Multi-reaction chamber static film processor which allows for multiple overlapped-cycle film processing

• US 6,508,599 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2000
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stephen Thomas Blume
• Original Assignee: Stephen Thomas Blume
• Inventors: Blume, Stephen Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Rutledge, Della J
• Application Number:
  US09/732,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20020071680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 396/599, 396/617, 396/620, 396/625, 396/626, 396/636, 355/27-29
• US Class Current: 396/617
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 3/00 Liquid processing apparatus involving immersion; Washing apparatus involving immersion G03D9/00, G03D11/00 take precedence

Abstract

An automated static film processor that will allow for the running of additional processing cycles of X-ray film while a previous cycle is running, comprising a housing having a pair of chemical storage reservoirs and multiple reaction chambers. The advantage of this apparatus is that a secondary operator may start processing X-ray film immediately without having to wait for completion of a previous cycle. The reaction chambers are configured so that tubing, connectors, and valves will allow chemicals to flow into and out of each reaction chamber from a single set of developer and fixer storage reservoirs. Each reaction chamber is provided with water and drain valves, and overflow protection. Each reaction chamber includes a lid that prevents light damage while X-ray film is being processed. A drying device that forces warm air into each reaction chamber is disclosed.

Claims

1. An automated static X-ray film processor configured with a plurality of reaction chambers, making said automated static film processor capable of processing X-ray film in a primary reaction chamber while at the same time allowing for additional processing cycles to run in one or a plurality of additional reaction chambers while said primary cycle is running, comprising:

(A) a developer storage reservoir for storing a quantity of a developer agent;

(B) a fixer storage reservoir for storing a quantity of a fixative agent;

(C) a first reaction chamber sized and configured to receive at least one previously exposed X-ray film and holder, said first reaction chamber defining a front, back, and two side walls, an upper rim, and lower surface, positioned so that said first reaction chamber can accept a feed line from said developer storage reservoir, said fixers storage reservoir, and an external drain;

(D) a second reaction chamber, sized and configured to receive at least one previously exposed X-ray film and holder, said second reaction chamber defining a front, back, and two side walls, an upper rim, and lower surface, positioned so that said second reaction chamber can accept a feed line from said developer storage reservoir, said fixer storage reservoir, and an external drain;

(E) n reaction chambers, the letter n representing the number of additional reaction chambers more than two required to run n additional successive overlapping cycles, said n reaction chambers each sized and configured to receive at least one previously exposed X-ray film and holder, said n reaction chambers each defining a front, back, and two side walls, an upper rim, and lower surface, positioned so that each said n reaction chamber can accept a feed line from said developer storage reservoir, said fixer storage reservoir, and an external drain;

(F) a first developer feed line and valve electronically coupled to an electronic controller for selectively opening and closing said first developer valve and feed line, connecting said developer storage reservoir to said first reaction chamber, placing said first reaction chamber in fluid communication with the developer agent stored within said developer storage reservoir;

(G) a second developer feed line and valve electronically coupled to said electronic controller for selectively opening and closing said second developer valve and feed line, connecting said developer storage reservoir to said second reaction chamber, placing said second reaction chamber in fluid communication with the developer agent stored within said developer storage reservoir;

(H) a first fixer feed line and valve electronically coupled to said electronic controller for selectively opening and closing said first fixer valve and feed line, connecting said fixer storage reservoir to said first reaction chamber, placing said first reaction chamber in fluid communication with the fixer agent stored within said fixer storage reservoir;

(I) a second fixer feed line and valve electronically coupled to said electronic controller for selectively opening and closing said second fixer valve and feed line, connecting said fixer storage reservoir to said second reaction chamber, placing said second reaction chamber in fluid communication with the fixer agent stored within said fixer storage reservoir;

(J) n feed lines and valves, electronically coupled to said electronic controller for selectively opening and closing said valves and feed lines connecting said developer storage reservoir to said n reaction chambers, placing said n reaction chambers in fluid communication with the developer agent stored within said developer storage reservoir;

(K) n feed lines and valves, electronically coupled to said electronic controller for selectively opening and closing said valves and feed lines, connecting said fixer storage reservoir to said n reaction chamber, placing said n reaction chambers in fluid communication with the fixer agent stored within said fixer storage reservoir;

(L) at least one water line for each first, second, and n reaction chamber, connected to a water source via a water valve which is electronically coupled to said electronic controller for selectively opening and closing said water valve, and fluidly coupled to each said first, second, and n reaction chamber;

(M) at least one drain line fluidly coupled to and extending from each said first, second, and n reaction chambers, each said drain line including a drain valve electronically coupled to said electronic controller for selectively opening and closing said drain line;

(N) a liquid transporting first force means wherein said first force means includes at least one means selected from the group consisting of a pump, air pressure, gravitational flow, and vacuum, coupled therein for selectively forcing the flow of developer and fixer solution through said feed lines from said developer storage reservoir and said fixer storage reservoir to said first, second, and n reaction chambers, operable upon selectively opening said developer feed line valves;

(O) a liquid transporting second force means wherein said second force means includes at least one selected means from the group consisting of a pump, air pressure, gravitational flow, and vacuum, coupled therein for selectively forcing the return of developer and fixer solutions through said feed lines from said first, second, and n reaction chambers to said developer storage reservoir and said fixer storage reservoir, followed by a closing of said feed line valves;

(P) said control means, operable to cause said automated static X-ray film processor to sequentially move through a series of processing cycles in a plurality of said reaction chambers wherein;

(a) a primary cycle is begun in said first reaction chamber wherein said control means opens said first developer valve while simultaneously maintaining said first fixer valve and said first drain valve in a closed position, activating said first force means causing the flow of developer solution into said first reaction chamber from said developer storage reservoir thereby submerging said exposed X-ray films in developer solution;

(b) a secondary cycle, which is run during said primary cycle, is begun in said second reaction chamber wherein said control means opens said second developer valve while simultaneously maintaining said first fixer valve and said first drain valve in a closed position, activating said first force means causing the flow of developer solution into said second reaction chamber from said developer storage reservoir thereby submerging said exposed X-ray film in developer solution;

(c) an n cycle, which is run during said primary and secondary cycles, is begun in said n reaction chamber wherein said control means opens said n developer valve while simultaneously maintaining said n fixer valve and said n drain valve in a closed position, activating said first force means causing the flow of developer solution into said n reaction chamber from said developer storage reservoir thereby submerging said exposed X-ray film in developer solution;

(d) said processing cycles of each first, second, or n reaction chamber continues individually to completion wherein;

once said X-ray films have been properly developed, said control means operates to activate said second force means and return said developer solution to said developer storage reservoir;

said control means operates to close said feed line valve and terminate said second force means, sealing developer solution in said developer storage reservoir;

said control means operates to open said water valve and cause the fill of said reaction chamber with water adjacent to the upper rim and wash out remnant developer solution from said reaction chamber and X-ray films therein;

said control means operates to open said drain valve to remove developer-contaminated wash water from said reaction chamber;

said control means operates to close said drain valve;

said control means operates to open said fixer storage reservoir feed line valve and activate said first force means which flows fixer into said reaction chamber immersing said X-ray films in fixer solution;

once said X-ray films are properly fixed, said control means operates to activate said second force means which returns said fixer solution to said fixer storage reservoir;

said control means operates to close said feed line valve and terminate said second force means, sealing fixer solution in said fixer storage reservoir;

said control means operates said water valve to fill said reaction chamber with water and thereby wash out remnant fixer solution from said reaction chamber and X-ray films;

said control means operates to open said drain valve to remove fixer- contaminated wash water from said reaction chamber;

said control means operates to close said drain valve;

said control means operates a blower/heater mechanism configured to force warm air on wet X-ray films within said reaction chamber thereby drying said X-ray films.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising overflow drain lines fluidly coupled to each said first, second, or n reaction chambers adjacent to said upper rims.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a dryer mechanism for each first, second, and n reaction chamber comprising an air blowing device with air heater device configured and disposed to dry said X-ray films in each said first, second, and n reaction chamber once final wash has been completed.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein each said first, second, and n reaction chamber upper rim further comprises a cover plate selectively attachable to said upper rim, said cover plate having an inner surface and an outer surface and being movable between an open position and a closed position whereat said cover member is in abutting contact with said upper rim.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising an X-ray film mounting cassette, said film cassette being sized and configured to accept at least one previously exposed X-ray film, and attachable so that said X-ray film resides completely within said first, second, and n reaction chambers in a manner that would completely submerge said at least one X-ray film with chemical flowed therein.

6. A method for processing X-ray films in an automated static X-ray film processor that will allow for the running of additional processing cycles of X-ray films while a previous cycle is running, comprising the steps of:

a primary operator placing one or a plurality of exposed X-ray films and holders into a primary unused reaction chamber, then operating a control means which opens valve and feed line configured to fluidly communicate with said primary reaction chamber and a developer storage reservoir, and, further, activates a first force means causing the flow of developer solution into said primary reaction chamber, thereby immersing said exposed X-ray films in developer solution;

a secondary operator wishing to process X-ray films places one or a plurality of exposed X-ray films and holders in a secondary unused reaction chamber while a previous cycle is running in said primary reaction chamber, then operates said control means which, as chemicals are available from said primary cycle, opens a valve and feed line configured to fluidly communicate with said secondary reaction chamber and said developer storage reservoir, and, further, activates said first force means causing developer solution to flow into said secondary reaction chamber, thereby immersing said exposed X-ray films and holders in developer solution;

an additional operator wishing to process X-ray films places one or a plurality of exposed X-ray films and holders in one of said n unused reaction chambers while previous cycles are running in other said primary and secondary reaction chambers, then operates said control means which, as chemicals are available, opens a valve and feed line configured to fluidly communicate with said n reaction chambers and said developer storage reservoir, and, further, activates said first force means causing developer solution to flow into said n reaction chamber, thereby immersing said exposed X-ray films in developer solution;

processing cycles of each said primary, secondary, or n reaction chambers continue individually to completion;

said primary operator removes processed X-ray films from said primary reaction chamber, making said primary reaction chamber available for another set of X-ray films to be processed, and a new cycle to be commenced, which may run in overlapped successive cycles with other X-ray film being processed in other reaction chambers;

said secondary operator removes processed X-ray films from said secondary reaction chamber, making said secondary reaction chamber available for another set of X-ray films to be processed, and a new cycle to be commenced, which may run in overlapped successive cycles with other X-ray films being processed in other reaction chambers;

said n operator removes processed X-ray films from said n reaction chamber, making said n reaction chamber available for another set of X-ray films to be processed, and a new cycle to be commenced, which may run in overlapped successive cycles with other X-ray films being processed in other reaction chambers.