JPH01103780A - Image information reading and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize the miniaturization and simplification of constitution and to obtain an optical beam which is optimum to a reading and recording, etc., for an image reproducing by selecting a zero-th light and a primary light due to an acoustooptical modulator (AOM) with a switching means and using the selected light. CONSTITUTION:At a reading time, a mirror 5A of a switching means 5 is moved out of an optical path and passed through an AOM 3 of a non-modulating condition. Then, a zero-th optical beam 2A, which has hardly light quantity attenuation, is deflected by a rotary polyhedron 4 and a recording sheet 11 of an accumulating phosphor is scanned and irradiated. Thus, an enough stimulating ray from the sheet 11 is made incident on an optical detector and the image of the sheet 11 is read. On the other hand, a primary optical beam 2B, which is modulated by the AOM 3 and attenuated with having a different outgoing direction from the beam 2A, is passed through a mirror 5B of the means 5 and the mirror 5A to be inserted to the optical path and the sheet 11 is scanned and irradiated in the same way. Then, the recording is executed for the image reproducing. Accordingly, two pairs of devices for reading and writing are eliminated and the constitution is miniaturized and simplified. Then, the optical beam goes to be suitable for the reading and recording.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of the Invention) The present invention relates to reading image information stored and recorded on an image information sheet such as a stimulable phosphor sheet using the same scanning system;
The present invention relates to an image information reading and reproducing device that reproduces read image information onto a recording sheet.

(Prior art) Light containing image information is obtained by two-dimensionally scanning a light beam such as a laser beam over a sheet on which image information is conventionally recorded, and then irradiating the light beam onto the sheet. (
For example, an image information reading device that reads image information recorded on a sheet by detecting reflected light, transmitted light, emitted light) using a light detection means equipped with a photomultiplier tube, etc. It is widely used as an input device, etc.

Also, when certain types of phosphors are irradiated with radiation (X-rays, alpha rays, beta rays, gamma rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc.), some of this radiation energy is accumulated in the phosphors, making them visible. It is known that when irradiated with excitation light such as light, phosphors exhibit stimulated luminescence depending on the accumulated energy. )
It is called. Using this stimulable phosphor, radiation image information of a subject such as a human body is partially recorded on a sheet of stimulable phosphor, and this stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned with excitation light such as a laser beam to make it shine. The resulting stimulated luminescence is read photoelectrically to obtain an image signal, and based on this image signal, a radiation image of the subject is recorded on a recording material such as a photographic light-sensitive material.
The applicant has already proposed a radiation image information recording and reproducing system that outputs a visible image to a CRT or the like.

(JP-A No. 55-12429, No. 5B-11395,
No. 55-183472.

No. 58-104645, No. 55-118340, etc. ) In the above system, the image information accumulated and recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet is transmitted to the radiation image information reader by deflecting the excitation light to main scan the stimulable phosphor sheet and transmitting the image information between the stimulable phosphor sheet and the excitation light. The entire surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned with excitation light by relatively moving the stimulable phosphor sheet in the sub-scanning direction, and the stimulated luminescent light emitted from the scanning position is read by photoelectrically detecting it with a photodetector.

On the other hand, image information read by a reading device such as the radiation image information reading device described above is modulated based on an image signal obtained by the reading device onto a recording sheet that is relatively transported in the sub-scanning direction. The image is recorded and reproduced as a visible image by main-scanning the light beam.

Therefore, conventionally, in order to form a final visible image of the image information recorded on an image information sheet such as a stimulable phosphor sheet, in addition to a reading device that reads the image information, a recording device is required. A playback device was required to record image information on the sheet.

In particular, in the radiation image information recording and reproducing system described above,
In recent years, various improvements have been made based on the desire to simplify the entire system as much as possible, downsize the entire device, and reduce manufacturing costs. Therefore, it has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 184677/1983 to integrate the conventional reading device and reproducing device, which both perform scanning with a light beam, so that reading and reproducing can be performed using the same scanning system.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the above-mentioned reading and reproducing apparatus, scanning must be performed with a light beam of a constant amount of light during reading, and scanning must be performed with a light beam modulated based on image information during reproduction. Must be. Therefore, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-184
In No. 877, the optical modulator is inserted into the light beam during reproduction and withdrawn from the optical beam during reading, but in this case, a mechanism for moving the optical modulator is required, making the configuration complicated. Therefore, the present invention provides an optical modulator such as an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) fixedly provided in a light beam, thereby simplifying the mechanism and making it possible to obtain a suitable light beam during reading and recording. The purpose is to

(Means for Solving the Problems) The image information reading and reproducing apparatus of the present invention includes a beam light source that emits a light beam, an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) provided on the optical path of the light beam, and a light beam emitted from the AOM. a switching means that selectively guides either the zero-order light or the first-order light to a predetermined optical path, deflects a light beam that is incident on the predetermined optical path, and records image information with the deflected light beam; a deflector for main-scanning an image information sheet or a recording sheet for reproducing the image information, which moves the image information sheet or recording sheet and the light beam in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction; It consists of a sub-scanning means for moving the image information sheet, and a light detection means for detecting light emitted from the image information sheet by scanning with the light beam, and when the image information sheet is moved by the sub-scanning means, the switching means Zero-order light is guided to a predetermined optical path, deflected by the deflector to main scan the sheet, the emitted light is detected by the light detection means to read image information, and the sub-scanning means reads the image information. When the recording sheet is moved, the switching means guides the primary light to a predetermined optical path, the acousto-optic modulator modulates the primary light according to an image signal, and the deflector deflects the primary light for recording. This apparatus is characterized in that image information is recorded by main-scanning the sheet.

The switching means may be of any type as long as it adjusts the optical paths of the 0th-order light and the 1st-order light emitted from the AOM to the above-mentioned state, and the switching means itself may be placed on the front side of the AOM. It may be provided or may be provided at the rear of the AOM. Furthermore, the fact that the 0th-order light and the 1st-order light are guided to a predetermined optical path means that each light can enter and be deflected at substantially the same position of the same deflector, There is no problem even if the optical paths are slightly shifted within the range in which the above-mentioned deflection is possible using the same deflector.

(Function) The image information reading and reproducing device of the present invention integrates a reading device and a reproducing device, which were conventionally provided independently, by performing both reading and recording using the same scanning system. By having the device read and reproduce image information at the same time, the entire reading and reproducing system can be made as simple as before, making it possible to downsize the system, and as mentioned above, the scanning system Since it is shared for reading and reproducing, only one optical element of the scanning system such as a light source and a deflection means need be provided, and the manufacturing cost of the entire reading and reproducing system can be reduced.

Furthermore, according to the device of the present invention, the switching means
By selectively changing the optical path of the 0th-order light and the 1st-order light emitted from the OM, and guiding the 0th-order light during reading and the 1st-order light during playback along a predetermined optical path, the JOM is read and moved during playback. Good reading and reproduction can be performed without any problems. In other words, the AOM emits a predetermined amount of 0th-order light and 1st-order light in different directions based on a modulation signal. cannot be brought to zero, and if reproduction is performed using this zero-order light, the reproduced image obtained will be foggy. Therefore, it is not recommended to use it as recording light; It is necessary to use primary light. On the other hand, when reading, the light beam may be used as the above-mentioned excitation light, so it is necessary to obtain a light beam with a constant amount of light with as much output as possible. When using , the primary light is at most A
Since the light intensity is only about 90% of the light intensity of the light beam incident on the OM, there is a disadvantage that the power of the excitation light may be insufficient.

By providing the switching means as described above, this device
While fixing the OM, use the 0th order light as a reading light such as excitation light,
Primary light can be used as recording light. For this reason,
During reproduction, it is possible to reproduce a good image without fog using the primary light, and if the modulation of the AOM is turned off, almost 100% of the light incident on the AOM can be extracted from the 0th-order light. It can be made larger than light, and a light beam with a sufficient amount of light can also be obtained as excitation light. Furthermore, if you read and play like this, AO
Since a moving mechanism for M is not required, the configuration of the device can be simplified.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing the outline of the radiation image information reading and reproducing apparatus, which is an embodiment of the present invention, at the time of reading and reproducing image information, respectively.

A light beam 2 emitted from a beam light source 1 such as a He-Ne laser light source is incident on an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) 3.

When modulating the light beam 2, this AOM 3 converts the incident light beam 2 into zero-order light 2A as shown in FIG.
and the first-order light 2B and emit them in different directions, and when modulation is stopped, only the zero-order light 2A is emitted as shown in FIG. This device is provided with a rotating polygon mirror 4 which is a deflector that reflects and deflects the zero-order light 2A or the first-order light 2B.
A switching means 5 is provided between them for selectively guiding either one of the two zero-order lights and the first-order light 2B to a predetermined optical path that enters the rotating polygon mirror 4. - Note that the predetermined optical path here is the portion visually shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 11-2. In this embodiment, the switching means 5 is located on the optical path of the zero-order light 2A and
a first position where the 0th-order light 2 is reflected out of the predetermined optical path;
A first mirror 5A that moves away from the optical path of A and assumes a second position that allows the zero-order light to be emitted onto a predetermined optical path; It consists of a first mirror 5A in the first position and a second mirror that reflects the primary light 2B and guides the primary light to a predetermined optical path. Note that the first mirror 5A has a reflecting surface on which the primary light 2B enters, and a surface on the opposite side serves as a reflecting surface, a diffusely reflecting surface, or an absorbing surface. Hereinafter, reading of image information by this apparatus will be explained with reference to FIG.

When reading, the AOM3 is forced to stop modulating, and AOM3 is forced to stop modulating.
All of the light beam 2 incident on OM3 becomes 0th order light 2
The primary light 2B is emitted as light A, and the primary light 2B is not emitted at all. Further, at that time, the first mirror 5A is controlled to take the second position where it exits from the optical path of the zero-order light 2A, so the zero-order light 2A is directly emitted to a predetermined optical path, and the first mirror 5A is The light enters the rotating polygon mirror 4, and is reflected and deflected by the rotating polygon mirror 4, which rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure. On the other hand, below the rotating polygon mirror 4, an endless belt device 6 serving as a sub-scanning means is provided.
As a result, the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 on which radiation image information has been accumulated and recorded is conveyed in the direction of arrow B and sub-scanned. As mentioned above, the 0th order light 2A is reflected and deflected by the rotating polygon mirror 4.
Since the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is repeatedly main-scanned in the direction of the arrow A which is substantially perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction, the entire surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is two-dimensionally scanned by the zero-order light 2A. Ru.

This zero-order light 2A acts as excitation light on the stimulable phosphor sheet 7, and as the zero-order light 2A scans,
The stimulable phosphor sheet 7 irradiated with the zero-order light 2A emits stimulated light according to the image information accumulated and recorded therein, and this emitted light (not shown) is mainly emitted near the stimulable phosphor sheet. The light enters a transparent light condenser 8 having an incident end face 8a arranged parallel to the scanning line. This light collector 8 is a stimulable phosphor sheet 7
The front end 8b located nearby is formed into a flat plate shape and gradually becomes cylindrical toward the rear end, and the rear end 8c becomes almost cylindrical to form a photomultiplier serving as a photodetector. It is combined with pliers 9,
The stimulated luminescent light incident from the incident end surface 8a is transmitted to the rear end portion 8c.
The light is collected by the photomultiplier 9 and received by the photomultiplier 9. In this photomultiplier 9, the stimulated luminescent light is converted into an electrical signal, and the obtained electrical signal is sent to the image information processing circuit 10 for image processing.

When the reading of the image information is completed, in order to reproduce the read image information, a recording sheet 11 such as a photosensitive film or photographic paper is conveyed in the direction of arrow B by the endless belt device 6 as shown in FIG. . Further, the first mirror 5A of the switching means 5 is moved to assume the first position before the recording sheet 11 is conveyed.

When reproducing image information on the recording sheet 11,
The AOM 3 is driven based on the image information read earlier, and the AOM 3 modulates the incident light beam 2 based on the image information, and converts this light beam 2 into 0th-order light 2A and 1st-order light 2.
Divide into B and inject.

The zero-order light 2A is incident on the first mirror 5A that has been moved to the first position as described above, and is prevented from being incident on the rotating polygon mirror 4 by the first mirror 5A. On the other hand, the primary light 2B is
After being reflected by the mirror 5B, the light enters the first mirror 2A, is reflected by the first mirror 2A to the predetermined optical path, and is reflected and deflected by the rotating polygon mirror 4. The reflected and deflected primary light 2B is repeatedly scanned in the direction of the arrow A as recording light on the recording sheet 11 which is sub-scanned in the direction of the arrow B, and is read from the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 over the entire surface of the recording sheet 11. Record and play back image information.

The recording sheet 11 on which image information has been recorded and reproduced is sent to an automatic developing machine (not shown) and subjected to development processing.

In this way, this device can read image information on the stimulable phosphor sheet and reproduce image information on the recording sheet using the same scanning system, so if a reading device and a reproducing device are respectively provided, The entire reading and reproducing system can be simplified compared to the previous system, and the entire system can be made smaller and lower in cost. Furthermore, since there is no need to move the optical modulator in and out of the light beam, the configuration becomes simpler. Further, according to the present device, by switching the optical paths of the zero-order light and the first-order light, it is possible to perform scanning with suitable light beams during reading and reproduction, respectively.

That is, as shown in the plan view of FIG.
When the modulation of the incident light beam 2 is stopped, the incident light beam 2 is directly emitted as zero-order light, so if this zero-order light is used as the reading light, an AOM can be installed on the optical path of the light beam 2. It is possible to secure a reading light having the same amount of light as the light beam 2 without being affected by the effects of light, and it is possible to perform good reading using a reading light with a large power. Furthermore, during recording, the first mirror 5A is located at the position indicated by the solid line in the figure, cutting off the 0th order light 2A and guiding the first order light 2B to a predetermined optical path, thereby making it possible to perform recording using the first order light 2B. Since it is possible to reduce the output of the primary light 2B to zero, it is possible to reproduce a good image without fogging.

Note that if there is sufficient output from the beam light source 1 and it is possible to perform good reading without using all of the light beam 2 that enters the AOM 3, the AOM 3 may also be driven during reading as shown in FIG. The power of the 0th order light 2A was constantly modulated to suppress the power of the 0th order light 2A, a beam splitter 12 was provided on the optical path of the 0th order light 2A, and the power of the 0th order light 2A was detected by a photodetector 13. The value may be fed back to the AOM 3 to keep the power of the zero-order light 2A always accurately constant. In this way, even if the output of the beam light source attenuates over time, it is possible to prevent the light amount of the reading light (zero-order light) from changing.

Further, although the case where a plurality of mirrors are used as a switching means for selectively guiding the zero-order light and the first-order light to a predetermined path has been described above, the switching means is not limited to that of the above embodiment. Any device may be used as long as it can guide only the zero-order light to a predetermined optical path during reading and only the first-order light during recording.

For example, a light transmitting member as shown in FIG. 5 may be used as the switching means.

That is, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the light beam 2 is inserted between the beam light source 1 and the AOMB as the light transmission member.
A glass plate 15 is provided that can move in and out of the optical path. This glass plate 15 is out of the optical path of the light beam when reading the image shown in FIG. It is used for image reading.

On the other hand, when reproducing an image, the AOM is driven based on the image signal, and the 0th order light 2A and the 1st order light 2B are emitted from the AOM3. 5 As shown in FIG. 5(b), the glass plate 1
5 is inserted. This glass plate 15 has an incident end face 15
a and the injection end surface 15b are non-parallel square prism shapes,
The incident light beam 2 is refracted by an angle α with respect to the direction of incidence and then emitted. Note that this angle α is equal to the angle (plug angle) between the 0th-order light and the 1st-order light emitted from the AOM 3. When the light beam 2' refracted in this way enters the AOM3, the diffraction of the first-order light by the AOM3 is apparently phased, and the first-order light 2B becomes a predetermined light beam similar to the zero-order light 2A during reading. ejected onto the street. Furthermore, the zero-order light 2A emitted from the AOM 3 during reproduction is emitted while being tilted by the angle α from the predetermined optical path, so that it does not enter the rotating polygon mirror 4.

Further, the glass plate as described above may be inserted into the optical path of the light beam during reading, and may be withdrawn from the optical path of the light beam during reproduction. In that case, a glass plate may be used that refracts the light beam before entering the AOM in the direction in which the primary light is emitted from the AOM when the glass plate is not on the optical path.

Further, these glass plates may be provided between the AOM 3 and the rotating polygon mirror 4 instead of being provided between the beam light source 1 and the AOM 3. In other words, when inserting a glass plate into the optical path during reading and retracting the glass plate during playback, A
It is sufficient to use a glass plate that refracts the zero-order light emitted from the OM in the direction in which the first-order light is emitted from the AOM during reproduction, or when inserting the glass plate into the optical path during reproduction and retracting the glass plate during reading. The glass plate is placed at a position where both the 0th-order light and the 1st-order light emitted from the AOM are incident during reproduction, and the 1st-order light is refracted in the same direction as the 0th-order light emitted during reading, and the 0th-order light is What is necessary is to refract it in a direction other than the above-mentioned direction. In any case, if the optical path of the 0th-order light during reproduction comes close to the optical path of the primary light, a mirror or the like may be provided to change the optical path of the primary light again to a desired direction.

Furthermore, even in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in which the optical path is switched using mirrors, the switching mirror may of course be arranged between the light source and the AOM.

Furthermore, when the light beam is a linearly polarized beam such as a laser beam, the switching means in the apparatus of the present invention switches the optical path by adjusting the polarization direction of the light beam as shown in FIG. You can.

That is, in the illustrated embodiment, the switching means for the zero-order light 2A and the first-order light 2B takes a first position on the optical path of the zero-order light 2A and a second position where it retreats from the optical path. A shutter 25A is movably disposed as shown in FIG. It consists of polarized beam splitters 25D that enter from directions substantially perpendicular to each other.

A light beam 2 emitted from a beam source 1 is linearly polarized in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 6, for example. Figure 6 (
When reading the image shown in a), the shutter 25A is in the second position out of the optical path of the zero-order light 2A, and the AOM
The zero-order light emitted from the polarizing beam splitter 2
It enters 5D. This polarizing beam splitter 25D reflects the light polarized in the above direction, and the 0th order light 2A
is guided onto a predetermined optical path by being reflected by the polarizing beam splitter 25D, and is incident on the rotating polygon mirror 4 arranged on the optical path.

On the other hand, when reproducing an image, the AOM3 is driven based on the image signal, and as shown in FIG. 6(b), the AOM3 outputs 0
Secondary light 2A and primary light 2B are emitted.

Furthermore, prior to this, the shutter 25A is moved to the first position, and the incident zero-order light 2A is cut off by the shutter 25A. This shutter 25A may absorb or reflect the incident zero-order light. Further, the above-mentioned 1/2 wavelength plate 25B is disposed on the optical path of the primary light 2B, and
The polarization direction of the secondary light 2B is changed by 900 degrees by the 1/2 wavelength plate 25B before it enters the polarization beam splitter 25D. The primary light 2B whose polarization direction has been changed by the half-wave plate 25B in the direction of the arrow a in FIG. The light is incident from a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of incidence of the O-order light 2A. The polarizing beam splitter 25D transmits light polarized in the direction of the arrow a, and the primary light 2B passes through this polarizing beam splitter 25D and is placed on a predetermined optical path in the same manner as the zero-order light during reading described above. be ejected.

As mentioned above, in this embodiment, the only member whose position is moved is the shutter, so compared to the case of moving a reflecting mirror or a light transmitting part, there is no need to control the positional accuracy of movement as strictly. It has the advantage of being easy to carry out.

Note that the 1/2 wavelength plate may be arranged on the optical path of the 0th-order light because the polarization directions of the 0th-order light and the 1st-order light may be different from each other by 90 degrees. Furthermore, if the AOM drive is stopped during reading and no primary light is emitted as in the above embodiment, the shutter may be of a type that blocks the zero-order light during reproduction, but the shutter shown in FIG. If the AOM is driven during reading as in the embodiment, the primary light will also be emitted during reading, so the shutter should be moved from the optical path of the 0th-order light to the optical path of the primary light during reading. It is necessary to move it.

Next, FIG. 7 shows a practical apparatus incorporating the above-mentioned radiation image information reading and reproducing main apparatus as a reading and reproducing section, and the manner of use of the radiation image information reading and reproducing apparatus of the present invention will be described.

The illustrated device includes a cassette holding section 110 that removably holds a cassette 102 capable of storing a stimulable phosphor sheet 7.
, a reading and reproducing unit 120 that reads the image information stored and recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet and reproduces the read image information; and radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 after reading has been completed in the reading and reproducing unit 120. an erasing section 1301 for erasing; a stacker 140 capable of storing a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheets; and a stacker 140 for carrying out the stored stimulable phosphor sheets one by one; and a plurality of recording sheets 11.
The recording sheet supply section 150 is provided to removably hold a magazine 103 containing a recording sheet. Each of the above sections is arranged in a line in the vertical direction, and a sheet conveying means 100 for conveying the stimulable phosphor sheet and the recording sheet is provided on the side of each of these sections and extends in the vertical direction. It is connected to this sheet conveying means 100.

In an external photographing device (not shown), the cassette 102 in which the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 stored therein has been photographed is loaded into the cassette holding section 110. This cassette 102 has a light-shielding property to prevent the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 from being exposed to external light when recording (photographing) image information by irradiating the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 with radiation. It consists of a cassette main body 102a for storing a stimulable phosphor sheet and a lid part 102b that can be opened and closed. This lid part 102b is closed when the cassette 102 is loaded into the cassette holding part 110, but when the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 inside is taken out inside the cassette holding part 110, it is closed by suction. A lid opening means 111 such as a panel opens the lid portion 102b as shown in the figure. Lid part 1
When the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is opened, a stimulable phosphor sheet ejecting means 112 such as a suction cup enters the cassette 102 and sucks the stimulable phosphor sheet 7, which is a part of the sheet conveying means 100 near the cassette 102. It is passed to the nip roller 100a. The stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is held in the cassette 102 so that the front surface on which the stimulable phosphor layer is formed faces down.

The sheet conveying means 100 includes an endless belt, a guide plate,
The stimulable phosphor sheet 7, which is composed of a roller, a movable sheet sorting plate, etc., and whose tip is held by the nip roller 100a, is conveyed in the direction of arrow C1 by the sheet conveying means 100, and then placed at the position indicated by the solid line in the figure. A sheet distribution board 1
00b and is conveyed in the direction of arrow C2, further conveyed in the directions of arrows C3 and C4, and is carried into the reading and reproducing section 120.

Note that 18 provided in the conveyance path of the stimulable phosphor sheet 7
0 is a secondary erasing unit that performs secondary erasing, which will be described later, using an erasing light source 181, but when the stimulable phosphor sheet taken out from the cassette holding unit 110 is conveyed from above, the erasing light source 181 is turned off. has been done. Also, the sheet distribution plate 10 located between the secondary erasing section 180 and the reading and reproducing section 120
0cS100d, the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 taken out from the cassette 102 as described above is immediately read and reproduced by the reading and reproducing section 1.
20, the stimulable phosphor sheet is located at the position shown by the solid line in the figure, allowing the stimulable phosphor sheet door to be transported downward.

The reading and reproducing unit 120 makes the light beam 2 emitted from the beam light source 1 enter the AOM 3, reads image information on the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 using the 0th order light 2A, and reads the image information with the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 using the 0th order light 2A.
This is the part where image information is reproduced on the recording sheet 11 by means of the arrow B. Among the members in the reading and reproducing unit, the same parts as those in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are given the same numbers, and their explanations will be omitted. Note that the reading and reproducing section 12
The switching means 5 between the 0th-order light and the 1st-order light in 0 has the above-mentioned two mirrors 5A and 5B (not shown in FIG. 7) as an example. Needless to say, the glass plate described above or a combination of a 1/2 wavelength plate and a polarizing beam splitter can also be used. Further, this reading/reproducing section 120 is provided with a galvanometer mirror 4' as an optical deflector.

Also, of the sheet conveying means 100, the reading and reproducing section 12
The portion located within 0 becomes the sub-scanning means.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 7 carried into the reading and reproducing section 12-0
is transported in the direction of arrow C5 by the sheet transport means 100, and its entire surface is two-dimensionally scanned by the zero-order light 2A guided to a predetermined optical path by the switching means 5. Stimulated luminescent light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 passes through a light condenser 8, is photoelectrically detected by a photomultiplier 9, is sent to an image information processing circuit 10, undergoes image processing, and is then stored in a memory 14. is memorized. After the entire surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 has been read, the rear end is moved to the nip roller 100e.
While being gripped, the tip comes into contact with the guide plate 100f, and from that position it is fed back in the direction of arrow C6 by switchback. In addition, in reading radiation image information, prior to the reading (main reading) to obtain the image signal for visible image output as described above, an outline of the radiation image information stored and recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet is read in advance. A known method is to perform pre-reading, determine reading conditions for performing the main reading based on image information obtained by this pre-reading, and perform the main reading according to the reading conditions.

As a method for performing such pre-reading, for example, a stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned using excitation light with an energy lower than that of the light beam (excitation light) used for the above-mentioned main reading, and the photosynthesis emitted by this scanning is A method of reading the emitted light using a photoelectric reading means (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 5
8-67240), etc.

The reading and reproducing section in the present invention may be a section that performs only main reading as described above, or a section that performs both main reading and pre-reading. For example, the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is conveyed in the direction of arrow C5 to first perform pre-reading, then the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is conveyed back in the direction of arrow C6 by switchback, returned to the reading start position, and then again in the direction of arrow C5. What is necessary is to carry it and read it. Note that the optical members disposed in the reading and reproducing section are not limited to those described above; for example, as a photoelectric reading means, a long photomultiplier is arranged along the main scanning line, and stimulated luminescence light is may also be detected (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 82-113886).

By the way, since it takes a relatively long time to read the image information in the reading and reproducing section 120, it is necessary to wait for the processing of the preceding stimulable phosphor sheet in the reading and reproducing section 120 to be completed before adding a new image to the cassette holding section 110. If a cassette 102 containing photographed stimulable phosphor sheets 7 is loaded, the stimulable phosphor sheets may not be processed efficiently. Therefore, this apparatus is provided with the stacker 140, and some of the stimulable phosphor sheets 7 taken out from the cassette holding section 110 are partially stored depending on the status of the reading and reproducing section 120. It is now possible to carry it into the stacker 140 and wait.

The stacker 140 includes a plurality of stimulable phosphor sheet storage chambers 142 partitioned by partition plates 141, and is movable up and down in the direction of the arrow from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the broken line in the figure. All seat storage chambers 142 can be adjacent to each other. When carrying the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 taken out from the cassette holding section 110 into the stacker 140, the sheet distribution plate 100
d to the position indicated by the broken line in the figure, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 conveyed from above is guided toward the stacker 140.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is carried into a predetermined sheet storage chamber 142 of the stacker 140, and its rear end is brought into contact with the nip roller 10.
After it leaves 0g, it falls down due to its own weight, and is held with its tip in contact with a stopper 148 in the sheet storage chamber 142. When taking out the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 from the stacker 140, move the stacker 140 so that the desired sheet storage chamber 142 is adjacent to the nip roller 100g, and then move the stopper 143 to the position indicated by the broken line in the figure. Then, the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is pushed up, and its tip is gripped by the nip roller long. nip roller 100
The stimulable phosphor sheet 7 held by the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is partially conveyed upward by the sheet conveying means 100 while being guided by the sheet distribution plate 1oad located at the position indicated by the broken line in the figure, and is then conveyed in the directions of the arrows C3 and C4. It is transported and carried into the reading and reproducing section 120. Note that the stimulable phosphor sheet taken out from the stacker 140 is once conveyed upward so that the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 on which the stimulable phosphor is formed faces upward (excitation light irradiation side) in the reading and reproducing section 120. This is to ensure that.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 7 that has been read by the reading and reproducing section 120 as described above is conveyed by the sheet conveying means 100 in the directions of arrows 07 to C3 and sent to the erasing section 130. At this time, the sheet sorting means 100b is placed in the position shown by the broken line in the figure, and the sheet sorting means 100c, 100d are placed in the position indicated by the broken line in the figure.
is located at the position indicated by the solid line in the figure.

The erasing section 130 is for erasing the radiation image information remaining on the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 after the reading is completed (for causing the stimulable phosphor to emit the remaining radiation energy). That is, some of the radiation image information stored and recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 still remains on the stimulable phosphor sheet after being read, and in order to reuse the stimulable phosphor sheet 7, this information is removed. The remaining image information is erased in the erasing section 130. Erasing unit 1 in this device
30 includes an erasing light source 1 such as a fluorescent lamp, tungsten lamp, sodium lamp, xenon lamp, or iodine lamp.
31 is provided, and the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is provided with a guide plate 18.
The remaining radiation energy on the stimulable phosphor sheet is emitted as the stimulable phosphor sheet is irradiated with light by these erasing light sources 181 while being conveyed in the direction of arrow C16 along the stimulable phosphor sheet. Note that the erasing method in the erasing section 130 may be any known method, and erasing may be performed using heating or a combination of light irradiation and heating. Note that, after the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is conveyed to the position indicated by the broken line in the figure, it is conveyed backward in the direction of the arrow Cu. Preferably, a guide plate is provided. Further, as will be described later, when a stimulable phosphor sheet storage tray 10B is provided close to the erasing section, this tray 10[1 can also be used as a guide.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 7 that has been erased in the erasing section 130 is moved by the sheet conveying means loo to arrows C12 and C.
The sheet is conveyed in the I3 direction and is stored in the empty sheet storage chamber 142 in the stacker 140 while being guided by the sheet distribution plate 100d, which has been moved to the position shown by the broken line in the figure. Note that if a number of erased stimulable phosphor sheets 7 are stored in advance in the stacker 40 in this way, after the stimulable phosphor sheets 7 are taken out from the cassette 102 in the cassette holding section 110, The erased stimulable phosphor sheet can be immediately carried into the empty cassette 102. When taking out the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 from the stacker 140 and conveying it to the cassette holding section 110, the sheet distribution plate 100d is moved to the position shown by the broken line, and the sheet distribution plate 100b is moved to the position shown by the broken line.
.

100c to the positions indicated by solid lines, and the stimulable phosphor sheet is moved by the sheet conveying means 100 to the position shown by the arrow CI4.
, and transported in the CI5 direction and carried into the cassette 102.

Note that the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 carried out from the stacker 140 may have been kept in standby for a long time in the stacker 140, and a long time may have passed since it was erased in the erasing unit 130.

Even if a stimulable phosphor sheet is erased once, after a certain period of time, it will be exposed to radiation emitted from radioactive isotopes such as 226 Ra and 40, which are contained in minute amounts in the stimulable phosphor, and from space. Radiation energy is accumulated due to environmental radiation such as X-rays and X-rays from other X-ray sources, and this radiation energy may become noise in the next captured image.
A secondary erasing section 180 for irradiating the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 with erasing light again is provided in the transport path. The secondary erasing section 180 turns on the erasing light source 181 only when the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 taken out from the stacker 140 is transported toward the cassette holding section 110, thereby causing the erasing light source 181 to turn on while the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is being taken out from the stacker 140. The radiation energy stored in the stimulable phosphor sheet is released. The cassette 10 into which the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 has been transported in this way
2 can be taken out of the apparatus and supplied for new imaging. In addition, in this device, the erasing section 1
It is also possible to immediately carry the stimulable phosphor sheet that has been erased in step 30 into the cassette 102. In that case, the stimulable phosphor sheet transported from the erasing unit 130 in the direction of arrow C12 may be transported downward, then switched back upward, and then transported into the cassette 102. Then, when the stimulable phosphor sheet is stored in the cassette 102, the surface on which the phosphor layer of the stimulable phosphor sheet is formed can face downward.

By the way, in addition to photographing a stimulable phosphor sheet held in a cassette, an external photographing device also photographs multiple stimulable phosphor sheets housed in a sheet supply magazine when performing continuous photographing. In some cases, images are taken one by one and photographed. The stimulable phosphor sheets that have been photographed are sequentially stored in a sheet storage magazine, and the sheet storage magazine containing the sheets is sent to a reading device and read. In addition to the above-mentioned cassette holding section, this device is equipped with a magazine holding section that removably holds the sheet storage magazine on the side of the sheet conveyance means, and is also capable of reading and erasing stimulable phosphor sheets taken out from the magazine. It may be something that can be done. The magazine holding section can be provided at any position as long as it is connected to the sheet conveying means 100 and is vertically aligned with the above-mentioned reading/reproducing section 120, erasing section 130, etc.; As shown by the dotted chain line, the cassette holding part 110 may be configured to be able to be loaded with both the cassette 102 and the magazine 107, so that the cassette holding part and the magazine holding part may be integrated. Further, when a magazine holding section is provided, a tray holding section is required to hold a tray in which stimulable phosphor sheets are successively taken out from the magazine and read and erased one by one. Like the magazine holding section, this tray holding section can also be provided at any position connected to the sheet conveying means 100, but as shown by the dotted chain line in the figure, the tray 10B is adjacent to the erasing section 130.
If a tray holding section is provided outside the erasing section 130 so as to position the stimulable phosphor sheet from the cassette, the tray 106 functions as a guide during erasing for the stimulable phosphor sheet taken out from the cassette, The stored stimulable phosphor sheet can be dropped into the tray and stored as is after erasing, which is extremely convenient.

By the way, when reading of one stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is completed in the reading and reproducing section 120 and this stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is carried out from the reading and reproducing section 120, the recording sheet in the recording sheet supply section 150 is supply magazine 10
3, one recording sheet 11 is taken out by the suction means 151 and passed to a nearby nip roller 100h. The recording sheet 11 is moved to the guide plate 10 by the nip roller 100h.
01 in the direction of arrow D1, the sheet is transported into the reading and reproducing section 120 by the sheet transporting means 100 in the same way as the stimulable phosphor sheet. In the reading and reproducing section 120, the recording sheet 11 is conveyed in the direction of arrow D2, and the image information read from the stimulable phosphor sheet 7 is recorded thereon.

In the reading and reproducing section 120, when the recording sheet 11 is conveyed, the AOM 3 is driven according to the image information read from the stimulable phosphor sheet 7, and the switching means 5 is operated.
performs control to guide the primary light 2B to a predetermined optical path. The recording sheet 11 is scanned by the primary light 2B modulated by the AOM 3, so that the entire surface of the recording sheet 11 is coated with the stimulable phosphor sheet 7.
The image information recorded in is played back.

The recording sheet 11 on which the image information has been reproduced in the reading and reproducing section 120 is moved by the sheet conveying means 100 to the arrows D3 to D3.
It is transported in the D5 direction. When the recording sheet 11 that has been reproduced is transported in this way, the sheet sorting means 1
00d is at the position shown by the solid line in the figure, and the sheet sorting means 100c moves to the position shown by the broken line in the figure, guides the recording sheet 11 in the direction of arrow D6, and causes the discharging roller 100j to grip the leading end of the recording sheet 11.

For example, the ejection roller 100j may carry the recording sheet 11 into an automatic developing machine 170 connected to a reading device in advance, or a tray or the like may be placed in the vicinity of the ejection roller 100j and the recording sheet 11 They may be sequentially discharged into this tray. Furthermore, a holding section for a recording sheet storage tray may be provided inside the apparatus, and the recording sheet may be stored in the tray within the apparatus, and the tray may be taken out from the apparatus and transported to an external automatic developing machine as appropriate.

Note that in the reading and reproducing section 120, as described above, 1
After reading one stimulable phosphor sheet, the read image information is immediately recorded on one recording sheet. Reading may be performed continuously, all read image information may be temporarily stored in a memory, and then the image information may be successively reproduced for a plurality of recording sheets. Furthermore, without having to reproduce all the read image information as a hard copy on the recording sheet, the image information can be displayed once on a CRT display device or the like, and only the necessary images can be reproduced as a hard copy on the recording sheet.

As the recording sheet, in addition to the above-mentioned ordinary silver salt photographic film, dry silver or the like suitable for heat development can be used. Furthermore, heat-sensitive recording materials can also be used in addition to these photosensitive recording materials. In addition to the wet development method mentioned above, development methods when using a silver halide film include the above-mentioned wet development method.
There are instant methods, etc. Furthermore, although the above description has been made by taking as an example a radiation image information reading and reproducing device that uses a stimulable phosphor sheet as an image information sheet, the device of the present invention detects reflected light and transmitted light emitted from an image information sheet to obtain image information. It may also be a type of device that performs reading.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the image information reading and reproducing device of the present invention, by reading and reproducing image information using the same scanning system, it can replace the conventional reading device and reproducing device. It can be integrated without increasing the size of the entire device,
The entire reading and reproducing system can be downsized. Furthermore, only one scanning system is required for reading and reproducing, and there is no need to move an optical modulator into and out of the light beam, which simplifies the configuration and greatly reduces manufacturing costs.

Furthermore, according to this device, the optical path of the 0th-order light and the 1st-order light emitted from the AOM is switched by the switching means, and the 0th-order light is used during reading, and the 1st-order light is used during reproduction, so that the amount of light of the reading light is used during reading. In addition, it is possible to reproduce a good image without fogging during reproduction.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are perspective views showing a radiation image information reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the device near the switching means, and FIG. 4 is another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5(a), (b) and FIG. 6(a) are plan views of the vicinity of the switching means in the example. (b) is a plan view of a portion near the switching means in still another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of an apparatus equipped with the reading and reproducing device of the present invention as a reading and reproducing section. 1... Beam light source 2... Light beam 2A...
・0th order light 2B...1st order light 3...Acousto-optic modulator (AOM) 4...Rotating polygon mirror 5...Switching means 5A...1st
mirror 5B... second mirror 6... endless belt device 7... stimulable phosphor sheet 9... photo multiplier 11... recording sheet 15... glass plate 25A...・・Shirt
25B...1/2 wavelength plate 25D...Polarizing beam splitter ((G) Figure 3(b)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A beam light source that emits a light beam, an acousto-optic modulator provided on the optical path of the light beam, and either zero-order light or first-order light emitted from the acousto-optic modulator. a switching means that selectively guides the image information to a predetermined optical path, deflects a light beam that is incident on the predetermined optical path, and uses the deflected light beam to reproduce an image information sheet on which image information is recorded or the image information. A deflector for main scanning a recording sheet, a sub-scanning means for relatively moving the image information sheet or the recording sheet and the light beam in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction, and scanning of the light beam. comprises a light detecting means for detecting light emitted from the image information sheet, and when the image information sheet is moved by the sub-scanning means, the switching means guides the zero-order light to a predetermined optical path and deflects the zero-order light. The image information sheet is deflected by a device to main scan the image information sheet, the emitted light is detected by the light detection means to read the image information, and when the recording sheet is moved by the sub-scanning means, A switching means guides the primary light to a predetermined optical path, modulates the primary light by the acousto-optic modulator according to an image signal, and deflects the primary light by the deflector to cause the recording sheet to main scan, thereby obtaining image information. An image information reading and reproducing device characterized in that it performs recording. 2) The image information sheet is a stimulable phosphor sheet on which radiation image information is accumulated and recorded, and the light beam scanning the stimulable phosphor sheet is used to detect the radiation accumulated and recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet. Image information according to claim 1, characterized in that the excitation light produces stimulated luminescence light according to image information, and the light detection means detects the stimulated luminescence light. Reading and playback device. 3) The image information reading and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the switching means comprises a plurality of reflecting mirrors. 4) The switching means is a light transmitting member that is inserted into the optical path of the light beam only when reproducing the image information and has an entrance surface and an exit surface that are non-parallel to each other. The image information reading and reproducing device according to item 1 or 2. 5) The switching means includes a half-wave plate disposed in the optical path of either the zero-order light or the first-order light, and a shutter provided so as to be movable in and out of the optical path of the zero-order light. and a polarizing beam splitter that reflects one of the zero-order light and the first-order light, transmits the other, and emits each onto the predetermined optical path. Alternatively, the image information reading and reproducing device according to item 2.