Abstract:
The present invention addresses the problem of providing a centrifugal smearing device and a sealed rotating container in which liquid components do not leak to an outside of the sealed rotating container. To solve this problem, in a centrifugal smearing device ( 30 ) including a sealed rotating container ( 34 ) that houses a chamber ( 10 ) with a slide glass removably attached for holding the liquid sample to smear cells in the liquid sample with a centrifugal force onto the slide glass, and a base ( 31 ) housing the sealed rotating container ( 34 ) and including rotational driving means ( 32 ) for rotating the sealed rotating container ( 34 ), the sealed rotating container ( 34 ) includes a main body ( 40 ) capable of housing the chamber ( 10 ) and a lid ( 42 ) for closing an upper surface opening portion of the main body ( 40 ), a seal portion ( 100 ) for sealing a space between the main body ( 40 ) and the end face of the upper face opening portion is provided on an outer circumferential edge of the lid, and a scattering protection wall ( 120 ) is formed at an inside of the seal portion ( 100 ) so as to protrude downward to hide the seal portion ( 100 ) from inside so that a liquid does not scatter onto the seal portion ( 100 ).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a centrifugal smearing device for smearing floating cells of a liquid sample onto a slide glass and a sealed rotating container used for the centrifugal smearing device. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    For example, a centrifugal smearing device has been known for performing centrifugation on liquid collected from body fluid, blood, and urine to obtain cells, and smearing the separated cells onto a slide glass. 
         [0003]    Patent Literature 1 discloses a conventional centrifugal smearing device.  FIG. 12  illustrates the conventional centrifugal smearing device. The conventional centrifugal smearing device includes a base  2  including a motor  1 , and a sealed rotating container  3  that is mounted in the base  2  and rotated by drive of the motor  1 . 
         [0004]    In the sealed rotating container  3 , a plurality of chambers  4  for holding a liquid sample can be housed. The slide glass can be mounted to the chamber  4  with a holder. 
         [0005]    The sealed rotating container  3  has a main body  7  and a lid  8  for covering an upper face opening portion of the main body  7 . Inside the main body  7 , a rotor  6  for disposing the chamber  4  is provided. 
         [0006]    At an upper end edge portion of the main body  7  is formed with a planar portion  9  projecting outward and a protruding portion  5  projecting upward at a leading end portion of the planar portion  9 . 
         [0007]    The lid  8  has a planar portion  17  whose outer edge portion projects outward, and a seal member  18  such as rubber provided at a leading end portion of the planar portion  17 . 
         [0008]    When the main body  7  is covered with the lid  8 , a planar portion  6  of the lid  8  is placed on the planar portion  9  of the upper end edge portion of the main body  7 . Further, a seal member  18  of the lid  8  comes into contact with the protruding portion  5  of the main body  7 . With this arrangement, a seal portion is constituted between the main body  7  and the lid  8  to prevent liquid from leaking from an inside of the main body  7  to an outside thereof. 
         [0009]    A funnel-shaped holding section for holding the liquid is formed in a chamber, and a passage directed outward is formed on a side face of a bottom portion of the holding section. When the chamber is rotated to apply a centrifugal force to the liquid sample, the liquid sample passes through this passage to move outward. An opening portion is formed at an outside of the passage, and the slide glass is arranged at an outward of the opening portion. 
         [0010]    Between the opening portion and the slide glass, a rubber packing or filter paper is arranged to seal space between the opening portion and the slide glass. When the filter paper is arranged, since the cells are smeared onto the slide glass and liquid components seep out through the filter paper, limited floating cells in the liquid sample can be efficiently collected. 
       CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
       [0011]    PTL 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-39014 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0012]    As described above, when the filter paper is used for the chamber, it is advantageous for collecting the floating cells, but the liquid components separated during being centrifuged scatter from the chamber. 
         [0013]    The liquid sample generally is the body fluid, urine, or blood of a patient. Thus, since the liquid sample may cause infection, caution is required for dealing with the liquid sample. 
         [0014]    Therefore, when the separated liquid components scatter from the chamber, caution is required so that the liquid components do not leak outside the sealed rotating container. 
         [0015]    However, the conventional sealed rotating container described in Patent Literature 1 has a wall face in a slightly tapered shape so that a diameter of the sealed rotating container becomes slightly larger toward the upper portion of a main body. Therefore, it can be considered that the liquid components scattered from the chamber seep out from an inside of the main body to a planar portion of an upper end edge portion of the main body. In this case, it can be also considered that the liquid components seep into a seal portion between the planar portion of the main body and a planar portion of a lid. 
         [0016]    As described above, if the liquid components seep into the seal portion, the liquid components increased with the centrifugal force may exceed a sealing force in the seal portion to leak outside the sealed rotating container. 
         [0017]    Further, if the liquid components seep into the seal portion, for example, when an operator opens the lid, the liquid components may come into contact with the operator. 
         [0018]    To solve the problem described above, the purpose of the present invention is to provide the centrifugal smearing device in which the liquid components do not leak outside the sealed rotating container, and the sealed rotating container. 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0019]    A centrifugal smearing device of the present invention includes: a sealed rotating container that houses a chamber with a slide glass removably attached for holding a liquid sample and smearing cells in the liquid sample onto the slide glass with a centrifugal force; and a base housing the sealed rotating container and having rotational driving means for rotating the sealed rotating container, wherein said sealed rotating container includes a main body being capable of housing said chamber and a lid configured to close an upper face opening portion of the main body, wherein a seal portion for sealing a space between the main body and an end face of the upper face opening portion of the main body is provided at an outer circumferential edge of said lid, and wherein a scattering protection wall is formed at an inside of the seal portion so as to protrude downward to hide the seal portion from inside so that a liquid does not scatter onto the seal portion. 
         [0020]    By adopting the construction described above, it is possible to prevent the liquid scattered from the chamber from coming into contact with the scattering protection wall and scattering onto the seal portion. Therefore, the liquid can be prevented from leaking outside the main body of the sealed rotating container. 
         [0021]    A sealed rotating container of the present invention, which is used for a centrifugal smearing device and houses a chamber with a slide glass removably attached for holding a liquid sample and smearing cells in the liquid sample onto the slide glass with a centrifugal force, includes: a main body being capable of housing said chamber: and a lid configured to close an upper face opening portion of the main body, wherein a seal portion for sealing a space between the main body and an end face of the upper face opening portion of the main body is provided at an outer circumferential edge of said lid, and wherein a scattering protection wall is formed at an inside of the seal portion so as to protrude downward to hide the seal portion from inside so that a liquid does not scatter onto the seal portion. 
         [0022]    By adopting the construction described above, it is possible to prevent the liquid scattered from the chamber from coming into contact with the scattering protection wall and scattering onto the seal portion. Therefore, the liquid can be prevented from leaking outside the main body of the sealed rotating container. 
         [0023]    Further, the scattering protection wall may be formed tilting outward. 
         [0024]    By adopting the construction described above, the liquid scattering onto the scattering protection wall drops obliquely downward outside along the scattering protection wall due to a centrifugal force and the construction tilting outward so that the liquid can be prevented from intruding into the seal portion. 
         [0025]    Further, the seal portion of the lid may include a packing placed on a planar face formed on the end face of the upper opening portion of the main body. 
         [0026]    As described above, it is possible to ensure sealing property and easy attachment and removal of the lid by mounting the packing at a side of the lid. 
       Advantageous Effects of Invention 
       [0027]    According to the centrifugal smearing device and the sealed rotating container of the present invention, the liquid components can be prevented from leaking outside the sealed rotating container. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a constitution of a centrifugal smearing device of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a constitution of a sealed rotating container of the present invention 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of a main body of the sealed rotating container. 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the main body of the sealed rotating container. 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  illustrates a function of an unbalanced-load prevention mechanism. 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment of the unbalanced-load prevention mechanism. 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the unbalanced-load prevention mechanism. 
           [0035]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the unbalanced-load prevention mechanism. 
           [0036]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a lid of the sealed rotating container. 
           [0037]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of a knob portion of the lid. 
           [0038]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of the knob portion of the lid and a mounting portion of the main body 
           [0039]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a constitution of a conventional centrifugal smearing device. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0040]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side face of a centrifugal smearing device according to the present embodiment. 
         [0041]    A centrifugal smearing device  30  includes a base  31  including a motor  32  functioning as rotation driving means and a sealed rotating container  34  to be stored in the base  31 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic constitution of the base  31 . 
         [0042]    A piece  37  is mounted to a rotational axis of the motor of the base  31 . The sealed rotating container  34  is arranged such that the piece  37  enters a housing  35  formed in a center of the sealed rotating container  34 . By rotational driving of the motor  32 , the sealed rotating container  34  is rotated via the piece  37 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side face view of the sealed rotating container, and  FIG. 3  illustrates a plan view thereof.  FIG. 4  illustrates a side face view of only the main body of the sealed rotating container. 
         [0044]    The sealed rotating container  34  includes a main body  40  into which the chamber  10  can be housed, and a lid  42  for closing and sealing an upper face opening portion of the main body  40 . 
         [0045]    The main body  40  is a member in a container-like shape, and is formed as a housing  35  whose center portion is raised upward to be mounted to the base  31 . Therefore, an outer circumferential portion other than the center portion of the main body  40  functions as a housing section in a ring-like shape. 
         [0046]    The housing  35  has a lower stage portion  35   a  for housing a portion in which the motor  32  and so on of the base  31  are arranged and an upper stage portion  35   b  for housing the piece described above. The upper stage portion  35   b  has a diameter smaller than that of the lower stage portion  35   a.  Therefore, a stepped portion  47  is formed between a lower end of the lower stage portion  35   a  and an upper end of the upper stage portion  35   b.    
         [0047]    The lower stage portion  35   a  and the upper stage portion  35   b  are constituted by different members from each other, and the lower stage portion  35   a  and the upper stage portion  35   b  are mounted with each other via a mounting screw  105 . 
         [0048]    On a further upper portion of the upper stage portion  35   b  for housing the piece  37  of the housing  35 , a mounting portion  71  to which the lid  42  is mounted is formed. At the upper end portion of the mounting portion  71 , a “V” ring  110  that comes into close contact with the lid  42  to ensure sealing property is provided. 
         [0049]    The mounting portion  71  has a cylindrical raised portion  74  projecting upward from the upper stage portion  35   b  of the housing  35  and an insertion portion  78  through which a fixing hub  84  (described below) provided in a knob portion  70  (described below) of the lid  42  is inserted. An outer wall of the insertion portion  78  is formed with a gripping portion  79  projecting outward. 
         [0050]    Reasons why the gripping portion  79  is formed in a center of the main body  40  is as follows. 
         [0051]    Namely, when a sample having a low infection level is adopted or the chamber  10  sealed with rubber is adopted, or when a small amount of sample is used, the sealed rotating container  34  can be used to perform the centrifugal smearing processing without mounting the lid  42 . 
         [0052]    In such a case, when the operator operates as holding the main body  40 , the operator can operate as gripping a gripping portion  79  provided at a center portion of the main body  40 . 
         [0053]    Further, in the main body  40 , a rotor  44  to which the plurality of chambers  10  can be mounted is removably arranged. 
         [0054]    An opening portion  44   a  is formed at a center of the rotor  44 . By inserting the upper stage portion  35   b  of the housing  35  into the opening portion  44   a  in the center of the rotor  44  and disposing a circumferential edge of the opening portion  44   a  on the stepped portion  47 , the rotor  44  is mounted to the main body  40 . 
         [0055]    Further, at the circumferential edge of the opening portion  44   a  of the rotor  44 , a thumb screw  49  is provided at a plurality of points. With the thumb screw  49 , the circumferential edge of the opening portion  44   a  of the rotor  44  and the stepped portion  47  of the main body  40  are fixed with each other. 
         [0056]    The rotor  44  includes two substantially disk-shaped members  39 ,  39  in a planar view at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction. The two disk-shaped members  39 ,  39  are formed with a plurality of rectangular holes  45  for mounting the chamber. 
         [0057]    The rectangular holes  45  are formed to communicate the two disk-shaped members  39 ,  39  with each other, and an upper portion and a lower portion of the chamber  10  inserted into the rectangular hole  45  are supported by the two disk-shaped members  39 ,  39  to be fixed to the rotor  44 . 
         [0058]    Further, the plurality of rectangular holes  45  has a substantially trapezoidal shape in a planar view. A long side of the rectangular hole  45  is located in a diameter direction of the disk and a short side thereof is located in the circumferential direction of the disk. The plurality of rectangular holes  45  is formed at uniform positions with respect to a center of the disk, and kept in balance during being rotated. 
         [0059]    Next, the chamber  10  will be described. The constitution of the chamber  10  used for the centrifugal smearing device of the present invention is not limited to any specific constitution, but a known constitution can be adopted. The chambers illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3  are formed in different types depending on the right or the left, but they have a basically same function. 
         [0060]    A general chamber that can be used for the present invention includes the holding section  11  for holding a liquid sample and a holder  12  for gripping a slide glass  19 . 
         [0061]    The holding section  11  has an upward-downward circulation portion  13  opening upward and a storage section  14  opening to a side of the holder  12 . 
         [0062]    In a vicinity of the opening portion  15  opening from the storage section  14  to the side of the holder  12 , a packing made of rubber, for example, or filter paper can be arranged (not illustrated). The packing is used to ensure the sealing property of the opening portion  15 . Further, by arranging the filter paper, while the liquid components of the liquid sample are absorbed, the flowing cells separated from the liquid components can be smeared onto the slide glass  19 . 
         [0063]    Even if the filter paper is arranged in the chamber  10 , when a large amount of the liquid sample is held in the holding section  11 , the liquid sample may scatter into the sealed rotating container  34  through the filter paper during being centrifuged. According to the constitution of the sealed rotating container  34  described below, the scattered liquid components can be stored. 
         [0064]    The main body  40  of the sealed rotating container  34  has a storage section  46  for storing the liquid components (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as “liquid”) scattered from the chamber  10 . 
         [0065]    The storage section  46  is constituted such that the inside face of the main body  40  projects outward (outward recessed). A wall face of the storage section  46  is constituted as a vertical wall face in the vertical direction. Therefore, even if the centrifugal force is applied to the liquid stored in the storage section  46 , the liquid does not receive the force in a direction where the liquid goes up. 
         [0066]    The upper end portion of the storage section  46  is formed with a protruding portion  48  projecting inward. By forming the protruding portion  48 , the liquid stored in the storage section  46  can be restricted from moving upward. 
         [0067]    The protruding portion  48  of the present embodiment is a constriction viewed from an outside of the main body  40 . By recessing a metal member constituting the main body  40  from the outside, the protruding portion  48  projecting inward is formed. However, as the protruding portion of the present invention, another member different from the member constructing the main body  40  may be mounted on the upper end portion of the storage section  46  to form the protruding portion  48 . 
         [0068]    An upper portion of the protruding portion  48  of the main body  40  is formed with the planar portion  50  for placing the lid  42 . The planar portion  50  is a horizontal face directed outward. The outer edge portion of the planar portion  50  is a folded portion  52  folded upward. 
         [0069]    The outer edge of the lid  42  and the packing (described below) are disposed on the planar portion  50  and the folded portion  52  to constitute the seal portion of the sealed rotating container  34 . 
         [0070]    Next, the unbalanced-load prevention mechanism provided in the storage section will be described. 
         [0071]    In the set number of rotations of the sealed rotating container  34 , there is a plurality of vibrational resonance points. In other words, a plurality of vibrational resonance points is passed from starting rotation to a maximum number of rotations, and further a plurality of vibrational resonance points is passed also from the maximum number of rotations to stop the rotation. At the vibrational resonance points, the sealed rotating container  34  easily loses balance, and the liquid stored in the storage section  46  may get over the protruding portion  48  to enter the seal portion. Further, a problem of danger may occur in which the sealed rotating container  34  loses the balance to cause the sealed rotating container  34  to rotate as rattling in the base  31 . 
         [0072]    The present embodiment adopts a constitution in which load of the liquid stored in the storage section  46  does not become unbalanced so that not only specifically the vibrational resonance points but the sealed rotating container  34  are rotated in balance. 
         [0073]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side face of the sealed rotating container when the unbalanced-load prevention mechanism is provided.  FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic view of a state of the liquid stored in the storage section when the unbalanced-load prevention mechanism is provided. 
         [0074]    According to the present embodiment, the unbalanced-load prevention mechanism includes a plurality of ribs  55  projecting inward from the wall face of the storage section  46  and extending in the vertical direction. The rib  55  illustrated herein has a rectangular shape in its cross-section, but, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , may be formed in a mountain-like shape formed of a curve in its cross-section. 
         [0075]    Since the plurality of ribs  55  extends in the vertical direction, they have a function for dividing the liquid stored in the storage section  46  in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the liquid in the storage section  46  can be prevented from becoming unbalanced in the circumferential direction. 
         [0076]    An upper end portion of each rib  55  in the vertical direction is preferably formed up to a position of the protruding portion  48  at least. By arranging as described above, the liquid in the storage section  46  can be prevented from getting over the protruding portion  48 . 
         [0077]      FIG. 5  illustrates a state where the ribs  55  are provided at four points, and arranged at the uniform positions. However, the number of the ribs  55  is not limited to four, but any number can be adopted. The intervals between the ribs  55 ,  55  need to be equal. 
         [0078]    Subsequently, another embodiment of the unbalanced-load prevention mechanism will be described.  FIG. 6  illustrates a part of the inner wall face of the storage section  46 . 
         [0079]    According to the embodiment, the inner wall face of the storage section  46  is formed with fine irregularities. With the irregularities, the frictional resistance between the liquid in the storage section  46  and the inner wall face of the storage section  46  is increased to disturb movement of the liquid in the storage section  46 , thereby preventing the unbalanced load. As the example described herein, grooves  51  having a depth of about 1 mm and a width of about 1 mm are formed at a predetermined interval on the inner wall face of the storage section  46  along the vertical direction. As described above, by forming the irregularities in stripes extending in the vertical direction, the unbalanced-load prevention function for the liquid stored in the storage section  46  can be attained. 
         [0080]    Further, another embodiment of the unbalanced-load prevention mechanism will be described. 
         [0081]      FIG. 7  illustrates a state where the outer circumferential edge of the rotor  44  is provided with a plurality of dividers  56  projecting outward. 
         [0082]    A length of the divider  56  in the diameter direction is the length thereof that enters the storage section  46 , and the divider  56  is formed not to come into contact with the wall face of the storage section  46 . 
         [0083]    A length of the divider  56  in the vertical direction is the length thereof that can enter the storage section  46 , and formed as long as possible. The divider  56  divides the liquid in the storage section  46  to perform a function in a similar manner to that of the rib  55  described above. In other words, the divider  56  has a function for dividing the liquid stored in the storage section  46  in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the liquid in the storage section  46  can be prevented from generating unbalance in the circumferential direction. 
         [0084]      FIG. 7  illustrates a state where the dividers  56  are provided at four points, and arranged at the uniform positions. However, the number of the dividers  56  is not limited to four, but any number can be adopted. The intervals between the dividers  56 ,  56  need to be equal. 
         [0085]    The above-described ribs  55  and fine irregularities (grooves  51 ) are directly formed on the main body  40  of the sealed rotating container  34 . 
         [0086]    However, the ribs  55  and the grooves  51  may be constituted as another member different from that of the main body  40 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a cylindrical member  58  divided into a plurality of portions in the circumferential direction is provided to be mounted in the storage section  46 , and the plurality of ribs  55  may be formed on the inner wall face of the member. 
         [0087]    Similarly, to be mounted in the storage section  46 , on the inner wall face of the cylindrical member  58  divided into the plurality of pieces in the circumferential direction, the fine irregularities (grooves  51 ) may be formed for increasing the frictional resistance between the liquid in the storage section  46  and the inner wall face of the storage section  46  (not illustrated). 
         [0088]    The member  58  illustrated in  FIG. 8  may be mounted in the storage section  46 , and it may not be specifically divided in the circumferential direction. 
         [0089]    Further, when the unbalanced-load prevention mechanism is provided as another body different from the storage section  46 , it is not limited to a constitution to mount the member as illustrated in  FIG. 8  in the main body  40 , but only the rib  55  may be constituted as anther body different from the storage section  46  and mounted in the storage section  46 . 
         [0090]    Next, with reference to  FIG. 9 , a constitution of the lid will be described. 
         [0091]    The lid  42  is constituted to completely cover and seal the upper face opening portion of the main body  40 . The lid  42  is formed of transparent material such as strengthened glass or strengthened plastic so that an inside state can be observed. 
         [0092]    First, the seal portion of the lid will be described. 
         [0093]    The lid  42  is formed with a seal portion  100  for being placed on the planar portion  50  of the main body  40 . The seal portion  100  is a site where the outside edge of the lid  42  is a horizontal plane and projects outward. At a leading end portion of the seal portion  100  (leading end of the outer edge portion of the lid  42 ), a packing  102  having a U-like shape in its cross section is mounted in such a manner to sandwich the seal portion  100  of the lid  42 . The packing  102  is made of rubber. As described above, the packing  102  is mounted at a side of the lid  42  to ensure sealing property of the seal portion  100  and also easy attachment and removal of the lid  42 . 
         [0094]    A thickness of the packing  102  is formed as a thickness enough to house the packing  102  in the folded portion  52  of the planar portion  50  of the main body  40 . 
         [0095]    Further, an inside of the seal portion  100  of the lid  42  is formed with a scattering protection wall  120  for hiding and protecting the seal portion  100  from the inside, so that the liquid does not scatter onto the seal portion  100 . 
         [0096]    The scattering protection wall  120  projects downward from the inner wall face of the lid  42  and is formed in a ring-like shape making a circle at a lower portion of the lid  42 . The scattering protection wall  120  has a function of protection not to allow the scattered liquid to enter a side of the seal portion  100  and also a function to flow the received liquid downward. 
         [0097]    The scattering protection wall  120  may slope toward an outside. In other words, when the liquid scattered during the centrifugal smearing processing comes into contact with the scattering protection wall  120 , a force for moving outward is applied by the centrifugal force. At this point, since the scattering protection wall  120  slopes toward the outside, the liquid drops outside, obliquely downward along the scatter protection wall. Since, outside, obliquely downward from the scattering protection wall  120 , the storage section  46  is formed, the dropped liquid is stored in the storage section  46 . 
         [0098]    Next, a knob portion of the lid will be described.  FIG. 10  illustrates an enlarged knob portion. 
         [0099]    Further,  FIG. 11  illustrates an enlarged mounting portion of the main body and knob portion. In a center of the lid  42 , a metal knob portion  70  is provided. The knob portion  70  has two functions of a function for being gripped when an operator operates the lid  42 , and a function for connecting with the main body  40 . 
         [0100]    The knob portion  70  includes a main body  81  formed with a round outer extending portion  80  in a planar view, and an axis portion  82  that is vertically movable. In a center of the main body, an insertion hole  83  is formed through which the axis portion  82  is inserted in such a manner to move vertically. Downward from the main body  81 , a fixing hub  84  projecting downward is provided. The fixing hub  84  has a cylindrical shape and formed with a center hole  87  communicating with the insertion hole  83  of the main body  81 . 
         [0101]    An upper end portion of the axis portion  82  is provided with a knob large-diameter portion  60  having a diameter that becomes gradually larger upward. 
         [0102]    A lower end portion of the axis portion  82  is formed in a tapered shape in which a diameter of the axis portion  82  becomes gradually smaller toward the leading end, and inserted into the center hole  87  of the fixing hub  84 . 
         [0103]    A side face of the fixing hub  84  is formed with a communication hole  89  for communicating the center hole  87  with an outside. In the communication hole  89 , a metal ball  88  is movably provided in the hole. When the metal ball  88  is moved outward in the communication hole  89 , it can project to the outside of the fixing hub  84 . The communication hole  89  has a diameter that gradually becomes smaller outward. A part of the metal ball  88  projects outside the fixing hub  84 , but a whole portion of the metal ball does not project outside the fixing hub  84 . 
         [0104]    According to the present embodiment, the communication holes  89  are formed at three points with equal intervals provided from one another, and the metal ball  88  is provided for each of the communication holes  89 , and thus weight balance can be maintained even during being rotated. 
         [0105]    With the metal ball  88 , the lid  42  and the main body  40  are fixed with each other. In other words, when the lid  42  is fixed to the main body  40 , the operator inserts the axis portion  82  into the insertion portion  78  of the mounting portion  71  of the main body  40 . 
         [0106]    Then, the side face of the leading end portion of the axis portion  82  in a tapered shape comes into contact with the metal ball  88  arranged in the communication hole  89 . When the operator presses down the axis portion  82 , the metal ball  88  moves outward along with lowering of the axis portion  82 , and a part of the metal ball  88  projects outward from the communication hole  89 . 
         [0107]    The metal ball  88  projecting outward from the fixing hub  84  as described above comes into contact with a lower end face of the insertion portion  78  of the mounting portion  71  of the main body  40 . As described above, the metal ball  88  of the fixing hub  84  comes into contact with the insertion portion  78  to fix the lid  42  to the main body  40 . 
         [0108]    An area where the axis portion  82  moves vertically is restricted by a flange portion  112  formed on a middle portion of the axis portion  82 . 
         [0109]    In other words, a predetermined point of the center hole  87  of the fixing hub  84  is formed with a large diameter portion  114  in which the flange portion  112  can be moved. When the axis portion  82  is lowered, the flange portion  112  comes into contact with a lower face of the large diameter portion  114  so that a position of the axis portion  82  becomes a lowest position. When the axis portion  82  is raised, the flange portion  112  comes into contact with an upper face of the large diameter portion  114  and the position thereof becomes a highest position. 
         [0110]    Subsequently, a constitution in which a knob portion of the lid is formed with an air hole will be described. 
         [0111]    There may be a case where, after the smearing processing is finished, when the lid  42  is tried to be removed from the main body  40 , it cannot be removed. This occurs, because, after the sealed rotating container  34  is used, sterilization is performed with hot water or steam sterilization process is performed, and subsequently, the lid  42  is fixed to the main body  40  in a state where a temperature is still high. Thus, an inside of the sealed rotating container  34  has a negative pressure. 
         [0112]    As described above, when the inside of the sealed rotating container  34  has the negative pressure, in order to easily remove the lid  42  from the main body  40 , the present embodiment adopts a constitution described below. 
         [0113]    In other words, when the axis portion  82  of the knob portion  70  is lifted (moved upward), an inside and an outside of the sealed rotating container  34  are communicated with each other. More specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , an air hole  90  is formed in the axis portion  82  through which, when the axis portion  82  of the knob portion  70  is lifted to remove the lid  42 , the inside and the outside of the sealed rotating container  34  are communicated with each other. 
         [0114]    The air hole  90  of the axis portion  82  is formed by communicating an outer opening portion  92  formed at an upper position than an upper face of the main body  81  of the knob portion  70  when the axis portion  82  is lifted with an inner opening portion  94  positioned downward from the main body of the knob portion  70  (inside of the sealed rotating container  34 ) when the axis portion  82  is lifted. 
         [0115]    The outer opening portion  92  is formed at a plurality of positions on a side face of the axis portion  82 , and the inner opening portion  94  is formed on a side face of a lower side thereof. The air hole  90  is formed along a center axis of the axis portion  82  to communicate the outer opening portion  92  with the inner opening portion  94 . 
         [0116]    When the axis portion  82  is raised, the communication hole  104  communicating with the inner opening portion  94  of the axis portion  82  is formed in the large diameter portion  114  of the fixing hub  84 . The communication hole  104  opens to an inner wall side of a center opening portion of the “V” ring  110 . 
         [0117]    An operation of forming such an air hole  90  is described as follows. 
         [0118]    Before the smearing process is started, when the lid  42  is mounted to the main body  40 , if the operator presses the knob large-diameter portion  80  to lower the axis portion  82 , the outer opening portion  92  goes into the insertion hole  83  of the main body  81  of the knob portion  70  to be hidden from the outside. Therefore, the air hole  90  is closed to seal the inside of the sealed rotating container  34 . 
         [0119]    After the smearing process is finished, when the operator pulls (raise) the knob large-diameter portion  80 , the outer opening portion  92  formed in the axis portion  82  is exposed outside from the insertion hole  83 . With this arrangement, the air is fed from the outside of the sealed rotating container  34  to the inside thereof via the outer opening portion  92 , the air hole  90 , the inner opening portion  94 , and the communication hole  104 . 
         [0120]    Therefore, even if the inside of the sealed rotating container  34  has the negative pressure, when the lid  42  is removed, the air can be fed from the outside, thereby solving the problem of the negative pressure of the inside and easily removing the lid  42 . 
         [0121]    Further, an “O” ring  96  may be mounted on an outer circumference of the axis portion  82 . 
         [0122]    A mounting position of the “O” ring  96  is always located where the “O” ring  96  is arranged in the insertion hole  83  of the main body  81  of the knob portion  70 . In other words, a resistance force generated between the “O” ring  96  and the insertion hole  83  is applied to the axis portion  82  when the axis portion  82  is lifted and when the axis portion  82  is pressed down. 
         [0123]    Further, with a sliding resistance force of the axis portion  82  by the “O” ring  96 , even if the operator does not hold the axis portion  82 , the axis portion  82  can be held at the position by the gravity without lowering by itself. 
         [0124]    As described above, the “O” ring  96  is provided to the axis portion  82  of the knob portion  70  so that the lid  42  and the main body  40  are fixed with one push (pressing the axis portion  82  only once). In other words, if no resistance force is applied to the axis portion  82 , and when the operator does not hold the axis portion  82 , the axis portion  82  is lowered due to the gravity. Thus, the axis portion  82  cannot be pushed to fix to the main body  40  without raising the axis portion  82  again. 
         [0125]    However, as in the present embodiment, the “O” ring  96  is provided to the axis portion  82  so that, even after the lid  42  is removed, the axis portion  82  can be easily fixed to the main body  40 . 
         [0126]    As a constitution in which the axis portion  82  can be pressed down with one push to fix the lid  42  to the main body  40 , in addition to mounting the “O” ring  96  on the outer circumference of the axis portion  82 , for example, it can be considered to provide a spring to apply an urging force between the axis portion  82  and an inner wall face of the insertion hole  83 . 
         [0127]    However, if the sliding resistance force is applied to the axis portion  82  by the spring, when the sealed rotating container  34  vibrates, the axis portion  82  may be flown up by a slight reaction force of the spring to release the fixation between the lid  42  and the main body  40 . Therefore, the “O” ring is preferable to the spring to apply the sliding resistance to the axis portion  82  in the insertion hole  83 .