Radiation image recording and read-out apparatus

Claim 1

A radiation image recording and read-out apparatus comprising: (i) a circulation and conveyance means for conveying at least one stimulable phosphor sheet for recording a radiation image thereon along a predetermined circulation path, (ii) an image recording means positioned on said circulation path for recording a radiation image of an object on said stimulable phosphor sheet by exposing said stimulable phosphor sheet to a radiation passing through said object, (iii) an image read-out means positioned on said circulation path and provided with a stimulating ray source for emitting stimulating rays for scanning said stimulable phosphor sheet carrying said radiation image stored thereon at said image recording means, and a photoelectric read-out device for detecting light emitted by said stimulable phosphor sheet scanned by said stimulating rays to obtain an electric image signal, (iv) an erasing means for, prior to the next image recording on said stimulable phosphor sheet for which the image read-out has been conducted at said image read-out means, having said stimulable phosphor sheet release the radiation energy remaining on said stimulable phosphor sheet, (v) at least two slits provided between said image recording means and the source of said radiation such that at least one slit is positioned on either side of the object, (vi) drive means for synchronously driving the slits, and (vii) wherein said circulation and conveyance means comprises a plurality of separate, independently speed controlled conveyors, at least one of said independently speed controlled conveyors are provided at said image recording means, said image read-out means and said erasing means an said circulation path wherein said stimulable phosphor sheets are conveyed by said conveyors at different speeds due to the friction between the stimulable phosphor sheets and said conveyors wherein the conveying speed of the stimulable phosphor sheet at a given station is independent of the conveying speed of different stimulable phosphor sheets at the other stations and keyed to the time required for processing said stimulable phosphor sheets at said image recording means, said image read-out means and said erasing means.