Patent ID: 8752873

Claim:
A gripper device for transporting a rack ( 3 ) carrying microscope slides ( 4 ) in a system for preparing tissue samples for histological examinations, the gripper device comprising: a gripping mechanism including a pair of gripping arms ( 2 ), each gripping arm having an end configured as a gripping section ( 7 ) for gripping the rack; wherein each of the gripping sections ( 7 ) includes a first profile ( 17 ) extending in a first direction for gripping the rack ( 3 ) in a vertical position and a second profile ( 18 ) extending in a second direction for gripping the rack ( 3 ) in a horizontal position, the first direction being non-orthogonal relative to the second direction on at least one of the gripping sections; wherein at least one of the pair of gripping arms ( 2 ) is configured to pivot about a pivot point ( 14 ) for gripping the rack, the first profile ( 17 ) of each gripping section ( 7 ) being parallel to one another when the gripping arms ( 2 ) are in a first position, and the second profile ( 18 ) of each gripping section ( 7 ) being parallel to one another in a second position of the gripping arms ( 2 ), the second position being different than the first position.