Patent ID: 7883667

Claim:
An apparatus for applying fluid to slides, the apparatus comprising: a vessel having a first sub-cavity for receiving a first plurality of slides, a second sub-cavity for receiving a second plurality of slides, and at least one removable partition defining in part the first and second sub-cavities, the first and second sub-cavities each configured to receive a fluid, wherein the at least one removable partition prevents fluid flow from the first and second sub-cavities; a slide carrier for receiving the first plurality of slides in a first area corresponding to the first sub-cavity and the second plurality of slides in a second area corresponding to the second sub-cavity; and a transport coupled to the slide carrier; and a processor coupled to the transport, the processor operable to move the transport such that the slide carrier is positioned over the vessel with the first area above the first sub-cavity and the second area above the second sub-cavity, the processor further operable to raise and lower the transport such that, when lowered, the first plurality of slides, when received by the slide carrier in the first area, is positioned at least partially within the first sub-cavity and the second plurality of slides, when received by the slide carrier in the second area, is positioned at least partially within the second sub-cavity.