JP2009265526A - Microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a microscope that has an inexpensive, simple focusing mechanism and is suitable to provide at a reasonable price. <P>SOLUTION: The microscope has an operation handle 13, the rotating shaft 13a of which is set substantially parallel to the observation optical axis X of an objective lens and part of which projects outside so as to be operable as a protrusion 13b. This eliminates the need to separately configure a rough movement mechanism and a fine movement mechanism, unlike a conventional microscope, and enables the configuration of focusing mechanism to be simplified at low cost. The size of the operation handle 13 is increased by such a configuration, thereby the objective lens can be retracted by a preset required amount by the rotation within a rotatable range through a single retracting operation of the protrusion 13b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a microscope having a focusing mechanism for focusing an objective lens on a specimen.

  In general, a microscope is provided with a focusing mechanism that moves a stage on which a specimen is placed or an objective lens in the direction of the observation optical axis as means for focusing the specimen. Such a focusing mechanism is provided with an operation handle for raising and lowering operations in which the rotation axis is set in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the observation optical axis (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). The focusing mechanism is classified into a coarse movement mechanism for retracting the objective lens when changing the specimen and focusing at high speed, and a fine movement mechanism for focusing mainly the high-magnification objective lens.

  As a mechanism for making these mechanisms compatible, there has been proposed a single-shaft coarse / fine movement device in which a coarse movement mechanism and a fine movement mechanism are made coaxially via a planetary friction wheel (see, for example, Patent Document 3). In addition to such a proposal, there are a number of mechanisms that make the coarse movement mechanism and the fine movement mechanism coexist on the same axis, and both the operations are reliably performed using the reduction ratio. In a microscope in which the coarse movement mechanism and the fine movement mechanism are separately configured, the fine movement mechanism is generally arranged in a unit that moves up and down by the coarse movement mechanism.

JP-A-10-260364 JP-A-11-160628 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-27406

  However, the mechanism as described above is complicated and expensive because it requires a large number of parts, whether it is a coaxial type or a separated type. Both mechanisms are required for a high-quality microscope that requires a large retractable amount of the objective lens due to coarse movement. However, a microscope with a popular price range that mainly uses slide glass specimens is compatible with both coarse movement and fine movement. It is possible to make a simple configuration by setting the amount of movement to be performed. Specifically, the slide glass specimen is made by placing the specimen on a slide glass having a thickness of about 1.2 mm and covering the cover glass with a thickness of about 0.15 to 0.17 mm. Therefore, although the overall thickness varies depending on the thickness of the specimen, there are few cases in which the specimen for transmission observation is thick, and in particular, in the inspection market and the education market, a specimen having a substantially constant thickness is used. For this reason, it is not necessary to increase the retracting amount of the objective lens due to the coarse movement at the time of exchanging the sample, and it is sufficient if it can retract approximately 2 mm.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide a microscope suitable for a popular price range including an inexpensive and simple focusing mechanism.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the microscope of the present invention has a focusing mechanism for focusing the objective lens on the specimen, and the focusing mechanism has an operation direction of the objective lens. An operation handle that is set in a direction substantially orthogonal to the observation optical axis and that partially protrudes to be operable as a protruding portion, and is moved by moving the range that can be operated by one retraction operation on the protruding portion. The objective lens is set so as to be retracted by a preset desired retracting amount.

  In the microscope according to the present invention, in the above invention, the operation handle is a disc-shaped handle, and the rotation axis is set substantially parallel to the observation optical axis of the objective lens, and a part thereof can be operated as a protruding portion. The objective lens is set so as to retreat by a desired retraction amount set in advance by rotating within a range in which the protrusion can be rotated by a single retraction operation with respect to the protruding portion. To do.

  In the microscope according to the present invention, in the above invention, the focusing mechanism has an elevating gear on the observation optical axis for moving the objective lens up and down, and the operation handle meshes with the elevating gear. It has an operation gear.

  In the microscope according to the present invention as set forth in the invention described above, the operation handle is disposed between the objective lens and the eyepiece.

  Further, in the microscope according to the present invention, in the above invention, the operation handle has an index indicating the thickness of the sample on the upper surface, and a position confirmation index indicating a current position of the objective lens with respect to the index in the vicinity of the operation handle Is arranged.

  In the microscope according to the present invention, in the above invention, the operation handle is detachably attachable to a sheet that causes a change in the amount of operation force when the operation handle is operated at a position corresponding to a desired index in the index. It is characterized by being installed.

  The microscope according to the present invention includes an operation handle whose operation direction is set in a direction substantially orthogonal to the observation optical axis of the objective lens, and a part of the operation handle protrudes to be operable as a protruding portion. There is no need to configure the mechanism and the fine movement mechanism separately, the focusing mechanism can be configured inexpensively and simply, and the operation handle can be enlarged based on such a configuration, Since the objective lens is set so as to retreat by a desired retraction amount by moving the range that can be operated by one retraction operation, the objective lens is moved to the objective lens by one retraction operation with respect to the operation handle. Necessary evacuation is possible, and the operability is improved.

  The best mode for carrying out a microscope according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, about each embodiment and modification, the same part attaches | subjects and shows the same code | symbol. The present invention is not limited to each embodiment and modification, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a front view showing a microscope according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a focusing mechanism, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an operation handle portion extracted and enlarged, and FIG. 5 is a front view showing a portion thereof enlarged.

  The microscope according to the first embodiment has a microscope main body 101. The microscope body 101 is provided with a lens barrel body 3, a stage 102 and a capacitor 103. The microscope main body 101 has a built-in illumination light source such as a halogen lamp in the lower part, so that the specimen can be illuminated with a desired brightness by a volume operation (not shown). The stage 102 includes an XY handle, and the specimen can be freely moved in the XY plane. Further, the condenser 103 includes a lens and a diaphragm, and converts illumination light emitted from the lower part of the microscope body 101 into illumination optimal for the magnification of the objective lens 4.

  The microscope main body 101 includes, on the upper side, a lens barrel main body 3 on which a binocular unit 2 having an eyepiece 1 is mounted, and a revolver base 6 on which a revolver 5 loaded with a plurality of objective lenses 4 is attached. Prepare. The revolver 5 loaded with a plurality of objective lenses 4 is configured to be rotatable around a rotation axis (not shown), and a desired objective lens 4 can be switched and arranged on the observation optical axis X. The revolver base 6 to which the revolver 5 is fixed is connected to a focusing mechanism 10 provided inside the lens barrel main body 3 and is movable up and down on the observation optical axis X.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the revolver base 6 has a fitting portion 6a that is slidably fitted into a fitting hole (not shown) in the barrel main body portion 3. The fitting portion 6a is provided with a rotation stop pin 6b that fits in a fitting groove (not shown) provided in the lens barrel main body portion 3. A male screw 6c is formed on the upper portion of the fitting portion 6a and is screwed into a female screw 11a formed on the inner peripheral side of the female screw gear (elevating gear) 11 disposed on the observation optical axis X. . Further, the focusing mechanism 10 includes an operation handle 13 between the objective lens 4 and the eyepiece lens 1, which has an operation gear 12 that meshes with the female screw gear 11 on the outer peripheral surface and is rotatable in a direction indicated by rotation A. ing. The operation handle 13 is formed in a disk shape that is sufficiently larger than the female screw gear 11 and has a large reduction gear ratio, and its rotation axis 13a is set to be perpendicular to the observation optical axis X. . The operation handle 13 is supported so as not to move in the vertical direction. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation handle 13 is operated as a protruding portion 13b that is about 180 degrees as a part of the barrel main body 3 formed in a substantially rectangular shape when seen in a plan view. It is configured to protrude as possible. The reduction gear ratio between the operation gear 12 and the female screw gear 11 that can rotate in the direction indicated by the rotation B is such that the objective lens 4 is rotated when the entire range (about 180 degrees) of the protruding portion 13b of the operation handle 13 is rotated. It is set to move up and down about 2 mm.

  In addition, the operation handle 13 is positioned on the upper surface near the periphery, and an index 14 representing a numerical value representing the thickness of the sample is printed on the scale 15 in pairs. The index 14 and the scale 15 are provided over about 180 degrees corresponding to the length of the protruding portion 13b protruding from the lens barrel body 3. Further, on the lens barrel main body 3 side, a position confirmation index 16 is provided which is disposed in the vicinity of the movement locus of the index 14 of the operation handle 13 and indicates the current position of the objective lens 4 with respect to the index 14. Here, the positions of the index 14 and the scale 15 are set based on the position where the objective lens 4 is closest to the sample side and becomes 0.0 mm when the operation handle 13 is rotated. Further, the operation handle 13 is regulated by a stopper mechanism (not shown) so as not to rotate counterclockwise beyond the closest position.

  In addition, although arrangement | positioning of the optical component in the lens-barrel main-body part 3 is not specifically shown in figure, since it is being fixed to the lower side member of the operation handle 13, the optical component by the notch for arrange | positioning the operation handle 13 It has a configuration that does not affect the fixing of the.

  In such a configuration, when the protrusion 13b is operated to rotate the operating handle 13 clockwise, the female screw gear 11 rotates counterclockwise, so that the revolver base 6, the revolver 5 and the objective lens 4 are moved upward on the observation optical axis X. Move in the direction (retracting from the specimen). On the contrary, when the operation handle 13 is rotated counterclockwise by operating the protruding portion 13b, the revolver base 6, the revolver 5 and the objective lens 4 are moved downward along the observation optical axis X (sample). In the direction of approaching). By operating the operation handle 13 in this way, the objective lens 4 moves in the direction indicated by the vertical movement C, so that it can be moved in the retracting direction and the approaching direction with respect to the specimen.

  According to the microscope of the first embodiment, the user can quickly focus the objective lens 4 on the sample by rotating the operation handle 13 while viewing the position of the index 14 with respect to the position confirmation index 16. Can do. Particularly, since the operation handle 13 is disposed between the eyepiece 1 and the objective lens 4 and the index 14 of the operation handle 13 is located in the vicinity immediately below the eyepiece 1, the index 14 looks into the eyepiece 1. Therefore, there is no need to move the entire face to confirm the focus position, and the operability is improved. Further, when the entire range of the projecting portion 13b of the operation handle 13 is rotated (about 180 degrees), the objective lens 4 is retracted by a retraction amount necessary for exchanging the sample by one operation, which is 2 mm in this embodiment. Operability is improved. If the position of the index 14 indicated by the position confirmation index 16 is memorized prior to such a retraction operation, the focusing operation of the objective lens 4 after sample replacement can be facilitated.

  Further, according to the microscope of the first embodiment, the operation handle 13 is set so that the rotation shaft 13a is set substantially parallel to the observation optical axis X of the objective lens 4 and a part of the operation handle 13 protrudes to the outside so as to be operable as the protruding portion 13b. Since the operation handle 13 has the operation gear 12 on the outer peripheral surface and meshes with the female screw gear 11 in a state where the reduction gear ratio is large, the coarse movement mechanism and the fine movement mechanism are configured separately as in the prior art. The focusing mechanism 10 need not be integrated as a coarse / fine movement mechanism, and the focusing mechanism 10 can be configured inexpensively and simply. Therefore, it is suitable as a microscope in a popular price range for the inspection market and the education market. Furthermore, since the protruding portion 13b operated by the user is provided on the lower side of the barrel main body 3 and the protruding amount is relatively small, the focal points arranged at both ends of the rotation axis orthogonal to the observation optical axis as in the prior art. Compared to the case of the quasi-handle, the installation area is small, and the work space on the desk surface on which the microscope is installed can be increased.

  In the first embodiment, as the structure for moving the objective lens 4 up and down, meshing of gears and screws is used. However, the structure is not limited to such a structure. For example, a simple mechanism such as using a cam mechanism is used. Any structure that can be moved up and down with a simple configuration may be used. In addition, although the movement amount (retraction amount) of the objective lens 4 that can be moved by one rotation operation of the protruding portion 13b of the operation handle 13 is 2 mm, for example, priority is given to ease of focusing of the objective lens 4. The movement amount may be set smaller, and conversely, the movement amount may be set larger. The point is that the movement amount is easy for the user to use, and can be set as appropriate. Further, the positions of the index 14 and the scale 15 may be interchanged so that the index 14 side becomes the outer peripheral side.

(Modification 1)
FIG. 6 is a front view showing a lens barrel portion showing a modification of the first embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a plan view thereof. In this modified example, a microscope having a rectangular operation handle 23 instead of the disk-shaped operation handle 13 is configured. The operation handle 23 has a rack-shaped operation gear 22 that meshes with the female screw gear 11 on the outer peripheral surface on one side near the center, and the opposite side can be operated outside the barrel main body 3A as a protruding portion 23b. It protrudes. Further, the operating handle 23 is guided by a guide member (not shown) so as to move only in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 7, and its movable range is also restricted by a stopper mechanism (not shown). That is, the operation handle 23 of this modification is provided so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the observation optical axis X, and the objective lens 4 is operated by operating the protruding portion 23b in the horizontal direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. Will move up and down.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an operation handle portion extracted and enlarged according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY in FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the shape of the alignment sheet.

  The disc-shaped operation handle 13A according to the second embodiment has a concave surface 13e whose upper surface is recessed by one step over the dimension d on the outer peripheral side. Such a concave surface 13e is also a region where the index 14 and the scale 15 are written. The alignment sheet 31 is detachably attached at a desired position on the concave surface 13e. Here, the concave surface 13e side is made of a ferromagnetic material such as iron, and the alignment sheet 31 is made of a magnetic sheet material, so that the alignment sheet 31 is detachably attracted to a desired position without causing play in the radial direction. It is configured. Here, as shown in FIG. 10, the alignment sheet 31 is formed in a substantially sector shape having a length corresponding to the dimension d of the concave surface 13e, and the index 14 and the scale 15 are attached to the concave surface 13e. Has an opening 31a. Therefore, the user can attach the alignment sheet 31 at a position corresponding to the desired index 14 in the index 14 while confirming the index 14 through the opening 31a.

  Further, in the barrel main body 3, a leaf spring 32 is fixed at an inner position corresponding to the position confirmation index 16. The leaf spring 32 is configured to be in non-contact with the concave surface 13e and to contact with a relatively small contact resistance when the alignment sheet 31 passes.

  According to such a configuration, when the operation handle 13A is rotated by operating the protruding portion 13e, the operation handle 13A does not contact the leaf spring 32 when the alignment sheet 31 is not positioned near the position confirmation index 16, There is no particular contact resistance. On the other hand, when the alignment sheet 31 reaches the position confirmation index 16 and the alignment sheet 31 of the operation handle 13A comes into contact with the leaf spring 32 portion, the user feels the contact resistance due to the leaf spring 32 as a change in the operation force. . At this time, since the contact resistance by the leaf spring 32 is not so large, the alignment sheet 31 is not displaced.

  Therefore, according to the second embodiment, by attaching the alignment sheet 31 at the position of the desired index 14 corresponding to the thickness of the specimen, the user can feel the feeling (click feeling) without having to look at the index 14 one by one. ) Can recognize that the focus position is close. As a result, the rotation of the operation handle 13A can be quickly performed at a place where the hand feeling is not felt, and the rotation operation of the operation handle 13A can be performed carefully at a place where the hand feeling is felt, and the focus can be quickly adjusted without visual confirmation. be able to.

  The alignment sheet 32 is not limited to the illustrated example, and its width, shape, and the like may be changed as appropriate. For example, it is possible to adjust the focal depth of the objective lens 4, narrow the width of the alignment sheet at low magnification, and widen the alignment sheet at high magnification, thereby enabling quick focusing.

(Modification 2)
FIG. 11 is an enlarged front view showing a part of the operation handle portion showing a modification of the second embodiment. In this modification, instead of the leaf spring 32, an iron plate 33 is provided at a position corresponding to the position confirmation index 16 in the barrel main body 3. That is, when the operation handle 13A is rotated, at the position where the alignment sheet 31 made of the magnet sheet material faces, an attractive force due to magnetic force acts to cause a change in the amount of operation force.

  Even in the case of this modification, the same effects as in the case of the second embodiment are obtained, but in particular, in the case of this modification, since the operation resistance is felt in a non-contact state, there is no deterioration of the operation resistance due to the frequency of use. Moreover, since it is non-contact, there is no generation | occurrence | production of the dust accompanying contact and it can perform a speculum in a clean state.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 12 is a front view showing a lens barrel portion in the microscope according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a plan view thereof.

  The operation handle 13B of the third embodiment is formed in an annular shape having a larger diameter than that of the operation handle 13, and has an operation gear 42 that meshes with the female screw gear 11 on the inner peripheral surface, and the lens barrel main body 3B. These are arranged so as to be rotatable while being held in the vertical direction by a member (not shown). The operation handle 13B is guided by a guide member (not shown) so as to rotate without shifting its position in the horizontal plane, and is regulated so that the rotation range in the approaching direction is a predetermined range by a stopper mechanism (not shown). Yes. Further, in the lens barrel main body 3B of the third embodiment, the lower side of the binocular unit 2 is formed as a semicircular portion 3a having a slightly smaller diameter than the operation handle 13B, and the protruding portion 13b of the operation handle 13B is about 270 degrees. It is comprised so that it may protrude outside from the lens-barrel main-body part 3B continuously. Further, a position confirmation index 16 is arranged at the left front position of the barrel main body 3B. In FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, although not shown in particular, the index 14 is printed on the upper surface of the operation handle 13B.

  In such a configuration, by operating the protruding portion 13b to rotate the operation handle 13B, the female screw gear 11 is rotated by the operation gear 41, and the objective lens 4 is moved up and down on the observation optical axis X.

  In the third embodiment, the protruding portion 13b of the operation handle 13B is provided at a wide angle over about 270 degrees, and the user can operate the operation handle 13B from anywhere on the right side, front side, and left side. Usability is improved. Further, since the protruding portion 13b is wide, the amount of movement of the objective lens 4 that can be moved by one operation increases, and it becomes easy to perform the retreat operation by coarse movement.

It is a front view which shows the microscope concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a top view of FIG. It is a schematic perspective view which shows a focusing mechanism. It is a top view which extracts and expands an operation handle part. It is a front view which expands and shows a part of FIG. 6 is a front view showing a lens barrel portion showing a modification of the first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 7 is a plan view of FIG. 6. It is a top view which expands and shows the operation handle part concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a front view which expands and shows a part of operation handle by the YY line in FIG. It is a top view which shows the shape of an alignment sheet. FIG. 10 is a front view showing an enlarged cross section of a part of an operation handle portion showing a modification of the second embodiment. It is a front view which shows the lens-barrel part in the microscope concerning Embodiment 3 of this invention. FIG. 13 is a plan view of FIG. 12.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Eyepiece 4 Objective lens 10 Focusing mechanism 11 Female screw gear 12 Operation gear 13, 13A, 13B Operation handle 13a Rotating shaft 13b Projection part 14 Index 16 Position confirmation index 22 Operation gear 23 Operation handle 23b Projection part 31 Positioning sheet 42 Operation Gear X Observation optical axis

Claims (6)

In a microscope having a focusing mechanism for focusing the objective lens on the sample,
The focusing mechanism includes an operation handle whose operation direction is set in a direction substantially orthogonal to the observation optical axis of the objective lens, and a part of the operation mechanism projects to the outside so as to be operable as a projecting part. A microscope characterized in that the objective lens is set so as to be retracted by a predetermined retracted amount by moving within a range operable by the retracting operation.   The operation handle is a disc-shaped handle, the rotation axis is set substantially parallel to the observation optical axis of the objective lens, and a part of the operation handle protrudes to be operable as a protruding portion, and the protruding portion is retracted once. 2. The microscope according to claim 1, wherein the objective lens is set so as to be retracted by a predetermined retraction amount by rotation within a range in which the operation can be rotated. The focusing mechanism has a lifting gear on the observation optical axis for moving the objective lens up and down,
The microscope according to claim 1, wherein the operation handle has an operation gear that meshes with the elevating gear.   The microscope according to claim 1, wherein the operation handle is disposed between the objective lens and the eyepiece lens. The operation handle is marked with an index indicating the thickness of the specimen on the upper surface,
The microscope according to claim 1, wherein a position confirmation index indicating a current position of the objective lens with respect to the index is disposed in the vicinity of the operation handle.   6. The seat according to claim 5, wherein the operation handle is detachably attached to a sheet that causes a change in the amount of operation force when the operation handle is operated at a position corresponding to a desired index in the index. The microscope described.

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