JP2005202098A - Film loading apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a film loading apparatus comprising a very simple and inexpensive configuration and achieving reliable light shielding of the interior of the apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: In the film loading apparatus, an upper part of a handle 86 of mounting stands 36, 38, 40 housing film packages 12 is made a mounting stand side light shielding part 94; an apparatus side light shielding part 104 which is protruded and energized by an elastic member 102 to the mounting stand side light shielding part 94 side is disposed in an upper casing 98 of loading sections 49, 51, 53. The apparatus is configured such that a light shielding bag 14 of each film package 12 can be drawn from a space between the mounting stand side light shielding part 94 and the apparatus side light shielding part 104, and that the light shielding property of the main unit interior of the apparatus after drawing the light shielding bag 14 is ensured. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a film loading apparatus having a detachable cover member and loaded with a film package for stacking and storing a plurality of sheet films in a light-tight state.

  In recent years, when radiation (X-rays, α-rays, β-rays, γ-rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc.) is irradiated, a part of the radiation energy is accumulated and later irradiated with excitation light such as laser light or visible light. Radiation image information recording / reading systems that use stimulable phosphors that exhibit stimulated luminescence corresponding to the energy stored in the field are widely used in the medical field and the like.

  In this system, for example, an image recording device is used to record radiation image information of a patient on a sheet made of a stimulable phosphor, and then the image signal is obtained by supplying the sheet to an image reading device and reading it. After that, diagnosis is performed by outputting a visible image on a sheet film such as a photographic material or a CRT.

  Here, in an image recording apparatus that records radiation image information on a sheet film, the sheet films stacked in a magazine are fed one by one and conveyed to an image recording unit, and modulated based on the radiation image information. The desired image recording is performed by irradiating the sheet film with the laser beam.

  By the way, the image recording apparatus is required to be able to supply the sheet film in a light-tight state in a bright room in order to improve operability. As a device that enables this operation, for example, a film loading device 1 configured as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

  The film loading apparatus 1 has a mounting table 5 that can be pulled out from the apparatus main body 3, and a light-tight film packaging 9 is mounted on the storage portion 7 of the mounting table 5. The film package 9 is configured such that a plurality of sheet films F are stacked and accommodated in a light shielding bag 11, and a long cover member 13 is detachably adhered to an opening thereof.

  After the film packaging body 9 is placed on the storage portion 7 of the placing table 5, the cover member 13 is folded and loaded into the apparatus main body 3 together with the placing table 5 (see FIG. 7). At this time, the cover member 13 is sandwiched between the roller member 15 disposed on the mounting table 5 and the roller member 17 disposed inside the apparatus main body 3 and displaceable in the vertical direction. 19 and the casing 21 of the apparatus main body 3.

  In the state shown in FIG. 7, the cover member 13 is peeled from the light shielding bag 11 by pulling out the end of the cover member 13 in the direction of the arrow, and is pulled out between the roller members 15 and 17 and between the handle 19 and the casing 21. It is. As a result, the sheet film F is opened inside the apparatus main body 3. The released sheet film F is separated into sheets by the suction disk 23 and supplied to the image recording unit.

JP-A-7-287329

  By the way, in the film loading apparatus 1 configured as described above, the inside of the apparatus main body 3 is light-tightly held by the roller members 15 and 17 that sandwich the cover member 13, the handle 19 of the mounting table 5, and the casing 21. I have to. In this case, a gap is formed between the handle 19 and the casing 21 in a state after the cover member 13 is pulled out.

  Therefore, in order to further secure the light shielding state, for example, a labyrinth structure between the handle 19 and the casing 21 or a further light shielding member may be provided. However, in that case, the structure is complicated and expensive. There is a fear.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has an object to provide a film loading apparatus that has an extremely simple and inexpensive configuration and can reliably shield light from the inside of the apparatus.

The present invention is a film loading apparatus having a removable cover member and loaded with a film package for stacking and storing a plurality of sheet films in a light-tight state.
The device body;
A mounting table that can be pulled out with respect to the apparatus main body for mounting the film package;
By engaging with the mounting table in a state of being accommodated in the apparatus main body via the cover member that is disposed in the apparatus main body and partly led out to the outside of the apparatus main body, A device-side light-shielding portion that holds the sheet film in a light-tight manner,
The sheet film in the apparatus main body is light-tightened by engaging with the apparatus-side light-shielding portion via the cover member disposed on the mounting table and partly led out to the outside of the apparatus main body. A mounting table-side light-shielding portion held by
And at least one of the device-side light-shielding portion or the mounting table-side light-shielding portion is configured to be urged by an elastic member so as to be displaceable with respect to the other (the invention according to claim 1).

  In this case, since at least one of the device-side light-shielding portion and the mounting table-side light-shielding portion is displaceable by an elastic member with respect to the other, the film packaging body does not receive a large resistance from the device-side light-shielding portion and the mounting table-side light-shielding portion. The cover member can be easily removed from. In addition, after the cover member is removed, the device-side light-shielding portion and the mounting table-side light-shielding portion are in close contact with each other by the elastic member, so that a reliable light-shielding state is obtained.

  The apparatus-side light-shielding part is configured to be displaceable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the surface of the cover member (the invention according to claim 2), or the mounting table-side light-shielding part is displaceable in a substantially pulling direction of the cover member (Invention of claim 3) is preferable.

  According to the present invention, the cover member can be easily removed from the film package without receiving a large resistance from the apparatus-side light-shielding portion and the mounting table-side light-shielding portion. In addition, since the apparatus-side light-shielding portion and the mounting table-side light-shielding portion are in close contact with each other by the elastic member, the inside of the apparatus can be reliably shielded with an extremely simple and inexpensive configuration.

  FIG. 1 shows an image recording apparatus 10 to which the film loading apparatus of the present invention is applied. The image recording apparatus 10 includes a plurality of mounting tables 36, 38, and 40 on which film packages 12 (FIG. 2) having various sizes can be mounted. The mounting tables 36, 38, and 40 are arranged in a state that can be pulled out to the loading units 49, 51, and 53 of the image recording apparatus 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the film package 12 is configured by storing a plurality of laminated sheet films F in a light shielding bag 14 (cover member) in a state where the sheet film F is held by the application paper 16. The film package 12 is attached with a bar code (not shown) on which film information indicating the type, size, etc. of the stored sheet film F is recorded. Further, instead of the bar code, the film information may be recorded on an RF-ID (Radio Frequency identification) tag and attached to the light shielding bag 14.

  Openings 37, 39, 41 are formed on the lower surfaces of the mounting tables 36, 38, 40 corresponding to the position of the barcode attached to the light shielding bag 14 of the stored film package 12, Bar code readers 43, 45, 47 are arranged so as to face these openings 37, 39, 41. Further, an upper part of each mounting table 36, 38, 40 in which the film package 12 is stored can be constituted by a suction disk and a nip roller for sheet-feeding the sheet film F opened in the image recording apparatus 10. Single wafer mechanisms 48, 50, and 52 are disposed.

  A positioning transport mechanism 54 for positioning and transporting the sheet film F sheeted from each of the mounting tables 36, 38, 40 is disposed on the uppermost mounting table 36. Each mounting table 36, 38, 40 and the positioning conveyance mechanism 54 are connected by a conveyance path 55 that supplies the sheet film F to the positioning conveyance mechanism 54.

  The positioning and conveying mechanism 54 has a curved conveying path 57, and nip rollers 59 a and 59 b that perform positioning with reference to the leading end portion of the sheet film F are disposed on the downstream side of the curved conveying path 57. Further, on the upstream side and the downstream side of the curved conveyance path 57, width adjusting mechanisms 84 and 92 for positioning the conveyed sheet film F in the width direction are disposed.

  An image recording unit 56 is disposed on the downstream side of the positioning conveyance mechanism 54. The image recording unit 56 includes a pair of rollers 60a and 60b and a plate 62 that positions the recording surface of the sheet film F when the rollers 60a and 60b come into contact with each other. A laser beam L is guided between the rollers 60 a and 60 b from a laser beam scanning unit 64 disposed on the top of the image recording unit 56. The laser beam L is modulated based on the radiation image information, and the radiation image information including the latent image is recorded on the sheet film F.

  On the downstream side of the image recording unit 56, a heat developing unit 66 that converts the latent image into a visible image by heating the sheet film F on which the radiation image information is recorded is disposed. The heat development unit 66 includes a plurality of rollers 68 that convey the sheet film F, a plate heater 70 a to 70 c that is curved along the plurality of rollers 68 and that heats the sheet film F being conveyed, and a plurality of rollers 68. And a drum 72 that rotates.

  A cooling unit 74 is provided at the top of the image recording apparatus 10 so as to be connected to the heat developing unit 66. The sheet film F cooled by the cooling unit 74 is discharged to a discharge unit 76 that is an upper surface portion of the image recording apparatus 10.

  Next, the configuration of the mounting tables 36, 38, and 40 and the loading units 49, 51, and 53 on which the mounting tables 36, 38, and 40 are loaded will be described with reference to FIG.

  The mounting tables 36, 38, and 40 have a handle 86, and a roller member 90 is disposed in a portion near the handle 86 in the storage portion 88 that stores the light shielding bag 14. The upper portion of the handle 86 constitutes a mounting table side light shielding portion 94 that is inclined upward toward the near side away from the storage portion 88.

  The loading units 49, 51, and 53 are disposed on the lower casing 96 that supports the mounting tables 36, 38, and 40 in the loaded state, and the upper portions of the loading units 49, 51, and 53, and are exterior cover members of the image recording apparatus 10. And an upper casing 98 also serving as A guide groove 100 is formed in the upper casing 98, and the guide groove 100 can be freely displaced toward the mounting table side light-shielding portion 94 of the mounting tables 36, 38, 40 by an elastic member 102 made of a coil spring or the like. A device-side light-shielding portion 104 is provided. As the elastic member 102, a resin material such as a leaf spring or an elastomer may be used.

  Inside the loading parts 49, 51, 53, the fin part 14a of the light shielding bag 14 is sandwiched in cooperation with the roller member 90 disposed on the mounting tables 36, 38, 40. A roller member 106 is provided.

  The image recording apparatus 10 of the present embodiment is basically configured as described above. Next, the operation thereof will be described.

  First, the operation when the film package 12 is loaded into the loading sections 49, 51, 53 of the image recording apparatus 10 will be described.

  The operator selects the film package 12 that stores the type of sheet film F required by the image recording apparatus 10, cuts the end of the light shielding bag 14 opposite to the fin portion 14 a, and then the film package 12. Is mounted on the mounting tables 36, 38, 40 of the predetermined loading sections 49, 51, 53. In this case, the fin portion 14 a of the light shielding bag 14 is disposed on the mounting table side light shielding portion 94 of the mounting tables 36, 38, 40. Further, the barcode attached to the light shielding bag 14 is positioned at the openings 37, 39, 41 of the mounting tables 36, 38, 40.

  Next, the mounting tables 36, 38, and 40 on which the film package 12 is mounted are loaded into the image recording apparatus 10. When the mounting tables 36, 38, 40 storing the film package 12 are loaded into the image recording apparatus 10, the barcode readers 43, 45, 47 are attached to the light shielding bag 14 through the openings 37, 39, 41. Read the barcode. As a result, the image recording apparatus 10 acquires identification information such as the type and size of the loaded sheet film F.

  When the film information is held in the RF-ID tag instead of the barcode, for example, when the operator selects the film package 12 and approaches the image recording apparatus 10, the film package 12 is recorded on the image. It is determined by reading the film information of the RF-ID tag whether or not it is the film package 12 requested by the apparatus 10, and when it matches with the requested one, the mounting tables 36, 38, 40 are unlocked. Then, it is possible to prompt the placement of the film package 12 and to display an error when they do not match. Thereby, erroneous loading of the film package 12 can be avoided in advance.

  FIG. 3 shows a state in which the mounting tables 36, 38, 40 containing the film package 12 are completely loaded in the loading sections 49, 51, 53. In this case, the fin portion 14 a of the light shielding bag 14 is exposed to the outside of the image recording apparatus 10 from the handle 86 of the mounting tables 36, 38, 40. In addition, the apparatus-side light-shielding unit 104 formed on the upper portion of the handle 86 is displaced upward against the elastic force of the elastic member 102 by the mounting table-side light-shielding unit 94 inclined by the mounting tables 36, 38, and 40. . Further, the light shielding bag 14 is sandwiched between the roller member 90 disposed in the storage portion 88 of the mounting tables 36, 38, and 40 and the roller member 106 in the image recording apparatus 10.

  By pulling the fin portion 14 a exposed to the outside from the above state, the light shielding bag 14 is pulled out while being rubbed by the roller members 90 and 106.

  By pulling out the light shielding bag 14, the sheet film F of the film package 12 is opened inside the image recording apparatus 10. In this case, the apparatus-side light-shielding portion 104 disposed in the guide groove 100 of the upper casing 98 is lowered by the elastic force of the elastic member 102 and engages with the mounting table-side light-shielding portion 94 at the upper portion of the handle 86. The light shielding state inside the recording apparatus 10 is reliably ensured.

  Next, according to the acquired identification information, the desired mounting bases 36, 38, and 40 are selected, and the sheet film F is separated. For example, when the mounting table 36 is selected, the single-wafer mechanism 48 disposed on the upper side of the mounting table 36 separates the uppermost sheet film F stored therein, and positions and conveys it via the conveyance path 55. Supply to mechanism 54.

  The sheet film F transported to the positioning transport mechanism 54 is corrected in posture with respect to the transport direction by the front end portion contacting the nip rollers 59a and 59b. Further, the width alignment mechanism 84 and 92 position the sheet film F in the width direction.

  After being positioned as described above, the sheet film F supplied to the image recording unit 56 is nipped and conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by the rollers 60a and 60b and the plate 62, and the radiation image from the laser beam scanning unit 64 is also transferred. Radiation image information as a latent image is two-dimensionally recorded on the sheet film F by irradiating the laser beam L modulated according to the information in the main scanning direction.

  The sheet film F on which the radiation image information is recorded is nipped and conveyed by the roller 68 and the plate heaters 70a to 70c in the heat developing unit 66, and is heated and developed by the heat applied from the plate heaters 70a to 70c. Converted to an image. The sheet film F on which the visible image is recorded is cooled in the cooling unit 74 and then discharged to the discharge unit 76.

  In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the apparatus-side light-shielding unit 104 is configured to be displaceable in the vertical direction with respect to the mounting-table-side light-shielding unit 94. The light shielding portion 94 may be configured to be displaceable in the pulling direction of the fin portion 14a so as to perform the light shielding.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the mounting table side light shielding portion 108 is a separate member from the handle 86 of the mounting tables 36, 38, 40, and the engaging portions 110 a at both ends of the mounting table side light shielding portion 108. 110b are housed in grooves 112a and 112b formed on the mounting tables 36, 38 and 40, and the mounting table side light-shielding portion 108 is displaced along the handle 86 by elastic members 114a and 114b such as coil springs in the grooves 112a and 112b. Configure freely. In addition, the apparatus side light-shielding part 116 shall be comprised integrally with the upper casing 98 (refer FIG. 3).

  In this configuration, when the fin portion 14 a of the light shielding bag 14 is pulled out, the mounting table side light shielding portion 108 moves forward together with the light shielding bag 14, so the gap between the mounting table side light shielding portion 108 and the apparatus side light shielding portion 116. And the shading bag 14 can be easily pulled out. Further, when the light shielding bag 14 is completely pulled out, the mounting table side light shielding portion 108 is pushed back by the elastic force of the elastic members 114a and 114b, so that the mounting table side light shielding portion 108 and the apparatus side light shielding portion 116 are in close contact with each other. The inside of the image recording apparatus 10 is reliably shielded from light.

  In addition, the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 and the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 can be combined, and both the mounting table side light shielding part and the apparatus side light shielding part can be configured to be displaceable. In this case, the operation of pulling out the light shielding bag 14 can be performed more easily.

1 is a configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus to which a film loading apparatus of the present invention is applied. It is explanatory drawing of the package with which the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is loaded. FIG. 2 is a configuration explanatory diagram of a loading unit in the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is a configuration explanatory diagram of another embodiment of a loading unit in the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a perspective configuration diagram of a loading unit illustrated in FIG. 4. It is an isometric view explanatory drawing of the film loading apparatus which concerns on a prior art. It is sectional explanatory drawing of the film loading apparatus which concerns on a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image recording device 12 ... Film packaging body 36, 38, 40 ... Mounting stand 49, 51, 53 ... Loading part 56 ... Image recording part 64 ... Laser beam scanning part 66 ... Thermal developing part 74 ... Cooling part 76 ... Discharge part 86 ... Handle 94, 108 ... Placing table side light shielding part 96 ... Lower casing 98 ... Upper casing 102,114a, 114b ... Elastic member 104,116 ... Device side light shielding part F ... Sheet film

Claims (3)

In a film loading apparatus having a removable cover member and loaded with a film package for stacking and storing a plurality of sheet films in a light-tight state,
The device body;
A mounting table that can be pulled out with respect to the apparatus main body for mounting the film package;
By engaging with the mounting table in a state of being accommodated in the apparatus main body via the cover member that is disposed in the apparatus main body and partly led out to the outside of the apparatus main body, A device-side light-shielding portion that holds the sheet film in a light-tight manner,
The sheet film in the apparatus main body is light-tightened by engaging with the apparatus-side light-shielding portion via the cover member disposed on the mounting table and partly led out to the outside of the apparatus main body. A mounting table-side light-shielding portion held by
The film loading device is characterized in that at least one of the apparatus-side light-shielding portion or the mounting table-side light-shielding portion is configured to be urged to be displaceable by an elastic member with respect to the other. The apparatus of claim 1.
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus-side light-shielding portion is configured to be displaceable in a direction substantially perpendicular to a surface of the cover member, a part of which is led out of the apparatus main body. The apparatus of claim 1.
The film loading device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting table-side light-shielding portion is configured to be displaceable in a substantially pulling direction of the cover member, a part of which is led out of the apparatus main body.

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