JPH04340950A - Radiograph information reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase the number of sheets processed per time and to read phosphor sheets which vary in size by forming a stack zone which holds phosphor sheet of set size so that the stack zone branches from the conveyance path for the phosphor sheets. CONSTITUTION:This reader has a cassette loading part 32, a read part 34 which reads radiograph information, a conveyance part 36 which conveys the accumulable phosphor sheets, and an erasure part 38 which erases radiograph information remaining on the accumulable phosphor sheets after the read operation. The stack zone 20 for holding the phosphor sheets of the size set by a user is provided branching from the conveyance device 36. Therefore, when the phosphor sheets of size which is used frequently are read, the phosphor sheets held in the stack zone 20 are put in a cassette 10 without waiting the phosphor sheets discharged from a cassette 10 to be read and erased, thereby performing next operation such as image recording.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reading device for reading radiation image information stored and recorded on a stimulable phosphor sheet. More specifically, the present invention relates to a radiation image information reading device that is compact and capable of rapid operation.

0002

[Prior Art] Certain types of phosphors are exposed to radiation (X-rays, α-rays,
When the phosphor is irradiated with β-rays, γ-rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc., it accumulates some of this radiation energy, and then when this phosphor is irradiated with excitation light such as visible light, the accumulated energy is It is known that it exhibits stimulated luminescence depending on the
A phosphor exhibiting such properties is called a stimulable phosphor (stimulable phosphor).

[0003] Using this stimulable phosphor, radiation image information of a subject such as a human body is temporarily recorded on a sheet having a layer of stimulable phosphor (hereinafter referred to as phosphor sheet). , scanning this phosphor sheet two-dimensionally with excitation light such as a laser beam to generate stimulated luminescence;
This stimulated luminescence light is read photoelectrically to obtain an image signal, and based on this image signal, recording materials such as photographic light-sensitive materials, CRTs, etc.
The present applicant has proposed a radiation image information recording and reproducing system that outputs a radiation image of a subject as a visible image on a display device such as
6-11395, etc.).

[0004] In such a radiation image information recording and reproducing system, reading of the radiation image information stored and recorded on the phosphor sheet is performed as follows by a radiation image information reading device (hereinafter referred to as a reading device). ing.

[0005] The reading device basically includes a loading section into which a cassette containing one phosphor sheet is loaded, a reading section which reads radiation image information stored and recorded on the phosphor sheet.
It is composed of an erasing section that erases radiation image information remaining on the phosphor sheet after reading, and a transport device that transports the phosphor sheet.

[0006] When the cassette is loaded into the reading device, the phosphor sheet is taken out from the cassette by the sheet-fed mechanism of the reading device and conveyed to the reading section.

In the reading section, excitation light of a constant intensity emitted from an excitation light source such as a He-Ne laser is reflected and deflected in the main scanning direction by an optical deflector such as a galvanometer mirror, and is reflected and deflected in the main scanning direction by an optical deflector such as a galvanometer mirror. The phosphor sheet is irradiated through the optical element.

[0008] Here, the phosphor sheet is conveyed on a belt conveyor,
The paper is transported by a transport device such as a nip roller in a sub-scanning direction that is substantially perpendicular to the previous main-scanning direction. Therefore, the excitation light deflected in the main scanning direction can two-dimensionally scan the entire surface of this phosphor sheet.

[0009] Stimulated luminescence light corresponding to the radiation image information accumulated and recorded there is generated from the part of the phosphor sheet irradiated with the excitation light. This stimulated luminescence light is directly incident on the incident surface of the light guide, or is reflected by a condensing mirror disposed opposite to this incident surface, enters the incident surface of the light guide, is transmitted by the light guide, and is excited. After passing through a filter that cuts light in the wavelength range, it enters a photomultiplier tube, where it is photoelectrically converted into an electrical signal, processed, and reproduced as a visible image on a CRT or photosensitive material, or as a visible image on a CRT or photosensitive material. Recorded and stored on a recording medium.

The phosphor sheet that has been read is transported to the erasing section, where it is irradiated with erasing light from a light source.
The remaining radiation image information is erased and the image is recorded again.

An example of such a reading device is the reading device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-90641 by the present applicant. This reading device includes, in addition to the loading section, reading section, erasing section, transport device, etc., a sorter section that holds a plurality of phosphor sheets that have been erased, selects and discharges them one by one, and a sorter section that The first stage is where the phosphor sheet is delivered to the department.
a second sheet conveying means for discharging the phosphor sheets from the sorter section and carrying them into the cassette, and a stacking section for temporarily holding the phosphor sheets taken out from the cassette before being read. It is something.

According to this reading device, after a cassette containing a phosphor sheet carrying image information is loaded, the phosphor sheet is automatically taken out from the cassette, and then an erased phosphor sheet is placed in the cassette. It can be stored and the next photograph can be taken immediately. Moreover, since the sorter can hold a plurality of sheets and selectively discharge them, it can also handle phosphor sheets of many different sizes.

By the way, since such a reading device has a stacker and a sorter, the processing capacity can be increased, but the reading device becomes large and expensive. Therefore, it has been difficult for small-scale users such as private hospitals to introduce reading devices (radiation image information recording and reproducing systems).

[0014] In order to solve these problems, the present applicant has proposed, in various publications such as JP-A-62-124549 and JP-A-2-12232, a phosphor sheet that is housed in a cassette and used for reading. We are proposing a reading device that achieves significant miniaturization by having a structure in which the material is transported to the loading section again and stored in the same cassette.

[0015]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In each of these reading devices, the phosphor sheet discharged from the cassette loaded in the loading section is conveyed to the reading section and subjected to reading, and then remains in the erasing section. The radiation image information contained therein is erased, and it is transported again to the loading section and stored in the cassette in which it was stored, and is used for the next reading.

However, in these devices, once the cassette is loaded into the loading section and the phosphor sheet is read, the reading and erasing of the radiation image information on the phosphor sheet is completed, and the cassette is loaded again. Until it is stored, other processing cannot be performed and prompt work cannot be performed.

Furthermore, in the reading device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-12232, the transport path of the phosphor sheet from the loading section to the reading section and from the reading section to the loading section via the erasing section are Since the transportation route of the phosphor sheet is different, by holding the phosphor sheet that has been erased in the erasing unit, etc., after the phosphor sheet is ejected from the cassette, it can be transferred to the empty cassette. However, if such an operation is performed with this device, the applicable phosphor sheets will be limited to one size, which poses a practical problem. .

An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and to provide a compact radiographic image information reading device that does not have a stacker or sorter for storing a plurality of phosphor sheets. For large-sized phosphor sheets, it is possible to work quickly and increase the number of sheets processed per unit time, and the radiation image information reading system is capable of reading radiation images of phosphor sheets of various sizes. The goal is to provide equipment.

[0019]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cassette loading section into which a cassette containing a stimulable phosphor sheet is loaded, and a radiation image recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet. a reading section that reads information; a conveying device that conveys the stimulable phosphor sheet; and a reading section disposed between the cassette loading section of the conveying device and the reading section.
an erasing section for erasing radiation image information remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet after reading is completed; and an erasing section provided branching from the transport device between the cassette loading section and the reading section.
Provided is a radiation image information reading device characterized by having a stacking zone that holds at least one stimulable phosphor sheet of a preset size.

[0020]

Effects of the Invention The radiation image information reading device of the present invention has a stacking zone branching from a conveying device for holding phosphor sheets of a size preset by the user, and a stacking zone for holding phosphor sheets of a size preset by the user. When the sheet has the set size, the phosphor sheet held in the stack zone is stored in the empty cassette after the phosphor sheet to be read is discharged. In other words, in the radiation image information reading device of the present invention, when a cassette containing a phosphor sheet is loaded, the phosphor sheet is ejected from the cassette, conveyed through a conveyance device, and carried into a reading unit for reading. be done.

[0021] Here, when the phosphor sheet to be read has the above-mentioned set size, the reading unit and the loading unit may be The retained phosphor sheet is ejected from a stacking zone that is branched off from the transport device between the section and the erasing section, where the remaining radiation image information is removed.
After the next erasure is performed, the data is stored in the empty cassette. On the other hand, after the reading is completed, the phosphor sheet subjected to reading is carried into the erasing section where residual radiation image information is first erased, and then transported in the opposite direction through the transport device and transported to the stacking zone. and retained.

Furthermore, if the phosphor sheet to be read is not of the set size, the phosphor sheet ejected from the cassette is subjected to image reading in the reading section, and then
After the remaining radiation image information is erased in the erasing section, the image is stored in the same cassette again.

According to the radiation image information reading device of the present invention, when reading a phosphor sheet of a frequently used size, it is necessary to wait for the completion of reading and erasing of the phosphor sheet ejected from the cassette. The phosphor sheet held in the stack zone is stored in the cassette without any problems.
Since it can be used for subsequent operations such as image recording, the number of sheets processed per unit time can be increased.

Furthermore, although it has become possible to quickly work with phosphor sheets of a set size that is frequently used, sheets other than this size can also be read in the same manner as with conventional small-sized radiation image information reading devices. be able to.

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A radiation image information reading apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of the radiation image information reading device of the present invention.

The radiation image information reading device shown in FIG.
(hereinafter referred to as a reading device) 30 includes a cassette loading section 32 into which a cassette 10 for storing a phosphor sheet is loaded, a reading section 34 which reads radiation image information stored and recorded on the phosphor sheet, and a cassette loading section 34 for transporting the phosphor sheet. an erasing section 38 that erases radiation image information remaining on the phosphor sheet after reading, which is provided between the loading section 32 and the reading section 34 of the transportation device 36; Part 3
4 and a stacking zone 20 that is branched off from the transport device 36. In addition, in FIG. 1, the dashed-dotted line indicates the conveyance path of the phosphor sheet.

In such a reading device 30, the phosphor sheet on which radiographic image information has been stored and recorded is stored in a cassette 10, and when this cassette 10 is loaded into the cassette loading section 32 of the reading device 30, the phosphor sheet is read. device 30
served.

[0029] Furthermore, the phosphor sheet after reading is
If it is a set size, it is carried into the stack zone 20 after primary erasure, and if it is a size other than the set size, it is stored in the cassette 10 again after erasure. This effect will be explained in detail later.

The cassette loading section 32 holds a cassette 10 that stores a phosphor sheet, ejects the phosphor sheet from the cassette 10, and stores the phosphor sheet in the cassette 10, and opens the cassette 10 from the loading port 40. It has support rollers 42, 42 that support the loaded cassette 10, and a discharge (storage) roller 44 that discharges and stores the phosphor sheet stored in the cassette 10 from the cassette 10.

In the illustrated example, the cassette 10 includes a casing 16 for storing a phosphor sheet and a lid 18, and a holding mechanism for holding the phosphor sheet is provided inside the casing 18. As shown in FIG. 1, this cassette 10 has a configuration in which when the lid 18 is opened, the end face of the housing 18 in the width direction is opened, and this becomes an ejection port for the phosphor sheet. Therefore, in the illustrated example, the cassette 10
is loaded into the cassette loading section 32 with this discharge port facing downward.

The cassette used in the reading device of the present invention is not particularly limited, and any known cassette can be used. However, in the illustrated reading device 30, the cassette 10 is loaded into the cassette loading section 32 with the ejection port facing downward, so a cassette having a function of holding a phosphor sheet is preferably used. Regarding such a cassette, the present applicant's patent application No. 3-88
It is detailed in the specifications of No. 038, No. 3-88428, and No. 3-88775.

In the illustrated example, when the cassette 10 is loaded into the cassette loading section 32, the cassette 10 (not shown) is loaded into the cassette loading section 32.
The lid body 18 is opened by the lid opening mechanism. Next, the discharge roller 44 moves in the direction of the arrow a and comes into contact with the phosphor sheet stored in the cassette 10, so that the phosphor sheet is sandwiched between the inner wall surface of the cassette 10 and the discharge roller 44. In this state, the discharge roller 44 rotates to convey the phosphor sheet downward, so that the phosphor sheet is discharged from the cassette 10 and conveyed to the reading section 34 by the conveyance device 36.

Note that when storing the phosphor sheet in the cassette 10, the phosphor sheet transported by the transport device 36 is held between the inner wall surface of the cassette 10 and the ejection roller 44 in the same way as when ejecting it, and then ejected. Discharge roller 44 in the opposite direction
By rotating the phosphor sheet, the phosphor sheet is stored in the cassette 10.

The conveying device 36 basically consists of a pair of conveying rollers 4.
6, 52, 54, 62 and 64, and the guide member 48,
50, 56, 58, and 60, the phosphor sheet is transferred from the cassette loading section 32 to the reading section 34.
or vice versa. In the reading device 30 of the present invention, an erasing section 38 is provided in the middle of the transport device 36, and a stack zone 20 is formed branching off from the transport device 36. The eraser 38 and stack zone 20 will be described in detail later.

The phosphor sheet carried into the reading section 34 is
It is supported by the guide member 66 and is once conveyed to the guide member 84 by a pair of sub-scanning rollers 68 and 70 . Next, the entire surface of the phosphor sheet is irradiated with excitation light L while being held and conveyed in the direction of arrow d (sub-scanning direction) at a predetermined reading speed.

Excitation light L is emitted from an excitation light source 72 such as a He-Ne laser, is reflected in a predetermined direction by mirrors 74 and 76, and enters a galvanometer mirror 78, and is directed in the main scanning direction approximately perpendicular to the direction of arrow d. The light is reflected and deflected and enters the phosphor sheet. Here, since the phosphor sheet is being conveyed in the sub-scanning direction as described above, the entire surface is irradiated two-dimensionally with the excitation light.

Stimulated luminescence light corresponding to the accumulated and recorded radiation image information is emitted from the position of the phosphor sheet irradiated with the excitation light L. This stimulated luminescence light is collected by a light collection guide 80, enters a photodetector 82 such as a photomultiplier tube, and is photoelectrically converted. This electrical signal is sent to a control circuit (not shown), processed, transferred to an image forming device, CRT, etc., and reproduced as a visible image.

An erasing section 38 is provided between the cassette loading section 32 and the reading section 34 of the transport device 36. Erase part 3
8 is composed of a light source 86 and a housing 88. The erasing unit 38 erases the remaining radiographic image information by irradiating erasing light from the light source 86 onto the phosphor sheet that has been read by the reading unit 34 and the phosphor sheet held in the stack zone 20. Erase.

In the present invention, between the cassette loading section 32 and the reading section 34, or between the reading section 34 and the erasing section 38 in the illustrated reading device 30, there is a stack zone branched from the transport device 36. 20 is formed.

The stack zone 20 is a portion that holds one phosphor sheet of a preset size, such as a phosphor sheet of a frequently used size, and includes a branch guide 22 and guide members 23 and 24. , a pair of reversible rollers 25, 26 and 27, and a flapper 28.

The branch guide 22 and the flapper 28 branch the phosphor sheet transport path into the transport device 36 and the stack zone 20, and the flapper 28 is connected to the support shaft 2.
It is configured to be rotatable around 8a. In the illustrated example, the conveyance path of the phosphor sheet is on the side of the conveyance device 36, and as the flapper 28 rotates in the direction of arrow b (see FIG. 2, etc.), the conveyance path is directed toward the stacking zone 20. can be switched.

In the illustrated reading device 30, only one phosphor sheet is held in the stack zone 20, but the present invention is not limited to this, and two or more phosphor sheets can be held in the stack zone. It may also be retained. Further, the number of stack zones provided in the reading device of the present invention is not limited to one as shown in the illustrated example, but may have two or more stack zones. However, if the configuration has too many stack zones, there is a risk that the reading device will become larger and the control will become more complicated, so it is preferable that the number of stack zones is about 2 to 3 at most.

Furthermore, the stacking zone 20 is not limited to one consisting of a guide member and a pair of rollers as shown in the illustrated example, but can also be constructed using a belt conveyor or the like, which can hold, discharge, and carry in the phosphor sheet. Any configuration having the following configuration is applicable.

Furthermore, the stacking zone 20 is not limited to the one formed between the reading section 34 and the erasing section 38 as shown in the illustrated example, but may be arranged between the erasing section 38 and the loading section 32. It may be something.

In the reading device 30 according to the present invention,
When the phosphor sheet stored in the cassette 10 and used for reading is of a set size, the phosphor sheet held in the stack zone 20 is taken out while the phosphor sheet is being read and the phosphor sheet is read. The body sheet is discharged and stored in the empty cassette 10. Therefore, when a phosphor sheet of a set size is used for reading, the cassette 10 can be taken out from the reading device 30 and used for the next image recording etc. even if the reading of this phosphor sheet is not completed. , can speed up the work.

Hereinafter, the operation for reading a phosphor sheet of a set size will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.

As shown in FIG. 2(a), when the cassette 10 containing the phosphor sheet A is loaded into the cassette loading section 32, the lid of the cassette 10 is opened by the lid opening mechanism of the reading device 30. Then, as shown in FIG. 2(b), the paper is transported to the reading unit 34 by the transport device 36, and reading is started.

Here, when a sensor (not shown) provided in the cassette loading section 32 detects that the phosphor sheet A is of the set size, the flapper is opened as shown in FIG. 2(c). 28 rotates in the direction of arrow b, and the phosphor sheet B held in the stacking zone 20 is discharged to the conveying device 36. Note that there is no particular limitation on the sensor used to detect the phosphor sheet A, and various known sensors such as optical sensors and mechanical sensors can be used. Further, the size detection of the phosphor sheet may be inputted by an operator without using a sensor or the like.

When the phosphor sheet B is discharged from the stacking zone 20, the flapper 28 rotates in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow b to direct the phosphor sheet B to the transporting device 36, and then the phosphor sheet As shown in FIG. 3(d), B is conveyed upward by the conveyance device 36 and carried into the erasing section 38, where the remaining radiation image information is secondarily erased. During this time, the image of the phosphor sheet A is being read by the reading section 34.

When the secondary erasing is completed, the phosphor sheet B is transported upward by the transport device 36 and stored in the cassette 10 as shown in FIG. 3(e). Therefore, after the lid opening mechanism of the cassette loading section 32 closes the lid 18,
This phosphor sheet B and cassette 10 are transferred to a reading device 30.
It can then be taken out and used for the next work such as image recording.

As shown in FIG. 3(f), when the reading of the phosphor sheet A is completed, the phosphor sheet A is transferred to the conveying device 3.
6 and transported upward to the erasing section 38 as shown in FIG. 4(g), where the remaining radiographic image information is primarily erased after the reading is completed.

When the primary erasing is completed, the phosphor sheet A is conveyed downward again as shown in FIG. Switch. When the flapper 28 is switched, the phosphor sheet A is conveyed upward and carried into the stacking zone 20, and is held in this stacking zone 20 until the next reading of the phosphor sheet of the set size is performed.

When a phosphor sheet of a set size is used for reading, the reading device 30 of the present invention performs secondary erasing of the phosphor sheet held in the stack zone 20 as described above, and then erases the phosphor sheet when it is empty. By storing it in a new cassette,
Even in the middle of reading the phosphor sheet, the cassette and the phosphor sheet can be taken out from the reading device 30 and the next operation can be carried out, making it possible to perform the operation quickly.

On the other hand, if the phosphor sheet to be read does not have the set size, the reading device 30 reads the image of the phosphor sheet in the same way as in the normal case. The operation will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

As shown in FIG. 5A, when the cassette 11 containing the phosphor sheet C is loaded into the cassette loading section 32, the lid of the cassette 11 is opened by the lid opening mechanism of the reading device 30. Then, as shown in FIG. 5(b), the paper is transported to the reading section 36 by the transport device 36, and reading is then started.

Here, the sensor installed in the cassette loading section 32 detects the size of the phosphor sheet C, but since this phosphor sheet C is not the set size, the phosphor sheet held in the stacking zone 20 is B is kept as is.

As shown in FIG. 5(c), when the reading of the phosphor sheet C is completed, the phosphor sheet C is conveyed upward by the conveying device 36, but at this point, the flapper 2
8, the conveying path of the phosphor sheet is set in the direction of the conveying device 36, so the phosphor sheet C is conveyed as it is by the conveying device 36, and is carried into the erasing section 38 as shown in FIG. The radiation image information that will be displayed will be deleted.

When erasing is completed, the phosphor sheet C is further conveyed upward, carried into the cassette loading section 32, and then stored in the cassette 11 again.

The reading device 30 shown in FIG. 1 employs a cassette 10 whose end face is an ejection port, and has a configuration in which the cassette 10 is loaded from above the reading device 30, but the present invention is limited to this. However, the present invention is also suitably applied to a reading device configured to load a cassette from the side as shown in FIG.

A reading device 90 shown in FIG. 7 is a device that uses a cassette 91 whose top surface is open only, and a cassette loading section 92 has a support base 93 that supports the cassette 91.
, a guide member 94, a lid opening means 95 such as a suction cup, and a means 96 for taking out the phosphor sheet A. Note that the reading device 90 in the illustrated example basically has the same configuration as the above-described reading device 30 except for the cassette loading section 92, so the same members are given the same numbers and detailed information will be given. Explanation will be omitted.

In the reading device 90, when the cassette 91 is loaded at a predetermined position on the support stand 93 of the cassette loading section 92, the opening means 95 opens the lid of the cassette 91. Next, a take-out means 96 such as a suction cup takes out the phosphor sheet A stored in the cassette 91 and transports it on the guide member 94 in the right direction in the figure so that it is held between a pair of transport rollers 97 . After that, the phosphor sheet A is attached in the same manner as the reading device 30 described above.
image reading, cassette 91 or stack zone 2
The phosphor sheet is stored in 0.

Although the above-mentioned reading device 30 has a configuration in which the phosphor sheet is conveyed in the vertical direction, the reading device of the present invention is not limited to this, and the reading device of the present invention is configured to convey the phosphor sheet in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. The present invention is also suitably applied to a reading device configured to convey a phosphor sheet.

The reading device 100 shown in FIG. 8 is a device in which a cassette is loaded from the right side in the figure, and the phosphor sheet is conveyed laterally to read radiation image information stored and recorded on the phosphor sheet. A cassette loading section 102, an erasing section 104, and a reading section 106 are formed from the right side in the figure. Further, a stack zone 110 for holding one phosphor sheet of a set size is formed below the reading unit 106, and a stack zone 110 that holds one phosphor sheet of a set size is formed in a stack zone 110 that holds one phosphor sheet of a set size that has undergone primary erasure, as in the above-mentioned reading device 30. Retained.

[0065] Such a reading device 100 reads a phosphor sheet basically in the same manner as the above-mentioned reading device 30.

In other words, the cassette 1 loaded on the right side in the figure
The phosphor sheet stored in the roller pair 120 is taken out by a single sheet mechanism (not shown) of the reading device 100, and
, belt conveyor 122 of the erasing section, sub-scanning roller pair 12
4 and 126, a pair of rollers 128, etc., the paper is once conveyed to the left of the reading section 106. Next, the phosphor sheet is irradiated with excitation light L while being sub-scanned and conveyed in the right direction in the figure by a pair of sub-scanning rollers 124 and 126 of the reading section 106, and read.

Here, if the phosphor sheet discharged from the cassette 112 and used for reading is of the set size, the flapper 116 rotates to the position shown by the dotted line in the figure and is held in the stack zone 110. The phosphor sheet that has been removed is discharged by roller pairs 130, 132, and 134 in the stacking zone 110, and is conveyed to the erasing section 104 where secondary erasing is performed. Note that when the phosphor sheet held in the stacking zone 110 is discharged and conveyed to the erasing section 104, the flapper 116 rotates in the opposite direction and moves to the position shown by the solid line.

When the secondary erasing is completed, the phosphor sheet is conveyed to the right in the figure by the belt conveyor 122 and the roller pair 120, and is stored in the cassette 112 by the single-fed mechanism of the reading device 100 for the next operation. be done. On the other hand, the phosphor sheet that was previously discharged from the cassette 112 and conveyed to the reading section 106 is still being read, as in the above-described reading device 30.

[0069] When the reading of the phosphor sheet in the reading section 106 is completed, the phosphor sheet is conveyed to the erasing section 104, and after the reading is completed, the remaining radiation image information is primarily erased. During this time, the flapper 116 rotates again to the position shown by the dotted line and moves the conveyance path to the stack zone 1.
Change to the 10 side.

When the primary erasing of the phosphor sheet is completed, the phosphor sheet is conveyed to the left in the figure, and the flapper 11
6 and carried into the stacking zone 110, where it is held until the next reading of the phosphor sheet of the set size is performed.

On the other hand, if the phosphor sheet to be read is not of the set size, the phosphor sheet discharged from the cassette 112 is conveyed to the left side of the reading section 106 and then to the right side as before. image reading is performed. Here, since the phosphor sheet to be read is not of a set size, there is no movement in the stack zone 110, and the phosphor sheet held here remains as it is.

[0072] When the reading is completed, the phosphor sheet is conveyed rightward and carried into the erasing section 104, and after the reading is completed, the remaining radiation image information is erased, and the phosphor sheet is stored in the cassette 112 again.

Although the radiation image information reading device of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.
Of course, various changes and improvements may be made.

[0074]

Effects of the Invention As described above in detail, the radiation image information reading device of the present invention is a small radiation image information reading device that does not have a stacker or sorter for storing a plurality of phosphor sheets. Even if the phosphor sheets are of a set size, they can be processed continuously and quickly, and the number of sheets processed per unit time can be increased. Moreover,
Even though phosphor sheets of a predetermined size can be processed quickly, it is also possible to read radiation images of phosphor sheets of various sizes.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a radiation image information reading device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing the operation of reading a phosphor sheet of a set size in the radiation image information reading device shown in FIG. 1;

3 is a diagram conceptually showing the operation of reading a phosphor sheet of a set size in the radiation image information reading device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

4 is a diagram conceptually showing the operation of reading a phosphor sheet of a set size in the radiation image information reading device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

5 is a diagram conceptually showing the operation of reading a phosphor sheet of a size other than the set size in the radiation image information reading device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

6 is a diagram conceptually showing the operation of reading a phosphor sheet of a size other than the set size in the radiation image information reading device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of the radiation image information reading device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of the radiation image information reading device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols] 10, 11, 91, 112 Cassette 16 Housing 18 Lid 20, 110 Stack zone 22 Branch guide 23, 24, 48, 50, 56, 58, 60, 84, 9
4 Guide members 25, 26, 46, 52, 54, 62, 64, 120,
128, 130, 132, 134 Roller pair 28, 1
16 flapper 30, 90, 100 radiation image information reading device 32,
92, 102 Cassette loading section 34, 105 Reading section 36 Conveying device 38, 104 Erasing section 40 Loading port 42 Support roller 44 Ejection roller 68, 70, 124, 126 Sub-scanning roller pair 72
Excitation light source 74, 76 Mirror 78 Galvanometer mirror 80 Condensing guide 82 Photodetector 86 Light source 88 Housing 93 Support stand 95 Opening means 96 Taking out means A, B, C Phosphor sheet

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cassette loading section for loading a cassette containing a stimulable phosphor sheet, a reading section for reading radiation image information recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet, and a cassette loading section for transporting the stimulable phosphor sheet. a transporting device; an erasing section disposed between the cassette loading section and the reading section of the transporting device for erasing radiation image information remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet after reading; and the cassette loading section; and a stack zone for holding at least one stimulable phosphor sheet of a preset size, which is provided branching from the conveying device between the reading unit and the reading unit. .