JPH01237642A - Radiographic image information recording reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simultaneously execute photographing and taking in and out of an accumulative phosphor sheet to and from a stacker and to efficiently execute the circulation of the accumulative phosphor sheet by providing the stacker on a position which has been separated from an image recording part by a radiation shielding means. CONSTITUTION:A stacker 100 is provided in a device, an erased accumulative phosphor sheet 1 is held in the stacker 100 and can be used successively for photographing, and also, a photographed accumulative phosphor sheet 1 can be contained successively in the stacker 100, and by only providing one stacker 100, continuous photographing can be executed. Also, since the stacker 100 is provided on a position which has been separated from an image recording part 10 by a radiation shielding means 2, instead of the inside of an image recording part, the accumulative phosphor sheet 1 can be taken in and out to and from the stacker 100 even in the course of photographing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of the Invention) The present invention involves accumulating and recording radiation image information on a stimulable phosphor sheet, then irradiating this with excitation light, and performing photostimulation according to the accumulated and recorded image information. It relates to a radiation image information recording/reading device that detects emitted light, reads image information, and converts it into an electrical signal.More specifically, it relates to a radiation image information recording/reading device that detects emitted light, reads image information, and converts it into an electrical signal. The present invention relates to an image information recording/reading device.

(Conventional technology) Certain phosphors are exposed to radiation (X-rays, α-rays, β-rays.

When irradiated with γ-rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc., a portion of the energy of this radiation is accumulated in the phosphor, and when the phosphor is then irradiated with excitation light such as visible light, it responds to the accumulated energy. The phosphor exhibits stimulated luminescence. A phosphor exhibiting such properties is called a stimulable phosphor (stimulable phosphor).

Using this stimulable phosphor, radiation image information of a subject such as a human body is stored and recorded on a sheet of stimulable phosphor, and this is scanned with excitation light to cause stimulated luminescence. A radiographic image information recording and reproducing method has been proposed in which an image signal is obtained by photoelectrically reading the image signal, and this image signal is processed to obtain a radiation image of a subject that is suitable for diagnosis (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 55-12429 and 5B). -11395, 55-
No. 163472, No. 5B-104645, No. 55-1
18340 etc.). In this method, the final image may be reproduced as a hard copy or a CRT image.
It may also be reproduced as a visible image on top. In such radiation image information recording and reproducing methods, the stimulable phosphor sheet does not ultimately record image information, but temporarily carries image information in order to provide the image to the final recording medium as described above. Therefore, this stimulable phosphor sheet may be used repeatedly, and such repeated use is extremely economical.

Also, for example, when a mobile station such as an X-ray vehicle is equipped with a radiation image information recording/reading device that uses a stimulable phosphor sheet, and the mobile station travels to various locations for group examinations to take X-rays. It is inconvenient to load a large number of stimulable phosphor sheets into a vehicle, and there is a limit to the number of sheets that can be loaded onto a moving vehicle. Therefore, a stimulable phosphor sheet is mounted on a mobile vehicle in a reusable manner, and radiation image information for each subject is recorded on it. If the radiation images are copied onto a recording medium and the stimulable phosphor sheet is recycled and reused, radiation images of a large number of objects can be taken using a mobile vehicle, which is extremely useful in practice. Furthermore, this cyclical reuse allows continuous shooting (i,
It is also possible to increase the speed of imaging during group medical examinations.
The practical effects are extremely large.

In addition, in order to reuse the stimulable phosphor sheet in this way, the radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor sheet after the stimulated luminescence light has been read can be removed using, for example, JP-A-56-11.
The stimulable phosphor sheet may be used again for recording radiation images by emitting it to erase residual radiation images by the method shown in No. 392 and No. 58-12599.

Based on the above viewpoint, the present applicant has proposed an image recording section that accumulates and records radiation image information of a subject on a stimulable phosphor sheet by irradiating radiation through the subject, and an image recording section. An excitation light source emits excitation light that scans a stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiographic image information has been accumulated and recorded; and an image signal is generated by reading the stimulated luminescent light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet scanned by this excitation light. an image reading section having a photoelectric reading means for obtaining
and an erasing section that releases residual radiation energy on the stimulable phosphor sheet prior to recording an image on the stimulable phosphor sheet after the image reading is performed in the image reading section. The radiation image information is incorporated and the stimulable phosphor sheet is sequentially conveyed from the image recording section to the image reading section and the erasing section by a circulation conveyance means, and then returned to the image recording section for circulation and reuse. Record reading device (hereinafter referred to as built-in type device)
This was proposed earlier (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 192240/1983).

By the way, as mentioned above, such a built-in φ-in type device is extremely suitable for use, for example, in vehicles for mass medical examinations, so it is possible to perform continuous imaging at as short an interval as possible, and the device is easy to use. It is desirable that the device be small. However, when performing continuous imaging, it is necessary to continuously supply multiple erased and photographable stimulable phosphor sheets to the image recording unit; , compared to shooting, reading and erasing takes longer time, especially reading takes about 45 seconds as an example.
Since the required time is the longest, such as requiring seconds, if a photograph is taken every time a sheet that has been read and erased returns to the image recording section, there is a problem that the interval between photographing becomes long.

Therefore, in the case of continuous photographing, it is necessary to provide a waiting zone in the sheet conveyance path between the erasing section and the image recording section, where a plurality of erasing section sheets can be kept on standby and taken out as appropriate. On the other hand, the sheets that have been photographed must be sequentially sent to the image reading unit for image reading, but as mentioned above, the reading time is extremely long compared to the photographing time, and two sheets for which image recording has been completed are required. The sheets after the first one cannot be immediately conveyed to the image reading unit. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a standby zone between the image recording section and the image reading section, in which a plurality of photographed sheets are kept on standby and the sheets are taken out one by one each time the reading section becomes available for use. (Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication 1986-
256130, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6 [3-256131] Therefore, in order to perform continuous shooting with a built-in ◆ type device, it is necessary to provide a total of two waiting zones, one each before and after the image recording section. As the size of the device increases, the structure becomes more complicated, resulting in an increase in manufacturing costs.

Therefore, the present applicant has provided an image recording unit with a plurality of trays capable of storing stimulable phosphor sheets one by one and capable of discharging the stored sheets, each tray serving as a means for circulating and transporting stimulable phosphor sheets. A sheet stacker that moves so that it can be connected, and a stimulable phosphor sheet taken out from an arbitrary tray in this stacker and conveyed to a photographing position, and further, the stimulable phosphor sheet at the photographing position is conveyed to an arbitrary tray. We have already proposed a device that integrates the above two waiting zones by providing a transport mechanism for
39).

That is, in the above-mentioned apparatus, by connecting the tray in the sheet stacker to the circulation conveyance means, normal circulation conveyance of sheets can be carried out by the circulation conveyance means. In addition, a part of the tray in the stacker is used as a waiting zone for waiting the erased sheets, and the stimulable phosphor sheet is taken out from the tray containing the erased sheets by the transport mechanism and sent to the photographing position. At the same time, an empty tray among the trays in the stacker is used as a waiting zone for the stimulable phosphor sheet to be conveyed to the reading unit, and the conveyance mechanism transfers the photographed sheet to the empty tray. can be brought in sequentially.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, it is preferable that the image recording section is movable up and down to accommodate the height of the subject and the area to be photographed, but in that case, if a stacker is provided in the image recording section, The stacker also moves up and down integrally. Built-in
In this type of device, even if radiation is irradiated during imaging, the image reading unit is

Generally, a radiation shielding plate such as a lead plate is provided between the image recording section and other parts to prevent radiation from being irradiated to the erasing section, etc.; however, a stacker is placed inside the image recording section. If the stacker moves up and down, it is difficult to arrange the stacker inside the radiation shielding plate. Therefore, since the area around the stacker is not shielded from radiation, it is not possible to take the stimulable phosphor sheet in and out of the stacker at the same time as shooting, which limits the timing at which the stimulable phosphor sheet can be taken in and out of the stacker. There is this inconvenience.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is intended to simplify the transport system for the stimulable phosphor sheet and downsize the entire device in an apparatus equipped with a stacker to enable continuous shooting. It is an object of the present invention to provide a radiographic image information recording/reading system that allows the user to take the stimulable phosphor sheet in and out of the stacker at any desired timing.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The radiographic image information recording/reading device of the present invention has a sheet storage section capable of storing stimulable phosphor sheets one by one in addition to the above-described image recording section 9 image reading section and erasing section. a plurality of stackers arranged in parallel to each other, each receiving the stimulable phosphor sheet in each sheet storage section, and capable of ejecting the stimulable phosphor sheet in each sheet storage section one by one; a first sheet circulating conveyance means for transporting the stimulable phosphor sheet into the stacker after sending the stimulable phosphor sheet to the image recording section; and a first sheet circulating conveyance means for transporting the stimulable phosphor sheet discharged from the stacker to the image reading section; A second sheet circulation conveyance means for feeding the sheet to the erasing section and further carrying it into the stacker, and the stacker, together with the image reading section and the erasing section, is separated from the image recording section by a radiation shielding means. It is characterized by:

(Function) According to this device, by providing the above-mentioned stacker in the device, erased stimulable phosphor sheets can be kept in standby in the stacker and used for sequential imaging, and images that have already been photographed can be stored. The phosphor sheets can be sequentially stored in the stacker, and continuous photographing can be performed simply by providing one stacker.

Furthermore, according to this device, the stacker is not located within the image recording section, but is separated from the image recording section by the radiation shielding means, so that the stimulable phosphor sheet can be taken in and out of the stacker even during imaging. be able to.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a radiation image information recording/reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The illustrated apparatus includes an image recording section 1O1 for recording (photographing) image information on a stimulable phosphor sheet 1; an image reading section 2 for reading image information recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet 1;
0, an erasing section 80 that erases the radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 after reading is completed, and a plurality of sheet storage sections 101, each of which stores one stimulable phosphor sheet 1 in parallel to each other. Possible stacker 10G
, a first sheet circulation conveyance means 50 that conveys the stimulable phosphor sheet discharged from the stacker 100 to the image recording section IO, and carries the stimulable phosphor sheet whose image has been photographed in the image recording section IO into the stacker 100; , and a second sheet circulation conveyance means 60 that conveys the stimulable phosphor sheet discharged from the stacker 100 to the image reading section 20 and the erasing section 30, and then carries the erased stimulable phosphor sheet into the stacker 100. I can see that. Note that the first sheet circulation conveyance means 50 and the second sheet circulation conveyance means 80 have a common upper and lower portion of the stacker 100. Further, in the stacker 100, all the sheet storage sections 101 are arranged in the first (second) sheet circulation conveyance means 50 (
80), it is movable from the position shown by the solid line in the figure to the position shown by the broken line in the figure. A perspective view of this stacker 100 is shown in FIG.

The illustrated stacker 100 stores, for example, five trays 104 standing up in the vertical direction in a casing 103 whose top and bottom surfaces are open, and the space inside these trays 104 is the same as the sheet storage section 101 described above. Become. A rack 105 is formed on one side of the casing 103,
A pinion 106 engages with this rack 105, and the pinion 10B is driven and rotated by a motor 107, so that a wheel 109 to which the lower end of the casing 103 is attached reciprocates in the direction of the arrow on the rail 10g. In the apparatus of this embodiment, the rack 105. Pinion 10B, motor 107. Rail 108. Wheels 109 constitute a means for moving the stacker 100. By this moving means, the stacker 100 is moved in the horizontal direction, and an arbitrary sheet storage section 101 is arranged above the stacker and below the carry-in roller 51 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) to store the stimulable phosphor sheet. At the same time, the stimulable phosphor sheet can be discharged by disposing an arbitrary sheet storage section 101 above the discharge roller 52 (see FIG. 1) below the stacker. The stimulable phosphor sheet is discharged from the sheet storage section 1 (11) by opening the lower surface of the tray 104 and dropping the stimulable phosphor sheet 1.

That is, the tray 104 is composed of a support plate 104A and a bottom plate 104B as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and when each tray 104 is placed above the delivery roller 52, the bottom plate 104B is The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 in the tray is dropped and passed to the roller 52. As shown in FIG. 3, a notch 104a is formed at one end of the bottom plate 104B, and a cutout 104a is formed at one end of the bottom plate 104B.
Above is a drive means txt such as a rotary solenoid.
A lever 112 having a protrusion 112a that can be rotated in the direction of arrow B by the lever 112 is provided.
a engages with the protrusion 104b for forming the notch of the bottom plate 104B of the tray 104, and the lever 112 rotates in the direction of arrow B, thereby moving the bottom plate 104B in the direction of arrow B.
' direction to move the bottom plate 104B to approximately the same plane as the support plate 104A of the tray 104, as shown by the broken line in FIG. When the bottom plate 104B rotates to the above position, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 in the tray 104 falls due to its own weight.

When photographing is performed in the image recording section 10, one stimulable phosphor sheet stored in the stacker 100 in a photographable state is ejected from the stacker as described above, and the ejecting roller 52 is , the sheet is transferred to the first sheet circulation conveyance means 50. The first sheet circulating conveyance means 50 conveys the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 in the directions of arrows A1 to A6 and sends it into the image recording section 10. At this time, the distribution plate 53 provided in the middle of the conveyance path of the first sheet circulating conveyance means 50 is located at the position indicated by the broken line in the figure, so that the stimulable phosphor sheet is conveyed downward in the figure. forgive.

In the image recording unit 1O, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is held at its upper and lower ends by nip rollers 55 and 56, raised along the guide plate 54, and moved to the front photographing position indicated by the broken line in the figure. I am forced to do it. When the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is placed at this imaging position, a radiation source 11 such as an X-ray source is activated, and the radiation emitted from this radiation source 11 passes through the subject 12 and is exposed to the stimulable phosphor sheet 1. This stimulable phosphor sheet 1
Radiation image information of the subject is accumulated and recorded. The image recording unit 10 of the apparatus of this embodiment can be moved up and down from the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 to the position shown by the broken line so that the imaging position can be changed in the vertical direction. Furthermore, as the image recording section 10 moves, the nip rollers 55 and 56 also move up and down, but in this apparatus, the nip rollers 55 and 56
．． No matter where 58 is located, the distance between these nip rollers and an adjacent roller is designed to be less than the length of one stimulable phosphor sheet. If the image recording unit 10 is movable in the vertical direction in this manner, it is convenient because it can quickly respond to cases such as when the height of the subject differs or when the imaging site changes. Further, a radiation shielding means 2 such as a lead plate is arranged behind the image recording section IO, and the stacker 100, image reading section 20, and erasing section 30 are connected to the image recording section IO by this radiation shielding means 2. separated from Therefore, image information is read within the image reading section 20.

Erasing in the erasing unit 30 and loading and unloading the stimulable phosphor sheet into and out of the stacker 100 can be performed even while photographing is being performed in the image recording unit IO.

When the photographing is completed in the image recording unit IO, the stimulable phosphor sheet is returned to the solid line position, and after being conveyed in the direction of arrow A, -Au by the first sheet circulating conveyance means 50, it is transferred to the stacker by the carry-in roller 51. The sheets are carried into an empty sheet storage section 101 in the sheet storage section 100 .

As will be described later, the photographed stimulable phosphor sheet 1 either passes through the sheet storage section 101 or is kept on standby in the stacker, and is then discharged from the sheet storage section 101 and passed to the carry-out roller 52, where it is transferred to the second conveyance roller 52. The sheet is conveyed in the direction of arrow A1 by the sheet circulating conveyance means 60.

Note that when the photographed stimulable phosphor sheet is discharged from the stacker 100, the distribution plate 53 moves to the position shown by the solid line in the figure and guides the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 in the direction of arrow At2. do. The stimulable phosphor sheet is guided by this distribution plate 53 and sent into the image reading section 20.

The image reading unit 20 scans the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 on which image information has been accumulated and recorded with an excitation light 21 such as a laser beam,
The stimulated luminescent light emitted from the sheet 1 by the scanning is photoelectrically read by a photoelectric reading means 22 such as a photomultiplier to obtain an electrical image signal for outputting a visible image. In the figure, 23 is an excitation light source, 24 is a light deflector such as a galvanometer mirror, and 26 is a light guide 22a of a photoelectric reading means for detecting the stimulated luminescence light emitted from the sheet 2 (the light guide 22a totally reflects the stimulated luminescence light). This is a reflecting mirror that reflects the light toward a photodetector 22b such as a photomultiplier.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 carried into the image reading section 20 is conveyed in the direction of arrow AI3 by the second sheet circulating conveyance means 60, and excitation light 21 is deflected substantially perpendicularly to this conveyance direction.
The entire surface of the sheet is scanned two-dimensionally to generate stimulated luminescent light, and this stimulated luminescent light is transmitted to the light guide 22a.
The image information is detected by the photodetector 22b and read out.

The read image signal is transmitted to an image processing circuit (not shown), subjected to necessary image processing, and then sent to a necessary image reproduction device. This reproducing device may be a display such as a CRT, a recording device that performs optical scanning recording on a photosensitive film, or a device that records on a recording device such as a magnetic tape for that purpose. Further, the optical members disposed in the image reading section 20 are not limited to those described above, and for example, as a photoelectric reading means as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 82-18688, a long photo sensor is used along the main scanning line. A multiplier may be provided to detect stimulated luminescence light without going through the large light guide 22a.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 whose image information has been read in the image reading section 20 as described above is conveyed in the direction of arrow A14 by the second sheet circulating conveyance means 60 toward the erasing section 30.

The erasing unit 30 erases the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 after the reading is completed.
This is for erasing the radiation image information remaining in the stimulable phosphor (releasing the radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor). That is, some of the radiation image information stored and recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 still remains on the sheet after reading, and in order to reuse the stimulable phosphor sheet 1, this residual image information is Erasing is performed in erasing section 30. Any erasing method may be used in this erasing section 30. The erasing unit 3o in this device is provided with an erasing light source 31 such as a fluorescent lamp, tungsten lamp, sodium lamp, xenon lamp, iodine lamp, etc. Upon receiving light irradiation from the light source 31, residual radiation energy on the sheet is released.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 that has been erased in the erasing section 30 is moved by the second sheet circulating conveyance means 60 in the direction of arrow A1.
6. It is transported in the A17 direction and sent to the stacker 100 again. Note that, before the erased stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is carried in, the stacker 100 moves in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The phosphor sheet 1 is carried into this sheet storage section as appropriate.

By the way, in order to perform continuous imaging in a short period of time in the image recording unit IO, the stimulable phosphor sheets that have been erased are sent one after another to the imaging position, and the stimulable phosphor sheets 1 that have been photographed are sent to the imaging position one after another. Regardless of the status of the image reading unit, it is necessary to carry it out from the imaging position. In this apparatus, the above-mentioned stacker 100 is provided, and the first sheet circulation conveyance means 50 and the second sheet circulation conveyance means 60 are provided, thereby making it possible to carry out the above-mentioned continuous photographing. Hereinafter, specific operations of the stacker 100 and the two sheet circulation conveyance means will be described.

Before starting continuous photographing with this apparatus, as many sheets as possible that can be photographed are collected in the stacker 100 by completing reading and erasing of all the stimulable phosphor sheets 1 in the apparatus.

The first photographing is carried out by taking out one stimulable phosphor sheet of the erasing section from the stacker 100 and sending it to the image recording section IO by the first sheet circulating conveyance means 50. After the body sheet 1 is carried into the stacker 100 by the first sheet circulation conveyance means 50, it passes through the sheet storage section 101 and is sent to the image reading section 20 by the second sheet circulation conveyance means 60. In addition,
As described above, the distribution plate 53 changes its position depending on whether the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 discharged from the stacker 100 has been erased or photographed.

Furthermore, when the first photographing is completed in the image recording section 10,
The next erased stimulable phosphor sheet is immediately discharged from the stacker 100 and sent to the image recording section 10 by the first sheet circulating conveyance means 50. This stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is also carried into the stacker 100 after the photographing is completed, but at this time, if the processing of the preceding stimulable phosphor sheet has not been completed in the image reading section 20, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is carried into the stacker 100 as it is. They are made to wait inside. In this way, the erased stimulable phosphor sheets are sequentially discharged from the stacker and sent to the image recording section IO, and the photographed stimulable phosphor sheets are carried into the empty sheet storage section lot in the stacker 100 as appropriate. be done. Further, the photographed stimulable phosphor sheet 1 stored in the stacker 100 is appropriately conveyed to the image reading section 20 by the second sheet circulating conveyance means 60 every time the image reading section 20 becomes vacant.

In this way, according to the present apparatus, the stacker as described above is provided, and the stimulable phosphor sheets are circulated by two systems of sheet circulation conveyance means, so that the erased stimulable phosphor sheets are transported by one stacker. The sheet and the photographed stimulable phosphor sheet can be placed on standby, allowing continuous photographing. In addition, in this embodiment, especially the first
The sheet circulation conveyance means 50 and the second sheet circulation conveyance means 60 both carry the stimulable phosphor sheet into the stacker from the upper end of the stacker, and receive and remove the stimulable phosphor sheet discharged from the stacker. Since both are carried out at the lower end of the stacker, the conveyance system is simplified and the apparatus can be prevented from becoming larger and more complicated. In order to smoothly load and unload the stimulable phosphor sheets into and out of the stacker by the two sheet circulation conveyance means, the timing of the conveyance of the two sheet circulation conveyance means must be controlled, and each sheet storage section in the stacker must be It remembers whether the erased stimulable phosphor sheet is stored, the imaged stimulable phosphor sheet is stored, or the sheet is empty, and the sheet is placed in the desired position in the desired state. A control means for arranging the storage section is required, and the apparatus of this embodiment is provided with a control section 40 above the image reading section 20 for performing the above control. In addition, according to the device of this embodiment, since the stacker is arranged inside the radiation shielding means together with the image reading section, the erasing section, etc., the stimulable phosphor sheet can be taken in and out of the stacker even during radiation irradiation. Therefore, the timing of transporting the stimulable phosphor sheet can be set freely.

Note that the stacker in the apparatus of the present invention is not limited to one in which the stimulable phosphor sheet is held vertically to a horizontal surface, but also a stacker in which the stimulable phosphor sheet is held in an upright position diagonally upward; It may also be held horizontally. Furthermore, the stacker side does not necessarily have to move to take the stimulable phosphor sheet in and out of the desired sheet storage section of the stacker, and the connecting portions of the first and second sheet circulating conveyance means with the stacker are connected to each sheet. It may be moved so that it can be adjacent to the storage section. Furthermore, the conveyance paths of the first sheet circulation conveyance means and the second sheet circulation conveyance means can also be set in various ways.

For example, in the device shown in FIG. 4, the first
Among the conveyance paths 50' by the sheet circulation conveyance means, the conveyance path for the stimulable phosphor sheet discharged from the stacker 100 is formed to pass on the right side of the stacker 100 in the figure. This portion is also used as a transport path 50' by the first sheet circulation transport means when transporting the stimulable phosphor sheet from the image recording section 10 to the stacker 100.

Further, in the apparatus shown in FIG. 5, a conveyance path 60' by the second sheet circulating conveyance means shown by a solid line in the figure is formed on the right side of the stacker [00 in the figure.

The conveyance path 50' by the first sheet circulation conveyance means is indicated by the broken line in the figure, and when the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 taken out from the stacker 100 is conveyed to the image recording unit IO, the conveyance path 50' is indicated by the broken line in the figure. The stimulable phosphor sheet is once conveyed downward along the conveyance path 50' shown, and then conveyed upward by switchback. Furthermore, when carrying the stimulable phosphor sheet for which imaging has been completed into the stacker 100, the stimulable phosphor sheet conveyed downward from the image recording unit IO is once conveyed to the right, and then moved to the left by a switchback. The stimulable phosphor sheet is conveyed, and further conveyed upward along a conveyance path 50' shown by a broken line, so as to rise along a common conveyance path with the conveyance path 50' of the stimulable phosphor sheet taken out from the stacker 100 described above. There is.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the position at which the stimulable phosphor sheet is carried into the stacker by the first sheet circulation conveyance means and the second sheet circulation conveyance means, and the position at which the stimulable phosphor sheet is carried into the stacker by the first sheet circulation conveyance means and the second If the stimulable phosphor sheets are discharged from the stacker to the sheet circulation conveyance means at the same position, or if the first sheet circulation conveyance means and the second sheet circulation conveyance means are on the same end face of the stacker. The stimulable phosphor sheets may be taken in and out of the stacker at different positions.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the radiation image information recording/reading device of the present invention, a stacker is provided that can store both the photographed stimulable phosphor sheet and the stimulable phosphor sheet of the erasing section. This allows continuous shooting. Furthermore, in the apparatus of the present invention, since the stacker is provided in a position separated from the image recording section by the radiation shielding means, it is possible to simultaneously take pictures and take the stimulable phosphor sheet into and out of the stacker. The phosphor sheet can be circulated efficiently.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a radiation image information recording/reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a stacker in the above device, and FIG. 3 shows a mechanism for taking out a stimulable phosphor sheet from the stacker. The perspective view, FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic diagrams showing examples of conveyance paths of the first sheet circulation conveyance means and the second sheet circulation conveyance means in the apparatus of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Stimulable phosphor sheet 2... Radiation shielding means 10... Image recording section 20... Image reading section 30... Erasing section 50... First sheet circulating conveyance means 60... -Second sheet circulation conveyance means 100...Stacker 101...Sheet storage section Fig. 5

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) An image recording unit that accumulates and records radiation image information on the stimulable phosphor sheet by irradiating the stimulable phosphor sheet with radiation having image information; An excitation light source that emits excitation light that scans a stimulable phosphor sheet on which information is stored and recorded, and a photoelectric device that obtains an image signal by reading the stimulated luminescent light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet scanned by the excitation light. an image reading section having a reading means, which absorbs residual radiation energy on the stimulable phosphor sheet prior to recording an image on the stimulable phosphor sheet after the image reading is performed in the image reading section; a plurality of sheet storage sections capable of storing the stimulable phosphor sheets one by one are arranged in parallel to each other, and each sheet storage section receives the stimulable phosphor sheet, and each sheet storage section a stacker capable of discharging the stimulable phosphor sheets one by one in the stacker; a first sheet circulation conveyance means for transporting the stimulable phosphor sheets discharged from the stacker to the image recording section and then to the stacker; , and a second sheet circulation conveyance means for sending the stimulable phosphor sheet discharged from the stacker to the image reading section, then to the erasing section, and further carrying it into the stacker, A radiation image information recording/reading device, characterized in that the reading section and the erasing section are separated from the image recording section by radiation shielding means.