Abstract: A scanning apparatus for obtaining an image from a phosphor sheet has a cylindrical drum having an inner axis and having an inner surface that is concave with respect to the axis. A light collector is coupled to a transport mechanism that is actuable to translate the light collector along a direction parallel to the axis. The light collector has a beam generator with a light source and a rotatable beam deflector that is actuable to provide a rotating scanning beam. There are first and second cylindrical hoops circumferentially disposed about the axis and spaced apart from each other along the direction of the axis to define a slot aligned with the rotating scanning beam as it scans the phosphor sheet. At least one light detector is disposed to detect light stimulated from the phosphor sheet by the scanning beam.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus for obtaining an image from a phosphor sheet has a cylindrical drum having an inner axis and having an inner surface that is concave with respect to the axis. A light collector is coupled to a transport mechanism that is actuable to translate the light collector along a direction parallel to the axis. The light collector has a beam generator with a light source and a rotatable beam deflector that is actuable to provide a rotating scanning beam. There are first and second cylindrical hoops circumferentially disposed about the axis and spaced apart from each other along the direction of the axis to define a slot aligned with the rotating scanning beam as it scans the phosphor sheet. At least one light detector is disposed to detect light stimulated from the phosphor sheet by the scanning beam.

Abstract: A light collector and detector for collecting and detecting light emitted, reflected or transmitted by a scanned information medium, comprising: a planar mirror assembly for extending the width of a scanned information medium and for disposition substantially perpendicular thereto, the planar mirror assembly having a lower edge adjacent to the scanned medium and an upper edge spaced from the lower edge; first and second pyramidal mirrors located side by side facing the planar mirror, the pyramidal mirrors having respective upper edges spaced from the upper edge of the planar mirror and respective lower edges spaced from the lower edge of the planar mirror, thereby to form aligned slots for the passage of a scanning beam of light to a medium to be scanned and for allowing light emitted by, reflected from, or transmitted by the scanned medium to enter the collector; wherein the first pyramidal mirror has a first aperture in an apex region thereof and wherein the second pyramidal mirror has a second aperture in

Abstract: A light collector and detector for collecting and detecting light emitted, reflected or transmitted by a scanned information medium, comprising: a planar mirror assembly for extending the width of a scanned information medium and for disposition substantially perpendicular thereto, the planar mirror assembly having a lower edge adjacent to the scanned medium and an upper edge spaced from the lower edge; first and second pyramidal mirrors located side by side facing the planar mirror, the pyramidal mirrors having respective upper edges spaced from the upper edge of the planar mirror and respective lower edges spaced from the lower edge of the planar mirror, thereby to form aligned slots for the passage of a scanning beam of light to a medium to be scanned and for allowing light emitted by, reflected from, or transmitted by the scanned medium to enter the collector; wherein the first pyramidal mirror has a first aperture in an apex region thereof and wherein the second pyramidal mirror has a second aperture in

Abstract: A light collector and detector apparatus comprising: a light detector having a light detecting face; a light collector for collecting light emitted from, reflected from and transmitted through a scanned medium and for directing collected light to the light detector; and an optical assembly mounted on the detector face for directing light into the detector to improve light collection efficiency.

Abstract: In computed radiography apparatus in which a storage phosphor storing a latent image is scanned with stimulating light of a first wavelength range and emits light representative of the stored image of a second wavelength range shorter than the first wavelength range, a light reflecting mirror comprising: a substrate; and a dielectric layer on at least one side of the substrate, the dielectric layer, having a first characteristic, wherein the stimulating light of the second wavelength range is not substantially reflected, and having a second characteristic wherein emitted light of the first wavelength range is reflected over an angle of incidence of about 0° to about 80°.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing heat processable media comprising: a rotatable heated drum for processing heat processable media having width and depth dimensions, and a plurality of rollers spaced around a portion of the periphery of said drum and in contact therewith, said rollers holding said media to said drum; wherein at least one of said drum and/or at least some of said plurality of rollers have a channel in a central region thereof, said channel having a width greater than said width dimension of said media and a depth less than said thickness dimension of said media.

Abstract: A processor for processing thermal media, comprising: a rotatably mounted heated drum; and a set of holddown rollers spaced around a segment of the periphery of the drum and in contact therewith, the drum and the set of rollers forming a path for thermal media; wherein the set of rollers includes at least first and second rollers of different diameters one from the other in order to suppress artifacts.

Abstract: A processor for photothermographic media comprising: a rotatably mounted heated drum; and a plurality of rollers spaced around the periphery of the drum to hold down photothermographic media to the drum over a segment of the circumference thereof, the rollers including an outer layer of low density, low thermal mass, and low thermal conductivity elastomer foam coating which have very little heat contribution to the media to achieve uniform media processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for combining several laser systems, forming a ganged laser assembly and measuring and correcting vertical and horizontal displacements, and reducing spot size variations. The combined laser beams are scanned in a bow-tie path on a continuously moving medium.

Abstract: A vertical autoloader capable of handling a variety of different size cassettes without the use of pallets, which includes a separator mechanism and an indexer mechanism. The separator mechanism has a plurality of partitions that define a plurality of slots, and the indexer mechanism has a plurality of partitions that define a plurality of slots corresponding to the slots defined by the partitions of the separator mechanism. An indexer drive mechanism moves the indexer mechanism with respect to a home position of the separator mechanism, wherein the slots defined by the partitions of the indexer mechanism are moved by one position with respect to the slots defined by the partitions of the separator mechanism.

Abstract: A cassette storage and delivery apparatus having a plurality of cassette retaining sites. The apparatus having a body having a portal adjoining the cassette sites for allowing the cassettes to be placed onto or removed from the cassette retaining sites. The apparatus further includes a pair of guide panels, one on each side of the portal. The guide panels each having a guide surface. The guide surface is provided with a shock absorbing protective layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and automatically delivering mechanism cassettes and/or pallets containing cassettes to a reader. A storage and delivery is provided which defining a plurality of cassette retaining sites. A body encases the storage and delivery mechanism and has a portal adjoining the cassette loading sites for allowing casettes to be placed on or removed from the storage and delivery mechanism. Indicia is provided on panels adjacent the portal for identifying the cassette retaining sites and a guide bar is placed in front of the cassette read site. The panels are mounted to the apparatus by elastomeric mounts so as to minimize or prevent transmission of shock vibrations.

Abstract: A mechanism and method for conveying a cassette or similar like article from a support surface into an adjacent apparatus. The mechanism comprising: a first pinch roller having a central axis about which the first pinch roller rotates; a second pinch roller having a central axis about which the second pinch roller rotates; a mechanism for moving the first and second pinch rollers toward each other so as to engage a cassette therebetween with a predetermined amount of biasing force; and a motor for rotating the first and second pinch rollers manner about their respective axis so as to move the cassette from and/or on to the support surface.

Abstract: In an apparatus for storing and automatically delivering cassettes and/or pallets containing cassettes to a reader. The apparatus includes a plurality of cassette retaining sites. A door assembly is provided adjacent the portal for allowing access to the plurality of cassette retaining sites. The door assembly has at least one panel slideably mounted to the apparatus for movement between a closed position and an open position. Sensors are provided for determining if a foreign object is in the closure path of the at least one panel.

Abstract: An apparatus for clamping a cassette containing a photosensitive element. The apparatus includes a frame and a stop bar movably mounted to the frame for movement between an operative position and a non operative position. The stop bar has a registration surface for registering the forward end of cassette. A first jaw member is secured to the frame and has a second registration surface for engagement with a first side of the cassette. A second movable jaw member is provided movable between a clamping position and a non clamping position. The second jaw member having a clamping surface for engaging a second side of the cassette opposite the first side of the cassette so as to clamp the cassette between the first and second jaw members when the second jaw member is in the clamping position. A mechanism is provided for moving the second jaw member between the clamping and non clamping positions.

Abstract: A pallet for holding at least two different size cassettes, each cassette having a pair of side walls, a front wall and back wall. The pallet comprises a support surface for supporting a cassette, a first internal side wall for registering one of the side walls of the cassette placed on the support surface, and a second internal side wall for registering the back wall of a cassette. The first, and second internal side walls of the pallet define a first recess for holding in position a cassette of a first size. A retractable member is provided on the pallet for defining a second recess of a second size within the first recess for holding a cassette of a second smaller size.

Abstract: An x-ray cassette positioner for use with a plurality of x-ray cassettes. The cassette positioner includes first and second conveyors. The conveyors have a first endless cogbelt and a second endless cogbelt, respectively. The cogbelts are spaced apart. The cogbelts each have a plurality of outwardly extending shelves. The conveyors each have a pair of cogwheels, each pair of cogwheels receives a respective cogbelt. The cogbelts each have a utilization segment and a return segment. The shelves of the utilization segment of said first cogbelt face and are in vertical alignment with corresponding shelves of the utilization segment of the second cogbelt. The aligned shelves define a cassette read site and a plurality of cassette loading sites. A positive drive is operatively connected to both conveyors and drives the conveyors in unison to transfer cassettes loaded in the loading sites serially through the loading sites and the read site. A body encases the conveyors.

Abstract: An autoloader for use with a computed radiography reader receives a stack of pallets on a platform. Each pallet has registered thereon a cassette containing a photographic element that is to be read by the reader. The pallets each have side rails with openings therein. The platform is raised and lowered relative to the reader by an elevator to locate the pallets at a reading position wherein the element in the cassette is read. Pins engage the openings in the pallet at the reading position to support that pallet independent of the platform. The pallets are indexed to the reading position sequentially beginning with the lowermost pallet so that pallets with cassettes containing elements that have been read are at the bottom of the stack and can be removed while another pallet is at the reading position.

Abstract: A cassette of the kind used for holding sheets of film to be exposed during x-ray of a patient is coded so that an x-ray technician or operator can easily distinguish cassettes containing exposed film from those cassettes containing unexposed film. This is accomplished by color coding two adjacent side edges of the cassette with color different from the other side edges of the cassette.