JPH0629712Y2 - Cover piece supply device for microscope sample preparation device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial field of application) The device for supplying a cover piece for a microscope specimen producing apparatus according to the present invention is a thin cover piece on the upper surface of a slide glass on which a sliced pathological sample or the like is attached. Is attached and incorporated into a microscope sample preparation device used for forming a microscope sample, and is used to supply a cover piece cut into a predetermined length to the upper surface of the slide glass.

(Prior Art) To make a pathological specimen excised from an affected area into a microscopic specimen, the pathological specimen is embedded in paraffin, sliced thinly, attached to the surface of a slide glass, stained, and then further coated. Stick a thin piece of cover on.

As a device to be used when manufacturing such a microscope specimen, a specimen basket containing a plurality of slide glasses, which are simply pasted with thin sliced pathological specimens but not yet with a cover piece, is attached at one end. , Take out the slide glasses one by one from the specimen basket, and attach a transparent synthetic resin cover piece cut into a certain length onto the slide glass,
Furthermore, there is known a cover piece sticking device for making microscope specimens in which the slide glass to which this cover piece is stuck is sequentially stored in another specimen basket provided at the other end, and such a cover piece sticking device is also known. Conventionally, as a cover piece supply device to be incorporated,
A supply device having a structure as shown in FIG. 1 is known.

In this supply device, a coil 3 of a transparent strip-shaped cover piece 2 whose surface is coated with an adhesive is provided above a conveyor 1 arranged in the horizontal direction, and from this coil 3, a first capstan roller 4 is provided. And the first pinch roller 4a, the cover piece 2 that is pulled out by a constant length is cut by the cutting blade 5, and further the conveyor 1 via the second capstan roller 6 and the second pinch roller 7. It is sent to the upper surface of the slide glass 8 placed on the top.

Since the solvent (encapsulating agent) of the adhesive has been dripped in advance from the nozzle 9 on the upper surface of the slide glass 8, the cover piece 2 cut into a certain length by the elastic pressure roller 10 provided immediately above the conveyor 1 is used. If you press on the upper surface of the slide glass 8,
The cover piece 2 is attached to the upper surface of the slide glass 8, and the pathological sample previously attached 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, the specimen basket 1 located on the left side of the drawing
The slide glass 8 on which the stained sample is adhered and the cover piece 2 is not adhered is sent out one by one from 1 and passes through the elastic pressure roller 10 and the cover piece 2 is adhered. Is stored in the specimen basket 12 located on the right side of the drawing through the shout 13.

When a cover piece is pasted on a slide glass on which a specimen that has been sliced and stained in advance is pasted by a microscope specimen making cover-tape pasting device, a plurality of slide glasses 8 in the specimen basket 11 as described above is used. , 8 are accommodated, and are mounted so as to be movable in the vertical direction in a state where they are opposed to one end of the conveyor 1 as shown in FIG. Then, the slide glasses 8 sequentially sent out one by one from the specimen basket 11 onto the conveyor 1,
After sticking the cover piece 2 on the upper surface of 8, it is stored in the receiving side sample basket 12 at the right end of FIG.

Furthermore, Japanese Utility Model Application No. 63-23059 (Actual Kaihei 1-1281)
No. 45) discloses a feeder as shown in FIG. 2 as a feeder for the cover piece capable of strictly controlling the position where the cover piece 2 is attached to the upper surface of the slide glass 8.

In FIG. 2 showing the supply device according to this prior invention, 15
Is a first pulley that is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown), and the first pulley 15 is coaxially coupled to the first capstan roller 16.

Reference numeral 17 is a first pinch roller that is elastically pressed toward the outer peripheral surface of the first capstan roller 16, and the first pinch roller 17 is a support arm having an intermediate portion pivotally supported by a machine body (not shown). It is pivotally supported at one end of 18. This support arm 18
The other end of the pulling rod 20 of the first solenoid 19 is connected to the other end of the first solenoid 19, and the support arm 18 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 2 when the first solenoid 19 is energized. Then, the first pinch roller 17 is configured to elastically press the outer peripheral surface of the first capstan roller 16, and the cover piece 2 drawn out from the coil 3 around which the long cover piece 2 is wound is sent out to the rear. It is the first sending part.

At such positions as to sandwich the cover piece 2 sent out backward from the first sending-out portion from above and below, a pair of pairs that can be freely moved relative to each other in order from the front side in the sending-out direction (left side in FIG. 2). A cutting portion 22 including cutting blades 21a and 21b of
A second capstan roller 24, which is coaxially coupled to the second pulley 23 and is rotationally driven in accordance with the rotation of the second pulley 23, and an elastic pressure toward the outer peripheral surface of the second capstan roller 24. And a second feeding portion composed of a freely movable second pinch roller 25. The second pinch roller 25 is pivotally supported on an intermediate portion of a support arm 26 having one end pivotally supported on the machine body. The other end of the support arm 26 is connected to the end of the pulling rod 28 of the second solenoid 27, and when the second solenoid 27 is energized, the support arm 26 is moved counterclockwise in FIG. The second pinch roller 25 is elastically pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the second capstan roller 24 by rotating the second pinch roller 25 in the direction.

The second pulley 23 is formed to have a smaller diameter than the first pulley 15, and both the first and second pulleys 15 and 23 are formed.
Is synchronized with an endless transmission member 29, such as a synchronous belt or a chain, which does not slip,
Combined with each other. Both first and second pulleys 15,
The first capstan roller 16 and the second capstan roller 24, which are respectively coaxially connected to the second capstan roller 23, are formed to have the same diameter. Therefore, the peripheral speed of the second capstan roller 24 is the same as that of the first capstan roller 24. It becomes faster than the peripheral speed of the roller 16.

The conveyor 30, which constitutes a transfer means for feeding the slide glass 8 having the sample adhered to the upper surface in advance from the front to the rear and to the right in FIG. 2, is the first and second capstan rollers 1.
The slide glass 8 provided below the reference numerals 6 and 24 and placed on the upper surface is fed horizontally from the front to the rear.

A sensor 31 for detecting the presence of the slide glass 8 placed on the upper surface of the conveyer 30 and sent to the rear side is provided in the middle portion of the conveyer 30, and when the slide glass 8 has been sent to a predetermined position, it is illustrated. Not send a signal to the controller.

Similarly, a measurement sensor 32 for measuring the moving amount of the conveyor 30 is provided near the conveyor 30, and the moving amount of the slide glass 8 after the sensor 31 detects the slide glass 8 can be freely measured. There is.

Reference numeral 33 denotes an elastic pressure roller provided above the conveyer 30, which has an elastic force directed downward by a spring (not shown), and has a second capstan roller 24 and a second pinch roller 25.
The cover piece 2 supplied to the upper surface of the slide glass 8 from between and presses the cover piece 2 against the upper surface of the slide glass 8 to firmly attach the cover piece 2 to the upper surface of the slide glass 8.

The device for supplying the cover piece of the prior invention configured as described above,
When a cover piece cut into a predetermined length is attached to a predetermined place on the upper surface of the slide glass, it works like the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, if the coil 3 of the new cover piece 2 is set in the cover piece supply device in the microscope sample making apparatus, the first solenoid 19 is not energized and the first pinch roller 1
With 7 removed from the first capstan roller 16,
The tip of the long cover piece 2 is pulled out from the coil 3, and the tip of this cover piece 2 is inserted into the first capstan roller 1.
6 and the first pinch roller 17. Cover piece 2
After passing, the first solenoid 19 is energized, the first pinch roller 17 is elastically pressed toward the outer peripheral surface of the first capstan roller 16, and the tip portion of the cover piece 2 is pushed to the first capstan roller 16. And the first pinch roller 17 between them. As a result, as the first capstan roller 16 rotates, the cover piece 2 can be moved backward by a predetermined length.

The energization of the first solenoid 19 is continued during the sample preparation work, and the first pinch roller 17 is elastically pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the first capstan roller 16, and the first capstan roller 16 is moved. The delivery of the cover piece 2 can be adjusted only by starting and stopping the driving motor.

In this way, if the cover piece 2 is set in a state in which it can be sent out backward, then the tip edge of the cover piece 2 is set to the cutting portion 22.
The cutting edges of the pair of cutting blades 21a and 21b constituting the blade are matched. At this time, the cutting blades 21a and 21b are separated from each other so that the cover piece 2 can pass through the cutting portion 22.

When the positioning of the tip of the cover piece 2 is completed as described above, the second solenoid 27 is not energized, and the second pinch roller 25 and the second capstan roller 24 are separated from each other. , The first and second pulleys 15 and 23 are energized to drive the motors that drive the first and second capstan rollers 16 and 24 to rotate the first capstan roller 16 by a predetermined angle. Then, the front end portion of the cover piece 2 sandwiched between the first capstan roller 16 and the first pinch roller 17 is fed backward by a predetermined length.

As a result, the cover piece 2 comes to exist on the rear side (right side in FIG. 2) of the cutting portion 22 for a predetermined length. Also, at this time,
The second capstan roller 24 also rotates, but since the second pinch roller 25 is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the second capstan roller 24, the cover piece 2 is not sent to the rear side of the second capstan roller 24. It is performed regardless of the movement of the roller 24.

In this way, when the cover piece 2 is fed to the rear side of the cutting portion 22 by a predetermined length, the energization of the motor is stopped to stop both the first and second capstan rollers 16 and 24. Then, by energizing the second solenoid 27, the second pinch roller 25 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the second capstan roller 24, and the cover piece is rotated as the second capstan roller 24 rotates. 2 is set to a state in which the slide glass 8 can be sent further rearward, and the slide glass 8 waits in a state in which both the first and second capstan rollers 16 and 24 are stopped.

In this standby state, when the sensor 31 provided in the middle portion of the conveyor 30 detects that the slide glass 8 has been sent to a predetermined position on the conveyor 30, this sensor 3
The controller sends a signal to the cutting portion 22 based on the signal from the cutting device 1, the cutting blades 21 a and 21 b forming the cutting portion 22 are brought close to each other, and the cutting portion 22 cuts the tip portion of the cover piece 2.

As a result, the cover piece 2 cut to a predetermined length is sandwiched between the second capstan roller 24 and the second pinch roller 25.

Based on the signal from the sensor 31, the controller drives the cutting portion 22 as described above and starts measuring the movement amount of the slide glass 8 by the measurement sensor 32, and the slide glass measured by the measurement sensor 32. When the moving amount of 8 reaches a predetermined value, the motor that has been stopped until then is started, and the cover piece 2 is moved backward by a predetermined length between the second capstan roller 24 and the second pinch roller 25. send.

As a result, the cover piece 2 cut into a predetermined length is placed on a predetermined position on the upper surface of the slide glass 8 fed on the conveyor 30, and is stuck on the upper surface of the slide glass 8 as it is by the elastic pressure roller 33.

At the same time, the tip of the long cover piece 2 sent from the coil 3 is sent backward from the cutting portion 22 by a predetermined length by the first capstan roller 16 and the first pinch roller 17.

As described above, the work of attaching the cut cover piece 2 to the upper surface of the slide glass 8 is performed, and the cut cover piece 2 is cut.
Is completely sent out from between the second capstan roller 24 and the second pinch roller 25, the power supply to the second solenoid 27 is stopped, and the second pinch roller 25 is stopped.
Is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the second capstan roller 24, the first capstan roller 16 is slightly rotated as it is, and the tip of the long cover piece 2 pulled out from the roll 3 is placed behind the cutting portion 22. Send out a specified length.

In this way, the tip of the long cover piece 2 is cut into the cutting portion 22.
When the work of sending out a predetermined length to the rear of the is completed, the motors for driving the first and second capstan rollers 16 and 24 are stopped, the second solenoid 27 is energized, and the Standby until the sensor 31 detects the next slide glass 8 sent on the conveyor 30 with the tip of the cover piece 2 sandwiched between the second pinch roller 25 and the second capstan roller 24. To do.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the case of the conventional or pre-invented cover piece supply device for a microscope sample making device configured and operated as described above, any of the following inconveniences occurs. Cause

That is, in the case of the conventional or previous device for supplying cover pieces, all slides are fed on the conveyor 30 from the sample basket 11 on the sending side toward the sample basket 12 on the receiving side. When the cover piece 2 is pasted on the upper surface of the glass 8 and the switch for selecting the completion of the encapsulation work is pressed because the encapsulation work is completed, the tip of the cover piece 2 pulled out from the coil 3 is shown in FIG. As shown, it remains pulled out to a position directly above the conveyor 30.

However, xylene that is the encapsulant dropped from the nozzle 9 often remains on the upper surface of the conveyor 30, and when left alone for a long time, the residual xylene vapor is applied to the surface of the cover piece. The applied adhesive may deteriorate.

It is not preferable to discard the deteriorated part of the cover piece, as it will waste the expensive cover piece, but if it is not discarded, the cover that is first attached to the upper surface of the slide glass when the encapsulation work is restarted The adhesive strength of the piece may be insufficient.

The cover piece supply device for the microscope sample making device of the present invention is
The above-mentioned inconvenience is eliminated by the structure in which the tip of the cover piece 2 is automatically pulled up after the completion of the enclosing work.

(Means for Solving the Problem) The device for supplying a cover piece for a microscope sample preparing device of the present invention is
As in the case of the above-mentioned conventional or piece of cover piece feeder, as shown in FIG. 1 or 2, the first capstan roller 4 (first
When applied to the conventional device shown in the figure. 16 when applied to the device of the prior invention shown in FIG. The same applies in parentheses below. ) And this first capstan roller 4 (16)
Pinch roller 4a that is elastically pressed toward the outer peripheral surface of the
(17) and a first feeding portion for feeding the cover piece 2 (2) drawn out from the coil 3 (3) around which the long cover piece 2 (2) is wound backward.

Further, behind the first capstan roller 4 (16), at a position where the cover piece 2 (2) is sandwiched from above and below, a pair of cutting blades 5 (21) provided so as to freely move relative to each other.
A cutting part (22) consisting of a and 21b) is provided.

Then, behind the cutting portion (22), the second capstan roller 6 (24) which is rotationally driven by a motor and the second outer surface of the second capstan roller 6 (24) which is elastically pressurizable. The pinch roller 7 (25) of the above, and the cover piece 2 (2) cut into a certain length is fed to the conveyor 1
(30) A second sending-out section is provided for sending out toward the upper surface of the slide glass 8 (8) sent over.

The starting and stopping of the motor and the cutting portion (22) and the movements of the first and second capstan rollers 4, 6 (16, 24) are controlled by a controller (not shown).

The above-mentioned configuration is the same as the above-described conventional or pre-developed cover piece supply device, but in the microscope sample preparation apparatus cover piece supply device of the present invention,
An end signal indicating the end of the encapsulation work, for example, a signal generated by pressing a switch for selecting the completion of the encapsulation work, can be freely input to the controller, and this controller receives the end signal when the second pinch roller 7 ( When the outer peripheral surface of 25) is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the second capstan roller 6 (24) and the motor is rotated in the reverse direction by a predetermined amount, the uncut cover piece
Transfer means for transferring the slide glass 8 (8) to which the cover piece 2 (2) is to be attached to the leading edge of (2), that is, the conveyor 1
It is configured to be kept away from the upper surface of (30).

(Function) In the case of the cover piece supplying device for a microscope sample preparing apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, in order to finish the enclosing work, for example, when the switch for selecting the completion of the enclosing work is pressed, press this switch. The signal generated by this is input to the controller,
This controller reverses the motor to turn the cover piece 2 (2)
Pull back up.

At this time, the outer surfaces of the second capstan roller 6 (24) and the second pinch roller 7 (25) are separated from each other so as not to hinder the lifting of the cover piece 2 (2). deep.

That is, when the present invention is applied to the conventional feeding device shown in FIG. 1, the small diameter portion 14 of the second capstan roller 6 is opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the second pinch roller 7 when the motor is rotated in the reverse direction. If the present invention is applied to the supply device according to the previous invention shown in FIG. 2, the second solenoid 27 is used.
Thus, the second pinch roller 25 is lowered.

As a result of reversing the motor in such a state and pulling up the tip of the cover piece 2 (2), the tip edge of the cover piece 2 (2) separates from the upper surface of the conveyor 1 (30) to which xylene is attached. In addition, when finishing the enclosing work, the conveyor 1
Since there is no slide glass 8 (8) on (30),
The portion of the cover piece 2 (2) near the tip is not cut.

Further, the position where the tip edge of the cover piece 2 (2) is raised by reversing the motor is the tip edge of the cover piece 2 (2) pulled out from the coil 3 (3) at the start of the sealing operation. A portion for positioning (for example, the cutting blade 5 (21a, 2
It is efficient to set the position 1b) so that the next enclosing work can be smoothly started.

(Effect of the device) The device for supplying the cover piece for the microscope sample making device of the present invention is
Since it is constructed and operates as described above, it is possible to prevent the cover piece coated with the adhesive from being exposed to the high-concentration xylene vapor for a long time even after the completion of the encapsulation work. There is no possibility that the piece is wasted, or that the cover piece that is first attached to the upper surface of the slide glass does not adhere well when the enclosing work is restarted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a first example of a device for supplying a cover piece for a microscope sample preparing device which is the subject of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the second example, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1: conveyor, 2: cover piece, 3: coil, 4: first capstan roller, 4a: first pinch roller, 5:
Cutting blade, 6: second capstan roller, 7: second pinch roller, 8: slide glass, 9: nozzle, 10:
Repression roller, 11, 12: specimen basket, 13: short, 1
4: small diameter part, 15: first pulley, 16: first capstan roller, 17: first pinch roller, 18: support arm, 19: first solenoid, 20: tension rod, 21
a, 21b: cutting blade, 22: cutting part, 23: second pulley, 24: second capstan roller, 25: second pinch roller, 26: support arm, 27: second solenoid,
28: tension rod, 29: endless transmission member, 30: conveyor, 31: sensor, 32: measurement sensor, 33: pressure roller.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A long cover piece, which comprises a first capstan roller which is rotationally driven by a motor and a first pinch roller which is elastically pressed toward the outer peripheral surface of the first capstan roller. The first sending-out portion for sending out the cover piece pulled out from the turned coil to the rear and the rear of the first capstan roller are provided at positions where the cover piece is sandwiched from above and below so as to freely move each other in the perspective. A cutting portion composed of a pair of cutting blades, a second capstan roller that is rotationally driven by a motor, and a second pinch roller that elastically presses the outer peripheral surface of the second capstan roller, and has a constant length. The second sending-out part that sends out the cover piece cut in the direction of the slide glass toward the upper surface of the slide glass, the start and stop of the motor and the cutting part, and the movement of the first and second capstan rollers are controlled. In a device for supplying a cover piece for a microscope sample preparing device, which comprises a control device, an end signal indicating the end of the encapsulation work can be freely input to the controller, and this controller receives a second signal when the end signal is received. With the outer peripheral surface of the pinch roller separated from the outer peripheral surface of the second capstan roller, reverse the motor by a predetermined amount to remove the slide glass on which the tip of the uncut cover piece should be attached. A cover piece supply device for a microscope sample preparation device, characterized in that it is moved away from the upper surface of a transfer means to be transferred.