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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A sheet film package comprising:
a tray for storing a stack of sheet films, said tray having a film access
opening; and
a flexible cover member peelably attached to said tray in covering relation
to said film access opening for shielding the sheet films in said tray
from extraneous light, said cover member having a length selected such
that it is folded back on itself at one end of said tray and has an end
portion which extends over the other end of said tray and which will be
exposed from a loading device when the sheet film package is loaded in the
loading device.
2. A sheet film package according to claim 1, wherein said tray has at
least one projecting portion for positioning and fixing the sheet film
package when it is loaded in the loading device, said projecting portion
being engageable in a corresponding portion of the loading device to
prevent said tray from being displaced when said cover member is peeled
off said tray.
3. A sheet film package according to claim 2, wherein said tray comprises a
box-shaped lower portion and a plate-like upper portion integral therewith
and projecting outwardly therefrom, said at least one projecting portion
being a distal end of said plate-like upper portion.
4. A sheet film package according to claim 2, wherein said tray comprises a
box-shaped lower portion and a plate-like upper portion integral therewith
and projecting therefrom, said at least one projecting portion being
disposed on a leading end of said lower portion in the direction in which
the sheet film package is inserted into the loading device, said lower
portion having a grip on a trailing end thereof in said direction.
5. A sheet film package according to claim 4, wherein a distal end of said
plate-like upper portion and a distal end of said projecting portion lie
in one plane, said distal ends being positionable in a substantially
horizontal plane to direct the sheet film package in an erected position.
6. A sheet film package according to claim 1, wherein said tray includes a
box-shaped lower portion having a bottom wall with vent means disposed
thereon and positioned for confronting relation to a suction disk for
delivering the sheet films from said tray.
7. A sheet film package according to claim 1, wherein said tray includes a
box-shaped lower portion having a bottom wall with a plurality of
stiffening ribs formed on an outer surface thereof.
8. A sheet film package according to claim 1, wherein said tray includes a
box-shaped lower portion having steps of sawtooth cross section on an
inner surface of a leading end of said lower portion in the direction in
which the sheet film package is inserted into the loading device.
9. A sheet film package according to claim 2, wherein said tray comprises a
box-shaped lower portion and a plate-like upper portion integral
therewith, said upper portion having an engaging portion projecting into
said film access opening from an inner surface of a leading end thereof in
the direction in which the sheet film package is inserted into the loading
device, for preventing the films from dropping out of said tray.
10. A sheet film package according to claim 9, wherein said engaging
portion has a slanted or curved surface inclined toward a bottom of said
lower portion of the tray, on which the sheet films will be placed.
11. A sheet film package according to claim 9, wherein said engaging
portion is in the form of a plate, said film access opening being defined
by a distal end of said engaging portion and one end of said upper portion
and having a length smaller than the length of each of said sheet films.
12. A sheet film package according to claim 1, wherein said tray has on one
end thereof an engaging portion for cooperating with light-shielding means
in the loading device when said tray is loaded into the loading device.
13. A sheet film package according to claim 12, wherein said tray comprises
a lower portion for storing the sheet films and an upper portion integral
with said lower portion and having said film access opening, said upper
portion having on an end thereof an engaging portion extending outwardly
and inclined in a direction away from a bottom of said lower portion.
14. A sheet film package according to claim 13, wherein said engaging
portion has a slot defined therein for allowing the sheet film package to
be gripped therethrough.
15. A sheet film package according to claim 13, wherein said engaging
portion has a substantially cylindrical distal end.
16. A sheet film package according to claim 1, wherein said other end of
said tray includes a break-off joined portion separable from said tray, so
that said break-off joined portion and said end portion of the cover
member will be pulled to open said film access opening to allow the sheet
films to be picked up from said tray.
17. A sheet film package according to claim 16, wherein said tray comprises
a box-shaped lower portion and a plate-like upper portion integral
therewith and projecting therefrom, said upper portion having a recess
defined in a trailing end thereof in the direction in which the sheet film
package is inserted into the loading device, said break-off joined portion
being separably joined through said recess to said tray, said end portion
of the cover member being bonded to said break-off joined portion.
18. A sheet film package according to claim 1, wherein said cover member
includes at least a single integral portion of a flexible material which
closes said film access opening.
19. A sheet film package according to claim 1, wherein said end portion of
the cover member which will be exposed from the loading device includes a
grip tongue narrower than the cover member itself which closes said film
access opening, said grip tongue being defined by cutting off said end
portion.
20. A sheet film package according to claim 1, wherein said cover member
has a portion attached to a leading end of said tray in the direction in
which the sheet film package is inserted into the loading device, further
including a guide member disposed on said portion of the cover member,
said cover member being peelable from said tray until the cover member
abuts against said guide member for thereby opening said film access
opening.
21. A sheet film package according to claim 1, further including adhesive
layers of different bonding strengths between said cover member and said
tray, said cover member being peelable up to the adhesive layer of
stronger bonding strength for thereby opening said film access opening.
22. A sheet film package according to claim 1, wherein said cover member
bears marks thereon, so that said cover member will be pulled out of the
loading device until said marks are exposed thereby to indicate that said
film access opening has been opened to a prescribed degree.
23. A sheet film package according to claim 1, wherein said end portion of
said cover member is peelably bonded to the other end of said tray or a
portion of said cover member which is attached to said tray.
24. A sheet film package according to claim 1, wherein said tray and said
cover member are joined to each other such that when peeling said cover
member off, said tray, the force applied to peel said cover member is
concentrated on a single point during at least an initial period of
peeling said cover member.
25. A sheet film package according to claim 24, wherein said tray and said
cover member are joined to each other in a pattern inclined to a direction
normal to the direction in which said cover member will be peeled off said
tray.
26. A sheet film package according to claim 24, wherein said tray and said
cover member are joined to each other in a pattern having a width which is
gradually reduced in a direction extending obliquely to the direction in
which said cover member will be peeled off said tray. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a sheet film package and a
device for loading sheet films, and more particularly to a sheet film
package comprising a tray for storing a plurality of sheet films therein
and a light-shielding cover peelably attached to the tray and closing a
film access opening, and a cassette loading device in which the cover is
peeled off the tray under light-shielding conditions for opening the film
access opening, so that the sheet films can be loaded in a bright room.
X-ray films are widely used in the medical field for photographing objects
such as human bodies with X rays for medical diagnosis. For photographing
an object on such an X-ray film, it has been customary to load the X-ray
film into an X-ray photographing device under a light-shielded environment
and exposed the emulsion layer of the film directly to an X ray having
passed through the object for recording the image of the object thereon.
There has recently been developed and widely used a radiation image
recording and reproducing system for producing the radiation-transmitted
image of an object using a stimulable phosphor material capable of
emitting light upon exposure to stimulating rays. When a certain phosphor
is exposed to a radiation such as X-rays, .alpha.-rays, .beta.-rays,
.gamma.-rays, cathode rays, or ultraviolet rays, the phosphor stores a
part of the energy of the radiation. When the phosphor exposed to the
radiation is subsequently exposed to stimulating rays such as visible
light, the phosphor emits light in proportion to the stored energy of the
radiation. The phosphor exhibiting such a property is referred to as a
"stimulable phosphor".
In the radiation image recording and reproducing system employing such a
stimulable phosphor, the radiation image information of an object such as
a human body is stored in a sheet having a layer of stimulable phosphor,
and then the stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned with stimulating rays
such as a laser beam to cause the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light
representative of the radiation image. The emitted light is then
photoelectrically detected to produce an image information signal that is
electrically processed for generating image information which is recorded
on a recording medium such as a photosensitive material or displayed as a
visible image on a CRT or the like.
The visible image thus produced may be recorded on a recording medium by an
image recorder such as an image output laser printer, for example. In the
image output laser printer, photographic films stored as a recording
material in a magazine are loaded, and taken out one by one by a sheet
delivery device such as a suction disk. Thereafter, the film is exposed to
a laser beam modulated by an electric signal produced from the stimulable
phosphor sheet for recording an image on the film. The exposed film is
then transferred into an automatic developing device and processed thereby
to develop the image. The film is thereafter stored in a prescribed place
for use in medical disgnosis when required.
When loading the films into the image output laser printer, they must not
be exposed to extraneous light. Therefore, it is general practice to load
the films into the image output laser printer in a dark room, but the
efficiency of such a loading process is low. There is a strong demand for
the loading of films under bright conditions such as in an ordinary bright
room, and various methods have been proposed for loading films in bright
environments. One such method is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Utility
Model Publication No. 56(1981)-07931.
FIG. 1a illustrates in cross section a conventional sheet film magazine 1
to be loaded into an X-ray photographing device. The film magazine 1
includes a casing 2 and a cover 3 openably hinged to the casing 2, the
casing 2 and the cover 3 jointly defining a chamber 4. Gripper rollers 5a,
5b are rotatably supported respectively on the casing 2 and the cover 3. A
light-shielding member 6 is disposed between the casing 5 and the cover 6
for preventing extraneous light from entering the chamber 4 through the
gripper rollers 5a, 5b.
The cover 3 has a film access opening 7 that can be opened and closed by a
shutter 8 mounted in the cover 3, the shutter 8 having a bent grip 9 on
one end thereof. A sheet film package 10 is housed in the magazine 1. The
sheet film package 10 accommodates a plurality of unexposed sheet films 12
protected by cardboard 11. The sheet film package 10 has opposite ends
10a, 10b exposed out of the magazine 1.
For loading the sheet film package 10 under a bright condition, the end 10a
of the package 10 is engaged by the grip 9 of the shutter 8, and the other
end 10b is cut off by scissors or the like. Then, the magazine 1 is loaded
into an X-ray photographing device 13 (FIG. 1b), and the shutter 8 is
manually pulled from the magazine 1.
As a result, the package 10 is engaged by the grip 9 and drawn out of the
magazine 1. Since the package 10 is gripped by the gripper rollers 5a, 5b,
the unexposed films 12 are left in the chamber 4. As the shutter 8 is
pulled out, the film access opening 7 is opened to expose the chamber 4 of
the magazine 1 into the X-ray photographing device 13.
The unexposed films 12 are successively attracted by a suction device or
suction disk 14 and delivered to a prescribed photographing position.
Another known device is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model
Publication No. 56(1981)-05141. FIG. 2a shows in cross section a
disclosed sheet film package 15 to be supplied to an X-ray photographing
device. The film package 15 includes a light-shielded or sunproof
container 17 in the form of a box having an opening 16. The light-shielded
container 17 contains a pluraltiy of unexposed films 19 protected by
cardboard 18. A flexible light-shielding member 20 is applied over the
opening 16 in light-shielding relation to protect the unexposed films 19
from exposure to extraneous light. One end of the flexible light-shielding
member 20 is curved upwardly and has an engagement hole 20a defined near
its edge.
The film package 15 of the above construction is positioned by a storage
unit 22 housed in a magazine 21 as shown in FIG. 2b. The magazine 21 has a
shutter 23 having an engagement pin 24 mounted on one end thereof. After
the engagement pin 24 has engaged in the hole 20a of the flexible
light-shielding member 20, the magazine 21 is loaded into an X-ray
photographing device (not shown), and the other end of the shutter 23 is
pulled out of the magazine 21 by fingers. As a result, the flexible
light-shielding member 20 is peeled off the container 17 by the pin 24
engaging the hole 20a, and the opening 16 is opened in the X-ray
photographing device. The uppermost unexposed film 19 is then attracted by
a suction device 25 and delivered through the opening 16 into a given
photographing position.
With the illustrated conventional device, however, the dedicated magazine
21 must be used to store the film package 15. This magazine must be of a
rugged construction capable of withstanding stresses due to repeated
attachment and removal thereof, and hence is considerably heavy.
Therefore, it is laborsome for the operator to load and unload the
magazine. The magazine is also considerably expensive since it has a
shutter mechanism. Where various films of different sizes are to be
employed, there must be used as many dedicated magazines as the number of
those different film sizes, and the cost of manufacture is so high that
they are economically infeasible in reality.
In order to load the films into the X-ray photographing device, it is
necessary to attach the shutter to the end of the film package or the
light-shielding member, and pulling out the shutter after the magazine has
been placed into the device. As a consequence, the film loading process of
the above nature is tedious and considerably time-consuming.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet film
package including a tray for accommodating a stack of sheet films and a
flexible light-shielding cover member peelably fixed to the tray, with the
cover member being bent at one end, and also a device for loading such
sheet films into an image recording apparatus in a bright environment by
selecting the length of the cover member such that one end thereof is
exposed out of the device, and peeling the cover member off the tray under
light-shielded conditions to open a film access opening in the tray,
whereby the films can successively be delivered through the opening by a
suction device, so that no conventional dedicated magazine is required and
the films can be loaded with utmost ease under light-shielded conditions
in a bright environment through a simple construction.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet film package
comprising a tray for storing a stack of sheet films, the tray having a
film access opening, and a flexible cover member peelably attached to the
tray in covering relation to the film access opening for shielding the
sheet films in the tray from extraneous light, the cover member having a
length selected such that it is folded back on itself at one end of the
tray and has an end portion which extends over the other end of the tray
and which will be exposed from a loading device when the sheet film
package is loaded in the loading device.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet film
package comprising a package unit for storing a stack of sheet films, and
a cushioning member disposed in the package member and composed of a
hollow air bag assembly of a flexible material for pressing and holding
the sheet films in the package member.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a film loading
device for loading therein a sheet film package storing a stack of sheet
films and having a film access opening openably closed by a cover member,
comprising a loading slot for loading the sheet film package therein, a
cover for closing the loading slot, and light-shielding means disposed in
one of the loading slot and the cover and biased toward the cover member,
for gripping the cover member that is led out of the loading slot in a
light-shielding condition.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a film
loading device for loading therein a sheet film package storing a stack of
sheet films and having a film access opening openably closed by a cover
member, comprising a loading slot for loading the sheet film package
therein, a base for mounting the sheet film package thereon, a cover for
closing the loading slot with one end of the cover member being exposed
out of the film loading device, and light-shielding means for holding the
sheet film package with the film access opening being opened, in a
light-shielding condition in cooperation with the cover and/or the sheet
film package.
A yet still further object of the present invention is to provide a film
loading device for loading therein a sheet film package storing a stack of
sheet films and having a film access opening openably closed by a cover
member, the sheet film package having an engaging portion projecting
outwardly from an end thereof, the film loading device comprising a
loading slot for loading the sheet film package therein, a roller disposed
in the vicinity of the loading slot for being pressed against the engaging
portion to grip the cover member, and light-shielding means for opening
and closing the loading slot and allowing an end of the cover member to be
led out of the film loading device.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a film loading
device for loading therein a sheet film package storing a stack of sheet
films and having a film access opening openably closed by a cover member,
comprising a frame, a base pivotally mounted on the base for mounting the
sheet film package thereon, and a pair of light-shielding blocks mounted
on the frame and the base, respectively, for gripping an end of the cover
member therebetween.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent from the following description when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which preferred
embodiments of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative
example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1a and 1b are cross-sectional views of a conventional film package;
FIGS. 2a and 2b are cross-sectional views of another conventional film
package;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view, partly omitted from illustration, of a sheet
film package according to the present invention;
FIG. 4a is a vertical cross-sectional view of the sheet film package shown
in FIG. 3;
FIGS. 4b through 4d are perspective views of cardboard sheets serving as
vent means stored in the sheet film package of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the sheet film package and a
loading device;
FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the manner in which the
sheet film package is loaded into the loading device of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the
sheet film package and the loading device;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view, partly omitted from illustration, of a sheet
film package according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the sheet film package
illustrated in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the sheet film
package of FIG. 8 and a loading device therefor;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view showing the manner
in which the sheet film package of FIG. 8 is loaded in the loading
apparatus of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly omitted from
illustration, of a sheet film package according to still another
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view, partly omitted from illustration, of a sheet
film package according to a still further embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the sheet film package of
FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the sheet film
package of FIGS. 13 and 14 and a loading device therefore;
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a sheet film package according to yet
still another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 17 is a perspective view, partly omitted from illustration, of a sheet
film package according to a yet still further embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a sheet film package according to another
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a sheet film package according to still
another embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 20 through 22 are fragmentary perspective views of sheet film
packages according to other embodiments of the present invention;
FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of a sheet film package according
to a still further embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 24 is a perspetive view showing the manner in which films are stored
into the sheet film package illustrated in FIG. 23;
FIG. 25 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the sheet film package of
FIG. 23 in which sheet films are stored;
FIG. 26 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the sheet film package of
FIG. 23 with a cover member peeled off;
FIG. 27 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of a film loading
device of the invention, with a loading slot opened;
FIG. 28 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the film loading
device of FIG. 27, with the loading slot closed;
FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a sheet film package for use with the film
loading device shown in FIGS. 27 and 28;
FIG. 30 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the
film loading device of FIGS. 27 and 28;
FIG. 31 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of a light-shielding
means of another embodiment in the film loading device; and
FIG. 32 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of a light-shielding
means of still another embodiment in the film loading device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Like or corresponding parts are denoted by like or corresponding reference
characters through several views.
As shown in FIG. 3, a sheet film package 30 according to the present
invention comprises a tray 32 and a cover member 34 made of a flexible
material. The tray 30 is of an integral structure including a lower
box-shaped portion 36 and an upper plate-like portion 38 projecting
outwardly from the lower portion 36. The upper portion 38 has a film
access opening 40 defined therein. The upper portion 38 includes a surface
portion 42 which will be a leading end when the package 30 is loaded into
a loading device (described later), the surface portion 42 extending
outwardly over a prescribed length for engagement with a presser means in
the loading device. The surface portion 42 may be defined as two tongue
portions 42a, 42b indicated by the two-dot-and-dash lines. The surface
portion 42 has a plate-like engaging portion 44 projecting into the
opening 40. As illustrated in FIG. 4a, the engaging portion 44 has on its
distal edge a slanted or curved surface 45 directed away from sheet films
F in the package 30 and inclined into the opening 40. The opening 40 is
defined between the engaging portion 44 and one end of the upper portion
48 and has a length L smaller than the length L1 of the sheet films F
stored in the lower portion 36.
The lower portion 36 includes a wall 46 on the leading end thereof, the
wall 46 having on its inner surface sawtooth-like steps 48. A grip 50 is
fixed to the trailing end of the lower portion 36 which confronts the wall
46. The inner surface of the bottom wall of the lower portion 36 has a
recess 52 (see FIG. 4a) defined therein as a vent means near the steps 48
on the wall 46. Instead of the recess 52, a cardboard sheet 53 having
holes 52a smaller in diameter than a suction disk of a suction mechanism
(described below) may be disposed on the bottom wall of the lower portion
36, as shown in FIG. 4b. Alternatively, a cardboard sheet 53 having a slit
52b defined therein may be disposed on the bottom wall of the lower
portion 36, as shown in FIG. 4c, or a cardboard sheet 53 having a
triangular groove 52c defined therein may be disposed on the bottom wall
of the lower portion 36, as shown in FIG. 4d. The bottom wall of the lower
portion 36 should preferably have a plurality of parallel ribs 51 on the
outer surface thereof for stiffening the tray 32 to give the tray 32 a
desired degree of mechanical strength.
The cover member 34 is peelably secured to the tray 32 by an adhesive or
the like. The cover member 34 is of a length which is more than twice the
length of the tray 32 in the direction in which the tray 32 is loaded. The
film access opening 40 is fully closed by a portion of the cover member
34, which has its remaining portion folded back on itself at a
substantially central position on the leading surface portion 42 and
extending outwardly beyond the trailing end of the lower portion 36.
A loading device for loading the sheet film package 30 thus constructed
will be described below.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a loading device generally denoted at 60 may be
in the form of an image recording device and has a package loading
mechanism 62. The package loading mechanism 62 includes a package receiver
64, a roller unit 66, and a loading slot opening and closing unit 68. The
package receiver 64 is composed of a receiver base 70 inclined at an angle
to the vertical direction and bent in complementary relation to the
package 30.
In FIG. 6, a stopper member 72 is disposed at the lower end of the receiver
base 70 for pressing and fixing the upper portion 38 of the package 30 in
position. The stopper member 72 comprises a trapezoidal locking member 73
and a rod 74 integral therewith, with a coil spring 76 disposed around the
rod 74. The roller unit 66 comprises a roller 78 disposed in a package
loading slot 79 and rotatable supported in the image recording device 60.
The loading slot opening and closing unit 68 has a curved recess 81
opening toward the roller 78. When the roller 78 is pressed into the
recess 81, the roller 78 grips the cover member 34 of the package 30
inserted in the package receiver 64 and prevents extraneous light from
entering the image recording device 60.
The loading slot opening and closing unit 68 comprises an openable closure
member 80 having a recess for receiving the grip 50 of the package 30 and
pivotally mounted at one end on the image recording device 60 through a
support bar 82. As shown in FIG. 7, the openable closure member 80 has a
surface 84 with holes 86a, 86b defined therein at opposite ends thereof,
and locking members 88a, 88b are fitted respectively in the holes 86a,
86b. The locking members 88a, 88b include engaging portions 92a, 92b
having slanted surfaces 90a, 90b, respectively, and pressing portions 94a,
94b, respectively. The pressing portions 94a, 94b have respective flanges
96a, 96b on one ends thereof. Coil springs 98a, 98b are disposed
respectively in the holes 86a, 86b. The locking members 88a, 88b fitted in
the holes 86a, 86b are retained in the openable closure member 80 by means
of plates 100a, 100b fastened to the surface 84 thereof.
The image recording device 60 and the plates 100a, 100b jointly define a
groove 101 therebetween for passage therethrough of the cover member 34.
The plates 100a, 100b should preferably be dimensionally selected to meet
the width and thickness of the cover member 34. The openable closure
member 80 has a grip 103 thereon.
The image recording device 60 has engaging portions 104a, 104b having
slanted surfaces 102a, 102b for engaging the engaging portions 92a, 92b of
the locking members 88a, 88b, respectively. As shown in FIG. 6, the image
recording device 60 also has a shutter member 105 therein and a bent
thin-plate shutter 106 mounted on the lower distal end of the shutter
member 105. A suction mechanism 108 such as a suction disk and a delivery
mechanism (not shown) are disposed in the image recording device 60 for
attracting and delivering a sheet film F to an image recorder.
Operation and advantages of the sheet film package and the loading device
therefor will be described below.
A process of loading the package 30 into the packaging loading mechanism 62
will first be described. First, the openable closure member 80 is
angularly moved to open the loading slot 79. More specifically, as shown
in FIG. 5, the pressing portions 94a, 94b of the locking members 88a, 88b
on the opposite sides of the openable closure member 80 are pushed into
the holes 86a, 86b by fingers of the operator, whereupon the engaging
portions 92a, 92b are brought out of engagement with the engaging portions
104a, 104b. The loading slot 79 is then opened by turning the openable
closure member 80 in the direction of the arrow A with the grip 103.
The package 30 is held by the operator and inserted through the loading
slot 79 into the package receiver 64. At this time, the distal end of the
surface portion 42 of the upper portion 38 of the package 30 displaces the
locking member 73 in the direction of the arrow C against the resiliency
of the coil spring 76. When the package 30 is fully accommodated on the
receiver base 70, the stopper member 72 presses the surface portion 42
under the resilient forces of the coil spring 76.
As the package 30 is placed on the receiver base 70, the cover member 34 of
the package 30 is gripped between the loading slot opening and closing
unit 68 and the roller 78. The end of the cover member 34 is pressed by
the roller 78 against the openable closure member 80 to place the cover
member 34 in a light-shielded condition.
On continued angular movement of the openable closure member 80 in the
direction of the arrow B, the slanted surfaces 90a, 90b of the engaging
portions 92a, 92b abut against the slanted surfaces 102a, 102b of the
engaging portions 104a, 104b, causing the locking members 88a, 88b to be
inserted back into the holes 86a, 86b, respectively, against the
resiliency of the coil springs 98a, 98b. When the engaging portions 92a,
92b are released from the engaging portions 104a, 104b, the engaging
portions 92a, 92b are moved in a direction away from the holes 86a, 86b
under the bias of the coil springs 98a, 98b. As a result, the openable
closure member 80 is locked by the loading device 60, closing the loading
slot 79. At this time, the distal end of the cover member 34 extends out
of the device 60 through the groove 101.
The distal end of the cover member 34 is now gripped and manually pulled in
the direction of the arrow D until the cover member 34 as it is gripped by
the roller 78 is peeled off the upper portion 38 of the tray 32. Since the
distal end of the surface portion 42 of the upper tray portion 38 is
pressed by the stopper member 72 at this time, the tray 32 is prevented
from moving while the cover member 34 is being peeled off the tray 32.
Therefore, the cover member 34 is efficiently peeled off the tray 32.
After the cover member 34 has been peeled off the upper portion 38 over a
prescribed length, the shutter member 105 is pulled out in the direction
of the arrow E to displace the shutter 106 in the same direction. The film
access opening 40 of the tray 32 is now opened into the image recording
device 60.
Then, the suction mechanism 108 is actuated to feed sheet films F
successively from the tray 32 to the non-illustrated delivery mechanism.
Desired images are thereafter recorded on the sheet films F by a laser
beam or the like. The sheet films F in the tray 32 are effectively
prevented by the engaging portion 44 from dropping into the device 60.
Upon removal of all of the sheet films F from the tray 32, the suction
mechanism 103 engages the vent means, or the recess 52, on the bottom wall
of the tray 32, and air flows through the recess 52 into the suction
mechanism 108. Stated otherwise, there is no longer any sheet film F to be
picked up from the tray 32, and the vacuum in the suction mechanism 108 is
varied by the air flowing in through the recess 52, thus detecting that no
sheet film is left in the tray 32. The same detecting process can be
achieved with the cardboard sheets shown in FIGS. 4b, 4c, and 4d. The
suction mechanism 108 is now inactivated, and the openable closure member
80 is turned in the direction of the arrow A to allow the empty package 30
to be taken from the package loading mechanism 62. If necessary, a new
package 30 with a stack of sheet films F stored therein is thereafter
placed into the package loading mechanism 62, and the sheet films F will
successively be deliverd to the image recorder in the same manner as
described above.
In this embodiment, the sheet film package 30 is directly loaced into the
package loading mechanism 62 to permit the sheet films F to be delivered
into the image recording device 60. Thus, it is not required to employ any
conventional dedicated magazine. Sheet films F can be loaded into the
device 60 simply by inserting the package 30, which is relatively
lightweight, into the package loading mechanism 62. The process of loading
sheet films F is essentially composed of the steps of opening the openable
closure member 80, inserting the package 30, and peeling the cover member
34 off the package 30. Consequently, the sheet films F can be loaded
highly efficiently without relying upon the conventional complex loading
process.
Because the cover member 34 of the tray 32 is pressed against the openable
closure member 30 by the roller 78, the cover member 34 can smoothly be
peeled off and the sheet films F in the package 30 are prevented from
exposure to extraneous light.
FIGS. 8 and 9 show a sheet film package according to another embodiment of
the present invention. In this embodiment, two spaced pins or projecting
portions 150a, 150b project from the leading wall 46 of the tray 32. In
FIG. 9, the height of the pins 150a, 150b is selected such that a plane
interconnecting the distal ends of the pins 150a, 150b and the distal end
of the surface portion 42 extends perpendicularly to the bottom wall of
the tray 32.
A loading device for loading the sheet film package of FIGS. 8 and 9 is not
required to have the stopper member 72 of the preceding embodiment as
shown in FIG. 6. As can be seen from FIG. 10, the package loading
mechainsm includes a cover 152 openably mounted at one end on a device
housing 156 by means of a support pin 154, with a roller 158 mounted on
the other end of the cover 152. The roller 158 is displaceable under the
resilient forces of a coil spring (not shown). The cover 152 has a lower
receiver base 160a and an upper receiver base 160b for jointly supporting
the package 30 thereon. The lower receiver base 106a having holes 162a,
162b in which the pins 150a, 150b of the package 30 can be fitted. The
housing 156 accommodates a shutter member 105 therein that can open and
close a chamber defined in the housing 156 and in which the suction
mechanism 108 is disposed.
As shown in FIG. 11, the cover 152 is swung in the direction of the arrow A
to open the package loading mechanism 62, and the package 30 is placed on
the cover 152. More specifically, the pins 150a, 150b are fitted
respectively into the holes 162a, 162b of the lower receiver base 160a,
and the package 30 is disposed on the lower and upper receiver bases 160a,
160b. Then, the cover 152 is turned in the direction of the arrow B to
close the package loading mechanism 62. At this time, the cover 152 may be
locked on the housing 156 by the same lock mechanism as described with
reference to FIG. 7. As illustrated in FIG. 10, when the cover 152 is
fastened to the housing 156, the cover member 34 of the package 30 is
gripped between the roller 158 and an engaging surface 166 of the housing
156, and the distal end of the cocver member 34 extends outwardly through
a gap or groove 168 defined between the cover 152 and the housing 156.
The distal end of the cover member 34 is now gripped and pulled out in the
direction of the arrow E (FIG. 10), so that the cover member 34 is peeled
off the surface portion 42 of the upper portion 38 of the tray 32 over a
prescribed length while being gripped in a lightshielded condition by the
roller 158 and the engaging surface 166. The shutter member 105 is then
pulled in the direction of the arrow E to open the film access opening 40
into the housing 156. The suction mechanism 108 is operated to deliver the
sheet films F successively from the package 30 to an image recorder (not
shown).
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 through 11, the pins 150a, 150b project
from the leading wall of the tray 32, and the lower receiver base 160a of
the package loading mechanism 62 has the respective holes 162a, 162b for
receiving the pins 150a, 150b, respectively. Therefore, the package 30 is
securely positioned in the package loading mechanism 62 for allowing the
cover member 34 to be peeled off smoothly and reliably. That is, when the
cover member 34 is pulled in the direction of the arrow E in FIG. 10, the
leading end of the package 30 tends to rise in the direction of the arrow
G since the cover member 34 is bonded to that end of the package 30 by an
adhesive or the like. Since the pins 150a, 150b of the tray 32 are snugly
fitted in the respectively holes 162a, 162b of the lower receiver base
160a, the tray 32 is firmly secured to the cover 152 against any unwanted
displacement. The pins 150a, 150b and the surface portion 42 project
outwardly by substantially the same length. With this arrangement, the
package 30 can be positioned in an erected condition with the pins 150a,
150b and the distal end of the surface portion 42 being directed
downwardly and the grip 50 being oriented upwardly. Accordingly, many
packages 30 can be placed on a small support table, and can be conveyed
highly efficiently while they are being stored in erected positions.
While the two pins 150a, 150b are disposed on the tray 32, a single ridge
180 (FIG. 12) may be formed on the leading wall 46 of the tray 30, the
ridge 180 being of a prescribed width and having a distal end lying in the
plane in which the distal end of the surface portion 42 lies. The cover
152 of the package loading mechanism 62 may have a groove, instead of the
holes 162a, 162b (FIG. 10), for receiving the ridge 180 therein to retain
the package 30 in position.
FIGS. 13 through 15 illustrate a sheet film package according to still
another embodiment of the present invention. The upper portion 38 of the
tray 32 has an elongate recess 190 defined in the back of the marginal
edge thereof, and a rectangular slot 192 extending along the recess 190.
The marginal edge of the upper portion 38 thus has a joined portion 194
that can be broken off the rest of the upper portion 38. The distal end of
the cover member 34 after it has been folded back on itself is securely
attached to the joined portion 194.
The package 30 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 is loaded into the package loading
mechanism as illustrated in FIG. 15. When the cover 152 is fixed to the
housing 156, as shown in FIG. 15, the cover member 34 is gripped between
the roller 158 and the engaging surface 166 of the housing 156, and the
distal end of the cover member 34 extends outwardly through the gap 168
between the cover 152 and the housing 156. The joined portion 194 has
previously been detached from the tray 32 and attached to the distal end
of the cover member 34 so that it can easily be gripped. The end of the
cover member 34 and the attached joined portion 194 are pulled together to
open the film access opening 60. The joined portion 194 is formed of a
hard resin material to enable the operator to pull the cove | | |
