US 12,253,446 B2
Smear transporting apparatus, smear system, and smear preparing apparatus
Takayuki Nakajima, Kobe (JP); Tetsuya Oda, Kobe (JP); Hiromi Onomichi, Kobe (JP); Kentaro Tsurumi, Kobe (JP); and Seiya Shinabe, Kobe (JP)
Assigned to SYSMEX CORPORATION, Kobe (JP)
Filed by SYSMEX CORPORATION, Kobe (JP)
Filed on Oct. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/050,520.
Application 18/050,520 is a continuation of application No. 15/662,584, filed on Jul. 28, 2017, granted, now 11,506,578.
Claims priority of application No. 2016-150346 (JP), filed on Jul. 29, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0075319 A1, Mar. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. G01N 1/00 (2006.01); B05C 13/02 (2006.01); G01N 1/28 (2006.01); G01N 1/31 (2006.01); G01N 35/00 (2006.01); G01N 35/10 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 1/312 (2013.01) [B05C 13/02 (2013.01); G01N 1/2813 (2013.01); G01N 35/00029 (2013.01); G01N 35/00722 (2013.01); G01N 35/00732 (2013.01); G01N 35/1016 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00138 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of processing smear slides, the method comprising:
transporting a smear container accommodating a plurality of smear slides to a removing position;
removing each smear slide from the smear container at the removing position;
reading information printed on the removed smear slide;
sorting the smear slides based on the information into a first smear slide that is to be imaged by a smear-imaging apparatus and a second smear slide that is not to be imaged; and
imaging the first smear slide by the smear-imaging apparatus, wherein
the smear slide is removed by a handling mechanism having two plates to grip an edge of the smear slide therebetween, wherein at least one of the plates has a shape not to cover the information printed on the smear slide, and
the information printed on the smear slide is read by a reader while the smear slide is gripped by the plates.