Automated specimen processing systems and methods of detecting specimen-bearing microscope slides

An automated specimen processing system, comprising:

• a slide staging device having a standby platform and an alignment device;
• wherein the standby platform comprises a plate including (i) a slide holding region, (ii) an over-travel inhibitor, and (iii) one or more alignment features, wherein the slide holding region is raised relative to a surface of the plate;
• wherein the alignment device comprises a first movable aligning member capable of engaging a first edge of a slide and a second movable aligning member capable of engaging a second edge of the slide when the slide is in the slide holding region, and wherein the first and second movable alignment members are coupled to an actuator adapted to simultaneously move both the first and second movable alignment members toward and away from each other;
• wherein the over-travel inhibitor comprises a first vacuum port, wherein the first vacuum port includes an opening embedded within the plate for drawing a vacuum and a first presence sensor for detecting a presence of the slide on the standby platform, wherein the opening is fluidically coupled to a first vacuum assembly including a first vacuum source, and wherein the first vacuum port includes a contact surface comprising one or more compressible materials;
• and
• a transfer head configured to transport the slide from the standby platform to at least one specimen processing station, wherein the transfer head comprises (i) a second vacuum port integrated within a bottom surface of the transport head, wherein the second vacuum port is fluidically coupled through a supply line to a second vacuum assembly including a second vacuum source, (ii) a second presence sensor located on the bottom surface of the transfer head or within the second vacuum port, (iii) one or more head alignment features protruding from the bottom surface of the transfer head, wherein the one or more head alignment features correspond to the one or more alignment features of the plate, and (iv) a first position sensor for detecting an alignment of the one or more head alignment features with the corresponding one or more alignment features of the slide staging device;
• wherein the transfer head is configured to have at least 5 degrees of freedom of movement.