JP6697330B2 - Objective lens mount, objective lens unit, and optical measuring machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an objective lens unit attached to an optical measuring instrument such as a microscope, an objective lens mount that holds the objective lens unit in the optical measuring instrument, and an optical measuring instrument including the objective lens unit and the objective lens mount.

  In a microscope, which is a type of optical measuring instrument, the method of changing the observation magnification is 1) the method of changing the optical magnification inside the microscope like a zoom optical system, 2) the method of changing the objective lens, and 3) both of them. Can be changed into three types. When the latter two methods are adopted, the magnification is changed by rotating the revolver in a microscope equipped with a revolver to which a plurality of objective lenses are preliminarily attached, and in a microscope not equipped with the revolver, the objective is changed each time the magnification is changed. The magnification is changed by manually attaching and detaching the lens.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a mounting mechanism for mounting the objective lens unit 20 on the conventional microscope 1, FIG. 5 (a) shows a state in which the objective lens unit 20 is removed, and FIG. 5 (b) shows an objective. The state where the lens unit 20 is attached is shown. As shown in FIG. 5, the objective lens unit 20 includes an objective lens mount 11 having a female screw portion 112 for screwing a male screw portion 221 protruding from the body-attached surface 222 of the lens barrel 22 with the male screw portion 221. It is generally attached by screwing into. In this case, when the male screw portion 221 is brought close to the objective lens mount 11 in order to attach the objective lens unit 20 to the objective lens mount 11, the posture of the objective lens unit 20 is carefully visually checked to check the objective lens mount 11 and the objective lens unit 11. The virtual center lines of 20 are aligned, and the heads (hooks) of the screws are slowly aligned with each other, and screwed until the barrel surface 222 of the objective lens unit 20 contacts the flange end surface 113 of the objective lens mount 11 Is completed. Patent Document 1 discloses a microscope including a revolver including a plurality of such objective lens mounts, and a plurality of objective lenses having different magnifications can be attached to the revolver. A similar objective lens mount is used in a microscope without a revolver.

JP, 2009-047976, A

  However, due to carelessness or the like, the male screw portion 221 and the female screw portion 112 are screwed in without being caught, or there is a structure (for example, a ring illumination mechanism) around the objective lens mount 11 that obstructs the field of view. When the catch cannot be visually observed and the posture must be adjusted by groping, as shown in FIG. 6, when the objective lens mount 11 and the objective lens unit 20 are not aligned with each other in the virtual center line, the male screw is used. The part 221 may be screwed into the female screw part 112, and the male screw part 221 and / or the female screw part 112 may be damaged.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an objective lens unit that can be easily and correctly attached, an objective lens mount to which the objective lens unit is attached, and an optical measuring machine including the objective lens unit and the objective lens mount. And

(1) In order to solve the above problems, an objective lens mount according to the present invention is an objective lens mount to which an objective lens unit including an objective lens for observing an object to be measured is attached, and the objective lens mount is arranged along a central axis direction. It is characterized in that it is provided with a guide portion which extends out and guides the objective lens unit attached to the objective lens mount along the central axis direction.

  With such a configuration, the objective lens unit can be easily and correctly attached to the objective lens mount.

(2) The objective lens mount of the present invention is provided with an objective lens insertion opening which is a circular opening centered on the central axis and a female screw which is screwed into the objective lens unit on the inner surface of the objective lens insertion opening. The guide portion further comprises a female screw portion and an annular flat surface provided on the peripheral portion of the objective lens insertion opening and orthogonal to the central axis, and the guide portion extends from the outer edge portion of the flange end surface and has a constant inner diameter. It is preferable to provide a straight pipe section having. With this configuration, the objective lens unit can be guided along the central axis by the straight pipe portion, and the male screw portion can be approached at the correct angle with respect to the female screw portion. As a result, the male screw portion and the female screw portion can be securely screwed together properly, and the screw can be prevented from being damaged.

(3) In the objective lens mount of the present invention, it is preferable that a ventilation hole is provided near the flange end surface of the straight pipe portion so as to communicate the inside and outside of the straight pipe portion. As a result, it is possible to prevent the air in the space that is sealed by the attachment of the objective lens unit from being compressed, and the repulsive force from causing a resistance to the movement in the optical axis direction.

(4) In the objective lens mount of the present invention, the guide portion is continuously provided at an end portion of the straight pipe portion on the side opposite to the flange end surface, and the inner diameter is increased as the distance from the flange end surface increases. It is preferable to further include a taper portion. This allows the attached objective lens unit to be guided so that the central axes thereof coincide with each other.

(5) An objective lens unit according to the present invention is an objective lens unit that is attachable to and detachable from the objective lens mount according to any one of (2) to (4) above, and includes an objective lens and a mirror that houses the objective lens. And a barrel, the barrel extends with a constant outer diameter in the direction of the central axis of the barrel, and when the objective lens unit is attached to the objective lens mount, by the straight tube portion in the guide portion of the objective lens mount, A straight barrel part that is guided so that it can be moved only along the central axis of the objective lens mount; a barrel face that is orthogonal to the central axis of the lens barrel and forms an end face at one end of the linear motion part; A cylindrical portion extending from the surface to the outer surface and having a male screw portion formed along the circumferential direction with a female screw portion of the objective lens mount to be threaded with the female screw portion of the objective lens mount. Is the central axis of the male thread Wherein the direction of not less than the length.

  According to this structure, when the objective lens mount according to any one of (2) to (4) is attached, the straight barrel portion is guided by the straight pipe portion, and the male screw is formed at a correct angle with respect to the female screw portion. The department can be approached. As a result, the male screw portion and the female screw portion can be securely screwed together properly, and the screw can be prevented from being damaged.

(6) In the objective lens unit of the present invention, the length of the straight barrel portion in the central axis direction may be equal to or longer than the length of the straight tube portion of the objective lens mount in the central axis direction. Accordingly, the straight body portion can be reliably guided by the straight body portion after the straight body portion enters the straight body portion until the body-attached surface abuts the flange end surface.

(7) In another example of the objective lens unit according to the present invention, the objective lens unit is attachable to and detachable from the objective lens mount according to the above (4), and the objective lens and the lens barrel that houses the objective lens are included. The lens barrel has a constant outer diameter extending in the central axis direction of the lens barrel, and when the objective lens unit is attached to the objective lens mount, the straight tube portion in the guide portion of the objective lens mount allows the objective lens mount to be mounted. A straight barrel part that is allowed to move only along the central axis direction of the lens barrel, a barrel face that is orthogonal to the center axis of the lens barrel and forms an end face at one end of the linear motion part, and a barrel face Change in inner diameter of the inner taper portion of the objective lens mount, which has a male thread portion that extends in a circular shape and has a male thread portion that is formed on the outer surface along the circumferential direction and that is threadedly engaged with the female thread portion of the objective lens mount. When the width is L1 and the width of the body-attached surface is L2, L1 ≧ L2.

  With such a configuration, the inner taper portion can guide the central axis of the objective lens unit so as to coincide with the central axis of the objective lens mount.

(8) The objective lens unit of the present invention may further include an outer taper portion having a taper formed at a boundary portion between the straight body portion and the body-attached surface. This allows the outer tapered portion to come into contact with the inner tapered portion, thereby smoothly guiding the central axis of the objective lens unit to coincide with the central axis of the objective lens mount.

(9) An optical measuring instrument according to the present invention comprises an objective lens mount according to any one of (2) to (4), an objective lens unit according to (5) or (6), and an objective lens. The unit includes an objective lens included in the unit and a main body side optical system that constitutes an optical system for observing an object to be measured, and the center axis of the objective lens mount is the same as the optical axis of the main body side optical system. It is characterized by being arranged as follows.

(10) An optical measuring instrument according to the present invention is provided with an objective lens mount according to (4) above, an objective lens unit according to (7) or (8) above, and an objective lens included in the objective lens unit. The objective lens mount is provided so that the central axis of the objective lens mount coincides with the optical axis of the main body side optical system. Characterize.

3 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of an objective lens mount 11 in the main body 10 of the microscope 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the objective lens unit 20. FIG. It is a typical sectional view showing the state where male screw part 221 was inserted in straight pipe part 115 and touched. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing how the objective lens unit 20 is attached to the main body 10. FIG. An example of a mounting mechanism for mounting the objective lens unit 20 to the conventional microscope 1 is shown. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a conventional mounting mechanism tries to mount an objective lens mount 11 and an objective lens unit 20 when their virtual center lines are not aligned.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same members are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description of the members once described is omitted as appropriate.

  The microscope 1 includes an objective lens unit 20 in which an objective lens 21 for observing an object to be measured (not shown) is housed in a lens barrel 22, and a main body 10 to which the objective lens unit 20 is attached.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of an objective lens mount 11 to which an objective lens unit 20 is attached in a main body 10 of a microscope 1 which is an example of an optical measuring instrument. In FIG. 1, the microscope 1 is cut along a plane that passes through the optical axis direction of the main body side optical system 12.
The main body 10 includes an objective lens mount 11 to which the objective lens unit 20 is attached and a main body side optical system 12. Although not shown in detail in FIG. 1, the main body side optical system 12 includes a beam splitter, a lens, and the like. When the objective lens unit 20 is properly attached to the objective lens mount 11, the main body side optical system 12 constitutes an optical system for observing an object to be measured together with the objective lens 21.

The objective lens mount 11 includes an objective lens insertion port 111, a flange end surface 113, and a guide portion 114. The objective lens mount 11 is arranged so that its central axis coincides with the optical axis of the main body side optical system 12.
The objective lens insertion port 111 is a circular opening centered on the central axis. On the inner surface of the objective lens insertion port 111, a female screw portion 112 that is screwed into the male screw portion 221 of the objective lens unit is provided. The flange end surface 113 is an annular plane provided on the peripheral portion of the objective lens insertion port 111, and this plane is orthogonal to the central axis.

  The guide unit 114 guides the objective lens unit 20 attached to the objective lens mount 11 along the central axis direction of the objective lens mount 11 (that is, the optical axis direction of the main body side optical system 12). The guide portion 114 extends from the outer edge portion of the flange end surface 113 along the central axis. The guide portion 114 is provided continuously with a straight pipe portion 115 extending from the outer edge portion of the flange end surface 113 and having a constant inner diameter, and an end portion of the straight pipe portion 115 opposite to the flange end surface 113, and separated from the flange end surface 113. And an inner taper portion 116 having a taper so that the inner diameter becomes larger. The central axis of the straight tube portion 115 is the central axis of the objective lens mount 11. The taper of the inner taper portion 116 is preferably 45 degrees, for example. The inner taper portion 116 can guide the attached objective lens unit 20 such that its central axis coincides with the central axis of the objective lens mount. Further, in the vicinity of the flange end surface 113 of the straight pipe portion 115, a ventilation hole 117 that communicates the inside and outside of the straight pipe portion 115 is provided. If the ventilation hole 117 is not provided, when the objective lens unit 20 is moved in the central axis direction while being guided by the guide portion 114, the air in the space sealed by the attachment of the objective lens unit 20 is compressed, The repulsive force causes resistance to the movement in the central axis direction. The ventilation hole 117 prevents the internal pressure from increasing due to the movement of the objective lens unit 20 by allowing the space sealed by the attachment of the objective lens unit 20 to communicate with the outside, and the objective lens unit 20 moves smoothly. It is possible.

  FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the objective lens unit 20. The objective lens unit 20 includes an objective lens 21 for observing an object to be measured, and a lens barrel 22 that houses the objective lens 21. The objective lens 21 constitutes an optical system for observing the object to be measured together with the main body side optical system 12. The objective lens 21 may be a single lens or may be a lens group including a plurality of lenses. The lens barrel 22 is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape, and the central axis of the lens barrel 22 coincides with the optical axis of the objective lens 21 to be housed, and the objective lens is positioned at a predetermined distance from the barrel-attached surface 222 in the central axis direction. Hold 21.

  The lens barrel 22 has a male threaded portion 221 formed with a male thread along the circumferential direction at the end on the side where it is attached to the main body 10. The male screw portion 221 is screwed with the female screw portion 112 of the objective lens mount 11. The male screw portion 221 extends from the body-attached surface 222 orthogonal to the central axis of the lens barrel 22. The body-attached surface 222 forms an end surface at one end of the straight body portion 223 extending in the central axis direction of the lens barrel 22 with a constant outer diameter. The body-attached surface 222 is an annular flat surface that comes into contact with the flange end surface 113 when the objective lens unit 20 is attached to the objective lens mount 11. An outer taper portion 224, which is chamfered to form a taper, is provided at a boundary portion between the straight body portion 223 and the body-attached surface 222. The taper of the outer taper portion 224 is preferably 45 degrees, for example.

  When the objective lens unit 20 is attached to the objective lens mount 11 of the main body, the straight barrel portion 223 is moved by the straight tube portion 115 of the guide portion 114 in the central axis direction of the objective lens mount 11 (that is, the light of the main body side optical system). It is a portion that is guided so that only movement along the axial direction is allowed. Therefore, the outer diameter of the straight body portion 223 is formed smaller than the inner diameter of the straight pipe portion 115 to such an extent that a minute clearance capable of sliding in the straight pipe portion 115 is obtained (for example, 0.1 mm). An expanded diameter portion 225 having a diameter larger than that of the straight body portion 223 is provided at the other end of the straight body portion 223. The expanded diameter portion 225 is a portion to be gripped when the objective lens unit 20 is attached to or detached from the objective lens mount 11. The outer diameter of the enlarged diameter portion 225 may be equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the guide portion 114 so as to facilitate gripping.

  The guide portion 114 and the lens barrel 22 have the following dimensional relationship so that the guide portion 114 can smoothly guide the objective lens unit 20 along the central axis direction of the objective lens mount.

  The length of the straight pipe portion 115 in the central axis direction is equal to or longer than the length of the male screw portion 221 in the central axis direction. With this configuration, the objective lens unit 20 is mounted on the central axis of the objective lens unit 20 and the central axis of the objective lens mount 11 (that is, the main body side optical system 12) at a position immediately before the male screw portion 221 is screwed into the objective lens insertion port 111. Can be guided so that they coincide with the optical axis of. Therefore, it is possible to guide the objective lens unit 20 along the central axis by the straight pipe portion 115 and allow the male screw portion 221 to approach the female screw portion 112 at a correct angle. As a result, the male screw portion 221 and the female screw portion 112 can be reliably screwed together properly, and the screw can be prevented from being damaged. In an actual design, the length of the straight tube portion 115 in the direction of the central axis is determined by the amount of deviation between the central axis of the objective lens unit 20 and the central axis of the objective lens mount 11, which is allowed because the screw is not damaged, and the straight tube. It may be determined based on the clearance between the portion 115 and the straight body portion 223.

  The length of the straight body portion 223 in the central axis direction is equal to or longer than the length of the straight tube portion 115 in the central axis direction. With this configuration, the straight body portion 223 can be reliably guided by the straight pipe portion 115 after the straight body portion 223 enters the straight pipe portion 115 until the body-attached surface 222 contacts the flange end surface 113.

  As shown in FIG. 3, with the male screw portion 221 touching the inner side surface of the straight pipe portion 115, the outer body taper portion 223 and the outer taper portion 224 provided at the edge of the body-attached surface 222 are connected to the guide portion 114. The inner taper portion 116 can be brought into contact with the inner taper portion 116. Specifically, the change width of the inner diameter of the inner tapered portion 116 (that is, the difference between the inner diameter of the straight pipe portion 115 and the maximum inner diameter of the inner tapered portion 116) is L1, and the width of the barrel surface 222 (that is, in an annular shape) It is preferable that L1 ≧ L2, where L2 is the difference between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of a body-attached surface 222. Since the outer diameter of the male screw portion 221 is smaller than the inner diameter of the straight pipe portion 115, the male screw portion 221 can be inserted into the straight pipe portion 115 relatively easily. However, since the outer diameter of the straight body portion 223 and the inner diameter of the straight pipe portion 115 are substantially equal to each other, it is not always easy to insert the straight body portion 223 into the straight pipe portion 115. With the above dimensional relationship, the outer tapered portion 224 is guided along the inner tapered portion 116, and the central axis of the objective lens unit 20 is guided so as to match the central axis of the objective lens mount 11. Accordingly, the straight body portion 223 can be smoothly guided into the straight pipe portion 115 from the state where the male screw portion 221 is inserted in the straight pipe portion 115. Note that L1 ≧ L2 may be simply satisfied without providing the outer taper portion 224, but in this case, the edge of the boundary between the straight pipe portion 115 and the body-attached surface 222 comes into contact with the inner taper portion 116, and thus smooth. Difficult to guide. On the other hand, by providing the outer taper portion 224, the outer taper portion 224 can be brought into contact with the inner taper portion 116 and smoothly guided.

  Further, the inclination angle of the inner taper portion 116 and the inclination angle of the outer taper portion 224 may be equal (for example, both 45 degrees). Accordingly, when the inner taper portion 116 and the outer taper portion 224 come into contact with each other, the central axis of the objective lens unit 20 is likely to be parallel to the central axis of the objective lens mount 11, and the objective lens unit along the inner taper portion 116. When the body 20 is guided, the straight body portion 23 can be guided into the straight pipe portion 115.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing how the objective lens unit 20 is attached to the main body 10.
First, as shown in FIG. 4A, the male screw portion 221 of the lens barrel 22 is inserted into the end portion of the guide portion 114. At this time, if the central axis of the objective lens unit 20 is deviated from the central axis of the objective lens mount 11, the outer tapered portion 224 contacts the inner tapered portion 116. When the objective lens unit 20 is pushed in from this state, the central axis of the objective lens unit 20 is guided by the gradient of the inner taper portion 116 so as to coincide with the central axis of the objective lens mount 11, and the straight body portion 223 is directly moved. It is guided to enter the tube portion 115.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, when the straight barrel portion 223 is fitted into the straight pipe portion 115, the straight barrel portion 223 is guided in the straight pipe portion 115 along the optical axis direction of the main body side optical system 12. .. In this state, the lens barrel 22 is slid to move the male screw portion 221 to a position where it hits the female screw portion 112 of the objective lens insertion port 111. The space sealed by the attachment of the objective lens unit 20 is compressed by the movement of the objective lens unit 20, but since the inner and outer spaces are communicated by the ventilation hole 117, the internal pressure does not increase and the straight body portion 223 can slide smoothly in the guide portion 114.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 4C, the objective lens unit 20 is rotated to be screwed into the male screw portion 221 and the female screw portion 112, and screwed until the barrel surface 222 and the flange end surface 113 come into contact with each other. . This completes the attachment of the objective lens unit 20 to the main body 10. When the objective lens unit 20 is completely attached, the ventilation hole 117 is blocked by the straight body portion 223, so that dust, oil mist, or the like is not mixed into the space sealed by the attachment of the objective lens unit 20. Can be prevented.

  Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to these examples. For example, although a microscope is used as an optical measuring machine, any type of optical measuring machine, such as an image measuring device, in which an objective lens is attached and detached can be applied.

  Further, although the ventilation hole 117 is provided in the vicinity of the flange end surface 113 of the straight pipe portion 115 in the above-described embodiment, if the inside and outside of the space sealed by the attachment of the objective lens unit 20 communicate with each other, the ventilation hole 117 is ventilated to another place. Means may be provided. For example, a groove for ventilation may be provided in the straight tube portion 115 or the straight body portion 223 along the central axis direction, or a ventilation hole may be provided at a position where the objective lens unit 20 is not blocked when attached. Good.

  Further, those skilled in the art appropriately added, deleted, and changed the design of each of the above-described embodiments, and those obtained by appropriately combining the features of the respective embodiments have the gist of the present invention. As long as it is present, it is included in the scope of the present invention.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, the present invention can be suitably used in an optical measuring machine in which an objective lens unit can be attached and detached.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Microscope 10 ... Main body 11 ... Objective lens mount 111 ... Objective lens insertion port 112 ... Female thread part 113 ... Flange end surface 114 ... Guide part 115 ... Straight pipe part 116 ... Inner taper part 117 ... Vent hole 12 ... Main body side optical system 20 ... Objective lens unit 21 ... Objective lens 22 ... Lens barrel 221 ... Male screw part 222 ... Body part 223 ... Straight body part 224 ... Outer taper part 225 ... Expanded part

Claims (6)

An objective lens unit comprising an objective lens detachably attached to an objective lens mount for observing an object to be measured ,
The objective lens mount is
A guide portion that extends along the central axis direction and guides the objective lens unit attached to the objective lens mount along the central axis direction ;
An objective lens insertion opening which is a circular opening centered on the central axis,
A female screw portion provided with a female screw for screwing with the objective lens unit on the inner surface of the objective lens insertion opening;
A ring-shaped flat surface provided in the peripheral portion of the objective lens insertion opening, a flange end surface orthogonal to the central axis,
Equipped with
The guide portion includes a straight pipe portion that extends from the outer edge portion of the flange end surface and has a constant inner diameter, and is continuously provided at an end portion of the straight pipe portion opposite to the flange end surface, and from the flange end surface. It further comprises an inner taper portion in which a taper is formed so that the inner diameter increases as the distance from the
The objective lens unit,
An objective lens,
A lens barrel for housing the objective lens;
Equipped with
The lens barrel is
When the objective lens unit is attached to the objective lens mount, the straight tube portion in the guide portion of the objective lens mount allows the center of the objective lens mount to be extended by a constant outer diameter in the central axis direction of the lens barrel. A straight body part that is guided so that it can be moved only along the axial direction,
A body-attached surface that is orthogonal to the center axis of the lens barrel and forms an end surface at one end of the straight body portion;
A male screw portion extending in a cylindrical shape from the body-attached surface and having an external thread formed on the outer surface along the circumferential direction to be screwed with the female screw portion of the objective lens mount.
Equipped with
The objective lens unit is characterized in that L1 ≧ L2, where L1 is a change width of an inner diameter of the inner taper portion of the objective lens mount and L2 is a width of the body attachment surface. The objective lens unit according to claim 1 , wherein a vent hole is provided in the vicinity of the flange end surface of the straight pipe portion so as to communicate the inside and the outside of the straight pipe portion . The length of the central axis of the straight pipe portion, the features a central axis direction of the Der Rukoto over the length of the male screw portion, an objective lens unit according to claim 1 or 2. The objective lens unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the length of the straight barrel portion in the central axis direction is equal to or longer than the length of the straight tube portion in the central axis direction. The objective lens unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an outer taper portion having a taper formed at a boundary portion between the straight body portion and the body-attached surface. An objective lens mount to which an objective lens unit having an objective lens for observing an object to be measured is attached,
An objective lens unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
Wherein an optical measuring instrument Ru and a body-side optical system constituting the optical system for observing the object to be measured together with the objective lens having an objective lens unit,
The objective lens mount is
A guide portion that extends along the central axis direction and guides the objective lens unit attached to the objective lens mount along the central axis direction;
An objective lens insertion opening which is a circular opening centered on the central axis,
A female screw portion provided with a female screw for screwing with the objective lens unit on the inner surface of the objective lens insertion opening;
A ring-shaped flat surface provided in the peripheral portion of the objective lens insertion opening, a flange end surface orthogonal to the central axis,
Equipped with
The guide portion includes a straight pipe portion that extends from the outer edge portion of the flange end surface and has a constant inner diameter, and is continuously provided at an end portion of the straight pipe portion opposite to the flange end surface, and from the flange end surface. It further comprises an inner taper portion in which a taper is formed so that the inner diameter increases as the distance increases,
An optical measuring instrument, wherein the center axis of the objective lens mount is arranged so as to coincide with the optical axis of the main body side optical system.

Images