Chip film processor

Claim 2

Apparatus for processing a film chip contained in a package which includes a light-tight covering about the film chip comprising: a light-tight stripper housing for receiving said package, including means for stripping away said covering about the film chip therein; a developer having a light-tight developer housing and means within said housing for developing a film chip; means coupling said stripper and developer housings For the passage of said film chip therebetween, including means for shielding said chip against ambient light during said passage; and said means coupling said housings comprising a light-tight magazine alternately engageable with said stripper housing and said developer housing. CM,2Atus for processing a film chip contained in a package which includes a light-tight covering about the film chip comprising: a light-tight stripper housing for receiving said package, including means for stripping away said covering about the film chip therein; a developer having a light-tight developer housing and means within said housing for developing a film chip; means coupling said stripper and developer housings for the passage of said film chip therebetween, including means for shielding said chip against ambient light during said passage; and said means within said housing for developing including a pair of parallel tracks for engaging opposite edges of said film chip, and finger means for pushing said chip along said tracks.

Claim 3

Apparatus for processing a film chip which is encapsulated in a film chip package comprising: a transfer magazine having a light-tight chamber, a chamber opening leading to said chamber, and cover means movable over and away from said opening; a light-tight stripper housing having walls defining an exit aperture for the passage of a film chip therethrough; means disposed on said housing adjacent to said exit aperture for receiving said transfer magazine with the chamber opening therein aligned with said exit aperture; shroud means disposed about said exit aperture for shielding, against ambient light, a chip passing therethrough from said stripper housing to said magazine chamber; peeling means disposed within said housing for receiving an encapsulated film chip and removing the encapsulation about said film chip; separation means disposed within said housing between said peeling means and said exit aperture, for moving only said film chip toward said exit aperture; a light-tight processor housing containing processing solutions, said processor housing having walls defining an entrance opening for the passage of said film chip therethrough; means disposed on said processor housing adjacent to said entrance opening for receiving said transfer magazine with the chamber opening therein aligned with said entrance opening; shroud means disposed about said entrance opening, for shielding, against ambient light, a chip passing therein from said magazine chamber; and means within said processor housing for immersing in said processing solutions, a film chip received through said entrance opening.

Claim 4

Apparatus for processing a film chip which is encapsulated in a film chip package comprising: a transfer magazine having a light-tight chamber, a chamber opening leading to said chamber, and cover means movable over and away from said opening; a light-tight stripper housing having walls defining an exit aperture for the passage of a film chip therethrough; means disposed on said housing adjacent to said exit aperture for receiving said transfer magazine with the chamber opening therein aligned with said exit aperture; shroud means disposed about said exit aperture for shielding, against ambient light, a chip passing therethrough from said stripper housing to said magazine chamber; peeling means disposed within said housing for receiving an encapsulated film chip and removing the encapsulation about said film chip; separation means disposed within said housing between said peeling means and said exit aperture, for moving only said film chip toward said exit aperture; a light-tight processor housing containing processing solutions, said processor housing having walls defining an entrance opening for the passage of said film chip therethrough; means disposed on said processor housing adjacent to said entrance opening for receiving said transfer magazine with the chamber opening therein aligned with said entrance opening; shroud means disposed about said entrance opening, for shielding, against ambient light, a chip passing therein from said magazine chamber; and means within said processor housing for immersing in said processing solutions, a film chip received through said entrance opening.

Claim 5

The apparatus described in claim 3 wherein: the encapsulation on said film chip comprises a covering layer having a tab; said peeling means comprises hub means for engaging said tab, means for preventing substantial rotation of said film chip package, means for rotating said hub to peel said encapsulation while said film package moves across said hub; and including indicator means for coupling to said package, to indicate movement of said package across said hub, whereby to indicate the progress of the peeling operation.

Claim 6

The apparatus described in claim 3 wherein: said transfer magazine includes cover moving means for moving said cover means of said magazine over and away from said chamber opening; and including operating means on said stripper housing for operating said cover moving means to move said cover away from said chamber opening when said transfer magazine is received in said means for receiving, and to move said cover over said chamber opening when said magazine is withdrawn from said means for receiving.

Claim 7

Apparatus useful in combination with a dental film chip package for initially separating the film chip therein, from its covering and for subsequently processing the film chip, said apparatus comprising: stripper means including a light-tight Stripper housing for receiving said film chip package therein, said stripper housing including selectively actuatable means for stripping said covering from said film chip and for dispensing said film chip through an exit aperture defined in the walls of said stripper housing; processor means including a light-tight processor housing having an entrance opening; means for coupling said stripper means and processor means for conveying a film chip from said stripper housing exit aperture to said processor housing entrance opening; said processor means including a plurality of solution tanks and transport means for transporting a film chip conveyed through said processor housing entrance opening through said solution tanks, said transport means including: at least one driven belt extending into said tanks and having a finger projecting therefrom for engaging said film chip; and means for guiding the edges of said film chip.

Claim 8

Apparatus useful in combination with a dental film chip package for initially separating the film chip therein, from its covering and for subsequently processing the film chip, said apparatus comprising: stripper means including a light-tight Stripper housing for receiving said film chip package therein, said stripper housing including selectively actuatable means for stripping said covering from said film chip and for dispensing said film chip through an exit aperture defined in the walls of said stripper housing; processor means including a light-tight processor housing having an entrance opening; means for coupling said stripper means and processor means for conveying a film chip from said stripper housing exit aperture to said processor housing entrance opening; said processor means including a plurality of solution tanks and transport means for transporting a film chip conveyed through said processor housing entrance opening through said solution tanks, said transport means including: at least one driven belt extending into said tanks and having a finger projecting therefrom for engaging said film chip; and means for guiding the edges of said film chip.