JP2007212378A - Light source aligning mechanism for spectrofluorometer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily align a light emitting point of a xenon lamp as a light source to an optimum position from the outside of the device of a spectrofluorometer. <P>SOLUTION: This light source aligning mechanism for a spectrofluorometer comprises the light source formed of the xenon lamp, an excitation-side spectrometer and excitation wavelength driving mechanism for dividing the light from the light source and radiating monochromatic light to a sample, a fluorescence-side spectrometer and fluorescence wavelength driving mechanism for dividing the fluorescence emitted from the sample, a detector for detecting the outgoing light of the fluorescence-side spectrometer, and a signal display system for processing and displaying the signal output from the detector. The light source aligning mechanism has a function capable of adjusting the light emitting point position of the light source to the optimum position independently in three X, Y and Z directions only by turning a rotation shaft. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a spectrofluorometer, and more particularly to a light source alignment mechanism for a spectrofluorometer that can easily perform light source alignment.

As a means for analyzing a fluorescent substance with high sensitivity and good selectivity, spectrofluorescence measurement is widely performed. In this method, the sample is optically excited by irradiating the sample with monochromatic light, and fluorescence is emitted from the excited sample to obtain a spectrum. A spectrofluorometer is usually used for this spectrofluorometry. The spectrofluorescence measurement and spectrofluorophotometer are described in detail in Non-Patent Document 1. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a technique for facilitating light source position adjustment by automating light source position adjustment and eliminating human intervention.
JP 05-264351 A Kazuo Yasuda, et al. "Fluorescence analysis" Kodansha 1973

  A xenon lamp is often used as a light source for a spectrofluorometer because it requires strong light from ultraviolet to visible. A xenon lamp emits light by discharge between two needle-like electrodes placed in a high-pressure xenon gas, and emits light in a very narrow spot-like region. In a spectrofluorometer, it is required to accurately form an image of this small light emitting point of a light source at an optimum position (usually an entrance slit) of the excitation side spectroscope 2. This is because if the emission point deviates from the optimum position, the amount of light entering the spectroscope is reduced, resulting in a decrease in measurement sensitivity. In the xenon lamp, the light emitting point may move on the electrode as the lamp deteriorates, and it is necessary to adjust the light source position to the optimum position each time. For this reason, in the spectrofluorometer, there is a method of providing an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the light source to the optimum position.

  In addition, in the conventional light source position adjustment mechanism for a spectrofluorometer, the three-direction adjustment of X, Y, and Z is moved from one direction to improve the light collection efficiency. However, the X direction is based on the X adjustment axis. Slide in the direction and press the lamp cover push plate, the lamp cover shaft attached to the lamp cover becomes a circular track with the fulcrum as the fulcrum. In the Z direction, the Z adjustment shaft is slid in the axial direction, and the lamp cover support bracket By pressing, the lamp cover moves on the lamp cover shaft attached to the lamp cover with the Z fulcrum shaft as a fulcrum, and the lamp cover moves in an arc orbit. In addition, since the movement in the X direction and the Z direction share the lamp cover shaft attached to the lamp cover, the movement in the X direction and the Z direction are somewhat linked, and even if only the X direction is adjusted, the Z direction Even if only the Z direction is adjusted, the X direction is moved together even if only the Z direction is adjusted. Originally, a place where linear movement in the three directions of X, Y, and Z is desired can be substituted with a circular movement, or a place where the three directions of X, Y, and Z are made independent is shared. Is causing problems.

  Furthermore, the light emitted from the xenon lamp is condensed by a lens or a concave mirror and guided to the excitation-side spectroscope. At this time, since the direction of the optical axis through which the light from the light source is guided and the adjustment axis of the light source position adjustment mechanism are generally different, adjustment with a plurality of adjustment axes is required to adjust the light source position on the optical axis. Making adjustments difficult. In order to avoid the problems of the prior art, Patent Document 1 automates the adjustment of the light source position and eliminates human intervention, thereby facilitating the adjustment of the light source position. However, this method requires a driving mechanism for the light source position, and has a drawback that the structure becomes large and the cost increases.

  An object of this invention is to provide the light source position adjustment mechanism which can adjust the light emission point of a light source to the optimal position.

  In the present invention, the driving in the three directions X, Y, and Z is linearly and independently driven so that the light emitting point of the light source can be easily adjusted to the optimum position of the spectrofluorometer. The mechanism is driven from one direction so that it can be aligned.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably perform optimum alignment of a light source with a simple operation, and fine adjustment can be performed with a small number of parts, which greatly improves operability.

The spectrofluorometer according to the present invention can adjust the position of the light source in one direction from the outside of the apparatus and the three directions of X, Y, and Z linearly and independently in one direction due to the structure inside the apparatus. did. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 7, the spectrofluorometer usually emits light from the excitation-side spectroscope 34 and the excitation-side spectroscope for separating the light emitted from the light source position adjusting mechanism 33 and obtaining monochromatic light for excitation. An excitation-side detector 35 for detecting the fluorescence, a fluorescence-side photometer 37 for separating the fluorescence emitted from the sample by applying the excited light to the sample 36, and a fluorescence-side detector for detecting the emitted light of the fluorescence-side spectrometer 38. The light emitted from the light source position adjusting mechanism 33 is condensed by a lens or a mirror and guided to the excitation-side spectroscope 34, and the light converted to monochromatic light by the excitation-side spectroscope 34 irradiates the sample 36 and excites it. To do. The fluorescence emitted from the sample 36 is guided to the fluorescence side photometer 37 and dispersed, and then detected by the detector 38.
Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the light source position adjusting mechanism for the spectrofluorophotometer moves the adjustment in the three directions X, Y, and Z from one direction to improve the light collection efficiency. When the X adjustment shaft 40 is slid in the axial direction and the lamp cover pressing plate 45 is pushed, an arc trajectory is formed with the lamp cover shaft 46 attached to the lamp cover 44 as a fulcrum, and the Z adjustment shaft 41 is moved in the Z direction. By sliding in the axial direction and pressing the lamp cover support bracket 47, the lamp cover support bracket 47 is moved in an arc path and the lamp cover 44 is moved around the lamp cover shaft 46 attached to the lamp cover 44 with the Z fulcrum shaft as a fulcrum. To do. In addition, since the movement in the X direction and the Z direction share the lamp cover shaft 46 attached to the lamp cover 44, the movement in the X direction and the Z direction are somewhat interlocked, and even if only the X direction is adjusted, The Z direction also moves together, and the X direction moves together even if only the Z direction is adjusted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the spectrofluorometer irradiates light from the light source position adjustment mechanism 33 to the excitation side spectroscope 34, and the excitation side spectroscope 34 converts the light from the light source position adjustment mechanism 33 to monochromatic light. The excitation light side detector 35 detects the exit light on the excitation side and irradiates the sample 36. Then, the fluorescence emitted from the sample 36 is separated by the fluorescence side spectroscope 37, and the emitted light from the fluorescence side spectroscope 37 is detected by the fluorescence side detector 38.

  In the first embodiment of the present invention, when the light from the light source position adjusting mechanism 33 is taken into the excitation-side spectroscope 34, the light source position adjusting mechanism 33 has X and Y so that it can be condensed at an optimum position. , Z are independently linearly provided with a mechanism that allows adjustment from one direction.

  FIGS. 1-6 is a figure which shows the light source position adjustment mechanism of Example 1 of this invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a light source position adjusting mechanism, and is a cross-sectional view of a B-B portion in the side view of the light source position adjusting mechanism of FIG. 2 in order to represent a Z-direction mechanism, a xenon lamp 2 and a xenon lamp emission point 1. It is.

  FIG. 2 is a side view of the light source position adjusting mechanism, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in the front view of the light source position adjusting mechanism of FIG. 1 to show the structure of the X adjustment axis, the Y adjustment axis, and the Z adjustment axis. . FIG. 3 is a plan view of the light source position adjusting mechanism, and is a cross-sectional view of the CC section in the side view of the light source position adjusting mechanism of FIG. 2 to represent the Y direction mechanism. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the light source position adjusting mechanism, and is a cross-sectional view of the DD section in the side view of the light source position adjusting mechanism of FIG. 2 to represent the X direction mechanism. FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the light source position adjusting mechanism. FIG. 6 is an illustration of the light source position adjusting mechanism.

  The light source position adjusting mechanism 33 is a xenon lamp mounting bracket (set screw 8, lamp holder 7, insulator 6, insulating cover 5, negative electrode 4, positive electrode, so that the xenon lamp 2 which is a consumable can be easily replaced. 3), the xenon lamp 2 is fixed to the + side electrode and the − side electrode of the xenon lamp mounting bracket, the xenon lamp 2 is mounted to the lamp cover 9 together with the xenon lamp mounting bracket, and the set screw 8 is attached to the lamp cover 9 Fix it. By fixing the xenon lamp mounting bracket to the lamp cover 9, the xenon lamp mounting bracket is integrated with the lamp cover 9, and the X, Y, and Z directions are used using the X adjustment shaft 15, the Y adjustment shaft 19, and the Z adjustment shaft 25. The xenon lamp 2 attached to the xenon lamp mounting bracket is adjusted by moving the lamp cover 9 via the adjusting mechanism.

  By fixing the xenon lamp mounting bracket to which the xenon lamp 2 is attached to the lamp cover 9, a shape surrounding the xenon lamp 2 is obtained. Light is extracted from the lamp cover 9 having the shape in the direction of the optical axis 10 and irradiated to the excitation-side spectroscope 34. In order to efficiently collect light at the optimum position of the excitation-side spectroscope 34, a mechanism that can independently adjust the X, Y, and Z directions is used, and adjustment from one direction is possible. .

  The X direction adjusting mechanism (FIGS. 1 and 4) includes an X adjusting shaft 15, an X base 16, an X guide shaft 17, an X direction holding spring 18, and a Y base 21. The X base 16 is fixed to the light source alignment mechanism mounting base 14 with mounting screws 32. The X base 16 has a hole through which the X adjustment shaft 15 and the X guide shaft 17 pass. The Y base 21 has a hole through which the X adjustment shaft 15 and the X guide shaft 17 pass and the X adjustment shaft 15 is rotated. Thus, a screw hole is opened so that the X adjustment shaft 15 moves in the direction of the X direction trajectory 11, and one end of the X adjustment shaft 15 has a screw shape.

  The X base 16 and the Y base 21 fixed to the light source alignment mechanism mounting base 14 are assembled by the X adjustment shaft 15 and the X guide shaft 17, and the X guide shaft 17 is located in the X direction between the X base 16 and the Y base 21. The holding spring 18 is assembled. The E-type retaining ring 31 is assembled so that the X guide shaft 17 does not come off. The X adjustment shaft 15 is fixed to the X base 16 fixed to the light source alignment mechanism mounting base 14 with the E-type retaining ring 31, and the X adjustment shaft 15 is rotated to thereby rotate the X adjustment shaft 15 and the Y base. The Y base 21 moves in the X-direction trajectory 11 direction due to the screw shape of 21. The movement range of the X-direction track 11 is regulated by assembling the E-type retaining ring 31. By applying a force in one direction to the X adjustment mechanism with the force of the X-direction holding spring 18, the movement mechanism due to the screw structure is eliminated.

  The Y direction adjusting mechanism (FIGS. 1 and 3) includes a Y adjusting shaft 19, a Y cam 20, a Y base 21, a Y cam receiver 22, a Y guide shaft 23, a Y direction holding spring 24, a Z base 28, and a Z guide shaft 29. Consists of. In the Y base 21 assembled in the X direction adjusting mechanism (FIGS. 1 and 4), the Y adjusting shaft 19 is rotated in the direction of the X direction trajectory 11 by rotating the hole through which the Y adjusting shaft 19 passes and the Y adjusting shaft 19. The screw hole is opened so that it may move, and one end of the Y adjustment shaft 19 has a screw shape. The Y cam receiver 22 and the Z base 28 fixed to the lamp guide 9 have a hole through which the Z guide shaft 29 is passed, and the Z base 28 is assembled to the Y cam receiver 22 by the Z guide shaft 29. Further, the Y base 21 and the Z base 28 assembled to the X-direction adjusting mechanism (FIGS. 1 and 4) have holes through which the Y guide shaft 23 is passed. 28 is assembled, and the Y-direction holding spring 24 is assembled to the Y guide shaft 23 between the Y base 21 and the Z base 28. The E-type retaining ring 31 is assembled so that the Y guide shaft 23 does not come off. A Y cam 20 is fixed to the Y adjustment shaft 19 with an E-type retaining ring 31 and combined with a Y cam receiver 22 fixed to the lamp cover 9. By rotating the Y adjustment shaft 19, the Y cam 20 moves in the direction of the Y adjustment shaft 19 due to the thread shape of the Y adjustment shaft 19 and the Y base 21. As the Y cam 20 moves, the lamp cover 9 moves in the Y direction activation 12 direction along the Y guide shaft 23 by hitting the inclined portion of the Y cam receiver 22. The movement range of the Y-direction track 12 is restricted by assembling the E-type retaining ring 31. By applying a force in one direction to the Y adjustment mechanism with the force of the Y-direction holding spring 24, the movement mechanism due to the screw structure is eliminated.

  The Z direction adjustment mechanism (FIGS. 1 and 2) includes a Y base 21, a Y cam receiver 22, a Z adjustment shaft 25, a Z cam 26, a Z cam receiver 27, a Z base 28, a Z guide shaft 29, and a Z direction holding spring 30. Consists of. The Y base 21 assembled in the X direction adjustment mechanism (FIGS. 1 and 4) has a hole through which the Z adjustment shaft 25 and the Z guide shaft 20 are passed. By rotating the Z adjustment shaft 25, the X direction A screw hole is opened so that the Z adjustment shaft 25 moves in the direction of the track 11, and one end of the Z adjustment shaft 25 has a screw shape. The Z base 28 assembled by the Y-direction adjusting mechanism (FIGS. 1 and 3) is assembled by the Z guide shaft 29 and between the Y cam receiver 22 fixed to the Z guide shaft 29 and the Z base 28 and the lamp cover 9. At this point, the Z-direction holding spring 24 is assembled. The E-type retaining ring 31 is assembled so that the Z guide shaft 29 does not come off. A Z cam 26 is fixed to the Z adjustment shaft 25 with an E-type retaining ring 31 and is aligned with a Z cam receiver 27 fixed to the lamp cover 9. By rotating the Z adjustment shaft 25, the Z cam 26 moves in the X-direction trajectory 11 direction due to the Z adjustment shaft 25 and the thread shape of the Y base 21. By moving the Z cam 26, the inclined portion of the Z cam 26 is applied to the Z cam receiver 27 attached to the Y cam receiver 22 fixed to the lamp cover 9. The lamp cover 9 moves in the direction starting direction 13. The movement range of the Z-direction track 13 is regulated by assembling the E-type retaining ring 31. By applying a force in one direction to the Z adjustment mechanism with the force of the Z-direction holding spring 30, the movement mechanism due to the screw structure is eliminated.

  The adjustment in the X direction is performed by the X adjustment shaft 15. When the X adjustment shaft 15 is rotated by assembling the Y base 21 and the X adjustment shaft 15 in a screw shape, the X adjustment shaft 15 moves in the X direction trajectory 11 direction with respect to the Y base 21. Since the structure of the light source alignment mechanism 33 is a mechanism for fixing the X adjustment shaft 15 to the X base 16 attached to the light source alignment mechanism attachment base 14, when the X adjustment shaft 15 is rotated, the Y base 21 is moved to the X direction track 11. Move in the direction. By moving the Y base 21, the Y base 21 and the Z base 28 are assembled by the Y guide shaft 23, and the Z guide shaft is assembled to the Y cam receiver 22 fixed to the Z base 28 and the lamp cover 9. Therefore, when the X adjustment shaft 15 is moved, the lamp cover 9 is moved. Since the xenon lamp 2 is assembled to the lamp cover 9, the xenon lamp 2 is finally moved in the X-direction trajectory 11 direction. It is a moving mechanism.

  Adjustment in the Y direction is performed by the Y adjustment shaft 19. When the Y adjustment shaft 19 is rotated by assembling the Y base 21 and the Y adjustment shaft 19 in a screw shape, the Y adjustment shaft 19 moves in the X direction trajectory 11 direction with respect to the Y base 21. By attaching the Y cam 20 to the Y adjustment shaft 19 and moving the Y adjustment shaft 19, the Y cam 20 also moves in the X-direction trajectory 11 direction together. The Y cam 20 is pressed against the inclined portion of the Y cam receiver 22 fixed to the lamp cover 9 and the Y adjusting shaft 19 is moved, so that the Y cam 20 moves together, and the Y cam 20 moves to the Y cam. It moves along the inclination of the receiver 22. The Y cam receiver 22 fixed to the lamp cover 9 is a Z guide shaft and is assembled with the Z base 28, and the Z base 28 and the Y base 21 are assembled with the Y guide shaft 23. When the Y cam receiver 22 is pushed by the Y cam 20 that moves together by the movement of the shaft 19, the Y guide shaft 23 moves in the Y direction trajectory 12 direction. When the Y cam receiver 22 moves, the lamp cover 9 also moves, and the xenon lamp 2 assembled to the lamp cover 9 also moves in the Y direction track 12 direction.

  Adjustment in the Z direction is performed by the Z adjustment shaft 25. When the Z adjustment shaft 25 is rotated by assembling the Y base 21 and the Z adjustment shaft 25 into a screw shape, the Z adjustment shaft 25 moves in the X direction trajectory 11 direction with respect to the Y base 21. By attaching the Z cam 26 to the Z adjustment shaft 25 and moving the Z adjustment shaft 25, the Z cam 26 also moves in the X-direction trajectory 11 direction together. By moving the Z adjustment shaft 25 by pressing the inclined portion of the Z cam 26 against the Z cam receiver 27 fixed to the lamp cover 9 via the Y cam receiver 22, the Z cam 26 is The Z cam receiver 27 is moved along the inclined portion of the Z cam 26. The Y cam receiver 22 fixed to the lamp cover 9 is a Z guide shaft and is assembled with the Z base 28. Therefore, the Z cam 26 moves together with the movement of the Z adjustment shaft 25. When pushed, the Z guide shaft 29 moves in the Z direction orbit 13 direction. When the Z cam receiver 27 moves, the lamp cover 9 also moves, and the xenon lamp 2 assembled to the lamp cover 9 also moves in the Z direction track 12 direction.

  The X adjustment mechanism can obtain the movement of the screw feed itself in the X direction trajectory 11 as it is. However, the Y adjustment mechanism and the Z adjustment mechanism can move the same longitudinal movement as the X adjustment mechanism, with the parts of the diagonal structure. By applying the part to be moved and assembling the part to be moved using the guide shaft in the direction to be moved, a mechanism for moving an object from the same direction to an arbitrary direction can be formed.

  According to the first embodiment, since the X, Y, and Z directions can be adjusted independently, accurate alignment is possible. According to the first embodiment, the cams (Y cam 20 and Z cam 26) are used for Y-direction alignment and Z-direction alignment, so that the three directions X, Y, and Z can be achieved with a simple structure. Can be adjusted independently. Further, by connecting the cam to the rotation shafts in the Y direction and the Z direction, adjustment can be performed from one direction, and the mechanism portion can be downsized. By making the pitch of the screws of the X adjustment shaft 15, the Y adjustment shaft 19, the Z adjustment shaft 25 and the Y base 21 of the first embodiment fine, fine position adjustment is also possible. The X adjustment shaft 15, Y adjustment shaft 19, and Z adjustment shaft 25 of the first embodiment are structured to adjust the position by turning the adjustment shaft with a screwdriver, but the X adjustment shaft 15, the Y adjustment shaft 19, By making the tip of the Z adjustment shaft 25 a knob shape instead of a shape rotated by a screwdriver, the position of the light source can be adjusted without using a screwdriver, and the operability is further improved.

It is a front (BB cross section) figure of the light source position adjustment mechanism of Example 1 of this invention. It is a side view (AA cross section) figure of the light source position adjustment mechanism of Example 1 of this invention. It is a plane (CC cross section) figure of the light source position adjustment mechanism of Example 1 of this invention. It is a plane (DD section) figure of the light source position adjustment mechanism of Example 1 of this invention. It is an exploded view of the light source position adjustment mechanism of Example 1 of the present invention. It is an external view of the light source position adjustment mechanism of Example 1 of this invention. It is a layout view of a spectrofluorometer. It is a side view of the light source position adjustment mechanism of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Light emission point 2 Xenon lamp 3 + side electrode 4-side electrode 5 Insulation cover 6 Insulating 7 Lamp holder 8 Set screw 9 Lamp cover 10 Optical axis 11 X direction track 12 Y direction track 13 Z direction track 14 Light source alignment mechanism mounting base 15 X adjustment shaft 16 X base 17 X guide shaft 18 X direction holding spring 19 Y adjustment shaft 20 Y cam 21 Y base 22 Y cam receiver 23 Y guide shaft 24 Y direction holding spring 25 Z adjustment shaft 26 Z cam 27 Z cam receiver 28 Z base 29 Z guide shaft 30 Z direction holding spring 31 E-type retaining ring 32 Mounting screw 33 Light source alignment mechanism 34 Excitation side spectroscope 35 Excitation side detector 36 Sample 37 Fluorescence side spectroscope 38 Fluorescence side detector 39 Y adjustment Axis 40 X adjustment axis 41 Z adjustment axis 42 Y drive hinge 43 Y fulcrum axis 44 Lamp cover (Old)
45 Lamp cover pressing plate 46 Lamp cover shaft 47 Lamp cover support bracket 48 Z fulcrum shaft 49 Fixing nut 50 Light source alignment fixing bracket

Claims (3)

A light source comprising a xenon lamp, an excitation-side spectrometer and excitation wavelength driving mechanism that irradiates the sample with monochromatic light by dispersing light from the light source, a fluorescence-side spectrometer and fluorescence that separates the fluorescence emitted from the sample In a spectrofluorometer comprising a wavelength driving mechanism, a detector for detecting the emitted light of the fluorescence side spectroscope, and a signal display system for processing and displaying a signal output from the detector,
A light source alignment mechanism for a spectrofluorometer having a function capable of adjusting the light emission point position of the light source to the optimum position independently in each of the three directions of X, Y, and Z by rotating a rotating shaft. The light source alignment mechanism for a spectrofluorometer according to claim 1,
A light source alignment mechanism for a spectrofluorometer, wherein a cam is connected to a rotation shaft for adjusting the light emission position of the light source. The alignment mechanism for a spectrofluorometer according to claim 1,
A light source alignment mechanism for a spectrofluorophotometer characterized in that adjustment in three directions of X, Y, and Z is possible from one direction.

Images