JPH0829699A - Image scope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image scope where an objective lens is not stained. CONSTITUTION:This image scope 10 is constituted of an objective lens casing 1, a flexible tube 2, an ocular easing 3, a grip body 4, a washing liquid pressurizing tank 7d and a liquid sending pressurizing tank 8d. The objective lens 11 is fitted on the front side of the lens casing 1 and a wiper 6a capable of wiping out the outer surface of the lens 11 is provided near the lens 11 on an end face 1a. Then, a washing liquid discharge opening 7a and a jet 8a are similarly provided on the end face 1a. By turning on a wiper switch 6c, the wiper 6a wipes out the outer surface of the lens 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an imagescope in which an objective lens and an observation lens are connected by an optical fiber bundle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An imagescope is usually a system in which an objective lens and an observation lens are connected by an optical fiber bundle, and this optical fiber bundle is usually covered with a flexible tube.

FIG. 5 shows such an image scope.
As shown in (a) and (b), a light guide 107 for guiding the light from the light source to the tip side, an objective lens 106 for receiving the illumination reflected light to obtain a light image, and this light image for CCD
JP-A-3-286733 discloses an image scope 100 including a display 103 for converting into an electric signal and outputting the electric signal as an image, and an air / water supply tube 108, 109 for supplying air / water to the tip side. No.

The image scope 100 can be used for inspecting a place which is not directly visible to humans, such as a human body cavity. That is, the operator can observe the inside of the body cavity through the display 103 by introducing the objective lens 106 side of the image scope 100 into the human body cavity.

[0005]

However, the conventional image scope 100 is used in a place where sewage, dirt or dust is present such as a sewer pipe or where bodily fluid is present such as a human body cavity. In some cases, dirty water may adhere to the surface of the objective lens and a clear image may not be obtained or nothing may be seen. When such a situation occurs, the operator has to take out the objective lens 106 side of the image scope 100 from the pipe or the like, clean the objective lens 106, and introduce the objective lens side into the pipe or the like again, and the work is complicated and wasteful. It took a long time.

In particular, when the liquid is sprayed from the water supply tube 109 to clean the inner wall of the body cavity, the objective lens 106 may be contaminated by the liquid sprayed by itself, so that the above situation is likely to occur. . The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image scope in which an objective lens is not contaminated.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is an image scope in which an objective lens and an observing lens are connected by an optical fiber bundle. A feature is that a wiper for wiping off the objective lens is provided.

The invention according to claim 2 is the image scope according to claim 1, characterized in that a cleaning liquid discharge port for discharging a cleaning liquid toward the objective lens is provided in the vicinity of the objective lens. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in an image scope in which an objective lens and an observation lens are connected by an optical fiber bundle, a storage unit for storing the objective lens, and the storage unit is installed in front of the objective lens. And a shutter that can be opened and closed.

The invention according to claim 4 is the image scope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an injection port provided on the side of the objective lens, a supply device for supplying a fluid to the injection port, and the injection And an injection control unit that controls the injection of the fluid from the mouth.

The fluid means a fluid such as a gas, a liquid, and a granular material. The observation lens is an eyepiece for observing with the naked eye or C for expressing as an image.
It means a CD camera.

[0011]

According to the image scope of the first aspect, even if dust, dirty water, dirt, or body fluid adheres to the objective lens, the adhered matter is removed by the wiper provided near the objective lens side. Can be easily wiped off. Therefore, the objective lens is not contaminated. For this reason, unlike the conventional case, the operator does not need to clean the objective lens, and the wasteful time is not consumed.

According to the image scope of the present invention, when the adhered matter cannot be easily removed only by wiping with the wiper, the cleaning solution is discharged from the cleaning solution discharge port toward the objective lens and the adhered matter is wiped off with the cleaning solution. Remove. Therefore, the deposits on the objective lens can be removed more easily than in the first aspect.

According to the image scope of the third aspect, when the objective lens is introduced into a place where dust, sewage, dirt or body fluid may adhere to the objective lens, the shutter is first closed. At this time, since the objective lens is sealed in the housing portion by the shutter, the contact with the outside is blocked. Then, after introducing the objective lens to a predetermined position, the shutter is opened and the state at that position is confirmed through the observation lens. In this way, the objective lens does not come into contact with the outside unless necessary, so that the objective lens is not contaminated.

According to the image scope of claim 4, for example, in the case of being used for a sewer pipe, after confirming a predetermined position, the injection control unit is controlled to supply air, cleaning liquid, insecticide / bactericide from the supply device. A fluid such as is ejected from the ejection port. At this time, in the image scope according to the first or second aspect, if the fluid is ejected while the wiper is moved, the objective lens is not contaminated with the fluid. Claim 3
In the image scope described, if the fluid is ejected with the shutter closed, the objective lens is not contaminated by the fluid.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment. The image scope 10 of the first embodiment mainly includes an objective lens casing 1, a flexible tube 2, an eyepiece lens casing 3, a grip body 4, a cleaning liquid pressure tank 7d, and a liquid feeding pressure tank 8d.

An objective lens 11 is fitted in the front side of the objective lens casing 1. A cylindrical cavity is formed inside the objective lens casing 1, and the tip of the image fiber 12 is disposed in the cavity at a position facing the objective lens 11. End face 1 of objective lens casing 1
a, and the objective lens 11 is located near the objective lens 11.
Is provided with a wiper 6a capable of wiping off the outer surface thereof. The wiper 6a is driven by a motor 6d installed in the objective lens casing 1.

A cleaning liquid discharge port 7a is provided at the end surface 1a of the objective lens casing 1 at a position facing the mounting position of the wiper 6a. The discharge direction of the cleaning liquid discharge port 7a is toward the outer surface of the objective lens 11. The end surface 1a of the objective lens casing 1 is further provided with an injection port 8a. The jetting direction of the jetting port 8a is from the end surface 1a of the objective lens casing 1 to the front just before the lead.

The flexible tube 2 covers the image fiber 12, the cable 6b, the cleaning liquid tube 7b, and the liquid feeding tube 8b. The image fiber 12 is
It is a bundle of plastic fibers as an optical fiber.
As described above, one end of the image fiber 12 is arranged at a position facing the objective lens 11, and the other end is arranged at the eyepiece lens 1.
It is arranged at a position facing 3. The plastic fiber is used because it is more flexible than the glass fiber and is not likely to be cut even if it is repeatedly bent.

The tip of the cleaning liquid tube 7b is connected to the cleaning liquid discharge port 7a, and the tip of the liquid supply tube 8b is the injection port 8a.
It is connected to. The tip of the cable 6b is connected to a motor 6d that drives the wiper 6a. The eyepiece lens casing 3 is fitted with an eyepiece lens 13 on the rear end side. A cylindrical cavity is formed inside the eyepiece casing 3, and the rear end portion of the image fiber 12 is arranged in the cavity at a position facing the eyepiece 13 as described above.

A wiper switch 6c is provided on the outer surface of the eyepiece lens casing 3. The wiper switch 6c is provided between the cable 6b and a small battery (not shown), and controls the energization state of the motor 6d that drives the wiper 6a. A cleaning liquid switch 7c is provided on the grip body 4.
And a liquid transfer switch 8c. The cleaning liquid switch 7c is an opening / closing valve that is provided between the cleaning liquid tube 7b and the cleaning liquid pressure tank 7d and controls the supply state of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid pressure tank 7d to the cleaning liquid tube 7b. On the other hand, the liquid feed switch 8c is provided between the liquid feed tube 8b and the liquid feed pressure tank 8d containing a sterilizing / insecticide, and supplies the liquid feed from the liquid feed pressure tank 8d to the liquid feed tube 8b. It is an on-off valve that controls the state. The liquid supply pressure tank 8d corresponds to the supply device of the present invention, and the liquid supply switch 8
c corresponds to the injection control unit.

The operation and effect of the image scope 10 of the first embodiment will be described by taking the case of inspecting the inside of a slender sewer pipe as an example. The operator uses the objective lens 1
Introduce one side into an elongated pipe. At this time, the objective lens 11 is introduced into the pipe while manually feeding the flexible tube 2. The operator observes the inside of the pipe through the eyepiece lens 13. At this time, if dust, sewage, dirt, etc. adhere to the objective lens 11 and the image projected through the eyepiece lens 13 becomes unclear, the wiper switch Turn on 6c. Then, the wiper 6a is driven by the motor 6d, the surface of the objective lens 11 is wiped off, and the attached matter is removed. On the other hand, when the attached matter cannot be easily removed only by the wiper 6a, the cleaning liquid switch 7c is further turned on. Then, the cleaning liquid is discharged from the cleaning liquid discharge port 7a to the objective lens 11. Therefore, the attached matter is wiped off by the wiper 6a together with the cleaning liquid,
Easily removed.

Therefore, unlike the conventional case, the operator does not have to spend time and effort to clean the objective lens 11 and wasteful time is not consumed. Also, the operator observed the inside of the pipe,
When a breeding site of fungi or insects is found, the wiper switch 6c is first turned on to drive the wiper 6a.
Next, the liquid feeding switch 8c is turned on while confirming the breeding site with the eyepiece lens 13. Then, the liquid pressure tank 8
The germicide / insecticide contained in d is sprayed from the spray port 8a to the breeding site. At this time, since the objective lens 11 is constantly wiped off by the wiper 6a, the objective lens 11 is not soiled by the sterilizing / insecticide sprayed by itself. Therefore, the operator must sterilize the breeding site.
It can be clearly confirmed through the eyepiece lens 13 whether or not the insecticide has hit the target.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the second embodiment. The image scope 20 of the second embodiment does not include the cleaning liquid discharge port 7a, the cleaning liquid tube 7b, the cleaning liquid switch 7c, and the cleaning liquid pressure tank 7d of the first embodiment. In addition, the wiper 6 of the first embodiment
A shutter 26a, a cable 26b and a shutter switch 26c are provided instead of the a, the cable 6b and the wiper switch 6c. Since the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for the above points, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The shutter 26a is provided on the end face 1a side of the objective lens casing 1 and in front of the objective lens 11 so as to cover the objective lens 11. The shutter 26a is opened and closed by a motor 26d installed in the objective lens casing 1.

A shutter switch 26c is provided on the outer surface of the eyepiece lens casing 3. The shutter switch 26c is provided between the cable 26b and a small battery (not shown), and controls the energization state of the motor 26d.
The operation and effect of the image scope 20 of the second embodiment will be described by taking the case of inspecting the inside of a slender sewer pipe as an example.

The operator first turns on the shutter switch 26c to close the shutter 26a. Then, the objective lens 11 is sealed in the objective lens casing 1 by the shutter 26a, and the contact with the outside is blocked.
In this state, the objective lens 11 side is introduced into the elongated pipe. That is, the objective lens 11 is introduced to a predetermined position while manually feeding the flexible tube 2. After that, the shutter switch 26c is turned off to open the shutter 26a, and the state of the position is confirmed through the eyepiece lens 13. It should be noted that whether or not the objective lens 11 has reached a predetermined position is confirmed by turning off the shutter switch 26c and opening the shutter 26a at any time.

As described above, since the objective lens 11 does not come into contact with the outside except when necessary, the objective lens 11 is not contaminated. Therefore, unlike the conventional case, the operator does not need to clean the objective lens 11 and wasteful time is not consumed. Further, when the operator observes the inside of the pipe and finds a breeding place of fungi or insects, after confirming the breeding place with the eyepiece lens 13, the shutter switch 26c is turned on to close the shutter 26a, and then. The liquid transfer switch 8c is turned on. Then, the sterilizing / insecticide contained in the liquid feeding pressure tank 8d is sprayed from the spray port 8a to the breeding site. At this time, since the objective lens 11 is sealed in the objective lens casing 1, the objective lens 11 is not contaminated by the sterilizing / insecticide sprayed by itself. After that, the shutter switch 26c is turned off and the shutter 26a is opened, and it can be confirmed afterwards that the germicidal / insecticide has surely hit the breeding site.

It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the technical scope of the present invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the objective lens casing 1 according to the first embodiment.
Has a double tube structure composed of an outer tube 1b and an inner tube 1c, a space 8e surrounded by the outer tube 1b and the inner tube 1c is communicated with a liquid delivery tube 8b, and a liquid is ejected through the space 8e to an injection port 8a.
It may be configured to eject from. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, a cylindrical body 1d whose only rear end is closed is arranged outside the objective lens casing 1, and a liquid feeding tube 8b is communicated with the rear end of the cylindrical body 1d so that liquid is passed through the objective lens casing. Alternatively, the injection may be performed from the donut-shaped injection port 8a via the gap 8f between the end surface 1a of the first cylinder 1d and the cylindrical body 1d. With the configuration of FIG. 4, liquid can be ejected over a wider range than in FIG. On the other hand, with the configuration of FIG. 3, the liquid can be ejected more vigorously than in FIG.

An illumination lamp may be provided in the objective lens casing 1 of each of the above-described embodiments, and in this case, the operator can clearly recognize the subject through the eyepiece lens 13 by the light of the illumination lamp. Further, instead of the eyepiece lens casing 3, a display (see FIG. 5) for converting an image into an electric signal by a CCD and outputting the electric signal as an image may be connected as in the conventional example.

Furthermore, instead of the liquid supply tube 8b and the liquid supply pressure tank 8d, an air supply tube and an air compressor may be used. In this case, since the liquid is not ejected from the ejection port 8a, the objective lens is not likely to be contaminated by the liquid ejected by itself, but is likely to be contaminated by surrounding dust or dirty water. There is a utility value of the shutter 26a.

In addition, for example, the image scope 1 described above
When 0 and 20 are used for the examination inside the human body cavity, a liquid medicine or the like in which the therapeutic agent is dissolved / suspended may be built in the liquid supply pressure tank 8d.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of another embodiment.

5A and 5B are explanatory views of a conventional example, FIG. 5A is an overall view, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 5A.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Objective lens casing, 2 ... Flexible tube, 3 ... Eyepiece casing, 4 ...
・ Grip body, 6a ... Wiper, 7a
... Cleaning liquid discharge port, 8a ... Injection port,
8c ... Liquid sending switch, 8d ... Liquid sending pressurized tank, 10, 20 ... Image scope, 11 ...
..Objective lens, 12 ... Image fiber, 13 ... Eyepiece lens, 26a ... Shutter,

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shogo Nasuda 2-24-15 Chiyoda, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Kitagawa Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image scope in which an objective lens and an observation lens are connected by an optical fiber bundle, wherein a wiper for wiping the objective lens is provided in the vicinity of the objective lens. 2. The image scope according to claim 1, wherein a cleaning liquid discharge port for discharging a cleaning liquid toward the objective lens is provided in the vicinity of the objective lens. 3. An image scope in which an objective lens and an observation lens are connected to each other by an optical fiber bundle, and a storage unit for storing the objective lens, and the storage unit is provided in front of the objective lens in the storage unit. An image scope that has a shutter that can be opened and closed. 4. An injection port provided on the objective lens side, a supply device for supplying a fluid to the injection port, and an injection control unit for controlling the injection of the fluid from the injection port. The image scope according to any one of claims 1 to 3.