Process and apparatus for encapsulating a photo-stimuable phosphor imaging plate within a barrier envelope and barrier envelope therefore

Abstract

There are disclosed by a process and apparatus for positioning and sealing photostimuable phosphor imaging plates within barriers envelope blanks therefore and formed on a roll thereof wherein a barrier envelope blank including a U-shaped heat sealed portion thereof of such roll is indexed to a positioning station whereat the barrier envelope blank is caused to be opened at a free end thereof thereby permitting insertion of a restored imaging plate into such barrier envelope whereupon the barrier envelope including restored imaging plate is indexed to a station whereat heat sealing of the free end of the U-shaped heat sealed is effected to thereby enclose the restored imaging plate therein and thereafter the thus heat sealed barrier envelope is indexed to a product station for removal from the roll of barrier envelope blanks.

1 . A process for encapsulating a photostimulable phosphor imaging plate, which comprises: 
 positioning said imaging plate between a rear film and a front film of thermoplastic material; and    heat sealing said front film to said rear film peripherally about said imaging plate.    
     
     
         2 . The process for encapsulating a photostimulable phosphor imaging plate as defined in  claim 1  wherein said front film is partially heat sealed to said rear film prior to positioning of said imaging plate to thereby form a barrier envelope around said imaging plate.  
     
     
         3 . The process for encapsulating a photostimulable phosphor imaging plate as defined in  claim 1  wherein said front film is formed of a transparent thermoplastic material and said rear film is formed of an opaque thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         4 . The process for encapsulating a photostimulable phosphor imaging plate as defined in  claim 1  wherein said rear and front films are formed on a roll and provided with a separation line there between to delineate respective barrier envelope blanks components.  
     
     
         5 . The process for encapsulating a photostimulable phosphor imaging plate as defined in  claim 4  wherein positioning of said imaging plate between said films is effected in a positioning station of an apparatus for processing said photostimulable phosphor imaging plate.  
     
     
         6 . The process for encapsulating a photostimulable phosphor imaging plate as defined in  claim 5  wherein heating sealing is effected in a heat sealing station of said apparatus.  
     
     
         7 . The process for encapsulating a photostimulable phosphor imaging plate as defined in  claim 6  wherein said films forming said components of said barrier envelope are indexed between said stations.  
     
     
         8 . The process for encapsulating a photostimulable phosphor imaging plate as defined in  claim 7  wherein said encapsulating barrier envelope is indexed to a product recovery station.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for encapsulating a restored photo-stimulable phosphor imaging plate in a barrier envelope blank having an access opening, which comprises: 
 a positioning station for manual positioning of said imaging plate in said barrier envelope blank through said access opening;    a heat sealing station for heat sealing of said imaging plate within said barrier envelope blank to form barrier envelope including said imaging plate;    a product recovery station for said barrier envelope including said imaging plate; and    means for transporting said barrier envelope blank sequentially to said stations.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus for encapsulating a restored photo-stimulable phosphor imaging plate in a barrier envelope blank having an access opening as defined in  claim 9  wherein said barrier envelope blank is formed on a roll thereof delineated by a separation line there between and is mounted in said apparatus co-axially disposed to said means for transporting said barrier envelope blank to and through said stations.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus for encapsulating a restored photo-stimulable phosphor imaging plate in a barrier envelope blank having an access opening as defined in  claim 10  wherein said barrier envelope blank is formed with a U-shaped heat sealed portion between a front transparent film and a rear opaque film of thermoplastic materials with a base portion thereof disposed on a leading edge portion of said barrier envelope blank whereby positioning of said barrier envelope blank at said positioning station causes a free end portion of said transparent front film to separate from said opaque rear film to permit access of said restored imaging plate within said barrier envelope blank.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus for encapsulating a restored photo-stimulable phosphor imaging plate in a barrier envelope blank having an access opening as defined in  claim 11  and further including means for indexing said barrier envelope blanks and barrier envelopes through said stations by a dimension defined by the distance between separation lines between said barrier envelope blanks.  
     
     
         13 . A barrier envelope blank for a restored photo-stimulable phosphor imaging plate which comprises: 
 a transparent thermoplastic film; and    an opaque film sealed to said transparent thermoplastic film forming a chamber for said imaging plate via an access opening theret.    
     
     
         14 . The barrier envelope blank for a restored photo-stimulable phosphor imaging plate as defined in  claim 13  wherein said opaque film is formed of a thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         15 . The barrier envelope blank for a restored photo-stimuable phosphor imaging plate as defined in  claim 14  and further including a backing paper layer mounted to said opaque thermoplastic layer.  
     
     
         16 . The barrier envelope blank for a restored photo-stimuable phosphor imaging plate as defined in  claim 13  and further including a fronting paper layer disposed on said transparent thermoplastic film.  
     
     
         17 . The barrier envelope blank for a restored photo-stimuable phosphor imaging plate as defined in claims  14  wherein said transparent thermoplastic layer is heat sealed to said opaque thermoplastic layer.  
     
     
         18 . The barrier envelope blank for a restored photo-stimulable phosphor imaging plate as defined in  claim 17  wherein said heat sealed portion is U-shaped.  
     
     
         19 . The barrier envelope blank for a restored photo-stimulable phosphor imaging plate as defined in  claim 13  sequentially-formed in a roll thereof delineated by a separation line perpendicularly-disposed to a major axis of barrier envelope blanks.  
     
     
         20 . The roll barrier envelope blanks as defined in  claim 19  and further including a positioning indicia denoting said separation line.