JPS62212639A - Storage cassette for image recording sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a cassette which facilitates storing operation and opening operation by clamping a sheet by a plate type holding member for sheet clamping arranged in a light shielding flat box type sheet storage tool which has an opening part at an end part, and holding the sheet shielded from light. CONSTITUTION:The flat box type sheet storage tool 11 has light shielding performance and the opening part 15 for storage and discharge through which the sheet is stored and discharged is provided in its one flank. Plate type holding members 12a and 12b for sheet clamping are provided on the internal wall surface of the flat boxy type sheet storage tool almost in parallel to each other and a recessed part for storing the sheet is formed inside. Sheet holding and maintaining members 13a and 13b press the holding members 12a and 12b so that the surfaces of said holding members 12a and 12b contact or come close to each other to maintain the light shield state of the sheet. When an opening assisting means inserted through an engagement hole 17 engages an engaging means 19a, the holding member is released from the holding state and opened to enable the storage and discharge of a panel.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a container (cassette) for accommodating a sheet for recording a radiation image, such as a radiographic film or a radiation image conversion panel.

[9, Bright W View] As a method of obtaining a radiographic image as an image, a combination of a radiographic film having an emulsion layer made of a silver salt photosensitive material and an intensifying screen has been conventionally used. A so-called radiographic method is used. Recently, a radiation image conversion method using a stimulable phosphor, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-12145, has been attracting attention as an alternative method to the above-mentioned radiographic method. became. This radiation image conversion method uses a radiation image conversion panel (
This panel uses a stimulable phosphor sheet to absorb the radiation that has passed through the subject or the radiation emitted from the subject, and then makes the stimulable phosphor visible. By exciting the stimulable phosphor in a time-series manner with electromagnetic waves (excitation light) such as light rays and infrared rays, ? Ia
This method generates the radiation energy as fluorescence (stimulated luminescence), reads this fluorescence photoelectrically to obtain an electrical signal, and converts the obtained electrical signal into an image.

The above-mentioned radiation image conversion method has the advantage that a radiation image rich in information can be obtained with a much lower exposure dose than conventional radiography methods. Therefore, this radiographic image conversion method has a very high utility value especially in direct medical radiography using an X-ray camera for the purpose of medical diagnosis.

The radiation image conversion panel used in the radiation image conversion method described in L is usually a sheet having a rectangular or square shape (the length of each side is approximately 20 to 50 cm), and its basic structure is that of a support and a square. , and a phosphor layer provided on one side thereof. Note that a transparent protective film made of a polymeric substance is generally provided on the surface of the phosphor layer opposite to the support (the surface not attached to the support), which protects the phosphor layer. Protects against chemical alteration or physical impact.

The phosphor layer consists of a stimulable phosphor and a binder that contains and supports the stimulable phosphor in a dispersed state. After absorbing radiation such as X-rays, the stimulable phosphor absorbs IIf visual rays. It also has the property of emitting light (stimulated luminescence) when irradiated with electromagnetic waves (excitation light) such as infrared rays. Therefore, the radiation transmitted through the subject or emitted from the subject is absorbed by the phosphor layer of the radiation image conversion panel in proportion to the amount of radiation, and the radiation image of the subject or subject is displayed on the radiation image conversion panel. is formed as an accumulated image of radiation energy. This energy accumulation image is an electromagnetic wave,
By exciting it in a time-series manner, it can be emitted as stimulated luminescence, and by photoelectrically reading this stimulated luminescence and converting it into an electrical signal, it is possible to visualize the accumulation of radiation energy. .

To carry out the radiation image conversion method using a radiation image conversion panel, first record a radiation image on the panel (radiographing), and then photoelectrically record the radiation image recorded on the panel using an image reading device. At this time, the panels are moved one by one in a case called a cassette to prevent exposure to external light. Recording is performed in that state, and after recording, the cassette is transferred to an image reading device. Generally, the panel is loaded into the cassette, and the panel is taken out from the cassette and read inside the device.

] ] 2. A commonly used cassette is made up of two plates joined at the - side end, with the - side plate (
The panel is configured to be able to open and close the panel (lid member) relative to the other plate (accommodating member) to place the panel in the accommodated state, or to open the cassette so that the panel can be taken out. That is, the cassette is opened and closed by operating the four members up and down with reference to the plane of the plate (accommodating member). Therefore, is it possible to read one image when taking out the panel from the cassette? 1 attached near the cassette unit @ part of t21
For example, this is carried out by means of a panel removal means such as a suction tool. This ejecting means is 4 of the cassette
The member has an AT function to open the cassette while moving its blue-absorbing portion back and forth, and since this mechanism generally involves moving means, control means, etc., the ejecting means tends to be complicated. In addition, moving space is also required in that case! There is a problem in that the A-mount itself becomes larger.

On the other hand, in the case of radiographic film as well, in order to prevent exposure, similar to the above-mentioned radiation image conversion panel, it is common to use a cassette having the above-mentioned shape to record and develop the radiographic image. That is, for example,
A device having a radiographic image recording machine f salmon with radiographic film stored in a cassette, or a developing processing machine 1t
Attach it to a device that has a The film is also taken out from the attached cassette using a take-out means having a mechanism similar to that described in L.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention is characterized by providing a cassette that can be easily accommodated and opened.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cassette which can be loaded into a device for reproduction (reading or development) and easily supply sheets to a processing system in the device, and which can realize an efficient recording and reproduction method.

[Summary of the Invention] The present invention provides a light-shielding box-like sheet storage container having an opening at at least one end; sheet holding member capable of holding the sheet in a light-shielding state: ``--A sheet holding member that acts on the holding member so that the sheet holding plate-like holding member maintains the light-shielding holding state 1B of the sheet. A cassette for accommodating image recording sheets, characterized by comprising: a maintenance member.

[Effects of the Invention] The cassette for storing image recording sheets of the present invention has a plate-like holding member for holding the sheet disposed inside the light-shielding box-like sheet storage case having an opening at the end. Since the cassette is configured to be held in a light-shielded state by sandwiching the cassette, it is possible to easily store the sheet in the cassette or take out the sheet from the cassette.

That is, when a sheet is taken out from the cassette after the cassette is installed in the above-mentioned device system, the opening of the cassette is placed on the lower side, for example, in a wedge-shaped manner, without using a conventional complicated taking-out means. This can be easily done using a take-out box (sheet holding release assisting means) or the like. In addition, in this case, the sheet can be removed without changing the overall three-dimensional shape of the cassette.

Not much space is required for the sheet retrieval operation together with the accompanying retrieval means.

Moreover, when storing sheets, by arranging the opening on the upper side, the sheets can be stored in exactly the same manner.

Therefore, instead of supplying the number of cassettes that can be loaded into the device system one by one to the supply section of the device as has been the case up until now, for example, a large number of cassettes can be loaded together into the supply section of the cassette. It is also possible to create an apparatus system equipped with a supply section that can do this.

That is, the cassette for accommodating image recording sheets of the present invention allows sheet retrieval operations to be easily performed even when a plurality of cassettes are arranged in parallel or in an inclined state in the above-mentioned supply section, and the sheet can be easily removed. It can be supplied to a conveyance system or a sheet processing system.

Also, by using a type 1 cassette with both ends open,
After performing safe processing on the sheet within the device system (for example, photoelectric reading of a radiation image) without significantly displacing the cassette, the sheet is returned to the cassette using the same operation as the method used to take out the sheet from the cassette. Therefore, the radiographic image recording/reproducing method can be performed efficiently as a whole.

[Detailed description of the invention] The cassette for storing unreleased image recording sheets is a light-shielding flat box-shaped sheet storage device, which is disposed within the container and can hold one image recording sheet in a light-shielded state. Its basic components include a plate-shaped holding member for holding sheets in place, and a sheet holding and maintaining member that acts on the holding member so that the holding member maintains the light-shielding state shown in (1) and (5) above. It is a thing,
This is a container that holds sheets in a sandwiched state.

The preferred configuration of the cassette for storing the image recording sheet of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1, 1-A, and 1 of the accompanying drawings.
This will be explained in detail below with reference to Figure-B.

FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a cassette for storing image recording sheets of the present invention. 1-AIA is a sectional view taken along the line r-I in FIG. 1, and FIG. 1-B is a sectional view taken along the line 1'-I' of FIG. 5f.

The cassette 10 includes a light-shielding flat box-shaped sheet storage device 11, plate-shaped holding members 12a and 12b for holding sheets arranged substantially parallel to the inner wall surface of the storage device, and the inner wall surface facing the holding members. sheet holding/maintaining member 13a that presses in the direction of
, 13b.

The flat box-shaped sheet storage device 11 has a 1M optical property, and has a storage/discharge opening 1 on its side for storing and discharging sheets.
5 is provided. Further, at both ends thereof, engagement holes 17a are provided which enable engagement with engagement means provided inside.
, 17b are provided, respectively.

The sheet-clamping plate-shaped holding members 12a and 12b are provided substantially parallel to the inner wall surface of the flat box-shaped sheet storage device, respectively,
The inside is formed with four sections for accommodating sheets. The sheet is held by plate-shaped holding members 12a and 12b for holding the sheet.
It is held in a light-shielded state by being held between the two.

The sheet holding/maintaining members 13a, 13b press the sheet holding members 12a, 12b so that the surfaces of the plate-shaped holding members 12a, 12b come into contact with or come close to the crab and maintain the light-shielding state of the sheet. It has a function.

The seat holding and maintaining members 13a and 13b are one car holding member 12.
A, 12b can hold the sheet in a pinched state, and there is no particular preparation required as long as the sheet can be held. Examples of materials having such flexibility include springs, rubber materials, etc. As seen in FIG. 1-B, the springs are connected to the inner wall surface of the container 11 and the holding members 12a and 1, respectively.
2b and near the accommodation/discharge opening 15. Note that the arrangement position t,
The number of devices to be provided and the like are selected as appropriate. In addition, instead of the sheet holding and maintaining member described above, the sheet is maintained in a held state by a magnet located at 11□ between the holding members 12a and 12b and in the vicinity of the storage/discharge opening fi15. Good too.

The cassette for storing image recording sheets of this embodiment is provided with an engaging means 19a for facilitating the opening operation of the cassette.

For example, the retaining means 19a is provided with a notch in each joint surface of the retaining members 12a and 12b.

A configuration in which a recess is formed by the notch when both members are joined together is preferable.This configuration includes 1, for example, means (1) having the function of engaging with the engaging means (L) to open the cassette. It is also preferable to use a wedge-shaped hour wheel shape as the seat holding release assisting means), and the position of this engaging means is at a position corresponding to the engaging holes 17a and 17b. provided.

That is, the portions of the holding members 12a, 12b where the engagement means are provided are provided so as to substantially coincide with the centers of the respective engagement holes 17a, 17b.

This allows the locking operation (sheet release release) to be carried out more easily in the cylinder. When the opening assisting means inserted through the engagement hole is engaged with the engagement means, the holding member is released from its holding state and opens to allow the panel to be accommodated and ejected.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cassette with openings at both ends. And Figure 2-A is number 215! It is a sectional view taken along the line ■-■ of I,
FIG. 2-B is a sectional view taken along the line n'-n' in FIG.

The basic structure of the cassette 20 is the same as the cassette shown in FIG. Members 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b
Consisting of However, this differs from the above-mentioned cassette in that a panel introduction opening FfJ25 and a panel discharge opening 26 are provided at both ends of the plate-shaped sheet storage device 21, respectively. Also, engagement holes 27a, 27b, 28a, and 28b are formed near both sides of the single-side openings 25 and 26, respectively, and the sheet holding/release assisting means as described above engages with these engagement holes. Sheet holding plate holding members 22a, 22
When the panel is in the accommodated state, the panel is held (snipped) from both sides by the plate-shaped holding members 22a and 22b for holding sheets, and when the sheet holding and releasing auxiliary means is engaged, the holding state is released. It is configured to open at the same time. As seen in FIG. 2-8, the joining surfaces of the sheet-clamping plate-shaped holding members 22a and 22b are formed by engaging holes 27a and 2.
7b, 28a, and 28b. That is, the distal end portion of the sheet holding/release assisting means is arranged so that it can easily engage with the joint surface when the distal end portion is inserted from the retaining hole.

A notch is provided in the joint surface so that a recess is formed between both members 22a and 22b, the tip of the sheet holding/release assisting means is formed into a wedge shape, and a pressing force such as a spring is provided. Means 23a, 23b, 24a, 2
4b at a predetermined position within the cassette can be adopted as a preferred embodiment in this case as well, as in the case of the cassette explained with reference to FIG. 1 above.

Next, among the image recording sheet accommodating cassettes of the present invention, the cassettes are open at both ends, and can be used for right-hand use. a
The third radiation image reading device is used to reproduce the radiation image already recorded on the radiation image conversion panel by imaging.
[This will be explained with reference to 21.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the radiation image reading device.

As shown in FIG. 3, the radiation image reading device includes:
Radiation image conversion panel supply/accommodation section A, panel reading section B
and a residual energy erasing section C, and transport systems a, b, and c are disposed between each section, respectively.

The radiation image conversion panel on which the radiation m image has been recorded in the imaging device 71 (not shown) is housed in the cassette of the present invention, and is first filled in the supply/accommodation section A of the radiation image conversion panel, and then the panel of the cassette is The discharge opening side is opened, the panel P is taken out, and the guide member 31. It is supplied to a conveyance system a consisting of a conveyor belt 32 and the like, and is moved to a reading section B.

In the reading section B, a radiation image recorded on the panel is read by a reading means equipped with a photoelectric reading operation function. The reading means includes an excitation light irradiation device 9 including a laser generator;
fi 33 and a detection device 34 including a photomultiplier that detects stimulated luminescence light generated from the panel. That is, a reading operation is performed on the panel conveyed to the reading section B using the excitation light irradiation device 33 and the detection interval fi 34.

The image information read photoelectrically in this way is
display! It is reproduced as a visible image by an IT device or an image recording device using a photographic light-sensitive material.

The panel on which the reading operation has been completed is further sent to the erasing section C via the transport system therebetween. In erasing, lc, an erasing operation is performed to erase the radiation image (radiation energy) remaining on the panel. Erasing operation is performed using erasing light [3
This is carried out by irradiating the panel with erasing light emitted from 5. The panel that has been erased in this way will emit radiation again! The panel P on which the a-image has been recorded or has been erased such that the image becomes zero is collected via the conveyance system C into the cassette 11 and the supply/accommodation section A of the radiation image conversion panel.

Next, a radiation image conversion panel supply/accommodation device to which a plurality of cassettes of the present invention can be attached, which is arranged in the radiation image conversion panel supply/accommodation section A, will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a radiation image conversion panel supply/accommodation device.

The supply device for the radiation image conversion panel includes 5 shelf members 4 for receiving and arranging a plurality of cassettes 20, . . . according to the present invention.
1. Shelf member moving means 43 and separately provided sheet holding/release assisting means 42a, 42b (not shown), 42a', 4
It consists of 2b'.

The shelf member 41 has a mechanism for receiving and arranging a plurality of cassettes, and the cassettes in the array are opened at a panel discharge opening on the lower side thereof, and the cassettes are arranged so as not to prevent the cassettes from falling. Take composition. For example, the bottom of the shelf member has an open structure except for a support frame to prevent the cassette itself from falling. Preferably, the shelf member has a configuration that allows the cassettes to be arranged in parallel with their flat surfaces facing each other.

The shelf member 41 is supported by a support member 43b slidably attached to a guide bar 43a, and a pinion 43e driven by a motor 43d is engaged with a rack 43c formed on the side surface of the support member 43b. However, it is possible to move (in this case, move in the parallel direction). Since the cassette is thereby moved, it becomes possible to sequentially engage the cassette with the sheet holding/release assisting means.

Sheet holding release auxiliary means 42a, 42b (not shown)
, 42a', 42b' are preferably electromagnetic solenoids. As shown in FIG. 4, a pair of sheet holding and releasing auxiliary means are provided in the panel introduction opening 25 and one pair in the vicinity of the panel discharge opening f126 (lA not shown).

The sheet holding/release assisting means is determined based on the relationship with the first stage of engagement of the cassette, so as mentioned above, the form thereof can be arbitrarily selected.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4 above.

The JR service cassette of the present invention will be briefly explained, including the supply and storage functions of the present device.

When taking out the panel P from the desired cassette 20,
The motor 43d is driven to move the shelf member 41 and the sheet holding release assisting means 42a, 42b (1-, If not shown)
is moved in advance so that it is below the cassette 20. I
! J, the tips of the sheet holding/release assisting means 42a, 42b (not shown) fit into the engagement holes 28a, 28 of the cassette 20.
Move the shelf member 41 so that it is in a position where it can engage with b. Then, when the tip lfA part is engaged with the engagement hole, the cassette 2
The plate-shaped holding members 22a and 22b for holding the sheet 0 open, and the panel P falls naturally in its single layer through the sheet ejection opening PJ26 of the cassette. We can supply panels.

That is, by performing the above-described operations on any cassette, any panel can be taken out in a desired order.

The radiation image conversion panel that fell from the cassette as described above is shown in Figure 3! After being supplied to the transport system a in the Tll, read and erased, the data is transported again by the transport system C to the supply/accommodation section A of the radiation image conversion panel.

Next, the panels sent from conveyance system C are placed in empty cassette 2.
The operation for storing the panel in the 0 position is basically the same as the operation for taking out the housed panel.

That is, when storing a panel that has been subjected to necessary processing into a desired cassette 20, the shelf member 41 is moved and the sheet holding release assisting means 42a' provided above is moved.
, 42b' are moved in advance so that they are above the cassette 20. That is, the sheet holding release assisting means 42a'
, 42b' are connected to the engagement holes 27a, 2 of the cassette 20.
The shelf member 41 is moved to a position where it can engage with the shelf member 7b. Then, when the tip is engaged with the retaining hole, the cassette 20
The sheet holding plate holding means 22a and 22b are opened,
The panel P falls into the cassette through the panel introduction opening 25. In this way, the panel P can be accommodated in a desired cassette.

Note that the member having the function of receiving and arranging a plurality of cassettes may include two or more cassettes arranged substantially perpendicularly in parallel with their respective planes facing each other, as shown in FIG. It does not need to be a shelf member; for example, it may be a disc-shaped member arranged in a radial manner in a plurality of cassettes, or the top or side of the cassette as long as it does not interfere with the function (including movement function) of the opening assisting means. It is also possible to arrange a plurality of cassettes in a receiving arrangement with the cassettes suspended or held at the cassettes.

In addition, there is one cassette for storing the image recording sheet of the present invention! The cassette of the present invention shown in FIG. 2, which has an opening at one end, has been described as a preferred mode of use. can also be used in the L device system in the same way.

Further, the image recording sheet storage cassette of the present invention is a preferred embodiment, and the cassette can be configured in other ways without departing from the basic structural requirements, for example, by changing the form and function of the engaging means. It's very good, and you can get the same effect as above.

In addition, although the radiation image reading waveform has been described as an example of a usage mode of the image recording sheet storage cassette of the present invention, the image recording sheet storage cassette of the present invention is not limited to the L device; for example, Among the above-mentioned equipment systems, radiography S
It goes without saying that the present invention can also be used in other apparatuses such as t-positions and radiation image developing apparatuses.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the image recording sheet storage cassette of the present invention, and FIG. 1-A and 5f-B are lines I-1 and I'-1 in FIG. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the cassette for storing image recording sheets of the present invention, and FIG. 2-A and FIG. 2-B are
3A and 3B are side cross-sectional views taken along the line ■-■ and the line n'-n' in FIG. 2, respectively. No. 314 is a schematic diagram of a case where a cassette with open ends for undeveloped IJI is used in a radiation image reading device. No. 414 is a perspective view showing an example of a supply/accommodation device for arranging a cassette with both ends open according to the present invention. A: Radiation MA image conversion panel supply/accommodation section B: Reading section C: Consumption section P: Radiation image conversion panels a, b, c: Transport system 10.20: Cassette 11.21: Sheet storage 12a, 12b , 22a, 22b: Sheet holding plate holding members 13a, 13b, 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b: Sheet holding/maintaining member 15: Sheet storage/discharge openings 17a, 17b, 27a, 27b 28a, 28b= Matching holes 19a, 29a, 30a: Engagement means 25: Sheet storage opening 26: Sheet discharge opening 31: Roller pair 32: Conveyor belt 33: Excitation light irradiation device 34: Detection device 35: Erasing light source 41: Shelf Members 42a, 42b, 42a', 42b' Seat holding/release assisting means 43: Shelf member moving means 43a, guide bar 43b: Supporting member. 43C Nirakku 43d: Motor 43e: Binion Patent Applicant Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Representative Patent Attorney Yasushi Yanagawa Figure 1 Figure 1-A + 20 13b Figure 2 Figure 2-A Figure 2-8

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A light-shielding flat box-shaped sheet storage device having an opening at at least one end; disposed substantially parallel to the inner wall surface of the flat box-shaped sheet storage device; a plate-like holding member for holding the sheet that can hold the sheet in a light-blocking state; a sheet-holding and maintaining member that acts on the holding member so that the plate-like holding member for holding the sheet maintains the light-blocking state of the sheet; A cassette for storing image recording sheets. 2. The sheet holding/maintaining member is an elastic body provided between the flat box-shaped sheet storage device and the sheet-clamping plate-like holding member and pressing the holding member. A cassette for storing an image recording sheet according to item 1. 3. Storage of an image recording sheet according to claim 1, wherein the sheet holding and maintaining member is a magnetic material provided near the opening of the sheet-clamping plate-like holding member. cassette. 4. Any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sheet-clamping plate-shaped holding members are arranged in two sheets with their surfaces facing each other so as to be in contact with or close to each other. A cassette for storing the image recording sheet described in the section. 5. The cassette for accommodating the image recording sheet is provided with an engaging means for a sheet holding release operation for releasing the sheet from being held by the sheet nipping plate-shaped holding member. A cassette for storing an image recording sheet according to item 1.