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

• US 20020071680A1
• Filed: 12/11/2000
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen Thomas Blume
• Original Assignee: Stephen Thomas Blume
• Inventors: Blume, Stephen Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 6,508,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/564
• 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 which holds film being processed in a reaction chamber in an immobile state while chemicals, water, and dryer air move in and out of said reaction chamber, that allows additional processing cycles to run while a previous cycle is running, comprising:

A. a first storage reservoir for storing a quantity of a developer agent;

B. a second 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 reaction chamber defining a front, back, and two side walls, an upper rim, and lower surface, positioned so that it can accept a feed line from said first reservoir, second reservoir, and external drain;

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

E. an n reaction chamber, the letter n representing all numbers of reaction chambers more than two required to run n+2 successive overlapping cycles, said n reaction chambers each sized and configured to receive at least one previously exposed X-ray film and holder, said reaction chambers each defining a front, back, and two side walls, an upper rim, and lower surface, positioned so that they can each accept a feed line from said first reservoir, second reservoir, and external drain;

F. a first feed line and valve electronically coupled therein for selectively opening and closing said first valve and feed line, connecting said first reservoir to said first reaction chamber, placing said reaction chamber in fluid communication with the developer agent stored within said first reservoir;

G. a second feed line and valve electronically coupled therein for selectively opening and closing said second valve and feed line, connecting said first reservoir to said second reaction chamber, placing said second reaction chamber in fluid communication with the developer agent stored within said first reservoir;

H. a third feed line and valve electronically coupled therein for selectively opening and closing said valve and feed line, connecting said second reservoir to said first reaction chamber, placing said first reaction chamber in fluid communication with the fixer agent stored within said second reservoir;

I. a fourth feed line and valve electronically coupled therein for selectively opening and closing said fourth valve and feed line, connecting said second reservoir to said second reaction chamber, placing said second reaction chamber in fluid communication with the fixer agent stored within said second reservoir;

J. feed lines and valves as needed, electronically coupled therein for selectively opening and closing said valves and feed lines, connecting said first reservoir to said n reaction chamber, placing said n reaction chamber in fluid communication with the developer agent stored within said first reservoir;

K. feed lines and valves as needed, coupled therein for selectively opening and closing said valves and feed lines, connecting said second reservoir to said n reaction chamber, placing said n reaction chamber in fluid communication with the fixer agent stored within said second reservoir;

L. at least one water line per reaction chamber, connected to a water source via a water valve, and fluidly coupled to each said reaction chamber;

M. at least one drain line fluidly coupled to and extending from each said reaction chamber, each said drain line including a drain valve electronically coupled therein for selectively opening and closing said drain line;

N. a first force means such as a pump, air pressure, gravitational flow, vacuum, or the like, coupled therein for selectively forcing the flow of developer and fixer solution through said feed lines from said first and second storage reservoirs to said reaction chambers, operable upon selectively opening of said feed line valves;

O. a second force means such as a pump, air pressure, gravitational flow, vacuum, or the like, coupled therein for selectively forcing the return of developer and fixer solutions through said feed lines from said reaction chambers to said first and second storage reservoirs, followed by a closing of said feed line valves;

P. a control means, operable to cause said automated static X-ray film processor to sequentially move through a plurality of processing cycles wherein;

a. a primary operator places one or a plurality of exposed X-ray film and holders in an unused reaction chamber, then operates said control means which opens said associated feed line valve and activates said first force means causing the flow of developer solution into said reaction chamber thereby submerging and bathing said exposed X-ray film in developer solution;

b. a secondary operator commences a secondary cycle wherein one or a plurality of exposed X-ray film and cassettes is placed in a secondary unused reaction chamber while a previous cycle is running in said primary reaction chamber, a start key is pressed on said control means which, as chemicals are available, opens said associated feed line valve and activates said first force means causing developer solution to flow into said secondary reaction chamber, thereby bathing said exposed X-ray film in developer solution;

c. an additional operator commences an n cycle, where n represents the number of reaction chambers above 2, wherein said operator places one or a plurality of exposed X-ray film and holder in one of said n unused reaction chambers while one or a plurality of previous cycles are running in other said reaction chambers, then operates said control means which, as chemicals are available, opens said associated feed line valve and activates said first force means causing developer solution to flow into said n reaction chamber, thereby bathing said exposed X-ray film in developer solution;

d. said processing cycles of each reaction chamber continues individually to completion wherein;

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

said control means operates to close said feed line valve and terminate said second force means, sealing developer solution in said first 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 film 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 second reservoir feed line valve and activate said first force means which flows fixer into said reaction chamber bathing

said X-ray film in fixer solution;

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

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

said control means opens said drain valve to remove contaminated wash water from said reaction chamber;

said control means operates to close said drain valve;

said control means operates said blower/heater mechanism to dry said X-ray film;

said operator removes film from said reaction chamber;

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising overflow drain lines fluidly coupled to each said reaction chamber adjacent to said upper rims.

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

4. The device of claim 1 wherein each said 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 farther 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 reaction chamber in a manner that would completely submerge said X-ray film with chemical flowed therein.

7. A kit for processing of dental X-ray film in a dental office, said kit comprising:

packaging materials;

the device of claim 1; and

at least one instructional device for explaining the use of said device.

8. A kit according to claim 7, wherein said instructional device includes at least one device selected from the group consisting of printed materials, CD disks, magnetic data storage disks, and videotapes.

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

a primary operator placing one or a plurality of exposed X-ray film and holders in a primary unused reaction chamber, then operating a control means which opens said associated developer feed line valve and activates said first force means causing the flow of developer solution into said reaction chamber, thereby submerging and bathing said exposed X-ray film in developer solution;

a secondary operator wishing to process X-ray film places one or a plurality of exposed X-ray film 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 said associated feed line valve and activates said first force means causing developer solution to flow into said secondary reaction chamber, thereby bathing said exposed X-ray film and holder in developer solution;

an additional operator wishing to process X-ray film places one or a plurality of exposed X-ray film and holders in one of said n open reaction chambers while previous cycles are running in other said reaction chambers, then operates said control means which, as chemicals are available, opens said associated feed line valve and activates said first force means causing developer solution to flow into said n reaction chamber, thereby bathing said exposed X-ray film in developer solution;

processing cycles of each said reaction chamber continue individually to completion wherein;

once said X-ray film is properly developed, said control means operates to return said developer solution to said first storage reservoir via said second force means;

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

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

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

once contaminated wash water is drained from said reaction chamber, said control means operates to close said drain line valve;

said control means operates to open said second reservoir feed line valve and activate said first force means causing the flow of fixer into said reaction chamber, bathing said X-ray film in fixer solution;

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

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

said control means opens said drain valve to remove contaminated wash water from said reaction chamber;

once said reaction chamber is drained of wash water, said control means operates to close said drain valve;

said control means operates said heater/blower apparatus to dry said X-ray film;

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