JP2004104227A - Exposure for reading image recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an exposure for reading an image recording medium for narrowing a line width of a read light without shallowing a focal depth of the read light that is linearly collected. <P>SOLUTION: An opening 102a of a slit 102 limits an emitted image of lights outputted from each of LED chips 101a, 101b,... and cylindrical lenses 104, 105 collect the lights in a direction Y and linearly emit the collected light onto an electrostatic recording medium 10. Since each of the LED chips 101a, 101b,... is placed at a tilt angle of 45 degrees in the direction Y, the size of the LED chips when viewed from the cylindrical lenses 104, 105 is 160μm (direction X) × 114μm (direction Y). That is, although the substantial size of each LED chip is 160μm ×160μm, since each LED chip is placed at a tilt angle of 45 degrees in the direction Y, the apparent size in the direction Y is 114μm. Thus, the theoretical minimum line width of the read light L collected on the electrostatic recording medium 10 is about 114μm. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an exposure apparatus for reading an image recording medium, and more specifically, when the image information is read by scanning and exposing an image recording medium on which image information has been recorded in advance with reading light. The present invention also relates to a reading exposure apparatus that exposes the reading light.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in medical X-ray photography, a photoconductor such as a selenium plate made of a-Se, which is sensitive to X-rays, is used for electrostatic recording in order to reduce the exposure dose received by the subject and improve diagnostic performance. The electrostatic recording body is irradiated with radiation such as X-rays carrying radiation image information, and latent image charges carrying radiation image information are accumulated in the electrostatic recording body, and then electrostatic recording is performed with a laser beam. The electrostatic latent image carried by the latent image charge, that is, the radiation image information is read by detecting the current generated in the electrostatic recording body by scanning the body through the plate electrodes or stripe electrodes on both sides of the electrostatic recording body. Systems are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, Patent Document 3, and Non-Patent Document 1).
[0003]
In addition, the applicant of the present invention provides a first conductive layer that is transmissive to recording radiation, a recording photoconductive layer that exhibits photoconductivity when irradiated with recording radiation, and a first conductive layer. A charge transport layer that acts as a substantially insulator for charges having the same polarity as the charge charged to the body layer, and that acts as a conductor for charges of the opposite polarity to the charge, and irradiation of reading light Receiving the photoconductive layer for reading that exhibits photoconductivity, and the second conductive layer that is transparent to the read light, and the electrostatic recording body and the radiographic image information are recorded in this order. A reading device that reads radiation image information from the electrostatic recording material has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 4).
[0004]
The reading apparatus described in Patent Document 4 scans an electrostatic recording body with reading light emitted from a light source, and reads an electrostatic latent image recorded on the electrostatic recording body. As the exposure apparatus for reading, which is a light source for outputting reading light, a spot light exposing means for exposing the spot light such as a laser beam to the main / sub scanning exposure, a line light exposing means for exposing the line light to the sub scanning exposure, etc. Is listed. Further, as the line light source, for example, a light source in which a large number of light emitting elements are arranged in a line is cited.
[0005]
As one of line light sources in which a large number of light emitting elements are arranged in a line, a method using a line light source in which LEDs are arranged in an array is known (for example, see Patent Document 5). LEDs have high light output efficiency with respect to input energy, and can reduce costs compared to lasers and the like. When such a line light source is used, the light emitted from the LEDs is linearly condensed on the electrostatic recording medium by a cylindrical lens or the like arranged parallel to the LED arrangement direction, and subjected to sub-scanning exposure. To read the image information.
[0006]
An example of a reading exposure apparatus 200 using a line light source is shown in FIG. FIG. 8A is a side view of the reading exposure apparatus 200 as viewed from the Y direction (a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the light emitting elements), and FIG. 8B is an XY view of the reading exposure apparatus 200. It is sectional drawing. The reading exposure apparatus 200 includes a line light source 201 in which a plurality of surface emitting LED chips 201a, 201b, 201c,... Are linearly arranged, and a slit 102 having an opening 102a extending in the longitudinal direction of the line light source 201. And cylindrical lenses 104 and 105 for forming an image of the read light L that has passed through the slit 102 on the electrostatic recording body 10 provided on the glass substrate 6. The slit 102 is a field stop that limits the light emission image of the LED of the line light source 201. The light emission images of the LED chips 201a, 201b, 201c... Are limited by the slit 102, converged in the Y direction by the cylindrical lenses 104 and 105, and irradiated onto the electrostatic recording body 10. Since the reading light L emitted from each LED chip is not focused in the Z direction, which is the LED chip arrangement direction, the electrostatic recording body 10 is irradiated onto the line.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
US Pat. No. 4,176,275 specification
[Patent Document 2]
US Pat. No. 5,440,146 specification
[Patent Document 3]
US Pat. No. 5,510,626
[Patent Document 4]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-105297
[Patent Document 5]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-290228
[Non-Patent Document 1]
“A Method of Electronic Readout of Electrophotographic and Electrographic Image”; Journal of Applied Photographic Engineering Volume
4, Number 4, Fall 1978 P178-P182
[0013]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In general, the reading characteristics when reading image information depend on the profile of the reading light collected in a straight line, particularly the light intensity and the line width in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the light source (hereinafter referred to as the line width). doing. That is, it is desirable that the light intensity of the collected reading light is large and the line width is as narrow as possible. Particularly in mammography and the like, image information having a high resolution is required, and it is strongly desired to make the line width narrower.
[0014]
As a method of narrowing the line width, for example, there is a method of reducing the magnification of the condensing optical system. However, there is a problem that the focal depth becomes shallow and defocusing is likely to occur.
[0015]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an exposure apparatus for reading an image recording medium capable of narrowing the line width without reducing the depth of focus.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The exposure apparatus for reading an image recording medium according to the present invention reads the image information onto the image recording medium when the image information is read by scanning and exposing the image recording medium on which the image information is recorded in advance with reading light. A line light source having a large number of light emitting elements arranged in a line, and reading light emitted from each of the light emitting elements is orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the light emitting elements. Optical means for focusing in a direction, and the light emitting element is disposed at an inclination angle of ± 30 degrees or more with respect to the optical axis of the optical means in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the light emitting elements. In addition, the light-emitting surface of the light-emitting element has a light distribution angle equal to or greater than the inclination angle in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the light-emitting elements. The light emitting element may be an LED.
[0017]
Note that the “light distribution angle” of the light emitting element is an angle at which a light amount of light that can be used is emitted when reading image information.
[0018]
The image recording medium may be an electrostatic recording body that records image information as an electrostatic latent image and generates a current corresponding to the electrostatic latent image by scanning exposure with the reading light. The image recording medium may be an accumulative phosphor that accumulates and records image information, and generates stimulated emission light according to the image information by scanning exposure with the reading light.
[0019]
In the above, “reading light” is not limited to so-called light such as infrared light, visible light, or ultraviolet light, but may be any electromagnetic wave that can be used when reading recorded image information. It may be of any wavelength. That is, when the image recording medium is an electrostatic recording material, any wavelength can be used as long as it can be used for reading the “electrostatic latent image”. In this case, any wavelength may be used as long as it acts as excitation light for emitting stimulated emission light.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
According to the exposure apparatus for reading an image recording medium of the present invention, the light emitting element is inclined at an inclination angle of ± 30 degrees or more with respect to the optical axis of the optical means in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the light emitting elements. Since the light distribution angle is equal to or greater than the inclination angle in the direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the light emitting elements with respect to the normal line of the light emitting surface of the light emitting elements, the line width of the condensed reading light is reduced. Can be narrowed.
[0021]
A specific example will be described below. A light-emitting surface having a shape of a light emitting surface of 160 μm (length in the direction in which the light emitting elements are arranged) × 160 μm (length in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the light emitting elements are arranged) When the light is condensed and used as reading light, the theoretical minimum line width at the light condensing position is 160 μm. This is because the same-magnification imaging system cannot collect light below the size of the light source.
[0022]
On the other hand, when the optical element is disposed at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis of the condensing optical means in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the light emitting elements are arranged, the shape of the light emitting surface viewed from the optical means Is 160 μm (length in the direction in which the light emitting elements are arranged) × 160 μm · (1 / 1.41) (length in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the light emitting elements are arranged). Therefore, the length of the light emitting surface in the direction orthogonal to the direction in which the light emitting elements are arranged is apparently about 114 μm. Therefore, the theoretical minimum line width of the collected reading light is about 114 μm, and the line width can be narrowed without reducing the depth of focus. That is, the line width can be reduced by tilting the light emitting element. Further, the line width can be sufficiently narrowed by inclining the light emitting element by an inclination angle of ± 30 degrees or more.
[0023]
If the light emitting element is an LED chip, the light distribution angle of the LED chip is wide and the angle dependency of the light distribution characteristic is small. Therefore, even when the light emitting element is tilted, a sufficient amount of light can be obtained.
[0024]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a radiation image reading system using a reading exposure apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a perspective view, and FIG. 1B is an XZ sectional view. As shown in FIG. 1, this system includes an electrostatic recording body 10 formed on a glass substrate 6, and a reading exposure apparatus 100 that irradiates the electrostatic recording body 10 with reading light L when reading an image. And current detection means 50 for detecting a current flowing out of the electrostatic recording body 10 by scanning of the reading light L.
[0025]
The electrostatic recording body 10 which is an image recording medium records radiation image information as an electrostatic latent image, and generates a current corresponding to the electrostatic latent image when scanned with reading light. Includes a first conductor layer 11 having transparency to recording radiation (for example, X-ray or the like; hereinafter referred to as “recording light”), and exhibits conductivity by being irradiated with recording light. The recording photoconductive layer 12 and the first conductor layer 11 act as an insulator for charges (latent image polar charge; for example, negative charges) charged to the recording conductive layer 12 and have a polarity opposite to the charges ( For the transport polar charge (positive charge in the above example), the charge transport layer 13 acting as a substantially conductive material, the read photoconductive layer 14 that exhibits conductivity when irradiated with the read light, and the read light And a second conductive layer 15 having transparency is laminated. . The second conductor layer 15 is a stripe electrode in which a large number of elements (linear electrodes) 15a are arranged in stripes at a pixel pitch, as indicated by hatching in the figure.
[0026]
The current detection means 50 has a large number of current detection amplifiers 51 connected to each element 15a of the second conductor layer 15, and the current flowing through each element 15a by the exposure of the reading light is parallel to each element 15a. It is to detect automatically. The first conductor layer 11 of the electrostatic recording body is connected to one input of the connection means 52 and the negative electrode of the power supply 53, and the positive electrode of the power supply 53 is connected to the other input of the connection means 52. Although not shown, the output of the connection means 52 is connected to each current detection amplifier 51. The details of the configuration of the current detection amplifier 51 are not related to the gist of the present invention, so that the description thereof is omitted here, but various known configurations can be applied. Of course, depending on the configuration of the current detection amplifier 51, the connection mode of the connection means 52 and the power source 53 is different from the above example.
[0027]
The operation of the radiation image reading system having the above-described configuration will be described below. When recording an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic recording body, first, the connection means 52 is switched to the power source 53, and a direct current is connected between each element 15a of the first conductor layer 11 and the second conductor layer 15. A voltage is applied to charge both conductor layers. As a result, a U-shaped electric field having the element 15a as a U-shaped recess is formed between the first conductor layer 11 and the element 15a in the electrostatic recording body.
[0028]
Next, the recording light is blown onto a subject (not shown), and the recording light transmitted through the subject, that is, radiation carrying the radiographic image information of the subject is irradiated onto the electrostatic recording body. Then, positive and negative charge pairs are generated in the recording photoconductive layer 12 of the electrostatic recording body, and the negative charges are concentrated on the element 15a along the electric field distribution described above. Negative charges are accumulated at the interface with the charge transport layer 13. Since the amount of the negative charge (latent image charge) accumulated is substantially proportional to the irradiation radiation dose, the latent image charge carries the electrostatic latent image. In this way, the electrostatic latent image is recorded on the electrostatic recording body. On the other hand, the positive charge generated in the recording photoconductive layer 12 is attracted to the first conductive layer 11 and recombines with the negative charge injected from the power source 53 and disappears.
[0029]
When reading the electrostatic latent image from the electrostatic recording body, the connecting means 52 is first connected to the first conductor layer 11 side of the electrostatic recording body.
[0030]
The line-shaped reading light L output from the reading exposure apparatus 100 passes through each element 15a of the glass substrate 6 and the conductor layer 15 of the electrostatic recording body. Then, positive and negative charge pairs are generated in the photoconductive layer 14, and the positive charges are attracted to the negative charges (latent image charges) accumulated at the interface between the recording photoconductive layer 12 and the charge transport layer 13. In this way, the charge transport layer 13 moves rapidly and recombines with the latent image charge at the interface between the recording photoconductive layer 12 and the charge transport layer 13 and disappears. On the other hand, the negative charge generated in the reading photoconductive layer 14 is recombined with the positive charge injected from the power source 53 into the conductor layer 15 and disappears. In this way, the negative charges accumulated in the electrostatic recording body disappear due to charge recombination, and a current is generated in the electrostatic recording body due to the movement of the charge during the charge recombination. The current detection amplifier 51 connected to each element 15a detects this current in parallel for each element 15a. Since the current flowing in the electrostatic recording body during reading corresponds to the latent image charge, that is, the electrostatic latent image, the electrostatic latent image can be read by detecting this current. Note that the reading exposure apparatus 100 performs scanning exposure in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and thereby the entire surface of the electrostatic recording body 10 is exposed.
[0031]
Next, the reading exposure apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention applied to the radiation image reading system will be described with reference to FIG. 2A is a side view showing a detailed configuration of the reading exposure apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the Y direction (direction perpendicular to the LED chip arrangement direction), and FIG. 2 is an XY cross-sectional view of the reading exposure apparatus 100. FIG. Note that the X direction is the traveling direction of the reading light L, and the Z direction is the LED chip arrangement direction.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 2, the reading exposure apparatus 100 includes a line light source 101 composed of a plurality of LED chips 101a, 101b,... Arranged in a line in the Z-axis direction, and a slit having an opening 102a extending in the Z direction. 102 and cylindrical lenses 104 and 105 functioning as optical means for focusing the reading light L in the Y direction. The cylindrical lenses 104 and 105 constitute an equal magnification imaging optical system.
[0033]
Each LED chip 101a, 101b,... Is a square having a light emitting surface shape of 160 μm × 160 μm, and is arranged in a row so that the sides are adjacent to each other. Further, the LED chips 101a, 101b,... Are arranged so as to be inclined with respect to the optical axis of the cylindrical lenses 104 and 105 so that the inclination angle θ is 45 degrees in the Y direction.
[0034]
The slit 102 is a field stop that restricts the light emission image of the LED of the line light source 101. It should be noted that the slit 102 only needs to limit the light emission image of each LED chip 101a, 101b,..., And not only a mechanical slit having an opening as in the present embodiment but also an optical element such as a density distribution filter. It may be a gap.
[0035]
The light emission images of the respective LED chips 101a, 101b,... Are limited by the openings 102a of the slits 102, are imaged at the same magnification in the Y direction by the cylindrical lenses 104 and 105, and are irradiated onto the electrostatic recording body 10. The light distribution angle of the LED chip is usually very wide. FIG. 3 shows an example of light distribution characteristics of a general LED chip. This LED chip has a light distribution angle of −80 to +76 degrees with respect to the normal line of the light emitting surface (0 degrees in FIG. 3). The light emitted from each LED chip spreads isotropically and diffuses, and is not focused in the Z direction. Therefore, as schematically shown in FIG. To diffuse in the Z direction. As a result, the light from the line light source 101 is irradiated linearly on the electrostatic recording body 10.
[0036]
Since each LED chip 101a, 101b,... Is disposed so as to have an inclination angle θ of 45 degrees in the Y direction, the shape of the light emitting surface of the LED chip viewed from the cylindrical lenses 104 and 105 is 160 μm ( The length in the X direction) × 114 μm (the length in the Y direction). That is, the LED chip originally has a size of 160 μm × 160 μm, but is inclined by 45 degrees in the Y direction. The apparent size in the Y direction is 160 · (1 / 1.41) μm≈114 μm. For this reason, the theoretical minimum line width of the reading light L condensed on the electrostatic recording body 10 is about 114 μm. That is, the line width can be reduced without reducing the depth of focus.
[0037]
Also, as described above, the LED chips 101a, 101b,... Have a wide light distribution angle, and the angle dependency of the light distribution characteristics is small. Therefore, even if the LED chips 101a, 101b,. The reading light L can be obtained. In addition, by tilting the LED chips 101a, 101b,..., The emission positions of the reading light L emitted from the LED chips 101a, 101b,... Vary in the X direction, and thus the imaging positions in the X direction vary. Usually, the amount of variation in the image formation position is very small compared to the focal length of the image formation optical system, so there is almost no influence.
[0038]
Further, in the reading exposure means 100 described above, a pinhole array 103 in which pinholes are formed at equal intervals to the arrangement pitch of the LED chips as shown in FIG. 5 in addition to the slits 102 as shown in FIG. 4 is provided. May be. In FIG. 4, the same elements as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted unless particularly necessary. When the pinhole array 103 is provided in this way, the spread angle in the Z direction of light from each of the LED chips 101a, 101b,... Is limited by the pinwheel array 103.
[0039]
As described above, since the LED chip has a wide light distribution angle, the reading light L normally emitted from one LED chip has a very wide irradiation range (linear shape), but includes a pinhole array 103. In this case, since the spread angle of the reading light L in the Z direction is narrowed, the irradiation range by the light emitted from one LED chip is a range from a fraction of the conventional one to several tenths. For this reason, the number of LED chips corresponding to one irradiation point in the central portion of the electrostatic recording body 10 is reduced as compared with the conventional case, and electrostatic recording is also performed at the irradiation point near the end of the electrostatic recording body 10. Light intensity similar to that of the central portion of the body 10 can be obtained. That is, in the reading light L condensed linearly, the uniformity of the light intensity in the LED chip arrangement direction is improved, and the reliability of the read image information is improved. Further, since the reading light L reflected by the housing is reduced, flare light is reduced and the sharpness of the read image information is improved.
[0040]
Further, when the reading light L that is generally emitted from one point and spreads in the Z direction is condensed in the Y direction by the cylindrical lenses 104 and 105, the condensing position varies depending on the emission angle. For example, if the electrostatic recording body 10 is arranged on the focal point, if the exit angle is 0 degree, the focus is on the electrostatic recording body 10, but if the exit angle is different, the in-focus position is also different. . For this reason, the in-focus light and the out-of-focus light are mixed on the electrostatic recording body 10, and the line width (Y direction) of the read light L condensed linearly is reduced. To increase. The larger the spread angle of the reading light L in the Z direction, the larger the line width of the reading light L. That is, by providing the pinhole array 103 and limiting the spread angle of the reading light L in the Z direction, the line width of the reading light L condensed linearly on the electrostatic recording body 10 can be reduced. .
[0041]
In the reading exposure apparatus of the present invention, an electrostatic recording body using stripe electrodes is used as an image recording medium, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the present invention can be applied to any image recording medium as long as it scans with a reading electromagnetic wave and generates a current corresponding to an electrostatic charge carrying radiation image information.
[0042]
Next, another embodiment to which the reading exposure apparatus of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows an example in which the reading exposure apparatus 100 of the present invention is applied to an image reading system for reading an image from a stimulable phosphor sheet. FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the detailed configuration of the exposure apparatus of FIG. 6 and the detection portion of the stimulated emission light M.
[0043]
The present image reading system includes an exposure apparatus 100 for reading according to the present invention that irradiates readable light L to a stimulable phosphor sheet 210 on which radiation image information is stored and recorded in advance, and stores the light by receiving the excitation light L. Of the photostimulated luminescent light M emitted from the fluorescent phosphor sheet 210, and the photodetector 220 extending in the direction of the arrow X, and the photodetector 220 1 being incident so that the excitation light L is not incident on the photodetector 220. An excitation light cut filter 221 disposed on the end face side and a condensing extending in the direction of the arrow X that is provided on the surface side of the stimulable phosphor sheet 210 and efficiently guides the stimulated emission light M to the incident end face of the photodetector 220. It comprises a mirror 230, sheet conveying means 240, which is a belt conveyor for conveying the stimulable phosphor sheet 210 in the direction of arrow Y, and a signal processing unit (not shown) connected to the photodetector 220. . The photodetector 220 is composed of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements 222 arranged in the length direction (arrow X direction), and each photoelectric conversion element 222 corresponds to a corresponding portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet 210 1. Detect the stimulated emission light (for each pixel). Specifically, an amorphous silicon sensor, a CCD sensor, a MOS sensor, or the like is applied as the photoelectric conversion element 222.
[0044]
Next, the operation of the image reading system of this embodiment will be described. The line-shaped reading light L output from the reading exposure apparatus 100 is irradiated onto the stimulable phosphor sheet 210, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 210 is moved in the arrow Y direction by the sheet conveying means 240 (sub-scanning). Then, the reading light L is irradiated over the entire surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet 210.
[0045]
From the portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet 210 irradiated with the reading light L, the amount of stimulated emission light M corresponding to the radiation image information stored and recorded therein is emitted. The emitted stimulated emission light M diffuses in all directions, part of which is incident on the incident end face of the photodetector 220, and part of it is reflected by the condenser mirror 230 and incident on the incident end face of the photodetector 220. The At this time, the reading light L reflected on the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet 210 that is slightly mixed in the stimulated emission light M is cut by the reading light cut filter 221. The stimulated emission light M condensed on the photodetector 220 is amplified and photoelectrically converted in each photoelectric conversion element 222 and output to an external signal processing apparatus as an image signal S of a corresponding pixel of each photoelectric conversion element 222. The
[0046]
Note that the reading exposure apparatus 100 includes an LED chip that outputs light having an appropriate wavelength for emitting stimulating light from the stimulable phosphor sheet.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an image reading system equipped with an electrostatic recording body using the reading exposure apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a reading exposure apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a light distribution characteristic of an LED chip. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another reading exposure apparatus. FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a pinhole array. FIG. 7 is a view showing an image reading system from a phosphor sheet. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a detailed configuration of a reading exposure apparatus in an image reading system from a stimulable phosphor sheet. Figure [Explanation of symbols]
6 Glass substrate 10 Electrostatic recording body 11 First conductive layer 12 Recording photoconductive layer 13 Charge transport layer 14 Reading photoconductive layer 15 Second conductive layer 15a Element 50 Current detection means 51 Current detection amplifier 52 Connection Means 53 Power supply 100, 200 Exposure apparatus 101, 201 Line light source 101a, 101b,... LED chip 102 Slit 103 Pinhole array 104, 105 Cylindrical lens 201a, 201b,... LED chip 210 Storage phosphor sheet 220 Photodetector 221 Reading light cut filter 222 Photoelectric conversion element 230 Condensing mirror 240 Sheet conveying means

Claims (4)

A reading exposure apparatus that exposes the reading light to the image recording medium when reading the image information by scanning and exposing an image recording medium on which image information is recorded in advance with reading light,
A line light source having a large number of light emitting elements arranged in a straight line;
Optical means for focusing the reading light emitted from each of the light emitting elements in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the light emitting elements,
The light emitting element is disposed at an inclination angle of ± 30 degrees or more with respect to the optical axis of the optical means in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the light emitting elements are arranged, and the light emitting surface method of the light emitting element An exposure apparatus for reading, wherein the exposure apparatus has a light distribution angle equal to or greater than the inclination angle in a direction perpendicular to the line-up direction of the light emitting elements. 2. The reading exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting element is an LED. The image recording medium is an electrostatic recording body that records image information as an electrostatic latent image and generates a current corresponding to the electrostatic latent image by being scanned and exposed with the reading light. The exposure apparatus for reading according to claim 1 or 2. 2. The storage phosphor according to claim 1, wherein the image recording medium is an accumulative phosphor that accumulates and records image information and scans and exposes with the reading light to generate stimulated emission light according to the image information. Or the exposure apparatus for reading of 2.

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