JP2997365B2 - Specimen preparation equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for preparing a specimen, and more particularly, to an apparatus for automatically preparing a microscope specimen such as animal or plant cells, skin keratin, nails, and hair. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as one of methods for preparing a specimen for ascertaining a skin surface morphology for grasping skin properties, skin quality, etc., an adhesive tape is adhered to and peeled off from the skin surface. There is a method to transfer skin keratin to the surface. In this method, after dyeing as necessary, in order to improve the observability with a microscope, a silicon material is sealed in order to prevent air from entering between the sample and the cover glass. I have. This work is performed manually for the following reasons.

[0003] First, in the above-mentioned method, it is necessary to apply an appropriate pressure from above the cover glass in order to keep the adhesive tape flat, and considerable care must be taken to prevent the cover glass from breaking. However, since it takes a long time for the silicon agent to solidify, it is difficult to adjust the pressure.

Secondly, there is no known means for supplying cover glass one by one that can be practically used.

[0005]

However, in order to perform the above work manually, the cover glass must be sucked with a dropper so that fingerprints do not adhere to the cover glass, and the pressure applied so as not to crack the cover glass must be controlled with a fingertip. In addition, the worker was tired and it was difficult to work for a long time. In addition, work efficiency is not good. Therefore, automation of microscope specimen preparation is desired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has been developed to provide a method of preparing a specimen suitable for automating the preparation of a microscope specimen, and to provide an apparatus capable of efficiently preparing the specimen. As an issue.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems As a result of diligent research for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present inventor has used an ultraviolet-curable resin instead of a silicone agent sealed between an adhesive tape and a cover glass. In addition, the present inventors have found that the time required for the process is remarkably shortened, and further developed a means capable of reliably supplying the cover glass, thereby leading to the present invention.

That is, the present invention relates to a conveyor for transporting a holder having a window hole and holding an adhesive tape having an observation object adhered to an adhesive surface in correspondence with the window hole, an ultraviolet curable resin injection means for injecting the ultraviolet curable resin, and a cover glass mounting means for mounting the cover glass onto the ultraviolet <br/> ray curable resin injected into the holder, the UV-curable and a UV irradiation means for irradiating ultraviolet rays to the ultraviolet curable resin and the mosquitoes <br/> bar glass placed on the resin and the adhesive tape and the ultraviolet curable resin while nipped by a flat surface, the each means is arranged at regular intervals on the conveyor in the order of the said conveyor <br/> a has a holder receiving for fixing the holder, sequentially transported to the holder in the position of each of the units For a certain period of time And, sample activating the respective unit during this time
In the manufacturing apparatus, the cover glass mounting means,
This cover glass is housed together with the cover glass.
Housing with a cover glass outlet for discharging air
Installed below the cover glass exit of the container and in front
Cover carried out from the cover glass outlet of the storage section
A slider for receiving glass, wherein the slider is
The cover covers the cover glass outlet end of the storage section.
More than twice the thickness of the cover glass above the thickness of the glass
Installed at a short distance away from the housing
It can move forward and backward while maintaining the distance, and
Ida has a receiving portion of the cover glass and a portion around the receiving portion.
Equipped with a cover glass supply device provided with a groove engraved on the
Corresponding to the window hole of the holder of the conveyor holder
Holes are drilled in the part,
The conveyor has a UV light source inside the lower side of the conveyor
And a lower pressure body made of a transparent resin body with a flat top
And the cover glass on the upper surface side of the conveyor
An upper pressing body for pressing, the adhesive tape and the purple
An outer line curable resin and the cover glass are connected to the upper pressing body.
Generated from the light source while being pinched by the
UV light from the adhesive tape side to the UV curable resin
A sample preparation apparatus characterized in that the sample is irradiated .

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. The device of the present invention adheres an observation target to an adhesive tape having a resin film as a base material, applies an ultraviolet curable resin to an adhesive surface of the adhesive tape, puts a cover glass thereon, a cover glass, This is an apparatus for preparing a specimen by irradiating ultraviolet rays while pressing the adhesive tape on a flat surface to cure the ultraviolet-curable resin. Here, the observation target is an object used for microscopic observation, and includes animal and plant cells, skin keratin, nails, hair, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

The adhesive tape to which the object to be observed is adhered is attached to a holder which forms a frame by itself in order to prevent the ultraviolet curable resin from spreading and to facilitate handling in the present apparatus. And hold. The holder has a window, and an adhesive tape is attached so that the observation target corresponds to the window. The observation object may be attached to the adhesive surface after attaching the adhesive tape to the holder.

Next, the configuration of the apparatus of the present invention will be described.

<1> Loading and Transport of Specimen The conveyor is for transporting the holder to a position where each means described below is arranged. Even if it is a straight line, it is a turntable. Is also good. On this conveyor line, UV-curable resin injection means, cover glass mounting means, and UV irradiation means are arranged in this order at a fixed interval or at a fixed angle, and a holder is provided before the UV-curable resin injection means. A holder placement station for placing on the conveyor and a holder discharge station in front of the holder placement station, and multiple holders placed on the conveyor stop at each means or station position for a certain period of time. Then, each means is operated during the stop.

The operation and stop of the conveyor may not be performed automatically, but may be performed manually by an operator who places the holder on the conveyor at the holder mounting station. This is because, for example, on the moving surface of the conveyor, a plurality of holder receivers for fixing the holders at the same interval or angle as the interval or angle of the respective means are installed, and the conveyor moves at regular intervals at this interval or angle. What should I do? Also, an empty station may be provided between a certain means and the next means. For example, when the conveyor is a turntable, a discharge station and a holder installation station are provided before the ultraviolet curable resin injection means, and an empty station is provided between the ultraviolet irradiation means and the discharge station. Alternatively, the stations are arranged at an angle of 60 degrees.

The holder receiver may be integrated with the conveyor by forming a concave portion for fixing the holder on the moving surface of the conveyor. It is preferable that a hole larger than the size of the window hole is formed at a position corresponding to the moving surface of the conveyor and the window hole of the holder of the holder receiver, so that the sample in the holder window hole portion can be pressed from above and below.

[0015] If each means is multi-connected such as two or three, the processing efficiency in one step can be increased.

<2> UV Curable Resin Injecting Means UV curable resin injecting means is a means for injecting the ultraviolet curable resin into the window of the holder. When the holder mounted on the conveyor at the holder mounting station is conveyed to the position of the present means, the conveyor stops, and during this time, a certain amount of ultraviolet curable resin is injected into the window of the holder. Here, the use of the ultraviolet curable resin is for enhancing the work efficiency, and the resin to be used is preferably a solventless type in order to prevent shrinkage during curing. Further, a one-component resin which does not need to be mixed and prepared at the time of use is preferable. It is preferable that the amount of the resin to be injected is such that the upper surface of the cover glass placed thereon reaches the upper surface of the holder.

This means may be any as long as it can measure a predetermined amount of the resin and inject it into the window of the holder.

<3> Cover glass mounting means The cover glass mounting means is means for mounting the cover glass on the resin injected into the holder, and means for supplying the cover glass one by one, and It consists of a means to pick up and move it onto the holder.

As means for supplying the cover glass, a housing portion having a cover glass outlet for accommodating the cover glass and discharging the cover glass is provided, and the cover glass is provided below the cover glass outlet of the housing portion. A slider for receiving the cover glass carried out from the cover glass outlet of the housing, wherein the slider has a thickness of the cover glass equal to or greater than the cover glass thickness with respect to the cover glass outlet end of the housing. The slider is installed at a distance shorter than twice as long as it can move forward and backward while maintaining the distance to the housing, and the slider has a receiving portion of a cover glass and a groove formed around the receiving portion. And an apparatus provided with

The height of the upper surface of the pedestal portion is set to be lower than the thickness of the cover glass below the upper surface of the slider, the area of the upper surface of the pedestal portion is smaller than the cover glass, and the pedestal portion has a suction port opened on the upper surface. Is preferably provided.

The accommodating section can be exemplified by a cylindrical body having the same cross section as the cover glass. The lower part of this housing part is open, and the cover glass is discharged by its own weight.
A spring may be provided on the upper side to ensure the discharge of the cover glass, and the cover glass may be urged downward.

The slider receives the cover glass discharged from the housing portion one by one and carries it out. The slider has a distance below the housing portion that is greater than the thickness of the cover glass and shorter than twice the thickness of the cover glass. Is set so as to be slidable in a direction parallel to the surface of the cover glass.

This slider is provided with a receiving portion for receiving the cover glass, and a groove engraved around the receiving portion and having an outer shape substantially the same as that of the cover glass. It is preferable that the upper surface of the receiving portion is set lower than the upper surface of the slider because the cover glass falls into the receiving portion so that the cover glass can be easily carried out, and the position at which the cover glass is carried out is more accurate. The height of the pedestal portion is set so that the height difference between the upper surface of the slider and the upper surface of the pedestal portion is equal to or less than the thickness of the cover glass so that only one cover glass falls.

When the cover glass falls into the cradle portion, the groove is made lower than the cradle portion in order to prevent air from being trapped between the cover glass and the cradle portion so that a part of the cover glass rises. It is preferable that the area of the upper surface of the cradle portion is smaller than that of the cover glass. Further, in order to make it easy for air to escape, an air vent may be provided on the outer periphery of the groove. For example, when the cover glass has a rectangular shape, a concave portion projecting outward is formed at each corner of the rectangular groove.

The shape of the pedestal is not particularly limited, but the area of the pedestal is preferably smaller than the cover glass. By making the pedestal part smaller than the cover glass and making the outer periphery of the groove slightly larger than the cover glass, the position of the cover glass on the slider can be ensured.

When a suction port is provided in the receiving portion from the upper surface of the receiving portion to the lower surface of the slider and vacuum suction is performed, the cover glass is securely adhered to the receiving portion and the position of the cover glass can be stabilized.

In order to move the cover glass supplied in this way onto the resin injected into the window of the holder, the cover glass is picked up by vacuum suction, moved onto the resin, and then moved under vacuum suction. You just need to stop. When taking up the cover glass, the vacuum suction at the slider receiving portion is stopped.

<4> Ultraviolet Irradiation Unit The ultraviolet irradiation unit is a unit for irradiating ultraviolet rays while pressing the cover glass and the adhesive tape on a flat surface to cure the ultraviolet curable resin. And a pressing portion for pressing the cover glass and the adhesive tape from both sides. The reason for irradiating with ultraviolet light while nipping is to prevent the resin from curing while the adhesive tape is wrinkled, and to improve the flatness of the adhesive tape.

The ultraviolet ray generating portion may be any one which generates ultraviolet rays having a wavelength suitable for curing the resin, but a spot type which is excellent in illuminance is used for curing the resin in a short time. Then, it is preferable to irradiate the light with a light guide from the ultraviolet light emitting portion.

The pressing portion applies an average pressure to the cover glass and the adhesive tape. For example, on the cover glass side, a pressing body that presses the entire cover glass, and on the adhesive tape side, a pressing body that has a flat surface slightly smaller than the hole opened in the conveyor and the holder receiver corresponding to the holder window hole. And press them with a cylinder or the like from both sides. Adhering to the pressing body that presses the cover glass by applying a sponge rubber to the pressing surface improves the adhesiveness, so that pressing can be performed on average. The pressure is appropriately selected depending on the setting of the distance between the sandwiching members.

In order to irradiate the sample with the ultraviolet rays while pressing the sample at the pressure section, the pressure member on the side of the adhesive tape is made of a transparent material such as resin or glass, and the emission section or the emission section of the ultraviolet irradiation section is formed therein. A method of embedding a ride guide connected to the section and activating the ultraviolet irradiation section while squeezing the sample from above and below with the squeezing body so that the resin is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from inside the squeezing body.

Further, in order to prevent the holder from being displaced when pressing the sample, or to prevent the resin which has overflowed due to the pressing force from adhering to the pressing member on the cover glass side and lifting the holder, the pressing member is provided with a pressing member. It is advisable to temporarily hold the holder in the holder receiver while contacting and separating from the holder.

Irradiation with ultraviolet rays is preferably carried out after the clamping of the sample is started, in order to obtain a sample having a good flat surface.

<5> Discharge of Sample The discharge of the holder from the conveyor is performed manually or by a discharge means. When the conveyor is a turntable, if the holder mounting station and the discharging station are adjacent to each other, the loading and discharging can be performed by one worker.

When the discharge is automated, a vacuum suction device can be used as the discharge means. The suction may be stopped after the holder sucked by the vacuum suction device is moved to a holder disposed outside the device of the present invention or a conveyor for discharging the holder, and the holder may be dropped in the box or on the conveyor.

[0036]

[Function] At the holder placing station, the holder is placed on the holder receiver on the conveyor. This may be done manually. By operating the conveyor, the holder is transported to the position of the ultraviolet curable resin injection means and stopped. Next, the ultraviolet curable resin injection means is operated to inject the resin into the window of the holder.

Subsequently, the holder is transported to the position of the cover glass mounting means. The cover glass supplied from the cover glass supply device of the cover glass mounting means is sucked by the vacuum suction member and carried on the holder. Next, the adsorption is stopped, and the cover glass is placed on the resin in the holder.

Further, the holder is transported to the position of the ultraviolet irradiation means. When using the temporary presser, first, the holder is fixed to the holder receiver by the temporary presser. Subsequently, the squeezing unit is operated, the sample is squeezed from above and below, and further, ultraviolet rays are irradiated. Next, the clamping portion is separated from the sample, and the temporary presser is also separated.

The specimen whose resin has hardened in this way is discharged at a discharge station. In each station, the above process proceeds simultaneously, and the observation object on the holder mounted on the apparatus of the present invention in the holder mounting station is automatically fixed with ultraviolet curing resin and cover glass with good flatness,
It is transported to the discharge station.

If an empty station is provided, the specimen is left here. In addition, this empty station can be used to number the prepared specimens. The specimen prepared by the apparatus of the present invention is preferably observed from the side of the adhesive tape.

[0041]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the conveyor is a turntable,
An empty station between the ultraviolet irradiation means and the discharge means,
A case where a holder installation station is provided between the discharge means and the ultraviolet curable resin injection means and each means or station is arranged at an angle of 60 degrees will be described (FIG. 1).
In the apparatus of the present embodiment, each means is processed in two steps and two holders are simultaneously processed in one step, but the present invention is not limited to this.

First, a holder applied to the apparatus of this embodiment will be described. The holder 1 is a rectangular resin plate, and a square window hole 2 is formed in a portion near one end for convenient handling (FIG. 2). The size of the window hole 2 is set slightly larger than the cover glass 7 to be used. The thickness of the holder 1, including the thickness of the observation object 5 and the cover glass 7, may be appropriately set according to the amount of the ultraviolet-curable resin 6. An adhesive tape 3 to which an observation object is attached is attached to the window 2 of the holder 1 (FIG. 3). Alternatively, an adhesive tape may be attached to the holder in advance, and the observation target may be attached to the adhesive surface later.

A recess is provided in the outer periphery of the turntable 10 so that the holder 1 fits therein, and a holder receiver 11 is formed integrally with the turntable. At a position corresponding to the window hole 2 of the holder of the turntable 10, a square hole 12 larger than a lower pressing body 53 of an ultraviolet irradiation unit described later is formed. The turntable is rotated 60 degrees after stopping for a certain period of time, but may be manually operated.

As the ultraviolet-curing resin injection means 30, a mini coater CII type device manufactured by Three Bond Co. was used (FIG. 4). Photocurable resin 3042C sold by Three Bond Co., Ltd. was used as the ultraviolet curable resin. This is adjusted so that 0.02 ml is injected into the window of the holder.

The cover glass mounting means 40 has the following configuration (FIG. 5). In this embodiment, since each unit is two, the cover glass mounting unit is also two. Cover glass holding portion 4 1 is a cylindrical cross-section square top,
Both lower parts are open, from which cover glasses can be stacked and supplied, and the lower part of the accommodating part 41 forms a cover glass outlet. In addition, a window is opened on the side to check the capacity of the cover glass.

Below the receiving portion 41, a rectangular slider 42 is set so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction while maintaining a distance longer than the thickness of the cover glass and shorter than twice the thickness. A front portion of the slider 42 is provided with a square receiving portion 43 smaller than the cover glass and a groove 44 engraved therearound and slightly smaller than the cover glass. The upper surface of the cradle portion 43 is lower than the upper surface of the slider 42, and the height difference is set shorter than the thickness of the cover glass (FIG. 6).

Further, since air vents 45 are provided at the four corners of the groove 44, the cover glass comes into close contact with the pedestal portion without being lifted. Further, a suction port 4 is provided at the center of the receiving portion 43.
6 is provided so as to communicate from the upper surface of the pedestal portion to the lower surface of the slider, so that the cover glass can be stabilized by vacuum suction.

The slider 42 is moved to the
When the cover glass is slid so as to be located below the cover glass, the cover glass falls into the receiving base. When the slider 42 is further slid, the cover glass is carried out together with the slider 42. On the other hand, the next cover glass is brought into contact with the upper surface of the slider 42, and the receiving portion 43 of the slider 42 is
When the slider 42 is slid to the original position so as to be located below the cover glass, the cover glass falls into the receiving base. By repeating this process, cover glasses can be supplied one after another.

The cover glass supplied in this manner is sucked up from above the slider 42 by the vacuum suction member 47, moved into the window of the holder on the conveyor, and placed on the resin in the window.

The ultraviolet irradiation means 50 includes an ultraviolet generator 51
And a pressing portion including an upper pressing member 52 for pressing the cover glass from above and a lower pressing member 53 for pressing the cover glass from below the adhesive tape (FIG. 7). This upper clamping body 52
Is a rod-shaped body that presses the entire cover glass, a sponge rubber is adhered to the lower surface, and the pressure is dispersed so that uniform pressing can be performed.

The lower clamping body 53 is made of transparent acrylic,
The upper surface is slightly smaller than the hole 12 of the holder receiver 11 that is opened corresponding to the holder window hole 2.
It has a larger plane. Each of these pressure members is moved up and down by a cylinder, and presses the sample through the hole 12 of the holder receiver. A light guide 54 connected to the emission section of the ultraviolet ray generation section 51 is provided inside the lower clamping body 53.
And the ultraviolet rays can be irradiated upward through the lower pressure member.

In the present embodiment, an HMW-623-8 spot UV device manufactured by Oak Manufacturing Co., Ltd. was used for the ultraviolet ray generating section, the ultraviolet illuminance was 140 mW / cm ² , the distance between the light source and the sample was 50 mm, and the irradiation time was 6 hours. Irradiate for seconds.
These conditions are appropriately set according to the type and thickness of the resin used, the material of the lower pressure body, and the like. In the present embodiment, the periphery of the ultraviolet irradiation means is surrounded by an ultraviolet protection box 55 made of a transparent material that does not transmit ultraviolet rays, so that workers are not exposed to the ultraviolet rays.

The discharging means 70 includes a vacuum suction member 71 for picking up the holder by vacuum suction and moving the holder out of the conveyor, and a sample conveyor 72 for receiving the moved holder (FIG. 8). The sample picked up by the vacuum suction is moved onto the sample conveyor 72, and when the vacuum suction is stopped, the sample falls onto the sample conveyor 72 and is carried to the sample reservoir 73.

The apparatus for preparing a sample according to the present embodiment rotates 60 degrees after the turntable stops for 6 to 7 seconds. When the empty holder receiver 11 stops at the position of the holder mounting station 20, the holder 1 is manually placed on the holder receiver 11.

Each time the turntable rotates 60 degrees, the holder is transported to the position of each means, and each means operates while the turntable is stopped. In the empty station 60, the sample with the cured resin is left standing, and then the sample transported to the discharge station is discharged by the discharge means. Since the discharging means 70 and the holder mounting station 20 are arranged side by side, the discharging may be performed manually by one operator.

[0056]

According to the apparatus of the present invention, a sample can be prepared without imposing a burden on an operator by automating complicated ones of the steps required for preparing the sample. Further, since the resin used for fixing the observation object is an ultraviolet curable resin, the resin can be cured in a short time, and the working efficiency is good.
Further, since the ultraviolet curable resin is sufficiently cured as compared with the conventionally used silicon material, the adhesive tape does not sag after the curing, and a sample with good flatness can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a holder applied to the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state of an adhesive tape adhered to a holder and an observation target.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of an ultraviolet curable resin injection unit.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing an example of a cover glass mounting unit.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing an example of a slider of the cover glass mounting means.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing an example of an ultraviolet irradiation unit.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of a discharging unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. Holder 2. Window hole 3. Adhesive tape 4. Transparent adhesive 5. Object to be observed 6. UV curable resin 7. Cover glass 10. Turntable 11. Holder holder 12. Hole corresponding to holder window hole 20. Holder mounting station 30. UV curable resin injection means 40. Cover glass mounting means 41. Cover glass container 42. Slider 43. Cradle section 44. Groove 45. Venting 46. Suction port 47. Vacuum suction member 50. UV irradiation means 51. UV generator 52. Upper clamping body 53. Lower clamping body 54. Light guide 55. Temporary retainer 56. UV protection box 60. Empty station 70. Discharge means 71. Vacuum suction member 72. Specimen conveyor 73. Sample reservoir

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01N 1/28 G01N 33/48

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A conveyor for transporting a holder having a window hole and holding an adhesive tape having an observation object adhered to an adhesive surface corresponding to the window hole, and an ultraviolet curable resin in the window hole of the holder. UV curable resin injection means for injecting resin,
Wherein a cover glass mounting means for mounting the cover glass onto the ultraviolet curable resin injected into the holder, and the cover glass was placed on top of the ultraviolet curable resin and the <br/> adhesive tape UV while nipped by a flat surface and a curable resin and a UV radiation means for irradiating ultraviolet rays to the ultraviolet curable resin, the respective means are arranged at regular intervals on the conveyor in the order of the said conveyor the has a holder receiving for fixing the holder, the holder are sequentially conveyed to the position of the respective means stationary fixed time, a manufacturing apparatus of the specimen activating the respective unit during this time, the cover glass mounting Placing means for stacking the cover glass
Cover glass for storing and discharging this cover glass.
A housing having a lath outlet and a cover glass for the housing
The cover is installed below the exit and
ー Sludge that receives the cover glass carried out from the glass outlet
And the slider is provided with the cover glass outlet end of the housing portion.
The cover glass with the thickness of the cover glass or more
Installed at a distance shorter than twice the thickness of the
It can move forward and backward while maintaining the distance to the storage section
And the slider is a receiving portion of the cover glass.
And a cover gasket provided with a groove engraved around the cradle portion.
Equipped with a lath supply device , corresponding to the window hole of the holder for receiving the holder of the conveyor.
Holes are drilled in the part,
The conveyor has a UV light source inside the lower side of the conveyor
And a lower pressure body made of a transparent resin body with a flat top
And the cover glass on the upper surface side of the conveyor
An upper pressing body for pressing, the adhesive tape and the purple
An outer line curable resin and the cover glass are connected to the upper pressing body.
Generated from the light source while being pinched by the
UV light from the adhesive tape side to the UV curable resin
An apparatus for producing a specimen, comprising: