Cover film attachment device

Abstract

To prevent a slide glass from being in contact with air over a long period of time without drawing out a cover film.SOLUTION: A cover film laminating device includes a holder holding unit C that holds a holder 11 on which a cover film 10 is wound, a cutting unit 40 that cuts the cover film 10 drawn out from the holder 11 into a predetermined length, an immersion tank 32 in which a basket 21 storing a plurality of slide glasses 22 each having a specimen sample stuck thereon is immersed in a permeating agent, a sealing unit B that laminates the cover film 10 cut in the predetermined length onto the slide glass 22 taken out of the basket 21, an imaging device 14 that images an outer diameter of the cover film 10 wound on the holder 11 held by the holder holding unit C, and a control unit 64 that calculates a remaining length of the cover film 10 wound on the holder 11 on the basis of the outer diameter of the wound cover film 10 imaged by the imaging device 14.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cover film applying device that applies a cover film to a slide glass on which a specimen has been attached. [Background technology]

[0002] In pathological examinations, specimens made by thinly slicing biological material are attached to glass slides and stained. After that, a cover film is attached to the surface of the glass slide to protect the specimen, and the specimen is observed under a microscope.

[0003] Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-300323) discloses a device for adhering a cover film to the surface of a slide glass. The cover film application device of Patent Document 1 includes a basket that stores a plurality of slide glasses before the cover film is applied thereto, and a take-out device that takes out the slide glasses from the basket. The basket containing the slides before the cover film is attached is immersed in a clearing agent such as xylene to prevent the specimen from drying out.

[0004] The slide is removed from the basket and a solvent that dissolves the mounting medium or the mounting medium that has been applied to the cover film is dripped onto the slide. The cover film is pulled out from the roll and cut to a predetermined length by a cutter, and the cut cover film of the predetermined length is pressed and attached to a slide glass onto which a mounting medium has been dropped. The slide with the cover film attached is then returned to the basket. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-300323 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The cover film is wound in a long length around a circular holder and held in a cover film application device, which pulls out the long cover film from the holder, cuts it to a predetermined length to be applied to the slide glass, and applies the cut cover film to the slide glass.

[0007] In conventional cover film application devices, the cover film is pulled and positioned so that it is long enough to be applied to all of the maximum number of slides stored in the basket from the time the cover film is pulled out of the holder to the application position. This configuration is known as a seal guarantee, and even if the remaining cover film wound around the holder runs out, cover film can still be applied to the length of the cover film that is being pulled around, that is, to at least all of the slides stored in the basket where the application work is currently being performed. Therefore, the specimen on the slide glass is not left exposed to air for a long period of time, and damage to the specimen can be avoided.

[0008] As mentioned above, the conventional configuration of routing a cover film to ensure sealing has the problem of increasing the number of parts, increasing costs, and increasing the size of the device. In addition, there is a risk that the cover film may be damaged or become statically charged during routing. Furthermore, when replacing a holder or starting operation, the operator must set up a holder wrapped with a cover film, which requires the operator to pull and position the cover film, which is time-consuming. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a cover film application device that can prevent slide glass from coming into contact with air for a long period of time without having to pull the cover film around.

[0010] The cover film application device according to the present invention comprises a holder holding unit that holds a holder around which a long cover film is wrapped; a cutting unit that cuts the cover film pulled out of the holder to a predetermined length; an immersion tank that stores a clearing agent and in which a basket that stores a plurality of slides with specimens attached thereto is immersed in the clearing agent; an enclosing unit that attaches the cover film cut to the predetermined length to the slide taken out of the basket to enclose the specimens; an imaging device that images the outer diameter of the cover film wrapped around the holder held in the holder holding unit; and a control unit that calculates the remaining length of the cover film wrapped around the holder based on the outer diameter of the wrapped cover film imaged by the imaging device. By adopting this configuration, the remaining length of the cover film wound around the holder is calculated based on the outer diameter of the cover film wound around the holder, so the worker can know the remaining length of the cover film and does not have to pull the cover film around to ensure sealing.

[0011] In addition, a display unit for displaying information about the cover film may be provided.

[0012] The control unit may also be configured to display the calculated remaining length of the cover film on the display unit. With this configuration, the worker can check the remaining length of the cover film by looking at the display section.

[0013] The present invention may also be characterized in that it is provided with an alarm unit, and when the control unit causes the display unit to display the calculated remaining length of the cover film, it causes the alarm unit to notify that the calculated remaining length of the cover film has been displayed on the display unit. According to this configuration, the worker can recognize that the remaining length of the cover film is displayed on the display unit by the notification from the notification unit.

[0014] The control unit may calculate the remaining length of the cover film when the worker causes the holder to be held by the holder holding unit. According to this configuration, it is possible to know the length of the cover film that can be used when carrying out the operation of adhering the cover film.

[0015] The control unit may also be characterized in that it calculates the remaining length of the cover film when the cover film has been attached to all of the slide glasses in the basket. With this configuration, the operator can compare the length of the cover film remaining in the holder with the number of slides stored in the basket to be sealed next, and decide whether to continue using the cover film remaining in the holder or to re-attach a new holder.

[0016] Also, A display unit is provided to display information about the cover film, The control unit may be configured to calculate the length of cover film required for one basket of slides for each basket type based on the number of slides stored in each basket type and the length of cover film to be attached to one slide, compare the calculated length of cover film required for one basket of slides for each basket type with the remaining length of cover film calculated when attachment of the cover film to all slides in the basket has been completed, and display the comparison result on the display unit. According to this configuration, the worker can determine, based on the display on the display unit, whether to continue using the cover film remaining in the holder or to reattach a new holder.

[0017] The control unit may also be characterized in that it calculates the length of cover film required for one basket's worth of slides for each basket type based on the number of slides stored in each basket type and the length of cover film to be applied to one slide, and compares the calculated length of cover film required for one basket's worth of slides for each basket type with the remaining length of cover film calculated when cover film application to all slides in the basket is completed, and if the remaining length of cover film is shorter than the calculated required length of cover film, it controls the unit to not perform the cover film application operation until the holder is replaced with a new one. According to this configuration, if it is impossible to apply the cover film to one basket's worth of slide glasses, the cover film application operation is not performed, so that the slide glasses are not exposed to air for a long period of time. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] The cover slip application device of the present invention can prevent the slide glass from being exposed to air for a long period of time without having to pull around the cover film. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the external configuration of a holder for a cover film. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of the cover film adhering device. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a holder and a cutting device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the cover film adhering device. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart of a first embodiment of calculation of the remaining length of the cover film. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart of a second embodiment of calculation of the remaining length of the cover film. [Figure 7]10 is a flowchart of a second embodiment of calculation of the remaining length of the cover film. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] First, the cover film will be described. The cover film 10 shown in Fig. 1 is a resin film that is wound around a ring-shaped holder 11 and is attached to the attachment device. The length of the cover film 10 is about 60 to 80 m, and it is pulled out from the wound state and cut to a predetermined length before use.

[0022] Next, the schematic configuration of the cover film sticking device will be described with reference to FIG. The cover film application device 30 is equipped with an immersion tank 32 in which a clearing agent is stored. A plurality of glass slides 22, each having a thin-sectioned specimen attached thereto, are housed in a basket 21. The basket 21 is shaped so that the plurality of glass slides 22, each having a thin-sectioned specimen attached thereto, are inserted at right angles to the bottom surface. The basket 21 is housed in the immersion tank 32, and the glass slides 22 are immersed in the clearing agent. Note that there are baskets 21 with different storage capacities for the glass slides 22. Hereinafter, types of baskets with different capacities will be referred to as basket types.

[0023] The cover film application device 30 is equipped with a removal arm 34 that removes the basket 21 from the immersion tank 32. The removal arm 34 has a gripping portion 36 at its tip that grips the basket 21, and rotates in a vertical plane about a horizontal rotation axis 35 to remove the basket 21 from the immersion tank 32. When gripping the basket 21, the gripping portion 36 presses the basket 21, thereby pressing against the lower end of a basket-type detection plate 66 provided in the immersion tank 32. With the lower end pressed, the upper end of the basket-type detection plate 66 rotates from right to left in FIG. 2. Two basket type detection sensors 68, 70 are provided above the basket type detection plate 66. The two basket type detection sensors 68, 70 can detect the movement of the basket type detection plate 66 and determine the basket type. The take-out arm 34 rotates 90 degrees in a vertical plane until the slide glasses 22 in the basket 21 taken out of the immersion tank 32 are horizontal.

[0024] The basket 21 rotated to a position where the slide glass 22 is horizontal is placed on the lifting platform 37 which moves up and down. The lifting platform 37 raises the basket 21 to the standby position (symbol A in FIG. 2). At the standby position, a push ejector 38 is provided to push out the slide glasses 22 one by one from the basket 21.

[0025] The push ejector 38 pushes out the slide glass 22 from the basket 21 and moves the slide glass 22 to the encapsulation section B on the horizontal table. In this sealing section B, the cover film 10 is attached to the slide glass 22, and the specimen on the slide glass 22 is sealed.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the cover film 10 is wrapped around the holder 11 as described above, and is attached to the holding portion C on which the holder 11 is attached. The cover film 10 is pulled downward from the side of the holder 11, passes through a guide roller 41 and a feed roller 46, and enters the cutting device 40. Depending on the arrangement of the cutting device 40 and the holding section C, the guide roller 41 may not be provided.

[0027] The cutting device 40 is positioned at an angle so as to approach the slide glass 22 placed in the encapsulation section B from diagonally above, and is provided with a cutter 48 that cuts the cover film 10 to a predetermined length, and a pair of cover rollers 50 that feed the cover film 10 cut to the predetermined length above the slide glass 22.

[0028] The encapsulation unit B is also provided with a dispensing nozzle 52 that dispenses a mounting medium. The dispensing nozzle 52 is connected to a pump and piping (not shown), and sucks up the mounting medium from a solvent bottle 55 via the pump and piping (not shown). The tip of the dispensing nozzle 52 is positioned above the specimen on the slide glass 22 placed in the encapsulation unit B, allowing the mounting medium to be dispensed onto the upper surface of the specimen.

[0029] The cover film 10 cut to a predetermined length by the cutter 48 is adhered to the slide glass 22 by the application roller 54 . After the cover film 10 has been attached, the slide glass 22 is moved horizontally by the return ejector 56 so as to be stored in the original position within the basket 21 .

[0030] When the attachment of the cover film 10 to one slide glass 22 is completed, the lifting platform 37 raises the basket 21 by the thickness of one slide glass 22. Then, the next unattached slide glass 22 is pushed out of the basket 21 into the encapsulation section B, where the cover film 10 is attached.

[0031] When the attachment of the cover film 10 to all the slide glasses 22 in the basket 21 is completed, the lifting platform 37 rises and the basket 21 is stored in a storage section 58 for storing the basket 21 after the attachment of the cover film.

[0032] The mounting medium and the like that overflow from the slide glass 22 falls into a waste liquid tray 59 located below the sealing section B, where it is collected and stored in a waste liquid bottle 60 located below the waste liquid tray 59.

[0033] Figure 4 shows a block diagram of the control system. The cover film adhering device 30 is provided with a control unit 64 that controls the overall operation. The control unit 64 is made up of a CPU, a memory, etc., and operates based on a preset control program. An imaging device 14 capable of photographing the outer diameter of the cover film 10 wound around the holder 11 is provided near the holding portion C. The imaging device 14 can be a camera module equipped with an image sensor such as a CCD or CMOS. The image capturing device 14 is connected to a control unit 64 , and image capturing timing is controlled by instructions from the control unit 64 , and captured image data is sent to the control unit 64 .

[0034] The control unit 64 has a function of calculating the remaining length from the outer diameter of the cover film 10 wound around the holder 11 photographed by the imaging device 14. The function of calculating the remaining length is realized by a control program preset in the control unit 64.

[0035] The cover film application device 30 is also provided with a display unit 16 such as an LCD. The display unit 16 can display information such as the remaining length of the cover film 10 calculated by the control unit 64, and the result of comparing the remaining length of the cover film 10 with the length of the number of slide glasses 22 in one basket, etc.

[0036] Furthermore, the cover film application device 30 is provided with an alarm unit 18 such as a speaker. The alarm unit 18 outputs an alarm sound such as a beep to notify the operator that information such as the remaining length of the cover film 10 and the result of comparing the remaining length of the cover film 10 with the length of the number of slide glasses 22 in one basket has been displayed on the display unit 16. The sound output by the notification unit 18, such as a speaker, may be voice data that represents the remaining length of the cover film 10 calculated by the control unit 64 or the result of comparing the remaining length of the cover film 10 with the length of the number of slide glasses 22 in one basket. In the case of voice data, the voice data may be stored in advance in the control unit 64 and the pre-stored voice data may be output, or a voice synthesis engine may be installed to output voice-synthesized voice data.

[0037] A method for detecting the remaining length of cover film 10 wound around holder 11 will be described below with reference to FIG. As described above, the control unit 64 has a function of calculating the remaining length from the thickness of the cover film 10 wound around the holder 11 photographed by the imaging device 14. It is also assumed that the control unit 64 stores in advance the thickness t of one cover film 10 and the outer diameter d of the holder 11 (the inner diameter of the cover film 10).

[0038] The control unit 64 measures the outer diameter D of the cover film based on the image data captured by the imaging device 14. Then, the remaining length L of the cover film is calculated as follows: L=π(D 2 -d 2 ) / 4t It is calculated using the formula: The length of the cover film calculated by the above formula is a theoretical value, and since the calculation is based on a state in which the cover film is wrapped tightly, a correction value may be used in some cases. Furthermore, the method for calculating the remaining length L of the cover film is not limited to the above formula, and other formulas may be used.

[0039] Next, several embodiments of the control for calculating the remaining length of the cover film 10 will be described. (First embodiment) The following will be described based on the flowchart in Fig. 5. In this embodiment, when the holder 11 is attached to the holding portion C, the remaining length of the cover film 10 wound around the holder 11 is calculated. As a configuration for detecting that holder 11 has been attached to holding portion C, a sensor 24 for detecting that door 25 has been closed or that holder 11 has been attached is provided on door 25 that opens and closes holding portion C or on holding portion C. Sensor 24 may be of any type, such as a photoelectric type, a proximity type, or a microswitch, as long as it detects that door 25 has been closed or that holder 11 has been attached. When the sensor 24 detects that the door 25 has been opened and then closed, or that the holder 11 has been attached to the holding portion C, the sensor 24 outputs a detection signal to the control portion 64 (step S100).

[0040] When the control unit 64 receives a detection signal from the sensor 24 and recognizes that the holder 11 has been attached to the holding unit C, it outputs a control signal to the imaging device 14 to acquire image data that indicates the outer diameter of the cover film 10 wrapped around the holder 11. The imaging device 14 captures an image of the cover film 10 wrapped around the holder 11 and transmits the image data to the control unit 64 (step S102).

[0041] The control unit 64 measures the outer diameter of the wound cover film 10 based on the received image data. Furthermore, the control unit 64 calculates the remaining length of the cover film 10 wound around the holder 11 using the above-mentioned formula based on the measured outer diameter of the wound cover film 10, the pre-stored thickness of one sheet of cover film 10, and the outer diameter of the holder 11 (step S104).

[0042] The control unit 64 displays the calculated remaining length of the cover film 10 on the display unit 16 (step S106). The worker can check the remaining length of the cover film 10 displayed on the display unit 16 to determine whether or not there is enough cover film 10 for the number of slide glasses 22 stored in the basket to which the sticking work is to be performed.

[0043] The control unit 64 may also control the display unit 16 to display the calculated remaining length of the cover film 10, and the notification unit 18 to output a beep or the like to attract the worker's attention. This allows the worker to recognize that the remaining length of the cover film 10 is displayed on the display unit 16.

[0044] (Second embodiment) The following description will be given based on the flowchart in Fig. 6. In this embodiment, the remaining length of the cover film 10 wound around the holder 11 is calculated when the operation of attaching (enclosing) the cover film 10 to all the slide glasses 22 in the basket 21 is completed. When the control unit 64 detects that the cover film 10 has been completely attached to all of the slide glasses 22 in the basket 21 (step S200), it raises the lifting platform 37 to store the basket 21 in the storage section 58 where the basket 21 after the cover film has been attached is stored, and outputs a control signal to the imaging device 14 to acquire image data that indicates the outer diameter of the cover film 10 wrapped around the holder 11. The imaging device 14 captures an image of the cover film 10 wrapped around the holder 11 and transmits the image data to the control unit 64 (step S202).

[0045] The control unit 64 measures the outer diameter of the wound cover film 10 based on the received image data. Furthermore, the control unit 64 calculates the remaining length of the cover film 10 wound around the holder 11 using the above-mentioned formula based on the measured outer diameter of the wound cover film 10, the pre-stored thickness of one sheet of cover film 10, and the outer diameter of the holder 11 (step S204).

[0046] The control unit 64 displays the calculated remaining length of the cover film 10 on the display unit 16 (step S206). By looking at the remaining length of the cover film 10 displayed on the display unit 16, the operator can determine whether or not there is enough cover film 10 for the number of slide glasses 22 stored in the next basket to which the application work is to be performed.

[0047] The control unit 64 may also control the display unit 16 to display the calculated remaining length of the cover film 10, and the notification unit 18 to output a beep or the like to attract the worker's attention. This allows the worker to recognize that the remaining length of the cover film 10 is displayed on the display unit 16.

[0048] (Third embodiment) The following description will be given based on the flowchart in Fig. 7. In this embodiment, when the operation of attaching (enclosing) the cover film 10 to all the glass slides 22 in the basket 21 is completed, the remaining length of the cover film 10 wound around the holder 11 is compared with the length of the cover film required for all the glass slides 22 in the basket 21 to be attached next, and the comparison result is displayed.

[0049] In this embodiment, the control unit 64 calculates the length of the cover film required for one basket of slides for each basket type based on the number of slides stored in each basket type and the length of the cover film to be attached to one slide. Then, when the control unit 64 detects that the cover film 10 has been completely attached to all of the slide glasses 22 in the basket 21 (step S300), it raises the lifting platform 37 to store the basket 21 in the storage section 58 where the basket 21 after the cover film has been attached is stored, and outputs a control signal to the imaging device 14 to acquire image data that indicates the outer diameter of the cover film 10 wrapped around the holder 11. The imaging device 14 captures an image of the cover film 10 wrapped around the holder 11 and transmits the image data to the control unit 64 (step S302).

[0050] The control unit 64 measures the outer diameter of the wound cover film 10 based on the received image data. Furthermore, the control unit 64 calculates the remaining length of the cover film 10 wound around the holder 11 using the above-mentioned formula based on the measured outer diameter of the wound cover film 10, the pre-stored thickness of one sheet of cover film 10, and the outer diameter of the holder 11 (step S304).

[0051] The control unit 64 compares the calculated remaining length of the cover film 10 with the length of the cover film required to seal all of the slide glasses 22 in the basket 21 to be next attached (step S306). If, as a result of the comparison, the control unit 64 determines that the remaining length of the cover film 10 is longer than the length of the cover film required to seal all of the slide glasses 22 in the basket 21, the control unit 64 displays on the display unit 16 that the remaining length of the cover film is sufficient to adhere one basket's worth of slide glasses 22 (step S308).

[0052] The control unit 64 may display on the display unit 16 the difference in the remaining length of the cover film relative to the length of one basket of slide glasses 22. Alternatively, the control unit 64 may simply display on the display unit 16 the remaining length of the cover film and the length of the cover film required to seal all of the slide glasses 22 in the basket 21, and leave it to the operator to determine how much longer the remaining length of the cover film is than the number of slide glasses 22 in one basket.

[0053] If, as a result of the comparison, the control unit 64 finds that the remaining length of the cover film 10 is shorter than the length of the cover film required to seal all of the slide glasses 22 in the basket 21, the control unit 64 displays on the display unit 16 that the remaining length of the cover film is insufficient to adhere one basket's worth of slide glasses 22 (step S310). Furthermore, if the remaining length of the cover film 10 is shorter than the length of cover film required to seal all of the glass slides 22 in the basket 21, the control unit 64 can control the holder 11 so that the adhering operation cannot be performed until the operator replaces the holder 11 with a new one. By preventing the adhering operation from being performed until the operator replaces the holder 11 with a new one, it is possible to prevent the cover film from running out before all of the glass slides 22 in the basket 21 have been adhered, and to prevent the glass slides 22 from being exposed to air for a long period of time.

[0054] Specifically, even if the worker operates an operation switch (not shown) to perform the adhering work, the control unit 64 does not perform the adhering operation (step S312). Then, if the above-mentioned sensor 24 detects that a new holder 11 has been attached to the holding section C or that the door 25 has been closed after the holder 11 that no longer has a cover film 10 has been removed from the holding section C, the control section 64 determines that the holder 11 has been replaced (step S314), and the control section 64 enables the attachment operation to be performed (step S316). At this time, it is preferable that the control unit 64 displays on the display unit 18 each time that "the adhering operation cannot be performed unless the holder is replaced" and "the adhering operation can now be performed" to appeal to the worker.

[0055] The control unit 64 may also control the display unit 16 to display the result of comparing the calculated remaining length of the cover film 10 with the length of cover film required to seal all of the slide glasses 22 in the basket 21 to be next attached, and to output a beep or the like to attract the operator's attention from the alarm unit 18. This allows the operator to recognize that the display unit 16 displays the result of comparing the remaining length of the cover film 10 with the length of cover film required to seal all of the slide glasses 22 in the basket 21 to be next attached.

[0056] The control unit 64 may execute any one of the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment described above, or may execute both the first embodiment and the second embodiment, or may execute both the first embodiment and the third embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 10 Cover film 11 Holder 14 Imaging device 16 Display section 18. Information Department 21 Basket 22 Glass slides 24 sensors 25 Doors 30 Cover film attachment device 32 Soaking tank 34 Ejection arm 35 Rotating shaft 36 Gripping part 37 Lift platform 38 Ejector 40 Cutting device 41 Guide roller 46 Feed roller 48 Cutter 50 Cover roller 52 Dispensing nozzle 54 Application roller 55 Solvent bottle 56 Ejector 58 Storage area 59 Waste liquid tray 60 Waste bottle 64 Control Unit 66 Basket type detector plate 68 Basket type detection sensor 70 Basket type detection sensor A Standby position B Enclosure C Holding part

Claims

1. a holder holding portion that holds a holder around which a long cover film is wound; a cutting unit that cuts the cover film pulled out from the holder to a predetermined length; an immersion tank in which a clearing agent is stored and in which a basket containing a plurality of slide glasses having specimens attached thereto is immersed in the clearing agent; an enclosing unit that attaches a cover film cut to a predetermined length to the slide glass removed from the basket to enclose the specimen; an imaging device that images the thickness of a cover film wound around a holder held by the holder holding portion; A cover film application device characterized by comprising a control unit that calculates the remaining length of the cover film wound around the holder based on the thickness of the wound cover film imaged by the imaging device.

2. 2. The cover film sticking device according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying information about the cover film.

3. 3. The cover film sticking device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit causes the display unit to display the calculated remaining length of the cover film.

4. A notification unit is provided, The cover film application device according to claim 3, characterized in that when the control unit causes the display unit to display the calculated remaining length of the cover film, the control unit causes the display unit to notify the user that the calculated remaining length of the cover film has been displayed.

5. The control unit 5. The cover film application device according to claim 1, wherein the remaining length of the cover film is calculated when an operator holds the holder in the holder holding portion.

6. The control unit 6. The cover film applying device according to claim 1, further comprising a step of calculating a remaining length of the cover film when the cover film has been applied to all of the slide glasses in the basket.

7. A display unit is provided that displays information about the cover film, The control unit The length of cover film required for one basket of slides is calculated based on the number of slides stored in each basket type and the length of cover film attached to one slide. The calculated length of cover film required for one basket of glass slides for each basket type is compared with the calculated remaining length of cover film when the cover film attachment to all the glass slides in the basket is completed.

7. The cover film sticking device according to claim 6, wherein the comparison result is displayed on the display unit.

8. The control unit The length of cover film required for one basket of slides is calculated based on the number of slides stored in each basket type and the length of cover film attached to one slide. The length of cover film required for one basket of slide glass for each calculated basket type, A cover film application device as described in claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that, when the remaining length of cover film calculated at the time when cover film application to all slide glasses in the basket has been completed is compared with the remaining length of cover film, if the remaining length of cover film is shorter than the calculated required length of cover film, the device is controlled so that the cover film application operation will not be performed until the holder is replaced with a new one.

Images