US3829698A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
X-ray apparatus with improved film cassette clamping and size sensing means
Assignee: Philips Nuclear Medicine Inc
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Filing: 1972-12-26
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Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1992-12-26
Abstract
Abstract A pair of clamps interconnected by a pulley and cable system including substantially inextensible cables clamp opposite side regions of an X-ray film cassette. A locking mechanism serves to prevent retractive movement of the clamps and to urge them firmly into engagement with the film cassette to hold it in alignment with an X-ray beam axis. The cables have spaced parallel reaches defining an unobstructed central region therebetween for phototiming control of the X-ray exposure. One of the interconnecting cables is reeved around a pulley connected to an electrical signal means for providing a signal representative of the size of a cassette being clamped.
Inventors
- 👤 J Goetz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:55
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B42/00; G03B42/02; G03B42/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
For use in an X-ray apparatus of the type including a source of X-rays for emitting a delineated beam of X-radiation along a path toward an object, a device for receiving and supporting Xray film cassettes of a range of sizes one at a time within the beam path comprising: a. a support structure defining a cassette positioning space where a cassette may be positioned, the cassette space when the apparatus is in use being in an X-ray beam path such that a supported cassette is transverse to the beam; b. a pair of clamping means movably carried by said support structure for movement across said support structure for releasably engaging opposite side regions of a generally rectangular film cassette positioned in the space; c. interconnection means interconnecting the clamping means for concurrent movement toward and away from each other; and, d. said interconnection means defining an open space aligned with and generally centered with respect to said cassette space along an X-ray beam path whereby X-radiation passing centrally through the film cassette and thence to a phototimer paddle or the like is not interfered with by said interconnection means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
For use in an X-ray apparatus of the type including a source of X-rays for emitting a delineated beam of X-radiation along a path toward an object, a device for receiving and supporting Xray film cassettes of a range of sizes one at a time within the beam path comprising: a. a support structure defining a cassette positioning space where a cassette may be positioned, the cassette space when the apparatus is in use being in an X-ray beam path such that a supported cassette is transverse to the beam; b. a pair of clamping means movably carried by said support structure for movement across said support structure for releasably engaging opposite side regions of a generally rectangular film cassette positioned in the space; c. interconnection means interconnecting the clamping means for concurrent movement toward and away from each other; and, d. said interconnection means defining an open space aligned with and generally centered with respect to said cassette space along an X-ray beam path whereby X-radiation passing centrally through the film cassette and thence to a phototimer paddle or the like is not interfered with by said interconnection means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said interconnection means comprises pulley and cable means interconnecting the clamping means for concurrent movement toward and away from each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The X-ray apparatus of claim 2 additionally including at least one phototimer input window disposed in said open space and said pulley and cable means being disposed perimetrally of said input window.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said interconnection means includes at least one cable interconnecting said pair of clamping means, said cable being reeved around a pulley which drivingly connects with an electrical signal means for varying an electrical signal in response to the position of said cable as an indication of the position of said clamping means, whereby when a cassette is clamped by said clamping means said signal means proVides an indication of the size of the cassette being clamped.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said pulley drivingly connects with the control shaft of a variable potentiometer for varying the resistance thereof in correspondence to the spacing between said pair of clamping means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support structure includes a plate member having guide slots formed therethrough for receiving portions of said clamping means and guiding their movement, said plate member defining a cassette supporting surface on one side thereof, and said interconnection means comprises pulley and cable means being disposed on the opposite side of said plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said pulley and cable means includes at least one substantially inextensible cable interconnecting said clamping means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said pulley and cable means includes a pair of substantially inextensible cables interconnecting said clamping means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said cables have spaced reaches paralleling the direction of movement of said clamping means, said spaced reaches serving to define said open space therebetween.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said cables are disposed substantially within a common plane to minimize the thickness of said interconnection means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
157 words
In an X-ray apparatus of the type including a source of X-rays for emitting a delineated beam of X-radiation along a path toward an object, the improvement of a device for receiving and supporting X-ray film cassettes of a range of sizes one at a time within the beam path so as to receive X-radiation passing through the object, comprising: a. a pair of clamps; b. support structure movably supporting said clamps for movement toward and away from each other for releasably engaging opposite side regions of a film cassette positioned therebetween; c. a pulley and cable system interconnecting said clamps for concurrent movement toward and away from each other; and, d. said pulley and cable system including locking and cam means fixing the clamps against retractive movement after they have been brought into engagement with a cassette and thereafter tensioning the pulley and cable system to force the clamps into tight retentive engagement with a cassette.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
157 words
In an X-ray apparatus of the type including a source of X-rays for emitting a delineated beam of X-radiation along a path toward an object, the improvement of a device for receiving and supporting X-ray film cassettes of a range of sizes one at a time within the beam path so as to receive X-radiation passing through the object, comprising: a. a pair of clamps; b. support structure movably supporting said clamps for movement toward and away from each other for releasably engaging opposite side regions of a film cassette positioned therebetween; c. a pulley and cable system interconnecting said clamps for concurrent movement toward and away from each other; and, d. said pulley and cable system including locking and cam means fixing the clamps against retractive movement after they have been brought into engagement with a cassette and thereafter tensioning the pulley and cable system to force the clamps into tight retentive engagement with a cassette.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein: a. said support structure includes a plate defining generally planar surface portions on one side thereof for engaging one face of an X-ray film cassette; b. said clamps are movably supported for holding a cassette on said one side of said plate; c. said pulley and cable system is disposed on the other side of said plate; and, d. said pulley and cable system and said clamps are connected through slots formed in said plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least one substantially inextensible cable interconnects said clamps, said one cable having reaches disposed generally parallel to the directions of movement of said clamps.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said cable reaches are disposed substantially within the same plane.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 11 additionally including an electrical signal means coupled to said pulley and cable system for varying an electrical signal in response to the positioning of said clamps so as to provide a signal representative of the size of an X-ray film cassette clamped by said clamps.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
175 words
In combination: a. an X-ray apparatus including X-ray source means for emitting a delineated beam of X-radiation along a path toward an object; b. cassette supporting and clamping assembly defining a cassette receiving space in said beam path; said assembly being adapted to receive, support and clamp X-ray film cassettes of a range of sizes one at a time in said space; c. phototimer input means positioned to receive at least a portion of the radiation passing through the cassette space; d. said supporting and clamping aSsembly comprising: i. a support defining surfaces for engaging a film cassette and supporting the cassette in the space with film in the cassette in a plane generally perpendicular to the X-ray beam path; ii. a pair of clamps movably carried by said support for movement across said surfaces toward and away from said space for releasably engaging opposed side regions of a positioned cassette; and, iii. interconnection means disposed perimetrally of said phototimer input means and interconnecting said clamps for concurrent movement toward and away from each other.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
175 words
In combination: a. an X-ray apparatus including X-ray source means for emitting a delineated beam of X-radiation along a path toward an object; b. cassette supporting and clamping assembly defining a cassette receiving space in said beam path; said assembly being adapted to receive, support and clamp X-ray film cassettes of a range of sizes one at a time in said space; c. phototimer input means positioned to receive at least a portion of the radiation passing through the cassette space; d. said supporting and clamping aSsembly comprising: i. a support defining surfaces for engaging a film cassette and supporting the cassette in the space with film in the cassette in a plane generally perpendicular to the X-ray beam path; ii. a pair of clamps movably carried by said support for movement across said surfaces toward and away from said space for releasably engaging opposed side regions of a positioned cassette; and, iii. interconnection means disposed perimetrally of said phototimer input means and interconnecting said clamps for concurrent movement toward and away from each other.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
168 words
An X-ray film cassette supporting and clamping device, comprising: a. support structure defining a cassette positioning space for receiving and supporting an X-ray film cassette; b. a pair of clamps movably carried by said support structure for releasably engaging opposed side regions of a film cassette positioned in said space; c. a pulley and cable interconnecting system including at least one length of relatively inextensible cable coupled to both of said clamps to provide for the concurrent movement of said clamps toward and away from each other substantially without play; d. locking means interposed between one of said clamps and said support structure for releasably securing said one clamp to said support structure; and, e. said locking means being operative, once said pair of clamps is brought into engagement with opposite sides of a film cassette, to urge said one clamp firmly against the film cassette and to tension said length of cable whereby the clamps are both brought in contact with the sides of said film cassette.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
168 words
An X-ray film cassette supporting and clamping device, comprising: a. support structure defining a cassette positioning space for receiving and supporting an X-ray film cassette; b. a pair of clamps movably carried by said support structure for releasably engaging opposed side regions of a film cassette positioned in said space; c. a pulley and cable interconnecting system including at least one length of relatively inextensible cable coupled to both of said clamps to provide for the concurrent movement of said clamps toward and away from each other substantially without play; d. locking means interposed between one of said clamps and said support structure for releasably securing said one clamp to said support structure; and, e. said locking means being operative, once said pair of clamps is brought into engagement with opposite sides of a film cassette, to urge said one clamp firmly against the film cassette and to tension said length of cable whereby the clamps are both brought in contact with the sides of said film cassette.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein: a. said interconnection system includes a pulley carried by said support means at a position outwardly of said one clamp; b. said length of cable is reeved around said pulley so as to define two cable reaches which move in generally opposite directions; c. one of said cable reaches being rigidly coupled to said one clamp; and, d. the other of said reaches being rigidly coupled to the other of said clamps.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein: a. said interconnection system further includes a second length of cable reeved around a second pulley carried by said support structure; b. said second pulley being disposed outwardly of said other clamp; and, c. said second length of cable coupling at opposite ends to said clamps and including at least one resilient portion for maintaining said second length of cable taunt.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said locking means includes eccentric means for releasably locking said one clamp against movement away from the cassette being clamped and thereafter being operative to compress said one clamping means against the cassette thereby tensioning said length of cable and drawing said other clamp firmly against the cassette.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said clamps each carry a resilient element which makes contact with the cassette being clamped during the clamping of the cassette, said eccentric means being operable to compress said resilient elements against the cassette to firmly clamp the cassette.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-02-11 | 1978-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-12 | 1982-02-11 | 1982-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-12 | 1986-02-11 | 1986-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |