JPH04185064A - Radiographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently a transfer image file when the image file is transferred to a hard copying device by transferring no image file whose number of the hard copy of an image incidental information is zero. CONSTITUTION:The number of the hard copy is inputted by the input means of the number of the hard copy, the image file is formed by adding the image incidental information to an image data and stored in an image storing means. Then, the deciding means of the number of the hard copy decides the number the hard copy of the image file when the image file is transferred. The image file transfer control means based on the result of this decision transfers the image file setting one or more sheets of the hard copy, but does not transfer setting no sheet of the hard copy. Thus, the image file is transferred efficiently since the useless image file is not transferred.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a radiographic imaging device, and in particular, to a radiographic imaging device that stores radiographic images in the form of files as digital image data.
The present invention relates to a radiation imaging device that transfers image files to an external device such as a hard copy device or a host computer.

<Prior Art> As a radiation imaging device, an X-ray imaging device that has been widely used in the medical field has been known. Such an X-ray imaging device uses a phosphor layer (
The so-called X-ray photography method is common, in which visible light is irradiated onto a silver halide film (fluorescent screen) and developed by irradiating it onto a silver halide film, but there are many problems such as film consumption, management, and whether or not the shooting conditions are good until the end of development. There were various problems.

To solve this problem, radiation image information that has passed through the object is stored and recorded on a stimulable phosphor, and this image information is read out, digitized, and stored in a CRT.
Radiographic imaging devices have been put into practical use that can display images on a computer or transfer images to an external device such as a hard copy device or computer.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the configuration of a conventional radiation image capturing apparatus using a stimulable phosphor and will be described.

In the figure, X-rays from an X-ray irradiation device 1 consisting of an
The rays pass through the subject 2 and are irradiated onto a radiation conversion panel 3 as a storage type radiation image conversion panel. The radiation conversion panel 3 has a stimulable phosphor layer, and when this phosphor is irradiated with excitation light such as X-rays, electron beams, and ultraviolet rays, part of the energy is absorbed depending on the amount of irradiation. Accumulated. Thereby, the radiation conversion panel 3 forms a latent image due to the energy transmitted through the subject 2.

The radiation conversion panel 3 is irradiated with stimulable excitation light such as visible light or infrared rays from a stimulable excitation light source 4 in a scanning manner. This irradiation causes the radiation conversion panel 3 to emit photostimulable fluorescence in proportion to the stored energy. This emitted light is input to the photoelectric converter 6 via the filter 5, and the photoelectric converter 6
is converted into a voltage signal proportional to the emission intensity and output to the image reading device 7.

The image reading device 7 converts the input voltage signal into digital image data and outputs it to the controller 8. The controller 8 stores the digital image data in a memory, performs data input/output control for CRT display and film output, and also sets photographing conditions for the subject and performs image processing.

Digital image data is transferred to external device 9 as required. Examples of the external device 9 include a hard copy device that records digital image data on film, a host computer that stores and manages image data, and the like.

Here, the radiation conversion panel 3 can be used repeatedly for photographing, reading, and erasing, and the radiation exposure range that can be recorded is extremely wide, so that differences in photographing conditions can be repaired and recovered by image processing.

According to such a radiographic imaging apparatus, the process from imaging to obtaining a radiographic image is almost automated, resulting in labor savings. In addition, the time from the start of imaging until the image is obtained can be significantly shortened, and clearer images can be obtained through image processing, thereby improving diagnostic time and diagnostic accuracy.

Furthermore, it has many features, such as being able to retrieve image data whenever needed, significantly reducing storage space, and facilitating image data storage management.

<Problem to be solved by the invention> By the way, in this type of radiographic imaging device, after the image data is digitized and stored in the memory, it is difficult to decide whether to transfer it to an external device or execute it, which is difficult in conventional devices. Transfer to the copying device was performed regardless of the number of hard copies. For this reason, a wasteful operation is performed in which the number of hard copies is 0, that is, even image data that is not to be hard copied is transferred, resulting in a waste of time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a radiographic image capturing apparatus that can efficiently and reliably transfer image files to a hard copy apparatus.

<Means for Solving the Problems> As shown in FIG. The radiation image information stored and recorded in the type radiation image conversion panel is read with excitation light and converted into digital image data, and an image file in which image supplementary information is added to the digital image data is stored in an image storage means, and at least a hard copy device is used. In a radiation imaging apparatus that transfers the image file to an external device including a hard copy number input means for inputting the number of hard copies as the image supplementary information, and a hard copy number input means for inputting the number of hard copies as the image supplementary information, and a <Operation> The image file transfer control means is configured to include a hard copy number determining means for determining the number of hard copies, and an image file transfer control means that does not transfer the image file to the hard copy device when the number of hard copies of the image file is 0. In the configuration, the number of hard copies is inputted by the number of hard copies input means, added to image data as part of image supplementary information to form an image file, and stored in the image storage means. Then, when transferring the image file, the hard copy number determining means determines the number of hard copies of the image file. Based on this determination result, the image file transfer control means transfers image files for which the number of hard copies is set to 1 or more to the hard copy device, but transfers image files for which the number of hard copies is 0 to the hard copy device. do not.

This eliminates the need to perform a wasteful transfer operation of transferring image files that are not to be hard-copied to the hard-copy device.

<Example> Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the controller 8 of the radiation image capturing apparatus of this embodiment.

In FIG. 2, a main controller 21 controls the operation of the entire radiographic imaging apparatus. The character information input device 22 includes, for example, a keyboard, a magnetic card reader, etc., and inputs image processing commands displayed on the character information display device 23, ID information for identifying the subject, the number of notebook copies, and the like. Therefore, the character information input device 22 corresponds to hard copy number input means. ID information includes ID number 2 name and gender.

There is date of birth, etc. The text information display device 23 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays the ID information inputted by the text information input device 22 and a shooting method menu for selecting several different shooting conditions set in advance to easily execute shooting. Display. Imaging conditions include the area to be imaged, imaging sensitivity, and grid movement speed.

Includes image processing method, number of hard copies, etc.

The radiation image input device (reader) 24 converts image information read by the image reading device 7 from the radiation conversion panel 3, which stores and records radiation image information of the subject, into digital image data and inputs the digital image data to the controller 8. Image storage device 2
5 is composed of, for example, a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk device, and is an image file formed by adding image supplementary information such as ID information, imaging conditions, and the number of hard copies to the digital image data inputted from the radiation image input device 24. Remember. In addition, there is also a queue registration table used to check the registration status of image files in a queue 28 (described later), which is a queue for managing the transfer order of image files, and an external device that knows which external devices are connected. The device configuration is stored. The image processing device 26 performs image processing selected in the photographing method menu, such as gradation processing on digital image data. The image display device 27 is composed of, for example, a CRT display, and displays digital image data input from the radiation image input device 24. The main control device 21 is provided with the aforementioned queue 28 for registering the transfer order of image files. In the queue 28, information for specifying the number or name assigned to each image file stored in the image storage device 25 is stored in the order of transfer.
The specific information of the image file that has been transferred is deleted.

This queue 28 is provided and managed for each connected external device, and each queue 28 operates independently and does not affect each other. The controller 8 of this embodiment includes a hard copy device 29 such as a laser printer as an external device.
and a host computer 30 are connected.

The configuration of the apparatus from X-ray imaging of the subject to conversion into a digital image is the same as the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. 11, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, according to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 to 5, an overview of the processing operations from image capture to transfer of the radiographic image capturing apparatus of this embodiment will be briefly explained.

First, before the photographing processing operation, the external device configuration is set by operating the character information input device 22 to determine whether or not the external device is connected. At this time, the initial value of the number of hard copies is also set for each hard copy device connected as described below. The input external device configuration and initial values of the number of hard copies are stored in the image storage device 25. This operation only needs to be performed once and does not need to be performed every time a photograph is taken. After this operation, the photographing processing operation is started.

First, step l (indicated by 81 in the figure, the same applies below)
Then, the operator operates the character information input device 22 to input ID information of the person scheduled to be photographed. The input ID information is stored in the image storage device 25.

In step 2, the input ID information is displayed on the character information display device 22 together with the photographing method menu.

Here, after the operator selects an imaging condition from the imaging method menu and instructs the imaging condition, the imaging switch of the X-ray irradiation device 1 is pressed.

Also, at this time, the setting of the number of hard copies in the number of hard copies item of the photographing method menu can be changed using the character information input device 22.

In step 3, the operator starts the imaging operation by operating the imaging switch of the X-ray irradiation device 1. When the imaging operation is started, the X-ray irradiation device 1 is driven to irradiate the subject with X-rays, which are accumulated in the radiation conversion panel 3. Then, the stimulable excitation light source 4 is driven and the radiation image is converted into an electrical image signal by the image reading device 7 by scanning the excitation light.

In step 4, the electrical image signal read by the image reading device 7 is converted into a digital image by the radiation image input device 24 and read into the controller 8. In step 5, the read digital image is stored in the image storage device 25, It is displayed on the image display device 27 at the same time.

In step 6, it is determined whether or not reading of the image has been completed, and when reading has been completed, the process proceeds to step 7.

In step 7, the image processing device 26 processes the image using a method specified in advance in the photographing method menu, and redisplays the image on the image display device 27.

In step 8, it is determined whether a confirmation key operation for confirming the completion of photographing has been performed, an operation to command change of the image processing method has been performed, or a cancel operation has been performed due to failure in photographing.

Here, when the operator determines that the photographing is normal and presses the confirmation key, it is determined that the photographing has ended, and the process proceeds to step 9, in which incidental image information consisting of ID information, photographing conditions, number of hard copies, etc. is added to the digital image data. An image file is created and stored in the image storage device 25, and in step 10, registration processing is performed in each queue 28 of the hard copy device 29 and host computer 30. The registered image file is transferred to the hard copy device 29 and host computer 30.

Also, when the image processing method change command operation is performed,
The operations from step 7 are repeated again according to the operator's designation of the image processing method.

In addition, when the operator determines that the shooting has failed and cancels the shooting, the process returns to step 2, and the text information display device 23 displays the shooting method menu, and the operator specifies the shooting conditions to take another shot. An action is taken.

When photographing the next subject after the photographing is completed, the ID information of the subject is inputted again using the character information input device 22.

Next, the operation of registering the image file in the queue 28 after creating and storing the image file will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step 21, the image storage device 2 is set in advance.
Refer to the external device configuration stored in 5. That is,
Determine whether it is connected to an external device or a radiation imaging device.

In step 22, image file identification information such as the file number and file name assigned to each image file is automatically added to the end of the queue of external devices that are set to be connected based on the determination result in step 21. Register.

As in this embodiment, when both the hard copy device 29 and the host computer 30 are set to be connected, file specifying information is registered in the queue 28 of each of the hard copy device 29 and the host computer 30.

If /'%-tocopy device 29 is set as not connected, it is not registered in the queue 28 of hard copy device 29. Note that even if it is actually connected, if it is set as not connected, it will not be registered in the queue.

In addition, the queue of external devices that are set as not connected is
It is not necessary to create one.

In step 23, the image file stored in the image storage device 25 registered in the queue 28 in step 22 is protected. This protection is not removed while it is registered in at least one queue 28. The protection of the image file is removed when the transfer to all connected external devices is completed and the image file is deleted from all queues. Protected image files cannot be rewritten or overwritten.

In this way, the image file is transferred to the hard copy device 29 and host computer 30 that are set to be connected by registering it in the queue 28, so the image file is not transferred to the hard copy device 29 or host computer 30. There is no need to make mistakes or forget operations. Furthermore, as long as the image file is registered in at least one queue 28, the image file is protected, so the image file before transfer will not be accidentally erased or rewritten.

Next, the image file transfer operation by the apparatus of this embodiment will be explained according to the flowchart of FIG. The image file transfer operation between the hard copy device 29 and the host computer 30 is managed independently for each queue.
Transfer operations by each queue are performed as follows upon generation of a transfer request.

In step 31, the image file registered at the head of the queue is transferred.

In step 32, the registration of the image file whose transfer has been completed is deleted.

In step 33, the queue registration table stored and managed in the image storage device 25 is checked to see if the image file that has been transferred and deleted is registered in all other queues. Here, if the deleted image file has been deleted from all queues, the process advances to step 34 and the protection of the image file is removed. However, if protection is instructed by an operator's operation, protection is not canceled. Furthermore, if there is even one queue registered, it is kept in a protected state.

In the device of this embodiment, the transfer operation to the hard copy device 29 and the host computer 30 is managed independently by each queue, so the next subject can be photographed regardless of the transfer status to the external device. , there is no need to wait for the transfer to finish. Furthermore, even if the transfer speeds between the hard copy device 29 and the host computer 30 are different, each transfer can be executed without waiting for the other to complete the transfer. For example, if the transfer to the host computer 30 ends earlier than the hard copy device 29, the next image file is transferred to the host computer 30 without waiting for the transfer to the hard copy device 29 to end.

In addition, the image files registered in each queue 28 are transferred to the external device in the order in which they were registered, so normally the images shot first are transferred first, but the order of transfer can be changed by the operator's operation. can be arbitrarily changed for each queue 28.

For example, a certain image file is transferred to the host computer 30 at the end of the image files registered in the queue of the host computer 30, and the same image file is transferred to the beginning of the image files registered in the queue of the hard copy device 29. It can also be done. In addition, the operator can delete the items from the queue or re-register them in any order in the queue. For example, if the queue of the host computer 30 is deleted, the host computer 30
It is possible to perform only the transfer to the hard copy device 29 without transferring to the host computer 30, or to re-register the image file transferred to the host computer 30 in the queue and transfer it to the host computer 30 again. .

Next, the transfer operation to the hard copy device 29, which is a feature of the present invention, will be explained in more detail according to the flowchart of FIG.

In step 41, image supplementary information such as ID information and the number of hard copies are input in the same manner as described above. The set number of hard copies is stored in the image storage device 25, and is initialized in the "Number of hard copies" item in the shooting method menu displayed on the text information display device 23 to select shooting conditions etc. at the start of shooting. Shown as a value. For example, if the number of hard copies is set to one when setting the external device configuration, "l" is displayed as an initial value in the "Number of hard copies" item in the photographing method menu.

The number of hard copies can be set for each shooting method menu, and if you want to change the number of hard copies under certain shooting conditions, use the character information input device 22 to change the number of hard copies in the shooting method menu. Just change it. For example, in one photographing method menu, the initial value of one image is taken, and in another photographing method menu, the number of hard copies can be changed to two using the character information input device 22. If you want to change the number of hard copies for a certain image, you can change the number of hard copies before or after shooting. For example, even if the number of hard copies is set to one in the photography method menu, it can be changed to two before or after photography.

In step 42, digital image data of the subject is created through a series of photographing operations, an image file is created by adding image supplementary information to this image data, and the data is stored in the image storage device 25. This image supplementary information includes the number of hard copies that have already been completed in addition to the number of hard copies, and based on these, the number of hard copies that have not yet been made can be determined. There is. Note that the "number of hard copies" and the "number of hard copies already made" may be stored in the image storage device 25 as a table instead of an image file. Further, instead of the "number of hard copies already made", the number of sheets for which hard copying has not yet been completed may be stored as the "number of hard copies not yet completed".

If the number of hard copies is changed by the operator's operation before the data is transferred to the hard copy device 29, the [number of hard copies] of this image supplementary information is rewritten.

In step 43, the number of hard copies of the image file is determined, and if the number of hard copies is set to one or more, it is registered in the queue 28 corresponding to the hard copy device 29 in step 44. Further, when the number of hard copies is 0, no registration is performed in the queue 28. For this reason,
Image files for which the number of hard copies is set to 0 are not transferred to the hard copy device 29.

As described above, the image file registered in the queue 28 to which information about the number of hard copies and the number of already made hard copies is added is protected.

In addition, if the number of hard copies is changed to 0 by the operator after being registered in the queue 28, the queue 28
8, and such image files are also not transferred to the hard copy device 29.

Therefore, image files are not managed by wasteful queuing. In addition, unnecessary image file transfer operations are not performed, and image files can be transferred efficiently (image files can be transferred efficiently) without wasting time.

In this way, the protected image file registered in the queue 28 is transferred to the hard copy device 29.

That is, in step 45, the number of hard copies Hi7 (=Hn-Hd) is calculated from the number of hard copies Hn in the image supplementary information and the number Hd of already hard copies.

In step 46, the calculated number of hard copies HI
! is instructed to the hard copy device 29 as the number of hard copies. Therefore, even if a plurality of hard copies are made, the image file is transferred to the hard copy device 29 only once. If the hard copy device 29 has a function to interpret the image supplementary information, the hard copy device 29 refers to the number of hard copies Hn and the number of hard copies already made Hd in the image supplementary information, and determines the actual number of hard copies H that has not yet been made. / may be determined.

In step 47, the image file is transferred to the hard copy device 29.

In step 48, the specific information of the transferred image file is deleted from the queue.

In step 49, it is determined whether or not the hard copy has ended normally based on the hard copy result sent from the hard copy device 29 for each hard copy operation. If it is determined to be normal, the process proceeds to step 50.

In step 50, the current number of hard copies Hd is increased.

In step 51, the number of hard copies already made in the image file is rewritten and stored.

In step 52, it is determined whether the number of hard copies Hjl' has become 0 or not, and HI! The operations from steps 49 to 51 are repeated until Hf becomes 0, and when Hf becomes 0, the process proceeds to step 53.

In step 53, the protection of the image file in the image storage device 25 is removed.

Furthermore, if a problem occurs in the hard copy device 29 and the judgment in step 49 becomes abnormal before the hard copy process is completed, the process proceeds to step 54, where the image file is re-registered at the head of the queue 28, and the process starts from step 45. Repeat the steps to retransmit.

By doing this, even if a problem occurs in the hard copy device 29 during hard copying and hard copying is interrupted, it is possible to determine how many hard copies should be made based on the number of hard copies and the current number of already existing hard copies. It is possible to check later whether or not the film has been hard-copied, and only the remaining number of sheets can be hard-copied without wasting film. In addition, the image file that has been transferred is deleted from the queue, but the protection is not removed until all hard copies have been successfully completed, so even if a problem occurs during hard copy, the image file will still be saved. You can re-transfer and re-hard copy.

The image file can be transferred to the hard copy device 29 without waiting for the hard copy of the transferred image file to be completed, if the hard copy device 29 side can receive the image file after the transfer of the image file to the hard copy device 29 has been completed. Start transferring the next image file.

Therefore, the time required to complete the transfer of the created image file can be shortened. Here, the main control device 21 corresponds to a hard copy number determining means and an image file transfer control means.

In addition, even if the external device is a host computer and a hard copy device is connected to this host computer, the number of hard copies in the image file and the number of already hard copies are the same as when the hard copy device is directly connected. By referring to , the operator can make the desired number of hard copies.

Next, another embodiment of the transfer operation to the hard copy device will be described according to the flowchart of FIG.

In step 61, the numbers of hard copies of the image files registered in the queue 28 are compared, and the images are rearranged in descending order of the number of hard copies.

In step 62, the image file at the head of the queue is transferred.

In step 63, information about the image file that has been transferred is deleted from the queue.

- In this way, if images with a small number of hard copies are transferred first, the hard copies will be completed faster and the image storage device will
You can quickly increase the number of free areas in 5. Therefore, the image storage device 25, which has a limited capacity, can be efficiently utilized. Note that this rearrangement may be performed at the time of registration to the queue 28.

It should be noted that it also has a function as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 as a transfer order changing function for effectively utilizing the image storage device 25.

This device automatically changes the key registration order so that the transfer order of the image file with the least number of registered queues is given priority, and the image memory has a limited number of image files that can be saved. This allows the device 25 to be used efficiently.

In step 71, the number of queues in which the image file is registered is compared for each image file by referring to the queue registration table stored and managed in the image storage device 25, and the transfer order of the image file is calculated. Sort in descending order of number.

In step 72, the image file at the head of the queue is transferred.

In step 73, information about the image file that has been transferred is deleted from the queue.

Although not shown, after deletion, as described above, the presence or absence of registration in other queues is checked and protection is maintained or canceled.

In the case of two external devices as in this embodiment, the queue registration order may be changed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 without using the queue registration table.

That is, starting from the image file at the head of the queue, it is checked whether the image file is also registered in the queue of the other external device (steps 81 to 84), and if there is an image file that is not registered, that image is Transfer the file (step 86). If all the image files are registered in the queue of the other external device, the image file registered at the head of the queue is transferred (step 8).
5.86).

The information of the image file that has been transferred is deleted from the queue (step 87).

In this way, preferentially transferring image files in the order of the least number of registered queues is effective, especially when the operator changes the registration order of queues or deletes them from the queues.

For example, when there are two external devices, the host computer 30 and the hard copy device 29, as in this embodiment, for the image file registered at the end of both queues,
When the queue registration order on the host computer 30 side is changed to the top, when the transfer of the image file to the host computer 30 is completed, the image file is registered only in the queue of the hard copy device 29. Become.

At this time, it is better to transfer the image files to the hard copy device 29 before the other image files registered in the queue of the hard copy device 29, rather than waiting until the original turn, to free up space in the image storage device 25. The area can be increased and the image storage device 25 can be used efficiently.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, when the image file to be transferred is being modified, it is preferable to transfer the next registered image file first.

That is, when sequentially transferring image files starting from the head of the queue, the operator determines whether or not the image file is being modified, such as when the image supplementary information of the image file is being changed or the image data is being processed. Action (Step 91
．． 92) If the image file is not being modified, the image file is transferred (step 94).

If the image file is being modified, it is not transferred, but the status of the next image file is determined, and if it is not being modified, it is transferred first (step 93.9).
4). The information of the image file whose transfer has been completed is deleted from the queue (step 95).

For example, when transferring to the hard copy device 29, check whether the image file is being modified or not, and if it is being modified, such as changing the number of hard copies, the next registered image file Transfer first. When the transfer is completed, it is checked again whether the image file is being modified, and if the modification has been completed, the image file is transferred to the hard copy device 29.

By doing so, it is possible to prevent the transfer from being delayed due to modification of the image file or from transferring the image file which is in the process of being modified.

Note that as another method of effectively utilizing the image storage device 25, image files may be transferred in descending order of data size. That is, when transferring to each external device, the image data sizes of image files registered in the queue are compared, the registration order in the queue is rearranged in descending order of image data size, and the first image file is transferred. In this way, if an image file with a small data size is transferred first, the transfer will be completed quickly, and the free area of the image storage device can be increased quickly. This method is particularly effective when the area secured in the image storage device is fixed regardless of the image size. In addition, in the case of the method based on data size, it may be performed at the time of registration in the queue after the image file is created and stored.

<Effects of the Invention> As explained above, according to the present invention, the number of hard copies of an image file is determined when transferring an image file to a hard copy device, and an image file whose number of hard copies is 0 is not transferred. Therefore, unnecessary transfer operations can be prevented and time wasted. Therefore, image files can be transferred efficiently and reliably.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] Fig. 1 is a block diagram explaining the present invention in detail, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the main system configuration of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a photograph of the same embodiment. A flowchart explaining the processing operation, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the registration operation of the above embodiment, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the transfer operation of the above embodiment, and FIG. 6 shows details of the transfer operation to the hard copy device. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another example of the transfer operation in the case of a hard copy device, FIGS. 8 to 10 are flowcharts showing different examples of the queue transfer operation, and FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration. ■...X-ray irradiation device 3...Radiation conversion panel 6
...Photoelectric converter 7...Image reading device 8...
・Controller 21... Main control device 22...
・Character information input device 23...Character information display device
24...Radiation image input device 25...Image storage device 29...Hard copy device

Claims (1)

[Claims] Radiographic image information is accumulated and recorded by irradiating the storage type radiographic image conversion panel with radiation that has passed through the subject.
The radiation image information accumulated and recorded in the storage type radiation image conversion panel is read with excitation light and converted into digital image data, and an image file in which image supplementary information is added to the digital image data is stored in an image storage means, and at least the hard In a radiation imaging apparatus that transfers the image file to an external device including a copying device, a hard copy number input means for inputting the number of hard copies as the image supplementary information, and an image to be transferred stored in the image storage means. A hard copy number determining means that determines the number of hard copies of a file, and an image file transfer control means that does not transfer the image file to the hard copy device when the number of hard copies of an image file is 0. Features of radiographic imaging equipment.