Patent ID: 7449709
Filing Date: 2008-11-11
Classification: G01N,G01T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for reading and erasing radiation image information, comprising: a cassette loader for loading a plurality of cassettes each storing therein a stimulable phosphor panel with radiation image information recorded therein; a reading unit for applying stimulating light to said stimulable phosphor panel which is removed from one of said plurality of cassettes supplied from said cassette loader to emit light from said stimulable phosphor panel, and photoelectrically reading the light emitted from said stimulable phosphor panel to obtain the radiation image information recorded in said stimulable phosphor panel; a first panel supply mechanism for removing said stimulable phosphor panel from said one of said plurality of cassettes and supplying said stimulable phosphor panel to said reading unit; an erasing unit for applying erasing light subsequent to obtaining the radiation image information to said stimulable phosphor panel to erase remaining radiation image information therefrom; a second panel supply mechanism for removing said stimulable phosphor panel from said erasing unit and supplying said stimulable phosphor panel to said one of said plurality of cassettes; and a feed mechanism for individually feeding said plurality of cassettes and said stimulable phosphor panels between said reading unit and said erasing unit, a cassette discharger for discharging each of said plurality of cassettes each storing a stimulable phosphor panel therein; and an enclosure which encloses the reading unit, the erasing unit, the first panel supply mechanism, the second panel supply mechanism, the feed mechanism and at least two of the plurality of cassettes storing therein stimulable phosphor panels for simultaneous processing, wherein said one of said plurality of cassettes from which said stimulable phosphor panel has been supplied to said reading unit is fed by said feed mechanism to said erasing unit so as to wait for said stimulable phosphor panel, said stimulable phosphor panel from which the radiation image information has been read by said reading unit is supplied to said erasing unit by said feed mechanism, and said stimulable phosphor panel from which the remaining radiation image information has been erased by said erasing unit is supplied to said one of said plurality of cassettes which is waiting by said erasing unit.