US 12,259,303 B2
Blade load mechanism, blade unload mechanism and blade changing system
Zheguang Fan, Shanghai (CN)
Assigned to Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH, Nussloch (DE)
Appl. No. 17/775,058
Filed by Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH, Nussloch (DE)
PCT Filed Nov. 7, 2019, PCT No. PCT/CN2019/116279
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 6, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/087869, PCT Pub. Date May 14, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0390331 A1, Dec. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 1/06 (2006.01); B26D 7/26 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 1/06 (2013.01) [B26D 7/26 (2013.01); G01N 2001/061 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A blade changing system for a blade holder of a microtome, the blade holder having a base defining a blade receptacle configured to receive a blade, the blade changing system comprising:
a blade load mechanism positioned on a first side of the blade holder, the blade load mechanism including:
a blade supply container configured to contain a blade therein, the blade supply container defining a removal opening through which the blade is able to be removed from the blade supply container, and a blade access slot through an outer wall of the blade supply container in a length direction of the blade; and
a blade pusher configured to engage with the blade through the blade access slot and slide along the blade access slot to push the blade out of the blade supply container through the removal opening, and deliver the blade into the blade receptacle of the base of the blade holder; and
a blade unload mechanism positioned on a second side of the blade holder that is opposite of the first side, the blade unload mechanism including;
a blade attractor configured to operatively attract an end of the blade received in the blade receptacle of the blade holder; and
a blade disposal container defining a receiving opening at a top of the blade disposal container,
wherein the blade attractor is arranged above the blade disposal container and configured to be able to move in an extending direction of the receiving opening under the action of a driving force so as to pull the blade out of the blade receptacle of the blade holder, and the blade disposal container is configured to receive the removed blade through the receiving opening,
wherein the blade load mechanism is configured to load a blade into the blade receptacle of the base of the blade holder, and the blade unload mechanism is configured to unload a blade from the blade receptacle of the base of the blade holder.