JP2565962B2 - Equipment for handling specimen baskets in microscope specimen making equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION a. Purpose of the Invention (Industrial field of application) The apparatus for handling a specimen basket in the microscope specimen preparation apparatus according to the present invention is a slide glass to which thinly sliced pathological specimens and the like are attached. A thin cover piece is attached to the upper surface, and it is incorporated into a microscope sample preparation device used when making a microscope sample, and a sample basket containing a plurality of the above slide glasses is moved up and down as the cover piece is attached. , It is also used to remove the used specimen basket laterally.

(Prior Art) To make a pathological specimen resected from an affected area into a microscope specimen,
This pathological specimen is embedded in paraffin and then sliced.
After sticking on the surface of the slide glass, it is dyed and then a thin cover piece is stuck on it. As a device to be used when manufacturing such a microscope specimen, a specimen basket containing a plurality of glass slides, to which only thin sliced pathological specimens have been attached but no cover pieces have yet been attached, is attached at one end. , Take out the slide glasses one by one from the specimen basket, attach a transparent synthetic resin cover piece cut into a certain length onto the slide glass, and then attach the slide glass with the cover piece attached. 2. Description of the Related Art A cover piece sticking device for making a microscope specimen is known which is sequentially stored in another specimen basket provided at the other end.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a coil 3 of a transparent strip-shaped cover piece 2 whose surface is coated with an adhesive is provided above the horizontally arranged conveyor 1.
The cover piece 2 pulled out from the roller 4 and 4a by a predetermined length is cut by a cutter 5, and the roller 6 and
Slide glass 8 placed on the conveyor 1 via 7
Up to the top of the.

Since the solvent (encapsulating agent) of the adhesive has been dripped in advance from the nozzle 9 on the upper surface of the slide glass 8, the cover piece 2 cut into a certain length by the pressing roller 10 provided immediately above the conveyor 1 is slide glass. When pressed on the upper surface of 8, the cover piece 2 is attached to the upper surface of the slide glass 8, and the pathological sample previously attached to the upper surface of the slide glass 8 is sandwiched between the slide glass 8 and the cover piece 2. It will be in a state of being.

On the upper surface of the conveyor 1, a sample basket located on the left side of the drawing
The slide glass 8 on which the stained specimen is adhered and the cover piece 2 is not adhered yet is sent out from the sheet 11 one by one, passes through the pressing roller 10, and the cover piece 2 is adhered. Is stored in the specimen basket 12 located on the right side of the drawing through the shout 13.

When a cover piece is further attached to a slide glass on which a sample sliced and stained in advance is attached by a cover piece attaching device for preparing a microscope specimen, a plurality of slide glasses 8 in the specimen cage 11 as described above, 8 is accommodated, and the sample basket 11 is mounted movably in the vertical direction in a state of facing one end of the conveyor 1 as shown in FIG. After sticking the cover piece 2 on the upper surface of the slide glass 8 sent out, the slide glass 8,
8 is stored in the receiving side sample basket 12 at the right end of FIG.

Both the sending side and the receiving side sample baskets 11 and 12 are supported between a pair of guide rails 14 and 15 so as to be vertically movable, as shown in FIG. At the rear end of each specimen basket 11, 12,
Into the serrated portions 16 formed in pairs, locking claws (not shown) that swing in opposite directions in synchronization with the attaching operation of the cover piece 2 are disengaged, and the sample cages 11 and 12 are attached. , Cover piece 2
In accordance with the sticking work, the slide glasses 8 and 8 are configured to be lowered by one pitch by their own weight.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, a conventional sample configured as described above and incorporated in a working microscope sample preparation device, lowers the sample baskets 11 and 12 in synchronization with the cover piece attaching operation. In the case of a basket handling device, the following inconvenience occurs.

That is, in order to surely insert and remove the slide glasses 8 and 8 into and from the specimen cages 11 and 12, it is necessary to position the specimen cages 11 and 12, and in addition, the inner surfaces of the guide rails 14 and 15 and the specimen cages 11 and 12, Each specimen basket without a large gap between the 12 outer surfaces
11 and 12 must be held without rattling.

Therefore, when the friction coefficient between the both side surfaces becomes high due to the attachment of dust or mounting material, it becomes difficult to smoothly lower the sample baskets 11 and 12.

The sample basket handling device in the microscope sample preparing device of the present invention eliminates such inconvenience.

b. Structure of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problem) The apparatus for handling the specimen basket in the microscope specimen preparation apparatus of the present invention is a guide strut arranged in the vertical direction, and is vertically movable along the guide strut. Then, a lift table that allows the specimen basket to be placed on a flat upper surface, a set plate that has a through hole that allows the sample cage to pass through, and positioning that is planted on one of the lower surface of the set plate and the top surface of the lift table. A pin, a small hole formed on the other side of the lower surface of the set plate and the lift table, which is engageable with the positioning pin, and a slide glass housed in the sample basket at a position sandwiching the through hole on the upper surface of the set plate. A pair of holding walls that are fixed with a space wider than the width, fit inside the specimen basket without rattling, and can be freely moved in the vertical direction; Position, horizontally And a stopper plate having a through hole portion through which the set plate does not pass but the set plate does not pass, and a stopper plate provided on the lower side of the stopper plate and placed on the lift table. It consists of a take-out arm that takes out the specimen basket that has descended to the lower side of the stopper plate to the side.

(Operation) The operation when the apparatus for handling the specimen basket in the microscope specimen making apparatus of the present invention configured as described above is provided, for example, on the delivery side of the slide glass is as follows.

First, with the lifting platform raised along the guide columns, the cover piece is attached with the specimen attached between the holding walls fixed to the upper surface of the set plate placed on the upper surface of the lifting platform. Insert the specimen basket containing the unattached slide glass.

From this state, the slide table is taken out from the lower side while lowering the elevating table by one pitch of the plurality of slide glasses stored in the sample basket. The work of taking out the slide glass is performed through the gap between the pair of holding walls.

In this case, since the set plate having the pair of holding walls fixed to the upper surface and the lifting table do not move relative to each other due to the engagement of the positioning pin and the small hole, they are fitted inside the holding wall. The position of the specimen basket does not shift with respect to the arm of the slide glass removal device.

When the elevating table descends until all the slide glasses in the specimen basket are delivered, the lower surface of the set plate placed on the upper surface of the elevating table and the upper surface of the stopper plate come into contact with each other,
The set plate will no longer descend.

From this state, the lift table further descends, and as the lift table descends, the sample basket placed on the upper surface of the lift table has a through hole formed in the set plate and a through hole formed in the stopper plate. And then descends to the underside of both plates.

When the specimen basket is completely lowered to the lower side of both plates, the take-out arm which has been stopped until then is activated, and the specimen basket is taken out to the side.

(Example) Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the illustrated example.

1 to 3 show an embodiment of a device for handling a sample basket in a microscope sample creating device of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view, and FIG. 2 is a case where an elevator is present above. 1 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a state in the case where the lifting platform is present below.

Reference numeral 17 is a guide column fixed to the upper surface of a substrate or the like (not shown) extending in the vertical direction, and 18 is an elevating platform that can be raised and lowered along the guide column 17, and the elevator platform 18 is driven by a motor 19. The middle portion of the cable 20 is joined. Therefore, the elevating table 18 can be moved up and down along the guide column 17 as the motor 19 rotates forward and backward. Also, a lifting platform
The central part of the upper surface of 18 is flat, and in the central part of this upper surface,
A specimen basket 11 containing a plurality of slide glasses 8 and 8 can be placed freely.

Both side portions of the lift 18 are slightly lower than the central portion, and positioning pins 21, 21 are planted on the lowered both side portions, respectively. The upper end positions of the positioning pins 21 and 21 are the same as or slightly lower than the central portion of the elevating table 18 on which the sample basket 11 is placed, and the upper ends of the positioning pins 21 and 21 are located on the elevating table 18. It is designed so as not to obstruct the sliding of the specimen basket 11 on the upper surface.

A set plate that can be placed on the upper surface of the lift 18 like this.
22 is a small hole 23, 23 in which the positioning pins 21, 21 can be engaged.
And a through hole 24 through which the specimen basket 11 can pass (including a notch having one end open to the edge of the set plate 22), and a pair of holding walls 25, 25 on the upper surface. It is fixed.

The distance between the pair of holding walls 25, 25 fixed on the upper surface of the set plate 22 so as to sandwich the through hole 24 is wider than the width of the slide glass housed in the specimen basket 11, and both holding walls 25, 25 are provided. An arm for taking out the slide glass is inserted between the two, and the slide glass can be taken out from between the holding walls 25, 25. However, the distance between the two holding walls 25, 25 is set to a size such that the specimen basket 11 does not rattle between them and can be freely fitted in the vertical movement.

Further, a stopper plate 26 is horizontally fixed at an intermediate position in the vertical moving direction of the lift table 18, and the lift table 18 is passed through the stopper plate 26, but the set plate 22 is A through hole portion 27 that does not pass through is formed. 28 and 28 are positioning pins implanted on the upper surface of the stopper plate 26.
It is freely engageable with the small holes 29, 29 formed in the set plate 22.

Furthermore, on the lower side of the stopper plate 26,
A take-out arm 32 is provided that is pushed and pulled by a motor 30 via a speed reducer 31. An abutting plate 33 that is capable of abutting against the side surface of the specimen basket 11 is fixed to the tip of the take-out arm 32, and the abutting plate 33 allows the specimen basket 11 placed on the upper surface of the lifting table 18 to be fixed. Can be freely transferred to the upper surface of the take-out table 34.

The operation of taking out a plurality of slide glasses stored in the specimen basket 11 one by one by the specimen basket handling device in the microscope specimen preparation device of the present invention configured as described above is as follows. is there.

First, the motor 19 is rotated, and as shown in FIG. 2, the lift table 18 is raised along with the set plate 22 along the guide column 17, and the set plate 22 placed on the upper surface of the lift table 18 is lifted. Between the holding walls (25, 25) fixed to the upper surface, the specimen basket (11) containing the slide glass without the cover piece attached is inserted from above with the specimen still attached.

From this state, by intermittently rotating the motor 19 by a predetermined amount, the elevating table 18 is lowered by one pitch of the plurality of slide glasses 8 and 8 housed in the sample cage 11, and the sample cage is moved. Take out the slide glass stored in 11 from below. For the slide glass removal work, refer to the above 1
This is done through the gap between the pair of retaining walls 25, 25.

In this case, the arm for taking out the slide glass enters between the holding walls 25, 25, and pushes or pulls the slide glass in the specimen basket 11, so that the slide glass 8 stored in the specimen basket 11 8 is taken out, but the set plate 22 having the pair of holding walls 25, 25 fixed to the upper surface thereof and the lift base 18 do not move relative to each other due to the engagement of the positioning pins 21, 21 and the small holes 23, 23. Therefore, the position of the sample basket 11 fitted inside the holding walls 25, 25 does not shift with respect to the arm of the slide glass take-out device, and the arm collides with a part of the sample basket 11. There is nothing to do.

When the elevating table 18 descends until all the slide glasses 8, 8 in the specimen basket 11 have been sent out, as shown in FIG. 3, the lower surface of the set plate 22 placed on the upper surface of the elevating table 18 and the stopper plate. Set plate 22
While being mounted on the stopper plate 26, it will not descend further.

From this state, the lifting table 18 further descends as shown in the figure, and as the lifting table 18 descends, the sample basket 11 placed on the upper surface of the lifting table 18 is formed on the set plate 22. It passes through the through hole 24 and the through hole portion 27 formed in the stopper plate 26, and descends to the lower side of the both plates 22, 26.

If the elevator 18 is lowered until the specimen cage 11 is completely located under the plates 22 and 26, the motor 30 that has been stopped until then is activated to move the takeout arm 32 to the elevator 18. The sample basket 11 is pushed out upward, the abutting plate 33 at the tip is pressed against the side surface of the sample basket 11, and the sample basket 11 is taken out to the side.

After removing the specimen basket 11 from the upper surface of the lifting table 18, retract the take-out arm 32 and then raise the lifting table 18, put a new sample cage 11 on the upper surface of the lifting table 18, and perform the same operation as above. Work.

The above description has been given for the case where the handling device for the specimen basket of the present invention is incorporated in the feeding side of the slide glass, but the handling device for the specimen basket of the present invention is provided on the receiving side of the slide glass. Is also good.

Further, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-137421,
The handling device of the present invention can also be incorporated into a microscope sample preparation device having a structure in which a slide glass without a cover piece attached is taken out from the sample basket, the cover piece is attached, and then the cover glass is returned to the same sample basket again.

Further, it goes without saying that the cover piece that covers the upper surface of the slide glass may be a cover glass that is formed in a predetermined size in advance.

c. Effect of the invention Since the apparatus for handling the specimen basket in the microscope specimen making apparatus of the present invention is configured and operates as described above, the raising and lowering of the specimen cage does not become uncertain, and the preparation of the microscope specimen can be performed. The automation can be surely achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of a device for handling a sample basket in a microscope sample creating device of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view, and FIG. 2 is a case where an elevator is present above. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a state in which the lifting table is present below, and FIG. 4 is a specimen basket of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing an example of a microscope sample preparing device in which a handling device is incorporated, and FIG.
It is a B arrow line view of a figure. 1: Conveyor, 2: Cover piece, 3: Coil, 4 and 4a: Roller,
5: Cutter, 6, 7: Roller, 8: Slide glass, 9: Nozzle, 10: Pressing roller, 11, 12: Specimen basket, 13: Shute, 1
4, 15: guide rail, 16: serrated part, 17: guide column, 18:
Lift, 19: Motor, 20: Cable, 21: Positioning pin, 2
2: Set plate, 23: Small hole, 24: Through hole, 25: Retaining wall, 26:
Stopper plate, 27: Through hole part, 28: Positioning pin, 2
9: Small hole, 30: Motor, 31: Reduction gear, 32: Extraction arm, 33: Abutment plate, 34: Extraction stand.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An apparatus for handling a specimen basket in a microscope specimen preparing apparatus having the following components (a) to (h). (A) A guide column arranged in the vertical direction. (B) An elevating table that can be moved up and down along this guide column and on which a sample basket can be placed on a flat upper surface. (C) A set plate having a through hole through which the specimen basket can pass. (D) Positioning pins implanted in one of the lower surface of the set plate and the upper surface of the lift table. (E) A small hole that is formed on the other side of the lower surface of the set plate and the lift table and is engageable with the positioning pin. (F) The upper surface of the set plate is fixed at a position sandwiching the through hole with a space wider than the width of the slide glass housed in the specimen basket, and the specimen basket is not rattled inside and vertically. A pair of holding walls that fit freely over movement. (G) A through hole portion that is fixed horizontally at an intermediate position in the vertical movement direction of the elevating table of (b) and allows the elevating table to pass but does not allow the set plate of (c) to pass. Stopper plate with. (H) A take-out arm which is provided on the lower side of the stopper plate and takes out the side of the specimen basket lowered to the lower side of the stopper plate while being placed on the lift table.