US3760705A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Film processing apparatus
Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1971-08-03
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Granted: 1973-09-25
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Expires: 1991-08-03
Abstract
Abstract An automatic film sheet developing apparatus having a number of processing compartments formed in a unitary housing and including a like number of modular film-advancing roller assemblies each slideably insertable into and removable from a corresponding one of the compartments for propelling and guiding a sheet of film sequentially through the compartments to accomplish development of the film. A crossover roller assembly unit is disposed above the processing compartment roller assemblies and guides the film from one compartment to the next in the processing sequence. Apparatus for powered rotation of the rollers is provided, including a motor and gear train driven thereby. Substantially all of the roller drive gear train is incorporated into and removable with the individual roller assemblies and thus upon removal of the roller assemblies the interior of the processing unit is free both of the rollers and the associated drive mechanism. The individual rollers are resiliently mounted in the modular assembly units to accommodate film of varying thickness and to avoid jamming of the film in the drive system. A calibrated pump supplies predetermined quantities of developer solution and fixer solution to the respective compartments in proportion to the linear movement of the film advancing through the processor in order to maintain the proper chemical balance in the respective solutions.
Inventors
- 👤 W Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:55
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D3/00; G03D3/02; G03D3/06; G03D3/065; G03D13/00; G03D13/003; G03D3/08; G03D3/13; G03D3/132
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
291 words
Apparatus for the automatic processing of X-ray film sheets, comprising: a unitary housing having formed therein developer, fixer, wash and dryer compartments and further including a crossover compartment disposed above said developer, fixer and wash compartments and extending over the aggregate length thereof; a plurality of processing-tank roller-assembly modules each module being associated with a corresponding one of said compartments and including a plurality of film transport drive rollers rotatably mounted betwEen a pair of spaced side plates, each of said drive rollers having a gear affixed to one end thereof, each of said modules being slidably insertable into and removable from a corresponding one of said compartments; a single crossover roller assembly module disposed within said crossover compartment and being slidably insertable thereinto and removable therefrom independent of said processing tank roller assembly modules, said crossover roller assembly including a plurality of film transport rollers rotatably mounted between a pair of spaced side plates, said crossover roller assembly module extending the length of said crossover compartment above said developer, fixer, and wash compartments and being so positioned as to direct film sheets from said developer to said fixer compartments and thereafter from said fixer to said wash compartments, each of said crossover rollers having a gear affixed to one end thereof, said gears being positioned to mate with corresponding ones of said gears on said film transport drive rollers of said processing tank roller assembly modules; and motor means disposed within said housing and including a drive shaft having at least one drive gear mounted thereon for engagement with only one corresponding gear of said crossover roller assembly module, said roller gears together defining a continuous gear train integral to said roller assembly modules and removable therewith from said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
291 words
Apparatus for the automatic processing of X-ray film sheets, comprising: a unitary housing having formed therein developer, fixer, wash and dryer compartments and further including a crossover compartment disposed above said developer, fixer and wash compartments and extending over the aggregate length thereof; a plurality of processing-tank roller-assembly modules each module being associated with a corresponding one of said compartments and including a plurality of film transport drive rollers rotatably mounted betwEen a pair of spaced side plates, each of said drive rollers having a gear affixed to one end thereof, each of said modules being slidably insertable into and removable from a corresponding one of said compartments; a single crossover roller assembly module disposed within said crossover compartment and being slidably insertable thereinto and removable therefrom independent of said processing tank roller assembly modules, said crossover roller assembly including a plurality of film transport rollers rotatably mounted between a pair of spaced side plates, said crossover roller assembly module extending the length of said crossover compartment above said developer, fixer, and wash compartments and being so positioned as to direct film sheets from said developer to said fixer compartments and thereafter from said fixer to said wash compartments, each of said crossover rollers having a gear affixed to one end thereof, said gears being positioned to mate with corresponding ones of said gears on said film transport drive rollers of said processing tank roller assembly modules; and motor means disposed within said housing and including a drive shaft having at least one drive gear mounted thereon for engagement with only one corresponding gear of said crossover roller assembly module, said roller gears together defining a continuous gear train integral to said roller assembly modules and removable therewith from said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said housing is provided with a cover at the top thereof having an inlet communicating with said developer compartment and an outlet communicating with said dryer compartment, whereby said film sheet enters and exits said apparatus at the top.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said housing and said cover are plastic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising resilient mounting means for attachment of said rollers to said roller assembly modules, whereby said rollers are free to yieldably move with respect to one another to accommodate film sheets of various thickness.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said mounting means comprises a sleeve of resilient material fixedly mounted with a bore at each end of said roller, and an axial pin captured within said sleeve at one end and rotatably journalled to said roller assembly module at the other end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising blower means within said dryer compartment for directing a tangential blast of air against each side of said film sheet as it moves through said dryer compartment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: a supply of developer solution; conduit means communicating with said supply of developer solution and said developer compartment for conducting developer solution into said compartment; pump means between said supply of developer solution and said compartment for controlling the flow of developer solution thereinto from said developer supply; and switching means disposed in the path of travel of said film to be activated thereby for controlling the operation of said pump means whereby the flow of developer solution into said developer compartment is commensurate with the linear travel of said film through said apparatus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising: a supply of fixer solution; and, conduit means communicating with said supply of fixer solution and said fixer compartment for conducting fixer solution thereinto from said fixer supply, said pump means being disposed between said fixer supply and said fixer compartment for controlling the flow of fixer solution thereinto from said fixer supply, said switching means controlling the operation of said pump means whereby the flow of fixer solution into said fixer compartment is commensurate with the linear travel of said film through said apparatus.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-24 | 1977-03-26 | 1977-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-24 | 1981-03-26 | 1981-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-24 | 1985-03-26 | 1985-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |