Blade moving device, blade holding and changing apparatus and microtome

A blade holding and changing apparatus, comprising:

• a blade holder configured to clamp a used blade;
• a used blade box connected to the blade holder and configured to receive the used blade to be removed out of the blade holder;
• and
• a blade moving device comprising:
• a support base;
• a linear bushing arranged in the support base;
• a moving block received in the support base and movably fitted over the linear bushing;
• a touch connector connected to the moving block and configured to move along with the moving block;
• and
• a blade box connected to the support base and configured to receive a blade therein, the touch connector being further configured to touch and push the blade to move out of the blade box when moving along with the moving block;
• wherein the used blade box and the blade moving device are arranged to two opposite sides of the blade holder, respectively, and the blade moving device is configured to receive an unused blade therein and move the unused blade towards the used blade to replace the used blade with the unused blade.

A microtome, comprising:

• a blade holding and changing apparatus comprising:
• a blade holder configured to clamp a used blade;
• a used blade box connected to the blade holder and configured to receive the used blade to be removed out of the blade holder;
• and
• a blade moving device comprising:
• a support base comprising:
• a bottom wall, two opposite side walls arranged at two ends of the bottom wall and extending upwards from the bottom wall, respectively, and a back wall arranged between the two opposite side walls and extending upwards from the bottom wall;
• a linear bushing arranged in the support base;
• a moving block received in the support base and movably fitted over the linear bushing;
• a touch connector connected to the moving block and configured to move along with the moving block;
• a blade box connected to the support base and configured to receive a blade therein, the touch connector being further configured to touch and push the blade to move out of the blade box when moving along with the moving block, wherein the used blade box and the blade moving device are arranged to two opposite sides of the blade holder, respectively, and the blade moving device is configured to receive an unused blade therein and move the unused blade towards the used blade to replace the used blade with the unused blade;
• a motor arranged on the bottom wall of the support base and comprising a driving shaft passing through one of the two side walls of the support base;
• a lead screw received in the support base and having two ends passing through the two opposite side walls of the support base and fixed therein, respectively;
• two timing belt pulleys arranged close to the side wall of the support base through which the driving shaft passes, one of the two timing belt pulleys being arranged to the driving shaft of the motor, and the other one of the two timing belt pulleys being arranged to the lead screw;
• and
• a timing belt fitted over the two timing belt pulleys;
• an operator interface unit configured to receive an input and generate an instruction according to the input;
• and
• a control unit coupled to the blade holding and changing apparatus and the operator interface unit, and configured to receive the instruction from the operator interface unit and control the blade holding and changing apparatus according to the instruction.