Patent ID: 6899458
Filing Date: 2005-05-31
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
1. A subject table for a mammography apparatus, comprising: a table body having a slot extending completely therethrough and adapted to receive an X-ray film cassette; a locking mechanism disposed in said slot and adapted to interact with an X-ray film cassette in said slot; said locking mechanism comprising a first detent and a second detent, at least one of said first and second detents being spring-loaded to urge said first and second detents tightly against narrow sides of an X-ray film cassette in said slot, and a first arm spring-loaded in a longitudinal direction of said first arm and having an end carrying said first detent, said first arm being displaceable along said longitudinal direction of said first arm, and said second detent being displaceable perpendicularly to said longitudinal direction of said first arm, and a second arm, spring-loaded in a longitudinal direction of said second arm, to which said second detent is attached, said first and second arms being axially aligned, and said first arm having a free end opposite the end at which said first detent is carried and said second arm having a free end opposite said end at which said second detent is carried; and a first gear wheel rotatable around a first shaft and a second gear wheel rotatable around a second shaft, said first and second gear wheels being disposed in a common plane and meshing with each other, said first gear wheel rotatably and eccentrically engaging said free end of said first arm and said second gear wheel rotatably engaging said free end of said second arm to respectively spring-tension said first and second arms along said respective longitudinal directions.