Patent ID: 6796353
Filing Date: 2004-09-28
Classification: G01N,G02B,Y10T

Abstract:
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 (3a) and a continuously and uniformly curved surface (3b); 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 (4a and 5a) that comes into contact with a coverslip (2), and each of said ends pointing away from said notional center axis (3a) of said base block (3) and projecting beyond said curved surface (3b); and means (4b and 5b) 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).