Device for reading flexible storage foils

A device for reading flexible storage foils comprising:

• a foil support being at least partially cylindrical;
• fixing means for releasably holding the storage foil on the foil support in a fixed circumferential postion, while still allowing axial movement of the storage foil;
• a reading light source providing a reading light beam of small diameter, the wave length of which is suitable to excite metastable storage centers of the storage foil;
• first drive means providing a first relative movement between the reading light beam and the storage foil which is in circumferential direction with respect to the cylinder axis of the foil support;
• second drive means to produce a second relative movement between the reading light beam and the storage foil which is in a direction being parallel to the cylinder axis of the foil support;
• and,
• a light detector being responsive to fluorescence light of the storage foil generated by the reading light beam, in which the foil support carries the storage carries the storage foil, driven by the second drive means, such that its light sensitive layer faces in radial inward direction an in which a rotating light deflecting element is arranged on the axis of the foil support and is driven by the first drive means by which the reading light beam is directed towards the storage foil.