Specimen collection mechanism for microtome slicing machine - has conveyor belt with adjustable incremental travel indexed to cutting strokes and manipulator element for specimen handling

摘要

The specimen collection mechanism has a conveyor belt (41) for depositing the successive sections in a temperature controlled water-bath (4) for subsequent examination. The operator controlled vertical movements of the spring (16) returned sample (S) clamp (K) during slicing by the knife assembly (5,7,8) is translated into a reciprocating motion of the link (25) via the rack (13), pinion (22) and cranks (23,36). A uni-directional coupling on the shaft (34) causes intermittent travel of the conveyor (41) top towards the bath (4) linked to each cutting stroke. A manipulator wire (45,46) assists specimen transfer and their spacing on the conveyor (41) is adjustable via the slot (39). USE/ADVANTAGE - Assists operator handling of fragile specimen sections without resort to time - consuming use of tweezers etc. Deposits sections in bath in controlled order unlike continuously rotating alternative conveyor systems.