Importance

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Abstract

A cassette that holds a large format photographic film unit of the self-developing type in a film plane for exposure to x-rays has a generally rectangular housing and a pressure plate disposed in the housing. The walls of the housing are in fixed relation to one another. A variable gap film-loading opening is defined at one transverse end of the housing and a second variable gap opening is provided at the opposite end for sliding removal of an opaque envelope surrounding the film unit. Springs resiliently urge the pressure plate into intimate, continuous contact with the film unit which also places the photosensitive layer of the film unit in intimate, continuous contact with an x-ray sensitive phosphor layer disposed adjacent the film plane. Operating members such as spring-loaded slide rods mounted in the longitudinal edges of the cassette are operatively connected to the pressure plate through one or more cam surfaces. Movement of the operating members in a direction parallel to the film plane is translated into a transverse movement of the pressure plate away from the film unit. This movement of the pressure plate releases the film unit and increases the housing openings to allow the sliding insertion and removal of the film unit and the sliding removal of the envelope. Light seals are preferably provided at the openings to ensure that the cassette is light tight when the film unit is loaded in the cassette for exposure.

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First Claim