Methods and apparatus for handling image recording media
US7030404B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 7, 2003 |
| Grant date | Apr 18, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 27, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03B42/045
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods and apparatus that facilitate exposure and/or automatic transfer of an image recording medium from an apparatus adapted to handle the image recording medium, such as a cassette, to an image acquisition system, such as an image reader. In one exemplary implementation, a side-access cassette for handling an image recording medium is provided that facilitates the automatic transfer of the image recording medium from the cassette into an automatic loader and from the automatic loader into the cassette. The cassette may further include a radiation conversion window to attenuate radiation during high energy X-ray imaging such that the cassette and automatic loader may be employed in a variety of X-ray imaging processes and techniques. In one aspect, such a conversion window allows recording media such as phosphor plates to be exposed using source radiation incident to the cassette having energy levels on the order of MeV, which is significantly higher than that typically used to expose phosphor plates.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.