Reader having cassette locating and unlatching mechanism

A method of unlatching a cassette and removing a photosensitive element therefrom, said cassette having a removable photosensitive element disposed within the cassette and a latching mechanism for latching and unlatching the photosensitive element from the cassette, comprising the steps of:

• providing an apparatus for unlatching a cassette and removing a photosensitive element therefrom, said apparatus comprising:
• a stage;
• means for clamping said cassette;
• means for moving said stage in a first direction with respect to the cassette placed in said means for clamping the cassette;
• an extractor bar assembly movably mounted to said stage for movement in a second direction with respect to the cassette, said extractor bar assembly having means for unlatching and latching the latching mechanism of the cassette and for removing the removable photosensitive element disposed in the cassette;
• means for moving said extractor bar assembly in said second direction;
• and
• means for determining a first relative position between the latching mechanism of the cassette and said extractor bar assembly;
• moving said extractor bar assembly to a first seek position at a spaced predetermined distance from the latching mechanism;
• moving said extractor bar assembly in a transverse direction until said first relative position is determined;
• moving said extractor bar assembly in the same transverse direction a predetermined distance so that said extractor bar assembly is in a second relative position with respect to the cassette so that said unlatching means can be inserted into the cassette;
• moving said extractor bar assembly toward the cassette so that the unlatching mechanism of the extraction bar is within the latching mechanism of the cassette;
• moving said extractor bar assembly in a transverse direction such that the extractor bar assembly is moved back to said first relative position so as to unlatch the photosensitive element from the cassette;
• and
• moving the extractor assembly in a direction away from the cassette so as to remove the photosensitive element from the cassette.

A method of unlatching a cassette and removing a photosensitive element therefrom, said cassette having a removable photosensitive element disposed within the cassette and a latching mechanism for latching and unlatching the photosensitive element from the cassette, comprising the steps of:

• providing an apparatus for unlatching a cassette and removing a photosensitive element therefrom, said apparatus comprising:
• a stage;
• means for clamping said cassette;
• means for moving said stage in a first direction with respect to the cassette placed in said means for clamping the cassette;
• an extractor bar assembly movably mounted to said stage for movement in a second direction with respect to the cassette, said extractor bar assembly having means for unlatching and latching the latching mechanism of the cassette and for removing the removable photosensitive element disposed in the cassette;
• means for moving said extractor bar assembly in said second direction;
• and
• means for determining a first relative position between the latching mechanism of the cassette and said extractor bar assembly;
• moving said extractor bar assembly to a first seek position at a spaced predetermined distance from the latching mechanism;
• and
• moving said extractor bar assembly in a transverse direction until said first relative position is determined.

A reader for reading a photostimulable element disposed in a cassette, said cassette having a latching mechanism for allowing removal of the photostimulable element disposed within the cassette, said cassette having a removable end cap, the end cap having reference means for locating a first relative position with respect to the latching mechanism of the cassette and at least one access opening for allowing access to the latching mechanism, said reader comprising:

• a stage;
• means for moving said stage in a first direction with respect to the cassette;
• an extractor bar assembly moveably mounted to said stage for movement in a second direction with respect to the cassette, said extractor bar assembly having unlatching means for unlatching the latching mechanism of the cassette and for removing the removable photographic element disposed in the cassette;
• means for moving said extractor bar assembly in said second direction;
• and
• means for locating said extractor bar assembly in a first relative position with respect to the latching mechanism of the cassette.