US3675014A

US3675014A - Light-proofed automatic radiographic cassette unloader-reloader

Info

Publication number: US3675014A
Application number: US132743A
Authority: US
Inventors: Theodore Perl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-04-09
Filing date: 1971-04-09
Publication date: 1972-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-04

Abstract

A light-proof cabinet housing has separate layers or modules for different sizes of cassettes. Each module has electrically operated means for opening the cassette, raising the cover, marking the film therein, extracting the film and feeding the film to a conventional processor. In each module means are provided for storage of a fresh supply of film and also electrically operated means for extracting one sheet at a time and feeding it to the opened cassette, then closing the cassette. Electrical sequencing means are provided for automatic operation, or for initially loading an empty cassette, and for stopping the machine upon any malfunction. A modified form of cassette is provided adapted to cooperate with cassette opening means in each module.

Description

United States Patent Per] [ July 4, 1972 [54] LIGHT-PROOFED AUTOMATIC RADIOGRAPHIC CASSETTE UNLOADER-RELOADER 72] Inventor: Theodore Perl, Fayetteville, NY.

[22] Filed: April 9, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 132,743

3,547,020 12/1970 Goldfarb ..95/l4 Primary Examiner-James W. Lawrence Assistant Examiner-Harold A. Dixon Attorney-Bruns & Jenney 57 ABSTRACT A light-proof cabinet housing has separate layers or modules for different sizes of cassettes. Each module has electrically operated means for opening the cassette, raising the cover, marking the film therein, extracting the film and feeding the film to a conventional processor. In each module means are provided for storage of a fresh supply of film and also electrically operated means for extracting one sheet at a time and feeding it to the opened cassette, then closing the cassette. Electrical sequencing means are provided for automatic operation, or for initially loading an empty cassette, and for stopping the machine upon any malfunction. A modified form of cassette is provided adapted to cooperate with cassette opening means in each module.

9 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures P'A'TE'NTEDJUL 4 I972 3 L (5'75 L 0 1 4 I saw 10F 7 INVENTOR.

THEODORE PERL amggw ATTORN EYS PATENTEDJuL 4:972

SHEETSUF 7 LIMIT SWITCHES & SENSORS R m E mm U E R0 P FC 0 E 5 m m m m N TG E NO L OL w c lll.

U C L mw 2 ZLU w m 5 HI I. IIIL PRIMARY POWER ELECTRICAL CHASSIS OPERATOR PUSH BUTTONS FIG. IO

SAM c US$ 9 I NORMAL' CYCLIE INITIAL CYCLE START UNLOADING RESET FILM UNLOADING I 4 ji TO FIG. I2

FIG. II

SET M NU RESE v l 5 EGEC 175T FROM FIG. II 0 I50 I E I53 M I AmLg AL R 3 CASSETTE ADVANCE E I IS RELOADED MODULE I PROCESSING 'PRIORITY I RESET NDER WAY PROCESSOR I45 I46 I47 I48 READY NORMAL SET RESET RELOADING COMPLETE CYCLE 6 16 I63 NORMAL CYCLE 6| SAME CASE v v CYCLE I I R. I '6' l2 INVENTO I SAME CASE. PUSHBUTTON PATENTEDJUL 4 I972 SHEET 70F 7 EXTRACTOR gREcYcLE RESET T T0 FIG. ll

SET

A SET T RESET T w M m N I STOP STOP

STOP

1 STOP E SET 1B0 STOP F SET T LIGHT-PROOFED AUTOMATIC RADIOGRAPI'IIC I CASSETTE UNLOADER-RELOADER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a single light-proof cabinet device, adapted to be joined to a conventional automatic film processor, housing film supply cartridges, cassette unloading chambers, and transport means to the processor for a plurality of radiographic cassette sizes, using specially modified cassettes and film supply cartridges for the automatic daylight unloading and reloading of cassettes and automatically passing the exposedfilms to the processor without using a darkroom.

After a radiographic film has been exposed, the doctor or his nurse normally must take the exposed film in its cassette to the darkroom and there manually unload the cassette and manually pass the exposed film to the processor. Then the operator must extract an unexposed film from a film pack or cartridge, place the film in the opened cassette, and manually.

close the cassette again, ready for use for the next radiographic picture.

Light-proofed devices have been developed for loading a cassette in daylight without resorting to a darkroom and other light-proofed devices have been developed for unloading an exposed film from its cassette and automatically loading it into the processor. No single dark cabinet device has heretofore been known for both automatically unloading the cassette and passing its exposed film to the processor and then, without removing the cassette from the device, reloading the cassette with fresh film so as to be ready for reuse. Furthermore, such light-proofed cassette loaders as are known take only one size of cassette. The unloader and reloader of the present invention takes a plurality of cassette sizes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates a single light-proofed cabinet which may be used in the diagnostic room together with a known automatic film processor to which it is operatively coupled. The cabinet has a plurality of layers or modules, each arranged for use with a particular size of cassette and ending in a chute for conducting the exposed film to the processor entrance.

Each module is disposed at an angle to the horizontal so that the film is conducted downward, insofar as possible, by gravity during unloading as well as during loading. Each module is provided with a compartment in which a cartridge containing a supply of unexposed film is stored, another chamber into which the cassette may be placed, and means for automatically performing the operations of unloading and reloading. Each module is provided with an entrance door through which the film cartridge may be manually introduced and another door through which the cassette may be manually introduced and removed. Each door has feeler switches associated therewith for ensuring that they are light tight before any of the loading or reloading can take place.

Signal lights and manual switches are provided externally for signalling when the automatic operations must be initiated by operation of the switches and sensing devices are provided interiorly'for operating the signal lights and for stopping the automatic operation should there be any malfunction.

In each cassette chamber, means are provided for marking each exposed film with pertinent information, such as the patients name, and this information is provided by means of a typewritten card inserted when the cassette is inserted in the chamber. Means are also provided in the chamber for opening the cassette and raising'the rearward portion thereof, for starting the exposed film down the chute after the cassette has been opened, and for closing and locking the cassette after it has been reloaded. A specially modified cassette is used to cooperate with the cassette opening and closing means.

Means are rovided in the chutes for controlling the passage of the exposed film down the chutes, to allow them to exit from the chutes according to a prearranged scheme of priority, and to allow them to enter the processor only when the processor is ready to accept them.

In each cartridge compartment, automatically controlled means are provided for extracting a sheet of unexposed film from the cartridge, upon call, and to release it to fall by gravity into the opened cassette. A specially modified cartridge is provided for cooperating with the film extracting means in the compartment. An externally visible counter is preferably provided for each compartment for showing at all times the number of sheets remaining in the cartridge.

Switch means are also provided for each module for operation of the module as a cassette loader to initially load the eassette. Electrical logic means are also provided in each module for automatically operating the mechanical elements in the module in response to the manual switches and manual closing of the doors and to sense malfunction of any of the parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a cassette unloader-reloader according to the invention in association with a film processor;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a single module of the machine of FIG. 1, certain parts being broken away for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary diagrammatic sectional view of the film cartridge in its compartment, shown in FIG. 2, showing the operation of the film extracting means;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the cassette shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the cassette as viewed in the direction of the arrows 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7, on sheet 2 of the drawings, is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 88 of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a further enlarged sectional view of the marker-extracter and associated parts shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the electrical system of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a logic diagram of a portion of the operation of the control logic associated with the module shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a logic diagram of a further portion of the operation of the control logic;

FIGS. I3A-F are logic diagrams of still further portions of the control logic;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a modified form of film cartridge; and

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing another. modified form of film cartridge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, the cassette unloader-loader 10 is attached to a conventional automatic film processor 11 and comprises a light-proofed housing 12 supported at an angle sloping downward toward the processor and supported on a table or shelf portion 13. Housing 12 is divided into a plurality of modules or layers 14, here shown as four, for different sized cassettes as, for example, 8 X 10 inches, 10 X 12 inches, 1 l X 14 inches and 14 X 17 inches, respectively. Each module is provided at one side or the other with a light-proofed door 15 for access to the film cartridge compartment, a light-proofed door 16 for access to the cassette-containing chamber and, at the end, with a chute portion housed in the portion 17 leading to processor 11, all hereinafter described.

Each module has, adjacent to its door 15, a double throw toggle switch 18 for alternate switching to normal cycle" or initial cycle, a push button switch 19 which may be operated to manually advance the film in the loader, and a counter 20 which indicates the number of frames or sheets of film remaining in the film cartridge. Between

doors

15 and 16 each module is provided with a push button switch 21 for initiating the same case cycle.

Above and below door 16, indicator lights 23 are labeled, respectively, load marker, load cassette, in operation, unload cassette," unload marker, cover jammed, film jammed," fault, chute jammed," "reloading problem."

Referring now to FIG. 2, each module 14 comprises a compartment portion 25 for a novel film cartridge or package 26, a cassette chamber 27 in which a novel cassette 28 may be positioned, and a chute 29 in the chute portion 17, each chute 29 ending a common chute 17a at the entrance to the processor 11, all hereinafter described. Since each module is the same except for the changes in size of the cassette and film, only onemodule 14 is described, it being understood that each module is the same except for the size of the cassette and the consequent spacing of the various operating mechanisms therein.

Referring now to FIG. 3 a box-like film pack or cartridge 26 is shown as having a door slot 30 along a lower edge openable upon insertion of the cartridge in the compartment 25. Each film sheet 31 has a layer 32 of paper above and below it, the paper being a continuous strip extending below the lowermost film sheet, then folded at the back edge of the film sheet at 33 to extend forward again along the top surface of the film to a fold 34 at the forward side of the box where it doubles back to extend along the under surface of the next film sheet to another fold 33, the strip being thus continuously interleaved between the sheets 31 to the top of the pile of sheets. At the top of the pile a weight 35 in the form of a plate is placed on the top layer of paper 32 to ensure that the film sheets 31 are continuously fed downward as the lowermost sheets 31 are withdrawn sequentially.

Just below the slot 30 an idler roller 36 extends across the compartment 25. The cartridge 26 is originally provided with a sufficient number of paper layers 32 below the lowermost film sheet 31 so that the strip may initially be withdrawn through slot 30, led over roller 36 and then passed between a pair of

rollers

37 and 38 where it is free to fall to a suitable receptacle below. Roller 37 is an idler biased downward into contact with roller 38 which is shown in FIG. 2 as being driven, through a pulley and belt, by a motor 40.

As shown in FIG. 3, when motor 40 is started, the layer of paper 32 below the lowermost sheet 31 is withdrawn over roller 36 and the fold at 33 engages the rear edge of the film sheet 31 and slides the film sheet out of the door notch 30. The layer of paper above the withdrawn sheet 31 is also pulled forward and the fold at 34 is unfolded as the withdrawn layer balloons up at 41 rearward of a paper guard 42.

Just forward of the guard 42 and rearward of the partition 43 between compartment 25 and chamber 27 a senser 44 is located to signal when the trailing edge of the film sheet 31 passes below it. Senser 44 may be mechanical, in the nature of a limit switch, but preferably is a photoelectric cell sensitive to a color or form of light from a source, not shown, to which the film 31 is not sensitive.

When the trailing edge of sheet 31 passes senser 44 to slide by gravity into the cassette in chamber 27, the motor 40 is turned off and the ballooned portion 41 of the paper strip remains until motor 40 is started again.

Referring to FIG. 2 again, the slot 45 through which the paper strip 32 passes before passing between

rollers

37 and 38 is, of course, light-proofed by means not shown. In the chamber 27, secured to the partition 43 a switch 46 is shown, the closing of the switch indicating that door 16 is closed. Preferably, another switch 46, not shown, is located at the other end of the door and similar switches are provided for the door 15.

Referring now to FIG. 4 a conventional cassette is shown modified for use in the loader 10. The cassette 28 comprises a forward portion 28a used nearest the X-ray machine and behind the patient, hereinafter called the base, and a rearward portion 28b, hereinafter called the cover.

The conventional cassette has a hinged cover and a pair of sliding locks. Cassette 28 is not hinged but has four locks 50,

two at each end of the base, the cover being provided with mating tongues 51. Referring to FIG. 5, the base has a frame, a portion being square in cross-section, formed of a rectangular tubular portion 52, in which the locks 50 slide, and, extending inward from portion 52, an integral L-shaped tongue portion 53. The tongue forms a recess at the bottom into which the metal panel 54 fits and is fastened to the tongue by rivets 55. The bent-up end of tongue 53 forms a channel with portion 52 in which a strip 56 of spongy material lies to form a light seal with a lip on the cover.

A layer 57 of felt or other compressible material is glued to the panel 54 within the rectangle formed by the tongues 53 of the sides and ends of the base, and a screen 58, comprising a thin sheet of plastic impregnated with calcium tungstate which glows when subjected to X-rays, is secured on top of the felt.

The cover 28b comprises a rectangular metal sheet 60 with a turned down lip 61 along all four sides which engages the spongy strip 56 of the base when the cassette is closed. At the locks the tongues 51 are secured to the under surface of sheet 60 by rivets 62, the tongues 51 projecting outward through gaps in the lip 61. The under surface of sheet 60 is coated with a lead layer 63, to minimize X-rays going beyond the cassette, and a felt layer 64 is secured, as by adhesive, to the under side of sheet 60. Another screen 58 is secured, as by adhesive, to the lower surface of the felt 64, the film sheet 31 being adapted to lie compressed between the screens 58 when the cassette is closed.

Referring to FIG. 6, the sliding lock 50 is conventional in that it is a laminated bar of metal, generally rectangular in cross-section at each end for sliding motion within the rectangular tube 52 of the base 28a. A hooked portion 65 is provided for sliding over the tongue 51 of the cover and a spring 66 biases the lock toward locked position.

The portion 52 of the base is recessed at 67 for providing access to the lock and a projecting pin 68 operating in a portion of the recess limits motion of the lock 50 in either direction. A modification adapting the cassette for use in loader 10 is the provision of a camming surface 69, facing upward, formed in the upper portion of lock 60, as shown.

Referring again to FIG. 4, a portion or flap 70 of the screen 58 at one end of the base, cross-hatched for visibility in FIG. 4, is divided along the line 71 from the rest of the screen and hinged thereto by a flexible strip 73 at the underside of the screen as indicated in FIG. 9. A hole 74 is provided through the panel 54 and felt layer 57 for the plunger of a solenoid 75 for lifting up the screen portion 70 as shown in FIG. 8. When a cassette without screens is used, the cassette is provided with upper and lower untreated plastic sheets to take the place of the screens.

Another modification of the conventional cassette is the provision of lifting arms 77 at the sides of the cover 28b as shown in FIG. 4. These arms fit down into four sockets 78 provided in the base 28a when the cassette is closed. Referring to FIG. 7, sockets 78 are fashioned by cutting away the top and a portion of the inside wall of the rectangular tube portion 52 of the base frame and the arms 77 are rivetted to the under side of the cover panel 60 like the tongues 51. The outer ends 80 of the arms 77 are bent downward and then back on themselves providing a comparatively broad downwardly projecting arm which fill the tubular passage of portion 52. At the bottom of portion 52 a hole 81 provides access to the downward projecting portion 80 and this latter portion has a conical recess 82 therein at its bottom.

Referring again to FIG. 2, cassette chamber 27 is provided with two support members 84 having shelf-like shoulders 85 along their tops into which the ends of cassette 28 fit so that the cassette may be slid in along the shoulders like a tray in a rack. At the end of each member 84, at the shoulder 85, a switch 86 is positioned so as to be operated only when the cassette is precisely positioned, only one switch 86 being shown.

Below the cassette when it is in position four solenoids 88 are secured, only two being shown, and so positioned that when operated their plungers 89 are adapted to be raised to pass through holes 81 in portions 52 of the base. These plungers are conically pointed so as to engage the recesses 82 at the bottom of arms 77.

Above cassette 28 a shelf member 90 supports four unlocking solenoids 91 which are so positioned that their plungets, when operated downwards, contact the camming surfaces 69 of the cassette locks and slide the locks from locked to unlocked position. Also supported on shelf member 90 are four locking solenoids 92 so positioned that their plungers, when operated downward, contact the four corners of the eassette cover panel 60 and force it downward compressing the felt layers 57 and 64 until locks 50 slide into locking position biased by the springs 66.

A limit switch 93is also secured on shelf90 with its operating arm 94 extending through a hole in the shelf for indicating when the cover 2811 has been raised to its elevated position by solenoids 88. Two cover-lowered limit switches 94'are also secured, as shown, on shelf 90 having their operating arms, not shown, extending biased downward for following the cover 28b downward and indicating when it has reached locked position.

Referring to FIG. 8 a chute floor portion 95 extends from the cassette support 84 to a door slot 96 in a partition 97 between the cassette chamber 27 and chute 29. A marker-extracter operating solenoid 98 is secured on partition 97 and has a plunger 99 adapted to extend into the opened cassette, as shown. A marker-extracter head 100 is carried at the end of plunger 99 and the plunger, when extended, carries the head to a position over the screen flap 70 so that, when the flap is raised by solenoid 75, the portion of the film 31 lying on the flap is pressed flat against the extracter or bottom surface 101 of head 100 as best seen in FIG. 9.

The film-contacting surface 101 of the head is made from or coated with a slightly tacky substance as, for example, certain types of rubber so that, when the head 100 is withdrawn beyond the cassette 28 the leading edge of film 31 is withdrawn withit. Since the cassette chamber 27 is at an angle the filmcontinues by gravity down the chute portion 95.

Head 100 is substantially coextensive in width with the flap 70 and carries an elongated lamp 102 therein as shown in FIG. 9. The bottom portion 101 is internally slotted at 103 so that a card 104 previously inscribed with pertinent information, such as the patient's name, may be inserted from one end, as shown, while head 100 is still withdrawn from the cassette. A limit switch 105, at the far end of the head as viewed in FIG. 9, signals'for the introduction of head 100 into the opened cassette when a card in inserted. Another limit switch 106, at the near end of the head as viewed in FIG. 9, has its operating plunger directed downward so that when plunger 89 raises the fiap 70 the film surface operates switch 106 flashing lamp 102 for photographically impressing the information typed on the card on the film. 7

Referring again to FIG. 2, the chute 29 has a first lightproofed door 109 and a second door 110 spaced therefrom so that a film sheet passing through the slot 96 may be detained in the between-door space of the chute until the processor 11 is ready to accept it.

Doors 109 and 110 are operated by solenoids 111 and 112, respectively, it being understood that the doors may be springclosed and solenoid-opened or vice-versa or may be operated by solenoid and spring in tandem as shown.

A sensor 113 in front of door 109 opens the doorwhen the leading edge of a film sheet passes it. The film falls into the chute and is stopped by door 110 which opens only when the processor is ready to receive it. When the trailing edge of the film passes senser 113, the door 109 is closed to make the chute light-tight.

The cassetteloader may be operated to initially load a cassette 28, in what is called initial cycle," or it may be operated to unload a cassette and subsequently pass its film sheet 31 to the processor 11 and in the same operation reload the cassette, called normal cycle. In the normal cycle, when several cassettes of the same size having films taken of the same patient are unloaded and reloaded consecutively, it is not necessary to remove the patient information card 104 and several steps involving removal of the card and insertion of another card may be omitted. This results in a shortened cycle called the same case cycle."

Referring to FIG. 10, the loader 10 is electrically operated by the control logic 115, hereinafter described, supplemented by operator push button controls 116 and signals from the limit switches and sensors 117. Electrical power from the supply 1 18 is supplied to the solenoids and logic, as shown, the control logic operating the solenoids through solenoid switching devices 119.

Referring to FIG. 11, after the desired module 14 of the loader is turned on by operation of the appropriate switch 18, normally the first step in operating the apparatus is the loading of the marker-extracter 100 signalled by the load marker signal lamp 23 indicated in box 120 of the logic diagram. Loading of the marker with card 104 depresses switch 105 as indicated at step 121 in the diagram. This extinguishes and resets the load marker lamp 23 at step 122. This point in time can logically be reached by two other pathsthe initial cycle path or the same case cycle path as indicated by the OR box in the diagram.

Following the loading of the marker the load cassette" light 23 is lit or set as step 123. The operator will then insert cassette 28 as step 124. The cassette depresses limit switches 86 as step 125 and the load cassette light is reset as step 126 only if the cassette is correctly positioned.

The operator closes door 16 at step 127 and the operation of switches 46 at the door sets the in operation light 23 at step 128.

At this point in time, after a short delay AT, a logical AND function is performed based on the fact that the cassette is in place, the door is closed, and any film in the chute has been removed from the apparatus.

At this point the unloading starts. Two events occur simultaneously: the timer T1 is set and the logic signal known as load at 129. Clearing the load" logic signal prevents a potential oscillation.

The unlocking solenoids 91 are energized at 130 and after a short delay AT the cover lifting solenoids 88 are energized as step 131. When the cover is lifted sufiiciently it operates switch 93 as step 132 which resets T1 and the unlocking solenoids 91 are deenergized at 133.

At this point a logic decision is made based on whether this is a normal or initial cycle. If there is no exposed film in the cassette, the switch 18, set at its initial cycle" position, causes a jump in the sequence to the start of FIG. 12. If switch 18 is set at normal cycle" the removal of the exposed film continues as shown in FIG. '11. This point in time can also be reached logically by the recycling of the marker extracter as shown in FIG. 13A.

Normal operation continues with the insertion at 134 of the marker-extracter or head 100 between the raised cover and the base of cassette 28 and, after a delay AT, solenoid 75 is operated at 135 to elevate the flap 70 on which a portion of the film rests. As the exposed film strikes the head 100 switch 106 is operated as step 136 flashing the light 102 as step 137 after a brief delay to allow the film to settle.

At this point in time the film has been labeled and removal of the exposed film is begun by retraction of head 100 as solenoid 98 is operated to retract as step 138 and timer t2 is set. As the leading edge of the film passes with head 100 out of the cassette it is no longer supported by flap 70 and separates from head 100 and the film slides downward to operate sensor 113 as step 139.

At this time, timer t2 is reset, solenoid 75 is deenergized as indicated by box 140, the light trap door 109 is opened as indicated by box 141, and the head 100 continues to withdraw to its fully retracted position as indicated by box 142. As the film slides down chute 29 its leading edge operates sensor 114 as step 143 to reset timer T2, if it has been set, and to close door 109 as step 144 thus completing the cassette unloading cycle.

Referring now to FIG. 12, there are two paths of operation which may be concurrent or one may be initiated before the other. One is the start of removing fresh film from cartridge 26 and transferring it to the empty cassette. The other path is transferring the exposed film to processor 11 as shown by the second line of boxes or steps in FIG. 12.

To start the transfer of the removed film to the processor four conditions must be met:

I. The film must have been properly removed to chute 29;

2. the processor must be ready to accept new film;

3. the machine must be operating in normal cycle; and

4. the module priority scheme must be satisfied.

As shown in FIG. 12, step 145, the opening of light trap door 110, occurs when these four conditions are satisfied. The timer :4 is then set and when the trailing edge of the film operates sensor 1 14, as step 146, the door 110 is closed at 147 and this generates a chute clear signal at 148. Timer r4 is then reset and processing the film is started in processor 1 1.

The reloading of the cassette is started at 150, regardless of whether the chute is emptied, by the energizing of motor 40 withdrawing the interleaved paper from cartridge 26. At the same time, timer T is set and counter is operated at 151 to show one less filmsheet in the cartridge. It will be noted that these operations may also be initiated by pressing the manual film advance button. The next step 152 is the operation of sensor 44 actuated by the trailing edge of the extracted film sheet and, after a delay, motor 40 is deenergized as step 153 and the new film sheet slides into the open cassette. At this point, or in response to a manual eject, timer T5 is reset and the cover lifting solenoids 88 are deenergized at 154. After a delay, cover locking solenoids 92 are energized at 155, timer T6 is set and limit switches 94 indicate the cover is locked at 156. Timer T6 is reset at this point and then, at step 157, cover locking solenolds 92 retract. At this point reloading is complete and the unload cassette" lamp 23 is set at 158.

When the cassette is removed at 159, the unload cassette lamp is reset at 160 and then the unload marker lamp is set at 162 or the subsequent steps may be by-passed by pressing the same case button which resets the in operation lamp 23 at 161.

In the normal cycle, the marker card 104 is removed as step 163, the unload marker" lamp is reset at 164, the in operation" lamp is set at 165, and the load marker lamp is set at 166. A new cycle proceeds again as shown in FIG. 11.

Referring now to FIG. 13, line A indicates the operation if the extractor head 100 fails to remove the exposed film at step 138, FIG. 11. Between the set and reset of timer :2 a time delay AT allows comparison logic at 167 to determine if normal time for the operation is exceeded and, if it is, a decision at 168 causes the reinsertion at 169 of the head 100 and a recycling of steps 134-139 as shown in FIG. 11 and a set of timer :3 as indicated.

A similar testing of the unlocking and opening of the eassette is shown at line B. Comparison logic at 170 compares the time between set and reset of timer t1, and, if too long, results in a decision at 171, causes the cover jammed" lamp to light as step 172 and the machine to stop.

Another test of timer :3 is shown at line C and a comparison at 173, if too long, results in a decision at 174 to set the film jammed" lamp at 175 and to stop the machine.

At line D, a test of timer t4 is made for testing the passage of the unloaded film from the chute 29 to processor 1]. Comparison at 176 causes a decision at 177, if too long, to set the "film jammed lamp as step 178 and the machine stops.

The testing of the cassette reloading is shown in line E where a comparison at 180 is made of any over normal delay in the resetting of timer 15. If the too long decision is made at 181, the reloading problem lamp is set at 182 and the machine stops.

Testing of timer t6 is shown at line F of FIG. 13 to show failure to relock the cassette. Comparison at 183 results in a decision at 184, if too long, to set the cover jammed" lamp at 185 and to stop the machine.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that other means for withdrawing separate sheets of film from a cartridge or film pack may be employed. In FIG. 14 a box-like cartridge 226 is shown having its door-slot 230 at the top. The film sheets 231 are interleaved with a paper strip 231 with folds 233 at the back and 234 at the front similarly to the cartridge 26.

Instead of the gravity feed, however, an inflatable sack or balloon member 235 is provided at the bottom of the cartridge and it has a tube 236 through which air may be pumped into the balloon as needed. A hand operated bulb may be provided for the operator to pump air as needed or an aneroid-barometer type of air valve may be provided to automatically regulate the required pressure in balloon 235 from a supply of compressed air.

In FIG. 15 another film pack or cartridge 250 is provided having a door slot 251. A roll of film 252 is contained in cartridge 250 which may be unrolled as needed by a driven pair of rolls at 253, a strip of paper 254 being provided at the end of the roll for manual threading between the rolls for initially starting the film between the rolls. A knife 255 operated by solenoid 256 cuts the film 252 into sheets of the desired length, the rolls 253 being operated to remove film from the cartridge at carefully timed intervals.

Other means than the extractor head surface 101 and flap 70 may be used to initially raise the exposed film from the cassette, after it has been opened, as, for example, jets of air directed from outside the cassette under the film in the eassette and head may then be eliminated by installing the marker portion 102-105 at the end of the chutes 29 in the common portion of the chutes 17a (FIG. 1) just before the entrance to the processor 1 1.

As will be apparent to those familiar with the art, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.

I claim:

1. A light-proofed automatic radiographic cassette unloader-reloader adapted for use with an automatic film processor and for use with a cassette having a cover removable from its base, comprising: a single light-proof cabinet; a compartment in the cabinet for storing a plurality of sheets of unexposed film; a cassette chamber in the cabinet for supporting the cassette therein in a fixed position; cassette-unlocking means in the chamber; cassette cover-removing and cover closing means in the chamber; means operable when the cover is removed to extract an exposed film sheet from the cassette and means to convey it to the processor; means associated with the compartment for extracting unexposed sheets of film one-at-a-time and means for conveying the extracted sheet to the opened cassette; and electrical programming means for successively operating the unlocking means, the cover removing means, the exposed film extracter and conveyer means, the unexposed film extractor and conveyer means, and the cover closing means.

2. A light-proofed automatic radiographic cassette unloader-reloader adapted for use with an automatic film processor and for use with a cassette having a cover removable from its base, comprising: a single light-proof cabinet; a compartment in the cabinet for storing a plurality of sheets of unexposed film; a cassette chamber in the cabinet having means supporting the cassette therein in fixed position; unlocking plungers associated with the chamber for unlocking the cassette cover from its base, the cassette having a plurality of sliding locks, each lock having a slanted carnming surface for sliding the lock from locked to unlocked position when contacted by an unlocking plunger and being spring biased toward locked position for automatic locking when the cassette cover is forced against its base; cover lifting plungers associated with the chamber, the cassette cover having projecting lifting tabs adapted to be contacted by the lifting plungers to raise the cover above its base; cover closing plungers as sociated with the chamber for forcing the cover against its base; motor means for operating each plunger; means operable when the cover is raised to extract an exposed film sheet from the cassette and means to convey it to the processor; means associated with the compartment for extracting unexposed sheets of film one-at-a-time and means for conveying the extracted sheet to the opened cassette; and electrical programming means for successively operating the unlocking plungers, the cover lifting plungers, the exposed film extractor and conveyer means, the unexposed film extractor and conveyer means, and the cover closing plungers,

3. The unloader-reloader defined in claim 2 having a plurality of layers in a single cabinet, each layer having the components recited in claim 1 and each layer being adapted for use with a different size of cassette, each layer terminating in a chute leading to a common chute at the entrance to the processor, and the programming means including means for successively releasing film sheets from the layer chutes in a planned scheme of priority.

4. A light-proofed automatic radiographic cassette unloader-reloader adapted for use with an automatic film processor and for use with cassettes having a cover removable from its base, comprising: a single light-proof cabinet having a plurality of vertically stacked layers, a compartment in each layer for storing a plurality of sheets of unexposed film, a chamber in each layer having means therein for supporting a cassette therein in fixed position, each chamber terminating in a chute leading to the processor, the compartment and chamber each having a floor inclined to the horizontal down from the compartment to the chamber and the chute being inclined down to the processor; unlocking plungers associated with each chamber for unlocking the cassette cover from its base, the cassette having a plurality of locks, each lock having a slanted camming surface for sliding the lock from locked to unlocked position when contacted by an unlocking plunger and being biased toward locked position for automatic locking when the cover is forced against its base; cover lifting plungers associated with each chamber, the cassette cover having projecting lifting tabs adapted to be contacted by the lifting plunger to raise the cover above its base; cover closing plungers associated with each chamber for forcing the cover against its base; motor means for operating each plunger; means operable when the cover is raised to extract an exposed film sheet from the cassette so that it will slide down the chute; means associated with each compartment for extracting unexposed sheets of film one-at-a-time so that the sheet will slide down the compartment floor to an opened cassette in the adjacent chamber; each layer having a compartment and chamber adapted to receive film sheets and cassettes of a different size; electrical programming means associated with each layer for successively operating the unlocking plungers, the cover lifting plungers, the exposed film extractor, the unexposed film extractor, and the cover closing plungers; and means in the chutes associated with the programming means for planned release of film sheets from the chutes to the processor.

5. The unloader-reloader defined in claim 4 wherein the unexposed film extracting means comprises a cartridge containing a plurality of stacked film sheets interleaved with a continuous strip of flexible sheet material in the compartment, the strip forming a double layer between each film sheet and having a fold at the leading edge side of the sheet stack, the lower layer of each double layer being folded over the trailing edge of the underlying sheet to the double layer underneath, the cartridge having an exit opening for one sheet at one end of the stack, the stack being biased toward said one stack end,

unexposed filrn extracting means comprises a cartridge containing a continuous roll of film in the compartment, e cartridge having an exit slot at one side through which the film may be drawn, a pair of parallel rollers in the compartment adjacent the slot, one roller being biased toward contact with the other, and one roller being motor driven, whereby the film may be threaded between the rollers, shearing means in the compartment adjacent the rollers, and timing means in the programming means for controlling the motor drive of the rollers and operation of the shearing means, whereby sheets of film of desired length are cut from the roll.

7. The unloader-reloader defined in claim 4 wherein the exposed film extracting means comprises at least one flap raising plunger in the chamber, the cassette base having a hinged flap at one end and a light-proofed entrance means for the flap raising plunger, motor means operable by the programming means for raising the flap raising plunger into contact with the flap and for raising the end of the exposed film sheet in the open cassette above the cassette base, an extractor head in the chamber normally spaced from the cassette, motor driven means operable by the programming means for introducing the head into the opened cassette above the flap and for withdrawing it therefrom after the flap is raised to contact the head, the head having an area substantially coextensive with the flap at least partially coated with a tacky material whereby the exposed film in the cassette is drawn with the head from the cassette base when the head is withdrawn from the cassette.

8. Film marking means in combination with the unloaderreloader defined in claim 7 comprising: a card having information typed thereon, the head having means therein for positioning the card immediately above the film in the cassette, a light source in the head above the card and substantially coextensive with the card, the light source being adapted to be briefly illuminated by the programming means after the head has been introduced into the open cassette and the flap raised to contact the head, whereby the exposed film in the cassette is marked with the information on the card.

9. The unloader-reloader defined in claim 7 having lightproofed doors to the compartments and chambers; sensing means for signalling to the programming means the passage of a film sheet between each compartment and chamber, between each chamber and its chute, and at the end of each chute; sensing means at each door for signalling that the door is closed; sensing means in each chamber for signalling when a cassette is in place, when the cover is raised, and when the cover is closed; signal lights associated with each chamber and operated by the programming means for signalling malfunctions in the automatic operations and for signalling for manual insertion of film into the compartment and a cassette into the chamber; and switch means associated with each chamber for changing the operation of the programming means for initial loading of an empty cassette.

Claims

1. A light-proofed automatic radiographic cassette unloaderreloader adapted for use with an automatic film processor and for use with a cassette having a cover removable from its base, comprising: a single light-proof cabinet; a compartment in the cabinet for storing a plurality of sheets of unexposed film; a cassette chamber in the cabinet for supporting the cassette therein in a fixed position; cassette-unlocking means in the chamber; cassette cover-removing and cover closing means in the chamber; means operable when the cover is removed to extract an exposed film sheet from the cassette and means to convey it to the processor; means associated with the compartment for extracting unexposed sheets of film one-at-a-time and means for conveying the extracted sheet to the opened cassette; and electrical programming means for successively operating the unlocking means, the cover removing means, the exposed film extracter and conveyer means, the unexposed film extractor and conveyer means, and the cover closing means.

2. A light-proofed automatic radiographic cassette unloader-reloader adapted for use with an automatic film processor and for use with a cassette having a cover removable from its base, comprising: a single light-proof cabinet; a compartment in the cabinet for storing a plurality of sheets of unexposed film; a cassette chamber in the cabinet having means supporting the cassette therein in fixed position; unlocking plungers associated with the chamber for unlocking the cassette cover from its base, the cassette having a plurality of sliding locks, each lock having a slanted camming surface for sliding the lock from locked to unlocked position when contacted by an unlocking plunger and being spring biased toward locked position for automatic locking when the cassette cover is forced against its base; cover lifting plungers associated with the chamber, the cassette cover having projecting lifting tabs adapted to be contacted by the lifting plungers to raise the cover above its base; cover closing plungers associated with the chamber for forcing the cover against its base; motor means for operating each plunger; means operable when the cover is raised to extract an exposed film sheet from the cassette and means to convey it to the processor; means associated with the compartment for extracting unexposed sheets of film one-at-a-time and means for conveying the extracted sheet to the opened cassette; and electrical programming means for successively operating the unlocking plungers, the cover lifting plungers, the exposed film extractor and conveyer means, the unexposed film extractor and conveyer means, and the cover closing plungers.

5. The unloader-reloader defined in claim 4 wherein the unexposed film extracting means comprises a cartridge containing a plurality of stacked film sheets interleaved with a continuous strip of flexible sheet material in the compartment, the strip forming a double layer between each film sheet and having a fold at the leading edge side of the sheet stack, the lower layer of each double layer being folded over the trailing edge of the underlying sheet to the double layer underneath, the cartridge having an exit opening for one sheet at one end of the stack, the stack being biased toward said one stack end, a pair of parallel rollers mounted in the compartment, one roller being motor driven and the rollers being biased toward one another, and one end of the strip being adapted to pass through the exit opening and be threaded between the pair of rollers, whereby, as the strip is pulled through the exit by the rollers, a fold at the trailing edge of the stack engages the edge of the end sheet in the stack and withdraws the sheet through the exit opening.

6. The unloader-reloader defined in claim 4 wherein the unexposed film extracting means comprises a cartridge containing a continuous roll of film in the compartment, the cartridge having an exit slot at one side through which the film may be drawn, a pair of parallel rollers in the compartment adjacent the slot, one roller being biased toward contact with the other, and one roller being motor driven, whereby the film may be threaded between the rollers, shearing means in the compartment adjacent the rollers, and timing means in the programming means for controlling the motor drive of the rollers and operation of the shearing means, whereby sheets of film of desired length are cut from the roll.

8. Film marking means in combination with the unloader-reloader defined in claim 7 comprising: a card having information typed thereon, the head having means therein for positioning the card immediately above the film in the cassette, a light source in the head above the card and substantially coextensive with the card, the light source being adapted to be briefly illuminated by the programming means after the head has been introduced into the open cassette and the flap raised to contact the head, whereby the exposed film in the cassette is marked with the information on the card.

9. The unloader-reloader defined in claim 7 having light-proofed doors to the compartments and chambers; sensing means for signalling to the programming means the passage of a film sheet between each compartment and chamber, between each chamber and its chute, and at the end of each chute; sensing means at each door for signalling that the door is closed; sensing means in each chamber for signalling when a cassette is in place, when the cover is raised, and when the cover is closed; signal lights associated with each chamber and operated by the programming means for signalling malfunctions in the automatic operations and for signalling for manual insertion of film into the compartment and a cassette into the chamber; and switch means associated with each chamber for changing the operation of the programming means for initial loading of an empty cassette.