Compact x-ray unit

Abstract

A chest X-ray unit is provided which is of compact design and which can be easily utilized. The apparatus includes an exposure station at the front where a film sheet can be tightly held between a pair of intensifier screens, a supply station behind the exposure station for receiving a film cassette and feeding one sheet at a time into the exposure station, and a receiving cassette at the back of the apparatus for receiving one exposed sheet at a time for later developing. A film sheet is moved in a loop from the supply cassette to the exposure station by a pair of input rollers that move the sheet upwardly into a curved guide that extends in a half circle, and by a pair of output rollers at the end of the loop for feeding the sheet downwardly. The output rollers move slightly faster than the input rollers to prevent the middle of the film sheet from scraping against the guide. A feedout roller which feeds a sheet out of the supply cassette into the input rollers, is coupled through an overrunning clutch to a motor, so that the feedout roller can move a sheet upwardly until it is caught between the input rollers, and the input rollers then can pull the sheet slightly faster than it is moved by the feedout roller. The film dropping between the intensifier screen members is caught by a pin that is later jerked upwardly as it is withdrawn.