JPH11288052A - Radiograph recording and reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a radiograph recording/reading device to which a cassette can be easily loaded with a single action, then, whose operability is improved, besides, capable of positioning the cassette at a prescribed reference position, in the case of loading the cassette. SOLUTION: The device is provided with a cassette loading part 3 for loading the cassette 9 in which a recording plate 9 with the recorded radiograph is stored. The cassette loading part 3 is provided with a cassette receiving base 335 for placing the cassette 9, a movable member 330 which is moved so as to guide the cassette 9 to the base 335 in the case the cassette 9 is loaded, a stopper member 333 which comes into contact with the cassette 9 when the cassette 9 is placed on the base 335, and an energizing means 334 for energizing the cassette toward the stopper member.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radiation image recording reading apparatus which reads a radiation image stored in a radiation image conversion plate, converts the radiation image into a digital signal, and displays or stores the image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a cassette accommodating a radiation image conversion plate has been loaded into an imaging apparatus for the purpose of medical examination, and X-ray imaging has been performed. There is known a radiation image recording reading apparatus which converts a radiation image recorded in a digital image into a digital signal and reads it.

When a cassette is loaded in such a radiation image recording and reading apparatus, it is necessary to improve the operability by allowing the cassette to be easily loaded with one touch. Further, the loaded cassette is conveyed for image reading after the radiation image conversion plate stored therein is pulled out, and is conveyed again after the image reading is completed and is stored again in the original cassette. It must be positioned at the reference position.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a radiation image recording and reading apparatus which can be easily loaded when a cassette is loaded into the apparatus and which has improved operability.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a radiation image recording and reading apparatus which can be positioned at a predetermined reference position when a cassette is loaded.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cassette loading section for loading a cassette containing a recording plate on which a radiation image is recorded,
A radiation image recording / reading apparatus comprising: an image reading unit configured to read image information from the recording plate; and a transport unit configured to transport the recording plate between the loaded cassette and the image reading unit. A cassette receiving tray for receiving and placing the cassette, a movable member movable to guide the cassette to the cassette receiving tray when the cassette is loaded, and a cassette mounted on the cassette receiving tray; And a biasing means for biasing the cassette toward the stopper member.

According to the present invention, the cassette is loaded so as to move the movable member. At this time, the cassette is guided to the cassette receiving base by the movable member, so that the loading of the cassette is simplified. Further, when the cassette is placed on the cassette support, the cassette is urged toward the stopper member by the urging means and is brought into contact with the stopper member. Therefore, it is necessary to position the cassette using the contacted position as a reference position. Can be.

The movable member may include a receiving portion for receiving the cassette when the cassette is loaded, and a loading guide for guiding the cassette from the receiving portion to the cassette receiving base. According to this, the loaded cassette is received by the receiving portion of the movable member, and is guided from the receiving portion to the cassette receiving base by the loading guide portion, so that the loading of the cassette is simplified.

The loading guide may include a rotatable roller, and the roller may rotate so as to guide the cassette to the cassette receiving table when the cassette is loaded and abutted. According to this, since the rotating roller easily guides the cassette to the cassette receiving base, the loading of the cassette is simplified.

The movable member includes a cassette abutting portion that abuts when the cassette is placed on the cassette receiving stand, and the cassette is positioned between the cassette abutting portion and the stopper member. I can do it. Thus, the cassette is positioned at the reference position by the biasing member.

Further, the receiving portion can be inclined with respect to the cassette contact portion in a direction in which the cassette is loaded. With this, even if the cassette is loaded at an angle,
Since the cassette can be received at the inclined receiving part,
It is guided from the receiving part to the cassette receiving stand without any trouble.

[0012] The apparatus may further comprise a cassette detecting means for detecting that the cassette has been loaded into the cassette loading section. Based on the detection signal of the cassette detecting means, each operation of the apparatus performed after the cassette is placed at the reference position can be started. For example, the reading of information from an identification mark or the like recorded on the surface of the cassette or the operation of a transport unit that pulls out a recording plate from the cassette.

Further, the cassette receiving base may include a cover that is opened when the recording plate is conveyed by the conveying means. According to this, the recording plate can be pulled out of the cassette placed on the cassette receiving table by the transport means, and can be stored again. Further, the opening operation of the cover can be performed based on the above-described cassette detection signal.

Further, the cassette loading portion is formed so as to extend from the near side of the apparatus main body to the back, and the stopper member is provided on the near side, and the near side end face of the loaded cassette abuts on the stopper member. I can do it.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cassette loading section for storing a recording plate on which a radiation image is recorded and for loading a cassette closed by a lid, and an image reading device for reading image information from the recording plate. Means, and a transport means for transporting the recording plate between the loaded cassette and the image reading means. After a cassette is loaded with the lid facing downward and the inclined state,
The cassette is placed on the cassette receiving table. ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a cassette can be made to operate | move so that it may fall, and can be correctly mounted on a cassette receiving stand. Therefore, it is possible to reliably pull out the recording plate from the cassette after the placement.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cassette loading section for loading a cassette containing a recording plate on which a radiation image is recorded, image reading means for reading image information from the recording plate, A cassette loading section, wherein the cassette loading section includes a cassette receiving table for receiving and mounting the cassette, wherein the cassette loading section comprises: Has a lid part whose one end part can be opened, and the cassette is loaded into the cassette loading part with the lid part facing vertically downward, and the cassette receiving base based on the size of the cassette is set. After being placed and held at a predetermined position, the lid is opened to transport the recording plate vertically downward. According to the present invention, it is possible to stably and reliably pull out the recording plate from the cassette with the lid open at a predetermined position even when the size of the cassette is different.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a radiation image recording and reading apparatus main body according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cassette loaded in the apparatus, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the radiation image conversion plate stored in the cassette shown in FIG. 2 is pulled out. FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which the radiation image conversion plate is stored in the cassette in FIG. The plan view shown in FIG.
(B) is a plan view showing a lock mechanism in the cap portion of the cassette of FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the cassette shown in FIG. The radiation image recording and reading apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
And a cassette stacker unit 3, a plate transport unit 4, an image reading unit 5, a system control unit 6, an operation unit 7, and a power supply unit 8.

The cassette stacker section 3 is configured such that a plurality of cassettes 9 each containing a radiation image conversion plate 12 can be loaded as shown in FIGS.
The cassette 9 can accommodate radiation image conversion plates 12 of different sizes. The radiation image conversion plate 12 has, for example, a stimulable phosphor layer, and the stimulable phosphor layer can be formed on the radiation image conversion plate 12 by, for example, a vapor deposition method or a coating method. When irradiating the radiation image conversion plate 12 with radiation from a radiation source through a subject in another radiation imaging apparatus,
The stimulable phosphor layer accumulates energy in accordance with the radiation transmittance distribution of the subject with respect to the amount of irradiation radiation from the radiation source, and forms a latent image as image information. The stimulable phosphor layer is shielded or covered with a protective member in order to prevent adverse effects and damage due to the environment.

The plate transport section 4 is located below the cassette stacker section 3, and transports the radiation image conversion plate 12 between the position of the cassette in the cassette stacker section 3 and the image reading section 5. That is, after the radiation conversion plate 12 in the cassette 9 is pulled out, the radiation image conversion plate 1
2 is conveyed downward in the apparatus in the vertical V direction in FIG. 1 and then conveyed in the horizontal direction H to the image reading unit 5 for image reading. The radiation image conversion plate 12 from which the image reading by the image reading unit 5 has been completed is conveyed in the H ′ direction and the V ′ direction, follows the reverse path, and is stored in the original cassette 9.

The image reading section 5 is located below the operation section 7 and includes a sub-scanning section and a main scanning section. The sub-scanning section conveys the main scanning section in the sub-scanning direction. The main scanning unit performs laser scanning on the radiation image conversion plate 12 while being conveyed in the sub-scanning direction, thereby reading image information recorded on the radiation image conversion plate 12.

The system control section 6 includes a main CPU for controlling the entire apparatus, image processing, output control, image management and control of a storage section, and the cassette stacker section 3, plate transport section 4, image reading section 5 and the like. A reading control unit and an image input control unit for controlling the reading control unit; The image information read by the image reading unit 5 is sent to the main CPU. The operation unit 7 includes a CRT 70 and a touch panel 71 provided on the surface of the CRT 70 as shown in FIG. 9 described later, and a user can input predetermined information by touching and pressing the surface from the touch panel 71. it can. The input command information is sent to the main CPU of the system control unit 6, and the main CP
U performs each control based on this command. Further, on the CRT 70, for example, operations such as examination reservation and patient registration, states and settings of each unit of the apparatus, and each display of a read image can be performed.

As shown in FIG. 1, an erasing section 13 having an erasing light source for erasing image recording on the radiation image conversion plate 12 is disposed above the plate transport section 4. As this erasing light source, for example, two 300 W halogen lamps can be used, and erasing light from this light source can be applied to the radiation conversion plate 12 to erase an afterimage. The elimination of the afterimage means that the radiation image conversion plate 12 is irradiated with erasing light to emit radiation energy remaining on the radiation image conversion plate 12 after the image reading unit 5 reads an image by laser beam scanning. That is. This erasing operation is performed when the radiation image conversion plate 12 is transported by the plate transport unit 4 in the vertical direction V ′ and returned to the original cassette 9. That is, the radiation image conversion plate 12 is stored in the cassette 9 of the cassette stacker unit 3 while erasing the image on the radiation image plate 12.

Next, the configuration of the cassette will be further described. As shown in FIG. 2, the cassette 9 includes a case half 90.
The outer frame is formed in a rectangular shape by combining 0,901 and tightening and integrating them around the periphery with a plurality of screws 902. An opening 90 is provided at one end of the cassette 9.
3 are formed, and the radiation image conversion plate 12 can be pulled out from the opening 903.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the radiation image conversion plate 12 is a rigid tray 90 in the cassette 9.
4 is fixed. As shown in FIG. 4, the tray 904 is provided with a pair of locking pins 905 corresponding to the area of the radiation image conversion plate 12 where no image is recorded. The locking pin 905 is used for the radiation image conversion plate 12.
Penetrates through. A guide plate 906 is arranged to guide the pair of locking pins 905, and the locking pins 905 are slidable in guide holes 906a formed in an elongated shape. A cap 907 formed to cover and close the opening 903 is attached to the opening 903 side of the guide plate 906.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the cap 907 has a built-in lock mechanism 908 for keeping the opening 903 closed by the cap 907. A pair of openings 9 are provided on the front face 907b of the cap portion 907.
10a and a pair of holes 909 inside the pair of openings 910a.
Is provided. After the claw portion of the arm provided outside enters through the opening 910a to release the locked state of the lock mechanism 908, the radiation image conversion plate 12 can be pulled out together with the cap portion 7. Lock portions 963 are provided on both sides of the front surface of the main body of the cassette 9, and together with the cap portion 907, constitute a front portion of the cassette 9.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a description will be given of a pair of lock mechanisms 908 provided on the left and right sides inside the cap portion 907 of the cassette 9 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lock mechanism 908 is provided with the lock portion 96 of the cassette body.
3. A tip contact portion 960b and a claw portion 13 in which the tip portion 960a inserted into the third portion and the tip of the claw portion 13a of the external arm contact each other.
a locking member 960 made of stainless steel or the like, having a rear end contacting portion 960d with which the rear end abuts;
7 and a rear end 960c of the lock member 960.
, A coil spring 961 disposed between the
60 is provided with a leaf spring 962 provided between the arm contact portion 960b and the rear end portion 960c. As shown in FIG. 5A, the lock member 960 is in a normal state,
The leading end 960a is generated by the urging force of arrow 61 in the direction of arrow c.
Are stuck in the lock portion 963. This allows
The main body of the cassette 9 and the cap portion 907 are integrally connected and are in a locked state.

From the main body of the cassette 9 locked by the lock mechanism 908 as described above,
07 when the radiation image conversion plate 12 is pulled out together with the pair of openings 9 provided on the front surface of the cap portion 907.
10a, the claw portions 13a of a pair of arms of the cassette clinch described later enter as shown in FIG.
The lock member 960 is located between the front end contact portion 960b and the rear end contact portion 960d so as to contact the front end and the rear end of the lock member 960.

Next, the arrow c 'of the claw portion 13a of the arm is used.
When the lock member 960 is pushed in the direction of the arrow c ′ due to the movement of the coil spring 961, the lock member 960 moves in the direction c ′ against the urging force of the coil spring 961 as shown in FIG. As a result, the distal end portion 960a of the lock member 960 comes off the lock portion 963, whereby the locked state between the main body of the cassette 9 and the cap portion 907 is released. At the same time, the leaf spring 96
2 also moves in the direction c ', and the tip 962a moves in the direction of the arrow d in the figure due to the restoring force of the spring and enters the hole 909. Accordingly, the tip 962a of the leaf spring 962 comes into contact with the hole 909 by the urging force of the coil spring 961 in the direction c, and the movement of the lock member 960 in the direction c is regulated, so that the unlocked state is maintained.

After the locked state is released as described above, when the arm of the cassette clinch moves in the arrow direction a in FIGS. 2 and 5B, the guide plate 906 moves together with the cap portion 907 in the arrow direction b in FIG. Go to This movement causes the guide holes 90 of the guide plate 906 to move.
When the arm further moves after the end of 6a contacts the pair of locking pins 905 as shown by the broken line in FIG.
5, the tray 4 and the radiation image conversion plate 12 are pulled out as shown in FIG. Subsequently, the radiation image conversion plate 12 is moved to the cassette 9 by the arm of the cassette clinch.
Drawn completely from.

When the radiation image conversion plate 12 is stored again in the cassette 9 together with the tray 4, FIG.
In the state of (b), the cassette image clinch 411 is moved to store the radiation image conversion plate 12 in the main body of the cassette 9, and then a rod described later is inserted through the hole 909 of the cap portion 907 from the cassette clinch. Leaf spring 96
2 is removed from the hole 909, the urging force of the coil spring 961 in the direction c causes the lock member 960 to move.
End portion 960 a of the lock member 963 fits inside the lock portion 963. As a result, the state shown in FIG. 5A is reached, and the main body of the cassette 9 and the cap portion 907 are locked again. Subsequently, the cassette lynch is moved to retract the claw portion 13a of the arm downward.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, on the surface of the case half 900 of the cassette 9, an identification label 9 is formed by white and black portions to constitute identification information such as the size of the cassette.
11 is pasted. The type, size, photographing conditions, and the like of the cassette 9 are recorded on the identification sticker 911 as identification information. By detecting the identification seal 911, erroneous insertion of the cassette 9 into the cassette stacker unit 3 is detected. be able to.

An arrow indicating mark 912 is formed on the cassette 9 as shown in FIGS.
The cassette 9 is inserted into the cassette stacker unit 3 in the direction of the arrow. This allows the user of the apparatus to know the direction in which the cassette 9 is inserted. A concave portion 900a is formed on the surface of the half case 900 of the cassette 9, and a medical record clip 913 is provided in the concave portion 900a. A medical record sheet, a doctor's instruction, or the like can be held between the concave portion 900a and the clip 913 and held.

Next, a description will be given of a cassette technique for pulling out and re-storing the radiation image conversion plate from the above-described cassette. FIG. 7 is a front view of the cassette lynch, and FIG. 8 is a top view.

The cassette lynch 411 shown in FIG.
5 to release the locked state of the lock mechanism 908 of the cassette 9 of FIG. 5 to pull out and re-store the radiation image conversion plate from inside the cassette 9, and to return the unlocked state to the locked state again. Re-lock operation mechanism.

The arm mechanism contacts a base 413b of a pair of arms 413 and 413, which are rotatably supported on a support pin 414 as a fulcrum and have a claw 413a protruding from a front surface 412a, within a support 412 of the cassette lynch. A cam 415 having a contact pin 415a to be in contact therewith, a drive motor 416 for rotating and driving the cam 415, a drive motor 4
A rotating disk 421 provided on the 16 rotating shafts 420 and having a notch 421a, and a photocoupler 422 for detecting the timing at which the notch 421a of the rotating disk 420 passes is provided.

The arm 413 usually has a spring 417
As a result, the base 414b is brought into contact with the contact pin 415 of the cam 415.
a, the arm 413
Is urged in the direction of the arrow W 'in the figure and is at the position indicated by the dashed line. At this position, as shown in FIG. 5A, the claw portion 413a of the arm 413 is moved to the opening 91 of the cassette 9.
0a can enter the cap portion 907.

Next, when the drive motor 416 starts to rotate, the cam 415 rotates and the contact pin 415a pushes the base 413b of the arm 413 in the direction of the arrow U, and the arm 413 is moved by the pair of claws 413a. Move so as to approach each other in the arrow direction W, and move to the position indicated by the broken line in the figure.
At this position, as shown in FIG.
13a releases the locked state of the lock member 960, and the radiation image conversion plate can be pulled out from the cassette 9. Further, the photocoupler 422 detects the number of rotations of the rotating disk 421, and
By stopping the drive motor 416 at the time of one rotation from the start of rotation of No. 6, the contact pin 415a is stopped at a predetermined position for drawing out the next cassette.

The re-locking mechanism for returning the cassette 9 to the locked state includes a support 41 of the cassette clinch 411.
2, a pair of rods 430a and 430b slidably supported by a plate 431, and one of the rods 430a.
And a connecting lever 433 for connecting the rod 430a and the other rod 430b.

The pair of rods 430a and 430b are normally in the positions indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 7, but when the solenoid 432 is operated, the pair of rods 430a, 430b By protruding from the front surface 412a as described above, the distal end 962a of the leaf spring 962 in the cassette 9 can be removed from the hole 909 as shown in FIGS. As a result, the lock member 960 is fitted into the lock portion 963, and the main body of the cassette 9 and the cap portion 907 can be locked again.

Next, the cassette stacker 3 for loading the cassette 9 as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 is a front view of the radiation image recording and reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 10 is a right side view of the apparatus of FIG. 9, FIG. 11 is a side view showing details of the cassette stacker shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the cassette receiving tray of the cassette stacker unit in FIG. 1, showing a state where the cover is closed (a) and a state where the cover is open (b).

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the cassette stacker unit 3 is close to the operation unit 7 at the top of the apparatus 1 so that the cassette can be loaded from a plurality of slots in the direction of the arrow 912 in FIG. Is provided. 11 and 12, the cassette stacker unit 3 extends in the depth direction from the near side of the apparatus 1 in FIG.
337, which is provided opposite to the lower part of both sides of
Cradle 33 of cassette 9 formed in a groove shape by 338
5, a movable member 330 that can move on the receiving base 335 in the direction of the arrow j and in the opposite direction j ′, and the cassette 9 provided at the end of the cassette receiving base 335 on the front side of the apparatus 1 is placed on the receiving base 335. The stopper member 33 fixed so as to abut on the rear end face 99 of the cassette 9 when the cassette 9 is positioned.
And the rear end of the cassette stacker 3 and the movable member 3 for urging the movable member 330 toward the stopper member 333.
30 are provided with springs 334 as biasing members disposed between the springs 334 and 334, respectively. As shown in FIG. 11, the cassette loading section of the cassette stacker section 3 is provided with a loading guide section 340 that, when the cassette 9 is loaded, contacts the lower end surface 907b of the cassette 9 to guide the cassette 9 into the apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of movable members 330 are provided so as to be able to come into contact with the front end surface 98 when the cassette 9 is loaded and to guide the cassette 9 toward the receiving base 335 while rotating. The cassette 9 includes a receiving portion 331 of the cassette 9 having the rotating roller 331a, and a cassette contact portion 332 that contacts the front end surface 99 of the cassette 9 when the cassette 9 is placed on the receiving base 335. Receiving part 33 of cassette 9
1 is for the cassette contact portion 332 extending in the vertical direction.
It is inclined in the depth direction of the device 9, that is, in the direction in which the cassette 9 is loaded. When the cassette 9 is not in the receiving table 335, the movable member 330 is located substantially at the center in the horizontal direction as shown by the broken line in FIG. 11, and when the cassette 9 is placed, the movable member 330 moves in the direction j ′. Move the spring 3 at the solid line position in the figure.
The cassette 9 is urged toward the stopper member 333 by the urging force in the direction j of 34.

A limit switch 339 is provided near the stopper member 333. When the cassette 9 is placed at the reference position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 11 on the receiving table 335, the limit switch 339 is activated to generate a cassette detection signal, and the loaded cassette 9 is moved to a predetermined position based on the detection signal. Can be detected.

As shown in FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b), the bottom of the cassette receiving base 335 is rotatable to extend corresponding to the length of the cap portion 907 of the cassette 9 shown in FIG. Cover 336 is provided. Cover 336
12A is locked by a lock mechanism (not shown) in the state of FIG. 12A, and when the locked state is released, the drawing is centered on a rotation shaft 336 a provided below the wall 338. 12 (a), the front surface 907b of the cap portion 907 of the cassette 9 is exposed downward as shown in FIG. 12 (b). Further, the cover 336 can rotate in the reverse rotation direction of the direction h, and the rotation of the cover 336 can be performed by a rotating means (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 11, the cassette 9 has an identification seal 911 of FIG.
The reading sensor 325 is arranged so as to read information such as the type of the cassette 9 recorded in the. Read sensor 32
The cassette size information read by the scanner 5 is sent to the system controller 6 and used for predetermined information processing. The reading by the reading sensor 325 can be performed based on a detection signal from the limit switch 339, for example.

Next, the receiving tray 33 of the cassette stacker unit 3
A mechanism for moving the cassette clinch 411 for pulling out and re-storing the radiation image conversion plate 12 from the cassette 9 mounted on the cassette 5 will be further described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG.
Is provided with a guide shaft 410 in a vertical direction, and the cassette shaft 411 is attached to the guide shaft 410 in the vertical direction V, V ′.
It is mounted so that it can be moved to. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the cassette clinch 411 is fixed to a pair of transport belts 405 arranged vertically, and the transport belt 405 is transport step motor 406 disposed below the support frame 400. Driven by
By this driving, the cassette lynch 411 moves the guide shaft 4
10 along the vertical direction V, V ′
6 can be moved by a predetermined amount according to the number of pulses.

Further, as shown in FIG.
00 is a guide rail 401 disposed thereabove;
It is supported as a movable body that can move in the horizontal direction by a guide rail 402 disposed below, and the transport motor is moved toward the rear image reading unit 5 with the radiation image conversion plate 12 fixed at a predetermined height position. By driving the 404, the sheet is conveyed by the conveying belt 403 in the horizontal direction H in FIG. Thereby, the radiation image conversion plate 12 is moved to the vicinity of the image reading unit 5.

Next, the image reading section 5 will be further described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the main scanning unit 51 of the image reading unit 5 includes a laser beam generation unit 510, a polygon mirror 5
An optical system includes a light collector 512, a reflecting mirror 513, and a light receiving unit 514 that receives stimulated emission from the radiation image conversion plate 12. The laser beam generation unit 510 includes a gas laser, a solid-state laser, a semiconductor laser, or the like as a light source, and generates a laser beam having a controlled emission intensity as excitation light.
The main scanning is performed from the main scanning section 51 on the radiation image conversion plate in the vertical direction in the figure. The sub-scanning unit 50 of the image reading unit 5 moves the main scanning unit 51 in the sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 9 by driving the direct drive motor 502.

The operation of the radiation image recording and reading apparatus according to this embodiment as described above will be described. First, when the user inserts the cassette 9 into the cassette stacker unit 3 in such a manner that the cassette 9 is inclined and the lower end surface 907b of the cassette 9 is pushed in while being brought into contact with the guide surface 340a of the insertion guide unit 340, the cassette 9 is naturally dropped obliquely downward. Then, the front end face 98 of the cassette 9 contacts the rotating roller 331a of the movable member 330 as shown in FIG. At this time, even if the cassette 9 is pushed in an inclined state, the receiving portion 331 of the movable member 330 is inclined, so that the cassette 9 can abut on the rotating roller 331a without any trouble. In addition, the inclination of the cassette 9 is
Even if the inclination is different from that of 31, the rotation roller 331a can be in contact with any of the plurality of rotation rollers 331a.

When the cassette 9 is further depressed in the above-mentioned contact state, the movable member 330 moves the spring 334 in the direction j 'in FIG.
It moves while resisting the urging force of. As the cassette 9 moves in the direction j ′, the cassette 9 moves downward in the figure due to its own weight. At this time, since the rotating roller 331a rotates in the arrow rotating direction r indicated by the broken line in the figure, the cassette 335 easily moves to the receiving table 335. To the cradle 335 in one-touch operation.
The cassette can be easily placed on the cassette holder 335 and can be accurately placed on the cassette receiving base 335.

When the cassette 9 is placed on the cradle 335, the spring 334 urges the cassette abutting portion 332 of the movable member 330 in the direction j in FIG. 11, so that the cassette 9 is moved from its front end face 98 by this urging force. Direction j via abutment 332
It is pressed against and moves. Then, the rear end surface 99 abuts against the stopper member 333, and in this state, the cassette 9 stops at the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 11, and this stop position becomes the reference position on the cassette receiving base 335. 9 is positioned at the reference position. In addition, since the cassette 9 is sandwiched between the stopper member 333 and the abutting portion 332 of the movable member 330 while receiving the urging force of the spring 334, the cassette 9 does not unexpectedly move from its reference position and is in a stable state. Thus, the subsequent operation of pulling out the radiation image conversion plate 12 from the cassette 9 can be reliably performed.

Next, based on the cassette detection signal from the limit switch 339, the receiving tray 3 shown in FIG.
The lock state of the cover 336 of FIG.
The front surface 907b of the cassette 9 is exposed downward as shown in FIG. Subsequently, in this state, when the motor 406 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is driven while performing pulse control to move the cassette clinch 411 in the direction V ′ by a predetermined amount, the cassette clinch 411 moves to the position in FIG. At this position, the end surface 412 a of the cassette clinch 411 hits the front surface 907 b of the cap portion 907 of the cassette 9. In this state, as described above, the arm 13 in the cassette clinch 411 operates to release the locked state in the cassette 9. In addition,
Based on the cassette detection signal from the limit switch 339, the reading sensor 325 operates to read information such as the type of the cassette 9 from the identification sticker 911 of the cassette 9,
When the identification marker 911 cannot be detected, a warning sound or the like is issued assuming that the cassette 9 is erroneously inserted.

Next, the cassette lever 411 is connected to the motor 4.
When the radiation image conversion plate 12 is moved in the direction V by the drive of 06, the radiation image conversion plate 12 is pulled out of the cassette 9 and descends to a predetermined position as shown in FIG. Support frame 40
0 is the transport motor 40 toward the rear image reading unit 5 with the radiation image conversion plate 12 fixed at a predetermined height position.
4 is driven by the transport belt 403 in the horizontal direction H in FIG.
Transported to When the radiation image conversion plate 12 is located in the vicinity of the image reading unit 5, at this position, the image reading unit 5 reads the radiation image of the radiation image conversion plate 12 as follows.

The laser beam from the laser beam generator 510 reaches the rotating polygon mirror 511, is deflected by the polygon mirror 511, is condensed by the fθ lens forming the condensing body 512, and is condensed by the reflecting mirror 513. Is bent, and then proceeds in the direction t in FIG. 9 and is incident on the radiation image conversion plate. Through such an optical path, the laser beam is guided as radiation-stimulated excitation scanning light to the radiation image conversion plate 12 while being scanned in the main scanning direction, which is the vertical direction in FIG. 9, by the rotation of the polygon mirror 511. While the main scanning unit 50 moves in the sub-scanning direction, scanning for image reading in the main scanning direction is performed on the radiation image conversion plate 12 by the scanning light. In this way, the radiation image conversion plate 12 scanned by the laser beam generates stimulated emission at an intensity corresponding to the recorded image information, and the light is received by the light receiving unit 514, whereby an image can be read. The digital image signal obtained by this reading is sent to the main C of the system controller 6.
After being output to the PU and subjected to various image processing such as gradation processing by the image processing circuit there, it is stored in the image storage desk or visualized and displayed on the CRT 70 of the operation unit 7.

When the above-described image reading is completed, the radiation image conversion plate 12 is transported in the horizontal direction H ′ and the straight direction V ′ as shown in FIG. 9 and is stored again in the original cassette 9. At this time, since the cassette 9 is positioned at the reference position, the re-storage of the radiation image conversion plate 12 is reliably performed without any trouble.

As described above, according to the radiation image recording and reading apparatus of the present embodiment, the cassette 9 can be easily loaded into the cassette stacker unit 3 with one touch, so that the operability is improved and Since the cassette is positioned at the predetermined reference position, subsequent operations relating to the cassette can be performed stably and reliably. Such a loading operation can be similarly positioned at a predetermined reference position even if the size of the cassette changes. In addition, the cassette may have a structure in which not only the cap structure of the present embodiment but also the vicinity of one end thereof is closed by a lid configured to be rotatable. When the radiation image conversion plate is pulled out from the cassette, the operation can be performed after the lid rotates and the vicinity of one end is opened.

Further, the cassette lynch 411 corresponds to FIG.
The cassette 9 can be pulled out and re-stored at a fixed position irrespective of the size of the cassette 9 as shown in FIG. 11, but a horizontal moving mechanism (not shown) for moving the cassette clinch in the horizontal direction is provided in the apparatus. As described above, the cassette drawer and the cassette may be configured so that the drawer and the re-storing operation are performed at substantially the center position of the cassette.

[0058]

According to the present invention, when a cassette is loaded into the apparatus, the loading of the cassette is simplified, and therefore a radiation image recording and reading apparatus with improved operability can be provided.

Further, when the cassette is loaded, it is possible to position the cassette at a predetermined reference position, and it is possible to reliably perform the operations of pulling out the recording plate from the cassette and re-storing the cassette in the cassette. Equipment can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a radiation image recording / reading apparatus main body according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cassette loaded in the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a radiation image conversion plate stored in the cassette shown in FIG. 2 is pulled out.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which a radiation image conversion plate is housed in the cassette of FIG. 2, omitting an upper case half.

5 (a) and 5 (b) are plan views showing a lock mechanism inside a cap portion of the cassette of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the cassette shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the cassette clinch in the radiation image recording and reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the cassette clinch shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a right side view of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing the inside of the cassette stacker shown in FIG. 10;

12 is a front view of the cassette receiver shown in FIG. 11, showing a state where the cover is closed (a) and a state where the cover is closed (b).

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 radiation image recording / reading apparatus 2 apparatus main body 3 cassette stacker section (cassette loading section) 4 plate transport section (transport section) 5 image reading section (image reading section) 6 system control section 7 operation section 8 power supply section 9 cassette 12 radiation image Conversion plate (recording plate) 325 Reading sensor 330 Movable member 331 Receiving part 331a Rotary roller (loading guide part) 332 Cassette contact part 333 Stopper member 334 Spring (biasing member) 335 Cassette receiving base 336 Cover for base 339 Limit switch (Cassette detecting means) 411 Cassette clinch 413 Arm 413a Claw portion of arm 911 Identification seal

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A cassette loading section on which a cassette containing a recording plate on which a radiation image is recorded is loaded, image reading means for reading image information from the recording plate, the loaded cassette and the image reading. A radiation image recording / reading apparatus comprising: a transportation unit that transports the recording plate between the cassette loading unit, wherein the cassette loading unit is configured to receive the cassette and place the cassette, and the cassette loading unit is configured to load the cassette when the cassette is loaded. A movable member movable to guide the cassette to the cassette cradle; a stopper member abutting when the cassette is placed on the cassette cradle; and a biasing member for biasing the cassette toward the stopper member A radiation image recording and reading apparatus comprising: 2. The cassette according to claim 1, wherein the movable member includes a receiving portion that receives the cassette when the cassette is loaded, and a loading guide portion that guides the cassette from the receiving portion to the cassette receiving base. Radiation image recording and reading device. 3. The radiation image according to claim 2, wherein the loading guide portion includes a rotatable roller, and the roller rotates so as to guide the cassette to the cassette receiving table when the cassette is loaded and abuts against the cassette. Record reading device. 4. The cassette according to claim 1, wherein the movable member includes a cassette abutting portion that abuts when the cassette is placed on the cassette receiving stand, and the cassette is positioned between the cassette abutting portion and the stopper member. Claim 1, 2, or 3
The radiographic image recording and reading device according to Claim 1. 5. The cassette according to claim 4, wherein the receiving portion is inclined with respect to the cassette contact portion in a direction in which the cassette is loaded.
The radiographic image recording and reading device according to Claim 1. 6. The radiation image recording and reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cassette detecting unit for detecting that the cassette has been loaded into the cassette loading unit. 7. The radiation image recording and reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cassette receiving table includes a cover that is opened when the recording plate is transported by the transport unit. 8. The cassette loading portion is formed so as to extend from the near side of the apparatus main body to the back direction, the stopper member is provided on the near side, and the near side end surface of the loaded cassette abuts the stopper member. A radiation image recording and reading apparatus according to claim 1. 9. A cassette loading section in which a recording plate on which a radiation image is recorded and in which a cassette closed by a lid is loaded, image reading means for reading image information from said recording plate, and said loading plate. A radiation image recording / reading apparatus comprising: a cassette; and a transport unit configured to transport the recording plate between the cassette and the image reading unit, wherein the cassette loading unit includes a cassette receiving table on which the cassette is received and placed; The radiographic image recording and reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cassette is mounted on the cassette receiving table after the cassette is loaded in a state where the portion faces downward and is inclined. 10. A cassette loading section in which a cassette containing a recording plate on which a radiation image is recorded is loaded, image reading means for reading image information from the recording plate, the loaded cassette and the image reading. And a transport means for transporting the recording plate between the cassette and the cassette, wherein the cassette loading unit includes a cassette receiving stand for receiving and placing the cassette, wherein the cassette has a vicinity of one end thereof. The cassette has an openable lid, and the cassette is loaded into the cassette loading section with the lid facing vertically downward, and is placed at a predetermined position on the cassette receiving base based on the size of the cassette. The radiation image recording and reading apparatus, wherein the cover is opened and the recording plate is conveyed vertically downward.