Erasing device and erasing method

• US 20070125973A1
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Koishikawa, Keisuke
• Application Number:
  US11/583,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20070125973A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/588
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/225 using electron or ion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00801 according to characteristics of the original
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0412 Scanning X-ray films

Abstract

An erasing time required to erase radiation image information remaining in an image storage recording medium is calculated based on IP information supplied from an IP information reader and radiation image information read from the image storage recording medium by an image information reader. A display unit displays the erasing time and confirmative information as to whether an erasing process is to be performed or not. If the erasing process is to be performed as selected by an erasing process selector, then the erasing process is performed.

Claims

1. A device for erasing remaining image information from an image storage recording medium by applying erasing light to the image storage recording medium, comprising:

erasure information acquiring means for acquiring erasure information required to erase the image information remaining in the image storage recording medium;

display means for displaying confirmative information to confirm whether an erasing process for erasing the remaining image information is to be performed or not, based on the acquired erasure information;

erasing process selecting means for selecting whether the erasing process is to be performed or not, based on the displayed confirmative information; and

erasing means for applying the erasing light based on said erasure information to said image storage recording medium to erase the remaining image information, if the erasing process is to be performed as selected by said erasing process selecting means.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said erasure information acquiring means comprises:

image information reading means for reading image information stored and recorded in said image storage recording medium;

wherein said erasure information acquiring means acquires said image information read by said image information reading means as said erasure information.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said erasure information acquiring means comprises:

type information reading means for reading type information of said image storage recording medium;

wherein said erasure information acquiring means acquires said type information read by said type information reading means as said erasure information.

4. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

erasing time calculating means for calculating an erasing time required to erase the remaining image information, based on the acquired erasure information;

wherein said display means displays said erasing time together with said confirmative information.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said display means displays said erasing time together with said confirmative information if said erasing time is longer than a predetermined reference erasing time.

6. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

erasure table storing means for storing an erasure table representing the relationship between said erasure information and amounts of erasing light required to erase the remaining image information;

wherein said erasing means applies an amount of erasing light which is set using said erasure table based on the acquired erasure information, to said image storage recording medium.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said erasure table storing means stores a correction table for correcting the amount of erasing light depending on a state of said erasing means.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said erasing means controls an erasing time for which said erasing light is applied, based on said erasure information.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said erasing means controls an amount of the erasing light based on said erasure information.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein said image storage recording medium comprises a stimulable phosphor panel.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein said image storage recording medium comprises a solid-state radiation detector.

12. A method of erasing remaining image information from an image storage recording medium by applying erasing light to the image storage recording medium, comprising the steps of:

acquiring erasure information required to erase the image information remaining in the image storage recording medium;

displaying confirmative information to confirm whether an erasing process for erasing the remaining image information is to be performed or not, based on the acquired erasure information;

selecting whether the erasing process is to be performed or not, based on the displayed confirmative information; and

applying the erasing light based on said erasure information to said image storage recording medium to erase the remaining image information, if the erasing process is to be performed as selected in said selecting step.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said acquiring step comprises the steps of:

reading image information stored and recorded in said image storage recording medium; and

acquiring said image information as said erasure information.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein said acquiring step comprises the steps of:

reading type information of said image storage recording medium; and

acquiring said type information as said erasure information.

15. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

calculating an erasing time required to erase the remaining image information, based on the acquired erasure information; and

displaying said erasing time together with said confirmative information.