JPH04318541A - Cumulative phosphor sheet carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent intrusion of outside light from a sheet receiving opening to inside the reader or laser beam inside the reader from leaking outside from the sheet receiving opening even when a shielding cover is opened by opening and closing the shielding cover and a shutter in unison. CONSTITUTION:After the cumulative phosphor sheet 11 is loaded onto a platen 2, if the shielding cover is closed in order to carry out shielding of the reader, the platen 2 is lowered to a carrying position interlocked with the shielding cover. A shutter 2A provided in the platen 2 is lowered with the platen 2 and the sheet receiving opening 5 is opened. When the reading is completed, if the shielding cover is opened after the phosphorous sheet 11 is returned again to the carrying position of the platen 2, the platen 2 is risen to a position inclined so as to facilitate extraction of the phosphorous sheet 11 interlocked with the shielding cover. The shutter 2A provided on the platen 2 is also risen with the platen 2 and the sheet receiving opening 5 is closed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a stimulable phosphor sheet conveying device applied to a radiation image information recording and reproducing system using a stimulable phosphor sheet, and particularly to a stimulable phosphor sheet conveying device that transfers a loaded stimulable phosphor sheet to a reading device. This relates to a feeding device.

0002

[Prior Art] After reading a recorded radiation image to obtain an image signal and subjecting this image signal to appropriate image processing,
Reproducing and recording images is performed in various fields. For example, an X-ray image is recorded using an X-ray film with a low gamma value designed to be compatible with later image processing, and the X-ray image is read from the film on which it is recorded and converted into an electrical signal. Convert this electrical signal (image signal)
By performing image processing on the image and then reproducing it as a visible image in a copy photograph, etc., it is possible to obtain a reproduced image with good image quality performance such as contrast, sharpness, and graininess (Special Publication No. 5193/1983) (see official bulletin).

[0003] Also, the applicant of the present application has reported that radiation (X-rays, α
When irradiated with rays, β-rays, γ-rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc., a part of this radiation energy is accumulated, and then when excited light such as visible light is irradiated, the accumulation exhibits stimulated luminescence depending on the accumulated energy. Using stimulable phosphor (photostimulable phosphor),
Radiographic image information of a subject such as a human body is recorded on a sheet of stimulable phosphor, and this stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned with excitation light such as a laser beam to generate stimulated luminescence. A radiation image recording and reproducing system has already been proposed that photoelectrically reads the exhaustion light to obtain an image signal and outputs the radiation image of the subject as a visible image to a recording material such as a photographic light-sensitive material, a CRT, etc. based on this image data. ing. (JP-A No. 55-12429, No. 56-11395, No. 5
No. 5-163472, No. 56-104645, No. 5
5-116340, etc.) This system has the practical advantage of being able to record images over a much wider radiation exposure range than conventional radiographic systems using silver halide photography. In other words, in stimulable phosphors, it is recognized that the amount of emitted light that is stimulated and emitted by excitation after accumulation is proportional to the amount of radiation exposure over an extremely wide range. Therefore, the amount of radiation exposure varies depending on various imaging conditions. Even if the value varies considerably, the amount of stimulated luminescence emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet is read by the photoelectric conversion means with the reading gain set to an appropriate value and converted into an electrical signal. By outputting a radiation image as a visible image to a recording material such as a photographic light-sensitive material or a display device such as a CRT, it is possible to obtain a radiation image that is not affected by fluctuations in the amount of radiation exposure.

[0004] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned radiation image recording and reproducing system, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-200269 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-16007, a radiation image recording section, a reading section, and a reproducing section are used. A built-in radiographic image recording and reproducing system that integrates a recording section, a reading section, a reproducing section, etc. is well known, but there is also a system that has a recording section, a reading section, a reproducing section, etc., and each performs an independent function.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In a system in which the above-mentioned sections are provided separately, after a radiation image is recorded on a stimulable phosphor sheet in a recording section, the stimulable phosphor sheet is transported to a reading device, which is a reading section. The radiation image is read. Such a reading device is integrated with a transport device that loads recorded stimulable phosphor sheets and transports them into the reading device. Normally, the stimulable phosphor sheets are taken out from a cassette and transported one by one. The sheet is set in the device and conveyed to the reading device through the sheet receiving opening, and after reading is completed, the sheet is returned to the original set position by the conveying device.

[0006] In such a system, a light-shielding cover is provided to prevent external light from entering the reading device through the stimulable phosphor sheet receiving port and to prevent laser light inside the reading device from leaking to the outside. However, when setting the stimulable phosphor sheet on the conveyance device, the light-shielding cover is open, and external light may enter through the stimulable phosphor sheet receiving port, and the laser light inside the reader may be exposed to the outside. There is a safety issue as there is a possibility of leakage.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention has been developed to prevent external light from entering the reading device through the stimulable phosphor sheet receiving opening even when the light-shielding cover is open, such as when a stimulable phosphor sheet is placed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a stimulable phosphor sheet conveying device that prevents laser light inside the device from leaking to the outside.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A stimulable phosphor sheet conveying device according to the present invention includes: ◆ A stimulable phosphor sheet conveying device that conveys a stimulable phosphor sheet to a reading device; a mounting table on which the sheet is placed; ◆ a transport means for transporting the stimulable phosphor sheet from above the mounting table toward the sheet receiving opening of the reading device; a light-shielding cover; ◆ an openable/closable shutter provided at the sheet receiving opening; ◆ the light-shielding cover is configured to close the shutter when the light-shielding cover is opened and open the shutter when the cover is closed; The shutter is characterized by comprising interlocking means for interlocking the opening/closing operation with the opening/closing operation of the shutter.

[0009]

[Operation] The stimulable phosphor sheet conveying device according to the present invention has the following features:
A shutter that can be opened and closed is provided at the sheet receiving port, and the light blocking cover and the sheet receiving port are opened and closed in conjunction so that when the light blocking cover is opened, the shutter is closed, and when the light blocking cover is closed, the shutter is opened. It is possible to prevent external light from entering the reading device through the sheet receiving port and preventing laser light inside the reading device from leaking to the outside from the sheet receiving port.

0010

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a stimulable phosphor sheet conveying device according to the present invention.

The stimulable phosphor sheet conveying device 1 according to the present invention is integrated with a reading device 10 for reading radiation images recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet. A loading table 2, a conveyor belt 3 consisting of two endless belts for feeding the stimulable phosphor sheet into the sheet receiving port 5 of the reading device 10, and a stopper 4 for positioning the stimulable phosphor sheet in the width direction. It is composed of a light shielding cover 6.

The mounting table 2 is a stimulable phosphor sheet conveying device 1.
When a stimulable phosphor sheet is placed on the stimulable phosphor sheet, the stimulable phosphor sheet is moved to an inclined position as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. Also, on the mounting table 2 there is a shutter 2 shown by a virtual line.
A is provided to open and close the sheet receiving port 5.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying device 1 viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG.

The conveying belt 3 is attached at such a position that when the mounting table 2 is set at the conveying position, the upper surface of the conveying belt 3 is exposed at a position slightly higher than the thickness of the mounting table 2. Further, the mounting table 2 is formed with a substantially rectangular hole 2a that is slightly larger than the transport belt 3 and into which the transport belt 3 is inserted when the mounting table 2 is set at the transport position. There is. Therefore, when the stimulable phosphor sheet 11 is placed on the mounting table 2 and set at the transport position, the stimulable phosphor sheet 11 is placed on the transport belt 3 so that it can be transported.

Further, the conveying belt 3 is driven by a driving means (not shown) so as to be able to convey the stimulable phosphor sheet 11 in the directions of arrows C and D shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying device 1 constructed as described above will be explained.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying device 1 viewed from the direction of arrow B. As shown in FIG.

When placing the stimulable phosphor sheet 11 on the mounting table 2, the placing table 2 is placed in an inclined position so that the stimulable phosphor sheet 11 can be placed easily, as shown in FIG. (point E), and when the stimulable phosphor sheet 11 is placed at this position, the stimulable phosphor sheet 11 comes into contact with the stopper 4 due to its own weight, so this stopper 4 causes the width of the stimulable phosphor sheet 11 to be Directional positioning can be performed. Further, in this position, the sheet receiving opening 5 is closed by the shutter 2A, so that no external light enters into the reading device 10, and no laser light inside the reading device 10 leaks to the outside. After the stimulable phosphor sheet 11 is placed on the mounting table 2 in this manner, the light-shielding cover 6 is closed to shield the reading device 10 from light. When the light-shielding cover 6 is closed, the mounting table 2 moves in conjunction with the light-shielding cover 6 to move to F as shown in FIG.
The shutter 2A provided on the loading table 2 also lowers together with the loading table 2, and the sheet receiving port 5 is opened as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. At the conveyance position, the stimulable phosphor sheet 11 is placed on the conveyance belt 3 so as to be conveyable, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 11 is placed on the conveyance belt 3 so that it can be conveyed, and the reading device 1 is placed in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG.
0 through the sheet receiving port 5.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 11 conveyed to the reading device 10 is conveyed by the conveying belt 13 of the reading device 10, and is irradiated with a light beam.
Stimulated luminescence light is emitted with an amount of light corresponding to the radiation image information stored and recorded. This stimulated luminescence light is transmitted through the light guide 14.
, and is photoelectrically detected by a photomultiplier (photomultiplier tube) 12, and reading is completed. The analog output signal output from the photo multiplier 12 is digitized, and based on this digitized image signal, an image reproduction means (not shown) reproduces a visible image.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 11 that has been read
Since the conveyor belt 13 and the conveyor belt 3 rotate in the opposite direction and are conveyed in the direction of arrow D shown in FIG.
The stimulable phosphor sheet is then sent out to the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying device 1 and returned to the conveying position on the mounting table 2 again. After that, when the light shielding cover 6 is opened, the mounting table 2 moves in conjunction with the light shielding cover 6 and rises to an inclined position so that the stimulable phosphor sheet 11 can be easily taken out, and the shutter 2A provided on the mounting table 2 is also placed. Since it rises together with the mounting table 2 and closes the sheet receiving opening 5, in this position, as in the case when the stimulable phosphor sheet 11 is placed, external light does not enter the reading device 10 or laser light inside the reading device 10 will not leak outside.

In the above embodiment, the mounting table 2 and the shutter 2A are provided integrally, but when the light-shielding cover 6 is closed, the sheet receiving opening 5 is opened, and when the light-shielding cover 6 is opened, the sheet receiving opening 5 is opened. If it is a shutter that closes the sheet receiving port 5,
It can be set in any way.

Further, in the above embodiment, the light-shielding cover 6 and the shutter 2A are opened and closed in conjunction with each other, but the means for interlocking the light-shielding cover 6 and the shutter 2A is electrical or mechanical. Any means may be used.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the mounting table 2
is rotatably supported, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 11
Although the mechanism is such that the stimulable phosphor sheet is moved to an inclined placement position when it is placed, and moved to a horizontal transfer position when the stimulable phosphor sheet is transported, there is no need to provide such a mechanism; Of course, it is also possible to have a structure fixed at a horizontal transport position.

Further, in the above embodiment, an endless belt is used as the conveyance means, but it goes without saying that other methods such as a method of attracting and pulling the stimulable phosphor sheet 11 or a method of using rollers may also be used. be.

[0026]

Effects of the Invention As described above in detail, the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying device according to the present invention is provided with a shutter that can be opened and closed at the sheet receiving port, and a light-shielding cover is provided when the stimulable phosphor sheet is placed. The stimulable phosphor sheet is placed so that the shutter closes when the stimulable phosphor sheet is opened, and the shutter opens when the shading cover is closed when reading the stimulable phosphor sheet. Even if you open the light-shielding cover when loading or unloading the sheet, it prevents external light from entering the reader through the sheet receiving port, and prevents laser light inside the reading device from leaking outside from the sheet receiving port. It also becomes possible to eliminate safety problems.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic diagram of a stimulable phosphor sheet conveying device according to the present invention.

[Fig. 2] A cross-sectional view of the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying device according to the present invention, viewed from direction A in Fig. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the stimulable phosphor sheet conveying device according to the present invention, viewed from direction B in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

2　　　　Placement stand 2A Shutter 3 Conveyance belt 4 Stopper 11 stimulable phosphor sheet

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A stimulable phosphor sheet conveying device for conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet to a reading device, comprising: a mounting table on which the stimulable phosphor sheet is placed; a transport means for transporting the sheet toward the sheet receiving port of the reading device; a light shielding cover that can be opened and closed provided above the mounting table; a shutter that can be opened and closed provided at the sheet receiving port; The storage comprises interlocking means for interlocking the opening/closing operation of the light shielding cover with the opening/closing operation of the shutter so that the shutter is closed when the light shielding cover is opened, and the shutter is opened when the cover is closed. phosphor sheet conveyance device.