JP2001242566A - Method for adjusting reading format - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily perform adjustment of a reading format in the case of exchanging an optical unit exchangeably disposed in a radiation image reader. SOLUTION: While manufacturing the radiation image reader 1, intrinsic data necessary for the reading format adjustment are measured in the optical unit 10 simple body and in the state where the optical unit 10 are disposed on a device 1, and are stored in a recording medium, such as a FD. Intrinsic data are measured also about a new optical unit for exchange. In the case of exchanging the optical unit, a reading format adjustment value is calculated on the basis of the intrinsic data, and reading format adjustment of the device is performed by using the calculated reading format adjustment value.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radiation image reading apparatus for obtaining an image signal representing a radiation image from a stimulable phosphor sheet on which a radiation image is accumulated and recorded. The present invention relates to a read format adjustment method for adjusting a read format.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, radiation (X-ray, α-ray, β-ray,
(γ-rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc.), a part of this radiation energy is accumulated, and then, when irradiated with excitation light such as visible light, it emits photostimulated luminescence of the amount corresponding to the accumulated energy. Using a phosphor (stimulable phosphor), a radiation image of a subject such as a human body is once photographed and recorded on a sheet-shaped stimulable phosphor, and the stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned with excitation light such as a light beam. The photostimulated luminescent light is photoelectrically read by a reading means such as a photomultiplier to obtain an image signal. Based on the image signal, a radiation image of a subject is converted to a photographic photosensitive material or the like. And a radiation recording / reproducing system for outputting a visible image on a CRT or the like (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 55-12429, 56-11395, 55).
Nos. -0163472, 56-164645, and 55-116340).

A radiation image reading apparatus used in such a system includes a light source for emitting laser light as excitation light, a deflecting means such as a rotary polygon mirror for reflecting and deflecting the laser light emitted from the light source, and an fθ lens. Main scanning means comprising an optical system such as a cylindrical lens and a cylindrical mirror; sub-scanning means for sub-scanning the stimulable phosphor sheet in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction; and stimulable phosphor sheet by main scanning of the excitation light. Reading means for photoelectrically reading stimulated emission light emitted from the device to obtain an image signal representing a radiation image. Further, in such a radiation image reading apparatus, when there is a deterioration of the light source in the main scanning unit, a failure of the deflecting unit, etc., only individual components may be replaced. There is a possibility that dust adheres to the parts and the optical system is damaged. For this reason,
A radiation image reading apparatus is used in which a main scanning unit is disposed on a surface plate to form an optical unit housed in a housing, and the optical unit is replaceably disposed with respect to an apparatus main body. With such a replaceable optical unit,
When the optical unit is replaced, there is no danger of dust adhering to components of the main scanning means or damaging the optical system.

On the other hand, in the above-described radiation image reading apparatus, when reading an image from the stimulable phosphor sheet, the main scanning start position of the excitation light is detected by a start point detection sensor, and the detection is performed based on the detection by the start point detection sensor. The number of pixels from the luminescent phosphor sheet to the start of the image area (the number of pixels to be seen off) and the pixel clock are set as the reading format, and the number of pixels to be seen off and the area width from the start of the image area to the end of the image area are determined in advance. So that
Reading of radiation images. Here, in the radiation image reading apparatus, the stimulable phosphor sheet is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction with the reading position in the main scanning direction being defined.
Once the reading format is set, it is possible to obtain a radiation image having a fixed image area in the main scanning direction and no missing or white border at the reading start end.

However, since the main scanning speed of the excitation light slightly varies for each optical unit, when the optical unit is replaced, the number of pixels to be seen off differs before and after the replacement, and the image reading start position shifts, and the image is missing in the main scanning direction. There is a problem that white edges appear. Further, if reading is performed with the pixel clock before replacement in a state where the main scanning speed is different, there is a problem that the obtained radiation image is enlarged or reduced in the main scanning direction.

Therefore, when replacing the optical unit, the operator adjusts the number of pixels to be sent off and the pixel clock so that the above-mentioned problem does not occur. Specifically, a phosphor plate for format adjustment in which lines at predetermined intervals are recorded in the main scanning direction is prepared, and the phosphor plate for format adjustment is read by the radiation image reading device after the replacement of the optical unit. The line interval and the image reading start position are measured, and the number of pixels to be turned off and the pixel clock are calculated as format adjustment values based on the measurement results. Then, format adjustment is performed based on the adjustment values, and the format adjustment phosphor plate is read again to check whether the read format has been properly adjusted.

[0007]

However, in the above-described read format adjustment method, it is necessary to read the format adjustment phosphor plate and calculate the format adjustment value. It becomes complicated and takes a long time to work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a reading format adjustment method capable of easily adjusting a reading format when replacing an optical unit.

[0009]

According to the reading format adjusting method of the present invention, an optical unit having main scanning means for main scanning excitation light on a stimulable phosphor sheet on which a radiation image is accumulated and recorded is exchangeably arranged. Sub-scanning means for sub-scanning the stimulable phosphor sheet in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the main scanning; start point detecting means for detecting a main scanning start position of the excitation light; Reading means for photoelectrically reading stimulated emission light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet by main scanning to obtain an image signal representing the radiation image; and a stimulable phosphor based on a preset format adjustment value. A radiographic image reading apparatus comprising a main body provided with a format adjusting means for adjusting a reading format of a body sheet; In the method, a calculation format calculated on the basis of pre-measured data specific to the optical unit, data specific to the apparatus main body in a state where the optical unit is provided, and data specific to a new optical unit for replacement. The reading format after replacing the optical unit is adjusted by the format adjusting means according to the adjustment value.

Here, the “read format” is
A pixel clock indicating the number of pixels to be displayed indicating the number of pixels from the main scanning start position of the excitation light detected by the start point detection means to the start of the image area of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and a pixel clock indicating a reading time per pixel. . The “format adjustment value” refers to the number of pixels to be seen off and the value of the pixel clock itself.

The “data unique to the optical unit” and the “data unique to the new optical unit” refer to the main scanning start position of the excitation light, the sheet, at the same position as the apparatus main body, before the optical unit is installed in the apparatus main body. The scanning of the excitation light from the main scanning start position to the sheet image region start position by the optical unit alone is performed by using a measuring jig capable of detecting the image region start position and the image region end position of the sheet. Data representing the time, the scanning time of the excitation light from the image area start position to the image area end position, the number of pixels to be seen off, the pixel clock, and the like are used.

The "data unique to the apparatus main body in a state where the optical unit is provided" is obtained by using the same measurement jig as when measuring the data specific to the optical unit after the optical unit is provided in the apparatus main body. Alternatively, it is measured by reading the format adjustment phosphor plate, and the scanning time of the excitation light from the main scanning start position to the image area start position and the image area when the optical unit is arranged in the apparatus main body. Data representing the scanning time of the excitation light from the start position to the end position of the image area, the number of pixels to be seen off, the pixel clock, or the like is used.

In the reading format adjustment method according to the present invention, the operator who replaces the optical unit may calculate the calculated format adjustment value. However, the data unique to the optical unit and the optical unit are stored in the apparatus main body. The calculated format adjustment value is calculated based on the data unique to the apparatus main body in a state where is installed and the data unique to a new optical unit for replacement, and the calculated format adjustment value is input to the reading format adjustment means. It is preferable to provide a calculating means for calculating the calculated format adjustment value.

The calculating means may be a means for calculating the calculation format adjustment value by inputting each of the above-mentioned specific data by an operator, but each of the specific data is recorded on a recording medium such as an FD. In this case, it is preferable to read out each unique data from the recording medium and calculate the calculation format adjustment value.

A first optical unit according to the present invention is an optical unit which is exchangeably disposed in a radiation image reading apparatus used in the reading format adjusting method according to the present invention, wherein the recording medium records data unique to the optical unit. Is attached.

In the optical unit according to the present invention, it is preferable that data unique to the apparatus main body in a state where the optical unit is provided is further recorded on the recording medium.

Further, it is preferable that the optical unit according to the present invention includes an accommodation portion for accommodating the recording medium.

A second optical unit according to the present invention is an optical unit which is exchangeably disposed in a radiation image reading apparatus used in the reading format adjusting method according to the present invention. Is provided.

In the second optical unit according to the present invention, it is preferable that the above-mentioned portion further describes data unique to the apparatus main body in a state where the optical unit is provided.

A first radiation image reading apparatus according to the present invention is the radiation image reading apparatus used in the reading format adjusting method according to the present invention, wherein data unique to the apparatus main body in a state where the optical unit is provided is recorded. The recording medium is attached.

In the first radiographic image reading apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that data unique to the optical unit is further recorded on the recording medium.

Further, in the first radiographic image reading apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the first radiographic image reading apparatus further includes an accommodating section for accommodating the recording medium.

In a second radiation image reading apparatus according to the present invention, in the radiation image reading apparatus used in the reading format adjusting method according to the present invention, data unique to the apparatus main body in a state where the optical unit is provided is described. A description portion is provided.

[0024] In the second radiographic image reading apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that data specific to the optical unit is further described in the description section.

A first computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention is characterized by recording data unique to the optical unit used in the read format adjusting method according to the present invention.

In the first computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention, it is preferable that data unique to the apparatus main body in a state where the optical unit is provided is further recorded.

A second computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention is characterized by recording data unique to the apparatus main body in a state where the optical unit is provided, which is used in the read format adjusting method according to the present invention. It is assumed that.

[0028]

According to the present invention, the calculation format calculated based on the data unique to the optical unit, the data unique to the apparatus main body in a state where the optical unit is provided, and the data unique to the new optical unit for replacement. Depending on the adjustment value,
Since the format adjustment is performed, the format adjustment can be performed by obtaining the format adjustment value without reading the format adjustment phosphor plate, as in the conventional format adjustment method when replacing the optical unit,
Thereby, the format adjustment work can be easily performed.

Further, a calculating means for calculating the calculated format adjustment value is provided in the apparatus main body, and the calculating means calculates the calculated format adjustment value and inputs the calculated format adjustment value to the format adjusting means, whereby the operator calculates the format adjustment value. This eliminates the necessity, so that the format adjustment work can be performed more efficiently.

Further, if the data unique to the optical unit is recorded on a recording medium and attached to the optical unit, the data is read from the recording medium when the optical unit is replaced, so that the format adjustment value can be immediately calculated. Data can be obtained.

Furthermore, data specific to the apparatus main body in a state where the optical unit is provided is further recorded on a recording medium, and when the optical unit is replaced, data is read from the recording medium, thereby immediately calculating a format adjustment value. You can get data for

Further, by providing the optical unit with the accommodating portion for accommodating the recording medium, the optical unit and the recording medium can be integrated, thereby preventing the recording medium from being lost and replacing the optical unit when the optical unit is replaced. The trouble of searching for a recording medium can be eliminated.

Further, by providing the optical unit with a description portion describing the data unique to the optical unit, if the operator looks at the description portion when replacing the optical unit, the data for calculating the format adjustment value can be obtained immediately. it can.

Furthermore, the data specific to the apparatus main body in a state where the optical unit is disposed is further described in the description section, so that when the operator sees the description section when replacing the optical unit, the format adjustment value can be calculated immediately. Data can be obtained.

Furthermore, if the data unique to the optical unit is recorded on a recording medium and attached to the radiation image reading apparatus, the data is read from the recording medium when the optical unit is replaced, so that the format adjustment value can be calculated immediately. Data can be obtained.

Furthermore, by recording data unique to the apparatus main body in a state where the optical unit is provided on a recording medium, the data is read from the recording medium when the optical unit is replaced, so that the format adjustment value can be calculated immediately. You can get data for

Further, by providing a storage section for storing the recording medium in the radiation image reading apparatus, the optical unit and the recording medium can be integrated, thereby preventing the recording medium from being lost and preventing the optical unit from being lost. The trouble of searching for a recording medium at the time of replacement can be eliminated.

Furthermore, by providing the radiation image reading apparatus with a description section in which data specific to the optical unit is described, if the operator sees the description section when replacing the optical unit, data for calculating the format adjustment value is immediately obtained. be able to.

Further, the data specific to the apparatus main body in a state where the optical unit is provided is further described in the description section, so that when the operator sees the description section when replacing the optical unit, the format adjustment value can be calculated immediately. Data can be obtained.

[0040]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a configuration of a radiation image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view thereof. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a radiation image reading apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment transports a stimulable phosphor sheet 4 on which a radiation image is accumulated and recorded in a direction indicated by an arrow y and is rotated by a motor (not shown). 9a and 9b are provided. Above the sheet 4 to be conveyed, an optical unit 10 that emits laser light 11 as excitation light is provided.
The laser beam 11 scans the sheet 4 in the direction of the arrow x as shown in FIG. Further, above the position where the laser light 11 is main-scanned, a condensing guide 14 for condensing stimulated emission light 13 emitted from the sheet 4 by the main scanning of the laser light 11 is located close to the conveyance path of the sheet 4. It is arranged.
In the vicinity of the light-collecting guide 14, a light-collecting mirror 7 for reflecting the stimulating luminescent light 13 scattered and emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet 4 toward the light-collecting guide 14 is provided. I have. Note that the condenser mirror 7 is supported by the mirror mount 6. A photomultiplier (photomultiplier) for photoelectrically detecting the stimulated emission light 13 is provided on the condensing guide 14.
15 are connected. This photo multiplier 15
Is connected to a logarithmic amplifier 16, and the logarithmic amplifier 1
6 is connected to the A / D converter 17. The A / D converter 17 is connected to a format adjusting unit 21 for adjusting the reading format of the radiation image reading apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. The format adjusting unit 21 includes a clock adjusting unit 21A and an off-pixel adjusting unit 21B, and the A / D converter 1 is controlled by the clock adjusting unit 21A.
7, the sampling pixel adjustment unit 21B adjusts the number of pixels to be shifted off of the image signal A / D-converted by the A / D converter 17. The see-off pixel adjusting unit 21B is connected to the storage unit 18, and the storage unit 18 is connected to the image processing unit 19.

In such a radiation image reading apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 2, the optical unit 10 is configured so that the laser beam 11 performs main scanning over a range wider than the width of the stimulable phosphor sheet 4. A start point detection sensor 20 that detects a main scanning start position of the laser light 11 and outputs a start point detection signal B0 is provided on a scanning line of the laser light 11.
Note that the start point detection signal B0 is input to the format adjustment unit 21.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the structure of the optical unit 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the optical unit 10 includes a light source 32 that emits a laser beam 11, a collimator lens 34 for converting the laser beam 11 into parallel light,
Is converged in the sub-scanning direction (the direction of arrow y in FIG. 1), a mirror 40 reflects the laser beam 11 toward the rotating polygon mirror 38, and the laser beam 11 is reflected by being driven by a motor (not shown). Rotating polygon mirror 38 for deflecting, and first and second laser beam 11 reflected and deflected by rotating polygon mirror 38 for forming an image on sheet 4
Lens 46 composed of the spherical lenses 42 and 44 described above, and a cylindrical mirror 48 that reflects the laser beam 11 toward the sheet 4, and these are disposed in the housing 31. Note that, in FIG.
Is the optical axis of X, and the reflecting surface of the cylindrical mirror 48 is 48
Indicated by A.

Next, the operation of the radiation image reading apparatus 1 will be described. The stimulable phosphor sheet 4 on which the radiation image of the subject is stored is set on the transport roller 9a.
The set stimulable phosphor sheet 4 is transported by the transport rollers 9.
The sheet is conveyed (sub-scan) in the direction of arrow y by a and 9b.
On the other hand, in the optical unit 10, the laser beam 11 emitted from the light source 32 is reflected and deflected by the rotary polygon mirror 38, and further, is further reflected by the cylindrical mirror 48 on the sheet 4.
Reflected toward. The laser beam 11 is applied to the sheet 4
And scans the sheet 4 in the direction substantially perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction (the direction of the arrow x in FIG. 2). From the portion of the sheet 4 to which the laser beam 11 has been irradiated, stimulated emission light 13 of an amount corresponding to the radiation image information stored and recorded is generated. Although the stimulated emission light 13 emitted from the surface of the sheet 4 is scattered, it is reflected by the converging mirror 7 and
Is collected.

The stimulated emission light 1 that has entered the condensing guide 14
Numeral 3 indicates that the photomultiplier 15 receives the photomultiplier 15 by receiving the photomultiplier 15 while repeating the total reflection inside the light-collecting guide 14 and displaying the radiation image.
Is converted into an analog image signal SA.

The analog image signal SA output from the photomultiplier 15 is logarithmically amplified by a logarithmic amplifier 16 and input to an A / D converter 17, where it is sampled and converted into a digital image signal S1, which will be described later. The number of pixels to be seen off is adjusted as described above and input to the storage unit 18. The digital image signal S1 stored in the storage unit 18 is input to the image processing unit 19, where the digital image signal S1 is subjected to predetermined image processing, and is used for reproduction of a radiation image by a reproduction unit (not shown). This reproducing means may be a display means such as a CRT or a recording device for performing optical scanning recording on a photosensitive film.

Here, the adjustment of the reading format in the format adjusting means 21 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the format adjustment.
1 shows a pixel clock and a start point detection signal B0 in one main scan. While reading the radiation image from the sheet 4, the start point detection signal B0
Is the image area start position P1, and the width of the sheet 4 from the image area start position P1 based on the output of the laser beam 11, that is, the detection of the main scanning start position by the laser beam 11, is the number of pixel clocks for the predetermined number m0 of pixels to be seen off. The position where the number of pixel clocks corresponding to the length of the image area, that is, the length of the image area, is counted as the image area end position P2. Therefore, the clock adjusting unit 21A of the format adjusting unit 21 scans the image area of the sheet 4 with the laser light 11 for the time until counting the number of pixel clocks between the image area start position P1 and the image area end position P2. The length of the pixel clock is set to correspond to the time of
Counts the number of pixel clocks from the time when the laser beam 11 is detected by the start point detection sensor 20 to the time when the laser beam 11 reaches the image area start position P1 of the sheet 4 after setting the pixel clock. I do.

Specifically, in the manufacturing stage of the radiation image reading apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, a format adjusting phosphor plate 50 having a plurality of lines formed in the main scanning direction as shown in FIG. The plate 50 is read by the radiation image reading apparatus 1 to obtain a read image, and a pixel clock is adjusted based on a relationship between a line interval in the read image and a line interval of the plate 50, and further, the number of pixels to be seen off is adjusted. .

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, in the stage of manufacturing the optical unit 10, the main scanning start position, the sheet 4
Using a measuring jig capable of detecting the image area start position and the image area end position, a scanning time t1 from the main scan start position after format adjustment by the optical unit 10 alone to the image area start position, and the image area start time The scanning time t2 from the position to the end position of the image area is measured in advance.

Further, after arranging the optical unit 10 in the radiation image reading apparatus 1, after performing format adjustment using the format adjusting phosphor plate 50, scanning from the main scanning start position to the image area start position is performed. Time u1
And the scanning time u2 from the image area start position to the image area end position are measured in advance.

The scanning times t1, t2, u
1 and u2 are recorded as digital data on a recording medium such as an FD, and attached to the radiation image reading apparatus 1 before shipment. In this case, the radiation image reading apparatus 1 may be provided with a storage section 60 for storing a recording medium as shown in FIG. 6, and the recording medium may be stored here. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a housing section 61 may be provided in the optical unit 10 and a recording medium may be housed therein. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a description section 63 for describing the scanning time is provided, where the scanning times t1, t2, u
1, u2 may be described. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a description portion 64 is provided in the optical unit 10 and a scanning time t is provided here.
1, t2, u1, u2 may be described. Furthermore,
The scanning times t1, t2, u1, and u2 may be described on a sheet and attached to the radiation image reading apparatus 1.

When the optical unit 10 is arranged in the radiation image reading apparatus 1 and shipped, a recording medium is attached to the radiation image reading apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. 6, or scanning is performed as shown in FIG. The time may be described, but when shipping only the optical unit 10 for replacement, a recording medium is attached to the optical unit 10 as shown in FIG. 7, or the scanning time is described as shown in FIG. .

Next, the adjustment of the reading format when the optical unit 10 is replaced will be described. In the present embodiment, at the stage of manufacturing the replacement optical unit (referred to as 10 ′), the main scanning start position, the sheet 4
Using a measuring jig capable of detecting the image area start position and the image area end position, a scan time w1 from the main scan start position after format adjustment of the optical unit 10 'alone to the image area start position, and the image area The scanning time w2 from the start position to the end position of the image area is measured in advance,
As shown in FIG. 9, a recording medium on which data of the scanning times w1 and w2 are recorded is attached, or as shown in FIG.
4, the scanning times w1 and w2 are described.

First, the pixel clock C0 before the replacement of the optical unit 10 is calculated by the following equation (1) using the length l of the image area of the sheet 4 and the number p of pixels per unit length. The value of the length l of the image area and the number p of pixels are known to the operator, but may be recorded on a recording medium or described in a description section.

C0 = u2 / (l × p) (1) That is, by dividing the scanning time u2 of the sheet 4 in the radiation image reading apparatus 1 by l × p, that is, the number of pixels in the image area, one pixel per pixel is obtained. The time, that is, the pixel clock C0 can be obtained. The pixel clock C0 is calculated in advance, and the scanning times t1, t2, u1,
It may be recorded on a recording medium together with u2.

On the other hand, the pixel clock C1 in the radiation image reading apparatus 1 after the replacement of the optical unit is the scanning time t2 of the sheet 4 in the optical unit 10 before the replacement and the scanning time w of the sheet 4 in the optical unit 10 'after the replacement.
2 and is calculated by the following equation (2).

C1 = C0 × w2 / t2 = u2 / (1 × p) × w2 / t2 (2) Further, the number m0 of pixels to be turned off before the optical unit 10 is replaced is the length l of the image area of the sheet 4 and When the number of pixels p per unit length is used, the number of pixels 1 ×
Since p: m0 = u2: u1, the following equation (3) is obtained.
Is calculated by

M0 = (l × p) × u1 / u2 (3) The number m0 of pixels to be seen off is calculated in advance, and is recorded on a recording medium together with the scanning times t1, t2, u1, and u2. May be.

On the other hand, the number of pixels mt to be seen off by the optical unit 10 alone before replacement is obtained by using the length l of the image area of the sheet 4 and the number p of pixels per unit length to be 1 × the number of pixels in the image area. Since p: mt = t2: t1, it is calculated by the following equation (4).

Mt = (l × p) × t1 / t2 (4) Further, the number mw of pixels to be turned off by the optical unit 10 ′ alone after replacement is the length l of the image area of the sheet 4 and the length per unit length. When the number of pixels p is used, the number of pixels 1 ×
Since p: mw = w2: w1, the following equation (5)
Is calculated by

Mw = (l × p) × w1 / w2 (5) Accordingly, the number m1 of pixels to be turned off in the radiation image reading apparatus 1 after the replacement of the optical unit is equal to the number m0 of pixels to be turned off before the replacement of the optical unit, and 'The number of pixels to be turned off by itself and the number of pixels to be turned off by optical unit 10
Can be calculated by the following equation (6).

M1 = m0 + (mw−mt) = (l × p) × (u1 / u2 + w1 / w2-t1 / t2) (6) In the present embodiment, the scanning times t1, t2, u1, u
Since w2 and w1 and w2 have been calculated in advance, the operator who replaces the optical unit performs the operations shown in the above equations (1) to (6) with reference to these values to obtain the pixel clock after replacement. C1 and the number m1 of pixels to be seen off are calculated, and these are input to the format adjusting means 21. The clock adjusting unit 21A of the format adjusting unit 21 changes the pixel clock based on these values to change the sampling interval in the A / D converter 17. The off-pixel adjustment unit 21B changes the off-pixel number of the digital image signal S1 after being sampled by the A / D converter 17 at the changed sampling interval. The read format is adjusted by changing the pixel clock and the number of pixels to be seen off in this manner. After the read format is adjusted, the format adjustment phosphor plate 50 shown in FIG. After confirming the number and the length of the image area, the replacement work of the optical unit is completed.

Thus, the analog image signal SA is sampled at the sampling interval based on the changed pixel clock in the A / D converter 17, and the number of pixels to be seen off is adjusted by the see-off pixel adjusting means 21B, so that digital Can be obtained.

The scanning time u1 'from the main scanning start position to the image area start position and the scanning time u2' from the image area start position to the image area end position in the radiation image reading apparatus 1 after the replacement of the optical unit are respectively set. It is calculated by the following equations (7) and (8), and a new scanning time u1,
It is recorded on a recording medium or described in a description section as u2.

U2 ′ = u2 × w2 / t2 (7) u1 ′ = u2 ′ × (w1 / w2-t1 / t2 + u1 / u2) (8) As described above, according to the present embodiment, only the optical unit 10 is used. Based on the scanning times t1 and t2, the scanning times u1 and u2 of the apparatus main body in a state where the optical unit 10 is provided, and the scanning times w1 and w2 of the new single optical unit 10 ′ for replacement, the optical unit after the replacement of the optical unit is used. Since the pixel clock and the number of pixels to be seen off are calculated as the format adjustment values, the format adjustment values can be calculated without reading the format adjustment phosphor plate 50 as in the conventional format adjustment method. Adjustment work can be easily performed.

In the above embodiment, the operator manually performs the calculation. However, as shown in FIG. 10, a format adjustment value is calculated, and the calculated format adjustment value is sent to the format adjustment unit 21. A format adjustment value calculation unit 22 for inputting may be provided. Such a format adjustment value calculating means 22 is used by the operator to adjust the scanning time t.
1, t2, u1, u2, w1, w2 may be input to calculate the format adjustment value, but the scan times t1, t2, u1, u2, w1, w2 are recorded on the recording medium. In such a case, it is preferable that the data of the scanning times t1, t2, u1, u2, w1, and w2 be read from the recording medium, and the format adjustment value be calculated based on the read data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a radiation image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the radiation image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a configuration of an optical unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining format adjustment.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a format adjustment phosphor plate;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a radiation image reading apparatus provided with a storage section for a recording medium.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an optical unit provided with a storage section for a recording medium.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a radiation image reading apparatus provided with a description unit.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an optical unit provided with a description unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a radiation image reading apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 radiation image reading device 4 stimulable phosphor sheet 9 a, 9 b transport roller 10 optical unit 11 light beam 14 focusing guide 15 photomultiplier 20 start point detection sensor 21 format adjustment unit 21 A clock adjustment unit 21 B off-pixel adjustment unit 22 format adjustment Value calculation means 50 Format adjustment phosphor plate 60, 61 Storage medium storage section 63, 64 Recording section

Claims (15)

[Claims] An optical unit having main scanning means for performing main scanning of excitation light is exchangeably disposed on a stimulable phosphor sheet on which a radiation image is accumulated and recorded. Sub-scanning means for sub-scanning in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction, start point detecting means for detecting a main scanning start position of the excitation light, and brightness emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet by main scanning of the excitation light. Reading means for photoelectrically reading the emitted light to obtain an image signal representing the radiation image, and format adjusting means for adjusting the reading format of the stimulable phosphor sheet based on a preset format adjustment value. In the method of adjusting the reading format of the radiation image reading apparatus including the apparatus main body at the time of replacing the optical unit, The format adjustment means calculates the optical unit in the format adjusting means by using a calculation format adjustment value calculated based on data unique to the apparatus main body in a state where the optical unit is provided and data unique to a new optical unit for replacement. A read format adjusting method, comprising adjusting a read format after replacement. 2. The calculation format adjustment based on data unique to the optical unit, data unique to the device main body in a state where the optical unit is provided, and data unique to the new optical unit. 2. The reading format according to claim 1, further comprising a calculating unit that calculates a value and inputs the calculated format adjustment value to the reading format adjusting unit, wherein the calculating unit calculates the calculated format adjustment value. Adjustment method. 3. An optical unit exchangeably disposed in a radiation image reading apparatus used in the reading format adjustment method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a recording medium recording data unique to the optical unit. An optical unit, comprising: 4. The optical unit according to claim 3, wherein data unique to the apparatus main body in a state where the optical unit is provided is further recorded on the recording medium. 5. The optical unit according to claim 3, further comprising a storage section that stores the recording medium. 6. An optical unit which is exchangeably disposed in a radiation image reading apparatus used in the reading format adjusting method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a description section describing data unique to the optical unit is provided. An optical unit, comprising: 7. The optical unit according to claim 6, further comprising data unique to the apparatus main body in a state where the optical unit is provided, in the above-mentioned section. 8. A radiation image reading apparatus used in the reading format adjusting method according to claim 1, further comprising a recording medium for recording data unique to the apparatus main body in a state where the optical unit is provided. A radiation image reading apparatus, comprising: 9. The radiation image reading apparatus according to claim 8, wherein data unique to the optical unit is further recorded on the recording medium. 10. The radiation image reading apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a storage section that stores the recording medium. 11. A radiation image reading apparatus used in the reading format adjusting method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a description unit that describes data unique to the apparatus main body in a state where the optical unit is provided. A radiation image reading apparatus, comprising: 12. The radiation image reading apparatus according to claim 11, wherein data specific to the optical unit is further described in the description section. 13. A computer-readable recording medium on which data unique to the optical unit used in the read format adjusting method according to claim 1 or 2 is recorded. 14. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 13, further comprising data unique to said apparatus main body in a state where said optical unit is provided. 15. A computer-readable recording in which data unique to the apparatus main body in a state in which the optical unit used in the reading format adjustment method according to claim 1 is provided is recorded. Medium.