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US4523420A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

X-ray examination apparatus having at least one film storage magazine

Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1984-08-24
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Granted: 1985-06-18
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Expires: 2004-08-24
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Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to an X-ray examination apparatus comprising a light-tight film processing section with one or more film storage magazines. A film sheet can be removed from the magazine in order to be transported to the exposure position. The apparatus also comprises a cassette loading and unloading station as well as a film guide device. A film sheet can be transported by the film guide device either into the beam path at the exposure position or into a cassette in the cassette loading and unloading station. Thus, cassette exposures can also be made without loading and unloading the cassette in a separate dark room or without a so-called daylight system being necessary.

Inventors

  • 👤 Harald Kayser
  • 👤 Wilfried Pfeiffer

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 04:30
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B42/00; G03B42/02; G03B42/04; G03B42/045; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S271/00; Y10S271/902

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 116 words
An X-ray examination apparatus having a light-tight film processing section comprising: at least one film storage magazine for storing film sheets; and means for unloading film sheets, one at a time, from the film storage magazine; a cassette loading and unloading station for accommodating a cassette; and a film guide device defining a first path between the film storage magazine and an exposure station and defining a second path between the film storage magazine and the cassette loading and unloading station, said film guide device being capable of switchably transporting film either to or from the exposure station along the first path or to or from the cassette loading and unloading station along the second path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 116 words
An X-ray examination apparatus having a light-tight film processing section comprising: at least one film storage magazine for storing film sheets; and means for unloading film sheets, one at a time, from the film storage magazine; a cassette loading and unloading station for accommodating a cassette; and a film guide device defining a first path between the film storage magazine and an exposure station and defining a second path between the film storage magazine and the cassette loading and unloading station, said film guide device being capable of switchably transporting film either to or from the exposure station along the first path or to or from the cassette loading and unloading station along the second path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 52 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: the film sheets are transported essentially in a horizontal direction; the cassette loading and unloading station is situated underneath the exposure station; and the apparatus further comprises an X-ray absorbing shield between the cassette loading and unloading station and the exposure station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the cassette loading and unloading station further comprises a slide which closes an opening in the cassette loading and unloading station in a light-tight manner.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 231 words
A device for loading film into and for unloading film out of a film cassette, said device comprising: a fixed lateral stop, against which an openable end of a film cassette can be arranged to load and unload film; a first film guide section, pivotable between a film receiving/discharging position and a retracted position, the first film guide section being arranged to receive film from or discharge film to an external device when the first film guide section is in the film receiving/discharging position; a second film guide section, pivotable between a film loading/unloading position and a retracted position, the second film guide section being arranged to load film into and unload film out of the film cassette when the second film guide section is in the film loading/unloading position; and interconnection means for interconnecting the first and second film guide sections such that when the first film guide section is in the receiving/discharging position the second film guide section is in the loading/unloading position, and when the first film guide section is in the retracted position the second film guide section is in the retracted position; characterized in that when the first film guide section is in the receiving/discharging position and the second film guide section is in the loading/unloading position, each film guide section is arranged to receive film from or discharge film to the other film guide section.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 231 words
A device for loading film into and for unloading film out of a film cassette, said device comprising: a fixed lateral stop, against which an openable end of a film cassette can be arranged to load and unload film; a first film guide section, pivotable between a film receiving/discharging position and a retracted position, the first film guide section being arranged to receive film from or discharge film to an external device when the first film guide section is in the film receiving/discharging position; a second film guide section, pivotable between a film loading/unloading position and a retracted position, the second film guide section being arranged to load film into and unload film out of the film cassette when the second film guide section is in the film loading/unloading position; and interconnection means for interconnecting the first and second film guide sections such that when the first film guide section is in the receiving/discharging position the second film guide section is in the loading/unloading position, and when the first film guide section is in the retracted position the second film guide section is in the retracted position; characterized in that when the first film guide section is in the receiving/discharging position and the second film guide section is in the loading/unloading position, each film guide section is arranged to receive film from or discharge film to the other film guide section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 47 words
A device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the interconnection means comprises a rigid arm having two ends, said arm being pivotably connected at one end to the first film guide section and pivotably connected at the other end to the second film guide section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 42 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that in operation the second film guide section is arranged at least partially inside the open end of a film cassette when the second film guide section is in the film loading/unloading position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 42 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that: the device further comprises a housing; and the first film guide section is arranged at least partially outside of the housing when the first film guide section is in the receiving/discharging position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 32 words
A device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the first film guide section is arranged completely within the housing when the first film guide section is in the retracted position.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-06-17 1988-12-17 1989-06-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-06-17 1992-12-17 1993-06-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-06-17 1996-12-17 1997-06-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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