Slide rack gripper apparatus

A slide rack gripper apparatus, comprising:

• (a) a base defining a gross movement axis;
• (b) a finger mount extending from the base and being configured to translate along the gross movement axis;
• (c) a first motor in communication with the base, the first motor being configured to drive translation of the finger mount along the gross movement axis;
• (d) a plurality of gripper fingers, each gripper finger extending from a portion of the finger mount, each gripper finger defining a slide rack engagement surface, the slide rack engagement surface of a first gripper finger being oriented to face the slide rack engagement surface of a second gripper finger;
• and
• (e) a second motor in communication with the finger mount, the second motor being configured to drive the plurality of gripper fingers along a first fine movement axis and a second fine movement axis, the second motor being further configured to drive the first gripper finger and the second gripper finger in an opposing direction along the second fine movement axis to grasp or release a slide rack, the first motor being configured to remove the slide rack from a slide rack carousel or insert the slide rack into the slide rack carousel along the gross movement axis.

A slide rack gripper apparatus, comprising:

• (a) a base defining a first linear axis;
• (b) a finger mount extending from the base and being configured to translate along the first linear axis;
• (c) a first motor in communication with the base, the first motor being configured to drive translation of the finger mount along the first linear axis;
• (d) a finger assembly movably secured to the finger mount, the finger assembly including a first gripper finger and a second gripper finger, the finger assembly being configured to move along a second linear axis, the first gripper finger and the second gripper finger being configured to move along a third linear axis, the first gripper finger defining one or more first finger protrusions, the second gripper finger defining one or more second finger protrusions;
• (e) a second motor in communication with the finger mount, the second motor being configured to drive the finger assembly along the second linear axis, the second motor being further configured to drive the first gripper finger and the second gripper finger in opposing directions along the third linear axis to grasp or release a slide rack, the one or more first finger protrusions and the one or more second finger protrusions being configured to gasp one or more slide rack protrusions of the slide rack when the one or more slide rack protrusions are oriented obliquely relative to the second linear axis.