CASSETTE AUTOLOADER

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for storing and automatically delivering cassettes (20) and/or pallets (22) containing cassettes (20) to a reader (12). A storage and delivery mechanism is provided which defines a plurality of cassette retaining sites (44). A body (14) encases the storage and delivery mechanism and has a portal (26) adjoining the cassette loading sites for allowing cassettes (20) to be placed on or removed from the storage and delivery mechanism. Indicia is provided on panels (33,35) adjacent the portal (26) for identifying the cassette retaining sites (44) and a guide bar (49) is placed in front of the cassette read site (46). The panels (33,35) are mounted to the apparatus by elastomeric mounts (74) so as to minimize or prevent transmission of shock vibrations.

Description: The present invention pertains to an autoloader for feeding cassettes and/or pallets containing cassettes to and receiving them from a computed radiographic reader. It is convenient to handle storage phosphorous film/ plates within cassettes that protect the film from extraneous light and damage. Storage phosphorous film is read by photoelectrically detecting an image formed by scanning with stimulating radiation. An example of such a scanner/reader is disclosed in US-A-4,789,782. It is desirable to retain the x-ray film within a cassette except during actual processing. Such a cassette is disclosed in EP-A-0 544 138. A hook extractor can be used with the x-ray cassette to remove the photographic element for scanning in the x-ray reader. It is desirable to provide an apparatus to automate the presentation of such x-ray cassettes or similar cassettes to such an extractor so that a number of x-ray cassettes could be processed in succession without attention from an operator. It is also desirable that such an apparatus be able to accurately position x-ray cassettes and/or pallets containing cassettes sequentially to simplify removal and reinsertion of the photographic elements and that the presentation apparatus be separate from the x-ray reader to permit interchange of units and reduce repair time. An example of a suitable device for presenting cassettes is disclosed in EP-B1-0 544 326. In this reference there is disclosed a positioner/autoloader for use with a plurality of x-ray cassettes and/or pallets containing cassettes which comprise first and second cog belts spaced apart so as to provide a plurality of cassette retaining sites one of which defines a cassette read site for presenting of the cassette to the reader. The belts are driven such that the cassettes are each individually positioned at the read site for removal of the photosensitive film therein for reading by the reader after which it is returned to the cassette. The positioner allows a plurality of individual cassettes to be placed thereon for automatic supplying to the reader thus freeing the operator to accomplish other duties. It is important that the mechanism be designed to operate in such a manner so as to minimize any transfer of vibrations from the autoloader to the reader which can adversely affect the reader reading the information stored on the photo stimulable phosphorous film. Typically the autoloader will be loaded or unloaded during scanning of the photostimulable phosphorous film in the adjacent reader. The cassettes are manually loaded and unloaded from the cassette loading and unloading sites. Generally the operator will be loading or unloading a plurality of cassettes. During this procedure the operator must align the sides of the cassettes with axially spaced shelves. Thus, there is the possibility that the cassette will be banged against the sides of the autoloader adjacent the portal which could cause objectionable vibrations to be transmitted to the reader. Since the shelves forming the cassette retaining sites are spaced apart, the operator must rely on his or her ability to visually align the sides of the cassette with the appropriate opposed aligned shelves. If the cassette is not properly inserted into the cassette site, the cassette could be placed at an angle between non aligned shelves which would result in the autoloader stopping when the autoloader senses the misalignment. As disclosed in EP-A2-0 452 931, a copy cassette supplying apparatus includes a cassette holder having a vertical array of steps for holding copy cassettes thereon. This cassette holder includes a plurality of guide rollers disposed between the steps for guiding copy cassettes when the cassettes are moved onto and off the steps so that a misalignment can be prevented. However, there exists a problem in the prior art in providing an apparatus having means for minimizing transfer of vibrations to the reader which can adversely affect the reading of the photographic element and means for assisting the operator to quickly and easily load cassettes between properly aligned shelves of the cassette retaining sites. In accordance with the present invention a cassette autoloader is provided as defined in claim 1. In the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention presented below reference is made to the accompanied drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of an x-ray cassette autoloader with a door assembly in the open position and the retractable shelf in the extended position; Figure 1A is a perspective view of the autoloader of Figure 1 with the outer shell removed illustrating the cog belts used to move and store the cassettes; Figure 2 is a top plan view of a cassette in the autoloader as taken along line 5-5 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of one of the guide bar assemblies as outlined by line 6-6 of Figure 2. Referring to Figure 1 there is illustrated an autoloader 10 made in accordance with the present invention positioned directly in front of an X-ray reader 12. The autoloader 10 has a body 14 with a base 16 at the bottom and a monitor station 18 on top. The body 14 can be made of sheet metal or the like reinforced as necessary to support loads imposed by the autoloader components and x-ray cassettes 20 or pallets containing cassettes. The cassette 20 is of the type wherein the photosensitive material is removed through one of the sides of the cassette such as that described in EP-A2-0 544 138, previously referred to herein. Briefly, the cassette comprises a shell having upper and lower panels and three side caps joining the upper and lower panels, and an removable end cap. A photographic element, such as a stimulable phosphor plate, is provided within the cassette and is secured to the removable end cap. The end cap includes a latching mechanism for releasing the end cap from the cassette. A latch bar having at least one hook is used to latch or unlatch the latching mechanism. It is to be understood that other cassette construction may be used as appropriate, such as that disclosed in US-A-5,065,866 and US-A-5,090,567. A further example of a suitable pallet for use in the autoloader 10 is described in copending application US-A-5,277,322 entitled "Pallet for Holding a Cassette" of John Boutet, James F. Owen, Wayne Arseneault, Jeff Yaskow, and T. Dale Baker. Monitor station 18 may include some means for preventing inadvertent movement of the monitor 23, such as indentations. At the rear, body 14 has an access opening 24, as best seen by reference to Figure 1A, through which the forward end of a cassette is passed so that the forward end of the cassette 20 is placed within the adjacent x-ray reader 12. At the front, body 14 has a portal 26 which is generally rectangular in shape and provides access to the interior of body 14. Facing portal 26 is an operator station, which may be occupied by an operator. Door assembly 32 of body 14 is operable between a closed position, in which the portal 26 is closed and an open position, as shown in Figure 2 in which the interior of body 14 is accessible through portal 26. The operation and function of door assembly 32 is set forth in greater detail in copending application US-A-5,319,217 entitled "Door Assembly For Cassette Autoloader" filed concurrently herewith of Wayne Arseneault, John C. Boutet, Darryl D. DeWolff, James Lattimore, Gary Shope, T. Dale Baker, and Jeffrey J. Yaskow. Briefly, the door assembly includes a pair of panels 33, 35 slideably mounted to body 14 such that when in the closed position the portal 26 is closed. However, for the purpose of this invention any door assembly desired may utilized. Autoloader 10 includes a retractable table 34, which can be moved between an extended stacking position, as shown in Figure 1, and a storage retracted position inside body 14. In the storage retracted position the retractable table 34 is disposed totally within the body 14 so that the door assembly 32 can be closed as shown in Figure 1. Table 34 can be used to hold x-ray cassettes 20 and/or pallets 22 containing cassettes during loading and unloading. The details of the construction and operation of the retractable table 34 is described in greater detail in copending application flied concurrently with the present invention (US Serial No. 981,630) of John C. Boutet, Darryl D. DeWolff, James Lattimore, James J. Sheridan and Jeffrey J. Yaskow entitled "Autoloader Having a Retractable Table". Alternatively, x-ray cassette 20 can be loaded or unloaded from a cart (not shown). Controls are provided to permit the operator to either open the door assembly 32 and have the table 34 extended automatically or to open only the door 32 without extending of the retractable table 34. A wide variety of means may be employed for controlling operation of the autoloader which are well known in the prior art. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the autoloader is provided with a microprocessor which is appropriately linked up to various switches, motors and controls to operate the door assembly and retractable table and various other functions of the device in a pre-set pattern. Such controls are well known and therefore will not be discussed further. Referring to the Figures the autoloader is provided with a first and second conveyor assemblies 36, 38, respectively. Each conveyor assembly 36, 38 is provided with an endless cog belt 40. Each cog belt 40 having a plurality of regularly spaced shelves 42. The cog belts 40 are aligned and driven such that the shelves 42 provide a plurality of vertically arranged cassette retaining sites 44 within body 14. In line with the center of access opening 24 there is provided a read site 46 whereby the cassette when placed in such position can be advanced for reading into the adjacent x-ray reader 12. The cassette retaining sites 44 above reading site 46 are loading sites wherein cassettes which have yet to be read are placed. Cassette retaining sites 44 below read site 46 are unloading sites from which scanned and erased cassettes can be removed. While only one read site is provided, any number of cassette loading and unloading sites may be provided as desired. In the particular embodiment illustrated, there are provided ten loading sites and ten unloading sites. To prevent accidental placement or attempted removal of a cassette from read site 46, a guide bar 49 is secured to body 14 in front of read site 46. Cassettes 20 can be interchanged between loading sites easily since each cassette is supported by a pair of vertically aligned shelves 42, and shelves 42 are spaced apart from each other by a distance sufficient to permit each individual cassette 20 to be gripped while positioned fully to the back of every cassette retaining site 44. The cog belts 40 are driven in unison by a drive means provided. An example of a mechanism used to drive cog belts 40 is more fully described in EP-C-0 544 326 previously referred to herein. Such mechanism is used to in seriatim place cassettes at the read site for removal of the photosensitive material and delivery to the reader and to unloading sites after the photosensitive material has been returned to the cassette. To assist in quickly identifying the loading sites and/or unloading sites, the side panels 45, 47 adjacent portal 26 are provided with identifying indicia. In the particular embodiment illustrated the loading sites are identified by numerals, one through ten, placed on side panels 45, 47 and the cassette unloading sites 44 below read site 46 are preferably identified by different indicia from that of loading sites. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the unloading sites are identified by letters and in particular, by the letters A-J. The indicia on the sides panels 45, 47 is such that common indicia on opposed side panels 45, 47 indicate a particular cassette site. The panels 45, 47 serve to assist in guiding the cassettes into the cassette retaining sites. As best seen by reference to Figures 2 and 3, the panels 45, 47 each comprise guide section 68 and a rear mounting section 70. The rear mounting section 70 is substantially parallel to the side 72 of the adjacent cog belt which forms one side of the cassette retaining site as is best seen in Figure 3. While only one of the guide panels, panel 45, is shown in Figure 3, it is to be understood that the other guide panel, panel 47, is similarly constructed. The guide section 68 extends from the rear mounting section 70 at an angle α with respect to a plane which is parallel to the direction of insertion of the cassette into the autoloader. The angle α may have a wide range of angles. Generally angle α ranges from 10 degrees to 60 degrees, preferably from 20 to 45 degrees. In the particular embodiment illustrated angle α is 33 degrees. As might be expected, the guide panels are subject to repeated hitting during insertion of the cassettes into the cassette retaining sites which can produce shock vibrations which can affect the adjacent reader. In order to minimize this problem the guide panels 45, 47 are vibration isolated by mounting to the autoloader 10. In particular, the panels 45, 47 are each mounted to the autoloader by elastomeric mounts 74 located along the length of the panels. The elastomeric mounts are made of a material which does not transmit vibration readily therethrough. In particular, mounts 74 are made of a urethane foam material which absorbs shocks. In the embodiment illustrated, mounts 74 were made of Isoloss LS 1525™ Urethane purchased from EAR Inc. In the preferred embodiment illustrated the mounts 74 are secured to central guide section 68 and the frame 78 of the adjacent conveyor assembly. Thus, if the one of the conveyors is repositioned so that the autoloader can accept different size cassettes, there will be no need to remove and readjust the panels. The mounts 74 may be secured to frame 78 and guide panel 45 in any desired manner. In the particular embodiment illustrated an adhesive is applied between the surface of the mount 74 and adjacent frame and panel. The forward end of the guide section 68 at the read site is attached to a standoff 76 by means of a tab 80 formed in the panel 45. The front end of standoff 76 is secured to guide bar 49. Any shocks introduced to the guide bar 49 are absorbed by the mounts 74 associated with each panel 45, 47. Accordingly little or no vibrations will be transmitted to the reader. The guide bar 49 prevents cassettes from being inserted into or removed from the read site. In the embodiment illustrated the guide bar 49 is also designed to assist the operator in placing cassettes into the autoloader. The guide bar 49 is provided with a top edge 83, the guide being positioned on the panels so that the top edge 83 corresponds with the bottom of the loading site directly above the read site. Thus, the operator can rest the front portion of a cassette on the top edge 83 and then simply slide the cassette into the adjacent loading site identified by the numeral 1. The operator can use the filled loading site #1 to further assist in identifying the next loading site directly above. The guide bar 49 is provided with cut out sections 85 to assist the operator in placing or removing cassettes in the cassette sites above and below the read site. Additionally, a guide strip 86 is placed on guide bar 49 in an asymmetric manner. In the embodiment illustrated, guide strip 86 is disposed in the left half of the guide bar 49. Guide strip 86 is designed to align with a guide strip 87 placed on the back edge of cassette and/or pallet containing a cassette so that when the cassette (or pallet) is properly placed in the shelves, the guide strips 86, 87 will be vertically aligned. Likewise, the guide strip placed on a pallet will align with the cassette it is designed to hold and thus also make loading of the cassette easier. Preferably, guide strips are a strip of a color different from the guide bar and cassette. In the embodiment illustrated, guide strips 86, 87 are yellow. The present invention provides means in an autoloader for minimizing transfer of vibrations to a reader which can adversely affect the reading of the photographic element and means for assisting the operator to quickly and easily load cassettes between properly aligned shelves of the loading sites.

Claims: Apparatus (10) for storing and automatically delivering cassettes (20) and/or pallets containing cassettes to a reader (12), said apparatus comprising storage and delivery means defining a cassette read site (46) in which a cassette placed in said site can be advanced for reading into the reader and a plurality of cassette retaining sites (44), means for moving the storage and delivery means so as to transfer cassettes located in the retaining sites (44) serially through the read site (46), and a body (14) encasing the storage and delivery means, said body (14) having a portal (26) adjoining the cassette sites for allowing casettes to be placed on or removed from the storage and delivery means, characterized by: means for minimizing the transmission of shock vibrations caused by cassette insertion into the cassette retaining sites to the body of the apparatus and the adjacent reader (12) said means comprising guide panels (45, 47) for guiding the cassettes into the cassette retaining sites, each panel being mounted to the body (14) by elastomeric mounts (74) located along the length of the panels. Apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the guide panels (45, 47) each comprise a rear mounting section (70) and a central guide section (68), the rear mounting section (70) being adjacent the side of the loading and unloading sites, the central guide section (68) extending outward and away from the rear mounting section (70) at a predetermined angle. Apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 2 wherein the predetermined angle ranges from 10 to 60 degrees. Apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 2 wherein one end of the guide section (68) is attached to a standoff (76) by means of a tab (80) formed in the panel (45). Apparatus (10) as claimed in claim 2 wherein mounts (74) are secured to central guide section (68) and to a frame (78).

Inventors: BOUTET JOHN CLAUDE, BUBIE WALTER CARL, DEWOLFF DARRYL DAVID, YASKOW JEFFREY JAMES, BOUTET, JOHN CLAUDE, BUBIE, WALTER CARL, DEWOLFF, DARRYL DAVID, YASKOW, JEFFREY JAMES, BOUTET, JOHN CLAUDE, C/O EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, BUBIE, WALTER CARL, C/O EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, DEWOLFF, DARRYL DAVID, C/O EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, YASKOW, JEFFREY JAMES, C/O EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Applicants: EASTMAN KODAK CO, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Application year: 1993
Main classification: G03B42
IPC codes: G03C5, G03C3, B65H3, G03B42, B65H1