JPH0921960A - Heat insulating device for microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate local temperature stagnation points within a heat insulating box and to greatly reduce the unevenness in the temperature distribution. SOLUTION: A heat insulating box 27 of the device is assembled onto a microscope base 21 which includes a specimen mounting stage 24 and hot air is blown into the box 27. A desired gap is provided between the contacting section against the base and constituting units 27a to 27c of the box 27 itself. Moreover, a ventilation port 28 which is made on the inner and the outer walls of the box 27 and a nozzle 33 which is inserted into the port 28 are provided on the box 27. A hot air fan device 30 is also provided to the device to draw in and to supply hot air from the external to the box 27 through the nozzle 33 and the port 28.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a microscope heat retaining device for culturing organisms and the like, and more particularly to a microscope heat retaining device for warming a culture container on a microscope stage by a warm air blowing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional heat retaining device for an inverted microscope has a structure as shown in FIG. In this heat retaining device, a stage 2 for mounting a sample is installed on a mirror base 1 that supports and fixes each component of the inverted microscope, and an illumination support column 3 is installed upright on one end side of the mirror base 1. ing. On the stage 2 of the mirror base 1, a heat insulation box 4 having an internal space above the stage 2 is placed, and is fixed to the mirror base 1 and the stage 2 as necessary. The heat insulation box 4 is provided with vent holes 5 and exhaust ports 6 on the left and right sides of the bottom plate for connecting the space inside the box and the outside.

Further, a warm air fan device 7 is installed independently of the heat insulation box 4. This hot air fan device 7
Although not shown, a warm air fan is built in, and has a hot air outlet 8 on the upper surface thereof, and a nozzle 9 is projected from this warm air outlet 8 and inserted into the vent 5 of the heat insulating box 4. Thus, the warm air generated from the warm air fan device 7 is blown into the heat insulation box. In addition, the warm air fan device 7
An intake port 10 is provided on the back surface of the. Hose fixing cylinders 11a and 11b are attached to the intake opening 10 and the exhaust opening 6 of the heat insulation box 4, respectively. By connecting a hose 12 to the hose fixing cylinders 11a and 11b, the exhaust opening 6 and the intake opening 10 are communicated with each other. The air inside the heat insulating box 4 is forcibly exhausted from the exhaust port 6 by the suction force of the warm air fan.

FIG. 9 is a detailed view near the stage of the heat retaining device for the inverted microscope shown in FIG. In the structure near this stage, a female screw portion 13 for mounting a Clemmel is provided at a predetermined portion in four directions slightly outside the middle seat portion of the upper surface of the stage 2, and one of the screw portions 13 has a temperature sensor 14
The sensor mounting body 15 for fixing is fixed by a male screw 16.

Further, the warm air fan unit 7 is provided with a temperature adjusting controller (not shown) therein, and the deviation between the measured temperature sent from the temperature sensor 14 through the cable 17 and the set value is zero. The internal heater (not shown) is controlled to be turned on and off so as to control the temperature inside the heat insulation box 4 and thus the temperature of the sample on the stage.

[0006]

Therefore, in such a heat retaining device, air is obtained by using the warm air fan of the warm air fan device 7 in addition to the ventilation port 5 and the exhaust port 6 of the bottom plate portion of the heat retaining box 4. Since the forced circulation is adopted and the internal space of the protection box 4 is arranged above the stage surface, the heating efficiency is improved when the volume of the protection box 4 is relatively small. The following problems occur.

For example, in the case of including a manipulation system, the vertical direction of the heat insulation box 4 is expanded to make it extremely large, and in the case of including a complicated component part including the lower part of the stage, the warm air is Since the circulation route is uniquely determined, a stagnation point is likely to be formed at a portion outside the route, and as a result, there is a problem that uneven temperature distribution is likely to occur.

Further, when the mounting position of the temperature sensor 14 is provided on the upper surface side of the stage as in the conventional case, the warm air generated in the initial stage of circulation of the warm air directly hits the temperature sensor 14, and the flow velocity of the warm air and the heater are further increased. There is a problem in that it is easily affected by the on / off of the cells, which not only causes uneven temperature measurement, but also easily interferes with the culture container or the like on the upper surface of the stage.

Further, when the cross stage is used as the mirror base, the upper surface of the stage is moved, but there is a problem that the measurement point of the temperature sensor 14 is changed at this time.
It is an object of the invention set forth in claim 1 to provide a heat retaining device for a microscope that minimizes uneven temperature distribution inside the heat retaining box.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat insulating device for a microscope, which contributes to improvements in various conditions such as the hot air transfer characteristic of the internal space of the heat insulating box and the installation position of the temperature sensor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat retaining device for a microscope, which can appropriately measure the temperature in a heat retaining box under stable measurement conditions. Another object of the invention described in claim 3 is to provide a heat retaining device for a microscope, which performs temperature measurement without impairing the operability of a sample and an operating portion around the sample.

[0012]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 incorporates a heat retaining box on a mirror base including a stage for mounting a specimen, and warm air is blown into the heat retaining box. In a heat retention device for a microscope that blows in a method, the heat retention box that forms a gap between the abutting portion with the mirror base and one or both of its constituent units, and ventilation provided in the inner and outer partition walls of the heat retention box. A heat retaining device for a microscope provided with a mouth and a warm air fan device for supplying the heat retaining box to the heat retaining box through the ventilation port.

Therefore, by adopting such means, as a heat retaining box to be incorporated on the mirror base including the sample mounting stage, an abutting portion, for example, a heat retaining box dividing boundary surface, a heat ray absorbing filter inserting portion, an operating door. Since a required gap is provided between the constituent units such as, the warm air blown from the nozzle through the ventilation hole is exhausted from the gap through the inside of the heat insulation box, so compared to the forced circulation system, it is localized inside the heat insulation box. The stagnation point of the temperature is eliminated, and the uneven temperature distribution can be greatly reduced. Moreover, since the direction of the air flow in the gap goes from the inside of the heat retaining box to the outside of the heat retaining box through the gap, there is no possibility that external cool air will enter the inside of the heat retaining box through the gap, and the heating efficiency can be improved.

Next, the invention according to claim 2 forms a step portion at a position higher than the bottom portion of the heat insulation box, and installs a ventilation port for taking in warm air from the warm air fan device in the step portion,
More preferably, the position of the step portion is formed at the same height position as the bottom surface of the stage.

By taking such measures, if the height position of the ventilation port is arbitrarily set higher than the bottom of the heat insulating box, various characteristics such as the warm air transfer characteristics of the internal space of the heat insulating box and the installation position of the temperature sensor can be obtained. The condition can be improved.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is the heat insulating device for a microscope, wherein a heat insulating box is built on a mirror base including a stage for mounting a specimen, and warm air is blown into the heat insulating box by the method. A heat-insulating box that forms a gap in either or both of the abutting part and its constituent unit, and a vent provided in the inner and outer partition walls of this heat-insulating box,
A nozzle is attached to this vent so that it can be inserted and removed,
A warm air fan device that supplies warm air sucked and warmed from the outside from the nozzle to the heat insulation box through the ventilation port,
A temperature sensor fixed to the back surface side of the sample mounting stage so that its position can be adjusted, and a cable connected to the output end of the temperature sensor is connected to the warm air fan device, and the temperature is measured based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. And a temperature control controller incorporated in a warm air fan device that controls the temperature of the warm air.

By taking such means, the vent for taking in warm air from the warm air fan device is installed at a position higher than the bottom of the heat-insulating box, and the rear surface of the stage for mounting the sample on the mirror base. The sensor mounting body is detachably attached to the side,
Since the temperature sensor is held on the surface of this sensor mounting body, the warm air from the warm air fan device wraps around from the upper space of the heat insulation box to the rear surface side of the stage. There is no direct influence of the hot air jet from the nozzle due to the on / off of the heater in the fan device, and the unevenness of temperature measurement can be greatly reduced. Also, by mounting the temperature sensor on the back side of the stage, it is not necessary to consider interference with the culture container on the upper surface of the stage, and the measurement position of the temperature sensor does not change even when using a cross stage, The temperature can be measured without impairing the operability of the sample and the operating parts around it.
The temperature in the heat insulation box can be measured under stable conditions.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a heat retaining device for a microscope according to the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a mirror base for supporting the respective components of an inverted microscope, for example, a lens barrel 22 having an eyepiece lens is provided at one end of the mirror base 21 and at the other end thereof. Is provided with a lighting column 23 for holding a lighting device,
A sample mounting stage 24 is arranged in an intermediate portion between the lens barrel 22 and the illumination support column 23. This stage 24
Is provided with a female screw portion 25 for mounting a Clemmel in four predetermined positions slightly outside the middle seat of the upper surface portion. Of these female screw portions 25, for example, one female screw portion 25 holds a temperature sensor. The sensor mounting body 26 is screwed by a male screw so that the temperature sensor is mounted on a desired portion of the stage 24.

A heat insulation box 27 is built on the mirror base 21 so as to cover the entire stage 24 on which a biological specimen or the like is placed. The heat insulation box 27 is divided into two in the left-right direction, and a ventilation port 28 is formed at a required position on the bottom plate portion on one side thereof. The heat insulation box 27 has a gap of about 1 mm between the abutting portion on the mirror base 21 and the mirror base 21 in order to absorb the mounting backlash with the mirror base 21 at the time of mounting on the mirror base 21. Is formed. In addition, the heat insulation box 27 has a slight gap at the boundary between the divided divisional boundary surfaces 27a, the heat ray absorption filter insertion portion 27b, the sample and other operation doors 27c for operating the heat insulation box. Is formed to have.

On the other hand, the warm air fan device 30 installed independently of the heat insulation box 27 is provided with an intake port 31 for sucking external air on the back surface side thereof, and an air outlet 32 on the upper surface part thereof. The air sucked from the intake port 31 is blown into the ventilation port 28 of the heat insulation box 27 through the heater (not shown) by the warm air fan (not shown) through the nozzle 33 protruding from the upper surface outlet 32. It is composed.

The warm air fan unit 30 has a temperature adjusting controller built therein, and the sensor mounting body 2 is provided therein.
The heater temperature or the warm air flow rate is controlled based on the measured temperature and the set value sent from the temperature sensor 29 (see FIG. 2) held by the cable 6 through the cable 34.

Next, the operation of the heat retaining device constructed as described above will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 2 is a heat insulation box 2
7 is a front conceptual view showing a supply state of hot air to the air conditioner 7. FIG. First,
The tip of the nozzle 33 attached to the upper surface outlet 32 of the warm air fan device 30 is inserted into the ventilation port 28 of the heat insulation box 27. When the warm air fan is operated in this state, hot air sucked in from the intake port 31 on the back of the warm air fan device and warmed by the heater is heated from the nozzle 33 to the ventilation port 2 of the heat insulation box 27.
The hot air is sent to the inside of the heat insulation box 27.

At this time, since the heat insulation box 27 does not have a dedicated exhaust port, the hot air injected from the nozzle 33 and pressurized is circulated in the heat insulation box 27 and applied to the mirror base 21. It is discharged to the outside through a gap in the attachment portion or a slight gap in the boundary portion between the constituent units such as the divided boundary surface 27a, the heat ray absorption filter insertion portion 27b, and the operation door 27c.

On the other hand, the measured temperature measured by the temperature sensor on the upper surface of the stage 24 is transmitted to the warm air fan device 30 through the cable 34, and the temperature adjusting controller of the warm air fan device 30 presets the measured temperature as the measured temperature. The deviation from the set value is obtained, and the heater is turned on / off so that the deviation becomes zero, or the amount of warm air is controlled to control the temperature in the heat insulation box 27.

Therefore, according to the configuration of this embodiment, since the heat insulation box 27 is not provided with an exhaust port and natural exhaust is performed by utilizing, for example, the gap between the constituent units, the conventional forced circulation system is used. Randomness of the hot air flow rate inside the heat insulation box becomes larger than that of the above, the locally existing stagnation point disappears, and the hot air spreads throughout the heat insulation box, so the uneven temperature distribution is greatly reduced. In addition, since the air flow in the gap inevitably faces from the inside of the heat retaining box to the outside, there is no possibility that external cold air may enter the inside of the heat retaining box from the outside of the heat retaining box through the gap and the heating efficiency is improved. (Second Embodiment) FIGS. 3 to 5 are configuration diagrams showing an embodiment of a heat retaining device according to claims 2 and 3. FIG.
FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of a state in which the heat insulation box 27 is incorporated in the mirror base 21, FIG. 4 is a front conceptual view showing a supply state of warm air from the warm air fan device 30 to the heat insulation box 27, and FIG. FIG.

In the apparatus of this embodiment, a step portion 41, which is located above the bottom surface of the heat insulating box and has substantially the same height as, for example, the bottom surface of the stage 24, is provided in a portion corresponding to the vent hole of the bottom plate portion of the heat insulating box 27. The vent hole 28 is provided at 41.

A jack 42 is detachably or fixedly attached to the lower portion of the warm air fan unit 30, and a nozzle 33 attached to the blowout port 32 has a vent port 2.
It is structured so that it can be adjusted to the height to be inserted into 8.

Further, FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of FIG.
As for the configuration of the peripheral portion of the stage 24, a plurality of member mounting female screw portions 43 are provided on the lower surface side of the lowermost plate 24a that constitutes the stage 24, and the sensor mounting body 44 is in contact with the lower surface of the lowermost plate 24a. Is fixed to the female screw portion 43 by a male screw 45. The sensor mounting body 44 has a sensor receiving portion 44a, and the temperature sensor 29 is detachably held by the sensor receiving portion 44a. Therefore, the temperature sensor 29 is detachably attached to the back side of the stage by the sensor attachment 44.

Next, the operation of the heat retaining device configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a state of warm air flow inside the heat insulation box. First, after the warm air fan device 30 is installed at a predetermined position, the warm air fan device 30 is raised by the jack 42, and the nozzle 33 protruding from the air outlet 32 is inserted into the ventilation port 28 of the heat insulating box 27.

When the warm air fan is operated in this state, outside air is taken in through the intake port 31, heated by the heater, and then injected into the heat insulation box 27 from the nozzle 33. here,
Since the tip of the nozzle 33 is located at a position higher than the lower surface of the stage 24, the hot air injected into the heat insulation box 27 does not enter the lower space of the stage directly but circulates from the upper space as shown by the dotted line in the figure. Enter the lower space.
At this time, since the temperature sensor 29 is installed on the lower surface side of the lowermost plate 24b of the stage 24, this temperature sensor 29
Measures the temperature inside the heat insulation box 27 that is kept warm in the process of going around from the upper space to the lower space of the stage, and the measured value is sent to the temperature adjustment controller of the warm air fan device 30.
Temperature adjustment control is performed.

Therefore, according to the configuration of this embodiment, the lower space of the stage in which the temperature sensor 29 is installed corresponds to the end of the warm air flow, so that the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 29 depends on the flow velocity and the heater on / off from the nozzle 33. There is no direct influence of the hot air injection, and this reduces unevenness in temperature measurement. Further, when the temperature sensor 29 is installed on the upper surface side of the stage as in the prior art, interference with the culture container must be taken into consideration, and when the cross stage is used, the upper surface of the stage moves and the temperature sensor 2
Although there is a problem that the position of 9 is changed, the above problems can be solved all at once by setting the temperature sensor 29 at the lower part of the stage.

In the present embodiment, the height of the vent hole 28 formed in the bottom plate of the heat insulating box is set to be substantially the same as the height of the bottom surface of the stage 24. However, in reality, the shape of the heat insulating box 27 and the installation position of the temperature sensor 29 are set. The height is set arbitrarily according to various conditions such as. (Third Embodiment) FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of the rear surface of the mirror base stage which is an embodiment of the heat retaining device according to the third aspect.

In this embodiment, the lowermost stage plate 24a of the stage is used.
The guide member 52 is inserted between the sensor mounting body 51 and the sensor mounting body 51. The guide member 52 is a long member that extends in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, and is screwed to a female screw portion 54 formed at an appropriate portion of the lower surface of the stage lowermost plate 24a using a male screw 53. In addition, a plurality of long hole voids 55 are formed in the middle portion of the guide member 52 in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface, the long hole voids 55 communicate with each other toward the sensor mounting body 51 side, and are slightly larger than the screw diameter. A screw elongated hole portion 56 having a diameter is formed.

On the other hand, the sensor mounting body 51 is provided with a screw hole portion 57 communicating with the screw elongated hole portion 56, and a nut 58 on the side of the elongated hole void portion 55 and a sensor mounting body 51 screwed to the nut 58. It is attached so as to be in contact with the guide member 52 by the male screw 59 inserted from the side. The sensor 29 is held on the sensor mounting body 51 by the sensor receiving portion 44a.

That is, this embodiment is a heat retaining device for a microscope in which a heat retaining box 27 is incorporated on a mirror base 21 including a sample mounting stage 24, and warm air is blown into the heat retaining box 27 by a blowing method. A heat insulation box 27 in which a desired gap is provided in either or both of the contact portion with the mirror base 21 and its constituent unit, and the heat insulation box 27.
Has a ventilation port 28 installed at a position higher than the bottom surface and a nozzle 33 to be inserted into this ventilation port 28, and warm air that has been sucked and warmed from the outside is warmed from the nozzle 33 to the heat insulation box 27 through the ventilation port 28. A hot air fan device 30 for supplying, a guide member 52 screwed to the lower surface of the stage lowermost plate 24a of the stage 24 and having a plurality of long hole voids 55 formed in the longitudinal direction, and the guide member 52 To the guide member 52 by slidably attached to the elongated hole void portion 55 in the direction via an engaging member such as a screw, and fixed to the guide member 52 by tightening the engaging member. Detachable temperature sensor 29
And is constituted by.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. By tightening the male screw 59, the sensor mounting body 51 is completely fixed to the guide member 52. However, when the male screw 59 is loosened, the sensor mounting body 51 is free to move in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the guide member 52. You can This means that the temperature sensor 29 fixed to the sensor mounting body 51 via the sensor receiving portion 44a can be installed at an appropriate position while freely moving in the one-dimensional direction parallel to the stage surface.

Therefore, according to the configuration of the above embodiment, the temperature control of the temperature adjusting controller of the warm air fan device 30 is controlled so that the temperature at the installation position of the temperature sensor 29 matches the set value. Therefore, if the installation position of the temperature sensor 29 changes, the temperature state inside the heat insulation box 27 also changes. Therefore, by making it possible to adjust the installation position of the temperature sensor 29, it becomes possible to perform fine adjustment for bringing the temperature inside the culture medium inside the heat insulating box 27, particularly in the culture container, close to the set value.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following various effects are exhibited. According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the gap is provided between the mirror base abutting portion and the constituent unit of the heat insulation box to be installed on the mirror base, the warm air blown from the ventilation port passes through the inside of the heat insulation box through the gap. Since the gas is exhausted, local temperature stagnation points are eliminated inside the heat insulation box as compared to the forced circulation system, and uneven temperature distribution can be greatly reduced. Further, since the air flow in the gap is directed from the inside of the heat retaining box to the outside of the heat retaining box through the gap, there is no possibility that external cool air will enter the inside of the heat retaining box through the gap, and the heating efficiency can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, various conditions such as the warm air transfer characteristic of the internal space of the heat insulating box and the installation position of the temperature sensor are set by arbitrarily raising the height position of the ventilation port from the bottom of the heat insulating box. Can be improved.

Further, in the invention of claim 3, since the temperature sensor is detachably attached to the rear surface side of the sample mounting stage, it is not necessary to consider interference with the culture container on the upper surface of the stage, and the cross is performed. Even when the stage is used, the measurement position of the temperature sensor does not change, and the temperature can be measured without impairing the operability of the sample and the operating portion around it, and the temperature in the heat insulation box can be measured under stable conditions.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a heat retaining device for a microscope according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front conceptual view showing a supply state of warm air into the heat insulation box shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram showing another embodiment of a microscope heat retaining device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front conceptual view showing a state of supplying hot air into the heat insulation box shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway partially enlarged view of the rear surface of the mirror base stage.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a state of warm air flow in the heat insulation box shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway partially enlarged view of a rear surface of a mirror base stage that is still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an overall configuration diagram of a conventional heat retaining device for a microscope.

FIG. 9 is a detailed view of the vicinity of a stage in a conventional microscope heat retention device.

[Explanation of symbols]

21 ... Mirror base, 24 ... Stage, 24a ... Bottom plate, 27
... Insulation box, 27a ... Dividing boundary surface, 27b ... Heat ray absorption filter insertion part, 27c ... Operation door, 28 ... Vent hole, 29 ... Temperature sensor, 30 ... Warm air fan device, 32 ... Outlet port, 33
... Nozzle, 41 ... Step portion, 42 ... Jack, 44 ... Sensor mounting body, 44a ... Sensor receiving portion, 51 ... Sensor mounting body, 52 ... Guide member, 55 ... Long hole cavity portion, 56 ... Screw long hole portion.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A heat retaining device for a microscope in which a heat retaining box is incorporated on a mirror base including a stage for mounting a specimen, and hot air is blown into the heat retaining box by a method, comprising: The heat insulation box that forms a gap in either or both of the units,
A heat retaining device for a microscope, comprising: a ventilation port provided in the inner and outer partition walls of the heat retaining box; and a warm air fan device for supplying the heat retaining box through the ventilation port. 2. The heat retaining device for a microscope according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation port is provided at a position higher than a bottom surface portion of the heat retaining box. 3. The temperature maintaining device for a microscope according to claim 1, wherein a temperature sensor fixed to the rear surface side of the sample mounting stage of the mirror base is positionally adjustable, and is connected to an output end of the temperature sensor. A cable for controlling the temperature of the warm air based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor, and a controller for temperature adjustment built in the warm air fan device is added. Thermal insulation device for microscopes.