Device for automatic preparation of blood smears on plates

A device for automatic preparation of blood smears on plates, comprising:

• a storage unit, to store new plates disposed horizontally, and superimposed in a vertical stack;
• a extractor unit, which can extract a plate from the stack, and comprises a thruster, which can be displaced in a selected direction of extraction, and can act on the plate which is disposed at the base of the stack, in order to transfer the plate to a depositing unit, the thruster being in the form of a blade, which can act on a longitudinal edge of the plate, such that this edge forms an acute angle relative to the level which is perpendicular to the direction of extraction, the said acute angle advantageously having a value of between 1 and 30°;
• a depositing unit, which can deposit a drop of blood on a plate extracted from the stack;
• a spreading unit, which can spread the drop of blood in controlled conditions, in order to produce a regularly distributed blood smear;
• a marking unit, comprising a marking head which can add means of identification on a reserved area of the plate;
• a drying unit, which can dry the blood smear;
• a colouring unit, which can colour the blood smear;
• an output unit, to unload the plate thus coloured;
• and
• transfer means, which can displace the plate between the aforementioned units, according to a pre-determined path.