Radiation image read-out apparatus

Claim 2

A radiation image read-out apparatus comprising: i) a read-out section for reading out a radiation image stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet, ii) an erasing section for erasing radiation energy remaining on said stimulable phosphor sheet after image read-out from said stimulable phosphor sheet is finished, iii) a cassette holding section for releasably holding a cassette capable of housing said stimulable phosphor sheet therein, and provided with a take-out means for taking said stimulable phosphor sheet out of said cassette, iv) a sorter section for holding a plurality of the stimulable phosphor sheets, said sorter section receiving said stimulable phosphor sheet after erasing is conducted thereon at said erasing section and selectively conveying the stimulable phosphor sheets one by one out of said sorter section, and v) a sheet conveyance means constituted by a first conveyance system for receiving said stimulable phosphor sheet conveyed from said cassette holding section, conveying said stimulable phosphor sheet to said read-out section and said erasing section, and then conveying said stimulable phosphor sheet into said sorter section, and a second conveyance system for receiving said stimulable phosphor sheet conveyed out of said sorter section and conveying said stimulable phosphor sheet into the cassette held at said cassette holding section.

Claim 3

An apparatus as defined in Claim 1 wherein said first conveyance system comprises a stack section disposed between said cassette holding section and said read-out section for temporarily housing said stimulable phosphor sheet conveyed out of said cassette holding section.

Claim 4

An apparatus as defined in Claim 2 wherein said stack section comprises a plurality of trays disposed parallel to each other in equally spaced relation in a case, a guide member for widening the space of either one of said trays when said stimulable phosphor sheet is introduced into said tray, and a means for moving said case housing said trays.

Claim 5

An apparatus as defined in Claim 1 wherein said sorter secticn comprises a plurality of trays disposed parallel to each other in equally spaced relation in a case, a guide member for widening the space of either one of said trays when said stimulable phosphor sheet is introduced into said tray, and a means for moving said case housing said trays.

Claim 6

An apparatus as defined in Claim 3 wherein said guide member is connected to a swing arm for making said guide member enter into said space of said tray to widen said space and push a side end of said stimulable phosphor sheet conveyed into said tray, thereby adjusting the position of said stimulable phosphor sheet in said tray.

Claim 7

An apparatus as defined in Claim 4 wherein said guide member is connected to a swing arm for making said guide member enter into said space of said tray to widen said space and push a side end of said stimulable phosphor sheet conveyed into said tray, thereby adjusting the position of said stimulable phosphor sheet in said tray.

Claim 8

An apparatus as defined in Claim 1 wherein an auxiliary erasing section is disposed at said second conveyance system.

Claim 9

An apparatus as defined in Claim 7 wherein said erasing section and said auxiliary erasing section disposed at positions different from each other utilize a common erasing light source.

Claim 10

An apparatus as defined in Claim 8 wherein said sorter section comprises a plurality of trays disposed parallel to each other in equally spaced relation in a case, a guide member for widening the space of either one of said trays when said stimulable phosphor sheet is introduced into said tray, and a means for moving said case housing said trays.

Claim 11

An apparatus as defined in Claim 9 wherein said guide member is connected to a swing arm for making said guide member enter into said space of said tray to widen said space and push a side end of said stimulable phosphor sheet conveyed into said tray, thereby adjusting the position of said stimulable phosphor sheet in said tray.

Claim 12

An apparatus as defined in Claim 8 wherein said sorter section comprises a plurality of trays for respectively housing a plurality of said stimulable phosphor sheets, and said first conveyance system is provided with a moveable conveyance section for moving to either one of said trays and conveying said stimulable phosphor sheet into it.

Claim 13

An apparatus as defined in Claim 1 wherein said second conveyance system is provided with an erasing conveyance section for conveying said stimulable phosphor sheet conveyed out of said sorter section to said erasing section, and is constituted to convey said stimulable phosphor sheet conveyed out of said sorter section either to said cassette holding section or to said erasing section.

Claim 14

A radiation image read-out apparatus comprising: i) a read-out section for reading out a radiation image stored on a s;imulable phosphor sheet, ii) an erasing section for erasing radiation energy remaining on said stimulable phosphor sheet after image read-out from said stimulable phosphor sheet is finished, iii) a cassette holding section for releasably holding a cassette capable of housing said stimulable phosphor sheet therein, and provided with a take-out means for taking said stimulable phosphor sheet out of said cassette, iv) a sheet housing magazine holding section for releasably holding a sheet housing magazine capable of housing a plurality of image-recorded stimulable phosphor sheets therein, and provided with a take-out means for taking said stimulable phosphor sheets one by one out of said sheet housing magazine, v) a sheet feed magazine holding section for releasably holding a sheet feed magazine capable of housing a plurality of erased reusable stimulable phosphor sheets, vi) a cassette sheet conveyance means constituted by a first conveyance system for receiving said stimulable phosphor sheet taken out of said cassette and conveying said stimulable phosphor sheet to said read-out section and said erasing section, and a second conveyance system for conveying said stimulable phosphor sheet from said erasing section to said cassette holding section, and vii) a magazine sheet conveyance means for receiving said stimulable phosphor sheet taken out of said sheet housing magazine, conveying said stimulable phosphor sheet to said read-out section and said erasing section, and thereafter conveying said stimulable phosphor sheet into said sheet feed magazine.

Claim 15

A radiation image read-out apparatus comprising: i) a read-out section for reading out a radiation image stored on a s;imulable phosphor sheet, ii) an erasing section for erasing radiation energy remaining on said stimulable phosphor sheet after image read-out from said stimulable phosphor sheet is finished, iii) a cassette holding section for releasably holding a cassette capable of housing said stimulable phosphor sheet therein, and provided with a take-out means for taking said stimulable phosphor sheet out of said cassette, iv) a sheet housing magazine holding section for releasably holding a sheet housing magazine capable of housing a plurality of image-recorded stimulable phosphor sheets therein, and provided with a take-out means for taking said stimulable phosphor sheets one by one out of said sheet housing magazine, v) a sheet feed magazine holding section for releasably holding a sheet feed magazine capable of housing a plurality of erased reusable stimulable phosphor sheets, vi) a cassette sheet conveyance means constituted by a first conveyance system for receiving said stimulable phosphor sheet taken out of said cassette and conveying said stimulable phosphor sheet to said read-out section and said erasing section, and a second conveyance system for conveying said stimulable phosphor sheet from said erasing section to said cassette holding section, and vii) a magazine sheet conveyance means for receiving said stimulable phosphor sheet taken out of said sheet housing magazine, conveying said stimulable phosphor sheet to said read-out section and said erasing section, and thereafter conveying said stimulable phosphor sheet into said sheet feed magazine.

Claim 16

An apparatus as defined in Claim 13 wherein said second conveyance means of said cassette sheet conveyance means is provided with a sorter section for holding a plurality of the stimulable phosphor sheets, said sorter section receiving said stimulable phosphor sheet after erasing is conducted thereon at said erasing section and conveying the stimulable phosphor sheets one by one out of said sorter section towards said cassette.

Claim 17

An apparatus as defined in Claim 14 wherein said sorter section comprises a plurality of trays disposed parallel to each other in equally spaced relation in a case, and a means for moving said case housing said trays.

Claim 18

An apparatus as defined in Claim 13 wherein said first conveyance system of said cassette sheet conveyance means comprises a stack section disposed between said cassette holding section and said read-out section for temporarily housing said stimulable phosphor sheet conveyed out of said cassette holding section.

Claim 19

An apparatus as defined in Claim 16 wherein said stack section comprises a plurality of trays disposed parallel to each other in equally spaced relation in a case, and a means for moving said case housing said trays.

Claim 20

An apparatus as defined in Claim 14 wherein said second conveyance means of said cassette sheet conveyance means is provided with an auxiliary erasing section disposed between said sorter section and said cassette holding section.

Claim 21

A radiation image read-out apparatus comprising: i) a read-out section for reading out a radiation image stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet, ii) an erasing section for erasing radiation energy remaining on said stimulable phosphor sheet after image read-out from said stimulable phosphor sheet is finished, iii) a cassette holding section for releasably holding a cassette capable of housing said stimulable phosphor sheet therein, and provided with a take-out means for taking said stimulable phosphor sheet out of said cassette, and iv) a sheet conveyance means for conveying said stimulable phosphor sheet along an approximately loop-like conveyance path for the purpose of receiving said stimulable phosphor sheet conveyed from said cassette holding section, conveying said stimulable phosphor sheet to said read-out section and said erasing section in this order, and then conveying said stimulable phosphor sheet passing through said erasing section into said cassette at said cassette holding section, said cassette holding section being provided at a position inward of said approximately loop-like conveyance path of said sheet conveyance means.

Claim 22

A radiation image read-out apparatus comprising: i) a read-out section for reading out a radiation image stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet, ii) an erasing section for erasing radiation energy remaining on said stimulable phosphor sheet after image read-out from said stimulable phosphor sheet is finished, iii) a cassette holding section for releasably holding a cassette capable of housing said stimulable phosphor sheet therein, and provided with a take-out means for taking said stimulable phosphor sheet out of said cassette, and iv) a sheet conveyance means for conveying said stimulable phosphor sheet along an approximately loop-like conveyance path for the purpose of receiving said stimulable phosphor sheet conveyed from said cassette holding section, conveying said stimulable phosphor sheet to said read-out section and said erasing section in this order, and then conveying said stimulable phosphor sheet passing through said erasing section into said cassette at said cassette holding section, said cassette holding section being provided at a position inward of said approximately loop-like conveyance path of said sheet conveyance means.

Claim 23

An apparatus as defined in Claim 19 wherein said cassette holding section is provided with an urging means for urging a cover portion of said cassette towards the closed position, and a cover portion opening and closing means comprising a swing arm and a suction means secured to said swing arm.

Claim 24

An apparatus as defined in Claim 20 wherein said cover portion of said cassette is provided with a lock mechanism for locking said cover portion to a main body of said cassette, and said cassette holding section is provided with a lock release claw for releasing the lock of said cover portion.

Claim 25

An apparatus as defined in Claim 19 wherein said cassette holding section is provided with a holding base comprising a guide portion for guiding said cassette, a step-like portion lower than said guide portion and provided with a means for adjusting the position of said cassette on said step-like portion, and a means for raising an end of said. cassette from said step-like portion to said guide portion.

Claim 26

In a radiation image read-out apparatus for reading out a radiation image stored in a stimulable phosphor sheet, a stacker provided in a path of a sheet conveyance means of the apparatus for holding therein a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheets and discharging the same one by one, said stacker comprising: a tray unit composed of a casing and a plurality of trays disposed in said casing for holding said sheets respectively in equally spaced and parallel relation to each other in a supported position, a feed-in means provided above said tray unit for feeding said sheets fed by said sheet conveyance means into said tray unit, a feed-out means provided under the tray unit for receiving the sheets discharged out of said tray unit and conveying the sheets into said sheet conveyance means, and a moving means for moving said tray unit so that every tray in said casing can be brought under said feed-in means and above said feed-out means, each of said trays comprising a supporting plate for guiding said sheet fed-in by said feed-in means and supporting the fed-in sheet, and a bottom plate provided at the lower end of said supporting plate moveable between a first position to receive the lower end of said sheet and hold the sheet in the tray and a second position rotated downward from the first position to allow the sheet to fall by its weight and discharge it out of the tray unit.

Claim 27

In a radiation image read-out apparatus for reading out a radiation image stored in a stimulable phosphor sheet, a stacker provided in a path of a sheet conveyance means of the apparatus for holding therein a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheets and discharging the same one by one, said stacker comprising: a tray unit composed of a casing and a plurality of trays disposed in said casing for holding said sheets respectively in equally spaced and parallel relation to each other in a supported position, a feed-in means provided above said tray unit for feeding said sheets fed by said sheet conveyance means into said tray unit, a feed-out means provided under the tray unit for receiving the sheets discharged out of said tray unit and conveying the sheets into said sheet conveyance means, and a moving means for moving said tray unit so that every tray in said casing can be brought under said feed-in means and above said feed-out means, each of said trays comprising a supporting plate for guiding said sheet fed-in by said feed-in means and supporting the fed-in sheet, and a bottom plate provided at the lower end of said supporting plate moveable between a first position to receive the lower end of said sheet and hold the sheet in the tray and a second position rotated downward from the first position to allow the sheet to fall by its weight and discharge it out of the tray unit.

Claim 28

In a radiation image read-out apparatus for reading out a radiation image stored in a stimulable phosphor sheet, a stacker provided in a path of a sheet conveyance means of the apparatus for holding therein a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheets and discharging the same one by one, said stacker comprising: a tray unit composed of a casing and a plurality of trays disposed in said casing for holding said sheets respectively in equally spaced and parallel relation to each other in a supported position, a feed-in means provided above said tray unit for feeding said sheets fed by said sheet conveyance means into said tray unit, a feed-out means provided under the tray unit for receiving the sheets discharged out of said tray unit and conveying the sheets into said sheet conveyance means, a moving means for moving said tray unit so that every tray in said casing can be brought under said feed-in means and above said feed-out means, and a wedge-shape guide member provided beside the tray located under said feed-in means and moveable into said tray for changing the angle of inclination of the tray to enlarge the space between the tray and an adjacent tray to facilitate feed-in of the sheet, each of said trays comprising a supporting plate obliquely positioned for guiding said sheet fed-in by said feed-in means and supporting the fed-in sheet, and a bottom plate provided at the lower end of said supporting plate moveable between a first position to receive the lower end of said sheet and hold the sheet in the tray and a second position rotated downward from the first position to allow the sheet to fall by its weight and discharge it out of the tray unit.

Claim 29

In a radiation image read-out apparatus for reading out a radiation image stored in a stimulable phosphor sheet, a stacker provided in a path of a sheet conveyance means of the apparatus for holding therein a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheets and discharging the same one by one, said stacker comprising: a tray unit composed of a casing and a plurality of trays disposed in said casing for holding said sheets respectively in equally spaced and parallel relation to each other in a supported position, a feed-in means provided above said tray unit for feeding said sheets fed by said sheet conveyance means into said tray unit, a feed-out means provided under the tray unit for receiving the sheets discharged out of said tray unit and conveying the sheets into said sheet conveyance means, a moving means for moving said tray unit so that every tray in said casing can be brought under said feed-in means and above said feed-out means, and a wedge-shape guide member provided beside the tray located under said feed-in means and moveable into said tray for changing the angle of inclination of the tray to enlarge the space between the tray and an adjacent tray to facilitate feed-in of the sheet, each of said trays comprising a supporting plate obliquely positioned for guiding said sheet fed-in by said feed-in means and supporting the fed-in sheet, and a bottom plate provided at the lower end of said supporting plate moveable between a first position to receive the lower end of said sheet and hold the sheet in the tray and a second position rotated downward from the first position to allow the sheet to fall by its weight and discharge it out of the tray unit.

Claim 30

A stacker as defined in Claim 24 wherein said wedge-shape guide member is controlled of its depth of insertion into the tray according to the size of the sheet fed into the tray for guiding and positioning the fed-in sheet in the lateral direction.