Imaging apparatus with magnetic elements
An imaging box assembly is provided for capturing an image of a sample. The imaging box assembly includes a body having an interior cavity for receiving the sample, and having a front portion defining an opening into the cavity. A door is mounted to the body that is movable between an opened condition, enabling access to the interior cavity through the cavity opening, and a closed condition, positioning a door rear portion substantially adjacent the body front portion to prevent access through the cavity opening. The box assembly further includes a compressible light-tight seal material disposed on one of the rear portion and the front portion, and a securing device disposed between the body front portion and the door rear portion. In the closed condition, the securing device generates a securing force between the door and the body sufficient to substantially uniformly compress at least a portion of the compressible material to form a light-tight seal about the opening into the interior cavity.
1 . An imaging box assembly for capturing an image of a sample, the image box comprising:
a body including an interior cavity for receiving the sample, and having a front portion defining an opening into said cavity;
a door having a rear portion, said door movable between an opened condition, enabling access to the interior cavity through the cavity opening, and a closed condition, positioning the door rear portion substantially adjacent the body front portion to prevent access through the cavity opening;
a compressible light-tight seal material disposed on one of the rear portion and the front portion; and
a securing device disposed between the body front portion and the door rear portion such that, in the closed condition, a securing force is generated between the door and the body to substantially uniformly compress at least a portion of the compressible material to form a light-tight seal about said opening into said interior cavity.
2 . The imaging box assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
said securing device includes a first magnetic element associated with one of one of said door rear portion and said body front portion, the first magnetic element providing a first magnetic force comprising at least a portion of securing force between the door and the front portion when the door is in the closed condition.
3 . The imaging box assembly according to claim 2 , wherein
said securing device further includes a second magnetic element associated with the other of said body front portion and said door rear portion, said second magnetic element providing a second magnetic force such that said first magnetic element and said second magnetic element collectively generating said securing force between the door and the body front portion.
4 . The imaging box assembly according to claim 3 , wherein
said first magnetic element and said second magnetic element are disposed, in the closed condition, substantially opposed to one another.
5 . The imaging box assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
said securing force is in the range of about 25 lbf to about 30 lbf.
6 . The imaging box assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first magnetic element is a permanent magnet.
7 . The imaging box assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first magnetic element is an electromagnet.
8 . The imaging box assembly according to claim 6 , wherein
the electromagnet is configured to apply said first magnetic force during image capture of the sample.
9 . An imaging box for capturing an image of a sample, the image box comprising:
a body including an interior cavity for receiving the sample, and having a front wall defining an opening into said cavity;
a door having a rear wall and an exterior face, said door movable between an opened condition, enabling access to the interior cavity through the cavity opening, and a closed condition, positioning said rear wall substantially adjacent the body front wall to prevent access through the cavity opening;
a compressible material disposed on one of the rear wall and the front wall; and
a first magnetic element attached to one of said rear wall and said front wall, the first magnetic element providing a first securing force between the door and the front wall when the door is in the closed condition.
10 . The imaging box of claim 9 further including
a second magnetic element attached to one of said rear wall and said front wall, the second magnetic element providing a second securing force between the door and the front wall when the door is in the closed condition.
11 . The imaging box of claim 10 , wherein
the first securing force and the second securing force magnetic substantially uniformly compresses a portion of the compressible material.
12 . The imaging box of claim 9 , wherein
the first magnetic element is a permanent magnet.
13 . The imaging box of claim 9 , wherein
the first magnetic element is an electromagnet.
14 . The imaging box of claim 13 , wherein
the electromagnet is configured to apply said first securing force during image capture of the sample.