JPH0355089Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Field of industrial application) a. Purpose of the invention The slide case holding mechanism for a microscope specimen preparation device according to this invention is designed to hold a slide case on the top surface of a slide glass on which a specimen such as a sliced pathological specimen is attached. In addition, a thin cover piece is pasted and incorporated into the microscope specimen preparation device used when making a microscope specimen, and it supports the slide case containing the slide glass so that it can be raised and lowered, and the multiple slide cases housed in the slide case This is to prevent the slide case from rattling when one of the slide glasses is sent out toward the enclosure position and returned to the slide case again.

(Prior art) In order to use a pathological specimen excised from an affected area as a microscopic specimen, the pathological specimen is embedded in paraffin, sliced, affixed to the surface of a glass slide, stained, and further processed. Attach a thin cover piece to the

Traditionally, the equipment used to produce such microscopic specimens is a slide case that houses multiple glass slides to which thinly sliced pathological specimens have been pasted but no cover pieces have been pasted. The glass slides were taken out one by one from the slide case, a transparent synthetic resin cover piece cut to a certain length was pasted on top of the slide glass, and this cover piece was also pasted. 2. Description of the Related Art A device for attaching cover pieces for preparing a microscope specimen is known, in which a slide glass is sequentially stored in a separate slide case provided at the other end.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a coil 3 of a transparent belt-shaped cover piece 2 whose surface is coated with adhesive is provided above the conveyor 1 disposed horizontally, and from this coil 3 a roller 4 is provided. , 4a, the cover piece 2 is cut by a cutter 5, and further passed through rollers 6, 7.
The slide glass 8 is sent to the upper surface of the slide glass 8 placed on the conveyor 1.

Since the adhesive solvent (mounting agent) has been dripped from the nozzle 9 onto the top surface of the slide glass 8,
When the cover piece 2 cut to a certain length is pressed onto the top surface of the slide glass 8 by the pressing roller 10 provided directly above the conveyor 1, the cover piece 2 is stuck to the top surface of the slide glass 8, and the cover piece 2 is attached to the top surface of the slide glass 8. The specimen attached in advance to the upper surface of the slide glass 8 is sandwiched between the slide glass 8 and the cover piece 2.

On the upper surface of the conveyor 1, slide glasses 8 with stained specimens pasted thereon but with no cover pieces yet pasted are sent out one by one from a slide case 11 located on the left side of the drawing, and a pressing roller 10 The slide glass 8 to which the cover piece 2 has been pasted passes through the chute 13 and is housed in the slide case 12 located on the right side of the drawing.

When attaching a cover piece to a slide glass to which a thinly sectioned and stained specimen has been attached in advance using a cover piece attaching device for preparing a microscope specimen, a plurality of slide glasses are placed in the slide case 11 as described above. As shown in FIG.
After the cover pieces 2 are attached to the upper surfaces of the slide glasses 8 that are sequentially fed out one by one, they are stored in the receiving side slide case 12 at the right end in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 5, this receiving side slide case 12 is movable diagonally up and down, as shown by arrow a in FIG. 4, by first and second guide rails 14 and 15 facing each other. By the action of a lowering control mechanism (not shown), each time a slide glass is fed in, it is lowered by one pitch of the slide glass storage protrusion formed inside the slide case 12. Since this lowering control mechanism has been widely known, a detailed explanation will be omitted.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the conventional microscope specimen preparation apparatus constructed and operated as described above, the following disadvantages occur.

That is, a conveyor 1 is used to send out a slide glass to which a cover piece has not yet been attached from a slide case 11, to which a cover piece 2 is attached, and then to another slide case 12. and a guide plate (not shown) to prevent the slide glass from coming off laterally.
However, because it stretches with use or wears out due to sliding contact with the side edges of the hard glass slide, it is necessary to repair and replace it frequently.

In addition, since the slide case 12 for receiving the slide glass with the cover piece attached is lowered in an inclined state, there is a gap between the guide rails 14 and 15 for guiding the slide case 12 and the slide case 12 and the sliding surface. The sliding movement of the slide case 12 is likely to become defective due to adhesion of dirt, etc., and if the slide case 12 becomes defective, the slide case 12 will not be able to descend smoothly, making it impossible to accept a slide glass with a cover piece attached.

In order to solve this inconvenience, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a single slide case 11 is used, and the slide glass 8 with no cover piece attached is sent out from this slide case 11, and this slide After pasting the cover piece 2 on the glass 8, the slide glass 8 is moved in the opposite direction to the sending direction, and the slide glass 8 with the cover piece pasted is returned to its original position in the slide case 11. A microscopic specimen preparation device is being considered.

In this improved microscope specimen preparation device, the slide case 11 is placed in the vicinity of a guide rail that supports the slide case 11 so that it can move up and down in the vertical direction, in synchronization with the work of pasting the cover piece 2. , 1 of slide glass 8 stored inside
A descending control mechanism is provided to descend by pitches.

Further, a table 16 with a horizontal top surface is provided at a position opposite to the opening side of the slide case 11 supported by the guide rail in order to send the slide glass 8 sent out from the slide case 11 to the inclusion table. ing. Above this table 16, there is a nozzle 9 for dripping mounting medium onto the upper surface of the slide glass 8 to which the cover piece is not attached, and a nozzle 9 for cutting the cover piece 2 into a certain length to install a slide glass to which the cover piece is not attached. A cover piece supply mechanism similar to that incorporated in conventional devices is used to supply the mounting medium to the mounting medium dripping area on the top surface, and a cover piece supply mechanism is used to press the cover piece 2 supplied to the top surface of the slide glass toward the slide glass 8. A pressure roller 10 is provided.

Further, a slide glass transport mechanism is attached at a position sandwiching the slide case 11 supported by the guide rails. This slide glass transport mechanism moves horizontally at a position directly above the table 16 in synchronization with the progress of the cover piece pasting work, sends the slide glass 8 in the slide case 11 to the enclosure part, and returns to the slide case 11. It has a pair of pressing plates 17 and 18 that perform the operation of returning the device to the inside. Further, a space of at least one glass slide is provided between the opposing edges of the pair of pressing plates 17 and 18 that constitute this slide glass transfer mechanism.
A slide glass is placed between these pressing plates 17 and 18.
It is designed so that it can be held in place.

When attaching the cover piece 2 to the slide glass 8 housed in the slide case 11 to which the cover piece has not been attached using the improved microscope specimen preparation apparatus configured as described above, the conventional specimen preparation method is used. As in the case of the apparatus, the slide case 11 supported by the guide rail is lowered by one pitch of the slide glass 8 in the slide case 11, and the slide glass 8 is sent out along the table 16 to the enclosure area. After pasting the cover piece 2 on the upper surface of the slide glass 8, the slide glass 8 is moved backwards on the table and the slide glass 8 with the cover piece pasted is stored in its original position.

The improved microscope specimen preparation device is configured and operates as described above, but this device takes out the slide glasses 8 stored in the slide case 11 one by one and then puts them back into the same slide case 11. A slide glass transport mechanism is required to return the slide glass.

This slide glass transport mechanism not only needs to be able to reliably take out the slide glasses 8 one by one from the slide case 11, but also to avoid breaking the slide glasses 8 to which important specimens have been affixed even in the event of malfunction. It is necessary to have a suitable structure. Therefore, the slide glass transport mechanism for the microscope specimen preparation apparatus for this purpose is constructed as shown in FIG. 8, for example.

That is, among the first and second guide rails 19 and 20 arranged parallel to each other, the first guide rail 19 is sandwiched between the first and second sliders 21 and 22 and both sliders 21 and 22. third slider 2
3 are mounted movably along the first guide rail 19 and spaced apart from each other.

Among these, the third slider 23 located in the center
is movable along the first guide rail 19 by a drive mechanism as shown in FIG. That is, two driven pulleys 3 are rotatably supported near both ends of the first guide rail 19, respectively.
5, 35 is connected to the third slider 23, and the lower middle part of the cable 36 is fixed to the output shaft of a motor (not shown) that can freely rotate in forward and reverse directions. Drive pulley 3
It is wrapped around 7.

Also, among the first to third sliders 21 to 23, both the first and second sliders 2 located at both ends
First and second extending plates 2 extending perpendicularly to the first guide rail 19 are provided on the upper surfaces of the first and second guide rails 1 and 22.
The proximal ends of 4 and 25 are fixed, respectively.
The tips of both the extending plates 24 and 25 are connected to the second guide rail 20 by the first and second sliders 21,
The sliders 26 and 27 are fixed to the upper surfaces of fourth and fifth sliders 26 and 27, respectively, which are mounted at the same intervals as the sliders 22.

At the mutually opposing side edges of both the extending plates 24 and 25, there are base ends of first and second pressing plates 17 and 18 that abut against the edge of the slide glass 8 and push the slide glass. Each part is fixed. As described above, there is a gap slightly longer than the length of the slide glass 8 between the opposing edges of the first and second press plates 17 and 18.

Also, on the side surfaces of the first and second sliders 21 and 22, first and second connecting plates 28 and 29 are provided which extend from both sliders 21 and 22 toward the end surface of the third slider 23. The proximal end of is fixed. The leading edge of both the first and second connecting plates 28, 29 is
The first to third sliders 21 to 2 are abutted against the end surfaces of the third slider 23 located in the center, respectively.
3 is maintained at a predetermined value. A first tension spring 30 is installed between the first connecting plate 28 and the third slider 23, which play such a role.
A second tension spring 31 is provided between the second connecting plate 29 and the third slider 23, respectively.
The leading edges of both the first and second connecting plates 28 and 29 are elastically pressed against the end surface of the third slider 23, respectively.

Further, a trapezoidal cam plate 32 is fixed to the third slider 23. Switching portions of first and second switches 33 and 34 fixed to the first and second connecting plates 28 and 29 are brought into contact with the side edges of the cam plate 32.

The slide glass transport mechanism for the microscope specimen preparation device configured as described above allows the slide case 1 to be
(Figures 6-7) Slide glass 8 housed inside
The operation when sending the sample to the enclosed area on the table 16 and returning it to the same slide case 11 is as follows.

To transfer the slide glass 8, the cable 36 is circulated by rotating the motor for driving the third slider 23 in the forward direction or in the reverse direction, and the third slider 23 connected to the middle part of this cable is moved. , along the first guide rail 19.

As the third slider 23 moves along the first guide rail 19 in this way, the first and second tension springs 30, 31 and the third First and second connecting plates 28, 2
First and second sliders 2 connected via 9
1 and 22 move along the guide rail 19 and are connected to the respective sliders 21 and 22 via first and second extension plates 24 and 25, respectively. However, both the first and second guide rails 1
Move parallel to 9 and 20.

Since both the first and second pressing plates 17, 18 are located on the same plane as the slide glass 8 to be transferred, with the parallel movement, either of the pressing plates 17, 18 The tip edge of the slide glass 8
The slide glass 8 is transferred by contacting the edge of the slide glass 8.

For some reason, resistance occurs in transferring the slide glass 8, and if the slide glass 8 is forcibly transferred, there is a risk that the slide glass 8 will break, and the third slider 23
Among the first and second tension springs 30 and 31 provided between the first and second sliders 21 and 22, the tension spring located at the rear in the moving direction of the third slider 23 is extend.

For example, when the third slider 23 moves from left to right in FIG. The first tension spring 30 is extended, and the edge of the first connecting plate 28 is separated from the end surface of the third slider 23. The extension of this first tension spring 30 increases as the third slider 23 moves to the right, so even if the third slider 23 moves, the first slider 21 does not move and the third slider 23 moves to the right. The first pressing plate 17 will no longer press the slide glass with a force greater than the elasticity of the first tension spring 30.

In this way, when the movement of the third slider 23 and the movement of the first slider 21 (the same applies to the second slider 22) become out of synchronization, the first connecting plate fixed to the first slider 21 The switching portion of the first switch 33 fixed to the slider 28 is removed from the cam plate 32 fixed to the third slider 23.

This first switch 33 (second switch 34
Since the signal from the third slider 23 is input to the control circuit of the motor for driving the third slider 23, as the switching section is removed from the cam plate 32, the control circuit is Three slider 23
Stop the motor that was driving the.

The slide glass transport mechanism built into the improved microscope specimen preparation device is configured and operates as described above, so it not only reliably removes each slide glass from the slide case one by one, but also removes important specimens even in the event of malfunction. However, simply incorporating such a slide glass transport mechanism still causes the following inconvenience.

That is, the slide case 11 that stores the slide glasses that are taken in and out by the transfer mechanism is the fifth one.
A slide glass is supported so as to be able to rise and fall freely between a pair of guide rails 14 and 15 similar to the one shown in the figure, and is housed inside by its own weight as the pasting work of the cover piece 2 progresses. 8 and 8, but in order to smoothly lower the slide case 11, it is necessary to loosely fit the slide case 11 between the two guide rails.

On the other hand, in order to ensure that the slide glasses stored in the slide case are sent out onto the table 16 one by one and then returned to the slide case 11 after pasting the cover pieces, the slide case 11 must be It must be supported without wobbling between the guide rails.

When the pressing plates 17 and 18 of the slide glass transfer mechanism move and the slide glass 8 is being taken in and out, if the slide case 11 sandwiched between both guide rails shakes, the ends of the pressing plates 17 and 18 Since the edge of the slide glass 8 does not collide with the edge of the slide glass 8, making it impossible to take the slide glass 8 in and out, or sending out two or more slide glasses 8 at a time from the slide case 11, it is possible to create a smooth microscope specimen. Work becomes impossible.

In order to satisfy the above-mentioned conflicting demands, the slide case holding mechanism for a microscope specimen preparation device of the present invention loosely holds the slide glass between a pair of guide rails when the slide case is lowered, allowing slide glass to be taken in and out. The structure is such that the slide case can be held tightly during work.

b. Composition of the invention (Means for solving the problem) The slide case holding mechanism for a microscope specimen preparation device of the invention has a slide case that stores a plurality of glass slides spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. A pair of guide rails are provided parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other so that the robot can be smoothly raised and lowered.

A rotating block that rotates about a vertical axis is provided near one of the pair of guide rails and on the side of the slide case held between both guide rails. ing.

The end of the rotating block closer to the slide case is capable of coming into contact with the side edge of the slide case.
A leaf spring that presses the slide case toward the other guide rail when it comes into contact with the other guide rail is further fixed by an abutment roller that rotates around a vertical axis at the opposite end of the rotating block. A biasing spring is provided between the part and the rotating block, which rotates the rotating block in a direction that separates the leaf spring from the slide case unless an external force is applied.

On the side opposite to the leaf spring of the abutment roller, there is a abutment arm that moves horizontally in synchronization with the movement of the pressing plate that moves horizontally when a slide glass is taken out or put in the slide case. The rotary block is configured to rotate against the elasticity of the biasing spring in the direction in which the plate spring suppresses the slide case when a slide glass is inserted or removed.

(Function) In the slide case holding mechanism for a microscope specimen preparation device of the present invention constructed as described above, the slide glass is not inserted into or taken out of the slide case, but the slide case is held inside the slide case. When the slide glass is lowered one pitch at a time, the abutting arm and the abutting roller at the end of the rotating block do not abut each other, and the rotating block rotates due to the elasticity of the biasing spring, and the other end of the rotating block is rotated. The leaf spring supported on the slide case separates from the edge of the slide case.

Therefore, the slide case is loosely sandwiched between the pair of guide rails, and the slide case can be reliably lowered one pitch at a time on the slide glass.

In order to take out and take out slide glasses one by one from the slide case, if the pressing plate of the slide glass transfer mechanism is moved horizontally and the edge of this pressing plate is brought into contact with the edge of the slide glass, the above will occur. The abutting arm, which moves horizontally in synchronization with the movement of the pressing plate, abuts the abutting roller at the end of the rotating block.
This rotating block rotates against the elasticity of the biasing spring.

As the rotating block rotates, the tip of the leaf spring provided at the end of the rotating block comes into contact with the side edge of the slide case, directing the slide case toward the guide rail located on the opposite side of the rotating block. and press.

Therefore, the slide case is supported without wobbling between one of the guide rails and the leaf spring, and the slide glass can be reliably taken in and out of the slide case.

(Example) Next, the present invention will be explained in more detail while explaining the illustrated embodiment.

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a plan view, FIG. 2 is a side view, and FIG. 3 is a first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a view taken along arrow A in the figure.

A first guide rail for slidably supporting one side of the slide case is provided on the side of the mounting bracket 40 fixed by screws 39 to the side of the standing wall 38 fixed to the top surface of the substrate of the microscope specimen preparation device. 4
1 is a side surface of another mounting bracket 43 that is fixed in parallel to the mounting bracket 40 via a mounting rod 42, and a second guide rail 44 is provided at a portion facing the first guide rail 41, respectively. It is fixed in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a plurality of slide glasses 8, 8 are mounted between the first and second guide rails 41, 44, which are fixed in parallel with each other at intervals as described above. , the slide cases 11 are housed at equal pitches and spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction,
It is loosely clamped to allow smooth lifting and lowering.

Of the first and second guide rails 41, 44,
In the vicinity of the second guide rail 44, both guide rails 4
Slide case 11 held between 1 and 44
(See Figures 6 and 7. Omitted in Figures 1 and 3.) A vertical shaft 45, which is supported by another mounting bracket 47 provided below the mounting bracket 43, is located on the side of the shaft 45. Rotating block 4 rotates as
6 is provided.

The base end of a leaf spring 48 is fixed to the end of the rotating block 46 closer to the slide case 11 (upper end in FIG. 1) by screws 49, 49.
The tip of the leaf spring 48 can freely come into contact with the side end of the slide case 11, and when it comes into contact, it presses the slide case 11 upward toward the first guide rail 41 in FIG. Further, at the opposite end of the rotating block 46, there is provided an abutment roller 50 (see FIGS. 1 and 3; omitted from FIG. 2) that rotates about a vertical axis. Furthermore, unless an external force is applied between the rotation block 46 and the mounting bracket 47, the leaf spring 48 cannot be moved to the slide case 1.
A biasing spring (not shown) is provided to rotate the rotation block 46 in the direction away from the rotation block 1.

On the other hand, at the end of the first extending plate 24 that constitutes the slide glass transport mechanism and fixes the pressing plate 17 (FIGS. 6 and 7) that presses the edge of the slide glass 8 in the slide case 11, , inclined edge 51 at the tip
The proximal end of the abutting arm 52 formed with the abutting arm 52 is fixed, and the abutting arm 52 is movable in the horizontal direction in synchronization with the movement of the pressing plates 17 and 18.

The tip of this abutting arm 52 is connected to the abutting roller 5.
The plate spring 48 is designed to be able to collide with the opposite side (lower side in FIG. 1) of the leaf spring 48 of the slide case 11 in the direction in which the leaf spring 48 restrains the slide case 11 (the lower side of FIG. The rotating block 46 is configured to rotate in a counterclockwise direction.

In the slide case holding mechanism for a microscope specimen preparation device of the present invention configured as described above, the slide glass 8 is not taken in or out of the slide case 11, but the slide glass 8 with no cover piece attached is held. When the slide case 11 is lowered by one pitch of the slide glasses 8 and 8 stored inside so as to face the upper surface of the table 16 (FIGS. 6 and 7), the proximal end of the abutment arm 52 Since the first extending plate 24 to which the rotating block 46 is fixed is located at the position indicated by the chain line in FIG.

Therefore, the rotating block 46 is rotated clockwise in FIG. move away from

For this reason, the slide case 11 is only loosely sandwiched between the first and second guide rails 41 and 44, and the slide case 11 is securely lowered by one pitch of the slide glasses 8 and 8. I can do it.

Next, in order to take the slide glasses 8 in and out of the slide case 11 one by one, the press plates 17 and 18 (FIGS. 6 to 8) of the slide glass transfer mechanism are moved horizontally, and one of the press plates 17 is moved horizontally. Further, when the edge of the slide glass 8 is brought into contact with the edge of the slide glass 8, the first extension plate 24 is pressed together with the pressing plate 17.
An inclination formed at the tip of an abutting arm 52 that is fixed to the second extending plate 25 (or the second extending plate 25) and moves horizontally in synchronization with the movement of the pressing plate 17 as the first extending plate 24 moves. Edge 51 abuts the side of an abutment roller 50 rotatably supported at the end of rotating block 46. Along with this collision, the rotating block 46 resists the elasticity of the biasing spring and rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 about the vertical shaft 45.

Along with such rotation of the rotating block 46,
The tip of the leaf spring 48 provided at the end of the rotating block 46 comes into contact with the side edge of the slide case 11, and the slide case 11 is directed toward the first guide rail 41 located on the opposite side of the rotating block 46. Press.

Therefore, the slide case 11 is supported without wobbling between the first guide rail 41 and the leaf spring 48, and the slide glass 8 can be reliably taken in and out of the slide case 11.

In the illustrated embodiment, a protrusion 54 having a groove 53 in the center is formed on the edge of the leaf spring 48, and the protrusion 54 is moved by the press plates 17 and 18 when inserting and removing the slide glass 8. Should slide glass 8
The side edges of the grooves 53 are fitted into the grooves 53. This is done by peeling off the slide glasses 8, 8, which are wet with xylene or the like and sticking to each other.
This is to ensure that the work of moving only one sheet is performed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the slide case holding mechanism for a microscope specimen preparation device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side view, Fig. 3 is a view in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a conventional one. Schematic side view showing the microscope specimen preparation device, No. 5
The figure is a view taken in the direction of arrow B in Fig. 4 showing the slide case support part, Fig. 6 is a schematic side view showing the first example of the microscope specimen preparation device incorporating the slide glass transport mechanism, and Fig. 7 is the second example of the same. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the slide glass transport mechanism incorporated in this preparation apparatus, and FIG. 9 is a side view showing the driving portion thereof. 1...Conveyor, 2...Cover piece, 3...Coil, 4, 4a...Roller, 5...Cut, 6,7
... Roller, 8 ... Slide glass, 9 ... Nozzle, 10 ... Press roller, 11, 12 ... Slide case, 13 ... Chute, 14, 15 ... Guide rail, 16 ... Table, 17, 18 ...Press plate, 19...First guide rail, 20...Second guide rail, 21...First slider, 2
2...Second slider, 23...Third slider, 24...First extension plate, 25...Second extension plate, 26...Fourth slider, 27...Fifth slider Slider, 28...first connection plate, 29...second connection plate, 30...first tension spring, 31...
Second tension spring, 32...Cam plate, 33...
First switch, 34...Second switch, 35
... Driven pulley, 36 ... Cable, 37 ... Drive pulley, 38 ... Standing wall, 39 ... Screw, 40 ...
...Mounting bracket, 41...First guide rail, 4
2...Mounting rod, 43...Mounting bracket, 4
4...Second guide rail, 45...Vertical shaft, 46...
Rotating block, 47...Mounting bracket, 48...
... leaf spring, 49 ... screw, 50 ... colliding roller,
51...Slanted edge, 52...Abutment arm, 53...Concave groove, 54...Protrusion.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A slide case containing a plurality of glass slides vertically spaced apart from each other is provided with a pair of guide rails parallel to each other and spaced apart to loosely hold the slide case so that it can be raised and lowered smoothly.
A rotating block that rotates about a vertical axis is provided near one of the pair of guide rails and located on the side of the slide case sandwiched between both guide rails. At the end of the sliding case, there is a leaf spring that can freely come into contact with the side edge of the slide case and presses the slide case toward the other guide rail when the leaf spring comes into contact with the side edge of the slide case.
Collision rollers that rotate about vertical shafts are provided at opposite ends of the rotating block, and the leaf spring is moved away from the slide case unless an external force is applied between the fixed part and the rotating block. A biasing spring is provided to rotate the rotary block, and a biasing spring is provided on the opposite side of the abutment roller from the leaf spring, and is synchronized with the movement of a pressing plate that moves horizontally when a slide glass is inserted or removed from the slide case. A microscope specimen in which the abutting arms are movable in the horizontal direction, and the rotary block is rotated against the elasticity of the biasing spring in a direction in which the plate spring suppresses the slide case during loading and unloading operations of the slide glass. Slide case holding mechanism for creation device.