JPH11271640A - Inverted microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact microscope with high rigidity and excellent handlealility. SOLUTION: In this microscope, observation light passed through an objective lens 7 is reflected obliquely upwards by a reflection mirror 8 and led to an observer side. The microscope is provided with a revolver 11 for holding the objective lens 7, a revolver holding base 12 where the revolver 11 is held at one end part, the other end side is extended to the observer side and a through- hole part 18 for passing through an obliquely upward observation light path reflected by the reflection mirror 8 is provided on the other end side, a fixing member 16 for holding the revolver holding base 12 freely movable in parallel with the optical axis of the observation light passed through the objective lens 7, a rack/pinion mechanism (24a and 27) provided on the observer side of the fixing member 16 for driving the revolver holding base 12 in a vertical direction and a handle 28 for operating the driving mechanism.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an inverted microscope, and more particularly to an inverted microscope used for routine work such as checking the growth state of cultured cells.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an inverted microscope, a specimen is observed from the lower side of a stage. Therefore, even an inverted microscope can easily observe a specimen in a culture vessel such as a petri dish or a flask. For this reason, it has been widely adopted and used in research and clinical sites dealing with living cells.

[0003] Among the inverted microscopes, there is a model called an inverted microscope which is used for routine work in a pre-experiment stage such as checking the growth state of cultured cells. This inverted culture microscope needs to be compact so that it can be used in a small space such as the inside of a clean bench, and the operation unit must be provided on the near side near the observer. In addition, since the inverted culture microscope is often deployed in a single laboratory, it is important that the price is low.

Various types of observation light paths are employed in an inverted culture microscope. Of these, the observation light path that travels vertically downward from the objective lens is reflected obliquely upward by a total reflection mirror and directed toward the observer. There is something that leads to. According to the observation optical path of this aspect, there is an advantage that the number of light path reflections inside the microscope is only one, and the observer can look into the microscope in a natural posture.

On the other hand, however, the observing optical path obliquely upward passes through a position close to the observer side of the revolver for switching the objective lens, so that the space for operating the revolver is narrowed by the observing optical path. There is. For this reason, in order to improve the operability of the revolver, it is necessary to devise the configuration and arrangement of the unit that holds the revolver.

For example, in the microscope disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-172816, the observation optical path and the operation space are secured by extending the revolver holder beside the observation optical path and to the right front side as viewed from the observer. Like that. The microscope disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H8-43741 secures an observation optical path and an operation space by extending a revolver holder to the rear side of the revolver.

[0007]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention
In the configuration of the microscope disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 6 (1994), although the operability of the revolver with the left hand is ensured, the revolver holding stand protrudes to the right of the observer. For this reason, the width of the microscope apparatus becomes large, which is not preferable as the configuration of the inverted culture microscope.

Further, according to the configuration of the microscope disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-43741, an operation space is secured in front of the revolver, so that operability is improved. However, in this microscope, since the revolver holder is arranged behind the revolver, a relatively long arm member for connecting the revolver holder and an operation unit such as a handle is required. With such a configuration, the rigidity of the arm member must be ensured, so that the size and weight of the device increase.

Further, in this mechanism, the arm member must have a complicated shape in order to prevent the arm member from interfering with other parts in the vertical movable range. For this reason, the arm member becomes an expensive part, and the internal configuration of the microscope becomes complicated, so that the total product cost including the assembly cost becomes high. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an inverted microscope that is more compact, has higher rigidity, and has good handleability.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following means. (1) In an inverted microscope apparatus in which observation light passing through an objective lens is reflected obliquely upward by a reflecting mirror and guided to the observer side, a revolver holding the objective lens, and holding the revolver at one end and the other end A revolver holding member having a side extending to the observer side, and a through hole for passing an obliquely upward observation light path reflected by the reflection mirror at the other end side, and the revolver holding member, A fixing member movably holding the observation light passing through the lens in parallel with the optical axis, a driving mechanism provided on the observer side of the fixing member, for driving the revolver holding member in a vertical direction; An inverted microscope device having a handle attached to the mechanism and operating the drive mechanism.

According to such a configuration, the through-hole portion is provided in the revolver holder, so that the revolver holder can be extended to the observer side. can do. Also,
Since the position of the handle and the revolver holder can be made close to each other, the configuration of the drive mechanism can be simplified, and the reliability can be increased.

It is preferable that the driving mechanism is a rack and pinion mechanism. (2) In the inverted microscope apparatus according to (1), the fixing member is provided with a restricting portion that restricts a vertical movement range of the revolver by coming into contact with the revolver holding member. An inverted microscope apparatus provided at a position close to the driving mechanism.

According to such a configuration, the rotation moment applied from the drive mechanism can be reduced with the restricting portion as a fulcrum (point of force), so that the revolver holder and the revolver can be effectively prevented from falling. Can be. As a result, a highly reliable microscope device can be obtained. (3) The inverted microscope apparatus according to (1), further including a microscope main body frame for holding the fixing member, wherein the microscope main body frame is opened above the fixing member, and a reinforcing portion for reinforcing this frame is provided below. An inverted microscope device, which is provided.

According to such a configuration, the rigidity of the microscope apparatus can be improved. Therefore, even if the configuration in which the through hole is provided in the holding base as in the microscope of (1), there is a problem in strength. There is no.

Further, if the member for covering the portion of the microscope body frame that opens above the fixing member is made of a thin member, a space for operating the revolver can be widened. Also in this case, since the rigidity is increased by the reinforcing member, there is no problem in strength.

[0016]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a central sectional view of the inverted microscope of the present invention viewed from the left side, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing which looked at the cross section along the X arrow view line from the observer side.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a microscope main body frame holding an observation optical system 2. A stage 3 is provided on the upper surface of the microscope main body frame 1, and an observation sample 4 is held on the stage 3.

Above the stage 3, an illumination optical system (not shown) for illuminating the sample 4 is provided. When the sample 4 is illuminated by the illumination optical system, the sample 4
Is transmitted on the optical path L indicated by a solid line and a dashed line in the drawing by the observation optical system 2 held in the microscope main body frame 1, and reaches the eyepiece lens 5 provided on the observer side. ing.

Next, the observation optical system 2 will be described in detail. First, the observation optical system 2 reflects an objective lens 7 provided immediately below the sample 4 so as to be opposed to the specimen 4 and a light attached to the microscope main body frame 1 and passing through the objective lens 7 in an obliquely upward direction. It has a reflection mirror 8, an observation lens barrel 9 for transmitting light reflected obliquely upward by the reflection mirror 8, a relay lens 10 provided in the lens barrel 9, and the eyepiece 5.

The objective lens 7 is held by a revolver 11, and the revolver 11 is a revolver holder 12
Is held by The microscope main body frame 1 is provided with a space indicated by 14 in FIG.
It is configured such that the observer can insert his / her hand around the object and perform the switching operation of the objective lens.

An optical path dividing unit 17 shown by a two-dot chain line in the figure is removably inserted below the revolver 11. On the other hand, the revolver holder 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes a horizontal portion 12a located in the space portion 14 and holding the revolver 11, and a vertical portion extending downward from an end of the horizontal portion 12a on the observer side and inserted into the microscope main body frame 1. 12b.

The revolver holder 12 is provided on the vertical portion 1.
It is vertically movably held by a fixing member 16 fixed to the microscope main body frame 1 via a linear guide 15 attached to 2b. The fixing member 16 is fixed to the microscope main body frame 1 by a fixing tool such as a bolt (16a shown in FIG. 2).

The vertical portion 1 of the revolver holder 12
2b and the fixing member 16 are provided with through holes 18 and 19, respectively, for passing obliquely upward light reflected by the reflection mirror 8. FIG. 2 shows these through holes 1
XX shown to make the configuration of 8 and 19 easy to understand
It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view along a line.

That is, the through hole 18 provided in the vertical portion 12b of the revolver holder 12 has a vertically long oval shape. In addition, a through hole 19 provided in the fixing member 16 has a U-shaped opening 19a that opens upward,
And a bridge portion 19b that closes the open side of the character opening portion 19a.

The portion of the microscope main body frame 1 corresponding to the upper side of the fixing member 16 is
In consideration of the mounting property of the revolver holder 12, the upper part is opened upward. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, in the microscope main body frame 1, a pair of triangular portions 1a, 1a sandwiching the fixing member are joined by a beam member 1b (reinforcing portion) disposed below the fixing member 16. It has a shape of
The upwardly open portion of the microscope main body frame 1 is covered with a thin cover 21 made of a plastic molded product or the like. A waterproof cover 22 is fixed to the revolver holder 12, as shown in FIG.
The waterproof cover 22 is provided so as to cover the thin-walled cover 21 to prevent water or the like from entering the microscope main body frame 1.

On the other hand, the vertical portion 1 of the revolver holder 12
2b is provided with an arm 23.
Is extended to the observer side through the through hole 19 of the fixing member 16. A rack gear member 24, which is formed by extending a rack gear 24 a along the vertical direction at the end on the observer side, is fixed to the arm 23 with bolts 25.

A pinion gear 27 meshing with the rack gear 24a is rotatably held in the microscope main body frame 1. The pinion gear 27 is provided coaxially with the pinion gear 27 and is driven to rotate. Handle 28 is mounted.

Therefore, by rotating the handle 28, the pinion gear 27 and the rack gear 24 are rotated.
The revolver holder 12 can be moved up and down via a, whereby the objective lens 7 can be moved up and down to focus the specimen 4.

The fixing member 16 is provided with regulating portions 30a and 30b which abut on the arm 23 of the revolver holder 12 and regulate the vertical movement of the revolver holder 12. As can be seen from FIG.
Reference numerals 0a and 30b denote recesses provided so as to surround the arm 23.

According to such a configuration, when the observer drives the handle 28 to rotate to move the revolver holder 12 in the vertical direction, the arm 23 abuts on the restricting portions 30a, 30b by a predetermined moving amount. , The movement is regulated.

According to the configuration of this embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained. First, since the revolver holder 12 is provided with the through hole 18 for passing the observation optical path L extending obliquely upward, the revolver holder 12 can be extended toward the observer. As a result, the width of the inverted microscope apparatus can be reduced. Further, since the operation handle 28 and the revolver holder 12 can be brought close to each other, there is no need to connect them with a long arm member or the like.

Further, since the handle 28 and the revolver holder 12 are close to each other, the rack gear 24a can be made small and simple, and can be formed by an inexpensive member such as a stamped product. Further, the restricting portions 30a and 30b are formed integrally with the fixing member, and the number of parts is small.

Therefore, a compact and inexpensive configuration can be realized in an inverted microscope apparatus having an obliquely upward observation optical path. Second, if the through holes 18 and 19 are provided in the revolver holder 12 and the fixing member 16,
There is a concern that the rigidity may decrease. However, according to this embodiment, the fixing member 16 is provided with a bridge portion 19b for closing the open side of the U-shaped open portion 19a, and the triangular portion 1a and the connecting beam member 1 are provided on the microscope main body frame 1.
The beam structure of FIG. 2B (FIG. 2) is employed to increase rigidity. Thus, the first effect can be obtained while maintaining the rigidity.

Third, since the point of engagement between the rack gear 24a and the pinion gear 27 and the restricting portions 30a and 30b of the fixing member 16 abutting on the revolver holding base 12 can be brought close to each other, the revolver 11 falls down. Can be prevented.

That is, when the handle 28 is driven to rotate, the arm 23 and the regulating portions 30a, 30b abut by a predetermined amount of movement, and the revolver holder 1
2 is restricted. From this state, handle 2
When the rotational movement of the arm 8 is attempted, a rotational moment is generated with the contact point between the regulating portion 30a and the arm 23 as a fulcrum. This rotational moment acts in a direction in which the holding table 12 and the revolver 11 are tilted. The magnitude of the rotational moment is proportional to the distance between the mesh point of the rack and pinion and the restricting portions 30a and 30b.

According to the structure of the present invention, the revolver holder 12 can be extended to a position close to the handle 28, so that the distance can be reduced. It can be effectively prevented.

Fourth, there is an effect that the space 14 for operating the revolver 11 can be widened. That is, in the configuration of this embodiment, the cover 21 that covers the open portion of the microscope main body frame 1 is made of a member that is thinner than the microscope main body frame 1. Thus, the space 14 for operating the revolver 11 can be widened. On the other hand, since the required rigidity is ensured by the bridge 19b and the beam member 1b, there is no problem in strength.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified without changing the gist of the invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the pinion gear 27 and the rack gear 24a are directly meshed with each other, but between the pinion gear 27 and the rack gear 24a,
A reduction gear may be inserted.

The microscope main body frame 1 may be formed so as to be partially thinned, and if there is no problem in the workability of the assembly, the microscope main body frame 1 and the cover 21 may be formed.
As an integral part. Further, according to FIG. 1, the cover 21 has an integral structure from the portion above the fixing member 16 to the portion to be assembled with the lens barrel 9, but may be another component in consideration of the workability of assembly. . In addition, the detailed shapes of the components are not limited to those shown in the drawings.

[0040]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an inverted microscope which is compact, has high rigidity, and has good operability for an observer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Microscope main body frame 1b ... Beam member (reinforcement part) 2 ... Observation optical system 3 ... Stage 4 ... Observation sample 5 ... Eyepiece 7 ... Objective lens 8 ... Reflection mirror 11 ... Revolver 12 ... Revolver holder (revolver holder) 12a ... horizontal portion 12b ... vertical portion 14 ... space portion 15 ... linear guide 16 ... fixing member 17 ... optical path splitting unit 18 ... through hole portion 19b ... bridge portion 19a ... U-shaped open portion 21 ... cover 22 ... waterproof cover 24a ... rack gear (Drive mechanism) 24 Rack gear member 27 Pinion gear (drive mechanism) 28 Handle 30a Regulator L L Observation optical path

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An inverted microscope apparatus in which an observation light passing through an objective lens is reflected obliquely upward by a reflection mirror and guided to an observer side, a revolver holding the objective lens, and holding the revolver at one end. A revolver holding member having the other end side extended to the observer side, and a through-hole portion through which the obliquely upward observation optical path reflected by the reflection mirror is provided at the other end side; and A fixing member movably holding the observation light having passed through the objective lens in parallel with an optical axis of the observation light; a driving mechanism provided on an observer side of the fixing member for driving the revolver holding member in a vertical direction; An inverted microscope device having a handle attached to the drive mechanism and operating the drive mechanism. 2. The inverted microscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixed member is provided with a restricting portion that restricts a vertical movement range of the revolver by coming into contact with the revolver holding member. The unit is provided at a position close to the driving mechanism. 3. The inverted microscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a microscope main body frame for holding the fixing member, wherein the microscope main body frame is opened above the fixing member,
An inverted microscope apparatus, wherein a reinforcing portion for reinforcing the frame is provided below.