Abstract: A device for read-out and erasing information from storage sheets which are located in a cassette. The device includes a cassette holder, means for opening the cassette, a scanner for read-out the stored information, an erasing device for erasing the stored information and a transport device which transports the storage sheet past the scanner and the erasing device. According to the invention, the erasing device is provided between the cassette holder and the scanner.

Abstract: A reading unit has an auxiliary scanning feed mechanism for feeding a stimulable phosphor sheet vertically in an auxiliary scanning direction, a laser beam applying mechanism for applying a laser beam substantially horizontally to the stimulable phosphor sheet and scanning the stimulable phosphor sheet with the laser beam in a main scanning direction, a reading mechanism for photoelectrically reading radiation image information carried by the stimulable phosphor sheet, and a sheet holding mechanism for holding opposite surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet to prevent the stimulable phosphor sheet from being unduly displaced transversely back and forth in the beam applying position. A scanning apparatus which incorporates the reading unit is relatively simple in structure, small in size, and allows high-quality radiation image information to be read from the stimulable phosphor sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading a radiographic image is provided with a holding section for holding a medium taken out from a cassette, wherein the medium has a recording surface on which the radiographic image is stored, the hold section holding the medium such that the orientation of the recording surface is substantially vertical; and a reading section for reading the radiographic image on the recording surface of the medium held by the holding section, thereby obtaining radiographic image information from the recording surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing a photostimulatable image plate (8). The image plate (8) is taken out of a cassette (1, 40), processed and placed back in the same cassette (1, 40), the cassette being conveyed from an input station (20) to an output station (22). The cassette (1, 40) is rotated about a vertical axis during conveyance once the image plate is taken out of the cassette and before said plate is reinserted in the same cassette.

Abstract: An image information reading apparatus has an apparatus housing including in its front wall a cassette loading section which has first, second, third, and fourth loading regions, and a cassette placing section disposed immediately below the cassette loading section for placing a given number of cassettes therein. The operator of the image information reading apparatus temporarily places a given number of cassettes in the cassette placing section, and loads the cassettes, one by one, into the first, second, third, and fourth loading regions. No dedicated table for placing cassettes thereon is needed around the image information reading apparatus. The operator can handle the cassettes highly efficiently.

Abstract: An image recording medium feeding device has a feed system for feeding a stimulable phosphor sheet using opposite longitudinal marginal edges thereof, which are an image-free area, and a guide mechanism positioned in a curved feed path for contacting a substantially central area of the stimulable phosphor sheet and guiding the stimulable phosphor sheet along the curved feed path. The guide mechanism comprises a roller and a cushioning damper disposed around the roller. The stimulable phosphor sheet is prevented from bulging at its central area when it is fed into the feed path using the opposite longitudinal marginal edges of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

Abstract: While radiation image information recorded in a first stimulable phosphor sheet removed from a cassette which is loaded in a cassette loading region is being read by a reading unit, a second stimulable phosphor sheet in a cassette loaded in a cassette loading region is attracted by a suction cup of a vertically movable sheet feeder, and removed from the cassette so that its leading edge is gripped by a feed roller pair. Immediately after the radiation image information has been read from the first stimulable phosphor sheet, the second stimulable phosphor sheet can quickly be fed to the reading unit.

Abstract: An image scanning apparatus has an imaging bed for placing a subject thereon, the imaging bed having a recording unit for temporarily recording radiation image information of the subject on a stimulable phosphor sheet, a housing accommodating therein a reading unit for photoelectrically reading the radiation image information from the stimulable phosphor sheet, and an erasing assembly for erasing remaining radiation image information from the stimulable phosphor sheet, and a lifting/lowering mechanism for lifting and lowering the imaging bed with respect to the housing. The subject can easily be put onto the imaging bed, and the imaging bed can easily be operated.

Abstract: An apparatus housing and a controller are separate from each other, and opposite sides of a second casing of the apparatus housing have respective first and second cable ports defined therein for extending a cable connected to the controller. With the cable extended through the first cable port or the second cable port, the layout of the apparatus housing and the controller can easily be changed. Therefore, the apparatus housing and the controller can be installed in any of various layout patterns.

Abstract: A reading unit has an auxiliary scanning feed unit for feeding a stimulable phosphor sheet vertically in an auxiliary scanning direction, a scanning light applying unit for applying a laser beam to the stimulable phosphor sheet, a reading assembly for reading radiation image information carried by the stimulable phosphor sheet, a fixed guide unit for holding one surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and first and second movable guide units for holding the other surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, the first and second movable guide units being movable toward and away from the stimulable phosphor sheet. Consequently, the radiation image information recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet can be read highly accurately and efficiently with a simple arrangement.

Abstract: A transport device for X-ray cassettes, each having a phosphor sheet stimulable by X-rays, is provided in a cassette processing apparatus (100), which is of simple physical construction and allows rapid and reliable processing of X-ray cassettes of different formats in a space-saving and user-friendly fashion. The apparatus has a plurality of transporters (11, 12, 21, 22) which are arranged in a horizontal plane (E) and are spaced apart from one another in the transport direction (T) and also perpendicular thereto. A conveying mechanism (30) which, in the area of the spacings (A1, A2, A3) between the transport means, can be conveyed vertically in and out as far as the plane (E) in such a way that lowering effects a transfer of an X-ray cassette into a cassette receiving device (50), and raising effects a transfer out of the receiving device (50).

Abstract: In a radiation image read-out apparatus, a stimulable phosphor sheet storing thereon a radiation image is exposed to stimulating light and stimulated emission emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation by the stimulating light is detected and an image signal representing the radiation image stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet is obtained by photoelectrically converting the stimulated emission. A read-out system includes an array of a plurality of read-out heads, each including a stimulating light source which projects the stimulating light onto the stimulable phosphor sheet and a photodetector which detects the stimulated emission. A conveyor system conveys the stimulable phosphor sheet and the read-out system relative to each other in a direction intersecting the direction of the array of the read-out heads.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for and method of reading out a storage phosphor screen (or a storage phosphor sheet or an imaging plate) sensitive to radiation in which, in performing a radiography by using the storage phosphor screen, the storage phosphor screen is stimulated optically to induce luminescence according to a response to radiation to acquire a digital image of a subject from the storage phosphor screen by using a semiconductor light source array as a stimulating light source to which an optical fiber array consisting of a bundle of optical fibers having a diverse forms is connected; a starting of the semiconductor light source array is controlled with an electric pulse; and a semiconductor light source array starting pulse for generating a stimulating light is interlocked with a photomultiplier tube for collecting a luminescence light signal induced from the storage phosphor screen by the stimulating light to represent the collected luminescence light as distribution of a two-dimensional position to acq

Abstract: A transport device for X-ray cassettes, each having a phosphor sheet stimulable by X-rays, is provided in a cassette processing apparatus (100), which is of simple physical construction and allows rapid and reliable processing of X-ray cassettes of different formats in a space-saving and user-friendly fashion. The apparatus has a plurality of transporters (11, 12, 21, 22) which are arranged in a horizontal plane (E) and are spaced apart from one another in the transport direction (T) and also perpendicular thereto. A conveying mechanism (30) which, in the area of the spacings (A1, A2, A3) between the transport means, can be conveyed vertically in and out as far as the plane (E) in such a way that lowering effects a transfer of an X-ray cassette into a cassette receiving device (50), and raising effects a transfer out of the receiving device (50).

Abstract: A storage phosphor reader which has a stage for moving a storage phosphor in a first direction past a reading station; a storage phosphor extraction assembly mounted on the stage for extracting a storage phosphor from a stationary cassette and for moving the storage phosphor onto and off the stage in second opposite directions perpendicular to the first opposite directions; a plunger assembly mounted on the stage for supporting a storage phosphor during movement of the stage in the first direction, the plunger assembly being movable between an extended position to support a storage phosphor and a retracted position out of contact with a storage phosphor; and a cam and cam follower for moving the plunger assembly from the retracted position to the extended position when the extraction assembly has completely extracted a storage phosphor from the cassette and moved the storage phosphor onto the stage and for moving the plunger assembly from the extended position to the retracted position when the storage phosph

Abstract: A scanning device includes sheet a holding member provided with an arcuate support surface open to the upside and one side for holding a sheet to be scanned on the back surface of which a magnetic layer is formed, a light source for irradiating the sheet to be scanned with light, a spinner including a deflection mirror for deflecting light from the light source toward the sheet to be scanned and a converging optical system for converging light deflected by the deflection mirror onto a surface of the sheet to be scanned, a motor for rotating the spinner coaxially with a center axis of the arcuate support surface, a light detector for detecting light from the sheet to be scanned, a sub-scanning motor for translating the sheet holding member relative to the spinner in parallel with the center axis, magnetic material provided on the arcuate support surface of the sheet holding member, sheet end portion holding members provided at one end portion of the arcuate support surface of the sheet holding member and adapt

Abstract: A radiation image read out method and apparatus wherein a photostimulable phosphor screen that has been exposed to radiation is read and erased and wherein a signal representative of the residual image still left in the screen after erasure is obtained and thresholded. In this way screens that have not been erased to an acceptable extent can be identified.

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.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus is described with a transport device for conveying a cassette past a scanning and erasing station, which transport device comprises a scanning carriage (31), a carriage carrier (63) on the top surface of the carriage near its leading end, an endless belt (26) which has an upper stretch which runs through a groove in the top surface of the carriage, belt carrier device (60) on said endless belt, a coupling mechanism (64) for coupling the upper stretch of the belt to the carriage, and control unit (86, 78) for controlling the operation of said coupling mechanism.

Abstract: Scanning apparatus with a scanning and erasing station for scanning and erasing a cassette of the type used in photo-stimulable luminiscence ("PSL") radiography, which apparatus has a cassette receiving station comprising a roll-down shutter (15) for supporting thereon a vertical stack (35) of cassettes to be scanned, lateral grippers (42, 43) for supporting the bottom cassette (33) of said stack at opposite lateral sides thereby to hold said bottom cassette while a bottom supporting roller shutter (15) is temporarily removed, and vertical transfer support cams (51, 52) for taking over the support of the bottom cassette from the lateral grippers, and for first lowering said cassette over a distance equal to the height of the cassette so that the next cassette can be gripped and held by the lateral grippers, and for then further lowering said bottom cassette on the scanning carriage (31) of said scanning station.

Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus includes cassette support devices for releasably supporting at least two cassettes, each of which can house a single stimulable phosphor sheet therein. A read-out unit moves between at least two read-out positions, each of which corresponds to one of the cassettes supported by the cassette support devices, and at each of which a radiation image is read out from a stimulable phosphor sheet taken out of each cassette. An erasing device is located so as to correspond to each read-out position. A sheet conveyance system takes a stimulable phosphor sheet out of each cassette, conveys the stimulable phosphor sheet into the read-out unit and the erasing device, and then returns the stimulable phosphor sheet into the cassette. The waiting period of the read-out unit and the waiting period of the erasing device are kept short, and the cycle time for the image read-out and erasing operations is thereby kept short as a whole.

Abstract: A vertical autoloader capable of handling a variety of different size cassettes without the use of pallets, which includes a separator mechanism and an indexer mechanism. The separator mechanism has a plurality of partitions that define a plurality of slots, and the indexer mechanism has a plurality of partitions that define a plurality of slots corresponding to the slots defined by the partitions of the separator mechanism. An indexer drive mechanism moves the indexer mechanism with respect to a home position of the separator mechanism, wherein the slots defined by the partitions of the indexer mechanism are moved by one position with respect to the slots defined by the partitions of the separator mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus for receiving and reading a cassette of light-sensitive material, wherein the cassette is a) of varying width and b) free of a pallet used to fit a standard maximum width slot. To prevent light-leaks created when a cassette of a width less than the maximum is used, shutters equal to one less than the number of cassette widths to be used, are hinged to one of the upper and lower jaws used to clamp the cassette in the light-tight chamber of the reading apparatus.

Abstract: A cassette storage and delivery apparatus having a plurality of cassette retaining sites. The apparatus having a body having a portal adjoining the cassette sites for allowing the cassettes to be placed onto or removed from the cassette retaining sites. The apparatus further includes a pair of guide panels, one on each side of the portal. The guide panels each having a guide surface. The guide surface is provided with a shock absorbing protective layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and automatically delivering mechanism cassettes and/or pallets containing cassettes to a reader. A storage and delivery is provided which defining a plurality of cassette retaining sites. A body encases the storage and delivery mechanism and has a portal adjoining the cassette loading sites for allowing casettes to be placed on or removed from the storage and delivery mechanism. Indicia is provided on panels adjacent the portal for identifying the cassette retaining sites and a guide bar is placed in front of the cassette read site. The panels are mounted to the apparatus by elastomeric mounts so as to minimize or prevent transmission of shock vibrations.

Abstract: An autoloader for positioning cassettes relative to a storage phosphor reader (i.e. stimulable phosphor). A capacitive sensor located at one or more cassette retaining sites of the autoloader senses the presence of a cassette at the site.

Abstract: A storage phosphor system includes a storage phosphor cassette autoloader for use with a plurality of cassettes. The autoloader includes first and second endless conveyor belts, which are spaced apart and which have a plurality of outwardly extending shelves in vertical alignment so as to define a cassette read site and a plurality of cassette retaining sites. A drive drives the conveyor belts in unison to transfer cassettes loaded in the retaining sites serially through the read site. A belt position sensor senses the position of at least one of the conveyor belts and produces a signal representative of conveyor belt displacement.

Abstract: In an apparatus for storing and automatically delivering cassettes and/or pallets containing cassettes to a reader. The apparatus includes a plurality of cassette retaining sites. A door assembly is provided adjacent the portal for allowing access to the plurality of cassette retaining sites. The door assembly has at least one panel slideably mounted to the apparatus for movement between a closed position and an open position. Sensors are provided for determining if a foreign object is in the closure path of the at least one panel.

Abstract: An x-ray cassette positioner for use with a plurality of x-ray cassettes. The cassette positioner includes first and second conveyors. The conveyors have a first endless cogbelt and a second endless cogbelt, respectively. The cogbelts are spaced apart. The cogbelts each have a plurality of outwardly extending shelves. The conveyors each have a pair of cogwheels, each pair of cogwheels receives a respective cogbelt. The cogbelts each have a utilization segment and a return segment. The shelves of the utilization segment of said first cogbelt face and are in vertical alignment with corresponding shelves of the utilization segment of the second cogbelt. The aligned shelves define a cassette read site and a plurality of cassette loading sites. A positive drive is operatively connected to both conveyors and drives the conveyors in unison to transfer cassettes loaded in the loading sites serially through the loading sites and the read site. A body encases the conveyors.