US3906227A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dental x-ray machine
Assignee: Sybron Transition Corp
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Filing: 1974-09-09
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Granted: 1975-09-16
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Expires: 1994-09-09
Abstract
Abstract A dental x-ray machine for taking a panoramic x-ray of a patient''s dental arch having located beneath the seat of the patient chair, the apparatus for rotating the x-ray source and film holder around the head of the patient. Also located below the chair seat is a cam controlled X-Y drive for driving the rotating x-ray source and film holder through a predetermined closed path of travel which, together with the rotation of the xray source produces a net movement that approximates the curve of the dental arch. The size of the pattern traced by the X-Y drive is continuously variable for adapting the pattern to dental arches of all sizes.
Inventors
- 👤 Frieder H Ensslin
- 👤 Paul J Yarnall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/50; A61B6/501; A61B6/04; A61B6/0478; A61B6/51; A61B6/512
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
281 words
Dental X-ray apparatus of the type for taking a full mouth Xray comprising: a. a base adapted to rest on a floor surface; b. a patient chair on said base and means for holding the head of the patient at a defined reference point; c. platform supported for movement relative to said base in a XY plane beneath the seat of said patient chair: d. a generally L-shaped column having a horizontal leg extending beneath said seat with one end of said leg being mounted to said platform for rotation about a vertical axis passing generally through the seat of said patient chair, the upstanding portion of said column extending to a point above said patient chair; e. a horizontal arm extending outward from said column over said patient chair; f. an X-ray source in said column and an X-ray film holder on the outward end of said horizontal arm in line with said X-ray source; g. a power supply in said base connected to said X-ray source by flexible cable means extending through said column; h. first drive means carried by said platform for rotating said column and therefore said X-ray source and film holder about said vertical axis, whereby said X-ray source and film holder orbit the head of a patient positioned at said reference point; and i. second X-Y drive means carried by said platform and cooperating with said base for moving said platform uninterruptedly along a closed curved path of travel in an X-Y plane, which movement when associated with the rotation of said column produces a net orbital movement of said X-ray source and film holder along a path of travel which parallels the dental arch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
281 words
Dental X-ray apparatus of the type for taking a full mouth Xray comprising: a. a base adapted to rest on a floor surface; b. a patient chair on said base and means for holding the head of the patient at a defined reference point; c. platform supported for movement relative to said base in a XY plane beneath the seat of said patient chair: d. a generally L-shaped column having a horizontal leg extending beneath said seat with one end of said leg being mounted to said platform for rotation about a vertical axis passing generally through the seat of said patient chair, the upstanding portion of said column extending to a point above said patient chair; e. a horizontal arm extending outward from said column over said patient chair; f. an X-ray source in said column and an X-ray film holder on the outward end of said horizontal arm in line with said X-ray source; g. a power supply in said base connected to said X-ray source by flexible cable means extending through said column; h. first drive means carried by said platform for rotating said column and therefore said X-ray source and film holder about said vertical axis, whereby said X-ray source and film holder orbit the head of a patient positioned at said reference point; and i. second X-Y drive means carried by said platform and cooperating with said base for moving said platform uninterruptedly along a closed curved path of travel in an X-Y plane, which movement when associated with the rotation of said column produces a net orbital movement of said X-ray source and film holder along a path of travel which parallels the dental arch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
X-ray apparatus as in claim 1 comprising a carriage mounted for movement along a first axis of said base, said platfoRm being mounted on said carriage for movement along a second axis of said base.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
112 words
X-ray apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said second X-Y drive means comprises: a. a rotatable cam member journaled to said platform; b. first force transmitting means engaging said cam freely movable along a first axis of said base and fixed with respect to a second axis of said base for moving said platform along said second axis of said base responsive to the rotation of said cam; and c. second force transmitting means engaging said cam freely movable along said second axis and fixed with respect to said first axis of said base for moving said platform along said first axis of said base responsive to the rotation of said cam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
X-ray apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said cam is disc-shaped having a cam surface in each face thereof, each of said force transmitting means including a cam follower engaging one of said cam surfaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
X-ray apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said cam surfaces are formed by an endless groove in each face of said cam, each groove defining a motion component along a axis of said base.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
X-ray apparatus as in claim 3 including a vertical shaft journaled to and extending through said platform, the portion of said shaft above said platform being connected to and forming the vertical axis of rotation of said column and the portion of said shaft below said platform mounting and forming the axis of rotation of said cam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
X-ray apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said first and second force transmitting means are simultaneously adjustable for changing the size but not the shape of said closed curved path of travel through which said platform is moved.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 including apex adjustment means for shifting the axis of rotation of said shaft towards or away from said defined reference point as the shape of said closed path of travel is respectively decreased and increased.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
X-ray apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said first force transmitting means comprises: a. a shaft depending from said platform; b. a first pick-off arm having one end journaled to said shaft; c. a cam follower on said pick-off arm engaged with said cam; d. a rigid reaction arm connected to said pick-off arm, said reaction arm being freely movable along an X axis of said base and fixed against movement along a Y axis of said base.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
X-ray apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said second force transmitting means comprises: a. a L-shaped pick-off arm journaled intermediate its ends to said shaft; b. a second cam follower on one leg of said L-shaped pick-off arm engaged with said cam; and c. a second reaction arm connected to the second leg of said L-shaped pick-off arm, said second reaction arm being freely movable along a Y axis of said base and fixed against movement along an X axis of said base.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
92 words
X-ray apparatus as in claim 10 including: a. a lead screw on said first pick-off arm and on the second leg of said L-shaped pick-off arm; b. a nut driven by each screw along said arms towards and away from said shaft; c. said reaction arms being connected to the nut on their respective pick-off arms; and d. means for simultaneously rotating said screws to drive said nuts in concert toward or away from said shaft to vary the nut-cam follower distance and change the effect of the throw of said cam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
124 words
X-ray apparatus as in claim 11 including: a. a way oriented parallel to the second leg of said L-shaped pick-off arm; b. a block slidably mounted on said way; c. a mounting bracket depending from said platform; d. a pair of side supports extending from said bracket and slidably engaging said block, said side supports permitting movement of said platfrom over said block in a direction normal to said way and said way permitting movement of said block and platform in a direction parallel to said way; and e. means connecting said block and the nut on thE second leg of said L-shaped pick-off arm for moving said platform over said block as said nut is moved to change the throw of said cam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
X-ray apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said block has a generally diagonal cam groove therein and said means connecting said block and nut includes a follower connected to said nut and riding in said cam groove.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
254 words
Dental X-ray apparatus of the type for taking a full mouth X-ray by orbiting an X-ray source and X-ray film holder about the head of a patient along an orbital path which follows the shape of the patient''s dental arch, and apparatus comprising: a. a fixed base supporting a patient chair; b. a platform movable with respect to said base and chair through a closed path of travel in an X-Y plane beneath said chair; c. a column upstanding from said platform supporting said X-ray source and X-ray film holder, said column being rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation while being transported through said closed path of travel by said platform such that said X-ray source and X-ray film holder are orbited about the head of a patient through an orbital path which parallels the shape of the dental arch; and d. X-Y drive means carried by said platform and cooperating with said base for moving said platform with respect to said base through said closed path of travel, said X-Y drive means including a rotatable cam carried by said platform and a pair of reaction arms extending between said cam and base, each of said reaction arms being freely movable with respect to said base along one axis thereof and fixed with respect to said base along another axis thereof, the throw of said cam during the rotation thereof forcing said reaction arms to move said cam and therefore said platform with respect to said base through said closed path of travel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
254 words
Dental X-ray apparatus of the type for taking a full mouth X-ray by orbiting an X-ray source and X-ray film holder about the head of a patient along an orbital path which follows the shape of the patient''s dental arch, and apparatus comprising: a. a fixed base supporting a patient chair; b. a platform movable with respect to said base and chair through a closed path of travel in an X-Y plane beneath said chair; c. a column upstanding from said platform supporting said X-ray source and X-ray film holder, said column being rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation while being transported through said closed path of travel by said platform such that said X-ray source and X-ray film holder are orbited about the head of a patient through an orbital path which parallels the shape of the dental arch; and d. X-Y drive means carried by said platform and cooperating with said base for moving said platform with respect to said base through said closed path of travel, said X-Y drive means including a rotatable cam carried by said platform and a pair of reaction arms extending between said cam and base, each of said reaction arms being freely movable with respect to said base along one axis thereof and fixed with respect to said base along another axis thereof, the throw of said cam during the rotation thereof forcing said reaction arms to move said cam and therefore said platform with respect to said base through said closed path of travel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
X-ray apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said cam is disc-shaped having an endless cam groove in both the top and bottom surfaces thereof defining respectively the X and Y components of motion of said platform, and each of said reaction arms being associated with a cam follower engaged in one of said cam grooves.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
105 words
X-ray apparatus as in claim 15 including a vertical shaft depending from said platform, said X-Y drive means including: a. a pick-off arm having one end journaled to said shaft, one of said cam followers being fixed to said arm; b. a lead screw and nut on said pick-off arm, said screw being rotated for driving said nut along said pick-off arm towards and away from said shaft; and c. one of said reaction arms being journaled at one end of said nut, the movement of said nut towards and away from said shaft acting to decrease and increase respectively the throw of said cam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
120 words
X-ray apparatus as in claim 15 including a vertical shaft depending from said platform, said X-Y drive means including: a. an L-shaped pick-off arm journaled intermediate its ends to said shaft, one of said cam followers being fixed on one leg of said L-shaped pick-off arm; b. a led screw and nut on said second leg of said L-shaped pick-off arm, the rotation of said led screw driving said nut along said leg towards and away from said shaft; c. a pin on said nut; and d. means including one of said reaction arms journaled to said pin, the movement of said nut towards and away from said shaft acting to decrease and increase respectively the throw of said cam.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
225 words
Dental X-ray apparatus of the type for taking a full mouth X-ray comprising: a. a base adapted to rest on a floor surface; b. a patient support means on said base including means for holding the head of a patient at a reference point; c. a platform supported on said base for movement relative to said base through a closed path of travel in an X-Y plane beneath said patient support means; d. an X-ray source and film holder, said source and film holder being spaced and in line and rotatable aBout a vertical axis upstanding from said platform so as to orbit the head of a patient held at said reference point; e. means for moving said platform through said closed path of travel while rotating said X-ray source and film holder about said vertical axis, the rotational movement of said X-ray source and film holder together with the movement of said vertical axis producing a net movement of said X-ray source and film holder along a path of travel which parallels the dental arch of a patient''s head held at said reference point; f. means for symmetrically changing the size of said closed path of travel; and g. means for translating said platform towards and away from said reference point as the size of said path of travel is respectively decrease and increased.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
225 words
Dental X-ray apparatus of the type for taking a full mouth X-ray comprising: a. a base adapted to rest on a floor surface; b. a patient support means on said base including means for holding the head of a patient at a reference point; c. a platform supported on said base for movement relative to said base through a closed path of travel in an X-Y plane beneath said patient support means; d. an X-ray source and film holder, said source and film holder being spaced and in line and rotatable aBout a vertical axis upstanding from said platform so as to orbit the head of a patient held at said reference point; e. means for moving said platform through said closed path of travel while rotating said X-ray source and film holder about said vertical axis, the rotational movement of said X-ray source and film holder together with the movement of said vertical axis producing a net movement of said X-ray source and film holder along a path of travel which parallels the dental arch of a patient''s head held at said reference point; f. means for symmetrically changing the size of said closed path of travel; and g. means for translating said platform towards and away from said reference point as the size of said path of travel is respectively decrease and increased.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-15 | 1979-03-17 | 1979-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-15 | 1983-03-17 | 1983-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-15 | 1987-03-17 | 1987-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |