X-ray film processor
AssigneeFischer Industries, Inc.
InventorWilliam Dubon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved drying chamber, which in the preferred embodiment is employed with an x-ray film processor, includes an infrared heater source. Preferably the infrared source is positioned to dry respective first and second sides of a material requiring drying, for example x-ray film. The infrared source includes a control circuit for driving the infrared source. The frequency at which the infrared source operates is chosen so as to cause fluid particles being dried to resonate, permitting a more efficient heating cycle. In an x-ray film process, this allows a smaller and faster operating unit to be provided
Claims17
In an x-ray film processor having:
- (a) a first tank for containing a developer solution;
- (b) a second tank for containing a fixer solution;
- and
- (c) a fluid tank for containing a cleaning solution, the improvement which comprises a plenum drying chamber, said chamber including at least one infrared heating assembly, the assembly including an infrared heater source of radiation, and a control circuit for electrically driving the heater, the control circuit operating to drive the heater to produce radiation at a frequency to cause particles of the fluid for which drying is intended to resonate.
A drying chamber comprising:
- a path for transferring a material to be dried, said material having a first side and a second side and having a fluid to be dried associated with it;
- a pair of infrared heaters positioned along said path so that the material to be dried is exposed to said heaters along both the first side and the second side of the said material;
- a control circuit for driving said heaters, said control circuit being adjustable and adapted to drive said heaters at a frequency that makes the fluid to be dried resonate;
- and
- a reflective coating on said heaters adapted to direct the infrared energy toward said material.
A drying chamber, comprising:
- a path for transferring a material to be dried, said material having a first side and a second side, and having fluid to be dried associated with at least one of said first and second sides;
- at least one infrared heater assembly, said assembly including an infrared heater source of radiation, and a control circuit operatively connected to said heater, the control circuit being adjustable to drive the heater at a frequency to produce radiation from the heater at a predetermined frequency with frequency causing particles of the fluid to resonate during the drying operation,
- a reflective coating positioned about said heater so as to direct the infrared energy toward said material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.