Compact specimen inspection station

A specimen inspection station, comprising:

• a stage for supporting a specimen in a generally vertical orientation;
• a specimen transporter for transporting the specimen from a specimen storage location to the stage, the specimen transporter including a paddle that is operable t acquire the specimen from the specimen storage location and transport the specimen int he generally vertical orientation by means of rotational movement to the stage;
• an optical means for viewing a selected region of the generally vertically oriented specimen supported on the stage;
• and
• a vacuum pressure source for supplying vacuum to the paddle and the stage to secure the specimen to the paddle during transportation of the specimen from the specimen storage location to the stage and to secure the specimen to the stage.

A specimen inspection station, comprising:

• a stage for supporting a specimen in a generally vertical orientation;
• a vacuum pressure source communicating with the stage to secure the specimen in the generally vertical orientation to the stage;
• a vacuum pressure level sensor for detecting a decrease in vacuum pressure delivered to the stage;
• and
• a specimen transporter responsive to a detection of a vacuum pressure decrease for retrieving the specimen from the stage and storing the specimen to prevent damage to it.

A method for inspecting a specimen comprising the steps of:

• storing a plurality of specimens in a generally vertical orientation and in a generally aligned relationship at a storage location;
• using the automated transport mechanism to transport a specimen from the storage location to an inspection location;
• supporting the specimen in a generally vertical orientation at the inspection location by applying vacuum pressure to a support stage;
• inspecting the generally vertically oriented specimen by presenting at least one selected region of the specimen to an optical means;
• detecting a decrease in vacuum pressure to the support stage;
• and
• storing the specimen upon detection of a decrease in vacuum pressure to prevent damage to the specimen.

A method for inspecting a specimen comprising the steps of:

• storing a plurality of specimens in a generally vertical orientation and in a generally parallel, stacked relationship at a storage location;
• transporting a selected specimen from the storage location to an inspection location using an automated specimen transporter rotatable in a vertical plane;
• supporting the specimen in a generally vertical orientation tat the inspection location on a support stage;
• and
• inspecting the generally vertically oriented specimen by presenting at least one selected region of the specimen to an optical means for viewing.

A specimen inspection station, comprising:

• a specimen stage for supporting a specimen in a generally vertical orientation;
• a specimen transporter for transporting a specimen from a storage location to the specimen stage, the specimen transporter having a rotatable paddle capable of contacting and securing a specimen located at a specimen storage location and transporting the specimen tot eh specimen stage using rotation in a plane generally parallel to the plane of the stage;
• and
• an optical means for viewing a selected region of a specimen mounted on the stage, the specimen stage being movable relative to the optical means to permit viewing of selected regions of the specimen.