US3827072A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cassette
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1971-12-16
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Granted: 1974-07-30
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Expires: 1991-12-16
Abstract
Abstract This application relates to a cassette adapted for use in an automated, flat plate xerographic processing system, especially of the type wherein X-ray images are recorded. The cassette includes means to rigidly support a xerographic plate therein and means adapted for cooperation with external plate advancing means for the insertion and withdrawal of a xerographic plate. Upon closing of the cassette by one of the associated processing units and upon the withdrawal of the plate-bearing cassette therefrom, the xerographic plate therein is maintained in a light-tight environment. After imaging exposure to X-rays which readily pass through the cassette walls, the cassette is inserted into another automated processing unit which automatically opens the cassette and removes the plate, supported by the cassette in proper alignment, therefrom.
Inventors
- 👤 P Bevis
- 👤 H Hoyt
- 👤 T Miner
- 👤 N Kuypers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 08:29
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/75; G03G15/758; G03B; G03B42/00; G03B42/02; G03B42/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A cassette adapted to receive a xerographic plate having a conductive backing member, a downwardly depending side rail attached to each lateral side of said backing member, and a photoconductive layer on one surface of said backing member; said cassette comprising a base member; a top cover hinged to said base member about the rear walls thereof for rotational movement between an open position and a closed position; said base member having an interiorly positioned support surface elevated at least slightly above the front wall of said base member, said elevated surface adapted to support the lower, middle portion of a xerographic plate inserted therein when said base member is positioned below said top cover, at least one guide channel on each side of said elevated support surface, each of said guide channels being adapted to receive the side rail attached to the adjacent lateral side of the xerographic plate as the plate is inserted into the cassette, a shaped support member secured to said base member on the opposite side of each guide channel from said elevated support surface for supporting the xerographic plate in its proper position when the cassette is inverted such that the base member is positioned above said top cover; and means associated with said base member and said top cover for rigidly supporting a xerographic plate in the cassette without contacting the photoconductive layer when said top cover is in the closed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
A cassette adapted to receive a xerographic plate having a conductive backing member, a downwardly depending side rail attached to each lateral side of said backing member, and a photoconductive layer on one surface of said backing member; said cassette comprising a base member; a top cover hinged to said base member about the rear walls thereof for rotational movement between an open position and a closed position; said base member having an interiorly positioned support surface elevated at least slightly above the front wall of said base member, said elevated surface adapted to support the lower, middle portion of a xerographic plate inserted therein when said base member is positioned below said top cover, at least one guide channel on each side of said elevated support surface, each of said guide channels being adapted to receive the side rail attached to the adjacent lateral side of the xerographic plate as the plate is inserted into the cassette, a shaped support member secured to said base member on the opposite side of each guide channel from said elevated support surface for supporting the xerographic plate in its proper position when the cassette is inverted such that the base member is positioned above said top cover; and means associated with said base member and said top cover for rigidly supporting a xerographic plate in the cassette without contacting the photoconductive layer when said top cover is in the closed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The cassette of claim 1 further including a groove positioned within the exterior walls of said base member and a tongue depending downwardly from the exterior walls of said top cover, said tongue fitting into said groove when said cassette is closed whereby a xerographic plate therein is maintained in a light-tight environment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cassette of claim 1 wherein the side walls of said top cover and base member are partially grooved to define channels therein which cooperate with means external to said cassette for the opening thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cassette of claim 1 further including movable latch means for maintaining said cassette in a closed condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The cassette of claim 1 further including movable latch means disposed interiorly of said elevated support surface, said movable latch means cooperating with ridges in the interior side of the front wall of said top cover for locking the top cover of the cassette in the closed position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The cassette of claim 5 wherein the front wall of said top cover has a notch therein positioned opposite each of said movable latch means when said top cover is in the closed position, each notch enabling external means to have access to each of said latch means whereby, when said latch means are depressed, said top cover may be rotated into the open position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
The cassette of claim 1 wherein there is a ridge member between said elevated support surface and the guide channel on each side thereof, said top cover having downwardly depending ridge members immediately above the ridge members associated with said base member; said top cover ridge members and said base member ridge members cooperating to rigidly support a xerographic plate in the cassette when said top cover is in the closed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cassette of claim 7 wherein there are two guide channels on each side of said elevated support surface, said guide channels on each side being separated by one of said base member ridge members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The cassette of claim 1 wherein the guide channels most adjacent to said elevated support surface on each side thereof have a slip-retarding material therein, said material adapted to assist in maintaining a xerographic plate totally within the cassette as the cassette is partially ejected from an automated processing unit associated therewith.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The cassette of claim 1 wherein said base member has a bottom wall, said bottom wall having notches positioned therein and adapted for cooperation with means external thereto for locking the cassette in position in an associated automated processing unit when a xerographic plate is to be inserted therein or withdrawn therefrom.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The cassette of claim 1 wherein said shaped support rails do not extend completely to the front wall of said base member, whereby access may be had to the notches in the side members attached to the lateral sides of a xerographic plate inserted in the cassette.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The cassette of claim 1 wherein said top cover includes means for positioning a non-differentially absorbing membrane in parallel. Closely spaced relationship to the photoconductive layer of a xerographic plate within the cassette.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The cassette of claim 12 wherein said membrane positioning means include means to permit the expulsion of air from the air space between said membrane and the interior surface of the top wall of said top cover when compressive pressure is applied to the outside surface of said top wall of said top cover.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
The cassette of claim 1 with further including spline channel-defining members positioned in said top cover adjacent said downwardly depending ridge members, and the front and rear walls of said top cover, whereby there is defined a spline channel for positioning a non-differentially absorbing membrane in parallel, closely spaced relationship to the photoconductive layer on a xerographic plate within the cassette.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
The cassette of claim 14 wherein said membrane positioning means include means to permiT the expulsion of air from the air space between said membrane and the interior surface of the top wall of said top cover when compressive pressure is applied to the outside surface of said top wall of said top cover.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cassette of claim 1 further including means associated with external side walls of said cassette for the opening of said cassette by the cooperation thereof with means external to said cassette.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
64 words
The cassette of claim 1 further including at least one groove in the exterior surfaces of said side walls on each side of said cassette, said grooves cooperating with means external to said cassette for the opening and closing thereof whereby a xerographic plate can be inserted therein and said cassette can be closed to maintain said inserted xerographic plate in a light-tight environment.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
185 words
A cassette adapted to receive a xerographic plate having a conductive backing member, a downwardly depending side rail attached to each lateral side of said backing member, and a photoconductive layer on one surface of said backing member; said cassette comprising a base member; a top cover hinged to said base member about the rear walls thereof for rotational movement between an open position and a closed position; a guide member on each side of said cassette base member, each of said guide members being adapted to receive the side rail attached to the adjacent lateral side of the xerographic plate as the plate is inserted into the cassette, a shaped support member secured to said base member on the opposite side of each guide member for supporting the xerographic plate in its proper position when the cassette is inverted such that the base member is positioned above said top cover; and means associated with said base member and said top cover for rigidly supporting a xerographic plate in the cassette without contacting the photoconductive layer when said top cover is in the closed position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
185 words
A cassette adapted to receive a xerographic plate having a conductive backing member, a downwardly depending side rail attached to each lateral side of said backing member, and a photoconductive layer on one surface of said backing member; said cassette comprising a base member; a top cover hinged to said base member about the rear walls thereof for rotational movement between an open position and a closed position; a guide member on each side of said cassette base member, each of said guide members being adapted to receive the side rail attached to the adjacent lateral side of the xerographic plate as the plate is inserted into the cassette, a shaped support member secured to said base member on the opposite side of each guide member for supporting the xerographic plate in its proper position when the cassette is inverted such that the base member is positioned above said top cover; and means associated with said base member and said top cover for rigidly supporting a xerographic plate in the cassette without contacting the photoconductive layer when said top cover is in the closed position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
53 words
The cassette of claim 18 further including a groove positioned within the exterior walls of said base member and a tongue depending downwardly from the exterior walls of said top cover, said tongue fitting into said groove when said cassette is closed whereby a xerographic plate therein is maintained in a light-tight environment.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The cassette of claim 18 wherein the side walls of said top cover and said base member are partially grooved to define channels therein which cooperate with means external to said cassette for the opening thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cassette of claim 18 further including movable latch means for maintaining said cassette in a closed condition.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
54 words
The cassette of claim 18 further including movable latch means disposed adjacent said groove positioned within the exterior walls of said base member, said movable latch means cooperating with ridges in the interior side of the front wall of said top cover for locking the top cover of the cassette in the closed position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
The cassette of claim 18 further including a slip-retarding material positioned beside said side guide members, said material adapted to assist in maintaining a xerographic plate totally within the cassette as the cassette is partially ejected from an automated processing unit associated therewith.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
53 words
The cassette of claim 18 wherein said base member has a bottom wall, said bottom wall having notch means positioned therein and adapted for cooperation with means external thereto for locking the cassette in position in an associated automated processing unit when a xerographic plate is to be inserted therein or withdrawn therefrom.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
The cassette of claim 18 wherein said shaped support members do not extend completely to the front wall of said base member, whereby access may be had to the notches in the side rails attached to the lateral sides of a xerographic plate inserted in the cassette.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cassette of claim 18 further including means associated with external side walls of said cassette for the opening of said cassette by the cooperation thereof with mEans external to said cassette.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
64 words
The cassette of claim 18 further including at least one groove in the exterior surfaces of said side walls on each side of said cassette, said grooves cooperating with means external to said cassette for the opening and closing thereof whereby a xerographic plate can be inserted therein and said cassette can be closed to maintain said inserted xerographic plate in a light-tight environment.
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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) | 1977-07-29 | 1978-01-28 | 1978-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-29 | 1982-01-28 | 1982-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-29 | 1986-01-28 | 1986-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |