Abstract: Disclosed herein is a radiation image information recording and reading apparatus which basically comprises first and second recording units, a reading unit, an erasing unit and a feed system. In the apparatus, either one of the first and second recording units is first selected. Then, an object set on the selected recording unit is irradiated with radiation emitted from a radiation source to produce a radiation-transmitted image, which is in turn recorded on a stimulable phosphor sheet. The stimulable phosphor sheet is illuminated with stimulating rays to emit accelerated light therefrom. Thereafter, the produced light is photoelectrically read to produce an image signal corresponding to the radiation-transmitted image. Thus, the radiation photography of an object can easily be made by selecting either one of the first and second recording units according to parts of the object to be radiographed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a radiation image information reading apparatus comprising an unloading mechanism for unloading a plurality of light-intransmissive holders one by one from a supply container for accommodating therein the plurality of light-intransmissive holders in a stacked manner, which are used to hold therein storage-type phosphor sheets with radiation image information stored and recorded thereon; a sheet discharging mechanism for discharging a storage-type phosphor sheet from one unloaded out of the plurality of light-intransmissive holders; a reading unit for photoelectrically reading radiation image information stored and recorded on the storage-type phosphor sheet thus discharged; an erasing unit for erasing any remaining radiation image information on the so-read storage-type phosphor sheet therefrom; a sheet loading mechanism for loading the light-intransmissive holder with the so-erased storage-type phosphor sheet; and a feed mechanism for feeding the light-intransmissive holder with the so-er

Abstract: A cassette for removably housing a stimulable phosphor sheet for storing a radiation image therein comprises a flat box-like front plate and a cover member openably coupled with the front plate. A foamed material is secured to the inner surface of the front plate, thereby preventing the stimulable phosphor sheet from being scratched when the sheet is taken out of or inserted into the cassette. The foamed material has at least one notch for exposing a part of the inner surface of the front plate, so that the stimulable phosphor sheet housed in the cassette does not come in contact with the foamed material at the portion of the notch and can be readily separated from the foamed material when the stimulable phosphor sheet is taken out of the cassette.

Abstract: A radiation image storage panel comprising a support made of plastic film or paper and a phosphor layer provided on the support which comprises a binder and a stimulable phosphor dispersed therein, characterized in that an antistatic layer which comprises a conductive material is provided on the surface of the support not facing the phosphor layer, or between the support and the phosphor layer.

Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus comprises a read-out section for reading out a radiation image stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet, an erasing section for erasing radiation energy remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet after image read-out from the stimulable phosphor sheet is finished, a section for releasably holding a sheet feed cassette capable of housing the image-recorded stimulable phosphor sheet and for taking the stimulable phosphor sheet out of the sheet feed cassette toward the read-out section, and a section for releasably holding a sheet housing cassette capable of housing the stimulable phosphor sheet erased at the erasing section.

Abstract: A cassette for storing an image recording carrier such as a stimulable phosphor sheet has a casing for holding the image recording carrier therein under light-shielding conditions, and at least one lid member mounted on one end of the casing and openable and closable under a pressure applied thereto. The casing with said one end directed vertically downwardly is loaded through a cassette insertion slot into an apparatus for processing the image recording carrier. When the casing is introduced in the apparatus, the lid member is forcibly opened for allowing the image recording carrier to be delivered by gravity out of the casing.

Abstract: A cassette for a stimulable phosphor sheet, includes a casing for storing the stimulable phosphor sheet therein, a cover openably and closably mounted on a portion of the casing, and a light-shielding plate mounted on the remaining portion of the casing for cooperating with the cover in keeping the stored stimulable phosphor sheet in a light-shielded condition. The stimulable phosphor sheet can be taken out of the casing by opening the cover. The cover has at least one locking finger normally urged by a spring to engage the casing to lock the cover in a closed position. The locking finger may be displaced by a presser pin inserted through a hole defined in a side of the casing or a hole defined in a bottom of the casing for unlocking the cover from the casing.

Abstract: A sheet feed mechanism is used in a device including a mechanism for applying a light beam to a scanned sheet to scan the same two-dimensionally for reading image information from or recording image information on the sheet. The sheet feed mechanism includes a curved feed passage disposed downstream of the mechanism for feeding the sheet therethrough, at least one roller pair disposed on the feed passage, a displacing unit for moving rollers of the roller pair toward and away from each other, and a drive source for driving the rollers to feed the sheet while the rollers displaced toward each other by the displacing unit for gripping the sheet.

Abstract: A mechanism for opening the cover of an image recording medium cassette includes a support member angularly movable by a rotative drive source and supporting a swingable suction cup coupled to a suction device. When the rotative drive source is actuated, the suction cup is pressed against the upper surface of the cover to attract the same in response to activation of the suction device. Since the suction cup is swingable with respect to the support member, it can attract covers of various lengths which may be inclined at different angles when opened.

Abstract: An image readout apparatus applies stimulating light emitted from a laser beam source to a stimulable phosphor sheet which stored a radiation image of an object such as a human body to be diagnosed and reads out a radiation image based on light emitted from the stimulable phoshpor sheet upon exposure to the stimulating light. The image readout apparatus includes an image readout mechanism and a casing accommodating the image readout mechanism. Vibro-isolating light shield members are interposed between the image readout mechanism and the casing, which are individually supported on a floor. Vibro-isolating members are also disposed between a conveyor mechanism for delivering the stimulable phosphor sheet and an optical system for applying the stimulating light to the stimulable phosphor sheet.

Abstract: A sheet feed mechanism in a light scanning apparatus includes two pairs of rollers for gripping and feeding a sheet-like medium such as a stimulable phosphor sheet or a photographic film in a subscanning direction. The two pairs of rollers are spaced a distance smaller than the length of the sheet-like medium in the subscanning direction. While the sheet-like medium is being fed by the sheet feed mechanism in the subscanning direction, the sheet-like medium is scanned by a light beam deflected in a main scanning direction substantially normal to the subscanning direction, for thereby two-dimensionally scanning the sheet-like medium.

Abstract: In a stimulable phosphor sheet comprising a support, a phosphor layer containing a stimulable phosphor and a binder, and a protective film superposed in this order,the improvement in which at least the front end of the phosphor sheet is provided with a stiff reinforcing member extending along said end: orthe improvement in which at least a portion on the back surface adjoining the front end of the phosphor sheet is provided with a stiff reinforcing member extending in the width direction.

Abstract: A stacker for stimulable phosphor sheets provided in a conveyance path of a sheet conveyance system comprises a stacker body provided with upright parallel partition plates, each of which has a vertical back surface and a front surface tapered to gradually project forward in the downward direction, and bottom plates each of which is provided at the lower end of each partition plate and moveable between a first position to receive the lower edge of the stimulable phosphor sheet entering between the partition plates and a second position moved to allow the stimulable phosphor sheet to fall by its weight. A feed-in device is provided above the stacker body for feeding the stimulable phosphor sheets conveyed by the sheet conveyance system into the stacker body, and a feed-out device is provided below the stacker body for receiving the stimulable phosphor sheet falling by its weight and transferring it to the sheet conveyance system.

Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus for scanning a stimulable phosphor sheet, which has been subjected to image recording in the form housed in a cassette, with stimulating rays which cause the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the stored radiation energy, and photoelectrically detecting the emitted light to read out a radiation image stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet comprises a conveyance device and a shutter movement device. The conveyance device conveys a cassette, which is constituted by a cassette body housing the stimulable phosphor sheet and a light shielding shutter slideable on the cassette body, in a direction normal to the scanning direction of stimulating rays. The shutter movement device moves the light shielding shutter with respect to the cassette body to lay the stimulable phosphor sheet bare at a scanning position of stimulating rays as the cassette is conveyed.

Abstract: A sheet feed mechanism in a light scanning apparatus includes two pairs of rollers for gripping and feeding a sheet-like medium such as a stimulable phosphor sheet or a photographic film in a subscanning direction. The two pairs of rollers are spaced a distance smaller than the length of the sheet-like medium in the subscanning direction. While the sheet-like medium is being fed by the sheet feed mechanism in the subscanning direction, the sheet-like medium is scanned by a light beam deflected in a main scanning direction substantially normal to the subscanning direction, for thereby two-dimensionally scanning the sheet-like medium.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading out a radiation image stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet comprises a read-out section, an erasing section, and a section for releasably holding a cassette housing the stimulable phosphor sheet. The apparatus also comprises a sorter section for holding erased stimulable phosphor sheets and ejecting them one by one therefrom, a first conveyance system for receiving the stimulable phosphor sheet from the cassette holding section and conveying it to the read-out section, the erasing section and then to the sorter section, and a second conveyance system for conveying the stimulable phosphor sheet from the sorter section into the cassette.

Abstract: A radiation image recording and read-out apparatus comprises an image recording section provided with a cassette holder for releasably holding a cassette capable of housing a stimulable phosphor sheet therein at a position for recording a radiation image on the stimulable phosphor sheet by exposing the stimulable phosphor sheet in the cassette to a radiation, and a device for taking out the stimulable phosphor sheet from the cassette.

Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus comprises a read-out section for reading out a radiation image stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet, and an erasing section for erasing radiation energy remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet after image read-out from the stimulable phosphor sheet is finished. The apparatus also comprises a cassette holding section for releasably holding a plurality of cassettes each capable of housing a stimulable phosphor sheet therein, and a sheet conveyance system for taking a stimulable phosphor sheet out of an arbitrary one of the cassettes, conveying the stimulable phosphor sheet to the read-out section and the erasing section, and then conveying the stimulable phosphor sheet into an arbitrary one of the cassettes.

Abstract: Stimulable phosphor sheets are circulated through an image recording section for recording radiation images on the stimulable phosphor sheets, an image read-out section for scanning the stimulable phosphor sheets by stimulating rays and detecting light emitted thereby upon stimulation, and an erasing section for releasing radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor sheets. Time elapsed after the radiation energy remaining in each stimulable phosphor sheet was released is measured, and image recording on each stimulable phosphor sheet is detected. A time measurement signal and an image recording detection signal are sent to a control device which activates a sheet circulating and conveying system to send the stimulable phosphor sheet to the erasing section when the time elapsed after releasing of the radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor sheet reaches a predetermined length prior to image recording on the stimulable phosphor sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording a radiation image on a stimulable phosphor sheet and reading out the stored radiation image comprises a recording section provided with a sheet stacker, a read-out section, and an erasing section disposed on a circulation path of a conveyance system. The sheet stacker is provided with a tray unit comprising a casing and a plurality of trays housed in the casing so that every tray may be positioned on the circulation path, allows the stimulable phosphor sheet to be conveyed by the conveyance system into the tray, holds the stimulable phosphor sheet in the tray, and allows the stimulable phosphor sheet to be conveyed by the conveyance system out of the tray.