Patent ID: 6677605
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
A radiation image data reading apparatus that receives a cassette that houses a substantially inflexible stimulable phosphor sheet with high rigidity therein with an opening at an end portion thereof for inserting and removing said sheet having radiation image data recorded thereon and reads out radiation image data from said stimulable phosphor sheet which has been removed from said cassette comprising:a sheet conveyance means that conveys said 10 stimulable phosphor sheet from the opening of said received cassette at a constant speed, at least during the readout of radiation image data; an excitation light main scan means that scans the stimulable phosphor sheet as it is being removed from said cassette with an excitation light in an excitation wavelength region of said sheet in a direction substantially perpendicular to a conveyance direction, at a position in a vicinity of said opening; and a photoelectric detection means that detects a phosphorescent light emitted from a portion of said sheet irradiated by the excitation light.