Patent ID: 8753583

Claim:
An apparatus for handling specimen slides, comprising: at least one coverslipping module ( 14 ) for coverslipping thin sections arranged on the specimen slides ( 32 , 78 , 80 ), the at least one coverslipping module ( 14 ) configured to apply a mounting medium onto the specimen slide ( 32 , 78 , 80 ) before applying a coverslipping means onto the specimen slide ( 32 , 78 , 80 ); a drying unit ( 16 , 70 , 90 ) for at least partial extraction of at least one solvent from the mounting medium applied onto the specimen slides ( 32 , 78 , 80 ), the drying unit ( 16 , 70 , 90 ) including an air delivery unit ( 40 ) for delivering an air flow to the specimen slides ( 32 , 78 , 80 ); at least one rack ( 20 , 28 , 30 ) for receiving specimen slides ( 32 , 78 , 80 ); and a transport unit ( 12 ) for transporting the at least one rack ( 20 , 28 , 30 ) having coverslipped specimen slides ( 32 , 78 , 80 ) from the at least one coverslipping module ( 14 ) to the drying unit ( 16 , 70 , 90 ); wherein the drying unit ( 16 , 70 , 90 ) has a drying chamber ( 26 ) for receiving the at least one rack ( 20 , 28 , 30 ); wherein the air delivery unit ( 40 ) delivers the air flow into the drying chamber ( 26 ), the air delivery unit ( 40 ) including at least one delivery conduit ( 46 ) for delivering the air flow; wherein the drying unit ( 16 , 70 , 90 ) includes an air discharge unit ( 48 ) for discharging air out of the drying chamber ( 26 ), the air discharge unit ( 48 ) including at least one discharge conduit ( 50 ) for discharging air.