Radiation image read-out apparatus

A radiation image read-out apparatus comprising

• a linear light source for irradiating a stimulable phosphor sheet carrying a radiation image recorded thereon with a linear beam of stimulating light,
• a line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged parallel to a linear area on the stimulable phosphor sheet irradiated with the linear beam of the stimulating light, each of said photoelectric conversion elements being capable of photoelectrically converting stimulated emission light received thereon into an electric signal, said stimulable emission light being emitted from the linear area on the stimulable phosphor sheet irradiated with the linear beam or from a corresponding linear area on the opposite side of the stimulable phosphor sheet,
• focusing means located between the stimulable phosphor sheet and the line sensor for focusing the stimulated emission light onto each of the photoelectric conversion elements, said focusing means including a lens array,
• scanning means for moving the linear light source and the line sensor relative to the stimulable phosphor sheet in a direction not parallel to the linear area on the stimulable phosphor sheet irradiated with the linear beam of the stimulating light,
• read-out means for deriving an image signal representing the radiation image recorded on the stimulable phosphor means from the electric signal outputted by the line sensor while the linear light source and the line sensor is moved relative to the stimulable phosphor sheet, and
• spurious pattern removing means for obtaining a processed image signal by removing from the image signal a spurious pattern signal due to non-aperture regions on the lens array.