Patent ID: 6517561
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
A specimen cutter comprising:a circular cutting tip for rotation about an axis for cutting a specimen out of a specimen sheet by rotation of said cutting tip and motion of said cutting tip axially toward a specimen sheet; an electric motor connected to said tip for rotating said tip; mounting structure for mounting said cutting tip within said specimen cutter to permit axial motion of said cutting tip with respect to said mounting structure in a direction away from the specimen sheet; a force device connected between said mounting structure and said cutting tip to urge said cutting tip axially in the cutting direction so that at a predetermined force, said cutting tip axially moves in a direction away from the specimen sheet; and a switch connected to said cutting tip and said mounting structure to be actuated by motion of said cutting tip with respect to said mounting structure, said switch being connected to said motor so that closure of said switch causes rotation of said cutting tip.