Stanley H Lewandowski

US Patent:

50181823, May 21, 1991

Filed:

Nov 15, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/271457

Inventors:

Kevin P. Cowan - Allison Park PA
Bruno Fazi - Allison Park PA
Joseph B. Havrilla - Pittsburgh PA
Stanley R. Lewandowski - Cheswick PA
David M. Reilly - Glenshaw PA

Assignee:

Medrad, Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G03R 4202

US Classification:

378173

Abstract:

An x-ray film changer includes a removably mounted, passive-type cassette having no film driving mechanism and comprising a film-receiving spiral guide plate extending within the cassette in excess of one and one-half 360. degree. turns. The cassette further comprises an anvil bar for reverse bending of the guide plate when the cassette is opened, to facilitate film removal, a light-blocking gate which uncovers a film feed-in slot in response to mounting of the cassette on a film exposure device, and a combination carrying handle-latch mechanism. The film changer further includes a tachometer generator-timing circuit delay system for varying the lead time of a firing command to an x-ray generator in response to the speed of an approaching film, a transversely extending, pivotable film stop-and-orienting bar synchronized with film clamping and feed mechanisms, a film anti-bounce mechanism an indicia printing mechanism having a liquid crystal display with a backlighted electroluminescent panel, and film feed sensors for detecting film misfeeds and an unacceptable number of film "short feed" conditions in a film sequence.

US Patent:

52630773, Nov 16, 1993

Filed:

Apr 26, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/691966

Inventors:

Kevin P. Cowan - Allison Park PA
Bruno Fazi - Allison Park PA
Stanley R. Lewandowski - Cheswick PA
David M. Reilly - Glenshaw PA

Assignee:

Medrad, Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G03B 4202

US Classification:

378173

Abstract:

An x-ray film changer includes a removably mounted, passive-type cassette having no film driving mechanism and comprising a film-receiving spiral guide plate extending within the cassette in excess of one and one-half 360. degree. turns. The cassette further comprises an anvil bar for reverse bending of the guide plate when the cassette is opened, to facilitate film removal, a light-blocking gate which uncovers a film feed-in slot in response to mounting of the cassette on a film exposure device, and a combination carrying handle-latch mechanism. The film changer further includes a tachometer generator-timing circuit delay system for varying the lead time of a firing command to an x-ray generator in response to the speed of an approaching film, a transversely extending, pivotable film stop-and-orienting bar synchronized with film clamping and feed mechanisms, a film anti-bounce mechanism an indicia printing mechanism having a liquid crystal display with a backlighted electroluminescent panel, and film feed sensors for detecting film misfeeds and an unacceptable number of film "short feed" conditions in a film sequence.

US Patent:

51451638, Sep 8, 1992

Filed:

Nov 24, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/441004

Inventors:

Kevin P. Cowan - Allison Park PA
Stanley R. Lewandowski - Cheswick PA
David M. Reilly - Glenshaw PA
Arthur E. Uber - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

Medrad, Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B65H 100

US Classification:

271161

Abstract:

A film sheet load magazine is adapted to hold a stack of superimposed films with at least central portions of the films in a curved configuration and leading ends of the films adjacent a film separator mechanism. The curvature of the films is such that they retain themselves in desired positions in the magazine independent of the orientation of the films with respect to gravity. When a top cover of the magazine is opened, floating primary feed rollers are raised by spring-biasing assemblies to facilitate loading of the films under the rollers, and when the top cover is subsequently closed, the rollers are moved into feeding engagement with an innermost film, and the films are held in position by leaf biasing springs. A cleaning mechanism removes contaminants from the primary feed rollers, which feed each film to secondary feed rollers driven at a faster speed than the primary feed rollers. A number-of-films-remaining mechanism, which may be of a mechanical or electrical type which is adjustable for films of different thicknesses, and which is automatically preset to the number of films in the magazine upon closing of the cover, is responsive to downward movement of the primary feed rollers as each innermost film is fed from the stack.