Apparatus for the automatic development of x-ray films, in particular in dental field

An apparatus for quick and automatic development of X-ray films and plates, comprising:

• a treatment container for containing X-ray films and plates to be developed, said container having a bottom with a substantially trapezoidally-shaped catch well, said container having opposite side walls and holes formed through both opposite side walls, the lowest point of the circumference of said holes being on the same level and flush with the bottom of said trapezoid catch well, said holes being shaped to form slide and ledge housings for a tight-fitting closing element of a diaphragm valve;
• a first storage and collection container and a second storage and collection container, said first container containing a developing solution and said second container containing a fixing solution, and a third storage and collection container containing distilled or deionized washing water, a suction tube communicating with said holes, said treatment container being securely connected to each of said storage and collection containers;
• a diaphragm valve associated with each of said holes, placed between said storage and collection containers and said treatment container within said suction tubes, said diaphragm valves being provided with a tight-fitting closing element so that said element, once closed, is on the same level and flush with the edge of said hole and, therefore, on the same level and flush with said bottom of said catch well;
• means for conveying pressurized air into said storage and collection containers, so as to convey intermittently and for preset periods of time the developing solution, the fixing solution and then the washing water into said treatment container, with a spontaneous return, by gravity, of said fluids after the treatment cycle into the same storage and collection container from which each fluid has been drawn through said holes and said suction tubes;
• a case enclosing said treatment container, said case having openings with flexible closing curtains covering the openings, suitable to permit the introduction of an operator's hands for the positioning of X-ray plates in said treatment container, in the absence of ambient light;
• said valves being driven in succession, according to a preset time intervention program for automatic succession of treatment cycles, by an electronic control exchange system with incorporated timers, programmable and adjustable according to the duration required for the treatment cycles and the characteristics of the fluids utilized.