JPH11289406A - Picture reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a picture reader good in the operability by reading and displaying the reserved picture data of a mechanism incorporating a recording medium, selecting one of the displayed printers and specifying the printer. SOLUTION: Plural types of cassettes are loaded in a cassette stacker part 3. CPU 60 reads the information on which a slot a cassette is loaded, the order information of loading and the size of the loaded cassette. These information are stored in a storage means. A radiation picture is read by a device main body 2 and is displayed on a display part 7. At the time of outputting the displayed picture data by a printer, a display mode designating the printer connected to a network is provided and one of the printers displayed on the display part 7 is selected. Read picture data are outputted to an arbitrary printer by specifying the printer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, and more particularly to setting of a printer for outputting image data read by the image reading apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Radiation (X-ray, α-ray,
When irradiated with β-rays, r-rays, ultraviolet rays, etc.), a part of the radiation energy is accumulated in the phosphor. It is known that when this phosphor is irradiated with excitation light such as visible light, the phosphor emits stimulated emission according to the stored energy. Phosphors exhibiting such properties are called storage phosphors or stimulable phosphors.

A stimulable phosphor (radiation image conversion plate such as a stimulable phosphor plate) in which radiation image information of a human body or the like is once provided on a sheet by utilizing the stimulable phosphor.
The radiation image conversion plate is scanned with excitation light such as laser light to generate photostimulated light, and the obtained photostimulated light is electrically read out to obtain an image signal. .

[0004]

In the above-described image reading apparatus, a stimulable phosphor is arranged in a conventional image reading apparatus to accumulate an image of a human body or the like, and the stimulable phosphor on which the image is recorded is taken out. Irradiation with a light beam such as a laser is performed to convert the stimulated emission generated at that time into an electric signal to record an image.

Therefore, when a plurality of images are to be photographed and recorded, it is necessary to repeat the above-described processing, and the operation is troublesome. Therefore, a method of providing a cassette having a built-in stimulable phosphor and recording an image in a cassette unit for processing is being adopted.

[0006] In this case, how to output the read image to the printer is a problem in constructing a system with good operability. The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image reading device with good operability.

[0007]

The present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is as follows. (1) Regarding a mechanism incorporating a recording medium on which a radiation image is recorded, data corresponding to a stored radiation image is reserved in advance. Means for storing, reading and reading the reserved image data of the recording medium built-in mechanism, displaying the image data on the display unit, and outputting the displayed image data by the printer, when the printer connected to the network is used. A display mode to be designated is provided, and a printer is specified by selecting one of the printers displayed on the display unit.

According to the configuration of the present invention, image data obtained by reading an image can be output to an arbitrary printer. (2) In this case, on the display screen of the printer, the color of the selection button of each printer to be displayed is changed according to the number of stored image data.

According to the configuration of the present invention, the degree of congestion of the printer can be determined from the color of the displayed printer selection button, and the most convenient printer can be selected. (3) When a designated printer in the network fails, another printer can be designated from the printer designation screen.

[0010] According to the configuration of the present invention, when the selected printer fails, it is possible to select another printer from the printer selection screen. (4) The image reading device according to claim 1, further comprising, when designating the printer, designating a printer installed near the image photographing device.

According to the configuration of the present invention, image observation is facilitated and convenient because the printer installed near the image photographing device that has photographed the image outputs the image.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a cassette used in the present invention. The cassette 9 is integrated with a case half 900 on the back surface and a case half 901 on the front surface (X-ray irradiation surface) by tightening the periphery with screws 902.

An opening 903 is provided at one side of the cassette 9.
The radiation image conversion plate 12 can be pulled out from the opening 903 by the cap 907. The radiation image conversion plate 12 has a stimulable phosphor layer, and the stimulable phosphor layer accumulates energy according to the radiation transmittance distribution of the subject with respect to the amount of irradiation radiation from the radiation source, thereby forming a latent image. To form The radiation image conversion plate 12 is provided with a stimulable phosphor layer by vapor deposition or coating. The stimulable phosphor layer is shielded or covered by a protective member in order to prevent adverse effects and damage due to the environment.

The radiation image conversion plate 12 is a cassette 9
A pair of locking pins (not shown) are fixed to the inner rigid tray 904 and are provided on the tray 904 corresponding to portions other than the area where an image is recorded. It penetrates the tray 904 of the plate 12. 907 is a cap.

A lock mechanism 908 is built in the cap 907, and the lock of the lock mechanism 908 can be released from the lock hole 909. Also, the cap 907 has
A pair of levers 910 are provided.
0, the cap 907 is opened and closed, and the radiation image conversion plate 12 together with the tray 904 is pulled out from the cassette 9 or stored.

An identification sticker 9 is provided on the back surface of the cassette 9.
11 is affixed, and identification information in white and black is recorded on the identification sticker 911.
, The type and size of the cassette 9 are detected. Further, the identification direction of the cassette 9 and the front and back sides are determined by the identification seal 911.

The upper and lower grid directions of the cassette 9 are indicated by an upper and lower direction mark 912, but the upper and lower directions are designated by inserting the cassette 9 into the cassette stacker with the cap 907 on the lower side. Is also good.

On the back surface of the cassette 9, a medical record clip 913 is provided on the case half 900, and around the medical record clip 913, a concave portion 900a is formed in the case half 900. The medical record and the like are held by the medical record clip 913.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an external configuration of the image reading apparatus 1 of the present invention. The cassette stacker unit 3 and the display / operation unit 7 are arranged side by side in a substantially horizontal direction above the radiation image recording and reading apparatus 1. That is, the cassette stacker unit 3 is disposed on the right side toward the upper part of the radiation image reading device 1, and the display / operation unit 7 is
It is located on the left side when facing the top.

The cassette stacker section 3 has a loading section 300 provided for every five slots. The display / operation unit 7 includes a CRT display unit 70 as a display unit and a CRT
A touch panel 71 as an operation unit provided on the display surface of the display unit 70 is provided. Operation such as examination reservation and patient registration, status display / setting of each unit of the apparatus, and read images are displayed on the CRT display unit 70. Is displayed.

The CRT display section 70 has, for example, a 15-inch C
An RT display device (24-bit color, monochrome 256 gradations, resolution 1024 × 768) is used, and an operation input is performed on a CRT display unit 7.
This is performed by the touch panel 71 on the “0”.

The touch panel 71 of the present embodiment is
A light system that reacts by blocking light, for example, infrared light, was used. The input section 300 includes an input guide section 301 and a storage section 302. The insertion guide portion 301 extends in a groove shape toward the storage portion 302, and is formed so as to guide the cassette 9 to the storage portion 302 in a vertical state. The cassette 9 is stored and held in the storage section 302 with a predetermined gap.

The cassette 9 is vertically inserted with the longitudinal direction of the cassette being horizontal, with reference to the front side of the apparatus.
At the same time as the cassette 9 is inserted, the light-blocking shutter 303 provided at the opening of the storage section 302 is closed for each slot to prevent light leakage from the opening.

The cassette 9 can be removed from each slot, and an LED lamp 304 indicating that the cassette 9 is being read is provided so that the cassette 9 is not accidentally removed. Note that the size of the cassette is not necessarily constant, but has an arbitrary size.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the radiation image reading apparatus. The cassette stacker section 3 provided in the apparatus main body 2 of the radiation image reading apparatus 1 is provided with a cassette stacker section mechanism / drive section 30 and a cassette stacker section control section 31, and a cassette 9 containing a plurality of types of radiation image conversion plates. Can be set. The cassette stacker unit mechanism / drive unit 30 is driven based on the control of the cassette stacker unit control unit 31, and when the cassette 9 containing the radiation image conversion plate is inserted, the cassette 9 is set to a predetermined state.

The plate control section 4 includes a plate transfer section mechanism / drive section 40 and a plate transfer section control section 41. Based on a command from the cassette stacker section control section 31, the plate transfer section control section 41 controls the plate transfer section. The section mechanism / drive section 40 is controlled. Plate transport section mechanism / drive section 40
Pulls out the radiation image conversion plate 12 from the cassette 9 and conveys the extracted radiation image conversion plate 12 toward the image reading unit.

The image reading section 5 is provided with a sub-scanning section mechanism / drive section 50 and a main scanning section 51. The main scanning section 51 is transported in the sub-scanning direction by the sub-scanning section mechanism / drive section 50, and the main scanning section is driven. The image reading by the laser scanning of the unit 51 is performed.

The system control unit 6 includes a main CPU 60
And a reading section control image input control section 61.
The main CPU 60 is connected to a system disk 62 storing a system program, image disks 63 and 64 storing image information, and is connected via a board 65 to a host computer 66, a diagnostic device 67 and a patient registration terminal 68. You. The main CPU 60 performs overall control, image processing, output control, and image management. The reading section control image input control section 61 controls the cassette stacker section control section 31, the sub-scanning section mechanism / drive section 50, and the main scanning section 51 to read an image on the radiation image conversion plate 12, and stores this image information as a main image. Send to CPU60.

The display / operation unit 7 has a CRT display unit 7 serving as a display unit for displaying an image read by the image reading unit 5.
0, and a touch panel 71 as an operation unit provided on the display screen of the CRT display unit 70. Command information from the touch panel 71 is sent to the main CPU 60, and the main CPU 60 performs control based on an input command. .

Next, the detailed operation of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 shows a display example of the display unit of the display / operation unit 7. In the figure, 700 is a reservation information list, 710
Denotes an image display unit, and 720 denotes a reading registration list. Here, reading registration refers to associating the order of registration with the order of display. The reservation information list 700 displays a list of data to be read. Then, the information for performing the image reading is stored in the storage means. The reservation information list 700 includes a touch panel 71 (see FIG. 2). The numbers in the figure represent the number of characters that can be used.

First, a plurality of types of cassettes 9 are mounted on the cassette stacker unit 3. At this time, the main CPU 60 remembers the slot number to be mounted. Then, the operator mounts the cassette 9 storing the image in an arbitrary slot of the cassette stacker unit 3. At this time, the size and type of the mounted cassette are read by the CPU 60 from the identification seal 911 (see FIG. 1) formed on the surface of the cassette.

Therefore, when the operator sequentially mounts the cassette 9 in an arbitrary slot, the CPU 60 reads information on which slot the cassette 9 is mounted in, information on the mounting order, and the size of the mounted cassette 9. . These pieces of information are stored in the storage unit.

Next, the CPU 60 performs a reservation selection operation. This reservation selection operation is performed by the operator touching a designated data area from the reservation information list 700. A number “1” indicating that the first touch has been made is displayed on the number display portion 701 corresponding to the name portion that was touched first. Thereby, the CPU 60 acquires the information selected for the reservation and stores it in the storage means.

When the cassette input operation and the reservation selection operation are completed, the operator touches the reading reservation button 702. As a result, the image data is specified in correspondence with the cassette insertion order and the reservation selection order.

Then, the images of the persons having the specified names are read and displayed on the display unit 710 in the order of registration.
The reading of the radiation image is read by the apparatus main body 2 (see FIG. 2) and displayed on the display unit 710. That is, images are displayed in the order of registration. When the observation of the image is completed, the operator touches an OK button 721. Then, the displayed image is finally determined, and processing for outputting the image data and storing the image data in the storage unit can be performed.

As described above, if the image displayed on the image display section 710 is appropriate as a diagnostic image,
Touch the K button 721. Thus, the image data is finally determined and can be output to a printer or the like. When the OK button 721 is touched, the screen changes to a printer setting screen as shown in FIG. P shown in the figure
1 to P6 represent types of printers that can be used. It is assumed that the above-described radiation image reading apparatus and each printer are connected by, for example, a LAN (local area network).

It is assumed that the operator has recognized where each of the printers P1 to P6 is installed. Therefore, for example, the closest printer P5 is touched.
As a result, the read image is printed on the printer P5.

Here, the image data to be printed by each printer is kept in a queue. For example, if 20 pieces of image data have already been waiting for printing in the printer P5, the image data
Will be printed first.

According to this embodiment, image data obtained by reading an image can be output to an arbitrary printer. Here, on the display screen of the printer, the color of the touch button of each printer to be displayed can be changed according to the number of stored image data. For example, a blocked printer is red,
An empty printer changes the color of the touch button in accordance with the number of stored image data, such as green.

According to this embodiment, the degree of congestion of the printer can be determined from the color of the displayed printer selection button, and the most convenient printer can be selected. Further, according to the present invention, when a designated printer in the network breaks down, another printer can be designated from the printer designation screen.

According to this embodiment, when the selected printer fails, another printer can be selected from the printer selection screen. In the above-described embodiment, the case where the touch button is used for selecting the reservation data and the like is described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the selection using the keyboard or the like, the click using the mouse, or the like may be used. it can.

[0042]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, (1) data corresponding to a radiation image to be stored is reserved in advance for a mechanism incorporating a recording medium on which a radiation image is recorded. A printer connected to a network when reading and reading the reserved image data of the recording medium built-in mechanism, displaying the image data on a display unit, and outputting the displayed image data with a printer. Is provided, and by selecting one of the printers displayed on the display unit, the printer is specified, so that the image data obtained by reading the image can be output to an arbitrary printer. .

(2) In this case, on the display screen of the printer, the color of the selection button of each printer to be displayed is changed according to the number of stored image data, so that the selected printer is displayed. The color of the button indicates the degree of congestion of the printer, and the most convenient printer can be selected.

(3) When a designated printer in the network fails, another printer can be designated from the printer designation screen. When the selected printer fails, another printer is selected from the printer selection screen. It becomes possible.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image reading apparatus with good operability. (4) Further, when the printer is designated, a printer installed near the image photographing device is designated, so that the printer installed near the image photographing device that has photographed the image outputs the image. This facilitates image observation and is convenient.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a cassette used in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an external configuration of an image reading apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of a display unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a setting screen of the printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 radiation image reading device 2 device main body 3 cassette stacker unit 4 plate control unit 5 image reading unit 7 display operation unit 9 cassette 60 CPU 65 board 63 image disk 64 image disk 70 CRT

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A mechanism incorporating a recording medium on which a radiation image is recorded, comprising: means for pre-reserving and storing data corresponding to the stored radiation image; When reading and reading image data, displaying the image data on a display unit, and outputting the displayed image data with a printer, a display mode for designating a printer connected to a network is provided, and one of the printers displayed on the display unit is provided. An image reading apparatus characterized in that a printer is specified by selecting one of them. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a color of a selection button of each displayed printer is changed according to the number of stored image data on the display screen of the printer. 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a designated printer in the network breaks down, another printer can be designated from the printer designation screen. 4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when specifying the printer, a printer installed near the image capturing apparatus is specified.