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US 4,729,646 AGranted
Multi-use microscope having modular construction of extruded parts
AssigneeBausch & Lomb Incorporated
InventorsJames A. Clark, Michael H. Dobner, Paul A. Hoogesteger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A microscope is provided which is simply, accurately and inexpensively constructed from substantially all extruded parts. The modular construction of the microscope greatly reduces the costs of the instrument without sacrificing accuracy. The modularity further provides for a microscope which is readily adaptable to serve several distinct and separate functions.
Claims29
Modular apparatus for supporting a microscope, comprising:
- an extruded column having included therein;
- (a) longitudinally extruded bearing ways for receiving and guiding a linearly moveable slide member having a microscope supported thereon, (b) a plurality of extruded fastener receiving apertures, and (c) means for removing play from the linearly moveable slide member including a pair of slots extruded in said column on opposite sides thereof, said slots having means disposed therein for pivoting said opposed sides about said slots toward or away from each other to thereby adjust said linearly moveable slide member.
Modular apparatus for supporting a microscope, comprising:
- (1) an extruded column having defined therein;
- (a) longitudinally extruded bearing ways,
- (b) a plurality of extruded fastener receiving apertures,
- (c) a pair of longitudinally extruded slots;
- (2) an extruded slide member including means extruded longitudinally thereon to which a microscope support member is fixed having a first pair of bearing ways extruded thereon, said slide member being mounted thereby to said column bearing ways, said slide member further including a second pair of bearing ways adjacent said first pair of bearing ways and said microscope support member is adjustably mounted to said second pair of slide bearing ways for movement therealong by way of complimenting bearing ways formed thereon;
- and
- (3) means adapted to said second pair of slide bearing ways to limit the adjustment travel of said microscope support member.
4 more elements
Apparatus for supporting and linearly moving the viewing optics of an optical instrument, comprising:
- (a) a base member;
- (b) an extruded column including:
- (1) first means extruded therein for attachment of said base and said base being attached thereto, and
- (2) second means extruded therein for receiving and guiding an extruded slide member;
- (c) an extruded slide member mounted for vertical linear movement in said extruded receiving and guiding means, said slide member including:
- (1) means for mounting opposite ends of a drive cable thereon, and
- (2) means for selectively attaching appropriate viewing optics;
- (d) an adjusting shaft rotatably mounted to said extruded column;
- and
- (e) a drive cable wrapped at least one turn about said adjusting shaft and having its opposite ends resiliently mounted between said slide member mounting means, whereby rotation of said adjusting shaft causes said drive cable to move said slide member linearly in said column receiving and guiding means.
7 more elements
A supporting and guiding apparatus for precisely vertically translating a microscope from a first position to a second, comprising:
- an extruded support column having a pair of bearing ways extruded thereon for receiving and guiding therealong a slide member to which a microscope is mounted, said column further including a pair of extruded slots for receiving therein a play adjusting means;
- an extruded slide member, said slide member being mounted to said column bearing ways by way of a complimentary pair of bearing ways which are extruded thereon;
- means for adjusting play being disposed in said slots for selectively adjusting the amount of play between said slide and said column;
- and
- a focus adjusting mechanism rotatably mounted to said column and coupled to said slide member to enable movement of said slide member along said column upon rotation of said adjusting mechanism.
2 more elements
The method of manufacturing a modular support and focus adjusting mechanism for a microscope, comprising the steps of:
- (a) extruding a column having defined therein a pair of bearing ways, a plurality of fastener receiving apertures and a pair of opposed slots;
- (b) providing a support aperture through said column substantially perpendicular to said bearing ways, fastener receiving apertures and slots extruded therein;
- (c) extruding a slide member having defined thereon a pair of bearing ways complimentary to said column bearing ways;
- (d) mounting said slide member to said column via said complimenting bearing ways;
- (e) mounting a focus adjusting shaft assembly through said column support aperture;
- (f) coupling said slide member and said focus assembly together via a cable the cable wrapping once around said shaft assembly and having its opposite ends mounted to said slide member;
- (g) mounting a means to said pair of opposed slots extruded in said column for varying the amount of play between said column and said slide member;
- and
- (h) mounting a base and a cap to said column by way of self-threading fasteners which are received in said extruded fastener receiving apertures.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.