opposite side when forming a latent image corresponding to image information by exposing the film;
And developing and visualizing the film on which the latent image has been formed. 7. The image according to claim 6, wherein when the image information is mammography image information, image formation is performed so that a chest wall portion included in the mammography image information corresponds to the one side at the fixed position. Forming method. Film loading means capable of loading and holding at least one size of film;
Conveying means for conveying the film of the film placing means;
Exposure means for scanning and exposing the film to form a latent image corresponding to image information;
Position regulating means for making the conveyed film have a predetermined positional relationship with the exposure means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a developing unit that visualizes the film on which the latent image is formed;
The position restricting means locks and moves the one side so that one side of the film conveyed from the film loading means is always at a certain position, and restricts the position so that the one side is set at a certain position,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the exposure unit starts scanning exposure from one side to the opposite side, which is the fixed position. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: formatting means for forming an image so that a chest wall portion included in the mammography image information corresponds to the one side at the fixed position when the image information is mammography image information. The image forming apparatus described in 1. Transporting the film loaded in the film loading section;
Locking and moving the one side so that one side of the conveyed film is always at a fixed position, and regulating the position so that the one side is set at a fixed position;
When forming a latent image corresponding to image information by performing scanning exposure on the film, performing image formation so as to start scanning exposure from one side that is the fixed position toward the opposite side;
And developing and visualizing the film on which the latent image has been formed. 11. The image according to claim 10, wherein when the image information is mammography image information, image formation is performed so that a chest wall portion included in the mammography image information corresponds to the one side at the fixed position. Forming method.

Images