Radiation image reader

Abstract

To make a radiological image formation surface of an imaging plate hard to be exposed to external light at the time of setting.SOLUTION: A radiological image reading device for reading a radiological image from a surface 10a of an imaging plate 10, comprises: a stage 60 that supports the imaging plate from a rear surface 10b side; and a setting guide 200 that includes a plate guide surface 216 guiding the imaging plate obliquely downward. At least one of the setting guide and the stage includes an opposite inclination surface 64F, and the opposite inclination surface inclines downward on an opposite side relative to the plate guide surface, receives the imaging plate guided by the plate guide surface, and guides the imaging plate obliquely downward. Further, at least one of the stage and the setting guide includes an upside-down reverse contact unit 218 that contacts with the imaging plate from a surface side of the imaging plate, and reverses the imaging plate to the same inclination posture as the opposite inclination surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This disclosure relates to a device for reading radiation images. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a radiation image reading device equipped with a transport mechanism for transporting an imaging plate. The transport mechanism disclosed includes a belt for holding the imaging plate and a belt drive mechanism for rotating the belt. The imaging plate is transported while placed on a holding surface that is part of the belt. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-53459 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the imaging plate is inserted into an inlet formed in a housing with the radiation image forming surface facing upward, and placed on the support surface of the belt.

[0005] Therefore, when the imaging plate is inserted into the entrance, the upward-facing radiation image forming surface may be exposed to light outside the reading device. If the radiation image forming surface is exposed to external light, the radiation image forming surface may emit light, and the energy stored in the radiation image forming surface may be released and dissipated, resulting in a loss of part of the image data.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to make it difficult for the radiation image forming surface of the imaging plate to be exposed to external light when the imaging plate is set in a radiation image reading device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, a radiation image reading device is provided which reads a radiation image from a front surface of an imaging plate, and which comprises: a stage which supports the imaging plate from a rear surface side; an excitation light source which irradiates the imaging plate supported on the stage with excitation light; a photodetector which detects emission light from the imaging plate in response to the excitation light; and a setting guide which includes a plate guide surface which is inclined downward and guides the imaging plate diagonally downward and guides the imaging plate towards the stage, wherein at least one of the setting guide and the stage includes an opposite inclined surface which is inclined downward on the opposite side to the plate guide surface and which receives the imaging plate guided by the plate guide surface and guides the imaging plate diagonally downward, and further wherein at least one of the stage and the setting guide includes an up-down inversion contact portion which contacts the imaging plate guided by the opposite inclined surface from the front surface side of the imaging plate to invert the imaging plate into the same inclined posture as the opposite inclined surface. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to this radiation image reading device, when the imaging plate is set in the radiation image reading device, the radiation image forming surface of the imaging plate can be made less susceptible to exposure to external light. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a reading device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view showing the reading device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view showing the reading device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view showing the internal structure of the reading device. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the stage. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a front view showing the stage at the reading position. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the setting guide is removed from the supporting member. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the setting guide. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the shutter. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the guiding operation of the imaging plate. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a plate guide surface according to the first modified example. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a plate guide surface according to the second modified example. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a setting guide according to the third modified example. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a setting guide according to the fourth modified example. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a setting guide according to the fifth modified example. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a setting guide according to the sixth modified example. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a setting guide according to the seventh modified example. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a partial perspective view showing a reading device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a partial side view showing the reading device. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view showing the setting guide according to this embodiment. [Diagram 23] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the guide body as viewed from the plate guide surface side. [Figure 24]FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cover and the tray are removed from the guide support portion. [Diagram 25] FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a modified example of the liquid flow suppressing recess. [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is a diagram showing another modified example of the liquid flow suppressing recess. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] {First embodiment} <Overall composition> The radiation image reading device according to the first embodiment will be described below. Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the reading device 20. In Fig. 1, the housing 30 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. Figs. 2 and 3 are partially exploded perspective views showing the reading device 20. In Figs. 1 to 3, the stage 60 is located at a set position P1. In Figs. 2 and 3, the setting guide 200 and the reading unit 90 are disassembled. In Fig. 2, a reading position P2 and a rear position P4 of the stage 60, which are located inside the set position P1, are indicated by two-dot chain lines.

[0011] The radiation image reading device 20 is a device that reads a radiation image from the surface 10 a of the imaging plate 10 .

[0012] The imaging plate 10 has a flat shape and a radiation image forming layer 11, and is a storage medium for storing a radiation image. The radiation image forming layer 11 is exposed on the surface 10a side of the imaging plate 10. The radiation image forming layer 11 is a layer that accumulates the energy of irradiated radiation and emits luminescent light according to the accumulated energy. For example, the radiation image forming layer 11 is formed by coating one surface of a film made of resin with a photostimulable phosphor. When X-rays from an X-ray generator penetrate an object to be photographed and irradiate the imaging plate 10, energy according to the intensity of the X-rays is accumulated in the radiation image forming layer 11. Since the intensity of the X-rays is based on the distribution of X-ray absorbing regions in the object to be photographed, the distribution of the energy accumulated in the radiation image forming layer 11 is a radiation image of the object to be photographed by X-rays. In this way, the imaging plate 10 stores a radiation image by X-rays as a latent image.

[0013] The reader 20 is a device that reads a radiation image from the radiation image forming layer 11 and generates image data of the radiation image. The reader 20 includes a stage 60, an excitation light source 92, a photodetector 94, and a setting guide 200. The stage 60 supports the imaging plate 10 from the rear surface 10b side. The imaging plate 10 supported on the stage 60 is irradiated with excitation light from the excitation light source 92. When the imaging plate 10 is irradiated with the excitation light, the radiation image forming layer 11 of the imaging plate 10 emits light. The emitted light is detected by the photodetector 94. Image data of the radiation image is generated based on a detection signal from the photodetector 94.

[0014] The setting guide 200 is a guide that guides the imaging plate 10, which is supplied from outside the reading device 20, toward the stage 60. By supplying the imaging plate 10 to the setting guide 200, a user of the reading device 20 can set the imaging plate 10 on the stage 60 in a posture suitable for reading.

[0015] The front surface 10a of the imaging plate 10 on which the radiation image forming layer 11 is formed may be regarded as the radiation image forming surface or the excitation light irradiated surface. The back surface 10b opposite to the front surface may be regarded as the contact surface that faces the support surface 64F of the stage 60 and comes into contact with the support surface 64F. The back surface 10b is the surface opposite to the surface irradiated with the excitation light and the surface opposite to the radiation image forming layer 11. When the imaging plate 10 is set on the stage 60 correctly in terms of front and back, the surface of the imaging plate 10 facing the same direction as the support surface 64F is the storage surface capable of storing a latent image and is the reading surface from which the stored latent image is read.

[0016] The configuration of each part of the reading device 20 will be described.

[0017] <About the case> The reader 20 includes a housing 30 (see FIG. 1), and in this housing 30, a stage 60, an excitation light source 92, a photodetector 94, and a setting guide 200 are housed.

[0018] The housing 30 has an opening 31. The opening 31 is formed, for example, on one of the side surfaces around the housing 30. The opening 31 is formed in a shape that allows the part of the setting guide 200 on which the insertion port 230 is formed to be exposed to the outside. In this embodiment, the opening 31 is formed in a square shape that exposes the entire outward surface of the setting guide 200 on which the insertion port 230 is formed to the outside. The opening may be in a shape that exposes only the insertion port 230 to the outside, for example, a slit shape. It is not necessary that the entire housing 30 is formed as a single component. For example, as will be described later in a modified example, the part of the housing on which the opening is formed may be removable from the other parts, or a part of the housing may be integrally formed with a base plate 41 described later.

[0019] A user of the reading device 20 can insert the imaging plate 10 into the insertion port 230 of the setting guide 200 through the opening 31. The imaging plate 10 placed in the reading device 20 is set on the stage 60.

[0020] An outlet 32 ​​is provided in the lower part of the housing 30, for example, in a lower portion of one side surface of the housing 30. The outlet 32 ​​opens outward. A collection tray 49 is disposed in the outlet 32. The collection tray 49 is formed, for example, in a box shape that opens upward. The imaging plate 10 discharged from the stage 60 is discharged to the collection tray 49. A user of the reading device 20 can pull out the collection tray 49 in the outlet 32 ​​to the outside to collect the imaging plate 10 that has been read. The collection tray 49 may be removable from the housing 30.

[0021] If the collection tray 49 is removable, this is preferable since the collection tray 49 is easier to clean. The configuration for removing the imaging plate does not necessarily have to be the above-mentioned configuration. The collection receptacle that receives the imaging plate may be exposed to the outside. The collection receptacle does not have to be tray-shaped, but may simply be flat, or may have a shape that is only partially surrounded. The collection receptacle does not have to be removable from the housing, but if it is removable, cleaning of the collection receptacle, etc. will be easier.

[0022] At least one of the housing and the collection receiving portion does not necessarily have to have a passage opening that matches the shape of the imaging plate 10.

[0023] A switch 33 for receiving various instructions is provided on the housing 30. The switch 33 is, for example, a power switch, a start switch for instructing the start of reading, and the like.

[0024] A display device 34 may be provided in the housing 30. The display device 34 may be configured, for example, with a liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL (electro-luminescence) display panel. The read radiation image may be displayed on this display device 34. Various information for operation may be displayed on the display device 34. Information on the progress of reading, such as the time remaining until the end of reading after the start of reading, may be displayed on the display device 34. A warning, caution, or error information regarding an erroneous operation of the reading device 20 may be displayed on the display device 34. The display device 34 may be a touch panel having a display function and a touch detection function. In this case, at least a part of the functions of the above-mentioned switches may be incorporated in the touch panel. The display device 34 may be omitted.

[0025] It is not essential that image data of a radiation image generated by reading the imaging plate 10 is displayed on the display device 34. The image data of a radiation image may be transmitted to another computer (not shown) capable of communicating with the reading device 20 by wireless or wired communication. The image data of a radiation image may be recorded on a data recording medium (e.g., a flash memory) that is detachable from the reading device 20.

[0026] <About the internal structure of the case> The configuration of each part provided inside the housing 30 will be described.

[0027] A support member 40 is provided inside the housing 30. The support member 40 supports the stage 60, the excitation light source 92, the photodetector 94, and the setting guide 200. Note that the following example is merely an example, and the configuration for supporting the stage and the setting guide is not limited to the following configuration. The configuration related to the support member does not limit the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is applicable to various configurations that utilize gravity to guide the imaging plate 10 to the stage.

[0028] <About support members> As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the support member 40 includes a base plate 41, an intermediate support plate 42, and a box-shaped portion 44.

[0029] The base plate 41 is a plate-like member arranged horizontally (perpendicular to the direction of gravity) at the bottom of the internal space of the housing 30. Here, the base plate 41 is formed in a long and narrow rectangular plate shape. The base plate 41 can close the downward opening of the housing 30.

[0030] An intermediate support plate 42 is supported in an upright position on a base plate 41. The intermediate support plate 42 is a plate having an inclined surface 42a that is inclined with respect to the direction of gravity (see FIG. 3). The inclined surface 42a faces obliquely upward. In this embodiment, the intermediate support plate 42 is formed in a rectangular shape with one upper corner cut off obliquely. The box-shaped portion 44 is supported on the inclined surface 42a, and thereby the box-shaped portion 44 is supported in an oblique position.

[0031] In this embodiment, a circuit unit 43 is supported on the intermediate support plate 42. The circuit unit 43 is, for example, a unit in which various electrical components are mounted on a circuit board. Such a circuit unit may be, for example, a control unit that executes various controls of the reading device 20, or may be a power supply circuit that supplies power to each part of the reading device 20. The circuit unit 43 may be supported by a part other than the intermediate support plate 42, for example, the base plate 41, the housing 30, or the box-shaped part 44.

[0032] The box-shaped portion 44 includes a pair of longitudinal side plates 45, a pair of lateral side plates 46, and a back plate 47. The back plate 47 is a rectangular plate that is long in one direction. Each of the pair of longitudinal side plates 45 is formed into a rectangular plate shape corresponding to the length of the long side of the back plate 47. The pair of longitudinal side plates 45 are supported in an upright state on a pair of long sides of the back plate 47. Each of the lateral side plates 46 is formed into a rectangular plate shape corresponding to the length of the short side of the back plate 47. The pair of lateral side plates 46 are supported in an upright state on a pair of short sides of the back plate 47. As a result, the box-shaped portion 44 is formed into a box shape with the back plate 47 as a bottom and one side of the bottom surrounded by the pair of longitudinal side plates 45 and the pair of lateral side plates 46. Hereinafter, the upper one of the pair of lateral side plates 46 may be distinguished as the lateral side plate 46U, and the lower one as the lateral side plate 46L. The box-shaped portion 44 is open on the side opposite the back plate 47. The pair of longitudinal side plates 45 and the pair of lateral side plates 46 are fixed to the back plate 47 by, for example, screws or welding.

[0033] The back plate 47 is supported on the inclined surface 42a of the intermediate support plate 42 in a state along the inclined surface. The back plate 47 is supported in an oblique position along the inclination of the inclined surface 42a. The back plate 47 is fixed to the intermediate support plate 42 by, for example, screwing or welding.

[0034] A pair of longitudinal side plates 45 and a pair of lateral side plates 46 are provided upright on the opposite side of the back plate 47 from the intermediate support plate 42. The box-shaped portion 44 is open obliquely upward on the opposite side of the intermediate support plate 42.

[0035] The pair of longitudinal side plates 45 extend along the extending direction of the inclined surface 42a. Therefore, the edge of the pair of longitudinal side plates 45 opposite the back plate 47 is also inclined with respect to the direction of gravity along the extending direction of the inclined surface 42a. A pair of support rods 48 are supported on each edge of the pair of longitudinal side plates 45 opposite the back plate 47 in an attitude inclined with respect to the direction of gravity. The support rods 48 are supported, for example, by being screwed or welded to at least one of the longitudinal side plates 45 and the lateral side plates 46.

[0036] In this embodiment, the support rod 48 is formed in a square rod shape. The support rod 48 is longer than the length of the longitudinal side plate 45. One end of the support rod 48 reaches the upper short-side side plate 46U along the edge of the longitudinal side plate 45. The other end of the support rod 48 extends diagonally downward beyond the lower short-side side plate 46L along the edge of the longitudinal side plate 45. The other end of the support rod 48 is the lower end, and is located above the base plate 41.

[0037] An excitation light source 92 and a photodetector 94 are attached to the outward surfaces of the pair of support rods 48 opposite the back plate 47. The excitation light source 92 and the photodetector 94 are located between the pair of short-side plates 46 and closer to the lower short-side plate 46L. The excitation light source 92 irradiates excitation light toward the box-shaped portion 44, and the photodetector 94 detects light from the box-shaped portion 44. The excitation light source 92 and the photodetector 94 are attached to the support rod 48 by, for example, screwing.

[0038] The stage 60 is supported between a pair of longitudinal side plates 45 so as to be movable inside the excitation light source 92 and the photodetector 94. In the following description, for convenience, the side of the stage 60 on which the excitation light source 92 and the photodetector 94 are provided may be referred to as the front, and the opposite side as the rear. In the following description, the relative movement direction of the stage 60 with respect to the excitation light source 92 and the photodetector 94 may be referred to as the main scanning direction A1. When the imaging plate 10 held by the stage 60 passes inside the excitation light source 92 and the photodetector 94, the imaging plate 10 is irradiated with excitation light from the excitation light source 92, and the emission light of the imaging plate 10 due to the excitation light is detected by the photodetector 94.

[0039] The setting guide 200 is attached to a portion of the pair of support rods 48 that extends downward beyond the lower short-side side plate 46L. The setting guide 200 is attached to the support rod 48 by, for example, screwing.

[0040] The stage 60 can be moved to a position where it extends downward beyond the lower short-side side plate 46L in the extending direction of the support rod 48. When the stage 60 has been moved to a position where it extends downward beyond the short-side side plate 46L, the user can set the imaging plate 10 on the stage 60 through the setting guide 200.

[0041] Furthermore, a collection tray 49 is located on an obliquely downward extension of the pair of support rods 48. When the stage 60 has moved to a position extending downward beyond the short-side side plate 46L, the imaging plate 10 discharged from the stage 60 falls into the collection tray 49 and is collected. The collection tray 49 does not need to be disposed movably relative to the housing 30. For example, the collection tray located on the extension of the support rods may open to the outside of the housing from the opposite side to the intermediate support plate, and the imaging plate in the collection tray may be taken out of the housing through the opening.

[0042] In this embodiment, the pair of longitudinal side plates 45 are supported at fixed positions within the housing 30 in the form of the box-shaped portion 44. The configuration in which the longitudinal side plates 45 are supported at fixed positions in the box-shaped portion 44 is not limited to this example. For example, the longitudinal side plates 45 may be fixed to side surfaces or the like that are part of the housing 30.

[0043] Furthermore, the box-shaped portion 44 is not limited to a configuration in which a plurality of plate-shaped members are fixed by screws, welding, etc. The entire box-shaped portion may be an integral member formed by press working, die molding, etc. In this case, screws or welding can be omitted for manufacturing the box-shaped portion.

[0044] <Excitation light source and photodetector> The excitation light source 92 irradiates the imaging plate 10 held by the stage 60 with excitation light. The excitation light is light for exciting the radiation image forming layer 11, and is, for example, laser light of a specific wavelength for exciting the radiation image forming layer 11. When the radiation image forming layer 11 is irradiated with the excitation light, the radiation image forming layer 11 emits light in accordance with the distribution of energy stored in the radiation image forming layer 11.

[0045] The excitation light source 92 may include a laser light source that emits laser light as excitation light and a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) mirror. For example, the laser light source may be reflected by the MEMS mirror so that the laser light emitted from the laser light source moves along the sub-scanning direction A2 that intersects (is perpendicular to) the main scanning direction A1 with respect to the surface 10a of the radiation image forming layer 11. Note that the mirror may be configured using a galvanometer mirror or a polygon mirror instead of the MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) mirror. Depending on the mirror configuration, a lens system may be required separately, but an appropriate combination may be used for the reading device.

[0046] The photodetector 94 is a sensor that detects light emitted from the imaging plate 10 by the excitation light and outputs a signal according to the intensity of the light. Image data of a radiation image is generated based on the signal from the photodetector 94.

[0047] The photodetector 94 may have a configuration in which elements for detecting light are arranged in a row. For example, the photodetector 94 may be arranged in a position in which the arrangement direction of the elements is parallel to the sub-scanning direction A2. The elements for detecting light may be silicon photomultiplier tubes, photomultiplier tubes, photodiodes, etc.

[0048] In this embodiment, the excitation light source 92 and the photodetector 94 are integrated as a reading unit 90. For example, the excitation light source 92 and the photodetector 94 are integrated in a state where they are housed in a module case 91. A long and narrow reading slit 90S is formed along the sub-scanning direction A2 in a portion of the module case 91 facing the support member 40 (see FIG. 3). The excitation light is irradiated toward the imaging plate 10 through the reading slit 90S. The emitted light of the imaging plate 10 is detected by the photodetector 94 through the reading slit 90S.

[0049] While the stage 60 is moving in the main scanning direction A1, the laser light from the excitation light source 92 is incident on the surface 10a of the radiation image forming layer 11 of the imaging plate 10 held on the stage 60, and the irradiation destination moves in the sub-scanning direction A2. As a result, the surface 10a of the radiation image forming layer 11 sequentially emits light along a line in the sub-scanning direction A2.

[0050] The photodetector 94 is disposed at a position where it can detect luminescent light of the radiation image forming layer 11 generated by the laser beam from the excitation light source 92. For example, the excitation light source 92 is disposed so as to irradiate the imaging plate 10 with laser beam from an oblique direction, and the photodetector 94 is disposed in front of the position where the imaging plate 10 is irradiated with the laser beam. When the surface of the radiation image forming layer 11 sequentially emits luminescent light along a line in the sub-scanning direction A2, the emitted light is detected by the photodetector 94.

[0051] While the stage 60 is moving, scanning by the excitation light source 92 and scanning by the photodetector 94 in the sub-scanning direction A2 are repeated, so that a radiation image of a wide surface of the imaging plate 10, for example the entire surface of the imaging plate 10, is read by the photodetector 94.

[0052] It is not essential to perform reading while the stage 60 is moving. For example, the excitation light source 92 and the photodetector 94 may be configured to move while the stage 60 is stopped. Alternatively, the stage 60 and both the excitation light source 92 and the photodetector 94 may be configured to move.

[0053] <About the stage and its movement configuration> Fig. 4 is a front view of the internal structure of the reading device 20 as seen from the outside perpendicular to the support surface 64F of the stage 60. The reading unit 90 and the setting guide 200 are omitted in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in Fig. 4. In Fig. 5, the setting guide 200 is not omitted, and the reading unit 90 is shown by a two-line chain line.

[0054] 1 to 5, the stage 60 is configured to hold the imaging plate 10. For example, the stage 60 includes a plate-like portion that extends larger than the imaging plate 10. The imaging plate 10 is held at a fixed position and in a fixed orientation relative to the stage 60 in a state in which the imaging plate 10 is in contact with a support surface 64F on one side of the stage 60. The configuration in which the stage 60 holds the imaging plate 10 will be described in more detail later.

[0055] The stage 60 moves along the main scanning direction A1 while holding the imaging plate 10. A configuration for movably supporting the stage 60 will be described.

[0056] The stage 60 can move along the main scanning direction A1 between the edges of the pair of longitudinal side plates 45 on the opposite side to the back plate 47. The protruding dimension of the lower short-side side plate 46L from the back plate 47 is smaller than the protruding dimension of the longitudinal side plate 45 from the back plate 47. Therefore, the stage 60 can move downward along the main scanning direction A1 from between the pair of longitudinal side plates 45 beyond the lower short-side side plate 46L. In other words, the stage 60 can move back and forth along the main scanning direction A1 between the position between the pair of longitudinal side plates 45 (positions P2, P4 shown by two-dot chain lines in FIG. 2) and the position P1 (see FIG. 2) protruding downward between the pair of longitudinal side plates 45.

[0057] The stage 60 is configured so as to be movable and driven by a stage moving mechanism 50. The stage moving mechanism 50 includes a movement drive unit 52 and a pair of guide rods 56.

[0058] The moving drive unit 52 is a part that applies a driving force along the main scanning direction A1 to the stage 60. In this embodiment, the moving drive unit 52 includes a motor 53 and a screw shaft unit 54. The screw shaft unit 54 is a rod-shaped member having a screw groove formed around its periphery. The screw shaft unit 54 is rotatably supported by the pair of short-side side plates 46 so as to span between the pair of short-side side plates 46. The motor 53 is fixed to the box-shaped unit 44 so as to be non-rotatable. For example, the motor 53 is fixed to the outside of the lower short-side side plate 46L via a bracket 53B or the like so as to be non-rotatable. The shaft 53a of the motor 53 is fixed to the screw shaft unit 54 so as not to rotate relative to the screw shaft unit 54, and the screw shaft unit 54 is rotated in the forward or reverse direction according to the rotation of the motor 53 in the forward or reverse direction. The rotational motion of the shaft 53a of the motor 53 may be transmitted to the screw shaft unit 54 via a transmission device such as a gear or a pulley.

[0059] The stage 60 has a through hole 62h1 having a screw groove (see FIG. 2). The screw shaft portion 54 is screwed into the through hole 62h1. By rotating the screw shaft portion 54, the stage 60 into which the screw shaft portion 54 is screwed is driven to move along the main scanning direction A1.

[0060] The guide rod 56 is a long, thin bar-shaped member, and is fixed to the pair of short-side side plates 46 so as to span between them. The guide rod 56 is inserted into a guide hole 62h2 formed in the stage 60 (see FIG. 2). This allows the guide rod 56 to function as a mechanism for preventing the stage 60 from rotating around the screw shaft portion 54. Here, a plurality of guide rods 56 (two in this embodiment) are provided, but only one may be provided.

[0061] The direction of movement by the movement driver 52 is not limited to the above example, and may be horizontal or oblique. The movement driver 52 may be an actuator that moves the stage 60, and may be a linear motor or the like other than the above configuration, or may be a mechanism that moves by a belt. Instead of moving the stage, the reading unit 90 may be moved to read the imaging plate on the stage. If the reading unit is a sensor that can read the planar information of the imaging plate, it is also possible to imagine a case where both the stage and the reading unit do not move.

[0062] The stage 60 is moved by the stage moving mechanism 50 back and forth between a set position P1 and a reading position P2.

[0063] The set position P1 is a position where the imaging plate 10 can be set on the stage 60. In this embodiment, the set position P1 is set to a position protruding outward (downward) from the lower short-side side plate 46L. At the set position P1, a portion of the stage 60 near the upper end is disposed on the short-side side plate 46L, and a longitudinal middle portion and a lower end portion of the stage 60 extend downward from the lower short-side side plate 46L. At the set position P1, the arrangement area of ​​the imaging plate 10 to be set on the stage 60 (the maximum arrangement area when imaging plates 10 of multiple sizes are assumed) is disposed outside the lower short-side side plate 46L.

[0064] In this state, the support surface 64F of the stage 60 is inclined with respect to the direction of gravity. Here, the support surface 64F is inclined along the same inclination direction as the extending direction of the longitudinal side plate 45. In other words, the support surface 64F is inclined so as to face obliquely upward. In this embodiment, the support surface 64F is an opposite inclined surface that is inclined on the opposite side to a plate guide surface 216 described later. The support surface 64F as an opposite inclined surface will be further described later in relation to the plate guide surface.

[0065] The stage 60 located at the set position P1 can receive the imaging plate 10 guided by the set guide 200. More specifically, the set position P1 is provided below the set guide 200 (see FIG. 5). When the imaging plate 10 is inserted into the insertion port 230 of the set guide 200 from outside the device 20, the imaging plate 10 moves downward in the direction of gravity by its own weight while being guided by the set guide 200. When the lower edge portion of the imaging plate 10 reaches the support surface 64F, the lower edge portion of the imaging plate 10 slides diagonally downward according to the inclination of the support surface 64F, while the imaging plate 10 inclines toward the support surface 64F, and the back surface 10b of the imaging plate 10 can come into surface contact with the support surface 64F. In this state, the imaging plate 10 is positioned and held by a positioning mechanism (described later) provided on the stage 60. In this manner, in this embodiment, the imaging plate 10 is guided to the correct position using gravity.

[0066] The configuration of the setting guide 200 for guiding the imaging plate 10 will be described in more detail later.

[0067] It is not essential that the setting position P1 is set at the above position, and for example, it may be set between a pair of longitudinal side plates 45 depending on the positional relationship with the setting guide 200.

[0068] The reading position P2 is a position where the excitation light source 92 and the photodetector 94 read a radiation image, i.e., a position where the photodetector 94 reads a radiation image on the imaging plate 10 in response to the excitation light from the excitation light source 92. In this embodiment, the reading position P2 is set at a position between the pair of longitudinal side plates 45. More specifically, the reading position P2 is set at a lower position between the pair of longitudinal side plates 45.

[0069] That is, the reading unit 90 including the excitation light source 92 and the photodetector 94 is fixed to the pair of support rods 48 between the outward edge portions of the pair of longitudinal side plates 45 by screwing or the like. The reading unit 90 is located between the pair of longitudinal side plates 45 and close to the set position P1. A reading slit 90S is formed on the surface of the reading unit 90 facing the inside of the box-shaped portion 44. Excitation light from the excitation light source 92 in the reading unit 90 is irradiated onto the imaging plate 10 on the stage 60 through the reading slit 90S. Furthermore, emitted light from the imaging plate 10 excited by this excitation light enters the photodetector 94 through the reading slit 90S.

[0070] When the imaging plate 10 is set on the stage 60 at the set position P1, the imaging plate 10 moves toward the inside of the box-shaped portion 44 along the main scanning direction A1. When the imaging plate 10 set on the stage 60 reaches a position facing the reading slit 90S, the reading unit 90 starts reading the radiation image of the imaging plate 10. As the stage 60 moves, the reading unit 90 sequentially reads the radiation images of the imaging plate 10. When the imaging plate 10 passes through the reading slit 90S, the reading by the reading unit 90 ends. When the radiation image is read by moving the stage 60 as in this embodiment, the reading position P2 may be understood as the position where the imaging plate 10 on the stage 60 (the widest imaging plate 10 in the case where imaging plates 10 of multiple sizes are assumed) reaches the reading slit 90S and reading starts.

[0071] Unlike the above example, it is also possible that the reading unit 90 moves in the main scanning direction A1 relative to the imaging plate 10 that is stationary at a fixed position to read the radiation image, or that a two-dimensional sensor reads the radiation image of the imaging plate 10 that is stationary at a fixed position. In this case, the position at which the imaging plate 10 that is stationary at a fixed position is held is the reading position P2.

[0072] In this embodiment, the stage 60 is also moved to an ejection position P3 by the stage movement mechanism 50 (see FIG. 5). The ejection position P3 is a position for ejecting the imaging plate 10 set on the stage 60. The ejection position P3 is set at a position farther away from the reading position P2 than the set position P1 (see the stage 60 indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5). This example is not limiting, and the imaging plate 10 on the stage 60 may be ejected by a separate mechanism at a position different from the ejection position P3, for example, at the set position P1.

[0073] As already described, the collection tray 49 is provided below the discharge position P3. The upper opening of the collection tray 49 opens on an extension of the lower side of the stage 60. The imaging plate 10 slides down on the stage 60 at the discharge position P3, passes through the upper opening of the collection tray 49, and is discharged into the collection tray 49.

[0074] In this embodiment, the stage 60 is also moved to a rear position P4 by the stage movement mechanism 50 (see FIG. 2). The rear position P4 is located on the opposite side of the set position P1 with respect to the reading position P2. That is, the stage 60 can move from the set position P1 to the rear position P4 via the reading position P2. At the rear position P4, the imaging plate 10 on the stage 60 may be exposed and not covered by the reading unit 90, or may be covered by another member.

[0075] The operation of the stage moving mechanism 50 is controlled by a control unit 100 (see FIG. 3). The control unit 100 is configured, for example, by a computer including at least one processor and a storage unit. The processor is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, and is configured by an electric circuit. The processor executes a reading program to realize various functions for reading. The control unit 100 controls the direction and amount of rotation of the motor 53, thereby controlling the movement of the stage 60 along the main scanning direction A1. It is assumed that the control unit 100 is a circuit realized by the circuit unit 43 (see FIG. 3).

[0076] The control unit 100 may control the excitation light source 92 and the photodetector 94 by the reading unit 90. The control unit 100 may perform various signal processing for generating a radiographic image based on a signal detected by the photodetector 94, image processing, display processing by the display device 34, and the like.

[0077] The configuration for moving the stage 60 is not limited to the above example. The movement mechanism may move the reading unit 90 in the direction of gravity, horizontally, or diagonally. Also, the stage 60 may be supported at a fixed position and the reading unit 90 may move.

[0078] <Overall Stage Composition> The following describes the overall configuration of the stage 60. As shown in FIGS.

[0079] The stage body 61 has a support surface 64F that can come into surface contact with the rear surface 10b of the imaging plate 10. In this embodiment, the stage body 61 includes a movable support body 62 and a plate-shaped portion 64.

[0080] The movable support 62 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. A through hole 62h1 is formed in the movable support 62 (see FIG. 2). As already described, the screw shaft portion 54, which can be rotated in both forward and reverse directions by the motor 53, is screwed into the through hole 62h1. When the screw shaft portion 54 rotates in the forward direction, the stage 60 can move to one side along the screw shaft portion 54, and when the screw shaft portion 54 rotates in the reverse direction, the stage 60 can move to the other side along the screw shaft portion 54. Such a structure is, for example, a structure called a ball screw.

[0081] A guide hole 62h2 parallel to the through hole 62h1 is formed in the movable support 62 (see FIG. 2). Therefore, the movable support 62 is driven to move in both directions along the main scanning direction A1 in response to the forward or reverse rotation of the screw shaft portion 54 screwed into the through hole 62h1 under the guidance of the guide rod 56 inserted into the guide hole 62h2.

[0082] The plate-shaped portion 64 is formed in a plate-like shape that is larger than the imaging plate 10, and in this case, is formed in a rectangular plate shape. It is not essential that the plate-shaped portion 64 is formed in a rectangular plate shape, and it may be formed in another shape, such as an elliptical shape.

[0083] A support surface 64F is provided on one side surface of the plate-shaped portion 64. The support surface 64F may extend larger than the imaging plate 10. In the case where a plurality of sizes of the imaging plate 10 are assumed, the support surface 64F may extend larger than the largest imaging plate 10.

[0084] More specifically, the plate-shaped portion 64 is formed in a rectangular shape that is long along one direction (here, the main scanning direction A1). Of the other side surface of the plate-shaped portion 64 (the surface opposite to the support surface 64F), one side portion of the plate-shaped portion 64 in the longitudinal direction is fixed to the movable support 62. The fixing is performed, for example, by screwing. The plate-shaped portion 64 is supported in a cantilever manner by the movable support 62 so as to extend from the movable support 62 toward the set position P1 side along the main scanning direction A1. Of the one side surface of the plate-shaped portion 64, a part of the portion that extends downward from the movable support 62 along the main scanning direction A1 is recessed more than the other portion. The bottom surface of this recessed portion is the support surface 64F that can come into surface contact with the back surface of the imaging plate 10.

[0085] When the stage 60 is supported by the support member 40, the plate-shaped portion 64 and the support surface 64F are inclined with respect to the direction of gravity (downward), and the support surface 64F faces obliquely upward. In this embodiment, the inclination angle of the plate-shaped portion 64 and the support surface 64F coincides with the inclination angle of the extension direction of the longitudinal side plate 45 and the inclination angle of the pair of support rods 48. The plate-shaped portion 64 and the support surface 64F move along the main scanning direction A1 under the guidance of the guide rod 56 while maintaining a constant inclination angle. When the movable support 62 moves toward the lower short-side side plate 46L, the part of the plate-shaped portion 64 that extends from the movable support 62 passes over the lower short-side side plate 46L and extends obliquely downward. In this state, since the support surface 64F is inclined so as to face obliquely upward, the imaging plate 10 supplied onto the imaging plate 10 through the setting guide 200 can be received on the support surface 64F.

[0086] In this embodiment, a partial protrusion region 64P (see Figs. 6 and 7) is formed in a region of the plate-shaped portion 64 closer to the movable support 62. The protrusion region 64P is formed in a region surrounding the upper side and both sides of the support surface 64F. A step exists between the protrusion region 64P and the support surface 64F. The presence of the protrusion region 64P allows the imaging plate 10 to be more reliably supported on the support surface 64F. The presence of the protrusion region 64P is not essential.

[0087] The positioning mechanism 70 has positioning surfaces 72AF, 72BF, 72CF, and 72DF that come into contact with an edge portion of the imaging plate 10 supported on the support surface 64F and position the edge portion from the outside in the extension direction of the support surface 64F. In this embodiment, the positioning surfaces 72AF, 72BF, 72CF, and 72DF are inclined at an acute angle with respect to the support surface 64F and press the edge portion of the imaging plate 10 against the support surface 64F. It is not essential that the positioning surfaces 72AF, 72BF, 72CF, and 72DF have a configuration that presses the edge portion of the imaging plate 10 against the support surface 64F.

[0088] It is not necessary for the stage 60 to have a positioning mechanism 70. For example, if the stage 60 is in a horizontal position perpendicular to the direction of gravity, the imaging plate 10 may be placed on the stage 60 without being positioned by its edges.

[0089] In a configuration in which the stage 60 includes the positioning mechanism 70, the positioning mechanism 70 may have at least one of the positioning surfaces 72AF, 72BF, 72CF, and 72DF. In order for the positioning mechanism 70 to position the imaging plate 10 in at least two directions, the positioning mechanism 70 may have at least two of the positioning surfaces 72AF, 72BF, 72CF, and 72DF that face in different directions (for example, directions perpendicular to each other). For example, the positioning mechanism may have an upward positioning surface that supports the imaging plate 10 from below, and a rightward or leftward positioning surface that presses the imaging plate 10 from one side in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the positioning mechanism 70 has a horizontal positioning mechanism and a vertical positioning mechanism. Therefore, the imaging plate 10 is positioned at a fixed position in the horizontal and vertical directions.

[0090] The imaging plate 10 moves to the reading position P2 while being held in the correct position by the positioning mechanism 70. At the reading position P2, the reading unit 90 reads a radiation image of the imaging plate 10 held in the correct position on the stage 60. The correct position is a position of the imaging plate 10 that is set in advance with respect to the stage 60, and is a predetermined position suitable for reading by the reading unit 90. In this embodiment, the positioning surfaces 72AF and 72CF are arranged at fixed positions on the support surface 64F of the stage 60 during setting and reading. The correct position is a state in which an edge portion on one side of the imaging plate 10 contacts the positioning surface 72AF and a lower edge portion of the imaging plate 10 contacts the positioning surface 72CF.

[0091] In this embodiment, the stage 60 supports the imaging plate 10 in a position where the longitudinal direction of the imaging plate 10 is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. Specifically, the longitudinal direction of the plate-shaped portion 64 and the support surface 64F on one side of the plate-shaped portion 64 are inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, and the short side direction is along the horizontal direction. Therefore, when the imaging plate 10 is supported on the stage 60 in a position where the longitudinal direction of the imaging plate 10 is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the plate-shaped portion 64 and the support surface 64F, the longitudinal direction of the imaging plate 10 is in a position where it is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction.

[0092] In this embodiment, the minimum distance between the positioning portions 72A, 72B in the sub-scanning direction A2 (horizontal direction) is smaller than the minimum distance between the positioning portions 72C, 72D in the main scanning direction A1. Also, the maximum distance between the positioning portions 72A, 72B in the sub-scanning direction A2 (horizontal direction) is smaller than the maximum distance between the positioning portions 72C, 72D in the main scanning direction A1. Therefore, the stage 60 has a configuration suitable for supporting the imaging plate 10 in a position in which the longitudinal direction of the imaging plate 10 is aligned with the longitudinal directions of the plate-shaped portion 64 and the support surface 64F.

[0093] Regardless of this embodiment, the stage may support the imaging plate in a position in which the short side direction of the imaging plate is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. For example, the long direction of the plate-like portion and the support surface of the stage may be aligned along the horizontal direction, and the short side direction may be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction.

[0094] <Regarding the positioning mechanism> Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the stage 60. Fig. 7 is a front view showing the stage 60 at the reading position P2, and Fig. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in Fig. 4.

[0095] The positioning mechanism 70 includes four positioning parts 72A, 72B, 72C, and 72D. The positioning parts 72A and 72B position the imaging plate 10 in the sub-scanning direction A2 (in this embodiment, the horizontal direction), and the positioning parts 72C and 72D position the imaging plate 10 in the main scanning direction A1 (in this embodiment, the vertical direction). When the imaging plate 10 is located at the set position P1, the left and right positioning parts 72A and 72B are in an open state, and the upper and lower positioning parts 72C and 72D are also in an open state (see FIG. 4). In this state, the imaging plate 10 can be set on the stage 60. When the imaging plate 10 is located at the reading position P2, the left and right positioning parts 72A and 72B are in a close state, and the upper and lower positioning parts 72C and 72D are also in a close state. In this state, the imaging plate 10 is held on the stage 60 in a state where it is positioned in both the main scanning direction A1 and the sub-scanning direction A2.

[0096] The configuration for opening and closing the left and right positioning portions 72A, 72B and the top and bottom positioning portions 72C, 72D is not particularly limited.

[0097] For example, at least one of the left and right positioning parts 72A, 72B may be biased in the closing direction by a biasing member such as a spring. In this case, when the stage 60 moves to the set position P1, at least one of the left and right positioning parts 72A, 72B may be pressed against a fixed portion such as a cam surface and opened against the biasing force of the biasing member. Also, when the stage 60 moves to the reading position P2, the positional constraint by the cam surface or the like is released, and at least one of the left and right positioning parts 72A, 72B may be configured to move toward the closed position by the biasing force of the biasing member.

[0098] Also, for example, at least one of the left and right positioning portions 72A, 72B may be driven by a drive portion (for example, a motor, a solenoid actuator) for opening and closing.

[0099] The upper and lower positioning portions 72C and 72D may also be driven to open and close in a manner similar to that for driving the left and right positioning portions 72A and 72B.

[0100] Both of the left and right positioning portions 72A, 72B may be fixed at fixed positions relative to the stage 60. Either or both of the left and right positioning portions 72A, 72B may be omitted.

[0101] Furthermore, both the upper and lower positioning portions 72C, 72D may be fixed at fixed positions relative to the stage 60. Either or both of the upper and lower positioning portions 72C, 72D may be omitted.

[0102] However, assuming that the stage 60 is in an oblique position, the lower positioning portion 72C plays a role of receiving, from below, the imaging plate 10 that slides down on the support surface 64F.

[0103] The positioning portion 72C will be described. The positioning portion 72C is a long and narrow portion that protrudes along one side of the plate-shaped portion 64 in the main scanning direction A1, here, the lower side. The positioning portion 72C extends in the sub-scanning direction A2 along the lower boundary of the boundaries surrounding the support surface 64F. The positioning portion 72C protrudes further from the support surface 64F than the support surface 64F. The length of the positioning portion 72C may be longer than the width dimension (the maximum width dimension when multiple sizes are assumed) of the imaging plate 10 supported on the support surface 64F.

[0104] The surface of the positioning portion 72C facing inward (upward) is formed as a positioning surface 72CF. The positioning surface 72CF may be formed as a guide surface (here, a flat surface) that forms an angle with the support surface 64F of less than 90°, or may be formed as a flat surface perpendicular to the support surface 64F. The positioning surface 72CF is located below the support surface 64F that is inclined with respect to the direction of gravity, and is therefore an example of a surface that receives the lower edge portion of the imaging plate 10 that moves downward along the support surface 64F.

[0105] In this embodiment, the positioning portion 72C is formed separately from the plate-shaped portion 64. The positioning portion 72C is configured to be able to change its posture between a contact position and a retracted position (see FIG. 8). The contact position is a position where the positioning surface 72CF faces the edge portion of the imaging plate 10 on the support surface 64F, and the retracted position is a position where the positioning surface 72CF is retracted from the edge portion of the imaging plate 10 on the support surface 64F.

[0106] The operation of the positioning portion 72C will be described. The lower end portion of the plate-shaped portion 64 is formed narrower than the other portions. The positioning portion 72C includes a long and thin positioning main body portion 73Ca and a pair of rotation support portions 73Cb. The positioning main body portion 73Ca is set to a length that can extend to the entire lower end portion of the plate-shaped portion 64. One of the faces surrounding the periphery of the positioning main body portion 73Ca is formed as the positioning face 72CF. A pair of rotation support portions 73Cb extend from both ends of the positioning main body portion 73Ca. The pair of rotation support portions 73Cb are disposed on both sides outside the lower end portion of the plate-shaped portion 64. The pair of rotation support portions 73Cb are rotatably supported on both sides of the lower end portion of the plate-shaped portion 64 by a support shaft portion formed of a screw, a pin, or the like.

[0107] When the positioning portion 72C is in the contact position, as described above, the positioning surface 72CF is positioned so as to intersect with the downward extension of the support surface 64F, so that the lower edge portion of the imaging plate 10 sliding down the support surface 64F can come into contact with the positioning surface 72CF (see the positioning portion 72C shown by the solid line in FIG. 8).

[0108] When the positioning surface 72CF is moved to the retracted position, the positioning surface 72CF retracts from the support surface 64F (see the positioning portion 72C indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 8). That is, when the positioning surface 72CF is in the retracted position, it is no longer in a position to receive the lower edge portion of the imaging plate 10 that has moved downward along the support surface 64F. In this embodiment, the positioning surface 72CF retracts toward the back side of the support surface 64F. The positioning surface 72CF may also retract toward the front side of the support surface 64F. When the positioning surface 72CF moves to the retracted position, the imaging plate 10 can slide down on the support surface 64F.

[0109] In this embodiment, a protruding piece 73Cbp protruding on the opposite side to the support surface 64F is provided on one of the pair of rotation support portions 73Cb. The positioning surface 72CF is changed from the contact position to the retracted position by pushing the protruding piece 73Cbp by the movement of the stage 60. Note that the biasing of the positioning portion 72C from the retracted position to the retracted position may be performed by the weight of the positioning portion 72C itself or by a spring such as a torsion coil spring.

[0110] A configuration for changing the position of the positioning portion 72C will be described.

[0111] In this embodiment, the stage 60 is movable to a discharge position P3 that is further away from the set position P1 (to the opposite side from the reading position P2) (see FIGS. 5 and 8).

[0112] A cam plate 80 is supported on the portions of the pair of support rods 48 that protrude from the box-shaped portion 44. The cam plate 80 is a plate-shaped member located outside the lower short-side side plate 46L and between the pair of support rods 48. The cam plate 80 is located on the opposite side of the stage body 61 at the reading position P2 from the support surface 64F.

[0113] A groove 84 is formed in the cam plate 80 (see Figs. 4 and 8). The groove 84 is formed to extend along the main scanning direction A1 at a position where the protruding piece 73Cbp provided at one end of the positioning portion 72C can be arranged. The groove 84 penetrates both sides of the cam plate 80, but may be a bottomed groove that opens on the stage 60 side.

[0114] An operating roller 85 is located at the back of the groove 84. The operating roller 85 is a roller supported rotatably around an axis along the sub-scanning direction A2. The operating roller 85 is not in contact with the protruding piece 73Cbp when the stage 60 is in the set position P1, but is located at a position where it can come into contact with the protruding piece 73Cbp when the stage 60 is in the discharge position P3. Note that the operating roller 85 may not be provided at the back of the groove 84, and the position at the back of the second cam groove itself may be set so as to be in contact with the protruding piece 73Cbp when the stage 60 is in the discharge position P3.

[0115] When the stage 60 is located at the set position P1 and the reading position P2, the protruding piece 73Cbp does not contact the operating roller 85. In this state, the positioning surface 72CF of the positioning portion 72C is located at a contact position where it supports the imaging plate 10 from below by the weight of the positioning portion 72C or by a biasing member.

[0116] When the stage 60 moves from the set position P1 to the discharge position P3, the protruding piece 73Cbp comes into contact with the operating roller 85, and the positioning surface 72CF moves from the contact position to the retracted position. This allows the imaging plate 10 to slide downward from the support surface 64F of the stage 60.

[0117] The stage 60 does not have to have the above-mentioned configuration. For example, all of the positioning parts for the imaging plate on the support surface may be fixed at fixed positions relative to the support surface. The stage may also be configured to have positioning parts that support the imaging plate only from below the obliquely inclined support surface. For example, the stage may be configured to have positioning parts that support the imaging plate only from below and one side of the obliquely inclined support surface. The stage may also have a support surface along a horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity. In other words, the stage 60 may have a configuration that supports the imaging plate 10 guided by the setting guide 200 at the guide end.

[0118] <About the set guide> Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the setting guide 200 is removed from the support member 40. Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the setting guide 200. Fig. 11 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the shutter 244 in a cross section taken along line XI-XI in Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is an explanatory view showing the guide operation of the imaging plate 10 in a cross section taken along line XI-XI in Fig. 9.

[0119] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, 5, 9 to 12, the setting guide 200 includes a plate guide surface 216 and guides the imaging plate 10 toward the stage 60. The plate guide surface 216 is a surface that is inclined downward and guides the imaging plate 10 obliquely downward. The setting guide 200 is fixed to a portion of the pair of support rods 48 that protrudes from the lower short-side side plate 46L by screw fastening or the like. This allows the setting guide 200 to face the stage 60 located at the setting position P1 from the support surface 64F side. Note that the setting guide 200 only needs to face the stage 60 in a state in which it can guide the imaging plate 10 to be guided to the stage 60 at the setting position P1. For this reason, for example, a part of the setting guide 200 may protrude toward the reading position P2 side within a range that does not interfere with the reading unit 90.

[0120] More specifically, the setting guide 200 includes a guide base plate 201 and a guide body 212 .

[0121] The guide base plate 201 is a plate made of metal or resin, and here, is formed in a rectangular plate shape. The width dimension (dimension in the sub-scanning direction A2) of the guide base plate 201 is set to a size corresponding to the width of the pair of support rods 48, and is fixed so as to span the pair of support rods 48. The length of the guide base plate 201 in the main scanning direction A1 is set to a size corresponding to the length of the portion of the pair of support rods 48 that protrudes from the lower short-side side plate 46L. The guide base plate 201 can cover the portion of the stage 60 that protrudes from the lower short-side side plate 46L.

[0122] A plate passing opening 202 is formed in the guide base plate 201. The plate passing opening 202 is a square opening through which the imaging plate 10 can pass. For example, the plate passing opening 202 is formed in a square shape larger than the size of the imaging plate 10 (the maximum size when imaging plates 10 of multiple sizes are assumed). The plate passing opening 202 is formed in a position facing the support surface 64F of the stage 60 located at the set position P1. The guide base plate 201 may be omitted. For example, the guide body 212 may be directly fixed to the support rod 48.

[0123] A shutter operation opening 204 is formed in the guide base plate 201. The shutter operation opening 204 is formed, for example, next to the plate passing opening 202. The shutter operation opening 204 is, for example, a rectangular opening that is long along the main scanning direction A1.

[0124] The guide body 212 is formed of, for example, a durable resin that is easy to clean and sterilize. The guide body 212 has a plate guide surface 216 and guides the imaging plate 10 from the opening 31 of the housing 30 toward the stage 60.

[0125] The guide body 212 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape with two outwardly facing surfaces perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction A2 serving as two bottom surfaces 213.

[0126] Each bottom surface 213 is formed in a trapezoid shape surrounded by an upper base 213a, a lower base 213b longer than the upper base 213a, a side 213c perpendicular to the upper base 213a and the lower base 213b (see FIG. 11 in particular), and a hypotenuse 213d extending in a diagonal direction to the upper base 213a and the lower base 213b (see FIG. 11 in particular). For convenience of explanation, the symbols of each side are shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 11.

[0127] A surface between two sides 213c of the guide main body 212 faces the guide base plate 201 in a position parallel to the guide base plate 201. With the guide base plate 201 attached to the pair of support rods 48, the surface between two sides 213c of the guide main body 212 faces the support surface 64F of the stage 60 via the plate passing opening 202 between the pair of support rods 48.

[0128] In the guide body 212, the surface between the two upper bases 213a, the surface between the two lower bases 213b, and the two bottom surfaces are in a vertical position with respect to the guide base plate 201.

[0129] The surface between the two oblique sides 213d of the guide main body 212 is inclined with respect to the guide base plate 201 and faces the opposite side of the guide base plate 201. The surface between the two oblique sides 213d of the guide main body 212 is disposed so as to follow the surface of the housing 30 in which the opening 31 is formed. The surface between the two oblique sides 213d of the guide main body 212 is exposed to the outside of the housing 30 through the opening 31.

[0130] The guide body 212 includes a pair of side walls 219 and 221 , a guide portion 215 , and an upper insertion guide 222 .

[0131] The pair of side walls 219, 221 are plate-like portions with the bottom surface 213 facing outward, and are arranged in parallel with a gap between them.

[0132] The guide portion 215 and the upper insertion guide 222 are disposed between the pair of side walls 219 .

[0133] The guide portion 215 is disposed between the pair of side walls 219, 221 and at a position close to the upper bottom 213a and the oblique side 213d. The surface of the guide portion 215 facing obliquely upward on the stage 60 side is a plate guide surface 216.

[0134] The plate guide surface 216 is formed so as to gradually face downward toward the support surface 64F. In this embodiment, the plate guide surface 216 includes a portion that is a curved surface 216a that is convex outward. In this embodiment, the entire plate guide surface 216 is the curved surface 216a. When viewed along the sub-scanning direction A2, the curved surface 216a draws a curve that is convex upward and toward the stage 60 side. On the curved surface 216a, the flat imaging plate 10 is unlikely to come into surface contact, and therefore, the imaging plate 10 is unlikely to be stuck to the curved surface 216a. For this reason, the imaging plate 10 can smoothly slide down on the curved surface 216a. In addition, the amount of friction between the curved surface 216a and the imaging plate 10 is reduced, which is preferable because it reduces the possibility of damage to the surface of the imaging plate 10.

[0135] The upper end of the plate guide surface 216 is located above the lower end of the support surface 64F of the stage 60 (for example, the position of the positioning surface 72CF), and is preferably located above the upper end of the support surface 64F (for example, the position of the positioning surface 72DF located at the separated position). An entrance guide surface 217a extends from the upper end of the plate guide surface 216 in a direction away from the stage 60. The entrance guide surface 217a is formed in a shape that approaches downward as it moves away from the stage 60. The entrance guide surface 217a guides the imaging plate 10 inserted at a position off the upper end of the plate guide surface 216 toward the upper end of the plate guide surface 216.

[0136] The lower end of the plate guide surface 216 is located lower than the upper end of the plate guide surface 216, preferably lower than the upper end of the support surface 64F (e.g., the position of the positioning surface 72DF located in the separated position), and more preferably, at a height closer to the lower end of the support surface 64F (e.g., the position of the positioning surface 72CF) than the upper end.

[0137] In this embodiment, the top of the guide portion 215 that protrudes most toward the stage 60 in the horizontal direction is the up-down inverted contact portion 218. Therefore, the up-down inverted contact portion 218 is continuous with the plate guide surface 216 on the downstream side in the guiding direction of the imaging plate 10. The up-down inverted contact portion 218 will be further described later in relation to the support surface 64F of the stage 60.

[0138] An opposite inclined surface guide surface 217b extends further downward from the lower end of the plate guide surface 216. The opposite inclined surface guide surface 217b is continuous with the up-down inverted contact portion 218 on the positioning portion 72C side.

[0139] The guide surface 217b for the opposite inclined surface is formed in a shape that gradually approaches the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) as it goes downward in the inclination direction of the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface). In this embodiment, the upper part of the guide surface 217b for the opposite inclined surface is continuously connected to the up-down inverted contact portion 218 and is formed as a curved surface that is convex outward. In other words, the plate guide surface 216, the up-down inverted contact portion 218, and the guide surface 217b for the opposite inclined surface are formed so as to be continuously connected in this order. The lower part of the guide surface 217b for the opposite inclined surface is formed as a flat surface along the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface). It is preferable that the lower part of the guide surface 217b for the opposite inclined surface is in a state close to the positioning portion 72C when the positioning surface 72CF is located at the contact position. This makes it difficult to form a gap into which the imaging plate 10 enters between the guide surface 217b for the opposite inclined surface and the positioning portion 72C.

[0140] The upper insertion guide 222 is located above the upper end of the plate guide surface 216 and the entrance guide surface 217a. The portion of the upper insertion guide 222 facing the entrance guide surface 217a is formed as an upper insertion guide surface 222a that faces the entrance guide surface 217a at a distance. The upper insertion guide surface 222a faces in a direction away from the entrance guide surface 217a as it moves away from the stage 60. The distance between the entrance guide surface 217a and the upper insertion guide surface 222a gradually increases as it moves away from the stage 60.

[0141] An insertion opening 230 for inserting the imaging plate 10 is formed at the upper end of the plate guide surface 216 by the entrance guide surface 217a, the upper insertion guide surface 222a, and the inner surfaces of the pair of side walls 219, 221.

[0142] The insertion opening 230 is formed to a size that allows the imaging plate 10 to pass through. That is, the upper insertion guide surface 222a is spaced from the upper end of the plate guide surface 216 by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the imaging plate IP. As a result, the minimum slit width W (see FIG. 12) of the insertion opening 230 is set to a size corresponding to the thickness T of the imaging plate 10. For example, the slit width W may be set to a size obtained by adding about 1 mm to the thickness T of the imaging plate 10. For example, when the imaging plate 10 stores a radiation image, a protector may be attached to the imaging plate 10 from the viewpoint of mechanical protection of the imaging plate 10 and suppression of loss of X-ray information. If the slit width W is set to a size corresponding to the thickness T of the imaging plate 10, the imaging plate 10 covered by the protector is difficult to insert into the insertion opening 230. As a result, the imaging plate 10 with the protector attached is prevented from being erroneously inserted into the reading device 20.

[0143] When there are a plurality of sizes of imaging plates 10 to be read by the reading device 20, the length L (width in the longitudinal direction) of the insertion port 230 is set to a size that allows the imaging plate 10 with the largest width to pass through. Even when the imaging plates 10 are different in size, it is considered that the thickness T of the imaging plates 10 is the same. Therefore, as described above, by setting the size of the slit width W of the insertion port 230, it is possible to suppress the erroneous insertion of the imaging plate 10 with the protector attached, thereby making it possible to read the imaging plates 10 of various sizes while reducing the above-mentioned erroneous insertion. In addition, it is possible to limit the degree of freedom of the allowable insertion width of the imaging plate 10 when inserting the imaging plate 10 into the insertion port 230. Therefore, since the insertion position of the imaging plate 10 inside the device 20 is limited, it is difficult for unexpected positional displacement or falling off on the stage 60 to occur.

[0144] The dimensions of the insertion port 230 and the plate guide surface 216 in the direction along the sub-scanning direction A2 (horizontal direction) are greater than the dimension of the imaging plate 10 in the short side direction. In addition, a distance greater than the dimension of the imaging plate 10 in the longitudinal direction is provided between the upper end of the plate guide surface 216 and the support surface 64F. This allows the setting guide 200 to guide the imaging plate 10 in a position where the longitudinal direction of the imaging plate 10 is aligned with the movement direction of the imaging plate 10 on the plate guide surface 216. In other words, the setting guide 200 can guide the imaging plate 10 toward the stage 60 in a position where the short side direction of the imaging plate 10 is aligned with the sub-scanning direction A2 (horizontal direction).

[0145] As described above, the stage may support the imaging plate in a position in which the short side direction of the imaging plate is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. In this case, the setting guide may guide the imaging plate toward the stage in a position in which the short side direction of the imaging plate is aligned with the horizontal direction.

[0146] The upper insertion guide 222 has an end on the stage 60 side with respect to the upper insertion guide surface 222a, which is continuous with a retreat surface 222b that faces upwards as it approaches the stage 60.

[0147] An escape groove 222bg is formed in the escape surface 222b portion of the upper insertion guide 222. The escape groove 222bg is formed as a long and narrow groove extending along the sub-scanning direction A2 while opening on the plate guide surface 216 side. A shutter 244, which will be described later, can escape to the plate guide surface 216.

[0148] An opening 232 facing the support surface 64F of the stage 60 is formed in the surface between the two sides 213c of the guide body 212. The imaging plate 10 sliding down the plate guide surface 216 can reach the support surface 64F of the stage 60 through the opening 232. In each drawing, an opening is depicted above the guide body 212. This opening is for illustrative purposes only, and is actually blocked.

[0149] In this embodiment, the guide body 212 is configured to be divided into two parts: a guide divided body 214 including the guide portion 215 and one side wall portion 219, and a guide divided body 220 including the upper insertion guide 222 and the other side wall portion 221 (see FIG. 10). The divided structure of the guide body 212 makes it easy to process the plate guide surface 216, the upper insertion guide surface 222a, and the like into any shape. A specific configuration example for forming the guide body 212 is not limited to this example. The entire guide body may be formed by one part, or the guide body may be divided into any number of parts at any boundary. For example, a part forming the entrance guide surface 217a and a part forming the curved surface 216a may be divided.

[0150] The guide segments 214, 220 are fixed to the guide base plate 201 by screws S or the like with the surfaces of the side walls 219, 221 of the guide segments 214, 220 on the side of side 213c in surface contact with the guide base plate 201. The guide segments 214, 220 are maintained in a combined state by fixing the guide segments 214, 220 to the guide base plate 201. The configuration for supporting the setting guide 200 at a fixed position is not limited to the above example. As will be described in a modified example later, the setting guide may be fitted and fixed to the device so as to be slidable relative to the device.

[0151] It is preferable that the guide body 212 or the guide 200 is configured to be detachable from the support member 40. In this case, even if the inserted imaging plate 10 becomes jammed inside the reading device 20, the user can easily access the jammed imaging plate 10 by removing the guide body 212 or the guide 200. This makes it possible to easily clear the jammed imaging plate 10. For example, the portion including the guide insertion port 230 may be configured to be detachable from the housing.

[0152] In this embodiment, the guide base plate 201 protrudes outward from the guide body 212. The setting guide 200 is detachably attached to the pair of support rods 48 in a state where both side portions of the guide base plate 201 protruding outward from the guide body 212 are overlapped on the pair of support rods 48. The position where the setting guide 200 is attached to the pair of support rods 48 is the guide position where the setting guide 200 guides the imaging plate 10 toward the stage 60. In this embodiment, a screw S passes through the guide base plate 201 and is fastened to a screw hole of the pair of support rods 48. The setting guide 200 is attached to the pair of support rods 48 by fastening the screw S. The setting guide 200 is removed from the pair of support rods 48 by loosening the screw S and removing it from the support rods 48.

[0153] The configuration for detachably attaching the setting guide 200 to the support member 40 including the support rod 48 is not limited to the above example. For example, the setting guide 200 may be detachably attached to the support member 40 by engaging a locking member utilizing an elastic member such as a spring with the setting guide 200. In other words, if the setting guide 200 can be removed from a predetermined guiding position and returned to the original guiding position without irreversible damage to the device 20, it can be said that the setting guide 200 is detachable from the guiding position.

[0154] Furthermore, the entire setting guide 200 does not need to be detachable. It is sufficient that at least a portion of the setting guide 200 is detachable, and at least a portion of the plate guide surface 16 is exposed to the outside (outside the housing) when at least that portion is removed. If the portion including the plate guide surface 216 that comes into contact with the imaging plate 10 is detachable, this is preferable because it is easier to clean.

[0155] The setting guide 200 includes a shutter 244 that can open and close the insertion port 230. The shutter 244 is a part of a shutter mechanism 240 that operates in conjunction with the movement of the stage 60.

[0156] That is, the shutter mechanism 240 includes a swinging member 242. The swinging member 242 is a member in which a swinging body 243 and a shutter 244 are connected in an L-shape. The swinging body 243 is swingably supported on the outer surface of one of the side walls 221. For example, the swinging body 243 is swingably supported on the side wall 221 by a screw S. The shutter 244 is connected to one end of the swinging body 243. A through hole 221h penetrating the retreat groove 222bg is formed in one of the side walls 221 (see Figs. 10 to 12). The through hole 221h is formed as an elongated hole extending from the retreat groove 222bg toward the plate guide surface 216. The shutter 244 is disposed between the pair of side walls 219, 221, penetrating the through hole 221h. In response to the oscillation of the oscillating body 243, the shutter 244 is supported so as to be able to move back and forth between a closed position (shown by a dotted line in Figure 11) located between the upper end of the plate guide surface 216 and the upper insertion guide 222, and an open position (shown by a solid line in Figure 11) located within the retreat groove 222bg.

[0157] The other end of the oscillating body 243 extends from the side wall portion 221 toward the side 213c. In response to the oscillation of the oscillating body 243, the other end of the oscillating body 243 is supported movably between a protruding position protruding from the side 213c and a retracted position approaching the side 213c. When the other end of the oscillating body 243 is in the protruding position, the shutter 244 is in the closed position. When the other end of the oscillating body 243 is in the retracted position, the shutter 244 is in the open position.

[0158] The swinging member 242 is constantly biased so that the shutter 244 moves from the open position to the closed position. For example, the swinging member 242 is biased in the above direction by gravity by setting the swinging axis of the swinging member 242 closer to the other end of the swinging body 243 than the center of gravity of the swinging body 243. The swinging member 242 may be biased in the above direction by a separately provided spring such as a torsion coil spring.

[0159] In this embodiment, a roller 243q is rotatably supported on the other end of the oscillating body 243. This roller 243q comes into contact with the shutter cam 248, thereby reducing the frictional force between the other end of the oscillating body 243 and the shutter cam 248. The other end of the oscillating body 243 may come into direct contact with the shutter cam 248.

[0160] The swinging member 242 swings as the stage 60 moves to the set position P1. Here, when the stage 60 is located at the set position P1, the shutter 244 moves to the open position, and when the stage 60 is moving from the set position P1 to the reading position P2 (before reading of the imaging plate 10 starts), the shutter 244 moves to the closed position.

[0161] That is, the shutter mechanism 240 includes a shutter cam 248 that moves together with the stage 60 (see FIGS. 6, 9, and 11). The shutter cam 248 may be, for example, a member supported by the plate-shaped portion 64, a member supported by the movable support 62, or a part integrated with the plate-shaped portion 64.

[0162] The shutter cam 248 is a long portion along the main scanning direction A1 on one side of the plate-shaped portion 64. In the sub-scanning direction A2, the shutter cam 248 is located at a position where it can come into contact with the other end of the swinging member 242.

[0163] The shutter cam 248 has an actuating surface 248a that faces away from the setting guide 200 as it moves from the reading position P2 to the setting position P1 along the main scanning direction A1, and an open state maintaining surface 248b that faces the setting guide 200 along both the main scanning direction A1 and the sub-scanning direction A2. The actuating surface 248a is located closer to the setting position P1 (lower). The open state maintaining surface 248b extends from the actuating surface 248a toward the reading position P2 (upper side).

[0164] When the stage 60 is in the set position P1, the roller 243q at the other end of the oscillating member 242 rides up on the open state maintaining surface 248b of the shutter cam 248. Therefore, the other end of the oscillating member 242 is in the retracted position, and the shutter 244 is in the open position within the retraction groove 222bg.

[0165] In this state, the insertion opening 230 is open, and the imaging plate 10 can be inserted into the plate guide surface 216 through the insertion opening 230 .

[0166] When the stage 60 moves from the set position P1 to the reading position P2, the shutter cam 248 moves toward the reading position P2. When the actuation surface 248a reaches the other end position of the oscillating member 242, the other end of the oscillating member 242 moves from the open state maintaining surface 248b along the actuation surface 248a to the protruding position due to the biasing force acting on the oscillating member 242. This causes the shutter 244 to move to the closed position. When the stage 60 moves further toward the reading position P2, the biasing force constantly acting on the oscillating member 242 maintains the shutter 244 in the closed position.

[0167] When the stage 60 returns to the set position P1, the roller 243q at the other end of the swinging member 242 moves from the operating surface 248a onto the open state maintaining surface 248b and moves to the retreat position. As a result, the shutter 244 moves to the open position within the retreat groove 222bg, the insertion port 230 is opened, and the state is returned to the above.

[0168] In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the shutter 244 is opened and closed by utilizing the movement of the stage 60. The shutter 244 may be driven by a drive unit (e.g., a motor, a solenoid actuator) separate from the motor 53 that moves the stage 60.

[0169] The housing 30 covers the setting guide 200, the support member 40, the stage 60, the reading unit 90, etc. (see FIG. 1) with the surface of the setting guide 200 between the pair of oblique sides 213d exposed through the opening 31. Therefore, the housing 30 covers the stage 60, the reading unit 90 including the excitation light source 92 and the photodetector 94, at least the plate guide surface 216 and the up-down inverted contact portion 218 of the setting guide 200, and the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface).

[0170] <Configuration for guiding the imaging plate toward the stage while inverting it> The following description focuses on a configuration for guiding the imaging plate 10 toward the stage 60 while inverting it. Here, inverting the imaging plate 10 refers to changing the orientation of the imaging plate 10 so that one surface of the imaging plate 10 facing upward is changed to the other surface, regardless of whether the imaging plate 10 is in a horizontal or inclined position.

[0171] At least one of the setting guide 200 and the stage 60 includes an opposite inclined surface. The opposite inclined surface is a surface that is inclined downward on the opposite side to the plate guide surface 216, and receives the imaging plate 10 guided by the plate guide surface 216 and guides the imaging plate 10 obliquely downward.

[0172] In this embodiment, the stage 60 includes a reverse inclined surface. More specifically, the support surface 64F of the stage 60 is the reverse inclined surface. That is, the plate guide surface 216 faces the stage 60 side as it goes downward, and the support surface 64F faces the setting guide 200 side as it goes downward. In other words, the plate guide surface 216 and the support surface 64F are inclined to different sides as they go downward. Therefore, the support surface 64F is inclined downward on the opposite side to the plate guide surface 216. Also, the support surface 64F spreads on the downward extension of the tangent of each part of the plate guide surface 216 when viewed along the sub-scanning direction A2. Therefore, the support surface 64F spreads to an area where the imaging plate 10 guided downward by the plate guide surface 216 can be received below according to gravity. Therefore, the support surface 64F is an example of a reverse inclined surface.

[0173] At least one of the stage 60 and the set guide 200 includes a top-bottom inversion contact portion 218 that contacts the imaging plate 10 guided by the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) from the front side of the imaging plate 10 to invert the imaging plate 10 to the same inclined posture as the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface). For example, the top-bottom inversion contact portion 218 may be located closer to the top end of the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) than the bottom end of the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) in the horizontal direction. In this case, when the imaging plate 10 that has slid down on the plate guide surface 216 reaches the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface), it is considered that the bottom end of the imaging plate 10 further slides down on the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface). Then, when the bottom end of the imaging plate 10 slides down beyond the top-bottom inversion contact portion 218 in the horizontal direction, the inclined state of the imaging plate 10 is reversed. As a result, the imaging plate 10 is inverted and supported on the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface).

[0174] In this embodiment, the stage 60 includes a receiving surface that receives the imaging plate 10 supported by the supporting surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) from a lower side in the inclination direction of the supporting surface 64F (opposite inclined surface). Since the lower positioning surface 72CF receives the imaging plate 10 from below, the lower positioning surface 72CF is the receiving surface.

[0175] In relation to the positioning surface 72CF (receiving surface), the upside-down contact portion 218 is a portion located closer to the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) than the extension directly above the position where the positioning surface 72CF (receiving surface) receives the imaging plate 10. In FIG. 12, an extension line L1 directly above the positioning surface 72CF (receiving surface) and an extension line L2 directly below the upside-down contact portion 218 are shown. The distance between L1 and L2 in the horizontal direction is the position difference D of the upside-down contact portion 218 relative to the positioning surface 72CF (receiving surface) in the horizontal direction. If the position difference D exceeds 0, the inclination of the imaging plate 10 can be reversed. The larger the position difference D, the larger the opposite inclination angle of the imaging plate 10 can be, and the easier it is for the imaging plate 10 to be inverted. The portion serving as the upside-down contact portion 218 may be any portion that can come into contact with the imaging plate 10, and may be a surface that spreads widely or a linear portion.

[0176] In addition, in cases where the positioning surface 72CF is inclined with respect to the direction of gravity, the position where the positioning surface 72CF receives the imaging plate 10 on the support surface 64F is used as a reference, and the up-down inversion contact portion 218 may be located closer to the support surface 64F than on an extension directly above that position.

[0177] <About guidance operations> The guiding operation of the imaging plate 10 by the setting guide 200 will be described mainly with reference to FIG.

[0178] The imaging plate 10 is inserted into the insertion port 230 with the longitudinal direction of the imaging plate 10 intersecting (preferably perpendicular to) the extension direction of the insertion port 230 (see Q1). The insertion end of the imaging plate 10 is guided by the entrance guide surface 217a and the upper insertion guide surface 222a to the portion of the insertion port 230 that is narrowest between the guide portion 215 and the upper insertion guide 222. If the protector is still attached to the imaging plate 10, the thickness including the protector exceeds the width W of the insertion port 230, and therefore it is difficult for the imaging plate 10 to enter further into the insertion port 230.

[0179] The imaging plate 10 passes through the insertion port 230 and is inserted further in (see Q2). When the majority of the imaging plate 10 passes through the insertion port 230 and is positioned on the plate guide surface 216, the imaging plate 10 slides down according to the inclination of the plate guide surface 216 by gravity without being pushed by hand. Eventually, the bottom end of the imaging plate 10 reaches the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) (see Q3). The bottom end of the imaging plate 10 moves further downward as if sliding down according to the inclination of the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface).

[0180] The portion of the imaging plate 10 that is above the lower end and contacts the up-down inversion contact portion 218 is kept at a position on the line L2, and movement toward the line L1 side in the horizontal direction is restricted (see Q4). Therefore, when the lower end of the imaging plate 10 moves downward from the line L1 toward the line L2 side according to the inclination of the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface), the inclination posture becomes the opposite of the previous state. That is, before the lower end of the imaging plate 10 crosses the line L1, the imaging plate 10 is inclined in the same direction as the plate guide surface 216. When the lower end of the imaging plate 10 crosses the line L1 and approaches the line L2, the imaging plate 10 begins to incline in the same direction as the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface). Then, the center of gravity of the imaging plate 10 is biased toward the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) side opposite to the line L1 with respect to the lower end of the imaging plate 10. As a result, the imaging plate 10 is further inclined so that the back surface of the imaging plate 10 approaches the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface). This allows the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) of the stage 60 to come into contact with the rear surface 10b of the imaging plate 10 and hold the imaging plate 10 in the same inclined posture as the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) (see Q5).

[0181] <About the reading operation> An example of the reading operation of the reader 20 will now be described.

[0182] In the initial state, the stage 60 is located at the set position P1 (see FIGS. 1, 4, and 5). In this state, the positioning surfaces 72AF, 72BF are spaced apart in the sub-scanning direction A2 (horizontal direction). Also, the positioning surfaces 72CF, 72DF are spaced apart in the main scanning direction A1. Furthermore, since the protruding piece 73Cbp does not contact the operating roller 85, the positioning surface 72CF of the positioning portion 72C is located at a contact position that supports the imaging plate 10 from below.

[0183] Furthermore, since the roller 243q at the other end of the swinging member 242 rides up on the open state maintaining surface 248b, the shutter 244 moves to the open position within the retreat groove 222bg, and the insertion slot 230 is in an open state.

[0184] In this state, the imaging plate 10 is inserted into the insertion slot 230 of the setting guide 200 (see FIG. 12). The imaging plate 10 is inserted into the insertion slot 230 with the radiation image forming layer 11 (surface 10a of the imaging plate 10) facing downward. Generally, sunlight is irradiated from the sky. Indoor lighting fixtures irradiate from above, such as from the ceiling. The reading device 20 is assumed to be installed on a table or the like. For this reason, it is assumed that most of the sunlight and illumination light in the environment in which the reading device is installed is irradiated onto the reading device 20 from above. If the radiation image forming layer 11 of the imaging plate 10 is facing downward, the radiation image forming layer 11 is less likely to be accidentally exposed to sunlight and illumination light.

[0185] The imaging plate 10 inserted into the setting guide 200 is supported on the stage 60 in an inverted state by the cooperation of the plate guide surface 216 and the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) in the setting guide 200. On the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) of the stage 60, the back surface 10b of the imaging plate 10 faces downward in the direction of gravity, and the radiation image forming layer 11 faces upward in the direction of gravity. Therefore, the stage 60 can support the imaging plate 10 mainly by the weight of the imaging plate 10 itself.

[0186] When an instruction for reading in the reading device 20 is input, the control unit 100 (see FIG. 3) drives the stage moving mechanism 50 to move the stage 60 from the set position P1 to the reading position P2.

[0187] During the movement, the positioning portion 72B approaches the positioning portion 72A, and the positioning portion 72B and the positioning portion 72A sandwich both side edge portions of the imaging plate 10 from the left and right sides.

[0188] Furthermore, when the stage 60 moves from the set position P1 to the reading position P2, the positioning portion 72D approaches the positioning portion 72C, thereby sandwiching the upper and lower edge portions of the imaging plate 10 between the pair of positioning surfaces 72CF, 72DF from above and below.

[0189] As a result, the imaging plate 10 is positioned and held on the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) of the stage 60 in both the main scanning direction A1 and the sub-scanning direction A2.

[0190] Also, while the stage 60 is moving from the set position P1 to the reading position P2, the roller 243q at the other end of the swinging member 242 descends from the open state maintaining surface 248b via the operating surface 248a. As a result, the shutter 244 moves out of the retreat groove 222bg to the closed position, and the insertion port 230 is closed. When the stage 60 moves from the set position P1 to the reading position P2, the insertion port 230 is closed, so that multiple imaging plates 10 are prevented from being erroneously inserted into the insertion port 230.

[0191] When the stage 60 moves to the reading position P2, the latent image on the imaging plate 10 is read by the reading unit 90.

[0192] After the reading by the reading unit 90 is completed, the stage 60 returns to the set position P1. During the movement, the above-mentioned operations are performed in reverse, and the imaging plate 10 is released from the stage 60. In addition, the shutter 244 moves to the open position, and the insertion port 230 is opened.

[0193] When the stage 60 moves from the set position P1 toward the discharge position P3, the protruding piece 73Cbp comes into contact with the operating roller 85, and the positioning surface 72CF of the positioning portion 72C moves from the contact position to the retracted position (see FIG. 8). The imaging plate 10 supported on the positioning surface 72CF slides down from the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) over the positioning surface 72CF and is collected in the collection tray 49. Depending on the attitude of the positioning surface 72CF in the retracted position and the design of the method of retraction, the imaging plate 10 may be collected in the collection tray 49 without passing over (contacting) the positioning surface 72CF in the process of sliding down.

[0194] After that, the stage 60 returns from the discharge position P3 to the set position P1. Then, the positioning portion 72C rotates so that the positioning surface 72CF returns to the contact position. In this state, as described above, the imaging plate 10 can be set on the stage 60 at the set position P1.

[0195] <Effects, etc.> According to the radiation image reading device 20 configured as above, when the imaging plate 10 is set in the reading device 20, the radiation image forming surface of the imaging plate 10 is hardly exposed to external light.

[0196] That is, it is assumed that the intensity of light from above, such as sunlight and ceiling lighting, is the strongest around the reading device 20. According to the reading device 20, the imaging plate 10 can be placed on the plate guide surface 216 in the housing 30 with the surface 10a, which is the radiation image forming surface, facing downward, so that the radiation image forming surface of the imaging plate 10 is unlikely to be exposed to external light when placed. The imaging plate 10 is guided obliquely downward by the plate guide surface 216, received by a support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) that is inclined downward on the opposite side to the plate guide surface 216, and further guided obliquely downward. When the imaging plate 10 is guided obliquely downward by the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface), the up-down inversion contact portion 218 contacts the imaging plate 10 from the surface 10a side, and inverts the imaging plate 10 to the same inclined posture as the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface). As a result, the imaging plate 10 is turned upside down and supported by the stage 60 with the radiation image forming surface facing upward. This makes it difficult for the imaging plate 10 to be exposed to external light when the imaging plate 10 is set in the radiation image reading device 20, and since the imaging plate 10 can be supported on the stage 60 with the radiation image forming surface of the imaging plate 10 always facing upward, reading can be started smoothly.

[0197] Furthermore, the support surface 64F of the stage 60 is a reverse inclined surface, the stage 60 includes a positioning surface 72CF as a receiving surface that receives the imaging plate 10 from below, and the setting guide 200 includes a top-bottom inversion contact portion 218. Therefore, the imaging plate 10 can be inverted by utilizing the support surface 64F of the stage 60 as a reverse inclined surface, which allows for a simplified configuration.

[0198] In addition, since the up-down inversion contact portion 218 is provided on the imaging plate 10 side, the inversion action can be reliably performed while contacting the imaging plate 10 to be inverted, and the up-down inversion contact portion 218 is unlikely to get in the way when reading the imaging plate 10 on the stage 60.

[0199] Furthermore, the stage 60, the excitation light source 92, the photodetector 94, the plate guide surface 216, the up-down inversion contact portion 218, and the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) are covered by the housing 30. Therefore, the imaging plate 10 is inverted and set on the stage 60 within the housing 30. Therefore, the radiation image forming surface of the imaging plate 10 is unlikely to be exposed to external light.

[0200] Furthermore, the plate guide surface 216 includes an outwardly convex curved surface 216a. Therefore, the imaging plate 10 is less likely to come into surface contact with the plate guide surface 216, and the imaging plate 10 is less likely to remain on the plate guide surface 216. This allows the plate guide surface 216 to guide the imaging plate 10 toward the stage 60 more reliably.

[0201] Furthermore, the up-down inverted contact portion 218 is continuous with the plate guide surface 216 on the downstream side in the guiding direction of the imaging plate 10. Therefore, the imaging plate 10 is less likely to get caught between the plate guide surface 216 and the up-down inverted contact portion 218, and the imaging plate 10 is smoothly guided toward the stage 60. Furthermore, the imaging plate 10 can be smoothly guided toward the stage 60 by utilizing the momentum of the imaging plate 10 sliding down a certain distance in the direction of gravity.

[0202] Furthermore, the setting guide 200 includes an opposite inclined surface guide surface 217b that approaches the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) as it moves downward in the inclination direction of the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface). Therefore, the imaging plate 10, in particular the lower end portion of the imaging plate 10, is more reliably guided toward the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) by the opposite inclined surface guide surface 217b.

[0203] Furthermore, the opposite inclined surface guide surface 217b is continuous with the positioning surface 72CF (receiving surface) side of the up-down inverted contact portion 218. Therefore, the imaging plate 10 is less likely to get caught between the up-down inverted contact portion 218 and the opposite inclined surface guide surface 217b.

[0204] The setting guide 200 also includes an upper insertion guide 222 that is positioned at a distance corresponding to the thickness of the imaging plate 10 from the upper end of the plate guide surface 216. Therefore, by inserting the imaging plate 10 between the upper end of the plate guide surface 216 and the upper insertion guide 222, it is easy to set the imaging plate 10 on the plate guide surface 216 so that the back surface 10b of the imaging plate 10 is aligned with the plate guide surface 216.

[0205] Moreover, the setting guide 200 is detachably attached to the support member 40. By removing at least a part of the setting guide 200, the setting guide 200 can be easily cleaned and sterilized. Even if a problem occurs such as clogging of the imaging plate 10, the problem can be easily solved by removing the setting guide 200. The setting guide 200 may be removed from the support member 40, for example, with the housing 30 removed.

[0206] The setting guide 200 also includes a shutter 244 that closes the insertion port 230 in an openable and closable manner. This makes it possible to regulate the timing at which the imaging plate 10 can be inserted. For example, the shutter 244 opens when the stage 60 is located at the setting position P1, and closes when the stage 60 is moving from the setting position P1 to the reading position P2. This prevents the shutter 244 from being added while the imaging plate 10 is being read. Also, while the shutter 244 is closed, it is possible to shut out a small amount of external light that may enter through the insertion port 230, thereby realizing an environment in which the incidence of external light is more highly controlled during image reading of the imaging plate 10.

[0207] Furthermore, the setting guide 200 guides the imaging plate 10 in a position where the longitudinal direction of the imaging plate 10 is aligned with the movement direction of the imaging plate 10 on the plate guide surface 216, and the stage 60 supports the imaging plate 10 in a position where the longitudinal direction of the imaging plate 10 is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. Therefore, the imaging plate 10 can be more easily inclined by the up-down inversion contact portion 218 compared to the case where the short side direction of the imaging plate 10 is aligned with the horizontal direction. In other words, when the imaging plate 10 is inclined by the up-down inversion contact portion 218, the positional deviation of the center of gravity of the imaging plate 10 with respect to the lower end of the imaging plate 10 can be made larger. Therefore, the imaging plate 10 can be more easily and reliably inverted.

[0208] Furthermore, since the setting guide 200 faces the stage 60 located at the setting position P1, the setting guide 200 can be easily disposed without interfering with the excitation light source 92 and the photodetector 94.

[0209] {Variation} In the above embodiment, the plate guide surface 216 has been described as being a surface in which portions of the same height continue along the width direction (sub-scanning direction A2). In other words, when the plate guide surface 216 is observed in a cross section along the width direction (sub-scanning direction A2) and intersecting the plate guide surface 216, the plate guide surface 216 is expressed as a straight line.

[0210] Like the plate guide surface 416A according to the first modified example shown in FIG. 13 or the plate guide surface 416B according to the second modified example shown in FIG. 14, the plate guide surfaces 416A, 416B may be surfaces that have projections and recesses in the width direction.

[0211] A plurality of grooves 416Ag are formed in parallel on the plate guide surface 416A. Each groove 416Ag extends along the guiding direction of the imaging plate 10 by the plate guide surface 416A. The grooves 416Ag have a curved bottom and a curved inlet. Therefore, in a cross section along the width direction (sub-scanning direction A2) of the plate guide surface 416A and intersecting with the plate guide surface 416A, the plate guide surface 416A is expressed as a curved wave (for example, a sine curve).

[0212] A plurality of grooves 416Bg are formed in parallel on the plate guide surface 416B. Each groove 416Bg extends along the guide direction of the imaging plate 10 by the plate guide surface 416B. The grooves 416Bg are V-shaped grooves with a corner at the bottom. The walls between adjacent grooves 416Bg are formed as triangular protrusions with a corner at the top. For this reason, in a cross section along the width direction (sub-scanning direction A2) of the plate guide surface 416B and intersecting with the plate guide surface 416B, the plate guide surface 416B is expressed as a shape of continuous triangular waves.

[0213] These plate guide surfaces 416A, 416B make it difficult for the plate guide surfaces 416A, 416B to come into surface contact with the imaging plate 10, and therefore the imaging plate 10 is less likely to stick to the plate guide surfaces 416A, 416B. Therefore, the imaging plate 10 is smoothly guided by the plate guide surfaces 416A, 416B.

[0214] Furthermore, when the imaging plate 10 slides down towards the stage 60, the imaging plate 10 is less likely to get caught on the unevenness created by the grooves 416Ag, 416Bg. If the imaging plate 10 attempts to shift sideways, the imaging plate 10 can get caught on the unevenness created by the grooves 416Ag, 416Bg, thereby suppressing the lateral shift of the imaging plate 10. It is desirable to design the difference in height between the unevenness of the multiple grooves 416Ag, 416Bg to be smaller than the thickness of the imaging plate 10, as this reduces the possibility of the imaging plate 10 getting stuck in the unevenness.

[0215] 15, the plate guide surface 516A corresponding to the plate guide surface 216 may be formed by a combination of a plurality of planes 516Af1 and 516Af2. Here, the plane 516Af1 is inclined downward from the insertion port 230 toward the stage 60, and the plane 516Af2 is connected to the lower edge of the plane 516Af1 at an angle. The plane 516Af2 is inclined more greatly than the plane 516Af1.

[0216] An upside-down contact portion 518A corresponding to the upside-down contact portion 218 is located on the lower edge of the flat surface 516Af2.

[0217] A guide surface 517Ab for the opposite inclined surface, which corresponds to the guide surface 217b for the opposite inclined surface, is connected to the lower side of the up-down inverted contact portion 518A. In this modification, the guide surface 517Ab for the opposite inclined surface is a flat surface, and is oriented so as to gradually approach the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) of the stage 60 as it extends downward.

[0218] In this modification, the imaging plate 10 is also guided by the flat surfaces 516Af1 and 516Af2 toward the stage 60. When the lower end of the imaging plate 10 comes into contact with the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) and slides downward, the middle part of the imaging plate 10 comes into contact with the up-down inversion contact portion 518A, and the imaging plate 10 is inverted. Then, the imaging plate 10 is supported on the stage 60 with the back surface 10b of the imaging plate 10 in contact with the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface).

[0219] The plate guide surface may be formed by a combination of three or more planes.

[0220] 16, a plate guide surface 516B corresponding to the plate guide surface 216 may be a single plane. Here, the plate guide surface 516B, which is a plane, is inclined downward from the insertion port 230 toward the stage 60.

[0221] An up-down inverted contact portion 518Bb corresponding to the up-down inverted contact portion 218 is located on the lower edge of the plate guide surface 516B.

[0222] A guide surface 517Bb for the opposite inclined surface, which corresponds to the guide surface 217b for the opposite inclined surface, is connected to the lower side of the up-down inverted contact portion 518Bb. In this modification, the guide surface 517B for the opposite inclined surface is a flat surface, and is oriented so as to gradually approach the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) of the stage 60 as it extends downward.

[0223] In this modified example, the imaging plate 10 is also guided by the plate guide surface 516B toward the stage 60. When the lower end of the imaging plate 10 comes into contact with the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) and slides downward, the middle part of the imaging plate 10 comes into contact with the up-down inversion contact portion 518Bb, and the imaging plate 10 is inverted. Then, the imaging plate 10 is supported on the stage 60 with the back surface 10b of the imaging plate 10 in contact with the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface).

[0224] 17, a plate guide surface 516C corresponding to the plate guide surface 216 may be a single plane. Here, the plate guide surface 516C, which is a plane, is inclined downward from the insertion port 230 toward the stage 60.

[0225] In this modified example, the plate guide surface 516C is the upward facing surface of the plate 515. An up-down inverted contact portion 518Cb corresponding to the up-down inverted contact portion 218 is located on the lower edge of the plate guide surface 516C, that is, on the lower edge of the plate 515.

[0226] In this modified example, the guide surface for the opposite inclined surface is omitted.

[0227] In this modification, the imaging plate 10 is guided from the plate guide surface 516C towards the stage 60, turned over, and held on the stage 60, in the same manner as in the fourth modification.

[0228] As shown in these modified examples, the plate guide surfaces 516A, 516B, 516C may be a plurality of flat surfaces 516Af1, 516Af2 or a single flat surface 516B, 516C. In this case, the plate guide surfaces 516A, 516B, 516C can be processed more easily than when they are processed into curved surfaces.

[0229] Considering the case where a groove is formed along the guide direction on the plate guide surface, if the plate guide surface has a shape of one straight line or a combination of multiple straight lines when viewed along the horizontal direction perpendicular to the guide direction of the imaging plate, these can be easily processed.

[0230] Even if the upside-down contact portions 518A, 518Bb, and 518Cb are straight or flat, they can be easily machined. Also, if the opposite inclined surface guide surfaces 517Ab and 517B are flat, it can be understood that they can be easily machined.

[0231] As described above, if the up-down inverted contact portion has a point or straight line shape when viewed along the horizontal direction perpendicular to the guide direction of the imaging plate, and if the guide surface for the opposite inclined surface has a straight line shape, it can be understood that these can be easily processed.

[0232] The plate guide surface may be a surface that slopes downward, and may be a curved surface only, a flat surface only, a combination of a curved surface and a flat surface, a combination of a flat surface and a flat surface, or the like.

[0233] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the support surface 64F of the stage 60 is the opposite inclined surface. It is not essential that the opposite inclined surface is the support surface 64F, and the setting guide may have the opposite inclined surface.

[0234] 18 shows a setting guide 600 according to a sixth modified example, which has a downwardly inclined plate guide surface 616. A top-bottom inverted contact portion 618 extends downward from the plate guide surface 616.

[0235] An opposing guide surface 620 is positioned in spaced relation to the inverted contact portion 618. The opposing guide surface 620 is parallel to the inverted contact portion 618.

[0236] An opposite inclined surface 630 is connected to the lower end of the opposing guide surface 620. The opposite inclined surface 630 is inclined downward in the opposite direction to the plate guide surface 616.

[0237] A stage 660 corresponding to the stage 60 is located below the extension of the opposite inclined surface 630. The stage 660 has a support surface 664F along the horizontal direction. The stage 660 moves from the set position P1 along the horizontal direction toward the reading position P2.

[0238] The imaging plate 10 guided by the plate guide surface 616 falls downward by gravity and is received by the opposite inclined surface 630. The imaging plate 10 is guided obliquely downward by the opposite inclined surface 630 and heads onto the stage 660.

[0239] When the imaging plate 10 is guided obliquely downward by the reverse inclined surface 630, the lower end of the imaging plate 10 passes over the downward extension line L3 of the up-down inversion contact portion 618. For this reason, even if the imaging plate 10 falls onto the reverse inclined surface 630 in the same inclination direction as the inclination direction of the plate guide surface 616, the lower end of the imaging plate 10 passes over the downward extension line L3 of the up-down inversion contact portion 618 in a state in which the portion of the imaging plate 10 above the lower end is positionally restricted by the up-down inversion contact portion 618, and thus the imaging plate 10 is inverted so that the inclination of the imaging plate 10 is reversed. The imaging plate 10 slides down from the reverse inclined surface 630 onto the stage 660 in an inverted state.

[0240] In this way, even if the setting guide 600 has the reverse inclined surface 630, the imaging plate 10 can be set on the stage 660 in an inverted state.

[0241] In the above modification, the planar up-down contact portion 618 may be omitted, and a linear up-down contact portion may be located at the lower end of the plate guide surface 616. In this case, the opposing guide surface 620 may be omitted, and the distance between the plate guide surface 616 and the opposite inclined surface 630 may be shortened so that the imaging plate 10 guided by the plate guide surface 616 may slide directly down onto the opposite inclined surface 630.

[0242] When the setting guide 600 includes the opposite inclined surface 630 and the upside-down contact portion 618 as in this modified example, the opposite inclined surface and the upside-down contact portion do not need to be provided on the stage 660. This eliminates the need to incline the stage 660, and reduces restrictions on the design of the stage 660. In addition, the present modified example can also be used in conventional horizontal type reading devices such as those described in Patent Document 1.

[0243] When the opposite inclined surface is provided on the stage side, the opposite inclined surface may be the support surface 664F (see the embodiment example), or may exist separately from the support surface 664F. In this case, the opposite inclined surface formed by the surface of a member that moves together with the stage 60 may be provided at a position capable of receiving the imaging plate 10 that slides down from the plate guide surface and guiding the imaging plate 10 toward the support surface 664F.

[0244] As in the case of a stage 760 according to a seventh modification shown in FIG.

[0245] In this modification, the plate guide surface 716 is spaced apart from the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface). When the lower end of the imaging plate 10 reaches above the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) from the plate guide surface 716, the imaging plate 10 moves away from the plate guide surface 716. The up-down inversion contact portion is omitted on the lower side of the imaging plate 10. Therefore, the up-down inversion contact portion is omitted on the setting guide 700 side.

[0246] In this modified example, a top-bottom inverted contact portion 718 that is spaced apart from the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) and extends along the sub-scanning direction A2 is located above the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) of the stage 760. The top-bottom inverted contact portion 718 is supported at a position spaced apart from the support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) by a support pillar 719 or the like that protrudes from the stage 760. The top-bottom inverted contact portion 718 is located above the positioning surface 72CF, which is a receiving surface.

[0247] In this case, when the lower end of imaging plate 10 reaches support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) and slides down on support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface), a portion of imaging plate 10 above the lower end comes into contact with up-down inversion contact portion 718 and is inverted. In the inverted state, imaging plate 10 further slides down support surface 64F (opposite inclined surface) to reach positioning surface 72CF and is supported on stage 760.

[0248] When the reading unit 90 reads the imaging plate 10, the reading unit 90 may read the imaging plate 10 at a position away from the stage 760 to avoid the up-down inverted contact portion 718, or the data of the up-down inverted contact portion 718 read in the image processing process may be processed (edited or erased), or the up-down inverted contact portion 718 may be moved to a retreat position by a cam mechanism or another driving mechanism while the stage 760 is moving to the reading position P2.

[0249] {Second embodiment} A radiation image reading device 720 according to the second embodiment will now be described. Fig. 20 is a partial perspective view showing the reading device 720. Fig. 21 is a partial side view showing the reading device 720. Figs. 20 and 21 show a portion of the reading device 720 into which a setting guide 800 is incorporated. Fig. 22 is an exploded perspective view showing the setting guide 800 according to this embodiment.

[0250] The main difference between this reading device 720 and the reading device 20 according to the first embodiment is the configuration of a setting guide 800 that corresponds to the setting guide 200. The following mainly describes the setting guide 800 related to this difference.

[0251] The setting guide 800 includes a guide body 810 , a guide support portion 830 , and a cover portion 850 .

[0252] The guide support part 830 is supported at a fixed position in a housing 880 corresponding to the housing 30. The guide body 810 is a portion having a plate guide surface 816 corresponding to the plate guide surface 216. The guide support part 830 supports the guide body 810 in a detachable manner. In a state in which the guide body 810 is supported by the guide support part 830, the guide body 810 is disposed at a position facing the stage 60 located at the set position P1. In this state, the plate guide surface 816 of the guide body 810 can guide the imaging plate 10 inserted from the outside toward the stage 60 while inverting it. When the guide body 810 is removed from the guide support part 830, the plate guide surface 816 can be exposed to the outside.

[0253] Lid portion 850 covers from the outside a portion of guide body 810 that faces outward from housing 880. Lid portion 850 hides the joint between guide support portion 830 and guide body 810 from the outside, and also makes it difficult for external light to enter device 720. Lid portion 850 may be omitted. Lid portion 850 may be integrated with guide body 810.

[0254] Each part of the setting guide 800 will now be described in more detail.

[0255] The guide support part 830 includes a pair of base parts 832, a pair of side walls 834, and an intermediate connector 838. In this embodiment, the guide support part 830 is configured of a resin part divided into two parts in the width direction. The entire guide support part 830 may be integrally molded from resin or the like.

[0256] Each of the pair of bases 832 is an elongated portion and is arranged in parallel with a space therebetween. The pair of bases 832 is supported at a fixed position within the housing 880. For example, the pair of bases 832 is fixed to the pair of support rods 48 by screws or the like (see FIG. 9).

[0257] A pair of side walls 834 are supported in an upright state by a pair of bases 832. The space between the pair of side walls 834 extends in front of the stage 60 positioned at the set position P1. By disposing the guide main body 810 in this space, the guide main body 810 can face the stage 60 positioned at the set position P1.

[0258] In this embodiment, the distance between the upper portions of the pair of side wall portions 834 is greater than the distance between the lower portions. The pair of base portions 832 may be joined together in advance by adhesion or the like before being supported in the housing 880. Similarly, the pair of side wall portions 834 may be joined together in advance by adhesion or the like. Similarly, one of the pair of base portions 832 and one of the pair of side wall portions 834 may be joined together in advance by adhesion or the like.

[0259] A slide holding groove 834g is formed on the inner surface of the pair of side wall portions 834. In this embodiment, the slide holding groove 834g extends toward the collection tray 780 described later in the upper portion of the pair of side wall portions 834. More specifically, the slide holding groove 834g is a bottomed groove extending along the primary scanning direction A1. The lower end of the slide holding groove 834g on the collection tray 780 side is open. The upper end of the slide holding groove 834g on the opposite side to the collection tray 780 is a closed end that does not open. The slide holding groove 834g may extend linearly or may be curved in the middle. For example, the slide holding groove 834g may be curved in the middle in a crank shape, and the pair of slide holding protrusions 814p may be configured to be caught in the middle of the slide holding groove 834g. This makes it difficult for the guide main body portion 810 and the guide support portion 830 to be easily separated.

[0260] A pair of lid support parts 835 are provided at upper portions of the tips of the pair of side wall parts 834. The outward surfaces of the lid support parts 835 are located more inward than the outward surface of the housing 880. The outward surfaces of the lid support parts 835 are aligned in a direction parallel to the outward surface of the housing 880.

[0261] The lid support portion 835 is formed with a recess 835a into which the mounting protrusion 854 of the lid portion 850 fits.

[0262] Below the pair of lid support parts 835 is a space that is open toward the outside of the housing 880. The claw parts 856 of the lid part 850 are disposed in this space.

[0263] The intermediate connector 838 is a long and thin portion extending in a direction connecting the pair of side wall portions 834. Similar to the upper insertion guide surface 222a, the intermediate connector 838 has a surface located a distance away from the upper end of the plate guide surface 816 according to the thickness of the imaging plate 10. An insertion opening 839 is formed by the upper edge of the plate guide surface 816 and the intermediate connector 838.

[0264] Note that the configuration for supporting guide support portion 830 is not limited to the above example as long as it is supported at a fixed position within housing 880. For example, guide support portion 830 may be fixed directly to housing 880.

[0265] Fig. 23 is a perspective view of the guide body 810 as viewed from the plate guide surface 816. As shown in Fig. 20 to Fig. 23, the guide body 810 is a member having a plate guide surface 816 corresponding to the plate guide surface 16. The guide body 810 is formed from, for example, resin or the like.

[0266] More specifically, the guide body 810 includes a base plate portion 811 , an intermediate base portion 812 , and a guide surface forming portion 814 .

[0267] The guide surface forming portion 814 is set to a size that allows it to be placed between the narrower upper portions of the pair of side wall portions 834. The intermediate base portion 812 is set to a size that allows it to be placed between the wider lower portions of the pair of side wall portions 834. The guide surface forming portion 814 is located above the intermediate base portion 812.

[0268] Then, the guide surface forming portion 814 and the intermediate base portion 812 are disposed in the space between the pair of side wall portions 834. In this state, the inner surfaces of the pair of side wall portions 834 contact the outward side surfaces of the guide surface forming portion 814 and the intermediate base portion 812, and the guide main body 810 is positioned in the width direction (sub-scanning direction A2).

[0269] In addition, the two side protruding portions 815 of the intermediate base 812 that protrude outward from the guide surface forming portion 814 contact the downward step portion located in the middle of the pair of side wall portions 834 in the vertical direction, thereby regulating the upward position of the guide main body 810.

[0270] A plate guide surface 816 is formed from the upward portion of the guide surface forming portion 814 to a portion facing the stage 60 at the set position P1. The plate guide surface 816 has a similar configuration to the plate guide surface 16 in the first embodiment.

[0271] A pair of slide holding protrusions 814p extending along the primary scanning direction A1 are formed on both side surfaces of the guide surface forming portion 814. The pair of slide holding protrusions 814p are fitted into the slide holding grooves 834g from below along the primary scanning direction A1. In other words, the guide main body 810 is set on the guide support portion 830 from below.

[0272] When the guide body 810 is set on the guide support portion 830, a pair of slide holding protrusions 814p are fitted into the slide holding groove 834g, so that the guide body 810 is positioned at a fixed position in a direction perpendicular to the support surface 64F of the stage 60 (a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction A1 and the sub-scanning direction A2).

[0273] The guide surface forming portion 814 is open on the side opposite to the plate guide surface 816, but this is not essential.

[0274] A pair of lid holding projections 815p protrude from a pair of both side protruding portions 815 of the intermediate base 812. The lid holding projections 815p protrude upward from the upper ends of the both side protruding portions 815 near the lid portion 850. The lid holding projections 815p are disposed at a position spaced apart from the lower edge of the lid support portion 835. The claw portions 856 of the lid portion 850 can fit between the lower edge of the lid support portion 835 and the lid holding projections 815p and be caught by the lid holding projections 815p.

[0275] The base plate portion 811 is a plate-like portion that protrudes outward from the lower edge of the intermediate base portion 812. The base plate portion 811 comes into contact with the lower surfaces of the pair of side wall portions 834, thereby more reliably restricting the upper position of the guide main body 810 relative to the guide support portion 830. In addition, when the collection tray 780 is set in the housing 880, the upper surface of the collection tray 780 comes into contact with the lower surface of the base plate portion 811. This prevents the guide main body 810 from falling off downward. The base plate portion 811 may be a single component, or may be a component formed by combining multiple components.

[0276] In this embodiment, a slit 816S is formed in the plate guide surface 816. The slit 816S is located midway along the guide path of the imaging plate 10 by the plate guide surface 816. In this embodiment, the slit 816S is located near the entrance of the plate guide surface 816. The slit 816S is a slit that penetrates the plate guide surface 816 from the front surface to the back surface. The slit 816S is perpendicular to the guide direction F of the imaging plate 10 by the plate guide surface 816.

[0277] The slit 816S may be a bottomed groove that opens on the plate guide surface 816 side and does not open on the opposite side. The slit 816S may be aligned along the guiding direction F or may be oblique to the guiding direction F.

[0278] Due to the presence of the slit 816S in the middle of the plate guide surface 816, even if liquid infiltrates the inlet portion of the plate guide surface 816, the liquid enters the slit 816S. Therefore, the flow of liquid along the guiding direction of the imaging plate 10 is suppressed, and the liquid is less likely to enter the reading device 720 along the plate guide surface 816. If the slit 816S penetrates the plate guide surface 816 from the front surface to the back surface, the liquid on the slit 816S is guided through the slit 816S to a location away from the plate guide surface 816. Therefore, the liquid is less likely to enter the reading device 720. As described later, even when the guide body 810 is removed and the plate guide surface 816 is sterilized and cleaned, if the slit 816S penetrates the plate guide surface 816 from the front surface to the back surface, liquid and the like are less likely to remain, which is preferable.

[0279] 24 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lid portion 850 and the collection tray 780 are removed from the guide support portion 830. As shown in FIGS.

[0280] The lid body 852 is formed in a plate shape. An opening 882h that exposes the guide body 810 and the guide support portion 830 is formed in the housing 880. The lid body 852 is formed in a plate shape large enough to cover the opening 882h.

[0281] The lid main body 852 is formed with a lid side insertion opening 853. The lid side insertion opening 853 is formed in a slit shape into which the imaging plate 10 can be inserted. With the lid main body 852 placed in the opening 882h, the lid side insertion opening 853 is disposed at a position facing the insertion opening 839.

[0282] An attachment protrusion 854 and a claw portion 856 are provided on a surface of the lid body 852 facing the inside of the housing 880 .

[0283] The mounting protrusion 854 is formed at a position facing the recess 835a. The mounting protrusion 854 is formed in a protruding shape, here a cylindrical shape, that can be inserted into the recess 835a. An annular groove is formed at the tip of the mounting protrusion 854, and an annular elastic member 854a such as an O-ring is attached to the annular groove. The mounting protrusion 854 is fitted into the recess 835a. In this state, the annular elastic member 854a is caught on the recess 835a from the inside of the housing 880, preventing the mounting protrusion 854 from coming out of the recess 835a. If a force large enough to elastically deform the annular elastic member 854a is applied, the mounting protrusion 854 can be removed from the recess 835a.

[0284] Claw portion 856 is formed at a position facing lid support portion 835 and lid holding protrusion 815p. Claw portion 856 is formed in a hook shape including a portion extending in a direction protruding from lid main body 852 and a portion extending downward from the tip of said portion. This claw portion 856 is inserted between the lower edge of lid support portion 835 and lid holding protrusion 815p, and can be hooked on lid holding protrusion 815p from above.

[0285] In this embodiment, a guide protrusion 857 is provided on the lid main body 852, and when the lid main body 852 is attached, the guide protrusion 857 is guided and inserted into a guide recess 836a formed in the guide support portion 830.

[0286] The collection tray 780 is located below the setting guide 800 and the stage 60 at the setting position P1. More specifically, a space 882 (see FIGS. 20 and 21) capable of accommodating the collection tray 780 is formed below the setting guide 800 and the stage 60 at the setting position P1 in the housing 880. A tray setting section 883 capable of fitting a part of the collection tray 780 therein is disposed in the space 882.

[0287] The collection tray 780 includes a tray body 782 and a setting protrusion 786 .

[0288] The tray body 782 is formed in the shape of a square tray that opens to the front of the housing 880, i.e., on the same side as the lid-side insertion opening 853. The upper surface of an upper wall portion 783 of the tray body 782 is formed in a plane extending along the base plate portion 811. The portion of the upper wall portion 783 inside the housing 880 is located below the stage 60 at the set position P1. A slit-shaped imaging plate passage opening 783h is formed in the upper wall portion 783 on a downward extension of the stage 60 at the set position P1.

[0289] The bottom surface 784a in the tray main body 782 is along the horizontal direction, and the innermost side surface in the tray main body 782 is an inclined surface 784b extending obliquely downward from an imaging plate passing opening 783h. The imaging plate 10 that has passed through the imaging plate passing opening 783h slides down the inclined surface 784b and is received on the bottom surface 784a. A sheet that is softer than the tray main body 782, such as rubber, may be laid on the bottom surface 784a. In this case, the impact of the imaging plate 10 being dropped can be received by the sheet. Furthermore, if the sheet is made of a non-slip rubber or other material, the imaging plate 10 is less likely to slide out of the tray main body 782.

[0290] A horizontally extending groove 784bg (see FIG. 20) is formed on the inclined surface 784b. A user can easily remove the imaging plate 10 supported by leaning against the inclined surface 784b by inserting a fingertip into the groove 784bg.

[0291] The setting protrusion 786 is formed in a shape extending from the tray main body 782 toward the inside of the housing 880. When the collection tray 780 is placed in the space 882 of the housing 880, the setting protrusion 786 fits into a setting recess formed in the tray setting portion 883. This allows the collection tray 780 to be held at a fixed position in the space 882.

[0292] In this embodiment, at least a portion of the setting guide 800 is detachable, and when the at least a portion of the setting guide 800 is detached, at least a portion of the plate guide surface 816 is exposed.

[0293] In this embodiment, when the reading device 720 is in use, the guide body 810 is set in the guide support portion 830 in a state where it is positioned between a pair of side wall portions 834. In this state, the pair of slide holding protrusions 814p are fitted into the slide holding grooves 834g.

[0294] Furthermore, the lid portion 850 is attached to the guide support portion 830 with the mounting protrusion 854 inserted into the recess 835a and the claw portion 856 hooked onto the lid holding protrusion 815p.

[0295] Furthermore, the collection tray 780 is set in the space 882 below the guide body 810. In this state, the upper surface of the upper wall portion 783 of the collection tray 780 contacts at least a part of the lower surface of the base plate portion 811 of the guide body 810. This prevents the guide body 810 from slipping out downward.

[0296] In the above state, the plate guide surface 816 is disposed at a position facing the stage 60 located at the set position P1. Therefore, when the imaging plate 10 is inserted into the lid side insertion opening 853 and the insertion opening 839, the imaging plate 10 is guided toward the stage 60 by the plate guide surface 816. At this time, as described in the first embodiment, the imaging plate 10 is inverted. As a result, the imaging plate 10 is set on the stage 60.

[0297] After reading of the imaging plate 10 is completed, the lower positioning portion 72C moves to the retracted position as described in the first embodiment. Then, the imaging plate 10 on the stage 60 slides down. The imaging plate 10 passes through the imaging plate passage opening 783h and heads toward the inside of the collection tray 780. In the collection tray 780, the imaging plate 10 slides on the inclined surface 784b and reaches the bottom surface 784a. In this state, the imaging plate 10 is supported from below by the bottom surface 784a and leans against the inclined surface 784b.

[0298] For example, when it is desired to sterilize or clean the plate guide surface 816, or when the imaging plate 10 becomes clogged on the plate guide surface 816, the plate guide surface 816 can be exposed to the outside as follows.

[0299] First, collection tray 780 is pulled out of housing 880 (see FIG. 24). Next, lid 850 is removed from housing 880. At this time, by moving mounting protrusion 854 on the upper side of lid 850 in a direction to remove it from recess 835a and then moving lid 850 upward, the hook between claw 856 and lid holding protrusion 815p can be released. Either collection tray 780 or lid 850 can be removed first.

[0300] By removing collection tray 780, guide body 810 becomes movable downward into space 882. In addition, by removing cover 850, a user becomes able to touch guide body 810 from the front of guide body 810.

[0301] A user can touch the front part of the guide body 810 to push the guide body 810 downward. Then, the slide holding protrusion 814p moves inside the slide holding groove 834g, and the guide body 810 moves downward into the space 882. When the slide holding protrusion 814p comes out of the slide holding groove 834g, the guide body 810 can be removed forward from the housing 880.

[0302] When the guide body 810 is removed from the housing 880, the plate guide surface 816 can be exposed to the outside. Note that at least a part of the plate guide surface 816 being exposed to the outside may be understood as being able to touch the plate guide surface 816 with a user's finger. This allows the plate guide surface 816 to be exposed, or allows access from the outside to the space extending above the plate guide surface 816, making it possible to remove a clogged imaging plate 10.

[0303] By reversing the above, the guide body 810, the cover portion 850 and the collection tray 780 are set in the housing 880.

[0304] According to this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the guiding action of the imaging plate 10 by the plate guide surface 816 makes it possible to prevent the radiation image forming surface of the imaging plate 10 from being exposed to external light when the imaging plate 10 is set in the radiation image reading device 720.

[0305] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, at least a portion of the setting guide 800 is detachable so that at least a portion of the plate guide surface 816 is exposed to the outside. Therefore, even if a problem such as clogging of the imaging plate 10 occurs, the problem can be easily solved by removing at least a portion of the setting guide 800, in this case the guide body 810. Furthermore, cleaning and sterilization of the plate guide surface 816 and the like can be easily performed.

[0306] In particular, attachment and detachment of guide body 810 is performed by moving collection tray 780 to attach and detach collection tray 780, and by moving lid portion 850 to attach and detach cover portion 850. Therefore, guide body 810 can be easily attached and detached without using tools or the like.

[0307] The configuration for detachably supporting at least a part of the setting guide 800 is not limited to the above example. The guide body may be provided with a locking member using an elastic member such as a spring, and the locking member may be detachably locked to the guide support part. The guide body may be detachably attached to the guide support part by a screw or the like. The entire setting guide may be detachable from the housing. In other words, if at least a part of the setting guide can be removed from a predetermined guide position and returned to the original guide position without irreversible damage to the device 720, it can be said that at least a part of the setting guide is detachable.

[0308] Also, a slit 816S is formed in the middle of the plate guide surface 816. The slit 816S prevents liquid from entering the reading device 720. For example, the radiation image reading device of the present invention is expected to be used in a medical institution such as a hospital or clinic, and also to be brought to a visiting place such as a personal home or facility during home medical treatment and used therein. In that case, liquid such as drinking water or water for daily use may splash on the reading device 720, and the liquid may reach the plate guide surface 816 through the lid side insertion port 853 and the insertion port 839 (of course, even in a hospital, the above-mentioned possibility of liquid for drinking or cleaning may be expected). The liquid enters the slit 816S, so the liquid is unlikely to penetrate deep into the reading device 720 along the plate guide surface 816.

[0309] A plurality of slits may be formed in the plate guide surface. The liquid flow suppression recess does not necessarily have to be the slit 816S. The liquid flow suppression recess may be a hole penetrating from the surface of the plate guide surface to the back side, or may be a recess for temporarily storing liquid.

[0310] 25, the liquid flow suppression recess may be a slit 816Sa formed along the plate guide surface 816. In this case, the plate guide surface 816 may have a plurality of slits 816Sa aligned along the width direction of the plate guide surface 816.

[0311] As in a modified example shown in FIG. 26, the liquid flow suppression recess may be a plurality of holes 816Sb formed in the plate guide surface 816.

[0312] In any case, if a recess is formed in the plate guide surface 816 but is not large enough to interfere with the guiding of the imaging plate 10, the flow of liquid over the surface of the imaging plate 10 is hindered, making it difficult for liquid to penetrate into the housing 880.

[0313] It is not essential that the plate guide surface 816 has any liquid flow suppression recesses such as the slits 816S.

[0314] The configurations described in the above embodiments and modifications can be combined as appropriate as long as they are not mutually inconsistent.

[0315] {Additional Note} The present disclosure discloses the following aspects.

[0316] a setting guide including a plate guide surface that is inclined downward and guides the imaging plate diagonally downward and guides the imaging plate toward the stage, wherein at least one of the setting guide and the stage includes an opposite inclined surface that is inclined downward on the opposite side to the plate guide surface and that receives the imaging plate guided by the plate guide surface and guides the imaging plate diagonally downward, and wherein at least one of the stage and the setting guide includes an opposite inclined surface that is inclined downward on the opposite side to the plate guide surface and that receives the imaging plate guided by the plate guide surface and guides it diagonally downward, and wherein at least one of the stage and the setting guide includes an up-down inversion contact portion that contacts the imaging plate guided by the opposite inclined surface from the front side of the imaging plate to invert the imaging plate into the same inclined posture as the opposite inclined surface.

[0317] Around the reading device, it is assumed that the intensity of light from above, such as sunlight and ceiling lighting, is the strongest. According to this reading device, the imaging plate can be placed on the plate guide surface in the housing with the surface on which the radiation image is formed facing downward, so that the radiation image forming surface of the imaging plate is not easily exposed to external light when placed. The imaging plate is guided obliquely downward by the plate guide surface, received by the opposite inclined surface that is inclined downward on the opposite side to the plate guide surface, and further guided obliquely downward. When the imaging plate is guided obliquely downward by the opposite inclined surface, the up-down inversion contact portion contacts the imaging plate from the front side, and inverts the imaging plate to the same inclination as the opposite inclined surface. Therefore, the imaging plate is supported by the stage with the front and back inverted and the radiation image forming surface facing upward. As a result, when the imaging plate is set in the radiation image reading device, the imaging plate is not easily exposed to external light, and the imaging plate can be supported on the stage with the radiation image forming surface always facing upward, so that reading can be started smoothly.

[0318] A second aspect is a radiation image reading device according to the first aspect, wherein the stage includes, as the reverse inclined surface, a support surface that is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction and supports the imaging plate from the back side, the stage further includes a receiving surface that receives the imaging plate supported by the supporting surface from a lower side in the inclined direction of the supporting surface, the plate guide surface faces gradually downward toward the supporting surface and guides the imaging plate toward the supporting surface, and the setting guide includes the up-down inverted contact portion, which is a portion located closer to the supporting surface than to an extension directly above the position where the receiving surface receives the imaging plate.

[0319] Since the imaging plate can be inverted by using the support surface of the stage as a counter inclined surface, the configuration can be simplified.

[0320] A third aspect is the radiation image reading device according to the first aspect, wherein the setting guide includes the opposite inclined surface and the up-down inverted contact portion.

[0321] In this case, the support surface of the stage does not need to be inclined.

[0322] A fourth aspect is a reading device according to any one of the first to third aspects, which is a radiation image reading device further comprising a housing that covers the stage, the excitation light source, the photodetector, and at least the plate guide surface and the up-down inversion contact portion of the setting guide, and the opposite inclined surface.

[0323] In this case, the imaging plate is inverted and set on the stage inside the housing, so that the radiation image forming surface of the imaging plate is unlikely to be exposed to external light.

[0324] A fifth aspect is the radiation image reading device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the plate guide surface includes a portion that is an outwardly convex curved surface.

[0325] In this way, if the plate guide surface includes a portion that is an outwardly convex curved surface, the imaging plate is less likely to come into surface contact with the plate guide surface and is less likely to remain on the plate guide surface.

[0326] A sixth aspect is a radiation image reading device relating to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the plate guide surface has a shape of a single straight line or a combination of multiple straight lines when viewed along a horizontal direction perpendicular to the guide direction of the imaging plate.

[0327] This makes it easier to machine the plate guide surface.

[0328] A seventh aspect is a radiation image reading device relating to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the up-down inverted contact portion is continuous with the plate guide surface downstream in the guiding direction of the imaging plate.

[0329] In this case, the imaging plate is less likely to get caught between the plate guide surface and the upside-down contact portion.

[0330] An eighth aspect is a radiological image reading device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the setting guide includes an opposite inclined surface guide surface that gradually approaches the opposite inclined surface as it extends downward in the inclination direction of the opposite inclined surface.

[0331] In this case, the imaging plate is more reliably guided toward the opposite inclined surface by the guide surface for the opposite inclined surface.

[0332] A ninth aspect is the radiation image reading device according to the eighth aspect, wherein the reverse inclined surface guide surface is continuous with the lower side of the up-down inversion contact portion.

[0333] In this case, the imaging plate is less likely to get caught between the upside-down contact portion and the guide surface for the opposite inclined surface.

[0334] A tenth aspect is a radiation image reading device relating to any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein the setting guide includes an upper insertion guide positioned a distance away from the upper end of the plate guide surface according to the thickness of the imaging plate.

[0335] In this case, by inserting the imaging plate between the upper end of the plate guide surface and the upper insertion guide, it is easy to set the imaging plate on the plate guide surface so that the back surface of the imaging plate is aligned with the plate guide surface.

[0336] An eleventh aspect is a radiation image reading device relating to any one of the first to tenth aspects, wherein the setting guide is located midway along the guide path of the imaging plate by the plate guide surface and has a liquid flow suppression recess that suppresses the flow of liquid along the guide direction of the imaging plate.

[0337] As a result, even if liquid seeps onto the plate guide surface, the liquid flow suppression recess prevents the liquid from flowing into the inside of the reading device.

[0338] A twelfth aspect is a radiation image reading device relating to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, in which at least a portion of the setting guide is removably supported so that at least a portion of the plate guide surface is exposed to the outside in the removed state.

[0339] This allows easy cleaning and sterilization. Furthermore, even if a problem occurs such as clogging of the imaging plate, the problem can be easily solved by removing at least a part of the setting guide.

[0340] A thirteenth aspect is a radiation image reading device relating to any one of the first to twelfth aspects, wherein the setting guide includes an insertion opening for inserting the imaging plate at an upper end of the plate guide surface, and a shutter that can be opened and closed to cover the insertion opening.

[0341] This makes it possible to regulate the timing at which an imaging plate can be inserted, and also makes it possible to prevent malfunctions of the radiation image reading device, such as plate clogging, which may occur when multiple imaging plates are inserted into the insertion port.

[0342] A fourteenth aspect is a radiation image reading device relating to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, wherein the setting guide guides the imaging plate in a position in which the longitudinal direction of the imaging plate is aligned with the direction of movement of the imaging plate on the plate guide surface, and the stage supports the imaging plate in a position in which the longitudinal direction of the imaging plate is inclined relative to the horizontal direction.

[0343] In this case, the imaging plate can be tilted significantly by the upside-down contact portion, which makes it easy to turn the imaging plate upside down.

[0344] A fifteenth aspect is a radiation image reading device according to any one of the first to fourteenth aspects, further comprising a stage moving mechanism which moves the stage between a set position where the imaging plate is set relative to the stage and a read position where the photodetector reads the radiation image in response to excitation light from the excitation light source, and the setting guide is provided at a position facing the stage which is at the set position.

[0345] This makes it easier to position the setting guide without interfering with the excitation light source and the photodetector.

[0346] The above description is illustrative in all respects, and the present invention is not limited thereto. It is understood that countless variations not illustrated can be assumed without departing from the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0347] 10 Imaging Plate 10a surface 10b back side 20,720 Radiation image reading device 30 Case 31 Aperture 50 Stage movement mechanism 60 Stages 61 Stage body 64F Support surface (opposite inclined surface) 72C Positioning part 72CF Positioning surface (receiving surface) 90 Reading Unit 92 Excitation Light Source 94 Photodetector Guide for 200, 500A, 500B, 500C, 600, 700, 800 sets 204 Aperture 216, 416A, 416B, 516A, 516B, 516C, 616, 716, 816 Plate guide surface 216a Curved Surface 217a Entrance guide surface 217b Guide surface for opposite inclined surface 218, 518A, 518Bb, 518Cb, 618, 718 Upside-down contacts 230 Inlet 240 Shutter Mechanism 244 Shutter 248 Shutter Cam 516Af1, 516Af2, 516B, 516C plane 517Ab, 517B Guide surface for inclined surfaces 630 Reverse Slope 660, 760 Stage 664F Support surface 810 Guide body 816S, 816Sa Slit 816Sb hole P1 Set position P2 Reading position

Claims

1. A radiation image reading device for reading a radiation image from a surface of an imaging plate, comprising: a stage that supports the imaging plate from a back surface side; an excitation light source that irradiates the imaging plate supported by the stage with excitation light; a photodetector for detecting luminescence from the imaging plate due to the excitation light; a setting guide including a plate guide surface that is inclined downward and guides the imaging plate obliquely downward, the setting guide guiding the imaging plate toward the stage; Equipped with At least one of the setting guide and the stage includes an opposing inclined surface, the opposite inclined surface is a surface that is inclined downward on an opposite side to the plate guide surface and receives the imaging plate guided by the plate guide surface and guides the imaging plate obliquely downward, a top-bottom inversion contact portion, wherein at least one of the stage and the setting guide contacts the imaging plate guided by the reverse inclined surface from the front side of the imaging plate to invert the imaging plate into the same inclined posture as the reverse inclined surface.

2. 2. The radiation image reading apparatus according to claim 1, the stage includes, as the counter inclined surface, a support surface that is inclined with respect to a horizontal direction and supports the imaging plate from a back surface side, the stage further includes a receiving surface that receives the imaging plate supported by the supporting surface from a lower side in a tilt direction of the supporting surface, the plate guide surface faces gradually downward toward the support surface to guide the imaging plate toward the support surface; the setting guide includes the upside-down contact portion, A radiation image reading device, wherein the upside-down contact portion is a portion located closer to the support surface than an extension directly above a position where the receiving surface receives the imaging plate.

3. 2. The radiation image reading apparatus according to claim 1, The setting guide includes the opposite inclined surface and the upside-down contact portion.

4. 4. The radiation image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a housing for covering the stage, the excitation light source, the photodetector, and at least the plate guide surface, the up-down inversion contact portion, and the opposite inclined surface of the setting guide.

5. 4. The radiation image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A radiation image reading device, wherein the plate guide surface includes a portion which is an outwardly convex curved surface.

6. 4. The radiation image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A radiation image reading device, wherein the plate guide surface has a shape of one straight line or a combination of a plurality of straight lines when viewed along a horizontal direction perpendicular to a guiding direction of the imaging plate.

7. 4. The radiation image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a plate guide surface that guides the imaging plate to a downstream side of the plate guide surface, the plate guide surface being continuous with the downstream side of the plate guide surface in a guiding direction of the imaging plate;

8. 4. The radiation image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The setting guide includes an opposite inclined surface guide surface that gradually approaches the opposite inclined surface as it extends downward in a direction in which the opposite inclined surface is inclined.

9. 9. The radiation image reading apparatus according to claim 8, A radiation image reading device, wherein the reverse inclined surface guide surface is continuous with a lower side of the up-down inversion contact portion.

10. 4. The radiation image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The setting guide includes an upper insertion guide positioned at a distance corresponding to a thickness of the imaging plate from an upper end of the plate guide surface.

11. 4. The radiation image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The setting guide is located midway along a guide path of the imaging plate by the plate guide surface, and has a liquid flow suppressing recess for suppressing a flow of liquid along a guide direction of the imaging plate.

12. 4. The radiation image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: at least a portion of the setting guide is detachably supported so that at least a portion of the plate guide surface is exposed to the outside in a removed state.

13. 4. The radiation image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The setting guide includes an insertion opening for inserting the imaging plate at an upper end of the plate guide surface, and a shutter for opening and closing the insertion opening.

14. 4. The radiation image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: the setting guide guides the imaging plate in a position in which a longitudinal direction of the imaging plate is aligned with a moving direction of the imaging plate on the plate guide surface, a stage for supporting the imaging plate such that the longitudinal direction of the imaging plate is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction;

15. 4. The radiation image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a stage moving mechanism that moves the stage between a set position at which the imaging plate is set with respect to the stage and a read position at which the photodetector reads the radiation image in response to excitation light from the excitation light source, The setting guide is provided at a position facing the stage located at the setting position.

Images