Dispenser for thin knives, in particular for thin replaceable microtome knives

• US 6,763,972 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2002
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leica Biosystems Nussloch GmbH (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Leica Microsystems Gmbh (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Graupner, Dag
• Primary Examiner(s): NOLAND, KENNETH W
• Application Number:
  US10/192,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20030015545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 221/232, 221/268, 221/256, 221/269, 221/270, 221/271, 221/276, 221/283, 221/255, 206/354, 206/355, 206/39.5
• US Class Current: 221/232
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/06 providing a thin slice, e.g. microtome
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/061 Blade details
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00089 Magazines

Abstract

A dispenser for thin replaceable knives, for example microtome knives, comprises a housing (3) for the reception of multiple knives (2) arranged in a stack (5). The housing includes a cover (7) and a longitudinal wall (10) adjacent to the housing cover (7) through which a dispensing opening (9) is provided. A spring (6) is arranged for biasing the knife stack (5) against the inside of the housing cover (7), and a slider (8) is provided to travel within a groove (16) on the outside of the housing cover (7) for engaging an individual knife (2) and pivoting the individual knife such that at least a portion of the knife protrudes out of the housing (3), wherein a knife edge (11) along the protruding knife portion faces back in the direction of the opening (9).

Claims

1. A dispenser (1) for thin replaceable knives, said dispenser comprising:

a housing (3) for the reception of multiple knives arranged in a stack (5), said housing including a cover(7) and a longitudinal wall (10) adjacent to said housing cover (7), said wall (10) having an opening (9) therethrough;

a spring (6) arranged for pressing said knife stack (5) against said housing cover (7); and

a slider (8) for engaging an individual knife (2) and sliding said individual knife out through an opening (9) in the wall of the housing (3);

wherein said individual knife (2) is pivoted by said slider (3) such that at least a portion of said individual knife (2) extends out of said housing (3) and a knife edge (11) along said portion faces in the direction of said opening (9).

2. The dispenser for thin knives as defined in claim 1, wherein said slider (8) comprises a stud (14) for engagement into a hole (13) in said individual knife (2).

3. The dispenser for thin knives as defined in claim 1, wherein said slider (8) comprises a recess (15) for more reliable handling.

4. The dispenser for thin knives as defined in claim 1, wherein said cover (7) includes a groove (16) and said slider (8) is guided in said groove (16).

5. The dispenser for thin knives as defined in claim 4, wherein said groove (16) is arranged obliquely with respect to said knife edge (11).

6. The dispenser for thin knives as defined in claim 4, wherein said groove (16) is arranged in said housing cover (7) such that said slider (8) engages said individual knife (2) at a location spaced from a longitudinal center of said individual knife (2).

7. The dispenser for thin knives as defined in claim 5, wherein said groove (16) is arranged in said housing cover (7) such that said slider (8) engages said individual knife (2) at a location spaced from a longitudinal center of said individual knife (2).

8. The dispenser (1) for thin knives as defined in claim 1, further comprising a support surface associated with said opening (9) and located under said individual knife (2).

9. The dispenser for thin knives as defined in claim 8, wherein a portion of said support surface (17) is bounded by a stop (18) for limiting the movement of said individual knife (2).

10. In combination:

a plurality of thin replaceable knives (2) each including a hole (13) therein; and

a dispenser (1) for holding said plurality of thin replaceable knives and selectively dispensing an individual knife (2) taken from said plurality of thin replaceable knives, said dispenser comprising;

a housing (3) for the reception of multiple knives (2) arranged in a stack (5), said housing including a cover(7) and a longitudinal wall (10) adjacent to said housing cover (7), said wall (10) having an opening (9) therethrough;

a spring (6) arranged for pressing said knife stack (5) against said housing cover (7); and

a slider (8) for engaging an individual knife (2) and sliding said individual knife out through an opening (9) in the wall of the housing (3);

wherein said individual knife (2) is pivoted by said slider (3) such that at least a portion of said individual knife (2) extends out of said housing (3) and a knife edge (11) along said portion faces in the direction of said opening (9).

11. The combination as defined in claim 10, wherein said slider (8) comprises a snap-in stud (14) for engagement into said hole (13) of said individual knife (2).