JPS6115143A - Automatic developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve a resolving path of all density areas by providing a sub- exposing device for executing sub-exposure by irradiating uniformly low illuminance light on a photosensitive material, just in front of a developing part for constituting an automatic developing device. CONSTITUTION:An automatic developing device 10 is provided with a developing part 14, a fixing part 18, a water washing part 22, a squeezing part 24, a drying part 28 and a film receiving case 30. A sub-exposing device 36 for executing sub- exposure by exposing uniformly low illuminance light to an X-ray film 62 subjected to regular exposure by X rays is provided on a carrying-in base 34 provided in front of an inlet of this developing part 14. Also, a film feed device 38 for feeding out automatically the X-ray film 62 placed on the carrying-in base 34, to the sub-exposing device 36 is provided on the carrying-in base 34.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention makes it possible to improve diagnostic ability over a wide latitude even with ordinary X-ray film by further sub-exposure to a photosensitive material exposed using XNIA. It relates to an automatic developing device.

In a device that irradiates an object with X-rays and obtains a radiation image on an Different films are available from producers. On the other hand, on the user's side, the conditions for photographing the subject and the developing conditions for the film are changed each time each photograph is taken. Therefore, from the perspective of using X-ray film, it is important to use
The film must be prepared in advance, and there are various troublesome and troublesome aspects of setting the shooting conditions corresponding to the subject during XwA shooting.

On the other hand, in the conventional automatic developing apparatus for X-ray film, it is not possible to appropriately select the developing conditions based on the type of X-ray film used, that is, the sensitivity and gradation.
The problem is that the resolution is low in some concentration ranges, which poses a problem in diagnosis. A conventional automatic developing device of this type is shown in FIG.

That is, this automatic developing device 10 includes a developing section 14 including a developer tank 12, a fixing section 18 including a fixer tank 16, and a water tank 20 along an X-ray film transport route (see the broken line arrow in FIG. 1). 22) Squeeze section 24 including a squeegee roll (not shown), electric blower 26
The X-ray film exposed to X-rays is sequentially conveyed from the developing section 14 to the film receiving box 30 by a conveying means including rollers 32 and a guide. The image is automatically developed depending on the process.

However, in such an automatic developing device 10,
Since the film exposed to X-rays (that is, main exposed) was directly fed to the developing process, only uniform image characteristics could be obtained based on the sensitivity and gradation of the X-ray film used.

In other words, as can be understood from the exposure dose-optical depth characteristic curve &'1 in Figure 4, ordinary X-ray film has low sensitivity, so the resolution in the high density region is good, but it is low. , the resolution in the medium intensification range is low (see characteristic curve a). In other words, there is a lack of contrast in the low and medium density ranges, exposing the drawback that it is difficult to see, and therefore, in XvA film diagnosis, etc., there is a problem in that the diagnostic ability may deteriorate depending on the diagnostic site.

On the other hand, as mentioned above, X-ray films with different sensitivities and gradations are used depending on the area to be imaged and the case.
Efforts have been made to obtain as desirable image characteristics as possible by appropriately changing the developing conditions and photographing conditions, but sufficient effects have not been obtained.

Therefore, as a result of extensive research, the inventors of the present invention found that if a sub-exposure is performed at a low illuminance immediately before the development process on a film that has been exposed to X-rays, the resolution can be improved over a wide latitude, and the above-mentioned results can be achieved. We have confirmed that the inconvenience has been resolved.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic developing device that can provide image characteristics with good resolution over the entire density range even when using ordinary X-ray film.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an automatic developing device that automatically develops a photosensitive material exposed to X-rays. The present invention is characterized by providing a sub-exposure device that performs sub-exposure by uniformly irradiating light.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same components as in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed explanations are omitted. That is, the automatic developing device 10 of this embodiment includes a developing section 14, a fixing section 18, a washing section 22, a squeezing section 24, a drying section 28, and a film receiving box 30. Therefore, in the present invention, the developing section 14
A sub-exposure device 3G is provided on a carry-in table 34 provided in front of the entrance to the X-ray film for sub-exposure by uniformly exposing low-intensity light to the X-ray film that has been main-exposed with X-rays. Further, the carry-in table 34 is provided with a film feeding device 38 that automatically feeds the X-ray film on the carry-in table 34 to the sub-exposure device 36. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the sub-exposure device 3G includes a light-shielding cover 40 and a double cylindrical member inside the light-shielding cover 40 comprising an inner cylinder 42 and an outer cylinder 44 each having a circular cross section. It is composed of a linear light #i46 such as a fluorescent lamp surrounded by a light beam #i46.

The outer cylinder 44 is fixed to the light-shielding cover 40 at both ends thereof, while the inner cylinder 42 is rotatably supported in the circumferential direction with respect to the outer cylinder 44.
6 are arranged and fixed concentrically.

In this case, the inner wall of the outer cylinder 44 is provided with a circular protrusion 45a so that the inner cylinder 42 can smoothly rotate with respect to the outer cylinder 44.
45b is formed, and recesses 43a and 43b into which the projections 45a and 45b fit are formed in the outer peripheral wall of the inner cylinder 42. The pin member 4 is substantially attached to the side wall of the outer cylinder 44.
7.47 is provided protrudingly, and this pin member 47 is attached to the light shielding cover 4.
The outer cylinder 44 is fixed to the cover 40 by engaging with the recesses 44a and 44b.

Moreover, the outer cylinder 44 has receiving parts 49a and 49b, and the side plates of the inner cylinder 42 and the knob part 48 are engaged with the receiving parts 49a and 49b. The knob portion 48 is for rotating the inner cylinder 42 in any direction.
8 penetrates the outer cylinder 44 and the light-shielding cover 40 and projects to the outside. Furthermore, it is preferable that the inner surface of the inner tube 42 be mirror-finished so that light can be diffused so that the sub-exposure light from the light source 46 is reflected.

Next, openings 50 and 52 are formed in the inner cylinder 42 and the outer cylinder 44, respectively, and extend in the axial direction in a thread-like manner.
X&? on loading table 34? 1 film) and leave it open. Furthermore, a flange 53 is formed on the outer cylinder 44, and a color filter 54 for wavelength adjustment and light amount adjustment is stretched using the flange 53.

On the other hand, the film feeding device 38 includes a pair of rollers 56 that transport the X-ray film while sandwiching it, a motor 58 that drives the pair of rollers 56 via a chain or the like, and a loading table 34. It consists of a limit switch and a limit switch that detects the presence or absence of film.

The automatic developing device according to the present invention is basically constructed as described above, and its operation and effects will be explained next.

The X-ray film 62 that has been subjected to main exposure using X-rays is transferred to the loading table 34.
When placed on the top, the limit switch 60 detects this, and the motor 58 is driven via a controller (not shown) which inputs the signal from the limit switch 60, and the roller 56 is therefore rotated. The X-ray film 62 is sent to the sub-exposure device 3G while being held between the rollers 56.

Therefore, in the sub-exposure device 36, the X-ray film 62 is sub-exposed by the linear light source 46. At this time, it is preferable that the wavelength of the sub-exposure is closer to the wavelength of the main exposure, so the color filter 54 described above is adjusted by appropriately selecting its color. In this case, the sub-exposure irradiation (m<n light amount) needs to be appropriately changed depending on the inherent sensitivity, gradation, exposure dose, etc. of the X-ray film 62 used, but in this embodiment, the above-mentioned By manually rotating the cylinder 42 via the knob 48, the irradiation amount can be easily adjusted. That is, due to the rotation of the inner cylinder 42, the inner cylinder 42
A misalignment occurs between the respective openings 50 and 52 of the outer cylinder 44, and as a result, the respective openings 50 and 5
As the effective aperture area of No. 2 increases or decreases, the irradiation amount changes.

The X-ray film subjected to sub-exposure in this manner is then carried into the main body of the automatic developing device 10 and developed as described above.

FIG. 4 shows an exposure amount-optical density characteristic curve in this embodiment in which low-intensity sub-exposure is applied to an X-ray film using a fluorescent lamp or the like as a sub-exposure source. As shown in Fig. 4, compared to the characteristic curve a when the main exposure was performed, the characteristic curve when the sub-exposure was performed after the image exposure has an increased foot sensitivity and a slope of the characteristic curve. You can see that it is slowing down. In other words, it will be easily understood that the resolution (so-called contrast) in the low and medium density regions is increased and visually good image characteristics can be obtained.

In addition, in this embodiment, a linear light source such as a fluorescent lamp was used as the light source for sub-exposure, but it is also possible to transmit light from multiple point light sources such as light bulbs with adjustable illumination inside a single vibrator with a slit (opening). It is also possible to guide the light through an optical fiber and diffuse the light appropriately within the pipe using an opal glass, so that it becomes a linear light source in the area exposed to the X-ray film. Needless to say.

Furthermore, it is also possible to form a linear light source by arranging LEDs etc. in a linear manner inside the inner cylinder. Further, the sub-exposure device may be configured to perform planar exposure instead of the above-mentioned linear exposure.

In this case, a large number of the LEDs and the like are laid out in a planar manner on the upper part of the inner surface of the light-shielding cover.

As explained above, according to the present invention, the X-ray film that has been main exposed using X-rays is subjected to sub-exposure using low-intensity light immediately before development, so even if normal XvA film is used, the entire density range will be Image characteristics with good resolution can be obtained in
As a result, the diagnostic performance in X-ray film diagnosis is further improved, and the workability of photographing and developing is improved.

Furthermore, since the improvement in high resolution results in a relative increase in film sensitivity, there is also the advantage that it is possible to significantly reduce the amount of radiation v to the patient.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.
Of course, various improvements and changes in the stage weight are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional automatic developing device;
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the automatic developing device according to the present invention, FIG. 3 (Δ) is a front vertical cross-sectional view of the main part of the device shown in FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the main part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a comparative explanatory diagram of the exposure dose-optical density characteristic curves of the apparatuses shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. ]0...Automatic developing device 12...Developer tank]4...
Developing section 16...Fixer tank 18...Fixing section
2o..Water tank 22..Washing section 24.
・Squeeze part 26...Electric blower 28...Drying part 3
0...Film receiving box 32...Roller 34...Carrying table
36... Sub-exposure device 38... Film feeding device 40... Light-shielding cover 42... Inner tube 44... Outer tube 46... Linear light source 47... Pin member 48... Knob portions 50, 52... Opening part 53... Flange 54... Color filter 56... Roller 58... Motor 60... Limit switch 62... .1 Timber cow No. 136890, 1982 2) Name of the invention Automatic developing device 3, relationship with the person making the correction Patent applicant Address 210 Nakanuma, Minamiashigara City, Kanagawa Prefecture Name Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. 4, Agent 5, Date of amendment order: Sponsored Patent Application No. 136890, Amendment], ``Uniform'' on page 4, line 13 of the specification is deleted. 2) Correct ``There is no contrast in the low and medium density range...'' on page 4, lines 18 to 19 of the specification to ``The lower the density, the less contrast...''. \, -, -・

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) In an automatic developing device that automatically develops a photosensitive material exposed to X-rays, the photosensitive material is uniformly irradiated with low-intensity light immediately before a developing section constituting the automatic developing device. An automatic developing device characterized by being provided with a sub-exposure device that performs sub-exposure. (2) The automatic developing device according to claim 1, wherein the sub-exposure device has an adjusting means for adjusting the exposure amount for sub-exposure. (3) In the automatic developing device according to claim 2, the means for adjusting the exposure amount includes an inner cylinder that fits outside the light source for sub-exposure and has an opening extending linearly in the axial direction; An automatic developing device consisting of a double cylinder consisting of an outer cylinder. (4) In the automatic developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the sub-exposure light source is configured to be a uniform linear light source in a portion where the photosensitive material is exposed. Automatic developing device. (5) In the automatic developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the sub-exposure light source is configured to be a uniform planar light source in a portion where the photosensitive material is exposed. Automatic developing device.