Method and apparatus for recording and reading out radiation images

1. A radiation image recording and read-out method, comprising the steps of:

i) supporting a stimulable phosphor sheet at a position for image recording, at which one surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed to radiation,

ii) exposing the one surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, which is supported at the position for image recording, to the radiation, a radiation image being thereby stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet,

iii) performing an image read-out operation from a side of the other surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet supported at the position for image recording, which other surface is opposite to the one surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the radiation, the image read-out operation being performed by irradiating stimulating rays in two-dimensional directions to the stimulable phosphor sheet as the sheet is held in a substantially stationary position, on which the radiation image has been stored during its exposure to the radiation, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to the radiation, and photoelectrically detecting the emitted light, an image signal, which represents the radiation image having been stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet, being thereby obtained, and

iv) releasing energy, which remains on the stimulable phosphor sheet after the image signal has been obtained from the stimulable phosphor sheet, by irradiating erasing light to an entire area of the stimulable phosphor sheet with a sheet-shaped erasing light source, the sheet-shaped erasing light source being formed with the stimulable phosphor sheet and on said one surface exposed to the radiation, the sheet-shaped erasing light source having uniform transmissivity to the radiation,

wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet comprises a sheet-shaped transparent substrate shared with the sheet-shaped erasing light source and a stimulable phosphor layer,

the stimulating rays for the image read-out irradiate the stimulable phosphor layer at the side opposite to the side exposed to the radiation, and

wherein the sheet-shaped erasing light source comprises transparent substrate which has light diffusing properties, the transparent substrate being capable of radiating out the erasing light from a surface, which stands facing the stimulable phosphor sheet, toward the stimulable phosphor sheet, and

light sources, each of which is located at one of two ends of the transparent substrate and produces the erasing light such that the erasing light enters from the one end of the transparent substrate into the transparent substrate, and

wherein the stimulable phosphor layer is overlaid on the sheet-shaped transparent substrate.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein at least either one of two surfaces of the transparent substrate is formed as a light diffusing surface.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the transparent substrate contains light diffusing particles dispersed therein.

4. A radiation image recording and read-out apparatus, comprising:

i) an image recording section for supporting a stimulable phosphor sheet at a position for image recording, at which one surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed to radiation,

ii) image read-out means located on a side of the other surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet supported at the position for image recording, which other surface is opposite to the one surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the radiation, the image read-out means performing an image read-out operation by irradiating stimulating rays in two-dimensional directions to the stimulable phosphor sheet as the sheet is being held in a substantially stationary position, on which a radiation image has been stored during its exposure to the radiation, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to the radiation, and photoelectrically detecting the emitted light, an image signal, which represents the radiation image having, been stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet, being thereby obtained, and

iii) a sheet-shaped erasing light source formed with the stimulable phosphor sheet and on said one surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet which is exposed to the radiation, the sheet-shaped erasing light source having uniform transmissivity to the radiation, the sheet-shaped erasing light source releasing energy, which remains on the stimulable phosphor sheet after the image signal has been obtained from the stimulable phosphor sheet, by irradiating erasing light to an entire area of the stimulable phosphor sheet,

wherein the stimulable phosphor sheet comprises a sheet-shaped transparent substrate shared with the sheet-shaped erasing light source, and a stimulable phosphor layer,

the stimulating rays for the image read-out irradiate the stimulable phosphor layer at the side opposite to the side exposed to the radiation,

wherein the sheet-shaped erasing light source comprises the transparent substrate, which has light diffusing properties, the transparent substrate being capable of radiating out the erasing light from a surface, which stands facing the stimulable phosphor sheet, toward the stimulable phosphor sheet, and

light sources, each of which is located at one of two ends of the transparent substrate and produces the erasing light such that the erasing light enters from the one end of the transparent substrate into the transparent substrate, and

wherein the stimulable phosphor layer is overlaid on the sheet-shaped transparent substrate.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 , wherein at least either one at two surfaces of the transparent substrate is formed as a light diffusing surface.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 , wherein the transparent substrate contains light diffusing particles dispersed therein.