Radiographic intensifying screen manipulator

Radiographic apparatus, usable with a film assembly including a photosensitive component and a retractable opaque cover envelope, for selectively inserting a radiographic element into the envelope and also removing it therefrom, said apparatus comprising:

• a carrier having such a radiographic element thereon;
• a housing having a light excluding chamber therein for receiving such a film assembly and said carrier arranged in superposed relation therewith while providing access to the envelope for moving it between a closed position covering a photosensitive portion of the photosensitive component and a retracted position wherein said photosensitive portion is uncovered, said housing being configured for operation in an upright insertion position and, alternatively, in an inverted removal position;
• means for releasably retaining trailing end portions of the photosensitive component of the film assembly and said superposed carrier located in said chamber to prevent their movement in the direction of envelope displacement between said closed and retracted positions;
• a support surface, located in said chamber and operative when said housing is in said upright insertion position, for supportively engaging the film assembly having said carrier superposed on top thereof so that when the envelope is moved from said closed to said retracted position, gravitational force urges a leading end portion of said carrier into engagement with the underlying uncovered photosensitive portion and in response to movement of the envelope back to its closed position it slides over and encloses both said carrier and photosensitive portion to effect insertion of the radiographic element into said envelope;
• and
• means, operative during removal operations when said housing is in its said inverted position to locate said carrier in the envelope below said photosensitive portion, for supporting at least a leading end of the photosensitive portion such that after the envelope is moved to its said retracted position, gravitational force urges said leading end portion of said carrier away from the photosensitive portion allowing the envelope to pass therebetween as it is moved back to its closed position, thereby enclosing the photosensitive portion and leaving said carrier outside of the envelope to effect removal of said radiographic element.