FR2498342A1 - Device for separating and drawing out films - includes cam-actuated wedge and pivotal plate operable to separate film from pile, roller effecting its withdrawal - Google Patents

Abstract

The device is for separating and drawing out, in full light, individual films from a pile of films, cut in the same size, for a cassette and in radiographic or photographic equipment. The film sheet separating device comprises a cam (6) which reciprocates a slide (10) causing a roller (16) to contact the uppermost sheet of the pile. A wedge (14) obliquely enters the pile to partially separate the uppermost sheet. Plate (20) then pivots (about 21) further separating the sheet from the pile and allowing a roller (30) to enter the space between the pile and sheet. The roller nips the sheet against a drawing out wheel.

Description

 The present invention relates to a device for separating and extracting, in bright light, individual strips or films from a stack of films, cut to the same dimensions, for cassettes and in radiographic or photographic apparatus.

 Film frames are currently known which perform in full light the separation of the bands or films by means of suction systems, with a pneumatic separator device or by means of mechanical separators, the operation of which requires the use of perforated corner bands carrying notches or holes.

 These cassette loading devices, which use the suction cups or the pressurized air as a separator and extractor of the bands or films, work with a very low tape extraction speed and, moreover, are not capable of ensuring the separation of an individual strip from the stack, since the adhesion of the strips to one another can cause the extraction of a plurality of strips or films.

 This drawback has been eliminated, at least partially, in cassette loading devices provided with mechanical separators, however these devices must use strips which are preliminary subjected to a punching operation to form notches or holes.

 For these reasons, each film frame is linked to the use of a given type of strip, provided with compatible holes.

 In addition, even the radiological and radiographic apparatuses which employ film magazines carrying out the separation and the extraction of the film by means of a suction cup or pneumatic or mechanical devices, also have the disadvantages mentioned above, since the principle of operation is substantially similar, although the application is different.

 In addition, some radiological devices are used.

strips in rolls, necessarily requiring the use of devices to cut the strips to the desired dimensions.

 These cutting devices are rather bulky and, moreover, the cutting movement of the strip can generate vibrations which are harmful to the quality of the radiography performed.

 The present invention proposes to eliminate the drawbacks mentioned above, by producing a device capable of being used in cassettes and radiographic and photographic apparatus which is able to allow the processing of an individual strip in full light, without the need to form notches or holes on said strip, and allowing the simultaneous use of substantially automatic devices.

 To this end, the present invention proposes to produce a separation and extraction device which makes it possible to have a large stock of strips, with the advantage of reducing the loading time of films or strips in stores.

 Another object of the present invention is to allow the use of a normal tape, without being obliged to execute different successive operations on the tape.

 Another object of the present invention consists in producing a device for separating and extracting tapes making it possible to obtain a high speed of extracting the tapes, so as to allow the processing of a larger quantity of daily or increase the number of plates that can be used.

 Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a separation and extraction device capable of giving guarantees of dirtiness of use and which is mechanically simple and of reduced cost.

 These objects are achieved by a device for separating and extracting individual tapes from a stack of cassette tapes and in radiographic and photographic equipment, which, according to the present invention, comprises a movable support element for a stack of tapes or films, which act as means for extracting individual tapes.

 These means are formed by an element which controls means for lifting an edge of the first strip of the stack, and which are movable in the plane of said strip along a direction inclined relative to said edge, and means for lifting the movable strip perpendicularly to said edge and able to be introduced below the first strip, to bring this strip into contact with an extraction wheel.

Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a device for separating and extracting individual strips from a stack of strips according to the invention and from the accompanying drawings. , wherein
FIG. 1 is a top view of the separation and extraction device,
FIG. 2 is an elevation view, showing the extraction means, and
Figure 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of Figure 1.

 Referring to the figures, the separation and extraction device according to the present invention comprises a mobile support element 1, on which a stack of strips or films has been placed, indicated by 2, and having the same dimension.

 The movable support element 1 is housed inside a structure 3 enclosing and protecting against light the separation device and the stack of films which are housed in a magazine 4, partially represented in the drawing, which is arranged at inside the structure 3.

 In addition, a thrust spring 5 is provided, acting between the bottom of the magazine 4 and the support element 1, to keep the strips of the stack 2 pressed upwards.

 The store 4 is normally closed by a window or similar, not shown in the drawing, which is removed when the store 4 is housed in the structure 3.

 Extraction means acting on the stack of strips 2 are formed by an actuating element comprising a cam element 6, which is supported, so as to be able to rotate, by a fixed plate 7, disposed side by side with respect to store accommodation area 4.

 The cam 6 can rotate on the plate 7 by means of a pinion 8 integral with the cam 6, and driven in rotation by a chain drive device or the like, not shown in the drawing.

 This cam element 6 actuates first means for lifting an edge of the first strip of the stack 2 of strips, these means comprising a slide 10, guided in slides 11 provided on the fixed plate 7, so as to give said slide a reciprocating movement along a direction arranged in the. plane of the first strip of stack 2 and inclined with respect to said edge.

 The reciprocating movement of the slide 10 is given by a connecting rod or rod 12, which eccentrically connects to the cam 6 and to one end of the slide 10.

 At the end of the slide 10 opposite the end of connection with the connecting rod 12, there is provided a square element 13, disposed against a wedge element 14, having its tapered end facing the stack 2 of strips.

 This square element is able to support by means of a pin 15, a first roller 16, which is arranged above the first strip of the stack 2 of strips.

 On the fixed plate 7 are further provided other means for lifting a band, actuated by the cam 6, and formed by a bevelled plate 20 supported by the plate 7 by means of a cleat 21 with a washer 22, intended to allow, in addition to a translational movement relative to the plate 7, a rotational movement around said cleat.

 The device also comprises elastic return means, formed by a first spring 23 and by a second spring 24 which act, respectively, on the bevelled plate 20 and a fixed point, and on said plate 20 and the connecting rod or rod 12.

 At the edge of the beveled plate 20 facing the stack 2 of strips, a second roller 30 is provided which is capable of being inserted below the first strip of the stack 2 of strips.

 The translational and rotational movements are transmitted to the beveled plate 20 either by a roller 31, supported so as to be able to rotate relative to the plate 20 and resting on the cam 6, or by a bearing 32 provided on the slide 10, and acting on an edge of the plate 20.

 A rubberized extraction wheel 40 is further disposed above at a certain distance from the stack 2 of strips, and serves to carry out the extraction of the raised strip by the appropriate means mentioned above.

 The rubberized wheel 40 is actuated by a motor (not shown), which rotates it around its axis.

 The operation of the device for separating and extracting strips or films according to the present invention is as follows: 11 cam element 6 is rotated by means of the pinion 8 actuated by a motor (not shown).

 The rotation of the cam, by means of the connecting rod or rod 12,.

gives the slide 10 a reciprocating linear movement, along a direction inclined with respect to the edge of the first strip of the stack 2.

 The movement of the connecting rod moves the slide 10 in its longitudinal direction and thereby causes the first roller 16 which is always supported on the upper face of the first strip.

 The entrainment of the roller causes the displacement of the wedge element 14, which is arranged in contact with the stack of strips and, since the distance between the periphery of the roller and the tapered end of the wedge element is almost equal at the thickness of a strip, the tip of the wedge element 14 enters the stack of strips and separates an individual strip from the stack, lifting its edge.

 Continuing its linear travel, the wedge element slightly lifts the strip, to allow entry of the shaped plate 20.

 Initially, the slide 10 moves the shaped plate 20 by means of the bearing 32, which is inserted between the strip separated by the corner element and the stack of strips below.

 The shaped plate is inserted under the strip, following an angular displacement pivoted on the cleat or journal 21, and then by another angular displacement of rotation around the bearing 32, following the thrust transmitted by the roller 31 actuated by the cam element 6.

 This last movement is given by the profile of the cam 6, which acts on the roller 31 fixed to the shaped or bevelled plate 20.

 Thanks to these two successive movements, the shaped plate 20 completely separates the first strip from the stack of strips, so that the second roller 30 can be inserted between the first strip and the stack below, which is always pushed by the push spring 5.

 The first separate strip, practically lifted by the roller 30, is brought into contact with the extraction wheel 40, which sends the strip into an X-ray cassette or in the processing screens of an X-ray device.

 Continuing its rotational movement, the cam 6 returns the slide 10 to its starting position, and the return springs 23 and 24 can withdraw the shaped plate 20 to its starting position.

 From this moment, the device is again ready to carry out another separation and extraction operation, similar to the previous one.

 In practice, for each rotation of the cam 6, the strip is separated and extracted.

 The angular speed of rotation of the cam and of the rubberized wheel 40 is such that the strip is completely extracted from the stack of strips before the tip of the wedge element is returned in contact with the strips, for the separation of 'another band.

 This reciprocating movement of the slide 10 which, in the example shown is obtained by a connecting rod eccentrically connected with the cam, can be obtained by using other similar elements, such as for example a Maltese cross mechanism .

 It will be noted that the present invention makes it possible to completely achieve the goals mentioned above.

 In particular, it should be noted that the device according to the invention, while having a completely mechanical operation, is capable of separating an individual strip without it being necessary to resort to the use of strips provided with notches or holes.

 Furthermore, this device does not damage the strip, since the operator does not act manually on the strip which is extracted in a practically automatic manner.

 This device has very reduced dimensions, since there are no band dividers between one band and the other, while allowing the band to be loaded under full light.

 Another important advantage of this device is generated by the high speed of extraction of the bands which makes it possible to perform a plurality of daily tests, extremely quickly.

 The invention described above is of course capable of undergoing numerous modifications and of being presented in various variants.

 All the constituent elements can be replaced by equivalent elements, having the same functions.

 In practice, the materials used, the dimensions and the shapes can be any, depending on the applications.

Claims (11)

 1. Device for separating and extracting individual strips, or films, from a stack of strips for radiographic and photographic equipment, characterized in that it comprises a mobile support element 1 for a stack of strips or films 2, on which act means for successively extracting individual strips, these means comprising an actuating element 6 intended to control means arranged to lift an edge of the first strip from the stack, these means being movable in the same plane as the strip the along a direction inclined with respect to said edge, and other means, movable perpendicularly with respect to said edge and capable of being introduced below the first strip to bring it into contact with an extraction wheel 40.  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said movable support element 1 is housed in a magazine 4, able to be disposed in a fixed structure 3, a thrust spring 5 being connected on the one hand to the support element mobile 1, and on the other hand at the bottom of the store.  3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said actuating means are formed by a cam element 6, supported so as to be able to rotate on a fixed plate 7, arranged side by side with the magazine 4 , this cam element being in contact with a drive pinion element actuated by a wetness.  4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first means for lifting the strip.  to be extracted comprise a slide element 10, capable of carrying out an alternating and guided movement in slides 11 provided on said fixed plate 7, said slide element having one end turned towards said stack of strips, this end being provided with a first roller 16, acting by contact on the upper face of the first strip, secured to a wedge element 14, intended to be introduced under the first strip to lift its edge.  5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slide element 10 is connected with the cam element 6 by means of a rod or link 12, fixed eccentrically to the cam element.  6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said means for lifting the strip comprise a shaped plate 20, supported so as to be able to slide on the fixed plate 7, and angularly movable relative to this plate fixed by means of a pin and roller connection, connecting said shaped plate 20 to the fixed plate 7, said fixed plate being provided with a second roller element 30, capable of being introduced below said first strip , to bring said strip into contact with the extraction wheel 40.  7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, on the slide element 10, a bearing acting by contact on the shaped plate, and arranged to give this shaped plate a first rotation. angular around the pin 15, for the introduction of this shaped plate below the first strip.  8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a roller element 31, driven by the cam element 6, to give the shaped plate 20 an angular rotation movement around a bearing, and allow the complete introduction of said shaped plate below the first strip.  9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises return springs 23, 24 respectively connected to the shaped plate and to the fixed structure, and to the shaped plate and to the link.  10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the extraction wheel 40 is provided with a rubberized surface.  11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cam element 6 and the rubberized extraction wheel 40 are driven at respective angular velocities such that the first strip is completely extracted from the stack of strips before the tapered part of said wedge element 14 is reinserted into said stack of strips or films 2.