JP4596501B2 - Microscope specimen cover glass sticking device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention relates to a slide glass transfer mechanism and a microscope specimen cover glass sticking apparatus, and more particularly to a cover glass sticking apparatus having a characteristic configuration as a slide glass take-out mechanism.
[0002]
[Prior art]
  A microscope specimen cover glass sticking apparatus is an apparatus that uses a tissue piece taken out of a patient as a sample, for example, as a microscope specimen. The microscope specimen is attached to the surface of the slide glass with a thinly cut sample, degreased and stained, and then the mounting medium is dispensed on the sample, and the cover glass is placed on the mounting medium. It is obtained by evaporating the solvent contained in the encapsulant to solidify the encapsulant and fixing the cover glass. The cover glass sticking apparatus automates the process from dispensing an encapsulant to a slide glass on which a sample is stuck, sticking the cover glass, and obtaining a microscope specimen.
[0003]
  As shown in FIG. 9, the sample used for the microscope specimen is stored such that the slide glass 10 with the sample attached is separated from each other so as to stand in the basket 12, and this basket 12 is stored in the basket container 14. A penetrating agent is put so that the slide glass 10 is immersed in the container 14 and set in a cover glass sticking apparatus. The basket 12 aligns and accommodates the slide glass 10 so that the slide glass 10 can be pulled out one by one. The basket container 14 is used to immerse the sample in the penetrating agent. The penetrating agent is a solvent for dissolving the encapsulant, and xylene is often used.
[0004]
  The cover glass sticking device pulls up the slide glass 10 one by one from the state in which the sample is immersed in the penetrating agent in the basket container 14 as described above, and encloses it through a dispensing step and a cover glass sticking step. A microscope specimen in which a sample is sealed with an agent is automatically formed. In these dispensing steps and cover glass attaching steps, the slide glass is sequentially transferred to each processing station, the sample is sealed with the cover glass, and the microscope specimen is finally stored in the storage unit.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  In the cover glass sticking apparatus, as described above, the slide glass is sequentially transferred to the processing station and subjected to the required processing. In each processing station, the slide glass is supported horizontally, and the slide glass is leveled. Transfer between processing stations. Of the slide glass transfer operations, the operation of lifting the slide glass from the basket container and setting it to the station requires the operation of lifting the slide glass from the standing state and setting it horizontally. This is a tricky operation.
[0006]
  The cover glass sticking apparatus according to the present invention enables the operation from taking out the slide glass standing and stored in the basket 12 from the basket 12 and setting it horizontally in the processing station with a simple configuration. Thus, it is possible to take out the slide glass only by using a single drive source, thereby making it possible to simply configure the apparatus and reduce the manufacturing cost of the apparatus.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises the following arrangement.
  That is, a slide glass take-out means for taking out a slide glass with a sample for a microscope specimen from a container and setting it in a processing station, a means for dispensing an encapsulant into the slide glass, and a cover glass on the sample. A microscope specimen cover glass sticking apparatus comprising means for sticking and means for storing a slide glass in which a sample is sealed in a storage unit, wherein the slide glass take-out means acquires the slide glass And, the acquisition arm is moved up and down between a lower position for acquiring the slide glass stored in the container and an upper position for transferring the slide glass to the station arranged above the container, From the direction of taking out the slide glass from the container when transferring the slide glass to the station, And a moving mechanism for turning the direction of transferring the stationThe moving mechanism supports the acquisition arm and supports a support rod on which a lifting pulley is coaxially mounted, and when the acquisition arm moves up and down, restricts the tilting operation of the acquisition arm, and the acquisition arm moves upward. An acquisition arm restricting means for releasing the restriction of the tilting operation of the acquisition arm when the position is reached, and an endless member arranged so as to be stretched over the elevating pulley so as to be movable in the elevating direction of the acquisition arm And a pulley that engages with the endless member, and a drive motor that moves the acquisition arm between the lower position and the upper position by circulating the endless member in the forward and reverse directions, and The restricting means is provided by attaching a guide rod to the acquisition arm, and engaging the guide rod with a guide plate that restricts the moving direction when the acquisition arm moves up and down. The guide plate is formed with a guide groove extending in the vertical direction and a circular guide groove that diverges from the guide groove in a quarter arc shape at the upper part of the guide groove. The spacing between the support rod and the guide rod is such that the support rod The guide rod is set so that the position of the guide rod coincides with the position of the branch part of the circular guide groove that branches off from the guide groove when it is raised to the uppermost position.It is characterized by that.
  This makes it possible to perform a pulling operation of the slide glass with a simple configuration using a single drive source. Further, the guide arm is guided by the guide plate, so that the acquisition arm can be reliably moved and turned.
[0008]
  MaIn addition, a balance weight for balancing the weight with the acquisition arm is attached to the lifting pulley.
  In addition, it is possible to appropriately adjust the amount of penetrating agent adhering to the slide glass by controlling the operation of the drive motor and adjusting the pulling speed of the slide glass from the container. become.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a cover glass sticking apparatus according to the present invention.
  Reference numeral 20 denotes a hood provided on the front surface of the cover glass sticking apparatus so as to be opened and closed. Inside the cover glass sticking device with the hood 20 open, the slide glass immersed in the penetrating agent in the basket container is pulled up one by one, the encapsulant is dispensed onto the slide glass, and the cover glass is attached. Each processing station to be sealed is arranged. 22 is an open / close door provided at the lower front of the main body of the cover glass sticking device, 24 is a set base for setting a bottle containing encapsulant, and 26 is an operation panel. The slide glass to be sealed is set in the main body by opening the open / close door 22 in a state of being accommodated in the basket container.
[0010]
  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of each processing station arranged in the main body of the cover glass sticking apparatus.
  In the figure, reference numeral 30 denotes a take-out mechanism that performs an operation of pulling the slide glass upward from the basket container (not shown) and setting it in the first station A. The take-out mechanism unit 30 includes a suction unit 31 as an acquisition mechanism that chucks and supports the upper edge of the slide glass that is stood and stored in the basket container, an acquisition arm 32 that supports the suction unit 31, A motor for moving the acquisition arm 32 up and down is provided. The slide glass acquisition mechanism may be configured to support the slide glass by pinching with a chuck claw, in addition to air adsorption. The acquisition arm 32 is provided with a guide rod 34 that guides and moves in the guide groove 33 as the acquisition arm 32 moves up and down. When the acquisition arm 32 rises to the upper position, the acquisition arm 32 moves from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction. It will fall down. The suction unit 31 moves up and down on the near side of the first station A, tilts the slide glass in the horizontal direction, and descends to set the slide glass in the first station A.
[0011]
  The first station A is formed in a concave set portion where a slide glass can be positioned and set on a support body horizontally provided.
  At a lateral position of the first station A, a second station B is arranged in parallel with the first station A, and further a third station C and a fourth station D are arranged in parallel at equal intervals. The slide glass 10 is sequentially fed from the first station A to the fourth station D, but the conveying means for feeding the slide glass 10 is due to the action of the conveying plate 36 disposed below each set unit. The transport plate 36 moves so as to draw a square-shaped locus when viewed from the moving side surface direction, and sequentially transports the slide glass. That is, the operation of the transport plate 36 is ascended from the lower position to a position where the side edge of the slide glass 10 is hooked, moved by a fixed distance in the forward direction, and moved the slide glass 10 forward to the next station on the support, It descends to the lower position at the forward movement position, then moves back to the reverse position with a fixed size and returns to the original position.
[0012]
  The second station B is a station for dispensing the encapsulant onto the slide glass 10. 38 is a dispensing nozzle, 40 is a container containing a solvent for preventing the encapsulant from solidifying, and 42 is a waste liquid tray. The dispensing nozzle 38 moves above the slide glass 10 and drops a predetermined amount of encapsulant. The dispensing nozzle 38 is inserted into the container 40 before the start of dispensing so that the encapsulant does not solidify. After dispensing, the tip of the nozzle is brought into contact with the removal member above the waste liquid tray 42. Remove droplets adhering to. These operations are for suppressing variations in the amount of encapsulant dispensed onto the slide glass 10.
[0013]
  The third station C is a station for sticking the cover glass 50 to the slide glass 10 into which the encapsulant is dispensed. Reference numeral 52 denotes a holder for stacking and storing the cover glass 50, and reference numeral 54 denotes a suction pad for sucking the cover glass 50 by air. Reference numeral 56 denotes an arm that moves together with the suction pad 54. The arm 56 contacts the upper surface of the cover glass 50 when the cover glass 50 is taken out from the holder 52, and bends the cover glass 50 in cooperation with the suction action by the suction pad 54. When the cover glass 50 is adhered to the slide glass 10 while being taken out in an inclined state, the cover glass 50 is adhered to the slide glass 10 gradually from one end side so as to expel air. . Reference numeral 58 denotes an elevating arm that takes out the cover glass 50 from the holder 52 and lowers it to the set portion on the third station C when the cover glass 50 is stuck.
[0014]
  The 4th station D is a station which conveys the slide glass 10 with which the cover glass 50 was stuck and the sample was enclosed to a storage part. In the cover glass sticking apparatus of this embodiment, the slide glass 10 after the sealing process is configured to be stored in a rack provided with crosspieces at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction. The rack is moved in the vertical direction according to the pitch of the crosspieces, and the slide glasses 10 picked up from the fourth station D are inserted and stored one by one in the rack.
[0015]
  As described above, the slide glass 10 taken out from the basket container one by one is forwarded from the first station A to the second station B, the third station C, and the fourth station D, and sealed and subjected to a sealing process. A specimen is formed. In this processing step, the slide glass 10 transferred onto each station is transferred to the next station at the same timing and subjected to the required processing. These slide glass transport operations and sealing processing operations are performed by motorized automatic control.
[0016]
  Below, the taking-out mechanism part 30 of the slide glass which is a characteristic structure in the sticking apparatus of the cover glass of this embodiment is demonstrated.
  FIG. 3 is a view of the configuration of the slide glass take-out mechanism 30 as viewed from the end face direction of the basket container 14. FIG. 3 also shows the first to fourth stations A, B, C, and D that perform required processing on the slide glass 10 and the rack 59 that houses the sealed slide glass 10.
[0017]
  The slide glass take-out mechanism unit 30 arranges the basket container 14 so that the slide glass 10 is positioned immediately below the first station A, and adsorbs the upper end portion of the slide glass 10 by the adsorption unit 31 to assemble the basket container 14. The slide glass 10 is turned in the horizontal direction and set in the first station A. Moving parts such as the suction unit 31 and the acquisition arm 32 move up and down on the front side of the first station A and are arranged so as not to interfere with the first station A.
[0018]
  FIG. 4 shows a feeding mechanism of the basket container 14 that houses the slide glass 10. Since the slide glass take-out mechanism 30 is set to take out the slide glass 10 at a fixed position, the basket container feed mechanism moves the basket container 14 by pitch every time the slide glass 10 is taken out, and the suction part 31. The next slide glass 10 is controlled to be positioned at the take-out position. In the embodiment, three baskets 12 containing the slide glass 10 are accommodated in the basket container 14 in series, the basket container 14 is placed on the belt 60 moving on the horizontal support surface, and the belt 60 is driven by the drive motor 62. The basket container 14 is pitch-fed for each take-out operation of the slide glass 10 by circulating and moving.
[0019]
  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the main components of the slide glass take-out mechanism 30. Reference numeral 70 denotes a guide plate that regulates the vertical movement and the turning direction of the acquisition arm 32. The guide plate 70 stands vertically and is fixed to the apparatus main body. The guide plate 70 has a guide groove 33 extending in the vertical direction, and a circular guide groove that branches from the guide groove 33 in a quarter arc shape above the guide groove 33. 33a is formed. A guide rod 34 is provided horizontally at the lower end of the acquisition arm 32 toward the guide plate 70, and a roller 34 a that rolls in contact with the guide groove 33 and the circular guide groove 33 a is attached to the tip of the guide rod 34. Yes. The suction part 31 attached to the upper end side of the acquisition arm 32 is rotatably attached to the acquisition arm 32 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, 31a is a suction pad and 31b is a spring. The spring 31b is extrapolated to a rotation shaft that rotatably supports the suction portion 31, and is provided so as to elastically press the suction pad 31a against the slide glass when the slide glass is sucked and supported. An air tube 31c communicating with the air suction mechanism communicates with the suction pad 31a.
[0020]
  Reference numeral 72 denotes a support rod that is inserted through the guide groove 33 and has one end fixed to the acquisition arm 32 in parallel with the guide rod 34. A lifting pulley 74 is fixed to the other end of the support rod 72 as the same axis as the support rod 72. In this embodiment, a support block 75 is interposed between the support rod 72 and the lifting pulley 74, the acquisition arm 32 and the lifting pulley 74 are fixed to both ends of the support rod 72, and the lifting pulley 74 is rotated with respect to the support block 75. Supports movable. In this way, the acquisition arm 32 is rotated via the support rod 72 as the lifting pulley 74 is rotated.
[0021]
  The support rod 72 moves up and down by the action of the elevating pulley 74. The spacing between the support rod 72 and the guide rod 34 is such that the position of the guide rod 34 moves from the guide groove 33 when the support rod 72 rises to the uppermost position. It sets so that it may correspond to the position of the branch part of the circular guide groove 33a to branch.
Reference numeral 76 denotes a sensor plate attached to the support block 75. The sensor plate 76 is for detecting the rotation position of the support rod 72, that is, the rotation position of the acquisition arm 32. Reference numeral 78 denotes a stopper that regulates the raised position of the support rod 72. Since the support rod 72 is moved up and down while being guided by the guide groove 33, the movement range is restricted within the range in which the guide groove 33 is provided, but in this embodiment, the stopper 78 is provided and the position where the support rod 72 contacts the stopper 78. It is regulated so as not to rise.
[0022]
  In the slide glass take-out mechanism 30 of the present embodiment, only one drive motor 80 is used as a drive source for moving the acquisition arm 32 up and down, and the drive motor 80 and the lift pulley 74 are linked by a wire 82. The operation is made. That is, the wire 82 is wound and attached to the pulley 84 fixed to the output shaft of the drive motor 80, and the pulley 84 and the lifting pulley 74 are linked via the fixed pulley 86 so that the wire 82 is wound on the lifting pulley 74. Turn to install. In particular, the fixed pulley 86a and the fixed pulley 86b in which the elevating pulley 74 is arranged in the middle are arranged vertically so that the elevating movement direction of the elevating pulley 74 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the guide groove 33 provided in the guide plate 70. The arrangement interval is set so that the lifting pulley 74 can move over the entire length of the guide groove 33. In this manner, by associating the drive motor 80 and the lifting pulley 74 via the wire 82, the lifting pulley 74 performs a lifting operation and a turning operation according to the movement position of the support rod 72. In this embodiment, the wire 82 is used to link the drive motor 80 and the lifting pulley 74, but the link member can be an endless member such as a belt in addition to the wire.
[0023]
  A balance weight 88 is provided to balance the weight of the acquisition arm 32, the support rod 72, the lifting pulley 74, and the support block 75. The balance weight 88 is linked to the lifting pulley 74 via the wire 90 and is arranged so as to be wound around the lifting pulley 74 when the lifting pulley 74 rotates. The balance weight 88 acts to lift the elevating pulley 74 so that an excessive load does not act on the drive motor 80, and the elevating pulley 74 rotates and winds around the wire so that the elevating pulley 74 is wound up. This has the effect of applying a rotational force that rotates in the opposite direction.
[0024]
  The ascending / descending operation by the slide glass take-out mechanism 30 is as follows.
  First, in order to adsorb and support the slide glass 10 in the basket container 14, the drive motor 80 is controlled to move the acquisition arm 32 to a position below the guide groove 33. When the guide rod 34 and the support rod 72 are both engaged with the guide groove 33, the acquisition arm 32 is supported in the vertical direction, and the elevating pulley 74 and the acquisition arm 32 are not rotated (tilted). When the wire 82 is circulated and moved by the drive motor 80 in this state, the elevating pulley 74 does not rotate but the elevating pulley 74 itself moves up and down. That is, the acquisition arm 32 moves up and down in a state where the guide rod 34 and the support rod 72 are both engaged with the guide groove 33 and the acquisition arm 32 cannot be tilted. The acquisition arm 32 can be moved to a position.
[0025]
  FIG. 3 shows a state in which the suction pad 31a sucks the upper side surface of the slide glass 10 with the acquisition arm 32 lowered to the lowest position. The slide glass 10 is sucked and supported by the suction portion 31 by air suction of the slide glass 10 by the suction pad 31a.
  By driving the drive motor 80 from the state in which the slide glass 10 is sucked and supported, the elevating pulley 74 does not rotate but starts to rise. The slide glass 10 starts to rise while being suspended in the vertical direction in parallel with the acquisition arm 32, and finally rises until the lifting operation by the lifting pulley 74 is restricted by the stopper 78.
[0026]
  FIG. 5 shows a state where the upward movement by the lifting pulley 74 is restricted by the stopper 78.
  If a force that further turns the lifting pulley 74 is applied in this state, the guide rod 34 has moved to a position that coincides with the branch portion of the circular guide groove 33a branched from the guide groove 33. The restriction force that prevents the arm 32 from being tilted is released, the roller 34a attached to the tip of the guide rod 34 enters the circular guide groove 33a, and the acquisition arm 32 rotates from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction.
  Since the circular guide groove 33a is formed in a ¼ arc shape, the acquisition arm 32, that is, the slide glass 10 is horizontally oriented when the guide rod 34 contacts the upper end of the circular guide groove 33a. The slide glass 10 can be set in the first station A by releasing the air suction by the suction pad 31a when the slide glass 10 is horizontally supported.
[0027]
  After the slide glass 10 is placed on the first station A, the acquisition arm 32 can be returned from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction by rotating the drive motor 80 in the reverse direction. When the acquisition arm 32 rotates, the lifting pulley 74 does not change its height position and rotates with the support rod 72 supported at the uppermost position. At this time, the wire 90 is pulled out of the lifting pulley 74. When the drive motor 80 is rotated in the reverse direction to return the acquisition arm 32 from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction, a force that reversely rotates the lifting pulley 74 (rewinds the wire 90) by the balance weight 88 acts. It can be reliably returned to the vertical orientation. If the drive motor 80 is further driven in the reverse rotation, the acquisition arm 32 is guided by the guide groove 33 and descends from the upper position to the lower position.
[0028]
  Thus, by controlling forward / reverse rotation, rotation amount, and operation timing of the drive motor 80, the acquisition operation of the slide glass 10 by the acquisition arm 32 can be sequentially repeated. Actually, the acquisition operation of the slide glass 10 by the acquisition arm 32 is performed in synchronization with other processing steps such as a dispensing process and a cover glass attaching process.
[0029]
  The slide glass take-out mechanism 30 described above can be moved up and down and turned only by driving and controlling a single drive motor 80, and can be operated extremely without adopting a complicated configuration. It has a characteristic that it can be taken out efficiently and efficiently.
  The slide glass take-out mechanism 30 of the present embodiment forms the guide groove 33 and the circular guide groove 33a in the guide plate 70, thereby tilting the acquisition arm 32 with the support rod 72 as a support shaft depending on the movement position of the guide rod 34. Thus, the acquisition arm 32 can be moved linearly and rotationally as a series of operations. Note that the configuration enabling such an operation is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment.
[0030]
  FIG. 6 shows a case where the circular guide groove 33a is provided and a case where the circular guide groove 33a is not provided. FIG. 6 (a) shows the configuration of the present embodiment and shows a case where the circular guide groove 33a is provided. When the acquisition arm 32 rotates in the upper position, the position of the acquisition arm 32 by the stopper 78 is shown. Since the acquisition arm 32 rotates at that position, the circular guide groove 33a is not necessarily provided. FIG. 6B shows an example in which the circular guide groove 33a is not provided. In the figure, the acquisition arm 32 is rotated outside the circulation range of the wire 82 in order to easily understand the positional relationship between the guide groove 33 and the circular guide groove 33a and the acquisition arm 32. The same applies to FIGS.
[0031]
  FIG. 7 shows another arrangement example of the circular guide groove 33 a and the guide rod 34. 7A shows an arrangement in which a circular guide groove 33a communicates inwardly with the upper portion of the guide groove 33 when the support rod 72 moves up and down at the same position as the guide groove 33, and FIG. 7B shows the guide groove. 33 is an example in which the support rod 72 moves up and down at a deviated position, and the circular guide groove 33a communicates outward from the upper part of the guide groove 33. In either case, the support rod 72 can move in the vertical direction and can rotate about the axis. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the guide groove 33, the circular guide groove 33a, and the guide rod 34 can be appropriately arranged.
[0032]
  FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the balance weight 88 and an embodiment in which the guide groove 33 and the guide rod 34 are not provided. The balance weight 88 is weight-balanced with the entire lifting unit including the acquisition arm 32 and the lifting pulley 74 to prevent the lifting unit from dropping when the energization is stopped, and when the acquisition arm 32 rotates. The purpose is to balance the rotation. In the above embodiment, the weight balance and the rotation balance are achieved by appropriately setting the diameter of the lifting pulley 74. FIG. 8B shows an example in which a balance weight 88a is attached to the opposite side of the acquisition arm 32. In this case, there is an advantage that the acquisition arm 32 can be easily balanced in rotation.
[0033]
  In the above embodiment, the guide groove 33 and the guide rod 34 are provided. However, the guide groove 33 and the guide rod 34 may be omitted. That is, the acquisition arm 32 rotates by extending the stopper arm 92 from the support block 74 that moves up and down together with the acquisition arm 32 toward the acquisition arm 32 and bringing the stopper arm 92 into contact with the side surface of the acquisition arm 32. Can be regulated. By restricting the acquisition arm 32 from rotating by the stopper arm 92, the acquisition arm 32 moves up and down. When the acquisition arm 32 reaches the upper position and cannot move upward, the acquisition arm 32 moves away from the stopper arm 92. Will rotate. The embodiment shown in FIG. 8B also shows a configuration in which the acquisition arm 32 is moved up and down without providing the guide groove 33 and the guide rod 34 by bringing the stopper arm 92 into contact with the acquisition arm 32. If the lifting and lowering portions of the acquisition arm 32 and the balance weight are appropriately set, the acquisition arm 32 can be sufficiently moved up and down and turned even when the guide groove 33 and the guide rod 34 are not provided. In the case of operating at high speed, it is possible to operate more stably by providing the guide groove 33 and the guide rod 34.
[0034]
  The slide glass take-out mechanism 30 used in the above-described cover glass sticking apparatus pulls up the slide glass 10 from the basket 12 only by using a single drive source, and sets the slide glass 10 horizontally in the first station A. It is possible to perform an operation to perform.
  By the way, when the slide glass 10 is stored in the basket container 14, the sample is immersed in a penetrating agent and held so as not to dry. In the operation of pulling up the slide glass 10 from the basket container 14 by the slide glass take-out mechanism 30 described above, the penetrating agent adheres to the slide glass 10 and is pulled up. The amount of changes.
[0035]
  Since the penetrating agent contains a solvent that dissolves the encapsulating agent, if the amount of the penetrating agent adhering to the slide glass 10 is not appropriate, the enclosing operation may not be performed properly. That is, if too much penetrating agent adheres to the slide glass 10, an excess of the solvent contained in the penetrating agent flows out when it is sealed, and the slide glass 10 is soiled. It becomes easier or the sample dries out, making it impossible to enclose it reliably. For this reason, in the case where the enclosing operation is performed manually, an extra penetrating agent is wiped off.
[0036]
  The amount of the penetrating agent adhering to the slide glass 10 increases when the speed of pulling up the slide glass 10 is increased, and the penetrating agent is easily cut off when the speed of pulling up the slide glass 10 is decreased. Therefore, the amount of the penetrating agent adhering to the slide glass 10 can be adjusted by appropriately adjusting the pulling speed of the slide glass 10.
  In the case of using the take-out mechanism 30 described above, the pulling speed of the slide glass 10 can be easily adjusted only by controlling the operation of the drive motor 80.
[0037]
  The amount of the penetrating agent adhering to the slide glass 10 varies depending on the kind of the penetrating agent. For example, limonene-based penetrating agent is more likely to adhere to the slide glass 10 than xylene that is usually used. Therefore, it is necessary to control the pulling speed of the slide glass 10 in accordance with the type of penetrating agent used. If the slide glass 10 is pulled up at a rate of 45 mm / sec when xylene is used as the penetrating agent, the pulling rate needs to be about 20 mm / sec when a limonene-based penetrating agent is used. Of course, it is necessary to appropriately set the pulling speed of the slide glass 10 depending on the size of the slide glass 10 used and the balance with the sample.
[0038]
  The cover glass sticking apparatus automates the process from the operation of taking out the slide glass 10 from the basket container 14 to storing the microscope specimen that has been enclosed and completed, and the slide glass is used as a part of these automatic control units. A controller for adjusting the pulling speed of 10 is provided. By appropriately adjusting the pulling speed of the slide glass 10, the amount of the penetrating agent adhering to the slide glass 10 can be adjusted accurately, whereby a reliable sealing operation can be performed and a good microscope specimen can be obtained. Is possible.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
  According to the cover glass sticking device for a microscope specimen according to the present invention, as described above, it is possible to efficiently perform the operation of taking out the slide glass without using a complicated configuration. Further, by moving the acquisition arm up and down using the endless member, it is possible to take out and transfer the slide glass with a simple configuration using a single drive source. In addition, by providing a control unit for the drive motor, it is possible to adjust the amount of the penetrating agent adhering to the slide glass, and it is possible to perform an excellent operation such as an accurate cover glass sticking operation. Play.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a cover glass sticking apparatus for a microscope specimen.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of each processing station of the cover glass sticking apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a side view of a slide glass take-out mechanism.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a feeding mechanism portion of the basket container.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a slide glass take-out mechanism.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an arrangement example of circular guide grooves.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing an arrangement example of support rods.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing an arrangement example in which guide grooves and guide rods are not provided.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a method of storing a slide glass in a basket container.
[Explanation of symbols]
  10 Slide glass
  12 baskets
  14 Basket container
  20 Food
  30 Take-out mechanism
  31 Adsorption part
  31a Suction pad
  31b pulling
  31c Air tube
  32 Acquisition arm
  33 Guide groove
  33a Circular guide groove
  34 Guide rod
  34a Roller
  36 Transport plate
  38 dispensing nozzle
  50 cover glass
  52 Holder
  59 racks
  60 belts
  62 Drive motor
  70 Guide plate
  72 Support Rod
  74 Lifting pulley
  75 Support block
  76 Sensor plate
  78 Stopper
  80 Drive motor
  82 wires
  84 pulley
  86, 86a, 86b Fixed pulley
  88, 88a Balance weight
  90 wires

Claims (3)

Take out the slide glass with the sample for the microscope specimen from the container and place it in the processing station, remove the slide glass, dispense the encapsulant into the slide glass, and attach the cover glass to the sample In a cover glass sticking device for a microscope specimen, comprising means for carrying out, and means for housing a slide glass in which a sample is enclosed in a storage unit,
The means for taking out the slide glass,
An acquisition arm for acquiring the glass slide;
The acquisition arm is moved up and down between a lower position for acquiring the slide glass stored in the container and an upper position for transferring the slide glass to the station arranged above the container, and the station comprising a from the direction of taking out the slide glass from the container when transferring the slides a moving mechanism for turning the direction of transferring the station,
The moving mechanism is
A support rod that supports the acquisition arm and is coaxially mounted with a lifting pulley;
The acquisition arm regulating means for regulating the tilting operation of the obtaining arm when the obtaining arm moves up and down, and releasing the regulation of the tilting operation of the obtaining arm when the obtaining arm reaches the upper position;
An endless member disposed across the lifting pulley so that the support rod is movable in the lifting direction of the acquisition arm;
A pulley that engages the endless member, and a drive motor that moves the acquisition arm between the lower position and the upper position by circulating the endless member in the forward and reverse directions;
The regulating means is
A guide rod is attached to the acquisition arm, and the guide rod is provided to engage with a guide plate that regulates the moving direction when the acquisition arm moves up and down.
The guide plate is formed with a guide groove extending in the vertical direction and a circular guide groove branched from the guide groove into a quarter arc shape at the upper part of the guide groove, and the spacing between the support rod and the guide rod is determined by the support rod. A cover glass sticking device for a microscope specimen, wherein the position of the guide rod is set to coincide with the position of the branch portion of the circular guide groove branching from the guide groove when the lens is raised to the uppermost position . The microscope specimen cover glass sticking apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a balance weight for balancing the weight with the acquisition arm is attached to the lifting pulley. The cover glass sticking device for a microscope specimen according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a control unit that controls an operation of the drive motor to adjust a pulling speed of the slide glass from the container. .

Images