Apparatus for reading out X-ray information stored in storage phosphor plates

US8106373B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AGFA HEALTHCARE NV · BE

Inventors

• Johannes Holzl · Grasbrunn, DE
• Günther Schindlbeck · Munich, DE
• Volkmar Voigtlander · Eichenau, DE
• Thomas Hartmann · Uffing am Staffelsee, DE
• Franz Auer · Rottenburg am Neckar, DE
• Rudolf Werkstetter · Neuötting, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 11, 2008
• Grant date: Jan 31, 2012
• Expiry date: May 17, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G03B42/045
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for reading out X-ray information stored in storage phosphor plates with an input unit, (12) for inputting a plurality of cassettes (14, 28, 32) which can be stacked one behind the other in a direction of stacking (S) within the input unit (12), has an oblong accommodation well (30) for accommodating one of the cassettes (32), the accommodation well (30) being adjacent to the input unit (12), a moving device (50) for horizontally moving the cassette (32) accommodated by the accommodation well (30) along a path of movement, and a deflection element (64, 66) for deflecting a next cassette located within the input unit (12) which is adjacent to the cassette (32) accommodated by the accommodation well (30) and projects at least partially into the path of movement, the deflection element (64, 66) being positioned and designed such that with horizontal movement of the cassette (32) located within the accommodation well (30), due to contact between the cassette (32) located within the accommodation well (30) and the next cassette (28) located within the input unit (12) a force is exerted upon the latter in the direction of stacking (S) and thus moves out of the path of m…