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US3790160A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Daylight film handling system

Assignee: PRODUCTION Inc
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Filing: 1970-07-07
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1990-07-07
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Abstract

Abstract A system for enabling X-ray films, of the type primarily used in the dental and medical fields, to be handled in daylight for exposure to X-rays. The system utilizes identical film sheets emulsion coated on one or both faces, each sheet having a notch, displaced from the sheet center line, formed in one edge thereof. A stack of sheets is packed in an opaque envelope with the sheets being alternated so that all of the notches lie along a common stack edge arranged in two parallel rows, the notches in adjacent sheets lying in different rows. The system includes a light tight dispenser which receives the envelope and is capable of being operated to strip the envelope from the film sheet stack. The dispenser includes a pair of rotatable selector cams, each aligned with a different row of notches. A spring mounted back-up plate urges the film sheet stack against the selector cams with the two selector cams respectively bearing against notched and unnotched portions of the top sheet. Means are provided for alternately rotating the two cams so as to successively release the top sheet from the stack into a cassette removably engaged with the dispenser. The cassette includes parallel screens normally spring urged together in light tight relationship when disengaged from the dispenser. Engagement of the cassette with the dispenser in light tight relationship urges the screen plates apart to enable the released film sheet to fall therebetween. The cassette in turn operatively cooperates with a processor to enable the film sheet therein to be transferred to the processor.

Inventors

  • 👤 G Schmidt

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 15:16
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B42/00; G03B42/02; G03B42/04; G03B42/045; G03B17/00; G03B17/26

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 178 words
A dispenser apparatus useful for dispensing film sheets, each having a notch extending inwardly from an edge thereof, one at a time from a stack of such sheets, said stack being comprised of alternate odd and even sheets with the notch in all of said odd sheets being aligned in a first row and the notch in all of said even sheets being aligned in a second row, said dispenser apparatus comprising: a housing adapted to accommodate said stack; first cam means in said housing for engaging said stack in alignment with said first row of notches, said first cam means comprising a first cam member eccentrically secured to a first rotatable rod; second cam means in said housing for engaging said stack in alignment with said second row of notches, said second cam means comprising a second cam member eccentrically secured to a second rotatable rod; and means for alternately rotating said first and second rods for alternately disengaging said first and second cam means from said stack to successively release one sheet at a time therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 178 words
A dispenser apparatus useful for dispensing film sheets, each having a notch extending inwardly from an edge thereof, one at a time from a stack of such sheets, said stack being comprised of alternate odd and even sheets with the notch in all of said odd sheets being aligned in a first row and the notch in all of said even sheets being aligned in a second row, said dispenser apparatus comprising: a housing adapted to accommodate said stack; first cam means in said housing for engaging said stack in alignment with said first row of notches, said first cam means comprising a first cam member eccentrically secured to a first rotatable rod; second cam means in said housing for engaging said stack in alignment with said second row of notches, said second cam means comprising a second cam member eccentrically secured to a second rotatable rod; and means for alternately rotating said first and second rods for alternately disengaging said first and second cam means from said stack to successively release one sheet at a time therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 35 words
The dispenser apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a light tight housing including a film sheet exit opening; and means in said housing for supporting said stack with said sheets substantially vertically oriented.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 42 words
The dispenser apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dimensions of said first and second cam means projected upon said stack are less than the corresponding dimensions of said notches; and including spring means for urging said stack and cam means into engagement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
The dispenser apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second rotatable rods extend substantially parallel to one another in a common plane and are adapted to support said stack along one edge thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including a plate adapted to bear against said stack; and spring means coupled to said plate for resiliently urging said stack against said first and second cam means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 23 words
The apparatus of claim 5 including at least one arm positioned to bear against said stack for retaining said stack against said plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
The apparatus of claim 6 including means for selectively holding said arm away from said plate for facilitating placement of said stack thereagainst.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 172 words
An apparatus useful together with a film package comprised of a stack of film sheets contained within an envelope having a first end thereof extending beyond one edge of said stack, for removing said envelope from said stack without exposing said film sheets to light, said apparatus comprising: light tight housing means adapted to accommodate said film package therein in a substantially vertical orientation with the part of said envelope extending beyond said stack disposed uppermost; a rotatable bar disposed in said housing means; means carried by said bar for engaging said first end of said envelope extending beyond said stack; means disposed outside of said housing for rotating said bar to lift said envelope from said stack; first and second support arms disposed within said housing means for supporting said film package; first and second rodS extending parallel to one another in a common plane disposed within said housing means below said support arms and means for lowering said support arms for transferring said stack to said first and second rods.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 172 words
An apparatus useful together with a film package comprised of a stack of film sheets contained within an envelope having a first end thereof extending beyond one edge of said stack, for removing said envelope from said stack without exposing said film sheets to light, said apparatus comprising: light tight housing means adapted to accommodate said film package therein in a substantially vertical orientation with the part of said envelope extending beyond said stack disposed uppermost; a rotatable bar disposed in said housing means; means carried by said bar for engaging said first end of said envelope extending beyond said stack; means disposed outside of said housing for rotating said bar to lift said envelope from said stack; first and second support arms disposed within said housing means for supporting said film package; first and second rodS extending parallel to one another in a common plane disposed within said housing means below said support arms and means for lowering said support arms for transferring said stack to said first and second rods.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 111 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said stack is comprised of alternated odd and even sheets, each of said odd sheets having a notch defined therein along a first row and each of said even sheets having a notch defined therein along a second row, said first and second rows being located so as to enable them to be respectively aligned with said first and second rods, respectively; a first cam member carried by said first rod for engaging said stack in alignment with said first row of notches; and a second cam member carried by said second rod for engaging said stack in alignment with said second row of notches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 44 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first and second cam members each have substantially a triangular outline projected upon said stack and dimensions less than the corresponding dimensions of said notches; and spring means for urging said stack and cam members into engagement.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 44 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first and second cam members are eccentrically mounted on said first and second rods; and including means for alternately rotating said first and second rods to alternately disengage said first and second cam members from said stack.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2206985A Cited
US2342571A Cited
US2545387A Cited
US2704075A Cited
US2925761A Cited
US3287012A Cited
US3487966A Cited
US3586313A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-02-04 1977-08-06 1978-02-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-02-04 1981-08-06 1982-02-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-02-04 1985-08-06 1986-02-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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