JPS62156651A - Cassette for storage type phosphor sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify and miniaturize a mechanism of the titled cassete and prevent the damage of a sheet by moving a slit formed on a belt member with respect to the sheet and making an exciting light incident on the inside of a cassette through this slit to generate stimulates luminescent. CONSTITUTION:A belt member 7 of a cassette 1 loaded in a device in the state where a light shielding shutter 6 covers all of the surface of a sheet 2 is circulated around rolls 9A and 9B relatively, the an exciting light 21 is made incident from a slit 8 and scans the sheet 2, which is moved in the direction of an arrow A1, in the direction approximately vertical to the direction of the arrow A1 to scan all of the surface of the sheet 2 two-dimensionally. The stimulated luminescent generated by scanning of the exciting light 21 is detected by a photoelectric reading means 22 to read picture information. The sheet is covered gradually with a transparent sheet 5 according as read is advanced, and the all of the surface of the sheet 2 is covered with the transparent film 5 when read is terminated. Thus, the mechanism is made simple and miniaturized and the damage of the sheet is prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of the Invention) The present invention relates to a cassette for a stimulable phosphor sheet, which is used in a radiation image information recording and reproducing system, and which stores a stimulable phosphor sheet. The present invention relates to a cassette for stimulable phosphor sheets, which is capable of reading image information recorded on the sheets in a reading device that reads image information recorded on the sheets.

(Technical background of the invention and prior art) Certain types of phosphors are exposed to radiation (x-rays, alpha-rays, beta-rays).

When irradiated with γ-rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc., a portion of this radiation energy is accumulated in the phosphor, and when this phosphor is irradiated with excitation light such as visible light, it emits fluorescence according to the accumulated energy. It is known that the body exhibits stimulated luminescence, and phosphors exhibiting this property are called stimulable phosphors (<n-stimulable phosphors).

Using this stimulable phosphor, radiation image information of a subject such as a human body is partially recorded on a sheet of stimulable phosphor, and this stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned with excitation light such as a laser beam to make it shine. Generates an exhaustive luminescent light, reads the obtained stimulated luminescent light in a charging manner to obtain an image signal, and based on this image signal, a radiation image of the subject is recorded as a visible image on a recording material such as a photographic light-sensitive material, a CRT, etc. The applicant has already proposed a radiation image information recording and reproducing system that outputs radiation image information. (Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 55
-12429, 56-11395, 55-1
No. 63472.

No. 56-104645, No. 55-116340, etc. ) In the above system, image information is recorded (photographed) on the stimulable phosphor sheet in a photographing device, and then the sheet is sent to a reading device where the image information is read. In many cases, the stimulable phosphor sheet is stored in a cassette and photographed within the photographing device, and after photographing is completed, the sheet is loaded into the reading device while being stored in the cassette. When a cassette containing photographed sheets is loaded into the reading device, the sheets are taken out from the cassette within the reading device and passed to a sheet conveying means that transports the sheets to the reading zone where the reading is performed.

By the way, conventional cassettes have a cassette main body with an opening at one end parallel to the sheet surface, which stores the sheet in a detachable manner.
It is rotatably attached to the cassette main body with one end as a pivot, and consists of a lid for opening and closing the opening. To take out sheets from the cassette in the reading device, insert the lid of the cassette into the device. Generally, a provided opening member opens, and then a suction means suctions the sheets in the cassette main body, takes them out of the cassette main body, and transfers them to a nearby sheet conveyance means. However, in order to take out sheets from the cassette having the above structure as described above, it is necessary to provide a suction means for sucking the sheets to the reading device and delivering them to the sheet conveyance means, which makes the mechanism of the reading device complicated. There's a problem.

Furthermore, since it is necessary to provide a space within the reading device for the opening and closing of the lid of the cassette as well as a space for the suction means to move, there is also the problem that the reading device as a whole becomes larger. Furthermore, since the sheet is sucked and taken out by the suction means and conveyed through the apparatus while being held between rollers, belts, etc., there is also the problem that the sheet may be damaged and the field will be shortened. Therefore, there is a need for a cassette having a structure that eliminates the need for a complicated and large-sized reading device and also reduces the consumption of sheets.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and provides a cassette that stores photographed sheets inside and is loaded into a reading device, in which the sheets are taken out in the reading device. It has a structure that allows image information to be read even when the sheet is stored inside the sheet, simplifying the mechanism of the reading device and making it more compact.Also, the sheet is not damaged when removed from the cassette or transported. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cassette for stimulable phosphor sheets that can prevent such problems.

(Structure of the Invention) A cassette for a stimulable phosphor sheet of the present invention includes a cassette main body having an opening large enough to store a stimulable phosphor sheet and expose the entire surface of the sheet, a sheet support means for supporting the cassette at the position of the opening, and a light-shielding belt provided in the cassette body and having a size larger than the surface of the sheet and a transparent film having a size larger than the surface of the sheet are connected in an annular manner. and a belt member that surrounds the front and back surfaces of the sheet and has a slit formed at a connecting portion between the light-shielding belt and the transparent film, and the belt member is capable of circulating around the sheet. That is.

That is, according to the cassette of the present invention, the belt member is moved relative to the sheet, the slit formed in the belt member is moved relative to the sheet, and the above-mentioned excitation light is made to enter the cassette through the slit. If stimulated luminescence is generated, image information recorded on the sheet can be read without removing the sheet from the cassette. Therefore, if the cassette of the present invention is used, the reading device becomes complicated.

The inconvenience of increasing the size is eliminated, and the sheet can be prevented from being damaged, so the life of the sheet can be made longer than before.

(Actual Embodiment) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of a cassette for a stimulable phosphor sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
-A sectional view.

A cassette 1 for a stimulable phosphor sheet stores a sheet 2 in a cassette body 3 having an opening 3a on the top surface through which the entire surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet (hereinafter simply referred to as a sheet) 2 can be exposed. The sheet 2 is fixed to a sheet supporting means 4, which is a plate-shaped member fixed to the cassette main body 3, and is held in the cassette main body 3 at a position overlapping the opening 3a. Inside the cassette main body 3 is provided a belt member 7 formed by connecting a light-shielding belt 6 having a light-shielding property and a transparent film 5 in an annular manner, and this belt member 7 surrounds the sheet 2.

Both the light-shielding belt 6 and the transparent film 5 of the belt member 7 have a size larger than the surface of the sheet 2, and a slit is provided at the connecting portion between them over a length approximately equal to the width of the sheet 2. 8 is formed.

Further, the belt member 7 is suspended from a pair of rollers 9A and 9B extending in the width direction of the sheet, both ends of which are fixed to the cassette main body 3, so that the belt member 7 can circulate around the sheet 2.

The cassette 1 containing the sheet 2 therein is first loaded into a photographing device to record image information (II shadow) on the sheet 2. Cassette 1 for which sheet 2 has been photographed
is then loaded into the reading device while holding the sheet 2. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a radiation image information reading device into which the cassette 1 is loaded, and FIG. 4 is a schematic side view thereof.

The cassette 1 is loaded horizontally into the illustrated reading device through an insertion opening 10 formed at the negative end.

As shown in FIG. 4, the reading device includes a reading section 20 that reads image information recorded on the sheet 2, and an erasing section 30 that erases the radiation energy remaining on the sheet 2 after reading. Inside the apparatus, a cassette 1 containing sheets 2 is conveyed to the reading section 20 and an erasing section 30 in this order, and the cassette 1 containing the erased sheets 2 is passed through a discharge port formed on the other end surface of the apparatus. A conveying means 40 consisting of a guide plate 41 and a conveying roller 42 is provided for conveying the material from the tray 11 into the tray 12 extending into the apparatus.

The reading unit 20 reads a sheet 2 on which image information is stored and recorded.
is scanned with an excitation light 21 such as a laser beam, and the stimulated luminescence light emitted from the sheet 2 by the scanning is photoelectrically read by a photoelectric reading means 22 such as a photomultiplier to generate an electrical signal for outputting a visible image. This is to obtain a high-quality image signal.

In the figure, 23 is an excitation light source, 24 is a light deflector such as a galvanometer mirror, 25 is a scanning lens such as an fθ lens, and 26 is a light guide that guides the stimulated luminescence light to the photoelectric reading means 22 while totally reflecting it.

In the cassette 1, it is necessary to shield the sheets 2 from light to prevent them from being exposed to external light while being transported from the photographing device to the reading device. Therefore, when the cassette 1 is loaded into the reading device from the insertion port 10,
is in a state where only the light-shielding belt 6 of the belt member 7 is exposed in the opening 3a of the cassette main body 3, and the cassette 1
The entire surface of the inner sheet 2 is covered with a light shielding belt 6. Therefore, in order to read the image information recorded on the sheet 2 in the reading section 20, the belt member 7 is moved and the excitation light 21 is placed onto the sheet 2 in the cassette 1.
need to be in a state where it can be incident.

Therefore, the reading device is provided with a locking pawl 50, which is a means for moving the belt member, in the vicinity of the insertion opening 10, at a portion where the tip of the belt member 7 is located when the cassette 1 is loaded into the device. As shown in FIG. 1, an engagement hole 10 that engages with the locking pawl 50 is provided in a portion of the belt member 7 near the slit 8, which becomes the tip when the cassette 1 is loaded into the device. It is being As shown in FIG. 1, two locking claws 50 and two engaging holes 10 are provided, and the locking claws 50 read the position of the slit 8 by engaging with the engaging holes 10. It is maintained in the position when loaded into the device. That is, the cassette loaded in the apparatus is moved inside the reading section 20 by the transport means 40 in the direction of arrow A! Although the sheet is conveyed in the force direction, the locking pawl 50 engaged with the engagement hole 10 resists this conveyance and stops the slit 8 at a predetermined position. 2 is caused to change. Further, the loading position of the cassette 1 is determined such that the position where the slit 8 is formed overlaps with the incident position of the excitation light 21. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the belt member 7 of the cassette 1 loaded into the apparatus with the light-shielding shutter 6 covering the entire surface of the sheet 2 is relatively circulated around the rollers 9A and 9B. and excitation light 2
1 enters through the slit 8 and scans the sheet 2 moving in the direction of arrow A1 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of arrow A1, thereby scanning substantially the entire surface of the sheet 2 two-dimensionally. Stimulated luminescent light is generated from the portion of the sheet 2 scanned by the excitation light 21, and this stimulated luminescent light is the light I! The image information is detected by the reading means 22 and read. Further, as the reading by scanning the excitation light 21 progresses, the sheet 2 is gradually covered with the transparent film 5, and when the reading is completed, the entire surface of the sheet 2 is covered with the transparent film 5. (Figure 5(b)).

The sheet 2 whose image information has been read in the reading section 20 is conveyed in the direction of arrow A2 by the conveyance means 40 while being stored in the cassette 1, and then moved to the erasing section 30.
sent within.

The erasing section 30 is for erasing the radiation image information remaining on the sheet 2 after the reading is completed (for emitting the radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor).

That is, some of the radiation image information stored and recorded on the sheet 2 still remains on the sheet after being read, and in order to reuse the sheet 2, this residual image information is erased in the erasing section 30. . Any erasing method may be used in this erasing section 30. The erasing section 30 in this IIA embodiment includes a fluorescent lamp or a tungsten lamp.

A plurality of erasing light sources 31 such as sodium lamps, xenon lamps, and iodine lamps are provided, and the sheet 2 is arranged in the direction of arrow A3.
While being conveyed in this direction, the remaining radiation energy on the sheet is emitted by light irradiation from these erasing light sources 31. Note that the cassette 1 is disengaged from the locking claw 50 when it is conveyed from the reading section 20, and the sheets 2 in the cassette 1 are disengaged when being conveyed from the reading section 20. Since the entire surface of the sheet 2 is covered with a transparent film 5 that transmits light, the sheet 2 is exposed to the erasing light source 3.
1 irradiation releases residual radiation energy.

In this manner, the cassette 1 is conveyed through the erasing section 30 and after the sheets 2 inside are erased, the cassette 1 is discharged from the discharge port 11 into the tray 12. That is, the cassette 1 is transported into the tray 12 by a transport roller 42 provided near the discharge port 11, and after leaving the transport roller, it falls to a holding position within the tray 12 due to its own weight. The cassette 1 held in the tray 12 can be used again for new photography in the photography device.

As described above, according to the cassette of this embodiment, by moving the belt member, which is composed of a light-shielding belt and a transparent film and has slits, relative to the sheet, it is possible to read the sheets inside the cassette without taking the sheets out of the cassette. Therefore, the reading device that performs the reading does not need complicated and space-consuming mechanisms such as opening and closing the cassette lid and swinging the suction arm, which is required in conventional devices, simplifying the reading device. , and can be made smaller. In addition, conventionally, sheets that have been taken out from the cassette and read have to be loaded into the cassette after being erased and before being used for photography again, but with the cassette of this embodiment, the sheets can be read in the same day. −
Since loading is no longer necessary, the loading device 9
It also has the advantage that the entire record reading system is simplified, such as by eliminating the need for means. In addition, there is no longer any need to suction the sheets, which was done when taking them out of the cassette or loading them, and the sheets themselves are not conveyed while being held between rollers, etc., so there is no damage to the sheets, and the sheets have a long service life. It is also possible to aim for Furthermore, the part of the sheet that has not yet been read in the reading unit is covered by a light-shielding belt, which prevents the inconvenience of part of the sheet before being read being exposed to light reflected from the excitation light, etc., and ensures accurate reading. It also becomes possible to perform reading.

The cassette of the present invention can be used not only in the horizontal direction but also in an apparatus equipped with a conveyance system for conveying the cassette in various directions, and in an apparatus consisting only of a reading section without an erasing section. In addition, if the erasing section is large enough to accommodate the entire cassette, the cassette that has been erased is not ejected into the tray, but the transport means is switched back to the insertion port side of the device. May be returned. Further, in order to move the belt member, any means capable of temporarily fixing the belt member, such as a magnet or a suction cup, can be used in addition to the above-mentioned locking claw. In addition, if the reading device performs sub-scanning of the excitation light (scanning in the direction perpendicular to the deflection of the optical deflector) by moving the excitation light side without moving the sheet, the cassette main body is The belt member may be fixedly held at the slit, and the belt member may be cyclically moved in conjunction with the movement of the excitation light in the sub-scanning direction so that the scanning position of the excitation light and the position of the slit coincide. Note that the specific structure of the sheet support means in the cassette is not limited to the plate-like member shown in the above-described embodiment, but may be any member that holds the sheet in a position that overlaps with the opening of the cassette main body. can be used.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the cassette for stimulable phosphor sheets of the present invention allows reading without taking out the sheet from inside the cassette. The structure of the reading device is simplified since the lid opening/closing means, the sheet suction means, etc. are not required. Further, since there is no need for a space for moving the above-mentioned means, it is possible to downsize the reading device. Further, since the sheet is not attracted by the suction means and is not conveyed while being held between rollers or the like, it is not damaged and its life can be extended compared to the conventional sheet. Also,
When repeatedly photographing the same sheet, there is no need to load the eraser sheet into the cassette, which simplifies the entire system and reduces costs.The practical value of this system is Extremely large.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of a cassette for a stimulable phosphor sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
3 is a perspective view showing an outline of a radiation image information reading device in which the above-mentioned cassette is used, FIG. 4 is a side schematic view of the above-mentioned device, and FIGS. 5(a) and (b) are the first FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the position of the cassette and the belt member shown in the figure. 1... Cassette 2... Stimulable phosphor sheet 3... Cassette main body 3a... Opening 4... Sheet support means 5... Transparent film 6... Light shielding belt 7... Belt member 8...Slit

Claims (1)

[Claims] A cassette for a stimulable phosphor sheet that stores a stimulable phosphor sheet that stores and records image information, the cassette body having an opening large enough to store the sheet and expose the entire surface of the sheet. , a sheet support means for supporting the sheet at the position of the opening, a light shielding belt provided in the cassette body and having a size larger than the surface of the sheet, and a transparent film having a size larger than the surface of the sheet. a belt member that is connected in an annular manner and surrounds the front and back surfaces of the sheet, and has a slit formed in a connecting portion between the light-shielding belt and the transparent film;
A cassette for a stimulable phosphor sheet, characterized in that the belt member can circulate around the sheet.