AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR READING IDENTIFICATION CODES PRINTED ON SLIDES

Abstract

In the field of pathological anatomy, in particular the sector related to the reading of slides used in hospital departments, disclosed is an automated system for reading codes printed on the slides.

Claims

1. An automated system for reading identification codes printed on slides, characterised in that said system comprises: guides for positioning in a fixed position a container with slots on the base of the same, inside which slides are housed in an orderly manner in spaces; a comb device for lifting a row of slides; a lifting lever which moves the comb device; a sensor for reading slides positioned on a bracket connected to two mobile carriages that move on axes of movement; pulleys for axle movement; a motor which drives the pulleys connected together by belts; a door for inserting the container in the system.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterised in that the lifting of a row of slides takes place by means of the lifting lever that, moving on the axes of movement, moves to under the row of slides to be lifted, enters the slot of the container and actuates the raising of the row of slides until the coloured band on which the code is written is discovered.

3. The system according to claim 1, characterised in that, in an alternative embodiment, it can read multiple rows of slides in a different manner using more than one comb device positioned at different pitches, each one actuated by its own lifting lever.

4. The system according to claim 1, characterised in that the reading sensor: is secured to the bracket and moves together with the mobile carriages, which move on the axes of movement, and the bracket while consistently maintaining the same reading distance; alternatively, the sensor moves vertically with respect to the display container while invariably maintaining the same reading distance; alternatively, the sensor reads the whole area of the vertical container; alternatively, the sensor moves by means of an additional electric axle along a bracket connected to a central mobile carriage located under a lifting lever and which slides on respective central axes of movement.

5. The system according to claim 1, characterised in that the axes of movement of the carriages are not fitted with drive belts and move synchronously with each other by means of individual motors connected to an electric shaft.

6. The system according to claim 1, characterised in that the lifting lever is individual to lift the entire row of slides or, alternatively, has single actuators to lift each slide.

Description

[0025] Additional characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, form of implementation of the system forming the subject matter of this patent application, illustrated by way of indication, but not limited to, the drawing units below:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a system (S) for reading codes printed on slides where the following are visible: [0027] guides (1) for positioning a container in a fixed position; [0028] a comb device (2) for lifting a row of slides; [0029] a lifting lever (3) which moves the comb device (2); [0030] a sensor (4) for reading slides positioned on a bracket (5) connected to two mobile carriages (6) that move on the axes of movement (7); [0031] pulleys (8) for axle movement (7);

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the system (S) illustrating how the mobile carriages (6) move on the axes of movement (7);

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional view of the system (S) illustrating a motor (9) driving the pulleys (8) connected together by belts (10);

[0034] FIG. 4 shows in a three-dimensional view of the system (S) illustrating that, by means of the opening of a door (11), a container (12) in which slides (13) are housed in an orderly manner in the rest position in spaces can be introduced to said system (S);

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional view of the system (S) in FIG. 4 in which slides (13) are raised to enable the sensor (4) to read the identification codes;

[0036] FIG. 6 shows a further three-dimensional view of the system (S) in FIG. 4 in which the slides (13) are in rest position;

[0037] FIG. 7 shows a further three-dimensional view of the system (S) of FIG. 6;

[0038] FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of the system (S), illustrating: [0039] the sensor (4) for reading slides; [0040] pulleys (8) for axle movement (7);

[0041] FIG. 9 shows a detailed view of the comb device (2), the lifting lever (3) and the slides (13) in the rest position;

[0042] FIG. 10 shows a detailed view of the comb device (2), the lifting lever (3) and the raised slides (13);

[0043] FIG. 11 shows a three-dimensional view of the container (12);

[0044] FIG. 12 shows an above-view of the container (12) in FIG. 11 illustrating the slots (14) cut at the bottom;

[0045] FIG. 13 shows a three-dimensional view of a static display container (15);

[0046] FIG. 14 shows a lateral view of the display container (15) in FIG. 13;

[0047] FIG. 15 shows a further three-dimensional view of the display container (15) in FIG. 13;

[0048] FIG. 16 shows a three-dimensional view of: [0049] a sensor (4) for reading slides (13) moving a long a bracket (5bis) by means of an additional electric axle (16) (FIG. 16A) scanning in sequence (step by step or continuously) the row of slides (13); [0050] a single central mobile carriage (6bis), which slides on respective central axes of movement (7bis), is connected to the bracket (5bis) and is placed under a lifting lever (3bis).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0051] In accordance with a preferredbut not limitingform of implementation, this invention concerns an automated reading system (S) of identification codes printed on slides (13).

[0052] Said system (S) includes: [0053] guides (1) for positioning in a fixed position a container (12) with slots (14) on the base of the same, inside which slides (13) are housed in an orderly manner in spaces; [0054] a comb device (2) for lifting a row of slides (13); [0055] a lifting lever (3) which moves the comb device (2); [0056] a sensor (4) for reading slides positioned on a bracket (5) connected to two mobile carriages (6) that move on axes of movement (7); [0057] pulleys (8) for axle movement (7); [0058] a motor (9) which drives the pulleys (8) connected together by belts (10); [0059] a door (11) for inserting the container (12) in the system (S).

[0060] The system (S) forming the subject matter of this patent application can be used with containers of any size and is based on the concurrent lifting of multiple slides (13) arranged in the same row by means of the lifting comb (2), which passes through the slots (14).

[0061] The containers (12) have slots (14) cut at a regular pitch.

[0062] The automation and therefore the speeding up of the reading of the slides presupposes that the slides are positioned vertically (or tilted slightly) in a stable manner to ensure slide (13) descent after reading; furthermore, the slides (13) are spaced apart to facilitate manual removal of the same from the container (12) and to enable automatic lifting of the slides from their housing along the vertical axis, so that the upper part of the slides can be read, before being repositioned in the relevant housing once reading has taken place.

[0063] The slides (13) are lifted by means of the comb device (2), which in turn is actuated by the lifting lever (3).

[0064] Moving on the axes of movement (7), said lifting lever (3) moves to under the row of slides (13) to be lifted, enters the slot (14) in the container (12) and actuates the raising of the row of slides (13).

[0065] The positions that can be taken by the axis (7) (which can be programmed using software) are those relative to the positioning heights of each row, which can be modified in accordance with various container types (12) and various rows of slides (13).

[0066] Each programmed position represents a position of the slide (13) reported in a PC screen window to which the code read on the slide (13) is associated. By reading all the slides (13) present in the container (12), any missing slides (13) will not be read and the PC will consider the relevant positions either empty or unidentified.

[0067] By means of the lifting lever (3), the slides (13) rise until only the bands on which the codes are printed are exposed. The slides do not ever rise completely out of the container (12).

[0068] In an alternative form of creation, the system (S) can be equipped with more than one comb device (2) with each device being actuated by its own lifting lever (3); in this case, two or more rows can be read lifting them in different ways, ensuring that the bands are always exposed.

[0069] In an alternative form of creation, a static display container (15) enabling the slides (13) to be read without being moved can be created. In said container (15), each row of slides (13) is arranged in order that the slide reading bands are exposed. The reading sensor (4) moves vertically with respect to the display container (15) maintain the same reading distance. Alternatively, a sensor capable of reading the entire area of the vertical container (15) can be used.

[0070] A further alternative can be to move the step-by-step or continuous reading sensor (4) along an electric axle (16) fitted on a bracket (5bis) in order to read the row of slides (13) in succession; said bracket (5bis) is connected to a central motorised mobile carriage (6bis), which is located under a lifting lever (3bis) and slides on respective central axes of movement (7bis), as per FIG. 16A.

[0071] In any event, by being partially lifted, the slides (13) do not suffer any damage or alteration, as no pressure or friction is applied to the same. The entire system (S) is actuated by means of a motor (9) which drives the pulleys (8) connected together by belts (10); two mobile carriages (6) move following the actuation of the pulleys (8). Said mobile carriages (6) are mechanically or electrically connected together and simultaneously move the comb device (2) and the bracket (5) on which the reading sensor (4) is located. As a result of this feature, the distance between the reading sensor (4) and the slides (13) to be read is identical for each movement and synchronous with the row of slides (13) to be lifted.

[0072] In addition to 1D and 2D codes, the reading sensor (4) is also able to read alphanumeric codes.

[0073] The axes of movement (7) of the carriages (6) are not fitted with drive belts and move synchronously with each other by means of individual motors connected to an electric shaft.

[0074] The axes of movement (7) are designed to identify the lifting point on the slide or slides (13) to be read. Said identification can be carried out to map the entire container (12) or, if required, it may serve to remove slides (13) from the container (12) on a temporary basis.

[0075] As an alternative to the axes of movement (7), central axes of movement (7bis) with a single mobile carriage (6bis) located below the comb device (2) and the lifting lever (3bis) can be fitted.

[0076] The lifting lever (3) can be individual to lift the entire row of slides (13) or, alternatively, with single actuators to lift each slide (13) in the row.

[0077] With regard to both storage and reading for extraction, the system is fully programmable using a PC.

[0078] Once the system has read all the rows of slides (13), it returns to its starting position, in order to be able to start reading a new container (12) when loaded.

[0079] Said reading system is used in combination with traceability and filing management software, eliminating human error in full. The materials and sizes of the invention as described above, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and claimed hereunder, may be of any variation in accordance with requirements. In addition, all details can be replaced with other technically equivalent details without departing from the scope of this patent application.