Patent ID: 7525116

Claim:
An apparatus for erasing a residual radiation image from a stimulable phosphor panel by applying erasing light to the stimulable phosphor panel after a radiation image has been read from the stimulable phosphor panel by applying stimulating light to the stimulable phosphor panel, comprising: an erasing unit for applying first erasing light including a radiation in a first wavelength range to said stimulable phosphor panel, and thereafter applying second erasing light comprising only a radiation in a second wavelength range to said stimulable phosphor panel; stored quantity detecting means for detecting a quantity of radiation energy stored in said stimulable phosphor panel; and ratio setting means for setting an irradiation time ratio for said first erasing light and said second erasing light to be applied to said stimulable phosphor panel, according to said quantity of radiation energy stored in said stimulable phosphor panel; wherein said erasing unit is controlled according to the irradiation time ratio set by said ratio setting means, wherein, a first wavelength range comprises wavelengths that are shorter than those of the second wavelength range.