JPH04264242A - X-ray apparatus using accumulating fluorescent body - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To place a machine to be placed on each processing stage as close as possible to an accumulating fluorescent body in an X-ray apparatus of such a form that the accumulating fluorescent body is intermittently rotated and moved between a plurality of processing stages. CONSTITUTION:A measurement plate 3 with an accumulating fluorescent body 5 adhered on an outer peripheral face is intermittently rotated and moved between a deleting stage S, an X-ray exposing stage R, a waiting stage T and a reading stage Y, wherein the fluorescent body 5 is subjected to predetermined processing at each processing stage. When the accumulating fluorescent body 5 is rotated and moved, a roller 20 provided at its lower end moves along a guide rail 14. Thus the accumulating fluorescent body 5 is rotated and moved toward a next processing stage while it is moved in parallel toward the center of the rotation movement. Therefore a range of an orbit of the rotation movement of the accumulating fluorescent body 5 decreases, so that collision can be avoided even if various machines are placed close to the accumulating fluorescent body 5.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an X-ray apparatus using a stimulable phosphor.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned stimulable phosphor (sometimes called stimulable phosphor) has the following properties. In other words, when the stimulable phosphor is irradiated with radiation such as X-rays, energy is accumulated as a latent image within the stimulable phosphor corresponding to the irradiated area, and the stimulable phosphor is further exposed to the brightness of laser light, etc. When the exhaust excitation light is irradiated, the latent image energy is turned into light and emitted to the outside. Such substances include, for example, a phosphor represented by BaFX:Eu (X is a halogen), or various phosphors listed as visible to infrared stimulable phosphors in JP-A-56-11392. The body is known. As an X-ray device using a stimulable phosphor having such properties, the one shown in FIG. 4 is known. This X-ray apparatus includes a rotary table 1 driven by a motor 11 to rotate in the direction of arrow A, and two measurement plates 3 fixed to the rotary table 1 via brackets 2. As shown in FIG. 5, both measurement plates 3 are composed of a support plate 4 and a stimulable phosphor 5 bonded thereon, and in FIG. 4, the stimulable phosphor 5 is oriented outward. Each measuring plate 3 is fixed to the rotary table 1.

The rotary table 1 is driven by a motor 11 and rotates intermittently. As a result of this rotational movement, each measurement plate 3 rotates intermittently between the erase stage S, X-ray exposure stage R, standby stage T, and reading stage Y while stopping for a certain period of time.

The erasing stage S is provided with a lamp cover 12 and a plurality of lamps 9 (three in the figure) housed inside the lamp cover 12. The entire surface of the lamp cover 12 facing the measurement plate 3 is an opening, and the light emitted from the lamp 9 is emitted to the outside through the opening. When the measuring plate 3 is placed in the processing position (dotted line position) of the erasing stage S, the measuring plate 3 and therefore the stimulable phosphor 5 are irradiated with light emitted from the opening of the lamp cover 12. The lamp cover 12 functions to prevent the light from the lamp 9 from scattering in all directions outside, and to concentrate and irradiate as much light as possible onto the measuring plate 3, and therefore on the stimulable phosphor 5. A sample 6 to be measured is placed on the X-ray exposure stage R, and the sample 6 is exposed to X-rays L.
is irradiated. At this time, when the diffraction conditions are satisfied between the crystal lattice plane in the sample 6 and the incident X-ray, the X-ray is diffracted, and the diffracted X-ray enters the stimulable phosphor 5 of the measurement plate 3 and to expose. When X-rays are incident on the stimulable phosphor 5, energy is accumulated within the stimulable phosphor 5 in the area where the X-rays are incident. In this way, an energy latent image corresponding to the crystal structure inside the sample 6 is formed inside the stimulable phosphor 5 on the X-ray exposure stage R.

The standby stage T is not equipped with any special processing equipment, and the stimulable phosphor 5 is not subjected to any special processing. The reading stage Y is provided with a laser reading device 8 having a laser light source 7, a scanning optical system 10, and a laser light detector 13. Laser light emitted from the laser light source 7 is irradiated onto one point in a small area of the stimulable phosphor 5 by the scanning optical system 10 . If an energy latent image exists in this small-area portion, the energy latent image is excited by the laser beam and is emitted to the outside as light. The emitted light passes through a scanning optical system 10 to a laser photodetector 1.
3 and detected by its detector 13. The scanning optical system 10 is arranged parallel to the measurement plate 3 on the left and right sides (B-B'
) direction and the vertical (D-D') direction. As a result, information on the energy latent image in the entire region of the stimulable phosphor 5 is read.

[0006]

In the conventional X-ray apparatus described above, the measuring plate 3 is simply fixed to the rotating table 1 in an immovable position. The measurement plate 3 is usually formed into a rectangular shape with a fairly large area. Therefore, measuring plate 3
When the measuring plate 3 is rotated between the erasing stage S and other stages, both end sides 3a of the measuring plate 3 move in a circular locus with a very large diameter. Therefore, various devices provided on each stage, for example, the lamp cover 12 provided on the erasing stage S, are used to prevent the measurement plate 3 from colliding with both side edges 3a during rotational movement. It was installed at a large distance G from the position (dotted line position). However, if the lamp cover 12 is installed at a large distance from the measurement plate 3 and therefore from the stimulable phosphor 5, the light from the lamp 9 will leak to the outside through a large gap G, causing the stimulable phosphor 5 to become inefficient. I couldn't get the light to shine properly. Moreover, in each of the other stages, various devices could not be installed at positions close to the processing position of the measurement plate 3 in each processing stage (positions indicated by solid lines and chain lines in FIG. 4, respectively).

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems in conventional X-ray apparatuses in which a stimulable phosphor is rotated intermittently between stages. The purpose is to allow various devices installed around the trajectory to be installed as close to the stimulable phosphor as possible.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, an X-ray apparatus according to the present invention includes an X-ray exposure stage (R).
, the stimulable phosphor (5) is irradiated with X-rays from the sample (6), the latent image energy within the stimulable phosphor is read at the reading stage (Y), and then the stimulable phosphor is exposed at the erasing stage (S). An X-ray device for erasing residual energy in a phosphor, and when the stimulable phosphor is rotated between the stages, the stimulable phosphor is moved in parallel toward the center (P) of its rotational movement. It is characterized by

[0009]

[Operation] By moving the stimulable phosphor (5) in parallel toward the center of rotation (P), the locus of movement when rotating the stimulable phosphor becomes smaller. Therefore,
Even when the various devices provided on the erasing stage (S) and other stages (R, T, Y) are placed closer to the resting position of the stimulable phosphor in each stage, that is, toward the processing position, The rotationally moving stimulable phosphor will no longer collide with the various devices mentioned above.

0010

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an X-ray apparatus according to the present invention. In this embodiment, there is no difference from the conventional device shown in FIG. 4 in that two measuring plates 3 are attached to the rotary table 1 so as to face each other. Further, the rotary table 1 is intermittently rotationally driven by the motor 11, and the rotation of the rotary table 1 causes the measuring plate 3 to move between the erasing stage S and the X-ray exposure stage R.
, the standby stage T, and the laser reading stage Y, while stopping at each stage for a certain period of time and rotating intermittently between these stages is also the same as the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. Other components in FIG. 1 that are the same as those of the conventional device shown in FIG. 4 are given the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, one guide rail 14 formed of an elongated plate is provided below each stage S, R, T, and Y in a fixed position. As shown in FIG. 2, each guide rail 14 includes a first guide portion 14a and a first guide portion 14a extending parallel to the measurement plate 3, which is stationary at the processing position in each stage S to Y, and thus to the stimulable phosphor 5. It is constituted by a second guide part 14b that is bent from the guide part 14a and extends toward the first guide part 14a of the next stage. A roller 20 is attached below each measuring plate 3, and the roller 20 is in contact with or close to the guide rail 14.

Two bearing blocks 15 are fixedly provided on the rotary table 1, and support rods 16, 16 fixed to the inner surface of each measuring plate 3 slide onto these bearing blocks 15. freely supported. Therefore, each measuring plate 3 can freely move back and forth in parallel in the direction toward the rotation center P of the rotary table 1 (E direction) and in the direction away from it (E' direction).

A spring 17 is attached between the inner end of each support rod 16 and the outer peripheral end of the rotating table 1. Further, a protrusion 18 that protrudes inward is formed at the inner tip of each support rod 16, while a protrusion, that is, a stopper 19, is fixedly provided on the rotary table 1. Each spring 17 biases each support rod 16 and therefore the measuring plate 3 toward the outside in the radial direction of the rotary table 1, and the rod protrusion 18 is pressed against the rotary table stopper 19, and the support rod 16 and the measuring plate 3 are supported by the support rod 16 and the measuring plate 3. The measured plate 3 is stationary. In this stationary state, each stage S, R, T
, Y, a predetermined process is executed.

When the processing at each stage is completed, the rotary table 1 rotates in the direction of arrow A in order to move the measuring plate 3 to the processing position of the next stage. During this rotational movement, the roller 20 provided on the lower side of the measuring plate 3 moves along the guide rail 14. Therefore, the measuring plate 3 will eventually
The rotating table 1 rotates while moving in parallel in the direction of the rotation center P of the rotary table 1 against the spring force of 7, and moves to the processing position of the next processing stage. In this way, the measurement plate 3 moves parallel to the rotation center P while moving to the next processing stage, so the range of the rotation locus of the measurement plate 3 is much wider than that of the conventional device shown in FIG. becomes smaller. Therefore, even if the various devices installed at each processing stage S, R, T, Y are installed near the rotation locus of the measuring plate 3, the rotating measuring plate 3
and these various devices will no longer collide with each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, even if the lamp cover 12 installed on the erasing stage S is placed in contact with or close to the measurement plate 3 that has arrived at the processing position (dash line position), the rotationally moving measurement plate 3 does not collide with the lamp cover 12. The fact that the lamp cover 12 can be installed in contact with or in close proximity to the measuring plate 3 means that the distance between the measuring plate 3 and the lamp cover 12 is eliminated or becomes extremely small, and as a result, the distance between the measuring plate 3 and the lamp cover 12 is reduced to a minimum.
The light from the inner lamp 9 will not leak out to the outside, and the stimulable phosphor 5 can be irradiated with more light. Thereby, the energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor 5 can be efficiently erased.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the X-ray apparatus according to the present invention. This embodiment is different from the previous embodiment shown in FIG.
The point is that a belt 23 stretched between two rollers 21 and 22 is used as a device for parallel movement in the direction of. One of the two rollers 21 and 22 is a drive roller, and the belt 23 is driven by this drive roller so that it can reciprocate by an appropriate length in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. ing. belt 23
When arm 2 rotates in the clockwise direction (direction F) in the figure,
Support rod 16 fixed to its belt 23 via 4
and the measurement plate 3 supported by the support rod is mounted on the rotary table 1
radially outward (in the E' direction). Conversely, when the belt 23 rotates counterclockwise (direction F'), the measuring plate 3 moves in parallel inward (direction E).

The positions of the measuring plates 3 shown by solid lines and chain lines in FIG. Predetermined processes at T and Y, such as residual energy erasing processing at erasing stage S and X-ray exposure processing at X-ray exposure stage R, are executed. When the processing at each processing stage is completed, the rotating plate 1 is driven by the motor 11 to rotate in the direction of arrow A, and each measuring plate 3 is moved to the processing position of the next processing stage. At the same time, the belt 23 rotates in the counterclockwise direction (direction F' in the figure), and each measuring plate 3 moves in parallel toward the rotation center P. As a result, the rotation locus of the measuring plate 3 is kept small. When each measuring plate 3 approaches the target next processing stage, the circumferential direction of the belt 23 changes clockwise (F
direction), and each measuring plate 3 gradually moves parallel to the outside in the radial direction of the rotary table 1. When the measuring plate 3 reaches the next processing stage, the measuring plate 3 is set at the outermost processing position as shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, as in the previous embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the measuring plate 3 moves in parallel toward the rotation center P while moving to the next processing stage. Therefore, the rotation locus of the measuring plate 3 becomes very small compared to the conventional device shown in FIG. Therefore, each processing stage S,
Even if the various devices installed in R, T, and Y are installed near the rotation locus of the measuring plate 3, the rotating measuring plate 3 and these various devices will not collide with each other.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to several embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. For example, when rotating the measurement plate 3 and therefore the stimulable phosphor 5 between the processing stages S, R, T, and Y, the stimulable phosphor 5 is moved in parallel toward the rotation center position P. As the means for this purpose, any device having a configuration other than the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 or the device shown in FIG. 3 can be employed.

[0019]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, the rotating measuring plate (
3), therefore, the rotational movement locus of the stimulable phosphor (5) is limited within a narrow range, so that each processing stage (S, R, T
, Y) are placed in contact with or close to the stimulable phosphor placed at a predetermined processing position in each processing stage. It is possible to prevent the devices from colliding with each other. Therefore, the entire X-ray apparatus can be made smaller.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an X-ray apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the above embodiment when viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the X-ray apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional X-ray apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a measurement plate, which is a main component used in the X-ray apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A phosphor moving means for intermittently rotationally moving a stimulable phosphor between an X-ray exposure stage, a reading stage, and an erasing stage, the X-ray exposure stage In an X-ray apparatus that irradiates a stimulable phosphor with a beam, reads the latent image energy in the stimulable phosphor in a reading stage, and then erases the residual energy in the stimulable phosphor in an erasure stage,
An X-ray apparatus characterized in that when rotating the stimulable phosphor between the stages, the stimulable phosphor is moved in parallel toward the center of the rotation.