Method of conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet

Abstract

 A method of conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet comprising applying a driving force to a surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet by force to a surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet by means of a driving member, keeping both sides of said phosphor sheet by means of a guiding member to move the stimulable phosphor sheet in a given direction is dis­closed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet.

Description of Prior Arts

[0002] For obtaining a radiation image, there has been con­ventionally employed a radiography utilizing a combina­tion of a radiographic film having a sensitive silver salt material layer and an intensifying screen.

[0003] As a method replacing the above-mentioned conven­tional radiography, a radiation image recording and reproducing method utilizing a stimulable phosphor as described, for instance, in U.S. Patent No. 4,239,698, has been developed and paid much attention. The method involves steps of causing a stimulable phosphor to absorb a radiation having passed through an object or having radiated from an object; sequentially exciting (or scan­ning) the phosphor with an electromagnetic wave such as visible light or infrared rays (stimulating rays) to release the radiation energy stored in the phosphor as light emission (stimulated emission); photoelectrically detecting the emitted light to obtain electric signals; and reproducing the radiation image of the object as a visible image, numerals, symbols, etc. from the electric signals.

[0004] In the radiation image recording and reproducing method, a radiation image is obtainable with a sufficient amount of information by applying a radiation to the ob­ject at a considerably smaller dose, as compared with the conventional radiography. Accordingly, the radiation image recording and reproducing method is of great value, especially when the method is used for medical diagnosis.

[0005] In performing the radiation image recording an reproducing method, a stimulable phosphor is generally employed in the form of a stimulable phosphor sheet (also referred to as a radiation image storage panel, and gene­rally in the form of a sheet of rectangle, square, etc.) which comprises a support and a phosphor layer provided thereon. The phosphor layer comprises a stimulable phos­phor and a binder. Further, a protective film made of a transparent plastic film is provided on a surface of the phosphor layer to protect the phosphor layer from physi­cal and chemical deterioration.

[0006] The stimulable phosphor sheet does not serve to finally record image information, but only stores the information temporarily to provide the image or the like or an independently prepared final recording medium as described above. Accordingly, the stimulable phosphor sheet can be repeatedly used and such repeated use brings about economical advantage.

[0007] The repeated use of the stimulable phosphor sheet is particularly advantageous, for instance, in the case that a radiation image information recording and reading de­vice employing the stimulable phosphor sheet is mounted on a traveling station such as a radiographic apparatus-­carryig car to conduct mass radiographic examination in various places. More in detail, it is inconvenient to carry a great number of stimulable phosphor sheets on a traveling station, and there is a limitation on the num­ber of sheets capable of being carried on a car such as a radiographic apparatus-carrying car. Accordingly, it is pratically useful that the stimulable phosphor sheets are mounted on a radiographic car under such conditions that the stimulable phosphor sheets are repeatedly used; radiation image information of an object is recorded on each stimulable phosphor sheet and read out to obtain image information as a signal; and the obtained signal is transferred to a recording medium having a great record­ing capacity such as a magnetic tape so as to repeatedly use the stimulable phosphor sheet in cycle. This means that radiation images of a number of objects can be ob­tained by the use of a small number of stimulable phos­phor sheets. Further, the combination of the repeated uses of the stimulable phosphor sheets with a continuous radiographic process enables to perform rapid radiography in the mass radiographic examinations. This combination is of great value in practical use.

[0008] In the case of performing repeated uses of the sti­mulable phosphor sheets in cycle, after the radiation energy stored in the stimulable phosphor sheet is read out and aimed image information is obtained, the remain­ing energy in the sheet is released and erased in a man­ner as disclosed, for instance, in Japanese Patent Provi­sional Publications No 56(1981)-11392 and 56(1981)-­12599. By employing such manner, the stimulable phosphor sheet can be efficiently and repeatedly used in cycle.

[0009] Thus, the radiation image information recording and reading device, in one aspect, is desirably mounted on a traveling station such as a radiographic apparatus-carry­ing car in the form of a united built-in device which comprises an image recording means for exposing a stimu­lable phosphor sheet to a radiation having passed through an object so as to record and store a radiation image in the stimulable phosphor sheet, a read-out means for read­ing out the radiation image stored in the stimulable phosphor sheet, an erasure means for releasing and eras­ ing radiation energy remaining in the stimulable phosphor sheet for the next use of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and a conveyance means for moving the stimulable phosphor sheet in cycle to each of the above-mentioned means. The radiation image information recording and reading device having the above-mentioned constitution have various advantages not only in mounting in the traveling station such as a radiographic apparatus-carrying car but also in setting in hospitals, so that the above device is conve­nient in practical use.

[0010] The radiation image information recording and read­ing device utilizing the above-mentioned system of re­peatedly and cyclically using the stimulable phosphor sheet is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 58(1983)-66730 filed in the present applicant (assignee). In the device, the stimulable phosphor sheet is occasion­ally conveyed vertically or almost vertically for the purpose of making the device compact.

[0011] If a stimulable phosphor sheet has physical deterio­ration such as a scratch on a surface thereof (a phosphor layer-side surface of the sheet), the quality of image or the accuracy of image information provided by the phos­phor sheet tends to decrease markedly. For this reason, it is necessary to select the means for conveying a sti­mulable phosphor sheet with such a careful consideration that the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet is not damaged. From this viewpoint, as a means for conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet, a belt conveyor made of a soft sheet-material is generally employed. However, while the belt conveyor is suitable for conveying the stimulable phosphor sheet horizontally, it is unsuitable for convey­ing the stimulable phosphor sheet in the direction other than the horizontal direction. More in detail, in the process for conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet verti­cally or almost vertically using a belt conveyor, it is necessary to arrange a pair of belt conveyors in such a manner that the belt conveyors are in face to face con­tact with each other so as to convey the stimulable phos­phor sheet is sandwiched between that pair of belt con­veyors. However, said conveying device is complicated in structure, and it is difficult to make the device com­pact. Further, there are other problems such that the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet tends to suffer scratches when the rate of one belt conveyor is made dif­ferent from that of the other, even if the difference therebetween is very small.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention provides a method suitable for conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet, particularly suit­able for conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet in the vertical or almost vertical direction which is highly required in the radiation image information recording and reading device in which the stimulable phosphor sheet is repeatedly used in cycle.

[0013] The method of conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet of the present invention comprises applying a driving force to a surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet by means of a driving member, keeping both side edges of said phosphor sheet by means of a guiding member to move the stimulable phosphor sheet in a given direction.

[0014] The above-mentioned method of conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet is effectively performed by utilizing a device comprising a guiding member for keeping both sides of said stimulable phosphor sheet and two or more driving members arranged along the conveying direction for apply­ing a driving force to a surface of said phosphor sheet, the distance between two driving members adjoining each other along the conveying direction being smaller than the length of said stimulable phosphor sheet measured in the conveying direction.

[0015] The stimulable phosphor sheet com­prises, in one aspect, a support, a phosphor layer con­taining a stimulable phosphor and a binder, and a protec­tive film superposed in this order, which is character­ized in that at least both sides of the phosphor layer along the direction to be conveyed are retracted from the corresponding side edges of the support, and both of said sides of the phosphor layer and support, are protected by a polymer coating layer of a polymer film.

[0016] The stimulable phosphor sheet com­prises, in another aspect, comprises a support, a phos­phor layer containing a stimulable phosphor and a binder, and a protective film superimposed in this order, which is characterized in that at least both sides of the phosphor layer along the direction to be conveyed are retracted from the corresponding side edges of the support, and both of said retracted sides of the phosphor layer are protected by a solid material fixedly placed in the area formed by the retraction of the side of phosphor layer.

[0017] The stimulable phosphor sheet, in a further aspect, comprises a substrate, a support, a phos­phor layer containing a stimulable phosphor and a binder, and a protective film superimposed in this order, which is characterized in that at least both sides of the phosphor layer and support along the direction to be conveyed are retracted from the corresponding side edges of the sub­strate, and both of said sides of the sheet are protected by a polymer coating layer or a polymer film.

[0018] The stimulable phosphor sheet, in a still further aspect, comprises a substrate, a support, a phosphor layer containing a stimulable phosphor and a binder, and a protective film superposed in this order, which is characterized in that at least both sides of the phosphor layer and support along the direction to be con­veyed are retracted from the corresponding side edges of the substrate, and both of said retracted sides of the phosphor layer and support are protected by a solid mate­rial fixedly placed in the area formed by the retraction of the side of phosphor layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] 

Fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the consti­tution of a conventional stimulable phosphor sheet, and

Fig. 2 is a schematic view illustrating the consti­tution of the device preferably employed in the method of conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet according to the present invention.

Fig. 3-(1) is a schematic view illustrating the con­stitution of another device preferably employed in the conveying method. Fig. 3-(2) is a side view of the device of Fig. 3-(1) seen along the indicated arrow A.

Figs. 4a 4b and 4c are schematic view illustrating the constitutions of embodiments of the stimulable phos­phor sheet.

Figs. 6a and 6b are schematic views illustrating the constitution of embodiment of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

Figs. 7a and 7b are schematic view illustrating the constitutions of embodiments of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

Figs. 8a 8b and 8b are schematic view illustrating the constitutions of embodiments of the stimulable phos­ phor sheet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The present invention will be described more in detail hereinafter referring to the accompanying draw­ings.

[0021] The general constitution of the conventional stimu­lable phosphor sheet which is an object of the conveyance in the present invention is well known. The stimulable phosphor sheet is generally employed, as described above, in the form of a sheet comprising a support and a phos­phor layer provided thereon which comprises a stimulable phosphor and a binder. On the surface of the phosphor layer is provided a protective film of a transparent plastic material, because the phosphor layer is easily affected by physical shocks.

[0022] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates the constitution of the conventional stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0023] In Fig. 1, the stimulable phosphor sheet comprises a support 11, a phosphor layer 12 and a protective film 13. Examples of the support material include plastic films such as films of cellulose acetate and polyethylene tere­phthalate, metal sheets such as aluminum foil, ordinary papers, baryta paper, and resin-coated papers. On the surface of the support, (phosphor layer-side surface of the support) may be provided other functional layers such as an adhesive layer, a light-reflecting layer and a light-absorbing layer.

[0024] The phosphor layer essentially comprises stimulable phosphor particles dispersed in a binder. A great number of stimulable phosphors are known. The stimulable phos­phor employed in the invention can be selected from the known stimulable phosphors. Examples of the known stimu­lable phosphor include a divalent europium activated alkaline earth metal fluorohalide phosphor (M^IIFX:Eu²⁺, 6in which M^II is at least one alkaline earth metal selected form the group consisting of Mg, Ca and Ba; and X is at least one halogen selected from the group con­sisting of Cℓ, Br and I); an europium and samarium activated strontium sulfide phosphor (SrS:Eu:Sm); an europium and samarium activated lanthanum oxysulfide phosphor (La₂O₂S:Eu,Sm); an europium activated barium aluminate phosphor (BaO·Aℓ₂O₃:Eu); an europium activated alkaline earth metal silicate phosphor (M²⁺O·SiO₂:Eu, in which M²⁺ is at least one alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca and Ba); a cerium activated rare earth oxyhalide phosphor (LnOX:Ce, in which Ln is at least one rate earth element selected from the group consisting of La, Y, Gd and Lu; and X is at least one halogen selected from the group consisting of Cℓ, Br and I) and the like.

[0025] A transparent protective film is then provided on the surface of the phosphor layer to physically and che­mically protect the phosphor layer. Examples of the material employable for the preparation of the transpar­ent protective film include cellulose acetate, polymethyl methacrylate, polyethylene terephthalate and polyethyl­ene. The transparent protective film generally has a thickness within the range of approx. 0.1 - 20 µm.

[0026] The stimulable phosphor sheet can be colored with an appropriate colorant as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,394,581 and U.S. Patent Application No. 326,642. Fur­ther, white powder may be dispersed in the phosphor layer as described in U.S. Patent Application No. 326,642. Fur­ther, white powder way be dispersed in the phosphor layer as described in U.S. Patent No 4,350,893.

[0027] Figs. 2 and 3 [(1) and (2)] are schematic views of the conveying device which are preferably employed in the method of conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet according to the present invention. The method of conveying a sti­mulable phosphor sheet of the invention is described hereinafter, by referring to an embodiment employing the conveying devices shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

[0028] The conveying device preferably employed in the method of conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet according to the invention is a device basically comprising guiding members 22 and 23 (22a, 23a, 22b, 23b, ...)[32 and 33 (32a, 33a, 32b, 33b, ...)[ for keeping both sides of a stimulable phosphor sheet 21[31], and two or more driving members 24 (24a, 24b, 24c, ...)[34 (34a, 34b, 34c, ...)] arranged along the conveying direction (direction along the indicated arrow) for providing a driving force on both surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet 21[31], in which the distance between said two driving members which adjoin each other along the conveying direction (e.g., 24b and 24c)[e.g., 34b and 34c] is smaller than the length of the stimulable phosphor sheet measured in the conveying direction.

[0029] The guiding members of the device keep the stimulable phosphor sheet at the both sides thereof. The guiding members prevent the sheet from bending in the vertical direction against the sur­face plane of the sheet (namely, flexure) and from moving laterally. The guiding member is, for instance, U-shaped in the section. Accordingly, the guiding member is not necessarily in contact with the stimulable phosphor sheet to keep it. As is evident from Figs. 2 and 3, between the two driving members 24[34], the surface of the sheet on which the radiation image is stored and recorded is kept being from contact with members of the device, since the stimulable phosphor sheet 21 is kept by the guiding members 22 and 23[32 and 33] at both sides of the sheet which do not participate in storing and recording the radiation image. Accordingly, the surface of the sheet is hardly damaged. The shape of the guiding member is not restricted to one as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and any shape can be optionally used, as far as the guiding mem­ber has the above-described functions. Further, there is no specific limitation on the material of the guiding member. The guiding member is not necessarily employed in the form of individually separated member as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and a united guiding member, for instance, a member in which one guiding member 22[32] is combined with another guiding member 23[33] on the back surface-­side of the stimulable phosphor sheet 21[31] (support side-surface of the sheet) in Figs. 2 and 3, can be em­ployed with appropriate selection of the driving members as described hereinafter.

[0030] The driving members of the conveying device
    apply a driving force to the surface(s) of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and make it possible to convey (i.e., move) the stimulable phosphor sheet in a given direction. The driving members comprises at least two members, and the distance (ℓ) between the two driving members which are adjacent to each other along the con­veying direction is smaller than the length (m) of the stimulable phosphor sheet in the conveying direction. Two or more driving members having the above-described constitution can convey the stimulable phosphor sheet with little error.

[0031] Representative examples of the driving member for providing a driving force on the surfaces of the stimu­lable phosphor sheet are a driving member comprising a pair of rollers as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The length of the roller is preferably as almost the same as width of the stimulable phosphor sheet (length measured in the lateral direction, but the length of the roller is not restricted to the above-mentioned length. The roller may comprise a plurality of short rollers. The driving mem­ber may not consist a pair of rollers, and for exam­ple, a driving member comprising a driving roller and a fixed supporting member which is associated with the roller is employable. Further, other driving members than the above-mentioned rollers can be employed in the invention.

[0032] The surface of the driving member, especially the surface thereof which are to be in contact with the sur­face of the stimulable phosphor sheet, are preferably formed by a soft and elastic material such as rubber. By employing a driving member having a surface of such mate­rial, the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet can be protected from physical shock so as not to be damaged.

[0033] The driving force is generally supplied to the driv­ing members 24 (24a, 24b, 24c, ...)[24 (34a, 34b, 34c, ...)] from a means 26[37] such as a motor through a driv­ing power-transmitting means 25[36] such as a chain and a belt. This driving force is then supplied to the stimu­lable phosphor sheet 21[31] under rotation via surfaces thereof.

[0034] The guiding member and driving members are supported by an appropriate means such as a fixing means or a sup­porting means so as to fulfill each function in the area.

[0035] In the method of conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet according to the present invention, the stimulable phosphor sheet can be easily and reliably conveyed in di­reactions other that horizontal direction, particularly in the vertical or almost vertical direction, (upward and/or downward conveying), without damaging the surfaces of the sheet. The vertical or almost vertical conveyance giving no damage to the surface of stimulable phosphor sheet has been hardly attained in the conventional method using a belt conveyor. The method of conveying the stimulable phosphor sheet of the invention can be effectively used not only in the conveyance of a stimulable phosphor sheet in the vertical or almost vertical direction but also in the conveyance with alteration of the direction (e.g. L-­turn and U-turn). Further, the method of the invention can be effectively employed in the conveyance of a stimu­lable phosphor sheet in the horizontal direction. A belt conveyor is conventionally used in the conveyance thereof in such direction. Furthermore, the method of the pre­ sent invention can be employed in combination with a con­ventional method using a belt conveyor in conveying the stimulable phosphor sheet in a radiation image informa­tion recording and reading device.

[0036] The device illustrated in the Fig. 3 is further pro­vided with a guiding means 35 (35a, 35b, 35c, ...) for guiding the front end of the stimulable phosphor sheet. The guiding means 35 is arranged in the vicinity of the driving means 24, for instance, just in front of the driving means 34. The guiding means 35 serves to smooth­ly engage the coming stimulable phosphor sheet with the driving means. Although the stimulable phosphor sheet essentially comprising a support and a phosphor layer is considerably rigid, flexure may occasionally happen on most of the conventional stimulable phosphor sheet used in a relatively thin plate having a width of approx. 30 - 60 cm at the front end. If flexure takes place at the front end of the stimulable phosphor sheet, the front end sometimes suffers damage, or in the worst case, the con­veying action is stopped by unsuitable engagement between the sheet and the driving means. The guiding means 35 for guiding the front end of the stimulable phosphor sheet is very effective to enable smooth engagement bet­ween the stimulable phosphor sheet and the driving means.

[0037] There is no specific limitation on the shape, size, and location of the front end-guiding means, as far as it serves to enable the smooth engagement. Otherwise, the front end-guiding means can be in the form of a roller arranged in the vicinity of the driving means. The front end-guiding means can be arranged merely on one side of the conveyor. The front end-guiding means is generally made of plastic material and metal.

[0038] As described above, the method of the invention is suitable for conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet in the vertical or almost vertical direction. Accordingly, from the viewpoint of making the device compact, the method of the invention can be preferably and practically employed in the radiation image information recording and reading device in which the stimulable phosphor sheet is required to be conveyed in such direction so as to be repeatedly used in cycle.

[0039] Both sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet to be employed in the conveying method of the invention are preferably formed or processed to have enhanced protec­tion against the physical (mechanical) shock given to these sides by the side-guiding means in the course of the conveying stage, as well as enhance protection against chemical deterioration.

[0040] For instance, at least both sides of the phosphor layer along the direction to be conveyed are retracted from the corresponding side edges of the support, as illustrated in Fig. 4a in which the support, phosphor layer and protective layer are indicated by 41, 42 and 43, respectively. Alternatively, at least both sides of the phosphor layer and support are protected by a polymer coating layer, as illustrated in Fig. 4b in which the support, phosphor layer, protective layer and polymer coating layer are indicated by 41, 42, 43 and 44, respec­tively. Alternatively, at least both sides of the phos­phor layer and support are protected by a polymer film, as illustrated in Fig. 4c in which the support, phosphor layer, protective layer and polymer film are indicated by 41, 42, 43 and 45, respectively. The polymer film 45 is fixed to the side by an adhesive layer 46.

[0041] In other aspects, at least both sides of the phos­phor layer along the direction to be conveyed are re­tracted from the corresponding side edges of the support, and both of said sides of the phosphor layer and support are protected by a polymer coating layer, as illustrated in Fig. 5a in which the support, phosphor layer, protec­tive layer and polymer coating layer are indicated by 51, 52, 53 and 54, respectively. The side edges on the bot­tom surface of the support can be chamferred, as illus­trated in Fig. 5b.

[0042] In other aspects, at least both sides of the phos­phor layer along the direction to be conveyed are re­tracted from the corresponding side edges of the support, and both of said sides of the phosphor layer and support are protected by a polymer film, as illustrated in Fig. 6a in which the support, phosphor layer, protective layer and polymer film are indicated by 61, 62, 63 and 65, res­pectively. The polymer film 65 is fixed to the side by an adhesive layer 64. The side edges on the bottom sur­face of the support can be chamferred, as illustrated in Fig. 6b.

[0043] In another aspect, at least both sides of the phosphor layer along the direction to be conveyed are retraced from the corresponding side edges of the support, and both of said retracted sides of the phosphor layer are protected by a solid material fixedly placed in the area formed by the retraction of the phosphor layer, as illu­strated in Fig. 7a in which the support, phosphor layer, protective layer and solid material are indicated by 71, 72, 73 and 74, respectively. The side edges on the bot­tom surface of the support can be chamferred, as illus­trated in Fig. 7b.

[0044] In another aspect, a stimulable phosphor sheet may comprise a substrate, a support, a phosphor layer and a protective film superposed in this order, in which at lest both sides of the phosphor layer and support along the direction to be conveyed are retracted from the cor­responding side edges of the substrate, and both of said sides of the sheet are protected by a polymer coating layer. This embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 8a, in which the substrate, support, phosphor layer, protective layer and polymer coating layer are indicated by 81, 82, 83, 84, and 85, respectively. The protection can be made by means of an adhesive layer 86 and a polymer film 87, as illustrated in Fig. 8b. The protection can be made by means of a solid material 88, as illustrated in Fig. 8c.

[0045] There is no specific limitation on the material of the substrate. For instance, the substrate can be pro­duced from any material employable for the production of the support.

[0046] The above-described protections can be given to the front and/or rear ends of the stimulable phosphor sheets, to protect the phosphor layer against physical shocks, as well as to keep the phosphor layer from chemical deterio­ration. The front and/or rear ends can be chamferred on the bottom surface.

[0047] In the above-described embodiments, the sides of the protruded support or substrate can effectively keep the phosphor layer from physical shock, friction, and the like applied to the sides of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0048] The polymer coating layer can be provided to the side of the stimulable phosphor sheet, for instance, by applying a solution of a film-forming polymer in a sol­vent to the side and then drying to remove the solvent, or applying reactive material(s) to form a polymer mate­rial to the side and causing the reaction to form in-situ the polymer coating film. There is no specific limita­tion on the film-forming polymer employed in the above process. For instance, a polyurethane-acrylic resin and a mixture of an acrylic resin and vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer 9 which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication 58(1983)-68746)-can be used.

[0049] The polymer film can be produced from the same mate­rial as that employed for the production of the protec­tive material. For instance, cellulose acetate, poly­methyl methacrylate, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyethylene can be mentioned. The polymer film employed for this purpose may be transparent or not. The film can be fixed to the side, for instance, by an adhesive or other sticky material.

[0050] There is no specific limitation on the solid materi­al to be arranged adjacent to the side of the phosphor layer. For instance, a solid polymer material and a metal can be employed. The solid polymer material can be that mentioned hereinbefore as the material for production of the surface protective film or a polymer film for pro­tection of the side. The solid material can be provided adjacent to the side of the phosphor layer by placing it. Otherwise, a polymer material solution can be introduced in the area and the solid polymer can be formed in-situ after removal of the solvent. Otherwise, a solid polymer material can be formed in-situ by a reaction of reactive compound(s). The solid material can be fixed to the side of the phosphor layer and/or the upper surface of the support or substrate.

Claims

1. A method of conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet comprising applying a driving force to a surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet by means of a driving mem­ber, keeping both side edges of said phosphor sheet by means of a guiding member to move the stimulable phosphor sheet in a given direction.

2. The method of conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet as claimed in claim 2, wherein the front end of the stimulable phosphor sheet is guided by a guiding means arranged in the vicinity of said driving member.

3. The method of conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said driving member is a rotating roller.

4. The method of conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said driving member is a pair of rollers under rotation.

5. The method of conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the direction of conveying said stimulable phosphor sheet is substantially vertical.

6. The method of conveying a stimulable phosphor sheet as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least both sides of the phosphor layer of the stimulable phosphor layer along the direction to be conveyed are retracted from the corresponding side edges of the support.

Drawing