IP Library Granted Patent US 7,459,691
Granted Patent B2
US 7,459,691 · App. 10/973,892 · Granted Dec 2, 2008

Cassette for a storage fluorescent screen

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,459,691
App. No.
10/973,892
Granted
Dec 2, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a cassette, in particular an X-ray cassette, for receiving a storage fluorescent screen. The cassette has on one of its narrow sides an opening through which the storage fluorescent screen is to be inserted into or removed from the cassette. The opening is closable by a flap which is displaceable between a closed position in which it closes the opening and a release position in which it releases the opening for insertion or removal of the storage fluorescent screen. For this purpose the flap is mounted swivellably to the transition between the narrow side of the cassette provided with the opening and the base of the cassette or the cassette lid.

Claims (29)

1. A cassette for receiving a storage fluorescent screen, comprising:

an opening formed in a narrow side of the cassette, through which opening the storage fluorescent screen is inserted or removed from the cassette, and

a closure which is displaceable between a closed position in which the closure closes the opening and a release position in which the closure releases the opening for insertion or removal of the storage fluorescent screen, wherein the closure comprises a flap, and wherein the flap is mounted swivellably to a transition between the narrow side of the cassette provided with the opening and a base of the cassette or a cassette lid; and

a locking device which can be actuated from outside on the cassette, and wherein the locking device locks the flap in its closed position and releases the flap for opening when actuated from outside, wherein the locking device serves to fix the storage fluorescent screen in the cassette when the flap has been moved to the release position.

2. A cassette as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flap has an L-shaped cross-section, viewed in a direction transverse to a swivel axis of the flap.

3. A cassette as claimed in claim 2 , wherein one flange of the L-shaped flap is mounted swivellably to the base of the cassette while another flange of the L-shaped flap is inserted below the cassette lid into an interior of the cassette in the closed position of the flap.

4. A cassette as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flap is mounted swivellably by a hinge to the base of the cassette.

5. A cassette as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flap is mounted swivellably to the cassette by means of a film hinge.

6. A cassette as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cassette is in the form of a frame to which the cassette lid is fixed, and wherein the base of the cassette together with the flap is pushed into the frame and joined detachably thereto.

7. A cassette for receiving a storage fluorescent screen, comprising:

an opening formed in a narrow side of the cassette, through which opening the storage fluorescent screen is inserted or removed from the cassette, and

a closure which is displaceable between a closed position in which the closure closes the opening and a release position in which the closure releases the opening for insertion or removal of the storage fluorescent screen, wherein the closure comprises a flap, and wherein the flap is mounted swivellably to a transition between the narrow side of the cassette provided with the opening and a base of the cassette or a cassette lid;

a locking device which can be actuated from outside on the cassette, and wherein the locking device locks the flap in its closed position and releases the flap for opening when actuated from outside, the locking device comprising a locking slider mounted displaceably parallel to a longitudinal direction of the opening, which locking slider has at least one first locking aperture for engaging with a locking element provided on an inner face of the flap facing towards an interior of the cassette, and at least one second locking aperture for engaging with a retaining element projecting from the storage fluorescent screen.

8. A cassette as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the locking device also serves to fix the storage fluorescent screen in the cassette when the flap has been moved to the release position.

9. A cassette as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the locking device is movable between a locking position in which it locks the flap in its closed position, an intermediate position in which it has released the flap for opening and is in engagement with at least one retaining element provided on the storage fluorescent screen for fixing the storage fluorescent screen, and an unlocking position in which it releases the storage fluorescent screen.

10. A cassette as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the retaining element is a retaining pin projecting from an upper face of the storage fluorescent screen.

11. A cassette as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the locking slider is preloaded to its locking position by an elastic element.

12. A cassette as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the locking element also serves to engage with the first locking aperture of the locking slider.

13. A cassette for receiving a storage fluorescent screen, comprising:

an opening formed in a narrow side of the cassette, through which opening the storage fluorescent screen is inserted or removed from the cassette, and

a closure which is displaceable between a closed position in which the closure closes the opening and a release position in which the closure releases the opening for insertion or removal of the storage fluorescent screen, wherein the closure comprises a flap, and wherein the flap is mounted swivellably to a transition between the narrow side of the cassette provided with the opening and a base of the cassette or a cassette lid; and

at least one locking element provided on an inner face of the flap oriented towards an interior of the cassette which engages with a retaining aperture provided on the storage fluorescent screen to fix the storage fluorescent screen when the flap is closed.

14. A cassette as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the flap is made of a plastic material and wherein the locking element is formed by an elevation impressed inwardly towards the inner face of the flap, a recess formed thereby on an outer face of the flap being usable to open the flap.

15. A cassette as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the retaining aperture on the storage fluorescent screen also serves as a coupling element for a gripper with which the storage fluorescent screen can be inserted in or removed from the cassette.

16. A cassette as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the flap has an L-shaped cross-section, viewed in a direction transverse to a swivel axis of the flap.

17. A cassette as claimed in claim 16 , wherein one flange of the L-shaped flap is mounted swivellably to the base of the cassette while another flange of the L-shaped flap is inserted below the cassette lid into an interior of the cassette in the closed position of the flap.

18. A cassette as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the flap is mounted swivellably by a hinge to the base of the cassette.

19. A cassette as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the flap is mounted swivellably to the cassette by means of a film hinge.

20. A cassette as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the cassette is in the form of a frame to which the cassette lid is fixed, and wherein the base of the cassette together with the flap is pushed into the frame and joined detachably thereto.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2018
From: AGFA HEALTHCARE NV
To: AGFA NV
Reel/Frame 047634/0308 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2017
From: AGFA-GEVAERT HEALTHCARE GMBH
To: AGFA HEALTHCARE NV
Reel/Frame 042755/0946 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 8, 2005
From: AGFA-GEVAERT A.G. AKA AGFA-GEVAERT AKTIENGESELLSHAFT
To: AGFA-GEVAERT HEALTHCARE GMBH
Reel/Frame 017176/0233 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2004
From: SCHINDLBECK, GUNTHER; STAHL, WERNER; KLABUNDE, OLAF
To: AGFA-GEVAERT AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 015935/0607 →