Patent US4247779A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4247779A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Link-clutch film drive mechanism for panoramic dental X-ray machine
Assignee: SS WHITE COMPANY
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Filing: 1979-03-29
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Granted: 1981-01-27
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Expires: 1999-03-29
Abstract
Abstract Film drive mechanism for use with a panoramic X-ray machine which provides continuous and discontinuous radiographic images of dental arch areas of a shifting patient. The mechanism utilizes electromagnetic clutches, linkage structures and cams for varying the rotational speed of a film drive shaft in accordance with the mode of radiographing selected, i.e., continuous or discontinuous. The film drive shaft controls rotation of a drum which has the film wrapped therearound.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony Ciavattoni
- 👤 Jack Flynn
- 👤 Josef Ujvary
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:50
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/04; A61B6/0478; A61B6/50; A61B6/51
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
264 words
In a panoramic dental X-ray machine for providing continuous and discontinuous radiographic images of dental arch areas of a patient seated in a chair which travels during at least a portion of said continuous and discontinuous modes of radiographing, said X-ray machine comprising (a) a tubehead containing an X-ray source and means to power said source, (b) a camera assembly comprising a rotating drum including X-ray film disposed therearound for activation by said X-ray source, said tubehead and said camera assembly rotating as a unit about said patient, the combination therewith of the improvement comprising film drive means mounted within said camera assembly for rotating said drum and film at controlled rates of drive in accordance with travel of said chair and selected mode of radiographing while said tubehead and camera assembly circularly orbit said patient, said film drive means comprising a pair of stationary cams, one of said cams having a groove disposed therein for providing said continuous image and other of said cams having another groove disposed therein for providing said discontinuous image, a pair of linking arrangements, each including a cam follower for riding in respective groove of respective cam, means for separably rotating each of said pair of linking arrangements and cam follower associated therewith, independently rotatable shaft means rotating in accordance with rotation of each of said pair of linking arrangements, a film drive shaft in operable alignment with said shaft means and responsive to rotation thereof whereby means for holding said X-ray film rotates in accordance with rotation of said film drive shaft to thereby rotate said film.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
264 words
In a panoramic dental X-ray machine for providing continuous and discontinuous radiographic images of dental arch areas of a patient seated in a chair which travels during at least a portion of said continuous and discontinuous modes of radiographing, said X-ray machine comprising (a) a tubehead containing an X-ray source and means to power said source, (b) a camera assembly comprising a rotating drum including X-ray film disposed therearound for activation by said X-ray source, said tubehead and said camera assembly rotating as a unit about said patient, the combination therewith of the improvement comprising film drive means mounted within said camera assembly for rotating said drum and film at controlled rates of drive in accordance with travel of said chair and selected mode of radiographing while said tubehead and camera assembly circularly orbit said patient, said film drive means comprising a pair of stationary cams, one of said cams having a groove disposed therein for providing said continuous image and other of said cams having another groove disposed therein for providing said discontinuous image, a pair of linking arrangements, each including a cam follower for riding in respective groove of respective cam, means for separably rotating each of said pair of linking arrangements and cam follower associated therewith, independently rotatable shaft means rotating in accordance with rotation of each of said pair of linking arrangements, a film drive shaft in operable alignment with said shaft means and responsive to rotation thereof whereby means for holding said X-ray film rotates in accordance with rotation of said film drive shaft to thereby rotate said film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said pair of stationary cams are spaced plate cams.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The machine of claim 2 wherein said grooves for providing said continuous and discontinuous images are disposed in opposing surfaces of said plate cams.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said independently rotatable shaft means comprises an inner shaft and an outer shaft spaced concentrically from each other and having their lowermost portions in substantially coplanar relationship, said outer shaft being shorter in length than said inner shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
104 words
The machine of claim 4 further characterized by a pulley disposed about said inner shaft, means for rotating said pulley, a pair of clutches disposed about said inner shaft, each of said clutches cooperating with one each of said linking arrangements, each of said clutches having an armature disposed in spaced relationship about said inner shaft and rotating in accordance with said rotating pulley, means for separably magnetically coupling said rotating armature with a corresponding rotor member of said clutch, the rotating rotor member being slidably mounted about said inner shaft whereby that linking arrangement associated with said rotating rotor rotates in accordance therewith.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The machine of claim 5 wherein one of said pair of linking arrangements rotates said inner shaft and the other of said pair rotates said outer shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The machine of claim 6 wherein a crank member has one of its ends fixedly secured to said inner shaft and other end pivotally connected to one end of a lever arm having its other end pivotally connected to said linking arrangement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The machine of claim 6 wherein said outer shaft is provided with an arm extending laterally therefrom, said arm being pivotally connected to a linking member of that linking arrangement of said pair of linking arrangements associated with said outer shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
The machine of claim 6 wherein a pin depends from each of said lowermost portion of said inner shaft and said outer shaft, a spool axially aligned with said film drive shaft and secured to an uppermost portion thereof, a boss disposed within said spool, said pins separably contacting said boss to rotate said film drive shaft in accordance with rotation of that shaft from which said pin depends.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The machine of claim 9 wherein a tension spring pulley is rotatably mounted adjacent said spool for continuously urging said boss against said pin depending from said inner shaft for providing continuous radiographic images and against said pin depending from said outer shaft for providing discontinuous radiographic images.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The machine of claim 10 wherein a drum is mounted for rotation with said film drive shaft and said X-ray film is wrapped around said drum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The machine of claim 11 wherein magnetic means is disposed within said drum adjacent a lower portion of said film drive shaft for permitting alignment of said drum and X-ray film starting position.
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) | 1984-01-27 | 1984-07-28 | 1985-01-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-27 | 1988-07-28 | 1989-01-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-27 | 1992-07-28 | 1993-01-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |