Gripper device for transporting racks

摘要

The present invention relates to a gripper device for transporting a rack (3) for microscope slides (4), in particular in systems for preparing tissue samples for histological examinations, the gripper device having a gripping mechanism including a pair of gripping arms (2), whose ends are configured as gripping sections (7) for gripping the rack. In order to provide a gripper device which can be used in a versatile manner in automated stainers and coverslippers and contributes to reducing the cost of manufacture, it is proposed that the gripping sections (7) be provided with first profiles (17) for gripping the rack (3) in a vertical position and second profiles (18) for gripping the rack (3) in a horizontal position.

主权项

1. 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.