Image information reading apparatus

An apparatus for reading radiation image information recorded on a double-sided stimulable phosphor sheet which emits light from both sides thereof when exciting light is applied to a recording surface thereof, comprising:

• first guide means disposed on the side of a reverse surface, remote from said recording surface, of the stimulable phosphor sheet, for guiding said stimulable phosphor sheet along a flat or curved feed path, said first guide means having an opening defined in at least a portion of a surface thereof which is scanned by said exciting light;
• and
• second guide means disposed in said opening and more spaced from said stimulable phosphor sheet than said first guide means;
• the arrangement being such that the incident angle θ at which said exciting light is applied to the recording surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet falls in a range of θ>tan−1 (H/W) or θ<0 wherein, when viewed from a side of a feed direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet when said sheet is inclined to the feed direction, the angle θ is determined as an angle between an axis perpendicular to a plane of a feed path of the stimulable phosphor sheet and an incident ray of said exciting light, H represents the distance from an upper plane of said first guide means to an upper plane of said second guide means and W represents the width of said opening.

An apparatus for reading radiation image information recorded on a double-sided stimulable phosphor sheet which emits light from both sides thereof when exciting light is applied to a recording surface thereof, comprising;

• first guide means disposed on the side of a reverse surface, remote from said recording surface, of the stimulable phosphor sheet, for guiding said stimulable phosphor sheet along a flat or curved feed path, said first guide means having an opening defined in at least a portion of a surface thereof which is scanned by said exciting light;
• and
• second guide means disposed in said opening and more spaced from said stimulable phosphor sheet than said first guide means;
• the arrangement being such that the incident angle θ at which said exciting light is applied to the recording surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet falls in a range of θ>0 or θ<−tan−1 (H/W) wherein, when viewed from a side of a feed direction of the stimulable phosphor sheet when said sheet is inclined to the feed direction because of a trailing end of said sheet, the angle θ is determined as an angle between an axis perpendicular to a plane of a feed path of the stimulable phosphor sheet and an incident ray of said exciting light, H represents the distance from an upper plane of said first guide means to an upper plane of said second guide means and W represents the width of said opening.