Microtome Knife Holder Gravity Blade Ejection Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing knife holders for microtomes require manual pushing of used blades out, which can lead to jamming or oversliding issues and occupy more space, necessitating a more efficient and space-saving blade changing mechanism.

Innovation Solution

A knife holder design where used blades are ejected by gravity into a disposal receptacle, allowing new blades to be inserted without risk of jamming, using a lever-actuated clamping and ejection mechanism, with external mounting locations for blade supply and disposal containers to minimize user interaction and space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If a new blade is used to push out a used blade from the blade receptacle, then blade changing is automated, but jamming or oversliding occurs and space is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade changing automationVSAvoidblade ejection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The blade ejection function is separated from the blade pushing function. Instead of using the new blade to push out the used blade, a separate ejection means (movable lug) is introduced that can independently eject the used blade without contact with the new blade, eliminating jamming and oversliding issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A movable lug acts as an intermediary mechanism between the actuation means and the blade ejection process. The movable lug transfers the actuation force to eject the used blade from the blade receptacle, providing a reliable and controlled ejection process that avoids direct blade-to-blade contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Extent of automation

If a new blade is used to push out a used blade from the blade receptacle, then blade changing is automated, but the width of the knife holder is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade changing automationVSAvoidknife holder width

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The blade receptacles are arranged vertically spaced apart instead of horizontally adjacent. The first blade receptacle and second blade receptacle are positioned one above the other, utilizing the vertical dimension to accommodate both receptacles without increasing the horizontal width of the knife holder.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Length of moving object

If blade receptacles are arranged horizontally adjacent, then space is saved, but used blade ejection by gravity becomes impossible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveknife holder widthVSAvoidblade ejection ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The first blade receptacle and second blade receptacle are positioned at different vertical heights, creating a gravitational potential difference. This height difference enables used blades to be ejected from the first blade receptacle into the second blade receptacle by gravity alone, simplifying the ejection operation without requiring additional mechanical force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #12Equipotentiality

4Length of moving object

If manual blade handling is required, then space can be reduced, but risk of injury increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveknife holder widthVSAvoiduser injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The blade changing system performs blade ejection and disposal operations automatically through the actuation means and movable lug mechanism. The used blade is self-ejected from the first blade receptacle into the second blade receptacle by gravity, and the entire process requires no manual handling of the blade by the user, eliminating injury risk while maintaining a compact design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

The solution enables effortless blade replacement without manual handling, reducing the risk of injury and space requirements, while ensuring efficient disposal and supply operations, thus enhancing the usability and compactness of the knife holder.

Implementation Method 1

A used blade no longer needs to be pushed out of the blade receptacle of the cutting position (hereinafter the "first blade receptacle") by a new blade. Instead, it can be delivered by means of gravity, e.g. can fall or slide or slip out, into a blade receptacle of a disposal position (hereinafter the "second blade receptacle").

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS9304064B2Knife holder having a blade changing apparatus

Publication Date: 2016.04.05 LEICA BIOSYSTEMS NUSSLOCH GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to a knife holder (100) having a blade changing apparatus (102). The knife holder has a first blade receptacle (111) defining a cutting position, a securing device (130, 141, 142) for securing a blade (201) received in the first blade receptacle (111), a second blade receptacle (112) defining an output position, and an ejection device (141, 143, 144a) for ejecting a blade (201) received in the first blade receptacle (111) out of the first blade receptacle (111). The first and the second blade receptacles are arranged in the knife holder in such a way that a blade ejected from the first blade receptacle (111) can travel by gravity into the second blade receptacle (112).