JPS61219947A - Erasing device for residual radiation image of stimulable phosphor sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce undesirable influence exerted on other function part by generated heat energy by providing a heat absorbing member on the inside or the wall surface of a case body, and also providing a radiating means for radiating its heat to the outside. CONSTITUTION:The whole case body is formed by a heat insulating structure, and a diffusing and reflecting surface is formed on its inside wall surface. In the back part of erasing light sources 108a, 108d, a heat absorbing plate-shaped member 166 is fixed to the inside of a case body back wall 156 by a bolt 168, etc. A radiating use opening 154 is provided on a case body side chamber, radiating use openings 158a, 158d are provided on the back wall, and electric fans 160a, 160d are provided on the respective openings. A heat energy which has been absorbed and accumulated in a member 166 is fetched by the openings 158a, 158d and the fans 160a, 160d, led out to the outside of a device through a duct 162 which has been provided on the outside of the back wall 156, and emitted from a duct tip part 164.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an apparatus for erasing residual radiation images of a stimulable phosphor sheet.

[Technical Background of the Invention] Recently, a radiation image information recording and reproducing system that obtains a radiation transmitted image of a subject using a stimulable phosphor has been attracting attention. Here, stimulable phosphor refers to radiation (X-rays, α-rays, β-rays, γ-rays,
When it is irradiated with radiation (rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc.), it accumulates some of that radiation energy, and when it is later irradiated with excitation light such as visible light, it emits stimulated luminescence according to the accumulated energy. The radiation image information recording and reproducing system described above uses this stimulable phosphor,
Radiation image information of a subject such as a human body is temporarily stored and recorded on a sheet having a layer of stimulable phosphor (hereinafter referred to as a stimulable phosphor sheet), and this stimulable phosphor sheet is excited with a laser or the like. Scanning with light generates stimulated luminescent light, the resulting stimulated luminescent light is read photoelectrically to obtain an image signal, and based on this image signal, a recording material such as a photographic light-sensitive material or a CRT
etc., to output it as a visible image or image information. Regarding this type of technology, please refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-12
This method is disclosed in publications such as No. 429 and No. 5B-11395.

The reproduction system described above has an extremely wide radiation range compared to conventional radiographic systems using intensifying screens and X-ray film! ! It has the practical advantage of being able to record images over a range of exposures. In other words, for photostimulable phosphors,
It is recognized that the amount of stimulated luminescence produced by excitation after accumulation is proportional to the amount of radiation irradiation over a very wide range. Therefore, even if the amount of radiation irradiation changes considerably due to various imaging conditions, the amount of light emitted from
By setting the reading gain to an appropriate value, reading it with a photoelectric conversion means, converting it into an electric signal, and using this electric signal to output it as a visible image to a recording material such as a photographic light-sensitive material or a display device such as a CRT. It is possible to obtain a radiation image that is not affected by variations in radiation dose.

In addition, according to this reproduction system, after converting the radiation image information stored in the stimulable phosphor into an electrical signal, appropriate signal processing is performed, and this electrical signal is used to produce recording materials such as photographic light-sensitive materials, CRT, etc. This has the extremely large effect of outputting the image as a visible image to a display device, thereby obtaining a radiation image that is suitable for observation and interpretation (appropriate for diagnosis).

In such a radiation image information recording and reproducing system,
The stimulable phosphor sheet is not intended to ultimately record image information, but merely to temporarily hold radiation image information in order to provide an image to the recording medium as described above. Stimulable phosphor sheets are extremely economical and effective if used repeatedly. In this case, in order to reuse the stimulable phosphor sheet, the radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor sheet after reading has been performed by irradiation with excitation light is released by irradiation with light, and the remaining radiation energy is released by irradiation with light. After erasing the image, the stimulable phosphor sheet can be used again for recording radiation images.

A technique for removing radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor sheet after the reading operation is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11392/1983.

In other words, a radiation image information reading device that is intended for repeated use includes a radiation image reading section that reads a radiation image recorded by irradiating a photostimulable phosphor sheet with radiation that has passed through the subject, and a radiation image reading section that The stimulable phosphor sheet is usually equipped with a radiation image erasing section for erasing the radiation image remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet within a short time so that the stimulable phosphor sheet can be used in the next radiation image recording operation. ing.

In order to erase the residual radiation image in a short time, it is necessary to apply high-energy erasing light to the stimulable phosphor sheet during the erasing operation. For this reason, the light source of the erasing light is generally placed in a partitioned space, and the residual radiation image erasing operation is carried out by introducing the stimulable phosphor sheet to be erased into the space.

A radiation image information reading device that repeatedly uses a stimulable phosphor sheet requires a radiation image erasing unit as described above, but it is desirable that the erasing operation be performed as quickly as possible. ,Although it is difficult to achieve complete erasure of residual radiation images in a short period of time,
It is necessary to erase the data as completely as possible so that it will not cause problems in the next use. Fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps, sodium lamps, etc. are usually used as the erasing light source, but in any case, generation of high-energy erasing light is possible by supplying a large amount of current. However, the use of a large amount of current causes an accompanying increase in thermal energy, which causes deterioration of the entire device and various functional parts (e.g. radiation image reading part, imaging part, stimulable phosphor sheet conveyance part). Undesirable phenomena such as an adverse effect on the stimulable phosphor sheet introduced into the erasing section and deterioration of the stimulable phosphor sheet introduced into the erasing section occur.

The above-mentioned undesirable phenomenon caused by the increase in thermal energy of the residual radiation image erasing section becomes a problem particularly in radiation image information reading devices that have become more compact. In other words, as radiation image information reading devices become more compact, the distance between the residual radiation image erasing section and the radiation image reading section or other functional sections within the device becomes smaller, and the problem occurs in the residual radiation image erasing section. The adverse effects of thermal energy on various adjacent functional units (for example, a radiation image reading unit, an imaging unit, a stimulable phosphor sheet conveyance unit, etc.) are further amplified.

[Object of the Invention] The first object of the present invention is to provide a stimulable phosphor capable of reducing undesirable effects on other functional parts due to thermal energy generated in the residual radiation image erasing process of a radiation image information recording and reproducing system. An object of the present invention is to provide a device for erasing residual radiation images on a sheet.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for erasing residual radiation images of a stimulable phosphor sheet in which leakage of thermal energy to the outside is reduced.

A third object of the present invention is to reduce the leakage of thermal energy generated in the erasing device to the outside in a radiation image information recording and reproducing system, and to reduce the leakage of the thermal energy generated in the erasing device to the outside, and to reduce the amount of stimulable fluorescence without increasing the generated thermal energy. An object of the present invention is to provide an erasing device that can uniformly and efficiently erase residual radiation images on a body sheet.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for erasing residual radiation images on a stimulable phosphor sheet, which is particularly useful for making radiation image information recording and reproducing systems more compact.

[Summary of the Invention] The present invention irradiates excitation light onto a stimulable phosphor sheet on which a radiation image has been recorded, causes the radiation image to be emitted as stimulated luminescence light, and emits this stimulated luminescence light using an optical element. This is an erasing device for erasing a radiation image remaining on a stimulable phosphor sheet that has been subjected to a radiation image reading step of reading and then converting the image into an electrical signal by irradiating it with erasing light.

The erasing device has the shape of a box with a light source for erasing light inside, and a heat absorbing member is provided inside or on the wall of the box, and the heat absorbed by the heat absorbing member is transferred to the outside of the device. The present invention provides an apparatus for erasing a residual radiation image of a stimulable phosphor sheet, characterized in that the erasing apparatus is equipped with a heat dissipation means for extracting heat.

It is preferable that at least a part of the inner surface of the box of the erasing device is provided with a diffuse reflection surface, and it is particularly preferable that substantially the entire inner surface of the box is provided with a diffuse reflection surface. preferable.

Moreover, it is preferable that at least a part of the wall of the box is made of a heat insulating structure.

[Effects of the Invention] By introducing the device for erasing residual radiation images of the stimulable phosphor sheet of the present invention into a radiation image information recording and reproducing system using a stimulable phosphor sheet, the heat generated in the erasing device can be reduced. Leakage of energy to neighboring parts is reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the adverse effects on various functional units (for example, a radiation image reading unit, an imaging unit, a stimulable phosphor sheet conveying unit, etc.) provided in the vicinity of the erasing device. Therefore, the integrated radiation image information recording and reproducing apparatus can be made more compact than ever before. Furthermore, this effect becomes more noticeable by making at least a portion of the wall of the box a heat insulating structure.

Note that if a diffuse reflection surface is provided on at least a part of the inner surface of the box of the erasing device of the present invention, the electrical energy for generating the erasing light and the thermal energy accompanying the generation of the erasing light are increased. It becomes possible to more completely erase the residual radiographic image without increasing the amount of radiation. Alternatively, the normally required erasure of residual radiation images can be achieved by reducing the electrical energy used to generate the erasing light, and the thermal energy accompanying the generation of the erasing light is also reduced. can be done. Therefore, by introducing the apparatus for erasing the residual radiation image of the stimulable phosphor sheet of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the electrical energy required for erasing the residual radiation image, and the overall radiation image information recording and reproducing apparatus can be reduced. The lifespan and the lifespan of the stimulable phosphor sheets used are extended.

[Detailed Description of the Invention] In order to explain the device for erasing a residual radiation image of a stimulable phosphor sheet according to the present invention, first, a radiation image recording section is incorporated together with a radiation image reading section and a residual radiation image erasing section. The configuration of the radiation image information recording/reading apparatus will be described in detail with reference to the configuration example illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

First, a radiation image information recording/reading apparatus will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1O indicates a standing type radiation image information recording/reading device. This recording/reading device 10 has a first housing part 12 extending in the vertical direction and a second housing part extending in the horizontal direction. ! 4. First housing part! An imaging unit (radiographic image recording unit) 16 for recording a radiation image of a subject is disposed above the front face of the camera 2, and an operating unit 18 is disposed above the side wall thereof.

Next, the internal configurations of the first housing part 12 and the second housing part 14 will be explained with reference to FIG. 2.

A pair of sheet receiving rollers 20 for receiving the photographed stimulable phosphor sheet is disposed in the lower part of the interior of the photographing section 1B.
A first guide member 22 and a second guide member 24 extending vertically following the first guide member 22 are disposed below the roller pair 20. Below the first and second guide members 22.24, via a pair of rollers,
Further, a third guide member 2B and a fourth guide member 2
8 are arranged.

An endless first conveyor belt 30 is disposed close to the fourth guide member 28 so as to be bent at a corner of the first housing portion 12 . The first conveyor belt 30 continues to the lower central part of the second housing part 14, and an endless second conveyor belt 32 is disposed a little apart from the terminal end of the first conveyor 30. This second conveyor belt 32 is bent upward at a corner of the second housing part 14, and is in contact with the inner bent part of the roller group 3.
4 are arranged. A third endless conveyor belt 36 and a fourth endless conveyor belt 38 are horizontally arranged at positions slightly away from the terminal end of the second conveyor belt 32. Further, an endless fifth belt 40 that is bent further upward is provided close to the terminal end of the fourth conveyor belt 38 . A roller group 42 is disposed in contact with one surface of the fifth bell 40. A pair of guide members 44 is further provided above the fifth conveyor belt 40 and the roller group 42, and a guide member 4B is provided above the guide member 44 via a pair of rollers. A residual radiation image erasing device is incorporated above the guide member 46.

A shorter guide member 48 is disposed above the residual radiation image erasing device, and a guide member 50 is further disposed above this guide member 48. This guide member 50
There is an endless bent conveyor belt 52 at the end of the
is provided. This conveyor belt 52 is located approximately at the top of the first housing portion 12, as can be understood from the figure. A roller group 54 is provided inside this conveyor belt 52.
are located adjacent to each other. Furthermore, a pair of rollers 58.5 is provided below the terminal end of the conveyor belt 52 and the roller group 54.
8 is provided to supply the stimulable phosphor sheet to the photographing section 1B.

The above is the basic configuration of the transport system for the stimulable phosphor sheet in the radiation image recording/reading apparatus 10.

Next, the radiation image recording and reading device IO reading section will be explained.

The reading section B2 includes a laser light source 84 and this laser light source θ4.
a scanning optical system including a galvanometer mirror (not shown) for scanning the laser beam derived from the sheet onto the sheet;
It also includes a condensing reflective mirror 8B and a condensing optical element 68 that effectively condenses the stimulated luminescence light emitted from the sheet by the scanning laser beam.

Note that a photomultiplier 70 is attached to the top of the condensing optical element 68.

Examples of the residual radiation image erasing device according to the present invention are shown in Figures 3 to 5.
As shown in the figure.

The apparatus for erasing residual radiation images of a stimulable phosphor sheet of the present invention is basically box-shaped and has a light source for erasing light inside.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 100 indicates a residual radiation image erasing device for a stimulable phosphor sheet. An angle member 110 is provided at the lower end of the box body 102, which has means 104, 108, and four erasing light sources 108a to 108d for irradiating the inside of the box body 102 with erasing light. is fixed to a part of the first housing part 12, so that the box body 102 is positioned within the first housing part 12.

Openings 112a and 112b are formed in the box body 102 at positions corresponding to the transport means 104 and 108, respectively.
Guide members 1!4a and 114b are arranged in parallel inside the box 102 from the opening 112a to 112b (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Outside the opening 112a,
A set of nip rollers 118 that are part of the transport means 104
The opening 112 on the opposite side is disposed in the first cover member 117a with a and 118b in contact with each other.
Similarly, nip rollers 118a and 118b, which constitute part of the conveying means 104, are disposed in the second cover member 117b so as to be in contact with each other.

Elastic members, ie, coil springs 120a, 120b, are suspended on the nip rollers 118b, 118b by bottle members implanted in the first cover members 117a, 117b, respectively. It is configured to forcibly come into contact with the nip roller 118a. Cover members 117a and 117b respectively surrounding the conveying means 104 and the conveying means 10B formed in this way.
, there are holes 122 corresponding to the openings 112a and 112b.
a, 122b are formed. Furthermore, a detection section 128 of the microswitch 12B is provided in contact with the nip roller l 18b.

A motor 130 is provided at a position close to the angle member 110 that holds the box 102, and a first sprocket 134 is fixed to a rotating shaft 132 of the motor 130. The chain 13B suspended from the first sprocket 134 is engaged with a second sprocket 138 coaxially supported by the nip roller 118a, and is further disposed above and is coaxially supported by the nip roller 118a. It is also combined with 140. The chain 13G is further connected to a fourth tensioning sprocket 1 disposed on the side wall of the box body 102.
42 and then returns to the first sprocket 134.

The shaft 144 holding the fourth sprocket 142 is connected to the box body 1
The holding member 146 fixed to G2 is displaced within the elongated hole 148 to hold the chain 13B at an optimum tension.

The device for erasing a residual radiation image of a stimulable phosphor sheet of the present invention has the shape of a box equipped with a light source for erasing light inside as described above, and has a heat absorbing member inside or on the wall of the box. The erasing device is characterized in that it is equipped with a heat radiating means for discharging the heat absorbed by the heat absorbing member to a desired space outside the device.

That is, the present invention allows the thermal energy generated within the residual radiation image erasing device to be preferentially absorbed by the heat absorbing member provided inside or on the wall of the box.

In other words, the heat absorbing member functions as a heat trap), the thermal energy absorbed by the heat absorbing member is extracted by the heat radiating means, and it is transferred to a desired space outside the device (i.e., it does not have an adverse effect on other functional parts). It is characterized by the fact that it is emitted into a space that has never been seen before. Note that leakage of thermal energy to adjacent parts can be further effectively reduced by providing the box with a heat insulating structure.

The heat-absorbing member used in the device for erasing residual radiation images of the present invention is preferably a material with high heat-absorbing performance and heat resistance, such as a metal plate (copper plate, aluminum plate) partially or entirely painted black. ) etc. are used.

The heat absorbing member is preferably provided at the rear of the erasing light source, and the heat absorbing member may be placed either in contact with the wall surface or separated from the wall surface by a space. There may be.

In the case where the box-shaped erasing device of the present invention is provided with a heat insulating structure, it is sufficient that it is present on at least a part of the wall of the box;
Preferably, this heat insulating structure is provided on substantially the entire wall of the box.

Examples of the above-mentioned heat insulating structure include a mode in which the wall itself has a heat insulating structure and a mode in which a heat insulating material is attached to the wall. Examples of insulation materials include structures such as honeycomb structures, porous insulation materials (e.g., synthetic resin foam), and insulation materials composed of fibrous matrices (e.g., asbestos boards, inorganic lumpy aggregates of fibers),
Examples include hollow composite materials that retain an air layer or a vacuum layer inside.

The box of the erasing device of the present invention is provided with a heat radiating means at a position related to the heat absorbing member. Examples of heat dissipation means include:
openings (or through holes), openings with ducts, openings with electric fans, openings with ducts and electric fans,
Examples include various heat exchange devices, water cooling devices, and the like.

Furthermore, it is preferable that at least a portion of the inner surface of the erasing device of the present invention is provided with a diffuse reflection surface.

It is particularly preferable that the diffuse reflection surface is provided on substantially the entire inner wall surface of the box.

The above-mentioned diffuse reflection surface can be attached inside the box by any method. For example, a white pigment-containing paint can be applied to the inner wall of the box, or a white pigment-containing panel can be attached to the inner wall of the box. When applying paint, it is preferable to use a method such as painting for baking. Examples of white pigment-containing panels include panels kneaded with white pigment, and panels coated with white pigment on a support. Examples include panels.

As the white pigment used for the above purpose, both inorganic white powder and organic white powder can be used, but in consideration of heat resistance, it is preferable to use inorganic white powder.

Examples of inorganic white powders that can be used include titanium dioxide,
Magnesium oxide, lead white (2PbCO.

・Pb(OH)2), barium sulfate, aluminum oxide, alkaline earth metal halides (e.g.

Barium halides such as BaFCJl and BaFBr)
, calcium carbonate, zinc oxide, antimony oxide, silicon dioxide, lithopone, magnesium silicate, basic lead silicate, basic lead phosphate, and aluminum silicate.

The entire box of the apparatus for erasing residual radiation images of the present invention has a heat-insulating structure, a heat-absorbing member is provided inside the box, and an opening with a duct and an electric fan is used as a heat dissipation means for the heat-absorbing member. , and an embodiment in which a diffuse reflection surface is provided on the inner wall of the box will be further described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

In addition, FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view for explaining the external structure and a part of the internal structure of the erasing device, FIG. 4 is a rear view for explaining the internal structure of the erasing device, and FIG. 5 is an erasing device. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the device and the state in which an electric fan is installed.

In the embodiment shown in each figure, the entire box 102 has a heat insulating structure, and a diffuse reflection surface is formed on the inner wall surface. A heat-absorbing plate member 18G is fixed to the inner side of the rear wall 15B of the box body at the rear of the erasing light sources t08a to 108d by threaded bolts 188 at both ends.

There is an opening for heat radiation on the side wall of the box! 54, and four heat radiation openings 158a, 158b are provided in the rear wall 158 of the box body.
, 158c, and 158d (mainly for extracting the thermal energy absorbed and stored in the heat-absorbing plate member 18B to the outside), and electric fans 180a, 160b, 180c, and 180d are attached to each opening. ing.

Thermal energy absorbed and stored in the heat-absorbing plate-like member 18G is taken out by four heat radiation openings and an electric fan, and is drawn out to the outside of the device through a duct 162 provided on the outside of the rear back wall 158 of the box body. and the duct tip 1
84.

In the residual radiation image erasing device configured as shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the light emitted from the erasing light source is effectively used by the diffuse reflection surface, so the amount of current required can be reduced. , which reduces the generation of thermal energy. In addition, since the entire erasing device has a heat-insulating structure, the leakage of generated thermal energy is reduced, and the thermal energy inside the box is preferentially absorbed by the heat-absorbing member.
The heat is radiated to the outside of the device by the heat radiating means. Therefore, no trouble will occur even if other functional units are placed adjacent to this erasing device. In other words, such a configuration is extremely advantageous in making the radiation image information reading device more compact.

The functions of the radiation image recording and reading device equipped with the residual radiation image erasing device configured as described above will be described below.

When a subject (not shown) is irradiated with radiation on the photographing surface 60 of the photographing unit 18, a radiation image of the subject is recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet 150. This stimulable phosphor sheet 1
50 is a roller 20 and a guide 22.24.2B.

28 and endless belts 30, 32, and 36 to the reading section θ2. The reading unit θ2 scans the laser light sent from the laser light source 64 on the sheet 150, and the stimulated luminescence light emitted from the sheet 150 is reflected directly or by the mirror B6 to the optical element 6.
8, this is converted into an electrical signal by the 7-automatic converter 70, and sent to a reproducing device (not shown).

After the reading operation is completed, the stimulable phosphor sheet 150 whose radiation image signal has been read in this way reaches the guide member 44 via the conveyor belt 38, 40, further passes through the guide member 46, and then passes through the remaining Radiation image erasing device 100
Nip roller 11Ela provided in.

118b is reached. The sheet 150 introduced through the opening 122a is guided to the guide members 114a, 114b by nip rollers 118a, 118b. In this way, the sheet 150 is placed on the nip rollers 118a and 118b.
When nipped, the nip roller 118 due to its thickness
b pushes back this roller 116b against the tensile force of the coil spring 120a, and the detection section 128 of the microswitch 12B detects this. When the motor 130 is rotated by this detection signal, the chain 13B moves, and the movement of the chain 136 causes the second sprocket 138 to rotate. The second sprocket 13B is the nip roller fl
Since the nip roller 118a, which rotates under the rotational action of the sprocket 138, simultaneously rotates the nip roller 116b in contact with the nip roller 118a, which is disposed coaxially with the rotation axis of the sprocket ea, the sheet 150 introduced therebetween is guided by the guide member 114a. , 114b.

The microswitch 12B, whose tip end contacts the nip roller 118a, energizes the microswitch 12B when the sheet 150 is fed from the reading unit side as described above, and this energizing signal causes the motor 130 to rotate.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 150 is the guide member 114a, 1
14b and reaches the nip rollers 118a, 118b rotating under the action of the third sprocket 140, the sheet 15 is removed from the nip rollers 118b, 118a.
0 is removed, the nip roller 118b is displaced in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3 under the action of the coil spring 120a. As a result, the detection section 128 of the microswitch 12ft is also displaced in the same direction. In this manner, a displacement signal is sent to motor 130 causing it to rotate in the opposite direction. That is, the nip roller 118a,
Sheet held by 118b! 50 moves again in a certain direction of the nip rollers 118a, 118b, and when the sheet 150 is held by the nip rollers 118a, 118b again, the detection part 128 of the microswitch 12B is displaced again due to its thickness, and this displacement signal is transmitted to the motor. 1
Stop 30. In this way, the sheet 150 is transferred to the nip rollers 116a, 118b and the nip roller 118a.
It will be held between ttab and ttab.

Then, when the erasing light sources 108a, 108b, 108C and 108d are turned on, the irradiated light erases the radiation image remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet. In this case,
Of course, the light sources 108a to 108d emit erasing light in the excitation wavelength range of the stimulable phosphor of the sheet 150.

After the process of erasing the residual radiation image by the light sources 108a to 108d is completed, the motor 130 is driven again to move the chain 136, and the sheet 150 is transferred to the nip roller 11.
8a, 118b and is transferred toward the guide member 48 (upward). Since the afterimage (residual radiation image) has already been erased from the stimulable phosphor sheet 150 that has reached the guide member 48, the stimulable phosphor sheet 15G is transferred to the conveyor belt 52. It is fed to the imaging unit 18 via the rollers 5B, 5B, and stands by in preparation for imaging the next radiographic image.

Although one preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.
For example, it can be used in a bed-type radiation image information recording/reading device or a so-called radiation image information reading device that has only a reading section and an erasing section and is configured separately from the radiation image recording section. Furthermore, various mechanisms can be used for attaching the stimulable phosphor sheet to the erasing device. That is, it goes without saying that various improvements and design changes can be made to the present invention without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an example of a radiation image information recording/reading apparatus into which a residual radiation image erasing apparatus for a stimulable phosphor sheet according to the present invention is incorporated. FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram for explaining the internal configuration of the radiation image information recording/reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1. 3 to 5 are diagrams showing an example of the configuration of the residual radiation image erasing device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a side sectional view for explaining the external configuration and part of the internal structure of the erasing device. , FIG. 4 is a rear view for explaining the internal structure of the erasing device,
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the external structure of the erasing device and the state in which the electric fan is installed. lob radiation image information recording/reading device 12: first housing part! 4: Second housing part 1B: Photographing part, 18: Operation part, 20: Roller pair 22.2
4.2B, 2nd Guide member 30.32: Conveyor belt 34: Roller group 44,46,48,50 Guide member 52: Conveyor belt, 54: Roller group 58.58: Roller pair BO: Photographing surface, 82: Reading Part 84: Laser light source 68
: Mirror, 88: Optical element 70: Photo multiplier 100: Residual radiation image erasing device 102: Box bodies 104, 106 = Transport means 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d:
Light source 110: angle member, 112a, 112b: opening 114a, 114b guide member 11Eta, 118b: knee/flora 117
a, 117b: Cover member 118a, 118b
: 2-7 propeller 120a, 120b: ) illumination spring 126: micro switch 128: detection section, 130: -e: -ta, 32:
Rotating shaft 134: Sprocket, 136: Chain 1
38, 140. 142: Sprocket 144: Shaft,
146: Holding member, 148: Long hole 150: Stimulable phosphor sheet 154: Heat dissipation opening 156: Back wall of box body. 158a, 158b, 158c, 158d: Heat dissipation opening IElOa, 180a, 180b, 18
0c, 180d: Electric 77n 162: Duct, 16
4: Duct tip 166: Heat-absorbing plate-like member Patent applicant: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Patent attorney Yasushi Yanagawa Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A stimulable phosphor sheet on which a radiation image has been recorded is irradiated with excitation light to emit the radiation image as stimulated luminescence light, and this stimulated luminescence light is read by an optical element. , an erasing device for erasing a radiation image remaining on a stimulable phosphor sheet subjected to a radiation image reading step of converting the image into an electrical signal by irradiating it with erasing light, the erasing device comprising: A heat dissipation device that has the shape of a box with a light source for erasing light inside, and a heat absorbing member provided inside or on the wall of the box, and for extracting the heat absorbed by the heat absorbing member to the outside of the device. 1. An apparatus for erasing a residual radiation image of a stimulable phosphor sheet, characterized in that the erasing means is provided in the erasing apparatus. 2. The erasing device according to claim 1, wherein the heat absorbing member is provided at the rear of the erasing light source. 3. The erasing device according to claim 1, wherein the heat absorbing member is provided in contact with a wall surface. 4. The erasing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least a part of the wall of the box is made of a heat insulating structure. 5. The erasing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least a part of the wall of the box body is provided with a heat insulating structural material. 6. The erasing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least a part of the inner surface of the box body is provided with a diffuse reflection surface. 7. The erasing device according to claim 6, wherein substantially the entire inner surface of the box body is provided with a diffuse reflection surface. 8. Claims characterized in that the diffuse reflection surface is formed by a white pigment-containing paint applied to the inner wall surface of the box body or a white pigment-containing panel affixed to the inner wall surface of the box body. The erasing device according to item 6. 9. The erasing device according to claim 8, wherein the white pigment is made of inorganic white powder. 10. The above white pigment is titanium dioxide, magnesium oxide, lead white, barium sulfate, aluminum oxide, alkaline earth metal halide, calcium carbonate, zinc oxide, antimony oxide, silicon dioxide, lithopone, magnesium silicate, basic silicon 10. The erasing device according to claim 9, wherein the erasing device is made of at least one kind of inorganic white powder selected from the group consisting of acid lead, basic lead phosphate, and aluminum silicate.