BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of an upright microscope with a changing device; and
FIG. 2 shows a front view of the microscope according to FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The microscope which is shown in simplified form in FIGS. 1 and 2 as an upright microscope comprises a housing which is formed substantially of a microscope base 1, a microscope stand 2 and a stand head 3 that is arranged at the upper end of the stand 2. An eyepiece carrier 4 with an eyepiece 5 is located on the stand head 3. Other devices, e.g., photographic devices, can also be arranged on the stand head 3. Further, an objective slide 7 is arranged at the stand 2 on guides 6, preferably so as to be displaceable in direction of the optical axis 8 of the microscope beam path. An objective turret 10 with different objectives 11 which is displaceable around an axis of rotation 9 extending at an inclination to the optical axis 8 is provided at the objective slide 7 in a manner known per se. By rotating the objective turret 10 around its axis of rotation 9, the objectives 11 required for the task at hand can be introduced into the microscope beam path.
Further, a preferably exchangeable holder 12 is provided at the bottom portion of the stand head 2, above the objective slide 7 in the embodiment example according to FIGS. 1 and 2. The changing device 13 according to the invention which is constructed, e.g., as a turret arrangement and which is rotatable around an axis of rotation 14 is arranged at the objective slide 7. This axis of rotation 14 and the optical axis 8 of the beam path intersect at a point P and define a plane which extends substantially perpendicular to the plane of the front wall 15 and rear wall 16 of the microscope stand 2. The plane defined by the axis of rotation 14 and the optical axis 8 advantageously lies in the plane of symmetry of the microscope. For example, reflectors 17; 17.1, reflector cubes, a wide variety of optical filters 18, or other suitable optical elements influencing the microscope beam path can be arranged individually or in combination in this changing device 13. These elements are arranged in the telecentric or parallel part of the microscope beam path, usually between the respective objective 11 located in the beam path and a tube lens 23 which is usually provided in the stand head 3 (in upright microscopes).
A holder 20 for an object stage 21 on which the object 25 or specimen to be examined and/or observed are/is arranged is provided at the microscope stand below the objective slide 7 and is preferably displaceable on guides in direction of the optical axis 8. Manipulators 22 or other suitable tools which must have extensive and unimpeded access to the object 25 from a number of directions through the turret arrangement according to the invention so as to ensure comprehensive manipulation of the object 25 are provided at the microscope for manipulating the object 25.
Further, means, e.g., in the form of one or more beamsplitter cubes 24, for blending in or blending out additional beam paths can be arranged in the stand head 3 likewise in the telecentric area of the microscope beam path. Filters and/or other optical elements influencing the beam path can also be introduced into the beam path (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2).
FIG. 1 also shows that, for example, another illumination beam path is provided in the center portion of the microscope stand 2 with a light source 26 and a condenser 27. This illumination beam path can be used, for example, for incident illumination of the object 25. An illumination beam path with a light source 26.1, a condenser 28 and a deflecting element 29 which can be provided for transmitted illumination are located in the microscope base 1 in an analogous manner.
The holder 12 at which the changing device 13 is arranged so as to be rotatable can also be mounted so as to be displaceable, for example, on a guide which is provided at the microscope stand 2 and which extends in direction of the optical axis 8. In this regard, it is important only that the changing device 13 is located in the telecentric portion of the microscope beam path. This construction of the invention is not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for the sake of simplicity.
The invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment form. However it will be self-evident to the person skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the protected scope of the appended claims.
REFERENCE NUMBERS
1 microscope base
2 microscope stand
3 stand head
4 eyepiece carrier
5 eyepiece
6 guide
7 objective slide
9 optical axis
9 axis of rotation
10 objective turret
11 objective
12 holder
13 turret arrangement
14 axis of rotation
15 front wall
16 rear wall
17 reflector
17.1 reflector
18 filter
19 guide
20 holder
21 object stage
22 manipulator
23 tube lens
24 beamsplitter cube
25 object
26 light source
26.1 light source
27 condenser
28 light source
29 deflecting element
Patent Application
20080084606
