Abstract: A system for transporting a tray holding at least one specimen slide to and from the microscope. The tray includes index marker means and engagement means. The system comprises an input station, indexing means at the microscope stage and an output station. The input station includes a hopper to receive a stack of slide-carrying trays, a first carrier located within the hopper to carry the trays out of the hopper and onto the microscope stage and feeding means for dispensing the trays from the stack to the first carrier. The indexing means carries the tray to at least one predetermined index position on the stage and basically comprises a second carrier for moving the tray across the stage and a first sensor cooperating with the second carrier means. The index marker means activates the first sensor to stop the second carrier when the index marker means is in a first predetermined position corresponding to the tray being in the predetermined index position.

Abstract: A system for transporting a tray holding at least one specimen slide to and from the microscope. The tray includes index marker means and engagement means. The system comprises an input station, indexing means at the microscope stage and an output station. The input station includes a hopper to receive a stack of slide-carrying trays, a first carrier located within the hopper to carrying the trays out of the hopper and onto the microscope stage and feeding means for dispensing the trays from the stack to the first carrier. The indexing means carries the tray to at least one predetermined index position on the stage and basically comprises a second carrier for moving the tray across the stage and a first sensor cooperating with the second carrier means. The index marker means activates the first sensor to stop the second carrier when the index marker means is in a first predetermined position corresponding to the tray being in the predetermined index position.

Abstract: A device for separating a microscope slide into two separate sections has a arm mounted on a horizontal pivot carrying a downwardly extending glass cutter. A releasable member maintains the arm in an elevated position. A slider advances a microscope slide under the cutter releasing the releasable member to lower the cutter onto the microscope slide. A striker on the arm strikes one section of the cut slide to separate it from the other section as the cutter drops off the trailing edge of the slide. The slide then raises the arm for the restoration of the releasable means preferably by a cam attached to the arm. Advantageously, the releasable member is spring biased to its position to maintain the arm in an elevated position and is released by a cam attached to the slide. Advantageously, the slide is supported on a bed having an opening for the downward passage of the section of the slide struck by the striker with the opening having a edge underlying the cut made in the slide by the cutter.

Abstract: The invention is for a method for analyzing a stream of liquid such as blood and apparatus for carrying out the method. While it is known to present a moving column of liquid in a viewing cell, control of the circumference of the column to control its field size and lighting the column from the end opposite the viewing end has not been accomplished. The invention involves the method of passing a first liquid in a column in a confined space to a transparent panel, introducing one or more liquids of different colors to form a hollow column exterior of the first column, exhausting the liquids from adjacent the panel, directing light upwardly at the lower ends and through the columns and varying the pressure of one or more of the liquids to vary the circumference and speed of the first column. Apparatus is provided to carry out the method.

Abstract: A device for smearing on slides a drop of liquid placed on a predetermined point on each slide has slide magazines containing a plurality of slides with the uppermost slide in each magazine having its upper face exposed for the reception of a drop of liquid towards one end thereof. Spreaders are adjacent the other ends of the slides. Means advance the spreaders out of contact with the slides, lower the spreaders into contact with the slides as they approach said predetermined points on the slides and slow the advance of the spreaders as they approach said points. The spreaders are retracted and the angle between each spreader and slide decreases to thin the smear of liquid. Means advance the uppermost slide in each magazine forwardly out of the magazine a predetermined distance to facilitate the removal of the slide by hand after the desired smear is made.

Abstract: A device for smearing on slides a drop of liquid placed on a predetermined point on each slide has slide magazines containing a plurality of slides with the uppermost slide in each magazine having its upper face exposed for the reception of a drop of liquid towards one end thereof. Spreaders are adjacent the other ends of the slides. Means advance the spreaders out of contact with the slides, lower the spreaders into contact with the slides as they approach said predetermined points on the slides and slow the advance of the spreaders as they approach said points. The spreaders are retracted and the angle between each spreader and slide decreases to thin the smear of liquid. Means advance the uppermost slide in each magazine forwardly out of the magazine a predetermined distance to facilitate the removal of the slide by hand after the desired smear is made.

Abstract: A device for smearing liquid on a slide has (1) a housing and means for supporting a pair of slides on top of the housing, (2) a carriage with a pair of spaced runners which slidably support the carriage on the top of the housing, (3) a spreader pivotally mounted on the carriage and free to rock transversely with respect to a slide, (4) a member to advance the carriage and spreader, (5) a spring and dashpot arrangement to retract the carriage, and (6) latch means to arrest the carriage after it retracts a short distance. The means for supporting the slides may support the slide at an angle of at least five degrees with respect to the plane in which the carriage moves reducing the thickness of the liquid smeared on the slide. The dashpot plunger moves in the direction of an open end of the dashpot cylinder. Advantageously the device has means to clean the spreader.