JPH0556903B

An X-ray tube support apparatus includes: an X-ray tube support mechanism (6) for supporting an X-ray tube to be vertically extendible/movable; a guide unit (1), having paths (2, 3) which allow movement in two-dimensional directions parallel to a ceiling surface, for supporting the X-ray tube support mechanism (6), and guiding the X-ray tube to a central position of a photographing table (15, 16); a plurality of position sensors (17), arranged in the vertical path of the X-ray tube support mechanism and two-dimensional paths (2, 3) for detecting vertical and two-dimensional positions of the X-ray tube support mechanism (6); a plurality of fixing units (18), arranged in the two-dimensional paths (2,3) of the guide unit (1) and the vertical path of the X-ray tube support mechanism (6), for fixing the X-ray tube support mechanism at each position (P); and a determination unit for storing position data in accordance with the central position of the photographing table (15, 16) and a set distance from a focal point of the X-ray tube (10) to an X-ray photographing system, comparing the position data with a position detection signal of the position detected by each sensor (17), and outputting a lock instruction to the corresponding one of the fixing units (18) when it is determined that the position data coincides with the position detection signal, thus locking the X-ray tube support mechanism (6).