GB2260000A

GB2260000A - X-ray processing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2260000A
Application number: GB9120604A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Green
Original assignee: Kodak Ltd
Current assignee: Kodak Ltd
Priority date: 1991-09-28
Filing date: 1991-09-28
Publication date: 1993-03-31
Also published as: GB9120604D0

Abstract

Two X-ray processors may be present in a hospital X-ray department, each processor having a different throughput due to the workload. It may be the case that one processor is constantly used and the other is only used intermittently. In such a case, the processor with the higher workload is efficiently replenished whilst the other is not. Two such processors (10, 30) can be efficiently replenished by connecting the two processors (10, 30) in a 'figure-of-eight' configuration by means of a four-way connector (50). Each arm (50a, 50b, 50c, 50d) of the connector (50) is connected either to respective inlets (14, 34) or outlets (16, 36) associated with each processor (10, 30). This connection allows each processor to be operated individually and/or simultaneously whilst maintaining efficient replenishment. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO PROCESSING APPARATUS This invention relates to processing apparatus and is more particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with processing apparatus for processing of X-ray materials.

X-ray processors, like conventional photographic processors, need to be replenished in accordance with the throughput of material being processed and also in accordance with the amount of processing chemicals lost due to oxidation while the processor is not in use.

It is relatively easy to keep a processor having a high work load replenished and therefore in control, as in this case, the main factor affecting replenishment is the throughput of material.

By the phrase 'in control', it is meant that the concentrations of the processing chemicals are maintained between limits to provide acceptable processing of the material.

However, for low work load processors, the main factor affecting replenishment is oxidation of the processing chemicals whilst the processor is not in use. Naturally, replenishment according to the throughput of material needs also to be taken into account. If there is a long time period between instances of processing, more replenishment materials are required to ensure that there is acceptable processing of the material. This leads to an inefficient use of the replenishing materials.

It is known, however to use processing solutions from large photofinishing processors to replenish smaller processors, for example minilabs.

In this case, the used processing solution is removed from the large processor and transported to the smaller processor(s).

X-ray processors used to be housed in darkrooms. However, with the advent of daylight loading processors, there is no need for darkrooms to be used for most normal radiography. However, there are some X-ray materials which cannot be efficiently handled by daylight loading processors due to the low throughput of material and/or differences in the processing times required for these materials. An example of such a difference is breast screening (mammography) where the process needs to be extended to provide more information of the mammogram. Such processors are still conventionally housed in a darkroom, or may be coupled to a specialized daylight loader.

As a consequence, in some hospital X-ray departments, two X-ray processors may be installed in close proximity to one another, each processor having a different work load (ie. throughput). In these cases, the processor with the higher or main throughput is efficiently replenished while the other processor is not.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide processing apparatus in which more than one processor is used in a given location in which each processor is efficiently replenished.

According to one aspect of the present invent ion, there is provided processing apparatus comprising: a first processor; and at least one other processor; characterized in that the processors are connected together so that each processor can be operated independently of the others and can also be operated simultaneously with efficient replenishment.

By this arrangement, the use of the replenishment chemicals can be maximized, and both processors can be efficiently replenished.

In the case of two processors, they are connected together in a 'figure-of-eight' configuration.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a schematic illustration of two processors connected in accordance with the present invention.

Many hospitals use a large processor for the bulk of their X-ray processing, for example, an 'X Omat' M6 processor. A smaller processor (for example an 'X-Omat' M35 processor) may also be in place for specialized use, for example, mammography. In such cases, the throughput of X-ray films being processed from mammography may account for less than 10% of the total throughput. In this case, there are large amounts of processing solution which need to be replaced due to oxidation of the solutions during periods of non-use. One method of compensating for this is to 'flood replenish' the smaller processor but this is wasteful and has an adverse effect on the efficiency of the processor.

In the figure, a large processor 10 is schematically shown as a processing tank 12 and associated recirculation system. The tank 12 has an outlet 14 and an inlet 16 between which a pump 18 is connected so that solution is removed from the outlet 14 and pumped into the tank 12 through the inlet 16.

A smaller processor 30 is also shown comprising a tank 32, an outlet 34, an inlet 36 and a pump 38.

Processors 10, 30 are interconnected via a four-way connection 50, each arm 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d of the connection 50 being connected to a respective one of the inlets 16, 36 and outlets 14, 34. This means that the processing solution are shared by both processors 10, 30.

Each processor 10, 30 can be operated independently of the other. For example, when processor 30 is off, pump 38 is inactive and there is no pressure produced in the path defined by outlet 34, arm 50a, arm 50b, pump 38 and inlet 36. This means that the circulation system for processor 10 follows the path defined by outlet 14, arm 50d, arm 50c,- pump 18 and inlet 16. A similar circulation system is established in processor 30 if processor 10 is off.

If both processors 10, 30 are operative (as is usually the case as processor 10 tends to have a high throughput), mixing of the processing solutions occurs in the four-way connection 50. The amount of mixing of the solutions will depend on the circulation rate of the solution in each path (and which is determined by the respective pump in that path).

The processors 10, 30 can be operated individually, but when they are operated simultaneously, the processing solution is shared.

Both processors 10, 30 can be individually replenished, but there will still be the inefficiency of replenishment due to the lower throughput of processor 30. It is therefore desirable that the replenishment rate of the large processor 10 is adjusted so that it is maintained in control and that the smaller processor 30 matches that performance.

It is advantageous that the two processors are located close to one another. This is because pressure drops will occur along any length of pipework which is needed to connect the two processors together. Furthermore, due to thermal conductivity, there will be a change in the temperature of the processing solution as it passes through the connecting pipework.

Under normal conditions, the temperature of the processing solution will be determined by the heating elements provided in each processor.

If the under-used processor has a much smaller tank capacity than the main processor, then a simpler configuration may be to charge it continually with the process effluent from the main processor.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Processing apparatus comprising: a first processor; and at least one other processor; characterized in that the processors are connected together so that each processor can be operated independently of the others and can also be operated simultaneously with efficient replenishment.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each processor has an inlet and an outlet, and a pump is provided between the inlet and the outlet for pumping processing solution out of the outlet and back into the inlet.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a second processor is provided, the two processors being-connected together in a 'figure-ofeight' configuration.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the 'figure-of-eight' configuration is provided by a four-way connectiion between respective inlets and outlets of the two processors.

5. Processing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.