A novel automatic film changer for high-speed analysis of nuclear emulsions

This paper describes the recent development of a novel automatic computer-controlled manipulator for emulsion sheet placement and removal at the microscope object table (also called stage). The manipulator is designed for mass scanning of emulsions for the OPERA neutrino oscillation experiment and provides emulsion changing time shorter than 30 s with an emulsion sheet positioning accuracy as good as 20μm RMS.