JPH05249381A - In-liquid image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the in-liquid image pickup device which enables a fine body to be observed vertically, eliminates the unreasonable driving force of a fine body fixing means, and continuously obtains a stable fine body still picture. CONSTITUTION:This device is equipped with a main body case 210 for dipping, a fine body fixing means for fixing the fine body, the driving means 214, 215, and 221 which move the fine body fixing means 211 on the basis of the main body case 210, an observation window 217 formed on the main body case 210, a sample fixing window 218 provided on the fine body fixing means opposite the observation window 217, and an image pickup means 212 which is so arranged in the main body case so that the fine body is an image pickup object and the normal direction of the image pickup plane is vertical, and the buoyance of the fine body fixing means or the elastic force of a spring and the buoyance of the fine body fixing means are utilized as the driving means for moving the fine body fixing means 211.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an in-liquid image pickup device for picking up an image of a minute object in a liquid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a sewage treatment plant, air is blown into the inflow water (aeration) in an aeration tank to allow the microorganisms to ingest the organic matter in the inflow water to remove the organic matter. The clear liquid is discharged. Therefore, in order to obtain the supernatant, it is necessary to ingest the organic matter and maintain the microorganism having a good sedimentation property. These microorganisms are roughly divided into aggregating microorganisms and filamentous microorganisms, and if filamentous microorganisms proliferate too much in these, the sedimentation property deteriorates (called the bulking phenomenon). If the sedimentation property deteriorates, microorganisms will flow out of the sedimentation basin, so in order to prevent this, it is important not to reproduce filamentous microorganisms. Examples of filamentous microorganisms include Sphaeroterus (Sph
aerotilus) etc. As described above, in the sewage treatment process, when filamentous microorganisms propagate, there is a problem that the treatment is deteriorated or these are outflowed. In order to prevent these, it is important to measure the amount of filamentous microorganisms. Currently, the length of the filamentous microorganism length, that is,
The amount is measured manually by a watchman. For example, in the sewage treatment process, the filamentous microbial length on the photograph is measured with a kilvimeter, or
It is measured by microscopic observation. However, since the conventional method requires a few hours for one measurement even if it is performed by a skilled observer due to manual operation, continuous monitoring and early detection of abnormalities are not possible, and the propagation of filamentous microorganisms is impossible. Has the drawback that it cannot be managed well. In order to solve this drawback, as in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-184428, a method of guiding a test water with a pipe, fixing a sample with a plunger and irradiating with light, and photographing and observing with a camera of variable magnification, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 63- A method of photographing and observing with an immersion type microorganism monitor such as No. 41639 has been devised.

[0003]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention JP-A-62-1844
The method of No. 28 is a test water sampling method, and since microorganisms are destroyed or aggregated in the sampling process, there is a problem that accurate measurement cannot be performed. In addition, the gap is adjusted to several hundreds of μm or less in order to drive the plunger and fix the sample including minute objects. However, the wastewater flowing into the sewage treatment plant contains foreign matter such as earth and sand and wood chips that is wider than the gap width. Therefore, if these foreign objects are caught in the plunger, there is a risk that the plunger will be forcedly pressed and the drive unit and the liquid contact window will be damaged. Japanese Examined Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-4163
The method of No. 9 can directly observe the state in the aeration tank, so there is no change in the state due to sampling, but since the gap in the sampling chamber is fixed and narrow, it is not possible to observe the microbial population more than the thickness of the sample chamber. Since the tank is observed in the horizontal direction, there is a problem in that the microorganisms move downward in the monitor surface due to gravity settling, and a stationary microorganism image cannot be obtained. An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide an in-liquid image pickup device for continuously obtaining stable still images of minute objects.

[0004]

The above object is to provide a body case for immersion, a micro object fixing means for fixing a micro object,
Driving means for moving the minute object fixing means based on the body case, an observation window provided on the body case, and a sample fixing window provided at a position of the minute object fixing means facing the observation window. In the main body case, the image pickup means is provided in which the minute object is imaged and the normal direction of the image pickup plane is vertical.
Alternatively, it is achieved by using the buoyancy of the micro object fixing means or the elastic force of the spring and the buoyancy of the micro object fixing means as the driving means for moving the micro object fixing means.

[0005]

With the main body case in the aeration tank as a reference, the fine object fixing means is moved by the driving means, and the image pickup means in the main body case is arranged so that the normal line direction of the image pickup plane is perpendicular to the fine object. Since the image is taken, even if the microorganisms move downward in the monitor surface due to gravitational sedimentation, vertical observation is possible, and still images of the microorganisms can be continuously obtained. Further, the buoyancy of the tiny object fixing means or the elastic force of the spring and the buoyancy of the tiny object fixing means is used as the driving means for moving the tiny object fixing means. Since it operates by buoyancy, when taking in a mixture of microorganisms, if a coarse or hard foreign substance is mixed between the observation window and the sample fixing window, or the gap between the observation window and the sample fixing window is cleaned with a wiper. Even when the adjustment is performed, an unreasonable force is not applied to the drive mechanism, the observation window and the sample fixing window. As a result, it is possible to prevent these damages and obtain a stable microbial image.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of the image pickup apparatus 200, and shows a cross-sectional view of the cylindrical image pickup apparatus. Imaging device 200
Is composed of two parts, a waterproof main body case 210 and a plunger 211 shown as an example of a minute object fixing means, and a mixed liquid containing minute objects so that a normal direction of an image pickup surface of a television camera (ITV) 212 is vertical. Soak in. The plunger 211 is connected to the body case 210 via the arm 222.
Connected with. The plunger driving motor 214 installed in the main body case 210 includes a power converter 215.
It has a function of moving the arm 221 up and down via the to move the plunger 211 away from (lowering) or contacting (raising) the main body case 210. The compression coil spring 223 provided on the arm 222 is installed so as not to receive a compression force when the plunger 211 and the main body case 210 are in close contact with each other, but to receive the compression force in a separated state. When the arm 221 moves upward, the plunger 211 rises due to its own buoyancy and the elastic force of the coil spring 223, and the main body case 21
Close contact with 0. When the plunger 211 is in close contact with the main body case 210, a sampling space (not shown) of about 100 μm is formed. The signals of the rotation direction, start and stop, and the speed regulation command of the plunger driving motor 214 are
It is sent from the site control panel (not shown).

Incidentally, FIG. 1 is a view showing a state in which the plunger 211 is separated from the main body case 210. For the mixed liquid containing minute objects filled in the sample space, the plunger 2
Light from an illuminating device 219 installed inside 11 is emitted through a sample fixing window glass 218, and the emitted light is guided to a television camera 212 via an observation window 217 and an optical magnifying device 216. Here, the brightness signal of the mixed liquid is converted into an electric signal. The image pickup element (two-dimensional) in the television camera 212 generates a signal (video signal) having a different output voltage according to the degree of brightness (luminance) received. Thus, the video signal is output from the television camera 212. The wiper drive motor 213 drives the wiper 220 (details are shown in FIG. 2) in response to a command from a site control panel (not shown) to wash the surface of the observation window 217 and the sample fixing window glass 218 and to sample the sample. Replace the mixed solution in the space. When the wiper is driven, the interlock is provided so that the plunger 211 and the main body case 210 are separated from each other.

The operation of the plunger 211, the coil spring 223, and the wiper 220 of the image pickup apparatus 200 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a state of the plunger 211 at the time of sampling and activating the wiper. Plunger 211 has a larger buoyancy F than its own weight M.
It has a hollow structure so as to receive the light, and a lighting device 219 is arranged inside. The power converter 215 pushes out the arm 221 in the vertical direction to widen the interval between the plunger 211 and the main body case 210. At this time, the coil spring 223
Is compressed. The pushing force A of the arm 221 is expressed by the equation (1) using the own weight M of the plunger 211, the buoyancy F and the spring elastic force K1. A> F + K1−M (1) The wiper 220 is made of a material such as a thin brush and a rubber plate.
It operates by the rotational force of the drive motor 213, and the observation window 21
7 and the sample-fixing window glass 218 are cleaned of the liquid contact surface dirt.

FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a plunger state at the time of photographing. The power converter 215 houses the arm 221 in the main body case 210. Plunger 211 has buoyancy F and elastic force K of coil spring 233 released from the compressed state.
It rises at 2, and the plunger 211 and the body case 210 come into close contact with each other. The contact force T is expressed by equation (2). T = K2 + F−M (2) At this time, when the buoyancy F is larger than the own weight M, the plunger 211 sticks to the main body case 210 even if there is no elastic force K2. The sample space 230 is in a state of being sealed by the smooth observation window 217 and the concave sample fixing window glass 218, and the minute objects in the mixed liquid are confined and fixed. At this time, the wiper 220 has completed moving to a position where it does not contact the plunger 211.

Depending on the operating environment, the durability of the drive mechanism, the spring and the waterproof seal, the adhesion between the main body case and the plunger, the sampling cycle, and the long-term maintenance-free function, depending on which of the functions of the imaging device is emphasized, The distribution of buoyancy F, own weight M, and elastic forces K1 and K2, that is, the optimum material and size of the plunger are determined.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the sample space 230. The recess of the sample fixing window glass 218 on the side of the plunger 211 (not shown) forms a sample space 230, and when the observation window 217 and the sample fixing window glass 218 approach each other, a small object group 250 drifting in the space between them.
Can be confined without flowing out to the outside due to gravity settling in the sample space 230.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a sewage treatment process. In FIG. 4, the supernatant liquid (sewage) of the settling tank 100 and the returned sludge (microorganisms) flow into the aeration tank 110 through the sludge return pipe 160. On the other hand, the blower 140 supplies air through the air supply pipe 130 and supplies air from the air diffuser 120 to the aeration tank 110. The returned sludge and wastewater supplied into the aeration tank 110 are agitated and mixed. The returned sludge, that is, activated sludge, is a lump (flock) in which microorganisms are aggregated and whose particle size is around 0.1 to 1.0 mm
It contains several dozen types of microorganisms, which are roughly classified into filamentous microorganisms and aggregating microorganisms. The activated sludge absorbs oxygen in the supplied air and decomposes organic matter in the wastewater into carbon dioxide gas and water. A part of the organic matter is applied to the bacterial growth of the activated sludge. The mixture of activated sludge and wastewater is settling tank 150.
Where the activated sludge is gravity settled, and the supernatant is usually discharged after chlorine sterilization. The sludge that has settled is returned to the aeration tank 110 from the sludge return pipe 160 as return sludge. The imaging device 200 is immersed in the liquid in the aeration tank 110 to obtain a magnified image of microorganisms in the aeration tank. Site control panel 330
Is a television camera installed in the imaging device 200,
A device for controlling each means of illumination, cleaning, and sampling is built in, and the image pickup device 2 is synchronized with a control signal from the central operation panel 300 or a timer inside the site operation panel 330.
Control signal to 00. The video signal of the microorganism enlarged image from the imaging device 200 is displayed on the on-site monitor 340 connected to the on-site operation panel 330, and at the same time transmitted to the central operation panel 300. The central operation panel 300 receives the video signal transmitted from the site operation panel 330,
A device (not shown) for transmitting to the central monitor 320 and the image processing device 310, and a device (not shown) for transmitting a control signal for remotely operating the imaging device 200 to the site operation panel 330.
Is equipped with. Here, the control signal is, for example, the imaging device 2
00 is a signal from a built-in television camera, a power on / off command for a lighting device, a cleaning sample start command, a camera diaphragm, a focus operation command finger, and the like. The image processing device 310 performs image processing on the video signal of the microorganism enlarged image from the imaging device 200, calculates the identification of the microorganism, the size, the number of the microorganism, the appearance frequency, etc., and displays these calculated values on the central monitor 320. .. The monitor television 320 displays the video signal transmitted from the imaging device 200, the video signal transmitted from the image processing device 310, and the calculated value.

Although the above-mentioned embodiments have been described as applied to the sewage treatment process, the present invention monitors other microprocesses for culturing microorganisms, such as microscopic objects in a liquid such as microorganisms such as water-bloom in lakes and marshes. It is natural that the method can be applied to, and it is applied to the abnormality diagnosis of the mixed liquid and the process control by using the image measurement value of the minute object as an index.

[0014]

According to the present invention, the minute object fixing means in the aeration tank is moved by the driving means, and the image pickup means in the main body case is arranged so that the normal direction of the image pickup plane is vertical. Since a micro object is imaged, vertical observation is possible even when microorganisms move downward in the monitor surface due to gravity settling, and stationary microbial cell images can be continuously obtained. Further, since the buoyancy of the micro object fixing means itself is used as a driving means for moving the micro object fixing means, when a microbial mixture is taken in, a coarse or hard foreign matter is mixed between the observation window and the sample fixing window. Or, because the observation window and the sample fixing window are cleaned with a wiper, even when adjusting the gap between them, no excessive force is applied to the drive mechanism, the observation window and the sample fixing window.
These fatal damages can be avoided, and stable still images of minute objects can be continuously obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory view of a plunger, a wiper and a coil spring.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a sample space and its periphery.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a microorganism observation system of a sewage treatment process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 200 Imaging device 210 Main body case 211 Plunger 212 Television camera 217 Observation window 218 Sample fixing window glass 223 Coil spring

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Fumichi Kure 5-2-1 Omika-cho, Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki Hitachi Ltd. Omika factory

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A body case for immersion, a minute object fixing means for fixing a minute object, a driving means for moving the minute object fixing means with reference to the body case, and an observation window provided in the body case. And a sample fixing window provided at a position of the minute object fixing means facing the observation window,
An in-liquid image pickup device comprising: an image pickup unit that is arranged in the main body case so that the minute object is an image pickup target and a normal line direction of an image pickup plane is a vertical direction. 2. The buoyancy of the micro object fixing means or the elastic force of a spring and the buoyancy of the micro object fixing means are used as the driving means for moving the micro object fixing means. The submerged imaging device according to 1. 3. The submerged image pickup device according to claim 1,
An in-liquid imaging device comprising means for cleaning an observation window provided on a main body case and a sample fixing window provided on a minute object fixing means.