With Hinged Cover Patents (Class 378/188)
  • Patent number: 8511893
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some implementations a cover sheet and a frame of a X-ray imaging detector are attached through interlocking apparatus that provides a strong attachment between the cover sheet and the X-ray imaging detector frame and that also reduces the complexity of the attachment and reduces the number of fasteners required between the cover sheet and the X-ray imaging detector frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Nicholas Konkle
  • Patent number: 8342749
    Abstract: In order to prevent a storage film from being damaged when taking an X-ray image, when reading the latent X-ray image and when handling the storage film, the invention proposes providing spaced-apart guide parts on the rear face of the storage film, these guide parts not having an adverse effect on the ability of the film to bend. The guide parts interact with guide rails which are provide in a cassette which accommodates the storage film or on a film-clamping slide of a reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Duerr Dental GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Nitsche, Ulrich Prager, Michael Thoms
  • Patent number: 7621399
    Abstract: A cassette has a housing with a stimulable phosphor sheet stored therein, a lid mounted on an end of the housing, and an opening/closing lock mechanism mounted in the housing for locking the lid against opening and closing movement. The stimulable phosphor sheet stored in the housing is locked against displacement by a lock mechanism mounted in the housing. When the opening/closing lock mechanism is actuated to open the lid and the lock mechanism is actuated to unlock the stimulable phosphor sheet, the stimulable phosphor sheet can be removed from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Nakajo
  • Patent number: 7556426
    Abstract: A radiation cassette has a casing for storing a stimulable phosphor plate and a lid openably and closably mounted on the casing. The lid has a guide structure for guiding the stimulable phosphor plate when the radiation image recording medium is removed or inserted into the cassette while the lid is open with respect to the casing. The guide structure has a pair of engaging members fixed to an inner surface of the lid and a pair of recesses that are defined in respective opposite side edges of the stimulable phosphor plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Nakajo, Yasunori Ohta
  • Publication number: 20080279338
    Abstract: The invention is generally a self-closing film container for storing undeveloped film, particularly X-Ray film, and more particularly still dental X-Ray film. One embodiment of the container is an opaque box having an angular mouth at one end, and a spring-loaded lid fitted over the mouth such that the lid snugly closes over the mouth, and is opened only when a force is placed on the lid. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Anna Marie Scott, Raymond Green
  • Patent number: 7331710
    Abstract: A spring is mounted on a side of a stimulable phosphor sheet. A cassette for use in radiation image forming apparatus includes a housing and a lid hinged thereto. When the lid is closed over the housing with the stimulable phosphor sheet inserted in the cassette, the stimulable phosphor sheet is lowered toward a bottom surface of the housing, and the spring presses a side wall of the housing and is also lowered toward the bottom surface. The stimulable phosphor sheet is positioned and held with respect to the side wall by the spring, and housed in a space defined by the housing and the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Nakajo
  • Patent number: 6791724
    Abstract: An imaging device comprising a transparent, media support platen having a first surface portion and a second surface portion; a media clamp mounted in displaceable, overlying relationship with the first surface portion of the platen; and a lid mounted in displaceable overlying relationship with the second surface portion of the platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Modest Khovaylo, Jesse M Gerrard, Steven Vordenberg, Philipp Refior, Clay Burns
  • Patent number: 6719457
    Abstract: A casing has a flat plate for being irradiated with a radiation from an external source, a plurality of metal plates disposed on edges of inner surfaces of ends of the flat plate, and a plurality of resin frames integrally molded on the ends of the flat plate in embedding relation to the metal plates. It is possible to produce a high-quality radiation cassette having a simple structure which prevents the resin frames integrally molded on the flat plate from being deformed, according to a simple process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masakazu Nakajo
  • Patent number: 6652140
    Abstract: An apparatus to couple rigid items to a patient support including a patient support coupler and a holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Tanya Taber, Craig A. Coder
  • Patent number: 6604633
    Abstract: In combinations of stimulable phosphor sheets and cassettes, at least a stimulable phosphor sheet for single-side reading is prevented from being stored in a cassette for double-side reading. A shape of the stimulable phosphor sheet for single-side reading is different from a shape of a stimulable phosphor sheet for double-side reading. A shape of a container area of the cassette for double-side reading does not allow the sheet for single-side reading to be contained therein, due to the difference in the shapes of the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuzuru Otsuka
  • Patent number: 6557705
    Abstract: A radiation cassette comprises a casing which accommodates an accumulative fluorescent material sheet, a lid which is installed to a part of the casing so that the lid is openable and closable, a shield plate which is arranged for the casing and which is swingably provided with the lid at a first end, a support means which swingably supports the shield plate with respect to the casing, and a lock means which fixes the shield plate to the casing and which moves back and forth in accordance with an external force so that the shield plate may be released from fixation. Accordingly, it is possible to attach and detach the shield plate arranged for the casing by means of a simple operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Nakajo, Seiji Ichiju, Kimio Oosumi
  • Patent number: 6520692
    Abstract: In an automatic exposure apparatus for printing plates, a photopolymer plate is taken out of an accommodating cassette in which stacked photopolymer plates are accommodated, and an image is recorded onto the photopolymer plate. A shutter which opens and closes an opening of the accommodating cassette is configured as a thin plate, and thus, the accommodating cassette is thin and light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Koizumi, Yoshinori Kawamura, Yoshihiro Koyanagi, Kazuhisa Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6152598
    Abstract: A main body of a diagnostic table apparatus holds a supporting body slidably. The supporting body holds an X-ray tube and an X-ray flat panel detector so as to face each other. A tabletop of the diagnostic table is fitted rotatably to the main body of the diagnostic table apparatus via a hinge as a diagnostic table withdrawing mechanism. In case a chest radiography is to be taken in a standing position, the tabletop of the diagnostic table is withdrawn, an X-ray is irradiated from the back of the subject who faces an X-ray flat panel detector and puts his or her chin on a chin holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takayuki Tomisaki, Shinichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 6068439
    Abstract: A cassette comprises a movable member supported on a box member for movement in a direction normal to an swing axis, around which a cover member swings, and an engaging claw combined with the movable member. The movable member is urged to one side of the direction along which the movable member moves. A stopper secured to the box member receives the urged movable member and holds it at a locking position. An engaged claw, which is mounted on the cover member, is engaged with the engaging claw of the movable member located at the locking position and locks the cover member when it is closed. The engaged claw is disengaged from the engaging claw when the movable member moves a predetermined distance oppositely to the direction of the urging of the movable member. A cover opening mechanism is constituted of a pushing member mounted on the movable member and a pushed member mounted on the cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasunori Ohta
  • Patent number: 5924571
    Abstract: A reclosable film package consisting of a filmpack (17) and a rectangular tuck-end carton (10) enclosing the filmpack and having a top opening (13) closable by means of a top flap (14) having a flap extension (15) which can be tucked into the body of the carton, the flap extension (15) having a tapered form, and the front wall (27) of the carton having near its top end provisions allowing controlled removal of a tapered top portion of the wall to provide a tapered opening (12) allowing the flap extension to become engaged underneath the front wall (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventor: Herman Cornelissen
  • Patent number: 5912944
    Abstract: A light weight x-ray cassette formed from Hylite which is an metal/polymer/metal material. The cassette comprises: a front panel and a back panel formed from the Hylite composite material with the front and the back panels being operatively hinged together by a hinging element attached to the panels so as to form a cavity between the panels; an x-ray film contained within the cavity between the first panel and the second panel; at least one intensifying screen held in contact with the x-ray film; and a latching element to open and close the cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Budinski, Jeffrey C. Robertson, Kenneth D. Corby, William C. Wendlandt, Michael K. Budinski, David J. Steklenski
  • Patent number: 5729586
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a radiographic cassette to be used for exposing a radiographic film to X-ray radiation, the radiographic cassette comprising a base element and an upper element, a front phosphor screen adhered to the inner portion of the base element, and a back phosphor screen adhered to the inner portion of the upper element, wherein the radiographic cassette has a hole passing through each of the base and upper element and the front and back phosphor screen, the hole being closed with absorbing means capable to absorb the radiation to which the radiographic film is sensitive. The invention also relates to the apparatus and method for automatically loading/unloading the above radiographic cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Renato Bolognese, Gian Carlo Pastorino, Maurizio Salvadori
  • Patent number: 5678303
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for separating sheets from substrates without substantially moving the sheets and, specifically where the sheets are sheets of X-ray film and the substrates are screens found in conventional X-ray cassettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Sterling Diagnostic Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark William Wichmann
  • Patent number: 5652781
    Abstract: A x-ray fill cassette for use with radiographic film. The cassette has a tube side unit and a cover unit. The units together define a film space for the film. The units are relatively pivotable between an open state and a closed state. The tube side unit is substantially convex in at least one of length and width dimensions when the traits are in the open state. The tube side unit is substantially flat in both length and width dimensions when the film is in the film space and the units are in the closed state. The tube side unit includes a compressible pad that adjoins the fill space. The cover unit includes a cover panel, a pressure panel, and an intensifying screen. The cover panel and the pressure panel are rigidly mounted in spaced parallel relation. The intensifying screen is adhered directly to the pressure panel adjoining the film space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Randy Eugene Armbruster, Steven A. Lamy, Raymond P. Chapman, Jeffrey C. Robertson, William Carl Wendlandt, Dennis J. O'Dea, Bradley S. Bush
  • Patent number: 5636961
    Abstract: A cassette comprises a movable member supported on a box member for movement in a direction normal to an swing axis, around which a cover member swings, and an engaging claw combined with the movable member. The movable member is urged to one side of the direction along which the movable member moves. A stopper secured to the box member receives the urged movable member and holds it at a locking position. An engaged claw, which is mounted on the cover member, is engaged with the engaging claw of the movable member located at the locking position and locks the cover member when it is closed. The engaged claw is disengaged from the engaging claw when the movable member moves a predetermined distance oppositely to the direction of the urging of the movable member. A cover opening mechanism is constituted of a pushing member mounted on the movable member and a pushed member mounted on the cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasunori Ohta
  • Patent number: 5441251
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is a sheet article containing cassette which has a holding function to contain a sheet article, even if the cassette is in a vertical position with its ejection slot down, or to eject the sheet article without fail. Also disclosed is a sheet article containing system which has a holding function to contain a sheet article, even if it is in a vertical position with its ejection slot down, or to eject the sheet article. These functions can be achieved by holding means for holding the sheet article frictionally, by a slide member for pushing the sheet article, by magnetically attracting means disposed at the sheet article and the cassette, and by magnetically attracting means disposed on the sheet article and the apparatus using the same. That is, by the present invention, the sheet article can be ejected and containing in the cassette even if the cassette is loaded in any position, particularly in vertical position with its ejection slot down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasunori Ohta
  • Patent number: 5388818
    Abstract: A receive magazine configured to be positioned in a generally upright, vertical orientation for passively collecting a plurality of flexible sheets of media. The top wall of the enclosure has a collection door in the top wall of a light-tight enclosure allows sheets of media to be passively received within the magazine. A contoured plate is hinged along a hinge line near the collection door on a non-stacked side of the enclosure. The plate is planar near the hinge line and is non-planar at an end of the plate opposite from the hinge line. A biasing mechanism is positioned near the collection door for resiliently biasing the plurality of flexible sheets of media laterally toward the non-stacking side of the enclosure biasing the plate away from the non-stacking side of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Christopher J. Anton, Wayne A. Pickett
  • Patent number: 5388140
    Abstract: A film cassette comprising a base and a cover adapted to close upon and cooperate with the base. A pressure plate is disposed between the cover and the base. The cover, base and pressure plate form a light-tight space for receiving a sheet of film. At least one biasing member is provided for biasing the pressure plate against the base when the cover is closed on the base. The pressure plate and base each having a configuration such that when the cassette is closed, a predetermined pressure distribution is applied to a sheet of film placed in the cassette. There is also provided a method of making a cassette which includes steps for defining a specific shape for the fabricated cassette such that the cassette will provide improved performance during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Robertson
  • Patent number: 5379997
    Abstract: A cassette comprises a movable member supported on a box member for movement in a direction normal to an swing axis, around which a cover member swings, and an engaging claw combined with the movable member. The movable member is urged to one side of the direction along which the movable member moves. A stopper secured to the box member receives the urged movable member and holds it at a locking position. An engaged claw, which is mounted on the cover member, is engaged with the engaging claw of the movable member located at the locking position and locks the cover member when it is closed. The engaged claw is disengaged from the engaging claw when the movable member moves a predetermined distance oppositely to the direction of the urging of the movable member. A cover opening mechanism is constituted of a pushing member mounted on the movable member and a pushed member mounted on the cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasunori Ohta
  • Patent number: 5308994
    Abstract: A cassette housing a sheet-shaped image recording medium therein and provided with an opening, through which the image recording medium is to be fed into and out of the cassette, at one end is set at a predetermined position in a cassette utilizing apparatus. The positions of two side ends of the cassette, which side ends are normal to the one end of the cassette provided with the opening, are adjusted by a pair of guide members. The other end portion of the cassette is exposed to the exterior from a cassette setting port of the cassette utilizing apparatus. At least either one of the pair of the guide members is constituted as a movable guide such that the distance between the guide members may be changed. A stationary light shielding member prevents external light from entering from the side of the other end portion of the cassette to the side of the one end of the cassette when the cassette is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Ohta, Sadami Yamada
  • Patent number: 5288977
    Abstract: An X-ray cassette 30 has a window 32 for mounting a back-lit LCD 34 to expose the film therein with patient identifying information in the form of a barcode. A strip of lead 38 opposite window 32 shields film 37 when cover 31 is closed. The LCD is activated after a sensor 56 connected to an X-ray tube 54 detects the discharge of X-rays. The patient identifying information may be read directly from the patient's bracelet 47 at the same time the X-ray is taken using barcode scanner 44.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Inventors: Pasquale J. Amendolia, Stanley Miller
  • Patent number: 5265865
    Abstract: A stimulable phosphor sheet cassette has a light-tight casing which has an opening through which a stimulable phosphor sheet can be got in and out of the casing by moving the stimulable phosphor sheet in a direction parallel to the surface thereof and a light shielding member provided at the opening to prevent light from entering the casing but to permit the stimulable phosphor sheet to move through the opening. The casing is in such a size that it receives the stimulable phosphor sheet with one end portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet projecting outside the casing through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshitaka Agano, Koichi Okada
  • Patent number: 5265148
    Abstract: An X-ray sheet film cassette has an upper cassette part, a lower cassette part adapted to face a radiation source and connected with the upper cassette part so that the cassette can be opened and closed. The lower cassette part has a frame and a plate connected with the frame. The plate includes an intermediate plate portion and two thin outer plate portions surrounding the intermediate plate portion. At least one of the outer plate portions extends outwardly beyond the intermediate plate portion at least at one edge of the plate and projects toward the interior of the X-ray sheet film cassette so as to form a web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: AGFA -Gevaert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter Bauer, Manfred Schmidt, Ernst Widemann
  • Patent number: 5172905
    Abstract: A receive magazine for collecting and transporting sheets of exposed photographic media. The receive magazine includes an elongated, light-tight enclosure having front and back walls, top and bottom walls, and first and second end walls. Sheets of media are gravity fed into the magazine entrance through a collection door on the top wall of the enclosure. The collection door includes a media-receiving slot, a shutter and a spring for biasing the shutter to a normally closed, light-tight position over the slot. A lower downwardly sloping resilient member mounted to the front wall engages the sheets as they are inserted into the magazine and forces the sheets into a vertically stacked arrangement against the back wall of the enclosure, away from the entrance. A ramp surface on the back wall guides sheets being inserted over previously collected sheets. A compound curved surface on the back wall of the enclosure below the ramp surface arcs the sheets to minimize contact during insertion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James C. Vanous, Robert L. Rydeen, Thomas J. Lundgren, Bert A. Munthe, Arnold B. Dammermann
  • Patent number: 5170424
    Abstract: The X-ray film cassette has an interior portion and two cassette sections pivotally connected with each other by the frame hinge joint. The two cassette sections have opposing small sides positioned remotely from the frame hinge joint lockable with each other at the opposing small sides. The frame hinge joint is a plastic member having opposing longitudinal sides, each of which is provided with a jaw-like groove. Each cassette section has a complementary projection and is lockable with one of the longitudinal sides by insertion of the complementary projection in the jaw-like groove. Reinforced side pieces (3e, 3f) of the plastic member (3) form the jaw-like grooves, a projecting nose (1b, 2b) is provided on each of the complementary projecting members (1a, 2a), and the plastic member (3) is provided with three recesses (3a, 3b) on a strip which connects the side pieces, which form three suitable bending lines for the frame hinge joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert AG
    Inventor: Walter Bauer
  • Patent number: 5146484
    Abstract: A sheet-film cassette (1) comprises a lower portion (2) and a lid (3) hinged to said lower portion by means of a hinge (4). Hinge (4) consists of a flexible material and has a ledge-shaped profile with a thinner portion of the material forming a pivot zone (4e). Holding elements (4a, 4b and 4f, 4h respectively) which extend on either side of said pivot zone (4i) across the total length of the hinge are arranged for mounting the lower portion (2, 2f) and the lid (3, 3c) respectively. In order that a uniform pressure be exerted on the film, additional support means (4d, 4f) are molded to hinge (4), said support means being brought into positive engagement when cassette (1) is closed and stabilizing the total area of the hinge. For this purpose a ledge (4f) associated with the lower portion (2) is molded to hinge (4), which ledge extends across the whole length of the hinge into the interior of the cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Alfred Trumpp
  • Patent number: 5145166
    Abstract: A supply magazine has a drawer-shaped, upwardly open box for introducing a sheet film stack in a light-tight envelope and for withdrawing individual sheet films after removal of the envelope, a cover part movable relative to the box, a unit for winding the envelope in a closed condition of the magazine. The cover part is formed as a flat parallelepiped which is open at its front small side and such that the box which is open at its upper side can be moved in and out of the cover part, a locking mechanism operates for locking the cover part and the box when the box is moved in. A lockable and swingable flap cover is provided on a flat side of the cover part corresponding to the upper side of the box so that when the box is moved in the cover part a sheet film stack can be inserted in the box through the flap cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Karl Neudecker, Hans-Joachim Reuter, Manfred Schmidt, Johann Zanner
  • Patent number: 5101423
    Abstract: An X-ray cassette for retaining an X-ray sheet film or the like. The frame (13) of the X-ray cassette comprises corner members (20) corresponding to corner portions of a front plate and straight members (30), connected to the corner members and corresponding to side portions of the front plate. The corner members (20) each have a nearly L-shaped body (21), fitting projections (22) protruding from both ends of the body (21) and fitting pins (23) formed integrally. The straight members (30) have each fitting recesses (31, 32) to receive the fitting projections (22) and fitting pins (23) of the corner member (20), with front-plate receiving grooves (24, 33) formed continuous in the inner walls of the corner members (20) and straight members (30) for receiving edge portions of the front plate (12). Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the X-ray cassette and improve the strength thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Okamoto Seisakusho
    Inventors: Tadaomi Okamoto, Masayuki Ohta
  • Patent number: 5086446
    Abstract: The X-ray sheet film cassette has a top part hinged to a base part. The bottom of the base part is provided with a frame enclosing a film supporting plate through which the radiation is transmitted. The supporting plate has a laminated structure including two face plates of thermoplastically bonded carbon fibers and a comparatively thicker intermediate plate of a synthetic hard foam rubber sandwiched between the face plates and being glued thereto. The face plates are considerably thinner than the intermediate plate in the laminated supporting plate of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert AG
    Inventors: Walter Bauer, Ernst Widemann, Manfred Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5078271
    Abstract: A flat film cassette comprises a lower part, an upper part provided with an illumination window, and an element for turnably connecting the lower part and the upper part with one another. The lower part has a bottom with a peripheral edge for receiving a film, and having a plurality of edge portions including at least two parallel edge portions. A slider is lowerably supported in each of the edge portions of the edge in a springy manner and extends beyond the edge portion so that during closing of the upper part the slider is moved back into the edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert AG
    Inventor: Walter Bauer
  • Patent number: 5063583
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining film processor performance. Films for use in radiographic imaging, adapted to evaluate performance of a film processor which develops an image of a structure of interest on the films are provided. The films have exposable areas for radiographically imaging the structure of interest, and test means integrally located on the exposable areas for determining the performance of the processor which develops the radiographic image on the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: Thomas Jefferson University
    Inventor: Benjamin M. Galkin
  • Patent number: 5056770
    Abstract: Apparatus for loading and unloading x-ray film cassettes of various sizes, using an air jet to release a sheet of film from a pivotally open upper cassette part, the air jet nozzle being carried by a lever arrangement such that the nozzle is moved upwardly with the upper cassette part as the latter moves to its open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Heinz Killguss, Bernd Mirlieb, Gerhard Quanz
  • Patent number: 5046716
    Abstract: A lighttight box, for automatically delivering a photosensitive sheet of photographic film to an exposure station, and for positively removing the film from the exposure station and returning it to the box. The box includes a lid movable between a closed lighttight position and a fully open position. A clamshell film-carrying mechanism, connected to the lid, is mounted for movement, in a film delivery mode, from a closed position internal to the box when the lid is in its lighttight position, to an open film-delivery position external to the box when the lid is in its fully open position, and, in a film removal mode, from an open position, in which the clamshell mechanism clasps the rear edge of the film, to a closed position, in which the film is positively removed from the station and the film is replaced in the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Steven R. Lippold
  • Patent number: 5025465
    Abstract: An X-ray cassette for foils provided with a stimulatable phosphorous layer comprises two cassette parts turnable relative to one another between open and closed positions, one of the cassette parts being permeable for X-rays, elements for turnably connecting the cassette parts with one another, and elements for holding a foil on the X-ray permeable cassette part, the holding elements including an X-ray permeable elastic pad arranged on the X-ray permeable cassette part and having a surface facing toward a phosphorous layer of a foil inserted into the cassette, and a thin elastic foil applied on the surface of the pad and having a smooth, wear-resistant outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert AG
    Inventors: Walter Bauer, Roland Muller
  • Patent number: 5018183
    Abstract: An x-ray film magazine has a housing and a cover which in combination form an interior volume having an approximately C-shaped cross section, which receives a number of sheets of x-ray film in a stack made to conform to the C-shaped cross section. A foil is provided in the interior of the magazine having one end rigidly connected to a base of the housing, and an opposite end being resiliently connected to the cover of the magazine. The foil at least partially supports a bottom-most or lowest sheet of the stack of x-ray film sheets, and due to the resilient mounting of the foil, always presents the uppermost sheet in the stack of film sheets to be presented in a position which permits the uppermost sheet to be reliably conveyed out of the magazine to an exposure position in an exposure component adjacent the film magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erik Bjoerk, Ola Wiklund
  • Patent number: 4947419
    Abstract: A cassette for x-ray film has a cover and a bottom. A magnetic sheet is secured to the cover and a fluorescent screen is, in turn, secured to the magnetic sheet. A ferromagnetic foil is mounted on the bottom of the cassette and carries a second fluorescent screen. When a sheet of film is inserted in the cassette and the cassette is closed, the film is flanked by the fluorescent screens, which, in turn, are flanked by the magnetic sheet and the ferromagnetic foil. The magnetic sheet and ferromagentic foil are attracted to one another and thereby urge the fluorescent screens into engagement with the film. The ferromagnetic foil is mounted on the bottom of the cassette via connecting elements which permit the ferromagnetic foil to undergo relatively large amounts of movement relative to the bottom of the cassette. In this manner, the ferromagnetic foil can conform to deformation of the cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Schmidt, Reimund Kluge
  • Patent number: 4915229
    Abstract: A sheet film package comprises a casing, a stack of sheet films stored in said casing, and a protective board disposed in said for protecting said sheet films. The protective board has a holder portion integrally joined to one side edge of an upper panel and/or a lower panel thereof for preventing the sheet films from being displaced in a direction transverse to the direction in which the sheet films wil be fed out. The sheet film package also includes a buffer sheet member disposed on the lower panel of the protective board for placing the sheet films on the buffer sheet member. The buffer sheet member has at least one opening such as a hole or a slit for leaking suction air in each of two symmetrical areas of the buffer sheet member, one of which will be contacted by a suction cup of a film delivery mechanism disposed in a device in which the sheet film package can be loaded. The buffer sheet member has a foamed sheet layer made of thermoplastic resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadami Yamada, Mutsuo Akao
  • Patent number: 4903286
    Abstract: A cover latch mechanism is disclosed for a photographic cassette, such as an x-ray film sheet cassette. Such cassettes typically have side walls, end walls and opposing front and rear cover walls in which one of the cover walls is rigidly secured to the end walls and side walls. The other cover wall is slidably moved along grooves in the side walls from a normally closed position to an open position for allowing easy access to the inside of the cassette for cleaning and maintenance. A latch mechanism is disclosed for releasably latching the other cover wall in its normally closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: John J. Niedospial, Bruce R. Muller, Roger G. Covington, Evan P. Carmichael
  • Patent number: 4889989
    Abstract: A cassette for storing an image recording carrier such as a stimulable phosphor sheet has a casing for holding the image recording carrier therein under light-shielding conditions, and at least one lid member mounted on one end of the casing and openable and closable under a pressure applied thereto. The casing with said one end directed vertically downwardly is loaded through a cassette insertion slot into an apparatus for processing the image recording carrier. When the casing is introduced in the apparatus, the lid member is forcibly opened for allowing the image recording carrier to be delivered by gravity out of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Yoshimura, Shumpeita Torii, Naoto Yamada
  • Patent number: 4744100
    Abstract: An x-ray film sheet cassette, comprises a bottom part, and a cover part which are turnable relative to one another and lockable with one another, an element forming a guiding surface in the bottom part for guiding a film sheet during its insertion into the cassette between the bottom part and the cover part, a suction cup arranged in the bottom part for attracting a film sheet and having an upper edge, and a spring element arranged in the bottom part and formed so that when the cover part is open, the spring element lifts the guiding surface above a level of the upper edge of the suction cup, and when the cover is closed it presses the guiding surface and the spring element downwardly so that the suction cup is brought into contact with a film sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert AG
    Inventors: Walter Bauer, Manfred Schmidt, Heinz Korsa
  • Patent number: 4679217
    Abstract: A structure for use in determining the amount of radiation, e.g., X-ray radiation, received at one or more selected regions of an object, which structure includes a housing having front and rear covers and an image producing component, e.g., an X-ray film and one or more scintillating screens associated therewith positioned within the housing in alignment with such one or more regions. One or more detector arrays are fixedly positioned with respect to the housing in alignment with the image producing component and the one or more detector arrays respond to the one or more images produced to provide one or more output signals the values of which can be used to determine the amount of radiation received by the selected regions of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignee: Fairchild Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Fairchild
  • Patent number: 4637043
    Abstract: An X-ray sheet film cassette is assembled of a bottom wall, side walls and a cover hinged to an upper part of one side wall. The lower part of the one side wall adjoining the bottom wall is reduced in thickness to form an abutment for the sheet film. The inner surface of the cover is provided with a resilient pressing pad which during the closing of the cover urges the sheet film against the abutment and in the closed condition of the cassette presses the film against the bottom. In this manner, when taking X-ray pictures of a part of patient's body which forms an angle relative to another body part, the unexposed section of the first mentioned body part which is adjacent the other body part, is minimized and well defined in position relative to the other body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert AG
    Inventor: Walter Bauer
  • Patent number: 4434501
    Abstract: An X-ray film cassette with a lid which is pivotable with respect to a bottom. Between the lid and the bottom is an X-ray film which bears on a pivotable film pressure plate. The film is retained clear of the bottom and the lid by means of springs which bear against the bottom as well as against the lid. The X-ray film has an edge region which projects from the film pressure plate so that it can be engaged by transport rollers. In the X-ray film cassette according to the invention, sticking of the X-ray film is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1984
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Wilfried Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 4408340
    Abstract: A cassette or an analogous supports for sheet-like X-ray films has a bottom wall and a top wall which latter is connected to the bottom wall by a hinge. One of the walls carries a magnetic plate which is overlapped by a first intensifier screen for the X-ray film. The other wall carries a flat flexible receptacle for a ferromagnetic layer therewithin, and the receptacle is overlapped by a second intensifier screen. When a film is inserted between the two screens, the cassette is closed whereby the magnetic layer attracts the ferromagnetic layer with the result that the two screens are biased against the respective sides of the film therebetween. The second screen may constitute an integral part of the receptacle which latter consists of a material, such as paper or synthetic plastic, that is permeable to X-rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Walter Bauer
  • Patent number: RE35284
    Abstract: An X-ray sheet film cassette is assembled of a bottom wall, side walls and a cover hinged to an upper part of one side wall. The lower part of the one side wall adjoining the bottom wall is reduced in thickness to form an abutment for the sheet film. The inner surface of the cover is provided with a resilient pressing pad which during the closing of the cover urges the sheet film against the abutment and in the closed condition of the cassette presses the film against the bottom. In this manner, when taking X-ray pictures of a part of patient's body which forms an angle relative to another body part, the unexposed section of the first mentioned body part which is adjacent the other body part, is minimized and well defined in position relative to the other body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert, AG
    Inventor: Walter Bauer