JP2007131450A - Sheet element suction and transfer device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suck a sheet element by any suction pad to transfer it securely even when the other suction pad is arranged in an improper suction section of the sheet element. <P>SOLUTION: This suction and transfer device 30 is provided with the suction pads 54a, 54b arranged in accordance with a storage phosphor sheet 16, a driving mechanism 56 for moving the suction pads 54a, 54b, a suction mechanism 58 communicating with the suction pads 54a, 54b for suction, and an opening and closing mechanism 60 for sucking and transferring the storage phosphor sheet 16 through the suction pad 54a by stopping suction by the suction pad 54b when detecting that a suction pad 58b is arranged on a bar code label 94 of the storage phosphor sheet 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet body adsorbing and transferring apparatus and method capable of adsorbing and transferring a sheet body.

  As an image recording medium for recording a radiographic image of a human body or the like, for example, an X-ray photographic film is known. Also, instead of an X-ray photographic film, irradiation with radiation (X-rays, α-rays, β-rays, γ-rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc.) accumulates a part of the radiation energy, and later laser light or visible light A stimulable phosphor sheet having a stimulable phosphor layer that exhibits stimulated light emission according to accumulated energy by irradiating excitation light such as the like is also frequently used.

  These image recording media (sheet bodies) are usually handled in a state of being stored in a light-shielding cassette or magazine. The cassette is configured to store sheet-like image recording media one by one. In a system in which this cassette is used, for example, a cassette loading unit for loading a cassette in which an image record carrier in which radiographic image information is recorded in advance is loaded, and a radiographic image carried on the image record carrier taken out from the cassette A cassette type image information reading apparatus is adopted which incorporates a reading unit for reading information and an erasing unit for erasing radiation image information remaining on the image record carrier.

  This type of image information reading apparatus includes a transfer device for taking out the image record carrier from the cassette and returning the image record carrier after the reading and erasing processing into the cassette.

  For example, in the suction fixing device of Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of sets of suction holes 1a to 1c are formed, a suction plate 1 for fixing a printed material (not shown), and each suction hole 1a. ˜1c are provided with a vacuum pump 5 and a vacuum switch 6 connected via solenoid valves 2, 3 and 4, respectively.

  In this suction fixing device, the electromagnetic valves 2 to 4 are opened and closed while the vacuum pump 5 is operated, and the suction region is sequentially expanded stepwise. Then, the state of the vacuum switch 6 is detected at each stage, and when the vacuum state is no longer maintained, the open / close state of the solenoid valves 2 to 4 is set to return to the previous stage.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-24584 (FIG. 3)

  By the way, there may be a case where a poorly adsorbed portion is generated on the printed matter due to breakage, floating or the presence of foreign matter. Here, in Patent Document 1, for example, when only the electromagnetic valve 2 is opened and the printed matter is sucked, if a suction failure portion is disposed at a position corresponding to any of the suction holes 1a, air leaks. Will occur. As a result, a state where the vacuum switch 6 is not turned on, that is, a state where the predetermined degree of vacuum has not been reached may be detected. For this reason, in Patent Document 1, it is determined that the printed material is not placed, and error processing is performed.

  However, when this Patent Document 1 is applied to an image information reading apparatus, it is determined that there is no image record carrier in the cassette, and the cassette is discharged from the image information reading apparatus. Therefore, the radiographic image information read and recorded on the image record carrier in the cassette is not read, and the radiographic image information of the subject is taken again using another cassette, which is not efficient. There's a problem.

  The present invention solves this type of problem, and even if any of the suction plates is disposed at a poorly-adsorbed portion of the sheet body, the sheet body can be suctioned and reliably transferred by another suction plate. An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet body adsorption / transfer apparatus and method capable of efficiently processing the sheet body.

  The present invention is a sheet body adsorption transfer device capable of adsorbing and transferring a sheet body. The sheet body adsorption transfer device includes a plurality of suction disks for adsorbing a sheet body, a suction mechanism having a single suction source communicating with the plurality of suction disks via a suction path, A detection mechanism for detecting whether or not the suction member is disposed at a poorly adsorbed portion of the sheet body; and a suction disc disposed at the poorly attracted portion when it is detected that the sucker is disposed at the poorly attracted portion; An open / close mechanism for sucking and transferring the sheet member via another suction disk by blocking communication with the suction source is provided.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the detection mechanism is provided with a sensor for determining whether or not the suction disk is disposed at the suction failure site by detecting the suction state in the suction path.

  Furthermore, the opening / closing mechanism preferably includes a switching valve disposed in the suction path corresponding to the suction disk, and a leak valve attached to the switching valve.

  Further, it is preferable that the sheet body is an image record carrier, and the suction disk takes out the image record carrier accommodated in the cassette, while returning the image record carrier to the cassette.

  Moreover, this invention is a sheet | seat body adsorption | suction transfer method for adsorb | sucking and transferring a sheet | seat body with the some suction disk connected to a single suction source. And the step of detecting whether any of the suction disks are arranged at the poorly adsorbed part of the sheet body, and when it is detected that the adsorber is arranged at the poorly adsorbed part, the poorly adsorbed part The suction plate placed in the suction block and the suction source are blocked, and the sheet member is sucked and transferred by another suction plate.

  In the present invention, for example, when it is detected that any suction disk is disposed in a barcode label attached to the sheet body, a damaged portion or float, or a suction failure portion of the sheet body such as a foreign object, While the communication between the suction plate and the suction source disposed in the poor suction portion is blocked, the sheet member is sucked and transferred by another suction plate.

  For this reason, with a simple configuration and process, the sheet body having the adsorption failure portion can be adsorbed and reliably transferred, and for example, the presence or absence of the sheet body is not erroneously detected. As a result, the sheet body having the poorly adsorbed portion can be reliably transferred to the next process, and various processes can be performed efficiently.

  FIG. 1 is an internal configuration diagram of an image reading apparatus 10 to which a sheet body suction transfer apparatus and method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

  The image reading apparatus 10 includes a cassette loading unit 14 in an upper portion of a casing 12, and an image recording medium in which radiation image information is accumulated and recorded in a loading port 15 formed in the cassette loading unit 14, for example, accumulation property. Cassettes 18, 18a and 18b (hereinafter also simply referred to as cassettes 18) containing the phosphor sheets 16, 16a and 16b (hereinafter also simply referred to as storage phosphor sheets 16) are loaded.

  The cassette 18b is smaller in width than the cassette 18a, and the cassette 18a is smaller in width than the cassette 18. The stimulable phosphor sheets 16, 16 a, and 16 b accommodated in the cassette 18, the cassette 18 a, and the cassette 18 b are set so that the width size becomes smaller in order.

  The cassette 18 includes a main body 20 that houses the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 and a lid member 24 that forms an opening 22 for allowing the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 to be taken in and out.

  In a portion close to the loading port 15 inside the image reading apparatus 10, a lock release mechanism 28 for releasing the lock of the lid member 24 of the cassette 18 and a storage phosphor from the cassette 18 with the lid member 24 opened. An adsorbing and transferring device (sheet adsorbing and transferring device) 30 for adsorbing and taking out the sheet 16 and returning the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 to the cassette 18, and the accumulating phosphor sheet taken out by the adsorbing and transferring device 30 A nip roller 32 for nipping and conveying 16 is disposed. The lock release mechanism 28 has a lock release pin 29 that is inserted into the cassette 18 to release a cassette lock means (not shown).

  A plurality of transport rollers 34 a to 34 h and a plurality of guide plates 36 a to 36 i are arranged in series with the nip roller 32, and a curved transport path 38 is configured by these. Between the nip roller 32 and the conveyance roller 34a, an erasing unit 39 for erasing the radiation image information remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 that has been read is disposed. The erasing unit 39 has an erasing light source 41 such as a cold cathode tube that outputs erasing light.

  Near the center of the image reading apparatus 10, a scanning unit 40 is provided that derives a laser beam L that is excitation light and scans the stimulable phosphor sheet 16. The scanning unit 40 reflects the laser beam L, a laser oscillator 42 that outputs the laser beam L, a polygon mirror 44 that is a rotating polygon mirror that deflects the laser beam L in the main scanning direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet 16, and the laser beam L. And a reflection mirror 46 that leads to the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 that passes over the guide plate 36e.

  A reading unit 48 is disposed between the transport roller 34e and the scanning unit 40. The reading unit 48 has one end connected to the light-storing phosphor sheet 16 on the guide plate 36e and the other end of the light-collecting guide 50, and is connected to the light-storing phosphor. And a photomultiplier 52 that converts the photostimulated luminescence obtained from the sheet 16 into an electrical signal.

  Next, the structure of the adsorption transfer device 30 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  The suction transfer device 30 includes a plurality of, for example, two suction disks 54a and 54b disposed in accordance with a plurality of different types of stimulable phosphor sheets 16, 16a and 16b, and the suction disks. A drive mechanism 56 that integrally moves 54a, 54b along a desired locus, a suction mechanism 58 that communicates with the suction plates 54a, 54b, and a suction phosphor plate 54b. When it is detected that it is disposed at 16 suction failure sites (described later), the suction by the suction disk 54b is stopped, so that the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 is sucked and transferred via the suction disk 54a. And an opening / closing mechanism 60 for performing.

  The adsorption transfer device 30 is provided with side plates 62a and 62b that are separated by a predetermined distance in the direction of arrow F that intersects the direction in which the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 is taken out (direction of arrow E). The side plate 62a constitutes the reference side of the stimulable phosphor sheet 16, and a motor 64 constituting the drive mechanism 56 is fixed to the side plate 62a as shown in FIG. A drive gear 66 is mounted on the drive shaft 64 a of the motor 64, and a gear train 68 composed of a plurality of gears meshes with the drive gear 66.

  The gear train 68 is fixed to one end side of the rotary shaft 70, and the rotary shaft 70 extends in the direction of the arrow F and is supported at both ends by the side plates 62a and 62b. A swivel arm 74 is fixed to both ends of the rotating shaft 70, and one end of a link 76 is slidably connected to the protruding end of the swivel arm 74.

  In the side plates 62a and 62b, guide grooves 78a and 54b are used to move the suction disks 54a and 54b along the desired conveyance path with respect to the suctioned surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 (the back surface opposite to the recording surface). , 80 are provided. The guide grooves 78 and 80 are respectively set in a predetermined shape, and the first support shaft 84 corresponding to the guide grooves 78 and 80 is provided at both ends of the movable arm member 82 to which the suction disks 54a and 54b are attached. And the 2nd spindle 86 is fixed. The first support shaft 84 protrudes outward from the guide groove 78 and engages with the other end of the link 76.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the suction mechanism 58 includes flexible pipes 88a and 88b whose one ends are connected to the suction disks 54a and 54b, and the other ends of the pipes 88a and 88b are connected to the suction path 90. Connected. The suction path 90 includes a single pump (suction source) 92 and a suction disk 54b that detects a suction state in the suction path 90 so that a suction failure portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 such as a bar code label. For example, a sensor (detection mechanism) 96 such as a suction sensor is provided to detect whether or not the sensor 94 is disposed.

  In the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 having the maximum width dimension, the bar code label 94 is provided at a position where the bar code label 94 is engaged with the suction disk 54b, while the stimulable phosphor sheet 16a having the intermediate width dimension and the stimulable phosphor sheet having the minimum width dimension. In 16b, bar code labels 94a and 94b are provided at positions where they do not engage with the suction disks 54a and 54b, respectively.

  The opening / closing mechanism 60 includes a switching valve (for example, a switch valve) 98 connected to one end of the suction path 90 and the pipe line 88b, and a leak valve 100 provided alongside the switching valve 98.

  The suction transfer device 30 according to the present embodiment and the image reading device 10 incorporating the suction transfer device 30 are configured as described above. Next, the operation thereof will be described.

  First, the cassette 18 in which the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 on which the radiation image information is recorded is supplied to the image reading device 10. When the cassette 18 is loaded into the loading port 15 of the cassette loading unit 14 with the lid member 24 facing down, the lid member 24 is unlocked via the lock release mechanism 28.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2, in the drive mechanism 56, the rotary shaft 70 rotates in a predetermined direction via the drive gear 66 and the gear train 68 under the drive action of the motor 64. Therefore, the swivel arms 74 fixed to both ends of the rotating shaft 70 swivel, and the movable arm member 82 connected to each swivel arm 74 via the link 76 is moved under the guide action of the guide grooves 78, 80. Move to the 18th side.

  Suction plates 54a and 54b are attached to the movable arm member 82, and these suction plates 54a and 54b are along a desired conveyance locus with respect to the suction surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 in the cassette 18. It moves and contacts the attracted surface. At that time, as shown in FIG. 4, the suction disk 54 a is arranged on the plane of the stimulable phosphor sheet 16, while the suction disk 54 b is a barcode attached to the stimulable phosphor sheet 16. Arranged on the label 94. In this state, the pump 92 that constitutes the suction mechanism 58 is driven and suction in the suction path 90 is performed, while the sensor 96 that constitutes the detection mechanism detects the suction state in the suction path 90.

  Here, the suction disk 54 b is disposed on the barcode label 94, and air leakage occurs between the suction disk 54 b and the barcode label 94. For this reason, in the sensor 96, it is determined that the suction pressure does not reach a predetermined pressure, and the suction disk 54b is disposed on the barcode label 94 which is a poor suction part.

  Next, the switching valve 98 constituting the opening / closing mechanism 60 is driven to cut off the communication between the pipe 88b connected to the suction plate 54b and the suction path 90, and the pipe 88b communicates with the leak valve 100. To do. As a result, the suction disk 54b is blocked from the suction path 90 and the suction function is stopped, while the suction disk 54a sucks and holds the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 under the suction action of the pump 92.

  In this state, the motor 64 constituting the drive mechanism 56 is driven in the reverse direction. For this reason, the movable arm member 82 and the suction plates 54a and 54b are integrally moved outward from the cassette 18, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 in the cassette 18 has an adsorption action of only the suction plate 54a. It is taken out from the cassette 18 below. At substantially the same time as the leading end of the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 taken out from the cassette 18 is sandwiched between the nip rollers 32, the adsorption holding of the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 by the suction disk 54a is released.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, suction by the pump 92 is stopped, and the switching valve 98 and the leak valve 100 are driven in the opening direction. Accordingly, since the inside of the suction path 90 is opened to the outside from the leak valve 100 via the switching valve 98, the suction function by the suction board 54a is stopped.

  Thereby, as shown in FIG. 1, the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 is fed downward in the vertical direction under the rotating action of the nip roller 32. The stimulable phosphor sheet 16 is conveyed by a curved conveyance path 38 including conveyance rollers 34a to 34h and guide plates 36a to 36i.

  The stimulable phosphor sheet 16 is sub-scanned and conveyed between the conveying rollers 34d and 34e, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 is irradiated in the main scanning direction in which the laser beam L emitted from the scanning unit 40 is substantially orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction. Scan. That is, the laser beam L output from the laser oscillator 42 is reflected and deflected by the polygon mirror 44 that rotates at high speed, and then guided to the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 through the reflection mirror 46.

  On the other hand, the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 irradiated with the laser beam L outputs stimulated emission light according to the stored and recorded radiation image information. The stimulated emission light is guided to a photomultiplier 52 that constitutes the reading unit 48 through a light collecting guide 50 that is disposed close to the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 in the main scanning direction.

  The stimulable phosphor sheet 16 from which the radiation image information has been read in this way is conveyed to the conveyance roller 34h side, and then conveyed in reverse by the curved conveyance path 38, and is erased between the conveyance roller 34a and the nip roller 32. It is accommodated in the cassette 18 through the unit 39.

  At this time, the erasing light source 41 constituting the erasing unit 39 is turned on, and the erasing light that is output is irradiated onto the stimulable phosphor sheet 16, thereby removing the remaining radiation energy. The cassette 18 containing the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 from which the radiation energy has been removed is taken out of the image reading device 10 and then used for photographing the next radiation image information.

  In this case, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the suction mechanism 58 having a single pump 92 communicating with the suction disks 54a and 54b via the suction path 90, and the suction disk 54b are accumulated. When it is detected that the fluorescent phosphor sheet 16 is disposed on the barcode label 94, the storage phosphor is blocked via the suction plate 54a by blocking communication between the suction plate 54b and the pump 92. An opening / closing mechanism 60 for sucking and transferring the sheet 16 is provided.

  For this reason, the storage phosphor sheet 16 having the maximum width can be adsorbed and reliably transferred only by the single suction disk 54a with a simple configuration and process. For example, the storage phosphor sheet 16 The presence or absence is not erroneously detected. Thereby, the storage phosphor sheet 16 having the suction failure portion, for example, the barcode label 94, corresponding to the position of the suction board 54b is taken out from the cassette 18 and reliably transferred to the next image reading process. It becomes possible.

  Therefore, the radiographic image information recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 is reliably read. For example, the cassette 18 is discharged without reading the radiographic image information of the stimulable phosphor sheet 16. Thus, it is possible to avoid the radiographic image information photographing operation being newly performed again via another cassette 18.

  In the stimulable phosphor sheet 16a having the intermediate width dimension, the suction plates 54a and 54b suck and hold the stimulable phosphor sheet 16a, whereas in the stimulable phosphor sheet 16b having the minimum width dimension, only the suction plate 54a is used. Adsorbs and holds the stimulable phosphor sheet 16b. At this time, the barcode labels 94a and 94b do not interfere with the suction positions by the suction disks 54a and 54b.

  In the present embodiment, the barcode label 94 is used as the poorly adsorbed portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet 16, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the same processing as described above is performed even on an adsorption failure site such as damage or floating of the stimulable phosphor sheet 16 or the presence of foreign matter.

1 is an internal configuration diagram of an image reading apparatus to which an adsorption transfer apparatus and method of the present invention are applied. It is principal part perspective explanatory drawing of the said adsorption transfer apparatus. It is explanatory drawing of the said adsorption transfer apparatus. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the said adsorption transfer apparatus. It is explanatory drawing of the adsorption fixing apparatus of patent document 1. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image reading device 14 ... Cassette loading part 16, 16a, 16b ... Storage phosphor sheet 18, 18a, 18b ... Cassette 30 ... Adsorption transfer device 34a-34h ... Conveyance roller 36a-36i ... Guide plate 39 ... Erase unit 40 ... Scanning unit 48 ... Reading unit 54a, 54b ... Suction plate 56 ... Drive mechanism 58 ... Suction mechanism 60 ... Opening / closing mechanism 88a, 88b ... Pipe 90 ... Suction path 92 ... Pump 96 ... Sensor 98 ... Switching valve 100 ... Leak valve

Claims (5)

A sheet body adsorption transfer device capable of adsorbing and transferring a sheet body,
A plurality of suction discs for adsorbing the sheet body;
A suction mechanism having a single suction source communicating with the plurality of suction discs via a suction path;
A detection mechanism for detecting whether any one of the suction disks is disposed at a poorly adsorbed portion of the sheet body;
When it is detected that the suction plate is disposed at the poor suction portion, the communication between the suction plate disposed at the poor suction portion and the suction source is interrupted, thereby allowing the suction plate to pass through another suction plate. An opening and closing mechanism for adsorbing and transferring the sheet body;
A sheet body adsorption transfer device comprising:   2. The sheet body suction transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the detection mechanism determines whether or not the suction disk is disposed at the suction failure portion by detecting a suction state in the suction path. A sheet body adsorbing and transferring apparatus, comprising: The sheet body adsorption / transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing mechanism includes a switching valve disposed in the suction path corresponding to the adsorption plate;
A leak valve attached to the switching valve;
A sheet body adsorption transfer device comprising: The sheet body adsorption transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sheet body is an image record carrier,
The sheet suction / transfer apparatus, wherein the suction disk takes out the image record carrier housed in a cassette and returns the image record carrier to the cassette. A sheet body adsorption transfer method for adsorbing and transferring a sheet body with a plurality of suction disks communicating with a single suction source,
Detecting whether any one of the suction discs is disposed at a poorly adsorbed portion of the sheet body; and
When it is detected that the suction plate is disposed at the suction failure portion, the communication between the suction plate disposed at the suction failure portion and the suction source is blocked, while the other suction plate causes the sheet body Adsorbing and transferring
A sheet body adsorption transfer method comprising:

Images