Abstract: An apparatus for recording and reading radiation image information includes an image recording unit, an image reading unit, and an erasing unit. Radiation image information of an object such as a human body is recorded on a stimulable phosphor sheet in the image recording unit, and the recorded radiation image information is read from the stimulable phosphor sheet in the image reading unit. After the recorded radiation image information has been read, any residual radiation image information is erased from the stimulable phosphor sheet. When the radiation image information of an object of large size, e.g., a vertebral column, is to be recorded, first and second stimulable phosphors are successively positioned in the image recording unit with their confronting ends superimposed on each other in a recording position.

Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus comprises a first sheet conveyor which has a length approximately equal to the length of a stimulable phosphor sheet and which receives the stimulable phosphor sheet from a cassette holding section and conveys it into a read-out section. A second sheet conveyor receives the stimulable phosphor sheet from the first sheet conveyor and conveys it forwardly and backwardly in the read-out section. A third sheet conveyor receives the stimulable phosphor sheet, which was conveyed backwardly by the second sheet conveyor, and conveys it into an erasing section and then into a cassette in the cassette holding section. The cassette holding section and the read-out section face each other on the same side of the first sheet conveyor. The erasing section is positioned close and parallel to the first sheet conveyor and is shorter than the stimulable phosphor sheet.

Abstract: A stimulable phosphor sheet stacking tray comprises a tapered section for aligning stimulable phosphor sheets at a predetermined position, which is positioned at least at an inner wall of one side end face of the stacking tray where a lower end portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet falling by the sheet weight passes through. Or, the stacking tray comprises a sheet holding member positioned for contact with upper ends of the stacked stimulable phosphor sheets between an inner wall of an upper end face of the stacking tray and the upper ends of the stacked stimulable phosphor sheets, and a system for moving, by operation from the exterior, the sheet holding member to and away from the stacked stimulable phosphor sheets. Or, the stacking tray is provided with a sheet fall preventing member comprising a stopper projectable from the center of a side end of the opening face of the stacking tray to the inside of the opening face to prevent the sheet falling, and a member for supporting and moving the stopper.

Abstract: A stimulable phosphor sheet stacking tray comprises a tapered section for aligning stimulable phosphor sheets at a predetermined position, which is positioned at least at an inner wall of one side end face of the stacking tray where a lower end portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet falling by the sheet weight passes through. Or, the stacking tray comprises a sheet holding member positioned for contact with upper ends of the stacked stimulable phosphor sheets between an inner wall of an upper end face of the stacking tray and the upper ends of the stacked stimulable phosphor sheets, and a system for moving, by operation from the exterior, the sheet holding member to and away from the stacked stimulable phosphor sheets. Or, the stacking tray is provided with a sheet fall preventing member comprising a stopper projectable from the center of a side end of the opening face of the stacking tray to the inside of the opening face to prevent the sheet falling, and a member for supporting and moving the stopper.

Abstract: A radiation image erase unit for erasing a residual image from a stimulable phosphor sheet with erasure light is disposed in the vicinity of an image read-out unit which converts light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof into an electric signal. The radiation image erase unit comprises a box-shaped casing having a slot for passage of the stimulable phosphor sheet therethrough into the casing, and erasure light sources disposed in the casing for emitting the erasure light. A pair of rollers is mounted on the casing adjacent to the slot for introducing the stimulable phosphor sheet into the casing. The casing has reflective inner surfaces for reflecting the erasure light effectively, and a heat radiator for discharging out heat generated by the erasure light sources as they are energized.

Abstract: A radiation image erase unit for erasing a residual image from a stimulable phosphor sheet with erasure light is disposed in the vicinity of an image read-out unit which converts light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation thereof into an electric signal. The radiation image erase unit comprises a box-shaped casing having a slot for passage of the stimulable phosphor sheet therethrough into the casing, and erasure light sources disposed in the casing for emitting the erasure light. A pair of rollers is mounted on the casing adjacent to the slot for introducing the stimulable phosphor sheet into the casing. The casing has reflective inner surfaces for reflecting the erasure light effectively, and a heat radiator for discharging out heat generated by the erasure light sources as they are energized.

Abstract: A stimulable phosphor sheet stacking tray comprises a tapered section for aligning stimulable phosphor sheets at a predetermined position, which is positioned at least at an inner wall of one side end face of the stacking tray where a lower end portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet falling by the sheet weight passes through. Or, the stacking tray comprises a sheet holding member positioned for contact with upper ends of the stacked stimulable phosphor sheets between an inner wall of an upper end face of the stacking tray and the upper ends of the stacked stimulable phosphor sheets, and a system for moving, by operation from the exterior, the sheet holding member to and away from the stacked stimulable phosphor sheets. Or, the stacking tray is provided with a sheet fall preventing member comprising a stopper projectable from the center of a side end of the opening face of the stacking tray to the inside of the opening face to prevent the sheet falling, and a member for supporting and moving the stopper.

Abstract: A stimulable phosphor sheet transfer apparatus for transferring a stimulable phosphor sheet storing therein a radiation image information in a sub-scanning direction when the stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned with a stimulating ray along a main scanning line substantially perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction to emit light in the pattern of the stored radiation energy, the light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet being detected to obtain an image information signal, comprises a transfer belt for transferring the stimulable phosphor sheet in the sub-scanning direction, and first and second suction boxes disposed below the transfer belt and adapted to provide a suction force for attracting the stimulable phosphor sheet against the transfer belt. The first and second suction boxes are respectively disposed upstream and downstream of the main scanning line with respect to the sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: A radiation image erase unit for erasing a radiation image from a stimulable phosphor sheet by exposing the same to erasure light in a radiation image read-out system having an image read-out unit for radiating stimulating rays to the stimulable phosphor sheet to cause the same to emit light representative of the radiation image stored therein, and for converting the emitted light photoelectrically to an electric signal. The radiation image erase unit includes a casing including a side panel having openings defined therein, a plurality of erase light sources disposed in the casing, a feed mechanism disposed in or outside the casing for delivering the stimulable phosphor sheet to a prescribed position in the casing, and forced-cooling air blowers having outlets disposed in the openings, respectively, of the side panels and directed toward the stimulable phosphor sheet positioned in the casing.

Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus comprises a section for reading out a radiation image stored in a stimulable phosphor sheet, a section for erasing the radiation energy remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet after image read-out, and a section for stacking the stimulable phosphor sheets after erasing. The erasing section and the stacking section are positioned above the read-out section. A read-out sheet conveyance system is positioned between the read-out section and the erasing section for conveying the stimulable phosphor sheet so that the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet facing up at the read-out section faces up also at the erasing section. An erased sheet conveyance system is positioned between the erasing section and the stacking section for conveying the stimulable phosphor sheet so that the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet facing up at the erasing section faces down at the stacking section.

Abstract: A device for containing a radiation recording medium includes an opening through which the recording medium is placed and a light shutting plate for closing the opening to prevent light from penetrating into the casing. A light shutting plate is provided integral with a handle. A locking mechanism is provided for bringing a casing into locking engagement with the light shutting plate. Since the device is moved by holding the handle with the light shutting plate locked on the casing, there is no possibility that the film will be inadvertently exposed to light with the shutter plate left unclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for scanning a sheet-shaped recording medium comprises a first conveyance system and a second conveyance system for receiving and conveying the recording medium conveyed by the first conveyance system. The second conveyance system is spaced from the first conveyance system by a distance shorter than the length of the recording medium. A roller is positioned between the first conveyance system and the second conveyance system and moves up and down to contact and bend the recording medium after the recording medium conveyed by the first conveyance system reaches the second conveyance system. A scanning optical system is positioned on the side opposite to the roller with respect to the recording medium for scanning the bent surface of the recording medium by a light beam in a scanning direction normal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium.

Abstract: A radiation image reader/recorder which mainly scans an optical beam (2, 22) emitted from the optical beam generation means of a laser light source (1, 21) via a light deflector (4, 25) with a frequency less than a main scanning frequency of 1 KHz, and which sub-scans at a sub-scanning density of more than 2.5 lines/mm, reading or recording a radiation image of continuous halftones. A cover (11, 29) is provided over at least at the optical passage between the means (1, 21) and the deflector (4, 25), thereby preventing the flow of air.

Abstract: An image scanning system includes a sub-scanning drum adapted to be rotated both in the regular direction to feed a recording sheet material in the sub-scanning direction which is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the drum and in the reverse direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction, and a main scanning system for scanning a light beam across the recording sheet material in the direction of the rotational axis of the drum. The system further includes a pair of nip rolls removably disposed on the drum, a stopper removably disposed downstream of the drum and the nip rolls, and a sheet discharger. The recording sheet material is fed toward the stopper with the drum being stopped and the nip rolls being held away from the drum, and is supported thereon in the unrestrained state. Then the nip rolls are pressed against the drum sandwiching the sheet material therebetween and at the same time the stopper is retracted away from the sheet material.

Abstract: An image scanning apparatus includes a main scanning drum and a pair of nip rolls moveable into and out of engagement with the drum for feeding a sheet during a scanning operation. When the nip rollers are spaced from the scanning drum, the sheet may be supplied downwardly by gravity between the drum and nip rolls. A moveable stopper is disposed in the path of the sheet to support the sheet with at least one end thereof disposed intermediate the scanning drum and nip rolls. Upon movement of the nip rolls into engagement with the scanning drum, the sheet will be fed upwardly past a scanning station for discharge through a first pair of discharge rolls. A second pair of discharge rolls is optionally provided below the stopper to facilitate the discharge of a sheet in the downward direction by means of a second pair of discharge rolls.

Abstract: In an image scanning system the main scanning is carried out by deflecting a scanning light beam across a recording sheet material and the sub-scanning is carried out by moving the recording sheet material in the direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The system includes a sub-scanning drum adapted to be continuously rotated to feed the recording sheet material in the sub-scanning direction which is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the drum, a main scanning system for scanning a light beam across the recording sheet material in the direction of the rotational axis of the sub-scanning drum, a pair of nip rolls movable between a first position in which they are pressed against the drum and a second position in which they are removed therefrom, a stopper which is disposed downstream the drum and the nip rolls with respect to the feeding path of the sheet material and is movable into and away from the feeding path, and a sheet discharging means.

Abstract: In an image scanning system in which a light beam is deflected by an optical deflector to effect the main scanning across a recording medium while the subscanning is effected by mechanically moving the recording medium, the optical components for scanning the light beam across the recording medium and the mechanical components for moving the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction are all mounted on a single frame. The single frame is mounted by way of a vibration insulator on an outer frame structure of the system on which means for feeding the recording medium to the scanning position and for discharging it therefrom is mounted.