JP7464461B2 - Coating Equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a coating device.

A technique has been proposed for covering a cassette that holds a specimen after a portion of the cassette has been sliced to create a specimen, in which an operator manually rubs the cassette against a hot plate filled with molten paraffin to coat the sliced portion of the cassette.

However, in the above conventional technology, as mentioned above, the cassette is manually rubbed against the hot plate, and there is a risk of the worker being burned during the rubbing operation, so there is a demand for improved safety.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a device has been proposed that includes a feed roll and a transfer roll that can hold a cassette, and a mechanism (specifically, a pair of gears and a guide rail, etc.) for feeding the transfer roll so that the paraffin held by the transfer roll adheres to the cassette by rotating the feed roll in the opposite direction to the transfer roll (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-129000 A

However, as described above, the above conventional device is equipped with a feed roll, a transfer roll, and a mechanism, and therefore the structure of the device may become complicated. In addition, the heights of the feed roll and the transfer roll must be changed depending on the thickness of the cassette, and therefore the work on the device may become complicated. Therefore, there is room for improvement in terms of improving the manufacturability of the device while improving the workability of the work of coating the specimen with paraffin (hereinafter referred to as the "coating work").

The present invention is intended to solve the problems in the conventional technology described above, and aims to provide a coating device that can improve the manufacturability of the coating device while improving the workability of the coating work.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the coating device according to claim 1 is a coating device for coating a surface of a specimen held on a specimen holder with paraffin, comprising: first supporting means for supporting the specimen holder; holding means capable of holding molten paraffin; second supporting means for supporting the holding means; horizontal moving means for moving either the first supporting means or the second supporting means in a substantially horizontal direction so that the paraffin held by the holding means is applied to a specimen target portion on the surface of the specimen; and vertical moving means for moving the first supporting means or the second supporting means in a substantially vertical direction depending on the thickness of the specimen holder when the paraffin is applied to the specimen target portion by the horizontal moving means, and the vertical moving means comprises at least one elastic body having an elastic restoring force in the vertical direction.

The coating device according to claim 2 is the coating device according to claim 1, in which the holding surface on which the paraffin is held in the holding means is formed as an inclined surface that inclines upward from one side to the other side in the horizontal movement direction of either the first supporting means or the second supporting means.

A coating apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the coating apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the inclination angle of the holding surface of the holding means is set so as to satisfy the following formulas (1) and (2).
D × cos θ> d × cos θ+Δy/tan θ (1)
d × sin θ + Δy < D × sin θ (2)
(where θ is the inclination angle of the holding surface of the holding means,
D: the length of the holding surface of the holding means,
d: the required contact distance between the paraffin and the specimen target portion when the paraffin is applied to the specimen target portion by the horizontal movement means;
Δy: difference between the minimum thickness of the specimen holder and the maximum thickness of the specimen holder)

The coating device according to claim 4 is the coating device according to claim 2 or 3, in which the horizontal movement means moves either the first support means or the second support means in a substantially horizontal direction so that the specimen target portion comes into direct or indirect contact with the other end of the holding surface of the holding means in the horizontal movement direction.

The coating device according to claim 5 is the coating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the elastic body is a spring material capable of expanding and contracting in a vertical direction, and the spring constant of the elastic body is set to satisfy the following formula (3).
k>W/n×(A−(d×sinθ+Δy)) (3)
(where k is the spring constant of the elastic body,
W: total weight of the paraffin held by the holding means, the second supporting means, and the holding means;
n: the number of the elastic bodies,
A: maximum contraction amount of the elastic body,
θ: inclination angle of the holding surface of the holding means,
d: the required contact distance between the paraffin and the specimen target portion when the paraffin is applied to the specimen target portion by the horizontal movement means;
Δy: difference between the minimum thickness of the specimen holder and the maximum thickness of the specimen holder)

According to the coating device of claim 1, the coating device is provided with a horizontal movement means for moving either the first supporting means or the second supporting means in an approximately horizontal direction so that the paraffin held in the holding means is applied to the specimen target portion on the surface of the specimen, and a vertical movement means for moving the first supporting means or the second supporting means in an approximately vertical direction depending on the thickness of the specimen holder when the paraffin is applied to the specimen target portion by the horizontal movement means. Therefore, compared to the conventional technology (technology in which a specimen is coated using a device equipped with a feed roll, a transfer roll, and a mechanism), the coating device can be constructed with a simpler structure and can safely and easily perform coating operations on specimen holders of various thicknesses, thereby improving the workability of the coating operation while improving the manufacturability of the coating device.
In addition, since the vertical movement means is equipped with at least one elastic body having an elastic restoring force in the vertical direction, even if the first support means or the second support means moves in either the approximately vertical direction when paraffin is applied to the specimen target portion by the horizontal movement means, the first support means or the second support means can be automatically returned to its original position, thereby eliminating the need for the returning operation.

According to the coating device of claim 2, the holding surface on which the paraffin is held in the holding means is formed as an inclined surface that inclines upward from one side to the other side in the horizontal movement direction of either the first support means or the second support means. Therefore, compared to when the holding surface is a horizontal surface, paraffin can be reliably applied to the specimen target portion regardless of the thickness of the specimen holder, making it easier to accurately perform coating work on specimen holders of various thicknesses. In addition, the specimen holder can be moved in an arc, approximately the same as when the specimen is manually coated on the specimen holder. Therefore, compared to when the holding surface is a horizontal surface, paraffin can be applied uniformly to the entire specimen target portion, making it easier to set the thickness of the applied paraffin to a desired thickness.

According to the coating device described in claim 3, the inclination angle of the holding surface of the holding means is set to satisfy formulas (1) and (2), so that the optimal inclination angle of the holding surface can be set, making it easier to accurately perform coating work on specimen holders of various thicknesses.

According to the coating device of claim 4, the horizontal movement means moves either the first support means or the second support means in a substantially horizontal direction so that the specimen target portion comes into direct or indirect contact with the other end of the holding surface of the holding means in the horizontal movement direction. This makes it possible to remove excess paraffin adhering to the specimen holder, compared to a case in which the specimen target portion does not come into contact with the other end of the holding surface in the horizontal movement direction, and improves the design of the specimen holder after the coating operation.

According to the coating device of claim 5, the spring constant of the elastic body is set to satisfy formula (3). Therefore, when paraffin is applied to the specimen target portion by the horizontal moving section, the pushing back load on the specimen holder by the vertical moving means can be reduced, making it easier to avoid damage to the specimen.

1 is a perspective view showing a coating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 13 is a perspective view showing a holding portion, a second support portion, and a vertical movement portion. FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second support portion and a vertical movement portion. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a control unit. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing an overview of the horizontal movement of the first support part when a specimen holder of minimum thickness is supported; FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an overview of the horizontal movement of the first support part when a specimen holder of maximum thickness is supported; 1 is a flowchart of a coating process according to an embodiment.

The following describes in detail an embodiment of a coating device according to the present invention with reference to the attached drawings. First, [I] the basic concept of the embodiment is explained, then [II] the specific content of the embodiment is explained, and finally, [III] modified examples of the embodiment are explained. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

[I] Basic Concept of the Embodiment First, the basic concept of the embodiment will be described. The embodiment generally relates to a coating device for coating the surface of a specimen held on a specimen holder with paraffin.

"Paraffin" here means any saturated hydrocarbon compound, such as linear or branched paraffin, or paraffin molecules with one saturated ring. "Coating" means to tightly cover the specimen. "Specimen" means a biological sample that is suspected to contain a target substance (or is tested to see if it contains a target substance), such as whole blood, serum, plasma, urine, saliva, sputum, bone marrow fluid, lymph, tissue, or swab. This "specimen" is a concept that includes, as target substances, for example, proteins such as antibodies, nucleic acids (e.g., deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), etc.), viruses, bacteria, vesicles, cells, tissues, hair, bones, feces, etc.

[II] Specific Contents of the Embodiment Next, specific contents of the embodiment will be described.

(composition)
First, the configuration of the coating device according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the coating device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the holding unit, the second support unit, and the vertical movement unit. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the second support unit and the vertical movement unit. In the following description, the X direction in FIG. 1 is referred to as the left-right direction of the coating device (the -X direction is the left direction of the coating device, and the +X direction is the right direction of the coating device), the Y direction in FIG. 1 is referred to as the front-rear direction of the coating device (the +Y direction is the front direction of the coating device, and the -Y direction is the rear direction of the coating device), and the Z direction in FIG. 1 is referred to as the up-down direction of the coating device (the +Z direction is the up direction of the coating device, and the -Z direction is the down direction of the coating device).

The coating device 1 is a device for coating the surface of a specimen (not shown) held on a specimen holder H with paraffin (not shown), and as shown in FIG. 1, includes a first support section 10, a holder section 20, a second support section 30, a horizontal movement section 40, a vertical movement section 50, a supply section 60, a third support section 70, and a control unit 80 (see FIG. 4) described below.

The connection form of each part in the coating device 1 will be explained. Specifically, the first support part 10, the horizontal movement part 40, and the supply part 60 are each connected to the control part 85 of the control unit 80 described later via wiring (not shown) (e.g., electrical wiring or optical cable, etc.), and can operate under the control of the control part 85 of the control unit 80 described later.

(Configuration - specimen holder)
Here, the specific configuration of the specimen holder H can be any configuration as long as it is possible to fix a specimen embedded in paraffin to the holding surface of the specimen holder H that holds the specimen (in Figure 1, the underside of the specimen holder H), but in this embodiment it is configured as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the shape of the specimen holder H is set to a hollow box-like body. Specifically, the left and right faces are set to flat vertical surfaces that are approximately aligned with the up-down direction. The upper face is set to a flat horizontal surface that is approximately aligned with the horizontal direction and has a notched hole (not shown) formed therein. The lower face is set to a non-flat horizontal surface (more specifically, a horizontal surface having a plurality of through holes) that is approximately aligned with the horizontal direction so that the specimen can be held. The front face is set to a flat vertical surface that is approximately aligned with the up-down direction. The rear face is set to a flat inclined surface that is inclined so that the upper end of the rear face is located rearward of the lower end of the rear face.

The left-right length of the specimen holder H is set to be shorter than the left-right length of the first support part 10, the front-rear length of the specimen holder H is set to be shorter than the front-rear length of the first support part 10, and the up-down length of the specimen holder H is set to be shorter than the up-down length of the first support part 10.

The specimen holder H is made of a resin material (e.g., polyacetal resin, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer resin, acrylonitrile/acrylic rubber/styrene resin, etc.).

(Configuration - First Support Part)
The first support part 10 is a first support means that supports the specimen holder H. This first support part 10 is configured using, for example, a known support member (as an example, a support member that can freely clamp the specimen holder H), and as shown in Fig. 1, is provided at the tip of a horizontal movement part main body 41 of a horizontal movement part 40 described later, and is fixed to the tip by a fixture or the like.

(Configuration - Holder)
The holding unit 20 is a holding means capable of holding molten paraffin. Here, in the embodiment, "holding" means that the molten paraffin is retained on a holding surface 21 of the holding unit 20 where the paraffin is held (the upper surface of the holding unit 20 in FIG. 1).

The holding unit 20 is constructed, for example, using a known holding member, and is provided near the horizontal moving unit 40 as shown in FIG. 1.

The specific configuration of this holding unit 20 is arbitrary, but in this embodiment it is set as follows.

That is, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the shape of the holding portion 20 is formed as a rectangular plate-like body, but is not limited to this, and may be set to, for example, a circular or elliptical shape.

The length of the holding section 20 in the left-right direction is set to be longer than the length of the specimen holder H in the left-right direction, and specifically, is set to be longer than the length of the holding section 20 in the front-rear direction (for example, it may be set to be about two to five times the length of the holding section 20 in the front-rear direction). The length of the holding section 20 in the front-rear direction is set to be longer than the length of the specimen holder H in the front-rear direction. The length of the holding section 20 in the up-down direction is set to be longer than the length of the specimen holder H in the up-down direction, but is not limited to this, and may be set to be shorter than or approximately the same as the length of the specimen holder H in the up-down direction, for example.

The material of the holding part 20 is thermally conductive, and may be, for example, steel, stainless steel, copper, or aluminum. Details of the configuration of the holding part 20 will be described later.

(Configuration - Second Support Part)
1, the second support part 30 is a second support means that supports the holding part 20. This second support part 30 is configured using, for example, a known support member, and as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the second support part 30 includes a second support part main body 31, a second support side heating part (not shown), and a second support side connecting part 32 above the installation surface PS.

(Configuration - Second Support Part - Second Support Part Main Body)
The second support body 31 is a basic structure of the second support part 30. The second support body 31 is a hollow block-shaped body, and is provided so that the holding part 20 is placed on the upper surface of the second support body 31, as shown in FIG.

The specific configuration of the second support body 31 is optional, but in this embodiment it is set as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the planar shape of the second support body 31 is set to a rectangular shape, but is not limited to this and may be set to, for example, a circular or elliptical shape.

The length of the second support body 31 in the left-right direction is set to be longer than the length of the holding part 20 in the left-right direction, but is not limited to this, and may be set to be approximately the same as the length of the holding part 20 in the left-right direction, for example. The length of the second support body 31 in the front-rear direction is set to be longer than the length of the holding part 20 in the front-rear direction, but is not limited to this, and may be set to be approximately the same as the length of the holding part 20 in the front-rear direction, for example. The length of the second support body 31 in the up-down direction is set to be longer than the length of the holding part 20 in the up-down direction, but is not limited to this, and may be set to be approximately the same as the length of the holding part 20 in the up-down direction, for example.

The second support body 31 is made of a material that has thermal conductivity, and may be made of, for example, steel, stainless steel, copper, or aluminum.

As for other configurations of the second support body 31, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, a first recess 31a and a second recess 31b are provided on the upper surface of the second support body 31.

(Configuration—Second Support—Second Support Body 31—First Recess)
The first recess 31a is a recess for storing the paraffin supplied from the supply unit 60, and is formed over substantially the entire upper surface of the second support body 31 as shown in FIG.

The vertical length of the first recess 31a is set to a length that allows the paraffin stored in the first recess 31a to immerse substantially the entire holding surface 21 of the holding part 20 that is fitted into the second recess 31b, and more specifically, is set to be longer than the vertical length of the part of the holding part 20 other than the part that is fitted into the second recess 31b.

Such a first recess 31a makes it possible for the paraffin stored in the first recess 31a to be held in the holding portion 20.

(Configuration—Second Support—Second Support Body—Second Recess)
The second recess 31b is a recess into which the holding portion 20 is fitted, and as shown in FIG. 3, is formed in a part of the bottom portion of the first recess 31a.

The specific shape and size of the second recess 31b can be any shape and size as long as it can fit the retaining portion 20, but in this embodiment, they are set as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the planar shape of the second recess 31b is set to be substantially the same as the planar shape of the holding portion 20, specifically, to be rectangular.

The length of the second recess 31b in the left-right direction is set to be approximately the same as the length of the holding portion 20 in the left-right direction, and the length of the second recess 31b in the front-rear direction is set to be approximately the same as the length of the holding portion 20 in the front-rear direction. The length of the second recess 31b in the up-down direction is set to be shorter than the length of the holding portion 20 in the up-down direction, and may be set to be a uniform length, for example, or may be set to be longer from the left side to the right side.

This second recess 31b allows the holder 20 to be fitted, and as described below, prevents the holder 20 from moving horizontally when the horizontal moving part 40 applies paraffin to the specimen.

(Configuration-Second Support Section-Second Support Side Heating Section)
The second support side heating section is a second support side heating means for heating the second support main body 31, and is configured using, for example, a known heater and temperature sensor, and is provided within the second support main body 31.

The specific configuration of the second support side heating section is arbitrary, but for example, the heating temperature of the second support side heating section may be adjustable based on a temperature adjustment operation input via the operation section 81 of the control unit 80 described below, or the heating temperature of the second support side heating section may be configured to be unadjustable (note that the same applies to the supply side heating section described below).

(Configuration - Second Support Part - Second Support Side Connection Part)
The second support side connecting part 32 is a second support side connecting means for connecting the second support part main body 31 and the second support side heating part to the vertical moving part 50 while supporting them. This second support side connecting part 32 is formed of, for example, a hollow (or solid) block-shaped body made of steel, and is provided at a distance from the installation surface PS so that the second support part main body 31 is placed on the upper surface of the second support side connecting part 32, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The specific shape and size of the second support side connecting portion 32 are optional, but in this embodiment they are set as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the planar shape of the second support side connecting portion 32 is set to a rectangular shape, but is not limited to this and may be set to, for example, a circular or elliptical shape.

The left-right length of the second support side connecting part 32 is set to be longer than the left-right length of the second support part body 31, and the front-rear length of the second support side connecting part 32 is set to be longer than the front-rear length of the second support part body 31. The up-down length of the second support side connecting part 32 is set to be approximately the same as the up-down length of the second support part body 31, but is not limited to this and may be set to be longer or shorter than the up-down length of the second support part body 31, for example.

The specific configuration of the second support side connecting portion 32 is arbitrary, but the second support side connecting portion 32 is provided with a connection hole 32a.

(Configuration—Second Support Part—Second Support Side Joint Part—Connection Hole)
The connection hole 32a is a through hole for connecting the vertical movement part 50 and the second support side connecting part 32, and is composed of, for example, a known connection hole 32a (for example, a screw hole, etc.), and is formed in multiple parts at each corner of the second support side connecting part 32 or in the vicinity thereof, in a part that does not overlap with the second support part main body 31 (in the embodiment, four are formed).

This allows the vertical movement part 50 to be connected to the second support side connecting part 32, and the vertical movement part 50 can support the second support part 30 against the installation surface PS.

(Configuration - horizontal movement part)
Returning to Figure 1, the horizontal movement unit 40 is intended to move either the first support unit 10 or the second support unit 30 in an approximately horizontal direction so that the paraffin held in the holding unit 20 is applied to a portion TS of the surface of the specimen held on the specimen holder H (hereinafter referred to as the "specimen target portion TS"; see Figure 5 described below).

Here, "specimen target portion TS" means the portion of the specimen surface to which paraffin is applied, and in the embodiment, it is described as the portion of the specimen surface that is sliced to prepare a specimen (the underside of the specimen in FIG. 5 described later). However, it is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a portion of the specimen surface other than the sliced portion (for example, a portion that is simply not coated with paraffin, or a portion that has a relatively small amount of paraffin applied).

This horizontal movement unit 40 is configured, for example, using a known movement device capable of horizontally moving the first support unit 10 (as an example, a movement device capable of moving the first support unit 10 in three-dimensional directions), and as shown in FIG. 1, includes a horizontal movement unit main body 41 and a drive unit (not shown).

(Configuration-Horizontal movement part-Horizontal movement part main body)
The horizontal movement unit main body 41 is the basic structure of the horizontal movement unit 40. This horizontal movement unit main body 41 is configured using, for example, a known movement mechanism for a moving device (as an example, a movement mechanism including a plurality of link units 42 whose orientation can be changed in three-dimensional directions), and is placed on the installation surface PS near the second support unit 30 as shown in FIG.

The specific size of the horizontal movement unit main body 41 is arbitrary as long as it can horizontally move the first support unit 10 a predetermined distance, but in the embodiment, it is set as follows. Here, the "predetermined distance" in the embodiment corresponds to the distance at which a desired amount of paraffin can be applied to the specimen target portion TS corresponding to the specimen holder H that can be handled by the coating device 1.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the longitudinal length of the horizontal movement section main body 41 is set to be longer than the vertical length of the second support section 30. Also, the diameter of the horizontal movement section main body 41 is set to be longer than the left-right length (or front-rear length) of the second support section 30.

(Configuration-horizontal movement section-driving section)
The drive unit is a drive means for operating the horizontal movement unit main body 41 and the first support unit 10. This drive unit is configured using, for example, a known drive means for a moving device, and at least one drive unit is provided inside the horizontal movement unit main body 41.

(Configuration - Vertical moving part)
The vertical movement section 50 is for moving the first support section 10 or the second support section 30 in a substantially vertical direction according to the thickness of the specimen holder H when the molten paraffin is applied to the specimen target part TS by the horizontal movement section 40. As shown in Fig. 1, the vertical movement sections 50 are provided at positions corresponding to the connection holes 32a (four are provided in this embodiment), and include an elastic body (not shown), a vertical side storage section 51, and a vertical side connection section 52. These four "vertical movement sections 50" correspond to the "vertical movement means" in the claims.

(Configuration-Vertical moving part-Elastic body)
The elastic body is a basic structure of the vertical moving part 50 and has an elastic restoring force in the vertical direction. This elastic body is configured, for example, using a spring material (for example, a known steel spring material) that can expand and contract in the vertical direction (up and down direction), and is provided below the second support part 30.

(Configuration-Vertical moving section-Vertical side storage section)
The vertical-side storage section 51 is a storage means for storing the elastic body. The vertical-side storage section 51 is configured using, for example, a known storage member (for example, a steel cylindrical body), and is provided to store the elastic body below the second support section 30, and is attached to the elastic body or the vertical-side connecting section 52.

(Configuration-Vertical moving part-Vertical side connecting part)
The vertical side connecting part 52 is a vertical side connecting means for connecting the second support part 30 and the elastic body. The second support side connecting part 32 is formed of, for example, a steel rod-shaped body (for example, a rod-shaped body with a part threaded), and is provided above the elastic body as shown in Fig. 1, inserted into the connection hole 32a of the second support part 30, and connected to the elastic body by a fastener or welding. Details of the configuration of the vertical moving part 50 will be described later.

(Configuration-Supply Department)
The supply unit 60 is a supply means for supplying molten paraffin to the first recess 31a of the second support unit 30. This supply unit 60 is configured using, for example, a known paraffin supply device, and includes a supply unit main body 61, a supply side heating unit (not shown), and a discharge unit 62, as shown in FIG.

(Configuration-Supply Unit-Supply Unit Main Body)
The supply unit main body 61 is a basic structure of the supply unit 60 and also serves as a supply-side storage means for storing paraffin. The supply unit main body 61 is, for example, a hollow body made of steel, and is provided in the vicinity of the second support part 30 at a distance from the installation surface PS as shown in FIG.

(Configuration-Supply section-Supply side heating section)
The supply side heating part is a supply side heating means for heating the supply part main body 61, and is configured using, for example, a known heater and temperature sensor, and is provided within the supply part main body 61.

(Configuration-Supply section-Discharge section)
The discharge part 62 is a discharge means for discharging paraffin (specifically, molten paraffin) stored in the supply part main body 61 to the outside, and is constructed, for example, using a known discharge member (as an example, a discharge member whose discharge port can be opened and closed freely), and is attached to a part of the supply part main body 61 on the second support part 30 side, above the first recess 31a, as shown in Figure 1.

The supply operation of the paraffin by the supply unit 60 is optional, but for example, when a predetermined timing arrives (for example, at regular intervals or when a predetermined operation is accepted via the operation unit 81 of the control unit 80 described below), the melted paraffin from the supply unit main body 61 is discharged from the discharge unit 62.

(Configuration - Third Support Part)
The third support section 70 is a third support means for supporting the second support section 30 and the supply section 60, and includes a second support side third support section 71 and a supply side third support section 72 as shown in FIG.

(Configuration - Third Support Part - Second Support Side Third Support Part)
The second support-side third support portion 71 supports the second support portion 30. The second support-side third support portion 71 is formed, for example, of a steel plate (specifically, formed of a rectangular plate larger than the planar shape of the second support portion 30) and is provided so as to abut against each of the vertical movement portions 50 on the installation surface PS, as shown in FIG.

(Configuration-Third Support Part-Supply Side Third Support Part)
The supply-side third support portion 72 supports the supply portion 60. This supply-side third support portion 72 is formed, for example, of a steel plate having an L-shaped side surface, and is provided on the installation surface PS such that an upper end portion of the supply-side third support portion 72 abuts against a lower end of the supply portion main body 61 as shown in Fig. 1, and is attached to the supply portion main body 61 by a fastener, welding, or the like.

The method for forming the third support portion 70 is arbitrary. For example, the second support side third support portion 71 and the supply side third support portion 72 may be integrally formed by forming a steel plate using a known forming method. Alternatively, the second support side third support portion 71 and the supply side third support portion 72 may be formed separately and then connected by welding or the like.

(Configuration - Control Unit)
Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the control unit 80. The control unit 80 is a unit that controls each component of the coating apparatus 1, and is provided near the horizontal movement unit 40 or the supply unit 60. As shown in Fig. 4, the control unit 80 includes an operation unit 81, an input unit 82, an output unit 83, a power supply unit 84, a control unit 85, and a storage unit 86.

(Configuration-Control Unit-Operation Section)
The operation section 81 is an operation means that accepts operation input to the control unit 80 .

(Configuration-Control Unit-Input Section)
The input unit 82 is an input means for receiving input of a signal from the operation unit 81 or an external device (not shown) (e.g., a management system for managing samples), and is configured using, for example, a known input terminal.

(Configuration-Control Unit-Output Section)
The output unit 83 is an output means that outputs a signal to the horizontal movement unit 40 and the supply unit 60, and is configured using, for example, a known output terminal or the like.

(Configuration - Control unit - Power supply section)
The power supply unit 84 is a power supply means that supplies power supplied from a commercial power source or a battery (e.g., a battery, etc.) (not shown) to each part of the control unit 80 via wiring (not shown).

(Configuration-Control Unit-Control Section)
The control unit 85 is a control means for controlling each part of the control unit 80, the horizontal movement unit 40, and the supply unit 60. Specifically, the control unit 85 is a computer including a CPU, various programs interpreted and executed on the CPU (including basic control programs such as an OS, and application programs that are started on the OS and realize specific functions), and an internal memory such as a RAM for storing the programs and various data. The above-mentioned "control unit 85" and "horizontal movement unit 40" correspond to the "horizontal movement means" in the claims. Details of the processing executed by the control unit 85 will be described later.

(Configuration-Control Unit-Memory Unit)
The memory unit 86 is a storage means for storing programs and various data necessary for the operation of the control unit 80, and is constructed using a known rewritable recording medium, and can use a non-volatile recording medium such as a flash memory.

This type of coating device 1 can be constructed with a simpler structure than conventional technology (technology that coats specimens using a device equipped with a delivery roll, a transfer roll, and a mechanism), and can safely and easily perform coating operations on specimen holders H of various thicknesses, thereby improving the manufacturability of the coating device 1 while improving the workability of the coating operation.

(Configuration: Details of the configuration of the holding unit)
Next, the configuration of the holder 20 will be described in detail. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an overview of the horizontal movement of the first support part 10, in which (a) is a diagram showing an overview of the horizontal movement of the first support part 10 when a specimen holder H of minimum thickness is supported, and (b) is a diagram showing an overview of the horizontal movement of the first support part 10 when a specimen holder H of maximum thickness is supported. However, the holder 20 can be manufactured in any shape, by any method, and with any material, unless otherwise specified.

In the embodiment, the holding surface 21 of the holding part 20 is formed as an inclined surface that slopes upward from one side to the other side in the horizontal movement direction of the first support part 10. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, it is formed as a flat inclined surface that slopes upward from the left side to the right side. However, it is not limited to this, and may be formed as a non-flat inclined surface (as an example, a curved inclined surface).

Here, the method for setting the inclination angle of the holding surface 21 is arbitrary, but in the embodiment, the inclination angle is set so as to satisfy the following formulas (1) and (2) by referring to various parameters shown in FIG. 5.
D × cos θ> d × cos θ+Δy/tan θ (1)
d × sin θ + Δy < D × sin θ (2)
(where θ is the inclination angle of the holding surface 21 of the holding portion 20,
D: length of the holding surface 21 of the holding portion 20,
d: the required contact distance between the paraffin and the specimen target part TS when the paraffin is applied to the specimen target part TS by the horizontal moving part 40,
Δy: difference between the minimum thickness of the specimen holder H and the maximum thickness of the specimen holder H)

The "minimum thickness of the specimen holder H" refers to the minimum thickness of the specimen holder H that can be handled by the coating device 1. The "maximum thickness of the specimen holder H" refers to the maximum thickness of the specimen holder H that can be handled by the coating device 1.

The method for setting the smoothness of the holding surface 21 is arbitrary, but in the embodiment, it is set so that a desired amount of paraffin can be held on the holding surface 21 of the holding part 20 and so that paraffin can be held continuously over the entire holding surface 21, and may be set, for example, based on experimental results or analytical results. Here, the "desired amount of thickness" may be set, for example, to about 0 mm to 10 mm in order to allow for operational error of the horizontal moving part 40, and is more preferably set to about 1 mm to 2 mm.

This configuration of the holding unit 20 allows paraffin to be reliably applied to the specimen target portion TS regardless of the thickness of the specimen holder H, compared to when the holding surface 21 is a horizontal surface, making it easier to accurately perform the coating work on specimen holders H of various thicknesses. In addition, the specimen holder H can be moved in an arc, approximately the same as when the specimen is manually coated on the specimen holder H. Therefore, compared to when the holding surface 21 is a horizontal surface, it is easier to apply paraffin uniformly to the entire specimen target portion TS, making it easier to set the thickness of the applied paraffin to a desired thickness. Furthermore, since the inclination angle of the holding surface 21 is set to satisfy formulas (1) and (2), the optimal inclination angle of the holding surface 21 can be set, making it easier to accurately perform the coating work on specimen holders H of various thicknesses.

(Configuration - Details of the configuration of the vertical movement part)
Next, a detailed description will be given of the configuration of the vertical movement unit 50. However, unless otherwise specified, the vertical movement unit 50 can be manufactured in any shape, by any method, and from any material.

In this embodiment, the spring constant of the elastic body (spring material) of the vertical movement portion 50 is set so as to satisfy the following formula (3).
k>W/n×(A−(d×sinθ+Δy)) (3)
(where k is the spring constant of the elastic body,
W: total weight of the holding unit 20, the second support unit 30, and the paraffin held in the holding unit 20;
n: number of elastic bodies,
A: maximum shrinkage of the elastic body,
θ: inclination angle of the holding surface 21 of the holding portion 20,
d: the required contact distance between the paraffin and the specimen target part TS when the paraffin is applied to the specimen target part TS by the horizontal moving part 40,
Δy: difference between the minimum thickness of the specimen holder H and the maximum thickness of the specimen holder H)

By configuring the vertical movement unit 50 in this manner, when paraffin is applied to the specimen target portion TS by the horizontal movement unit 40, even if the second support unit 30 moves in either direction (e.g., downward), the second support unit 30 can be automatically returned to its original position, eliminating the need for the returning operation. In addition, when the second support unit 30 is automatically returned to its original position, the pushing load on the specimen holder H by the vertical movement unit 50 can be reduced, making it easier to avoid damage to the specimen.

(Coating Treatment)
Next, a description will be given of the coating process executed by the control unit 85 of the coating device 1 configured as above. Fig. 6 is a flowchart of the coating process according to the embodiment (in the following description of each process, steps are abbreviated as "S").

The coating process is a process for coating the surface of the specimen held on the specimen holder H with paraffin. The timing for performing this coating process is arbitrary, but in the embodiment, it is described as being started after the power of the coating device 1 is turned on. In addition, the coating device 1 is described on the premise that the specimen holder H is not supported by the first support part 10, molten paraffin is stored in the first recess 31a of the second support part 30, and paraffin is held in the holder 20.

When the coating process is started, as shown in FIG. 6, in SA1, the control unit 85 determines whether the timing has arrived to coat the surface of the specimen held on the specimen holder H with paraffin (hereinafter referred to as the "coating timing").

Whether or not the coating timing has arrived may be determined by any method, but for example, the determination may be made based on whether or not a coating signal indicating that the surface of the specimen is to be coated with paraffin has been received from an external device, or whether or not a specified operation has been received via the operation unit 81. If the coating signal has been received or the specified operation has been received, it is determined that the coating timing has arrived, and if the coating signal has not been received or the specified operation has not been received, it is determined that the coating timing has not arrived.

Then, the control unit 85 waits until the covering timing arrives (SA1, No), and if it is determined that the covering timing has arrived (SA1, Yes), it proceeds to SA2.

At SA2, the control unit 85 causes the sample holder H to be supported by the first support unit 10.

The method of supporting the specimen holder H on the first support unit 10 is arbitrary, but in this embodiment, it is performed as follows. That is, first, the horizontal movement unit 40 moves the first support unit 10 horizontally or vertically to a storage area (not shown) where the specimen holder H is stored. Next, the first support unit 10 supports the specimen holder H by clamping it. After that, the horizontal movement unit 40 moves the first support unit 10 horizontally or vertically to a processing start position (specifically, a position at a predetermined height from the left end of the holder 20) where the SA3 processing starts. Note that, in this embodiment, the "predetermined height" is set to a length approximately equal to the maximum thickness of the specimen holder H, but is not limited to this, and may be set to be slightly longer than the maximum thickness of the specimen holder H, for example.

In SA3, the control unit 85 causes the horizontal movement unit 40 to move the first support unit 10 in an approximately horizontal direction.

The method of moving the first support part 10 in a substantially horizontal direction is arbitrary, but in this embodiment, the first support part 10 is moved in a substantially horizontal direction so that the specimen target part TS comes into direct or indirect contact with the other end of the holding surface 21 of the holding part 20 in the horizontal movement direction of the first support part 10.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the specimen target portion TS is moved in a substantially horizontal direction from the processing start position to the right end of the holding surface 21 so that the specimen target portion TS is at least a portion of the holding surface 21 that corresponds to the required contact distance d and directly or indirectly comes into contact with a portion including the right end of the holding portion 20. In this case, when the specimen target portion TS and the holding surface 21 are in contact during the substantially horizontal movement of the first support portion 10, the first support portion 10 can be moved in a substantially vertical direction (downward) by the vertical movement portion 50 according to the thickness of the specimen holder H, so that the coating operation can be performed on specimen holders H of various thicknesses. In addition, even if the second support portion 30 moves downward, the second support portion 30 can be automatically returned to its original position, and the returning operation can be omitted. Furthermore, when the second support portion 30 is automatically returned to its original position, the load of the vertical movement portion 50 pushing back the specimen holder H can be reduced, making it easier to avoid damage to the specimen.

As an example, when the specimen holder H having the smallest thickness among the specimen holders H that can be handled by the coating device 1 is supported by the first support part 10, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the first support part 10 is moved in a substantially horizontal direction so that the specimen target part TS comes into contact with the part C1 of the holding surface 21 that corresponds to the required contact distance (the part indicated by the bold line in FIG. 5(a)).

In addition, when the specimen holder H having the greatest thickness among the specimen holders H that can be handled by the coating device 1 is supported by the first support part 10, as shown in FIG. 5(b), the first support part 10 is moved in an approximately horizontal direction so that the specimen target portion TS comes into contact with the portion C2 (indicated by a bold line in FIG. 5(b)) that extends from the vicinity of the left end of the holding surface 21 to the right end.

By performing this process, excess paraffin adhering to the specimen holder H can be removed, compared to when the specimen target portion TS is not brought into contact with the other end of the holding surface 21 in the horizontal movement direction, and the design of the specimen holder H after the coating process can be improved. In addition, the same control can be performed on the horizontal movement unit 40 regardless of the thickness of the specimen holder H, which simplifies the control of the horizontal movement unit 40.

Returning to FIG. 6, in SA4, the control unit 85 transports the specimen holder H to a predetermined position. Here, the "predetermined position" corresponds to, for example, a transport area (not shown) to which the specimen holder H is transported after processing in SA3.

The method of transporting the specimen holder H is arbitrary, but in this embodiment, the horizontal movement unit 40 moves the first support unit 10 horizontally or vertically to a predetermined position, and then the specimen holder H is released from the clamping by the first support unit 10 and placed at the predetermined position, thereby transporting the specimen holder H.

In SA5, the control unit 85 determines whether the timing to end the coating process (hereinafter referred to as the "end timing") has arrived.

Whether or not the end timing has arrived may be determined by any method, but for example, the determination may be made based on whether or not a specified operation has been accepted via the operation unit 81, and if the specified operation has been accepted, it may be determined that the end timing has arrived, and if the specified operation has not been accepted, it may be determined that the end timing has not arrived.

Then, if the control unit 85 determines that the end timing has arrived (SA5, Yes), it ends the covering process. On the other hand, if it determines that the end timing has not arrived (SA5, No), it proceeds to SA1, and the processes from SA1 to SA5 are repeated until it is determined in SA5 that the end timing has arrived. Note that, for example, if it is determined that the end timing has arrived, a signal indicating that may be output to an external device.

By using the above coating process, coating operations for specimen holders H of various thicknesses can be performed safely and easily, improving the workability of the coating operation.

(Effects of the embodiment)
Thus, according to the embodiment, a horizontal movement means is provided for moving the first support portion 10 in an approximately horizontal direction so that the paraffin held in the holding portion 20 is applied to the specimen target portion TS on the surface of the specimen, and a vertical movement portion 50 is provided for moving the second support portion 30 in an approximately vertical direction in accordance with the thickness of the specimen holder H when the paraffin is applied to the specimen target portion TS by the horizontal movement means. Therefore, compared to the conventional technology (technology in which a specimen is coated using a device equipped with a feed roll, a transfer roll, and a mechanism), the structure can be made simpler and coating work can be performed safely and easily on specimen holders H of various thicknesses, thereby improving the workability of the coating work while improving the manufacturability of the coating device 1.

In addition, the holding surface 21 on which the paraffin is held in the holding section 20 is formed as an inclined surface that inclines upward from one side to the other side in the horizontal movement direction of the first support section 10. This makes it possible to reliably apply paraffin to the specimen target portion TS regardless of the thickness of the specimen holder H, as compared to when the holding surface 21 is a horizontal surface, and makes it easier to accurately perform the coating work on specimen holders H of various thicknesses. In addition, the specimen holder H can be moved in an arc, approximately similar to when the specimen is manually coated on the specimen holder H. Therefore, as compared to when the holding surface 21 is a horizontal surface, it is easier to apply paraffin uniformly over the entire specimen target portion TS, and it is easier to set the thickness of the applied paraffin to the desired thickness.

In addition, the inclination angle of the holding surface 21 of the holding portion 20 is set to satisfy formulas (1) and (2), so that the optimal inclination angle of the holding surface 21 can be set, making it easier to accurately perform coating work on specimen holders H of various thicknesses.

In addition, the horizontal movement means moves the first support part 10 in an approximately horizontal direction so that the specimen target part TS comes into direct or indirect contact with the other end of the holding surface 21 of the holding part 20 in the horizontal movement direction. This makes it possible to remove excess paraffin adhering to the specimen holder H, and improves the design of the specimen holder H after the coating process, compared to when the specimen target part TS is not in contact with the other end of the holding surface 21 in the horizontal movement direction.

In addition, since the vertical movement unit 50 has at least one elastic body having an elastic restoring force in the vertical direction, even if the second support unit 30 moves in either direction in a substantially vertical direction when paraffin is applied to the specimen target part TS by the horizontal movement means, the second support unit 30 can be automatically returned to its original position, eliminating the need for the return operation.

In addition, the spring constant of the elastic body is set to satisfy formula (3), so that when paraffin is applied to the specimen target portion TS by the horizontal moving means, the pushing back load on the specimen holder H by the vertical moving unit 50 can be reduced, making it easier to avoid damage to the specimen.

[III] Modifications to the embodiments The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the specific configurations and means of the present invention can be modified and improved as desired within the scope of the technical ideas of each invention described in the claims. Such modifications will be described below.

(About the problem to be solved and the effects of the invention)
First, the problems that the invention aims to solve and the effects of the invention are not limited to those described above, and the present invention may solve problems that are not described above or achieve effects that are not described above, or may solve only some of the problems that are described or achieve only some of the effects that are described.

(Regarding decentralization and integration)
Moreover, each of the electrical components described above is functionally conceptual, and does not necessarily have to be physically configured as shown in the drawings. In other words, the specific form of distribution or integration of each part is not limited to that shown in the drawings, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed or integrated in any unit according to various loads, usage conditions, etc. For example, the control unit 80 of the coating device 1 may be distributed to multiple devices configured to be able to communicate with each other, and a control unit 85 may be provided in some of these multiple devices, and a memory unit 86 may be provided in another part of these multiple devices.

(shape, number, structure, time series)
The components illustrated in the embodiments and drawings may be modified and improved as desired within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention with respect to the shape, numerical values, or structure or chronological relationships of multiple components.

(Regarding the specimen holder)
In the above embodiment, it has been described that the specimen holder H is formed as a hollow box-shaped body, but this is not limited thereto, and it may be formed, for example, as a shape other than a hollow box-shaped body (for example, a hollow cylinder, a hollow triangular pyramid, etc.), or as a solid rectangular prism.

(About the coating device)
In the above embodiment, the coating device 1 is described as including the third support unit 70, but is not limited thereto. For example, when the vertical unit and the supply unit 60 are directly placed on the installation surface PS, the third support unit 70 may be omitted.

In the above embodiment, the coating device 1 is described as having a supply unit 60, but this is not limited to the above. For example, when a user manually supplies paraffin to the first recess 31a or the holding unit 20, the supply unit 60 may be omitted.

(Regarding the holding part)
In the above embodiment, the entire holding surface 21 of the holding part 20 has been described as an inclined surface that slopes upward from one side to the other side in the horizontal movement direction of the first support part 10, but this is not limited thereto. For example, only a part of the holding surface 21 of the holding part 20 may be an inclined surface that slopes upward from one side to the other side in the horizontal movement direction of the first support part 10. Alternatively, the entire holding surface 21 of the holding part 20 may be a horizontal surface.

In the above embodiment, the inclination angle of the holding surface 21 of the holding portion 20 is set to satisfy formula (1) and formula (2), but this is not limited to the above. For example, it may be set to satisfy only one of formula (1) or formula (2), or it may be set to not satisfy formula (1) or formula (2).

(Regarding the second support part)
In the above embodiment, the second support portion 30 is described as having the first recess 31a or the second recess 31b, but this is not limited thereto, and for example, the first recess 31a or the second recess 31b may be omitted.

In the above embodiment, the second support section 30 is described as having the second support side connecting section 32, but this is not limited thereto, and for example, the second support side connecting section 32 may be omitted. In this case, the vertical movement section 50 may be provided between the second support section main body 31 and the second support side third support section 71.

(About the horizontal movement part)
In the above embodiment, the horizontal moving unit 40 has been described as moving the first support unit 10 in a substantially horizontal direction, but this is not limiting, and for example, the second support unit 30 may be moved in a substantially horizontal direction. In this case, the first support unit 10 may be fixed to a predetermined fixed object, the horizontal moving unit 40 may be provided in the vicinity of the second support unit 30, and the second support unit 30 and the vertical moving unit 50 may be moved horizontally by a drive cylinder constituting the horizontal moving unit 40.

(Regarding the vertical movement part)
In the above embodiment, the second support unit 30 is described as being moved in a substantially vertical direction, but this is not limited thereto. For example, the vertical movement unit 50 may be provided between the first support unit 10 and the tip of the horizontal movement unit 40 to allow the first support unit 10 to be moved in a substantially vertical direction. In this case, the vertical movement unit 50 on the second support unit 30 side may be omitted, or the vertical movement unit 50 on the second support unit 30 side may not be omitted, so that each of the first support unit 10 and the second support unit 30 can be moved in a substantially vertical direction.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the number of vertical movement units 50 installed is described as four, but this is not limited to this. Since it is sufficient that at least one elastic body of the vertical movement unit 50 is provided, for example, the number may be less than four, or may be five or more.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the elastic body of the vertical moving part 50 is described as a spring material, but this is not limited to this. For example, it may be a leaf spring material or a rubber material. Alternatively, instead of the elastic body, it may be a non-elastic body that does not have an elastic restoring force in the vertical direction. In this case, when paraffin is applied to the specimen target part TS by the horizontal moving means, the second support part 30 may be moved to one side in a substantially vertical direction and then the second support part 30 may be returned to its original position manually.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the spring constant of the elastic body of the vertical moving part 50 is described as being set to satisfy formula (3), but this is not limited thereto, and it may be set so as not to satisfy formula (3).

In the above embodiment, the vertical moving part 50 is described as having the vertical side storage part 51 and the vertical side connecting part 52, but this is not limited thereto, and for example, the vertical side storage part 51 or the vertical side connecting part 52 may be omitted. Note that, when the vertical side connecting part 52 is omitted, the elastic body may be directly connected to the second support part 30.

(Coating treatment)
In the above embodiment, it has been described that SA2 and SA4 are executed, but this is not limited to the above. For example, when the attachment or detachment of the specimen holder H to the first support part 10 is performed manually, SA2 or SA4 may be omitted.

In the above embodiment, the first support means is moved in a substantially horizontal direction in SA3 so that the specimen target portion TS comes into direct or indirect contact with the other end of the holding surface 21 in the horizontal movement direction, but this is not limited thereto. For example, the first support means may be moved in a substantially horizontal direction so that the specimen target portion TS does not come into contact with the other end of the holding surface 21 in the horizontal movement direction. In particular, since the thickness of the coated paraffin differs depending on the thickness of the specimen holder H by the distance by which the first support unit 10 is moved horizontally, the first support unit 10 may be moved horizontally for the same distance regardless of the thickness of the specimen holder H, so that the first support unit 10 does not come into contact with the other end of the holding surface 21 in the horizontal movement direction.

(Additional Note)
The coating device of Appendix 1 is a coating device for coating a surface of a specimen held on a specimen holder with paraffin, and comprises first supporting means for supporting the specimen holder, holding means capable of holding molten paraffin, second supporting means for supporting the holding means, horizontal moving means for moving either the first supporting means or the second supporting means in a substantially horizontal direction so that the paraffin held on the holding means is applied to a specimen target portion on the surface of the specimen, and vertical moving means for moving the first supporting means or the second supporting means in a substantially vertical direction depending on the thickness of the specimen holder when the paraffin is applied to the specimen target portion by the horizontal moving means.

The coating device of Appendix 2 is the coating device described in Appendix 1, in which the holding surface on which the paraffin is held in the holding means is formed as an inclined surface that slopes upward from one side to the other side in the horizontal movement direction of either the first supporting means or the second supporting means.

The coating apparatus of Supplementary Note 3 is the coating apparatus of Supplementary Note 2, wherein the inclination angle of the holding surface of the holding means is set so as to satisfy the following formulas (1) and (2).
D × cos θ> d × cos θ+Δy/tan θ (1)
d × sin θ + Δy < D × sin θ (2)
(where θ is the inclination angle of the holding surface of the holding means,
D: the length of the holding surface of the holding means,
d: the required contact distance between the paraffin and the specimen target portion when the paraffin is applied to the specimen target portion by the horizontal movement means;
Δy: difference between the minimum thickness of the specimen holder and the maximum thickness of the specimen holder)

The coating device of Appendix 4 is the coating device described in Appendix 2 or 3, in which the horizontal movement means moves either the first support means or the second support means in a substantially horizontal direction so that the specimen target portion directly or indirectly contacts the other end of the holding surface of the holding means in the horizontal movement direction.

The coating device of appendix 5 is the coating device described in any one of appendixes 1 to 4, in which the vertical movement means includes at least one elastic body having an elastic restoring force in the vertical direction.

The coating device described in Supplementary Note 6 is the coating device described in Supplementary Note 5, wherein the elastic body is a spring material that can expand and contract in a vertical direction, and a spring constant of the elastic body is set to satisfy the following formula (3).
k>W/n×(A−(d×sinθ+Δy)) (3)
(where k is the spring constant of the elastic body,
W: total weight of the paraffin held by the holding means, the second supporting means, and the holding means;
n: the number of the elastic bodies,
A: maximum contraction amount of the elastic body,
θ: inclination angle of the holding surface of the holding means,
d: the required contact distance between the paraffin and the specimen target portion when the paraffin is applied to the specimen target portion by the horizontal movement means;
Δy: difference between the minimum thickness of the specimen holder and the maximum thickness of the specimen holder)

(Effect of supplementary notes)
The coating device described in Appendix 1 includes a horizontal movement means for moving either the first supporting means or the second supporting means in a substantially horizontal direction so that the paraffin held in the holding means is applied to the specimen target portion on the surface of the specimen, and a vertical movement means for moving the first supporting means or the second supporting means in a substantially vertical direction depending on the thickness of the specimen holder when the paraffin is applied to the specimen target portion by the horizontal movement means. Therefore, compared to the conventional technology (technology in which a specimen is coated using a device equipped with a feed roll, a transfer roll, and a mechanism), the coating device can be constructed with a simpler structure and can safely and easily perform coating operations on specimen holders of various thicknesses, thereby improving the workability of the coating operation while improving the manufacturability of the coating device.

According to the coating device described in Appendix 2, the holding surface on which the paraffin is held in the holding means is formed as an inclined surface that inclines upward from one side to the other side in the horizontal movement direction of either the first support means or the second support means. Therefore, compared to when the holding surface is a horizontal surface, paraffin can be reliably applied to the specimen target portion regardless of the thickness of the specimen holder, making it easier to accurately perform coating work on specimen holders of various thicknesses. In addition, the specimen holder can be moved in an arc, approximately the same as when the specimen is manually coated on the specimen holder. Therefore, compared to when the holding surface is a horizontal surface, paraffin can be applied uniformly to the entire specimen target portion, making it easier to set the thickness of the applied paraffin to a desired thickness.

According to the coating device described in Appendix 3, the inclination angle of the holding surface of the holding means is set to satisfy formulas (1) and (2), so that the optimal inclination angle of the holding surface can be set, making it easier to accurately coat specimen holders of various thicknesses.

According to the coating device described in Appendix 4, the horizontal movement means moves either the first support means or the second support means in a substantially horizontal direction so that the specimen target portion comes into direct or indirect contact with the other end of the holding surface of the holding means in the horizontal movement direction. This makes it possible to remove excess paraffin adhering to the specimen holder, and improves the design of the specimen holder after the coating operation, compared to when the specimen target portion does not come into contact with the other end of the holding surface in the horizontal movement direction.

According to the coating device described in Appendix 5, the vertical movement means has at least one elastic body having an elastic restoring force in the vertical direction, so that even if the first support means or the second support means moves in either the substantially vertical direction when paraffin is applied to the specimen target portion by the horizontal movement means, the first support means or the second support means can be automatically returned to its original position, eliminating the need for the return operation.

According to the coating device described in Appendix 6, the spring constant of the elastic body is set to satisfy formula (3), so that when paraffin is applied to the specimen target portion by the horizontal moving unit, the pushing back load on the specimen holder by the vertical moving means can be reduced, making it easier to avoid damage to the specimen.

LIST OF SYMBOLS 1 Coating device 10 First support section 20 Holding section 21 Holding surface 30 Second support section 31 Second support section main body 31a First recess 31b Second recess 32 Second support side connecting section 32a Connection hole 40 Horizontal movement section 41 Horizontal movement section main body 42 Link section 50 Vertical movement section 51 Vertical side storage section 52 Vertical side connecting section 60 Supply section 61 Supply section main body 62 Discharge section 70 Third support section 71 Second support side third support section 72 Supply side third support section 80 Control unit 81 Operation section 82 Input section 83 Output section 84 Power supply section 85 Control section 86 Memory section H Specimen holder TS Specimen target section

Claims (5)

A coating device for coating a surface of a specimen held on a specimen holder with paraffin, comprising:
a first support means for supporting the specimen holder;
A holding means capable of holding molten paraffin;
A second support means for supporting the holding means;
a horizontal moving means for moving either the first supporting means or the second supporting means in a substantially horizontal direction so that the paraffin held by the holding means is applied to a specimen target portion on a surface of the specimen;
a vertical movement means for moving the first support means or the second support means in a substantially vertical direction in accordance with a thickness of the specimen holder when the paraffin is applied to the specimen target portion by the horizontal movement means,
The vertical movement means includes at least one elastic body having an elastic restoring force in the vertical direction.
Covering device. The holding surface on which the paraffin is held in the holding means is formed into an inclined surface that inclines upward from one side to the other side in the horizontal movement direction of either the first supporting means or the second supporting means.
2. The coating apparatus of claim 1. The inclination angle of the holding surface of the holding means was set to satisfy the following formula (1) and the following formula (2):
3. The coating apparatus of claim 2.
D × cos θ> d × cos θ+Δy/tan θ (1)
d × sin θ + Δy < D × sin θ (2)
(where θ is the inclination angle of the holding surface of the holding means,
D: the length of the holding surface of the holding means,
d: the required contact distance between the paraffin and the specimen target portion when the paraffin is applied to the specimen target portion by the horizontal movement means;
Δy: difference between the minimum thickness of the specimen holder and the maximum thickness of the specimen holder) the horizontal movement means moves either the first support means or the second support means in a substantially horizontal direction so that the specimen object portion directly or indirectly comes into contact with an end portion of the holding surface of the holding means on the other side in the horizontal movement direction.
4. A coating device according to claim 2 or 3. The elastic body is a spring material that can expand and contract in a vertical direction,
The spring constant of the elastic body was set to satisfy the following formula (3):
A coating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
k>W/n×(A−(d×sinθ+Δy)) (3)
(where k is the spring constant of the elastic body,
W: total weight of the paraffin held by the holding means, the second supporting means, and the holding means;
n: the number of the elastic bodies,
A: maximum contraction amount of the elastic body,
θ: inclination angle of the holding surface of the holding means,
d: the required contact distance between the paraffin and the specimen target portion when the paraffin is applied to the specimen target portion by the horizontal moving means;
Δy: difference between the minimum thickness of the specimen holder and the maximum thickness of the specimen holder)

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