Radiation image read-out method and apparatus

A radiation image read-out apparatus, comprising:

• i) stimulating ray irradiating means for linearly irradiating stimulating rays onto an area of a surface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,
• ii) a line sensor, which comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays,
• iii) a light collecting optical system, which is located between the line sensor and the stimulable phosphor sheet, the light collecting optical system collecting the light, which has been emitted from the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, and guiding the collected light toward the line sensor, and
• iv) sub-scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to the stimulating ray irradiating means, the light collecting optical system, and the line sensor and in a sub-scanning direction, which intersects with a length direction of the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays,
• wherein an end face of an optical device constituting the light collecting optical system, which end face stands facing the stimulable phosphor sheet, is formed into a shape such that the stimulating rays, which have been reflected from the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, are reflected by the end face toward the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays or toward a region of the stimulable phosphor sheet, which region is located more forward, with respect to the sub-scanning direction, than the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays.

A radiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of:

• linearly irradiating stimulating rays onto an area of a surface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, with stimulating ray irradiating means, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,
• collecting the light, which has been emitted from the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, with a light collecting optical system,
• receiving the collected light with a line sensor, which comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, the received light being subjected to photoelectric conversion performed by the line sensor, and
• moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to the stimulating ray irradiating means, the light collecting optical system, and the line sensor and in a sub-scanning direction, which intersects with a length direction of the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays,
• wherein an end face of an optical device constituting the light collecting optical system, which end face stands facing the stimulable phosphor sheet, is formed into a shape such that the stimulating rays, which have been reflected from the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, are reflected by the end face toward the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays.