JPS61219847A - Apparatus for automatically sealing specimen of microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically perform work for taking out a slide glass to apply sealing treatment thereto and accommodating the treated slide glass in a case, by mounting a slide glass supply mechanism, a slide glass feed mechanism, a sealing agent supply mechanism, a sealing stand and a cover glass adhering mechanism. CONSTITUTION:A specimen basket, in which a slide glass having a stained tissue piece adhered thereto was received, is preliminarily engaged with the stand of a slide glass supply mechanism (a). A sealing agent is dripped on the specimen on the upper surface of the slide glass, which is drawn out from the specimen basket engaged with the supply position of the stand in a state grasped by the grasping piece of a first slide glass feed mechanism (b), from a sealing agent supply mechanism (c). The slide glass is sent to the upper position of a sealing stand (d) and a cover glass is adhered to the slide glass by a cover glass adhering mechanism (e). A cover glass supply mechanism (f) supplies the cover glass to the cover glass adhering mechanism (e) one at a time.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] d0Object of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The automatic microscope specimen enclosing device according to the present invention is installed in a hospital or various research institutes, and is capable of slicing a specimen and pasting it onto a slide glass. After the staining process has been completed while the specimen is in a specimen cage, the specimen is removed from the cage along with the slide glass, a cover glass is pasted on top of the specimen, and then the specimen is stored in a plate-shaped storage container called a mappe. automatically.

(Prior art) For example, when observing a specimen such as a piece of tissue excised from an affected area for examination in a hospital using a microscope, the specimen is first embedded in paraffin, then sliced, and the sliced specimen is slided. The specimen is affixed to glass and then placed in a specimen basket, and the specimen affixed to the slide glass along with the specimen basket is immersed in a processing solution to stain the specimen.

The slide glass with the specimen that has been stained is
Next, the specimens are taken out one by one from the specimen basket and a cover glass is pasted on top of the stained specimens for packaging, completing the specimens for use in the m-microscope.

The completed specimen is stored in a plate-shaped storage container called a mappe, and in addition to being transported to the location where it will be observed under a microscope, the specimen is also stored along with the mappe.

As an automatic enclosing apparatus for automatically enclosing microscopic specimens, there is known, for example, the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 157535/1983. This JP-A-59-1
As shown in FIG. 36, the automatic microscope specimen enclosing device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 57535 moves slide glasses 1, 1 to which stained tissue pieces are pasted one by one at predetermined time intervals to a transport path 2. a slide glass supplying device 3 that slides down the slide glass 1.1 to a predetermined position on the top in a predetermined posture; and a conveyance device 4 that conveys the slide glass 1.1 supplied onto the conveyance path 2 at a predetermined pitch at a predetermined time interval. and a discriminating device 5 that optically detects the size of the tissue piece on the slide glass l, 1 conveyed on the conveying path 2; A liquid injection device 6 supplies adhesive liquid onto each slide glass 1, and a cover glass of a size corresponding to the size of the tissue piece is selected and transported to the cover glass supply position on the transport path 2. A cover glass sorting and supplying device W17 supplies the selected cover glass onto the slide glass l that has been loaded, and a cover glass sorting and supplying device W17 that lifts the slide glass l at the above-mentioned cover glass supply position and places the selected cover glass between the slide glass 1 and the cover glass. A bonding device 8 performs an encapsulation operation to encapsulate a tissue piece and returns the encapsulated slide glass to the cover glass supply position, and when the slide glass 1 returned to the cover glass supply position is pushed out by the transport device 4. , a storage device 1O that moves the slide glasses 1, 1 in parallel in units of a predetermined number of slides and stores them in the tray 9, and includes a slide glass supply bag w3, a discrimination device 5, a liquid injection device 6, and a cover glass. The sorting and supplying device 7 and the bonding device 8 are controlled by a microcomputer built in the control section 11 so as to perform their respective operations in synchronization with the conveying device 4.

In the conventional automatic enclosing device configured in this way,
When a large number of slide glasses with stained tissue pieces pasted are set on the slide glass supply device 3 provided at the right end in FIG. 36, this slide glass supply device feeds the slide glasses one by one onto the transport path 2. and each slide glass 1
．． A cover glass of an appropriate size is attached to the top surface of the slide glass 1 to enclose the specimen on the top surface of the slide glass, and then arranged on a tray 9.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the conventional automatic microscope specimen enclosing device constructed and operated as described above, the following disadvantages still occur.

That is, when staining a tissue piece, the slide glass supply device 3 that supplies slide glasses one by one onto the conveyance path 2 has to transfer the slide glasses from the specimen section, which stores a large number of slide glasses. This work of transferring the slide glass is troublesome, and if it fails, there is a risk of not only damaging the slide glass but also contaminating the valuable specimen.

Furthermore, although the tray 9 from which glass slides with cover glasses are pushed out is capable of transporting a large number of slide glasses at once, it is not suitable for storing a large number of slide glasses as is; In order to preserve it, it is necessary to transfer the slide glass from the tray to the mappe. In other words, in order to make it easier to remove glass slides one by one during microscopic observation, the Mappe is equipped with a partition wall on the top surface into which slide glasses can be inserted loosely one by one. When stacked, the lower surface of the upper mappe does not come into contact with the upper surface of the slide glass stored in the upper surface of the lower mappe, and the upper surface of the slide glass is prevented from being soiled. Since there is such a partition wall on the top surface of the mappe, even if the mappe is placed in place of the tray 9 in the conventional automatic coverslipping device shown in FIG. 36, slide glasses cannot be stored therein.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention simply sets a storage basket containing a large number of glass slides to which stained tissue pieces are attached, and then pulls out the glass slides one by one from the storage basket. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic microscope specimen enclosing device that can automatically perform the enclosing operation of attaching a cover glass and the operation of storing the slide glass used in the enclosing method in a mappe.

b1 Structure of the invention (means for solving the problem) The automatic enclosure device for microscopic specimens of the present invention has the following (a) to
It is constructed by arranging the constituent elements of (su).

(b) A plurality of stands installed at regular intervals at the bottom of a container containing liquid to prevent tissue pieces such as pheasant rolls from drying out and supporting the storage basket so as to be able to move up and down; and a plurality of stands that can be moved up and down along the container. A vertical support, an elevating piece that moves up and down along the support, and a pair of holding arms each having its upper end pivoted on a horizontal axis provided on the elevating piece and having hooks facing each other at their lower ends. A slide glass feeding mechanism that raises a specimen basket, which is held between the holding arms and stores a large number of slide glasses vertically with intervals between them, by one pitch of the slide glasses.

(b) A pair of clips installed near the slide glass supply mechanism of the movable stage that moves horizontally along guide rails arranged on the substrate, and moved near and far by a solenoid to hold the slide glass protruding from the specimen basket. A first slide glass transporting mechanism that holds the ends of the glass slides and pulls out the slide glasses one by one from the storage basket and transports them to the enclosure position as the moving table moves horizontally.

(c) A mounting medium supply mechanism that detects the presence of a slide glass pulled out from the marker residue and drops mounting medium onto the stained specimen adhered to the top surface of the slide glass.

(d) It shall be installed at the inclusion position so that it can be raised and lowered freely, and the height when lowered shall allow horizontal movement of the clamping piece of the first slide glass transport mechanism, and the horizontal movement of the moving table of the first slide glass transport mechanism. An inclusion table that rises to a position directly below a slide glass only when the clip moves the slide glass to the inclusion position in synchronization with the slide glass.

(e) A cover glass sticking mechanism is provided on the side of the inclusion table and sticks a cover glass to the top surface of a slide glass onto which a mounting medium has been dropped in advance.

(v) A cover glass supply mechanism that takes out the stacked cover glasses one by one and supplies them to the cover glass sticking mechanism.

(g) A pair of movable slides that are installed on the same movable table as the gripping pieces of the first slide glass transport mechanism and that can sandwich the slide glass with a cover glass attached that is placed on the upper surface of the inclusion table that is in the lowered state. A second glass slide transport mechanism has a clamping piece and transports a glass slide with a cover glass attached to the rear in synchronization with the horizontal movement of the moving table.

(h) A movable block that is movable in the horizontal direction along a guide rail is provided with two supporting arms that can freely rotate near and far in a horizontal state on a rotary piece that is rotatable about a vertical axis;
When the moving table is moved to the rear end, the two support arms are inserted into the lower side of the slide glass supported by the clamping pieces of the second slide glass transport mechanism, and as the moving table moves forward, a third slide glass transport mechanism for horizontally inverting the support arm;

(2) A plurality of mappes are supported on the side of the guide rail of the third slide glass transport mechanism in parallel with this guide rail, with gaps left between each other in the vertical direction, and all of the mappes are stored. Each time a slide glass is stored in the
Mappe support mechanism that lowers pitch by pitch.

(Function) Although the stained sample is pasted on the upper surface by the automatic microscope specimen enclosing device of the present invention configured as described above,
When a cover glass is attached to the top surface of a slide glass that is still in the storage basket and the slide glass with the cover glass attached is stored in the mappe, the operation is as follows.

Specimen baskets each containing a plurality of slide glasses (usually 20) each with stained tissue pieces pasted are placed in (a) above.
Of the multiple stands that are respectively locked to the stands of the slide glass supply mechanism, only the single stand located at one end is in the slide glass supply position, so the slide glass supply mechanism is locked to the other stands. Immediately before the start of enclosing, the specimen basket is held by a holding arm built into the slide glass supply mechanism and moved to the stand at the supply position. During this movement work, the holding arm and the specimen basket are engaged with each other while the lifting piece is lowered, and the specimen basket is pulled up and horizontally moved to just above the stand in the supply position, and the lifting piece is lowered. The specimen basket containing the glass slides to be sealed is pushed into the supply position of the stand.

When carrying out the coverslipping process, the specimen basket is raised one slide glass pitch at a time in this supply position stand, and the multiple slide glasses stored in this specimen basket are pulled out one by one from the top. , the specimen cage rises little by little each time a stored slide glass is pulled out,
The specimen basket, which is empty after all the slide glasses have been pulled out, is directly taken out from the supply position stand and discharged out of the container provided with each stand.

(b) from the specimen basket locked in the supply position of the stand.
The above-mentioned (
The mounting medium is dripped from the mounting medium supply mechanism c).

The slide glass having the mounting medium dripped onto its upper surface is sent rearward as it is by the first slide glass transport mechanism, and is moved to a position above the coverslipping table (d).

In synchronization with the movement of the slide glass by this first slide glass transport mechanism.

The inclusion table has been raised to a position directly below the slide glass onto which the mounting medium has been dropped, and the slide glass is transferred to the upper surface of the inclusion table by opening the clip of the first slide glass transport mechanism.

When the clip opens and the slide glass is transferred to the top surface of the inclusion table, the moving table provided with the first slide glass transport mechanism starts moving toward the slide glass supply mechanism, and the inclusion table descends. However, before or after this lowering, the cover glass sticking mechanism (e) sticks a cover glass on the top surface of the slide glass placed on the top surface of the inclusion table. Further, in synchronization with the movement of the moving table, the cover glass supply mechanism (to) supplies the cover glasses one by one to the cover glass sticking mechanism.

When the moving table moves on the guide rail to the end on the slide glass supply mechanism side, the pinch pieces of the first slide glass transport mechanism are located on both sides of the uppermost slide glass stored in the specimen basket, and at the same time, the ( The pinch pieces of the second slide glass transport mechanism in g) are positioned on both sides of the slide glass with the cover glass attached remaining on the top surface of the inclusion table. From this state, narrow the gap between the clips of both the first and second slide glass transport mechanisms, attach the stained specimen using the clips of the first slide glass transport mechanism, and then attach the stained specimen to the slide with no cover glass attached. When the slide glass can be clamped by the two clamp pieces, each of which has a cover glass attached (specimen enclosed) is clamped by the clamp pieces of the second slide glass transport mechanism, the moving table is moved to supply the slide glass. Move the slide glass in the direction away from the mechanism, drop the mounting medium onto the top surface of the slide glass without a cover glass attached, and move it above the coverslipping table. At the same time, move the slide glass with the cover glass attached as described in Move the slide toward the third glass slide transport mechanism.

With the moving table moved to the end on the side of the third slide glass transport mechanism, the second slide of the third slide glass transport mechanism
The book support arm rotates toward the moving table with the interval narrowed by one, and enters the underside of the slide glass with the cover glass attached, which is supported by the clip of the second slide glass transport mechanism. . In this state, the slide glass without a cover glass attached thereto, supported by the clips of the first glass slide transport mechanism, is located directly above the inclusion table. Therefore, by opening both the first and second slide glass transport mechanisms, the slide glass with no cover glass attached was placed on the top surface of the coverslipping table, and the slide glass with a cover glass attached was placed on the narrower space 1. Transfer each onto a pair of supporting arms.

After this transfer, the moving table moves again toward the slide glass supply mechanism, but along with this movement, the rotating piece of the third slide glass transport mechanism rotates, and the slide glass with the cover glass attached is rotated. The support arm on which is placed the support arm enters above the mappe supported by the mappe support mechanism.

The moving block of the third slide glass transport mechanism moves the slide glass to which the cover glass has been attached to a position directly above the slide glass unaccommodated portion of the mappe by moving along the guide rail. When the slide glass has moved to just above the unaccommodated portion, the distance between the pair of support arms is widened to transfer the slide glass to the unaccommodated portion of the mappe.

When there is no unstored space in one mappe, the mappe support mechanism lowers each mappe by one pitch of the vertically adjacent mappe while the support arm is not above the mappe, and then lowers the cover. The support arm receiving the slide glass with glass pasted thereon is made to enter above the unstored mappe.

(Example) Next, the present invention will be explained in more detail by explaining the illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the overall configuration of an automatic enclosing device for microscopic specimens according to the present invention. This coverslipping device has a slide glass supply mechanism (a), a first slide glass transport mechanism (b), a mounting medium supply mechanism (c), and a coverslipping table (c) on the top surface of a substrate (not shown in Figure 1). (d), cover glass sticking mechanism (e), cover glass supply mechanism (f), second slide glass transport mechanism (g), third slide glass transport mechanism (h), and mappe support It consists of an arrangement of mechanisms.

First, an embodiment of the slide glass supply mechanism (a) will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.

A guide plate (13) is fixed on the top surface of the board (12), and inside this guide plate (13) there is a device such as a pheasant roll, etc.
Container 14 storing liquid to prevent tissue pieces from drying out
are slidably fitted. The bottom of the container 14 is provided with a stand 15 and a plywood 16 having an inclined upper edge 16a as shown in FIG. Stand 1 of these
5 is.

Rectangular notches 17a and 17b are formed in opposing positions of a metal plate bent into an angular U-shape, respectively. Such a set of notches 17a and 17b is used for the stand 1.
A plurality of sets (for example, 5 sets) are provided as a whole, and each set supports a specimen 1l18 as shown in FIG. 6 so as to be able to move up and down. In this specimen 1118, a plurality of projecting walls 20, 20 are formed at equal intervals on the mutually opposing inner surfaces of the main portion 19 in the shape of a rectangular frame. Moreover, on one outer surface of the main part 19,
There are two protrusions 21 and 21 on the other side, and three protrusions 2 (if used only for the device of the present invention, two may be used).
2.22 are formed respectively. Furthermore, extension pieces 23.23 are formed from both the upper and lower ends of the opening at one end of the main portion 19 (the upper and lower portions are shown in FIG. 6), and between the ends of each extension piece 23.23, The locking rods 24, 24 each having a serrated outer surface (the serrations are not necessary when used only for the device of the present invention) are connected to each other. The inner surface of each locking rod 24.24 has a projecting wall 20.
A plurality of protrusions 25.25 are formed at intervals of 20, and are inserted between the protruding walls 2o, 2o.
, 2o support the other end edge of the slide glass, which is supported on both side edges of one end. 26 is the main part 19
A locking piece 27 is fixed at the center of the handle, which has both ends pivotally attached to the handle, and the specimen w118 can be hung by this locking piece 26 when staining the specimen.

Each notch 17a is formed in the stand 15 to support such a specimen a18 such that it can be raised and lowered.

17b(7) Radiation W is the specimen all 8(7) Main part 197
7) Each cutout 17a, 17b is set to be slightly larger than the radius W (W>w), and the width d of the stand 15 is set to be slightly smaller than the spacing between the protrusions 21.21 (d<D).
The main part 19 of the specimen fi18 can be supported in a vertically movable manner. Also, the plywood 16 is provided only at one end of the bottom of the container 14, and a notch 17a at one end of the stand 15 is provided.
When the specimen basket is pushed into 17b, the handle 26 of this specimen m1g abuts against the upper edge 16a of the abutting plate 16, and this handle 26 moves to the specimen w! , 18 is rotated in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 6, so that the handle 26 does not get in the way when pulling out the slide glass stored inside the main part 19.

A slider 29 is mounted on a guide rail 28 arranged parallel to the guide plate 13 into which such a container 14 is fitted.
The slider 29 is provided to be movable along the guide rail 28, and an elongated U-shaped support plate 30, which is elongated in the downward direction, is fixed to the upper surface of the slider 29. This support plate 30 is provided with a support column 31 in the vertical direction.
2 is slidably fitted on the outside. Further, a driven pulley 34 is attached to the horizontal shaft 33 provided at the upper part of the support plate 30, and a drive boolean 93 is attached to the output shaft of the drive motor 35 provided at the lower part of the support plate 30.
6 are respectively provided, and a wire 37 that is passed through both pulleys 34 and 36 is connected to the elevating piece 32 in the middle, and the elevating piece 32 is raised and lowered by energizing the drive motor 35. Although not shown, a tension spring is provided in the middle of the wire 37 to maintain the tension of the wire 37.
The drive pulley 35 is structured so that it does not shift from the wire 37. This point is similar to the device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-157535 mentioned above.

The upper ends of a pair of holding arms 39 and 39 are pivotally supported on a horizontal shaft 38 provided on the rear surface of the elevating piece 32.

These pair of holding arms 39, 39 hold the main part 19 of the above-mentioned marking board 18 from both sides, and the lower end of each holding arm 39, 39 has a hook facing inward. The lower surface of each hook portion 40.40 is an inclined surface that gradually becomes higher toward the inside. Further, the upper portions of both holding arms 39.39 located below the horizontal axis 38 are connected to each other by a tension spring 41, giving elasticity in the direction in which both holding arms 39.39 approach each other. There is. However, 1 holding arm 39.
39 are prevented from coming closer than the mutually parallel state shown in FIG. 3 by means of a stopper @g (not shown).

The structure for horizontally moving the slider 29 is also constructed similarly to the structure for elevating and lowering the elevating piece 32 described above, as shown in FIG.

A wire 45 that is passed between a drive pulley 43 and a driven pulley 44 fixed to the output shaft of the drive motor 42 is connected to the slider 29 at its midpoint.

Furthermore, the slide glass supply mechanism (a) has this mechanism (
b) Starting of the 2m drive motor 35.42 incorporated in
Two sets of position detection means are provided for controlling the stop and regulating the stop positions of the slider 29 and the lifting piece 32.
Since both position detecting means are constructed in substantially the same way, only the position detecting means of the slider 29 will be illustrated and explained. As shown in FIG. 2, a detection vertical wall 46 is arranged parallel to the guide rail 28 with which the slider 29 is engaged, and a light emitter of a photoelectric detector is fixed to the lower surface of a support plate 47 fixed to the slider 29. 48 and the light receiver 49 are connected to this vertical wall 46 for detection.
are placed opposite each other on both sides of the upper part of the Stand 1 at the bottom of the container at the upper edge of the detection vertical wall 46
A notch 50 as shown in FIG. 7 is formed at a position corresponding to the notches 17a and 17b of 5, and the slider 29 is moved to a position where the emitter 48 and receiver 49 sandwich this notch 50.
When the above-mentioned pair of holding arms 39 and 39 move on the guide rail 28, the above-mentioned pair of holding arms 39 and 39 touch the above-mentioned notch 17 of the stand 15
It is positioned directly above the specimen wi, 18 supported by a, 17b.

Next, slide glasses are pulled out one by one from the specimen basket supported between the holding arms 39 and 39 of the slide glass supply mechanism (a) configured as described above, and placed on the inclusion table (d).
The first slide glass transport mechanism (b) for transporting the slide glass to the top will be explained by adding Figs. 8 to 10 to Fig. 2.

A metal plate is mounted on the upper surface of the slider 52, which is movable along the guide rail 51 for the transport mechanism, which is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate 12 in a direction perpendicular to the guide rail 28 of the slide glass supply mechanism (a). A movable table 53 which is bent into a horizontal U-shape with an opening is fixed thereto. The moving table 53 is also provided with position detection means including a light emitter 54, a light receiver 55, and a detection wall 56, as in the case of the slide glass supply mechanism (a) described above, and this moving table 53 is connected to a wire (pulley, wire, etc.). Regarding the drive mechanism by slide glass supply mechanism (
Since this is the same as in case b), illustration and detailed explanation will be omitted. ) is used to control starting and stopping of the drive motor 57.

An upper corner portion of a mounting plate 58 is pivotally supported on a horizontal shaft 57 provided on the front surface of the movable base 53. The lower end of the rod 60 of the solenoid 59 is connected. A support plate 62, which is normally horizontal, is provided on one side of the mounting plate 58 via an L-shaped bracket 61. The swing plate 63 of
A second rocking plate 64 is pivotally supported at the rear end. Rod-shaped clipping pieces 65.65 are fixed to the outer edges of the first and second rocking plates 63, 64, respectively, with the front half protruding forward than the support plate 62, and each clipping piece 65. piece 65.6
Grooves 66 (Fig. 10) are provided on the mutually opposing surfaces of 5, respectively.
are formed to support both side edges of the slide glass, and the front portions of both pinch pieces 65.65 are connected to each other by a tension spring 67, and the grooves 66 are formed in the pinch pieces 65.65. , imparts elasticity in the direction in which the first half parts approach each other. A first abutment piece 68 is provided at the front end of the first rocking plate 63 located on the rear side and protrudes forward of this rocking plate 63, and a first abutment piece 68 is provided at the front end of the first rocking plate 63 located on the rear side. A second abutment piece 69 is fixedly provided at the rear end portion of the rocker plate 64 so as to protrude rearward from the swing plate 64 and overlap with the first abutment piece 68 . First and second abutting pieces 68.69
A notch 70 is provided in the middle part of the support plate 62 located on the lower side of the support plate 62.
is formed, and an abutment protrusion 72 provided on the upper surface of one end of the connecting arm 71 projects from the upper surface of the support plate 62 through this notch 70 and comes into contact with one side of both abutment pieces 68 and 69. . The other end of the connecting arm 71 is connected to a rod of a solenoid 73 fixed to the front surface of the mounting plate 58. In FIGS. 9 to 10, 74 is a tension spring provided between the mounting plate 58 and the moving table 53, and has the role of returning the mounting plate 58 to the illustrated state when the solenoid 59 is de-energized.

The mounting medium supply mechanism (c) that drips the mounting liquid onto the top surface of the slide glass that is pulled out one by one from the marker cage by the first slide glass transport mechanism (b) configured as described above has been conventionally used. Since it is similar to the encapsulation device used, detailed illustrations and explanations will be omitted, but it includes a nozzle that drops the encapsulation liquid onto the center of the slide glass, and a sensor that detects when the center has moved directly below the nozzle. and has.

Next, regarding the mounting table (d) on which the slide glass is carried by the first slide glass transporting mechanism (b) and having the mounting liquid dripped onto the top surface by the mounting medium supplying mechanism (c), Nos. 8 to 9 are shown. This will be explained using figures.

The upper end of the support plate 75 provided on the upper surface of the board 12 has the north arm 7
One end of the upper arm 76 is attached to the middle part of the support plate 75.
One end of the lower arm 77, which has the same length as the lower arm 77, is pivotally connected to the lower arm 77, respectively. Among the upper and lower arms 76.77, the other end of the lower arm 77 is the lifting arm 78.
The other end of the upper arm 76 is pivotally attached to the middle part of the lifting arm 78, so that a parallelogram link mechanism consisting of the support plate 75, the upper and lower arms 76, 77, and the lifting arm 78 is formed. As the upper and lower arms 76 and 77 swing, the elevating arm 78 moves up and down while remaining upright. An enclosure table 80 is fixed to the upper end of this elevating arm 78 on which a slide glass 79 carried by the first slide glass carrying mechanism (b) is placed. This inclusion stand 80 has protrusions 81.81 formed at the four corners of the upper surface, and each protrusion 81.
A slide glass 79 is supported on the upper surface of the slide glass 81, and the lower surface of the slide glass 79 is prevented from contacting the upper surface of the inclusion table 80 over a wide area. A restraining plate 82 is fixed to one side of the inclusion table 80, and the one side edge of the slide glass 79 is brought into contact with the cover glass sticking mechanism (vk).
E) prevents the slide glass 79 from falling from the top surface of the inclusion table 80 when attaching a cover glass to the top surface of the slide glass.

On the side surface of the lower arm 77 constituting the parallelogram link mechanism described above, a lower surface 83a is attached to a slide glass supply mechanism (a).
The cam 83 is inclined so that it becomes lower as it moves away from the
is fixed. Further, a pin 85 is provided protruding from the side surface of a standing plate 84 provided near the lower arm 77 on the upper surface of the board 12, so that the lower edge of the lower arm 77 can freely abut against the upper surface of the bottle 85. The link mechanism including the lower arm 77 is prevented from rotating downward beyond the state shown in FIG. Further, a tension spring 86 is provided between the upright plate 84 and the lower arm 77 to impart downward elasticity to the link mechanism including the lower arm 77.

1-b, slide glass 79 toward one side of the inclusion table 80
A roller 88 is pivotally supported on the side surface of the front end of a holding plate 87 fixed to the front end of the lower surface of the movable stage 53 provided with the first slide glass [sIl structure (b)]. By moving along the cam 83 to the rear end position, the roller 88 comes into contact with the lower surface 83a of the cam 83.

Next, the slide glass is transported by the first slide glass transport mechanism (b), and the mounting medium is dropped onto the top surface by the mounting medium supply mechanism (c), and then placed on the top surface of the slide glass mounted on the top surface of the mounting table 80. A cover glass sticking mechanism (e) for sticking a cover glass will be explained. However, since the cover glass sticking mechanism incorporated in this embodiment is basically the same as the microscope specimen enclosure device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-29927, illustrations and explanations will be kept brief. .

Figures 11 and 12 show the cover glass sticking mechanism (e). A leaf spring 92 is fixed to the outer surface of a pushing piece 91 rotatably supported by a support shaft 90 supported by a support block 89 provided on the side of the guide rail 51 for the movable table 53. A swing arm 9 is attached to a disk 93 fixed to the end face of the pusher piece 91.
4 is fixed, and this swinging arm 94 and a roller 97 at the end of a rotating arm 96 driven by a motor 95 can collide with each other. A disk 98 having a notch on its outer periphery is fixed in the middle of the drive shaft of the motor 95, and the outer periphery of this disk 98 is sandwiched between a light projector 99 and a light receiver 100 of a photoelectric detector, and the rotating arm 96 It is possible to detect the position of Swinging arm 9
A tension spring 208 is provided between the guide rail 51 and a fixed portion such as the side surface of the guide rail 51.

Next, a cover glass supply mechanism (f) that supplies cover glasses one by one to the above-mentioned cover glass sticking mechanism (e) will be explained.

Figures 13 to 18 show the cover glass supply mechanism. Figure 13 is a plan view, Figure 14 is a view seen from below in Figure 13, and Figures 15 to 18 show the cover glass storage section. It shows. A slider 103 is engaged with a guide rail 102 disposed on the upper surface of the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the guide rail 51, and the slider 103 is made freely movable by a drive motor 104 (FIG. 2). Regarding the position detection mechanism of the slider 103, the provision of a detection wall 105, a light projector 106, and a light receiver 107 (FIG. 2) is the same as in the case of each of the above-mentioned mechanisms.

A horizontal shaft 110 is provided on a support plate 109 fixed to the slider 103 via a bracket 108.

The middle part of the suspended arm 111 is pivotally supported, and this suspended arm 1
A tension spring 112 is provided between the base end of 11 and the support plate 109 to pull the base end downward. Further, a pivot 113 is provided in the middle of the lifting arm 111 at a portion closer to the tip than the horizontal shaft 110, and the upper end of a rod 115 of a solenoid 114 provided at the lower end of the support plate 109 is connected to this pivot 113. .

A bracket 116 is attached to the tip of such a lifting arm 111.
is fixed. A suction pad 117 is provided on the lower surface of this bracket 116, and a connection port 118 leading to the inside of this suction pad 117 is communicated with a vacuum pump (not shown) through a hose. Furthermore, the tip 116a of the bracket 116 is bent downward at a right angle, and a roller 119 is supported on this tip 116a.

On the other hand, the cover glass storage section consists of four vertical walls 120.12
1. A holding part 124 that surrounds the four circumferences of a large number of cover glasses stacked on top of each other by means of 122 and 123, and a holding part 124 that attaches to the lower cover glass when the uppermost cover glass is lifted by the suction pad 117. In order to prevent the cover from being lifted up, it is comprised of restraining parts 125 that restrain the cover ratworm from both sides.

Among these, the holding portion 124 is provided with a bottom plate 127 that is elastically pushed upward by a spring 126. Further, the upper end 120a' of one of the vertical walls 120 is bent inward at a right angle so that the uppermost cover glass is located at the upper end position of the holding part 124, regardless of the number of remaining cover glasses. ing.

On the other hand, the holding part 125 is attached to the same mounting plate 12 as the holding part 124.
A pair of rotatable shafts 130 and 130 are pivotally supported at the upper end of a vertical shaft 129 erected on the upper surface of the shaft 8 .

A metal plate 1 is provided on the outer surface of each rotatable member 130, 130.
31,131 are fixed, both metal plates 131.13
A leaf spring 132, 132 is fixed to the rear end of each of the springs 1 and 1, respectively. A notch 133 is formed in the upper end corner of the two vertical walls 121 and 123 that partition both sides of the holding portion 124 and the leaf spring 132 is opposed to the leaf spring 132. The felt 134 can be brought into contact with both side edges of the cover glass in the holding part 124. or,
Cam plates 135, 135, which are bent at right angles with their front ends facing inward, are fixed to the front ends of the metal plates 131, 131. The upper corner of the inner end of each cam plate 135.135 is cut obliquely, and the inclined edge 136.136 becomes lower as it goes inward.
It is said that The roller 11 at the tip of the above-mentioned hanging arm Ill
9 indicates this inclined edge 136.13 when lifting the cover glass.
Located directly above 6. However, the roller 119 may be able to abut against the inclined edges 136, 136 by another solenoid that operates in synchronization with the solenoid 114.

Next, the cover glass supplied by the above-mentioned cover glass supply mechanism (F) is pasted on the top surface by the above-mentioned cover glass sticking mechanism (E), and the slide glass with the specimen on the top surface of the slide glass completed is encapsulated. The second slide glass transport mechanism (g) that takes out the slide glass from the top surface of the table 80 and sends it to the rear will be explained.

This second slide glass transport mechanism (G) is.

It is provided at the rear of the same moving table 53 as the first slide glass transporting mechanism (b) described above, and the first slide glass transporting mechanism (b) provided at the front of this moving table 53 is located inside the specimen layer. At the same time that one unsealed glass slide is pulled out from the slide glass, a second slide glass transport mechanism (G) takes out a slide glass for the mounting method from the top surface of the mounting table and sends it to the rear.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIGS. 8 to 9 (omitted for brevity in FIG. 10), the second slide glass transport mechanism (G) includes a lateral protrusion provided at the rear end of the moving table 53. A pair of pinching pieces 138 as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 are moved toward and away from each other by a solenoid 137 fixed to the section. That is, the solenoid 13 is connected via the bracket 139.
An intermediate portion of a swinging arm 141 is pivotally supported at both ends of a horizontal support arm 140 fixed to the horizontal support arm 140 . The inner surface of the lower end of each swing arm 141 (is a pinching piece 143 having a groove 142 on the inner surface).
are fixed respectively, and the slide glass can be held by moving the clipping pieces 143 near and far.

Also, the upper ends of the two swing arms 141 and 141 are connected to each other by the tension spring 1.
44, and imparts elasticity to each swinging arm 141° 141 in the direction of increasing the distance between the pinching pieces 143, 143. Furthermore, a protrusion 1 provided on the lower surface of the inner end of the protrusion 145.145 provided inwardly at the intermediate portion of each swing arm 141.141.
46, 146 are in contact with the upper surface of the disc 147. A screw hole is provided in the center of this disk 147, and a male screw formed at the lower end of the pulling rod 148 is screwed into this screw hole to freely adjust the interval between the pinch pieces 143, 143. The upper end of this pulling rod 148 is connected to the lower end of the rod of the solenoid 137 fixed to the side protrusion at the rear end of the moving table 53, as described above.

The second slide glass transport mechanism (G) is configured as described above, but is similar to the first slide glass transport mechanism (G) described above.
When the moving stage 53 moves to the front end of the guide rail 51 so that the slide glass is pulled out from the specimen basket, the clamping pieces 143, 1 of the second slide glass transport mechanism (g)
43 are located on both sides of the rear of the slide glass placed on the upper surface of the inclusion table 80 in the lowered state.

Next, the second slide glass transport mechanism (G) configured as described above receives the slide glass for the inclusion method taken out from the inclusion table 80 and sent to the rear, and sends it to the matzpe. The mechanism (H) will be explained.

This third slide glass transport mechanism (H) is.

Guide rail 10 of the above-mentioned cover glass supply mechanism (to)
A column-shaped moving block 15 is mounted on the upper surface of a slider 150 movably engaged with a guide rail 149 arranged parallel to the slider 150.
1 has been established. A rotary piece 154 having a gear 153 fixed to the lower surface is pivotally supported on a vertical shaft 152 provided at the center of the upper surface of the moving block 151. Also, moving block 15
A holding plate 155 reinforced with a square bar 155 is provided at one corner of the upper surface of the holding plate 155, and the front end 155a and the rear end 155b of this holding plate 155 are bent upward at right angles, and a guide rod 156 is installed between the front and rear ends of the holding plate 155. Kake is passing it on. A rack 158 having a through hole 157 formed in the length direction is slidably fitted onto the guide rod 156.
58 and the aforementioned rotary piece 154 are meshed with the fixed gear 153, so that as the rack 158 moves, the rotary piece 15
4 rotates. Furthermore, this rack 158
A compression spring 159 is provided between the rear end surface and the rear end 155b of the holding plate 155, and the rack 15 is
8 moves to the front end of the holding plate 155, and the rotating piece 154
is rotated 180 degrees clockwise from the state shown in FIG. 21.23.

A support block 161 that rotatably supports the base end portions of two support arms 160° 160 is fixed to the side surface of the rotating piece 154. The shafts 162 and 162 rotatably held at both ends of the support block 161 are given elasticity by springs (not shown) to rotate in the directions indicated by arrows in FIG. 24, respectively. The two supporting arms 160, 160 that receive the enclosed slide glass from the second glass slide transport mechanism (G) connect the upper edges of the wide portions 163, 163 at the rear ends to the respective shafts 162, 162. ing. The enclosed slide glass 79 is attached to each wide portion 16.
Receiving portion 164.164 extending from the lower front edge of 3.163
I try to pass it on so that it will be supported. The end portions 165, 165 of each receiving portion 164, 164 are bent upward to prevent the slide glass 79 placed on the receiving portion 164, 184 from being blown away by centrifugal force when the rotary table 154 rotates. There is.

Furthermore, a mounting plate 16 fixed below the support block 161
A solenoid 167 is fixed to 6, and the T-shaped bracket 168 can be freely pulled by this solenoid.

A horizontal push rod 169 made of a material with a low coefficient of friction, such as nylon, is fixed to this bracket 168, and the lower corners of both ends of this horizontal push rod 169 are connected to the center of the wide portions 163, 163 of each support arm 160, 160. It is in contact with the top surface.

Although not shown in the drawings, a collision protrusion is provided on the top surface of the rack 158, and the movable table 53 equipped with the first and second slide glass transport mechanisms (B) and (G) is moved along the guide rail 56. When the moving table 53 is moved to the rear end, the push piece fixed to the moving table 53 pushes the abutting protrusion, and the rack 158 is moved by the compression spring 159.
It is configured to move against the elasticity of. however,
In order for the push piece to collide with the colliding protrusion, the movable block 151 with the rack 158 on its upper surface must be located at a specific location when the movable base 53 is retreating. In order to ensure that the moving block 151 is at a specific location when retracting and to transport the enclosed slide crow 79 received from the second slide glass transport mechanism (G) directly above the storage section of the matzpe, the guide rail 149 is A detection fit 70 is provided nearby and parallel to this, so that the position of the slider 150 can be accurately detected by a photoelectric detector fixed to the slider 150 and this detection wall 170.

Next, a description will be given of the matzupé support mechanism (su) that supports a plurality of matzupés for storing the encapsulated slide glasses transported by the third slide glass transporting mechanism (h) configured as described above. .

Figures 25 to 32 show the Matupe support mechanism.

Two upper and lower elevating pieces 172 and 172 are engaged with a column 171 vertically provided in the vicinity of the guide rail 149 of the third slide glass conveying mechanism (g) described above so as to be able to rise and fall freely. This 241 J! Satsuma piece 172 179ζ1
Vertical plate portion 173a is formed by bending Shitake 7.
The vertical plate portion 173a of the support plate 173 having a horizontal plate portion 173b and a horizontal plate portion 173b are coupled and fixed. As shown in FIG. 27, the vertical plate portion 173a of this support plate 173 has a long U-shaped notch 174 that opens at the upper end of the holding plate 1.
75 has two support rods on the top and bottom, a total of 4 wooden support rods 176.176
Fixed by Further, on the inner surface of the upper part of the vertical plate part 173a, as shown in FIGS. 28 and 29 in detail, there is a bracket 177 having a U-shaped planar shape (in the illustrated example, a combination of two metal plates bent into an L-shape is provided). However, the same is true for a single metal plate bent into a U-shape.) is fixed,
A pivot 178 is provided near the upper vertical plate portion 173a of this bracket 177, and this pivot 178 is provided at an intermediate portion of the bracket 177.
Studs 179 are provided in the horizontal direction at portions slightly farther from the vertical plate portion 173a than the studs 78. Among these, on the upper surface of the pivot 178, a locking plate 180 is placed at the intermediate bent part, which is made by bending the middle part of a metal plate with one end 180a bent at a right angle and further bending it slightly in the same direction. . An end portion 180a of this locking plate 180 projects to the outside of this vertical plate portion 173a through a through hole formed in the bracket 177 and the vertical plate portion 173a, and is fixedly engaged with this end portion 180a and the vertical plate portion 173a. A tension spring 182 is provided between the locking portion 181 and the locking plate 181 to provide elasticity that causes the locking plate 181 to rotate counterclockwise about the pivot 128 in FIG. However, the top surface of the locking plate 181 is the stud 1
79, so it does not rotate counterclockwise beyond the position shown by the solid line in FIG.

On the other hand, a storage frame 183 that supports a plurality of plate-shaped mappes each storing a plurality of sealed glass slides with a space between them is configured to be freely stored on the upper surface of the support plate 173. .

Both ends of the two upper wires 184 and 184 arranged parallel to each other are pivoted to both ends of upper frame members 185a and 185b of equal length, respectively. Also, parallel to each other and above line 1
84. Two lower frames 1 arranged parallel to 184
Both ends of 86.186 are connected to the upper frame member 185a.
, 185b are pivotally supported at both ends of lower frame members 187a and 187b of equal length. Furthermore, the vertically adjacent ends of the upper line 184 and the lower frame 186 are connected to each other by a total of four vertical frame members 188.1.
They are connected to each other by 88. Each vertical frame material 188.18
8, both edges of the mappe (if the rigidity of the mappe itself is insufficient, both edges of the metal plate on which the mappe is placed)
A plurality of locking recesses 192, 192 for locking are formed at equal intervals.

Among the frame members constituting the storage frame 183, the upper frame member 185a and the lower frame member 187 near the vertical plate portion 173a of the support plate 173
As shown in FIG.
Both upper and lower ends of 89 are pivotally supported. This locking frame material 18
A thick engaging portion 191 having a groove 190 formed on the outer circumferential surface that can be freely engaged with the peripheral edge of the notch 174 of the holding plate 175 is formed on the upper portion of the holding plate 175 . Moreover, this engaging portion 191
When the upper end surface 191a is inclined outwardly and the groove 190 of the engaging portion 191 and the peripheral edge of the notch 174 of the holding plate 175 are engaged, the upper end surface 191a is inclined downwardly toward the outside as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG.
Also, the upper frame member 185b located on the opposite side of the locking frame member 189
As shown in FIG. 32, the upper and lower ends of a support frame member 194 having saw teeth 193 and 193 formed at the same pitch as the locking recesses 192 and 192 on the outer surface are placed between the upper and lower frame members 187b. It is centrally supported. The mappe support mechanism (su) has a pair of claw pieces 195 on saw teeth 193, 193 of this support frame member 194.
．． By alternately locking the locking recesses 196, the storage frame 183 is lowered by one pitch of the locking recesses 192, 192.

A mechanism for alternately engaging the pair of claw pieces 195 and 196 with the saw teeth 193 and 193 is constructed as shown in FIG. That is, one claw piece 195 is attached to the upper end of a first swinging piece 198 whose lower end is pivoted to a first horizontal shaft 197, and a second swinging piece whose middle part is pivoted to a second horizontal shaft 199. The other claw piece 196 is attached to the upper end of the support frame member 194.
It is fixed in a state where it is opposed to the saw teeth 193.193 of.

Of the two moving pieces 198 and 200, the first swinging piece 198 is given the elasticity to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 30 by the first tension spring 201, and the second swinging piece 200 is A second tension spring 202 applies elasticity to similarly rotate clockwise. Furthermore, both moving pieces 19
8. The roller 205 supported at the tip of the rod 204 of the solenoid 203 fixed at the rear of the solenoid 200 is brought into contact with the front edge of the first swinging piece 198, and the second swinging piece 200
A pin 206 protruding from the side surface is brought into contact with the rear edge of the first swing piece 198.

(Operation of the Embodiment) The operation of the automatic microscope specimen enclosing device consisting of the mechanisms (a) to (s) configured as described above is as follows.

First, before starting the coverslipping work, a plurality of specimens 1118 containing slide glasses with stained specimens pasted are placed in the notches 17a and 17b of the stand 15 at the bottom of the container 14 storing pheasant rolls. Among the plurality of specimen baskets erected on the stand 15 in this way, the specimens am ia are placed in the notches 17a, 17a at the end of the stand facing the plywood 16. (7) The handle 26 is placed above the plywood 16. Due to the collision with the edge 16a, it rotates in the direction of arrow a in FIG.
The multiple slide glasses stored inside can be freely pulled out, but the handle 26 of the remaining specimen@ia remains in the state shown in Figure 6, so that the stored slide glasses cannot be pulled out accidentally. No, like this multiple specimen baskets 18
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the container 14 set with
The guide plate 13 is pushed deep into the guide plate 13, and the storage frame 183 of the mappe support mechanism supports a plurality of mappes by inserting both ends into the locking recesses 192, 192. 183 is placed on the upper surface of the support plate 173 as shown in FIG.
It is displaced against the elasticity of the storage frame 183 and passes through the engagement portion 191 of the storage frame 183. After passing through the retaining portion 191, the locking plate 180
is restored to the state shown by the solid line in the figure, so that the engaging portion 191 does not come out from the notch 174 of the holding plate 175.

After setting the specimen W118 and the mappe in this way, first move the holding arm 39.3 of the slide glass supply mechanism (a).
9 holds the specimen 1118 with the handle 26 rotated laterally at the end of the container 14.

This operation is carried out by moving the slider 29 (FIGS. 2 to 4) along the guide rail 28, moving both holding arms 39 and 39 to a position directly above the specimen 11118 to be held, and then moving both holding arms 39 and 39 to a position directly above the specimen 11118 to be held. Both the holding arms 39 are
．． The hook portion 40.40 at the lower end of 39 escapes to the side against the elasticity of the tension spring 41, and as the elevating piece 32 further descends, it is locked to the lower edge of the specimen wi18.

Next, the elevating piece 32 is raised to pull up the specimen 1118, and among the plurality of slide glasses stored in the specimen 1118, the uppermost slide glass is transferred to the clamping piece 65 of the first slide glass transport mechanism (b). 65 (8th to 1st
Figure 0) to pull it up to the position where it can be pulled out.

In this state, the moving table 53 equipped with the first slide glass transport mechanism (b) is moved to the left in FIGS.
By pulling the abutting pieces 68, 69 of the oscillating plate with the abutment pieces 68,65 fixed downward as shown in FIG. Rotate in the opposite direction to leave a gap between the two pinching pieces 65 and 65.

By moving the moving table 53 to the left with the gap between the two pinching pieces 65.65 opened in this manner, the two pinching pieces 65.
65 is located on both sides of the edge of the slide glass in the uppermost position, the solenoid 73 is de-energized, and the slide is held by both clamping pieces 65 and 65, which are held apart by the elasticity of the tension spring 67. Grasp the edges of the glass from both sides. At this time, the moving table 53 is stopped at the left end position.

Next, the slide glass 53 is moved to the right to pull out the slide glass from the specimen basket and sent further toward the inclusion table at the rear. Solenoid 5 fixed at the top end
9 is temporarily energized. This causes the mounting plate 58 to
Immediately after turning a little counterclockwise in Figure 0, the first θ
The position is restored to the state shown in the figure, and the pheasant roll attached to the slide glass supported between the sandwich pieces 65 and 65 is removed.

After removing the pheasants, the mounting medium is dripped onto the top surface of the slide glass, which has returned to a horizontal state, by the mounting medium supply mechanism (c).

When the moving table 53 moves further backward, this moving table 5
The lower surface 83a of the cam 83 (
9) and swing this lower arm 77 upward to raise the inclusion table 80 (d) a little more than the state shown in FIG. 9 (more than 5 m/m on the drawing). , this inclusion table 8° is inserted into the clamping piece 6 of the first slide glass transport mechanism (b).
5.65 is placed directly below the slide glass 79 supported by the slide glass 79.

From this state, the solenoid 59 fixed to the front end of the moving table 53 is energized, and the solenoid 137 at the rear end is de-energized, and both the first and second slide glass transport mechanisms (
B) (G) pinching pieces 65°65 and pinching pieces 143, 143
(Figs. 19 and 20), and moved the unsealed slide glass 79 supported by the clips 85 and 65 of the first slide glass transport mechanism (b) to the inclusion table 80 (Figs. 8 and 9). After being moved to the upper surface of , the moving table 53 is moved to the left in FIGS. 8 and 9. During this time, the elevating piece 32 of the slide glass supply mechanism (a) is raised by one pitch of the slide glass accommodated in the specimen 1118.

As the moving table 53 moves to the left, the inclusion table 80 descends to the position shown in FIG. The amount of movement is regulated by the length of the detection wall for each position detection.
The clamping pieces 143 of the second slide glass transport mechanism (G) are placed on both sides of the rear end of the topmost slide glass among the slide glasses stored in the enclosure table 80. They will be located on both sides.

In this state, the movable stage 53 is temporarily stopped, and an enclosing operation is performed in which a cover glass is attached to the upper surface of the slide glass placed on the upper surface of the enclosing table 80.

Prior to this enclosing operation, only one cover glass 207 is placed between the slide glass 79 and the pushing piece 91 of the cover glass sticking mechanism (e), as shown by the chain line in FIG. supply in between.

During this cover glass supply, by moving the slider 103 of the cover glass supply mechanism (to), the suction pad 117 at the tip of the lifting arm 111 is moved above the holding part 124 that stores a large number of cover glasses in a stacked state. Then, the solenoid 114 is energized to rotate the lifting arm 111 downward and press the suction pad 117 against the upper surface of the uppermost cover glass. At the same time, the roller 119 at the tip of the hanging arm (or lowered by another solenoid that is energized at the same time as the solenoid 114) moves toward the inclined edge 136 of the pair of cam plates 135 and 135. l'a6 and push both cam plates 135, 135 outward, and this cam plate 1
By rotating the leaf springs 132, 132 connected to the leaf springs 132, 135 inward, a large number of stacked cover glasses can be seen from both sides using felts 134, 134 attached to the inner surfaces of both leaf springs 132, 132. suppress. In this state, the inside of the suction pad 117 is communicated with a negative pressure source, the uppermost cover glass is suctioned to this suction pad 117, the power supply to the solenoid 114 is stopped, and the upper arm 111 is lifted by the elasticity of the tension spring 112. Rock upward. At the beginning of the upward swing of the lifting arm 111, the cover glasses other than the top cover glass, which is adsorbed to the felt 134.1 and 117, are attached to the cover glasses on both sides of the large number of cover glasses, and the cover glasses are lifted up. Only the uppermost cover glass is lifted up while being elastically deformed. The lifting arm 111, which has lifted only one cover glass, is moved above the rotation a (FIG. 11) between the slide glass 79 and the pushing piece 91, and the solenoid 114 is energized again to lift the lifting arm 111. After swinging downward, the suction pad 117
The introduction of negative pressure inside is cut off, and compressed air (low pressure is sufficient) is sent inside the suction pad 117 to supply the cover glass to the above position. After supplying the cover glass, the lifting arm 111 is After rising, it retreats to the side (upper side in FIG. 13) so that it does not become an obstacle when the moving platform 53 moves.

Once the cover glass has been supplied as described above, the rotary arm 96 of the cover glass sticking mechanism (E) shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is rotated one turn counterclockwise in FIG.
The swinging arm 94 is pulled by the spring 20A/al-t'1r piece l-
rru ljj! #h6m r rrrMhBb Q L
The cover glass 207 is pushed up to the upper surface of the slide glass 79 by a leaf spring 92 connected to the slide glass 79, and the specimen affixed to the upper surface of the slide glass 79 is enclosed. The operation at this time is almost the same as that of the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-29927 mentioned above. However, the enclosing operation of pasting the cover glass in this manner may be performed before the moving table 53 moves to the left while the enclosing table 80 is rising.

When the enclosing work is completed, the solenoid 5 of both solenoids 59 and 137 fixed to both the front and rear ends of the moving table 53 is
9 is stopped, and the solenoid 137 is energized to narrow the distance between the pinch pieces 65, 65 and 143, 143, and then the movable table 53 is moved to the right in FIGS. The specimen 1ilIE1 is transported by the slide glass transport mechanism (b) of
Place the new/unsealed slide glass from 8 onto the coverslipping table 8.
At the same time, the second slide glass transport mechanism (G) sends the slide glass for the inclusion method toward the third slide glass transport mechanism (H) at the rear.

Support arm 160 of the third slide glass transport mechanism (H).
When the movable base 53 is moving forward, the reference numeral 160 faces the mappe support mechanism as shown in FIG. 1, but when the movable base 53 moves backward, this movement first The pushing piece fixed to the stand 53 comes into contact with the abutting piece provided on the rack 158 (Fig. 23), and the movable stand 53 further moves backward, causing the rack 158 to move backward (to the right in Fig. 23). When pushed, the support arm 16 is
0.160 was rotated 180 degrees counterclockwise in the same figure until it reached the state shown in Figure 21.23, and one support arm 160, 160 was supported by the sandwich piece of the second slide glass transport mechanism (G). Enter directly under the glass slide of the mounting method. In this state, among the solenoids 59, 137 at both the front and rear ends of the moving table 53, the solenoid 59 is energized and at the same time, the solenoid 1 is energized.
37 is turned off, and the first slide glass transport mechanism (
At the same time, the unsealed slide glass that was supported by the second slide glass transport mechanism (b) is transferred onto the inclusion table.
The slide glass for the encapsulation method that was supported by The support arm 160 is pushed to the left in FIG. 23 by elasticity and carries the slide glass of the encapsulation method.
, 160 is rotated 180 degrees clockwise in FIG. 21.23 to advance the slide glass above the mappe supported by the mappe support mechanism. Thereafter, the slider 150 of the third slide glass transport mechanism (H) moves along the guide rail 149, moves the slide glass for the encapsulation method to the unaccommodated part of the mappe, and then stops. After that, the solenoid 16 fixed below the support block 181
7 is energized, and the horizontal push rod 169 is connected via the bracket 168.
move it slightly downward. As a result, both support arms 160 and 160 on which the slide glass is mounted are shown by the arrows in FIG.
The spacing between the receiving parts 164.164 of both support arms 16.0.160 is widened, and both receiving parts 164.16
Slide the encapsulation method from between 4 to the top of the mappe.
The side glass is transferred. After completing this transfer,
Slider 150 of the third slide glass transport mechanism (H)
is moved to the standby position so that the slide glass for the encapsulation method can be transferred between the second and third slide glass transport mechanisms (g) and (h).

Once all slide glasses for the encapsulation method have been stored in the storage section of one Mappe, while the support arms 160 and 160 are retracted from above the Mappe (the second and third slide glass transport mechanisms g) While the glass slides are being transferred according to (g), the storage frame 183 (Figs. 25 to 32) in which a plurality of mappes are stored is lowered by one level of the 2nd floor. . This work is performed using the Mappe support mechanism.
This is done by energizing the solenoid 203 (Fig. i25.30) installed for a short period of time.

When the solenoid 203 is energized, the roller 2 at the end of the rod
05 to the right, the first swinging piece 198 moves clockwise, and the second swinging piece 200, which has a pin 206 on its side that abuts the rear edge of the first swinging piece 198, moves counterclockwise. As each rotates, the claw piece 195 at the upper end of the first swinging piece 198 retreats from the lower surface of the sawtooth 193, and the claw piece 196 at the upper end of the second swinging piece 200 replaces it as shown by the chain line in FIG. Move to a position where it engages the lower surface of the sawtooth. Therefore, the storage frame 183 is lowered along with the support plate 173 by half of the mappe stage.Next, when the power supply to the power supply 203 is stopped,
The first and second movable pieces 198 and 200 are rotated by the elasticity of the first and second tension springs 201 and 202 to the state shown in FIG. It comes into contact with the lower surface of the sawtooth 193 on the step, and the storage frame 183
is lowered by one mappe step.

Once the slide glasses of the encapsulation method have been stored in all the storage areas of all the mappes, the locking plate 180 is rotated against the elasticity of the tension spring 182 to the position indicated by the chain line in FIG. The storage frame 183 storing the empty mappe is pulled up and removed from the support plate 173, and the storage frame 183 storing the empty mappe is attached in its place. The plurality of mappes stored in the removed storage frame 183 may be stored together with this storage frame or taken out from the storage frame 183 and stored, but if they are stored together with the storage frame 183, the main rod 184 and the underline 186 By tilting and deforming the storage frame 183, which can be freely deformed around Specimens can be easily managed by attaching a label indicating this.

In addition, the slide glass supply mechanism (a) (2nd to 4th) described above
In Figure), one specimen! If 18 is empty,
This empty specimen 1118 is discarded outside the container 14, and
The specimen 1118 supported at another position within the slide glass is transferred to the slide glass take-out position. This transfer is performed by moving the support arms 39 and 39 up and down and laterally. During the transfer, the specimen 1118 that has been newly moved to the slide glass removal position is pushed down once to the lower end position and the handle 26
and the upper edge 16a of the plywood 16, and this handle 26
rotate to the side. In addition, when discarding an empty sample 1l18, each support arm 39.39 is placed above the guide plate 13 in a place where it does not interfere with taking in and out of the container 14 so that the spacing between the support arms 39.39 can be automatically widened. A horizontal bar may be provided that abuts the hook portion 40.40 at the lower end of the support arm 39.39 to widen the distance between the support arms 39.39, or the support arms 39.
A solenoid may also be provided to increase the spacing between 39 and 39.

In the embodiment described above, the cover glass sticking mechanism (E) and the cover glass supply mechanism (E) are configured independently, but the suction pad of the cover glass supply mechanism (E) 117 may be moved as it is to a position directly above the slide glass, and the cover glass may be pressed against the top surface of the slide glass using this suction pad 117. In this case, for example, the cover glass shown in FIGS. 5
An enclosing device according to No. 9-141571 can be used. This mounting device uses a suction pad 117 to move a cover glass 207 above a slide glass 79 onto which a mounting medium has been dropped, and to lower the cover glass 207 onto the top surface of the slide glass 79. A locking piece 20 that supports one end edge of this descending cover glass 207
9 on one side, and this locking piece 209 is attached to the cover glass 20.
The suction pad 117 moves downward from above the slide glass 79 to the center of the upper surface of the cover glass 207. 79 toward the upper surface of the slide glass 79. In FIGS. 33 to 35, 212 is a stopper 2, and 213 is a tension spring. In this coverslipping device, the cover glass 20 is
7 is curved as shown in FIG. 34, and the slide glass 79
The mounting medium 214 dropped onto the top surface spreads evenly between both glasses 79 and 207 as shown in FIG. 35, and no air bubbles are mixed into the mounting medium 214.

C1 Effects of the Invention The automatic microscope specimen enclosing device of the present invention is constructed as described above, but during staining work, slide glasses are taken out one by one from a specimen basket in which slide glasses with specimens pasted are placed and subjected to the enclosing process. The entire process from storing the specimen in a matzuppe for preservation can be performed automatically, without contaminating the precious specimen, which has a great effect on streamlining the work of enclosing the specimen.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the overall configuration of the automatic enclosing device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1 with the right side removed, and Fig. 3 is the same as Fig. 2. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB, and FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the container. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the storage cylinder, Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view of the detection wall, Fig. 8 is a view showing only the central part of Fig. 2, and Fig. 9 is a side view from below of Fig. 8. Figure 1O is a view seen from the left side of Figure 9, Figure 11 is a view seen in the C-C line direction of Figure 2 showing the cover glass attachment mechanism, and Figure 12 is a view of Figure 11. 13 is a plan view of the cover glass supply mechanism, FIG. 14 is a view seen from below of FIG. 13, FIG. 15 is a plan view of the cover glass holder, and FIG. Figure 17 is a view of the cam plate seen from the left side of Figure 16, Figure 18 is a view of the right side of Figure 16, Figure 19 is a view of the second slide glass. A view seen in the direction of line D-D in FIG. 2 partially showing the conveying device, and FIG.
Figure 21 is a plan view of the third slide glass transport mechanism, Figure 22 is a view seen from the left of Figure 21, and Figure 23 is a partially enlarged view of Figure 21. , Figure 24 is the second
A partially enlarged view of Fig. 2, Fig. 25 is a side view of the Matupe support mechanism, and Fig. 26rI! i is an open plan view, Fig. 27 is a view of the holding plate section seen from the right side of Fig. 25, Fig. 28 is an enlarged view of the left side of Fig. 25, and Fig. 29 is a view from above of Fig. 28. View, Part 3
Figure 0 is an enlarged view of the right side of Figure 25. Figure 31 is a view of the storage frame from the left side of Figure 25,
33 to 35 are side views showing the cover glass sticking mechanism separately in the order of the pasting process, and FIG. 36 is a perspective view of a conventional automatic enclosing device. A: Slide glass supply mechanism, B: First slide glass transport mechanism, C: Mounting medium supply mechanism, 22 mounting table, E: Cover glass adhesion mechanism, F: Sword bar glass supply mechanism, G:
Second slide glass transport mechanism, H: Third slide glass transport mechanism, S: Mappe support mechanism, l Slide glass, 2: Conveyance path, 3 N Slide glass supply device, 4: Conveyance device, 5: Discrimination device , 6: Liquid injection device, 7: Cover glass sorting and supply device, 8: Adhesive device, 9 Nidle, 10: Storage device, 11: Control unit, 12 2nd board, 13 2nd guide plate, 14: Container, 15: Stand, 16: Plywood, 1
6a: Upper edge, 17a, 17b = notch, 18: Specimen basket,
19: Main part, 20: Projection wall, 21. 22: Projection, 23: Extension piece, 24: Locking rod, 25: Projection, 26: Handle, 27:
Locking piece, 28: Guide rail, 29 Varnish slider, 30: Support plate, 31: Support column, 32: Lifting piece, 33: Horizontal shaft, 34:
Driven pulley, 35: Drive motor, 36: Drive pulley, 3
7: Wire, 38: Horizontal shaft, 39: Holding arm, 40: Hook part,
41: Tension spring, 42: Drive motor, 43: Drive pulley, 44: Driven pulley, 45: Wire, 46: Vertical wall for detection, 47: Support plate, 48: Emitter, 49: Light receiver, 50:
Notch, 51: Guide rail, 52 Varnish slider, 53: Moving table, 54: Emitter, 55: Light receiver, 56: Detection wall,
57: horizontal axis, 58: mounting plate, 59: solenoid, 60:
rod, 61 nib bracket, 62: support plate, 63: first swing plate, 64: second swing plate, 65: pinch piece, 66:
groove, 67: tension spring, 68: first abutment piece, 69: second abutment piece, 70: notch, 71: connecting arm, 72: abutment protrusion, 73: solenoid, 74: tension spring, 75: Support plate, 76: Upper arm, 77: Lower arm, 78: Lifting arm, 79 Ni-Ride glass, 80: Enclosure table, 81: Protrusion, 82: Holding plate, 83: Cam, 83a: Lower surface, 84: Standing plate , 85: pin, 86: tension spring, 87: holding plate, 88: roller, 89
: Support block, 90: Support shaft, 91: Push piece, 92: Leaf spring, 93: Disc, 94: Swing arm, 95: Motor, 96
: Rotating arm, 97: Roller, 98: Disk, 99: Floodlight,
100: Light receiver, 101: Tension spring, 102: Guide rail, 103 Varnish slider, 104: Drive motor, 105:
Detection wall, 106: Emitter, 107: Light receiver, 108 Nibble bracket, 109: Support plate, 110: Horizontal axis, ill:
Lifting upper arm, 112: tension spring, 113: pivot, 114: solenoid, 115: rod, 118 nib bracket, 11
6a: tip, 117: suction pad, 118: connection port,
119: roller, 120: standing wall, 120a: upper end, 1
21.122.123: Standing wall, ■24: Holding part, 125
: Holding part, 126: Spring, 127: Bottom plate, 128: Mounting plate, 129: Vertical shaft, 130: Rotating piece, 131: Metal plate,
132: Leaf spring. 133: Notch, 134: Felt, 135: Cam plate,
136: Inclined edge, 137: Solenoid, 138: Pincer piece, 139 Nibble bracket, 140: Horizontal support arm, 141:
Swing arm, 142: groove, 143: pinch piece, 144: tension spring, 145: protrusion, 146: protrusion, 147: disc, 1
48: Pulling rod, 149: Guide rail, 150 Varnish slider, 151: Moving block, 152: Vertical shaft, 153
: Gear, 154: Rotating piece, 155: Holding plate, 155a:
Front end, 155b: vk end, 156: Guide rod, 157: j
j Oil hole 158, 159: Compression spring, 160:
Support arm, 161: Support block, 162: Axis, 163:
wide part, 164: receiving part, 165: end, 166: mounting plate, 167: solenoid, 168 nib bracket, 169:
Horizontal push rod, 170: Detection wall, 171: Support column, 172
: Lifting piece, 173; Support plate, 173a: Vertical plate part, 17
3b=Horizontal plate part, 174: Notch, 175: Holding plate, 1
76: Support rod, 177: Bracket, 178: Pivot, 1
79: Stud, 180: Locking plate, 180a: End, 1
81: Locking part, 182: Tension spring, 183: Storage frame, 1
84: stop bar, 185a, 185b: upper frame material, 186: lower frame, 187a, 187b: lower frame, material, 188: vertical frame material,
189: Locking frame material, 190: Groove, 191: Engagement portion, 19
1a: Upper end surface, 192: Locking recess, 193: Sawtooth, 19
4: Support frame material, 195, 196: Claw piece, 197: First horizontal shaft, 198: First swinging piece, 199: Second horizontal shaft, 2
00: Second rocking piece, 201: First tension spring, 202
: second tension spring, 203: solenoid, 204: rod, 205: roller, 206: pin, 207: cover glass, 208: tension spring, 209: locking piece, 21O: shaft, 211: arm, 212: Stopper, 213: tension spring, 214: mounting medium. Patent applicant: Chiyoda Seisakusho Co., Ltd. Director: Kinzo Koyama (and one other person)
νq Figure 36 I lI Figure 12 E! ! L, m, -J q 14th flEI @ 15 Figure 17 Figure 1611 Figure 1B Figure 2z
Figure 23

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An automatic enclosing device for microscopic specimens, which is constructed by arranging the following components (a) to (li). (b) A container that stores liquid to prevent tissue pieces from drying out and has a stand on the bottom that supports multiple storage baskets at regular intervals so that they can be raised and lowered, and that can be moved up and down along the container. It has a support column, an elevating piece that moves up and down along the support post, and a pair of holding arms whose upper ends are pivoted on horizontal shafts fixed to the elevating piece, and whose lower ends are provided with hooks facing each other. and a slide glass feeding mechanism that raises a specimen basket held between the holding arms and storing a large number of slide glasses spaced apart from each other vertically by one pitch of the slide glasses. (b) A slide glass protruding from a storage basket, which consists of a pair of clips that move toward and away from each other by a solenoid installed near the slide glass supply mechanism of a moving table that moves horizontally along guide rails arranged on the board. A first slide glass transport mechanism that holds the end of the slide glass and pulls out the slide glasses one by one from the specimen basket and transports them to the inclusion position as the moving stage moves horizontally. (c) Consisting of a sensor that detects the presence of a slide glass pulled out from a storage basket, and a nozzle that drops mounting medium onto the stained specimen attached to the top surface of the slide glass based on the signal from this sensor. Mounting medium supply mechanism. (d) It is provided in the inclusion position so that it can be raised and lowered freely, and when it is lowered, it allows the horizontal movement of the clamping piece of the first slide glass transport mechanism, and in synchronization with the horizontal movement of the moving table of the first slide glass transport mechanism, the An inclusion table that rises to just below a slide glass only when the clip moves the glass slide to the inclusion position. (E) A cover glass sticking mechanism is provided on the side of the inclusion table and sticks a cover glass to the top surface of a slide glass onto which a mounting medium has been dripped in advance. (F) A cover glass supply mechanism that takes out the stacked cover glasses one by one and supplies them to the cover glass sticking mechanism. (g) A pair of scissors that can be moved both far and near to sandwich the slide glass with a cover glass attached, which is placed on the upper surface of the inclusion table in the lowered state, on the same movable table as the scissors of the first slide glass transport mechanism. A second glass slide transport mechanism is provided with a piece and transports a glass slide with a cover glass attached backward in synchronization with the horizontal movement of the moving table. (H) A movable block that can be moved horizontally along a guide rail, and two supports that are movable near and far in a horizontal state on a rotating piece that is rotatable around a vertical axis provided on this movable block. When the moving table is moved to the rear end, the two supporting arms are inserted under the slide glass supported by the clamping pieces of the second slide glass transport mechanism, and the two supporting arms are moved to the front side of the moving table. A third slide glass transport mechanism that inverts the support arm horizontally and transfers the received slide glass to the mappe. (i) Support multiple mappes in parallel with the guide rail of the third slide glass transport mechanism with gaps between them in the vertical direction, so that all of the mappes can be stored. Each time a slide glass is stored in the
Mappe support mechanism that lowers pitch by pitch.