Patent GB-993952-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for automatically transferring an article from a series of baths or the like in which it is immersed for predetermined periods of time
Inventor: ELLIOTT WILLIAM
IPC: G01N1/31
Filed: 1962-12-11
Abstract: 993,952. Dip coating apparatus. ELLIOTTS LIVERPOOL Ltd. Oct. 28, 1963 [Dec. 11, 1962], No. 46698/62. Heading B2B. [Also in Division B8] Apparatus for processing slides, specimens or the like in a series of baths comprises a stationary table 10 for supporting an upper tier of baths 11 arranged in circular formation and a rotatable table 12 for supporting a lower tier of baths 13 concentric with the upper tier. A disc or cover 14 for the upper baths carries a holder 15 for slides &c. and is adapted to be stepped around by a Geneva mechanism 16. Raising and lowering of the disc 14 to withdraw from or immerse the slide carrier 15 in one of the baths 11 is effected by a lever and cam mechanism 20, 21. An electric motor 17 controlled by time switches 18 or 24 moves the disc, one or other of the time-switches being selected according to the length of the time cycle required. The lower table 12 is stepped round by a Geneva mechanism 22 driven by a motor 25 controlled by the switch 18 or 24. This motor also actuates a bath elevator 25 positioned for vertical movement in axial alignment with a hole 19 in the upper table 10. Each of the baths 13 of the lower tier 15 is positioned over an opening 26 in the lower table 12, the head of the elevator 25 being adapted to pass through the openings. A non- rotatable cover 29 covers all the baths of the lower tier excepting that in which the slide carrier is for the time being immersed and which is in register with an opening 30 in the cover 29. Connection of one or the other or both time switches 18, 24 in circuit is effected by selector switches 38, 39. Presuming that the apparatus is to operate in series, i.e. the slide or tissue is traversed first through the upper tier of baths and then through the lower tier; the selector switch is set to select either the time switch 18 or the time switch 24, the selector switch 39 remaining in the "off" position. After the slide or slides in the holder 15 have remained in the first bath 11 of the upper tier for the period determined by the switch 18 or 24, the motor 17 is switched on and the carrier 15 together with the disc 14 is raised, turned to lie over the second bath and then lowered, so as to bring the slide into that bath. After the predetermined period the slide is transferred to the third bath and so on. When the holder 15 moves to the twelfth position occupied by the hole 19 in the table 10, the disc 14, during its descent, operates a change-over switch 33 which terminates the upper tier cycle and starts the motor 23. The first bath of the lower tier is then raised by the elevator 25 so that the carrier and slide are immersed. The motor 23 then stops. After the predetermined time the bath is lowered on to the rotatable table 12, the table is rotated to bring the second bath of the tier under the holder 15 and the bath is then raised through the hole 19 so that the slide is immersed therein. This procedure continues throughout the twelve baths of the lower tier. On reaching the final position a bell rings to warn that the staining cycle has been completed. An aerating device 34 or a pulsating pumping device may be provided to agitate the liquid. The selector switches 38, 39 provide for switching over to parallel operation of the two tiers of baths. The motors 17, 23 then operate at the same time and identical programmes are carried out on the upper and lower tiers. A further and stationary slide holder 15a holds the slides to be immersed in the lower tier baths. Both tiers can be operated independently, i.e. as two separate machines. Automatic charging and discharging of the slides may be arranged and more than two tiers of baths provided.