Abstract: In a vibrating microtome (1), a knife (6) is caused to vibrate during a sectioning operation in a direction parallel to a section plane and substantially parallel to the knife's edge, during which a transverse offset can occur as a consequence of a potentially present inclination of the cutting edge with respect to the section plane. A measuring device (3) for measuring the transverse offset comprises a light barrier (9) into which the cutting edge is placeable so as to partially cover the light of the light barrier. The vibrating microtome (1) generates, from the motion of the knife, a control application signal (pklo, pkhi) that describes the time course of the vibration of the knife (6), and the electronic measurement system of the measuring device (3) measures the coverage of the light barrier as a consequence of the vibration of the knife as an oscillating signal (tpm), and determines the transverse offset from the signal values at points in time that are defined by the control application signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lever arrangement (10) for a microtome (1). The lever arrangement (10) encompasses a first lever (11) and a second lever (12). The first lever (11) is mounted rotatably about a first axis (13) and is rotatable by an operator. The second lever (12) is mounted rotatably about a second axis (14). The first axis (13) is arranged substantially parallel to the second axis (14). The one lever (11) comprises two guidance surfaces (17, 18). The other lever (12) comprises a guidance segment (20). The guidance segment (20) coacts with the two guidance surfaces (17, 18) in such a way that a rotation of the first lever (11) in a first direction (23) rotates the second lever (12) in a target direction (25), and a rotation of the first lever (11) in a direction (24) opposite to the first direction (23) likewise rotates the second lever (12) in the target direction (25).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a crank drive system (10) of a shaft (11) of a microtome (1). The crank drive system (10) encompasses a first and a second shaft (11, 12). The first shaft (11) is rotatable with a crank (13). The first shaft (11) comprises a first transfer gear (14). The second shaft (12) comprises a second transfer gear (15). A rotation of the first shaft (11) is transferable from the first transfer gear (14) to the second transfer gear (15) of the second shaft (12). The second shaft (12) is thereby capable of being caused to rotate. To make possible, with a microtome (1), an advance or a lowering of the specimen (2) in two respective oppositely directed rotation directions with the same crank drive system (10), the crank drive system (10) according to the present invention is characterized in that a third transfer gear (16) is provided.

Abstract: A feed device (1) for a microtome, in particular for a cryostat microtome, for setting the cut thickness of the specimen (2) to be sectioned, is described. In order to set the cut thickness, either the cutting knife or the specimen holder (3) is mounted on a slide (8) in a slide guide (4) and is connected non-positively to a drive motor (5). The drive motor (5) is connected either to an eccentric cam (6) or to a helical cam (7), and the nonpositive connection between the motor (5) and the slide is accomplished via the eccentric cam (6) or the helical cam (7).

Abstract: A cryostat (1) having a sealable housing (2) is described. The housing (2) encloses a coolable cryostat chamber (3), and a refrigeration device (4), a control system (5) and a power supply (6) are provided for cooling the cryostat chamber (3). For cutting frozen samples, a microtome is arranged in the cryostat chamber (3), a staining station (7) being integrated into the housing (2) outside the cryostat chamber (3).

Abstract: A rotary microtome (1) is disclosed, having a base part (2) on which a microtome housing (4) and a knife holder (6) are arranged. Also provided is a collection element (8) that surrounds the knife holder on three sides, the collection element having a U-shaped base outline. Also provided are several clamping levers that are associated with the knife holder, at least one clamping lever for the knife holder being arranged operably on a first or a second outer side wall (18a, 18b). In addition, the bottom (12) of the collection element (8) has shaped on it an elevation (22) under which a mechanical coupling is guided from the clamping lever (10c) to the knife holder.

Abstract: A cryostat (1) having a sealable housing (2) is described, the housing (2) enclosing a coolable cryostat chamber (3). For cooling the cryostat chamber (3), a refrigeration device (4), a control system (5) and a power supply (6) are provided. For cutting frozen samples, a microtome is arranged in the cryostat chamber (3). A temperature-controllable heating plate (7) is integrated into the housing (2) of the cryostat (1), outside the cryostat chamber (3).

Abstract: For automatic transportation and lifting and lowering of specimens in an automatic stainer, a drive system comprises a motor (16) and a side wall assembly (40), the motor (16) being coupled on the drive side to a first (12) and a second (14) crank system. The first (12) and second (14) crank systems are respectively coupled to the side wall assembly (40).

Abstract: A system (100) for staining and coverslipping specimen slides comprises a first part (the stainer (1)) and a second part (the coverslipper (20)). A transport device (5), with which racks (4) carrying specimen slides are transferred directly from the stainer (1) into the coverslipper (20), is provided in the stainer (1).

Abstract: A method for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens, for example in an automatic stainer, the objects being delivered, preferably on object carriers and in object carrier magazines, by means of a transport device to various processing stations, inserted therein, and treated in accordance with a definable treatment program, and the transport device being capable, during the treatment, of moving further objects or object carriers to other processing stations so that a parallel processing or treatment is possible in various processing stations, is characterized by an optimized automatic program sequence according to which identically operating processing stations are defined as backup stations and are correspondingly occupied if a concretely required processing station is occupied.

Abstract: A panel (1) for receiving cassettes (2) and/or specimen slides (3) for histological or cytological preparations is embodied in rectangular fashion with two longitudinal sides (4), a first narrow side (5) and a second narrow side (6), and comprises a base (7) as support for the specimen slides (3) and/or cassettes (2). Peripheral side walls (8) are provided on both longitudinal sides (4) and on the first narrow side (5).

Abstract: An apparatus for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens, having multiple processing stations (2) and a transport device (4) for delivering the objects into and out of the processing stations (2), is characterized in that the transport device (4) comprises a robot arm (5) that is movable in three dimensions and provides for arbitrary positioning of the objects.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens, having multiple processing stations and a transport device for delivering the objects into and out of the processing stations, is characterized in that at least one running-water station (1), having an inflow (2) and an outflow (3), is provided as a processing station.

Abstract: A rotary microtome (1) is disclosed, having a base part (2) on which a microtome housing (4) and a knife holder (6) are arranged. Also provided is a collection element (8) that surrounds the knife holder on three sides, the collection element having a U-shaped base outline. Also provided are several clamping levers that are associated with the knife holder, at least one clamping lever for the knife holder being arranged operably on a first or a second outer side wall (18a, 18b). In addition, the bottom (12) of the collection element (8) has shaped on it an elevation (22) under which a mechanical coupling is guided from the clamping lever (10c) to the knife holder.

Abstract: An automatic stainer for staining specimens that are arranged on specimen slides and embedded in a medium, preferably in paraffin, is described. The automatic stainer has multiple reagent containers arranged one behind another for treating the specimens. During staining, the specimen slides pass successively through the reagent containers. There are transport baskets for receiving multiple specimen slides, multiple transport baskets being received simultaneously each in different reagent containers. A motorized transport mechanism, with a lifting device that lifts all the transport baskets simultaneously out of the respective reagent container and transports them on into the respective adjacent reagent container, is provided. A heating station for heating the specimens and melting the embedding medium is arranged in front of the row of reagent containers. The heating station has at least one melting container for simultaneously receiving multiple transport baskets.

Abstract: A system for staining and coverslipping specimen slides, having a stainer (1) and a coverslipper (3) that are arranged next to one another. A transfer device (2), which transports racks with specimen slides from the stainer (1) to the coverslipper (3), is provided between the stainer (1) and the coverslipper (3). Transport is automated so that operation by the user is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A delivery device (5) for cassettes and/or specimen slides for histological preparations in a printing system (11) is described. The cassettes and/or specimen slides are in each case arranged one above another in stack magazines (6), a control device (1) being provided for removal of a cassette and/or specimen slide from the stack magazines (6). The improvement comprises a drive shaft (12) having a motor (13) for at least two stack magazines (6), and the motor (13) is connected to the control device (1).

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for drying solvent-based ink is described, in which the ink is applied onto plastic cassettes for histological preparations and/or on glass specimen slides (17) for microscopic thin sections. The apparatus (1) comprises a hot-air blower (2) and/or a flash device (3) for drying the ink.

Abstract: A dispenser for thin replaceable knives, for example microtome knives, comprises a housing (3) for the reception of multiple knives (2) arranged in a stack (5). The housing includes a cover (7) and a longitudinal wall (10) adjacent to the housing cover (7) through which a dispensing opening (9) is provided. A spring (6) is arranged for biasing the knife stack (5) against the inside of the housing cover (7), and a slider (8) is provided to travel within a groove (16) on the outside of the housing cover (7) for engaging an individual knife (2) and pivoting the individual knife such that at least a portion of the knife protrudes out of the housing (3), wherein a knife edge (11) along the protruding knife portion faces back in the direction of the opening (9).

Abstract: An apparatus for treating objects, in particular cytological or histological specimens, having multiple processing stations and preferably a transport device for delivering the objects into and out of the processing stations, is characterized in that at least one heatable reagent station (1) is provided as a processing station.