Dental x-ray film processor and processing cassette

Claim 2

An automatic film processor for dental X-ray film in packets, comprising: a generally closed housing having aperture means for inserting into said housing one or more film packets in sequential order; means within said housing for stripping the packet from the enclosed film and conveying said film toward a film processing means; said film processing means comprising a pair of parallel webs; actuating means imparting movement to said webs so as to position said film therebetween in web surface-contacting relationship, at least one of the film contacting surfaces of said webs including a coating of a photographic processing solution for developing of said film; and control means for subsequently moving said webs relative to the film encompassed therebetween so as to facilitate removal of said developed film from said processor.

Claim 3

A film processor as defined in claim 1 wherein: said actuating means is adapted to impart incremental movement to said webs in response to insertion of a plurality of film packets into said housing; said film being positioned between said webs in sequential order; and said control means adapted to move said webs relative to said plurality of film segments so as to sequentially release said developed film segments encompassed between said webs at predetermined timed intervals.

Claim 4

A film processor as defined in claim 1 including a pair of web supply rolls rotatably journaled in said housing, one of each of said webs being respectively wound about one of each of said supply rolls, said webs extending therefrom in parallel superposed relationship so as to define a developing travel path for the film.

Claim 5

A film processor as defined in claim 3 wherein: said conveying means conveys said film in the bight between said web supply rolls; said actuating means being adapted to exert a tensile force on the parallel portion of said webs; and said web supply rolls being rotated counterrotatively in response to said tensile force whereby said film is drawn through said bight and encompassed between the parallel superposed portions of said webs.

Claim 6

A film processor as defined in claim 4 wherein: said actuating means comprises a pair of web takeup rolls rotatably journaled in said housing in parallel spaced relationship with said supply rolls; the distal ends of the parallel portions of each of said webs being respectively fastened to one of each of said takeup rolls; means takeup to incrementally vary the distance between said web takeup rolls and said web supply rolls; and said last-mentioned means including means for increasing said distance so as to draw said film between said processing webs, and means for reducing said distance whereby developed film between said processing webs may be removed from said processor.

Claim 7

A film processor as defined in claim 5 wherein: said distance increasing means in parts translational movement to said takeup rolls within said housing; and said distance decreasing means imparts counterrotative movement to said takeup rolls whereby said webs are wound up on their respective takeup rolls.

Claim 8

A film processor as defined in claim 5 wherein: said film processing means comprises a cassette insertable into said housing; said cassette including a first mounting portion for said web supply rolls, and a second mounting portion for said web takeup rolls; and cassette cover means adapted to maintain said first aNd second mounting portions in a locked position, said cover means being removable upon insertion of said cassette into said housing so as to release said first and second mounting portions to permit movement between said web supply rolls and said takeup rolls.

Claim 9

A film processor as defined in claim 2 including timer means adapted to initiate said incremental web movement, said timer means being adapted to actuate said control means for movement of said webs relative to said film segments after a predetermined time interval and at a predetermined rate of speed.

Claim 10

A film processor as defined in claim 1 wherein the film-contacting surfaces of said webs are coated with a viscous monobath photographic processing solution.

Claim 11

A film processor as defined in claim 1 wherein the webs are impregnated with a moist monobath photographic processing solution.

Claim 12

A film processor as defined in claim 1 wherein heating means are provided within said housing to dry the photographically processed film.

Claim 13

A film processor as defined in claim 1 including means for receiving said developed film from said film processing means, said receiving means comprising a movable conveyor in the lower portion of said housing, said movable conveyor adapted to deliver developed film in sequential order into a receiving tray.

Claim 14

A film processor as defined in claim 1 including means for receiving said developed film from said film processing means, said receiving means comprising a tray member positioned in the lower portion of said housing and adapted to receive developed film in sequential order.

Claim 15

A film processor as defined in claim 1 wherein: said film stripping and conveying means comprises a rotatable drum; groove means in the peripheral surface of said drum for insertion of film packets therein; means cooperative with said drum to strip packets from said film upon drum rotation; and means for removing said stripped film from said drum and conveying said film toward said film processing means.

Claim 16

A film-processing cassette comprising, in combination: a pair of parallel extending superposed webs having on at least one of their film-contacting surfaces a film processing agent for processing film positioned between said surfaces; a pair of rotatable web supply rolls, one of each of said webs being respectively wound about one of each of said supply rolls, said webs extending therefrom in said parallel superposed relationship; a pair of rotatable web takeup rolls, the distal ends of each of said superposed webs being positioned for winding relationship about one of each of said takeup rolls; a first mounting means adapted to cooperatively connect said web supply rolls in parallel spaced relationship; and, a second mounting means adapted to cooperatively connect said web takeup rolls in parallel spaced relationship, said second mounting means movably slideable in a linear direction toward and away from said first mounting means whereby processing can be accomplished by moving said second mounting means away from said first mounting means while simultaneously preventing rotation of said takeup rolls, and subsequently moving said second mounting means toward said first mounting means while rotating said takeup rolls and simultaneously preventing rotation of said supply rolls.

Claim 17

A film-processing cassette comprising, in combination: a pair of parallel extending superposed webs having on at least one of their film-contacting surfaces a film processing agent for processing film positioned between said surfaces; a pair of rotatable web supply rolls, one of each of said webs being respectively wound about one of each of said supply rolls, said webs extending therefrom in said parallel superposed relationship; a pair of rotatable web takeup rolls, the distal ends of each of said superposed webs being positioned for winding relationship about one of each of said takeup rolls; a first mounting means adapted to cooperatively connect said web supply rolls in parallel spaced relationship; and, a second mounting means adapted to cooperatively connect said web takeup rolls in parallel spaced relationship, said second mounting means movably slideable in a linear direction toward and away from said first mounting means whereby processing can be accomplished by moving said second mounting means away from said first mounting means while simultaneously preventing rotation of said takeup rolls, and subsequently moving said second mounting means toward said first mounting means while rotating said takeup rolls and simultaneously preventing rotation of said supply rolls.

Claim 18

A cassette as defined in claim 15 including guide roll means extending parallel to said web supply rolls so as to maintain said parallel web portions in superposed proximity.

Claim 19

A cassette as defined in claim 16 including guide roll means extending parallel to said web takeup rolls so as to maintain said parallel web portions in superposed proximity.

Claim 20

A cassette as defined in claim 17 including a cassette cover member which comprises a generally U-shaped bracket encompassing said first and said second mounting means.

Claim 21

A cassette as defined in claim 18 wherein said contacting web surfaces are coated with a viscous layer of a monobath phoTographic processing solution.