Patent ID: 7288780

Claim:
An apparatus for reading and erasing radiation image information, comprising: a cassette loader for loading a plurality of cassettes storing stimulable phosphor panels each with radiation image information recorded therein; a stock unit for stocking said cassettes supplied from said cassette loader; a reading unit for applying stimulating light to said stimulable phosphor panel which is removed from each of said cassettes supplied from said stock unit 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; an erasing unit for applying erasing light to said stimulable phosphor panel to erase remaining radiation image information therefrom; a cassette discharger for discharging said cassettes storing said stimulable phosphor panels respectively therein; and an attitude changer disposed inside said apparatus, between said cassette loader and said stock unit, for changing an attitude of said cassettes from the stacked state to the erected state, wherein said cassette loader holds said cassettes in a stacked state, and wherein said stock unit stocks said cassettes in an erected state.