Collimator, X-ray irradiator, and X-ray apparatus

An X-ray irradiator comprising:

• an X-ray tube;
• and
• a collimator for collimating X-ray emitted from the X-ray tube,
• the collimator comprising:
• a pair of first plate members having X-ray absorbability, movable in a direction parallel to surfaces thereof, and having respective end faces opposed to each other, with an X-ray passing aperture being defined by a spacing between the opposed end faces of the first plate members;
• and
• a pair of second plate members each of which has X-ray absorbability, is capable of being folded in a zigzag fashion through hinges, and is connected at one end thereof to an end of each of the pair of first plate members on the side opposite to the opposed end faces of the first plate members and connected at the other end thereof to a fixing portion in order to intercept other X-rays than the X-ray passing through the aperture.

An X-ray apparatus comprising:

• an X-ray tube;
• a collimator for collimating X-ray emitted from the
• X-ray tube and applying the collimated X-ray to an object to be radiographed;
• and
• a detector device for detecting the X-ray which has passed through the object to be radiographed,
• the collimator comprising:
• a pair of first plate members having X-ray absorbability, movable in a direction parallel to surfaces thereof, and having respective end faces opposed to each other, with an X-ray passing aperture being defined by a spacing between the opposed end faces of the first plate members;
• and
• a pair of second plate members each of which has X-ray absorbability, is capable of being folded in a zigzag fashion through hinges, and is connected at one end thereof to an end of each of the pair of first plate members on the side opposite to the opposed end faces of the first plate members and connected at the other end thereof to a fixing portion in order to intercept other X-rays than the X-ray passing through the aperture.