Abstract: A swinging conveyor is provided at a gate portion at an upstream side of a collection section. An X-ray film can be guided and discarded to a discard tray by this swinging conveyor. A light source and a light detector are provided between a first conveyor and a second conveyor at an upstream side of the swinging conveyor. Light of a predetermined wavelength is irradiated from the light source to an X-ray film which is being conveyed from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, and light that passes through the X-ray film is received by the light detector. A detection/control section judges whether or not an offcut is clinging to the X-ray film from amounts of light received by the light detector. If an offcut is clinging, the swinging conveyor operates to discard that X-ray film.

Abstract: A photosensitive material in which a fog unnecessary for a photosensitive material is not generated when irradiation of a laser beam and a character or a mark is printed by an array of optically distinguishable dot patterns is provided. When the dot patterns are arrayed by M number in column and N number in row and the character or the mark having a size of A×B is printed, the dot pattern has irregularity of no more than S+10 ?m, and an almost circular shape of no lower than 100 ?m and not more than the smaller diameter either A/M or B/N, when viewed from the emulsion layer side. A surface roughness is set in the range of 0.2 ?m to 1.0 ?m.

Abstract: A transfer device in which a material which transmits a laser beam LB is employed as an upper mold, and a photothermal conversion layer is formed thereon. A transfer film, at which a transfer material layer is formed, and a workpiece are superposed and pressured between the upper mold and a lower mold. During this pressuring, the laser beam is irradiated in accordance with a pattern of an organic electroluminescent light-emitting layer that is to be formed on the workpiece. Thus, the photothermal conversion layer is heated and the transfer material layer is softened. As a result, the transfer material layer is cleaved and detached from a temporary support, and a component in the transfer material layer that is to form the organic electroluminescent light-emitting layer is transferred to the workpiece. Accordingly, efficient transfer processing is enabled when a transfer material is transferred to a transfer object by a thermal imaging process.

Abstract: When laser beams with a wavelength of 9.3 &mgr;m or 9.6 &mgr;m are used, a pulse width t (&mgr;sec) which is a radiation time of the laser beam and an energy density E (kw/cm2) of the laser beam on an X-ray film are set such that they meet requirements based on an area A between line segments A1 and A2. Moreover, when laser beams with a wavelength of a 10-micrometer band, such as 10.6 &mgr;m, is used, the pulse width and the energy density are set such that they meet requirements based on an area B between line segments B1 and B2. As a result, since the pulse width t is within a range of equal to or larger than 3 &mgr;sec and smaller than 30 &mgr;sec, a high-quality marking pattern with excellent visibility can be formed while improving the productivity of the X-ray film.

Abstract: A wavefront measuring apparatus and a wavefront measuring method are capable of performing optical measurement on a test optical system, including an immersion optical system, with comparable ease of handling to that of the conventional measuring method using a concave member, and substantially independently of reflection that may occur at the surface closest to the test optical system among the surfaces of an optical member for reflecting light exiting from the test optical system. The wavefront measuring apparatus has a light source, a reference light path in which a reference member for producing reference light is disposed, and a test light path in which the test optical system is disposed. A plano-convex optical member with a wall thickness approximately equal to the radius of curvature of a convex surface thereof is disposed in the test light path in such a manner that a plane surface thereof faces toward the test optical system.

Abstract: The reference objective lens includes an objective lens and an index member provided with an index that indicates a reference position. The index member is disposed on the front-side focal position of the objective lens or in its vicinity. Upon the reference objective lens thus configured being mounted on an apparatus having an image sensor, an image of the index that indicates a reference position is captured with the image sensor, and a position of the index in the captured image is calculated out and stored. Then, upon a predetermined optical system being mounted on the apparatus having the image sensor in place of the reference objective lens, aberrations of the optical system are measured, and the optical system is adjusted so that aberrations at a position that corresponds to the stored position satisfy a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A wavefront measuring apparatus and a wavefront measuring method are capable of performing optical measurement on a test optical system, including an immersion optical system, with comparable ease of handling to that of the conventional measuring method using a concave member, and substantially independently of reflection that may occur at the surface closest to the test optical system among the surfaces of an optical member for reflecting light exiting from the test optical system. The wavefront measuring apparatus has a light source, a reference light path in which a reference member for producing reference light is disposed, and a test light path in which the test optical system is disposed. A plano-convex optical member with a wall thickness approximately equal to the radius of curvature of a convex surface thereof is disposed in the test light path in such a manner that a plane surface thereof faces toward the test optical system.

Abstract: A sorting and conveying line provided at an X-ray film cutting and collection operation includes a defective sheet gate, a collection gate and a sample gate for sorting X-ray film sheets, which have been cut to a predetermined size at a cutting section, while the X-ray film sheets are conveyed. Film detection sensors are disposed at entrance and exit sides of each of the defective sheet gate, the collection gate and the sample gate, and each film detection sensor detects the X-ray film sheet at times when the X-ray film sheet should be conveyed and sorted. Based on the results of detection, a determination is made as to whether or not there is any failure in control on a number of produced X-ray film sheets, and the like, as well as conveyance and sorting operations. This allows smooth and quick handling in the event of a failure.

Abstract: An X-ray film package includes a protective cover for sandwiching plural X-ray films stacked on one another, to obtain a cover-fitted sheet stack. A packaging bag contains the cover-fitted sheet stack. A packaging case contains the packaging bag with the cover-fitted sheet stack contained therein. A producing history managing method for the X-ray film package is provided. A producing history bar code is printed to the protective cover, the producing history bar code being obtained according to producing or packaging of the X-ray films. Also, the producing history bar code is printed to the packaging bag, and to the packaging case.

Abstract: A transfer device in which a material which transmits a laser beam LB is employed as an upper mold, and a photothermal conversion layer is formed thereon. A transfer film, at which a transfer material layer is formed, and a workpiece are superposed and pressured between the upper mold and a lower mold. During this pressuring, the laser beam is irradiated in accordance with a pattern of an organic electroluminescent light-emitting layer that is to be formed on the workpiece. Thus, the photothermal conversion layer is heated and the transfer material layer is softened. As a result, the transfer material layer is cleaved and detached from a temporary support, and a component in the transfer material layer that is to form the organic electroluminescent light-emitting layer is transferred to the workpiece. Accordingly, efficient transfer processing is enabled when a transfer material is transferred to a transfer object by a thermal imaging process.

Abstract: In a marking device, by illuminating a laser beam onto an X-ray film which is a light-photosensitive heat-developing photosensitive material, an inner portion of a surface layer is melted, a cavity is formed, and a dot, which projects a surface out in a convex shape, is formed. At this time, an illumination time of the laser beam is controlled in order to control melting of the surface layer. In the marking device, when conveying of an X-ray film is stopped, oscillation of a laser oscillating tube is continued until a predetermined period of time elapses. When stoppage is for a short time, control is carried out such that marking can be started quickly.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking a predetermined number of X-ray films has a sheet member holding device disposed above a stacking position for temporarily holding at least a first X-ray film, and an actuating device for displacing the sheet member holding device from the stacking position to drop the X-ray film held by the sheet member holding device into the stacking position. The apparatus is capable of stacking a plurality of X-ray films highly accurately and efficiently in the stacking position while avoiding damage to the X-ray films.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking a predetermined number of X-ray films has a sheet member holding device disposed above a stacking position for temporarily holding at least a first X-ray film, and an actuating device for displacing the sheet member holding device from the stacking position to drop the X-ray film held by the sheet member holding device into the stacking position. The apparatus is capable of stacking a plurality of X-ray films highly accurately and efficiently in the stacking position while avoiding damage to the X-ray films.

Abstract: An optical filter has a spectral transmittance characteristic plotted as a curve that is not mirror-symmetric with respect to any vertical axis upon wavelength being taken along the axis of abscissa and transmittance being taken along the axis of ordinate. The optical filter can be designed and fabricated easily and efficiently. The optical filter is used with a light source that causes self-absorption, to constitute an illumination optical system. In the illumination optical system, an image of the arc lamp is projected with a sufficiently high magnification in good aberration condition on the pupil of the objective lens, light in a wavelength region that was conventionally unused is efficiently used, and, in addition, the heat problem is solved.

Abstract: By irradiating a laser beam onto an X-ray film that includes a support layer having disposed thereon an emulsion layer, the emulsion layer is melted, numerous minute air bubbles are generated in the emulsion layer, and the emulsion layer becomes convex, whereby a visible dot pattern is formed. The irradiation time and wavelength of the laser beam are selected so that separation is not generated between the support layer and the emulsion layer. By defocusing and irradiating the laser beam, the X-ray film may substantially uniformly receives energy of the laser beam. Moreover, an undersurface layer may also be formed, and the laser beam may be irradiated onto the undersurface layer to form a dot pattern on the undersurface layer. A device and a method for forming a marking pattern representing identification information on a rolled photosensitive material and cutting the photosensitive material into sheets are disclosed.

Abstract: The reference objective lens includes an objective lens and an index member provided with an index that indicates a reference position. The index member is disposed on the front-side focal position of the objective lens or in its vicinity. Upon the reference objective lens thus configured being mounted on an apparatus having an image sensor, an image of the index that indicates a reference position is captured with the image sensor, and a position of the index in the captured image is calculated out and stored. Then, upon a predetermined optical system being mounted on the apparatus having the image sensor in place of the reference objective lens, aberrations of the optical system are measured, and the optical system is adjusted so that aberrations at a position that corresponds to the stored position satisfy a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A photosensitive material in which a fog unnecessary for a photosensitive material is not generated when irradiation of a laser beam and a character or a mark is printed by an array of optically distinguishable dot patterns is provided. When the dot patterns are arrayed by M number in column and N number in row and the character or the mark having a size of A×B is printed, the dot pattern has irregularity of no more than S+10 &mgr;m, and an almost circular shape of no lower than 100 &mgr;m and not more than the smaller diameter either A/M or B/N, when viewed from the emulsion layer side. A surface roughness is set in the range of 0.2 &mgr;m to 1.0 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A clean booth has a conveyor area for carrying recording sheets, and a motor drive area for containing motor and mechanical parts that emit much dust. The conveyor area and the motor drive area are covered respectively, and separated by a frame plate. Moreover, fan filter units blow pressurized clean air into the conveyor area to discharge dust while a ventilation system exhausts air in the motor drive area. There is no airflow from motor drive area to the conveyor area because of the difference in air pressure. The recording sheets in the conveyor area are carried by belt conveyors with artificial suede belts. The artificial suede belt is suitable to be used as a conveyer belt because of low dust emission and sufficient flexibility to prevent flaw or pressure marks on the recording sheets.

Abstract: An X-ray film package includes a protective cover for sandwiching plural X-ray films stacked on one another, to obtain a cover-fitted sheet stack. A packaging bag contains the cover-fitted sheet stack. A packaging case contains the packaging bag with the cover-fitted sheet stack contained therein. A producing history managing method for the X-ray film package is provided. A producing history bar code is printed to the protective cover, the producing history bar code being obtained according to producing or packaging of the X-ray films. Also, the producing history bar code is printed to the packaging bag, and to the packaging case.

Abstract: A sheet package producing system includes at least a cutter module and a packaging module. The cutter module has a cutter blade, for producing X-ray films by cutting a continuous sheet material. The packaging module has packaging robots, for producing a sheet package by packaging the X-ray films stacked on one another. In the sheet package producing system, a first module control unit is incorporated in the cutter module, for controlling the cutter blade. A second module control unit is incorporated in the packaging module, for controlling the packaging robots. A CPU is connected with the first and second module control units removably by a component network, for controlling the cutter module and the packaging module in synchronism.