Cover slipping unit; iSaCS
For
technicians and partly for sales managers!
The cover slipping unit mounts the cover slip onto the
slide.
Components of the unit
Cover
slipping unit consists of
· Cover
slip applicator
· Mounting
medium holder with vial
· Cover
slip store
Cover slip applicator consists of
·
Local
electronics
·
Y-direction movement rail with spindle
·
Cover slipping head with
· Z-movement
motor with rail and spindle
· Air
compressor with silencer
· Pipette
tip holder
· Suction
cup
· Magnet
valve
· Level
sensor
Holder unit consists of
·
Mounting medium holder with vial
·
Pipette tip storage
·
Pipette tip remover
·
Cover slip slope
·
Cover slip separator
Operation
principle
The cover slipping head travels along the Y-direction
on the spindle. The cover slipping lift block moves in Z-direction up and down
according to the desired action.
The spindle and the head are moved by a stepper motor.
1. After
previous operations are finished (staining, washing, rinsing and air wiping),
the slide is ready for cover slipping.
2. To do
this, the transporter moves the slide from its actual position (slide rack or
from the wiper) to the manipulation bay 13; the cover slipping position.
3. The
cover slipping head is moved over the pipette tip storage so the pipette tip
holder is right above the pipette tip.
4. The
cover slipping head is moved downwards and presses so the pipette tip onto the
tip acceptor.
5. The
attached tip is taken out of the tip storage and moved above the mounting
medium vial.
6. The
cover slipping head is moved downwards so the pipette tip is dipped in to the
mounting medium; the deepness is defined by the known medium quantity for the
procedure.
7. The
appropriate amount of mounting medium is sucked up into the pipette tip.
8. Now,
the cover slipping head is moved over the slide with the filled pipette tip.
9. The
mounting medium is applied onto the surface of the slide. As the cover slipping
head moves longitudinal over the slide, the mounting medium is spread in the
middle of the slide’s surface. The pipette tip will be emptied fully.
10. Now
the cover slipping head is moved by software to the pipette tip’s storage.
11. After
the head is moved downwards and a bit sideward, the pipette tip’s remover acts
and removes the pipette tip from its acceptor.
12. Now,
the cover slip w be mounted
13. The
suction cup of the cover slipping head is moved above the cover slip pile in
the cover slip holder.
14. The
cover slips are manually pre-loaded into the cover slip storage.
15. The
head is moved downwards until the suction cup touches the top cover slip in the
pile.
16. The
compressor is started and creates a vacuum in the suction cup, so the cover
slip is hold by the suction cup.
17. The
suction cup is moved upwards until the cover slip touches the cover slip
separator. During the upward movement of the cover slip, the cover slip
separator is slightly touched. As the cover slip is very thin, the cover slip
is a bit bent on the cover slip separator. If there was taken two cover slips,
the second cover slip is bent less, a space is created between both cover slips
and the second cover slip can fall back to the storage place.
18. If the
suction cup with the cover slip arrived over the slide, the cover slip is
placed on the slide surface and is slightly pushed mechanically onto the slide;
the mounting medium is evenly spreading.
19. After
the mounting medium is spread evenly, the compressor pumps air into the suction
cup and this releases so the cover slip. The head is moved to its home position
and waits here for the next cover slipping action.