JPH0712995Y2 - Stacker for stimulable phosphor sheet - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of the Invention) The present invention provides a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheets which are provided in a conveyance path of a sheet conveying means for conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet in a radiation image information reading apparatus. The present invention relates to a stacker for a stimulable phosphor sheet that can be temporarily accommodated and can discharge the accommodated stimulable phosphor sheets one by one, and more particularly, it can respond well to changes in the size of the accommodated stimulable phosphor sheet. The present invention relates to a stacker for a stimulable phosphor sheet that can be used.

(Prior Art) When a certain kind of phosphor is irradiated with radiation (X-ray, α-ray, β-ray, γ-ray, electron beam, ultraviolet ray, etc.), a part of this radiation energy is accumulated in the phosphor, It is known that when a phosphor is irradiated with excitation light such as visible light, the phosphor exhibits stimulated emission depending on the stored energy, and a phosphor having such a property is a stimulable phosphor (luminescent material). Exhaustible 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-55-12
No. 429, No. 56-11395, No. 55-163472, No. 56-104645
No. 55-116340, etc. ) The stimulable phosphor sheet in the above system stores and records radiation image information and temporarily holds the recorded image information until it is read by the excitation light scanning. After completion, it is desirable to erase the image information remaining on the sheet and reuse the stimulable phosphor sheet.

Therefore, based on the above-mentioned request, with the radiation image information reader including only the reading unit that reads the image information recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet, the radiation unit remains on the reading unit and the stimulable phosphor sheet. There is also proposed an apparatus including an erasing section for erasing existing image information.

In the radiation image information reading apparatus, a cassette containing a stimulable phosphor sheet that has been photographed by an external imaging device is loaded in a cassette holding unit, and the stimulable phosphor sheet is taken out from the cassette, and the sheet The sheet is conveyed to the conveying unit and is conveyed to the reading unit by the sheet conveying unit. A plurality of sheets are usually temporarily stored in the conveyance path between the cassette holding unit and the reading unit, and the number of sheets is appropriately set to 1
A stacker for discharging the sheets one by one and delivering them to the sheet conveying means is provided. That is, since it takes a relatively long time to read the image information in the reading unit, if the stacker as described above is provided, a plurality of plural stimulable phosphor sheets can be read while the reading unit is reading. It is possible to store the photographed stimulable phosphor sheet in the apparatus, and avoid the inconvenience of waiting for a long time while the photographed sheet is stored in the cassette in the cassette holder. In addition, even if the reading unit becomes unusable and the reading unit becomes unusable, if the stacker is provided, it is not necessary to immediately stop the image pickup by the external image pickup apparatus, and the image pickup apparatus can be used for a certain period of time. It is possible to continue driving.

On the other hand, in the apparatus having the reading unit and the erasing unit as described above, the stimulable phosphor sheet, which has been erased in the erasing unit, can be taken out of the reading device and the image information can be recorded again. It becomes a state. These erased stimulable phosphor sheets may be temporarily accumulated in an accumulation tray in the reading device, and the entire tray having accumulated stimulable phosphor sheets may be taken out of the device. Since the stimulable phosphor sheets accumulated in the accumulating tray need to be stored in the cassette as described above when performing a new photographing, they are loaded one by one in the cassette before photographing. There is a need. For this reason, it takes a lot of time before the image-capturing sheet is stored again in the cassette and the image capturing is performed, and there is a problem that the sheet cannot be efficiently recycled. Also, this loading is performed by a dedicated loader or by manual work. However, when a dedicated loader is used, the cost of the entire system increases, and when manual loading is performed, the stimulable phosphor is used. Since the sheet is directly touched, there is a disadvantage that it is not preferable in handling the stimulable phosphor sheet. Therefore, it is conceivable to circulate the stimulable phosphor sheet in the reading device, take out the imaged sheet from the cassette, carry out reading and erasing, and then carry the sheet into the cassette and store it again. In such a reading device, while one stimulable phosphor sheet is read and erased and then stored again in the cassette, the sheet occupies the device, and during this process. Since the next treatment of the stimulable phosphor sheet has to be waited, the time loss is large and the processing capacity of the device is significantly reduced. Therefore, in a reading device equipped with an erasing unit, a stimulable phosphor sheet is temporarily stored in a sheet conveying means on the downstream side of the erasing unit, and any one of the stored stimulable phosphor sheets is stored. It would be extremely convenient if a stacker that could be taken out could be provided.

Therefore, the present applicant can arrange the sheet between the sheet supply unit such as the cassette holding unit and the reading unit, or between the erasing unit and the cassette holding unit, and the size classification of the accommodated sheets, We have already proposed a stacker that allows preferential removal of specific sheets. (JP-A-62-175380, etc.) The stacker is composed of a plurality of partition plates standing parallel to each other at a predetermined interval, and a stimulable fluorescent light that is provided between the partition plates at the lower end of the partition plates. A bottom plate which receives a lower end of the body sheet to stop the stimulable phosphor sheet and a second position which moves from the first position to drop the stimulable phosphor sheet by its own weight; A stacker body, a carry-in means provided above the stacker body, for carrying in the stimulable phosphor sheet carried by the above-mentioned sheet carrying means into the stacker body, provided below the stacker body, and falling by its own weight. The carrying-out means for receiving the stimulable phosphor sheet and passing it to the sheet carrying means, and the space between arbitrary partition plates in the stacker body may be located below the carrying-in means and above the carrying-out means. It is made of means for moving the stacker body so that. When such a stacker is used, the stimulable phosphor sheets can be sequentially carried into the stacker body one by one, and any stimulable phosphor sheet in the stacker body can be carried out. The stimulable phosphor sheet can be taken out and processed preferentially. Further, this stacker can be arranged between the cassette holding unit and the reading unit and between the erasing unit and the cassette holding unit.

By the way, it is convenient if the above-mentioned stacker can store the stimulable phosphor sheets of various sizes in each part for accommodating the sheets in the stacker main body and take out the stimulable phosphor sheet of a required size. Therefore, the height and width of the partition plate are set according to the maximum size of the stimulable phosphor sheet that can be accommodated, and when accommodating a small size of the stimulable phosphor sheet, the partition plate is effective. A stacker in which a columnar width-shifting member is inserted between partition plates to reduce the width has also been proposed by the present applicant (Japanese Patent Application No. 62-67303).

(Problems to be solved by the invention) A small-sized stimulable phosphor sheet is squeezed in the stacker by bringing its side end into contact with the columnar sizing member as described above. In the stacker provided with the member, the end of the stimulable phosphor sheet may be caught in the gap between the width-shifting member and the partition plate, so that the stimulable phosphor sheet cannot be accurately positioned or smoothly carried out. The inconvenience was recognized.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is capable of accommodating a plurality of sizes of stimulable phosphor sheets and capable of favorably aligning a small size of stimulable phosphor sheets. An object of the present invention is to provide a stacker for a stimulable phosphor sheet.

(Means and Actions for Solving the Problems) A stacker for a stimulable phosphor sheet according to the present invention comprises a plurality of partition plates arranged at fixed intervals and a partition plate inserted between the partition plates. A width-shifting member that reduces the effective width of the partition plate, the width-shifting member being removably inserted between the partition plates at a position corresponding to the width of the stimulable phosphor sheet that enters between the partition plates. And a guide portion for positioning the stimulable phosphor sheet in the width direction by abutting one side end of the stimulable phosphor sheet entering between the partition plates, and protruding from the guide portion to the side. The storage phosphor sheet is positioned by the guide portion, and the two guard plates are arranged along the two partition plates facing the stimulable phosphor sheet.

If the sizing member having the guard plate is used to perform the sizing and positioning of the stimulable phosphor sheet having a small size, the end portion of the storable phosphor sheet on the sizing member side is 2
Since the stimulable phosphor sheet is securely held inside the one guard plate, the stimulable phosphor sheet is prevented from being caught between the partition plate and the width-shifting member. It should be noted that the partition plate should be upright to the extent that the stimulable phosphor sheet can be loaded and unloaded by its own weight, but it is necessary to bring it as upright as possible to reduce the lateral movement space of the stacker body. It is preferable above.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an outline of a radiation image information reading apparatus equipped with a stacker for a stimulable phosphor sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus shown in the figure is a cassette holding unit 10 that detachably holds a cassette 2 that can store a stimulable phosphor sheet 1, a reading unit 20 that reads image information stored and recorded in the stimulable phosphor sheet, and a reading unit after completion of reading. The cassette 2 is provided with an erasing section 30 for erasing the image information remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet, and the cassette 2 imaged on the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 held inside in an external photographing device (not shown) is the cassette. It is loaded in the holding unit 10. The cassette 2 has a light-shielding property in order to prevent the stimulable phosphor sheet from being exposed to external light when irradiating the stimulable phosphor sheet with radiation to record (shoot) image information. From the front side of the apparatus, the apparatus is loaded in the apparatus in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. The cassette 2 has a lid portion 2a that can be opened and closed. The lid portion 2a is closed when it is loaded into the cassette holding portion, but when loading the cassette 2 is finished, it opens as shown in the drawing. The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is exposed. When the cassette 2 is opened, the suction plate 12 enters the cassette 2, and the suction plate moves in the direction of arrow B to take out the stimulable phosphor sheet from the cassette 2. The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is held in the cassette 2 so that the front side surface on which the stimulable phosphor layer is formed faces downward.
The reading device shown in the drawing receives the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 taken out from the cassette 2 as described above,
A sheet conveying means 50 including an endless belt, a roller, a guide plate and the like is provided to convey to the 20 and the erasing section 30 in this order, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 taken out by the conveying roller 12 is the sheet conveying means 50. Is sent in the direction of arrow A ₁ .

A first stacker 100 according to the present embodiment is provided in the conveyance path between the cassette holding section 10 and the reading section 20 of the sheet conveying means 50, and conveys in the direction of arrow A ₁ as described above. The stimulable phosphor sheet is temporarily stored in the stacker 100 before being sent to the reading unit 20. Hereinafter, the structure of the stacker 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 2, the stacker 100 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of partition plates 111 that are substantially upright in parallel with each other, and is a sheet accommodating portion 112 that is a space formed between the partition plates 111. It is possible to store the stimulable phosphor sheets 1 one by one. The stacker 100 has the partition plate 111 and is a casing-shaped stacker main body 110 that can be moved integrally, and carry-in rollers 121 and 122 that are carry-in means for carrying the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 into the stacker main body 110. , Stacker body 110
The carry-out roller 13 which is a carry-out means for receiving the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 discharged from the sheet and delivering it to the sheet carrying means 50.
1, 132, and the stacker body to all of the storage sections
112 is the carry-in rollers 121, 122 and carry-out rollers 131, 13
Moving means 1 for moving in the direction of arrow C so that it can be adjacent to 2
It consists of 40. The range of movement of the stacker main body 110 is the first
From the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the dotted line in the figure.

On the side of the stacker main body 110, a screw rod 142 extending in the moving direction of the stacker main body 110, a main body supporting portion 143 protruding laterally from the side surface of the stacker main body 110 and fitted to the screw rod 142, and a shaft support for the screw rod. Gears 14
4, a gear unit 146 connected to the gear 144 via a belt 145, and a drive unit unit 141 including a pulse motor 147 for rotating the gear 146 in both forward and reverse directions,
By the motor 147 of the drive unit 141, the gears 146, 1
By rotating the screw rod 142 via 44, a force for reciprocating in the direction of arrow C in the drawing is applied to the stacker body 110. Four wheels 101 are attached to the side surface of the stacker body 110.
By the control of the drive unit 141, the wheel 101 is mounted on the board 148 on which the wheels 101 are provided below the stacker body 110.
The vehicle is moved in the direction of arrow C by traveling. In the present embodiment, the drive unit 141 and the substrate 1
The moving means 140 is constituted by 48. As shown in FIG. 3, the board 148 is provided with guide members 148a and 148b on both sides of the stacker main body 110, which project upward along the moving direction of the stacker main body, and the wheel 101.
Has both ends 102 of its shaft spherical, and wheel 101 has both ends 102 of its shaft spherical, and wheel 101 has both ends 102 of its shaft abutting guide members 148a, 148b. It is designed to rotate while being rotated. Therefore, in advance, the guide member 14
If the distances 8a and 148b are set correctly according to the length of the axle, the stacker body 110 will not be distorted during traveling, and the stop position will not be accurate, and traveling will not be unstable. When adjusting the distance between the guide members 148a and 148b, the end portion 102 of the wheel is brought into contact with one guide member 148a that is integrated with the substrate 148, and the other guide member 148b is adjusted according to the position. You can decide the position of. Further, in this embodiment, since the sliding material such as the poly slider is attached to the inner surfaces of the guide members 148a and 148b, the stacker main body 110 can be moved more smoothly.

The carry-in rollers 121 and 122 are provided above the stacker body 110. The carry-in rollers 121 and 122 may be any as long as they can carry the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 carried by the sheet carrying means 50 into the stacker main body 110, and as in the present embodiment, the sheet carrying is carried. It may be integrated with the means 50 (see FIG. 1) or may be completely independent of the sheet conveying means.

By moving the stacker main body 110 in the direction of arrow C, the sheet accommodating portion 112 located below the carry-in rollers 121 and 122 is replaced, and the carry-in rollers 121 and 122 are located below the carry-in rollers 121 and 122. The sheet 1 is carried into the accommodation section 112. Next, the structure of the stacker body 110 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the stacker body 110. The partition plate 111 has a back surface 111a having a vertical surface and a front surface 111b having a taper surface gradually projecting downward, and the partition plate 111 is supported on both sides by a sheet width shifting plate 117. As a result, the partition plates 111 are fixedly held, and thus the intervals between the partition plates 111 are also fixed. That is, the sheet width shifting plate 117 has a plurality of partition plates 111 on the inner surface 117a.
Are formed at predetermined intervals, and each partition plate 111 is fixedly held integrally by inserting both ends into the groove 117A. Further, the sheet width-shifting plate 117 has a taper surface whose inner side surface 117a gradually protrudes inward as it goes downward, and the position in the width direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet carried into the sheet storage portion 112. Are regulated. Further, a bottom plate 113 is attached to the lower end of each partition plate 111, and the bottom plate 113 receives the lower end of the sheet carried in along the partition plate 111 to stop the stimulable phosphor sheet. It is possible to have a position and a second position in which the stimulable phosphor sheet is rotated downward from the first position to drop the stimulable phosphor sheet by its own weight. As shown in FIG. 5, the sheet accommodating portion 112 is formed by the front surface 111b of the partition plate 111, the bottom plate 113, and the back surface 111a of the adjacent partition plate 111 that faces the front surface 111b.

As described above, when the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is carried into the stacker body by the carry-in rollers 121 and 122, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is moved along the taper surface 111b,
Further, the sheet enters the sheet accommodating portion 112 while being width-shifted by the sheet width-shifting plate 117. As shown in FIG. 4, the front surface 111b and the rear surface 111a of the partition plate 111 are alternately recessed rearward with respect to the above-described tapered surface and the vertical plane. By providing irregularities on the surface, the stimulable phosphor sheet can move smoothly without sticking to these front and back surfaces. Further, the partition plate 111 in the present embodiment is formed of aluminum, and since the sliding member 114 such as polypropylene leather is attached on the convex portions of the front surface 111b and the back surface 111a thereof,
It is more preferable for improving the slipperiness of the stimulable phosphor sheet and preventing the surface from being scratched. The sheet storage section 112
Has a narrower interval as it goes downward, and the lower end has an interval slightly wider than the thickness of one stimulable phosphor sheet. The upper end of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 carried in by the carry-in rollers 121, 122 is carried in by the carry-in roller 12.
When the sheets 1 and 122 are separated from each other, they fall by their own weight, and the bottom plate 113 receives the lower end of the falling sheet 1 and stops it in the sheet storage portion 112. The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is provided on the bottom plate 113.
An impact material such as sponge that softens the impact when the
Further, a sliding member 114, such as a polypropylene leather diaphragm, is stuck on the impact material 115 in order to smoothly carry out the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 described later.

By the way, the stacker main body 110 is capable of accommodating sheets of a plurality of sizes, and when a sheet of a relatively small size is carried in, the stacker body 110 is detachably inserted into the sheet accommodating portion 112, and the sheet accommodating portion is It has a width-shifting member 116 that reduces the effective width of 112. That is, the size of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 taken out from the cassette 2 is detected by a sensor or the like, and if the detected sheet size is small, the width adjusting member 116 is detachably inserted in advance in the sheet storage. It is accommodated in the section 112. This width-shifting member 1
As shown in FIG. 4, 16 is a guide portion 116A for abutting one side end of the stimulable phosphor sheet that enters the sheet housing portion 112 to position the stimulable phosphor sheet in the width direction,
Two guard plates 116 extending laterally from the guide portion 116A
B, and two protrusions 1 protruding from the front surface of the guide portion 116A
It consists of 16C. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b) which are plan views of the stacker main body, on the back surface 111a of the partition plate 111, vertically extending grooves 111d are provided at predetermined intervals in the lateral direction. Each of the width-adjusting members 116 is formed in two pieces, and the storable phosphor sheet 1 accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion 112 inside the sheet accommodating portion 112 by the protrusion 116C engaging with the groove portion 111d. Is positioned at a predetermined position according to the width of the. That is, each sheet storage portion 112 of the stacker of the present embodiment can store the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 of three sizes, as an example, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 of the maximum size is accommodated. In this case, the width-shifting member 116 is not inserted, and the stimulable phosphor sheet is positioned by the sheet width-shifting plates 117 at both ends thereof.
When the storable phosphor sheet 1 of the second size is accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion 112, the width-shifting member 116 separates the protrusion 116C from the partition plate 111, as shown in FIG. 6 (a). It is inserted into the sheet storage portion 112 while being engaged with the groove portion 116d on the right side of the. The guide portion 116A of the width-shifting member 116 has a narrow upper end and a wide lower end, and a tapered surface formed between the upper end and the lower end. Also this guide part
At the position shown in FIG. 6 (a), 116A is formed such that the distance from the lower end to the sheet width shifting plate 117 is substantially equal to the width of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 of the second size, The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 that is made to enter the sheet accommodation portion 112 by the carry-in rollers 121 and 122 is a guide portion.
Guided by the tapered surface of 116A and the inner side surface 117a of the sheet width-shifting plate 117, both ends are supported by both members at the falling position in the sheet storage portion 112. Two partition plates facing the body sheet 1
Since the two guard plates 116B arranged along the 111 are provided, the dimensional accuracy of the width-shifting member 116 may vary slightly, or the partition plate 111 leans against the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 or the like. Even if a gap is created between the width-shifting member 116 and the partition plate 111 due to bending, the side edge of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is sandwiched by the two guard plates 116B, so that the stacker is stacked. When the main body moves and the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 moves in the sheet storage portion 112, there is no inconvenience that the stimulable phosphor sheet is sandwiched between the partition plate 111 and the width-shifting member 116. Further, when the minimum-size stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is stored in the sheet storage portion, as shown in FIG.
Is inserted into the sheet accommodating portion 112 while engaging the protruding portion 116C with the groove portion 111d on the left side of the partition plate 111, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is predetermined by the width shifting member 116 and one width shifting plate 117. You will be guided to the storage position. It should be noted that any size of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is preliminarily width-adjusted to some extent by the sheet conveying means so that the left end of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is placed at a substantially constant position before being inserted into the stacker. Is desirable.

Storable phosphor sheet 1 taken out from the cassette 2
The stacking phosphor sheet 1 is carried into the stacker main body 110 as described above, but the stimulable phosphor sheets 1 housed in the stacker main body 110 are appropriately taken out one by one and passed to the sheet conveying means 50, and the reading section 20 is provided. Sent to. The carry-out rollers 131 and 132 are provided below the stacker body 110, and are located between the stacker body 110 and the carry-out rollers 131 and 132 of the substrate 148, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. A slit 148c that allows passage of the stimulable phosphor sheet discharged from the stacker main body 110 is formed in the portion. At the time of discharging the stimulable phosphor sheet, first, the stacker main body 110 is moved by the above-described moving means 140 so that the sheet storage portion 112 that stores the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 to be discharged is discharged by the discharge roller 13.
It is moved so that it is located above 1, 132. As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom plate 113 is divided by a spring 118 into a partition plate 111.
And is normally stopped at the above-mentioned first position by the biasing force of the spring 118. Meanwhile bottom plate
A protrusion 113a is formed on the side end of 113, and a protrusion 15a is formed near the carry-out rollers 131 and 132 as shown in FIG.
A lever 151 having 1a and rotated by a driving means 152 such as a rotary solenoid in a direction of an arrow D is provided. When the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 in the sheet storage portion 112 is discharged, the lever 151 is rotated. The protrusion 151a engages with the protrusion 113a, and the lever 151 rotates in the direction of arrow D to rotate the bottom plate 113 in the direction of arrow D ', while extending the spring 118. As a result, the bottom plate 113 is moved to the second position shown by the broken line in FIG. 5, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 in the sheet accommodating portion 112 falls by its own weight, and the carry-out roller is carried out.
131 and 132 hold the tip of the falling stimulable phosphor sheet 1 to convey the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 and deliver it to the sheet conveying means 50 in the vicinity. Sheet accommodating portion 11 of stimulable phosphor sheet 1
When the carrying out from 2 is completed, the lever 151 returns to the position shown in FIG. 7, and the bottom plate 113 returns to the position shown by the solid line in the figure again by the returning force of the spring 117.

As described above, when the stacker 100 of this embodiment is used, the stimulable phosphor sheets 1 taken out from the cassette 2 are accommodated in the sheet accommodating portions 112 in the stacker main body 110, respectively, and the accommodated stimulable phosphor sheets 1 are accommodated. Can be taken out in any order as needed regardless of the order of accommodation. Further, when it is desired to send a certain stimulable phosphor sheet to the reading unit most preferentially and to perform the processing, immediately after the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is carried into the sheet accommodating unit by the carry-in roller, the stimulable phosphor sheet is loaded. It is also possible to carry the sheet out of the sheet accommodating portion by a carry-out roller. In addition, since the storable phosphor sheet 1 having an arbitrary size can be accommodated by moving the width-adjusting member 116 into and out of the sheet accommodating portion, the size of the stimulable phosphor sheet carried into each sheet accommodating portion can be increased. By storing the sheet size, it is possible to take out a stimulable phosphor sheet of a desired size and send it to the reading section as needed. Further, since the width-shifting member has two guard plates, when the width-shifting member is inserted,
There is no inconvenience that the stimulable phosphor sheet is sandwiched between the width-shift member and the partition plate.

As shown in FIG. 1, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 discharged from the stacker 100 as described above is transferred to the discharge roller 13 as shown in FIG.
The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is delivered to the sheet conveying means 50 by the reference numerals 1 and 132, and is conveyed in the direction of arrow A ₂ by the sheet conveying means to be carried into the reading section 20.

The reading unit 20 scans the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 on which image information is stored and recorded with excitation light 21 such as a laser beam, and the stimulated emission light emitted from the sheet 1 by the scanning is photoelectrically converted by a photomultiplier or the like. The reading means 22 photoelectrically reads and obtains an electric image signal for outputting a visible image. In the figure, 23 is an excitation light source, 24 is an optical deflector such as a galvanometer mirror, and 26 is photostimulable emission light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 as an optical guide 22a (photo guide 22a) of photoelectric reading means.
Is a reflection mirror that totally reflects the stimulated emission light and reflects it toward a photodetector 22b such as a photomultiplier).

The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 carried into the reading section 20 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow A ₃ by the sheet conveying means 50, and the entire surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet is two-dimensionally excited by the excitation light 21 which is deflected substantially perpendicularly to the conveying direction. Scanning is performed to generate stimulated emission light, and the stimulated emission light is detected by the photodetector 22b through the light guide 22a to read image information.

Incidentally, in reading the radiation image information, reading for obtaining the image signal for visible image output described above (main reading)
Prior to the above, pre-reading is performed to read out the outline of the radiation image information stored and recorded in advance in the stimulable phosphor sheet 1, and the reading conditions and the like at the time of performing the main reading based on the image information obtained by the pre-reading. There is known a method of determining and performing the main reading according to the reading conditions.

As a method of performing such pre-reading, for example, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is scanned with excitation light having an energy lower than that of the excitation light used for the main reading, and stimulated emission light emitted by this scanning is emitted. Similarly, there is a method of reading by photoelectric reading means (see, for example, JP-A-58-67240).

The reading unit in the present invention may be a unit that performs both main reading and pre-reading, in addition to the above-mentioned part that performs only main reading. For example, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is conveyed in the direction of arrow A ₃ for pre-reading first, and then the stimulable phosphor sheet is switched back in the direction of arrow A ₄ by switchback, returned to the reading start position, and again indicated by arrow A. _It may be conveyed in _three directions for the main reading. The optical members arranged in the reading unit are not limited to the above-mentioned ones, and may be, for example, photoelectric reading units that are long along the main scanning line as described in JP-A-62-16666. Arrange the photo multiplier of
The stimulated emission light may be detected.

The reading of image information by the reading unit 20 takes a relatively long time, but since the stacker 100 is provided in the illustrated apparatus as described above, reading is performed on one sheet. In the meantime, the stimulable phosphor sheets 1 that have been photographed can be sequentially stored in the stacker 100, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 can be processed extremely efficiently.

As described above, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 whose image information has been read in the reading section 20 is conveyed by the sheet conveying means 50 in the directions of arrows A ₅ and A _{6 and then} toward the erasing section 30.

The erasing section 30 is for erasing the radiation image information remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 after the above-mentioned reading is completed (releasing 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 1 still remains in the stimulable phosphor sheet after reading, and this radiation image information is reused in order to reuse the stimulable phosphor sheet 1. The erasing unit 30 erases the residual image information. Any erasing method in the erasing unit 30 may be used. Erasing unit 30 in this embodiment
Is provided with a plurality of erasing light sources 31, such as fluorescent lamps, tungsten lamps, sodium lamps, xenon lamps, iodine lamps, etc., and the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is conveyed in the direction of arrow A ₇ while these erasing light sources 31 are being conveyed. The residual radiation energy on the stimulable phosphor sheet is released by the irradiation of the light.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 that has been erased in the erasing section 30 is conveyed in the direction of arrow A ₈ and then further arrowed A ₉ , A _10.
Be transported to. When the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is conveyed in the A ₁₀ direction and reaches the position shown by the broken line in the figure, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is fed back by the switchback in the arrow A ₁₁ direction. The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 sent back is further indicated by arrow A ₁₂
Second stacker that is conveyed in the conveyance direction and is provided in the conveyance direction
Delivered to 200. The second stacker 200 has a structure similar to that of the first stacker 100 described above, and the stacker main body 210 including the sheet accommodating portion 212 formed by the plurality of partition plates 211 moves in the arrow E direction. The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is housed in any one of the sheet housing portions 212. In addition, in these sheet storage portions 212,
The sizing member described above can accommodate a plurality of sizes of stimulable phosphor sheets. Above the stacker main body 210, a carry-in roller which is a carry-in means for carrying the stimulable phosphor sheet 1.
221 and 222 are provided, and below the stacker body 210, a carry-out roller 23 that is a carry-out means for carrying out the stimulable phosphor sheet 1.
1,232 are provided. The carry-out rollers 231 and 232 receive the stimulable phosphor sheet carried out from the stacker main body 210, and feed this sheet to the sheet carrying means 50 for carrying the sheet into the empty cassette 2 loaded in the cassette holding section 10. It is designed to be handed over. The second stacker 200 already contains a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheets before carrying in the stimulable phosphor sheet 1. That is,
The delivery of the stimulable phosphor sheet from the second stacker 200 is performed by the same mechanism as in the case of the first stacker 100, and an arbitrary stimulable phosphor sheet in the stacker 200 is selected and delivered. To carry out the stimulable phosphor sheet, a stimulable phosphor sheet suitable for the cassette loaded in the cassette holding unit 10 is selected from among the stimulable phosphor sheets contained in the stacker 200. Then, it is performed immediately after the stimulable phosphor sheet is taken out from the cassette 2 as described above. By providing such a stacker 200, the cassette 2 that stores the photographed sheets
Is loaded into the cassette holder 10, and a new stimulable phosphor sheet can be carried into an empty cassette within a short time after the stimulable phosphor sheet is taken out.
The cassette 2 into which the stimulable phosphor sheet has been loaded can be immediately taken out from the cassette holding unit 10 and can be carried to an external photographing device for photographing. Also cassette 2
Even if the size of the stimulable phosphor sheet held inside is different for each cassette, it is possible to previously store the stimulable phosphor sheets of various sizes in the stacker 200 as described above. By selecting and carrying out the stimulable phosphor sheet from the stacker 200 according to the size of the cassette loaded in the holding portion, the stimulable phosphor sheet can be efficiently used regardless of the size of the stimulable phosphor sheet. Circular reuse can be performed. In order to store the stimulable phosphor sheets of various sizes in the stacker 200 in advance, the stimulable phosphor sheet is not taken out of the stacker 200 for a while after the start of use of the apparatus. Alternatively, the stimulable phosphor sheets may be collected, or the unused stimulable phosphor sheets of various sizes may be stored in the stacker in advance before use of the apparatus. In order to take out the stimulable phosphor sheet having a desired size from the stacker 200 according to the cassette loaded in the cassette holding unit 10, the stimulable phosphors stored in the respective sheet storage units 212 of the stacker 200 are stored. The size of the sheet is stored and the cassette holder 10
It is necessary to have control means for controlling the work of selecting and extracting the stimulable phosphor sheet of a desired size according to the cassette loaded in the cassette, and the above-mentioned control is provided above the reading unit 20 in the apparatus of this embodiment. A control unit 60 for performing the operation is provided. In addition,
The control unit 60 also controls the storage, loading, and unloading of the stimulable phosphor sheet in the first stacker 100, and the loading / unloading of the width-shifting member at the same time.

As described above, the stimulable phosphor sheet discharged from the second stacker 200 is conveyed in the direction of arrow A ₁ by the sheet conveying means 50 and is sent to the cassette holding unit 10. The cassette 2 in the cassette holding unit 10 The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 loaded into the erasing unit 30 is stored in the stacker 200 before the cassette 2 is loaded into the cassette holding unit 10.
Since the erasing time may be long after the erasing, the auxiliary erasing section 70 provided in the middle of the sheet conveying means 50 receives light from the erasing light source 71. That is, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 has a property that, even if the erasing is performed once, when a certain time or more elapses, the radiation emitted from a radioisotope such as ²²⁶ Ra or ⁴⁰ K which is contained in the stimulable phosphor in a trace amount is Radiation energy may be accumulated by environmental radiation such as cosmic rays and X-rays from other X-ray sources, and this radiation energy may become noise for the next captured image. In order to prevent the generation of this noise, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 has the auxiliary erasing portion.
After passing through 70, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is erased (so-called secondary erasing) in which the radiation energy accumulated in the stimulable phosphor sheet is released during the standby time in the stacker 200. The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 that has passed through the auxiliary erasing unit 70 is further conveyed in the direction of the arrow A ₁ by the sheet conveying means 50, and is carried into the cassette 2 by the suction plate 12 described above.

As described above, the stacker of the present embodiment is arranged between the erasing section and the cassette holding section in the reading device having the erasing section.
Even when a cassette holding various sizes of stimulable phosphor sheets is loaded in the cassette holder, the cassette is kept in the cassette holder until the stimulable phosphor sheet taken out of the cassette returns to the cassette. Without this, the stimulable phosphor sheet can be immediately carried into the empty cassette, so that the stimulable phosphor sheet can be efficiently circulated and reused.

The specific configuration of the stacker of the present invention is not limited to that shown in the above embodiment. For example, instead of rotating the bottom plate about one end of the bottom plate to move the bottom plate between the first position and the second position, a recess for accommodating the bottom plate is provided at the lower end of the partition plate. The partition plate may be moved in parallel between the position for receiving the lower end of the sheet and the position for accommodating it in the recess. Further, the sliding material, the cushioning material, the sliding member, the unevenness of the front surface and the back surface of the partition plate, and the like can be omitted depending on various conditions such as the material of the partition plate and the inclination of the tapered surface. Further, the means for fixing the width-shifting member in the sheet storage portion is not limited to the above-described protrusion and groove (the groove may be a recess corresponding to the protrusion), and any mechanism may be used. it can. Further, the width-shifting member may be used by changing the position at which the same one is inserted in order to position the stimulable phosphor sheets of a plurality of sizes, or taper for each size of the stimulable phosphor sheet. Width-shifting members that are different from each other in the position and inclination of the surface may be used.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above in detail, according to the stacker for a stimulable phosphor sheet of the present invention, by providing a width-shifting member that can be inserted into each sheet storage portion, each sheet storage portion can be appropriately inserted. It is possible to accommodate a stimulable phosphor sheet of a desired size. Along with this, since the width-shifting member is provided with a guard plate, even if the dimensional accuracy of the width-shifting member is slightly varied, the stimulable phosphor sheet is moved when the stimulable phosphor sheet moves in the sheet storage portion. It can be prevented from being sandwiched between the partition plate and the width-shifting member. Therefore, according to the present stacker, it is possible to safely hold and carry out even the stimulable phosphor sheet having a relatively small size.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a radiation image information reading apparatus equipped with a stacker for a stimulable phosphor sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an outline of the stacker, and FIG. 3 is a wheel. 4 is a schematic view showing the relationship between the shaft portion and the substrate, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the stacker main body, FIG. 5 is its sectional view, and FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are plan views of the stacker main body. The figure is a perspective view showing a mechanism for taking out a sheet from the stacker main body. 1 ... Accumulable phosphor sheet, 2 ... Cassette 10 ... Cassette holding section, 20 ... Reading section 30 ... Erase section, 50 ... Sheet transporting means, 100, 200 ... Stacker 110, 210 ... Stacker Main body 111, 211 …… Partition plate, 111d …… Groove 112, 212 …… Sheet accommodating part 113 …… Bottom plate, 116 …… Width-shifting member 116A …… Guide part, 116B …… Guard plate 116C …… Projection 117… ... Sheet width aligning plates 121, 221, 122, 222 ... Carry-in rollers 131, 231, 132, 232 ... Carry-out roller 140 ... Moving means

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A radiation image information reading device for reading radiation image information accumulated and recorded on a stimulable phosphor sheet, the device being provided in a conveyance path of a sheet conveying means for conveying the stimulable phosphor sheet, A stacker for a stimulable phosphor sheet capable of accommodating a plurality of the stimulable phosphor sheets and capable of discharging the accommodated stimulable phosphor sheets one by one, standing up parallel to each other at a predetermined fixed interval. A plurality of partition plates, a first position provided at a lower end portion of the partition plates for stopping the stimulable phosphor sheet by receiving a lower end of the stimulable phosphor sheet entering between the partition plates, and a first position A stacker body provided with a bottom plate that can be moved to a second position where the stimulable phosphor sheet is dropped by its own weight by moving from the position 1; A carrying-in means for carrying in the stimulable phosphor sheet conveyed in the stacker body into the stacker body, and a carry-out means provided below the stacker body for receiving the stimulable phosphor sheet that falls by its own weight and delivering it to the sheet conveying means; Moving means for moving the stacker body so that any partition plate in the stacker body can be located below the carry-in means and above the carry-out means, and the partition plate between the partition plates is inserted. The stimulable phosphor that is removably inserted into a position corresponding to the width of the stimulable phosphor sheet to reduce the effective width of the partition plate, and the urging member is inserted between the partition plates. A guide portion for abutting one side end of the body sheet to position the stimulable phosphor sheet in the width direction, and a guide portion laterally protruding from the guide portion. The stimulable phosphor sheet and two opposed said stimulable phosphor sheet stacker characterized by consisting of two guard plates arranged along the partition plate is lateral move by.