JP2002205804A - Automatic storage facility equipped with temperature and humidity control device for biological test material, culture, gene, and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic storage facility for a biological test material, culture, a gene, and the like for which the maintenance of strict temperature and humidity is demanded. SOLUTION: The whole automatic storage facility is covered with a heat insulating material or the like, and storage shelf parts 1, 1' are provided with partitions 6, 6'. Temperature and humidity control devices 3, 3', 3" with independent functions are mounted to the respective partition spaces. In the case further strict temperature and humidity conditions are requested, doors 7, 7' automatically opened/closed in accordance with the motion of an automatic takeout device 2 traveling a passage 9 in the automatic storage facility are mounted to the partition parts. Bar codes and ID tags are attached to containers for containing stored materials, and a storage case for storing them in one lot. The automatic storage facility is controlled in linkage with a computer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for storing and managing test materials, cultures, genes, etc. for biological science, which require strict temperature and humidity maintenance.
It is an automatic storage facility equipped with a humidity control device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, storage of test materials, cultures, genes, and the like has been manually managed in an incubator, a refrigerator, a freezer, or the like. In this method, storage is limited to the height at which a person works, and since the storage device is small and storage efficiency is extremely low, storing many items requires many storage devices and a large space.
In addition, since the operation is performed by a person, the operation time is required, and the management of a large number of test materials, cultures, and the like is complicated, and errors in taking out and taking in are easy to occur.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In order to solve these problems, introduction of automatic storage facilities is considered.
It was difficult to control the temperature and humidity delicately in the storage unit, and it did not exist until now. The present invention solves this.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has been devised in order to greatly improve the conventional work, and if it is described with reference to the drawings, it can be stored in a storage shelf (1, 1 '). The storage cases (8, 8 ') containing the stored test materials, cultures, genes, and the like are passed through the pass box (4) by the automatic loading / unloading device (2) having traveling, lifting / lowering, and chucking functions, through the station (5). ). A part of a container such as a test tube or a petri dish containing test materials, cultures, genes, etc. is taken out of the case, or a newly added storage case with a container passes through the pass box (4 ') and re-enters. It is stored in the storage rack (1, 1 '). Although the automatic storage facility is entirely covered with a heat insulating material or the like, since the volume inside the facility becomes large, a partition (6) is provided in the storage shelf (1, 1 ') to facilitate the maintenance and management of temperature and humidity. , 6 ′), and a control device (3, 3 ′, 3 ″) having a function of controlling the temperature and humidity in each space partitioned by the partition, and controlling the temperature and humidity in the space. If more strict maintenance of temperature and humidity is required, automatic doors (7, 7 ') are provided at partitions of the traveling passageway (9) of the automatic access device (2) in the equipment, The automatic doors (7, 7 ') open automatically when the automatic loading / unloading device (2) travels, and automatically close when they pass by, minimizing the flow of air, and improving the accuracy of temperature and humidity maintenance. Enhance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (a) Test materials, cultures, genes, etc. are placed in containers such as test tubes and petri dishes, and a storage case (8, 8 ') in which those containers and containers are put together. ), Etc., are attached with barcodes and ID tags, respectively. (B) When newly storing in an automatic storage facility, store it after reading a container containing test materials and the like and a barcode or ID tag attached to a storage case. In addition, the same operation is performed when taking out from the automatic storage facility to the station (5) and storing it again in the storage shelves (1, 1 '). Is stored. (C) The computer can store detailed information such as the storage location on the shelf of the storage items in the automatic storage facility, the type, the date and time of storage, and the status of the stored items. (D) The function of the computer is to store only information on what is stored on which shelf in the automatic storage facility, to store other detailed information on another computer, and to connect the computers to each other [0005] ( C)
It can have the same function as. (E) Since partitions and automatic doors are provided in the shelves, each partition space can be set to a different temperature and humidity to be used in different environments. (F) Since the sizes of the petri dishes and test tubes to be put in the storage case are different, prepare a plurality of storage cases and shelf dimensions. When a new storage is performed from the station, a case having the most suitable size can be automatically taken out by reading an ID such as a barcode or an ID tag attached to a petri dish or a test tube.

[Effects of the Invention] (A) Conventionally, a large number of small storage devices are arranged and a large space is required. However, according to the present invention, high-density storage can be performed, and indoor storage space can be largely saved. (B) Conventionally, the location of the storage device and the storage position in the device shelf depend on the memory of a person, so that it takes a long time to work and it is easy to make mistakes in taking in and out. The present invention enables automatic work linked with a computer, and can reduce the time. In addition, a barcode and an ID tag can be used together, thereby preventing erroneous work. (C) Since the data such as the storage state can be output instantaneously, the efficiency of office work related to storage is dramatically improved. (D) Since the storage items having different temperatures and humidity, which have been conventionally stored in a distributed manner, can be collected at one place, the arrangement and management of the workers become convenient, which leads to the rationalization.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1 'are storage shelves. 6, 6 '
Is a partition. Reference numeral 2 denotes an automatic case insertion / removal device. 7, 7 'are automatic doors. 3, 3 ', 3 "are temperature and humidity control devices. 8, 8' is a storage case. 4, 4 'is a pass box. 9 is a passage in storage equipment. 5 is a take-out station. It is.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Partitions (6, 6 ') are provided on both sides of storage shelves (1, 1') in a storage facility, and a temperature and humidity control device having an independent control function in each of the partition spaces is provided. Provide. (B) When temperature and humidity conditions are more severe, an automatic loading / unloading device (2) that travels along a passage (9) in an automatic storage facility.
Automatic doors (7, 7 ') that open and close in accordance with the movement of are provided in the partition. Automatic storage facilities configured as above