JP2003156809A - Reading unit and erasing unit for radiation image - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make devices small-sized and to stabilize operations while preventing costs from rising by maintaining shading and arraying discharge cassettes without adding any extra mechanism nor component. SOLUTION: As for a radiation image reading unit and a radiation image erasing unit, a darkroom 200 has a discharge opening 4 for discharging a cassette 1, and the devices have a carrying means 110 for carrying the cassette 1 so that it is discharged from the discharge opening 4, a movable shutter member 120 which is provided for the discharge opening 4 and shades the radiation image reading unit, and an energizing means 130 which energizes the movable shutter member 120 in such a direction that the discharge opening 4 is closed; and the cassette 1 is carried by the carrying means 110 and then the front end of the cassette 1 opens the movable shutter member 120 although it is energized by the energizing means 130, so that the cassette 1 is discharged from the discharge opening 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radiation image reading apparatus and a radiation image erasing apparatus for reading and discharging radiation image information stored in an image recording medium in a dark room.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to digitize radiation image information generated in a hospital and store / transmit it, a device for outputting image information as digital data has been widely used. As an apparatus for outputting such digital data, an apparatus using, for example, a stimulable phosphor sheet as an image recording medium is well known.

The photostimulable phosphor sheet is capable of detecting a part of the radiation energy transmitted through the subject and at the same time accumulating the detected radiation energy inside the photostimulable phosphor sheet. Further, the radiation energy accumulated in the stimulable phosphor sheet can be extracted as stimulable light by exciting it with laser light having a predetermined wavelength. This photostimulable light can be extracted as an electric signal by using a photoelectric conversion element such as a photomultiplier.

Generally, the stimulable phosphor sheet is used by being housed in a portable thin box-shaped casing called a cassette. In such a usage pattern, the user can easily carry the stimulable phosphor sheet together with the cassette, so that radiography can be performed in the same manner as a conventionally used screen / film type cassette. .

[0005]

A cassette containing such a stimulable phosphor sheet is taken into a dark room, and excitation light is introduced onto the stimulable phosphor sheet contained in the cassette in the dark room. The photostimulable fluorescent light stored in the cassette in the dark room is received by the emitted light from the photostimulable phosphor sheet that has been irradiated with this excitation light and photoelectrically reads the image signal of the radiation image. Irradiation of erasing light on the body sheet to erase the radiation image stored and recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet, and the cassette containing the erased stimulable phosphor sheet is ejected from the dark room, but after ejection In order to secure a discharge path for the next cassette, it is necessary to move and align the cassette after discharge by using a driving part such as a motor or a transport mechanism such as a belt.

In such a structure, it is necessary to open the shutter by using a driving component such as a motor when the cassette is discharged, and in some cases a special mechanism for moving and aligning the cassette is required, resulting in an increase in size and cost of the apparatus. Become.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to maintain the light shielding and align the discharge cassette without adding a special mechanism or parts, and to prevent the cost increase, and to reduce the size of the apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a radiographic image reading device and a radiographic image erasing device that can achieve high efficiency and stable operation.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and to achieve the object, the present invention has the following constitution.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, "a cassette containing an image recording medium on which a radiation image is reaccumulatively recordable is taken into a dark chamber, and the cassette is housed in the cassette in the dark chamber. The image recording medium is irradiated with excitation light onto the image recording medium, the light emission generated from the image recording medium irradiated with the excitation light is received to photoelectrically read the image signal of the radiation image, and the read image recording medium is read. In the radiation image reading apparatus for discharging the stored cassette from the dark chamber, the dark chamber has a discharge port for discharging the cassette, and a transporting unit for transporting the cassette for discharging from the discharge port, A movable shutter member provided in the discharge port for shielding light in the radiation image reading device, and a biasing member for urging the movable shutter member in a direction of closing the discharge port. By transporting the cassette by the transporting means, the tip of the cassette exceeds the bias of the biasing means, opens the movable shutter member, and discharges the cassette from the discharge port. A radiation image reading device characterized by the above. ].

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the cassette is conveyed by the conveying means, the tip of the cassette exceeds the bias of the biasing means, the movable shutter member is opened, and the cassette is discharged from the discharge port. By discharging and closing, you can not only keep the light shield and align the discharge cassette without adding special mechanism or parts, but also prevent cost increase,
It is possible to reduce the size of the device and stabilize the operation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided "a stock portion for accommodating the cassette discharged from the discharge port in a predetermined direction of the discharge port, and the biasing means biases the stock portion. The radiation image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a movable shutter member biases the cassette discharged from the discharge port in the predetermined direction. ].

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the movable shutter member biases the cassette ejected from the ejection port in a predetermined direction, thereby shielding the light without adding a special mechanism or component. Maintaining and aligning the discharge cassette.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided "a cushioning means for damping the bias of the biasing means to dampen the bias of the cassette in the predetermined direction. The radiographic image reading device according to item 2. ].

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the biasing of the cassette in the predetermined direction is attenuated, so that the light shielding can be maintained and the operation can be performed without generating an operating noise when the cassettes are aligned. Moreover, the impact of the movable shutter member and the cassette at the time of alignment is reduced, and the durability is improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, "a radiographic image is not read in the dark chamber while the cassette is being discharged from the discharge port. The radiation image reading device according to claim 1. ].

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the radiation image is not read in the dark room during the period when the cassette is discharged from the discharge port, thereby preventing the reading failure due to the external light.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, "the image recording medium is not exposed from another cassette in the dark chamber while the cassette is being discharged from the discharge port. Item 4. The radiation image reading device according to any one of Items 3. ].

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the image recording medium of the other cassette from being defective in reading due to external light.

Further, in the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 5, the image recording medium on which the radiation image is accumulated is a photosensitive material whose degree of disappearance of the radiation image due to leakage light is such that the radiation image cannot be re-accumulated. It is found that the light shielding by the biased movable shutter member is sufficient because it is small compared with the above.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, "a cassette containing an image recording medium on which a radiation image is stored and recorded is taken into a dark chamber, and the cassette is stored in the dark chamber on the image recording medium. In the radiation image erasing device for erasing the radiation image accumulated and recorded on the image recording medium, and discharging the cassette containing the erased image recording medium from the dark chamber, the dark chamber,
Conveying means having a discharge port for discharging the cassette, for transporting the cassette for discharging from the discharge port, and a movable shutter member provided in the discharge port for shielding light in the radiation image reading apparatus. And a biasing means for biasing the movable shutter member in a direction of closing the discharge port, and by transporting the cassette by the transport means, the tip of the cassette is biased by the biasing means. The radiation image erasing device, characterized in that the movable shutter member is opened over the range and the cassette is discharged from the discharge port. ].

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the cassette is conveyed by the conveying means, the tip of the cassette exceeds the bias of the biasing means, the movable shutter member is opened, and the cassette is discharged from the discharge port. By discharging and closing, you can not only keep the light shield and align the discharge cassette without adding special mechanism or parts, but also prevent cost increase,
It is possible to reduce the size of the device and stabilize the operation.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, "a stock portion for accommodating the cassette discharged from the discharge port is provided in a predetermined direction of the discharge port, and the movable portion is biased by the biasing means. 7. The radiation image erasing device according to claim 6, wherein a shutter member biases the cassette discharged from the discharge port in the predetermined direction. ].

According to the invention of claim 7, the movable shutter member urges the cassette ejected from the ejection port in a predetermined direction, thereby shielding the light without adding a special mechanism or component. Maintaining and aligning the discharge cassette.

The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that "a damping means for damping the bias by the biasing means is provided, and the bias of the cassette in the predetermined direction is damped. 7. The radiation image erasing device according to item 7. ].

According to the invention described in claim 8, the biasing of the cassette in the predetermined direction is attenuated, so that the light shielding can be maintained and the operation can be performed without generating the operation noise when the cassettes are aligned. Moreover, the impact of the movable shutter member and the cassette at the time of alignment is reduced, and the durability is improved.

Further, the invention according to claims 6 to 8 prevents noise from being recorded by light having a wavelength other than the erasing wavelength range.

[0027]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. First, one embodiment of a cassette used in the radiation image reading apparatus and the radiation image erasing apparatus of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view when the front plate and the back plate of the cassette are separated. The cassette 1 is composed of a separable front plate 10 and a back plate 20. The front plate 10 includes a frame 11 and a front plate 13.

The frame 11 is preferably made of a material, such as aluminum or hard plastic, which can withstand a large load during full-weight shooting, and the front plate 13 is
For example, aluminum or carbon fiber reinforced plastic,
It is preferably formed of a member having a relatively small radiation absorption.

In the cassette of the type in which the side face of the cassette is opened and closed or the side plate of the cassette is pulled out, the outer periphery of the cassette side face cannot be constructed in a seamless structure, so that the structure is weak against the load from the front side. ing. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the frame 11 of the front plate 10 has a structure that seamlessly covers the outer periphery of the front plate 13, so that the load applied from the front plate 10 side of the cassette 1 during photographing is uniform over the entire frame 11. Can be taken to. Therefore, the structure is extremely strong against the load applied from the front plate 10 side.

The back plate 20 includes a back plate body 21, a support plate 27, and a stimulable phosphor sheet 2 as an image recording medium.
8 are formed.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 28 is fixed to a supporting plate 27, and the supporting plate 27 is adhered to the thin plate 26 with a strength capable of being replaced by a double-sided tape or an adhesive. As described above, the stimulable phosphor sheet 28 forms an integral structure with the back plate body 21.

When it is desired to replace the stimulable phosphor sheet 28, it is peeled off from the thin plate 26 together with the supporting plate 27, and then,
Support plate 27 with new stimulable phosphor sheet 28 attached
May be adhered to the thin plate 26 with a double-sided tape or an adhesive.

Further, in order to facilitate replacement of the stimulable phosphor sheet 28, the supporting plate 27 is structured not to be adhered to the thin plate 26 by a double-sided tape or an adhesive, but to be attracted by magnetic force. Is also good. For example, the support plate 27 is formed of a rubber magnet, or the back surface of the support plate 27 (the surface to which the stimulable phosphor sheet 28 is not attached)
A rubber magnet is bonded to the thin plate 26, or the surface of the thin plate 26 is made of a magnetic substance. With this structure, the support plate 27 to which the stimulable phosphor sheet 28 is adhered can be easily removed from the back plate 20. Needless to say, the same effect can be obtained even if the back surface of the support plate 27 is made of a magnetic material and the thin plate 26 is made of a rubber magnet.

When the back plate 20 and the front plate 10 are united, light is shielded so that external light does not reach the stimulable phosphor sheet 28.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a radiation image processing apparatus provided with the radiation image reading apparatus and the radiation image erasing apparatus of the present invention.

The radiation image processing apparatus comprises a radiation image reading apparatus and a radiation image erasing apparatus, and the apparatus body 2
Has a dark room 200, and the apparatus body 2 is provided with a cassette insertion port 3 and a cassette ejection port 4.

The apparatus main body 2 is composed of two units, a transport reading unit 2a and a cassette insertion / ejection unit 2b, and the cassette insertion / ejection unit 2b has a structure that can be easily removed from the transport reading unit 2a. Further, a vibration-proof rubber 73 is arranged between the conveyance reading section 2a and the cassette insertion / ejection section 2b, so that the vibration during insertion / ejection of the cassette is hard to be transmitted to the conveyance reading section 2a.

The sub-scanning means 50 and the carrying means 40 in the cassette insertion / ejection section 2b are constructed on the same substrate 71. Between the base plate 71 and the bottom plate 70, a vibration proof rubber 72 is provided.
By arranging, the vibration isolation structure that does not propagate the vibration of the cassette insertion / ejection section 2b to the sub-scanning unit 50 is realized.

Further, a vibration-proof rubber 74 is provided between the upper end of the sub-scanning means 50 and a device frame (not shown) to strengthen the vibration-proof structure for the sub-scanning means 50.

With such a vibration-proof structure, the cassette is inserted into the insertion slot 3 or the cassette is taken out from the ejection slot 4 while the image information is being read from the stimulable phosphor sheet 28 by the transport reading section 2a. Even if the apparatus main body 2 is vibrated, noise due to vibration can be prevented from occurring in the read image information.

Further, since the sub-scanning means 50 and the transport means 40 are constructed on the same substrate 71, when the back plate 20 is delivered from the transport means 40 to the sub-scanning means 50, the delivery position does not shift. As a result, the front plate 1
It is possible to stably and accurately carry out the work of separating the 0 and the back plate 20 and combining them.

The cassette 1 on which the radiation image has been taken is inserted into the insertion opening 3 in the direction of arrow A1. At this time, the stimulable phosphor sheet 28 is inserted so that the reading surface faces obliquely downward. When the cassette 1 is inserted into the insertion opening 3, the cassette detection sensor (not shown) recognizes the presence of the cassette 1, and the width adjusting means 47 arranged in the insertion opening 3 moves the cassette to the center of the insertion opening 3. F will be squeezed.

When the cassette is moved closer to the center of the insertion slot 3, the insertion roller 42 is operated to take the cassette 1 into the apparatus main body 2 along the dotted line a in the direction of arrow A2. The transport means 40 is already waiting at the position of the dotted line a when the insertion roller 42 operates, and receives the cassette 1 carried by the insertion roller 42 from the insertion opening 3. When the elevating table 402 (which operates along the conveying means 40) catches the lower end of the cassette 1, the elevating table 402 conveys the cassette 1 along the conveying means 40 in the direction of arrow A2.

The conveying means 40 has a rotating shaft 404, and can freely rotate and move at least in the range from the dotted line a to the dotted line c (range of angle θ) with the rotating shaft 404 as the center of rotation. When the cassette 1 is taken into the inside of the apparatus main body 2 by the carrying mechanism 40, the carrying mechanism 40 rotationally moves from the position of the dotted line a to the position of the dotted line c in the direction of arrow A3 with the rotation shaft 404 as the rotation center. When the transport mechanism 40 is rotationally moved to the position of the dotted line c, the back surface of the back plate of the cassette 1 having a magnetic material is magnetically attracted to the magnet 54.

The elevating table 402 is designed so as not to interfere with the sub-scanning moving plate 53 and not project toward the sub-scanning moving plate 53 side from the back surface of the back plate of the cassette 1. Also,
The upper end of the cassette 1 is configured such that the upper end of the cassette 1 projects above the sub-scanning moving plate 53 of the sub-scanning unit 50 for the purpose of detecting the upper end or the side edge of the cassette 1 during sub-scanning.

The sub-scanning means 50 includes a sub-scanning rail 51, sub-scanning movable parts 52a and 52b, a sub-scanning moving plate 53, and a magnet 5.
It is composed of 4. The sub-scanning moving plate 53 includes the sub-scanning movable unit 5.
The sub-scanning movable plate 53 is fixed to the sub-scanning rails 51a and 52b and can be moved up and down on the sub-scanning rail 51 by a driving unit (not shown). As the sub-scanning rail 51, a linear guide, a linear bearing guide, or the like having high carrying performance can be used.

In this embodiment, the magnet 54 is a rubber magnet (permanent magnet) having a predetermined area. The surface portion of the magnet 54 that attracts the back surface of the back plate has a high flatness, and when the magnet 54 attracts the back surface of the back plate, the magnetic material surface of the back surface of the back plate follows the plane of the magnet 54, thereby providing a stimulable phosphor. The reading surface of the sheet 28 is considered to be as flat as possible. Therefore, the back plate 2
Even if 0 is deformed or warped, the back surface of the back plate is
When the magnet 54 is attracted to the magnet 54, its deformation and warpage are corrected, and the reading surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet 28 can be kept flat.

When the back plate 20 is attracted to the magnet 54,
A lock pin (not shown) housed in the lift 402 rises, the cassette 1 in the lock-on state is unlocked, and the lock-off state is entered. That is,
The back plate 20 and the front plate 10 are in a separable state. When the cassette 1 shifts to the lock-off state, the lock pin descends and is housed in the elevating table 402 again.

The cassette 1 is unlocked and locked O
When shifting to the FF state, the transport mechanism 40 rotationally moves in the direction of arrow A6 and stops at the retracted position (for example, the position of the dotted line b). By this operation, the back plate 20 and the front plate 10
Can be completely separated.

By retracting the front plate 10 from the back plate 20 at a sufficient angle, it is possible to prevent the back plate 20 and the front plate 10 from interfering with each other when the back plate 20 performs the sub-scanning operation. The means for performing a series of operations for separating the back plate 20 and the front plate 10 in this way is collectively referred to as the separating means.

When the back plate 20 is completely separated from the front plate 10 by the separating means, a driving unit (not shown) is activated and the back plate 20 is conveyed (sub-scanning) in the direction of arrow A4 (upward). . During this sub-scanning operation, the stimulable phosphor sheet 28 is main-scanned by the laser beam B emitted from the laser scanning unit 61 in the direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction.

When laser light acts on the stimulable phosphor sheet 28, stimulable light (image information) proportional to the radiation energy accumulated in the stimulable phosphor sheet 28 is emitted,
This stimulated light passes through the light guide 62 and is collected in the condenser tube 63. The condenser tube 63 is preferably a condenser tube.
A photoelectric conversion element such as a photomultiplier, which is not shown, is arranged on the end surface of the condenser tube, and converts the collected photostimulated light into an electric signal. The photostimulable light converted into an electric signal is subjected to a predetermined signal processing as image data, and then is transmitted from the device main body 2 via a communication cable (not shown) to an operation terminal, an image storage device, an image display device, a dry imager. And the like are output to an image output device (neither is shown). In this way, the laser scanning unit 61, the light guide 62, and the condenser tube 6
3. A reading unit 60 is defined as a unit that reads image information including a photoelectric conversion element and the like. It goes without saying that the reading unit 60 may be achieved by a configuration other than this embodiment as long as it is a unit that reads image information from the stimulable phosphor sheet 28.

It is preferable that the start timing of the image data acquisition is determined by detecting the upper end of the back plate 20 with the sensor 90. When the back plate 20 does not exist, the sensor 90 receives the laser beam B and continues to output a signal having a predetermined intensity, but when the upper end of the back plate 20 moves to a position where the laser beam B is blocked, the sensor 90 is detected. Since the signal output intensity of the electric signal output from the device decreases, the upper end of the back plate 20 can be detected.

In this way, the image signal of the radiation image is photoelectrically read by irradiating the excitation light and receiving the luminescence generated from the stimulable phosphor sheet 28 irradiated with the excitation light.
When the reading of the image information from the stimulable phosphor sheet 28 is completed, a driving unit (not shown) starts to convey the back plate 20 in the direction of arrow A5 (downward). Back plate 20
While the image is being conveyed in the direction of arrow A5, the erasing means 64 emits the erasing light C to erase the image information remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet 28. The erasing lamp used in the erasing means 64 includes a halogen lamp, a high-intensity fluorescent lamp, an LED.
An array or the like can be used.

As described above, in this embodiment, the image information is read on the outward path of the sub-scanning means 50 (conveyance in the upward direction), and the image remaining on the return path of the sub-scanning means (conveyance in the downward direction). Since the information is erased, it is possible to effectively use the time required for the reciprocating movement of the sub-scanning means without wasting it. As a result, the processing capability (throughput) of the radiation image reading device can be improved.

Further, since the erasing means 64 is arranged vertically below the reading means 60, when the reading operation of the image information by the reading means 60 is completed, the moving direction of the sub-scanning means 50 is immediately returned to the backward direction (downward). It becomes possible to switch to. As a result, the erasing operation can be started without loss of time during the reciprocating movement of the sub-scanning unit 50, so that the processing capacity (throughput) of the radiation image reading apparatus can be further improved.

Further, since the erasing means 64 is arranged vertically below the reading means 60, the lower end of the back plate 20 does not pass the reading position B of the reading means 60, so that the lower end of the back plate 20 is guided by the light guide. It is possible to prevent an accident in which the back plate cannot be lowered due to interference with the light condensing member such as 62. Therefore, it is possible to improve the reliability and stability of the device.

When the back plate 20 descends to the position where it is transferred to the magnet 54, the driving unit (not shown) stops the movement of the back plate 20 by the sub scanning means 50.

When the back plate 20 stops at the position where it is delivered to the magnet 54, the transport means 4 which has been retracted to the retracted position.
0 again rotates to the position of the dotted line c, and the back plate 20
And the front plate 10 are united. When the back plate 20 and the front plate 10 are united, the lock pin (not shown) housed in the elevating table 402 rises, and the tip of the lock pin is inserted into the insertion hole of the front plate 10. By this operation, the cassette 1 in the lock-off state is locked, and the lock-on state is entered. That is, the back plate 20 and the front plate 10 cannot be separated. When the cassette 1 shifts to the lock ON state, the lock pin descends and is housed in the elevating table 402 again. in this way,
Means for performing a series of operations for shifting the lock state of the cassette 1 from the lock OFF state to the lock ON state are collectively referred to as a uniting means.

When the joining operation of the back plate 20 and the front plate 10 is completed by the joining means, the carrying means 40 again rotates in the direction of arrow A6 to the position of the dotted line b and stops.
In this way, the operation of peeling the back plate 20 (cassette 1) from the magnet 54 is performed with the rotational movement, so that the back plate 20 can be peeled with a smaller force than in the case of peeling the back plate 20 by parallel movement.
The (cassette 1) can be peeled off from the magnet 54. When the conveying means 40 stops at the position indicated by the dotted line b, the fixed state of the front plate 10 is released, and the cassette 1 can be conveyed on the conveying means 40.

When the front plate 10 is released from the fixed state, the lifting table 402 conveys the cassette 1 along the conveying means 40 toward the discharge port 4, moves the cassette 1 in the direction of arrow A7, and discharges the roller 43. Hand over to. Discharge roller 43
When the cassette 1 is received, the discharging operation is performed until the cassette 1 is completely discharged to the discharge port 4. When the cassette 1 is completely discharged to the discharge port 4, the transport mechanism 40 will move to the arrow A
In the direction of 6, the robot moves to the position indicated by the dotted line a, stops, and shifts to a state in which the next cassette 1 can be received.

In this embodiment, the cassette discharge unit 10
0 has a stock section 101 capable of accommodating 2 to 5 cassettes 1. The position of the cassette 1 immediately after the movement in the direction of the arrow A7 and the completion of discharge is represented by 1a.
The cassette 1 ejected to the location is moved in the direction of the arrow A8 and finally accommodated in the position indicated by 1b.

The structure of the cassette discharge unit 100 is shown in FIG.
Through FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the cassette discharge unit with the movable shutter member closed, FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the cassette discharge unit with the movable shutter member open, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the movable shutter member.

The cassette discharge unit 100 is used for the cassette 1
Means 110 for carrying the paper to discharge it from the discharge port 4
And a movable shutter member 120 provided at the discharge port 4,
The movable shutter member 120 includes an urging unit 130 that urges the movable shutter member 120 in a direction of closing the discharge port 4, and a buffer unit 140 that attenuates the urging by the urging unit 130.

The carrying means 110 has a discharge roller 43 and a roller nip spring 111. The discharge roller 43 is composed of a pair of rollers 43a and 43b.
A is biased by the roller nip spring 111 to give a predetermined nip pressure. The pair of rollers 43a and 43b are composed of a rubber roller having a rubber hardness of 30 to 70 ° and a hard resin roller. The roller 43a is a rubber roller having a rubber hardness of 30 to 70 °, the roller 43b is a hard resin roller, and the cassette 1 is It ensures smooth and reliable discharge.

The movable shutter member 120 is pivotally supported about the shutter support shafts 121 at both ends as fulcrums. The movable shutter member 120 is provided with a fixed portion 122. The support pin 131 of the fixing portion 122 and the support pin 13 of the fixing portion 100a of the cassette discharging portion 100.
A biasing means 130 is provided between the two. The urging means 130 is composed of a shutter spring 133 and constantly urges the movable shutter member 120 in the closing direction a. Photostimulable phosphor sheet 28 on which radiation images are stored
Since the degree of disappearance of the radiation image due to leaked light is less than that of a photosensitive material in which the radiation image cannot be stored again,
Light shielding by the biased movable shutter member 120 is sufficient. The movable shutter member 120 has a dustproof function in addition to the light blocking function.

The buffering means 140 comprises a gear 141 rotatably supported by the shutter support shaft 121 and fixed to the apparatus main body 2, and a rotary damper 142 with which the gear 141 meshes, and the rotary damper 142 is movable. It is fixed to the shutter member 120. The rotary damper 142 does not attenuate when the movable shutter member 120 rotates in the opening direction b, but does not attenuate when the movable shutter member 120 rotates in the closing direction a.

The gear 141 is attached to the shutter support shaft 121.
The rotary damper 142 may be fixed to the apparatus main body 2 for damping, or a damping mechanism may be incorporated in the shaft portion of the gear 141 to attenuate both.

Next, the operation of the cassette discharge section 100 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, when the cassette 1 is conveyed by the conveying means 110, the tip of the cassette 1 pushes the movable shutter member 120 in the opening direction b, and the movable shutter member 120 is pushed beyond the bias of the biasing means 130. The cassette 1 is opened and the cassette 1 is discharged from the discharge port 4.

In this way, the cassette 1 is discharged from the discharge port 4.
4 is discharged, the movable shutter member 120 is rotated in the closing direction a by the urging by the urging means 130, as shown in FIG. By rotating the movable shutter member 120 in the closing direction a, the cassette 1 discharged from the discharge port 4 is moved toward the stock unit 101. The stock section 101 includes
A discharge guide 150 is arranged so that it can be moved in the direction of arrow B, and the length can be adjusted according to the size of the cassette 1.

In this way, by transporting the cassette 1 by the transport means 110, the tip of the cassette 1 exceeds the bias of the bias means 110, the movable shutter member 120 is opened, and the cassette 1 is discharged from the discharge port 4. However, when the movable shutter member 120 is closed by the urging force of the urging means 110,
Since the cassette 1 discharged from the discharge port 4 is moved toward the stock portion 101 in a predetermined direction, it is possible to maintain the light shielding and align the discharge cassette 1 without adding a special mechanism or parts, and also increase the cost. It is possible to reduce the size of the device and stabilize the operation while preventing the above.

Further, in the cushioning means 140 for damping the urging by the urging means 110, the rotary damper 142 fixed to the movable shutter member 120 is fixed to the apparatus main body 2 by the rotation of the movable shutter member 120 in the closing direction a. Gear 14
The rotary damper 142 meshes with the gear 141 to dampen the rotation of the movable shutter member 120 in the closing direction a. Therefore, the light shielding can be maintained and the ejection cassette 1 can be aligned without generating an operating noise, and the movable shutter member 120 at the time of alignment can be maintained.
The impact of the cassette 1 is reduced and the durability is improved.

Further, the bottom plate portion 1 of the cassette discharging section 100
If 00b is tilted from the 1a side to the 1b side,
Further, the cassette 1 can be reliably transported from the 1a side to the 1b side.

Since the cassette discharge unit 100 is configured to accommodate about 2 to 5 discharge cassettes 1, the user must remove the discharge cassette 1 until the discharge cassette 1 is full. Instead, it is possible to successively insert the cassettes 1 that have been photographed into the insertion opening 3. Generally, 1 to 5 sheets of the cassette 1 are used in one inspection for radiography, and about 1.8 sheets are used on average, so if the discharge cassette 1 is configured to accommodate about 2 to 5 sheets, the inspection can be performed. In the meantime, the user is less troubled by the removal of the discharge cassette 1, and the work can be performed efficiently.

Further, the period during which the movable shutter member 120 is opened and the cassette 1 is discharged from the discharge port 4 is detected by the sensor S.
The radiographic image is not read in the dark room 200 while the cassette 1 is being discharged by the control means 300 according to the detection by No. 1 and it is possible to prevent reading failure due to external light. Also, from the outlet 4 to the cassette 1
During the period during which the dark space is being discharged, the control unit 300 controls the dark room 20.
The stimulable phosphor sheet 28 is not exposed from the other cassette 1 within 0, and noise is recorded in the stimulable phosphor sheet 28 of the other cassette 1 by light having a wavelength other than the erase wavelength range. Can be prevented.

[0077]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, in the radiation image reading apparatus, the cassette is conveyed by the conveying means, and the tip of the cassette moves beyond the urging of the urging means. By opening the shutter member and discharging and closing the cassette from the discharge port, it is possible to maintain light shielding and align the discharge cassette without adding a special mechanism or parts. It is possible to improve the operation and stabilize the operation.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the movable shutter member urges the cassette discharged from the discharge port in a predetermined direction to maintain and discharge the light without adding a special mechanism or component. You can align the cassettes.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the biasing of the cassette in the predetermined direction is attenuated, so that the light shielding can be maintained and the discharging cassette can be performed without generating an operating noise when the cassette is aligned. The impact of the movable shutter member and the cassette at that time is reduced, and the durability is improved.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the radiation image is not read in the dark room during the period when the cassette is discharged from the discharge port, so that the reading failure due to the external light can be prevented.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the image recording medium of the other cassette from being defective in reading due to external light.

According to the invention of claim 6, in the radiation image erasing apparatus, the cassette is conveyed by the conveying means so that the tip of the cassette exceeds the bias of the biasing means.
By opening the movable shutter member and discharging and closing the cassette from the discharge port, it is possible to maintain the light shielding and align the discharge cassette without adding a special mechanism or parts, and at the same time prevent the cost from increasing. It is possible to reduce the size and stabilize the operation. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent noise from being recorded by light having a wavelength other than the erasing wavelength range.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the movable shutter member biases the cassette discharged from the discharge port in a predetermined direction, thereby maintaining and discharging the light without adding a special mechanism or component. You can align the cassettes.

According to the invention described in claim 8, the biasing of the cassette in the predetermined direction is attenuated, so that the light shielding can be maintained and the discharging cassette can be carried out without generating an operating noise when the cassette is aligned. The impact of the movable shutter member and the cassette at that time is reduced, and the durability is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view when a front plate and a back plate of a cassette are separated.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an embodiment of a radiation image processing apparatus including a radiation image reading apparatus and a radiation image erasing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a cassette discharge unit with a movable shutter member closed.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a cassette discharge unit with a movable shutter member opened.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a movable shutter member.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 cassette 2 device body 2a Transport reading unit 2b Cassette insertion / ejection section 3 insertion slot 4 outlets 10 front board 20 back plate 28 Photostimulable phosphor sheet 50 Sub-scanning means 60 reading means 64 erasing means 100 cassette ejector 110 transportation means 120 movable shutter member 130 biasing means 200 darkroom

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A cassette containing an image recording medium on which a radiation image is stored and recorded so that the radiation image can be stored again, is taken into a dark room,
Irradiating excitation light onto the image recording medium housed in the cassette in the dark room, and receiving light emitted from the image recording medium irradiated with the excitation light to photoelectrically detect the radiation image. In the radiation image reading apparatus that reads the image signal of, and discharges the cassette containing the read image recording medium from the dark chamber, the dark chamber has a discharge port for discharging the cassette, and the cassette is Conveying means that conveys the medium to eject it from the discharge port, a movable shutter member provided in the discharge port for shielding light in the radiation image reading device, and urges the movable shutter member in a direction to close the discharge port. When the cassette is conveyed by the conveying means, the tip of the cassette moves beyond the urging of the urging means to move the cassette. Open Yatta member, the radiographic image reading apparatus characterized by discharging the cassette from the discharge port. 2. A stock unit for accommodating the cassette discharged from the discharge port in a predetermined direction of the discharge port, wherein the movable shutter member is pushed from the discharge port by the biasing means. The radiation image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharged cassette is biased in the predetermined direction. 3. The radiographic image reading apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a buffering unit for damping the bias of the biasing unit, for damping the bias of the cassette in the predetermined direction. . 4. The radiographic image is not read in the dark chamber while the cassette is being discharged from the discharge port.
The radiographic image reading device according to item. 5. The image recording medium is not exposed from another cassette in the dark chamber while the cassette is being discharged from the discharge port. The radiographic image reading device described. 6. A cassette containing an image recording medium on which a radiation image is accumulated and recorded is taken into a dark chamber, and the image recording medium contained in the cassette is irradiated with erasing light in the dark chamber, A radiation image erasing device for erasing a radiation image stored and recorded on an image recording medium, and ejecting a cassette containing the erased image recording medium from the dark chamber, wherein the dark chamber has an ejection port for ejecting the cassette. Transporting means for transporting the cassette for discharging the cassette from the discharge port, a movable shutter member provided in the discharge port for shielding light in the radiation image reading device, and the movable shutter member for discharging the cassette. And a biasing means for biasing the outlet in a direction to block the outlet, and by transporting the cassette by the transporting means, the tip of the cassette is biased by the biasing means. Beyond biasing means to open the movable shutter member, the radiation image erasing apparatus characterized by discharging the cassette from the discharge port. 7. A stock portion for accommodating the cassette discharged from the discharge port is provided in a predetermined direction of the discharge port, and the movable shutter member is discharged from the discharge port by biasing by the biasing means. The radiographic image erasing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the cassette thus urged is biased in the predetermined direction. 8. A radiation image erasing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a buffering means for damping the bias by the biasing means, and damping the bias of the cassette in the predetermined direction. .