US3855476A — Film transfer device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 308 words

For use in combination with an x-ray unit having a vertically adjustable film exposure unit operable to discharge an exposed film from a film discharge slot at one side thereof throughout the entire range of vertically adjustable movement of the exposure unit, and a stationary film processing unit having an upwardly opening film receiving slot, a film transfer unit for transferring exposed film from the discharge slot of said exposure unit to the receiving slot of said processing unit comprising a vertically elongate housing having an opening at its lower end adapted to overlie said receiving slot, mounting means at the lower end of said housing for mounting said housing upon said processing unit with said film receiving slot encompassed by said opening, said housing having a vertically elongate slot in one side thereof extending along the entire range of movement of said discharge slot of said vertically adjustable exposure unit when said housing is mounted upon said processing unit, first light seal means on the exterior of said housing extending along opposite sides of said vertically elongate slot slidably engageable with said exposure unit on opposite sides of said discharge slot, second light seal means on the interior of said housing extending along opposite sides of said vertically elongate slot, an upper and a lower curtain section spanning said vertically elongate slot and slidably engaged along their opposite side edges by said second light seal means, and third light seal means for securing the lower end of said upper curtain section to said exposure unit above said discharge slot and for receiving the upper end of said lower curtain section to said exposure unit below said discharge slot, said third light seal means extending transversely across said first light seal means to slidably engage said first light seal means at opposite sides of said vertically elongate slot.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 308 words

For use in combination with an x-ray unit having a vertically adjustable film exposure unit operable to discharge an exposed film from a film discharge slot at one side thereof throughout the entire range of vertically adjustable movement of the exposure unit, and a stationary film processing unit having an upwardly opening film receiving slot, a film transfer unit for transferring exposed film from the discharge slot of said exposure unit to the receiving slot of said processing unit comprising a vertically elongate housing having an opening at its lower end adapted to overlie said receiving slot, mounting means at the lower end of said housing for mounting said housing upon said processing unit with said film receiving slot encompassed by said opening, said housing having a vertically elongate slot in one side thereof extending along the entire range of movement of said discharge slot of said vertically adjustable exposure unit when said housing is mounted upon said processing unit, first light seal means on the exterior of said housing extending along opposite sides of said vertically elongate slot slidably engageable with said exposure unit on opposite sides of said discharge slot, second light seal means on the interior of said housing extending along opposite sides of said vertically elongate slot, an upper and a lower curtain section spanning said vertically elongate slot and slidably engaged along their opposite side edges by said second light seal means, and third light seal means for securing the lower end of said upper curtain section to said exposure unit above said discharge slot and for receiving the upper end of said lower curtain section to said exposure unit below said discharge slot, said third light seal means extending transversely across said first light seal means to slidably engage said first light seal means at opposite sides of said vertically elongate slot.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 50 words

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper and said lower curtain sections are opposite ends of an elongate band of flexible opaque material, and guide rolls mounted in said housing supporting said band for movement therein upon vertical movement of said exposure unit relative to said housing.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 66 words

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a first section having vertical side walls and end walls defining a vertically extending film receiving chamber having a length and a width substantially equal to those of said film receiving slot and a height at least equal to the range of vertical movement of said exposure unit plus the height of said film discharge slot.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 150 words

The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said housing includes a second vertically extending section of a height equal to that of said first section, said second section being angularly offset from said first section in horizontally spaced relationship thereto, upper and lower passage sections interconnecting the upper and lower ends of said first and second sections to each other and placing the interior of the first and second sections of said housing in light tight communication with each other, said first section having an angularly offset portion at one end thereof in opposed parallel relationship to said second section, said elongate slot extending vertically along said offset portions, and a band of opaque flexible material movably mounted in and extending through said second section of said housing and said upper and lower passage section, said upper and lower curtain sections being constituted by the opposite ends of said band.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 40 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising blower means mounted in the upper end of said housing for inducing a flow of air downwardly through said housing and outwardly through said opening at the lower end of said housing.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 146 words

An x-ray unit comprising a vertically adjustable film exposure unit having a film discharge slot for discharging an exposed film, a stationary film processing unit for developing exposed film and having a film receiving slot, a box-like film transfer means mounted upon said processing unit and coupled to said exposure unit for transferring exposed film from said discharge slot to said receiving slot, said transfer means having a vertically elongate slot in one side thereof in which said exposure unit is free to slide in a vertical direction and light sealing means in said transfer means to prevent the ingress of light regardless of the position of the exposure unit relative to the transfer means, blower means operable to induce a flow of air from said transfer means into said receiving slot, and shutter means for closing said receiving slot when said blower means is inoperative.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 146 words

An x-ray unit comprising a vertically adjustable film exposure unit having a film discharge slot for discharging an exposed film, a stationary film processing unit for developing exposed film and having a film receiving slot, a box-like film transfer means mounted upon said processing unit and coupled to said exposure unit for transferring exposed film from said discharge slot to said receiving slot, said transfer means having a vertically elongate slot in one side thereof in which said exposure unit is free to slide in a vertical direction and light sealing means in said transfer means to prevent the ingress of light regardless of the position of the exposure unit relative to the transfer means, blower means operable to induce a flow of air from said transfer means into said receiving slot, and shutter means for closing said receiving slot when said blower means is inoperative.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 72 words

The invention defined in claim 6 wherein said shutter means comprises a shutter plate slidably mounted upon said processor for movement between an open position retracted clear of one side of said receiving slot and a closed position overlying and closing said receiving slot, spring means biasing said shutter plate to said closed position, and retracting means operable upon operation of said blower means for retracting said plate to said open position.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 224 words

A chest x-ray unit comprising a vertically adjustable exposure unit having a film discharge slot for discharging an exposed film, a film transfer unit light sealed to said exposure unit around said discharge slot for receiving film therefrom, a stationary film processor for developing said film and having a film receiving slot, mounting means detachably coupling said transfer unit to said processor in light sealed relationship thereto around said receiving slot, said mounting means comprising a pair of hold down members pivotally mounted on said processor in adjacent spaced relationship to said receiving slot, flange means on said transfer unit adapted to engage said processor in face to face engagement around said slot between said hold down means, said hold down means being moveable to locking position overlying said flange means to clamp said flange means to said processor, upwardly projecting, lugs on said hold down means, abutment means on said exposure unit engageable with said lugs on said hold down means when said hold down means are in said locking position to prevent lowering of said exposure unit below a predetermined distance above said flange means, and pivotal coupling means pivotally mounted on said flange means engageable with said abutment means when said hold down means are in their release position to complete said transfer unit to said exposure unit for movement therewith.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 224 words

A chest x-ray unit comprising a vertically adjustable exposure unit having a film discharge slot for discharging an exposed film, a film transfer unit light sealed to said exposure unit around said discharge slot for receiving film therefrom, a stationary film processor for developing said film and having a film receiving slot, mounting means detachably coupling said transfer unit to said processor in light sealed relationship thereto around said receiving slot, said mounting means comprising a pair of hold down members pivotally mounted on said processor in adjacent spaced relationship to said receiving slot, flange means on said transfer unit adapted to engage said processor in face to face engagement around said slot between said hold down means, said hold down means being moveable to locking position overlying said flange means to clamp said flange means to said processor, upwardly projecting, lugs on said hold down means, abutment means on said exposure unit engageable with said lugs on said hold down means when said hold down means are in said locking position to prevent lowering of said exposure unit below a predetermined distance above said flange means, and pivotal coupling means pivotally mounted on said flange means engageable with said abutment means when said hold down means are in their release position to complete said transfer unit to said exposure unit for movement therewith.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 219 words

For use in combination with a film transfer unit having a film discharge slot at its lower end and an outwardly projecting horizontal flange along its lower forward edge; a film receiving magazine comprising a film receiving box having a rearwardly and upwardly inclined rear wall at its upper end, a top wall having a film receiving slot therethrough, a mounting lip on said top wall adapted to overlie said flange to support said magazine upon the lower end of said transfer unit with said film receiving slot vertically aligned with said film discharge slot said box being inclined downwardly and forwardly from said top wall, said rear wall having an extension thereon continuing into the interior of said box in a downwardly and forwardly inclined direction to form an overhanging shielding lip in the interior of the box adapted to vertically overlie the upper edges of films deposited in said box a light trap panel hingedly mounted on the interior of the forward wall of said magazine for movement between a light blocking position in engagement with said rear wall above said shielding lip and a film receiving position adjacent said front wall forwardly of said receiving slot, spring means biasing said panel to said blocking position, and latch means for holding said panel in said receiving position.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 219 words

For use in combination with a film transfer unit having a film discharge slot at its lower end and an outwardly projecting horizontal flange along its lower forward edge; a film receiving magazine comprising a film receiving box having a rearwardly and upwardly inclined rear wall at its upper end, a top wall having a film receiving slot therethrough, a mounting lip on said top wall adapted to overlie said flange to support said magazine upon the lower end of said transfer unit with said film receiving slot vertically aligned with said film discharge slot said box being inclined downwardly and forwardly from said top wall, said rear wall having an extension thereon continuing into the interior of said box in a downwardly and forwardly inclined direction to form an overhanging shielding lip in the interior of the box adapted to vertically overlie the upper edges of films deposited in said box a light trap panel hingedly mounted on the interior of the forward wall of said magazine for movement between a light blocking position in engagement with said rear wall above said shielding lip and a film receiving position adjacent said front wall forwardly of said receiving slot, spring means biasing said panel to said blocking position, and latch means for holding said panel in said receiving position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-12-16	1978-06-17	1978-12-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-12-16	1982-06-17	1982-12-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-12-16	1986-06-17	1986-12-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Film transfer device

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