	US 7,588,438 B2
	System, method and apparatus for fiber sample preparation for image analysis
Bugao Xu, Austin, Tex. (US); and Wurong Yu, Zhejiang (China)
Assigned to The Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Austin, Tex. (US)
Filed on Oct. 31, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/590,067.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/732303, filed on Nov. 01, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2007/0103668 A1, May 10, 2007
Int. Cl. B26D 1/00 (2006.01); B26D 7/00 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 425—313 [83/24; 83/167; 83/618; 83/913]

6 Claims

1. A precision mechanical fiber cutting apparatus comprising:

a vertical blade moving mechanism that moves in a vertical plane;

at least 3 substantially vertical parallel fixed cutting blades connected to the vertical blade moving mechanism to move in a vertical plane to punch out one or more cut fibers;

a cutting stage positioned below the vertical blade moving mechanism to support a fiber sample against a downward cutting motion of the at least 3 substantially vertical parallel fixed cutting blades, wherein the cutting stage comprises

a top and a bottom connected to 1 or more side walls having an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture, wherein the top comprises at least 3 slits to receive the at least 3 substantially vertical parallel fixed cutting blades to allow transport of the fiber sample into the cutting stage, wherein the top supports the fiber sample to allow the at least 3 substantially vertical parallel fixed cutting blades to punch out the fiber sample into one or more cut fibers having substantially uniformed lengths with substantially uniformed ends;

a fiber chamber connected to the outlet aperture by a conduit to receive the one or more cut fibers; and

a pressurized gas source connected to the inlet aperture to transfer the one or more cut fibers to the fiber chamber, wherein the one or more cut fibers are deposited in a random distribution onto a sample slide within the fiber chamber.