Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
Apparatus for the movement of individual sheets of x-ray film in a transfer direction relative to a vertical stack of said sheets disposed in a housing comprising a drive roller means mounted for driven rotation about a lateral axis within a first plane overlying said stack, a runner roller freely rotatable on lateral axle means connected to a rotary member mounted for rotation about a vertical axis such that said runner roller is movable through a second plane parallel to and beneath said first plane for intermittently bringing said runner roller into nip relationship with said drive roller means, said vertical axis perpendicularly intersecting said lateral axis, means for feeding one said individual sheet into engagement with said rotating drive roller means, and drive means for turning said rotary member to position said runner roller in nip relation with said drive roller means, while said drive roller means is rotating, for pressing said individual sheet against said drive roller means in said nip and permitting transfer of said individual sheet relative to said stack due to rotation of said drive roller means, said rotary member always being rotated relative to the transfer direction of said sheets such that said runner roller moves into nip relationship with said drive roller means in the transfer direction of said sheets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
Apparatus for the movement of individual sheets of x-ray film in a transfer direction relative to a vertical stack of said sheets disposed in a housing comprising a drive roller means mounted for driven rotation about a lateral axis within a first plane overlying said stack, a runner roller freely rotatable on lateral axle means connected to a rotary member mounted for rotation about a vertical axis such that said runner roller is movable through a second plane parallel to and beneath said first plane for intermittently bringing said runner roller into nip relationship with said drive roller means, said vertical axis perpendicularly intersecting said lateral axis, means for feeding one said individual sheet into engagement with said rotating drive roller means, and drive means for turning said rotary member to position said runner roller in nip relation with said drive roller means, while said drive roller means is rotating, for pressing said individual sheet against said drive roller means in said nip and permitting transfer of said individual sheet relative to said stack due to rotation of said drive roller means, said rotary member always being rotated relative to the transfer direction of said sheets such that said runner roller moves into nip relationship with said drive roller means in the transfer direction of said sheets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rotary member includes a laterally sloping groove having a thread pitch at least equal to the diameter of said runner roller for receiving and guiding side edges of said individual sheet in vertical displacement relative to said stack.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a screw underlying said rotary member mounted for driven rotation with said rotary member about said vertical axis, said screw having continuous lateral screw threads disposed beneath said groove and leading to said groove, said screw threads having a pitch greater than the thickness of each sheet and receiving side edges of said sheets in said stack for separating said stack sheets from one another such that rotation of said screw vertically displaces said stack sheets simultaneously in said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said screw threads have a pitch at least two times the thickness of each sheet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said screw and rotary member are integral.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said drive roller means are rotated at substantially constant velocity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said drive roller means comprise two laterally spaced drive rolls synchronously operated and there are two rotary members, each having one respective runner roller connected thereto, said rotary members having their vertical axes at corresponding opposed outer lateral sides of said drive rolls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing is of curved cross-section such that said stack is bent in said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said drive roller means are adjacent a lead end of said housing having a laterally directed opening for receiving individual sheets therethrough to and from said transport roller means, the opposed tail end of said housing being tapered in a curved shape.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
178 words
Apparatus for the transfer of individual sheets relative to a vertical stack of said sheets disposed in a housing comprising a drive roller means mounted for driven rotation about a lateral axis within a first plane overlying said stack, a runner roller freely rotatable on lateral axle means connected to a rotary member mounted for rotation about a vertical axis such that said runner roller is movable through a second plane parallel to and beneath said first plane for intermittently bringing said runner roller into nip relationship with said drive roller means, means for feeding one said individual sheet into engagement with said drive roller means for pressing said individual sheet against said drive roller means in said nip and permitting transfer of said individual sheet relative to said stack due to rotation of said drive roller means, wherein said rotary member includes a laterally sloping groove having a thread pitch at least equal to the diameter of said runner roller for receiving and guiding side edges of said individual sheet in vertical displacement relative to said stack.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
178 words
Apparatus for the transfer of individual sheets relative to a vertical stack of said sheets disposed in a housing comprising a drive roller means mounted for driven rotation about a lateral axis within a first plane overlying said stack, a runner roller freely rotatable on lateral axle means connected to a rotary member mounted for rotation about a vertical axis such that said runner roller is movable through a second plane parallel to and beneath said first plane for intermittently bringing said runner roller into nip relationship with said drive roller means, means for feeding one said individual sheet into engagement with said drive roller means for pressing said individual sheet against said drive roller means in said nip and permitting transfer of said individual sheet relative to said stack due to rotation of said drive roller means, wherein said rotary member includes a laterally sloping groove having a thread pitch at least equal to the diameter of said runner roller for receiving and guiding side edges of said individual sheet in vertical displacement relative to said stack.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a screw underlying said rotary member mounted for driven rotation with said rotary member about said vertical axis, said screw having continuous lateral screw threads disposed beneath said groove and leading to said groove, said screw threads having a pitch greater than the thickness of each sheet and receiving side edges of said sheets in said stack for separating said stack sheets from one another such that rotation of said screw vertically displaces said stack sheets simultaneously in said housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said screw threads have a pitch at least two times the thickness of each sheet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said screw and rotary member are integral.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said drive roller means comprise two laterally spaced drive rolls synchronously operated and there are two rotary members, each having one respective runner roller connected thereto, said rotary members having their vertical axes at corresponding opposed outer lateral sides of said drive rolls.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said housing is of curved cross-section such that said stack is bent in said housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said drive roller means are adjacent a lead end of said housing having a laterally directed opening for receiving individual sheets therethrough to and from said transport roller means, the opposed tail end of said housing being tapered in a curved shape.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said drive roller means and rotary member are mounted for reversible driven rotation for feed or delivery of individual sheets to or from said vertical stack.