X-ray developing machine including debris-cleaning transfer arms
OwnerJoyce K. Yaleinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A transport unit of an intraoral dental x-ray developing machine includes a track and upper and lower transfer drives for moving film chips through tanks of developing, fixing and rinsing solutions. Transfer grooves in the track can become clogged with debris during normal operation of the x-ray developing machine. Projections extending from transfer arms of the lower transfer drive are provided to clean the debris from the grooves.
Claims13
An x-ray developing machine comprising:
- a film chip track containing a groove;
- a rotatable transfer arm having at least one surface that is movable along a surface of the film chip track;
- and
- a projection extending from the surface of the transfer arm, the projection conforming to size and shape of the groove, the projection engaging the groove when the surface of the transfer arm is moved along the film chip track.
An x-ray developing machine comprising:
- a transport unit having first and second walls, the first and second walls including a plurality of grooves, the walls forming a film chip track;
- a motor;
- a plurality of transfer drive arms mechanically coupled to the motor;
- and
- a plurality of projections extending from at least one free end of at least one transfer drive arm, the projections matching the grooves in dimension and contour, the projections engaging at least some of the grooves when the motor is driving the at least one transfer drive arm.
A transfer drive for an x-ray developing machine, the machine including a transport unit having a film chip track, the track having a plurality of grooves, the transfer drive comprising:
- an arm having an outer surface;
- and
- a plurality of projections extending outward from the outer surface of the arm, the projections conforming to size and shape of the track grooves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.