Radiation image erase unit for use with stimulable phosphor sheet

摘要

A radiation image erase unit erases a remaining radiation image from a stimulable phosphor sheet by exposing the same to erasure light after reading out a radiation image stored thereon by applying stimulating light to the stimulable phosphor sheet to cause the same to emit light representative of the radiation image and detecting and converting the light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet photoelectrically to an electric signal. When the illuminance of the erasure light emitted from erasing light sources is lowered, or one or more of the erasing light sources fail to be energized, the stimulable phosphor sheet is controlled to remain in the radiation image erase unit during a time dependent on the reduction in the illuminance of the erasure light. Any remaining radiation image is thus completely erased from the stimulable phosphor sheet in preparation for the recording of a next radiation image thereon.