Digital X-ray image capturing device

1. A digital X-ray image capturing device comprising:

a cassette having a built-in image plate;

an image plate transfer device for taking the image plate out of the cassette and transferring the same to a scanning point;

an image scanning device for scanning an X-ray latent image of the image plate by irradiating laser beams to the scanning point;

an internal body including the image plate transfer device and the image scanning device; and

an external housing surrounding the internal body.

2. The digital X-ray image capturing device of claim 1 , wherein the image plate transfer device includes:

a scan drum having a fastening means on a surface, the fastening means being combined with an end of the image plate;

at least one roller installed near the scan drum to closely wind the image plate on the surface of the scan drum; and

an electric power means for applying torque to the scan drum.

3. The digital X-ray image capturing device of claim 2 , wherein

the fastening means formed on a surface of the scan drum is a latch groove, and

a latch protrusion formed at an end of the image plate is combined with the latch groove.

4. The digital X-ray image capturing device of claim 3 , wherein

the latch groove is formed in one of the shapes ⊥ and L, and

the latch protrusion is formed in one of the shapes ⊥ and L.

5. The digital X-ray image capturing device of claim 3 , wherein

an inserting groove for installing the cassette in the image plate transfer device is formed on the top of a side of the external housing.

6. The digital X-ray image capturing device of claim 2 , wherein

the fastening means formed on a surface of the scan drum is an installing groove, and

an installing protrusion formed at an end of the image plate is combined with the installing groove.

7. The digital X-ray image capturing device of claim 6 , wherein

a locking hole for fixing an end of the image plate to a surface of the scan drum is formed at both sides of the end of the image plate.

8. The digital X-ray image capturing device of claim 7 , wherein the scan drum further includes

a locking means including a locking pin, inserted into the locking hole of the image plate, for fixing the image plate to the scan drum.

9. The digital X-ray image capturing device of claim 8 , wherein the locking means includes:

a body a center point of which is bent by a predetermined angle;

a pivot formed at both sides of the body and rotatable by the angle that the body is bent; and

a control groove, formed as a groove at the bottom of the bent point, for controlling rotation of the body.

10. The digital X-ray image capturing device of claim 9 , wherein the locking means further includes

a state maintain plate, attached to the body in the locking pin direction, having an end to which an elastic means for applying elastic force to the control groove is adhered so as to insert the locking pin into the locking hole of the image plate.

11. The digital X-ray image capturing device of claim 9 , wherein the image plate transfer device further includes a lock control assembly including a body, a drive shaft, and a state change pin, and

the state change pin is vertically inserted into a control groove of the locking means by penetrating a groove formed in the body from top to bottom, and it moves up and down according to rotation and reverse rotation of the drive shaft fastened to an end and controls the locking pin of the locking means.

12. The digital X-ray image capturing device of claim 7 , wherein the cassette further includes

a cassette door for protecting an end of the image plate fastened to the scan drum.

13. The digital X-ray image capturing device of claim 2 , wherein the image plate transfer device further includes

a driving power transfer means for transferring torque of the electric power means to the scan drum.

14. The digital X-ray image capturing device of claim 13 , wherein

the driving power transfer means is a timing belt, and

the timing belt connects a first belt pulley installed at a rotation shaft of the scan drum and a second belt pulley installed at a shaft of the electric power means.

15. The digital X-ray image capturing device of claim 2 , wherein the image plate transfer device further includes

a rotational sensor for sensing rotational position of the scan drum.

16. The digital X-ray image capturing device of claim 15 , wherein

the sensor includes an origin sensor for sensing an origin position before the scan drum is scanned and a reinsertion sensor for sensing an end position of the image plate after the image plate is scanned.

17. The digital X-ray image capturing device of claim 16 , wherein

a position display means of the scan drum made of a reflective film is attached to a side of the scan drum.

18. The digital X-ray image capturing device of claim 17 , wherein

the one side of the scan drum to which the position display means is attached is rendered to be matt black.

19. The digital X-ray image capturing device of claim 2 , wherein the image scanning device includes:

a scanner for scanning an X-ray latent image of the image plate generated by the laser beams at a scanning point; and

an eraser for eliminating the X-ray latent image by irradiating strong light to the image plate.

20. The digital X-ray image capturing device of claim 19 , wherein

the roller includes a first roller that is disposed in parallel to a rotation shaft of the scan drum, and

the scanning point is disposed to one of the top and the bottom of the first roller, and the eraser is disposed at the opposite position of the scanning point with respect to the first roller.