Abstract: A light-shielding mechanism has first through fourth discharge-eliminating mechanisms disposed on a feed path for a sheet-like member for eliminating electric charges from the sheet-like member in contact therewith. The first through fourth charge-eliminating brushes comprise bristle assemblies whose bristles are set at a density ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 bristles/inch and have a thickness ranging from 10 denier to 300 denier. The bristle assemblies 68a-68d have an effective light-shielding function. The light-shielding mechanism is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Abstract: In a radiation image read-out apparatus, a radiation image read-out section reads out a radiation image stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet, and an erasing section erases residual image information remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet after read-out. A plurality of cassettes each containing therein a stimulable phosphor sheet are loaded in a cassette holding section. The stimulable phosphor sheet is taken out from arbitrary one of the cassettes, transferred to the radiation image read-out section and the erasing section and returned to the same cassette from that the stimulable phosphor sheet is taken out.