JPS63260362A - Light beam scanning mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain efficient scanning reproduction by driving the 1st and 2nd main scanning sections to radiate the 1st and 2nd light beams deflected to the sheets to be scanned in the main scanning direction in carrying the two scanned sheets in the subscanning direction via the subscanning carrier system. CONSTITUTION:The storage fluorescent sheet A and a film F are carried in the subscanning direction (direction of arrow B) via the subscanning carrier system 20 comprising a 1st roller pair 16 and a 2nd roller pair 18 and the scanning reading and scanning reproduction are applied simultaneously or individually under the operation of a read section 22 and a reproduction section 24. Thus, the scanning read of the storage fluorescent sheet A and the scanning reproduction of the film F are attained simultaneously in the picture reader and reproducer 10 in this way. Thus, in applying scanning read of the storage fluorescent sheet A, for example, the disadvantage disabling the start of the scanning reproduction of the film F is avoided and the scanning reading/ reproducing process is efficiently attained at once.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a light beam scanning mechanism, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a light beam scanning mechanism for scanning a stimulable phosphor sheet or a photographic material on which a radiation image is stored and recorded. The object is conveyed two by two in the sub-scanning direction via a single sub-scanning transport system, and a light beam deflected in the main-scanning direction is irradiated onto each object to be scanned. The present invention relates to a light beam scanning mechanism that is configured to be able to scan and read and/or scan and reproduce two objects to be scanned at the same time.

[Background of the Invention] Recently, a radiation image recording and reproducing system that obtains a radiation image of a subject using a stimulable phosphor (stimulable phosphor) has been attracting attention. When irradiated with radiation (X-rays, α-rays, β-rays, γ-rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc.), a stimulable phosphor stores part of this radiation energy and is later irradiated with excitation light such as visible light. In this case, it refers to a phosphor that emits stimulated light in response to stored energy.

The radiation image recording and reproducing system described above utilizes this stimulable phosphor, and once the radiation image information of a subject such as a human body is recorded on a sheet having a layer of stimulable phosphor (hereinafter referred to as a ``stimulable phosphor sheet''), This stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned with excitation light such as a laser beam to generate stimulated luminescent light, and the stimulated luminescent light is read photoelectrically to obtain an electrical signal. Based on this electrical signal, the radiation image of the subject is output as a visible image to a recording material such as a photographic light-sensitive material or to a display device such as a CRT.

Therefore, in such a radiation image recording and reproducing system, the following method is specifically adopted to read the radiation image from the stimulable phosphor sheet on which the radiation image is stored and recorded.

In other words, an image reading device scans a stimulable phosphor sheet two-dimensionally with a light beam such as a laser beam, and the stimulated luminescence light emitted thereby is chronologically scanned by a photodetector such as a photomultiplier. to obtain image information. The two-dimensional scanning of the light beam is usually -
A light beam is dimensionally deflected and irradiated onto the stimulable phosphor sheet to perform main scanning, and the sheet is mechanically conveyed by a belt conveyor or the like in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction;
This is achieved by performing sub-scanning.

Next, the image information obtained as described above is sent to an image reproduction device. The image reproducing device irradiates a recording sheet such as a photographic material, which is a recording material, with a laser beam modulated based on the image information obtained from a stimulable phosphor sheet, and reproduces a predetermined image on the recording sheet. is configured to do so.

By the way, as described above, in an image reading device, a light beam is irradiated while a stimulable phosphor sheet is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction, and the radiation image information stored and recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet is photoelectrically read. However, in order to obtain highly accurate and clear image information, it is necessary to transport the stimulable phosphor sheet at a relatively low speed in the sub-scanning direction.

Therefore, it usually takes a relatively long time to read radiation image information from one stimulable phosphor sheet. For this reason, in particular, a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheets are coated with
If radiographic image information is accumulated and recorded, and each of the radiographic image information is to be obtained at once by loading the plurality of stimulable phosphor sheets into an image reading device, the work corresponds to the reading work of the radiographic image information. It takes a lot of time. As a result, an inconvenience arises in that an efficient image reading process cannot be achieved.

In this case, it is conceivable to prepare multiple image reading devices and scan and read the stimulable phosphor sheet through each image reading device, but this would be extremely uneconomical and would be unacceptable for measurement. Defects arise.

On the other hand, in an image reproducing device, a predetermined visible image may be continuously formed on a plurality of recording sheets based on image information read by the image reading device. that time,
It has been pointed out that, like the stimulable phosphor sheet, the recording sheet is also conveyed in the sub-scanning direction at a relatively low speed, making it difficult to scan and reproduce a large number of recording sheets in a short period of time. .

Furthermore, it has been considered to employ an image reading and reproducing apparatus configured to perform scanning and reading operations for a stimulable phosphor sheet and scanning and reproducing operations for a recording sheet using a single apparatus. In this image reading and reproducing apparatus, the same sub-scanning conveyance system is used, and therefore, scanning and reading of the stimulable phosphor sheet and scanning and reproducing of the recording sheet are performed separately. For this reason,
For example, it is not possible to start scanning and reproducing the recording sheet while the stimulable phosphor sheet is being scanned and read, which raises the possibility that the overall efficiency of the radiation image information reading and reproducing process cannot be easily achieved. do.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in order to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages, and is capable of transporting objects to be scanned, such as stimulable phosphor sheets and recording sheets, two by two in the sub-scanning direction. A sub-scanning conveyance system is provided, and first and second scanning means for irradiating each object to be scanned with a light beam deflected in the main scanning direction are provided. It becomes possible to perform scanning reading and/or scanning reproduction,
In particular, it is possible to convey two objects to be scanned in the sub-scanning direction via a single sub-scanning conveyance system, and to reduce the structure of the sub-scanning conveyance system at once, making it possible to easily downsize the entire apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a light beam scanning mechanism that can be easily manufactured at low cost.

[Means for Achieving the Object] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides first and second light beams that irradiate an object to be scanned with a light beam deflected in the main scanning direction.
It consists of a main scanning section, and a sub-scanning conveyance system that can integrally convey two objects to be scanned in the same direction that is substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction, and the two objects are conveyed through the sub-scanning conveyance system. When conveying the object to be scanned in the sub-scanning direction, the first and second main scanning sections are driven to irradiate each object to be scanned with the first and second light beams deflected in the main scanning direction. It is characterized by configuring.

[Embodiments] Next, preferred embodiments of the light beam scanning mechanism according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 indicates an image reading and reproducing apparatus incorporating a light beam scanning mechanism according to the present invention. A light beam scanning mechanism 14 according to the invention is disposed in the image reading and reproducing apparatus lOO room 1 and 2, and in this case, the light beam scanning mechanism 14 includes a sub-scanning conveyance system 20 including two pairs of rollers 16 and 18; , a reading unit 22 provided at the upper side of the chamber 12 for scanning and reading the stimulable phosphor sheet A, and a reproducing unit located at the lower side of the chamber 12 for scanning and reproducing the recording sheet, for example, an unexposed film F. It basically consists of 24.

Inside the chamber 12, a first supply section 26 is provided at the upper left in the figure, and a supply magazine 28 is removably loaded into the first supply section 26. In the supply magazine 28, stimulable phosphor sheets A on which radiation images have been stored and recorded are stored in a stack.

A single wafer mechanism including a swingable suction cup 30 in the vicinity of the first supply section 26 is provided in the chamber 12; The body sheet A is taken out by a first pair of rollers 16 forming a sub-scanning conveyance system 20.

The tenth roller pair 16 includes a roller 16a that is rotationally driven via a rotational drive source (not shown), and a nip roller 16b that can freely come into sliding contact with the roller 16a. On the other hand, the second roller pair 18 constituting the sub-scanning conveyance system 20 is the roller 1
The 10th roller pair 16 and the 20th roller pair 18 are composed of a roller 18a that is rotationally driven in synchronization with the roller 6a, and a nip roller 18b that can freely come into sliding contact with the roller 18a. They are arranged at intervals shorter than the length of F in the conveying direction. And the 10th-ra vs. 16th and 20th
- Guide plates 32a and 32b are arranged between the pair 18, and a light shielding plate 34 is provided above each guide plate 32a and 32b.

Next, a conveyance means including a swingable suction cup 36 is disposed adjacent to the 20th pair 18, and in this case, the suction cup 36 is used to hold the stimulable phosphor sheet A conveyed in the horizontal direction.
After displacing the traveling direction vertically upward, the sheet is fed into the first conveying roller pair 38. A second conveyance roller pair 40 is disposed above the first m-th conveyance roller pair 38 with a predetermined distance therebetween, and the sheet A held between the second conveyance opening 40 is read and reproduced by image reading. The paper is transported to an erasing section (not shown) through an opening 42 provided in the earthen wall of the device 10.

Therefore, a reading section 22 is disposed above each pair of rollers 16, 18. The reading section 22 includes a laser light source 4
4, and on the laser light output side of this laser light source 44 is a polygon mirror 48 that rotates to reflect and deflect the laser light 46.
, a scanning lens 50 such as an fθ lens, and a condensing reflection mirror 52 are provided. Furthermore, a light guide 54 is disposed along the main scanning line at the scanning position of the laser beam 46 on the sheet A, and a photomultiplier 56 is mounted above the light guide 54.

Furthermore, a second supply section 5 is provided in the lower left part of the chamber 12 in the figure.
8, and a supply magazine 60 is removably loaded into this second supply section 58.

A plurality of unexposed films F are stored in the supply magazine 60, and the films F are taken out one by one from the supply magazine 60 under the driving action of a sheet-fed mechanism including a swingable suction cup 62. , sub-scanning conveyance system 20
It is sent to the 10th-ra pair 16 that constitutes the .

On the other hand, below the rollers 18a constituting the 20th roller pair 18, a conveying means including a swingable suction cup 64, similar to the suction cup 36 described above, is provided. A third pair of conveying rollers 66 is provided. moreover,
Similarly, a fourth conveying roller pair 66 is vertically downwardly connected to the third conveying roller pair 66.
A conveyance roller pair 68 is provided, and an opening 70 formed in the lower wall of the image reading and reproducing apparatus IO faces the conveyance path of the fourth and eleventh conveyance roller pairs 68. The film F is sent to an automatic developing device (not shown) or the like.

Next, a regeneration section 24 is provided below each pair of rollers 16 and 18.
will be placed. In this case, the reproducing unit 24 essentially includes an optical modulator 76 that modulates the laser beam 74, a polygon mirror 78 that deflects the modulated laser beam 74, and a scanning lens that scans the laser beam 74 onto the film F. It consists of 80.

The image reading and reproducing apparatus incorporating the light beam scanning mechanism according to this embodiment is basically constructed as described above, and its operation and effects will be explained next.

First, the supply magazine 28 is attached to the first supply section 26 . In this case, the supply magazine 28 stores a plurality of stacked stimulable phosphor sheets A on which radiation images of subjects such as human bodies are stored, for example.

Then, the stimulable phosphor sheet A is taken out from the supply magazine 28 under the action of a single sheet mechanism including a suction cup 30, and the stimulable phosphor sheet A is taken out from the supply magazine 28,
transported to. At this time, the roller 16a and the roller 18a forming the 20th roller pair 8 are synchronized under the driving action of a rotational drive source (not shown) that engages the roller 16a forming the 10th roller pair 16. Rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow.

Therefore, the stimulable phosphor sheet A)
is conveyed above the light shielding plate 34 in the sub-scanning direction (direction of arrow B), and a scanning reading operation is performed under the action of the reading section 22.

That is, the reading unit 22 is driven to reflect and deflect the laser beam 46 emitted from the laser light source 44 by the polygon mirror 48, and then scan the sheet A in the main scanning direction via the scanning lens 50.

As a result, the stimulated luminescence light emitted from the sheet A is reflected directly or by the reflecting mirror 52 to the light guide 54.
The photomultiplier 56 converts this into an electrical signal. In this way, the stimulable phosphor sheet A is two-dimensionally scanned by the laser beam 46.

Next, the stimulable phosphor sheet A is suctioned and held by a suction cup 36, and its conveyance direction is displaced from the horizontal direction to the vertically upward direction, and the sheet is sandwiched between the first conveyance roller pair 38. moreover,
Sheet A is transferred from the 1st!11th feeding roller pair 38 to the 21st feeding roller pair 38.
Ii! After being conveyed by a pair of feeding rollers 40, the sheet A is conveyed through an opening 42 to an erasing section (not shown), the radiation image information remaining on this sheet A is erased, and the sheet A is stored in a cassette or the like.

In this way, based on the image information read from the stimulable phosphor sheet A loaded in the first supply section 26,
Alternatively, an image is reproduced on the film F based on image information obtained from another image reading device or the like. That is, the supply magazine 60 loaded in the second supply section 58 stores a plurality of unexposed films F, and the films F are transferred to the tenth film under the driving action of a sheet-fed mechanism including a suction cup 62.
- Sent to the 16 side. Furthermore, this film F is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction (direction of arrow B) between the guide plates 32a, 32b and the light shielding plate 34 via the 10th pair 16 and the 20th pair 18, and is reproduced. section 24 is driven. Therefore, the laser beam 74 derived from the laser light source 72 is modulated by the optical modulator 76, then deflected by the polygon mirror 78, and is irradiated from the scanning lens 80 onto the film F in the main scanning direction. As a result, a predetermined image is reproduced on the film F.

Next, after the image reproduction is completed, the film F is moved vertically downward under the action of a conveying means including a suction cup 64, and is then conveyed from the opening 70 via a pair of conveying rollers 66 and 68. It is sent to an automatic developing device (not shown),
A predetermined development process will be performed.

In this case, in this embodiment, the 10th-ra pair 16 and the 20th
- The stimulable phosphor sheet A and the film F are conveyed in the sub-scanning direction (direction of arrow B) through a sub-scanning conveyance system 20 consisting of a pair of lasers 18, and under the action of a reading section 22 and a reproducing section 24. The scanning reading operation and the scanning reproduction operation are performed simultaneously or separately. In this way, it is possible to simultaneously perform the scanning and reading operation of the stimulable phosphor sheet A and the scanning and reproduction operation of the film F within the image reading and reproducing apparatus 10. Therefore, the inconvenience of not being able to start scanning and reproducing film F when performing scanning and reading of stimulable phosphor sheet A, for example, as in the past, can be avoided, and the scanning, reading and reproducing process can be performed efficiently all at once. becomes possible.

Furthermore, the stimulable phosphor sheet A and the film F are transported in the sub-scanning direction (direction of arrow B) through the same sub-scanning transport system 20.

As a result, the structure of the sub-scanning transport system 20 is simpler and more economical to manufacture than a system in which separate sub-scanning transport systems are provided to transport the stimulable phosphor sheet and the film in the sub-scanning direction. The advantage is that it can be done.

Further, a light shielding plate 34 is provided between each pair of rollers 16, 18. Therefore, the stimulable phosphor sheet A and film F are transported in the sub-scanning direction (arrow B) via the sub-scanning transport system 20.
For example, when the stimulable phosphor sheet A is transported in the stimulable phosphor sheet A under the driving action of the reading section 22,
Since the light is blocked by the light shielding plate 34, the film F is not irradiated with light. Therefore, it becomes possible to efficiently perform the scanning reading operation of the stimulable phosphor sheet A and the scanning reproduction operation of the film F.

Note that in FIG. 1, the reading section 2 is used instead of the reproduction section 24.
A reading section similar to 26.2 is provided, and a respective supply section 26.2 is provided.
The supply magazine 28 loaded with the stimulable phosphor sheet A, or a cassette or the like can be loaded into the supply magazine 58. As a result, it is possible to provide an image reading device that can scan and read two stimulable phosphor sheets A simultaneously while integrally conveying them in the sub-scanning direction (arrow B direction).

On the other hand, in FIG.
4 may be provided, and each supply section 26, 58 may be configured to be equipped with a supply magazine 60 containing unexposed film F.

Therefore, it is possible to obtain an image reproducing apparatus capable of scanning and reproducing two sheets of unexposed film F at once.

Incidentally, in this embodiment, the reading section 22 and the reproducing section 24 are configured independently, but a predetermined optical system can also be used in common. This is shown in FIG.

That is, it is assumed that the respective laser light sources 44 and 72 configuring the reading section 22 and the reproducing section 24 emit different wavelengths, and the laser light 46 emitted from the laser light source 44
Light having the wavelength of the laser beam 46 is transmitted to the intersection of the laser beam 74 emitted from the laser light source 72, and the laser beam 74 is transmitted.
A dichroic mirror 75 is provided to reflect light having a wavelength of . Note that an optical modulator 76 is provided on the laser light output side of the laser light source 72. Furthermore, a polygon mirror 82 is rotatably disposed in the optical path of the laser beam 46 transmitted through the dichroic mirror 75 and the laser beam 74 reflected by the dichroic mirror 75, and the polygon mirror 82 is configured to scan toward the laser beam reflection side of the polygon mirror 82. lens 84
will be provided. A dichroic mirror 86 that reflects light of the wavelength of the laser light 46 and transmits light of the wavelength of the laser light 74 is arranged on the laser light output side of the scanning lens 84 so as to be inclined at a predetermined angle. In this case, in order to irradiate the laser beam 46 reflected by the dichroic mirror 86 onto the stimulable phosphor sheet A, the reflecting mirrors 88a and 88
8b is provided, and the dichroic mirror 8
Reflection mirrors 90a to 90c for irradiating the unexposed film F with laser light 74 that passes through the film F are arranged at predetermined positions, respectively.

In such a configuration, laser light 46 derived from the laser light source 44 constituting the reading section 22 is transmitted through the dichroic mirror 75, reflected and deflected by the polygon mirror 82, and reaches the dichroic mirror 86 via the scanning lens 84. Furthermore, the laser beam 46 is reflected vertically upward in the figure by the dichroic mirror 86, and then passes through the respective reflecting mirrors 88a and 88b to the stimulable phosphor sheet A.
The image is scanned upward in the main scanning direction. On the other hand, a laser beam 74 derived from a laser light source 72 constituting the reproducing section 24 is modulated via an optical modulator 76, and then reflected by a dichroic mirror 75 and coaxially combined with the laser beam 46. is reflected and deflected by the scanning lens 8.
4, passes through the dichroic mirror 86, is split into the laser beam 46, and is reflected by the respective reflecting mirrors 90a to 90c.
The light is reflected by the beam and irradiates onto the unexposed film F.

In this way, the respective laser light sources 44 and 72 can be placed close to each other, and by sharing the polygon mirror 82 and the scanning lens 84, the image reading and reproducing apparatus 10
The advantage is that it becomes easier to downsize the device.

In this case, in this embodiment, the laser beam 46 and the laser beam 74
are different wavelengths, and dichroic mirrors 75 and 8
6, but the 60th-
As shown in No. 227218, both laser beams 46.7
The polarization directions of the two laser beams 46 and 74 may be orthogonal to each other for combination and division, or the directions of incidence of the two laser beams 46 and 74 on the optical deflector 76 may be made different to form side optical paths. .

The applicant has filed various patent applications for this type of method of combining and dividing two different laser beams, such as Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-225117 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 55-101909. The technical idea is disclosed in .

Furthermore, another embodiment of the light beam scanning mechanism according to the present invention is shown in FIG. Note that the same components as those of the image reading and reproducing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted.

In this case, in FIG. 3, reference numeral 92 indicates an image reading device, and a light beam scanning mechanism 94 according to the second embodiment is disposed within the chamber 12 of the image reading device 92.

The light beam scanning mechanism 94 essentially includes a sub-scanning conveyance system 96 and a first reading section 98 and a second reading section that are provided facing each other on the outside of the sub-scanning conveyance system 96. 100
including. In addition, in the image reading device 92, a pair of end-shaped conveyor belts 102 and 102 are arranged vertically in place of the pair of conveyor rollers 38 and 40 shown in FIG. Ru. On the other hand, an endless conveyor belt 104 is provided to extend horizontally near the end of the 20th pair 18, and a swingable suction cup 106 is provided above the conveyor belt 104. A conveying means is provided.

In such a configuration, each supply section 26.58 is loaded with a supply magazine 28.108 in which a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheets A are stored in a stacked manner, and the storage capacity in each supply magazine 28.108 is The phosphor sheet A is sent to the sub-scanning conveyance system 96 under the driving action of a single-sheet mechanism including suction cups 30.62.

The stimulable phosphor sheet A sent to the sub-scanning conveyance system 96 via the suction cup 30 has its scanning surface facing vertically upward, and this stimulable phosphor sheet A is fed to the first reading section 9
Scanning is performed under the action of 8. In this case, the first
The reading unit 98 is driven in the same manner as the reading unit 22 shown in FIG. The phosphor sheet A is transported in the direction of arrow B under the driving action of the sub-scanning transport system 96, and is scanned two-dimensionally.

The stimulable phosphor sheet (A) which has completed the image reading operation in this way is attracted by the suction cup 36, is displaced vertically upward in its direction of movement, is held between the conveyor belts 102 and 102, and is shown from the opening 42. The data is transported to the erasing unit where the data is not stored.

On the other hand, the suction cup 62 is stored in the supply magazine 108.
The stimulable phosphor sheet A sent out to the side of the sub-scanning conveyance system 96 under the action of the single sheet mechanism including the stimulable phosphor sheet A has its scanning surface facing vertically downward. Then, the stimulable phosphor sheet A, which is transported in the direction of arrow B via the sub-scanning transport system 96, receives light emitted from the laser light source 44 under the action of the second reading section lOO, similar to the first reading section 98. Scanning reading will be performed using the laser beam 46. Next, the stimulable phosphor sheet A is transferred to the right end side of the image reading device 92 via the conveyor belt 104, and then the back surface side corresponding to the scanning surface is suctioned and held by the suction cup 106 (the conveyor belt). 102.10
2 side, and is transported from the opening 42 to an erasing section (not shown) via the transport bells 102 and 102. At this time, the stimulable phosphor sheet A taken out from the supply magazine 108 is transferred to the conveyor belt 104 and the suction cup 106.
As a result, the scanning surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet A faces the scanning surface of another stimulable phosphor sheet A taken out from the supply magazine 28 in the same two directions, and is sent to an erasing section (not shown).

Therefore, in the image reading device 92, scanning and reading can be performed simultaneously on the two stimulable phosphor sheets A under the action of the respective reading sections 98 and 100, and the efficiency of the scanning and reading work can be easily achieved. This has the effect of being done. Moreover,
Two stimulable phosphor sheets A can be transported in the scanning direction through the same sub-scanning transport system 96, and the sub-scanning transport system 96 can be easily miniaturized and manufactured economically. Become.

Note that the supply magazines 60 shown in FIG.
It will be easily understood that if 00 is replaced with the reproduction section 24, an image reading device that can reproduce images on two films F at the same time can be obtained. Further, although the first reading section 98 and the second reading section 100 are configured using independent optical systems, the first reading section 98 and the second reading section 100 are configured using independent optical systems.
As shown in FIG. 2, the reading section 100 can also be constructed by sharing a polygon mirror 82 and a scanning lens 84.

Next, FIG. 4 shows another image reading device incorporating the light beam scanning mechanism 94 shown in FIG. 3. Note that the same components as those of the image reading device 92 shown in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

In the second case, the image reading device 110 is provided with a single supply section 26 for removably loading the supply magazine 28, and is located below the supply section 26 on the pedestal 112.
is installed.

In such a configuration, one stimulable phosphor sheet A that is taken out from the sub-lye magazine 28 via the suction cup 30 is attached to the first and 20th stimulable phosphor sheet A that constitutes the sub-scanning conveyance system 96.
- While being conveyed in the direction of the arrow B while being held between the pair 16 and 18, scanning reading is performed under the driving action of the first reading section 98, as described above. Furthermore, it is sent out from the opening 42 to an erasing section (not shown) via the suction cup 36 and the conveyor belts 102, 102.

Further, the other stimulable phosphor sheet A taken out from the supply magazine 28 via the suction cup 36 is once fed into the pedestal 112, and then is sub-scanned under the driving action of a sheet mechanism including the suction cup 62. It is sent out to the conveyance system 96. Therefore, the scanning surface of the other stimulable phosphor sheet A faces vertically downward, and scanning reading is performed on the other stimulable phosphor sheet A under the action of the second reading section 100. be exposed. Next, the other stimulable phosphor sheet A is made to face the scanning surface of the above-mentioned one stimulable phosphor sheet A by means of a conveyor belt 104 and a suction cup 106, and then the conveyor belt The data is sent to an erasing section (not shown) via 102 and 102.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the first and second light beams are configured to irradiate a scanned object such as a stimulable phosphor sheet or a recording sheet with a light beam deflected in the main scanning direction. A scanning section is provided, and a sub-scanning conveyance system is provided which integrally conveys each object to be scanned in the sub-scanning direction via the first and second scanning sections to be scanned and/or scanned and reproduced. .

Therefore, it is possible to simultaneously scan two objects to be scanned with a single device, and it becomes possible to easily achieve efficiency in scanning reading and/or scanning and reproducing operations. Moreover, it is possible to integrally transport two objects to be scanned in the sub-scanning direction via a single sub-scanning transport system, and the structure of the sub-scanning transport system can be further simplified to improve the light beam scanning mechanism. Another advantage is that the entire device to be incorporated can be easily miniaturized and manufactured economically.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.
For example, it is possible to use other means such as a belt instead of the pair of rollers as the sub-scanning conveyance system, and it is of course possible to make various improvements and changes in design without departing from the gist of the present invention. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image reading and reproducing apparatus incorporating a light beam scanning mechanism according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a light beam scanning mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image reading and reproducing apparatus incorporating a light beam scanning mechanism according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another image reading and reproducing apparatus incorporating the light beam scanning mechanism shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram.

Claims (7)

[Claims] (1) First and second main scanning sections that irradiate the object to be scanned with a light beam deflected in the main scanning direction, and the two objects to be scanned are integrated in the same direction and substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction. and a sub-scanning conveyance system capable of conveying the two objects in the sub-scanning direction via the sub-scanning conveyance system, by driving the first and second main scanning sections, respectively. A light beam scanning mechanism characterized in that the light beam scanning mechanism is configured to irradiate a scanned object with first and second light beams deflected in the main scanning direction. (2) In the mechanism according to claim 1, the sub-scanning conveyance system is comprised of two pairs of rollers that are arranged at an interval shorter than the length of the object to be scanned in the conveyance direction. Beam scanning mechanism. (3) In the mechanism according to claim 2, a light beam is provided between each pair of rollers in a manner corresponding to the scanning position of the light beam irradiated from each main scanning section. scanning mechanism. (4) In the mechanism set forth in claim 1, the first
The first and second objects to be scanned, which are sheet-fed from the second supply unit, are configured to be conveyed integrally in the sub-scanning direction via a sub-scanning conveyance system with their back sides with respect to the respective scanning surfaces superimposed. A light beam scanning mechanism. (5) In the mechanism set forth in claim 1, a first object to be scanned is sheet-fed from a supply section, and a second object to be scanned is taken out from the supply section and its scanning surface has been reversed. A light beam scanning mechanism configured to overlap the back side of each scanning surface and transport them integrally via a sub-scanning transport system. (6) In the mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the first and second objects to be scanned include a stimulable phosphor sheet and/or a recording sheet, and the stimulable phosphor sheet The sheets and/or recording sheets are superimposed and integrally conveyed in the sub-scanning direction via a sub-scanning conveyance system, and the first and second main scanning sections are driven to simultaneously perform scanning reading and/or scanning reproduction. A light beam scanning mechanism configured to enable this. (7) In the mechanism set forth in claim 1, the first
A light beam scanning mechanism in which the main scanning section and the second main scanning section share a predetermined optical system.