JPH0263042A - Radiograph information recorder/reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the structure of the entire device main body and to facilitate the fine adjustment of a position by elevating the entire device main body so as to move up and down a photographing position and varying an elevating speed in response to manipulating force. CONSTITUTION:If the entire device main body 3 is elevated to move up and down a photographing position, a circulating and carrying means in the device main body is not affected by the vertical movement of the photographing position, thereby simplifying the structure. An elevating means 60 merely moves the case-like device main body 3 vertically and integrally, which is simpler than a conventional method; and picture recorder and a circulating and carrying means are moved up and down together. In addition, the device main body can be moved up and down in response to manipulating force from outside of the device outside. When the fore is small, the device is moved at a low speed, whereas if the force is large, the device can be moved at a high speed. Therefore, the device main body 3 never changes suddenly in the beginning of move or its stop, whereby the device main body 3 can be prevented from vibrating. Moreover, operability can be improved in arranging the device main body at any position.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of the Invention) The present invention performs imaging to accumulate and record radiographic image information on a stimulable phosphor sheet that is circulated, and then irradiates the same with excitation light to record the accumulated information. It relates to a radiation image information recording/reading device that detects photostimulated light according to image information, reads the image information, and converts it into an electrical signal.In particular, it is a radiation image information recording and reading device that can easily and smoothly move the imaging position up and down. The present invention relates to an information recording/reading device.

(Prior art) When a certain type of phosphor is irradiated with radiation (X-rays, α-rays, β-rays, γ-rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc.), a part of this radiation energy is accumulated in the phosphor, and this It is known that when a phosphor is irradiated with excitation light such as visible light, the phosphor exhibits stimulated luminescence depending on the accumulated energy. It is called an exhaustible phosphor).

Using this stimulable phosphor, radiation image information of a subject such as a human body is temporarily recorded on a stimulable phosphor sheet, and this stimulable phosphor sheet is two-dimensionally scanned with excitation light such as a laser beam. The resulting stimulated luminescent light is photoelectrically read by a photodetector to obtain an image signal, and based on this image signal, it is applied to a recording material such as a photographic light-sensitive material or a display device such as a CRT. The applicant has already proposed a radiation image information recording and reproducing system that outputs a radiation image of a subject as a visible image. (JP-A-55-12429, JP-A No. 56-11395, etc.) This system has practical advantages in that it can record images over an extremely wide radiation exposure range compared to conventional radiographic systems that use silver halide photography. It has advantages. In other words, in stimulable phosphors, it is recognized that the amount of emitted light that is stimulated and emitted by excitation after accumulation is proportional to the amount of radiation exposure over an extremely wide range, and therefore the amount of radiation exposure varies depending on various imaging conditions. Even if the value varies considerably, the amount of stimulated luminescence light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet is read by the photoelectric conversion means by setting the reading gain to an appropriate value and converted into an electrical signal. By outputting a radiation image as a visible image to a recording material such as a photographic material or a display device such as a CRT using the method, it is possible to obtain a radiation image that is not affected by fluctuations in the amount of radiation exposure.

In the radiation image information recording and reproducing system described above, the stimulable phosphor sheet does not ultimately record image information, but temporarily carries image information in order to provide the image to the final recording medium as described above. Therefore, this stimulable phosphor sheet may be used repeatedly, and such repeated use is extremely economical.

For example, when a mobile station such as an X-ray vehicle is equipped with a radiographic image information recording/reading device that uses a stimulable phosphor sheet, it can be used to travel to various locations for group examinations and take X-rays. However, it is inconvenient to stack a large number of stimulable phosphor sheets, and there is a limit to the number of sheets that can be loaded on a moving vehicle. Therefore, a stimulable phosphor sheet is made to be reusable and loaded onto a moving vehicle, radiation image information for each subject is recorded on it, and the image signal obtained by reading it is stored on a large storage capacity such as a magnetic tape. If the radiation images are copied onto a recording medium and the stimulable phosphor sheet or the like is circulated and reused, radiation images of a large number of objects can be taken using a mobile vehicle, which is extremely useful in practice. Furthermore, if continuous imaging is performed through this cyclical reuse, the imaging speed can be increased in mass medical examinations, which has an extremely large practical effect.

In order to reuse the stimulable phosphor sheet as described above, the radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor sheet after the stimulated luminescence light has been read can be absorbed by, for example,
No. 2, sheet t as shown in No. 56-12599.
The remaining radiation image may be erased by emitting it by irradiating it with q light or heat, and the stimulable phosphor sheet may be used again for recording radiation images.

Therefore, the present applicant proposed a circulating conveyance means for conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet capable of storing and recording radiation images along a predetermined circulation path, and a means for irradiating the sheet with radiation through a subject in the circulation path. an image recording section that accumulates and records radiographic image information of a subject on the stimulable phosphor sheet; and a stimulable phosphor sheet that is located in the circulation path and on which radiographic image information is accumulated and recorded in the image recording section. an image reading section comprising an excitation light irradiation means for irradiating excitation light to the stimulable phosphor sheet and a photoelectric reading means for obtaining an image signal by reading the stimulated luminescent light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet irradiated with the excitation light; and the circulation passageway. an erasing section that releases radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor sheet prior to recording an image on the stimulable phosphor sheet after the image reading is performed in the image reading section; We previously proposed a radiation image information recording/reading device in which the above-mentioned stimulable phosphor sheet is circulated between the above-mentioned parts and used repeatedly (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-1998).
-192240). According to the radiation image information recording/reading device having such a structure, radiation.

It is possible to record and read line image information continuously.

In addition, image recording (photography) with the above-mentioned recording/reading device is performed by lying down on the subject (subject) on the top of the device and irradiating radiation from above, and in lying-down photography where the subject is placed along the front of the device. There is also standing imaging, in which the patient is stood up and radiation is irradiated from the front.

Among these, when performing standing imaging, it is necessary to move the imaging position up and down depending on the height of the subject, the area to be imaged, and the like. Therefore, in a conventional recording/reading device for standing photographing, an image recording section is made to protrude from the side of the device, and only this image recording section is moved up and down to change the photographing position. However, if only the image recording section is moved up and down while the other parts of the device are fixed, the circulating conveyance means within the image recording section will also move up and down, so the stimulable phosphor sheet will be moved no matter where the image recording section is. In order to convey the image without any trouble, it is necessary to appropriately move the nearby circulating conveyance means up and down in conjunction with the image recording section. This has resulted in the disadvantage that the structures of the elevating mechanism for vertically moving the image recording section and the circulating conveyance means are complicated.

Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned disadvantages, the present applicant first proposed a radiation image information recording/reading device that can move the imaging position up and down without complicating the structure of the device (Patent Application No. 6).
No. 3-64918). This device includes the above-mentioned circulating conveyance means, image recording section, image reading section, and erasing section that are integrally housed in a housing to form a main body of the device, and the front end of the main body of the device stands up in a substantially vertical direction. In addition to recording image information on the stimulable phosphor sheet, the entire main body of the apparatus can be raised and lowered by a lifting means.

(Problem 8 to be solved by the invention) However, in the above device, since the image reading section also moves up and down together with other parts, the image reading section is easily affected by the up and down movement, and it is difficult to read image information. If vibrations due to the vertical movement are transmitted to the image reading unit while the image is being moved, highly accurate reading will no longer be possible. In the conventional device described above in which only the image recording section moves up and down, the image recording section is raised at a substantially constant speed by using two switches for raising and lowering.

In this case, large vibrations occur when starting and stopping. Further, depending on the above-mentioned elevating means, it becomes difficult to finely adjust the position of the image recording section.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an apparatus in which an image recording section, an image reading section, and an erasing section are integrated as a device main body and can move up and down. Another object of the present invention is to provide a radiation image information recording/reading device that hardly generates vibrations and also allows minute vertical positional adjustment of the device body.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The radiographic image information recording/reading device of the present invention integrally houses the above-mentioned circulation conveyance means, image recording section, image reading section, and erasing section in a housing, and the above-mentioned The image recording section consists of a main body of the device which records image information on a stimulable phosphor sheet standing up in a substantially vertical direction at the front end of the housing, and a lifting means for raising and lowering the whole main body of the apparatus. , an operation section that can be operated by applying force from the outside, a detection means for detecting the magnitude of the external force applied to the operation section, and a detection means for detecting the magnitude of the external force applied to the operation section; It is characterized by comprising a driving means for moving it up and down.

In order to make the main body of the device moveable up and down as described above, it is desirable to make the main body of the device as compact as possible. If the size is approximately equal to the size of , the main body of the device can be made smaller and it becomes easier to move up and down.

(Function) According to this device, by first raising and lowering the entire device body so that the photographing position can be moved up and down, the circulating conveyance means within the device body is not affected by the vertical movement of the photographing position. Its structure becomes simpler.

Furthermore, since the elevating means only needs to move up and down the cylindrical apparatus main body integrally, the structure can be simplified compared to the case where the image recording section and the circulating conveyance means are moved up and down in conjunction with each other.

In addition, according to this device, the main body of the device is moved up and down in response to external operating force, and when the operating force is small, it moves at low speed, and when the operating force is large, it moves at high speed. , If the operator performs the vertical movement operation in a normal manner, the operator's operating force will change continuously, so the device body will not suddenly change rapidly when starting or stopping movement, etc. This prevents the main body from vibrating. Further, according to the elevating means of the present device, the moving speed can be controlled by the force applied to the operating section, so that the operability for placing the main body of the device in any desired position is improved.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a radiation image information recording/reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This device includes a main body 3, which houses an image recording section, an image reading section, an erasing section, etc., which will be described later, in a housing 2, and a main body 3 of the device from the position indicated by the solid line in the figure to the point indicated by the dashed line in the figure. It consists of a lifting means 60 that moves up and down to the position shown. The elevating means 60 includes, for example, a lever 61 which is an operating part that can be operated by an operator such as an X-ray technician applying force from the outside;
As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of piezoelectric elements 6 are connected to the lever 61, which is rotatable about a support shaft 61A, and serve as a detection means for detecting the magnitude of external force applied to the lever.
2.63, and a driving means for moving the device body 3 up and down at a speed based on the output of this piezoelectric element. The driving means includes two feed screws 66 attached to both ends of the upper plate 2a of the casing 2 and extending in the vertical direction, a support 67 screwed into the screws 66, and a support 67 attached to the upper plate 2a of the housing 2. It consists of a servo motor 64 and a rotating means 65 that transmits the rotational force of the servo motor to the two feed screws and rotates the feed screws in both forward and reverse directions. As will be described later, a portion of the apparatus main body 3 including a front surface 3a serves as an image recording section, and a subject stands along this front surface 3a and is photographed by being irradiated with radiation from the front of the apparatus main body. Prior to this photographing, the main body 3 of the apparatus is moved up and down as appropriate by the elevating means 60 depending on the height of the subject and the part to be photographed. The vertical movement of the device main body 3 will be explained below.

The lever 61 is biased by springs 88a and fi8b so as to extend horizontally when no external force is applied, and rotates vertically about the support shaft 81A when an external force is applied. It is possible.

The above-mentioned piezoelectric elements 62 and 63 are provided above and below the lever 61 in the device main body 3, respectively. When the lever 61 is rotated upward, the upper piezoelectric element 62
When rotated downward, the lower piezoelectric element G3 is pressed. Both piezoelectric elements 62 and 63 control the servo motor 64 by emitting electric signals according to the applied pressing force, and the servo motor 64 is driven to raise the device main body 3 under the control of the piezoelectric element 62. The servo motor 63 is driven to lower the device main body 3 under the control of the piezoelectric element 63. When raising the main body 3 of the device, by rotating the lever 61 upward, the piezoelectric element 62 is gradually and strongly pressed in accordance with the position of the lever 61, that is, the magnitude of the external force applied by the operator. Element 6
Based on the output of No. 2, the servo motor 64 is gradually driven at high speed. Therefore, when the lever 61 is lifted upward, the device main body 3 is moved upward from the stop position while gradually increasing the speed. When stopping the movement, the force applied to the upwardly tilted lever 61 is gradually released and the lever 61 is returned to the horizontal position, and the device body 3 is gradually decelerated and stopped. Further, the lowering of the apparatus main body 3 is similarly speed-controlled by the lever 61 tilted downward from the horizontal position, the piezoelectric element 63, and the servo motor 84. The relationship between the force applied to the lever 61 and the speed of the device main body 3 in this device is proportional, as shown in FIG. 3(a), for example.

If the device main body 3 is moved up and down by the lifting means 60 as described above, the moving speed of the device main body 3 is gradually changed when the device main body 3 starts and stops, so that the device main body vibrates due to the lifting and lowering. This can be prevented. Further, according to the above-mentioned elevating means, it becomes easy to stop the apparatus main body at an arbitrary position, making it easier to adjust the position of the apparatus main body.

Note that the relationship between the moving speed of the device main body and the force applied to the lever does not necessarily have to be proportional as described above, as long as the speed increases as the force increases. For example, as shown in Figure 3(b), the device body may be configured to not start moving unless the force applied to the lever exceeds a certain value, and in this case, it is easy to make fine adjustments to the position of the device body. Become. Moreover, as a detection means for detecting the force applied to the lever, a strain gauge, a means for detecting the amount of rotation of the lever, etc. can be used instead of the piezoelectric element. Also, perform lifting and lowering operations while bending the lever,
The force applied to the lever may be detected by detecting the amount of deflection. Furthermore, instead of being directly attached to the apparatus main body, the operating parts such as the levers may be electrically connected to a servo motor and disposed outside the apparatus main body.

By the way, the device main body 3 in this embodiment is extremely compact so that the above-mentioned vertical movement can be easily performed. The internal structure of the device main body 3 will be described below with reference to FIG. 4, which is a side sectional view of the device main body.

In the illustrated device main body 3, a substantially annular circulation path is formed by a circulation conveyance means 50 consisting of an endless belt, a guide plate nip roller, etc., and in this circulation path, for example, four sheets of stimulable phosphor are stored. Sheet 1 is arranged. A radiation source 11 such as an X-ray source is arranged at a position facing the front surface 3a of the apparatus main body 3, and this radiation '? fi,
11 and the front surface 3a of the apparatus body constitutes an image recording section 10. Further, an image reading section 20 is provided in the lower part of the apparatus main body 3 to read the stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiographic image information is accumulated and recorded in the image recording section 10. for,
An erasing section 30 is provided to emit radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 after reading is completed.

Furthermore, there are four sheet storage sections 41 above the erasing section, and each sheet storage section 41 is provided with a base stacker 40 capable of storing one stimulable phosphor sheet. The device main body 3 is extremely compact because the above-mentioned parts are arranged close to each other, and the size of the front surface 3a is approximately equal to the size of one stimulable phosphor sheet. It is suitable for going up and down.

In the main body of the apparatus, a stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is disposed in an image recording section 10 so that photographing can be started at any time when necessary. Image recording section 10
When the subject 12 is positioned along the front surface 3a of the apparatus main body, the radiation source 11 is activated, a transmitted radiation image of the subject 12 is projected onto the stimulable phosphor sheet 1, and the radiation image information of the subject is stimulable. Accumulated and recorded on the phosphor sheet.

Further, between the front surface 3a and the stimulable phosphor sheet 1,
A grid device 13, such as a Butsky device, is provided.

In other words, when photographing parts of the body that are thick, such as the chest, scattered radiation emitted from the subject during the photographing process may cause a decrease in image quality, so in such cases, the distance between the subject and the stimulable phosphor sheet may be reduced. In between, it is necessary to provide a grid device having a grid that absorbs the above-mentioned scattered radiation, or a so-called Butsky device, which is provided with a grid and means for reciprocating it. Note that the device of this embodiment may record and read image information at the same time, as described later, so if such a device is equipped with a Butkey device that moves the grid, the image reading unit may be On the other hand, in order to prevent the Butsky device from imparting disturbance vibrations, it is necessary to take measures such as providing a balancer to offset the reaction force of the movement of the grid.

When photographing is completed in the image recording section 10, the stimulable phosphor sheet is moved by the sheet conveying means in the direction of arrow AI.

It is conveyed in the A2 direction and carried into the image reading section 20. Note that a standby zone 51 in which one stimulable phosphor sheet 1 can wait is formed below the image reading unit 20, but if there is no preceding stimulable phosphor sheet in the image reading unit 20, , the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is placed in this standby zone 5.
1 and is directly carried into the image reading section 20. Further, the guide plate 52 disposed on the right side of the image reading unit 20 is movable so that its left end 52a can take the position shown by the solid line and the position shown by the broken line in the figure. When the phosphor sheet 1 is conveyed, this left end portion 52a is located at the position indicated by the broken line and guides the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 to the image reading section 20.

The image reading unit 20 includes an excitation light irradiation unit 20A that irradiates excitation light onto the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 that has been imaged, and stimulated luminescence light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 that has been irradiated with the excitation light. and a photoelectric reading means 20B for photoelectrically reading the information. The image reading section 20 will be described with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, which is a plan view of an optical surface plate 20C that accommodates optical elements constituting the excitation light irradiation means 2OA.

The image reading unit 20 includes a He-
An excitation light source 21 such as a Ne laser is provided extending in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1.
A rotating polygon mirror 24, which is an optical deflector, is provided on the optical path of the stimulable phosphor sheet to main scan the excitation light 21 on the stimulable phosphor sheet in its width direction (direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 4). The excitation light 21A emitted from the excitation light source 21 has its optical path changed by a mirror 22 as shown in FIG. The light is incident on the mirror 24. The excitation light 21A reflected and deflected by the rotating polygon mirror 24 is r
After passing through the scanning optical system 25 and the cylindrical lens 26 consisting of a θ lens, etc., and having its optical path changed by the linear mirror 27a1 and the reflecting mirrors 27b and 27c, it is repeatedly applied to the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 located below. Perform main scanning. Note that the cylindrical lens 26 and the cylindrical mirror 27a receive the excitation light 2.
This is an optical element that refracts 1A only in a plane parallel to the paper plane of FIG. 4, and in the above-mentioned optical system, the rotating polygon mirror Even if shaft wobbling, surface tilting, etc. occur in the stimulable phosphor sheet 24, pitch unevenness of scanning lines will not occur on the stimulable phosphor sheet.

Simultaneously with the main scanning of the excitation light 21A, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is sub-scanned by being conveyed at a constant speed within the image reading unit 20 by the circulating conveyance means 50 in the direction of arrow A3 in FIG. Light 21A is irradiated.

Stimulated luminescent light is generated from the excitation light irradiated portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 in accordance with the accumulated and recorded image information, and this stimulated luminescent light is detected by the photoelectric reading means 20B. The photoelectric reading means 20B in this device is based on the
A long photomultiplier tube that extends in the main scanning direction over the length of the main scanning line and has a light-receiving surface facing the main scanning line, as shown in pliers) 28, and a filter provided on the light-receiving surface of the photomultiplier 28 to selectively transmit only stimulated luminescence light and cut off excitation light reflected on the sheet surface from entering the photomultiplier. 29A, and a condenser plate 29B which is attached to the incident end face of the photomultiplier 28 via the filter 29A and which condenses the stimulated luminescence light well. The stimulated luminescent light emitted from the scanning position of the excitation light passes through the light condensing plate 29B and the filter 2.
The signal enters the photomultiplier 28 via the photomultiplier 9A, is photoelectrically converted by the photomultiplier 2B, and is extracted as an electrical signal. After the extracted image signal is subjected to necessary image processing, it is sent to various image reproducing devices such as a display such as a CRT or a recording device that performs optical scanning recording on a photosensitive film.

In addition, in reading the radiation image information, prior to the reading (main reading) to obtain the image signal for visible image output described above, the outline of the radiation image information stored and recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet is read in advance. Look ahead,
A method is known in which reading conditions and the like for performing the main reading are determined based on the image information obtained by this pre-reading, and the main reading is performed according to the reading conditions.

As a method for performing such pre-reading, for example, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is scanned using excitation light with an energy lower than that of the excitation light used for the above-mentioned main reading, and the stimulated luminescence light emitted by this scanning is Similarly, a method of reading by photoelectric reading means (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-672
(see Publication No. 40), etc.

The image reading section in the present invention may perform both the main reading and the pre-reading, and in that case, in the image reading section 20, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is transported in the direction of arrow A3 as described above. First, pre-reading is performed, and then the circulating conveyance means is reversed to convey the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 in the direction of arrow A4, and actual reading is performed. At this time, the left end 52a of the guide plate 52 moves to the solid line position in FIG. 4 to guide the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 upward.

Furthermore, the transport speed of the stimulable phosphor sheet during pre-reading is faster than the transport speed during main reading.

The stimulable phosphor sheet whose image has been read is further transported by the circulating transport means 50 and sent to the erasing section 30. The erasing unit 30 includes a box 31 and, for example, eight erasing light sources 32 such as eight fluorescent lamps arranged inside the box 31.
It consists of. The erasing light source 32 inside the box 31 is
It mainly emits light in the excitation wavelength range of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and the radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 after the image reading is caused by the stimulable phosphor sheet moving inside the erasing section 30 as shown by the arrow. While being conveyed in the direction of the Aτ force, the entire surface is irradiated with such light and emitted. Note that 33 is a filter for cutting off the ultraviolet component of the erasing light. Furthermore, the endless belt 34 surrounding the box 31 is a transparent belt.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 that has been erased in the erasing section 30 is again conveyed to the image recording section 10 and becomes ready for new recording. Prior to being transported to the recording unit IO,
- Once loaded into the stacker 40.

As shown in FIG. 6, the stacker 40 has four shelf boards 43 arranged in parallel at regular intervals in a casing 42 with an open left end surface. The space formed by the sheet storage section 41 serves as the seat storage section 41. Further, this stacker 40 is rotatable around the right end between the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 4 and the position shown by the dashed line in FIG. 53b and roller 53b
, 53c, respectively.

The shelf board 43 has approximately the same size as the stimulable phosphor sheet 1, as shown in FIG. It can be moved horizontally. Shelf board 43
As an example, three notches 43a are formed at the left end of the roller, and the rollers 53a, 53b, and 53c are divided into three and arranged at positions corresponding to the notches 43a. When carrying a stimulable phosphor sheet into the stacker 40, the empty shelf board 43 on which the stimulable phosphor sheet is placed is pulled out from the cage ring 42, and the roller 53a
, 53b or rollers 53b, 53c to the shelf board 4
3 into the notch 43a. In this state, the rollers 53a, 53b or the rollers 53b, 53c
The stimulable phosphor sheet 1 is fed onto the shelf board 43 by
Shelf board 43 after the rear end of the stimulable phosphor sheet leaves the roller
By returning the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 to the casing 42, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 can be stored in the stacker 40. On the other hand, when taking out the stimulable phosphor sheet from the stacker 40, the shelf board 43 on which the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 to be taken out is placed is pulled out to the outside of the casing 42, and the stimulable phosphor sheet on the notch 43a is removed. The ends of the body sheet are gripped by rollers 53a, 53b or rollers 53b, 53c. After the stimulable phosphor sheet is stably conveyed by the rollers holding the stimulable phosphor sheet, the shelf board 43 is returned to the casing, and the removal of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1 from the stacker is completed.

When the stimulable phosphor sheet that has been erased in the erasing section 80 is conveyed in the direction of arrow A8 by the circulation conveyance means 5o as described above, the empty sheet storage section 41 is placed adjacent to the roller 53b153c. The stacker 40 is rotated, and a roller 53b,
The erased stimulable phosphor sheet is carried in by 53c. Further, when the erased stimulable phosphor sheet 1 stored in the stacker 4o is taken out and sent to the image recording section 10, the sheet storage section 41 storing the stimulable phosphor sheet to be taken out is moved by the rollers 53a and 53b. Rotate the stacker 4o so that it is adjacent to the rollers 53a and 5.
3b, the stimulable phosphor sheet is taken out, conveyed in the direction of arrow A3, and sent to the image recording section 10.

Furthermore, by using the stacker 40, the apparatus of this embodiment can efficiently use four stimulable phosphor sheets for continuous imaging. The flow of the stimulable phosphor sheet during continuous imaging will be described below with reference to FIG.

For convenience, among the four stimulable phosphor sheets 1, the stimulable phosphor sheet used for the first imaging is called the stimulable phosphor sheet La, and the stimulable phosphor sheet used for the second imaging is called the stimulable phosphor sheet La. Storable phosphor sheet lb.

The stimulable phosphor sheet used for the third imaging is referred to as a stimulable phosphor sheet lcs, and the stimulable phosphor sheet used for the fourth imaging is referred to as a stimulable phosphor sheet 1d.

When the device is started to be used, all the stimulable phosphor sheets have been erased and are ready for imaging, and as shown in FIG. 7(a), the stimulable phosphor sheets la
only the phosphor sheets ib and tcSta are placed in the image recording unit 10, and the other osmotic phosphor sheets ib and tcSta are held in the stacker 40. When the stimulable phosphor sheet 1a is photographed, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1a is carried out from the image recording section IO as shown in FIG. 20. Further, a second stimulable phosphor sheet 1b is taken out from the stacker 40 and placed in the image recording section IO, and a second photographing is performed on this stimulable phosphor sheet 1b.

The above-mentioned stimulable phosphor sheet la is first subjected to the above-mentioned pre-reading in the image reading section 20, and as shown in FIG. It is transported to zone 51. Instead, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1c taken out from the stacker 40 is placed in the image recording section 1O, and the third photographing is performed on this stimulable phosphor sheet lc.

The stimulable phosphor sheet for which pre-reading has been completed in the image reading section 20 is conveyed rightward as shown in FIG. 7(d), and the main reading is performed. During this time, the stimulable phosphor sheet tb cannot be moved from the standby zone 51, so the stimulable phosphor sheet lc that has been photographed is temporarily returned to the stacker 40 instead of being sent to the standby zone. At this time, the stimulable phosphor sheets 1c are carried into the stacker 40 by the rollers 53a153b. When the loading of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1c is completed, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1d is taken out from the stacker 40 and placed in the image recording section 1.
0, and the fourth photograph can be taken. In this manner, the present apparatus can efficiently perform four imaging operations without leaving any intervals. The stimulable phosphor sheet ld that has been photographed is returned to the stacker 40.

When the reading is completed, the stimulable phosphor sheet la is erased through the erasing section 80 and then carried into the stacker 40, and then the stimulable phosphor sheet lb is sent from the standby zone 51 to the image reading section 2G. It will be done. Storable phosphor sheet 1b
When the stimulable phosphor sheet lc is carried out from the standby zone 51, the stimulable phosphor sheet lc is taken out from the stacker 40 and placed in the image recording section IO.
The image is sent to the standby zone 51, and when the reading of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1b is completed, it is sent to the image reading section 20. When the standby zone 51 becomes vacant, the stimulable phosphor sheet ld is similarly taken out from the stacker 40 and conveyed to the standby zone 51, and the stimulable phosphor sheet lc,
The lds are read and erased in order and returned to the stacker 40. At the same time, the stimulable phosphor sheet (1a) of the erasing section is sent to the image recording section (10), and the apparatus is operated again as shown in FIG.
The state shown in a) is reached.

Note that the imaging for all four stimulable phosphor sheets has not been completed, and the stimulable phosphor sheets that have not been photographed are placed in the image recording unit IO, and the stimulable phosphor sheets that have been photographed are placed in the stacker. When imaging is interrupted (for example, when imaging is interrupted in the state shown in FIG. 7(d)), the imaged stimulable phosphor sheet in the stacker is passed through the image recording unit 10 and the image is read. It cannot be sent to Department 20. Also in this case, the stimulable phosphor sheet la-1bSl
It is desirable that the images c be read in the order in which they were taken and that the processing time be as short as possible. Therefore, the transport of the stimulable phosphor sheet in this case is carried out as follows. That is, the stimulable phosphor sheet la is erased in the erasing section 30 after the main reading is completed, and the stimulable phosphor sheet la is erased in the stacker 40 after the erasing is completed.
will be transported to. During this time, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1b is sent to the image reading section 20 and reading is started. When the main reading of the stimulable phosphor sheet 1b is completed, the stimulable phosphor sheet tb passes through the erasing section 30. It is once carried into the stacker 40.

Subsequently, the stimulable phosphor sheet IC is taken out from the stacker 40 by rollers 53b and 53c, and transferred to the erasing section 30.
The image is then sent to the image reading section 20. Note that at this time, the erasing light source of the erasing section 30 is turned off. stimulable phosphor)
While the stimulable phosphor sheet 1c is being read in the image reading unit 20, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1b is transferred from the stacker 40 to the roller 5.
3b and 53c and sent to the erasing unit 30, and after erasing is completed, they are returned to the stacker 40 by switchback. Further, the stimulable phosphor sheet 1c that has been read is sent to the erasing section 30, where it is erased, and then carried into the stacker 40.

In this way, according to the device of this embodiment, the entire device body is moved up and down in order to change the imaging position up and down, so there is no need to move the circulating conveyance means within the device as the device moves up and down. The structure of the conveying means can be simplified. Further, since the elevating means only needs to move up and down only the casing, the structure of the elevating means is simpler than when the image recording section and the circulating conveyance means are moved in conjunction with each other. In addition, in this device, the main body of the device is moved at a speed that corresponds to the force applied to the lever, so sudden changes in speed are less likely to occur during movement, and the main body of the device does not vibrate when starting or stopping. This eliminates the problem of adversely affecting image reading. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the front surface of the device body is approximately the same size as one stimulable phosphor sheet, and each part of the device body is placed close to each other, so the device body is extremely compact, and the above-mentioned lifting and lowering is possible. It becomes especially easy.

It goes without saying that the specific configuration inside the apparatus main body is not limited to the above embodiment.

For example, although a mechanism (stacker) is provided within the apparatus body described above to enable continuous photographing within a short period of time, such a mechanism is not essential.

Also, the size of the front surface of the device where the image recording section is installed is
If it is the same size as one stimulable phosphor sheet,
This is effective in reducing the size of the device body and making it easier to move up and down, but the front surface of the device may be larger than this.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the radiation image information recording/reading device of the present invention, the imaging position can be moved up and down by raising and lowering the entire device body.
The structure of both the lifting and lowering means can be simplified. In addition, the device body can be raised and lowered based on external operations,
Since the lifting speed can be changed according to the operating force,
Sudden acceleration and sudden stopping are prevented, the device body can be raised and lowered without vibrating, and the position of the device body can be easily finely adjusted.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a radiation image information recording/reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the main parts of the elevating means, and Figs. 3 (a) and (b) are the forces applied to the lever. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the device main body of the above-mentioned device, FIG. 5 is a plan view of the optical surface plate, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the stacker, and FIG. Figures a), (b), (c), and (d) are schematic diagrams showing the transportation of a stimulable phosphor sheet within the apparatus main body. 1... Stimulative phosphor sheet 2... Housing 3...
Apparatus body 3a...Front surface lO...Image recording section 20...Image reading section 30...Erasing section 40...Stacker 50...Circulating conveyance means 60...Elevating means 81...Lever 82.83...Piezoelectric element 64.
・・Servo motor 66・Feed screw 67・
・・Strut diagram (C)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Circulating conveyance means for conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet capable of accumulating and recording radiation image information along a predetermined circulation path; an image recording section that accumulates and records the radiation image information on the stimulable phosphor sheet by irradiating radiation having a stimulable phosphor sheet; An image reading device comprising an excitation light irradiation means for irradiating a stimulable phosphor sheet with excitation light, and a photoelectric reading means for obtaining an image signal by reading stimulated luminescence light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet irradiated with the excitation light. , and radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor sheet in the circulation path before an image is recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet after the image is read in the image reading unit. A main body of the device, wherein an erasing section for emitting a phosphor is integrally housed in a housing, and the image recording section records image information on the stimulable phosphor sheet that stands up in a substantially vertical direction at the front end of the housing. and an elevating means for elevating the entire device main body, the elevating means comprising an operating section that can be operated by applying force from the outside, and a detecting means that detects the magnitude of the external force applied to the operating section. and a driving means for vertically moving the main body of the apparatus as the external force increases based on the output of the detecting means.