Drive device for an automatic embedding machine for treating samples for histological examinations

US6058788A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Leica Instruments GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Stefan Thiem · Heidelberg, DE
• Bernd Guenther · Zeven, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 19, 1997
• Grant date: May 9, 2000
• Expiry date: Nov 19, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N1/31
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A description is given of a drive device for an automatic embedding machine (1) for treating samples (17) for histological examinations, having a plurality of containers (4, 5) which are arranged one beside the other and are each assigned an object holder (6). The object holders (6) are fastened, on a lifting device (18), over the containers (4, 5), the lifting device (18) having a turntable (7) and a rotatably mounted guide rod (8). The guide rod (8) is designed such that it can be moved by a motor, perpendicularly with respect to the direction of rotation of the turntable (7), via the lifting device (18). Provided for the purpose of driving the guide rod (8) is an open-ended, flexibly designed drive element (21) which, at its first end, is arranged between two rollers (26, 27) of the motor drive (20) and, by means of its second end, is connected fixedly to the housing (24) of the automatic embedding machine (1). The second end of the drive element (21) is guided over a deflection roller (19) and forms a loop (28) for receiving the guide rod (8).