Patent US2953826A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3967130A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3967130A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Film changing equipment for rapidly changing films contained in flexible sheaths in radiological X-ray equipment
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-11-18
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Granted: 1976-06-29
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Expires: 1994-11-18
Abstract
Abstract Film changing equipment for rapidly changing films contained in flexible sheaths in radiological X-ray equipment, in which the sheaths containing the films are conveyed by endless conveyor belts which are transparent to X-rays from a magazine into the correct position for the X-ray exposure and then transferred into a delivery box under the control of switch means. The switch means cause the conveyor belts either to pick up the next available sheath in the magazine or to leave it in the magazine. At least one pair of cooperating endless belts convey the next available sheath presented to them by feed means in the magazine into exposure position by tightly enclosing and gripping each sheath between adjacent faces of codirectionally and synchronously travelling portions of said endless belts.
Inventors
- 👤 Kurt Decker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:17
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B42/00; G03B42/02; G03B42/021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
334 words
A device for rapidly changing a plurality of film sheaths in radiological x-ray equipment, each sheath comprising a length of flat plastic tubing closed at opposite ends and containing a film and a reinforcing foil sufficiently stiff to maintain the film flat during exposure, said device comprising a. an exposure section and magazine and delivery sections in communication with said exposure section at opposite sides respectively of said exposure section; b. conveyor means including at least two rollers adjacent each of said opposite sides of said exposure section, the peripheral surfaces of said rollers on each of said sides being adjacent each other, at least one pair of endless conveyor belts transparent to x-rays extending across said exposure section between a pair of said rollers at opposite sides respectively of said exposure section such that a run of one of said belts is in confronting relationship with a run of the other of said belts for retaining and transporting said film sheaths in succession therebetween, and drive means for said conveyor means; c. means in said magazine section for supporting a stack of said film sheaths and means for feeding said film sheaths in succession to the nip between said rollers at one side of said exposure section said means for supporting a stack of said film sheaths in said magazine section comprising a pivotally mounted table for supporting said stack of film sheaths, a pickup roller positioned for contact with the top surface of the top film sheath of said stack, means for pivoting said table toward said pickup roller to press said top film sheath against the surface of said pickup roller and means to drive said pickup roller to feed successive top film sheaths into the nip between said rollers at one side of said exposure section to transport said film sheaths to said exposure section; and d. means in said delivery section for receiving said film sections in succession from said conveyor means and storing film sheaths in a stack.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
334 words
A device for rapidly changing a plurality of film sheaths in radiological x-ray equipment, each sheath comprising a length of flat plastic tubing closed at opposite ends and containing a film and a reinforcing foil sufficiently stiff to maintain the film flat during exposure, said device comprising a. an exposure section and magazine and delivery sections in communication with said exposure section at opposite sides respectively of said exposure section; b. conveyor means including at least two rollers adjacent each of said opposite sides of said exposure section, the peripheral surfaces of said rollers on each of said sides being adjacent each other, at least one pair of endless conveyor belts transparent to x-rays extending across said exposure section between a pair of said rollers at opposite sides respectively of said exposure section such that a run of one of said belts is in confronting relationship with a run of the other of said belts for retaining and transporting said film sheaths in succession therebetween, and drive means for said conveyor means; c. means in said magazine section for supporting a stack of said film sheaths and means for feeding said film sheaths in succession to the nip between said rollers at one side of said exposure section said means for supporting a stack of said film sheaths in said magazine section comprising a pivotally mounted table for supporting said stack of film sheaths, a pickup roller positioned for contact with the top surface of the top film sheath of said stack, means for pivoting said table toward said pickup roller to press said top film sheath against the surface of said pickup roller and means to drive said pickup roller to feed successive top film sheaths into the nip between said rollers at one side of said exposure section to transport said film sheaths to said exposure section; and d. means in said delivery section for receiving said film sections in succession from said conveyor means and storing film sheaths in a stack.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said conveyor means comprises two pairs of said endless conveyor belts spaced from each other for retaining said film sheaths adjacent the opposite sides thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
A device according to claim 1, further comprising control means including a manually operated switch for controlling said device to cause a single film sheath to be moved from said magazine section to said exposure section, to cause an x-ray picture to be taken, and to cause film sheaths to be conveyed sequentially from said magazine section to said exposure section to said delivery section with x-ray pictures being taken sequentially at said exposure section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said conveyor means further comprises guide rollers positioned along said runs of said conveyor belts to press said runs of said conveyor belts together for securing said film sheaths.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said rollers adjacent said delivery section are drive rollers, said drive means being located in said delivery section and connected to said drive rollers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device according to claim 1, further comprising control means for sequentially pivoting said table toward said pickup roller before each top film sheath is fed by said pickup roller to said nip between said rollers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said means for supporting said stack of said film sheaths is arranged to support said film sheaths at about a forty-five degree angle with respect to the plane of said runs of said belts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the respective sides of said magazine and delivery sections opposite said exposure section are open whereby said film sheaths may be inserted in said support means and removed from said receiving and storing means respectively.
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) | 1979-06-29 | 1979-12-29 | 1980-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-29 | 1983-12-29 | 1984-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-29 | 1987-12-29 | 1988-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |