Slide Feeder
Project Overview
The objective was to develop a slide feeder mechanism for an imaging platform used for anatomic pathology. The feeder sends a custom-designed, molded plastic cassette loaded with slides onto the client’s imager. The slide picker transfers slides to and from the imager’s stage and the slide feeder.
How It Works
Once a fresh cassette is place into the feeder, the bottom slide position in the cassette will be the first slide to be extracted then inserted. A motor and rack and pinion gear set is used for this purpose. A suction cup and vacuum system is used to pick a slide. More details on all components below…
Our Solution
The slide feeder mechanism took the form of two modules: a cassette feeder and a slide picker. The design included a plastic molded cassette and machined parts from aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, and bronze. It also emphasized sheet metal parts (i.e.: for shoots and the guard covering the chain drive).
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Product Design
Parts
Week Turnaround
Amazing Result
Slide Cassette Feeder
Extraction and Insertion
Achieved via linear motion using a motor with a rack and pinion gear set.
Motor Powered
The slide is ejected from the cassette, and when reversed, inserted back into the cassette.
Escapement Mechanism
The cassette has an escapement feature molded in that meshes with a pawl within the feeder.
Manual Lever
By manually pulling a release lever, the cassette falls through the feeder into the exit shoot.
Slide Picker for Custom Feeder
Motion Conversion
A rack and pinion slides along a keyed shaft and converts rotary motion into linear motion.
Picking Mechanism
A linear guide transfers rotary motion to the pinion to raise or lower the suction cup.
Complete Cycle
A motor and roller chain drive rotates the keyed shaft while a separate motor linearly moves the picking mechanism along the keyed shaft to either the feeder position or the imager’s stage position.
Final Design
Specifications for both designs included a plastic molded cassette, sheet metal parts, and machined parts from aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, and bronze.