EP0000691B1 - X-ray film cassette loader - Google Patents

X-ray film cassette loader Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0000691B1
EP0000691B1 EP19780100143 EP78100143A EP0000691B1 EP 0000691 B1 EP0000691 B1 EP 0000691B1 EP 19780100143 EP19780100143 EP 19780100143 EP 78100143 A EP78100143 A EP 78100143A EP 0000691 B1 EP0000691 B1 EP 0000691B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cassette
housing
envelope
dispenser
film
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19780100143
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0000691A3 (en
EP0000691A2 (en
Inventor
Gunter Schmidt
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
EIDP Inc
Original Assignee
EI Du Pont de Nemours and Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by EI Du Pont de Nemours and Co filed Critical EI Du Pont de Nemours and Co
Publication of EP0000691A2 publication Critical patent/EP0000691A2/en
Publication of EP0000691A3 publication Critical patent/EP0000691A3/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0000691B1 publication Critical patent/EP0000691B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B42/00—Obtaining records using waves other than optical waves; Visualisation of such records by using optical means
    • G03B42/02—Obtaining records using waves other than optical waves; Visualisation of such records by using optical means using X-rays
    • G03B42/04—Holders for X-ray films
    • G03B42/045—Holders for X-ray films apparatus for loading or unloading the holders

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an X-ray film cassette loader for dispensing an X-ray film from a stack and for loading one film sheet at a time into a cassette.
  • a lighttight receiver into which the enveloped film sheet stack can be inserted is mounted on a lighttight dispenser which passes only one film sheet at a time through its lower opening into the cassette which is held in a lighttight housing.
  • the upper and lower openings of the dispenser form a lighttight seal with the receiver housing and the cassette-holding housing.
  • X-ray film cassette loaders make it possible to load an X-ray film sheet from a stack into a cassette under daylight conditions.
  • An X-ray film cassette loader is known in accordance with the prior art portion of claim 1 (US 3 912 932) in which the dispenser of single X-ray sheets from the stack is associated with the receiver.
  • the receiver is provided with a cutter for opening the film stack envelope. Individual films are removed by a suction member and dropped to a hopper. With a loader of this kind a new stack of film sheets can be inserted into the receiver only after the last film sheet of the. preceding stack has been loaded into a cassette.
  • the invention as claimed solves the problem of how to design an X-ray film cassette loader in which the film sheet stack is transferred as a whole into the dispenser.
  • the invention also comprises a receiver for receiving an envelope containing a stack of film sheets under daylight conditions, and for then releasing the stack of film sheets out of the envelope.
  • the loader includes a lighttight receiver which can be opened to receive the envelope and has a clip at the upper end for holding the envelope and a groove near the opposite (bottom) end in which the envelope is placed so that the opposite end of the envelope extends beyond the groove.
  • a rod lies in the groove over the envelope to seal it, so that the end of the envelope extending beyond the groove can be cut open without admitting light.
  • the dispenser housing preferably includes a backing plate which can slide down an incline to push the stack of films so the film furthest from the backing plate is pushed against a roller and is moved down on rotation of the roller into an open cassette lying in a cassette-holding housing.
  • the cassette-holding housing has an open top and can be pivoted between a first position aligned with the dispenser housing to receive a sheet into the cassette, or pivoted away so that the top of the cassette-holding housing is open . for the removal of the cassette.
  • the cassette is closed after the film sheet has dropped into the cassette and before the cassette is pivoted away for removal of the cassette.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates a daylight loading apparatus 10 which includes a lighttight film package receiver 12, for receiving an envelope 14 containing a stack of sheets of X-ray film, and a dispenser 16 which can receive the stack of film from the envelope and dispense one film at a time.
  • Envelope 14 is made from black plastic film and is accordingly lighttight.
  • the apparatus also includes a holder 18 which can hold a cassette to receive a film and then close the cassette.
  • a frame 20, which supports the dispenser 16 and holder 18, can be mounted on a wall or other location.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates the film package receiver 12 in an open condition, wherein a cover 22c of the receiver housing 22 has been swung open.
  • the receiver includes a clip 24 at the upper portion of the housing for clipping to the film-holding envelope 14.
  • a wall 26 at the bottom of the housing has a groove 28 which receives the lower portion 14p of the envelope.
  • a rod 30 extending through holes 32 at the side of the housing, lies in the groove 28 over the envelope 14, to securely hold the lower end of the envelope in a lighttight seal in the groove 28.
  • the envelope 14 is normally loaded while oriented in a horizontal position so that the normally top and lower ends are at the same level.
  • the lower portion 14p of the envelope which projects beyond the groove, can be cut by a scissors. No light will reach the film because the rod 30 and the groove 28 forms a lighttight seal with the envelope.
  • the cover 22c of the housing is closed and the film receiver 12 can be mounted on top of the loading apparatus 10 in the manner shown in Fig. 1, wherein the bottom of the housing 22 is received in a corresponding hole 33 of the film dispenser 16.
  • a light seal 34 on the dispenser is pulled out. Then a handle portion 30h is pulled out to remove rod 30 and release the film so that it can fall through the opening 33 into the dispenser 1 6.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates the apparatus prior to pulling out the rod 30, while Fig. 4 illustrates the manner in which the stack of film sheets 40 falls down into the dispenser when the rod has been pulled out to release the film sheets.
  • seal 34 can be reinserted and receiver 12 can then be removed.
  • the dispenser 16 includes a backing plate 42, which blocks 56 of low friction material, such as an acetal plastic, at its lower end.
  • a guard 48 is provided that has a lower end lying over the throat 46 to prevent a jam of film sheets above the throat 46.
  • the guard 48 is pivotally mounted at 50 and will easily deflect out of the way during normal dispensing of a film.
  • the blocks 56 at the bottom of the backing plate have fingers 56f (Fig. 5) extending through three slots 44s in the guide wall 44.
  • the bottoms of the fingers 56f rest on an inclined wall 52 (Fig. 3), so that the plate moves forward when its upper end 42u is released.
  • Dispensing of film down through the throat 46 is initiated by manually releasing the backing plate 42 so it can slide forward towards the throat 46. This allows the blocks 56 at the bottom of the plate to move the film forward so that the forwardmost sheet is pushed against the roller 54 and can begin moving down when the roller 54 is rotated by a motor (not shown). The roller then pushes the sheet down through another throat 58.
  • a cassette 62 can be inserted into the cassette holder 18, by first pivoting the cassette holder to the position shown in Fig. 3 so that the open top 64 of the holder is accessible to receive the cassette.
  • the cassette holder has a housing 66 pivotally mounted at 68 on the frame 20 of the loading apparatus. It may be noted that the pivot axis 68 is located behind the film dispensing throat, so that as the cassette holder 18 pivots back it also moves up slightly.
  • the holder is pivoted to the position shown in Fig. 4, wherein its open top 64 is aligned with the lower throat 58 of the dispenser. With the cassette 62 open, the downward movement of a film sheet 40, through the throat 58, brings the sheet into the cassette. The cassette is then closed, the holder 18 is pivoted to the position shown in Fig. 3, and the film-holding cassette can be removed.
  • Fig. 6 illustrates details of the cassette holder 18.
  • the cassette 62 includes two walls 70, 72 hinged at their lower ends, and having latches 74 at their upper ends which hold the cassette closed when the walls 70, 72 are moved together.
  • the rearward wall 70 of the cassette forms an opening 76 into which the forward wall 72 of the cassette is received when closed.
  • a hold-open cam 80 can lift to receive a tab 75 of the forward cassette wall, as shown in Fig. 7, wherein the tab 75 is received in a slot 82 of the cam 80.
  • the holder After the cassette has been loaded into the holder 18, the holder is pivoted to the position shown in Fig. 4. An edge 90, forming the top of the holder housing, forms a lighttight seal against the lower wall 92 of the dispenser, around the lower throat 58 through which a film sheet emerges. Thus, a lighttight seal is formed merely by pivoting back the top of the cassette holder 18.
  • the cassette 62 After the film has been dispensed from the dispenser 16, as described above, the cassette 62 must be closed before the holder 18 is pivoted forward. This is accomplished by turning a handle 100 (Fig. 6) located outside the cassette-holder housing 66.
  • the handle 100 tends to extend downwardly from a rotatable rod 102, because of a spring 103 coupled to the rod.
  • a camming pin 106 on the rod 102 engages a flange 108 on the cam 80 to lift it.
  • Lifting of the cam releases tab 75 so that the forward wall 72 of the cassette can be closed against the rearward wall 70.
  • Further turning of the handle 100 in the direction of arrow 104 brings a pair of closing cams 109 against the cassette wall 72 to push it closed.
  • Still further turning of the handle causes a pair of release cams 110, fixed to the handle, to lift a pair of catches 112 that release the cassette holder 18 so its upper end can pivot forward.
  • the cassette can be removed through the open top 64 of the cassette holder.
  • the cassette 62 is then ready for placement in a chest X-ray machine.
  • the cassette 62 Prior to the holder 18 pivoting forward, the cassette 62 is held down by a hold-down member 114 (Figs. 1 and 6) that is pivotally mounted at a side of the holder housing 66 and has an arm 116 that terminates in a lateral tab 122.
  • Tab 122 normally extends through a slot in housing 66 where it can engage wall 70 of cassette 62 and is biased to that position by spring 123 (Fig. 1).
  • the cassette is urged upwardly by a cassette support 118 that is vertically slidable on the holder housing and that is upwardly biased by springs 120.
  • the invention also provides an apparatus for receiving an envelope containing a stack of film sheets, and means for loading individual film sheets into cassettes, all in a daylight environment.
  • an apparatus for opening the envelope which includes a rod that holds an end portion of the envelope in a groove so that the envelope can be cut open without admitting light.
  • a simple dispenser is utilized which can receive a stack of film from the envelope and dispense one sheet at a time.
  • a cassette holder is utilized which can pivot from a position under the dispenser and in a lighttight fit therewith, to a second position wherein the cassette can be removed from the top of the cassette holder.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Radiography Using Non-Light Waves (AREA)
EP19780100143 1977-06-13 1978-06-13 X-ray film cassette loader Expired EP0000691B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US80581777A 1977-06-13 1977-06-13
US805817 1977-06-13

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0000691A2 EP0000691A2 (en) 1979-02-21
EP0000691A3 EP0000691A3 (en) 1979-03-07
EP0000691B1 true EP0000691B1 (en) 1983-08-24

Family

ID=25192582

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19780100143 Expired EP0000691B1 (en) 1977-06-13 1978-06-13 X-ray film cassette loader

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0000691B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5417689A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2862305D1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2475750A1 (fr) * 1980-02-07 1981-08-14 Radiologia Comp Gen Machine pour le chargement en plein jour de magasins de films radiographiques
JPS5934537A (ja) * 1982-08-20 1984-02-24 Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd フイルム明室装填方法および装置
JPH0610724B2 (ja) * 1983-01-10 1994-02-09 富士写真フイルム株式会社 フイルム明室装填方法および装置
JPS61165542U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1985-04-02 1986-10-14
EP0236904B1 (en) * 1986-03-12 1991-06-05 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company X-ray film feeding magazine usable in film handling automatic apparatus
EP0288014B1 (en) * 1987-04-20 1998-08-05 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Cassette, device and method of erasing a stimulable phosphor sheet
JP2697913B2 (ja) * 1989-08-31 1998-01-19 富士写真フイルム株式会社 カセッテ用蓋開閉機構
EP0415421B1 (en) * 1989-08-31 1996-04-10 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Cassette loading and unloading device
US6126314A (en) * 1996-07-09 2000-10-03 Ge Medical Systems S.A. Mobile radiography device with cassette container
FR2750849B1 (fr) * 1996-07-09 1998-10-09 Ge Medical Syst Sa Dispositif mobile de radiographie avec conteneur de cassettes

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL275651A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1900-01-01
FR1263585A (fr) * 1960-07-20 1961-06-09 Gevaert Photo Prod Nv Procédé pour enlever pièce par pièce des feuilles de film d'une pile, pour séparer ces feuilles de film de leur emballage et pour distribuer ces feuilles de film
JPS49102331A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1973-01-31 1974-09-27

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0000691A3 (en) 1979-03-07
EP0000691A2 (en) 1979-02-21
DE2862305D1 (en) 1983-09-29
JPS5417689A (en) 1979-02-09
JPS5641983B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1981-10-01

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