Patent ID: 6797977
Filing Date: 2004-09-28
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
A radiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of:i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays onto an area of a surface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, with stimulating ray irradiating means, such that the stimulating rays are linear along a main scanning direction on the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, ii) receiving the light, which is emitted from the linear area of the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, with a line sensor via a light collecting optical system, the line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices arrayed in a straight line along the main scanning direction, the received light being subjected to photoelectric conversion performed by the line sensor, iii) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to the stimulating ray irradiating means and the line sensor and in a sub-scanning direction, and iv) successively reading outputs of the line sensor in accordance with the movement, wherein an optical guide member is located between the light collecting optical system and the line sensor, the optical guide member having a reflection surface for reflecting the emitted light components of the emitted light, which emitted light components have been radiated out from the light collecting optical system and have spread over a range wider than a width of each of the photoelectric conversion devices, the width being taken in the sub-scanning direction, such that the photoelectric conversion devices are capable of receiving the emitted light components.