Abstract: A motorized device for rotating i.e. tilting the X-ray tube assembly in a linear and/or complex tomography radiographic system comprising the combination of a permanent magnet stepper motor coupled to a rotatable X-ray tube assembly through a helicon gear set and a spur gear set. The X-ray tube assembly incrementally rotates one angular step with each input drive pulse applied to the stepper motor from a pulse generator operated in accordance with a control input applied from an electronic control system in response to sensed positional change of the X-ray tube assembly. The stepper motor when unenergized is nevertheless adapted to provide a holding torque capability which eliminates the need for a separate brake assembly.

Abstract: A bucky translated under an X-ray table in radiographic apparatus of the linear tomography type wherein precise positioning with respect to the X-ray tubestand is achieved by a combination of a ball screw drive attached to the bucky and a permanent magnet stepper motor coupled thereto which incrementally rotates one step with each input drive pulse applied thereto from a pulse generator operated in accordance with a control input applied from an electronic control system in response to the sensed position change of the tubestand.

Abstract: A linear tomographic method and apparatus wherein an overhead tube-stand or X-ray tube unit is non-mechanically coupled to a bucky or X-ray film holder to produce linear tomographs. No physical attachment exists between the tube-stand and the bucky. The tube-stand position is sensed by electro-magnetic radiation and more particularly by light radiation which is generated by a laser and directed to a reflector attached to the tube-stand adjacent to the tube focal spot. Light energy is reflected therefrom and sensed by an interferometer which produces a tube-stand position signal which is used to generate a command signal to operate respective drive motors which translate the bucky in an opposite direction to the tube-stand and simultaneously rotate the X-ray tube so that the X-ray focal spot, center of film, and imaginary fulcrum point remain substantially colinear during a tomographic sweep.