JPH01533A - Radiation image information reading and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of the Invention) The present invention relates to a radiation image information reading and reproducing device used in a radiation image information recording and reproducing system, which reads and reproduces radiation image information within the same device using the same scanning system. It is something.

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

When irradiated with γ-rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc., a part of this radiation energy is accumulated in the phosphor, and when this phosphor is irradiated with excitation light such as visible light, the phosphor changes depending on the accumulated energy. is known to exhibit stimulated luminescence, and phosphors exhibiting this property are called stimulable phosphors (stimulable phosphors).

Using this stimulable phosphor, radiation image information of a subject such as a human body is partially recorded on a sheet of stimulable phosphor, and this stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned with excitation light such as a laser beam to make it shine. The resulting stimulated luminescent light is generated and photoelectrically read to obtain an image signal, and based on this image signal, the radiation image of the subject is recorded as a visible image on a recording material such as a photographic light-sensitive material, a CRT, etc. The applicant has already proposed a radiation image information recording and reproducing system for outputting radiation image information. (Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 55
-12429, 5B-11395, 55-18
No. 3472.

No. 5B-104645, No. 55-118340, etc. ) The stimulable phosphor sheet in the above system is
It stores and records radiation image information and temporarily carries the recorded image information until it is read by the excitation light scanning, and therefore, after the image information has been read, it remains on the sheet. It is desirable to erase the image information contained in the sheet and reuse the sheet.

By the way, the above system conventionally includes a recording device that stores and records radiation image information, a radiation image information reading device that reads image information recorded on a stimulable phosphor sheet and outputs an image signal, and a radiation image information reading device that reads image information recorded on a stimulable phosphor sheet and outputs an image signal. It consists of an image reproducing device that records and reproduces a visible image by scanning a light beam modulated based on the image. Therefore, in conventional systems, in order to form the final visible image of the radiation image information recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet on the recording sheet, at least a reading device for reading the image information is required in addition to the recording device. , and a reproducing device for recording image information on a recording sheet.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In recent years, various improvements have been made in the radiographic image information recording and reproducing system based on the demand for miniaturizing the entire system as much as possible and reducing manufacturing costs. However, as mentioned above, in conventional systems, the reading device and the playback device are each required independently, so it is not possible to reduce the size of the entire system as desired, and the scanning system etc. cannot be combined with the reading device. Since each of these is required for each reproducing device, there is a problem in that there is a limit to the reduction in manufacturing costs.

Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 184-1984 (I77) discloses an X-ray image reading and recording device that uses the same light source for reading and recording and alternately performs reading and recording on the same stage.
The above specification only shows a conceptual diagram of the device and does not describe the specific configuration of the device, making it difficult to immediately put such a device into practical use. Furthermore, in the above-mentioned apparatus, scanning is performed by moving the light source and photodetector relative to the sheet, and if such a scanning method is used, the moving mechanism becomes complicated, making it difficult to perform high-speed scanning. be. Furthermore, when switching the device between reading and playback, both the optical modulator and photodetector are moved in and out of the optical path by a drive mechanism, so the drive mechanism also complicates the device. There is.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above problems by simultaneously reading and reproducing image information using the same scanning system in the same device, integrating the conventional reading device and reproducing device, making the entire system smaller and manufacturing possible. It is an object of the present invention to provide a radiation image information reading and reproducing device that can reduce costs.

(Means for Solving the Problems) A first radiation image information reading and reproducing device according to the present invention stores a stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiation image information is stored and recorded, and stores the stored stimulable phosphor sheet. A stimulable phosphor sheet supply section that carries out a stimulable phosphor sheet, a recording sheet supply section that stores recording sheets and carries out the stored recording sheets one by one, and a light beam that is deflected by an optical deflector so as to pass over the stimulable phosphor sheet. a reading main scanning means for main scanning, a recording main scanning means for main scanning the recording sheet by deflecting a light beam by an optical deflector, and the stimulable phosphor sheet and the recording sheet in the main scanning direction. A sub-scanning means for sub-scanning by conveying the sheet in a substantially orthogonal direction is provided, and the light beam of the main scanning means for reading generates light carrying the radiation image information from the stimulable phosphor sheet, and the light is converted into a light beam. The radiation image information is detected by the detection means and read, and the radiation image information is recorded on the recording sheet by modulating the light beam of the recording main scanning means based on the read radiation image information. a stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means for conveying the stimulable phosphor sheet unloaded from the stimulable phosphor sheet supplying unit to the optical scanning unit and then unloading it from the optical scanning unit; The present invention is characterized by comprising a recording sheet conveying means for conveying the recording sheet carried out from the sheet supplying section to the optical scanning section and then carrying it out from the optical scanning section.

Further, the recording sheet on which image information is recorded in the optical scanning section may be finally sent to an automatic developing machine to be developed, and the radiation image information reading and reproducing apparatus of the present invention is capable of automatic developing. A mechanism for performing this may be integrally provided. Therefore, the second device of the present invention is the above-mentioned stimulable phosphor sheet supply unit.

Along with a recording sheet supply section, an optical scanning section, and a stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means, an automatic developing section develops a recording sheet on which radiation image information is recorded, and the optical scanning section carries out the recording sheet carried out from the sheet supply section. The apparatus is characterized by comprising a recording sheet conveying means for conveying the recording sheet to the automatic developing section and then conveying the recording sheet to the automatic developing section.

Furthermore, in the radiation image information reading and reproducing apparatus of the present invention,
The recording sheet on which image information has been recorded may not need to be sent to an automatic developing machine, and may be stored in a storage means such as a tray after recording is completed.

Furthermore, even when the image is finally sent to an automatic developing machine, it may be stored in the storage means within the reading and reproducing apparatus for one day. Therefore, the third device of the present invention stores recording sheets that have been recorded in the optical scanning section together with the above-mentioned stimulable phosphor sheet supply section, recording sheet supply section, optical scanning section, and stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means. and a recording sheet conveying means for conveying the recording sheet carried out from the recording sheet supplying section to the optical scanning section and then to the recording sheet storing section. . Note that part or all of the reading main scanning means and the recording main scanning means of the optical scanning section may be common.

(Function) The radiographic image information reading and reproducing device of the present invention integrates a reading device and a reproducing device, which were conventionally provided independently, by performing both reading and recording using the same sub-scanning system. By reading and reproducing image information using one device, the entire system can be made much smaller than before. Furthermore, in this apparatus, since at least the sub-scanning means is shared for reading and recording, only one is required, and the manufacturing cost of the entire system can be reduced. Furthermore, if the optical deflectors of the two main scanning means, as well as the light source of the light beam, etc., are shared for reading and recording, the manufacturing cost of the entire system can be further reduced. Furthermore, if a part of the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means and the recording sheet conveying means are shared, the system can be further downsized and lowered in cost.

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing the outline of a radiation image information reading and reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This device includes a stimulable phosphor sheet supply unit 1O1 that removably holds a plurality of cassettes 2 that can store stimulable phosphor sheets 1, a recording sheet supply unit that can store a plurality of recording sheets 3 made of silver salt film, etc. a recording sheet supply section 40 that removably holds the storage magazine 4; and an optical scanning section 20 that reads the image information accumulated and recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 and records the read image information on the recording sheet 3.゜An erasing unit 3 that erases image information remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 that has been read by the optical scanning unit 20
0, recording sheet 3 on which recording has been completed in the optical scanning section 20
The cassette 2, in which the stimulable phosphor sheet l held inside the cassette 2 is photographed by an external photographing device (not shown), is loaded into the stimulable phosphor sheet supply unit lO. Ru. In the apparatus of this embodiment, for example, four cassettes 2 can be held by the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section 10. 20 The cassette 2 has a light-shielding property to prevent the sheet from being exposed to external light when recording image information (photographing) by irradiating the stimulable phosphor sheet with radiation,
It consists of a cassette main body 2a for storing a stimulable phosphor sheet and a lid part 2b that can be opened and closed. This lid part 2b is closed when the cassette 2 is loaded into the stimulable phosphor sheet supply part 1O.
0, when the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 inside is taken out, the lid opening means 11 such as a suction cup opens the lid part 2b as shown in the figure.

The above-mentioned stimulable phosphor sheet supply section ■0 has 4
A number of cassettes are stored parallel to each other in the vertical direction, and a stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is taken out from each cassette 2, but from now on, it is held in the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section IO. Taking out and transporting the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 will be explained using the uppermost cassette 2 of the cassettes 2 as an example.

The illustrated apparatus takes out a stimulable phosphor sheet 1 from an arbitrary cassette 2 in a stimulable phosphor sheet supply section 10 and transports it to the optical scanning section 20 and erasing section 30 in this order.
A stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 50 consisting of an endless belt roller, a guide plate, etc. is provided, and a part of this stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 50 includes a cassette 2 in the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section 10. A movable conveyance section 51 is formed which can move up and down so as to selectively come into contact with the end of any one of the cassettes. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view of this moving conveyance section. When taking out the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 from the uppermost cassette 2 in the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section 1O as described above, this movable conveyance section 5
1 is located at the uppermost position as shown in the figure and is adjacent to the uppermost cassette 2.

The suction means 12 enters into the cassette 2 with the lid 2b open, sucks the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 inside the cassette 2, takes it out, and transfers it to the belt conveyor 51d of the movable conveyance section 51.
, passed to the roller 51f, and then passed to the belt conveyor 51
d and 51e. The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is held in the cassette 2 so that the front surface on which the stimulable phosphor layer is formed faces down. The stimulable phosphor sheet taken out from the cassette 2 in this way is conveyed in the direction of arrow A1 by rollers 51a and 51b at the position indicated by the solid line by the movable guide plate 51c of the movable conveyance unit 51, and then the stimulable phosphor sheet It is transported by the transport means 50 in the directions of arrows A2 to A4 and is carried into the optical scanning section 20.

The optical scanning unit 20 scans the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 on which image information is accumulated and recorded with a laser beam 21, and detects the light emitted from the sheet 1 excited by the scanning. It operates by photoelectrically reading the stimulated luminescent light with a photoelectric reading means 22 such as a photomultiplier to generate an electrical image signal for outputting a visible image. In the figure, 23 is an example of a He-Ne laser light source;
4 is a light deflector such as a galvanometer mirror, and 25 is a light guide 22a of a photoelectric reading means for transmitting the stimulated luminescence light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 (the light guide 22a does not totally reflect the stimulated luminescence light). This is a reflecting mirror that reflects the light toward a photodetector 22b such as a photomultiplier. In the figure, reference numeral 26 denotes an optical modulator such as an AOM, but its operation is stopped when the laser beam 21 scans the stimulable phosphor sheet 1.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 carried into the optical scanning section 20 is transported in the direction of arrow A5 by the stimulable phosphor sheet transport means 50, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is transported by the laser beam 21 deflected approximately perpendicular to this transport direction. The entire surface is scanned two-dimensionally to generate stimulated luminescence light, which is detected by the photodetector 22b via the light guide 22a. In the photodetector 22b, the stimulated luminescent light is converted into an electrical signal, and the obtained electrical signal is sent to the image information processing circuit 27.
After being sent to the computer and subjected to image processing, it is stored in the memory 29. In this embodiment, the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 50 in the optical scanning section 20 serves as a sub-scanning means.

In addition, when reading radiation image information, reading to obtain image signals for visible image output as explained above (main reading)
Prior to this, pre-reading is performed to read the outline of the radiation image information stored and recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet, and based on the image information obtained by this pre-reading, the reading conditions etc. for performing the main reading are determined. However, a method of performing the main reading according to the reading conditions is known.

As a method for performing such pre-reading, for example, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is scanned using excitation light with an energy lower than that of the laser beam (excitation light) used for the above-mentioned main reading, and the luminance emitted by this scanning is There is a method of reading the exhausted light using a photoelectric reading means (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-87240).

The optical scanning section in the present invention may be a section that performs both main reading and pre-reading in addition to the above-mentioned section that performs only main reading. For example, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is conveyed in the direction of arrow A5 and pre-reading is performed first, then the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is conveyed back in the six directions of the arrow by switchback, returned to the reading opening position, and then again in the direction of arrow A5. The main reading may be performed by transporting the paper to the machine. Note that the optical members disposed in the optical scanning section are not limited to those described above; for example, a long photomultiplier is disposed along the main scanning line as a photoelectric reading means, and stimulated luminescence light is may also be detected (see JP-A-62-16886, etc.).

The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 whose image information has been read in the optical scanning section 20 as described above is conveyed by the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 50 toward the erasing section 30 in the seven directions indicated by the arrows. Note that although a distribution means 52 is provided between the optical scanning section 20 and the erasing section 30, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1
When the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is being conveyed, this sorting means is in the position shown by the solid line in the figure and guides the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 to 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 stimulable phosphor sheet after being read, and in order to reuse the stimulable phosphor sheet 1, this information is removed. The remaining image information is erased in the erasing section 30. Erasing unit 30 in this embodiment
is provided with erasing light sources 31 such as fluorescent lamps, tungsten lamps, sodium lamps, xenon lamps, iodine lamps, etc., and the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is irradiated with light by these erasing light sources 31 while being transported in the direction of arrow A8. In response, the residual radiation energy on the stimulable phosphor sheet is released. Note that the erasing method in the erasing section 30 may be any known method, and erasing may be performed using heating or a combination of light irradiation and heating.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 that has been erased in the erasing section 30 is moved by the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 50 in the direction of arrow A.
9 + transported to Al11. Storable phosphor sheet 1
Furthermore, the movable guide plate 51c of the movable conveyance section 51 described above
With the movable guide plate 51c moved to the position shown by the solid line, the AU force direction is switched back and guided to the guide plate 51c. rollers 51a, 51
It is conveyed in two directions A and A, and is further conveyed by a belt conveyor 51d and rollers 51c and 51r.
Empty cassette 2 at the top of the stimulable phosphor sheet supply unit
will be brought inside.

On the other hand, when the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 taken out from the uppermost cassette 2 is carried out from the optical scanning section 20, the recording sheet 3 is removed from the magazine 4 in the recording sheet supply section 40 by the suction means 41. One sheet is taken out and delivered to a nearby recording sheet conveyance means 60. This recording sheet conveying means 60 receives and takes the recording sheet 3 and transfers it to the optical scanning section 2.
0 and conveys the recording sheet 3 that has passed through the optical scanning section 20 to the developing section 70, a part of which is shared with the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 50.

The recording sheet 3 is transported by the recording sheet conveyance means 60 in the direction of arrow B,
, B2 direction and carried into the optical scanning section 20, and image information read from the culm stimulable phosphor sheet 1 while being transported in the direction of arrow B3 inside the optical scanning section 20 is recorded.

When the recording sheet 3 is conveyed, the optical scanning section 20 reads the information from the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 described above and performs image processing, and scans the optical modulator according to the image information stored in the memory 29. 2B is driven, and at the same time, the driving of the photodetector 22b is stopped.

The recording sheet 3 is modulated by the optical modulator 2B and then scanned by the laser beam 21, which is recording light, deflected by the optical deflector 24, so that an image is recorded on the entire surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1. Information is played.

The recording sheet 3 whose image information has been reproduced in the optical scanning section 20 is moved by the recording sheet conveying means 8G to the arrow B7. B8
direction and is transported to the developing section 70. At this time, the sorting means 52 rotates to the position shown by the broken line in the figure and guides the recording sheet 3 to the developing section 70.

In the developing section 70, the recording sheet 3 is placed in a developing zone 71.
．． Fusing zone 72. Washing zone 73. The sheets are sequentially sent to a drying zone 74, subjected to development processing, and stored in a tray 75.

In this way, in the device of this embodiment, the optical scanning section 20 can share the main scanning means and the sub-scanning means to read image information on the stimulable phosphor sheet and reproduce image information on the recording sheet. Therefore, when a reading device and a reproducing device are respectively provided, the entire comparison system can be downsized, and manufacturing costs can be reduced. Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, since the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section IO can hold a plurality of cassettes, the cassettes that have been photographed can be sequentially inserted even while reading or playback is being performed in the optical scanning section. This is convenient because it can be kept on standby.

Note that the movable conveying section 5 of the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 50
1 is an arbitrary cassette 2 of the stimulable phosphor sheet supply unit IO
As the movable conveyance section 51 moves, the upper and lower rollers 53a, 53b, 54a, 54b of the movable conveyance section 51 move in the direction of arrow C so as to be adjacent to the movable conveyance section 51.

55a, 55b, 56a, and 58b also move in the vertical direction so that the distance between each roller is always kept smaller than the length of the stimulable phosphor sheet. In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the case was described in which, after reading one stimulable phosphor sheet, the read image information is immediately recorded on one recording sheet. By increasing the capacity, the optical scanning section first reads multiple stimulable phosphor sheets in succession, temporarily stores all the read image information in the memory 29, and then stores it on multiple recording sheets. In contrast, image information may be recorded continuously. In addition, instead of reproducing all the image information that has been read as a hard copy on the recording sheet, it is also possible to display the 7 image information on the CR1 display device, etc. and reproduce only the necessary images as hard copies on the recording sheet. can.

Furthermore, in order to select a cassette from among the plurality of cassettes 2 housed in the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section into which the stimulable phosphor sheets are to be loaded and unloaded, a movable conveyance section is provided as described above. Instead of moving the conveying means side, it is also possible to move the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section side. FIG. 3 shows an example of selecting a cassette into which a stimulable phosphor sheet is to be loaded or taken out by moving the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section.

In the example shown in FIG. 3(a), the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section 110 stores four cassettes 2 vertically arranged in a row on a shelf-shaped cassette support member 113, and the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section 110 stores four cassettes 2 vertically arranged in a row on a shelf-shaped cassette support member 113. The phosphor sheet conveying means 50 is movable vertically within the range indicated by the dashed line in the figure so that any cassette stored at the end of the phosphor sheet conveying means 50 can be selectively adjacent to the cassette. When the cassette 2 from which the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is taken out is moved adjacent to the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 50, the end of the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 50 is moved through the cassette support member 113. The lid opening means 57, which is provided at a position facing the cassette 2 and has a suction cup 57a at the tip of an arm 57b, enters the cassette support member 113 to open the lid 2b of the cassette 2, and simultaneously opens the stimulable phosphor sheet. A stimulable phosphor sheet take-out means 58 such as a suction cup enters from the conveying means 50 side, takes out the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 from the cassette 2, and causes the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 50 to grasp the leading end of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1. . This sheet conveying means 50 receives and conveys the received stimulable phosphor sheet downward to an image reading section, an erasing section, etc., as well as the stimulable phosphor sheet that has been read and erased. is conveyed upward and carried into an empty cassette 2 in the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section lo. Incidentally, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 may be taken out from the cassette 2 by the means shown in FIG. 3(b). That is, a pushing member 59A for pushing the cassette 2 toward the stimulable phosphor sheet carrying means 50 side is provided at a position facing the end of the stimulable phosphor sheet carrying means 50, and the pushing member 59A moves the cassette 2 into the stimulable phosphor sheet carrying means 50. After the stimulable phosphor sheet is protruded to the side of the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 50, the lid 2b of the cassette 2 is opened by the suction cup 59B provided on the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 50 side, and the stimulable phosphor sheet is removed by the stimulable phosphor sheet taking out means 58. The fluorescent phosphor sheet 1 may be taken out.

By the way, as mentioned above, the stimulable phosphor sheet stored in the cassette is first photographed by an external photographing device, but when the read image information is reproduced, information about the subject (test subject), such as It becomes necessary to display information unique to the photographed subject, such as gender, name, date of photographing, body part, etc. together with the image information. Therefore, conventionally, these ID information,
When shooting, use a special ID input means such as an ID terminal to input
The information is input into a D card or the like, and when the image information is reproduced, the input information is transmitted to the reproduction device and displayed on the reproduction surface in addition to the image information. However, in that case, a special input means is required, which makes the entire system complicated and requires manual operation. Since the device of the present invention aims to simplify the entire system, ID information is also
It is desirable to read the information and display it on the playback surface without using a complicated and large-scale device such as a terminal.

For example, by using a photographing instruction sheet that is usually created for each subject at the time of photographing, a reading and reproducing device is equipped with an image pickup tube or a solid-state image sensor that reads the part of the instruction sheet in which the subject's ID information is written, and these can be read. Read the ID information as an image signal using a means, temporarily store this image signal,
The information may be reproduced on a recording sheet together with separately read radiographic image information.

Next, another device of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. Note that the same parts as in the apparatus according to the above-mentioned embodiments are given the same numbers, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

In the illustrated apparatus, the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section 210 holds only one cassette 2, and when the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is taken out from the cassette 2 in the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section 210, The empty cassette 2 is immediately loaded into the stimulable phosphor sheet storage section 90. The stimulable phosphor sheet taken out from the cassette 2 is sequentially sent to the optical scanning section 20 DEG erasing section 30 by the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 350, where image information is read and erased. The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 that has been erased is carried by the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 350 into the cassette 2 that is waiting in the sheet storage section 90 in an empty state, and is taken out of the apparatus and used as a new one. It becomes something that can be used for photography.

On the other hand, each recording sheet 3 is taken out one by one from the magazine 4 in the recording sheet supply section 40 each time the optical scanning section 20 finishes reading the stimulable phosphor sheet 1, and the recording sheet 3 is taken out one by one from the magazine 4 in the recording sheet supplying section 40. Sent to 20. After the image information read from the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is recorded in the optical scanning section 20, the recording sheet 3 is conveyed to a recording sheet storage section that removably holds a recording sheet storage magazine 5. . That is, the roller 361, which is a part of the recording sheet conveyance means 360, switches the conveyance path of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 and the recording sheet 3 by moving the position shown by the solid line and the position shown by the broken line in the figure. When the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is carried out from the optical scanning section 20, the roller 361 is in the position shown by the solid line in the figure and guides the stimulable phosphor sheet toward the erasing section 30. When the recording sheet 3 is carried out from the optical scanning section 20, the roller 361 moves to the position shown by the broken line in the figure and guides the recording sheet 3 to the recording sheet storage section 80. The recording sheet storage magazine 5 containing the recording sheets 3 is transported to an external automatic developing machine as appropriate.

In this apparatus, instead of providing the recording sheet storage section 80, an automatic developing section 70' may be provided, and the recording sheet 3 carried out from the optical scanning section 20 may be directly conveyed to the automatic developing section 70'. In this case, it is preferable to arrange the automatic developing section 70' below the optical scanning section 20 because the installation space of the entire apparatus can be reduced.

Further, the automatic developing section may be integrated with other parts or separated via the recording sheet conveying means, but as shown in the figure, it is incorporated into the same housing 300 as the other parts. This has the advantage of making it easier to control temperature, etc. Further, the cassette loaded into the stimulable phosphor sheet storage section 90 does not necessarily have to be the cassette taken out from the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section 210, but a separate empty cassette or
The saute may be loaded into the sheet storage section.

Next, still another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The apparatus shown in FIG. 5 has the optical scanning section, the erasing section, and other parts arranged side by side in the downward direction on the road, and the conveying path of the sheet-like material formed by the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means and the recording sheet conveying means is vertically arranged. The device is almost composed of a single conveyance path extending in the direction, and the device is made compact, and in particular, its bottom area is made small. The device shown in FIG. 6 is divided into three parts: a part for supplying sheet-like materials, a part for reading and reproducing sheet-like materials, and a part for storing sheet-like materials. By arranging the three parts in order in the vertical direction, the conveyance system is simplified and the bottom area of the apparatus is reduced.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 5 includes the optical scanning section 20. Erasing unit 30,
A stimulable phosphor sheet supply section ato that removably holds the cassette 2 or the stimulable phosphor sheet magazine 7 together with the recording sheet supply section 40, a stimulable phosphor sheet storage section 19G that removably holds the tray 6, and Stackers 100, which will be described later, are arranged side by side in the downward direction on the road, and stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 1 are arranged on the sides of each of these parts.
50 are provided. In this stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 150, the recording sheet 3 taken out from the recording sheet supply section 40 is sent to the optical scanning section 20, and further from the optical scanning section 2o to the automatic developing section 70 connected to the apparatus. The feeding portion also functions as a recording sheet conveying means 160, and in this apparatus, the recording sheet conveying means 180 almost doubles as the stimulable phosphor sheet supplying means 150. In addition, the main part of the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 150 extends in the vertical direction and conveys the stimulable phosphor sheet and the recording sheet by appropriately distributing them to each of the above-mentioned parts, so that it can be adjusted depending on the type of sheet material. In order to perform the distribution accordingly, three sheet distribution plates 157A, 157B are movable so as to take the positions shown by the solid line and the position shown by the broken line in the figure.
157C is provided. Further, the tray 6 in the stimulable phosphor sheet storage section 190 stores only the stimulable phosphor sheet taken out from the magazine 7 in the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section 310, and the cassette 2
The stimulable phosphor sheet taken out from is read.

After erasing, the stimulable phosphor sheet is returned to the original cassette 2 in the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section 310.

When taking out the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 from the cassette 2 in the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section 310 and conveying it to the optical scanning section 20, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 taken out from the cassette 2 by the suction means 312 is is guided by the sheet distribution plate 157A located at the position indicated by the solid line in the figure, and is conveyed in the direction of the arrow CI force, and further conveyed in the directions of arrows C2 and C3, and is carried into the optical scanning section 20. Note that the sheet distribution plates 157B and 157C in the conveyance path are both arranged at the positions indicated by solid lines, allowing the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 to be conveyed downward. Further, numeral 130 provided in the transport path of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is a secondary erasing unit that performs secondary erasing, which will be described later, using an erasing light source 131. When the stimulable phosphor sheet is conveyed from above, the erasing light source 131 is turned off. The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 carried into the optical scanning section 20 is conveyed within the optical scanning section 20 in the direction of arrow C4 while image information is read.
When it comes into contact with , it is sent back in the direction of arrow C5 by switchback.

By the way, since it takes a relatively long time to read the image information in the optical scanning section 20, it is necessary to wait for the processing of the preceding stimulable phosphor sheet in the optical scanning section 20 to be completed before reading the image information in the stimulable phosphor sheet supplying section 3. (2) If a cassette 2 containing a newly photographed stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is loaded into the cassette 2, the stimulable phosphor sheet may not be processed efficiently. Therefore, the apparatus of this embodiment is provided with the stacker 100, and the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section 3
Depending on the status of the optical scanning section 20, some of the stimulable phosphor sheets 1 taken out from the stacker 10 can be carried into the stacker 100 to wait before being sent to the optical scanning section 20. .

The stacker 100 includes a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheet storage chambers 102 partitioned by partition plates 101, and is movable up and down in the direction of the arrow from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the broken line in the figure. All the seat storage chambers 102 can be adjacent to each other. When carrying the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 taken out from the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section 310 into the stacker 100, the sheet distribution plate 157C is moved to the position shown by the broken line in the figure, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is transported from above. The phosphor sheet 1 is guided toward the stacker 100.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is carried into a predetermined sheet storage chamber 102 of the stacker 100, and its rear end is brought into contact with the nip roller 15.
After leaving 9, it fell due to its own weight, and the tip ended up in storage room 1.
It is held in contact with the stopper 103 in 02.

When taking out the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 from the stacker 100, move the stacker 100 so that the desired sheet storage chamber [02] is adjacent to the nip roller 159, and then move the stopper 103 to the position shown by the broken line in the figure. The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is moved and pushed up, and its tip is gripped by the nip roller 159. The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 gripped by the nip roller 159 is conveyed upward by the -H stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 150 while being guided by the sheet distribution plate 157C located at the position indicated by the broken line in the figure.
It is transported in the directions of the arrows C2 and C3 and loaded into the optical scanning section 20. Note that the stimulable phosphor sheet taken out from the stacker 100 is once conveyed upward so that the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 on which the stimulable phosphor is formed faces upward (laser beam irradiation side) in the optical scanning section 20. This is to ensure that.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 that has been read by the optical scanning section 20 is conveyed in the directions of arrows C6 to C8 by the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 150 and sent to the erasing section 30. In this case, the sheet sorting means 157A is at the position shown by the broken line in the figure, and the sheet sorting means 157B and 157c are at the position shown by the solid line in the figure.

The length of the erasing section 30 in the direction of conveyance of the stimulable phosphor sheet is approximately 1/2 of the length of one stimulable phosphor sheet, and the stimulable phosphor sheet is disposed diagonally below the erasing section 30. A body seat storage section 190 is provided, and this seat storage section 19
The tray 6 in the tray 6 is held adjacent to the erasing section 30 so as to be able to support the leading end of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 that is being erased while being conveyed in the direction of arrow C within the erasing section 30. The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is conveyed in the erasing section 30 along the guide plate 156 in the direction of arrow C3, and its leading end sequentially enters the tray 6 and is guided by the tray 6. The irradiation of the erasing light on the entire surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is completed at the position indicated by the broken line in the figure, but the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is taken out from the cassette 2 in the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section 310 as described above. If the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is transported by the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 150, the nip roller 155 that grips the stimulable phosphor sheet rotates in the direction of the solid line in the figure, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is moved in the direction of the arrow C by the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 150.
111, the empty sheet storage chamber 102 in the stacker 100 is guided by the sheet distribution plate 157C, which is conveyed in the Cu direction and moved to the position indicated by the broken line in the figure.
stored inside. In addition, in this way, the stacker 100
If a number of erased stimulable phosphor sheets 1 are stored in advance, the erased stimulable phosphor sheets 1 can be stored immediately after the stimulable phosphor sheets 1 are taken out from the cassette 2 in the stimulable phosphor sheet supply unit SlO. The stimulable phosphor sheet can be carried into the empty cassette 2. When taking out the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 from the stacker 100 and conveying it to the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section 31O, the sheet distribution plate 157C is located at the position indicated by the broken line, and the sheet distribution plates 157A and 157B are indicated by the solid line. The stimulable phosphor sheet is moved to the respective positions, and the stimulable phosphor sheet is moved to the arrows 01□ to Cr by the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 150.
<Direction j: Transport and carry into cassette 2. Note that the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 carried out from the stacker 100 may have been kept in standby for a long time in the stacker 100, and a long time may have passed since it was erased in the erasing section 30. Even if the stimulable phosphor sheet is erased once, after a certain period of time elapses, the stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed to radiation emitted from radioactive isotopes such as Ra and 4' contained in trace amounts in the stimulable phosphor. Since radiation energy is accumulated due to environmental radiation such as cosmic rays and X-rays from other X-ray sources, and this radiation energy may become noise in the next captured image, the stimulable phosphor is removed from the stacker 100. A secondary erasing section 130 is provided in the conveyance path up to the sheet supply section 310 for irradiating the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 with erasing light again. The secondary erasing section 130 turns on the erasing light source 131 only when the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 taken out from the stacker 100 is transported toward the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section 31O, thereby causing the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 to be stored in the stacker 100. The radiation energy that had been stored in the stimulable phosphor sheet while it was being used is released. The cassette 2 into which the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 has been carried in in this manner can be taken out of the apparatus and used for new imaging. Furthermore, in this apparatus, the stimulable phosphor sheet that has been erased in the erasing section 30 can be immediately carried into the cassette 2. In that case, the stimulable phosphor sheet conveyed from the erasing section 3° in the direction of arrow C may be once conveyed downward, then switched back upward, and then conveyed into the cassette 2. By transporting the stimulable phosphor sheet to the cassette 2, the surface on which the phosphor layer of the stimulable phosphor sheet is formed can face downward when it is stored in the cassette 2.

By the way, in addition to photographing a stimulable phosphor sheet held in a cassette, an external photographing device also photographs multiple stimulable phosphor sheets housed in a sheet supply magazine when performing continuous photographing. In some cases, images are taken one by one and photographed. The stimulable phosphor sheets that have been photographed are sequentially stored in a sheet storage magazine, and the sheet storage magazine containing the sheets is sent to a reading device and read. The stimulable phosphor sheet supply section 310 in the apparatus of this embodiment is capable of holding a stimulable phosphor sheet magazine (that is, the sheet storage magazine) 7 instead of the cassette 2. Even when the magazine 7 for stimulable phosphor sheets is loaded into the stimulable phosphor sheet supply unit 310, the stimulable phosphor sheets 1 taken out one by one from the magazine 7 are the same as the stimulable phosphor sheets 1 taken out from the cassette 2 described above. In exactly the same manner as the fluorescent phosphor sheet 1, the sheet is sent to the optical scanning section 20 and read, and then conveyed to the erasing section 30 where it is erased. In addition,
When the erased stimulable phosphor sheet is taken out from the magazine 7, the nip roller 155 near the erasing section 30 rotates in the direction shown by the broken line in the figure to remove the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 from above. When the stimulable phosphor sheet is introduced into the tray 6 and its upper end leaves the nip roller 155, it falls due to its own weight and is stored in the tray 6. By arranging the tray 6 close to the small erasing unit 30 in this way, the tray 6 can also function as a guide for the stimulable phosphor sheet on which erasing is performed, making effective use of the space within the device. This allows the device to be further downsized.

On the other hand, when the optical scanning section 20 reproduces the image information read as described above, one recording sheet 3 is taken out from the magazine 4 in the recording sheet supply section 40, and the recording sheet conveying means After being conveyed in the direction of arrow D1 by 160, it is carried into the optical scanning section 20 in the same way as the stimulable phosphor sheet 1, and reproduction is performed in the optical scanning section 20 to record image information on the recording sheet. The recording sheet 3 that has been reproduced is moved by the recording sheet conveying means 160 in the direction of arrow Dz.
, D3 direction and is transported to the developing section 70. At this time, the sheet distribution plate 157C is in the position shown by the solid line in the figure and guides the recording sheet 3 upward.
The sheet distribution plate 157B moves to the position indicated by the broken line in the figure, guides the recording sheet 3 in the direction of arrow D1, and transfers the recording sheet 3 to the nip roller.
154 to convey the recording sheet 3 to the automatic developing section 70. According to the present embodiment, the conveyance path for conveying the stimulable phosphor sheet and the recording sheet is almost combined into one conveying path extending in the vertical direction, and both sheets are conveyed into the automatic developing section 70. Since the sheets are conveyed in the vertical direction as appropriate and these sheets are taken in and out of the above-mentioned parts, the overall equipment time is reduced compared to a device that conveys both sheets, especially the stimulable phosphor sheet, in a substantially circular shape. The conveyance system can be simplified and the device can be made more compact.

Further, the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 includes a recording sheet supply section 40,
A stimulable phosphor sheet supply unit 41 capable of storing one stimulable phosphor sheet magazine 7 and one cassette 102.
0 and stacker 20 ports are arranged horizontally in the upper part of the apparatus, the optical scanning part 20 is arranged in the middle part of the apparatus, and the erasing part 30 is arranged in the upper part of the apparatus.
A stimulable phosphor sheet storage section 290, which holds a plurality of cassettes 102' and a tray 6 for storing stimulable phosphor sheets side by side in a removable manner, is arranged laterally at the bottom of the apparatus.

When taking out the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 from the cassette 102 in the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section 410, after the lid 102a of the cassette 102 is opened, the nip roller 251, which was in the position shown by the solid line in the figure, is moved. Descend to the position indicated by the middle broken line and grasp the tip of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1.
It will rise again to the position shown by the solid line. The stimulable phosphor sheets 1 taken out from the cassette 102 or the stimulable phosphor sheets 1 taken out one by one from the stimulable phosphor sheet magazine 7 are moved by the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 250 to the arrow E1. After being transported in the direction and carried into the stacker 200, it is sent to the optical scanning section 200. Further, the recording sheets 3 taken out one by one from the recording sheet supply section 40 are similarly sent to the optical scanning section by the recording sheet conveying means 260.

The stacker 200 of this device moves in the direction of the arrow to pick up the stimulable phosphor sheets falling under their own weight into a predetermined stimulable phosphor sheet storage section 202, and opens the bottom plate 201 to collect the stimulable phosphor sheets. 1 is dropped and discharged from the stimulable phosphor sheet storage section 202. Note that if the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 taken out from the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section 410 does not need to wait in the stacker, and if the recording sheet 3 is conveyed, the stacker 200 is empty. Storable phosphor sheet storage section 2
02 is placed in a position communicating with the upper stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 250, and as soon as the sheet is carried in, the bottom plate 20
1 and let these sheets pass through.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 that has been read while being conveyed in the direction of arrow E2 in the optical scanning section 20 is conveyed in the direction of arrow E3 toward the erasing section 30, and the entire surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is conveyed within the erasing section 30 in the direction of arrow E3. will be deleted. Note that the optical scanning section 20 and the erasing section 3 of the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means 250
A sheet distribution plate 252 is provided between the
When the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is conveyed toward the erasing section as described above, it is at the position shown by the solid line in the figure. On the other hand, the recording sheet 3 on which image information has been recorded in the optical scanning section 201 is transported in the direction of the arrow F1 in the same way as the stimulable phosphor sheet 1, and then switched back and moved along the guide plate 281 along the arrow F2. The recording sheet is further conveyed in the direction of arrow F3 by the recording sheet conveying means 260 to the automatic developing section 7.
0. Furthermore, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 that has been erased in the erasing section 3o is switched back upward and conveyed in the direction of arrow E5+E. At that time, the sheet distribution plate 252 moves to the position shown by the broken line in the figure, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 passes below the sheet distribution plate 252 and is further conveyed in the direction of arrow E7, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 The phosphor sheet is carried into the phosphor sheet storage section 290. In the stimulable phosphor sheet storage section 290, the stimulable phosphor sheet transport means 250 transports the stimulable phosphor sheet l into the tray 6.
and one of a plurality of cassettes 102' for transport.
When the stimulable phosphor sheet has been taken out from the stimulable phosphor sheet magazine 7, the roller 253a of the endless belt 253 is in the position shown by the solid line in the figure and guides the stimulable phosphor sheet in the direction of force in the direction of arrow E. Drop it into tray 6. Further, when the stimulable phosphor sheet has been taken out from the cassette 102, the roller 253a moves to the position shown by the broken line in the figure and guides the stimulable phosphor sheet further to the left. When the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is carried into the rightmost tray 102', the roller 254 is located at the position shown by the solid line in the figure and guides the stimulable phosphor sheet in the direction of arrow 1]E3. The central tray 102
′, the roller 254 rises to the position shown by the broken line in the figure, and the roller 255 descends to the position shown by the solid line to guide the stimulable phosphor sheet in the force direction of the arrow E. When transporting the stimulable phosphor sheet to the leftmost tray 102', both rollers 254 and 255 rise to the position shown by the broken line in the figure, and the stimulable phosphor sheet is guided in the direction of arrow E by the endless belt 25B.

In this way, the device of this embodiment has divided each part of the device into three parts and arranged these parts in order in the vertical direction based on the flow of the sheet-like material, thereby reducing the bottom area of the device and reducing the size of the sheet. This allows the transportation means to be simplified.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the cassette or the like containing the erased stimulable phosphor sheet can be loaded into the photographing device as is and photographed.
The stimulable phosphor sheet that has been read may be temporarily stored in a suitable storage means that is not loaded into the photographing device. When such a storage means is used, it is not necessarily necessary to provide an erasing section, and the storage means in which the stimulable phosphor sheet is stored may be taken out and erased separately. Furthermore, in any of the embodiments, the arrangement and specific structure of the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section, the recording sheet supply section, the optical scanning section, the erasing section, etc. are not limited to those described above. For example, in the optical scanning section, at least the sub-scanning means for the stimulable phosphor sheet and the recording sheet may be used in common, and the main scanning means for reading and the main scanning means for recording may be provided independently. The optical deflector of the bidirectional scanning means may be used in common for reading and recording, and the reading light source and recording light source may be provided separately and switched by a mirror or the like.

Furthermore, the recording sheet used in the apparatus of the present invention is not limited to a silver halide film, etc., on which image information is recorded by light and developed using a wet-type automatic developing machine, as described above; Recording sheets, photothermographic materials,
It may also be an instant film or the like. For example, when the recording sheet is a heat-sensitive recording sheet, since recording is performed on the sheet by the heat of a laser beam, the structure of the optical scanning section may be the same as that shown in each of the above embodiments, but an automatic processor (copy) is no longer necessary, so the recording sheet storage section described above (see FIG. 4) may be provided to appropriately accumulate recorded sheets on a tray or the like. Note that some heat-sensitive recording sheets fix the image by being irradiated with light after thermal recording, but in this type, there is a light scanning section and a recording sheet storage section. A light irradiation means may be provided in the recording sheet transport path between the recording sheets to effect fixing. Further, the above-mentioned erasing section may be provided in front of the recording sheet storage section to serve also as a light irradiation means.

Next, FIG. 7 shows an example of the structure of a portion near the optical scanning section when a heat-developable photosensitive material as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-147244 is used as a recording sheet. The structure of the optical scanning unit itself in FIG. 7 is the same as that of the other embodiments described above, and the system shown in the figure is different from any of the embodiments described above by replacing the parts related to the recording sheet with the structure shown in the diagram. It is also applicable in

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the stimulable phosphor sheet is taken out from a stimulable phosphor sheet supply section (not shown), conveyed in the direction of arrow G1, sent to the optical scanning section 20, and passed through the optical scanning section by arrow G2. The paper is conveyed in the same direction and read. Further, the stimulable phosphor sheet is guided by a distribution plate 451 disposed at a position indicated by a broken line in the figure, conveyed in the direction of arrow G3, and sent to an erasing section (not shown).

On the other hand, a recording sheet supply section 140 above the optical scanning section 20 is loaded with a magazine 4' storing a plurality of heat-developable photosensitive sheets 3' as recording sheets. Optical scanning section 20
When the reading of the image information is completed, the photothermographic sheets 3' are taken out one by one by the suction means 141 and delivered to the nearby recording sheet conveying means 460. The heat-developable photosensitive sheet 3' is transferred to this recording sheet conveying means 4.
60, it is conveyed in the directions of arrows H1r and H2 and sent to the optical scanning section 20, and while being conveyed within this optical scanning section 20 in the direction of arrow H3, it is scanned by the laser beam 21A, and image information is recorded. Subsequently, the sheet 3' is conveyed in the direction of the arrow H& by the recording sheet conveying means 460, and furthermore, the sheet 3' is moved to the position indicated by the solid line in the figure beforehand. 12
451 and transported in the direction of arrow H5 to the developing section 1.
Sent to 70.

In the developing section 170, the heat-developable photosensitive sheet 3' first passes through a water application section 171 in the direction of arrow H6, and water as an image forming solvent is applied thereto. Subsequently, the sheet 3' is sent to a heat development transfer section 172 whose interior is a heating section, but prior to this, the heat development photosensitive sheet 3' is brought into close contact with the image receiving sheet 8. That is, above the thermal development transfer section 172 is a magazine 173 that stores several of the image receiving sheets 8.
is held, and the image receiving sheet 8 is held in the water application section 171.
At the timing when the leading edge of the heat-developable photosensitive sheet 3' coincides with the photothermographic sheet 3' carried out from the photothermographic sheet 3' at position P, it is taken out one by one by the suction means 174 and conveyed in the direction of arrow 11. The photothermographic sheet 3' and the image receiving sheet 8 are moved by a nip roller L75.
a and 175b and are brought into close contact with each other and sent to the thermal development transfer section 172 in a sealed state.

In the thermal development transfer section 172, the two sheets are closely conveyed rightward by three pairs of nip rollers 172a and heated, thereby developing the thermal development photosensitive sheet 3' and transferring it to the image receiving sheet 8. As a heating means for the thermal development transfer section, heaters 172b constituted by energized heating elements are arranged close to each nip roller 172a, and these heaters raise the inside of the thermal development transfer section 172 to a predetermined temperature. It looks like this. The two sheets that have been developed and transferred in the thermal development transfer section 172 are removed by a peeling means 17B disposed close to the exit of the thermal development transfer section 72.
The heat-developable photosensitive sheets are then separated from each other and transported in the direction of arrow H7 to a waste photosensitive sheet storage box 177. On the other hand, the image receiving sheet 8 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow 11 and dried in the drying section 178, and then placed on the take-out tray 178.
79.

Note that even when using a heat-developable photosensitive sheet as a recording sheet as described above, the heat developing device is separate from the reading and reproducing device, and the sheet that has been recorded in the optical scanning section is stored in the -H tray. , this tray may be taken out from the apparatus and loaded into the thermal development apparatus. In addition, although the above embodiment described a developing section applied to a case where the heat-developable photosensitive sheet and the image-receiving sheet are separate bodies, a mono-sheet type in which the heat-developable photosensitive material layer and the image-receiving material layer are provided on the same support is described. A method is also known, and when using this type of thermal development material, it is sufficient to provide only a development transfer section as a development section, and the apparatus can be configured compactly.

Further, as the recording sheet of the present invention, an instant film unit 103 shown in FIG. 8, in which a photosensitive sheet portion 103a and a developer storage portion 103b are integrated, may be used. When using the instant film unit 103, it is necessary to transport the unit without holding it between the legs before reaching the developing position so that the developer storage section 103b is not crushed before reaching the developing position. Therefore, as an example, the recording sheet tx feeding section 240 may be arranged side by side with the optical scanning section 20 as shown in the drawing. The instant film unit 103 taken out from the recording sheet supply section 240 is conveyed to the optical scanning section 20, where an image is recorded by the laser beam 21A, and the developer storage section 103b at the tip of the unit is crushed by the nip roller 551. , the developer is on the sheet portion 10
3a. Since the developer spreads over the surface of the sheet as the sheet portion 103a passes through the nip roller 551, the sheet portions are sequentially developed starting from the portion where recording has been completed. The entire sheet portion 103a is the nip roller 551
The film unit 103 that has passed through and completed development is
The film unit is carried into a tray 105 for storing the film unit.

In addition to the above-mentioned unit types, instant films include those that peel off the surface cover sheet after development.
It is also possible to use a so-called beer apartment film.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the radiation image information reading and reproducing apparatus of the present invention, by reading and reproducing image information using the same sub-scanning means in the optical scanning section, A conventional reading device and a reproducing device can be integrated without increasing the size of the entire device, and the entire system can be downsized.

In addition, only one light deflector and light source for the main scanning means can be provided for reading and reproduction, and a part of the transport means for the stimulable phosphor sheet and the recording sheet can also be shared, reducing manufacturing costs. It is possible to reduce this significantly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a radiation image information reading and reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a moving conveyance unit, FIG. 3(a),
(b) is a schematic diagram of the vicinity of the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section for explaining the movement of the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section; FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 are each according to other embodiments of the present invention. FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic side views showing the apparatus, and are schematic views showing side portions of the optical scanning section in still other embodiments of the present invention. 1...Stormable phosphor sheet 2...Cassette 3...Recording sheet 4.
...Recording sheet supply magazine 5...Recording sheet storage magazine 10, 10'...Stormable phosphor sheet supply unit 20...
・Optical scanning section 30... Erasing section 40...
・Recording sheet supply section 50...Stormable phosphor sheet conveying means 60...Recording sheet conveying means 70, 70'...Automatic developing section 80...Recording sheet storage section 3rd @ (b) 4th Figure November 25, 1988 Patent Application No. 265.012 No. 2, FE Ming Name Radiographic Image Information Reading and Reproducing Device 3, ? Relationship with the case of a person who commits wrongdoing Patent applicant location 210 Nakanuma, Minamiashigara City, Kanagawa Prefecture Name (
520) 7N Shishapage Film Co., Ltd. Representative Minoru Onishi 4, Agent address: 6, 7th floor, Hauraiya Building, 5-2-1 Rokigi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Subject of amendment Drawing 7, Contents of amendment 1 ) Among the drawings, Figures 7 and 8 are corrected to inked drawings. (No change in content) 8. Attached documents

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A stimulable phosphor sheet supply unit that stores a stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiographic image information is accumulated and recorded and carries out the stored stimulable phosphor sheet; a recording sheet supply section that carries out the stored recording sheets one by one; a reading main scanning means that deflects a light beam with an optical deflector to main scan the stimulable phosphor sheet; a main scanning device for recording that deflects the recording sheet to perform main scanning on the recording sheet; and a sub-scanning device that conveys the stimulable phosphor sheet and the recording sheet in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction for sub-scanning; The light beam of the reading main scanning means generates light carrying the radiation image information from the stimulable phosphor sheet, and this light is detected by the light detection means to read the radiation image information, and the radiation image information is read by the light detection means. a light scanning unit that modulates a light beam of a recording main scanning unit based on the read radiation image information and records the radiation image information on the recording sheet; a light scanning unit that records the radiation image information on the recording sheet; a stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means for conveying the stimulable phosphor sheet to the optical scanning section and then conveying it out from the optical scanning section; and a recording sheet conveyed from the recording sheet supply section to the optical scanning section. A radiation image information reading and reproducing device consisting of a recording sheet conveying means that is carried out from a halo scanning section. 2) The radiation image information reading and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical deflector of the reading main scanning means and the optical deflector of the recording main scanning means are common. 3) The radiation image information reading according to claim 2, wherein the light source of the light beam of the reading main scanning means and the light source of the light beam of the recording main scanning means are common. playback device. 4) The radiation image information reading and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means and the recording sheet conveying means are common. 5) A stimulable phosphor sheet supply unit that stores a stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiographic image information is accumulated and recorded and carries out the stored stimulable phosphor sheet; A recording sheet supply unit that conveys out one recording sheet one by one; A main scanning means for reading that deflects a light beam with an optical deflector to main scan the stimulable phosphor sheet; a recording main scanning means for main-scanning the upper side; and a sub-scanning means for sub-scanning the stimulable phosphor sheet and the recording sheet by conveying them in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction; A light beam carrying the radiation image information is generated from the stimulable phosphor sheet, and this light is detected by the light detection means to read the radiation image information, and the recording main scanning means an optical scanning unit that modulates a light beam based on the read radiation image information and records the radiation image information on the recording sheet; an automatic developing unit that develops the recording sheet on which the radiation image information is recorded; a stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means that conveys the stimulable phosphor sheet unloaded from the stimulable phosphor sheet supply section to the optical scanning section and then unloads it from the optical scanning section, and unloading the stimulable phosphor sheet from the recording sheet supply section A radiation image information reading and reproducing apparatus comprising a recording sheet conveying means for conveying the processed recording sheet to the optical scanning section and then to the automatic developing section. 6) The radiation image information reading and reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the optical scanning section and the automatic developing section are integrally arranged in the same housing. 7) The radiation image information reading and reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the optical deflector of the reading main scanning means and the optical deflector of the recording main scanning means are common. 8) Radiation image information reading according to claim 7, characterized in that the light source of the light beam of the reading main scanning means and the light source of the light beam of the recording main scanning means are common. playback device. 9) The radiation image information reading and reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means and the recording sheet conveying means are common. 10) A stimulable phosphor sheet supply unit that stores a stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiation image information has been accumulated and recorded and carries out the stored stimulable phosphor sheet; A recording sheet supply unit that conveys out one recording sheet one by one; A main scanning means for reading that deflects a light beam with an optical deflector to main scan the stimulable phosphor sheet; a recording main scanning means for main-scanning the upper side; and a sub-scanning means for sub-scanning the stimulable phosphor sheet and the recording sheet by conveying them in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction; A light beam carrying the radiation image information is generated from the stimulable phosphor sheet, and this light is detected by the light detection means to read the radiation image information, and the recording main scanning means an optical scanning unit that modulates a light beam based on the radiation image information read and records the radiation image information on the recording sheet; a recording sheet storage that stores the recording sheet that has been recorded in the optical scanning unit; a stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means for conveying the stimulable phosphor sheet unloaded from the stimulable phosphor sheet supplying section to the optical scanning section, and then conveying the stimulable phosphor sheet to the optical scanning section; and the recording sheet supplying section. A radiation image information reading and reproducing apparatus comprising a recording sheet conveying means for conveying a recording sheet carried out from the recording sheet to the optical scanning section and then to the recording sheet storage section. 11) The radiation image information reading and reproducing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the optical deflector of the reading main scanning means and the optical deflector of the recording main scanning means are common. 12) a light source for the light beam of the reading main scanning means;
12. The radiation image information reading and reproducing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the light source of the light beam of the recording main scanning means is common. 13) The radiation image information reading and reproducing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying means and the recording sheet conveying means are common.