초록 ▼

An apparatus ( 1 ) for handling coverslips ( 20 ) for specimen slides ( 9 ) comprises a transport arm ( 8 ), a base block ( 3 ) mounted on the transport arm and having a having a notional center axis ( 3 a ), and at least two suction devices ( 4 and 5 ) carried by the base block ( 3 ), each suctio

An apparatus ( 1 ) for handling coverslips ( 20 ) for specimen slides ( 9 ) comprises a transport arm ( 8 ), a base block ( 3 ) mounted on the transport arm and having a having a notional center axis ( 3 a ), and at least two suction devices ( 4 and 5 ) carried by the base block ( 3 ), each suction device ( 4 and 5 ) having an end ( 4 a and 5 a ) that comes into contact with a coverslip ( 2 ) and points away from the notional center axis ( 3 a ) of said base block ( 3 ). The base block ( 3 ) both removes a single coverslip ( 2 ) from a magazine ( 24 ), and deposits the removed coverslip ( 2 ) onto a specimen slide ( 9 ).

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus ( 1 ) for handling coverslips ( 20 ) for specimen slides ( 9 ), said apparatus ( 1 ) comprising:a transport arm ( 8 );a base block ( 3 ) mounted on said transport arm, said base block ( 3 ) having a notional center axis ( 3 a ) and a continuously and uniformly curved surface ( 3

1. An apparatus ( 1 ) for handling coverslips ( 20 ) for specimen slides ( 9 ), said apparatus ( 1 ) comprising:a transport arm ( 8 );a base block ( 3 ) mounted on said transport arm, said base block ( 3 ) having a notional center axis ( 3 a ) and a continuously and uniformly curved surface ( 3 b );an articulated joint ( 22 ) pivotably connecting said base block to said transport arm;at least two pickup means ( 4 and 5 ) carried by said base block ( 3 ), each pickup means ( 4 and 5 ) having an end ( 4 a and 5 a ) that comes into contact with a coverslip ( 2 ), and each of said ends pointing away from said notional center axis ( 3 a ) of said base block ( 3 ) and projecting beyond said curved surface ( 3 b ); andmeans ( 4 b and 5 b ) for reducing the length of said pickup means ( 4 and 5 );wherein said base block ( 3 ) mounted on said transport arm ( 8 ) both removes a single coverslip ( 2 ) from a magazine ( 24 ), and deposits said removed coverslip ( 2 ) onto a specimen slide ( 9 ). 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said continuously and uniformly curved surface ( 3 b ) corresponds to a curved surface of a cylinder segment. 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said pickup means ( 4 and 5 ) are configured as suction devices; and a suction cup is provided on each of said ends ( 4 a and 5 a ) of said pickup means coming into contact with said coverslip ( 2 ). 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for reducing the length of said pickup means ( 4 and 5 ) is configured as a bellows, and a coverslip ( 2 ) that has been picked up is thus brought into contact with said continuously and uniformly curved surface ( 3 b ) of said base block ( 3 ). 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a magazine wherein said coverslips ( 20 ) are deposited in said magazine ( 24 ) in the form of a stack, said magazine comprising a bottom ( 24 a ) and sidewalls ( 24 b and 24 c ) mounted at right angles to said bottom; and said magazine ( 24 ) being tilted from the horizontal so that one of said sidewalls forms a defined stop for coverslips ( 20 ) of said stack. 6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein there is provided in said base block ( 3 ), between said at least two pickup means ( 4 and 5 ), a sensor ( 10 ) which ascertains the presence and the condition of a coverslip ( 2 ) that has been picked up. 7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said sensor ( 10 ) is a capacitative sensor. 8. An apparatus ( 1 ) for handling coverslips ( 20 ) for specimen slides ( 9 ), said apparatus ( 1 ) comprising:a transport arm ( 8 );a base block ( 3 ) mounted on said transport arm, said base block ( 3 ) having a notional center axis ( 3 a ); andat least two pickup means ( 4 and 5 ) carried by said base block ( 3 ), each pickup means ( 4 and 5 ) having an end ( 4 a and 5 a ) that comes into contact with a coverslip ( 2 ), and each of said ends pointing away from said notional center axis ( 3 a ) of said base block ( 3 );wherein said transport arm ( 8 ) comprises a support element ( 15 ) that is arranged substantially parallel to a surface ( 9 a ) of a specimen slide ( 9 ); an angled element ( 17 ) movable linearly along said support element ( 15 ) and having a first limb ( 17 a ) and a second limb ( 17 b ); and a lifting element ( 19 ), movable along said second limb ( 17 b ) of said angled element ( 17 ), said lifting element carrying said base block ( 3 ) at an end ( 19 a ) thereof opposite said coverslips; andwherein said base block ( 3 ) mounted on said transport arm ( 8 ) both removes a single coverslip ( 2 ) from a magazine ( 24 ), and deposits said removed coverslip ( 2 ) onto a specimen slide ( 9 ). 9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said end ( 19 a ) of said lifting element ( 19 ) opposite said coverslips is joined to said base block ( 3 ) via an articulated joint ( 22 ).