Apparatus for handling specimen slides having selectably receivable glass or tape coverslipping modules

An apparatus (10) for handling specimen slides, the apparatus comprising:

• a first module receiving region (18) configured to receive a coverslipping module (100, 200) for coverslipping thin sections arranged on the specimen slides with a coverslipping medium and a coverslipping element;
• a first electrical interface in the first module receiving region (18) for attachment of a coverslipping module (100, 200) received by the first module receiving region (18), the first electrical interface being configured for attachment of a glass coverslipping module (100) for coverslipping specimen slides with glass wafers and for attachment of a tape coverslipping module (200) for coverslipping specimen slides with tapes;
• a second module receiving region (20) for receiving a coverslipping module (100, 200) for coverslipping thin sections arranged on specimen slides with a coverslipping medium and a coverslipping element;
• and
• a second electrical interface in the second module receiving region (20) for attachment of a coverslipping module (100, 200) received by the second module receiving region (20), the second electrical interface being configured for attachment of a glass coverslipping module (100) for coverslipping specimen slides with glass wafers and for attachment of a tape coverslipping module (200) for coverslipping specimen slides with tapes;
• wherein the first module receiving region (18) selectably receives either a tape coverslipping module (200) or a glass coverslipping module (100) and wherein the second module receiving region (20) selectably receives either a tape coverslipping module (200) or a glass coverslipping module (100);
• and
• wherein the first module receiving region (18) and/or the second module receiving region (20) comprises a support surface (22) for holding a received coverslipping module (100, 200).