Eastman-kodak Company

Giang T Ngo

Michael P Urbon

Michael Kenin

Steven D Daniels

Vincent B Dethier

Patrick M Bruton

James K Butler

A cassette handling apparatus of a storage phosphor reader, which is used for reading a latent image stored in a storage phosphor contained in a cassette. The cassette handling apparatus includes: a cassette platen and front plate for receiving a cassette having a storage phosphor; a cassette centering guide mechanism for centering a received cassette on the cassette platen; a cassette feed mechanism for moving a received cassette into contact with the front plate; and a storage phosphor feed mechanism for feeding a storage phosphor out of a received cassette into the storage phosphor reader for processing.

Cassette interface module

In a laser imaging system including a laser printer for exposing photothermographic sheet film to a medical image and a coupled thermal processor for thermally processing exposed photothermographic film, the processor having a thermal processing section, a sheet film registration and transfer mechanism comprising: a first film shock absorbing and deflector mechanism for absorbing the energy of exposed film as it moves vertically out of the printer and for then deflecting the film substantially horizontally; a film transfer mechanism for transferring the film between the printer and the processor along a substantially horizontal path; and a second film shock absorbing and deflector mechanism for absorbing the energy of the film as it is transferred along the horizontal path and for deflecting the film substantially vertically into the thermal processing section of the processor.

Printer processor sheet film registration and transfer mechanism

A storage phosphor reader which has a stage for moving a storage phosphor in a first direction past a reading station; a storage phosphor extraction assembly mounted on the stage for extracting a storage phosphor from a stationary cassette and for moving the storage phosphor onto and off the stage in second opposite directions perpendicular to the first opposite directions; a plunger assembly mounted on the stage for supporting a storage phosphor during movement of the stage in the first direction, the plunger assembly being movable between an extended position to support a storage phosphor and a retracted position out of contact with a storage phosphor; and a cam and cam follower for moving the plunger assembly from the retracted position to the extended position when the extraction assembly has completely extracted a storage phosphor from the cassette and moved the storage phosphor onto the stage and for moving the plunger assembly from the extended position to the retracted position when the storage phosphor is being moved onto or off of the stage.

Stage plunger mechanism for storage phosphor reader

In a storage phosphor reader having a receiving station for receiving a cassette containing a removable storage phosphor, the storage phosphor having an end cap with an alignment opening and access openings, an extraction bar assembly comprising: an extraction bar; a locator pin and spaced hook members projecting from the extraction bar toward a received cassette; a slider for mounting the locating pin, the slider being slidably mounted on the extraction bar; an over center spring connected between the slider and the extraction bar; mechanism for moving the extraction bar towards a received storage phosphor so that the locator pin and hook members are respectively inserted into the alignment opening and the access openings of the storage phosphor end cap and then for moving the extraction bar laterally of the storage phosphor so that the hook members engage the end cap of the storage phosphor, the slider slides in the extraction bar, and the over center spring locks the hook members in the engaged position; and a wedge mechanism that is movably mounted on the extraction bar to engage the storage phosphor end cap when the hook members engage the end cap, the wedge member stabilizing the engagement.

Extraction bar mechanism for storage phosphor reader

When a toggle-like latch is pivoted to release a shutter opening blade for movement from its cocked position to open the camera shutter, a resiliently flexible member of the latch engages a shutter closing blade to retain the closing blade in its cocked position. A camming surface is arranged on the opening blade to bend the flexible member out of engagement with the closing blade to release the closing blade for movement to close the camera shutter. The camming surface bends the flexible member to release the closing blade as the opening blade is moved to at least partially open the camera shutter.

Growing community of inventors

Hilton, NY, United States of America

Giang T Ngo