JPH0843699A - Aligning adjusting mechanism for optical element - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an aligning adjusting mechanism for an optical element by which an optical axis center is easily aligned by adjusting operation at one spot and which is excellent in operability. CONSTITUTION:This mechanism is equipped with a rotating moving body 3 having a long hole 3a for linearly movably holding a holding frame 2 which holds a ring slit 1, a supporting body 6 having a round hole 6a for turnably holding the moving body 3, a plunger 5 provided on the side surface of the moving body 3 and energizing the holding frame 2 along the long hole 3a, an adjusting screw 4 pressing the holding frame 2 against the energizing force of the plunger 5 so that the frame 2 can be positionally adjusted, and an operation part 4a coupled with the adjusting screw 4 and turning the moving body 3 along the round hole 6a.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a centering adjusting mechanism for adjusting an optical axis of an optical element used in an optical device, particularly an optical microscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an optical microscope, an operator adjusts an optical axis center position of an optical element such as a field stop and a ring slit used in a phase contrast microscope so that an observation ability can be properly exhibited by an operator during the microscope. Is configured to. Examples of this centering adjustment mechanism include those disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 03-98416 and Japanese Patent Application No. 03-30597.

With reference to FIG. 4, Japanese Patent Application No. 03-30597
The centering adjustment mechanism described in the specification will be described. A ring-shaped holding frame 22 holding an optical element 21 to be centered and adjusted is loaded inside a ring-shaped fixed frame 23. Screw holes 23a to 23c are formed at three locations on the peripheral surface of the fixed frame 23 at intervals of about 120 degrees. Adjustment screws 24a and 24b with knobs are screwed into the two screw holes 23a and 23b, and the tips thereof project into the fixed frame 23. A recess is formed on the peripheral surface of the holding frame 22 at a position where the adjusting screws 24a and 24b come into contact with each other, so that the adjusting screw can reliably press the holding frame 22. A leaf spring 25 is provided inward at a position facing the two adjustment screws 24a, 24b with the center of the fixed frame 23 interposed therebetween, and the peripheral surface of the holding frame 22 is provided with two adjustment screws 24a, 24b. I'm pushing it towards. In addition, the screw hole 23 located behind the leaf spring 25
A fixing screw 24c with a knob is screwed into c, and the tip of the fixing screw 24c protrudes inside the fixing frame 23, and the leaf spring 25
Is designed to be pressed.

In the centering adjusting mechanism thus constructed, the holding frame 22 is always pressed against the tips of the two adjusting screws 24a and 24b by the elastic force of the leaf spring 25. By rotating and adjusting the protrusion amount of the screw tip, the holding frame 22 can be moved in an arbitrary direction to perform centering adjustment. By screwing the fixing screw 24c until it stops in the state where the centering adjustment is completed, the holding frame 22 can be reliably fixed regardless of the elastic force of the leaf spring 25.

[0005]

In the conventional centering adjusting mechanism, two adjusting screws are provided individually. Therefore, it is necessary to rotate the two adjusting screws alternately little by little to adjust the positions, and the adjusting work becomes complicated.
Especially when it is desired to make a delicate adjustment in order to accurately align the optical axis, if one is adjusted and then the other is adjusted, the earlier adjustment will be misaligned and the adjustment will have to be performed again. Therefore, in order to surely perform the centering in a short time, it is necessary to operate the two adjusting screws with both hands at the same time, which causes a problem that the operability is poor and the operation requires skill.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to perform centering adjustment with excellent operability in which the optical axis can be easily aligned with one operation. To provide a mechanism.

[0007]

The present invention has taken the following means in order to achieve the above object. An optical element centering adjustment mechanism of the present invention according to claim 1 is a moving body having a holding frame for holding the optical element, a first guide member for holding the holding frame in a linearly movable manner, and the moving body. Having a second guide member for movably holding the movable body in a direction intersecting the linear movement, an elastic body for urging the holding frame to one side along the first guide member, and the elastic body. Centering member for pressing the holding frame to the other side along the first guide member in a positionally adjustable manner against the urging force of the moving body, and the moving body connected to the centering member to move the moving body to the second guide. The operation unit for moving along the member is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a centering adjustment mechanism for an optical element, comprising: a holding frame for holding the optical element; a rotary moving body having a linear guide member for linearly holding the holding frame; A support having a curved guide member for rotatably holding the rotary moving body, an elastic body for urging the holding frame to one side along the linear guide member, and an elastic body for resisting the urging force of the elastic body. A centering member that presses the holding frame to the other side along the linear guide member in a positionally adjustable manner; and an operation unit that is connected to the centering member and that rotates the rotary moving body along the curved guide member. It is configured to include.

A centering adjusting mechanism for an optical element according to a third aspect of the present invention is a linear moving body having a holding frame for holding the optical element and a first linear guide member for linearly moving the holding frame. A support body having a second linear guide member for linearly moving the linear moving body in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the first linear guide member, and the holding frame for the first linear guide. An elastic body that urges one side along the member, and a centering member that presses the holding frame against the other side along the first linear guide member in a positionally adjustable manner against the urging force of the elastic body, An operation unit connected to the centering member and configured to linearly move the linear moving body along the second linear guide member.

[0010]

According to the centering adjusting mechanism of the optical element of the present invention,
The holding frame of the optical element moves linearly along one guide by adjusting the pressing position of the centering member. In addition, the moving body holding the holding frame can be operated by the operation unit.
It moves along the other guide in a direction intersecting with the one guide. By connecting the operating portion and the centering member, the holding frame moves in any direction along the two guides by operating only one portion of the operating portion.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. <First Embodiment> FIGS. 1A and 1B are views showing a first embodiment of a centering mechanism according to the present invention. FIG. 1A is a plan sectional view, and FIG. 1B is a central transverse sectional view of FIG. An optical element 1 that requires centering, such as a ring slit, is held by a ring-shaped holding frame 2. The holding frame 2 is loosely fitted in a long hole 3a as a linear guide (first guide member) provided in the center of the ring-shaped moving body 3, and is movable linearly along the long hole 3a. Is held. A screw hole 3b is provided on a side surface of the movable body 3 corresponding to the long axis direction of the long hole 3a, and an adjusting screw 4 as a centering member is screwed into the screw hole 3b. An operating portion 4a is integrally formed at the end of the adjusting screw 4. A well-known plunger 5 as an elastic body for urging the holding frame 2 along the long axis direction of the elongated hole 3a is arranged at a position facing the screw hole 3b on the side surface of the movable body 3. The plunger 5 has a pin in a cylindrical case that is biased axially displaceably by a coil spring arranged coaxially with the case, and the holding frame 2 is constantly adjusted by the pin. Is pressed against the tip of the.

The moving body 3 is rotatably fitted in a round hole 6a as a curved guide (second guide member) provided in the support body 6 without play. Since the center of rotation of the moving body 3 is set so as to substantially coincide with one end of the linear movement range of the holding frame 2, the moving body 3 turns in a direction intersecting the linear movement range. The support 6 includes
In order to avoid interference with the moving body 3, an escape groove 6c is formed in a portion corresponding to the moving range of the plunger 5. Further, a space 6d is formed in the moving range of the protruding adjustment screw 4 and the operating portion 4a so that the moving body 3 can rotate by a predetermined angle. A cover 9 is fixed to the upper surface of the support 6 to prevent the moving body 3 from coming off. Further, two washers 7 and a disc spring 8 are inserted between the holding frame 2 and the cover 9. Due to the elastic force of the disc spring 8, the holding frame 2 is pressed against the bottomed portion 6b of the support body 6 via the lower washer 7. The bottomed portion 6b and the cover 9 have a transparent window 6e for transmitting illumination light or observation light.
And 9e are formed respectively.

The centering adjustable range of the holding frame 2 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, an arrow A indicates a linear movement range of the holding frame 2 with respect to the moving body 3 by the linear guide, and a rotation center point P of the moving body 3 by the curved guide is arranged at one end thereof. Further, an arc arrow B indicates a rotation angle range of the moving body 3 with respect to the support body 6. Therefore, the adjustable range of the holding frame 2 is the area swept by the arrow A around the rotation center P of the moving body 3, that is, the sector S.
Becomes Therefore, the designed position O where the optical axis of the optical element 1 should originally be located is substantially the center of the sector S (a position separated from the rotation center point P of the moving body 3 by a predetermined distance, for example, the holding frame 2).
By setting the main centering mechanism so as to be located at a position of approximately 1/2 of the linear movement range of (1), the centering adjustment of the optical element 1 can be freely performed within the range of the sector S centering on the point O. become.

Next, the operation of the above-described embodiment having such a configuration will be described. The centering adjustment of the optical element 1 is
This is done by operating the operation portion 4a of the adjusting screw 4. First, when the adjusting screw 4 is rotated around the screw axis, the protrusion amount of the tip of the adjusting screw 4 inside the moving body 3 changes, and the holding frame 2 moves linearly along the long hole 3a of the moving body 3. Yes (arrow A in Figure 2
Equivalent to). Further, when the adjusting screw 4 is moved so as to revolve around the optical axis, the moving body 3 rotates in the round hole 6a of the support body 6 (corresponding to arrow B in FIG. 2).

As described above, the position of the holding frame 2 is adjusted by operating only one operation portion 4a of the adjusting screw 4 so that the position of the holding frame 2 is the above-mentioned sector S.
Since it can be freely moved within the adjustable range of, the delicate operation can be performed quickly with one hand, and the centering adjustment can be easily performed without requiring skill. Also,
Since the holding frame 2 is pressed by the disc spring 8 via the washer 7, an appropriate resistance force is generated by friction, and the holding frame 2 is not displaced due to some vibration.

As the optical element 1, in addition to the ring slit, various optical elements such as a field stop which require centering can be applied. In this embodiment, if the adjustment screw 4 on the side surface of the holding frame 2 and the plunger 5 are provided at a position where the adjustment screw 4 and the plunger 5 are brought into contact with each other so that the respective tips fit into each other without play, the rotation of the holding frame 2 in the moving body 3 can be prevented. . Further, the size and positional relationship of the arrow A, the arrow B, the point P, and the point O shown in FIG. 2 do not necessarily have to be as shown in the figure, and the sector S which is the centering adjustment range is required. The size and shape may be appropriately determined.

<Second Embodiment> A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The present embodiment is an example in which the moving body is configured to be linearly movable in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the holding frame. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the second embodiment seen from the optical axis direction. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.
The moving body 13 holds the holding frame 2 linearly in the first direction by a long hole 13a serving as a first linear guide so that the position of the holding frame 2 can be adjusted. Further, two parallel planes 13b, 13b orthogonal to the first direction are formed on the peripheral surface of the moving body 13, while the supporting body 16 is provided with elongated holes 16a in the same direction. . Parallel planes 16b and 16b as second linear guides into which the parallel planes 13b and 13b of the moving body 13 are slidable without play are formed in the elongated hole 16a, and the moving body 13 is orthogonal to the first direction. It is held so as to be linearly movable in the second direction. Since the first moving direction and the second moving direction are orthogonal to each other, the position adjustable range of the holding frame 2 is a rectangular area. Although not shown, as in the first embodiment, the bottom of the elongated hole 16a has a bottom portion for receiving the moving body 13, and the moving body 13 including the washer 7, the disc spring 8 and the cover 9 is provided. Is provided.

The centering adjustment of the optical element 1 according to the present embodiment having the above-described structure is performed by the adjusting screw 4 as in the first embodiment.
It is carried out by the operation of. The position adjustment in the first movement direction is performed by rotating the adjustment screw 4 around the screw axis. The position adjustment in the second movement direction is performed by operating the adjustment screw 4 so as to slide laterally in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the screw. As a result, the movable body 13 has the elongated hole 16a of the support body 16.
It moves linearly along and its position is adjusted.

The movable body 13 is a parallel plane 16 of the support body 16.
Since it slides linearly along b and 16b, the support 16
It never rotates against. Further, since the moving body 13 is pressed by the disc spring 8, the position does not shift due to some vibration. In this embodiment, since the position is adjusted by linear movement in two orthogonal directions, it is easy for the operator to understand the movement of the optical element 1 when the adjustment screw is operated, and the adjustment work is extremely easy to perform. Further, in order to make the linear movement of the moving body 13 relative to the supporting body 16 smoother, it is more preferable to use a member having less friction such as a solid bearing on the sliding surface between the moving body 13 and the supporting body 16.

[0020]

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a centering adjustment mechanism which is excellent in operability and which can easily align the optical axis with a single operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a plan sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a central transverse sectional view of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an adjustable range of the centering adjustment mechanism of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view of a conventional centering adjustment mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Ring slit (optical element) 2 Holding frame 3 Moving body 3a Long hole (first guide) 3b Screw hole 4 Adjustment screw (centering member) 4a Operating part 5 Plunger (elastic body) 6 Support body 6a Round hole (first) 2 guide) 6b Bottom part 7 Washer 8 Disc spring 9 Cover 13 Moving body 13a Long hole (first guide) 13b Parallel plane 16 Support 16a Long hole 16b Parallel plane (second guide)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A holding frame for holding an optical element, a movable body having a first guide member for linearly moving the holding frame, and a movable body for moving the moving body in a direction intersecting with the linear movement. A support having a second guide member for holding, an elastic body for urging the holding frame to one side along the first guide member, and the holding frame for resisting the urging force of the elastic body. A centering member for pressing the other side along the first guide member in a positionally adjustable manner; and an operation unit connected to the centering member for moving the moving body along the second guide member. An optical element centering adjustment mechanism characterized by the above. 2. A holding frame for holding the optical element, a rotary moving body having a linear guide member for linearly moving the holding frame, and a curved guide member for rotatably holding the rotary moving body. A support body, an elastic body for urging the holding frame to one side along the linear guide member, and a position adjustment of the holding frame to the other side along the linear guide member against the urging force of the elastic body. A centering adjustment mechanism for an optical element, comprising: a centering member that presses against the centering member; and an operation unit that is connected to the centering member and that rotates the rotary moving body along the curved guide member. 3. A holding frame for holding an optical element, a linear moving body having a first linear guide member for holding the holding frame in a linearly movable manner, and the linear moving body for the first linear guide member. A support body having a second linear guide member that linearly holds the holding frame in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction, and an elastic body that urges the holding frame to one side along the first linear guide member, A centering member for pressing the holding frame against the other along the first linear guide member against the urging force of an elastic body so as to be positionally adjustable; An operation unit for linearly moving along a second linear guide member, and a centering adjustment mechanism for an optical element.