Automatic opening device for the window of a radiographic cassette

Abstract: The present invention concerns an automatic opening device for the window of a radiographic cassette including a fixed bracket (1); a mobile equipment (8), sliding along this bracket (1) between a position, where it engages with this window and a position of full opening of the same, including a cap element (12), sliding vertically between a position of engagement with the window and a position of disengagement of the same window and equipped with elastic counteracting means (15), that are compressed when the cap element ( 12) is in the disengagement position as to the window, at least one mobile slide (10), sliding on the fixed bracket (1), that trails with it said cap element (12),too, and means (11) to displace this cap element (12) vertically; and motor means (13) operatively connected with said mobile equipment (8).

Description: The present invention concerns a device for the automatic opening of the window of a radiographic cassette. More particularly the invention concerns a device of the above mentioned type, in an equipment to print the patient's and the examination data on radiographic film, that permits to open the windows of the radiographic cassettes so as to allow to print the data relevant to the patient directly on the film by means of a device on the appliance. At present, to be able to "customize" the plates to avoid all confusion, identifying them both according to the patient and according to the type of radiography carried out, completely manual systems are generally adopted made up either by putting some lead letters on the plates before making the radiography or by trying the data on the radiographic cassette. These systems are not so practical, particularly in case of large structures where a considerable number of radiographies are carried out, as it is evident. In fact, the solutions described, besides involving a considerable waste of time, do not garantee any absolute precision and do not exclude the possibility of confusing one radiography with another or with that of another patient or relevant to different parts of the body. Moreover, the application of the lead letters could damage the seriograph of the remotely controlled table. The Applicant has recently realized an equipment to print the patient and the examination data on a radiographic film equipped with a computerized data input system, that permits to preset all data relevant to the radiography in advance, storing them in the computer and taking them out when required, that is when the radiography is being taken. Of course, to be able to exploit this automation, it is necessary to have a device, that allows to print the stored data on the plate at the right moment. Examples of these systems are disclosed in: WO-A-82/01775, FR-A-2 464 503, US-A-3 614 917, Patent Abstract of Japan, vol.12, no 456, (P-793), 30 November 1988 & JP-A-63 178 218 (Noumra Kogger K.K.) 22 July 1988. In view of all this, and with a view to the solutions developed in the field, the Applicant has realized a device, which can be used in any type of computerized equipment for printing data on a radiographic film, that acts on the window usually provided on radiographic cassettes, and makes it opened and closed automatically, to permit to print the necessary data on the film in times different from the execution of the radiography. These and other results are obtained, according to the present invention, by realizing a device, equipped with a motor, that operates automatically whenever a radiographic cassette is inserted in the equipment, or manually after the insertion of the cassette and equipped with a cap element, axially mobile, for the engagement and disengagement with the window of the radiographic cassette and horizontally to open and close the same window. Therefore it is a specific object of the present invention a device for the automatic opening of the window of a radiographic cassette, comprising: a fixed bracket; an equipment adapted for sliding movement along said bracket from a position of disengagement with said window to a first engagement position at which the equipment engages with said window, and to a second engagement position at which the window is fully opened; and a motor means operatively connected to said equipment for effecting said sliding movement; wherein said equipment includes: a cap element; a displacement means causing a sliding movement of said cap element perpendicular with respect to the bracket, between a position at which said cap element engages said window and a position at which it is disengaged therefrom; elastic means counteracting the displacement of said cap element, said elastic mans being compressed in said position of disengagement of said cap element; a slide connected to said motor means and carrying said displacing means, for sliding movement on said fixed bracket; characterised in that said displacement means comprises a wedge mounted on said slide; and in that said cap is provided with a pair of rollers for movement along said wedge; the arrangement being such that when the equipment is moved along the bracket from its disengagement position to its first engagement position, thereby moving the wedge along the bracket and thus enabling the cap to be displaced by said elastic means towards to its position of engagement with the cassette window, then further movement of the equipment along said bracket causes the cap to move with the slide, thereby opening the cassette window; and when the equipment is moved along the bracket from its first engagement position to its disengagement position, a pressing means on the bracket presses the pair of rollers against the wedge and the elastic means thereby causing the pair of rollers to move up on the wedge so as to displace the cap from its engagement position to its disengagement position. The device according to the invention will preferably be equipped with top and bottom limit switches and with a diaphragm element, carried by said mobile equipment, that reverses the motion or disconnects the device by darkening the light on the limit switches. According to the invention, the motion from the motorized means to the mobile equipment is transmitted by a lead nut connected by means of a bracket to the mobile equipment, sliding on an endless screw, that is driven by the motorized means through a pair of gears. The present invention will now be described according to its preferred embodiments with particular reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a first front view of a device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a section view taken along line II-II of figure 1; Figure 3 is a second front view of a device according to the invention; Figure 4 is a section view taken along line IV-IV of figure 3; Figure 5 is a third front view of a device according to the invention; and Figure 6 is a section view taken along line VI-VI of figure 5; Referring to the enclosed drawings, figures 1 and 2 show the starting position of a device according to an embodiment of the invention. This device includes a bracket 1 supporting the mobile equipment, that will be described hereafter, a support 2 of motor 3, an endless screw 4 on which a lead nut element 5 slides and transmits the motion to the mobile equipment and a support 6 of such endless screw 4. The transmission of the motion from motor 3 to endless screw 4 is obtained by the toothed gear pair 7. This mobile equipment, generally indicated by reference number 8, includes a top slide 9, sliding on a bottom slide 10, in turn sliding on said supporting bracket 1. The top slide 9 is equipped with a wedge 11 that lifts a cap 12 by means of a pair of rollers 13. The top slide 9 is equipped in front of wedge 11, with a front ledge 14, while cap 12 is equipped with a counteracting spring 15, inside cilinder 16, that makes it free, and by displacing it downards when wedge 11 is being displaced. The motion of the lead nut 5 to the mobile equipment 8 is transmitted through bracket 17. On the supporting bracket 1 a screw 18 is provided, where the mobile equipment 8 strikes, that acts on slide 10, while the mobile equipment 8 strikes on a ledge 19 for the top dead center of cap 12. Furthermore a diaphragm 20 is mounted, that, by dimming a photoelectric cell, not shown, will reverse the motion of motor 3 and will switch the device at the end of the cycle. As already said, the device according to an embodiment of the invention can be used in any equipment for the execution of radiographies equipped with the system to print on the film through a lens. The device according to an embodiment of the invention works as follows: When the cassette is being inserted in the slot of the equipment of the above mentioned type, a microprocessor, part of the equipment, too, controls motor 3 of the device subject of the invention. Motor 3 receives an impulse to start. The cassette window is usually equipped, according to standard production methods, with a notch that, when the cassette is being inserted, reaches a position in front of cap 12 which is lifted, as shown in figure 2, with spring 15 compressed, by the lifting wedge 11. When motor 3 starts, turning the endless screw 4, the lead nut element 5 moves on along the endless screw 4 setting also the top slide 9 in motion. Further to the displacement of slide 9, wedge 11 slides under the rollers 13, thus permitting to cap 12 to protrude towards the notch in the cassette window, pushed by spring 15 that can be decompressed. The position shown in figure 3 and 4 is reached, and here the top slide 9 only has moved along bracket 1, as cap 12 is still in the same position with respect to bracket 1, engaged in the slot of the radiographic cassette window. When the lead nut 5 continues to move on, ledge 14 of slide 9 engages itself with cylinder 16 of cap 12 trailing the latter together with the bottom slide 10 to the position shown in figure 5 and 6 which is the top dead center of the stroke of the device according to an embodiment of the invention. Motor 3 reverses its rotation thanks to the impulse sent by diaphragm 20 that, by dimming a photoelectric cell, sends a signal to the microprocessor, and therefore the whole mobile equipment returns to end of stroke disconnecting cap 12 from the notch in the cassette window. The second photoelectric cell is dimmed by diaphragm 20 and switches the device off. As already said, the cassette can be developed later, calmly, with no risk of confusion, because the name of the patient has been printed on the film. The present invention has been described with a specific reference to some of its preferred embodiments but it should be intended that any variations and/or modifications can be carried out by those skilled in the art without going beyond the scope of the invention.

Claims: Device for opening and closing the cover window of a radiographic cassette, comprising: a fixed bracket (1); an equipment (8) adapted for sliding movement along said bracket (1) from a position of disengagement with said window to a first engagement position at which the equipment engages with said window, and to a second engagement position at which the window is fully opened; and a motor means (3) operatively connected to said equipment (8) for effecting said sliding movement; wherein said equipment (8) includes: a cap element (12); a displacement means (11) causing a sliding movement of said cap element (12) perpendicular with respect to the bracket (1), between a position at which said cap element (12) engages said window and a position at which it is disengaged therefrom; elastic means (15) counteracting the displacement of said cap element, said elastic mans (15) being compressed in said position of disengagement of said cap element (12); a slide (9) connected to said motor means (3) and carrying said displacing means (11), for sliding movement on said fixed bracket (1); characterised in that said displacement means (11) comprises a wedge (11) mounted on said slide (9); and in that said cap (12) is provided with a pair of rollers (13) for movement along said wedge (11); the arrangement being such that when the equipment (8) is moved along the bracket (1) from its disengagement position to its first engagement position, thereby moving the wedge (11) along the bracket (1) and thus enabling the cap (12) to be displaced by said elastic means (15) towards to its position of engagement with the cassette window, then further movement of the equipment (8) along said bracket (1) causes the cap (12) to move with the slide (9), thereby opening the cassette window; and when the equipment (8) is moved along the bracket (1) from its first engagement position to its disengagement position, a pressing means (18) on the bracket (1) presses the pair of rollers (13) against the wedge (11) and the elastic means (15) thereby causing the pair of rollers to move up on the wedge (11) so as to displace the cap (12) from its engagement position to its disengagement position. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that it is provided with a top and bottom limit switches and a diaphragm element (20) that reverses the motion or disconnects the device by dimming said limit switches. Device according to one of the above said claims characterized in that the motion from said motorized means (3) to the mobile equipment (8) is transmitted by means of a lead nut (5) connected through a bracket to said mobile equipment (8) and sliding along an endless screw (4), said endless screw (4) receiving the motion from the motorized means (3) through a pair of gears (7).

Inventors: BLASI RICCARDO, BLASI, RICCARDO, Blasi, Riccardo, c/o METALTRONICA s.r.l.
Applicants: METALTRONICA SRL, METALTRONICA S.R.L.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G03B42
IPC codes: G03B42