PIVOT ARM STAND FOR DIGITAL MICROSCOPES

• US 20140353451A1
• Filed: 04/09/2014
• Published: 12/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Inventors: HEISE, Heino, HEIN, Detlef
• Application Number:
  US14/248,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20140353451A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/371
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/10 Arrangements for locking
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/046 adapted to upward-downward translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/425 along guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/044 for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/24 Base structure
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/26 Stages; Adjusting means therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to a pivot arm stand for digital microscopes having a pivot arm which is pivotable about a rotation axis.

According to the invention the pivotal movement may be blocked by a high torque magnetic brake arranged about a rotation axis (DA), which consists of a simultaneously pivoting part (MS) and a fixed part (ML), whereby the blocking may be suspended for the duration of a touch of a button (TS) by releasing the high torque magnetic brake, the button (TS) being arranged on the pivot arm (SA) in such a way that it can be conveniently pressed with at least one finger of the same hand which clasps an ergonomically shaped section (EB) of the pivot arm (SA), which is provided for grasping the pivot arm (SA) for setting a pivot angle (w).

Claims

1. A pivot arm stand for digital microscopes having a pivot arm pivotable about a rotation axis,

wherein the movement of the pivot arm is blocked by a high torque magnetic brake arranged about a rotation axis (DA),

wherein the high torque magnetic brake comprises a simultaneously pivoting part (MS) and a fixed part (ML),

wherein the blocking is suspended for the duration of a touch of a button (TS) by releasing the high torque magnetic brake,

wherein the button (TS) is arranged on the pivot arm (SA) in such a way that it can be pressed with at least one finger of the same hand which clasps an ergonomically shaped section (EB) of the pivot arm (SA), and

wherein the ergonomically shaped section (EB) of the pivot arm (SA) is provided for grasping the pivot arm (SA) for setting a pivot angle (w).

2. The pivot arm stand for digital microscopes according to claim 1,

wherein the simultaneously pivoted part (MS) of the magnetic brake sits on an axle bolt (ABO), is securely screwed there to the axle bolt (ABO) by means of a rear adapter ring (HVR) and a rear roller bearing (HK), and is fixable in this position with a threaded pin (GM) to an axle bolt (ABO),

wherein a front roller bearing (VK) is further arranged on the axle bolt (ABO) which is mounted along with rear roller bearing (HK) in a bearing block (LB),

wherein the fixed part (ML) of the magnetic brake is screwed to the bearing block (LB) and forms an abutment for the rear roller bearing (HK), the abutment being used to tension the rear roller bearing (HK) against the front roller bearing (VK) supported in the bearing block (LB) via an front adapter ring (VVR),

wherein a working gap (SP) suitable for operating the magnetic brake is present between the fixed part (ML) of the magnetic brake and the simultaneously pivoted part (MS) of the magnetic brake, and the axle bolt (ABO) is securely connected by means of a front ring tension spring assembly (RPV) which may be tensioned via multiple countersunk screws (SES) and a front pressure disk (VD) against a joint part (GT), as well as by means of a rear ring tension spring assembly (RPH) which may be tensioned via multiple countersunk screws (SES) and a rear pressure disk (HD) against the joint part (GT), to the joint part (GT) in such a way that a pivotal movement about the rotation axis (DA) resulting from the mounting is possible only when the high torque magnetic brake is supplied with current, and

wherein a force-free adjustment via the pivot arm (SA) is presupposed and the pivotal movement is limited by a stop screw (AS), which is securely connected to the joint part (GT) and by a stop groove (AN) which is situated in the bearing block (LB).

3. The pivot arm stand for digital microscopes according to claim 1,

wherein the ergonomically shaped section (EP) and the button (TS) are situated at the upper end of the pivot arm (SA) at a sufficiently large distance removed from the rotation axis (DA), such that the pivot arm (SA) may be moved with a reasonable expenditure of force for setting the pivot angle (w).

4. The pivot arm stand for digital microscopes according to claim 1,

wherein the arrangement of the button (TS) and the ergonomically shaped section (EB) are configured so as to make a left and a right-handed operation equally possible.

5. The pivot arm stand for digital microscopes according to claim 1,

wherein the ergonomically curved upper side of the pivot arm (SA) is shaped in such a way that it may be comfortably grasped both with the rightward-pointing left hand (LHB) as well as with the leftward-pointing right hand (RHB), wherein from the outset the button (TS) is in comfortable reach of the left thumb (LDB) or the right thumb (RDB) of the respective hand being used.

6. The pivot arm stand for digital microscopes according to claim 2,

wherein the joint part (GT) includes an active lever arm (H) relative to the rotation axis (DA), at which the tractive forces created as a result of a first tension spring (ZFA) and a second tension spring (ZFB), each attached with their other end to the stand (SST), are coupled into the joint part (GT) via the arrangement of the tensions springs (ZFA, ZFB) on the stand (SST) in such a way that the torque to be applied by the user for setting the pivot angle (w), which is determined by the instantaneous Z-position of a motorized upper Z-guide (ZMO) and the weight force of the simultaneously pivoted parts as a function of the instantaneous pivot angle (w) and the position of the center of gravity (S), and by the frictional torque created by the mounting, is reduced by the tension springs (ZFA, ZFB) in the entire pivot angle range independently of the instantaneous Z-position of the upper motorized Z-guide (ZMO), to thereby facilitate operation by the user, and

wherein the torques present in the area of the vertical setting of the pivot arm (SA) created by the first tension spring (ZFA) and the second tension spring (ZFB), and which support the movement in the direction of the vertical setting, contribute to locating of the vertical setting of the pivot arm (SA).

7. The pivot arm stand for digital microscopes according to claim 6,

wherein the tractive forces created by a first tension spring (ZFA) and the second tension spring (ZFB) are coupled into the joint part (GT) via the arrangement of tension springs on the stand (SST) in such a way that the torque (w) to be applied by the user for setting the pivot angle (w), which is determined by the position of the center of gravity (S) as a function of the instantaneous pivot angle (w) and the instantaneous Z-position of the motorized upper Z-guide (ZMO) and by the weight force of the simultaneously pivoted parts acting there, and by the frictional torques created by the mounting are fully compensated or overcompensated by the tension springs (ZFA, ZFB) over the entire pivot angle range between a bottom-most Z-position (Z1) of the upper motorized Z-guide (ZMO) and at least up to a marginal Z-position (Z2), in which a danger exists of tilting over an edge (KN) when falling short of the negative marginal pivot angle (GWN) or over the edge (KP) when the marginal pivot angle (GWP) is exceeded, the overcompensation resulting in stronger return torques, which makes it easier for the user to return the pivot arm (SA) to the vertical position.

8. The pivot arm stand for digital microscopes according to claim 1,

wherein the rotation axis (DA) of the pivot arm (SA) is defined by at least two low-friction roller bearings (VK) and (HK), and a sufficiently smooth locking arrangement having a discernible lock-capturing range between the joint part (GT) and the fixed bearing block (LB),

wherein the active return forces which result with minimal frictional losses from the locking arrangement with the spring-loading forces, for the mounting and locking assembly, lead to locating of a discernible and reproducible locking position for the vertical alignment of the pivot arm (SA).

9. The pivot arm stand for digital microscopes according to claim 1,

wherein the locking assembly comprises a fixed locking lever (RL), which is mounted for pivotal movement about a rotation axis (DR) in the joint part (GT) and supports a locking ball bearing (RK) which has a rotation axis (DK), and of a locking segment (RS) having an outer surface (MF) on which the locking ball bearing (RK) rolls and a lock geometry (RG) in the outer surface (MF),

wherein the locking lever (RL) is pressed by at least one tension spring or compression spring by the three compression springs (DF1), (DF2) and (DF3), against the outer surface (MF),

wherein the lock geometry (RG) is designed such that the locking ball bearing (RK) is drawn into a stable locking position corresponding to a vertical alignment of the pivot arm (SA) from the start of the capture range, which begins before reaching the vertical alignment of the pivot arm (SA), the stable locking position also providing reproducibility of the vertical alignment of the pivot arm (SA).

10. The pivot arm stand for digital microscopes according to claim 1,

wherein the ergonomically shaped section (EB) of the pivot arm (SA) is provided with a handle surface (GO) in the form of a soft-touch surface of contrasting color at the upper end of the pivot arm (SA).

11. The pivot arm stand for digital microscopes according claim 6,

wherein the instantaneous Z-coordinate of the motorized upper Z-guide (ZMO) is retrievable when the button (TS) is pressed and the pivotal movement is permitted only when the allowable marginal Z-position (Z2) of the motorized upper Z-guide (ZMO) is not exceeded.

12. The pivot arm stand for digital microscopes according to claim 7,

wherein the instantaneous Z-coordinate of the motorized upper Z-guide (ZMO) is retrievable when the button (TS) is pressed,

wherein the angular position of the pivot arm (SA) is determined by a measuring system and the pivotal movement is limited to a permissible pivot angle range as a function of the instantaneous Z-coordinate of the motorized upper Z-guide (ZMO), and

wherein a blocking of the magnetic brake is not permitted outside the permissible pivot angle range and, when combined with the tension spring assembly, a sufficiently strong return force is available for the return to the permissible pivot angle range such that a release of the button (TS) outside the permissible pivot angle range results in a pivot angle (w) that is set within the pivot angle range.

13. The pivot arm stand for digital microscopes according to claim 12,

wherein the departure from the permissible pivot angle range is indicated by at least one of an acoustic signal and a warning on the control and display unit.

14. The pivot arm stand for digital microscopes according to claim 9,

wherein the outer surface (MF) outside the lock geometry is curved in such a way that the locking ball bearing (RK) is consistently the same distance away from the rotation axis (DA), as a result of which the contact force of the locking ball bearing (RK) against the outer surface (MF) of the locking segment (RS) consistently remains constant regardless of the pivot angle (w).

15. The pivot arm stand for digital microscopes according to claim 9,

wherein the outer surface (MF) outside the lock geometry is curved in such a way that the distance between the locking ball (RK) bearing and the rotation axis (DA) is variable depending on the pivot angle (w), as a result of which the contact force of the locking ball bearing (RK) against the outer surface (MF) of the locking segment (RS) is also dependent on the pivot angle (w), the curvature being selectable such that the torque curves from the tension spring assembly are corrected to produce the desired torque curve as a function of the pivot angle (w).

16. The pivot arm stand for digital microscopes according to claim 4,

wherein the upper end of the pivot arm (SA) is rotationally symmetrically designed about the vertical center axis in the vertical setting, thereby creating an ergonomically shaped section (EB) which may be comfortably grasped both with the rightward-pointing left hand (LHB) and with the leftward-pointing right hand (RHB), the button (TS) situated on the upper end face of the pivot arm (SA) in this arrangement being in comfortable reach of the left thumb (LDB) or right thumb (RDB) of the respective hand being used.