Wrap device to facilitate handling of stacked slides or other stackable flat objects

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a wrap device and to methods of using a wrap device for facilitating manipulation of a stack of slides or other stackable objects in order to remove the stack from a packaging container and place within a hopper or other dispensing container. When using the device and methods of the present invention, no undue force is exerted on any particular slide within the stack, thus minimizing the risks of breakage, while stabilizing the stack such that “fanning” and slippage within the stack is substantially prevented. Further, the invention may be used to facilitate manipulation of a stack of slides without direct contact between the slides and a user's hands.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] The present application is based on and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 546,046 filed Feb. 19, 2004.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a device that facilitates the handling and / or transfer of a stack comprising a number of substantially flat, stackable objects including, but not limited to, microscope slides, plates, trays, and the like. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] A variety of automated or semi-automated instruments exist that require manual loading of multiple slides or other stackable devices into some sort of dispensing container, hopper, or magazine-like structure designed to hold a stack of devices, for example, a stack of about 50 or more microscope slides. Typically, it is difficult to load more than just a few slides at a time by hand into a standard slide hopper due to the tendency of slides within a stack to slip against each other near the middle of the ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] The present invention is directed to devices and methods for facilitating manipulation of a stack of slides, or other stackable objects (referred to collectively as “slides”), to remove the stack from a packaging container and place within a hopper or other dispensing container. When using the device and methods of the present invention, no undue force is exerted on any particular slide within the stack, thus minimizing the risks of breakage, while stabilizing the stack such that “fanning” and slippage within the stack is substantially prevented. Further, the invention may be used to facilitate manipulation of a stack of slides without direct contact between the slides and a user's hands.

Problems solved by technology

Typically, it is difficult to load more than just a few slides at a time by hand into a standard slide hopper due to the tendency of slides within a stack to slip against each other near the middle of the stack.

However, the ability to transfer significant numbers of slides, as in a stack of 50 to 100 or more slides, at one time would decrease the amount of time and labor required for loading.

The application of sufficient pressure on the top and bottom of the stack may avoid such mishaps; however, too much pressure can lead to breakage.

Images