JPS6157919A - Driver for microscope stage - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION INDUSTRIAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to drive means for a microscope stage for displacing a microscope specimen piece in at least one direction perpendicular to the optical axis.

Using two drive means, the object is aligned with the optical axis.
Several microscope stages are known that allow displacement in two directions relative to each other and perpendicular to each other.

These drive means can be arranged individually or coaxially on a common axis.

German Utility Model No. 77 35 041 describes a drive means for a component to be displaced, the drive being effected here by a rack and pinion combination.

German Patent Application No. 30 37 741 also discloses a friction transmission for the above-mentioned drive action. The placement of this drive means depends on the type of structure of the microscope and the coupling position between the drive means and the stage to be displaced. Apart from very specialized incident light microscopes, the functionality of the microscope requires that this coupling position be located far from the center of the stage.

Problem to be Solved by the Invention When each sledge is in the central position, the rack or friction transmission for these sledges must be arranged symmetrically with respect to its driven end, which means that the sledge is In addition, in the case of a rack/binion drive, the precision of its drive presents the disadvantage of protruding beyond the stage in the axial direction at least at one end, which impedes the free manual operation of the operating member. depends on the minimum gear backlash. This bank lash leads to uncertain alignment when the object must be placed under a very high magnification objective.

The location of the stage drive system is generally determined by its direct coupling to each sledge to be driven.

For example, as described in the above-mentioned DE 30 37 741, when a small sledge is provided on the stage facing away from the operator for displacement in the X-axis, the drive coupling is also placed there. may be established in the However, this has the disadvantage that the drive is not ergonomically optimally arranged with respect to other microscope operating drives, such as precision drives for focusing the objective lens, etc.

Composition of the invention Means to solve problems One of the objects of the invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drive mechanism for a microscope stage that allows accurate positioning of objects.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a drive mechanism for a microscope stage that allows manipulating members to be placed on or near the stage substantially independent of the position of each sledge. be.

According to the invention, it comprises two sledges that can be displaced relative to each other and at right angles to their optical axis, and several drive members for displacing these sledges, each wave member A drive device for a microscope stage is provided which is coaxially mounted. The transmission of force between each driven member and the respective sledge is achieved by traction means extending through several deflection guide rollers.

Advantageously, these traction means are tensioned by inserting tension springs or by providing movable guide rollers.

It is advantageous to provide these tensioning means at the point of connection of each traction means to the sledge.According to the invention, the connection point of the traction means with respect to the sledge for this It is placed at the center of the sledge's length in the X direction. This allows the dimensions of the sledge to be
It is permissible to keep this sledge within limits that avoid significant protrusion beyond the stage area.

One of the two sledges by a rack/pinion drive and the other.

It is preferably possible to drive the X-axis sledge by means of traction means. Preferably this traction means is a cable.

EXAMPLES In order to make the present invention easier to understand, the following examples are given below.
The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which schematically illustrate two embodiments illustrating the device according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows the microscope stage viewed from the reverse direction, that is, from the back side. The non-displaceable plant platform 4 of the stage of this microscope is fixed to the microscope (not shown) and is operatively connected to a guide track 8.8' on each of its sides. These guide trunks 8 and 8' are fixed to a sledge 3, and this sledge is displaced in the y-axis direction indicated by the tip arrow y in the figure with respect to the plant platform 4 via the tracks 8 and 8'. can do. The y-axis direction is the direction of movement away from and towards the operator. Platform 4 and each guide track 8
and 8' obstruct the view of the drive means, so they are assumed here to be transparent, ie they are shown in dotted lines in the figure.

A coaxial operating knob 1 with rollers 1'' and 1'' is provided on the sledge 3. Cables 9 and 9' as traction means extend around the rollers 1 and 1', respectively. 9' bypasses the roller 2' and is connected to the platform 4 by coupling means 7'. A tensioning spring 6' serves to provide the appropriate tension on the cable 9'. 2o and bypasses rollers 21, all of which are fixed to the sledge 3 and have respective parallel axes (not shown) perpendicular to the plane of the figure. The cable 9 is connected via a coupling member 7 to the sledge 5, which on the one hand via a guide track provided in the part of the sledge 3 near and parallel to the edge 5' of this sledge; and on the other hand displaceable via a guide track 12, said guide trunk 12 being also fixed by its respective end position to both guide tracks 8 and 8'. A tensioning block 10 is fixed to the sledge 3, which has a tensioning roller 11, which is closely spaced from the roller 21 for said cable 9. The tensioning block 10 is provided with a slot lO'' into which a stud 10' projects, so that the tensioning block 10 is provided with an additional tension on the cable. 10" and is displaced against the tension of the cable 9 and the counter tension exerted on this tension block lO by the tension roller 11 of this block and the spring 15 acting on the opposite end. be able to.

The tension block 10 can also be adjusted in a particular position by means of a fixing screw (not shown).

In operation, when the (larger) operating knob 1 is turned, the roller 1' moves the cable 9', which in turn moves the coupling member 7'.

Since platform 4 cannot be displaced, stage 3 (
(together with the stage 5) is rotated in one direction in the direction indicated by the front arrow y.

When you turn the (smaller) operation knob 1, the roller 1
'' moves the cable 9, which moves the sledge 5 via the coupling member 7 in the two guide tracks 12 and 5' in one direction in the direction indicated by the front arrow X in the figure. Its longitudinal extension tube 11M (x-axis direction)
The central connection makes it possible to configure the length of the sledge to be relatively short, so that in its displaced end positions this sledge 5 protrudes only slightly from the y-axis sledge 3. This eliminates the possibility of interfering with the free operation of other operating members of the microscope.

Experience has shown that protrusions of up to about 20 cm are not a nuisance or an annoyance to the operator.

In order to obtain a precise and slip-free drive, each cable 9 and 9' is tensioned by a respective tensioning spring 6 and 6'. Tension block 10 is tension roller 11
It is also possible to use both tensioning means simultaneously, offering another possibility of tensioning the cable 9 via the cable 9. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the movement of the sledges 3 and 5 can be adjusted by appropriate selection of the diameters of the rollers 1' and 1''. Above the sledge 5 for the cable 9 additional deflection guide rollers are provided, by means of which the device performs a hoist-like operation, which provides a very sensitive Allow movement.

2 and 3, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 are used for corresponding components in these figures.

In FIG. 2, the guide track 8 of FIG. 1 is not shown in order to make it easier to see the cable 9 for moving the sledge 5 in the xlilf1 direction. combination work 3
, I4.

It is shown that the cable drive means for sledge 5 pass within a recess in sledge 3.

Tension block 10 is arranged to apply tension to cable 9 via tension rollers 11 .

In FIG. 3, an embodiment is shown in which a microscope stage similar to that shown in FIG. For clarity, only typical portions of the embodiment of FIG. 3 are shown, and other components, although actually necessary, are omitted. The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 shows that the traction means according to the invention offers greater variation possibilities for displacing the operating knobs (both) 1 than conventional displacement means allow. This is because the operating knob 1 can be arranged regardless of the connection position (7) of the sledge 5 to the traction means.

By arranging the operating knob 1 and (turning) roller 2 in this way, the stage can be moved from the left side.

and/or glue application operated from the right side.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the drive device according to the invention as seen from the back side of the stage for a service microscope, and FIG. 2 corresponds to FIG. 1 when a rack/pinion drive means is used for displacement in the y direction. FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the invention in a schematic top view. 1...Operation knobs 1', 1'', 2.2'', +1.20.21...Rollers 3.5...Sledge 4...Platform 6.6'...Tension springs 7.7 ″...Coupling means 8.8', 12...Guide track 9.9'...Traction means 10...Tension block 10'...Socket pin 10''...Slot 13.14...・Rack/pinion combination means 15
...Spring Procedures 111] Yo 1 (Voluntary) August 1985 2011

Claims (11)

[Claims] (1) In a microscope stage driving device for displacing first and second sledges of a microscope stage relative to each other in a first plane and in the x and y directions perpendicular to the optical axis of the microscope. a platform non-displaceably fixed to the microscope substantially parallel to the first surface; and two guide tracks slidably coupled to the platform via lateral parallel edges of the platform. and, provided that the first sledge is fixed to the guide track and is disposed in a second plane at a narrow interval with respect to the first plane for movement in the y direction, and the second sledge on the one hand through a first guide section perpendicular to the two guide tracks of the first sledge, and on the other hand parallel to the first guide section and corresponding to each of the two guide tracks. the second sledge is slidably connected to a second guide fixed to an end thereof, the second sledge is used for movement in the x direction, and the second sledge is adapted to displace the first and second sledges means for displacement fixed to the first sledge; first motion transmission means; first coupling means; and at least a first guide roller, with the proviso that the first guide roller is disposed above the first sledge. a second motion transmitting means, and a second coupling means, wherein the first coupling means couples the first motion transmitting means to the non-displaceable platform; Coupling means couple said second motion transmission means to said second sledge, and said means for displacing individually actuate said first and second sledges via said first and second motion transmission means, respectively. The above-mentioned microscope stage driving device. (2) The microscope stage drive device according to claim 1, wherein the displacement means is a coaxial drive device. (3) The microscope stage driving device according to claim 2, wherein the first and second motion transmission means are cables. 4. A microscope stage drive according to claim 3, wherein each cable is of the type of an endless belt and is provided with tensioning means. (5) A microscope stage drive device according to claim 4, wherein a tension block is provided on the first sledge for tensioning the at least one cable. (6) The microscope stage driving device according to claim 5, wherein when the second sledge is in the stationary position, the second coupling means is located at the center of the second sledge in the x direction in which it is moved. (7) the displacement means comprises two drive members rotatably disposed at respective opposite first corner positions of the first sledge; two rollers are arranged at a second corner position of the cable, and two further rollers are provided adjacent to the two rollers, the two rollers and the further two rollers being connected to the cable. The microscope stage drive device according to claim 1, wherein the microscope stage drive device is adapted to guide at least a portion substantially in the vicinity of and parallel to the first guide portion. (8) The microscope stage driving device according to claim 7, wherein the two rollers and the further two rollers each have a rotation axis substantially parallel to the optical axis. (9) The first motion transmission means is a rack, and the first coupling means is a pinion, wherein the rack is fixed at one end to the second sledge. 2. The microscope stage driving device according to item 1. (10) the first roller is disposed on the distal end of the first sledge facing the coaxial drive when viewed in the y-axis direction, and the first motion transmission means is arranged on the distal end of the first sledge, and 3. A microscope stage drive as claimed in claim 2, operatively coupled to an axial drive and said first roller. (11) A second roller is disposed at least in the vicinity of the first roller, and a third roller is disposed on the opposite side of the second roller when viewed in the x direction, and the second roller is configured to transmit the second motion. Means operatively couples the coaxial drive to the third roller via the second roller, and the second coupling means couples the second motion transfer means to the second roller and the third roller. Claim 10, wherein the roller is joined to said second sledge substantially in the middle thereof.
The microscope stage drive device described in Section 1.