Abstract: A primary prospective abnormal shadow is detected in each of at least two radiation images of an object taken in different directions. Only primary prospective abnormal shadows which are detected in the respective radiation images and are in substantially the same position on the object is taken as a final prospective abnormal shadow.

Abstract: In a method of detecting a prospective abnormal shadow in an image at a predetermined detecting level, the detecting level is changed according to prior information on the object.

Abstract: A primary prospective abnormal shadow is detected in each of at least two radiation images of an object taken in different directions. Only primary prospective abnormal shadows which are detected in the respective radiation images and are in substantially the same position on the object is taken as a final prospective abnormal shadow.

Abstract: A judgment is made as to whether an interpolation point in an original image is or is not located at an image edge portion. The judgment is made by using a threshold value having been set such that, as a desired level of sharpness of an interpolation image obtained from interpolation processing becomes low, the threshold value may become large. When an interpolation point is judged as being located at an image edge portion, an interpolated image signal component corresponding to the interpolation point is calculated with interpolation processing capable of keeping the image edge portion sharp.

Abstract: A digital image signal, which represents values of picture elements arrayed along X and Y directions of an image, is subjected to operation processing carried out with the formulaQ'=Qorg+.beta.(Qorg-Qus),wherein Qorg represents the original image signal representing each picture element, Qus represents an unsharp mask signal corresponding to super-low frequency with respect to the picture element, and .beta. represents an emphasis coefficient. The image signal obtained from the operation processing is fed into a reproducing apparatus, which reproduces an image by operations for scanning along X and Y directions. The operation processing is carried out with respect to the X and Y directions, under characteristics varying for different directions, and in accordance with a difference between responses of the reproducing apparatus along the X and Y directions.

Abstract: A fundamental gradation curve is enlarged or reduced such that the minimum density and the maximum density represented by the fundamental gradation curve may be changed respectively to a desired minimum density and a desired maximum density. The enlarged or reduced fundamental gradation curve is translated such that a point corresponding to a predetermined density may be shifted to a point representing a desired density. The translated fundamental gradation curve is rotated around the point corresponding to the desired density such that this point may represent a desired contrast.

Abstract: An original image signal, which represents an original image and is made up of a series of original image signal components representing picture element values of picture elements arrayed at predetermined intervals and in a lattice-like form, is obtained. One of different interpolating operation processes is carried out on the original image signal and in accordance with an image size enlargement scale factor with respect to the original image, which is represented by the original image signal. An interpolation image signal is obtained from the interpolating operation process, which signal is made up of a series of image signal components, which occur at intervals different from those of the original image signal components. The response of an interpolation image, which is reproduced from the interpolation image signal and displayed on an image reproducing apparatus, is kept to be approximately equal to a predetermined level regardless of the image size enlargement scale factor.

Abstract: A radiation film comprises a substrate and emulsion layers overlaid on opposite surfaces of the substrate. The radiation film is sandwiched between two radiation intensifying screens having different radiation energy absorption characteristics. Each of the emulsion layers has a sensitivity corresponding to the emission spectrum of its adjacent radiation intensifying screen. The emulsion layers form different colors in the radiation film after the radiation film has been developed. A removable light blocking layer is located between the substrate and each of the emulsion layers. The radiation film enables two kinds of images to be recorded with different radiation energy characteristics on a single radiation film, such that the image quality may not become bad due to cross-over light.

Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus comprises a single light guide member constituted of a light guiding material. The light guide member comprises two input end faces for collecting light, which is emitted along a scanning line of stimulating rays and from two surfaces of a stimulable phosphor sheet having a radiation image stored thereon, and output end faces for radiating out the light, which has entered into the light guide member from the two input end faces. A single photodetector is located in close contact with the output end faces and photoelectrically detects the light radiated out of the light guide member. The input end faces of the light guide member comprise a first input end face for collecting the light, which is emitted from the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and a second input end face for collecting the light, which is emitted from the back surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

Abstract: A photosensitive material drying device comprising a plurality of far infrared radiation heaters for heating a film are disposed so as to meet at right angles to a direction in which a film is conveyed. The reflectivity of each reflector disposed along the film conveying direction is set so that the reflectivity of each of longitudinally-extending ends of the film is greater than a longitudinally-extending central portion thereof. Therefore, the amount of reflected heat received by the film is associated with the reflectivity. That is, the amount of heat generated from the far infrared radiation heater at longitudinally-extending ends thereof is lower than that at a longitudinally-extending central portion thereof, whereas the amount of heat radiated over the film via the reflector is set such that the amount of heat at the central portion of the far infrared radiation heater is greater than that at the longitudinally-extending ends thereof.

Abstract: A photosensitive material drying device having a plurality of far infrared radiation heaters disposed in facing relationship so as to meet at right angles to the direction in which an exposed film is conveyed. The density of the film is measured before the film is heated by the far infrared radiation heaters. Upon heating of the film by the far infrared radiation heaters, the surface temperature of each of the far infrared radiation heaters is changed by a variable resistor in accordance with the measured density to thereby vary the amount of heat applied to the film. It is therefore possible to satisfactorily dry the film in accordance with a variation in the density of the film.

Abstract: In an image recording apparatus, light having been modulated in accordance with an image signal is irradiated to a photographic material from one surface side of the photographic material, and an image is thereby recorded on the photographic material. The photographic material is composed of a plurality of layers including an approximately transparent substrate and an emulsion layer overlaid on at least one surface of the substrate. Degrees of gloss of the front surface and the back surface of the photographic material are different from each other. A selection device selects a surface of the photographic material, from the side of which surface the image recorded on the photographic material is to be seen. An inversion device inverts the image signal in accordance with an output of the selection device such that an erect image may be seen from the side of the surface of the photographic material, which surface has been selected by the selection device.

Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus comprises a device for irradiating stimulating rays to a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored. The stimulating rays cause the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation. A first photoelectric conversion device photoelectrically detects the emitted light and generates an image signal representing the radiation image. A second photoelectric conversion device photoelectrically detects the stimulating rays, which have been reflected from the stimulable phosphor sheet, and thereby generates a monitor signal. From the monitor signal, a detection device detects location of a pattern caused to occur in the radiation image, which is represented by the image signal, by dust clinging to the stimulable phosphor sheet.

Abstract: A radiation image recording and read-out apparatus comprises a recording and read-out unit for recording a radiation image on a stimulable phosphor sheet and reading the radiation image therefrom, a shutter moveable between a masking position that prevents impingement of radiation upon a part of the stimulable phosphor sheet and a retracted position that allows impingement of radiation upon a single image recording region of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and a shutter operating device for moving the shutter between the masking position and the retracted position. The recording and read-out unit is moved by a unit movement device to move the stimulable phosphor sheet in the same plane at an image recording position in the recording and read-out unit.

Abstract: A radiation image recording and read-out apparatus comprises stimulable phosphor layers provided respectively on one surface and the other surface of a flexible belt, which belt changes the distribution of the radiation energy, whereby radiation images containing different embedded images on a specific structure of an object are recorded on the two stimulable phosphor layers with a single, simultaneous exposure to radiation. The two stimulable phosphor layers may be provided as two separate sheets. Two independent image read-out sections for reading out the radiation images stored on the stimulable phosphor layers, and two independent erasing sections for erasing radiation energy remaining on the stimulable phosphor layers are provided for the two stimulable phosphor layers, so that the two radiation images are read out simultaneously. Alternatively, each image read-out section and erasing section pair may be provided as separate readout and erasing unit.

Abstract: A method of minimizing image signal noise comprises the steps of feeding an image representing an image to a high-frequency component decreasing device for arbitarily decreasing a high-frequency component, detecting the level of the image signal, and decreasing the high-frequency component of the image signal by the high-frequency component decreasing device in accordance with a decrease in the level of the image signal.

Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus comprises a main scanning system which scans a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, with stimulating rays in a main scanning direction. The stimulating rays cause the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation. A sub-scanning system moves the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to the stimulating rays in a direction approximately normal to the main scanning direction. A light guide member, which has a light input face extending along the main scanning line on the stimulable phosphor sheet, guides the emitted light entering the light guide member at its light input face to a light output face. A photodetector is connected to the light output face.

Abstract: A radiation image recording and read-out apparatus comprises a recording and read-out unit provided with a case having a size nearly equal to a single image recording area on a stimulable phosphor sheet, an image recording section for recording a radiation image of an object on the stimulable phosphor sheet, an image read-out section provided in the case for reading the radiation image from the stimulable phosphor sheet, and an erasing section provided in the case. The recording and read-out unit is moved between a first position at which the stimulable phosphor sheet is disposed at an image recording position exposed to radiation passing through the object, and a second position retracted from the first position. A fluoroscopic device is provided for receiving the radiation passing through the object at the time the recording and read-out unit is present at its second position, and converting the radiation into signals for a visible image.

Abstract: A radiation image recording, read-out and reproducing apparatus comprises a case for housing a stimulable phosphor sheet and having an opening, a light shielding cover housed in the case for projection therefrom through the opening and having a sheet passage opening at an end on the side supported by the case at the time the light shielding cover is projected, recording section for recording a radiation image on the stimulable phosphor sheet disposed at an exposure position in the light shielding cover projected out of the case, a read-out section having a sub-scanning system for moving the stimulable phosphor sheet between the exposure position and a position in the case, and an erasing section. A reproducing section is provided for conveying a recording sheet housed in the case to feed the recording sheet out of the case through a feed-out opening of the case and, at the same time, reproducing the radiation image on the recording sheet.

Abstract: A radiation image recording and read-out apparatus comprises a radiation source for irradiating a radiation toward an object, a recording and read-out unit for recording a radiation image of the object on a stimulable phosphor sheet at an image recording position and reading the radiation image therefrom, and a movement system for moving the recording and read-out unit and the radiation source so that the stimulable phosphor sheet at the image recording position approximately satisfies the linear rule and the geometric rule with respect to the radiation source around an arbitrary tomographic layer. The recording and read-out unit is provided with a case having a size nearly equal to a single image recording area on the stimulable phosphor sheet, an image recording section, an image read-out section provided in the case for reading the radiation image from the stimulable phosphor sheet by exposure to stimulating rays, and an erasing section provided in the case.