JP4384512B2 - Radiation image information reading apparatus and cassette - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention irradiates a stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiographic image information is accumulated and recorded with excitation light, photoelectrically reads the obtained stimulated emission light to acquire the radiographic image information, and then irradiates with erasing light. The present invention relates to a radiological image information reading device for erasing remaining radiographic image information and a cassette loaded therein.

  Conventionally, radiation images using a stimulable phosphor sheet that accumulates part of the irradiated radiation energy and emits stimulating light according to the accumulated radiation energy by irradiating excitation light such as visible light. Information reading devices are known.

  For example, in the radiological image information reading apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, a cassette containing a stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiographic image information is accumulated and recorded is loaded into the apparatus, and then the cassette lid is removed to obtain the stimulable fluorescence. The body sheet is exposed in the apparatus, and then the reading unit is moved along the stimulable phosphor sheet to read the radiation image information.

  Further, in the radiographic image information reading apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, one end portion is moved in a state where the lid body is pivotally supported by the cassette, and is recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet by the reading section. The radiographic image information that is being read is read, and the radiographic image information that is remaining is erased by the erasing unit.

JP 2002-62398 A (FIG. 2) JP-A-4-320253 (FIG. 1)

  In this case, in Patent Document 1, since the lid of the cassette is removed, the reading unit does not interfere with the lid, and the reading unit is moved along the entire region of the stimulable phosphor sheet to obtain radiation image information. Can be read. However, the operator needs to attach and detach the lid, and also requires a space for securing the removed lid.

  In addition, in the case of Patent Document 2, in order to read the entire area of the stimulable phosphor sheet stored in the cassette with the lid attached by the reading unit, the lid and the reading unit should not be interfered with each other. It is necessary to open the body as large as possible. Therefore, a space for that purpose must be secured. In addition, since the cassette is moved with respect to the fixed reading unit and erasing unit, a corresponding amount of space is required.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and can achieve downsizing of the apparatus, increase the processing speed of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and has a simple configuration. And a cassette loaded thereon.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention irradiates a stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiation image information is accumulated and recorded with excitation light, and photoelectrically reads the obtained stimulated emission light to obtain the radiation image information. In the radiation image information reading apparatus for erasing the remaining radiation image information by irradiating erasing light after
A loading section for loading a cassette containing the stimulable phosphor sheet;
An opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes a lid member that is pivotally supported by a cassette body that houses the stimulable phosphor sheet at one end;
A take-out mechanism for taking out a predetermined amount of the stimulable phosphor sheet from the other end of the cassette;
Irradiating excitation light in the main direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet, reading the stimulated emission light obtained from the stimulable phosphor sheet by the excitation light, and the sub-direction that is the direction of taking out the stimulable phosphor sheet A reading unit that moves to
An erasing unit for irradiating the stimulable phosphor sheet with erasing light;
(Invention of Claim 1).

  After the lid member is opened by the opening / closing mechanism, the cassette loaded from the loading unit is taken out by a predetermined amount from the storage phosphor sheet stored in the cassette body. Next, after the reading unit moves along the stimulable phosphor sheet to read the radiation image information, the erasing unit erases the remaining radiation image information.

  In this case, since the stimulable phosphor sheet protrudes from the cassette only in a range where the lid does not interfere with the reading unit, the space occupied by the cassette and the stimulable phosphor sheet is minimized. The entire region of the stimulable phosphor sheet can be read.

  The engaging member constituting the opening / closing mechanism is engaged with the lid member of the cassette, and the cassette is transported to a predetermined part in the apparatus by the transport mechanism, and the lid body is moved based on the transport operation by the transport mechanism. It can be opened and closed automatically (the invention according to claim 2).

  In addition, the engaging member constituting the take-out mechanism is engaged with the stimulable phosphor sheet, and the cassette is transported to a predetermined site in the apparatus by the transport mechanism, and the storage property is based on the transport operation by the transport mechanism. A predetermined amount of the phosphor sheet can be automatically taken out from the cassette.

  Furthermore, a groove is formed along the side of the lid member of the cassette, and the cassette is loaded into the radiation image information reading device by engaging with an engaging member constituting an opening / closing mechanism in this groove. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cassette in which the lid member automatically opens in accordance with the operation to be performed.

  According to the radiation image information reading apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus can be configured in a small and simple manner, and the process for the stimulable phosphor sheet can be performed at high speed. Further, it is possible to provide a cassette that can automatically open the lid member when the radiographic image information reading apparatus is loaded.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of a radiation image information reading apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, and FIGS. 2 to 4 are internal configuration diagrams of the radiation image information reading apparatus 10 in each state.

  The radiographic image information reading device 10 reads the radiographic image information recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet IP stored in the cassette 12, erases the remaining radiographic image information, and stores and discharges the radiographic image information in the cassette 12. Is provided.

  As the stimulable phosphor sheet IP, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, a hard sheet formed by evaporating a columnar stimulable phosphor layer 15 on a support substrate 13 made of a hard material such as glass is used. it can. The stimulable phosphor layer 15 is formed using a vacuum vapor deposition method, a sputtering method, a CVD method, or an ion fretting method in which the stimulable phosphor is heated and evaporated in a vacuum container, and these are deposited on the support substrate 13. be able to. The stimulable phosphor layer 15 thus formed has a columnar shape in which the stimulable phosphor is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP, each of which is optically independent and irradiated. The image quality can be made clear by reducing the scattering of the excitation light and reducing the granularity of the image. The stimulable phosphor sheet IP is not limited to the one in which the stimulable phosphor layer 15 is formed on the support substrate 13 made of a hard material, and the stimulable phosphor sheet is applied to a flexible support substrate. An accumulative phosphor sheet can also be used.

  Grooves 17a and 17b for projecting the stimulable phosphor sheet IP from the cassette 12 by a predetermined amount are formed on both side portions on the end side of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP. Engaging members 19a and 19b (FIG. 6) constituting a take-out mechanism described later are engaged with these grooves 17a and 17b.

  The cassette 12 includes a main body 14 that stores the stimulable phosphor sheet IP, and a lid member 16 that is pivotally supported at one end by the main body 14 and that can be opened at the other end. Lock mechanisms 18a and 18b shown in FIG. 6 are disposed on both sides of the main body 14 near the opening into which the stimulable phosphor sheet IP is inserted. Grooves 21a and 21b are formed on both sides of the lid member 16 along the longitudinal direction. The ends of link members 23a and 23b (FIG. 2) constituting an opening / closing mechanism described later engage with the grooves 21a and 21b.

  The lock mechanisms 18 a and 18 b include a slide member 24 configured to be slidable via a spring 22 on a support member 20 fixed to the main body portion 14. The slide member 24 has a pressing portion 28 facing the hole portions 26a and 26b opened at the end portions near the both side portions of the main body portion 14. Pin members 62a and 62b for unlocking the lock mechanisms 18a and 18b can be inserted into the holes 26a and 26b. Further, the slide member 24 is formed with an engaging portion 32 that engages with the claw portions 30 a and 30 b formed on the lid member 16. By sliding the slide member 24 to the support member 20 side, the lock of the lid member 16 with respect to the main body portion 14 is released.

  Furthermore, the lid member 16 is provided with lock release buttons 34a and 34b that can be unlocked by manually sliding the operator in the direction of the arrow (FIG. 6). The lock release buttons 34 a and 34 b have engaging portions (not shown) that engage with the step portions 36 of the notches 35 a and 35 b formed in the slide member 24. In addition, engagement members 19a and 19b constituting an extraction mechanism for taking out the stimulable phosphor sheet IP from the cassette 12 can be introduced into the notches 35a and 35b.

  The radiographic image information reading apparatus 10 is surrounded by a casing 45, and a loading port having a loading table 38 on which a cassette 12 containing a stimulable phosphor sheet IP is placed and loaded is placed at the front of the casing 45. 46 (loading unit) is disposed. A display operation unit 50 for displaying various information including the operating state of the radiation image information reading apparatus 10 and performing necessary operations is disposed above the loading port 46. In addition, an operator confirmation sensor 52 for reading an operator's fingerprint, iris, and the like is disposed below the display operation unit 50. This is because the operation of the radiation image information reading apparatus 10 is restricted to a specific person and security is enhanced.

  Inside the radiation image information reading apparatus 10, a closing roller 48 that is displaceable in the direction of arrow Z shown in FIG. The lid closing roller 48 performs a lid closing process by pressing the lid member 16 against the main body portion 14 when the cassette 12 is taken out from the radiation image information reading apparatus 10.

  A conveying belt 58 that extends in the horizontal direction from the loading port 46 and constitutes a conveying mechanism 56 that conveys the cassette 12 is disposed. Both ends of the transport belt 58 are supported by pulleys 60a and 60b so as to be able to circulate. A drive motor 68 is coupled to the pulley 60b via a belt 64 and a pulley 66. A positioning plate 69 is disposed on the conveyor belt 58 to determine the placement position in the conveyance direction by contacting the end of the main body 14 of the cassette 12. Note that pin members 62a and 62b for releasing the lock of the lid member 16 by being inserted into the holes 26a and 26b of the positioned main body 14 are disposed on both sides of the positioning plate 69 (FIG. 7). ).

  One end portions of link members 23a and 23b constituting an opening / closing mechanism of the lid member 16 are pivotally supported by brackets 71a and 71b at the center lower portion of the transport mechanism 56. The other end portions of the link members 23a and 23b are on standby in a state inclined upward by a predetermined amount with respect to the conveyor belt 58 as shown in FIG. 2 before the cassette 12 is loaded. Pin members 73a and 73b that engage with grooves 21a and 21b formed on both sides of the lid member 16 are implanted at the end.

  Further, the conveyance belt 58 constituting the conveyance mechanism 56 is located on both sides of the cassette 12 spaced apart from the positioning plate 69 toward the loading port 46 by a certain distance, and constitutes a pin constituting the storage phosphor sheet IP take-out mechanism. Members 70a and 70b (FIGS. 2 and 6) are implanted. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, one end portion is pivotally supported on both sides of the conveyor belt 58 near the pulley 60 b, and the other end portion projects into the moving region of the pin members 70 a and 70 b. 19a and 19b are arranged. The engaging members 19a and 19b are biased toward the pin members 70a and 70b by the springs 74a and 74b, and are rotationally displaced in the direction of arrow A by the pin members 70a and 70b, whereby the groove portion 17a of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP. , 17b, and the stimulable phosphor sheet IP is taken out from the main body 14 by a predetermined amount.

  Further, a pressing plate 75 that is displaced in the arrow Y direction (FIG. 9) by the cylinder 77 is disposed on the pulley 60b. The pressing plate 75 stores the stimulable phosphor sheet IP in the cassette 12 by pressing the end of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP taken out from the main body 14 of the cassette 12 by a predetermined amount.

  2 to 4, a reading unit 79 that reads the radiation image information recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet IP in the opened cassette 12, and a radiographic image information An erasing unit 81 for erasing radiation image information remaining on the read stimulable phosphor sheet IP is provided.

  The reading unit 79 is disposed in parallel with the conveying belt 58 constituting the conveying mechanism 56 and is engaged with a ball screw 85 that is rotated by a drive motor 83, and is movable in the arrow Y direction (sub direction). The reading unit 79 is obtained from the stimulable phosphor sheet IP by scanning with the excitation optical system 76 that scans the laser beam L that is the excitation light with respect to the main direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP. And a photoelectric conversion unit 80 including a photomultiplier, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) line sensor, and the like that receive the photostimulated luminescence light through a condensing guide 78.

  The erasing unit 81 is disposed on the side of the conveyor belt 58, and is a halogen lamp, an HID (High Intensity Discharge Lamps) lamp, etc. that irradiates the storable phosphor sheet IP from which the radiation image information is read. An erasing light source 82 is formed.

  The radiation image information reading apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is basically configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described next.

  In accordance with the guidance displayed on the display / operation unit 50, the operator uses the operator confirmation sensor 52 to cause the radiation image information reading apparatus 10 to confirm that the operator is an appropriate operator, and then accumulates and records the radiation image information. The cassette 12 storing the stimulable phosphor sheet IP is loaded from the loading port 46 through the loading table 38 (FIG. 2).

  When the end portions on the holes 26 a and 26 b side of the main body 14 of the cassette 12 are brought into contact with the positioning plate 69 disposed on the conveyor belt 58 and positioned, the pin members 62 a and 62 b disposed on both sides of the positioning plate 69. Is inserted into the holes 26a, 26b of the cassette 12 (FIG. 7). It is assumed that the closing roller 48 disposed above the loading port 46 is retracted upward in the arrow Z direction. In this case, when the pin members 62 a and 62 b are inserted into the holes 26 a and 26 b of the main body 14, the slide member 24 is displaced toward the support member 20, so that the engaging portions are moved from the claw portions 30 a and 30 b of the lid member 16. 32 is released, and the lock of the lid member 16 is released (FIG. 6).

  Next, the drive motor 68 constituting the transport mechanism 56 is driven to displace the transport belt 58 in the arrow Y direction via the pulley 66, the belt 64, and the pulleys 60a and 60b, whereby the cassette 12 causes the radiographic image information reading apparatus 10 to move. 2, the pin members 73a, 73b planted at one end of the link members 23a, 23b constituting the lid opening mechanism waiting in the state shown in FIG. 21b is engaged. When the cassette 12 is further conveyed in the arrow Y direction from this state, the lid member 16 is opened by the action of the link members 23a and 23b (FIG. 3).

  When the cassette 12 is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow Y while the lid member 16 is opened, the engaging members 19a and 19b constituting the take-out mechanism disposed near the pulley 60b are moved to the conveying belt 58. The implanted pin members 70a and 70b are rotationally displaced in the direction of arrow A against the elastic force of the springs 74a and 74b (FIG. 7). At this time, the groove portions 17a and 17b of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP housed in the cassette 12 are arranged close to the pin members 70a and 70b, and the tip portions of the rotationally displaced engagement members 19a and 19b are groove portions. Engages 17a and 17b.

  In this case, since the tip ends of the engaging members 19a and 19b are located closer to the stimulable phosphor sheet IP than the pin members 70a and 70b with respect to the rotation center axis, the arrows Y of the engaging members 19a and 19b The moving speed with respect to the direction is faster than the moving speed of the pin members 70a and 70b by the conveyor belt 58. Accordingly, the engaging members 19a and 19b take out the stimulable phosphor sheet IP from the main body portion 14 of the cassette 12 through the groove portions 17a and 17b, and project the leading end portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP from the main body portion 14 by a predetermined amount. It is set as the state made into (FIG. 8). Thereafter, the drive motor 68 is stopped, and the cassette 12 and the stimulable phosphor sheet IP are positioned at predetermined portions.

  Next, reading processing of radiation image information is started from the above state using the reading unit 79. That is, the drive motor 83 is driven to rotate the ball screw 85, and the reading unit 79 is moved in the arrow Y direction (sub direction). The laser beam L which is excitation light output from the excitation optical system 76 of the reading unit 79 scans the stimulable phosphor sheet IP in the main direction. Therefore, the stimulable phosphor sheet IP is scanned two-dimensionally by the laser beam L.

  In this case, since the stimulable phosphor sheet IP is taken out from the cassette 12 by a predetermined amount as shown in FIG. 4, the reading unit 79 does not interfere with the lid member 16 and does not interfere with the cover phosphor 16. The entire surface can be scanned. Further, the stimulable phosphor sheet IP only needs to protrude by a predetermined amount from the main body 14 within a range in which the reading unit 79 does not interfere with the lid member 16, and therefore the space occupied by the cassette 12 and the stimulable phosphor sheet IP. Can be contributed to miniaturization of the radiation image information reading apparatus 10.

  From the stimulable phosphor sheet IP irradiated with the laser beam L, stimulated emission light corresponding to the recorded radiation image information is output. The stimulated emission light is guided to the photoelectric conversion unit 80 via the light collecting guide 78 and converted into an electric signal.

  After the reading process is completed and the reading unit 79 is returned to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, the erasing unit 81 is driven to turn on the erasing light source 82, and the storable phosphor sheet IP is irradiated with the erasing light Q. By doing so, the remaining radiation image information is erased.

  After the erasing process is completed, when the transport mechanism 56 is driven and the cassette 12 is transported by a predetermined amount in the direction away from the loading port 46, the engaging members 19a and 19b are moved to the pin members 70a, as shown in FIG. Since it is rotationally displaced by 70b, the front-end | tip part of engaging member 19a, 19b remove | deviates from the groove parts 17a, 17b of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP. Thereafter, the cylinder 77 standing by above the pulley 60 b is driven to displace the pressing plate 75 toward the loading port 46, whereby the stimulable phosphor sheet IP is displaced and stored in the main body 14.

  After the stimulable phosphor sheet IP is stored in the main body 14, the transport mechanism 56 is driven, and the cassette 12 is transported to the loading port 46 side by the transport belt 58. At this time, the link members 23a and 23b whose one end engages with the grooves 21a and 21b of the lid member 16 via the pin members 73a and 73b gradually close the lid member 16. When the cassette 12 is ejected to the loading table 38, the lid member 16 is lowered by lowering the lid roller 48 disposed in the upper portion of the loading port 46 in the direction of the arrow Z to press the lid member 16. The main body 14 is locked by the lock mechanisms 18a and 18b.

  As described above, the cassette 12 containing the stimulable phosphor sheet IP is discharged to the outside of the radiation image information reading apparatus 10.

  In addition, the opening / closing mechanism of the lid member 16 in the above-described embodiment can also be configured as shown in FIGS.

  That is, one end portion of the link members 86a and 86b is pivotally supported through the long holes 88a and 88b, while the pin members 90a and 90b implanted in the other end portions of the link members 86a and 86b are used as the groove portions 21a of the lid member 16. , 21b, and is arranged so as to slide along the inclined cam surfaces 94a, 94b of the cam members 92a, 92b disposed on both sides of the conveyor belt 58.

  When the opening / closing mechanism is configured in this way, the cam members 92a and 92b move together with the cassette 12, so that the pin members 90a and 90b of the link members 86a and 86b held by the springs 96a and 96b become the cam surfaces 94a and 94b. Then, the lid member 16 is opened.

  Further, the engaging members 19a and 19b constituting the take-out mechanism for taking out the stimulable phosphor sheet IP from the cassette 12 are not displaced by rotation using the pin members 70a and 70b, but when the cassette 12 is conveyed to a predetermined position. Further, the storage phosphor sheet IP can be taken out by rotating it using a driving source such as a motor and engaging with the grooves 21a and 21b of the storage phosphor sheet IP.

1 is an external view of a radiation image information reading apparatus according to an embodiment. It is an internal block diagram at the time of cassette loading of the radiographic image information reading apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is an internal block diagram in the cassette lid opening of the radiographic image information reading apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is an internal block diagram at the time of the cassette lid opening completion of the radiographic image information reading apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the cassette with which the radiographic image information reader which concerns on this embodiment is loaded. FIG. 6 is a configuration explanatory view of a lock mechanism disposed in the cassette shown in FIG. 5. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the taking-out mechanism of the storage fluorescent substance sheet in the radiographic image information reader which concerns on this embodiment. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the taking-out mechanism of the storage fluorescent substance sheet in the radiographic image information reader which concerns on this embodiment. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the taking-out mechanism of the storage fluorescent substance sheet in the radiographic image information reader which concerns on this embodiment. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of other embodiment of the opening / closing mechanism in a radiographic image information reader. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of other embodiment of the opening / closing mechanism in a radiographic image information reader.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Radiation image information reader 12 ... Cassette 14 ... Main-body part 16 ... Lid member 17a, 17b, 21a, 21b ... Groove part 18a, 18b ... Locking mechanism 19a, 19b ... Engagement member 23a, 23b, 86a, 86b ... Link member 46 ... loading port 56 ... transport mechanism 58 ... transport belt 62a, 62b, 70a, 70b, 73a, 73b ... pin member 69 ... positioning plate 75 ... pressing plate 76 ... excitation optical system 79 ... reading unit 80 ... photoelectric conversion unit 81 ... Erase unit 82 ... Erase light source 92a, 92b ... Cam member

Claims (3)

The stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiographic image information is stored and recorded is irradiated with excitation light, and the obtained photostimulated light is photoelectrically read to acquire the radiographic image information, and then irradiated with erasing light to remain. In the radiation image information reading device for erasing radiation image information,
A loading section for loading a cassette containing the stimulable phosphor sheet;
An opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes a lid member that is pivotally supported by a cassette body that houses the stimulable phosphor sheet at one end;
A take-out mechanism for taking out a predetermined amount of the stimulable phosphor sheet from the other end of the cassette;
Irradiating excitation light in the main direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet, reading the stimulated emission light obtained from the stimulable phosphor sheet by the excitation light, and the sub-direction that is the direction of taking out the stimulable phosphor sheet A reading unit that moves to
An erasing unit for irradiating the stimulable phosphor sheet with erasing light;
A transport mechanism for transporting the cassette ,
The opening and closing mechanism, said has an engaging member for engaging the lid member, a radiation image, wherein the engaging member is characterized that you open or close the lid member on the basis of the conveyance operation of the cassette by the conveying mechanism Information reader. The stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiographic image information is stored and recorded is irradiated with excitation light, and the obtained photostimulated light is photoelectrically read to acquire the radiographic image information, and then irradiated with erasing light to remain. In the radiation image information reading device for erasing radiation image information,
A loading section for loading a cassette containing the stimulable phosphor sheet;
An opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes a lid member that is pivotally supported by a cassette body that houses the stimulable phosphor sheet at one end;
A take-out mechanism for taking out a predetermined amount of the stimulable phosphor sheet from the other end of the cassette;
Irradiating excitation light in the main direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet, reading the stimulated emission light obtained from the stimulable phosphor sheet by the excitation light, and a sub-direction that is the take-out direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet A reading unit that moves to
An erasing unit for irradiating the stimulable phosphor sheet with erasing light;
And a transport mechanism for transporting the cassette,
The take-out mechanism includes an engaging member that engages with the stimulable phosphor sheet housed in the cassette, and the engaging member is configured to perform the storage of the stimulable fluorescent light based on a transport operation of the cassette by the transport mechanism. A radiological image information reading apparatus, wherein a predetermined amount of a body sheet is taken out from the cassette. The stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiographic image information is stored and recorded is irradiated with excitation light, and the obtained photostimulated light is photoelectrically read to acquire the radiographic image information, and then irradiated with erasing light to remain. In a cassette that is loaded into a radiation image information reading device that erases radiation image information and stores the stimulable phosphor sheet,
The cassette is
A lid member whose one end is pivotally supported with respect to the cassette main body for storing the stimulable phosphor sheet;
A groove extending from one end side to the other end side along the side of the lid member;
The lid member is opened with respect to the cassette body by an engaging member that engages and moves with the groove when the cassette is loaded in the radiation image information reading device. Cassette.

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