Patent US3715087A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3715087A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheet film storage magazine
Assignee: PROD Inc
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Filing: 1971-02-18
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Granted: 1973-02-06
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Expires: 1991-02-18
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus particularly useful for facilitating the handling of X-ray film sheets in daylight. The apparatus includes an X-ray film sheet cassette adapted to cooperate with a cassette unloader for dispensing film sheets into a storage module. The storage module includes a light tight housing having a film access slot therein. A drum and spool are mounted within the housing for rotation about spaced parallel axes. A web of opaque material terminally secured to the drum and spool extends around an intermediate guide roller. A film sheet dispensed from the cassette into the unloader is directed by guide means therein onto the web within the storage module. A motor mounted on the unloader is coupled to a drive gear which operatively engages a pick-up gear coupled to the storage module drum. Actuation of the unloader is controlled by a sensor mounted adjacent the film sheet path so that as a film sheet moves through the unloader, the motor is actuated to rotate the drum to thus wind the web thereon with the film sheet being wound between the web turns. In this manner, a multitude of exposed but unprocessed film sheets of various sizes can be stored. The storage module is portable and can be moved out of cooperative relationship with the unloader in cooperation with an X-ray film sheet processor. A processor adaptor module at the processor carries a motor driving a gear engageable with a spool pick-up gear in the storage module. Energization of the processor adaptor motor winds the web back from the drum to the spool to thus dispense film sheets one at a time from the web into the processor entrance slot.
Inventors
- 👤 G Schmidt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:12
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B42/00; G03B42/02; G03B42/04; G03B42/045; G03D; G03D13/00; G03D13/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
Apparatus useful in combination with X-ray film sheet cassettes for unloading film sheets therefrom and for storing said sheets for later processing, said apparatus including: cassette unloader means including a housing defining film sheet entrance and exit openings and having guide means adapted to position a cassette in alignment and light tight relationship with said entrance opening; a film sheet storage module including a light tight housing having an access slot formed therein; said cassette unloader means including a module compartment for receiving said film sheet storage module with the module access slot aligned and in light tight relationship with said unloader means exit opening; a spool haVing an axis mounted in said storage module housing, spaced in a first direction from said access slot, for rotation about said axis; a drum having an axis mounted in said storage module housing, spaced in a second direction from said access slot, for rotation about said axis; an opaque web terminally secured to said spool and said drum and having a length considerably greater than the spacing between said spool and drum whereby said web can be wound around said spool and said drum; drive means mounted on said cassette unloader means; and pickup means disposed in said film sheet storage module positioned to engage said drive means when said module is received in said module compartment for transferring portions of said web between said spool and drum.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
Apparatus useful in combination with X-ray film sheet cassettes for unloading film sheets therefrom and for storing said sheets for later processing, said apparatus including: cassette unloader means including a housing defining film sheet entrance and exit openings and having guide means adapted to position a cassette in alignment and light tight relationship with said entrance opening; a film sheet storage module including a light tight housing having an access slot formed therein; said cassette unloader means including a module compartment for receiving said film sheet storage module with the module access slot aligned and in light tight relationship with said unloader means exit opening; a spool haVing an axis mounted in said storage module housing, spaced in a first direction from said access slot, for rotation about said axis; a drum having an axis mounted in said storage module housing, spaced in a second direction from said access slot, for rotation about said axis; an opaque web terminally secured to said spool and said drum and having a length considerably greater than the spacing between said spool and drum whereby said web can be wound around said spool and said drum; drive means mounted on said cassette unloader means; and pickup means disposed in said film sheet storage module positioned to engage said drive means when said module is received in said module compartment for transferring portions of said web between said spool and drum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
236 words
Apparatus useful in combination with X-ray film sheet cassettes for unloading film sheets therefrom and for storing said sheets for later processing, said apparatus including: cassette unloader means including a housing defining film sheet entrance and exit openings and having guide means adapted to position a cassette in alignment and light tight relationship with said entrance opening; a film sheet storage module including a light tight housing having an access slot formed therein; said cassette unloader means including a module compartment for receiving said film sheet storage module with the module access slot aligned and in light tight relationship with said unloader means exit opening; a spool haVing an axis mounted in said storage module housing, spaced in a first direction from said access slot, for rotation about said axis; a drum having an axis mounted in said storage module housing, spaced in a second direction from said access slot, for rotation about said axis; an opaque web terminally secured to said spool and said drum and having a length considerably greater than the spacing between said spool and drum whereby said web can be wound around said spool and said drum; drive means mounted on said cassette unloader means; and pickup means disposed in said film sheet storage module positioned to engage said drive means when said module is received in said module compartment for transferring portions of said web between said spool and drum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
236 words
Apparatus useful in combination with X-ray film sheet cassettes for unloading film sheets therefrom and for storing said sheets for later processing, said apparatus including: cassette unloader means including a housing defining film sheet entrance and exit openings and having guide means adapted to position a cassette in alignment and light tight relationship with said entrance opening; a film sheet storage module including a light tight housing having an access slot formed therein; said cassette unloader means including a module compartment for receiving said film sheet storage module with the module access slot aligned and in light tight relationship with said unloader means exit opening; a spool haVing an axis mounted in said storage module housing, spaced in a first direction from said access slot, for rotation about said axis; a drum having an axis mounted in said storage module housing, spaced in a second direction from said access slot, for rotation about said axis; an opaque web terminally secured to said spool and said drum and having a length considerably greater than the spacing between said spool and drum whereby said web can be wound around said spool and said drum; drive means mounted on said cassette unloader means; and pickup means disposed in said film sheet storage module positioned to engage said drive means when said module is received in said module compartment for transferring portions of said web between said spool and drum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drive means includes a motor mounted on said cassette unloader means housing and a drum drive gear coupled to said motor mounted in said module compartment; and wherein said pickup means comprises a drum pickup gear coupled to said drum for operatively engaging said drum drive gear when said storage module is received in said module compartment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 2 including sensor means carried by said cassette unloader means for sensing the movement of a film sheet between said entrance and exit opening; and means responsive to said sensor means for controlling said cassette unloader motor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means responsive to said sensor means includes means for energizing said cassette unloader motor after a first delay period subsequent to the sensing of a film sheet leading edge and for deenergizing said motor after a second delay period subsequent to the sensing of a film sheet trailing edge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 2 including: a processor having a film sheet entrance slot; adaptor means for supporting said storage module adjacent to said processor with said storage module access slot aligned with said processor entrance slot; a motor mounted on said adaptor means; a spool drive gear coupled to said adaptor means motor; and a spool pickup gear coupled to said spool for operatively engaging said spool drive gear when said storage module is supported by said adaptor means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said processor includes a control means for indicating when said processor is ready to accept a film sheet for processing; and means coupling said control means to said adaptor means motor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including means for adjusting the width of said cassette unloader means housing entrance opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including means mounted on said cassette unloader means for acting on a cassette when the cassette is engaged with said guide means for causing said cassette to release a film sheet into said entrance opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
182 words
Apparatus useful in combination with X-ray film sheet cassettes for unloading film sheets therefrom and for storing said sheets for later processing, said apparatus including: a housing defining a film sheet entrance opening and having guide means adapted to position a cassette in alignment and light tight relationship with said entrance opening; a spool having an axis mounted in said housing, spaced in a first direction from said entrance opening, for rotation about said axis; a drum having an axis mounted in said housing, spaced in a second direction from said entrance opening, for rotation about said axis; an opaque web terminally secured to said spool and said drum having a length considerably greater than the spacing between said spool and drum whereby said web can be wound around said spool and said drum; drive means coupled to said spool and drum for transferring portions of said web therebetween; and means mounted on said housing for acting on a cassette when the cassette is engaged with said guide means for causing said cassette to release a film sheet into said entrance opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
182 words
Apparatus useful in combination with X-ray film sheet cassettes for unloading film sheets therefrom and for storing said sheets for later processing, said apparatus including: a housing defining a film sheet entrance opening and having guide means adapted to position a cassette in alignment and light tight relationship with said entrance opening; a spool having an axis mounted in said housing, spaced in a first direction from said entrance opening, for rotation about said axis; a drum having an axis mounted in said housing, spaced in a second direction from said entrance opening, for rotation about said axis; an opaque web terminally secured to said spool and said drum having a length considerably greater than the spacing between said spool and drum whereby said web can be wound around said spool and said drum; drive means coupled to said spool and drum for transferring portions of said web therebetween; and means mounted on said housing for acting on a cassette when the cassette is engaged with said guide means for causing said cassette to release a film sheet into said entrance opening.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-06 | 1976-08-07 | 1977-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-06 | 1980-08-07 | 1981-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-06 | 1984-08-07 | 1985-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |