JP2010101869A - Counter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a counter for calculating the number of cells or blood corpuscles, which includes a body incorporating a counting section, a mechanism allowing easy positioning and fixation, while maintaining parallelism to a cover, and higher-visibility graduations in the counting section, reduce a manufacturing cost of the counter, and enhance user-friendliness thereof. <P>SOLUTION: The body is provided with the step of giving a certain distance between the counting section and the cover, and the body and the cover are fixed by thermal caulking which thermally deforms the chip of engaging members comprising thermoplastic projections provided on the surface of the body so as to cover part of the cover. The graduations are formed through transfer of projections formed on the surface of a metal mold by machining to ensure clearer edges and higher visibility. In addition, recesses are provided in areas with which cover edges of the body come into contact so that burr on the cover edges, if any, does not cause a problem. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a counter used for counting fine objects such as cells and blood cells using a microscope, and more particularly to a plastic disposable counter.

  In the field of studying living organisms, ie, medicine, pharmacy, pathology, hematology, biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, botany, etc., using a microscope, cells, microorganisms, blood cells, etc. It is important as a means of experiment to observe the form of and to measure the number.

  When observing a sample with a microscope, it is common to use the transmitted or reflected illumination light by sandwiching the sample between two thin glass plates called preparations. However, in the research field as described above, in order to measure the quantity of minute objects, it is necessary to take a method of calculating the total quantity by counting for each area divided into a certain area.

  In order to enable such observation, a transparent plate material is placed on the area where a scale is provided in a grid pattern to form a counting unit, and a transparent step is provided around the counting unit. Various counters have been developed in which a cover made of a plate material is arranged and a fixed amount of sample can be filled between the counter and the cover. In the above-mentioned field, in consideration of infectious diseases and contamination caused by bacteria and the like, it is general that the counting board is made of plastic and made disposable.

  In such a counting board, a scale forming method, a mechanism for positioning and fixing the main body on which the counting unit is formed and the cover, a holding mechanism for a gap between the counting unit and the cover, and the like are appropriately designed. This is important for reducing the manufacturing cost and improving the convenience of use and the accuracy of counting.

  As an example of this, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a gap between a main body and a cover is simultaneously formed using an adhesive in which spherical particles having a constant particle size serving as a spacer are mixed for bonding the main body and the cover. Has been. However, as a problem in this case, since the spherical particles are used for the spacer, the amount of adhesive used is increased, or it is necessary to provide a separate positioning step, which makes the assembly process complicated. It can be mentioned. Moreover, since an adhesive is used, there is a problem that the material is limited.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for positioning and fixing a cover by providing a protrusion having a hook on the main body side. However, in this case as well, since the cover is pushed in and locked with a hook, it is inevitable that a slight loosening occurs between the body and the cover, and an error may occur in the calculation of the number of observation objects. There are challenges.

  In addition, plastic bodies and covers are generally obtained by a method that uses molten metal to form the required shape using a mold, such as injection molding, but the scale of the counting part is formed on the mold surface. Since it is performed by laser processing or etching processing, it is difficult to form fine edges, and there is room for improvement in the visibility of the scale. Further, it is a problem that cannot be ignored to reduce the visibility of the scale due to the accuracy of the shape transfer of the mold during molding.

  Furthermore, in cutting and injection molding of a plate material considered as a cover manufacturing method, so-called burrs and blisters may occur at the edge portion, and even if they are fine, the burrs and blisters are in contact with the main body. In the state, there is a possibility that the cover and the main body are deviated from parallel, leading to an increase in the count error.

  JP 11-160310 A   JP 2007-303958 A

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism that can simplify positioning and fixing while maintaining the parallelism between the main body on which the counting unit is formed and the cover, and a scale of the counting unit with improved visibility compared to the conventional one. It is to reduce the manufacturing cost of the counter and improve the convenience in use.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has been made as a result of reexamination of a method for joining a main body and a cover and a method for processing a portion for molding a scale of a mold.

  That is, the present invention is made of a polymer material, and includes a main body having a counting unit for calculating the number of observation objects by a scale provided in a grid on a flat surface, and a transparent polymer material covering the counting unit. In the counter having a flat cover, the scale is obtained by molding with a mold prepared by machining, and the cross section is a groove having at least one of a V shape and a trapezoidal shape, The main body has a step part for giving a certain distance between the counting part and the cover, and a locking member for positioning and fixing the cover on the main body. It is.

  In the present invention, the locking member is provided on the counting unit side of the main body at a position in contact with the cover, and the tip is deformed by heating so as to cover at least a part of the end of the cover. The counter is characterized by including a protrusion made of a thermoplastic material.

  Further, in the present invention, the locking member is provided on the counting unit side on the main body, is inserted through a through hole provided in the cover, and has a shape that covers at least a part of the cover, The counter is characterized in that it includes a protrusion made of a thermoplastic material deformed by heating.

  Further, according to the present invention, the locking member is provided on the counting portion side on the main body at a position in contact with the cover, and a protrusion having an inclined portion in contact with a ridge on the side not in contact with the main body in the cover. It is said count board characterized by including.

  Moreover, this invention is the said counting board characterized by the groove | channel for comprising an escape part being provided in the part which the edge of the said cover contacts in the said main body.

  Since the scale in the counting board of the present invention is prepared in the form of a V-shaped or trapezoidal protrusion in the cross section by machining using a fine processing machine, the portion forming the scale in the mold used for molding is used. It is possible to suppress a decrease in visibility due to the accuracy of mold manufacturing and the transfer accuracy during molding, as in the case of mold molding.

  Further, the first method for positioning and fixing the main body and the cover is performed by causing a projection made of a thermoplastic material provided on the main body side to melt and deform by heating and closely contact the cover side. For this reason, there is no looseness or “backlash” between the cover and the main body, so that the decrease in the calculation accuracy of the number of objects is extremely small.

  The second method of positioning and fixing the main body and the cover is performed by using a protrusion having an inclined portion. For this reason, unlike a simple hook, an urging mechanism that presses the cover against the main body side by the elasticity of the inclined portion and the protrusion can be used, so that the looseness and backlash between the cover and the main body can be extremely reduced. it can.

  In addition, even if there is a burr or bulge on the edge of the cover that contacts the main body, a groove that forms a relief portion is provided in the portion where the edge of the cover on the main body abuts. Therefore, the parallelism between the cover and the main body is not lowered, and the calculation accuracy of the number of objects can be maintained.

  Next, an embodiment of the counting board of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of an example of the counting board of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a main body, 2 is a cover, 3 is a stepped portion, 4 is a counting portion, and 5 is a locking projection. In this example, the step part 3 is provided in the counting part 4, and the volume of the sample can be kept constant at the step part 3.

  The material constituting each member is preferably a thermoplastic polymer material having excellent transparency and mechanical strength, and typical examples include styrene resin or acrylic resin. Besides, polycarbonate, polyethylene Examples include, but are not limited to, terephthalate, cellulose acetate, melamine resin, diallyl terephthalate resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl formal, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, and alicyclic polyolefin resin.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the shape of the scale of the counting unit of the present invention, FIG. 2 (a) is an outline of the scale, FIG. 2 (b) is a plan view showing details of part A, and FIG. 2 (c) is BB. It is a cross section. In FIG. 2, 6a is a first scale and 6b is a second scale. As shown in FIG. 2, since it is formed with a mold having V-shaped projections here, there is no problem in the visibility of the scale even if the transfer accuracy in the molding process is somewhat reduced. Moreover, since two types of scales having different depths and widths are prepared, the visibility and the convenience of counting work are improved.

  The interval between the first scales 6a is 0.20 mm, and the interval between the second scales 6b is 1.0 mm. The scale has a depth of 1.5 μm and a width of 3 μm, and the protrusions were formed on the mold by a fine processing machine.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a first example in which the main body and the cover are positioned and fixed by heat caulking, that is, a state where the cover is disposed, FIG. 3B shows a state where the cover is fixed. In FIG. 3, 1a is a main body, 2a is a cover, 5a is a locking projection, 7a is a relief, and 8a is a locking projection after thermal deformation.

  In this example, the interval between the locking projections 5a is set to be substantially the same as the size of the cover 2a, and the tip of the locking projection 5a is heated and pressurized to partially remove the end of the cover 2a. It is fixed by covering it with the locking projection 8a after thermal deformation. Note that electric heating or ultrasonic heating can be used as the heating method.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a second example in which the locking projection is deformed by heating and the main body and the cover are positioned and fixed. FIG. 4A is a state in which the cover is disposed, and FIG. Is a state in which the cover is fixed. In FIG. 4, 1b is a main body, 2b is a cover, 5b is a locking projection, 8b is a locking projection after thermal deformation, and 9 is a through hole provided in the cover 2b.

  In this example, the arrangement of the locking projection 5b and the through-hole 9 is the same, and after inserting the locking projection 5b into the through-hole 9, the tip of the locking projection 5a is heated and pressurized to cover the cover. It is fixed by covering a part of 2b.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example in which the cover is fixed by a locking projection having an inclined portion, FIG. 5 (a) is a state before the cover is pushed in, and FIG. 5 (b) is a state in which the cover is fixed. . In FIG. 5, 1c is a main body, 2c is a cover, and 5c is a locking projection. In this example, the upper ridge of the cover 2c in the drawing is in contact with the inclined portion of the locking projection 5c, and is pressed against the main body 1c side by the elasticity of the locking projection 5c, so that positioning and fixing are possible.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the burr on the edge of the cover is not in direct contact with the main body by a groove constituting the escape portion, and FIG. 6 (a) is a state in which the escape portion is provided. (B) shows a state where no escape portion is provided. In FIG. 6, 10 is a burr. As shown here, by providing the relief 7b, the burr 10 does not contact the surface of the main body 1b, so that the cover 2b does not tilt and the parallelism between the main body 1b and the cover 2b can be maintained. .

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a counter having a mechanism that can easily position and fix the main body and the cover, and a scale of the counter that has improved visibility compared to the conventional one. it can. Thereby, it is possible to contribute to the reduction of the manufacturing cost of the counter and the improvement of the measurement efficiency of the quantity of minute observation objects related to the living body such as cells and blood cells.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above specific examples. For example, design changes within a range that does not depart from the gist of the present invention, such as providing a scale on the cover side, are also included in the present invention. That is, it is a matter of course that various modifications and corrections that can be conceived by those having ordinary knowledge in this technical field are included.

  The perspective view which shows the outline of an example of the counting board of this invention   The figure which shows the shape of the scale of the counting part of this invention, Fig.2 (a) is the outline of a scale, FIG.2 (b) is a top view which shows the detail of A part, FIG.2 (c) is BB cross section.   FIG. 3A is a sectional view showing a first example in which the main body and the cover are positioned and fixed, FIG. 3A is a state where the cover is arranged, and FIG. 3B is a state where the cover is fixed.   Sectional drawing which shows the 2nd example of the state which fixed and positioned the main body and the cover, Fig.4 (a) is the state which has arrange | positioned the cover, FIG.4 (b) has the state which fixed the cover   FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view showing an example in which a cover is fixed with a locking projection having an inclined portion, FIG. 5A is a state before the cover is pushed in, and FIG. 5B is a state in which the cover is fixed.   FIG. 6A is a sectional view showing a state in which a burr on the edge of the cover is not directly brought into contact with the main body by a groove constituting the relief portion, FIG. 6A is a state in which the relief portion is provided, and FIG. No part is provided

Explanation of symbols

1, 1a, 1b, 1c Body 2, 2a, 2b, 2c Cover 3 Stepped portion 4 Counting portion 5, 5a, 5b, 5c Locking projection 6a First scale 6b Second scale 7a, 7b Escape portion 8a, 8b Locking projection after thermal deformation 9 Through-hole

Claims (5)

  A main body having a counting unit for calculating the number of observation objects by a scale provided in a grid on a flat surface, and a flat cover made of a transparent polymer material covering the counting unit The scale is obtained by molding with a mold prepared by machining, and the cross section is a groove having a V-shaped or trapezoidal shape, and the main body has the counting function A counter having a step portion for providing a constant distance between a portion and the cover, and a locking member for positioning and fixing the cover on the main body.   The locking member is provided at a position in contact with the cover on the counting unit side on the main body, and is formed of a thermoplastic material whose tip is deformed by heating so as to cover at least a part of the end of the cover. The counter according to claim 1, further comprising: a protrusion.   The locking member is provided on the counting unit side on the main body, is inserted into a through hole provided in the cover, and has a shape in which at least a part of the cover is covered and the tip portion is deformed by heating. The counting board according to claim 1, further comprising a protrusion made of a plastic material.   The locking member includes a protrusion having an inclined portion that is provided at a position in contact with the cover on the counting unit side on the main body and that contacts a ridge on the side that does not contact the main body of the cover. The counting board according to claim 1.   The counter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a groove for constituting a relief portion is provided in a portion of the main body where the edge of the cover is abutted.

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