Stainer Basket Adapter for Automated Glass Slide Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing robotic gripper systems are unable to efficiently retrieve glass slides from stainer baskets due to the fixed design of both the gripper and the stainer basket, which does not allow for the necessary height differentiation to access slides without damaging them.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a processor that receives scan requirements, identifies the current slide configuration, generates an operational scan sequence, and executes it using a gripper apparatus. This system includes a stainer basket adapter with a profile that differentiates slides by height, allowing for efficient retrieval and scanning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If slides are stored in a standard stainer basket with fixed spacing, then the storage capacity is maximized, but the robotic gripper cannot access slides without damaging them due to insufficient height differentiation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces height differentiation as a new dimension to the stainer basket design. By varying the height of slide supports within the basket, the system creates vertical spacing that enables the robotic gripper to access slides at different elevations, solving the problem of insufficient height differentiation while maintaining compact storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the height-differentiated support structure) between the slides and the gripper. This intermediary creates the necessary vertical clearance that allows the gripper to safely grasp and retrieve slides without direct contact with adjacent slides, thereby enabling safe access while maintaining high storage density.
2Ease of manufacture
If the stainer basket and gripper are designed with fixed configurations, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but automation efficiency is reduced due to inability to adapt to different slide retrieval scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static, fixed configuration of the stainer basket into a dynamic system with variable height supports. This dynamic design allows the basket to adapt to different slide retrieval scenarios by providing varied elevation levels, thereby enhancing automation efficiency while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing through modular support elements.
3Quantity of substance
If slides are closely spaced in the stainer basket, then storage density is improved, but slide damage risk increases due to lack of clearance for gripper operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the conflict between storage density and damage risk by transitioning from a two-dimensional horizontal arrangement to a three-dimensional vertical arrangement. By utilizing height differentiation, the system maintains close horizontal spacing for high density while creating vertical clearance that prevents slide damage during gripper operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method for automated slide retrieval and scanning is disclosed. The system comprises at least a processor configured to receive, from a user, a set of scan requirements, identify a current slide configuration, generate an operational scan sequence based on the received scan requirements and the current slide configuration, and execute the generated operational scan sequence.