Patent ID: 7087918

Claim:
A method for erasing a radiation image in a storage phosphor sheet in which a radiation image was recorded and then read by collecting stimulated emission from the phosphor sheet, the method comprising the steps of: transporting the phosphor sheet along a path in a first direction at a first speed into an erase area having at least one erasing light source, the phosphor sheet having a leading edge and a trailing edge; exposing a portion of the phosphor sheet disposed within the erase area to the light source to affect erasure of the radiation image on the exposed portion of the phosphor sheet; stopping transport of the phosphor sheet when the trailing edge of the phosphor sheet enters the erase area; causing the phosphor sheet to dwell within the erase area for a predetermined time period; transporting the phosphor sheet along the path in a second direction opposite the first direction at a second speed different than the first speed; and transporting the phosphor sheet along the path in the second direction at a third speed different than the second speed when the leading edge exits the erase area.