The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 07, 2009
Filed:
Mar. 23, 2005
Thomas E. Domack, Miami, FL (US);
Thomas E. Domack, Miami, FL (US);
Beckman Coulter, Inc., Fullerton, CA (US);
Abstract
A slide ejector mechanism for automatically removing a slide from a slide stack is set forth. The slide ejector mechanism comprises an ejector blade adapted to engage a longitudinal edge of the slide and an ejector drive. The ejector drive is connected to rotate the ejector blade through a curved ejection path. During this rotation, the ejector blade engages the longitudinal edge of the slide to remove the slide from the slide stack and place the slide at an output position for subsequent manipulation. In accordance with a further enhancement, the slide ejector mechanism may include structures that render the apparatus self-cleaning of broken slides. Such structures may include a platen having an opening therethrough along at least a portion of the ejection path. The opening has a width that is slightly less than a length of the slide so that the slide spans the opening and is supported at its edges by the platen.