JPH043736A - System for transporting paper sheet by sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent multiple sheets from being taken out by sucking each sheet with multiple suckers for displacement, rotating one sucker, and curbing the sheet between it and other suckers to apply a swing action. CONSTITUTION:Swaying members 54b, 54a are swayed by the rotating excitation of a pulse motor 68, a support plate 50 is displaced, and the uppermost sheet 1P stacked in a magazine 40 is sucked by multiple suckers 44a-44d. A rotation drive source 130 is excited at this time, a rotary shaft 138 is rotated, an arm 100 is extended, and a grip roller pair 90 is lifted. The pulse motor 68 is reversly rotated, the suckers 44a-44d are lifted and displaced while the sheet 1P is sucked thereby. The tip section of the sheet 1P is brought into contact with the grip roller pair 90, and the sucker 44a is rotated by the second angle member 86. The tip section of the sheet 1P is curbed for a swing action, and multiple sheets are prevented from being sucked all at once.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a sheet body single-fed mechanism, in particular, a sheet-like image recording carrier such as a film or a stimulable phosphor sheet is vacuum-suctioned. The present invention relates to a sheet-feeding mechanism that can reliably feed one sheet at a time under the tilting action of a suction cup connected to a source.

[Prior Art] Recently, a radiation image recording/reading device that obtains a radiation image of a subject using a stimulable phosphor (stimulable phosphor) has been attracting attention. Here, stimulable phosphor refers to radiation (X-rays, α-rays,
When irradiated with β rays, γ rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc., a part of this radiation energy is accumulated, and when excitation light such as visible light is irradiated later, stimulated luminescence is generated depending on the accumulated energy. Refers to phosphor.

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

Therefore, in such a radiation image recording/reading device,
Specifically, the following method is adopted to read the radiation image from the stimulable phosphor sheet on which the radiation image has been stored and recorded.

In other words, a stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned two-dimensionally with a light beam such as a laser beam, and the stimulated luminescence light emitted by this is detected in time series with a photodetector such as a photomultiplier to obtain image information. get. The two-dimensional scanning of the light beam is usually performed by mechanically transporting the stimulable phosphor sheet in one direction, and at the same time, in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the sheet. This is achieved by performing main scanning by irradiating a deflected light beam.

This type of radiation image recording/reading device is basically configured as follows. That is, a conveying means for conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet on which a radiation image has been stored and recorded along a predetermined path, and an excitation light that is located in the path and scans the sheet on which radiation image information has been stored and recorded in an image recording section. an image reading section comprising an excitation light source emitting light and a photoelectric reading means for reading stimulated luminescence light emitted from a sheet scanned by the excitation light to obtain an image signal; An erasing section for emitting radiation energy remaining on the sheet prior to recording an image on the sheet is incorporated into one device. In this case, a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheets carrying image information of a subject in advance are stacked and stored in a magazine and loaded into the apparatus. Next, the stimulable phosphor sheet is taken from this magazine under the suction action of a suction cup, and is conveyed to the image reading section.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the single-sheet operation of conventional suction cups of this type involves multiple sheets in some cases, making it difficult to smoothly convey the stimulable phosphor sheet to the image reading unit. The following shortcomings have been pointed out. Multiple sheets often depend on static electricity between stacked stimulable phosphor sheets.

Therefore, in order to overcome this inconvenience, it is considered to provide a mechanism that gives the suction cup itself a tilting motion, but if this is attempted to be done mechanically, the structure would be extremely complicated, and it would be difficult to do this electrically. If you try to do so, it will be quite complicated. Moreover, there is a possibility that the product will become expensive as a result.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to be able to reliably and smoothly feed sheet bodies one by one using a sheet body single-feeding mechanism having an extremely simplified structure, and to be able to manufacture the sheet bodies at low cost. An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet body single-fed mechanism.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a magazine in which a plurality of sheet bodies are stacked, and a suction mechanism having a plurality of suction cups is arranged so as to be able to move forward and backward. , one of the suction cups is attached to a holding means that rotates the sheet body attracted to it in contact with a roller that conveys the sheet body, and substantially the rotating suction cup and the remaining suction cups The sheet body is characterized in that the sheet body taken out between the rollers is given a swinging action and then the sheet body is led out in a predetermined direction by the rollers.

[Operation] When the suction cups constituting the suction mechanism suction and displace the sheet body stored in the magazine, one suction cup performs a rotational operation. The sheet body is bent by the remaining suction cup and this rotating suction cup, and a tilting action is essentially given to this sheet body, and other sheets attached to this sheet body are The sheet body separates and falls into the magazine. This prevents the formation of multiple sheets.

[Example] Next, a preferred example of the sheet body single-feeding mechanism according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a radiation image reading apparatus incorporating a sheet body single feeding mechanism according to the present invention.

That is, the radiation image reading device 1G includes an image reading section 12, an erasing section 14 for erasing the radiation image remaining after being read by the image reading section 12, and a downstream side of the erasing section 14, for example. , a sorting and conveying unit 18 for sorting and conveying stimulable phosphor sheets of different sizes to the tray set unit 16 according to their respective sizes; The stimulable phosphor sheet IP includes a sheet portion 22 for sheeting the stimulable phosphor sheet IP. the sheet section 22, the image reading section 12, the erasing section 14,
The sorting and conveying sections 18 are each electrically controlled by the control section 24.

Note that a first conveyance system 26 is provided between the sheet wafer section 22 and the image reading section 12, and a first conveyance system 26 is provided between the sheet wafer section 22 and the image reading section 12.
A second transport system 28 is provided between the erasing unit 14 and the sorting transport unit 18, and a third transport system 30 is provided between the erasing unit 14 and the sorting transport unit 18. These first conveyance system 26 to third conveyance system 30 basically consist of rollers and a belt conveyor wound around the rollers, and a guide plate is provided in a part thereof.

Next, the single sheet feeding section 22 constituting the sheet body single feeding mechanism according to the present invention will be described in more detail.

In FIG. 2, a magazine set section 36 for loading a magazine 40 from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing is arranged at a predetermined angle.

In the magazine 40, stimulable phosphors IP are stacked. Guide plates 46a and 46b are provided close to the opening 42 of the magazine 40 to displace the plurality of suction cups 44a, 44b, 44C and 44d in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the magazine 40, respectively.

The guide plates 46a and 46b have long guide holes 48a and 43b.
Bin members 52a and 52b disposed on a support plate 50 extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the magazine 40 enter into the long holes 48a and 48b. Next, the pin member 52
a and 52b enter into elongated holes 56a and 56b of triangular swinging members 54a and 54b. In fact, the swinging members 54a, 5
4b is swingably pivoted to a support plate (not shown), and the shaft 58 of the swinging member 54b is rotated by a pulley 60 having a large diameter.

The pulley 60 is connected via a belt 62 to a small-diameter pulley 66 that is disposed coaxially with a large-diameter pulley 64. Rotationally driven. In the figure, reference numbers 72 and 74 indicate pulleys for tension, respectively.

Therefore, in FIG. 2, the suction cup 44a disposed at the lowest position will be explained. A first angle member 82 is disposed on a cylindrical rod 80 that holds the suction cup 44a, a torsion spring 84 is provided on this first angle member 82, and a second angle member 8 is attached to one end of the torsion spring 84.
6 is fixed. The second angle member 86 is the suction cup 44
hold a. Furthermore, in FIG. 2, a pair of grip rollers 90 is provided close to the position where the second angle member 86 is raised and is movable in the direction of the arrow. The shafts of the grip roller pair 90 are movable along the guide plate 94 in the direction of the arrow. That is, the shafts 96a and 196b of the rollers 92a and 92b constituting the grip roller pair 90 are pivotally connected to a guide plate 94, and this guide plate 94 is connected to the link mechanism 9.
8, and can be freely displaced in the direction of the arrow by a rotating arm 100.

A belt 102 engages the roller 92a and is wound around rollers 104, 106, 108, 110 and a large diameter roller 112. roller 106
A rod 116 latched to one end of a coil spring 114 is connected to the rod 116 via a connecting member 118. In fact, the roller 110 has a pulley 122 of the rotational drive source 120.
A belt 124 that engages with the rotary drive source 12 is engaged with the
By driving the roller 0, the belt 124 will rotate, and by rotating the roller 110, the belt 102 will rotate.

A belt 113 is attached to the belt 102 on the roller 110 side.
are in sliding contact so that they can rotate freely.

On the other hand, regarding the link mechanism 98, the rotational drive source 1
30 is provided, and a belt 134 is wound around a pulley 132 connected to the rotational drive source 130. A belt 134 is wound around a pulley 140 for rotationally driving a rotating shaft 138 of a link mechanism 98 via a pulley 136. Note that a bent angle member 150 is provided close to the magazine 40, and this angle member 150 is swingable about a shaft 152.

A coil spring 15 is attached to one end of the angle member 150.
4, and the angle member 150 is always pulled in the direction of the arrow by this coil spring 154. The angle member 150 is located at the grip roller pair 9.
When the roller 92b on the other side of 0 is displaced, its shaft 96b is in a position where it comes into contact with this angle member 150. Then, the tip of the angle member 150 comes into contact with the inclined plate 156 provided inside the magazine 40 as the shaft 96b of the other roller 92b comes into contact. In the figure, reference numeral 180 indicates a barcode reader, and this barcode reader 180 is fixed to the support plate 50 via an angle member 182.

The image reading device incorporating the sheet feeding mechanism according to the present invention is basically constructed as described above, and its operation and effects will be explained next.

First, a magazine 40 containing a plurality of stacked sheets of stimulable phosphor IP is loaded into the radiation image reading apparatus 10 from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. At this time, the suction cups 44a to 44d and the grip roller pair 9
0 is at the home position (see Figure 3C).

Next, when the pulse motor 68 is urged to rotate, its rotation is transmitted to the pulleys 64, 66, 60, and swings the swinging members 54a, 54b in the direction of the arrow via the 1#i58. As a result, the support plate 50 is displaced in the direction of the arrow via the pin members 52a and 52b, and the suction cups 44a to 44d adsorb the uppermost stimulable phosphor sheet (IP) stacked in the magazine 40 ( (See Figure 3). At this point, the rotary drive source 130 is energized, and the rotary shaft 138 rotates via the pulleys 136 and 140, causing the arm 1 of the linkage mechanism 98 to rotate.
00 extends in the direction of the arrow. As a result, the guide plate 94
is displaced under the extension action of arm 100, and grip roller pair 90 rises to the position shown by the broken line in FIG. 2 (see FIG. 3C). Next, when the pulse motor 68 is reversely rotated, the swinging members 54a and 54b swing in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow, so that the suction cups 44a to 44d move from the magazine 40 to the uppermost position via the support plate 50. (accumulative phosphor)
It moves to the home position while adsorbing the IP.

At this time, the tip of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP comes into contact with the pair of grip rollers 90, and the rotatable second angle member 86 resists the elastic force of the torsion spring 84, as shown by the broken line in FIG. The suction cup 44a is rotated as shown in FIG. At this point, the suction cups 44b to 44d are holding the stimulable phosphor sheet IP in a substantially straight state.
The rotational movement of 4a bends the tip of the stimulable phosphor sheet IF, giving the result as if it were being tilted (see FIG. 3C). Therefore, even if there is a double sheet of stimulable phosphor sheet IP attached to the uppermost stimulable phosphor sheet IP due to static electricity, etc., this substantial swinging action will cause the accumulation below. The fluorescent phosphor sheet falls into the magazine 40.

At this time, the tip of the inclined plate 156 is connected to the grip roller pair 9.
Since the tip of the angle member 150 is in contact with the other roller 92b of 0, and the space 200 defined inside the magazine 40 is closed by the angle member 150 (see broken line in FIG. 2). , will not fall into this space 200.

In this way, after avoiding multiple sheets, the pulse motor 68 is again energized to rotate normally, and the uppermost stimulable phosphor sheet (IP) is returned to the magazine 40 (see FIG. 3g). , Meanwhile, the rotational drive source 130 is reversely energized, and the grip roller pair 90 is again displaced downward to the home position (third
(See Figure g). Then, the pulse motor 68 is reversely energized, and the uppermost stimulable phosphor sheet (IP) is taken out (the third
At this point, the barcode reader 180 attaches the size of the uppermost stimulable phosphor sheet (see Figure g), the identification information of the subject that has already been stored and recorded, etc. to the stimulable phosphor sheet (IP). It is recognized by the barcode provided (see figure 3).

After the sheet of stimulable phosphor sheet IP is identified by the barcode reader 180, the rotary drive source 130 is again energized to rotate, and the grip roller pair 90 is raised to the position shown by the broken line in FIG. Therefore, the stimulable phosphor C) I
The tip of P is firmly gripped by the pair of grip rollers 90. Next, the rotational drive source 120 is rotated. That is, due to the rotation of this rotational drive source 120, the rollers 92a, 104.106.108.110
and 112 are urged through the belt 124, and the uppermost stimulable phosphor sheet IP is held between the rollers 92a and 92b (see FIG. 3g).

On the other hand, the suction cups 44b to 44d are released from the vacuum suction state to the stimulable phosphor sheet (IP) held by the clamping action of the grip roller pair 90, the vacuum state leaks, and the suction cups 44a to 44d further rise. (see Figure 3g). Next, stimulable phosphor sheet IP
After being held between the roller 112 and the belt 102, the sheet is conveyed to the first conveyance system 26 side by the belt 113 and the belt 102 (see FIG. 3k, 2).

In the image reading unit 12, a laser beam from a laser light source (not shown) is scanned in the main scanning direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet IP, and the stimulable phosphor sheet IP on which this radiation image is recorded is scanned between two Scanned dimensionally. As a result, the photomultiplier 300 constituting the image reading unit 12 converts the stimulated luminescence light associated with the radiation image from the stimulable phosphor IP into an electrical signal and reads it into a CRT or a storage device (not shown).

Then, the stimulable phosphor sheet (I) is transferred via the second transport system 28.
P reaches the erasing section 14, and an erasing light source is turned on in this erasing section 14 to erase the remaining image, and the stimulable phosphor sheet IP, which can be reused in this way, is It reaches the sorting conveyance unit 18 via the third conveyance system 30 and is loaded into a tray of the tray set unit 16 that matches the size.

According to this embodiment, as described above, when taking out the stimulable phosphor IP, by rotating the suction cup closest to the pair of grip rollers used for this taking out operation,
The stimulable phosphor sheet (IP) to be substantially taken out is configured to be given a stirring action. Therefore, since the tilting operation can be applied in conjunction with the operation of taking out the stimulable phosphor sheet IP by the suction cup, the production of a plurality of sheets is prevented.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, since the suction cup is rotated by the means for taking out the sheet body, a plurality of sheets of the sheet body can be taken out with a simple mechanism. The effect that can be obtained is that it can be prevented. Moreover, in particular, by rotating the suction cup, single-sheet operation can be performed while always maintaining a constant posture with respect to the sheet body, so that the prevention of multiple sheets can be stably achieved. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration explanatory diagram of an image reading apparatus incorporating a sheet body single-feeding mechanism according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a detailed front explanatory diagram of the sheet body single-fed mechanism according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an operation when a stimulable phosphor sheet is taken out while applying a tilting operation by the sheet body single-feeding mechanism. 10... Radiographic image reading device 12... Image reading section 14... Erasing section 16... Tray set section 18... Sorting and conveying section 20... Magazine 22... Sheet section 24... - Control g5 section 40... Magazines 44a to 44d... Suction cup 50... Support plates 54a, 54b... Swinging member 82... First angle member 84... Torsion spring 86... Second angle member 90...Grip roller pair 98...Link mechanism 120.130...Rotary drive source 150...Angle member 180...Barcode league procedure amendment (voluntary) June 1990 1st day 2. Name of the invention: Sheet body single-fed mechanism 3. Interaction between the person making the amendment and the case.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A suction mechanism having a plurality of suction cups is movably arranged in a magazine that stacks a plurality of sheet bodies, and one of the suction cups transports the sheet body attracted to it. The sheet body is attached to a holding means that rotates in contact with a roller that rotates, and the sheet body that is taken out between the rotating suction cup and the remaining suction cup is subjected to a swinging action, and then the sheet body is moved in a predetermined direction by the roller. A sheet body single-fed mechanism characterized by leading out a sheet body.