JPH08114745A - Centering device for optical microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent erroneous operation from being executed by making the feeding direction of a centering bar and the moving direction of the image to be moved coincide with each other. CONSTITUTION: The centering device of a moving member 24 arranged at an optical microscope provided with a Koehler illumination optical system and aligned with the virtual optical axis of an objective lens is disclosed. This centering device is provided with a holding member 22 arranged on a more illumination side than the objective lens, integrally constituted with the optical axis of the objective lens and set for holding the moving member 24, centering jigs 28 and 29 arranged on the moving member 24 and set for centering the moving member 24 and a centering mechanism relatively moving the moving member 24 in a reverse direction to an operating direction by the jigs 28 and 29.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a centering device for centering members such as a condenser and a stage in an optical microscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Koehler illumination is generally known as an illumination method for realizing ideal illumination without uneven illumination by setting a light source image to infinity. FIG. 7 shows the optical system of an optical microscope with Koehler illumination. In this optical microscope, light emitted from a light source 1 is condensed by a collector lens 2 and is incident on a reflection mirror 4 which bends an optical axis vertically upward through a field stop 3. The light beam bent by the reflection mirror 4 is applied to the sample from below the stage 7 via the window lens 5 and the condenser 6. Light that has passed through the sample and entered from the objective lens 8 is guided to the eyepiece lens 11 through the imaging lens 9 and the inverted image lens barrel 10.

In such an optical system, the light source image of the condenser 6 is made infinite by forming the light source image of the light source 1 at the front focal point of the condenser 6 and making the image plane of the condenser 6 of the field stop 3 coincide with the object plane of the observation object. Can be distant and can illuminate the sample without uneven illumination.

By the way, in the optical microscope having the above Koehler illumination, so-called condensers, stages, etc., such as a condenser and a stage, are used in order to match the image of the field stop 3 with the center of the observation field of view and the rotation center of the rotary stage 7 with the optical axis. Performing centering operation. A method for centering a condenser, a stage, etc. is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-2010.

For example, a method of centering a condenser is shown in FIG.
A description will be given with reference to (a) and (b). A condenser 13 which is held centering freely with respect to the condenser holder 12.
The dovetail parts 14 of the holder
Centering members 15a and 15b screwed from two different positions
Of the centering member 15a, 15b on the inner peripheral surface of the holder, and the pressing member 16 is protruded by the elastic member 17 from a position different from the centering members 15a, 15b by 120 degrees.

The two centering members 15a and 15b
Is rotated to advance and retreat in the optical axis direction to move the condenser 13 obliquely so that the image of the field stop 3 coincides with the center of the observation field.

[0007]

However, in the optical microscope having Koehler illumination, for example, the field stop 3 on the illumination side is used.
Centering member 1 in an attempt to match the image of
When 5a and 15b are rotated, centering members 15a and 1b
There is a possibility that the moving direction of 5b and the moving direction of the image observed on the eyepiece lens 11 at that time are opposite to each other, giving an uncomfortable feeling to the operator and causing an erroneous operation.

For example, when the centering members 15a and 15b are fed in the directions shown by the solid lines in FIGS. 5B and 6, the field stop image observed by the eyepiece lens 11 moves in the opposite direction shown by the broken lines in FIG. To do.

Also, in the centering operation of the stage,
The same problem as the centering of the condenser occurs. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when performing the centering of the condenser or stage while looking through the eyepiece, the feeding direction of the centering member and the moving direction of the image of the moving object are set. An object of the present invention is to provide a centering device which is easy to use because it is matched with each other and does not give an uncomfortable feeling to an operator, and which can prevent an erroneous operation.

[0010]

The present invention has taken the following means in order to achieve the above object. The present invention corresponding to claim 1 is a centering device for a moving member arranged in an optical microscope having a Koehler illumination optical system and aligned with a virtual optical axis of an objective lens, wherein the moving member is arranged closer to an illumination side than the objective lens. And a holding member that is configured integrally with the optical axis of the objective lens and holds the moving member, and a centering operation for centering the moving member that is arranged on either the moving member or the holding member. It comprises a jig and a centering mechanism for relatively moving the moving member in a direction opposite to the operation direction of the centering jig.

The present invention corresponding to claim 2 is directed to a centering device for centering an image of a field stop by moving a condenser arranged in an optical microscope having a Koehler illumination optical system in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis. In, the optical path through which the illumination light passes is aligned with the optical axis of the Koehler illumination optical system, is fixed to the microscope main body, and the condenser is screwed to a condenser holder to which the condenser is attached so as to be centered. And a centering jig whose front end is in contact with the condenser holder and whose movement in the centering direction is restricted.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the reference position of the stage is aligned with the optical axis of the objective lens by moving the stage arranged in the optical microscope having the Koehler illumination optical system in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis. In the centering device, an optical path for passing the illumination light is fixed to the microscope main body by matching the optical axis of the Koehler illumination optical system, and the stage is directly or indirectly attached to the stage so that the stage can be centered, and An engaging member that is provided in a freely movable manner on a stage holder and has a part that directly or indirectly contacts the stage, and a centering that is screwed into the engaging member and whose movement in the centering direction is restricted by the stage holder. And a jig.

[0013]

The present invention has the following effects by taking the above measures. According to the present invention corresponding to claim 1, when the centering jig is operated to center and move the moving member in the predetermined direction, the moving member moves in a direction opposite to the operating direction of the centering jig by the centering mechanism. It can be moved relatively.

Therefore, since the image observed on the eyepiece of the optical microscope having the Koehler illumination optical system moves in the direction opposite to the actual moving direction, the moving direction of the observed image and the operation of the centering jig. The direction will be the same.

According to the present invention corresponding to claim 2, when the centering jig is rotated clockwise, the operation direction becomes the central direction,
Since its tip is in contact with the condenser holder, it actually rotates but does not move. Therefore, the condenser screwed with the centering jig receives a relatively propulsive force and moves in the direction opposite to the central direction.

Therefore, the image of the field stop observed on the eyepiece of the optical microscope having the Koehler illumination optical system moves in the direction opposite to the actual moving direction, so that the moving direction of the image of the field stop observed is the same. The operation direction of the centering jig is the same.

According to the present invention corresponding to claim 3, when the centering jig is rotated clockwise, the operation direction becomes the central direction,
Since the movement is restricted by the fixed stage holder, it actually rotates but does not move. Therefore, the engaging member screwed with the centering jig is relatively pulled in the direction opposite to the central direction and pulled out from the stage holder. Since the engaging member pulled out from the stage holder is in direct or indirect contact with the stage, it pushes and moves the stage in the direction opposite to the center direction.

Therefore, since the image of the stage observed on the eyepiece of the optical microscope having the Koehler illumination optical system moves in the direction opposite to the actual moving direction, the moving direction and the centering of the observed image of the stage are aligned. The operation direction of the jig will be the same.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a centering device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The centering device of this embodiment is used for centering the condenser 6 in an optical microscope having the optical system shown in FIG.

A centering fixing member 22 having an optical path concentric with the central axis is fixed to a frame 21 of the optical microscope with screws so that the optical path coincides with the optical axis of the microscope. A circular dovetail 23, which is an inverted truncated cone, is formed integrally with the centering fixing member 22 concentrically with the center of the optical path. The condenser 24 is held by the round dovetail 23 of the centering fixing member 22 so as to be freely centered.

The capacitor 24 is formed by integrally forming an annular convex portion 26, which extends vertically downward with a predetermined thickness from the outer peripheral portion, on one surface of a disk-shaped capacitor body 25, and the other side of the capacitor body 25. A lens holding portion 27 extending vertically upward from the central portion is integrally formed on the surface.

An optical path penetrating the condenser main body 25 and the lens holding portion 27 is formed on the central axis of the condenser 24, and the condenser lens 6a is housed on the optical path of the lens holding portion 27.

The condenser 24 is centered so that the optical path of the centering and fixing member 22 and the optical path of the condenser 24 coincide with each other, and the inner peripheral surface of the annular convex portion 26 and the side surface of the round dovetail 23 face each other. It is placed on the upper surface of the round dovetail 23 of the fixing member 22.

On the other hand, the annular convex portion 26 of the condenser 24
Are formed so that screw holes having threaded female threads on the inner peripheral surface thereof penetrate at positions different from each other by 120 degrees. Centering rods 28 and 29 are respectively screwed into the two screw holes.

The centering rods 28 and 29 are attached to the tip portions 28a and 29a formed into a round shape, the screw portions 28b and 29b having external threads formed on the outer periphery, and the base end portions of the screw portions 28b and 29b. The knobs 28c and 29c are set. When the knobs 29a and 29b are rotated clockwise, the male screw 28
a and 28b advance relative to the condenser 24.

Plungers 30 are provided at positions deviating from the above-mentioned two screw hole forming positions by 120 degrees. This plunger has a pressing member 30a slidably inserted in a holding hole formed in the inner peripheral surface of the annular convex portion 26.
And the pressing member 30a disposed in the holding hole,
3 and a spring 30b that pushes it out.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be described. In this embodiment, since the centering rods 28, 29 and the plunger 30 support the dovetail portion 23 of the centering fixing member 22, the condenser 24 is moved toward the centering fixing member 22 by the component of the force. It is fixed in the direction of the solid arrow 1 (b).

Here, when the centering rod 28 is rotated clockwise and is operated in the direction of feeding it to the center (the direction of the solid line arrow), the tip portion 28a of the centering rod 28 contacts the dovetail portion 23 fixed to the frame 21. The centering rod 28 does not actually move in the direction of the solid line arrow because it is in contact with the centering rod 28. (When the centering rod 28 is rotated so as to be fed to the center side, it does not actually move. And). Therefore, the direction in which the condenser 24 side screwed with the screw portion 28b of the centering rod 28 moves away from the center along the axis of the centering rod 28 against the biasing force of the spring 30b of the plunger 30 (the direction of the dotted arrow). Move to.

FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the sensible movement direction of the centering rods 28 and 29 (the direction of the solid line arrow) and the actual movement direction of the condenser 24 (the direction of the dotted line arrow).
When observing the image of the field stop 3 with the eyepiece 22 of the optical microscope having the Koehler illumination shown in FIG. 7, it seems that the field is moving in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the condenser 24. The image appears to move to the center side as the centering rod 28 is rotated clockwise. That is, the sense of operation of the centering rod 28 and the moving direction of the field stop image on the eyepiece lens 22 match.

When the centering rod 28 is rotated counterclockwise, the centering rod 28 retracts in the direction away from the center. When the centering rod 28 retracts, the biasing force of the plunger 30 causes the condenser 24 to move in the opposite direction toward the center.

As a result, a phenomenon opposite to that in the case where the centering rod 28 is rotated clockwise occurs. That is, although the condenser 24 moves toward the center as the centering rod 28 moves away from the center, the image of the field stop observed on the eyepiece lens moves away from the center like the centering rod 28. .

The same can be said when the other centering rod 29 is operated. As described above, according to this embodiment, the sending directions of the centering rods 28 and 29 and the moving direction of the field stop image observed by the eyepiece lens 22 coincide with each other, so that the operability at the time of the centering operation of the condenser 24 is improved. It improves and can prevent erroneous operation. In the structure shown in FIG. 5 as well, by using a left-hand thread for the threaded portion of the centering rod, it is possible to obtain the same operational feeling as in the above embodiment.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a centering device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The centering device of this embodiment is used for centering the stage 7 in an optical microscope including the optical system shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, an intermediate support member 42 is horizontally movably mounted on the upper surface of a stage holder 41 fixed to a microscope frame, and a rotary stage 43 has a ball bearing 44 on the intermediate support member 42. It is rotatably supported via.

The stage holder 41 has a centering fixing portion 41a formed of a columnar body, and an optical path 41b concentrically passing the illumination light is formed in the central portion thereof. Holes 47 and 48 for installing the centering member 45 and the plunger 46, respectively, are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the centering and fixing portion 41a at positions displaced from each other by 180 degrees. Centering member 4
Reference numeral 5 denotes a screwing member 45a housed in the hole 47 so as to be able to advance and retract in the radial direction of the stage holder 41, and the screwing member 45a.
And a projecting piece 45b that is attached to the tip of the intermediate supporting member 42 and presses the inner wall of the intermediate supporting member 42.

Further, the stage holder 41 is formed with an insertion hole penetrating from the diagonally lower side to the hole 47 at the same diameter position as the hole 47. A centering rod 49 is inserted in this insertion hole.

The centering rod 49 has a screw portion 49a which is screwed into a screw hole formed in the screwing member 45a, and the screw portion 45.
a large-diameter portion 49b having a diameter larger than a, and the large-diameter portion 49b
And a knob 49c attached to the. The insertion hole has a diameter that allows the large-diameter portion 49b to be inserted halfway, but the diameter becomes smaller before the hole 47 so that only the screw portion 49a can be inserted. In addition, the screwing member 45
A screw hole is formed in a at the same diameter position as the centering rod 49 and at the same angle.

The plunger 46 includes a pressing member 46a slidably inserted in the hole 48, and a spring which is housed in the hole 48 and biases the pressing member 46a from the center side toward the inner wall of the opposing intermediate support member 42. 46b and.

The intermediate support member 42 is composed of a ring body having an inner diameter larger than the diameter of the centering fixing portion 41a of the cylindrical body, and an optical path 42a having the same diameter as the optical path of the stage holder 41 is formed in the central portion thereof. . The intermediate support member 42 having such a shape is placed so as to cover the centering fixing portion 41a so as to be freely centered.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be described. The centering rod 49 is inserted through the insertion hole of the stage holder 41 and the screw portion 49a is inserted into the screw hole of the screwing member 45. In this situation,
The centering rod 49 is rotated clockwise. The sensible movement direction at this time is the central direction indicated by the solid arrow in the figure. When the centering rod 49 is rotated clockwise, the screw portion 49a of the centering rod 49 is screwed into the screwing member 4
The centering rod 49 does not actually move toward the center because the large diameter portion 49b of the centering rod 49 is in contact with the stepped portion of the insertion hole. Therefore, the screwing member 45a is relatively pulled in the direction opposite to the center indicated by the broken line arrow in the drawing, and the screwing member 45a slides in the hole 47 in the direction opposite to the center.

As a result, the projecting piece 45b attached to the screwing member 45a pushes the inner wall of the intermediate support member 42 in the direction opposite to the center against the elastic force of the spring 46b and moves it in the direction of the broken line arrow in the figure. The rotary stage 43 includes the intermediate support member 42.
Since it is supported by the ball bearing 44,
It moves in the same direction as the intermediate support member 42.

At this time, when the sample on the stage surface is observed by the eyepiece 22 of the optical microscope having Koehler illumination shown in FIG. 7, it appears that the sample moves in the direction opposite to the actual moving direction of the stage 43. The observed sample appears to be moving toward the center. That is, the sense of operation of the centering rod 49 and the moving direction of the sample on the eyepiece lens 22 match. In addition, also when moving in the opposite direction, the moving directions are the same.

When the centering rod 49 is rotated counterclockwise, the screw portion 49a of the screw rod 49a retracts from the screw hole of the screwing member 45a.
The intermediate support member 41 is moved toward the center by the urging force of the plunger 46 by the distance that the centering rod 49 retreats.

As a result, the opposite phenomenon occurs when the centering rod 49 is rotated clockwise. That is, although the intermediate support member 41 and the stage 43 move toward the center as the centering rod 49 moves away from the center, the image of the stage 43 observed on the eyepiece lens is the centering rod 49. Similarly, it will move away from the center.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the centering rod 4
Since the direction in which 9 is sent out and the direction in which the stage moving direction is observed by the eyepiece lens 22 match, it is possible to prevent erroneous operation during centering operation of the stage.

In the above description, a condenser and a stage were used as examples of the moving member, but even with this multi-field member, the sensuous moving direction during centering and the moving direction of the image observed on the eyepiece lens If the two do not match, the same applies. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0047]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when the condenser or the stage is centered while looking through the eyepiece, the feeding direction of the centering rod and the moving direction of the image of the moving object are determined. It is possible to provide a centering device which is easy to use because it is matched with each other and does not give an uncomfortable feeling to an operator, and which can prevent an erroneous operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view and a horizontal sectional view of a centering device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relationship between a sensible movement direction of a centering rod and an actual movement direction of a condenser in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a centering device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the centering device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view and a horizontal sectional view of a conventional centering device.

6 is a diagram showing a relationship between a moving direction of a centering rod and a moving direction of an image on an eyepiece in the centering device shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of an optical system of an optical microscope having a Koehler illumination optical system.

[Explanation of symbols]

21 ... Frame, 22 ... Centering fixing member, 23 ... Round dovetail, 24 ... Condenser, 28, 29, 49 ... Centering rod, 30, 46 ... Plunger, 41 ... Stage holder, 42 ... Intermediate support member, 43 ... Rotation Stage, 45 ...
Centering member, 45a ... Screwing member.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A centering device for a moving member arranged in an optical microscope having a Koehler illumination optical system and aligned with a virtual optical axis of an objective lens, wherein the objective lens is arranged on an illumination side of the objective lens. A holding member that is configured integrally with the optical axis of the moving member, and that holds the moving member; and a centering jig that is arranged on either the moving member or the holding member for centering the moving member, A centering device for an optical microscope, comprising: a centering mechanism that relatively moves the moving member in a direction opposite to an operation direction of a centering jig. 2. A centering device for centering an image of a field stop by moving a condenser arranged in an optical microscope having a Koehler illumination optical system in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis, and an optical path for passing illumination light. Is attached to the microscope main body by aligning with the optical axis of the Koehler illumination optical system, the condenser is attached to the condenser so that the condenser can be centered, and the tip of the condenser holder is screwed into a part of the condenser. And a centering jig whose movement in the centering direction is regulated. 3. A centering device for aligning a reference position of a stage with an optical axis of an objective lens by moving a stage arranged in an optical microscope having a Koehler illumination optical system in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis, An optical path to be passed is fixed to the microscope main body by aligning with the optical axis of the Koehler illumination optical system, and a stage holder on which the stage is directly or indirectly attached so that it can be centered, and is provided so as to be able to move back and forth on the stage holder. A part of the engaging member that directly or indirectly contacts the stage, and a centering jig that is screwed into the engaging member and whose movement in the centering direction is restricted by the stage holder. A characteristic optical microscope centering device.