Automatic machine for unloading and reloading films from and into X ray cassettes

In an automatic machine for unloading and reloading films from and into X ray cassettes, comprising, at an operating station, means for inserting the cassettes, one at a time, into the inside of the machine, for conveying the cassettes within the machine, and for ejecting the reloaded cassettes from the machine, an abutment element placed at the side of the means of conveyance of the cassettes, at least one pusher device movable, in a substantially horizontal plane, perpendicularly to the forward movement direction of the cassettes in such a way as to come into lateral contact therewith and able to carry them to rest up against said abutment element a magazine for new films of various formats, placed above said operating station and including a plurality of drawers arranged at different levels, one above the other, each suitable for containing a pack of films of one particular format and the contents of each being different, first and second detector means, the former tripped by said pusher and the latter by the thrusting of the cassette against said abutment element, withdrawal means, positioned in the region of said magazine, for withdrawing from said drawers a film to suit the format of the cassette inserted in the machine, as ascertained by said first and second detector means, and transfer means placed in the region of the said operating station in order to transfer said film withdrawn from the magazine into the cassette at said operating station,

• the improvement comprising a hopper for guiding the films which, when withdrawn from said magazine, drop down freely towards the X ray cassette, said hopper comprising two elements for guiding each individual film, placed one opposite the other and defining two channels for the containment and the sliding motion of the edges of two opposite sides of the films, a first element being fixed and positioned on the same side of the machine as the abutment element, and the second supported in a sliding fashion by the machine in a way whereby it is able to undergo, in the direction of the fixed guide element, a two way displacement, connected rigidly to said pusher device so as to be movable therewith in the direction of the first guide element.