Abstract: A film sheet package comprising a stack of film sheets wrapped in a light-tight flexible wrapper sleeve (33), one end of the sleeve having a closed flap (26) and the opposite end of the sleeve having an open flap (27) that is folded to light-tightly close the package, wherein the side ends (53, 54) of the open flap are tucked in, the top end (56) of said flap is folded back at least once, but not so far that said top end, or a portion thereof, becomes wedged between the bottom end of said flap and the corresponding rear face of the package as said flap is folded on the top face of the package, and that said flap is fixed on said top face through rupturable sealing means (28).

Abstract: A sheet receiving and storage apparatus comprises a housing and an open-bottomed magazine releasably connected therewith for collecting sheets introduced therein through its open bottom. The sheets after being partially introduced into the magazine are intercepted along their lower edges by a support located below the entrance opening of the magazine. When a predetermined amount of sheets are stacked thereon the support and sheet stack are bodily raised, so that the stack of sheets moves entirely into the magazine. The sheet stack is then retained in the magazine with the help of a stack retaining element, after which the support is lowered and a light-trap associated with the magazine is actuated to light-tightly close the magazine. Then, the magazine may be taken out of the apparatus.

Abstract: Single sheets are separated from a stack of sheets arranged in a housing having one open end in which at least one pair of separating rollers is disposed with the lower end of the stack resting in the nip thereof. One roller of each pair has a surface with a greater coefficient of friction relative to the sheet surface than that of the other roller and is rotated in a direction relative to the stack opposite to the other roller so that an outermost sheet is caused to slide from the remainder of the stack by frictional engagement of the one roller while the stack remainder is held from the oppositely rotating roller. Separation is greatly facilitated by the provision of hooks which support the lower edge of the remainder of the stack during separation and positively assist withdrawal of the stack remainder.

Abstract: Daylight radiographic cassette unloader for rapid sequential unloading of cassettes. The device includes an intermediate storage magazine to which the films after removal from the cassettes are fed one by one at a high speed whereinafter they are individually dispensed towards a processing apparatus at a speed equal to that of the processing apparatus. The cassette-unloading time is substantially reduced, while the unloading capacity of the device is tripled compared with prior art machines. Operations may be automatic under the control of a microprocessor.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning a radiographic film cassette at an operating station uses friction-coupled drive means to urge the cassette toward a front stop. Sensing means associated with the front stop then actuates a pusher which urges the cassette toward a side stop. The cassette cover is automatically opened when the cassette is correctly positioned against both stops.

Abstract: An apparatus for opening radiographic cassettes comprises a housing which may be closed in a light-tight fashion and containing a platform onto which the radiographic cassette is positioned. Also, in the housing is an elongated upwardly inclined cam surface which engages a lip portion projecting from the cover of the cassette. When pushing the cassette further into the housing the cover becomes gradually lifted by the cam action. At a given position the cover is lifted sufficiently open to permit the introduction and removal of unexposed and exposed film into and out of the cassette. A release mechanism, upon actuation, enables the cassette cover to drop thereby closing and relocking the cassette.The apparatus is suitably incorporated in a daylight system for loading radiographic cassettes with unexposed radiographic films.

Abstract: A film cassette unloading apparatus comprises a cassette positioning mechanism located in a light-tight housing. Within the housing is provided a platform onto which the cassette is placed bottom side up. An unlocking mechanism, adapted for the particular type of cassette unlocks same. Then, an opening mechanism engages the rim of the bottom part and lifts the bottom part in upward direction, thereby performing a partial rotation around the hinge-point of the cassette. By mounting the platform in inclined position, the film which is contained in the cassette, falls out of the latter by gravity.

Abstract: A radiographic cassette comprises a bottom and a cover capable of being locked together. The cover has a part of its normally rigid structure replaced by a flexible foil which, when vacuum is aplied to the interior of the cassette, exerts a pressure upon the film/screen combination contained within the latter. In this way an intimate contact between the film and the screen is established and at the same time the distance between the film/screen combination and the object to be radiographed is reduced to a minimum due to the small thickness of the foil.The cassette may be used in the field of high-definition radiography especially for mammography.

Abstract: A daylight cassette unloader comprises a mechanism for unlocking and opening a radiographic film cassette introduced therein, and mounted in inclined position so that after opening the film is permitted to slide out of the cassette. At the outlet of the unloader a supplementary mechanism is provided in order to align the film in such a way, that it is reproducibly fed to the inlet opening of a film processor. Preferably the latter mechanism comprises a pair of rollers which start rotating only after the impact of the film on one of the rollers.