Automatic Slicing Apparatus with Image-Based Quality Evaluation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automatic slicing apparatuses face challenges in maintaining consistent conditions during the cutting and extension processes of sliced specimens, leading to a high probability of failure and inability to continuously operate without human intervention.
Innovation Solution
An automatic slicing apparatus that uses an evaluation means to judge the quality of sliced pieces through image analysis, exchanging sample blocks only when deemed good and re-cutting from the same block if judged not good, utilizing epi-illumination and transmission illumination to differentiate between the specimen and its surroundings, and binarization-processing of picture data to assess luminance and shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual work is used by skilled workers, then high-quality sliced specimens can be made, but it requires time and effort and cannot be continuously operated
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic slicing apparatus performs self-evaluation of sliced piece quality through image analysis and automatically decides whether to exchange sample blocks or re-cut, enabling continuous operation without human intervention while maintaining high manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The evaluation means analyzes images of sliced pieces and provides feedback on quality, which controls the sample block exchanging mechanism to automatically adjust the cutting process, ensuring consistent high-quality results while enabling continuous operation
2Productivity
If automatic slicing apparatus is used, then continuous operation is enabled, but conditions during cutting and extension processes cannot be maintained consistently
Solution Approach 1:
The evaluation means continuously monitors sliced piece quality through image analysis and provides real-time feedback to control the cutting parameters and sample block exchange timing, maintaining consistent cutting conditions during continuous automatic operation
Solution Approach 2:
Manual evaluation and adjustment of cutting conditions is replaced by an automated image analysis system that objectively assesses sliced piece quality and controls the cutting process, ensuring consistent conditions during continuous operation
3Productivity
If sample blocks are exchanged frequently, then more specimens can be produced, but the probability of specimen failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The evaluation means analyzes each sliced piece and provides feedback on quality before deciding whether to exchange the sample block, ensuring that blocks are exchanged only when necessary and maintaining high specimen success rates while maximizing productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of sliced piece quality through image analysis before proceeding to the next cutting or exchange operation, preventing failure by identifying problematic slices early and adjusting the process accordingly
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly reduces the risk of specimen failure and allows continuous operation with minimal human intervention, ensuring high-quality sliced specimens by precise evaluation and adaptive sample block management.
Implementation Method 1
an image of the sliced piece having been disposed on a surface of a mirror-reflecting medium
Implementation Method 2
an image of the sliced piece having been disposed in a transparent medium
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A sliced piece is continuously cut from plural sample blocks with a less fear of failing to make a sliced piece specimen even if continuously operated and, moreover, without causing a hand to intervene. There possesses a sample block attaching/detaching means which, on the basis of an exchange command signal, detaches a sample block attached to a cutting base and instead attaches a new sample block to the cutting base, a cutting means which cuts a sliced piece of a predetermined thickness by relatively moving a knife with respect to the sample block having been attached to the cutting base, an observation means observing the sliced piece having been cut, and an evaluation means which judges whether the sliced piece is good or not good by comparing an observation data having been obtained by the observation means and a sample block cut face data having been previously inputted and which, when there has been judged that the sliced piece is good, transmits an exchange command signal to the effect that the sample block is to be exchanged to the sample block attaching/detaching means.