JPH0682389B2 - Image information read / play device - Google Patents

Description

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to reading of image information accumulated and recorded on an image information sheet such as a stimulable phosphor sheet by the same scanning system,
The present invention relates to an image information reading / reproducing apparatus that reproduces read image information on a recording sheet.

(Prior Art) Light including image information obtained by two-dimensionally scanning a light beam such as a laser beam on a sheet on which image information has been recorded and irradiating the sheet with the light beam. An image information reading device that detects (for example, reflected light, transmitted light, or emitted light) by a photodetector including a photomultiplier tube and reads image information recorded on a sheet is a plate-making scanner, a computer, or a facsimile. It is widely used as an input device, etc.

Radiation (X-ray, α-ray, β-ray, γ
Radiation, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc.), a part of this radiation energy is accumulated in the phosphor, and when this phosphor is irradiated with excitation light such as visible light, the phosphor is converted into energy according to the accumulated energy. It is known to exhibit stimulated emission, and a phosphor having such properties is called a stimulable phosphor (stimulable phosphor). Using this stimulable phosphor, the radiation image information of a subject such as a human body is once recorded on a sheet-shaped stimulable phosphor, and the stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned with excitation light such as laser light to stimulate the irradiation. Generates emitted light, photoelectrically reads the obtained stimulated emission light to obtain an image signal, and based on this image signal, outputs a radiation image of the subject as a visible image on a recording material such as a photographic photosensitive material or a CRT. The applicant has already proposed a radiation image information recording / reproducing system for this. (JP-A-55-12429, JP-A-56-11395, JP-A-55-1634)
72, 56-104645, 55-116340, etc. ) The image information stored and recorded in the stimulable phosphor sheet in the above-mentioned system is such that the radiation image information reading device deflects the excitation light to cause the stimulable phosphor sheet to perform main scanning and the stimulable phosphor sheet and the excitation light to be scanned. And are relatively moved in the sub-scanning direction to scan the entire surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet with excitation light, and the stimulated emission light emitted from the scanning position is photoelectrically detected by a photodetector to be read.

On the other hand, the image information read by a reading device such as the radiation image information reading device described above is modulated on the recording sheet relatively moved in the sub-scanning direction based on the image signal obtained by the reading device. The light beam is subjected to main scanning for recording and the like to be reproduced as a visible image.
Therefore, conventionally, in order to form a final visible image of image information recorded on an image information sheet such as a stimulable phosphor sheet on a recording sheet, a recording device other than a reading device for reading the image information is used. A reproducing device for recording the image information on the sheet is required.

Especially in the radiation image information recording / reproducing system,
In recent years, various improvements have been made in response to requests for simplifying the entire system as much as possible, reducing the size of the entire device, and reducing the manufacturing cost. Therefore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 184677/1983 proposes that a conventional reading device and a reproducing device that both perform scanning with a light beam are integrated so that reading and reproducing are performed by the same scanning system.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the reading / reproducing apparatus as described above, scanning should be performed with a light beam having a constant light amount during reading, and scanning should be performed with a light beam modulated based on image information during reproduction. I have to. Therefore, in JP-A-58-184677 described above, the optical modulator is inserted into the light beam at the time of reproduction and retracted from the light beam at the time of reading, but in that case, a mechanism for moving the optical modulator is provided. It becomes necessary and the configuration becomes complicated. Therefore, the present invention is an acousto-optic modulator (AOM).
The optical modulator such as is fixedly provided in the light beam,
The purpose is to simplify the mechanism and to obtain a suitable light beam during reading and recording.

(Means for Solving Problems) The image information reading and reproducing apparatus of the present invention is a beam light source that emits a light beam, an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) provided on the optical path of the light beam, and an emission from the AOM. Switching means for selectively directing one of the 0th-order light and the 1st-order light to a predetermined optical path, deflecting an incident light beam on the predetermined optical path, and recording the image information by the deflected light beam. Deflector for performing main scanning on the recorded image information sheet or the recording sheet for reproducing the image information, the image information sheet or the recording sheet and the light beam in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction. It comprises a sub-scanning means for moving and a light detecting means for detecting light emitted from the image information sheet by scanning of the light beam, and the sub-scanning means moves the image information sheet. When the switching means guides the 0th-order light to a predetermined optical path, the deflector deflects it to cause the sheet to perform main scanning, and the emitted light is detected by the photodetection means to detect image information. When the reading is performed and the recording sheet is moved by the sub-scanning means, the switching means guides the primary light to a predetermined optical path and the acousto-optic modulator modulates the primary light according to an image signal. The recording sheet is deflected by the deflector so that the recording sheet is main-scanned to record image information.

In addition, the above-mentioned switching means eventually outputs 0 from the AOM.
Any means may be used as long as it adjusts the optical paths of the secondary light and the primary light to the above-mentioned state, and the switching means itself may be provided on the front side of the AOM or may be provided on the rear side of the AOM. Good. Further, that the 0th-order light and the 1st-order light are guided to a predetermined optical path means that the respective lights can be incident on and deflected at substantially the same position of the same deflector. There is no problem even if the optical path is slightly deviated within the range where the above-mentioned deflection by the same deflector is possible.

(Operation) In the image information reading / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the reading apparatus and the reproducing apparatus, which are conventionally provided independently of each other, are integrated by performing both reading and recording using the same scanning system, and are integrated into one apparatus. Since the reading and reproducing of the image information are both performed by the above, the entire reading and reproducing system can be simplified as compared with the conventional one, and the system can be downsized. Since it is commonly used for reading and reproducing, it is sufficient to provide only one scanning system optical element such as a light source and a deflecting means, and the manufacturing cost of the entire reading and reproducing system can be reduced.

Further, according to the device of the present invention, the AO
By selectively changing the optical paths of the 0th-order light and the 1st-order light emitted from M and guiding the 0th-order light during reading and the 1st-order light during reproduction, the AOM is read and moved during reproduction. Good reading and reproduction can be performed without any trouble. That is, the AOM is based on the modulated signal
Although the next-order light is emitted in different directions, the output of the 0th-order light cannot be made zero among the 0th-order light and the 1st-order light, and reproduction is performed using the 0th-order light. If this is done, the reproduced image obtained will be fogged, so it is not preferable to use it as recording light, and it is necessary to use primary light as recording light. On the other hand, when reading, since the light beam may be used as the excitation light described above, it is necessary to obtain a light beam having a constant light amount with a large output, but the above-mentioned primary light is also read. However, since the primary light has a maximum light amount of about 90% of the light amount of the light beam incident on the AOM, the pump light may have insufficient power. By providing the switching means as described above, the present apparatus can use the 0th-order light as the reading light such as the excitation light and the 1st-order light as the recording light with the AOM fixed. Therefore, a good image without fog can be reproduced by the first-order light during reproduction, and the 0th-order light is
If the M modulation is turned off, almost 100% of the light incident on the AOM can be extracted, so the amount of light can be made larger than that of the primary light, and a sufficient amount of light beam can be obtained as the excitation light. it can. Further, by performing the reading and reproducing in this way, the moving mechanism of the AOM becomes unnecessary, so that the structure of the device can be simplified.

Embodiments Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are perspective views showing an outline of a radiation image information reading / reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention during reading and reproduction of image information, respectively.

A light beam 2 emitted from a beam light source 1 such as a He-Ne laser light source enters an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) 3. This AOM
3, when the light beam 2 is modulated, the incident light beam 2 is divided into a 0th order light 2A and a 1st order light 2B and emitted in different directions as shown in FIG. When the modulation is stopped, as shown in FIG.
Eject only. This device uses the 0th order light 2A or the 1st order light
A rotary polygon mirror 4, which is a deflector for reflecting and deflecting 2B, is provided, and the 0th-order light 2A and 1 are provided between the AOM 3 and the rotary polygon mirror 4.
A switching means 5 is provided for selectively guiding either one of the following lights 2B to a predetermined optical path which is incident on the rotary polygon mirror 4. Here, the predetermined optical path is a portion indicated by l in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the present embodiment, the switching means 5 moves away from the first position on the optical path of the 0th order light 2A and reflects the 0th order light 2A to the outside of the predetermined optical path, and the optical path of the 0th order light 2A.
A first mirror 5A that moves so as to take a second position that allows 0th-order light to be emitted to a predetermined optical path l, and a first mirror 5A that is on the optical path of the primary light 2B and is at the first position. Together with the first mirror 5A, the second mirror reflects the primary light 2B and guides the primary light to a predetermined optical path l. The first mirror 5A
The incident surface of the primary light 2B is a reflection surface, and the opposite surface is a reflection surface, a diffuse reflection surface, or an absorption surface.
The reading of image information by this apparatus will be described below with reference to FIG.

At the time of reading, the modulation of the AOM 3 is stopped, all the light beams 2 incident on the AOM 3 are directly emitted as the 0th order light 2A, and the primary light 2B is not emitted at all. Further, at that time, the first mirror 5A is controlled so as to take the second position to leave the optical path of the 0th order light 2A, so that the 0th order light 2A is directly emitted to a predetermined optical path l, and The light enters the rotary polygon mirror 4 and is reflected and deflected by the rotary polygon mirror 4 rotating in the direction of the arrow in the figure. On the other hand, below the rotary polygon mirror 4, the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 on which the radiation image information has been accumulated and recorded is conveyed in the direction of arrow B and sub-scanned by the endless belt device 6 which is the sub-scanning means. As described above, the 0th-order light 2A reflected and deflected by the rotary polygon mirror 4 is repeatedly main-scanned on the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 in the direction of arrow A, which is substantially orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction. The entire surface of the body sheet 7 is two-dimensionally scanned by the 0th order light 2A.

The 0th-order light 2A acts as excitation light on the stimulable phosphor sheet 7, and as the 0th-order light 2A is scanned, the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 irradiated with the 0th-order light 2A is The emitted light (not shown) is emitted in accordance with the image information stored and recorded in the transparent recording medium, and the emitted light (not shown) has a transparent condensing light having an incident end face 8a arranged in parallel with the main scanning line near the stimulable phosphor sheet. Enter body 8. The condensing body 8 has a front end portion 8b located near the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 formed in a flat plate shape, and gradually formed in a cylindrical shape toward the rear end side, and has a rear end portion 8c having a substantially cylindrical shape. It has a cylindrical shape and is connected to a photomultiplier 9 which is a photodetector, and the photostimulated luminescence light incident from the incident end face 8a is condensed on the rear end portion 8c and is received by the photomultiplier 9. In the photomultiplier 9, the stimulated emission light is converted into an electric signal, and the electric signal thus obtained is sent to the image information processing circuit 10 for image processing.

When the reading of the image information is completed, in order to reproduce the read image information, as shown in FIG. 1, the endless belt device 6 conveys a recording sheet 11 such as a photographic photosensitive film or photographic paper in the direction of arrow B. . Further, the switching means 5
The first mirror 5A is moved so as to take the first position before the recording sheet 11 is conveyed.

When the image information is reproduced on the recording sheet 11, the AOM 3 is driven based on the image information read previously, and the AOM 3 modulates the incident light beam 2 based on the image information. Is split into 0th order light 2A and 1st order light 2B and emitted. The 0th-order light 2A enters the first mirror 5A that has moved to the first position as described above, and is blocked from entering the rotary polygon mirror 4 by the first mirror 5A. On the other hand, the primary light 2B is reflected by the second mirror 5B, then enters the first mirror 2A, is reflected by the first mirror 2A to the predetermined optical path l, and is reflected and deflected by the rotary polygon mirror 4. To be done. The reflected and deflected primary light 2B is sub-scanned in the direction of arrow B. Recording sheet 11
Main scanning is repeatedly performed in the direction of arrow A with the upper part as recording light, and the image information read from the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is recorded and reproduced on the entire surface of the recording sheet 11. The recording sheet 11 on which the image information has been recorded and reproduced is sent to an automatic developing machine (not shown) for development processing.

As described above, in the present apparatus, it is possible to read the image information on the stimulable phosphor sheet and reproduce the image information on the recording sheet using the same scanning system. The entire reading / reproducing system can be simplified as compared with the above, and the size and cost of the entire system can be reduced. Also,
The structure is simplified because it is not necessary to move the light modulator into or out of the light beam. Further, according to the present apparatus, by switching the optical paths of the 0th-order light and the 1st-order light, it becomes possible to perform scanning with a suitable light beam at the time of reading and at the time of reproduction. That is, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 3, when the modulation of the incident light beam 2 is stopped, the AOM 3 emits the incident light beam 2 as it is as 0th order light. When used as light, it is possible to secure the reading light of the same light quantity as the light beam 2 without being affected by the AOM provided on the optical path of the light beam 2, and it is possible to perform good reading by the reading light with high power. it can. When recording, the first mirror
Recording can be performed using the primary light 2B by cutting the 0th-order light 2A at the position of the solid line in the figure and guiding the primary light 2B to a predetermined optical path, and the primary light 2B can be output. Since it is possible to make zero, it is possible to reproduce a good image without fog.

In addition, when there is a margin in the output of the beam light source 1 and good reading can be performed without using all the light beams 2 incident on the AOM 3, as shown in FIG. 4, the AOM 3 is driven during reading. Then, the power of the 0th-order light 2A is steadily modulated so as to be slightly suppressed, a beam splitter 12 is provided on the optical path of the 0th-order light 2A, and the power of the 0th-order light 2A is detected and detected by the photodetector 13. The value is fed back to AOM3 and the 0th order light 2A
The power of may be controlled. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the light quantity of the reading light (0th order light) from varying even when the output of the beam light source is attenuated with time and when the output of the beam light source has a noise component. it can.

Further, the case where a plurality of mirrors are used as the switching means for selectively guiding the 0th-order light and the 1st-order light to a predetermined optical path has been described above, but the switching means is not limited to that of the above-mentioned embodiment, and the reading is performed. Any one may be used as long as it can guide only the 0th-order light to the predetermined optical path at the time of recording and only the 1st-order light at the time of recording.

For example, a light transmitting member as shown in FIG. 5 may be used as the switching means.

That is, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a glass plate 15 is provided as the light transmitting member between the beam light source 1 and the AOM 3 so as to move in and out of the optical path of the light beam 2. This glass plate 15 is out of the optical path of the light beam when the image is read as shown in FIG. 5 (a), and as described above, only the 0th order light 2A having a constant intensity is emitted from the AOM 3 on which the light beam 2 is incident. Is used for image reading.

On the other hand, when the image is reproduced, the AOM is driven based on the image signal, and the AOM3 emits the 0th order light 2A and the 1st order light 2B.
Prior to this, the glass plate 15 is inserted in the optical path between the beam light source 1 and the AOM 3 as shown in FIG. 5 (b).
The glass plate 15 has a rectangular column shape in which the incident end surface 15a and the exit end surface 15b are non-parallel, and the incident light beam 2 is refracted at an angle α with respect to the incident direction and emitted. The angle α is equal to the angle (plug angle) formed by the 0th-order light and the 1st-order light emitted from the AOM3. When the light beam 2'refracted in this way enters the AOM3,
The diffraction of the first-order light by AOM3 is apparently canceled out, and the first-order light 2B
Is emitted on a predetermined optical path similarly to the 0th order light 2A at the time of reading. Further, the 0th-order light 2A emitted from the AOM 3 at the time of reproduction is emitted while being inclined by the angle α from the predetermined optical path, and therefore does not enter the rotary polygon mirror 4.

Further, the glass plate as described above may be inserted in the optical path of the light beam at the time of reading and retracted from the optical path of the light beam at the time of reproduction. In that case, a glass plate that refracts the light beam before entering the AOM in the direction in which the primary light is emitted from the AOM when the glass plate is not on the optical path may be used.

Further, these glass plates may be provided between the AOM 3 and the rotary polygon mirror 4 instead of being provided between the beam light source 1 and the AOM 3.
That is, when the glass plate is inserted into the optical path at the time of reading and the glass plate is retracted at the time of reproduction, the glass plate that refracts the 0th order light emitted from the AOM at the time of reading in the direction in which the primary light is emitted from the AOM at the time of reproduction If you insert a glass plate into the optical path during playback and retract the glass plate during reading, you can use the 0th-order light and 1 emitted from the AOM during playback.
By arranging the glass plate at a position where the second light is made incident, the first light is refracted in the same direction as the 0th light emitted at the time of reading, and the 0th light is refracted in a direction other than the above direction. Good. In either case, a mirror or the like may be provided to change the optical path of the primary light again in a desired direction when the optical path of the 0th light at the time of reproduction approaches the optical path of the primary light.

Further, in the embodiment in which the optical path is switched using the mirror shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the switching mirror is used as the light source.
Of course, it may be arranged between AOMs.

Further, when the light beam is a linearly polarized beam such as a laser beam, the switching means in the device of the present invention switches the optical path by adjusting the polarization direction of the light beam as shown in FIG. May be.

That is, in the illustrated embodiment, the 0th order light 2A and the 1st order light 2B
The switching means of the first position on the optical path of the 0th order light 2A,
A shutter 25A movably arranged so as to take a second position for retracting from the optical path, a half-wave plate 25B arranged on the optical path of the primary light 2B, and an optical path of the primary light 2B Adjusting mirror 25
The polarization beam splitter 25D includes C, 0-order light 2A and 1-order light 2B which are incident from directions substantially perpendicular to each other.

The light beam 2 emitted from the beam light source 1 is linearly polarized in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 6 as an example. At the time of image reading shown in FIG. 6A, the shutter 25A is at the second position out of the optical path of the 0th order light 2A, and the 0th order light emitted from the AOM 3 enters the polarization beam splitter 25D. The polarization beam splitter 25D reflects light polarized in the above direction, and the 0th-order light 2A is guided by a polarization beam splitter 25D to be guided to a predetermined optical path and is arranged on the optical path. It is incident on the mirror 4.

On the other hand, when reproducing an image, the AOM 3 is driven based on the image signal, and as shown in FIG. 6B, the AOM 3 emits 0th order light 2A and 1st order light 2B. Prior to this, the shutter 25A is moved to the first position, and the incident 0th order light 2A is cut by the shutter 25A. The shutter 25A may absorb or reflect the incident 0th-order light. Also, the above 1
The above-mentioned 1/2 wavelength plate 25B is arranged on the optical path of the secondary light 2B, and the primary light 2B is polarized by the 1/2 wavelength plate 25B before entering the polarization beam splitter 25D. The direction can be changed 90 degrees. Primary light 2B whose polarization direction is changed in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 6 (b) by the half-wave plate 25B
After changing the optical path by the mirror 25C,
The 0th-order light 2A is incident on the polarization beam splitter 25D from a direction substantially perpendicular to the incident direction. The polarization beam splitter 25D transmits the light polarized in the direction of the arrow a, and the primary light 2B is transmitted through this polarization beam splitter 25D so as to be on a predetermined optical path in the same manner as the 0th-order light at the time of reading described above. Is ejected.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the member that moves the position is only the shutter, it is not necessary to control the position accuracy of the movement so strictly as compared with the case of moving the reflecting mirror or the light transmitting portion. Has the advantage of being easy to perform.

The half-wave plate changes the polarization directions of the 0th order light and the 1st order light to 9
Since they may differ by 0 °, they may be arranged on the optical path of the 0th order light. In addition, as in the above embodiment, the AO
When the drive of M is stopped and the primary light is not emitted at all, the shutter may be one that blocks the 0th light at the time of reproduction, but as in the embodiment shown in FIG.
When driving, since the primary light is emitted during reading, it is necessary to move the shutter from the optical path of the 0th order light to the optical path of the primary order light during reading.

Next, FIG. 7 shows a practical apparatus in which the above-described radiation image information reading / reproducing apparatus is incorporated as a reading / reproducing unit, and a usage mode of the radiation image information reading / reproducing apparatus of the present invention will be described.

The apparatus shown in the figure is a cassette holding unit 110 that detachably holds a cassette 102 that can store a stimulable phosphor sheet 7, reads image information stored and recorded in the stimulable phosphor sheet, and reproduces the read image information. Read / play unit 12
0, an erasing unit 130 for erasing the radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 that has been read by the reading / reproducing unit 120, and a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheets can be stored.
A stacker 140 that carries out the stored stimulable phosphor sheets one by one, and a magazine 1 that stores a plurality of recording sheets 11
A recording sheet supply unit 150 holding the 03 detachably is provided. The above-mentioned respective parts are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, and a sheet conveying means 100 for conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet and a recording sheet is provided on the side of these respective parts so as to extend in the vertical direction. This sheet conveying means 100
Connected to.

In an external photographing device (not shown), the cassette that has been photographed for the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 stored inside
The cassette 102 is loaded in the cassette holder 110. The cassette 102 has an oblique property in order to prevent the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 from being exposed to external light when irradiating the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 with radiation and recording (imaging) image information. The cassette main body 102a for accommodating the stimulable phosphor sheet and the lid 102b which can be opened and closed. The lid portion 102b is closed when the cassette 102 is loaded in the cassette holding portion 110, but is sucked when the internal stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is taken out from the cassette holding portion 110. A lid opening means 111 such as a board is provided with a lid 102 as shown.
Open b. When the lid portion 102b is opened, the stimulable phosphor sheet take-out means 112 such as a suction cup enters the cassette 102 to adsorb the stimulable phosphor sheet 7, and is a part of the sheet conveying means 100. It is passed to the nearby nip roller 100a. The stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is held in the cassette 102 so that the front surface on which the stimulable phosphor layer is formed faces downward.

The sheet conveying means 100 is composed of an endless belt, a guide plate, a roller, a movable sheet distributing plate, etc., and the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 whose tip is gripped by the nip roller 100a is moved by the sheet conveying means 100 in the direction of arrow C ₁ after being transported to, is conveyed being guided by the arrow C ₂ direction to the sheet distributing plate 100b at the position of the solid line in the figure carried further arrow C _3, C ₄ a is conveyed in the direction reading and reproducing unit 120 To be done. Reference numeral 180 provided in the conveyance path of the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is a secondary erasing section for performing a secondary erasure described later by the erasing light source 181. The stimulable phosphor sheet taken out from the cassette holding section 110 is shown. Erasing light source 181
Has been erased. Further, the secondary erasing unit 180 and the reading / reproducing unit 1
When the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 taken out from the cassette 102 as described above is immediately sent to the reading / reproducing unit 120, the sheet distribution plates 100c and 100d between 20 are at the positions shown by the solid lines in the figure. The stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is allowed to be conveyed downward.

The reading / reproducing unit 120 makes the light beam 2 emitted from the beam light source 1 incident on the AOM 3, reads image information on the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 by the 0th order light 2A, and reads the image information by the primary light 2B. Is a part for reproducing image information. Among the members in the reading / reproducing section, the above-mentioned FIG. 1 and FIG.
The same parts as the parts of the device shown in the figure are given the same numbers,
The description is omitted. In the reading / reproducing unit 120,
The switching means 5 for the 0th-order light and the 1st-order light is the above-mentioned 2 as an example.
Although it has two mirrors 5A and 5B (not shown in FIG. 7), it is also possible to use the above-mentioned glass plate or a combination of a half-wave plate and a polarization beam splitter as the switching means. It goes without saying that you can do it. The reading / reproducing unit 120 is provided with a galvanometer mirror 4'as an optical deflector. Further, the sheet conveying means
Of the 100, a portion arranged in the reading / reproducing unit 120 serves as a sub-scanning unit.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 7 carried into the reading / reproducing unit 120 is
While being conveyed in the direction of arrow C ₅ by the sheet conveying means 100,
The entire surface is two-dimensionally scanned by the 0th-order light 2A guided to a predetermined optical path by the switching means 5. The stimulated emission light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is photoelectrically detected by the photomultiplier 9 via the light collector 8 and is sent to the image information processing circuit 10 to be subjected to image processing and then stored in the memory 14. Remembered. After the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 in which the reading of the entire completed, is conveyed backward to the arrow C ₆ direction by a switchback from contact with its position in the tip guide plate 100f in a state that is gripped by the nip rollers 100e rear end . Further, in reading the radiation image information, prior to the reading (main reading) for obtaining the image signal for outputting the visible image described above, an outline of the radiation image information previously accumulated and recorded in the stimulable phosphor sheet will be described. There is known a method of performing pre-reading to be read, determining reading conditions and the like when performing the main reading based on the image information obtained by the pre-reading, and performing the main reading in accordance with the read conditions.

As a method for performing such pre-reading, for example, the stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned by using excitation light having an energy lower than that of the light beam (excitation light) used for the main reading, and the photostimulable light emitted by this scanning is used. A method for reading the emitted light by the same photoelectric reading means (for example, JP-A-58)
-67240 gazette).

The reading / reproducing unit in the present invention may be a part that performs both main reading and pre-reading, in addition to the part that performs only main reading. For example, the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is conveyed in the direction of arrow C ₅ for pre-reading first, then the stimulable phosphor sheet is switched back in the direction of arrow C ₆ by switchback, returned to the reading start position, and again indicated by arrow C. _It may be conveyed in ₅ directions and then the main reading may be performed. Each optical member arranged in the reading / reproducing unit is not limited to the above-mentioned one. For example, as a photoelectric reading unit, a long photomultiplier is arranged along the main scanning line, and Detection may be carried out (see JP-A-62-16666).

By the way, since reading the image information in the reading / reproducing unit 120 takes a relatively long time, after waiting for the processing in the reading / reproducing unit 120 of the preceding stimulable phosphor sheet to be completed, the cassette holding unit 110 is newly updated. If the cassette 102 containing the photographed stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is loaded, the stimulable phosphor sheet may not be processed efficiently. Therefore, this device is provided with the stacker 140, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 taken out from the cassette holding unit 110 is
Before being sent to the reading / reproducing unit 120, the stacker 140 can be once carried into the stacker 140 and stand by.

The stacker 140 includes a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheet storage chambers 142 partitioned by a partition plate 141, and can move up and down in the direction of the arrow from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the broken line in the figure. In all seat storage rooms 14
Two can be adjacent. When the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 taken out from the cassette holder 110 is carried into the stacker 140, the sheet distribution plate 100d is moved to the position shown by the broken line in the figure, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is conveyed from above. To the stacker 140 direction. The stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is carried into a predetermined sheet storage chamber 142 of the stacker 140, the trailing end of the stacking phosphor leaves the nip roller 100g, and is dropped by its own weight, and the leading end is in contact with the stopper 143 in the sheet storage chamber 142. Held in. When taking out the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 from the stacker 140, the stacker 140 is moved so that the desired sheet storage chamber 142 is adjacent to the nip roller 100g, and then the stopper 143 is moved to the position shown by the broken line in the figure. Then, the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is pushed up, and its tip is gripped by the nip roller 100g. The stimulable phosphor sheet 7 held by the nip roller 100g is temporarily guided by the sheet distribution plate 100d at the position shown by the broken line in the figure, and the sheet conveying means 100 is temporarily moved.
After being transported by the above, it is transported in the directions of the arrows C ₃ and C ₄ and is loaded into the reading / reproducing unit 120. Note that the stimulable phosphor sheet taken out from the stacker 140 is once conveyed upward because the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 on which the stimulable phosphor is formed faces the upper side (excitation light irradiation side) in the reading / reproducing unit 120. To do so.

As described above, the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 that has been read by the reading / reproducing unit 120 is conveyed by the sheet conveying means 100 in the directions of arrows C _{7 to} C ₉ and sent to the erasing method 130.
At that time, the sheet allocating means 100b is in the position shown by the broken line in the figure, and the sheet allocating means 100c, 100d are in the position shown by the solid line in the figure.

The erasing section 130 is for storing the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 after the reading is completed.
This is for erasing the radiation image information remaining in (the radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor). That is, a part of the radiation image information accumulated and recorded in the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 still remains in the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 after reading, and this radiation image information is reused in order to reuse the stimulable phosphor sheet 7. Erasing residual image information is the erasure section
At 130. The erasing unit 130 of this device includes a fluorescent lamp, a tungsten lamp, a sodium lamp,
An erasing light source 131 such as a xenon lamp or an iodine lamp is provided, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is conveyed along the guide plate 132 in the direction of the arrow C ₁₀ and is irradiated with light from the erasing light source 131 to cause stimulability. The residual radiant energy on the phosphor sheet is released. The erasing method in the erasing section 130 may be any known method, and the erasing can be performed by heating or using both light irradiation and heating. Although the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is conveyed to the position shown by the broken line in the figure, it is conveyed backward in the direction of arrow C ₁₁ .
A guide plate that supports the end of the stimulable phosphor sheet is preferably provided outside the erasing section 130. Further, as will be described later, the storage phosphor sheet storage tray is placed close to the erasing section.
When the tray 106 is provided, the tray 106 can also be used as a guide.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 7 that has been erased in the erasing section 130 is conveyed by the sheet conveying means 100 in the directions of arrows C ₁₂ and C ₁₃ and is moved to the position indicated by the broken line in the drawing. And is stored in an empty sheet storage chamber 142 in the stacker 140. The erasable phosphor sheet 7 that has been erased in the stacker 40 in this way
If several storable phosphor sheets are stored in advance, the erasable stimulable phosphor sheet that has been erased immediately after the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is taken out from the cassette 102 in the cassette holder 110 is emptied into an empty cassette 10.
Can be brought into 2 When the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is taken out from the stacker 140 and conveyed to the cassette holding unit 110, the sheet distribution plate 100d is moved to the position shown by the broken line, and the sheet distribution plates 100b and 100c are moved to the position shown by the solid line. The sheet conveying means 100 conveys the stimulable phosphor sheet in the directions of the arrows C ₁₄ and C ₁₅ and carries it into the cassette 102.
The stimulable phosphor sheet 7 carried out from the stacker 140 was kept waiting in the stacker 140 for a long time.
It may have been a long time since the erasing unit 130 received the erasure. The stimulable phosphor sheet is a layer of radiation that is emitted from radioisotopes such as ²²⁶ Ra and ⁴⁰ K, which are contained in trace amounts in the stimulable phosphor, and cosmic rays after a certain time has passed even after erasing. Radiation energy is accumulated by environmental radiation such as X-rays from the X-ray source or other X-ray sources, and this radiation energy may become noise for the next captured image. Therefore, the stacker 140 to the cassette holding unit 110 A secondary erasing unit 180 for irradiating the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 with erasing light again is provided in the conveying path.
The secondary erasing unit 180 turns on the erasing light source 181 only when the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 taken out from the stacker 140 is conveyed toward the cassette holding unit 110, whereby the stacker 1
The radiation energy accumulated in the stimulable phosphor sheet while being accommodated in 40 is emitted. In this way, the cassette 102, into which the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 has been carried in, can be taken out of the apparatus and supplied for new photographing. Further, in this apparatus, the erasable phosphor sheet, which has been erased in the erasing section 130, is immediately transferred to the cassette 102.
It is also possible to carry it in. In that case, the erasing unit 130
After the stimulable phosphor sheet conveyed in the direction of arrow C ₁₂ from is once conveyed downward, it may be carried back to the cassette 102 after being switched back upward, and if it is conveyed in that way, it will be in the cassette 102. When stored, the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet on which the phosphor layer is formed can be directed downward.

By the way, in an external photographing device, in addition to photographing the stimulable phosphor sheet held in the cassette, a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheets housed in a sheet supply magazine are used when performing continuous photographing. There is a case where each one is taken out for shooting. The stimulable phosphor sheets that have been photographed are sequentially stored in a sheet storage magazine, and the sheet storage magazine in which the sheets are stored is sent to a reading device for reading. This apparatus is provided with a cassette holding unit described above and a magazine holding unit for detachably holding the above-mentioned sheet storage magazine on the side of the sheet conveying means, and reading and erasing of the stimulable phosphor sheet taken out from the magazine are also possible. It may be something that can be performed. The magazine holding unit can be provided at any position as long as it is vertically aligned with the above-described respective units such as the reading / playing unit 120 and the erasing unit 130, which are connected to the sheet conveying unit 100, but are shown by a chain line in the figure. As cassette holder
The cassette holding unit and the magazine holding unit may be integrated so that 110 can be loaded with both the cassette 102 and the magazine 107. Further, when the magazine holding unit is provided, a tray holding unit for holding the trays sequentially storing the stimulable phosphor sheets that have been read out and erased one by one from the magazine is required. Like the magazine holder, this tray holder can also be provided at an arbitrary position where it is connected to the sheet conveying means 100, but the tray 106 can be positioned adjacent to the erasing section 130 as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in the figure. If a tray holding section is provided outside the erasing section 130, the tray 106 functions as a guide during erasing with respect to the stimulable phosphor sheet taken out from the cassette, and the accelerating agent taken out from the magazine is stored. The phosphor sheet is extremely convenient because it can be dropped and stored in the tray as it is after erasing.

By the way, when the reading and reproducing unit 120 finishes reading one stimulable phosphor sheet 7 and the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is unloaded from the reading and reproducing unit 120, the recording sheet in the recording sheet supply unit 150 is recorded. One sheet of the recording sheet 11 is taken out from the supply magazine 103 by the suction means 151 and is passed to the nip roller 100h in the vicinity. The recording sheet 11 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow D ₁ along the guide plate 100i by the nip roller 100h, and then is conveyed by a sheet conveying means like the stimulable phosphor sheet.
It is carried into the reading / reproducing unit 120 by 100. Read / play section 12
At 0, the recording sheet 11 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow D ₂ and the image information previously read from the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is recorded.

When the recording sheet 11 is conveyed, the reading / reproducing unit 120 drives the AOM 3 in accordance with the image information read from the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 described above, and the switching unit 5 causes the primary light to exit.
The control for guiding 2B to a predetermined optical path is performed. The recording sheet 11 is
By scanning with the primary light 2B modulated by AOM3, the image information recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is reproduced over the entire surface.

The recording sheet 11 whose image information has been reproduced by the reading / reproducing unit 120 is conveyed by the sheet conveying means 100 in the directions of arrows D _{3 to} D ₅ . When the recording sheet 11 which has been reproduced in this way is conveyed, the sheet allocating means 100d is at the position shown by the solid line in the figure, and the sheet allocating means 100c is moved to the position shown by the broken line in the figure. The recording sheet 11 is guided in the direction of arrow D ₆ and the discharge roller 100j is made to grasp the leading end thereof. As the discharge roller 100j, for example, the recording sheet 11 may be carried into the automatic developing machine 170 connected to the reading device in advance, or a tray or the like may be arranged in the vicinity of the discharge roller 100j and the recording sheet 11 may be sequentially arranged. It may be discharged into this tray. Further, a holding portion for a tray for storing recording sheets may be provided inside the apparatus, and the recording sheets may be stored in the tray inside the apparatus, and the tray together with the tray may be taken out from the apparatus and appropriately conveyed to an external automatic developing machine.

In the reading / reproducing unit 120, immediately after reading one stimulable phosphor sheet, as described above,
In addition to recording the read image information on a single recording sheet, the capacity of the memory 14 is increased, and then a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheets are continuously read to temporarily store all the read image information. Alternatively, the image information may be continuously reproduced for a plurality of recording sheets. Further, it is also possible to display the image information once on a CRT display device or the like and reproduce only the necessary image as a hard copy on the recording sheet without reproducing all the read image information as a hard copy on the recording sheet.

As the recording sheet, in addition to the above-mentioned ordinary silver salt photographic film, dry silver suitable for heat development can be used. Further, in addition to these photosensitive recording materials, heat sensitive recording materials can be used. Further, as a developing method using a silver salt film, in addition to the wet developing method described above,
Instant method etc. Further, the radiation image information reading and reproducing apparatus in which the stimulable phosphor sheet is used as the image information sheet has been described above as an example, but the apparatus of the present invention detects reflected light or transmitted light emitted from the image information sheet to detect image information. It may be a device of the type that reads the.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the image information reading / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the reading and reproducing of the image information are performed by using the same scanning system, so that the conventional reading apparatus and reproducing apparatus are It can be integrated without increasing the size of the entire device,
The entire reading / reproducing system can be miniaturized. Further, only one scanning system is required for both reading and reproduction, and it is not necessary to move the optical modulator in and out of the light beam, so that the structure is simple and the manufacturing cost can be greatly reduced.

Further, according to the present device, the switching means switches the optical paths of the 0th order light and the 1st order light emitted from the AOM, and the 0th order light is used at the time of reading, and the primary light is used at the time of reading. Can be sufficiently secured, and a good image without fog can be reproduced at the time of reproduction.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 and 2 are perspective views showing a radiation image information reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion near the switching means of the above apparatus, and FIG. 4 is another embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) and FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are plan views of a portion near the switching means in still another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of an apparatus including the reading / reproducing apparatus of the present invention as a reading / reproducing unit. 1 ... Beam light source, 2 ... Light beam 2A ... 0th-order light, 2B ... 1st-order light 3 ... Acousto-optic modulator (AOM) 4 ... Rotating polygon mirror, 5 ... Switching means 5A ... 1 mirror, 5B 2nd mirror 6 endless belt device 7 storage phosphor sheet 9 photomultiplier 11 recording sheet 15 glass plate 25A shutter 25B 1 / 2 wave plate 25D ...... Polarizing beam splitter

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI Technical display location H04N 1/04 104 A 7251-5C 1/23 103 Z 9186-5C

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A beam light source for emitting a light beam, an acousto-optic modulator provided on the optical path of the light beam, and either one of 0-order light and 1-order light emitted from the acousto-optic modulator. A switching means for guiding a predetermined optical path to an image information sheet on which image information is recorded or which reproduces the image information by deflecting the incident light beam on the predetermined optical path. A main scanning means, a sub-scanning means for moving the image information sheet or the recording sheet and the light beam in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction, and the image by scanning the light beam. The switching means comprises a light detecting means for detecting light emitted from the information sheet, and the switching means controls the 0th-order light to a predetermined value when the image information sheet is moved by the sub-scanning means. The image information sheet is guided by the deflector to be deflected by the deflector to cause main scanning of the image information sheet, and the emitted light is detected by the light detection means to read the image information. When being moved, the switching means guides the primary light to a predetermined optical path, and the acousto-optic modulator modulates the primary light in accordance with an image signal, and the deflector deflects the recording sheet to deflect the recording sheet. An image information reading / reproducing apparatus characterized in that main scanning image information is recorded. 2. The image information sheet is a stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiation image information is stored and recorded, and the light beam for scanning the stimulable phosphor sheet is stored and recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet. Is excitation light that produces stimulated emission light according to the radiation image information, the light detection means,
The image information reading / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stimulated emission light is detected. 3. The image information reading / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said switching means comprises a plurality of reflecting mirrors. 4. The switching means is a light transmissive member having an incident surface and an exit surface which are non-parallel to each other and are inserted into the optical path of the light beam only when reproducing the image information. The image information reading and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. 5. The half-wave plate disposed in the optical path of either the 0th-order light or the 1st-order light,
A shutter that can be moved in and out of the optical path of the next light,
And a polarization beam splitter that reflects one of the 0th-order light and the 1st-order light, transmits the other, and emits the light onto the predetermined optical path. Alternatively, the image information reading and reproducing apparatus according to the second item.