Scanning apparatus for PSL radiography with a cassette stacker

Scanning apparatus with a scanning (18) and erasing (25) station for scanning and erasing a cassette of the type used in photo-stimulable luminescence ("PSL") radiography, which apparatus comprises a receiving station (13) for the receipt of a stack (35) of such cassettes and for removing them one by one from their stack and locating them through an entry port (14) of the apparatus on a scanning carriage for conveying them past said scanning and erasing station, characterised in that said receiving station comprises:

• bottom supporting means (15) for supporting a vertical stack (35) of cassettes to be scanned,
• lateral grippers (42, 43) for supporting the bottom cassette (33) of a said stack at either lateral side thereby to hold said bottom cassette while the bottom supporting means is temporarily removed, and
• vertical transfer support means (51, 52) for taking over the support of the bottom cassette from the lateral grippers, and for first lowering said cassette over a distance equal to the height of one cassette so that the next cassette can be gripped and held by the lateral grippers, and for then further lowering said bottom cassette until it becomes disposed on said scanning carriage (31).