JPH06222276A - Focusing device for microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a focusing device for microscope which ensures a large-size stage and wide sample space capable of placing a biological sample, particularly, a living cell or tissue cut piece, or also a large size sample such as an experimental animal, is suitable for a biological microscope ensuring flexibility of transmitting lighting, and can facilitate focusing operation to minimize fatigue. CONSTITUTION:A microscopic focusing device is provided with an U-shaped microscopic frame 1 having a horizontal arm part, a base part, and a vertical part, a stage 5 supported by the vertical part 1v of the microscopic frame 1 in such a manner as to be vertically movable to support a sample, an operation handle 19 rotatably supported by either one of the horizontal arm part 1h and base part 1b of the microscopic frame 1 to vertically move the stage 5; and a transmission means arranged between the operation handle 19 and the stage 5 to convert the rotating motion from the operation handle 19 into a liner motion and transmit the power to the stage 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illumination optical system for observing a microscope sample in an upright state, and a microscope focusing device having the observation optical system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a first example of this type of microscope focusing device, there is a device configured as shown in FIG. 5 and a second example configured as shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the frame 33 has a U-shape, and a light source 34 is attached below the back surface of the frame 33. The light flux guided forward from the light source 34 is a base inside the frame 33. A mirror 35 disposed in the section reflects the light vertically above the frame 33, and a condenser lens unit 36 focuses the sample 38 on the stage 37.

The light from the sample 38 is passed through the objective lens 3
The eyepiece lens 41 is attached to the lens barrel 40 to form an image at 9
The sample image can be observed at the position of the eyepoint 42 through the.

The stage 37 has a stage holder 4
The rotation of the focusing handle 44 via 3 causes the observation optical axis 4 to move.
It is designed to be moved up and down along 5 and frame 3
A vertical focusing mechanism (not shown) for converting the turning operation of the focusing handle 44 into the vertical movement of the stage 37 and the stage holder 43 is built in the vertical portion of the reference numeral 3.

Recently, as one of the important items required for this type of microscope, a large stage and a wide sample on which live cells, tissue sections, or even large samples such as experimental animals can be placed. It is possible to secure a space. To meet this requirement, the observation optical axis 45
It is necessary to set a large distance L (referred to as a foot length) from the inside to the inner peripheral side of the vertical portion of the frame 33, and the frame 33 becomes large, and at the same time, a focusing handle 44 operated when focusing the objective lens 39. The position of is also located at a rear position away from the observation optical axis 45.

On the other hand, since the position of the body of the speculum is restricted by the position of the eye point 42, the focusing handle 4
The further away the optical axis 45 is from the optical axis 45, the poorer the operability and the more easily it becomes tired.

FIG. 6 shows an industrial microscope focusing device (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-58011) designed to improve the operability of a microscopist, which is a drawback of the example of FIG. Figure 6 (a)
Is a vertical sectional view of the focusing device, and FIG. 6B is a horizontal sectional view of the focusing device. The stage 51 is supported by a hollow-structured base 46 that is vertically driven by a drive mechanism. A hole 47 for introducing an illumination light beam into the side wall of the table 46
And a mirror 48 provided in the table 46.
The illumination light flux is bent and guided to the sample by the
At least three vertical guide mechanisms 50 are provided between the outer surface of the outer peripheral surface 6 and an outer frame 49 surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the microscope 6. An operation handle 53 is rotatably supported by the outer frame 49, a pinion 52 is formed coaxially with the operation handle 53, and a rack 54 is fixed to the base 46 so as to mesh with the pinion 52. In FIG. 6, 36 is a condenser lens unit, 45 is an optical axis, and 50a to 50d are roller guides (collectively 50).

With such a structure, by rotating the operation handle 53, the pinion 52 and the rack 54 are rotated, the base 46 and the stage 51 are driven up and down, and focusing can be performed.

[0009]

In the focusing device shown in FIG. 6, it is impossible to replace the condenser lens unit 36 for ensuring the flexibility of transmitted illumination, which is important in a biological microscope. In addition, the stage 49 that supports the stage 51 and is vertically driven by the drive mechanism is the optical axis 4
Because it surrounds 5, when performing photometry with a microscope,
The photometric unit to be attached cannot be attached between the condenser unit 36 and the mirror 48. Therefore, it is not preferable to use the focusing device of the industrial microscope as shown in FIG. 6 for the biological microscope.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and a large stage capable of mounting a biological specimen, in particular, a living cell or tissue section, or even a large specimen such as an experimental animal. Suitable for biological microscopes that can secure a wide sample space and the flexibility of transmitted illumination.
An object of the present invention is to provide a microscope focusing device that facilitates focusing operation and reduces fatigue of a microscopic examiner.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 has a substantially U-shape as a whole and has a horizontal arm portion, a base portion and a vertical portion. Then, the horizontal arm section and the base section each have a microscope frame on which either an illumination optical system or an observation optical system is supported, and a first movable section and a fixed section. A first linear guide mechanism that is fixed to a vertical portion of the stage, one end side of a stage for supporting a sample on the first movable portion is fixed, and that the first movable portion is linearly moved in the vertical direction.

A second movable portion and a fixed portion are provided, and the fixed portion is fixed to the base portion of the microscope frame.
Second linear guide mechanism for linearly moving the movable part of the microscope in a substantially horizontal direction, operating means supported by the base part of the microscope frame to obtain rotational driving force for vertically moving the stage, and this operation A first power transmission mechanism for converting the rotational driving force from the means into a linear movement and transmitting the linear movement to the second movable portion; and a driving force from the movable portion of the second linear movement guide mechanism for the first linear movement. It is a microscope focusing device provided with a 2nd power transmission mechanism for transmitting to a movable part of a guide mechanism.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 2 is such that the overall shape is substantially "U" -shaped, and has a horizontal arm portion, a base portion, and a vertical portion. And a microscope frame on which either the illumination optical system or the observation optical system is supported, and the first movable part and the fixed part. The fixed part is fixed to the vertical part of the microscope frame. A first linear guide mechanism for fixing one end side of a stage for supporting a sample to the first movable part and linearly moving the first movable part in a vertical direction; a second movable part; A second linear guide mechanism for linearly moving the second movable portion in a substantially horizontal direction, and a fixed portion fixed to a base portion of the microscope frame; , Move within a certain range in a predetermined direction Which is stoppable at this arbitrary position and obtains a rotational driving force for moving the stage up and down, and the rotational driving force from this operating means is changed to a linear motion to move the stage. A second power transmission mechanism for transmitting the driving force from the movable portion of the second linear guide mechanism to the movable portion of the first linear guide mechanism. It is a microscope focusing device equipped with a mechanism.

[0014]

According to the invention corresponding to claim 1, the rotational driving force from the operating means supported by the base portion of the microscope frame is transferred to the first power transmission mechanism, the second linear guide mechanism, and the second power. The transmission mechanism and the first linear guide mechanism are sequentially changed to linear motion to transmit to the stage supported by the vertical portion of the microscope frame, which is most suitable for biological microscopes and the focusing operation is performed. It is easy and can reduce the fatigue of the speculum.

According to the invention according to claim 2, the operating means of the invention according to claim 1 can be moved in a predetermined direction in a predetermined range in the base portion of the microscope frame. Optimal operability can be obtained even for a spectroscope, and fatigue of the speculum can be minimized.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention, and an operation handle 19 which constitutes an operation means.
And the first power transmission mechanism and the first straight-movement guide mechanism, and the second power transmission mechanism and the second straight-movement guide mechanism are arranged between the stage holder 11 and the stage holder 11, and the rotational force from the operation handle 19 is set. Is converted into a linear motion and transmitted to the stage holder 11.

A microscope frame (hereinafter simply referred to as a frame) 1 has a "U" shape as a whole, and has a horizontal arm portion 1h, a base portion 1b and a vertical portion 1v. Supports an illumination optical system including a light source 2 and a mirror 3. An observation optical system including an objective lens 7, a lens barrel 8 and an eyepiece lens 9 is supported on the horizontal arm 1h. Further, a stage mechanism including a condenser lens 4, a stage 5 on which a sample (sample) 6 is mounted, and a stage holder 11 is supported on the vertical portion 1v.

Further, the vertical portion 1v and the base portion 1b are provided with an operating handle 19, a pinion 20 and a horizontal rack 2.
1st power transmission mechanism consisting of 1, a horizontal rack 22, an idler 23, a second power transmission mechanism consisting of a vertical rack 24, and a second linear guide mechanism consisting of a front and rear stand 16, a guide 17 and a fixing plate 18 are supported. The first linear guide mechanism including the upper and lower base 12, the guide 13, and the fixed base 14 is supported.

In such a structure, the light from the light source 2 is reflected vertically upward by the mirror 3 housed in the base 1b and condensed by the condenser lens 4 on the sample 6 on the stage 5. . Then, the light from the sample 6 is imaged by the objective lens 7, and the sample image can be observed at the position of the eyepoint 10 through the eyepiece lens 9 attached to the lens barrel 8. In addition, stage 5
The upper and lower bases 12 are fixed to the upper and lower bases 12 via a stage holder 11, and the upper and lower bases 12 are vertically moved by a guide 13 with respect to a fixed base 14 attached to the frame 1 along the optical axis of the objective lens 7. Has become.

On the other hand, on the base portion 1b of the frame 1, a front and rear table 16 is supported via a guide 17 so as to be movable in the horizontal direction with respect to a fixed plate 18. A pinion 20 is formed coaxially with the operation handle 19, and the pinion 20 meshes with a horizontal rack 21 fixed to one end of the front and rear stand 16. The first power transmission mechanism including the pinion 20 and the horizontal rack 21 converts the rotational movement of the operating handle 19 into a linear movement.

A horizontal rack 22 meshes with an idler 23 rotatably supported by the frame 1 at the other end of the front and rear stand 16. In addition, the idler 23
The vertical rack 24 fixed to the upper and lower bases 12 is also configured to mesh with each other, and the idler 23 and the horizontal rack 22 are
The meshing position of the idler 23 and the meshing position of the idler 23 and the vertical rack 24 are different from each other in the direction of the rotation axis of the idler 23, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface, so that they do not interfere with each other.

In the embodiment described above, the operating handle 19
By rotating the, through the first power transmission mechanism composed of the pinion 20 and the horizontal rack 21,
A linear motion of the front-rear platform 16 which is a component of the second linear guide mechanism is generated, and the linear motion of the front-back platform 16 is the linear motion of the horizontal rack 22 which is the second power transmission mechanism, the rotary motion of the idler 23, The vertical rack 24 is transmitted in the order of linear movement. As a result, the vertical movement of the upper / lower base 12 which is a component of the first linear guide mechanism is converted, and finally the upper / lower base 12 is converted.
The distance between the stage holder 11 fixed to the stage 5, the stage 5 and the sample 6 placed on the stage 5 is adjusted relative to the objective lens 7, and the focus can be adjusted.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the second linear guide mechanism is arranged on the base portion 1b of the frame 1, and the length of the front and rear platform 16 which is a component thereof is set to the size of the frame 1. The operating handle 19
As a result, an optimal operating posture for the speculum can be obtained, and fatigue can be minimized. Further, in the first embodiment, since a certain space can be secured between the condenser lens 4 and the base portion 1b of the frame 1, it is possible to meet the demand for photometry by a microscope, and the condenser lens 4 itself. Can be freely exchanged for another.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the embodiment of FIG. 1 is that the linear movement of the second linear guide mechanism is changed to the first linear guide mechanism. And a wire 26 as a component of the second power transmission mechanism that transmits the
The other structures are the same except that the pulley 25 and the spring 27 are used. In FIG. 2, a wire 26 is for interlocking the front and rear bases 16 and the upper and lower bases 12 via a pulley 25. Also, the spring 27
Serves to push the upper and lower bases 12 upward so that no play occurs between the linear movement of the front and rear bases 16 and the linear movement of the upper and lower bases 12. The second embodiment can also obtain the same effect as the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that the operating handle 19 is parallel to the guide direction of the second linear guide mechanism. It is different in that it is fixedly attached to the frame 1 at an arbitrary position within a certain range in the direction, and other configurations are exactly the same as those of the first embodiment. In FIG. 3, the front-rear platform 28 that constitutes the second linear guide mechanism is the first
In this embodiment, the front and rear base 16 is extended in the front and rear direction, and the front and rear base 28 is fixed with a horizontal rack 29 which is also extended. On the other hand, the operation handle 19 and the pinion 20 provided coaxially therewith are indicated by L in FIG.
It is attached to the frame 1 so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the rectilinear movement of the horizontal rack 29 in the range of H 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an enlarged part of FIG. 3 in order to explain this point. Operating handle 1
The pinion 20 provided coaxially with the bearing member 9
It is rotatably supported by 0, and is supported by a third linear guide mechanism 31 so that the bearing member 30 can move in a direction parallel to the linear movement of the horizontal rack 29. Further, the fixing member 32 is fixed to the frame 1, and has a function of pressing from the side of the bearing member 30 by operation from the outside of the frame 1 and fixing.

According to the third embodiment constructed as described above, the position of the operating handle 19 in the front-rear direction is adjusted within the range of LH according to the physical constitution of the examiner's arm such as the length of the arm, and the fixing member. Since the frame 32 is fixed to the frame 1 by 32, optimal operation postures can be obtained for a plurality of spectroscopes having different physiques, and fatigue can be minimized.

In the first and third embodiments of the present invention, the second power transmission mechanism for interlocking the second linear guide mechanism and the first linear guide mechanism is, for example, the second embodiment. It is not limited to the example. Further, in the embodiment, the upright microscope has been described as an example, but the same effect can be obtained by applying it to the inverted microscope.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a large stage and a large sample space on which a biological specimen, particularly a living cell or tissue section, or even a large specimen such as an experimental animal can be placed. It is possible to provide a microscope focusing device that can be secured and is suitable for a biological microscope that secures the flexibility of transmitted illumination, is easy to perform focusing operation, and can reduce the fatigue of a speculator.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of a microscope focusing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a second embodiment of the microscope focusing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a third embodiment of the microscope focusing device according to the present invention.

4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an enlarged part of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a first example of a conventional microscope focusing device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a second example of a conventional microscope focusing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Microscope frame, 1h ... Horizontal arm part, 1b ... Base part, 1v ... Vertical part, 5 ... Stage, 11 ... Stage holder, 12 ... Vertical stand, 13 ... Guide, 14 ... Fixed stand, 1
5 ... Observation optical axis, 17 ... Guide, 18 ... Fixed plate, 19 ... Operation handle, 20 ... Pinion 21, 22 ... Horizontal rack, 23 ... Idler, 24 ... Vertical rack.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. The overall shape is substantially "U" shaped,
A microscope frame having a horizontal arm portion, a base portion, and a vertical portion, and one of the horizontal arm portion and the base portion supporting one of an illumination optical system and an observation optical system, a first movable portion, and a fixed portion. A fixed part is fixed to a vertical part of the microscope frame, one end side of a stage for supporting a sample is fixed to the first movable part, and the first movable part is moved straight in the vertical direction. It has a first rectilinear guide mechanism for making it move, a second movable part and a fixed part, and this fixed part is fixed to the base part of the microscope frame, and the second movable part is moved straight in a substantially horizontal direction. A second linear movement guide mechanism, an operating means supported by the base portion of the microscope frame to obtain a rotational drive force for moving the stage up and down, and a rotational drive force from the operating means is changed to a linear movement. And then the first A second power transmission mechanism for transmitting to the second movable portion, and a second power transmission for transmitting the driving force from the movable portion of the second linear guide mechanism to the movable portion of the first linear guide mechanism. A microscope focusing device equipped with a mechanism. 2. The overall shape is substantially "U" shape,
A microscope frame having a horizontal arm portion, a base portion, and a vertical portion, and one of the horizontal arm portion and the base portion supporting one of an illumination optical system and an observation optical system, a first movable portion, and a fixed portion. A fixed part is fixed to a vertical part of the microscope frame, one end side of a stage for supporting a sample is fixed to the first movable part, and the first movable part is moved straight in the vertical direction. It has a first rectilinear guide mechanism for making it move, a second movable part and a fixed part, and this fixed part is fixed to the base part of the microscope frame, and the second movable part is moved straight in a substantially horizontal direction. A second linear guide mechanism for moving the stage and a base portion of the microscope frame, which is movable in a predetermined direction within a certain range and is supported so as to be stopable at any position to move the stage up and down. Get rotational driving force Operating means, a first power transmission mechanism for converting the rotational driving force from the operating means into a linear motion and transmitting the linear motion to the second movable part, and a driving force from the movable part of the second linear guide mechanism. And a first power transmission mechanism for transmitting to the movable part of the first linear guide mechanism.