Patent US3832559A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3832559A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cassette load and eject mechanism for spot-film apparatus
Assignee: CGR Medical Corp
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Filing: 1973-04-03
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Granted: 1974-08-27
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Expires: 1993-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A pair of friction wheel mechanisms adapted to engage the forward portion of respective sides of an X-ray film cassette and which uses the forward motion of the cassette tray as a driving force to eject the cassette automatically. A rack and pinion gear associated with each friction wheel are actuated by driver elements located on each side of the cassette tray. Each friction wheel and associated pinion gear rotate on a common axis and are integral with one another. The diameter of the friction wheel is selectively greater than the diameter of the pinion gear such that when the cassette tray drives the rack and pinion gear arrangement, the friction wheel will cause the linear velocity of the cassette to be greater than the linear velocity of the cassette tray by the ratio of the relative diameters of the pinion gears and friction wheel.
Inventors
- 👤 E Thomas
- 👤 H Cimildora
- 👤 J Morin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:03
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B42/00; G03B42/02; G03B42/04; G03B42/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
Cassette load and eject apparatus for a front loading spotfilm device having a cassette loading aperture in the front wall thereof, comprising in combination: an open ended cassette tray movable to and from a cassette loading position in proximity to said loading aperture, said tray having a pair of side walls with a selected portion of at least one side wall removed at the open end for exposing a portion of a cassette side wall when an X-ray film cassette is located therein, and a driver element located adjacent said at least one side wall and extending toward said open end; and a mechanism including a friction wheel of predetermined diameter rotatably mounted adjacent said loading aperture and being oriented to peripherally contact the exposed side wall portion of said cassette to move said cassette selectively in and out of said tray and loading aperture, and gear means being driven by said driver element in response to the movement of said cassette tray and being coupled to said friction wheel, causing rotation of said friction wheel as said tray is moved to and from said loading aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
Cassette load and eject apparatus for a front loading spotfilm device having a cassette loading aperture in the front wall thereof, comprising in combination: an open ended cassette tray movable to and from a cassette loading position in proximity to said loading aperture, said tray having a pair of side walls with a selected portion of at least one side wall removed at the open end for exposing a portion of a cassette side wall when an X-ray film cassette is located therein, and a driver element located adjacent said at least one side wall and extending toward said open end; and a mechanism including a friction wheel of predetermined diameter rotatably mounted adjacent said loading aperture and being oriented to peripherally contact the exposed side wall portion of said cassette to move said cassette selectively in and out of said tray and loading aperture, and gear means being driven by said driver element in response to the movement of said cassette tray and being coupled to said friction wheel, causing rotation of said friction wheel as said tray is moved to and from said loading aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said gear means comprises a gear train.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 2 wherein said gear train includes a spur gear of predetermined diameter integral with said friction wheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 3 wherein the diameter of said friction wheel is greater than the diameter of said spur gear.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 1 and wherein said gear means comprises a rack and pinion gear assembly, said rack being driven by said driver element and said pinion gear having a diameter relatively smaller than said friction wheel and adapted to turn said friction wheel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 5 wherein said pinion gear is integral with said friction wheel and said rack includEs engagement means located at one end thereof adapted for engagement with said driver element as said cassette tray moves to said loading position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said mechanism additionally includes means for moving said friction wheel away from the exposed side wall portion of said cassette at said loading position, to thereby facilitate removal of said cassette from said tray.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
128 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said tray has a selected portion of the other side wall removed for exposing a corresponding portion of the other side wall of said cassette and a second driver element located adjacent said other side wall; a second mechanism, like said first recited mechanism and mounted opposite thereto in said spot-film device, being adjacent said loading aperture and including a respective friction wheel of predetermined diameter oriented to peripherally contact the other exposed side wall portion of said cassette and second gear means being driven by said second driver element by the movement of said cassette tray and being coupled to said last recited friction wheel, causing rotation thereof as said cassette tray moves to and from said loading aperture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 8 wherein the diameters of both respective friction wheels are equal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 8 and additionally including means for simultaneously moving both said friction wheels out of contact with said cassette when said cassette tray is at said loading aperture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 8 wherein said first and second recited gear means comprises first and second rack and pinion gear assemblies, each pinion gear being adapted to rotate a respective friction wheel and each rack being driven by a respective driver element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 11 wherein the pinion gears are concentrically integral with respective friction wheels and are of an equal relatively smaller diameter than the diameter of the friction wheels.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 11 wherein the ratio of the diameter of the friction wheels to the diameter of the pinion gears is greater than unity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3173008A
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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) | 1977-08-26 | 1978-02-25 | 1978-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-26 | 1982-02-25 | 1982-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-26 | 1986-02-25 | 1986-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |