JPH0355882Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the invention] a. Purpose of the invention (industrial application field) This invention is to attach a thinner cover piece to the top surface of a glass slide on which a thinly sliced pathological specimen is attached to make a microscopic specimen. This invention relates to improvements in microscopic specimen preparation equipment used in cases.

(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 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 to one end. , take out the above glass slides one by one from this slide case, stick a transparent synthetic resin cover piece cut to a certain length on top of the slide glass, and then attach the slide glass with this cover piece attached. A device for attaching cover pieces for preparing a microscope specimen is known, which is sequentially stored in a separate slide case provided at the other end.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, 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 there is a roller 4, The cover piece 2 pulled out by a constant length by the cutter 4a is cut by the cutter 5, and further sent to the upper surface of the slide glass 8 placed on the conveyor 1 via the rollers 6 and 7. Since an adhesive solvent (encapsulant) has been dripped from a nozzle 9 onto the top surface of the slide glass 8 in advance, the cover piece 2 cut to a certain length by the pressure roller 10 provided directly above the conveyor 1 is placed on the slide glass 8. By pressing the cover piece 2 onto the top surface, the cover piece 2 is pasted onto the top surface of the slide glass 8, and the pathological specimen previously pasted onto the top surface of the slide glass 8 is sandwiched between the slide glass 8 and the cover piece 2. state. On the upper surface of the conveyor 1, slide glasses 8 with stained specimens attached but not yet attached with cover pieces are fed 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 a cover piece pasting device for preparing a microscope specimen is used to apply a cover piece to a slide glass to which a thinly sliced and stained specimen has been pasted, a plurality of slide glasses are stored in the slide case 11 as described above. As shown in FIG. 3, this is mounted so as to be movable in the vertical direction while facing one end of the conveyor 1.
After the cover pieces 2 are pasted on the upper surfaces of the cover pieces 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. 3. As shown in FIG. 4, this receiving side slide case 12 has first and second guide rails 1 facing each other.
4 and 15, as shown by arrow a in FIG.
It is held so that it can move diagonally up and down, and by the action of a lowering control mechanism (not shown), each time a slide glass is fed in, the protrusion for storing the slide glass formed inside the slide case 12 is moved. Descend one pitch at a time. This descending control mechanism has been widely known for a long time, so
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 pasted is lowered in an inclined state, the sliding surface of the slide case 12 and the guide rails 14 and 15 for guiding the slide case 12 is The sliding movement between the two surfaces is likely to become defective due to adhesion of dirt, etc., and if this occurs, the slide case 12 will not descend smoothly.
It is no longer possible to accept glass slides with cover pieces attached.

The object of the present invention is to provide a microscopic specimen preparation device that does not have the above-mentioned disadvantages.

b. Structure of the invention (means for solving the problem) In the microscope specimen preparation device of the invention, a single slide case is used, and a slide glass without a cover piece attached is sent out from this slide case. After the cover piece is attached to the slide glass, the slide glass is moved in the opposite direction to the above-mentioned feeding direction, and the slide glass with the cover piece attached is returned to its original position in the slide case.

In order to perform the above-mentioned operation, a cover piece is attached near the guide rail that supports the slide case in which multiple glass slides are stored at regular intervals vertically so that it can be moved up and down in the vertical direction. At the same time, a lowering control mechanism is provided for lowering the slide case by one pitch of the slide glass stored inside.

Further, a table with a horizontal top surface is provided at a position opposite to the opening side of the slide case supported by the guide rail in order to guide the slide glass sent out from the slide case to the inclusion table. . Above this table, there is a nozzle for dropping mounting medium onto the top surface of the slide glass to which the cover piece is not attached, and a nozzle for dropping the mounting medium onto the top surface of the slide glass to which the cover piece is not attached. A cover piece supplying mechanism for supplying the dripping portion and a pressing roller for pressing the cover piece supplied onto the upper surface of the slide glass toward the slide glass are provided.

Furthermore, in synchronization with the progress of the cover piece pasting work, the slide glass in the slide case is moved horizontally to a position directly above the table to sandwich the slide case supported by the guide rails, and the slide glass in the slide case is placed in the enclosure part. A slide glass moving mechanism is attached, which has a pair of pressing plates for feeding the slide glass and returning it back into the slide case. A space of at least one glass slide is provided between the opposing edges of a pair of pressing plates constituting this slide glass moving mechanism, so that one glass slide can be held between the pressing plates. ing.

(Function) When using the microscopic specimen preparation device of the present invention configured as described above to attach a cover piece to a slide glass that is housed in a slide case and has no cover piece attached, it is difficult to use the conventional specimen preparation device. As in the case, the slide case supported by the guide rail is lowered one pitch at a time of the slide glass in the slide case, and the slide glass is sent along the table to the inclusion area, and a cover piece is placed on the top surface of the slide glass. After attaching the cover piece, move the slide glass backwards on the table and store the slide glass with the cover piece attached to its original position.

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

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention. A slide case 1 in which a plurality of slide glasses 8, 8 are housed at equal intervals in the vertical direction, and with a space between vertically adjacent slide glasses.
1 is supported by a guide rail (not shown) so that it can freely move up and down in the vertical direction.

A descending control mechanism (as this is a widely known structure, illustrations and detailed explanations are omitted) is provided near the guide rail to synchronize the slide case 11 with the work of attaching the cover piece. Then, the slide glasses 8, 8, which are housed in the slide case 11 vertically with an interval between them, are lowered one pitch at a time.

Also, at a position opposite to the opening side (right side in FIG. 1) of the slide case 11 supported by the guide rail, there is a top surface for guiding the slide glass 8 sent out from the slide case 11 to the inclusion table. A horizontal table 16 is provided.

Above this table 16, the slide case 1
1 and the mounting table portion (which also serves as a part of the table 16), a mounting medium is dripped onto the top surface of the slide glass 8 to which the cover piece is not attached, starting from the slide case 11 side. Nozzle 9 for
and a cover piece supply mechanism that cuts the cover piece 2 unwound from the coil 3 into a certain length and supplies it to the mounting agent dripping area on the top surface of the slide glass 8 to which the cover piece is not attached; A pressing roller 10 is provided for pressing the supplied cover piece 2 toward the slide glass 8.

The cover piece supply mechanism has a long cover piece 2.
Coil 3 wound with
a pair of rollers 4, 4a for pulling out the cover piece 2, a cutter 5 for cutting the cover piece 2 pulled out by the rollers 4, 4a, and a roller 6 for sending the cut cover piece 2 to the top surface of the slide glass. , 7 are incorporated.

Further, a slide glass moving mechanism is provided at positions sandwiching the slide case 11 supported by the guide rails, for moving the slide glass 8 in and out of the slide case 11 in synchronization with the progress of the cover piece pasting work. There is.

This slide glass moving mechanism incorporates a pair of pressing plates 17 and 18 that move horizontally at a position directly above the table. This pressing plate 17,
Reference numeral 18 is for transporting the slide glass 8 in the slide case 11 to the enclosure part and returning it again to the slide case 11. Between the mutually opposing edges, there is a space for one or more slide glasses. A slide glass 8 can be held between the pressing plates 17 and 18 with a space between them, and the pressing plates 17 and 18 are configured to move horizontally in synchronization.

Using the microscopic specimen preparation device of the present invention configured as described above, a cover piece 2 is attached to a slide glass 8 housed in a slide case 11 to which a cover piece is not attached.
When attaching the slide case 11 supported by the guide rail, slide the slide glass 8 along the top surface of the table 16 to the enclosed area while lowering the slide glass 11 in the slide case 11 one pitch at a time. Send out this slide glass 8
After pasting cover piece 2 on the top surface of table 1
6 is moved backwards, and the slide glass 8 with the cover piece attached is stored in the slide case 11 at its original position.

That is, the lower surface of the slide glass 8 located at the lowest stage among the plurality of slide glasses 8, 8 housed in the slide case 11, which is supported by a guide rail so as to be vertically movable, is aligned with the upper surface of the table 16. If so, the pressing plate 17, which had been moving to the left in FIG. 1, is moved to the right in FIG.

Mounting agent is dripped from a nozzle 9 onto the top surface of the slide glass 8 which has been pushed out onto the top surface of the table and to which the cover piece is not attached, and then the cover piece 2 cut to a predetermined length by the cutter 5 is placed thereon.

The glass slide 8 on which the mounting medium has been dripped and the cover piece 2 is placed is further pushed under the pressure roller 10 by the pressure plate 17 . Since this pressure roller 10 is given downward elasticity, the cover piece 2 placed on the top surface of the slide glass 8 via the mounting medium is
The cover piece 3 and the slide glass 8 are bonded together by the action of the adhesive layered on the cover piece 3 and melted by the action of the encapsulant.

When the slide glass 8 is moved to the right until all the cover pieces 3 are exposed to the right side of the pressure plate roller 10 (left and right are according to the drawing), the pair of pressure plates 17 that had been moving to the right until then are moved. , 18 are changed, and the slide glass 8 with the cover piece 3 attached to its upper surface is moved to the left.

By moving the slide glass 8 to the left, the slide glass 8 again passes under the pressure roller 10 and is stored in its original location in the slide case 11 after the cover piece 2 on the upper surface is more securely attached. .

The slide case 11 containing the slide glass 8 with the cover piece attached is lowered by one pitch of the slide glass 8 by the function of the lowering control mechanism, and is positioned above the slide glass 8 with the cover piece attached. Then, after aligning the lower surface of the slide glass 8 with no cover piece attached to the upper surface of the table 16, the above operation is repeated again. Slide case 11
When the slide case 11 is lowered, the press plates 17 and 18 are stopped in the most leftward position, but the distance between the edges of the press plates 17 and 18 is set to a length that does not prevent the slide case 11 from descending. do.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2 will be described.

In this embodiment, the cover piece supply mechanism is provided on the opposite side of the slide case 11 with respect to the pressing roller 10. That is, the coil 3 and this coil 3
rollers 4, 4a that pull out the cover piece 2 a certain length at a time; and a cutter 5 that cuts the cover piece 2.
and rollers 6 and 7 for feeding the cut cover piece 2 onto the slide glass 8 on the side opposite to the slide case 11 with respect to the pressing roller 10 for pressing the cover piece 2 onto the top surface of the slide glass. It is set up in

In the case of this embodiment, the slide glass 8 is once moved to the right side of the pressing roller 10, the cover piece 2 is placed on the top surface of the slide glass 8, and then when the slide glass 8 is returned toward the slide case 11, The cover piece 2 is pressed by the pressure roller 10.
is pressed onto the top surface of the slide glass 8. For this reason, in the case of this embodiment, the pressure roller 10 is made to be able to move up and down, so that when the slide glass 8 moves to the right, the mounting agent dripped onto the top surface of the slide glass 8 is transferred to the pressure roller 10.
0 to prevent it from adhering to the outer peripheral surface.

c. Effects of the invention Since the microscope specimen preparation device of the invention is configured and operates as described above, it is possible to obtain stable performance without failures due to elongation or wear of the chain, and to improve the performance of the slide glass. Since the slide case that receives items moves in the vertical direction, the movement of this slide case is also stable.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view showing a first embodiment of the microscopic specimen preparation device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic side view showing the second embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a schematic side view showing a conventional microscopic specimen preparation device. The side view, FIG. 4, is a view taken along arrow A in FIG. 3, showing the slide case support section. 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.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] Using a single slide case, a slide glass without a cover piece attached is sent out from this slide case, and after the cover piece is attached to this slide glass, the slide glass is moved in the opposite direction to the above-mentioned sending direction. In order to return the slide glass to which the cover piece has been attached to its original position in the slide case, the slide case in which multiple slide glasses are stored at equal intervals vertically can be moved up and down in the vertical direction. A lowering control mechanism is attached near the guide rail supported by the guide rail to lower the slide case by one pitch of the slide glass stored inside in synchronization with the pasting operation of the cover piece. A table with a horizontal top surface is provided at a position opposite to the opening side of the slide case to guide the slide glass sent out from the slide case to the inclusion table. a nozzle for dropping mounting medium onto the top surface of the slide glass; a cover piece supply mechanism that cuts the cover piece to a certain length and supplies it to the mounting medium dripping area on the top surface of the slide glass to which the cover piece is not attached; A pressing roller is provided to press the cover piece supplied to the top surface of the slide glass toward the slide glass, and is placed at a position sandwiching the slide case supported by the guide rails in synchronization with the progress of the cover piece pasting work. In order to move horizontally at a position directly above the table, feed the slide glass in the slide case to the enclosure section, and return it to the slide case again, a slide glass for one slide glass is placed between the opposing edges. A microscope specimen preparation device is provided with a slide glass moving mechanism, which has a pair of pressing plates that can hold one slide glass between them with the above-mentioned interval.