JPH09329856A - X-ray radiographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely imprint ID information and to widely secure the image recording area of an X-ray film. SOLUTION: Since a rear supporting board 42 is turned backward and also a front supporting board 41 is turned backward at an angle βsmaller than the turning angle α of the board 42, a film carrying-in space in which a film is carried is extremely narrow, so that the leading end of the film is not fluctuated, curl is corrected by the boards 41 and 42 forming the narrow film carrying-in space in accordance with the film carrying-in even in the case of the film with the curl, and smooth carrying-in can be performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an X-ray image radiographing apparatus, and more particularly, to an improvement in loading an X-ray film into an image pickup unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the medical field in particular, a plurality of X-ray films are loaded into a photographing unit one by one from a magazine containing a plurality of X-ray films, and an X-ray transmission image of a subject is photographed at a predetermined position of the photographing unit. An X-ray image photographing apparatus adapted to perform this operation is well known (Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 5-67215 and 6-68608).

In this X-ray photographing apparatus, in order to increase the sensitivity of an X-ray transmission image of an object recorded on the X-ray film, an intensifying screen (screen) is brought into close contact with the X-ray film at the photographing position from the front and back. Is generally practiced. Here, since the film is conveyed to the photographing unit in the above-mentioned X-ray image photographing apparatus, a structure is adopted in which the film is conveyed between the front side screen and the rear side screen which stand by at the photographing position of the photographing unit in advance. . And in order for the film to be loaded between the front and rear screens,
At least when the film is loaded, it is necessary to provide a gap between the two screens, which is necessary for loading the film.

Therefore, in general, the front screen is fixedly arranged at the photographing position, the rear screen is arranged so as to be movable back and forth, and when the film is carried in, the rear screen is moved backward from the photographing position, and the film is moved backward. After the loading is completed, the rear screen is returned to the front shooting position. Then, as a mode of this movement, it is general to rotate. That is, it is rotated backward from the photographing position so as to open the upper end side with the lower end as the rotation center, or vice versa, open the lower end side with the upper end as the rotation center.

[0005]

However, in the conventional X-ray image photographing apparatus, when the rear screen is rotated backward from the photographing position, the film formed between the rear screen and the front screen. Since the carry-in space is large, for example, when carrying in a film with unfavorable conditions such as curled curls, the film rolls up in the film carry-in space during the carry-in process, and the rear screen remains as it is. When it is returned to its original position, the film is bent and the screen itself is damaged. In particular, the chin rest is provided directly above the shooting part, and when shooting is performed with the upper end of the film as the reference, and when the film is loaded from above the shooting part, it should be located from a position far behind this chin rest. There is no choice but to carry the film into the shooting unit, and since the upper end of the shooting position is directly below the chin rest, in order to carry the film into the shooting unit from above without bending sharply, The rear screen has to be rotated far enough to receive the film.

It should be noted that such severe conditions can occur not only when the upper side of the rear screen is opened but also when the lower side is opened. That is, this X
When the line imaging device is configured to be very small, it is possible that the gap in the height direction between the lower end of the imaging unit and the bottom surface of the imaging device becomes very narrow. It is necessary to rotate the film largely and carry the film into the photographing section.

Even if the film has no curl curl as described above, if the film loading space is large, the film fluctuates in the front-rear direction during the loading of the film, which hinders smooth loading. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and does not cause a transport trouble even when a film having bad conditions such as curled curl is carried into the photographing section. Another object is to provide an X-ray imaging apparatus in which transport troubles are suppressed.

[0009]

The X-ray image photographing apparatus of the present invention relates to a front screen (intensifying screen) and a rear screen which are in close contact with the X-ray film from the front and back and hold the film. In addition to moving the rear screen backward from the shooting position to carry it in between, the front screen is also moved backward by a smaller amount than the rear screen so that the film can be smoothly guided between these two screens. Therefore, even when a film having a bad condition such as curled curl is used, the trouble of transporting the film is reduced.

That is, the X-ray imaging apparatus of the present invention is
One or more supply magazines containing a large number of sheet-shaped unexposed X-ray films, and the X-ray films are held in close contact with each other between the flat front screen and the rear screen,
The rear screen is rearward from the photographing position, including a photographing unit for recording an X-ray transmission image of the subject on the X-ray film at a predetermined photographing position, and a conveying means for taking out the X-ray film from the supply magazine and loading it into the photographing unit. In the X-ray image capturing apparatus in which a wedge-shaped film carrying-in space is provided between both screens by rotating the X-ray film into the space and the X-ray film is introduced into this space, the front screen and the rear screen rotate. This is characterized in that the rear screen is rotated at an angle smaller than the angle.

Here, the rotation includes not only the rotation around a fixed point but also the movement of the rotation center itself.

Further, in the X-ray image photographing apparatus of the present invention, both the rear screen and the front screen are rotated so that the upper side thereof is displaced more than the lower side, and the conveying means is the X-ray film of the photographing section. It is preferable that the film is carried into the photographing unit from above. With such a structure, the film can be easily handled by utilizing gravity.

In addition, two or more supply magazines for accommodating these films, each of which has a different length in the transport direction, are provided, and the transport means is provided with an X-ray of a desired length based on a predetermined instruction. Along with selecting the film, the rear end of the X-ray film in the carrying-in direction to the imaging unit is detected, the rear end of the X-ray film in the carrying-in direction to the imaging unit is detected, and the X-ray film is detected based on the detection result. By providing the control means for controlling the carry-in to the photographing section, it is possible to record an image in a size according to the size of the subject or the purpose of photographing.

Here, the reason why the rear end of the X-ray film in the carrying-in direction to the imaging section is detected is to perform imaging while aligning the upper ends of the film regardless of the length of the film. This is because, in the most common shooting of the chest, which is the most frequent shooting, it is common to shoot the chest just above the chest of the subject.

On the other hand, in the X-ray imaging system of the present invention, it is desirable to provide a chin rest part on which the chin of the subject is placed, directly above the imaging part. This is because it is common to use the lower end of the chin as the position reference of the subject with respect to the device as described above, and in such a device having the chin rest part directly above the photographing part, the film of the photographing part is used. Since it cannot be loaded from directly above, it is necessary to retreat the rear screen particularly greatly when loading the film to secure a loading passage for the film.In this configuration, the front screen can also be rotated backward. The effect is particularly remarkable.

It is desirable that the X-ray image photographing apparatus of the present invention further comprises, as a more practical structure, a receive magazine for accommodating the X-ray film after the photographing is completed in the photographing section.

[0017]

According to the X-ray image capturing apparatus of the present invention, the front screen is rotated in the rotation direction of the rear screen at an angle smaller than the rotation angle of the rear screen. , The film carry-in space formed between both screens is narrower than the case where the rear screen is simply rotated, and when using a film with bad conditions such as curled curl. In addition, since the shape of the film is corrected into a flat shape along the front screen and the rear screen in the process of being loaded into this narrowed film loading space, it can be sandwiched between both screens in a rolled state. The above troubles can be reduced and the film can be carried in smoothly.

Further, since the film carrying-in space is narrow, the movement of the film in the front-back direction in the film-carrying-in space is restricted, and the fluctuation in the front-back direction in the carrying-in process is suppressed.

The prevention of such transport troubles leads to a reduction in the time required for setting the film in the photographing section and a reduction in the cycle time of the entire photographing, and particularly in the case of a large amount of photographing. It is effective in time when it is done.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of an X-ray image photographing apparatus of the present invention, showing a state when a film is carried in and discharged, and FIG. 2 is a state when photographing is carried out by the apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows a state. However, in FIG. 2, the constituents unrelated to the description are the same as those in FIG. 1, so the description thereof is omitted.

The illustrated X-ray image photographing apparatus 100 is for photographing an X-ray transmission image 300 having a chest of a human body as an object on an X-ray film 1a or 1b. Two supply magazines 21 and 22 for accommodating a large number of two types of unexposed X-ray films 1a and 1b of different lengths, respectively, and the above-mentioned two films based on a film selection instruction from a film selection means (not shown). Film 1 from either supply magazine 21 or 22
A sheet feeding means 31 and 32 for taking out a and 1b one by one, and a feeding means provided with feeding rollers 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37 for feeding the taken-out film 1a and the like into a photographing section 40 described later from above, A control means (not shown) for detecting the rear end portion of the X-ray film 1a, etc., which is carried into the photographing unit 40 in the transport direction, and stopping the carrying-in operation at the position where the rear end portion coincides with the upper end of the photographing unit 40 A photographing unit 40 having a front side support plate 41 and a rear side support plate 42 that closely adhere the line film 1a or the like to the front and back at the photographing position, and a part of the X-ray film 1a or the like (upper end)
An ID recording device 50 for recording the ID number of the subject and the like, and a receiving magazine 23 for accommodating the photographed film 1a and the like.

Further, the main body 10 of the X-ray imaging apparatus 100
Immediately above the photographing unit 40, a chin rest 11 on which a subject is placed for positioning the subject in the height direction is formed.

Here, screens (intensifying screens) 41a and 41a are provided on the rear surface of the front support plate 41 and the front surface of the rear support plate 42, respectively.
A film 1a is held between the two screens 41a and 42a during photographing.

Both support plates 41 and 42 are positioned substantially vertically at the forefront (shooting position) of the shooting unit 40 during shooting (the state shown in FIG. 2), but when the film 1a or the like is carried in. And, at the time of discharging, the links are rotated (moved) rearward in association with the movement of the links 44 and 45, respectively.

The detailed structure for controlling the movement of both support plates 41, 42 will be described below.

The front support plate 41 is rotatable about a rotation center R1 provided at the lower end thereof, and is provided on the side plate of the main body 10 at both upper side portions apart from the rotation center R1. A guide 41 (shown in phantom) is slidably engaged with a pin 41b, which further comprises a link 44b.
The arm 43 is hung on a fork 43b of a drive arm 43 which rotates about a rotation center R2 in conjunction with the movement of the fork.

When the link 44 moves about its rotation center R3, the drive arm 43 connected to the other end of this link 44 rotates about its rotation center R2.

A tension coil spring 43c is hung on the lower end of the drive arm 43 and constantly urges it by a force for rotating the arm 43 in the A direction. This allows link 44 and link 44
The arm 43 can be stopped at an accurate position without being affected by backlash of a gear or the like (not shown) that drives the arm 43. As a result, the front support 41 following the arm 43 is also positioned at an accurate position.

When the drive arm 43 rotates, the pin 41b of the front side support plate 41 hung on the fork 43b at the tip of the arm 43 follows the movement of the fork 43b. Since the lower end portion of the front support plate 41 is pivotally supported on the rotation center R1 and the pin 41b itself is also engaged with the guide 12, the front support plate 41 performs an operation of rotating about R1.

When the front support plate 41 is rotated backward, the angle between the front support plate 41 surface and the vertical direction is β.
Is set to

On the other hand, with respect to the rear side support plate 42, pins 42b and 42c slidably engaged with the guides 13 and 14 fixed to the side plates of the main body 10 at the upper and lower portions of both side parts thereof, respectively. Is provided on the rear side support plate 42.
The other end of the link 45 that moves about the center is connected.

When the link 45 moves about its rotation center R4, the rear side support plate 42 has its pins 42b and 42c guided by the guides 13 and 14, respectively.
Slide along.

When the rear support plate 42 is rotated rearward, the angle between the surface of the rear support plate 42 and the vertical direction is α.
(> Β).

As a result, when both support plates 41, 42 are rotated rearmost (the state shown in FIG. 1), both support plates 41, 42 are
The angle formed by 42 is (α-β).

Further, one of the two sheet-feeding means 31 and 32 adsorbs the short-sized film 1a and the other 32 adsorbs the long-sized film 1b to the positions shown by the broken lines in the drawing. However, either one of them is driven according to a film selection instruction input to the film selection means from the operator, for example. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the configuration in which the sheet means 31 and 32 are separately provided for each length of the film, and one sheet means is supplied in accordance with the film selection instruction and the supply magazine on the designated side. Of course, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the film 1a or 1b of any length can be adsorbed by being moved to the opening 21 or 22.

The rear side support plate 42 is provided with a holding means (not shown) for holding the film 1a and the like that have entered the photographing section 40 by suction.

Next, the operation of the X-ray imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

First, in this apparatus, there is provided a supply magazine 21 in which a short sheet-shaped unexposed X-ray film 1a is accommodated and a supply magazine in which a long sheet-shaped unexposed X-ray film 1b is accommodated. Magazine 22 is set.

Here, an operator's instruction is input from a film selecting means (not shown), and based on the instruction, the corresponding sheet processing means 31 or 32 from one of the two supply magazines 21 and 22 is used for the film 1a or the film 1a. Take out 1b one by one.

For example, when the instruction is a short size, the sheet separating means 31 advances from the opening of the supply magazine 21 to the inside thereof as shown by the broken line, and the uppermost one of the laminated films 1a. Of the film 1a is adsorbed, and the film 1a is pulled out from the supply magazine 21 by retracting to the position indicated by the solid line. At this time, the other sheet means 32 does not perform any operation.

On the other hand, when the instruction is a long size, the sheet-feeding means 32 sucks the film 1b, which is the uppermost one of the laminated films 1b, from the opening of the supply magazine 22 to form the film 1b. Pull out from Supply Magazine 22. At this time, the other sheet means 31 does not perform any operation.

Since the following operation is the same regardless of the size instruction, the operation when the instruction is for a short size, that is, for the short-sized film 1a will be described below.

The sheet feeding means 31 adsorbs the film 1a and pulls it out from the supply magazine 21, and then moves to the transport roller 33 while adhering the film 1a further (shown by a broken line). As a result, the leading end of the film 1a in the transport direction is guided between the two transport rollers 33. At this time, the front side support plate 41 and the rear side support plate 42 of the photographing unit 40 are in the position rotated rearward from the photographing position as shown in FIG.
The upper end between them is open.

That is, the rear side support plate 42 is pulled rearward as the linked link 45 rotates around the rotation center R4, and at this time, the pins 42b and 42c provided on both sides of the rear side support plate 42.
By sliding along the guides 13 and 14 of the main body 10, the rear side support plate 42 as a whole rotates backward by an angle α.

On the other hand, for the front support plate 41, the link 44
Is rotated about its rotation center R3, so that the drive arm 43 connected to the other end of the link 44 is rotated by the rotation center R3.
The forks 43b of the drive arm 43 move the pins 41b provided on both sides of the front side support plate 41 rearward by rotating the forks 43b about two directions. Since the lower end of the front support plate 41 is supported by the rotation center R1 and the pin 41b moves along the guide 12, the front support plate 41 as a whole rotates backward by the angle β.

The rotation amount β of the front support plate 41 is determined by the link 44
Can be set freely by changing the length of the drive arm 43 or by changing the length of the drive arm 43.

The transport rollers 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 are rotationally driven to sandwich the film 1a and transport it toward the photographing section 40.

In the photographing section 40, as described above, the front support plate
41 and the rear support plate 42 are rotated rearward from the photographing position, and a narrow wedge-shaped film loading space (front support plate 41 and rear support plate 42 shown in FIG. 1 is provided between the support plates 41, 42. A space sandwiched between and is formed, and the film 1a conveyed by the conveying roller 37 is smoothly carried into this space.

Here, in photographing the chest, it is usually required to photograph the upper part of the chest of the subject as much as possible. For this purpose, the film 1a must be held at a position as high as possible during the photographing. . However, in the apparatus having the configuration in which the chin rest 11 is provided for positioning the subject during radiography like the X-ray image radiographing apparatus of the present embodiment, the chin rest 11 is located directly above the necessary photographing range. Since the film 1a is located, the film 1a is placed on the photographing unit 40 without applying an excessive bending force to the film 1a.
It is not possible to secure a space for carrying in the image just above the imaging unit 40.

Therefore, in the conventional apparatus, when the film is carried in, the rear side support plate is once provided immediately below this space in order to provide a space for carrying in such a film at a position rearward of the chin rest. After moving the film 1a, chin rest 11
The film is carried into the film carry-in space from a position rearward of the above and above the rear support plate.

However, if the rear support plate is simply moved to form a wide film loading space in the front-rear direction as described above, the leading end portion (that is, the lower end portion) in the loading direction while the film is being loaded into the film loading space. ) Fluctuates, and smooth loading cannot be performed, and if the film itself has a curl in transportation or manufacturing, the leading end in the loading direction is curled and smooth loading cannot be performed. It was happening.

On the other hand, in the photographing apparatus 100 of this embodiment, the rear support plate 42 is rotated rearward, and the front support plate 41 is rotated at an angle β smaller than the rotation angle α of the rear support plate 42. The film loading space (wedge-shaped space with an angle (α-β)) into which the film is loaded can be made extremely narrow because the film can also be rotated backwards, and the leading end of the film in the loading direction can be accurately loaded into the film loading space. As long as it is guided to the front side, the leading edge of the film does not wobble during the subsequent loading of the film, and even if there is a curl, the front support plate 41 and the rear supporting plate that form this narrow film loading space are supported. The plate 42 corrects the curling of the film, and smooth loading can be performed.

In this way, when the film 1a is loaded into the film loading space and the rear end of the film 1a reaches the pair of transport rollers 37, the film 1a is held by the transporting means (not shown) and the film 1a is held at the upper end of the photographing section 40. The carrying-in operation is stopped at the position where the rear end portions in the transport direction coincide with each other, and the holding means (not shown) provided on the rear side support plate 42 sucks the film 1a to bring the film 1a into a state of being substantially in close contact with the rear side support plate 42. Hold.

Then, the rear side support plate 42 and the front side support plate 41 return to the original photographing positions. The operation when returning to the original photographing position is achieved by an operation reverse to the above-described operation of rotating backward.

The rear side support plate 42 is adjusted so as to rotate after the front side support plate 41 starts to rotate forward. This is an operation in which the rear side support plate 42 not only rotates around the fixed center but also involves substantially parallel linear movement as is clear from the shapes of the guides 13 and 14.

That is, when the rear side support plate 42 and the front side support plate 41 are brought into close contact with each other before returning to the original photographing position,
During the movement to return to the photographing position, a slip occurs between the two 41 and 42, and a frictional force acts on the film 1a held between the two 41 and 42, thereby damaging the film 1a. is there.

In this way, the film 1a is sandwiched between the support plates 41 and 42 in the state where the film 1a is returned to the photographing position (see FIG. 2) separately, and thereafter, in the space between the screens 41a and 42a. A low pressure is applied, and both screens 41a, 42a respectively provided on both support plates 41, 42 and the film 1a are vacuum-bonded over the entire surface.

Both screens 41a and 42a and the film 1a
The vacuum contacting method is desirable as the contacting method with, but other methods such as mechanically pressing for contacting may be used.

Screens 41a, 42a from the front and back at the photographing position
X-ray transmitted through the subject to the film 1a that is closely attached to
300 is exposed and an X-ray image of the subject is recorded on the film 1a.

After the X-ray image is taken, the rear support plate 42 and the front support plate 41 are moved rearward by the same action as when the film is loaded. At this time, since the film 1a is adsorbed and held by the rear side support plate 42 by the holding means, the film 1a rotates rearward integrally with the rear side support plate 42.

Next, the conveying means (not shown) holds the film 1a, the holding of the rear side support plate 42 is released, and the film 1a is conveyed by the conveying means (not shown).
Handed over to 37. The transport roller 37 rotates in the direction opposite to the direction at the time of loading, and unloads the film 1a from the imaging unit 40.

The carried-out film 1a is temporarily stopped between the rollers 36 and 37, and the ID information such as the ID number of the object to be photographed is recorded by the ID recording device 50. The portion of the film 1a on which the ID information is to be recorded may be shielded in the imaging unit so that the X-ray 300 is not exposed.

The film 1a on which the ID information is recorded is accommodated in the receive magazine 23 by the roller 35, and a series of photographing operation is completed.

As described above, according to the X-ray imaging apparatus of the present embodiment, the front screen is rotated in the rotation direction of the rear screen at an angle smaller than the angle at which the rear screen is rotated. , The film carry-in space formed between both screens is narrower than the case where the rear screen is simply rotated, and when using a film with bad conditions such as curled curl. Also, in the process of being loaded into this narrowed film loading space, the shape of the film is flattened along the front screen and the rear screen, so it is sandwiched between both screens in a rolled state. It is possible to reduce troubles during transportation and smoothly carry in the film.

Further, since the film carrying-in space is narrow, the movement of the film in the front-back direction in the film-carrying-in space is restricted, and the fluctuation in the front-back direction in the carrying-in process is suppressed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of an X-ray image capturing apparatus of the present invention, showing a state when a film is loaded and when it is discharged.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state at the time of radiography in the X-ray image radiographing apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a, 1b X-ray film 10 Main body 12, 13, 14 Guide 21, 22 Supply magazine 23 Receive magazine 31, 32 Sheet feeding means 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 Carry-in roller 40 Imaging section 41 Front support plate 41b, 42b, 42c Pin 42 Rear support plate 43 Drive arm 44, 45 Link 50 ID recording device α Rotation amount of rear support plate β Rotation amount of front support plate

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An X-ray film is closely held between one or more supply magazines containing a large number of sheet-like unexposed X-ray films and a flat plate-shaped front screen and rear screen, and a predetermined size is maintained. X of the subject at the shooting position
The rear screen is rotated backward from the photographing position, comprising a photographing unit for recording a X-ray transmission image on the X-ray film and a conveying unit for taking out the X-ray film from the supply magazine and loading it into the photographing unit. A wedge-shaped film loading space is provided between the screens by moving the X-ray film into the space, and the front screen and the rear screen rotate. An X-ray imaging apparatus, wherein the X-ray image capturing apparatus is configured to rotate in the rotation direction of the rear screen at an angle smaller than the angle. 2. The rear screen and the front screen both rotate so that the upper side thereof is displaced more than the lower side, and the conveying means captures the X-ray film from above the image capturing section. The X-ray image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the X-ray image capturing apparatus is carried into a unit. 3. An X-ray film having two or more supply magazines, each of which has a different length in the carrying direction, is accommodated, and the carrying means has a desired length based on a predetermined instruction. The X-ray film is selected, the rear end of the X-ray film in the carrying-in direction to the imaging unit is detected, and the control means for controlling the carrying-in of the X-ray film to the imaging unit is based on the detection. The X-ray imaging apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means. 4. The X-ray image radiographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a chin rest that mounts a chin of a subject directly above the radiographing section. 5. A receiving magazine for accommodating the X-ray film after the photographing is completed in the photographing section, and a second conveying means for conveying the photographed X-ray film from the photographing section to the receive magazine. The X-ray image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein