Device and method for braking a shaft of a microtome

US8353232B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Roland Walter · Tiefenbronn, DE
• Stefan Thiem · Heidelberg, DE
• Andreas Laudat · Meckesheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 6, 2008
• Grant date: Jan 15, 2013
• Expiry date: Aug 22, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T83/6569
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for braking or locking a shaft (6) of a microtome (1). The microtome (1) comprises the shaft (6), an actuating element (2), a movement mechanism (37) and a housing (38). With the movement mechanism (37) an object to be cut can be moved relative to a knife blade. The actuating element (2) can be manually actuated by an operator. As a result thereof, the shaft (6) can be rotated. Via the shaft (6), the movement mechanism (37) for performing the relative motion between the object and the knife blade can be driven. Further, the present invention relates to a method for operating a device for braking a shaft (6) of a microtome (1). So that the device can be used in a mechanically formed movement mechanism (37), the inventive device is characterized by an actuator and a braking unit (25). The braking unit (25) is connected in a rotatably fixed manner to the shaft (6). With the actuator, the braking unit (25) can be automatically placed in a brake position in which the shaft (6) can be connected in a rotatably fixed manner to the housing (11).