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System, method and apparatus for fiber sample preparation for image analysis

  • US 7,588,438 B2
  • Filed: 10/31/2006
  • Issued: 09/15/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2005
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A precision mechanical fiber cutting apparatus comprising:

  • a vertical blade moving mechanism that moves in a vertical plane;

    at least 3 substantially vertical parallel fixed cutting blades connected to the vertical blade moving mechanism to move in a vertical plane to punch out one or more cut fibers;

    a cutting stage positioned below the vertical blade moving mechanism to support a fiber sample against a downward cutting motion of the at least 3 substantially vertical parallel fixed cutting blades, wherein the cutting stage comprisesa top and a bottom connected to 1 or more side walls having an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture, wherein the top comprises at least 3 slits to receive the at least 3 substantially vertical parallel fixed cutting blades to allow transport of the fiber sample into the cutting stage, wherein the top supports the fiber sample to allow the at least 3 substantially vertical parallel fixed cutting blades to punch out the fiber sample into one or more cut fibers having substantially uniformed lengths with substantially uniformed ends;

    a fiber chamber connected to the outlet aperture by a conduit to receive the one or more cut fibers; and

    a pressurized gas source connected to the inlet aperture to transfer the one or more cut fibers to the fiber chamber, wherein the one or more cut fibers are deposited in a random distribution onto a sample slide within the fiber chamber.

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