US3195436A - Siphon cover for the daylight developing of dental radiographic film with incorporated developer and fixing material - Google Patents

Description

July 20, 1965 1.. DECROP SIPHON COVER FOR THE DAYLIGHT DEVELOPING OF DENTAL RADIOGRAPHIC FILM WITH INCORPORATED DEVELOPER AND FIXING MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 1', 1963 INVENTOR Louis 1.. DECROP L. L. DECROP SIPHON COVER FOR THE DAYLIGHT DEVELOPING OF DENTAL RADIOGRAPHIC FILM WITH INCORPORATED DEVELOPER AND FIXING MATERIAL Filed March 1, 1963 JuI ZO, 1965 3,195,436

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Louis L. DEcRoP United States Patent SIPHGN COVER FGR THE DAYIJIGHT DEVELQP- ENG 0F DENTAL RADIOGRAPHIC FILM WITH INCORPORATED DEVELOPER AND FIXING MATERIAL Louis Lucien Deer-op, 10 Ave. Niquet, Antihes, Alpes Maritirnes, France Filed Mar. 1, 1953, Ser. No. 262,120 Claims priority, application France, Mar. 7, 1962, 7,001, Patent 1,326,421; Feb. 12, 1963, 924,565, Patent 83,048

" 20 Claims. (Cl. 95-90) The invention relates to a siphon case for the daylight developing of radiographic film, more particularly dental film, and is applied, more particularly, to an incorporated developer and fixing medium case, folded, occupying a small space, enabling an easy handling and positioning at the moment of the radiographic operation.

The object of the invention also has the advantage of being easily utilizable, and-only requiring the user to fill it with water.

According to the invention, the case into which a sensitized plate is inserted at the bottom part consists of a tubular flexible strip opaque to light but permeable to X-rays and forming internally compartments connected by siphons to a lower compartment containing the sensitized plate and having an evacuation orifice at its upper art.

p Various other characteristics of the invention will moreover be revealed by the detailed description which follows.

Forms of embodiment of the object of the invention are shown, by way of examples, in the attached drawing.

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of the case according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an elevation showing the unfolding stage of the case.

FIGURE 3 is an elevation showing the unfolded case.

FIGURE 4 is an elevation-section showing diagrammatically the internal shape of the case.

FIGURE 5 is a partial section, on a larger scale, showing the characteristic elements of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is an elevation-section showing diagrammatically a first alternative of the case.

FIGURE 7 is an elevation-section showing diagrammatically a second alternative embodiment.

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatical elevation-section show ing, on a larger scale, another form of embodiment of the case.

According to the drawing, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate the case and its particular method of folding, enabling it to be reduced to a small size ensuring a minimum space occupied similar to that of ordinary dentists X-ray plates.

The case into which a sensitized plate 1 is inserted at the bottom part is formed of a flexible tubular strip 2 of plastic or any other suitable and tightly sealable material, opaque to light, but permeable to X-rays. This flexible strip 2 makes four compartments internally superimposed connected to each other by an inlet siphon circuit and emerging by a siphon evacuation circuit in a lower compartment 3 containing the sensitized plate.

These compartments as well as the siphons are, for example, delineated and confined by hot printed separation lines.

Although not shown the assembly thus formed is folded accordion fashion and held by a lateral strip with an opening draw-rod intended to free, during developing, the bellows formed by folding.

The compartments, whose volumes depend on the necessary duration of treatment and solutions used, may have various shapes. Likewise, their distribution may be made in any order provided that the siphon effect and chronology of the treatment operations are complied with.

In the example shown more particularly in FIG. 4, the case comprises a distribution compartment 4 made at the upper end of the case, a developer compartment 5, a rinsing compartment 6 and a fixing compartment 7. The distribution compartment 4 having a filling aperture 8, comprises a large delivery channel 9 for the developer compartment 5 and two small delivery siphons 10 and 11 respectively for the rinsing 6 and fixing compartments 7.

The inlet siphon circuit is completed by an evacuation siphon circuit towards the lowest compartment 3 formed by a small delivery siphon 12 extending the developer compartment 5, by a large delivery siphon 13 communicating with the rinsing compartment 6 and by a small delivery siphon 14 connecting the fixing compartment 7 to the processing compartment 3.

The compartment 3 into which these various siphons emerge, is made by the walls of the flexible tube closed by an adhesive strip. These walls also confine an enclosure 15, into which the sensitized plate 1 is inserted. The upper part of this enclosure forms an inverted V- shaped chamber 16 having a baffle or curved aperture 1'7 at its top part. The lateral walls of this enclosure, must have a complete opacity to light but good permeability to X-rays, forming on their internal face, as can be seen in FIG. 5, point-shaped granules 18 so as to provide a space between them and the sensitized plate that they hold. In like manner, the adhesive strip has on its internal part serrations 19. Numeral 20 denotes the lateral duct aperture emerging at the bottom part of the case and inside of which the evacuation siphons pour the chemical treating solutions.

Developing and fixing salts are placed inside the case described above. They may be placed either in the compartrnents, or in the siphons and, on this account, are easily separated from each other. Their minimum quantity studied for obtaining a correct development only give rise to a slight extra thickness of the case which can thus be easily used for dental purposes. Seeing that these salts are perfectly protected from damp or the ambient air by the hermetically sealed case, the solutions that they must form afford the advantage of being always fresh at the moment of utilization and can thus be indefinitely preseived.

The case according to the invention puts into operation incorporated salt compartments and gives delivery siphons for regulating a circulation of solutions corresponding to the normal stages of developing a radio-graphic film.

.The inlet and evacuation siphons enable the duration to be established of the various stages of development by a calculated fixed delivery time for each of them. By the simple passage of Water on the developing and fixing salts, the dilutions are made and distributed in the required time and the solutions are directed towards the compartment containing the sensitized plate.

The developing operation takes place as follows:

The user proceeds to unstick the lateral strip for freeing the various bellows formed by folding. The assembly, when unfolded, is then suspended over a bath, washbasin, etc.

The user then proceeds to filling the distribution compartment 4 with Water, which has the effect of starting up the inlet siphons and, in particular, to ensure the immeditae filling of the developing compartment 5.

The chronological sequence of the successive operations described above is based on an approximate developing duration of three minutes. it is quite obvious that according to the applications sought, this duration can be different and that, in this case, the delivery of the siphons is calculated to correspond to the basic time required for developing.

The developing compartment 5 being filled, it will easily be understood that the siphon 12 starts up and brings the solution through the duct 21 to the aperture in the enclosure 15. This solution has the effect of wetting completely the sensitized plate from bottom to top, and by the weight of the vertical column of liquid, to separate the lateral walls for ensuring a better passage and enable an even development of the sensitized plate. The resulting pressure sets up a certain flow speed of the solution and a constant renewal, evacuation taking place through the baffle or curved aperture 17 into compartment 3 and then through a hole, not shown, in a Wall of the case. It should be noticed that the chamber 16 is so shaped as to avoid air pockets or the retaining of solution and, on the contrary, to speed up evacuation.

As already mentioned above, this operation takes three minutes. During that time, the rinsing compartment 6 is filled with water by the siphon iltl whose delivery is equal to the siphon 12 of the developing compartment 5.

On this account, the siphon 13is started up and brings pure water into the enclosure 15. This operation is planned to take place in one minute. When the rinsing compartment is empty, four minutes have elapsed since the beginning of developing. This corresponds to the filling time of the fixing compartment 7 by the siphon 11. At this stage of developing, the distributing compartment 4, whose volume corresponds to the total volume of the various other compartments 5, 6, and 7, is empty.

The filling of the fixing compartment '7 has the effect of starting up the siphon 14 and conveying the solution into the enclosure 15 during two minutes, for example. The developing of the sensitized plate is terminated and the whole of the successive operations has only required the user to simply fill the distribution compartment in the first place.

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the case according to which all the siphons have the same passage section but each comprises a narrowed part 22 determining the flow duration. Also, according to this example, the lateral duct 21 formed obliquely towards the interior of the case confines two diversions 23 and 24 each extending along the two opposite longitudinal edges and emerging opposite each other at the lower part of the enclosure 15. This particular form of embodiment has the advantage of ensuring a better stirring of the solutions along the sensitized plate.

Furthermore, each compartment has appreciably at its highest part, two draining apertures 25 drilled op- 1 posite to each other. 7

Another form of embodiment is shown in FIG. 7, according to which the case, confining a single siphon 26, has only one compartment 27. The developing salts are, for example, placed in a water inlet tube 28, whereas the fixing salts form a capsule 29 at the top part of the compartment advantageously made of transparent material.

As soon asfilling has taken place, the developing salts are conveyed towards the base of the tube and in mixing,

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form the developing solution. When the level reached ensures the starting up of the siphon 26, filling is stopped. The solution is then conveyed towards the lower compartment. We may consider this operation, similar to the one previously described, as also taking place in three minutes.

A second filling operation is then necessary when the compartment 27 is empty. But this operation is continued until the compartment is quite full. It is obvious that during this period, the siphon will again be started up. It is thus the rinsing operation that will take place.

When the maximum upper level is reached, the fixing salts are mixed and form the fixing solution; at this moment, filling can be stopped.

This solution is conveyed by the same way into the lower case and terminates the total developing operation.

It is quite clear that this form of embodiment requires a more considerable manual labour time than for the preceding methods of execution. Nevertheless, the manufacturing process, and hence, the cost price, are appreciably reduced.

In the form of embodiment shown inFIG. 8, the siphon case is made in a tubular strip 30 appreciably shorter than that described above but having the same characteristics of flexibility and opacity. This strip 30 comprises separation lines 31 and 32 hot printed confining an oval circuit 33 extending to a distribution compartment 34 formed in one corner of the strip by the extension of the oblique line 31 from theopposite corner. A filler hole 35 is provided in the top part of compartment 34.

The circuit 33, inscribed in the longitudinal and cross dimensions of the case, has at its upper curved zone a calibrated aperture 36 provided in the separation line 31 for ensuring communication with'a fixing compartment 37 confined by this same separation line and a supplementary curved line 38 printed just at the height of the hole 36 so that the latter is situated at the lower part of said compartment. Furthermore, the circuit'33 emerges in a compartment 39, called a developing compartment, confined in a similar manner by a part of the separation line 31 and by a supplementary curved line 40 printed so that the compartment 39 is adjacent to the compartment 3'7 transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cover.

Supplementary lines 41 and 42 confine, with vertical extensions of the lines 38 and 40, siphons 43 and 44 respectively connecting the compartments 37 or 39 to a central duct 45 into which they emerge; duct 45 is formed by two curved separation lines 46 and 47 printed from the lines 38 and 40 in diverging directions towards the lower curved part of the line 31. Another separation line 48, printed in the space provided between the lines 46 and 47, confines with the latter two lateral ducts 49 and 50 extending from the central duct 45 and emerging at the lower part of an enclosure 51 formed by the internal contour of the line 48 and intended to contain a sensitized plate or film 52. 7

It should be noticed that this line 4-8 is so printed that the upper chamber 53, in which a calibrated evacuation aperture 54 is provided, has similar to the preceding embodiments, a particular shape intended to prevent the retaining or forming of air pockets or bubbles. notes granules intended to ensure, as described above, the spaced positioning of the film or sensitized plate 52 from surrounding walls.

The case of FIG. 8 thus produced also operates with salts in certain compartments and delivery siphons for regulating a circulation of solutions corresponding to normal developing stages.

After the exposure, the user proceeds to remove a lateral strip (not shown) holding the various bellows formed by folding. He then fills, through the hole 35, the distribution compartment 34 and consequently causes the entry of the water into the oval circuit '33. The pressure and "particular shape of this circuit favors the total unfolding of the case, so that the water can reach the level of the calibrated hole 36 by which it passes, during a given time, into the fixing compartment 37. The water is also conveyed into the compartment 39 that it fills in an appreciably shorter time, in order to start up the siphon 44 and form, by its passage on the developing salts, a solution which is directed, by the central duct 45 and the lateral channels 49 and 50, towards the lower part of the enclosure 51 to rise in the latter, by the pressure exerted by the water column, and wet the film or sensitized plate 52.

The end of the developing operation, whose duration is defined in function of the composition of the salts used and the characteristics of the film or sensitized plate, is provided so as to correspond to the total filling of the compartment 37 which starts the siphon 43. The solution formed by the passage of the water on the incorporated fixing salts pours through the duct 45 and lateral channels 49 and 50 to bathe the film or sensitized plate 52 in a similar manner to the developing solution.

It should be noted that in this form of embodiment the suppression of the rinsing compartment does not entail any alteration in the functioning of the case, seeing that this functioning is based on the presence of siphons enabling, by their constitution, to regulate a circulation of solutions in function of the chronological sequence of the developing operations.

The invention is not limited to the examples of embodiments, shown and described in detail, for various modifications can be applied to it without going outside of its scope. In particular, provision may be made to alter the duration of the successive developing operations by modifying the characteristics and capacities of the compartments, the deliveries of the siphons, the height of the water column above the terminal curved hole as well as the diameter of that hole.

I claim:

1. A case for holding, exposure and development of film, comprising a flexible tube formed of material opaque to light but permeable to X-rays, means dividing the tube into a lower compartment for holding a sensitized film and at least one upper compartment for holding developer and fixing mediums, at least one siphon connecting the upper compartment to the lower part of the lower compartment, means for admitting liquid to the upper compartment, and a liquid evacuation opening near the top of said lower compartment.

2. A case for holding, exposure and development of film according to claim 1, wherein said flexible tube is flat and foldable accordion-like into a small packet slightly larger than film positioned in the lower compartment for exposure to X-rays in a patients mouth, said tube being unfoldable into a plane during development of the film to position the upper compartment above the lower compartment.

3. A case for film according to claim 1, wherein four upper compartments are provided above said lower compartment, said upper compartments each being connected to each other and to the lower compartment by a series of siphons and ducts of selected size to provide controlled and sequential liquid delivery to the lower compartment upon filling the uppermost compartment with a liquid.

4. A case according to claim 3, wherein the uppermost compartment is for filling and distribution of liquid, the next compartment is for retention of a developer, the next lower compartment is empty for reception of rinser liquid and the lowest compartment is for retention of a fixer, said compartments, siphons and ducts being formed of hot printed lines sealing the walls of said tube together to separate said compartments, siphons and ducts from one another.

5. A case according to claim 3, characterized in that I said siphons have passage cross sections of equal size but each having a narrowed part to determine the duration of liquid flow therethrough.

6. A case according to claim 5, wherein certain of said siphons are connected to the lower compartment by a single passage connected by two branches extending along opposite sides of the flexible tube.

7. A case according to claim 6, characterized in that each compartment has two drain holes drilled in opposite walls and appreciably at its highest part.

8. A case according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower compartment is closed at the bottom by an adhesive strip after a sensitized film is placed therein, said lower chamber being closed at the top by an inverted V-shaped wall whose upper part includes said evacuation opening.

9. A case according to claim 8, characterized in that the tube walls of the lower compartment for holding the sensitized film have point shaped granules on their internal faces for spacing the film.

10. A case according to claim 8, characterized in that said adhesive strip has corrugations on its inner face for contact with a sensitized film.

11. A case according to claim 1, in combination with fixing salts and developing salts placed within said upper compartments.

12. A case according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a single siphon and a single upper compartment, a water inlet duct formed in said upper compartment, developing salts positioned in said water inlet duct, a capsule containing fixing salts near the to part of the upper compartment, and the Walls of said flexible tube being of transparent material in the portion forming the upper part of the upper compartment.

13. A case according to claim 1, wherein said upper compartment is for distribution of water and is extended by an oval passage leading to laterally disposed developer and fixer compartments, said developer and fixer compartments each having a siphon leading into a central duct extended by two lateral channels bordering said lower compartment for sensitized film and leading into the bottom thereof.

14. A case according to claim 13, wherein said upper compartment is formed in a flattened, flexible tube by sealing the opposite walls along a hot printed line extending obliquely from one of the upper corners, a filler hole being formed in the top part of said upper compartment.

15. A case according to claim 14, characterized in that said oval passage is formed by two hot printed lines and of which one is connected to said oblique line defining the distribution compartment.

16. A case according to claim 15, characterized in that said oval passage has at the beginning of its upper curved zone at one side a calibrated opening in one of said hot printed lines communicating with the lower part of one of said fixer and developer compartments.

17. A case according to claim 16, characterized in that said oval passage emerges in said developer compartment, said developer compartment being formed by one of the hot printed lines defining said oval passage and by a supplementary curved line hot printed to position the developer compartment adjacent to said fixer compartment and transversely to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tube.

18. A case according to claim 17, characterized in that two supplementary hot printed lines together with the vertical extensions of said curved lines form siphons leading from said developer and fixer compartments to said central duct.

19. A case according to claim 18, characterized in that said central duct is formed by two curved hot printed lines extending in divergent directions from said curved lines of the fixer and developer compartments and leading to opposite sides of said two lateral channels. 7 20. A case according to claim 19, characterized in that said two lateral channels are formed by divergent curved hot printed lines extending said two curved lines of the central duct and a spaced curved hot printed line partially surrounding and defining said lower compartment for receiving a sensitized film.

References @ited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Landsing 95-90: Shippard 95- 90 Herradora 95--90 X Ferris 137-124X Bryce et al 137124 X Wachta 137124 10 NORTON ANSHER, Priinary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A CASE FOR HOLDING, EXPOSURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF FILM, COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE TUBE FORMED OF MATERIAL OPAQUE TO LIGHT BUT PERMEABLE TO X-RAYS, MEANS DIVIDING THE TUBE INTO A LOWER COMPARTMENT FOR HOLDING A SENSITIZED FILM AND AT LEAST ONE UPPER COMPARTMENT FOR HOLDING DEVELOPER AND FIXING MEDIUMS, AT LEAST ONE SIPHON CONNECTING THE UPPER COMPARTMENT TO THE LOWER PART OF THE LOWER COMPARTMENT, MEANS FOR ADMITTING LIQUID TO THE UPPER COMPARTMENT, AND A LIQUID EVACUATION OPENING NEAR THE TOP OF SAID LOWER COMPARTMENT.

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