U-flow multicassette autoloader for a storage phosphor reader

A multicassette autoloader (58) for vertically oriented storage phosphor cassettes (66), said autoloader (58) having a front (51), back (53), and opposite sides (55 and 57), comprising:

• an input bin (60) for receiving multiple vertically oriented storage phosphor cassettes (66) stacked together in face-to-face contact such that said cassette faces face front and back;
• wherein each of said cassettes (66) contains a storage phosphor (74) which is removable from said cassette (66);
• an output bin (62) located beside but spaced from said input bin (60);
• and
• a storage phosphor read location (64) at which a storage phosphor (74) is removed from and replaced in a cassette (66) positioned at said storage phosphor read location (66);
• wherein said storage phosphor read location (64) is located at the back (53) of said autoloader (58) and located in a path in line with the backs of said input bin (60) and said output bin (62).