The invention relates to a preparation system and method for preparing a sample for electron microscopy, the preparation system comprising: a liquid handling system (0) comprising a dispensing head (1), wherein said liquid handling system (0) is configured to aspirate and dispense a volume of a sample via the dispensing head (1), a support structure (2) that is configured to accommodate the sample, a temperature-controlled stage (4) that is configured to keep said support structure (2) at a pre-defined temperature, a first adapter (3) configured to hold said support structure (2), and a transfer mechanism (60) that is configured to be connected to the first adapter (3) holding the support structure (2) and to move said support structure (2) into a container (8) containing a liquid cryogen (80) so that the sample on the support structure (2) contacts the cryogen (80).

The invention relates to a carriage of a linear motion guide for arranging on a rail of the linear motion guide, said carriage having an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section and having at least one substantially U-shaped base body (15) which is supplemented with plastic components, wherein the carriage, in both legs of the U-shape, is in each case connected to at least one self-contained rolling body housing (7) which is kept open towards the rail in order to guide as precisely as possible on the rail and nevertheless being easy to assemble. According to the invention, at least parts of inner and outer boundary surfaces of a return channel (10) and both deflection channels (11) of one of the rolling body housings in the respective leg are formed by means of a one-piece plastic component in both legs of the carriage.

An x-ray generating unit includes an x-ray tube that is substantially transparent to x-rays and that defines a vacuum therein. A cathode is disposed within the x-ray tube and defines a plurality of spaced apart cavities. An anode is spaced apart from the cathode and includes a material that emits x-rays when impacted by electrons. A plurality of filaments is each disposed in a different one of the cavities defined by the cathode and each is electrically coupled to the cathode. Each filament emits a focused electron beam directed to a different predetermined spot on the anode upon application of a predetermined voltage between the cathode and the anode, thereby causing the anode to generate x-rays.

Provided is a beam irradiation system and a control method thereof. The beam irradiation system includes: a first irradiation chamber and a second irradiation chamber; a beam generation device to generate a beam and emit the beam to the first or second irradiation chambers; a system control module including a first control sub-module capable of controlling the beam generation device to emit the beam to the first irradiation chamber, and a second control sub-module capable of controlling the beam generation device to emit the beam to the second irradiation chamber; and a beam control module connected between the beam generation device and the system control module. For the first and second control sub-modules, one is capable of controlling the beam generation device through the beam control module when the beam control module is not occupied by the other, such that the same beam irradiation system controls multiple irradiation chambers respectively.

Provided is a beam irradiation system and a control method thereof. The beam irradiation system includes: a first irradiation chamber and a second irradiation chamber; a beam generation device to generate a beam and emit the beam to the first or second irradiation chambers; a system control module including a first control sub-module capable of controlling the beam generation device to emit the beam to the first irradiation chamber, and a second control sub-module capable of controlling the beam generation device to emit the beam to the second irradiation chamber; and a beam control module connected between the beam generation device and the system control module. For the first and second control sub-modules, one is capable of controlling the beam generation device through the beam control module when the beam control module is not occupied by the other, such that the same beam irradiation system controls multiple irradiation chambers respectively.

A method and a device for treating poultry eggs with an electron beam bundle to sterilize the calcareous shell are disclosed. The method includes moving at least one egg through the beam path of an electron beam source; irradiating the eggs, whereby the calcareous shell is irradiated with a varying dose; and either carrying out an irradiation encompassing all regions of the calcareous shell of the egg by employing the electron beam bundle, whereby an element is inserted into the path of the electron beam bundle; carrying out an irradiation of a rolling/rolled egg by employing the electron beam source in the path of the electron beam bundle; or carrying out an irradiation of the held eggs by employing the electron beam source in the electron beam bundle path at a zero degree position of one side in a device arranged upstream of a turning device.

A method and a device for treating poultry eggs with an electron beam bundle to sterilize the calcareous shell are disclosed. The method includes moving at least one egg through the beam path of an electron beam source; irradiating the eggs, whereby the calcareous shell is irradiated with a varying dose; and either carrying out an irradiation encompassing all regions of the calcareous shell of the egg by employing the electron beam bundle, whereby an element is inserted into the path of the electron beam bundle; carrying out an irradiation of a rolling/rolled egg by employing the electron beam source in the path of the electron beam bundle; or carrying out an irradiation of the held eggs by employing the electron beam source in the electron beam bundle path at a zero degree position of one side in a device arranged upstream of a turning device.

An on-axis, angled, rotator device is disclosed. The rotator device may include a container containing a slot for receiving a sample. An angle of the slot may be configured to be between 0 and 180 degrees relative to a perpendicular irradiation plane of a radiation device. The rotator device may include a cup positioned within an opening of the container. Additionally, the rotator device may include a driveshaft configured to transmit torque to cause the cup to be rotated when the cup is positioned within the opening. When the sample resides within the slot and the driveshaft transmits the torque to the cup, the cup may cause the sample to rotate about a center axis of the sample. The angle of the slot containing the sample and the rotation of the sample about the center axis may facilitate uniform radiation exposure to the sample when the radiation device emits radiation.

An on-axis, angled, rotator device is disclosed. The rotator device may include a container containing a slot for receiving a sample. An angle of the slot may be configured to be between 0 and 180 degrees relative to a perpendicular irradiation plane of a radiation device. The rotator device may include a cup positioned within an opening of the container. Additionally, the rotator device may include a driveshaft configured to transmit torque to cause the cup to be rotated when the cup is positioned within the opening. When the sample resides within the slot and the driveshaft transmits the torque to the cup, the cup may cause the sample to rotate about a center axis of the sample. The angle of the slot containing the sample and the rotation of the sample about the center axis may facilitate uniform radiation exposure to the sample when the radiation device emits radiation.

An apparatus, system, and method for real-time dosimetry. An electron beam irradiation system includes one or more detectors. The detectors have coils that, when an electron travels by a sensor pad in the detector, the electron induces a current into the coils. The current is detected and the electron is counted. The number of electrons counted at the one or more detectors is compared to the number of electrons leaving an electron gun, giving a dosage of the workpiece being irradiated.