US4453807A — System for handling slides

Claim 1

Independent Claim 129 words

A system for receiving a horizontally disposed tray having at least one specimen-bearing slide therein and for dispensing said tray into a storage container, said tray comprising a generally planar member having engagement means comprising a row of plural, longitudinally disposed notches, said system including tilt-table means having carrier means for engaging said engagement means to move said tray to a predetermined idle position on said table, said carrier means comprising a toothed drive disk located at an intermediate point on said table, said tilt-table means being pivotable from a horizontal orientation wherein said tray is received to a substantially vertical orientation wherein said tray is dispensed into said container, said table pivoting to said vertical orientation when said tray is at said predetermined idle position of said table.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 129 words

A system for receiving a horizontally disposed tray having at least one specimen-bearing slide therein and for dispensing said tray into a storage container, said tray comprising a generally planar member having engagement means comprising a row of plural, longitudinally disposed notches, said system including tilt-table means having carrier means for engaging said engagement means to move said tray to a predetermined idle position on said table, said carrier means comprising a toothed drive disk located at an intermediate point on said table, said tilt-table means being pivotable from a horizontal orientation wherein said tray is received to a substantially vertical orientation wherein said tray is dispensed into said container, said table pivoting to said vertical orientation when said tray is at said predetermined idle position of said table.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 45 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said tray includes an elongated recess in said row of notches to preclude further engagement between said drive disk and said notches when said recess is contiguous to said disk, whereupon said tray remains at said predetermined idle position.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 1 including releasable clamping means to hold said tray on said table until said table is substantially vertical at which time said tray drops for insertion in said box.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system of claim 3 wherein said tray includes a clamp receiving surface and wherein said clamping means comprises a pivotable bar normally biased into engagement with said surface.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 4 additionally comprising means to pivot said bar out of engagement with said surface when said table is substantially vertical.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said tray includes extending ear portions and wherein said system additionally comprises catching means adapted to catch said tray as it drops and to suspend said tray thereon.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 6 wherein said container is located below said catching means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 42 words

The system of claim 7 wherein said table is arranged to pivot back to said horizontal orientation after said tray is dropped, whereupon said table pushes the suspended tray off of said catching means so that said tray falls into said container.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 42 words

The system of claim 8 wherein when said tray falls into said container it is suspended by its extending ear portions and wherein said system additionally comprises pusher means to push the trays suspended in said container to a forward location therein.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

The system of claim 9 additionally comprising means to sense of when said container is full of trays.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 41 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said tray includes index marker means associated with said slide and wherein said table includes sensor means for sensing the position of said index marker means when said tray is in said predetermined idle position.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 269 words

A system for transporting a tray holding at least one specimen-bearing slide to and from a microscope stage and for indexing said tray at said stage to at least one predetermined index position thereon, said tray comprising a frame defining a window in which said slide is fixedly secured, index marker means associated with said slide and engagement means, said system comprising an input station, indexing means at said microscope stage, and an output station, said input station comprising hopper means to receive a stack of trays, first carrier means located within hopper means for sequentially carrying trays out of said hopper means and onto said microscope stage and feeding means for sequentially dispensing trays from said stack to said carrier means, said indexing means at said microscope stage including second carrier means for moving said tray across said stage and first sensor means for cooperation with said second carrier means, said index marker means being arranged to activate said first sensor means to stop said second carrier means from moving said tray when said index marker means is in a first predetermined position on said stage, said second carrier means being arranged to carry said tray horizontally from said predetermined index position to said output station, said output station being arranged to receive said horizontal tray for dispensing it into a storage container, said output station comprising tilt-table means pivotable from a horizontal orientation in which said tray is received to a vertical orientation in which said tray is dispensed into said container, said table pivoting when said tray is in a predetermined idle position on said table.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 269 words

A system for transporting a tray holding at least one specimen-bearing slide to and from a microscope stage and for indexing said tray at said stage to at least one predetermined index position thereon, said tray comprising a frame defining a window in which said slide is fixedly secured, index marker means associated with said slide and engagement means, said system comprising an input station, indexing means at said microscope stage, and an output station, said input station comprising hopper means to receive a stack of trays, first carrier means located within hopper means for sequentially carrying trays out of said hopper means and onto said microscope stage and feeding means for sequentially dispensing trays from said stack to said carrier means, said indexing means at said microscope stage including second carrier means for moving said tray across said stage and first sensor means for cooperation with said second carrier means, said index marker means being arranged to activate said first sensor means to stop said second carrier means from moving said tray when said index marker means is in a first predetermined position on said stage, said second carrier means being arranged to carry said tray horizontally from said predetermined index position to said output station, said output station being arranged to receive said horizontal tray for dispensing it into a storage container, said output station comprising tilt-table means pivotable from a horizontal orientation in which said tray is received to a vertical orientation in which said tray is dispensed into said container, said table pivoting when said tray is in a predetermined idle position on said table.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 12 wherein said input station additionally comprises means for sensing the presence of a stack of trays within said hopper.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 13 wherein said input station additionally comprises means for sensing the presence of a tray or said first carrier means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 103 words

The system of claim 12 wherein said feeding means comprises first and second moveable means, said first moveable means being disposed above said second means and arranged to be selectively extended into said hopper to hold said tray above it and to be selectively retracted from said hopper to allow the lowermost tray of said stack to drop to said second moveable means, said second moveable means being arranged to be selectively extended into said hopper to hold said lowermost tray above it and to be selectively retracted from said hopper to allow said lowermost tray to drop onto said first carrier means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 15 wherein said first and second moveable means are coupled together and arranged so that two trays do not drop at the same time.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 52 words

The system of claim 16 wherein each tray is a generally planar member having an underside surface, said surface including a recess therein into which said first moveable means is arranged to be extended to separate the tray being dropped onto said second moveable means from the remaining trays of said stack.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system of claim 12 wherein said engagement means of said tray comprise a plurality of longitudinally disposed notches and wherein said second carrier means comprises a toothed drive belt having a linear portion extending along said stage.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 42 words

The system of claim 12 additionally comprising egress clamp means for ensuring that there is good engagement between said second carrier means and said engagement means as a tray is brought onto the stage for movement thereacross to said predetermined index position.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 45 words

The system of claim 19 wherein said carrier means is arranged to move said tray off said stage and additionally comprising egress clamp means for maintaining good engagement between said carrier means and said engagement means as said tray is moved off of said stage.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 69 words

The system of claim 12 wherein said indexing means at said microscope stage additionally comprises selectively actuatable hold-down means and clamping means and wherein said tray includes surface means adapted to be selectively engaged by said clamping means to move said tray into precise registration in said indexed position, while said hold-down means selectively engages said slide to hold said slide down on said stage at said indexed position.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 42 words

The system of claim 21 wherein hold-down means comprises a slide-engaging foot and is pivotably mounted on said stage and wherein said clamping means comprises a spring mounted on said leg for engaging said surface portion contiguous with said index marker means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 43 words

The system of claim 12 wherein said tilt-table at said output station includes third carrier means and wherein said tray includes engagement means to be engaged by said third carrier means to move the tray to said first predetermined position on said table.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 43 words

The system of claim 23 wherein third carrier means comprises a toothed drive disk located at an intermediate point on said table and wherein said tray comprises a generally planar member and said engagement means comprise a row of plural longitudinally disposed notches.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 45 words

The system of claim 24 wherein said tray includes an elongated recess in said row of notches to preclude further engagement between said drive disk and said notches when said recess is contiguous to said disk, whereupon said tray remains at said predetermined idle position.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system of claim 12 wherein said output station additionally comprises releasable clamping means to hold said tray on said table until said table is substantially vertical at which time said tray, drops for insertion in said box.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system of claim 26 wherein said tray includes a clamp receiving surface and wherein said clamping means comprises a pivotable bar normally biased into engagement with said surface.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 27 wherein said output station additionally comprises means to pivot said bar out of engagement with said surface when said table is substantially vertical.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 12 wherein said tray includes extending ear portions and wherein system additionally comprises catching means adapted to catch said tray as it drops and to suspend said tray thereon.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 29 wherein said container is located below said catching means.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 42 words

The system of claim 30 wherein said table is arranged to pivot back to said horizontal orientation after said tray is dropped, whereupon said table pushes the suspended tray off of said catching means so that said tray falls into said container.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 42 words

The system of claim 31 wherein when said tray falls into said container, it is suspended by its extending ear portions and wherein said system additionally comprises pusher means to push the trays suspended in said container to a forward location therein.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 17 words

The system of claim 32 additionally comprising means to sense when said container is full of trays.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 31 words

The system of claim 12 wherein said output station additionally comprises sensor means for sensing the position of said index marker means when said tray is in said predetermined idle position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1987-06-12	1987-12-12	1988-06-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1991-06-12	1991-12-12	1992-06-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1995-06-12	1995-12-12	1996-06-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System for handling slides

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