JP2002186354A - Apparatus for inoculating liquid spawn - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for inoculating a liquid spawn allowing stably filling the spawn while enhancing the efficiency of an inoculating operation and keeping the amount of the spawn supplied to a culturing vessel to be almost constant. SOLUTION: This apparatus for inoculating the liquid spawn is characterized by installing a conveying mechanism 2 supplying a container 9 in which a plurality of culturing vessels 8 are longitudinally and latitudinally stored in an aligned state from the carrying-in side and conveying the container 9 to the carrying-out side while intermittently conveying the culturing vessels 8, a rid opening/shutting mechanism 12 opening and shutting rids 7 of the culturing vessels 8 in the container 9 intermittently conveyed by the conveying mechanism 2 in a line unit and arranged in plural rows at prescribed intervals and a liquid-spawn supplying mechanism 13 supplying a prescribed amount of the liquid spawn S to a line of the culturing vessels 8 of which the rids 7 are removed by a plurality of rows of the rid opening/shutting mechanism 12 so as to be supplied in each the culturing vessels 8 and arranged in a plurality of rows.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inoculum inoculation apparatus for inoculating a culture medium filled in a mushroom cultivation container with a mushroom inoculum.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for artificially cultivating mushrooms using a culture medium containing a sawdust or rice bran as a main component and a nutrient source, a culture medium is filled in a cultivation container, sterilized, and the filled cultivation is performed. After inoculating seeds of mushrooms such as enoki mushroom and maitake in a container, cover the mouth of the cultivation container with a lid, close the container, and cultivate the bacteria under predetermined temperature and humidity conditions for industrial cultivation. There is a way to do that.

[0003] In this case, when inoculating the inoculum, in order to increase the work efficiency of the inoculation operation, the inoculation can be performed while placing each container on the transport conveyor without removing the cultivation container one by one from the container. Inoculation device
For example, JP-A-63-258519 and JP-A-63-258519
-258520.

In this inoculation apparatus, the inoculum itself is generally propagated in a inoculum bottle in a culture medium in which a nutrient is blended with sawdust or rice bran as a main component. The seed bottle was housed upside down and mounted on the body frame side, and in this state, the seed bottle was rotated, and the seed shaft was rotated from the mouth of the seed bottle with a scraping blade. The inoculated seeds are scraped out by a scraping blade while being inserted and gradually raised while rotating the scraping shaft, and the seeded seeds are filled into the cultivation container via a hopper or the like.

[0005]

In the above-mentioned prior art, the filling amount of the inoculum generally sets the rotation time of the scraping shaft according to the kind of the mushroom to be cultivated. In some cases, the amount of seeds scraped out may differ due to the difference between the outside diameter of the mouth and the outside diameter of the trunk, or the seeds themselves in the seed bottle are solid, so when the seeds are scraped out The size of the inoculated fungus (sawdust) may vary,
The filling amount of the inoculum may vary, and in particular, when the inoculum amount of the inoculum is less than a predetermined amount, it is expected that the mycelium of the inoculum is difficult to propagate in the cultivation container, and it takes a long time to culture.

In order to avoid this, it is conceivable to detect the amount of the inoculated bacteria by using, for example, a photoelectric sensor to detect the amount of the inoculated bacteria. However, the detection accuracy varies due to contamination of the sensor and its mounting portion. There is a fear.

In the above-mentioned prior art, the lids of a plurality of cultivation containers are opened in a container in a row and a column, respectively, by lid opening / closing means, and the containers are moved forward together with the cultivation containers while the lids are open. While transferring to the installation position of the inoculum filling mechanism, filling and inoculating the cultivation container with the inoculated fungus scraped by the inoculum filling mechanism, through the step of closing the lid while retreating the container after the inoculation A series of inoculum inoculation operations is completed.

However, since time is required for switching between each process such as opening the lid of the cultivation container, filling the inoculum, and closing the lid of the cultivation container, the lid opening time becomes longer when inoculating the inoculum. There is also a problem that various bacteria floating in the external atmosphere easily enter the cultivation container.

Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and aims at improving the inoculation work efficiency while keeping the supply amount of the inoculum supplied to the cultivation container substantially constant. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid inoculum inoculating apparatus capable of performing stable inoculum filling.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a container in which a plurality of cultivation containers are arranged vertically and horizontally is supplied from a loading side, and the containers are transferred to an unloading side while intermittently transferring the cultivation containers. A transport mechanism for transporting, the lid of the cultivation container in the container intermittently transported by the transport mechanism is opened and closed in units of a horizontal row, and a lid opening and closing mechanism arranged in a plurality of rows at a predetermined interval, A liquid inoculum supply mechanism arranged in a plurality of rows for supplying a predetermined amount of liquid inoculum to the cultivation container in a row unit in which the lid is opened by the plurality of lid opening / closing mechanisms, respectively. It is a liquid inoculum inoculation apparatus characterized in that:

Further, in the invention of claim 2, according to claim 1, the lid opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the lid of the cultivation container in a horizontal row unit is arranged in two rows at a predetermined interval. A liquid inoculum inoculation apparatus characterized in that the liquid inoculum supply mechanism is arranged in two rows in accordance with an opening / closing mechanism.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the cultivation container lids are arranged in a unit of one row in the front row and intermittently transferred by the operation of the transport mechanism, and are arranged in the third row. A cultivation container lid arranged in the second column of the cultivation container, which is opened and closed by the lid opening / closing mechanism in which the cultivation container lids are arranged in two rows and then intermittently transferred by the transport mechanism; A liquid inoculum inoculator characterized by being opened and closed by a lid opening and closing mechanism in which the lids of the cultivation containers arranged in two rows are arranged in two rows.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the number of the cultivation containers housed in the container is set to an even number N, and the lid of the cultivation container located in the front row is opened and closed in units of one horizontal line. Based on the installation position of the first lid opening / closing mechanism that operates, the positional relationship of the second lid opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the lid of the cultivation container in horizontal row units is set to the (N / 2) +1 column position. It is a liquid inoculum inoculation device characterized by comprising.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any of the first to fourth aspects, the opening operation of the lid opening and closing mechanism and the operation of moving the liquid seed supply mechanism over the mouth of the cultivation container are synchronized. A liquid inoculum inoculation device, wherein the inoculation operation of the lid opening and closing mechanism and the movement operation of detaching the liquid inoculum supply mechanism from the mouth position of the cultivation container are operated in synchronization with each other. It is.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the lid opening / closing mechanism reciprocates between the lid closing position and the lid opening position of the cultivation container according to the lid opening / closing operation of the lid opening / closing mechanism. The lid opening / closing drive mechanism to be moved, and the inoculum supply drive mechanism to reciprocate the liquid inoculum supply mechanism between a position where the liquid inoculation is released from the mouth position of the cultivation container and a position on the mouth of the cultivation container. It is a liquid inoculum inoculation apparatus characterized in that:

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, a seed storage container is provided for storing the liquid inoculum for supplying the liquid inoculum to the liquid inoculum supply mechanism. A liquid inoculum inoculation device characterized by the above-mentioned.

[0017]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of cultivation containers are housed in a container in a row and in a row, and the lids of the cultivation containers housed in the container are arranged in a row and in a predetermined row. A predetermined amount of liquid inoculum is placed in the cultivation container with respect to the cultivation container of each horizontal row in which the lid is opened by the lid opening / closing mechanism arranged in a plurality of rows at intervals and the lid is opened by the plurality of lid opening / closing mechanisms. The seeds are supplied and inoculated via the liquid inoculation mechanisms provided in a plurality of rows, respectively, and are inoculated. Since the lid is closed by the opening / closing mechanism, the filling / inoculation efficiency can be improved, and the lid opening / closing mechanism is sequentially applied to other horizontal cultivation containers not inoculated with the intermittent transfer of the transport mechanism. By the lid By repeating the release operation, the inoculation operation of the liquid inoculum by the liquid inoculum supply mechanism, and the closing operation of the lid by the lid opening and closing mechanism, the cultivation containers stored in the container can be inoculated continuously in a row, and after the inoculation In the above, the cultivation container in the container is transferred to the unloading side by the transfer mechanism.

According to the first aspect, in the second aspect,
A lid opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the lid of the cultivation container in a horizontal row unit is provided in two rows at a predetermined interval, and a liquid seed supply mechanism is provided in two rows in accordance with the lid opening / closing mechanism. As a result, the lids are simultaneously opened in two rows in units of one horizontal row, the liquid inoculum is supplied and inoculated by the liquid inoculum supply mechanism arranged in two rows, and then the two rows of cultivation containers opened by the lid opening and closing mechanism are opened. The lid can be closed, and inoculation efficiency can be increased, and invasion of various bacteria can be suppressed as much as possible.

According to claim 2, in the invention of claim 3,
The lid opening / closing mechanism in which the cultivation container lids arranged in the front row and the cultivation containers arranged in the third row, which are intermittently transferred by the operation of the transport mechanism, and the cultivation vessel lids arranged in the third row are arranged in two rows. A lid in which the cultivation vessel lids arranged in the second row of the cultivation vessels that are opened and closed and then intermittently transported by the transport mechanism and the cultivation vessel lids arranged in the fourth row are arranged in two rows. With the opening and closing operation by the opening and closing mechanism, the liquid inoculum can be efficiently inoculated into the cultivation container in the container in accordance with the intermittent transfer of the transfer mechanism.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect,
The number of cultivation containers to be stored in the container is set to an even number N, and the cultivation containers are set on the basis of the installation position of the first lid opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the lids of the cultivation containers located in the front row in horizontal rows. By setting the positional relationship of the second lid opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the lids in units of one horizontal row at the position of (N / 2) +1 columns, the vertical position of the cultivation containers accommodated in the container Even if the number is changed, by setting the installation position of the lid opening and closing mechanism in accordance with the number of columns of the cultivation container, the cultivation containers are intermittently transported in the container, and the cultivation containers are spaced at predetermined intervals in a horizontal row unit Inoculation work can be performed automatically two rows at a time.

According to claims 1 to 4, claim 5
According to the invention, the liquid inoculum supply mechanism moves in synchronization with the opening of the cultivation container along with the opening operation of the lid by the lid opening and closing mechanism, and then supplies the liquid inoculum to the cultivation container by the liquid inoculum supply mechanism, By operating the closing operation of the lid by the lid opening and closing mechanism and the moving operation of detaching the liquid inoculum supply mechanism from the position of the mouth of the cultivation container in synchronization, it is possible to increase the inoculation work efficiency of the liquid inoculum, The opening time of the lid of the container can be shortened as much as possible to suppress invasion of various bacteria.

In claims 1 to 5, claim 6
According to the invention, a lid opening / closing drive mechanism for reciprocating the lid opening / closing mechanism between the lid closing position and the lid opening position of the cultivation container in accordance with the lid opening / closing operation of the lid opening / closing mechanism, and a liquid inoculum supply mechanism for the opening of the cultivation container Combined with the inoculum supply drive mechanism that reciprocates between the position separated from the part position and the position on the mouth of the cultivation container, a series of operations such as opening and closing the lid and inoculating the liquid inoculum are stabilized. You can do it.

In claims 1 to 6, claim 7
According to the invention, the inoculum storage container for storing the liquid inoculum is provided to supply the liquid inoculum to the liquid inoculum supply mechanism, so that the liquid inoculum can be sequentially supplied from the inoculum storage container.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the liquid inoculum inoculating apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. A transport mechanism 2 composed of a conveyor is provided over substantially the entire length of the machine frame 1 of the liquid inoculum inoculation apparatus main body, and the transport mechanism 2 is provided so as to be able to start and stop by operating a switch on an operation panel 3. A plurality of sprocket wheels 4 are respectively supported on both end sides of the frame 1, and an endless chain 5 is stretched in parallel between the sprocket wheels 4 provided on both ends of the machine frame 1, and is connected to the drive source side. The rotational force of the motor 6 is transmitted to the sprocket wheel 4.

Then, a cultivation container 8 filled with a culture medium C such as sawdust or rice bran and sealed with a lid 7 is placed in a column 4 for example.
And a plastic container 9 containing four rows are placed on the chain 5 of the conveyor mechanism 2 consisting of a conveyor at the transfer start end, and when the transfer mechanism 2 is started, the chain 5 travels to move the container 9 to the transfer end side. It can be transported toward.

The transport mechanism 2 provided in the machine frame 1 transfers a container 9 containing a plurality of cultivation containers 8 arranged in rows and columns from the loading side to an area for inoculating the inoculum, and inoculating the inoculation area for the inoculum. Is configured to intermittently transfer the cultivation container 8 together with the container 9. in this case,
In this embodiment, a stopper mechanism 10 having a stopper pin 10A is provided as means for stopping the container 9 sent via the transport mechanism 2 when the cultivation container 8 reaches an appropriate inoculum inoculation area. , Container 9
There is provided a container positioning mechanism 11 that can position and hold the cultivation container 8 when the lid 7 is opened and closed while adjusting the position of the cultivation container 8 in the inside.

In this case, the interval between the stopper pins 10A provided on the stopper mechanism 10 of the container 9 for stopping the container 9 at a predetermined position is aligned in a column of the cultivation containers 8 stored in the container 9. The stopper mechanism 1 is arranged in two rows in accordance with the intervals of the cultivation containers 8.
Each of the 0 stopper pins 10A is provided so as to be vertically movable via an air cylinder 10B as a driving means, and each of the stopper pins 10A is always independently biased upward from the transport surface of the transport mechanism 2 independently. It is provided.

The cultivation container 8 positioned and arranged in the seed inoculation region by the container positioning mechanism 11 is provided with a lid opening / closing mechanism 12 for opening and closing the lid 7 of the cultivation container 8 at a position above the seed inoculation region. In this embodiment, a lid opening / closing mechanism 12 for opening / closing a horizontal row of lids 7 arranged at the front row of a cultivation container 8 containing four columns and four rows in a container 9; A lid opening / closing mechanism 12 that opens and closes the lids 7 of the cultivation containers 8 arranged in the third row based on the front row in 9 is arranged in two rows.

Further, the lids 7 are arranged in a single horizontal row in the front row of the cultivation container 8 by the operation of the lid opening / closing mechanisms 12 arranged in two rows, and the horizontal single row of covers 7 are arranged in the third row. At the time of opening, the culture medium C in the cultivation container 8 in the front row and the horizontal row unit in which the lid 7 is opened in the horizontal row unit arranged in the front row and the third row and the lid 7 is opened in the horizontal row unit in the third row, The liquid inoculum B is injected in each row unit through the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 arranged in two rows, and the open cultivation container 8 is filled with the liquid inoculum B and inoculated. After this inoculation, the lid 7 is closed to the cultivation container 8 by the return operation of the lid opening / closing mechanism 12, and then the container 9 is intermittently transferred by the transport mechanism 2, and the second row and the fourth column of the cultivation container 8 in the container 9 are transferred. Put the lid 7 of the cultivation container 8
Opening and closing operations are performed by the lid opening and closing mechanisms 12 arranged in a row, and the liquid inoculum B is similarly sprayed by the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 arranged in two rows to inoculate the cultivation container 8 and all cultivation in the container 9 is performed. After the inoculation of the culture medium C of the container 8 is completed, the container 9 is transferred to the unloading side by the transport mechanism 2.

The liquid inoculum supply mechanisms 13 arranged in two rows for supplying the liquid inoculum B according to the present invention into the cultivation container 8 include a liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 which includes an upper portion through which the cultivation container 8 passes. A liquid inoculum injection cylinder 15 having the same number of injection nozzles 14 as the four cultivation containers 8 in the horizontal row is installed on the side, and each of the liquid inoculum injection cylinders 15 has a flexible shape. The pipe 16 is connected to and fixed to the side of the inoculum storage container 17 for accommodating the liquid inoculum B, and the inside of the liquid inoculum injection cylinder 15 is
Although not shown, an injection opening / closing valve for supplying and shutting off the liquid inoculum B is provided, and a tube 18 for supplying air for opening and closing this injection opening / closing valve is provided with a liquid inoculum injection cylinder 15 having an injection nozzle 14. It is configured to be attached and fixed to

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
And a pressurized gas supply mechanism 19 such as a compressor to apply air pressure into the inoculum storage container 17 through the filter 20 to supply the fuel to the injection nozzle 14 side. Supply of the liquid inoculum B provided inside the liquid inoculum injection cylinder 15;
In order to operate the injection on / off valve for shutting off, a pressurized gas supply mechanism 19A including a compressor or the like for supplying air to the injection on / off valve is provided.
A and a liquid seed germ injection cylinder 15 provided with an injection opening / closing valve
The tube 18 is connected between the filter 20A and the filter 18 via a filter 20A, and an electromagnetic valve D for supplying and shutting off air as a pressurized gas is interposed between the filter 20A and the liquid seed injecting cylinder 15. .

In this case, the filters 20, 20A are provided for purifying the air sent from the pressurized gas supply mechanisms 19, 19A.
It is configured such that no germs enter the inside 7 or no germs enter the inside of the liquid seed injecting cylinder 15.

In accordance with the number of the cultivation containers 8 in the unit of one horizontal row, the liquid seed injecting cylinders 15 provided with the four injection nozzles 14 provided in the liquid seed injecting mechanism 13 are each provided with a nozzle fixing member 21. The nozzle mounting member 22 is detachably fixed to and held by a plate-shaped nozzle mounting member 22. The nozzle mounting member 22 is removably mounted and fixed to a support plate 23. The support plate 23 reciprocates in the vertical direction by the operation of the air cylinder 24. The air cylinder 24 is movably provided, and is fixed on a cylinder support plate 25. A guide rod 26 provided on the main body frame 1 side is provided with a piece 25 </ b> A fixed to the lower end of the cylinder support plate 25. Are arranged so as to be able to reciprocate horizontally in the direction of the arrow.

In the inoculum inoculation area, each of the lid opening / closing mechanisms 12 for opening / closing the lids 7 of the cultivation containers 8 arranged in two rows is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H05-205605.
As shown in JP 103542 and the like, a movable holding member formed of a pair of a fixed holding member 27 and a holding shaft capable of holding the lids 7 of the cultivation containers 8 positioned and arranged in a horizontal line from the upper and lower surfaces thereof. A clamping member 28, a clamping member opening / closing means for moving the movable clamping member 28 back and forth, clamping and releasing each of the lids 7 in a horizontal row unit between the movable clamping member 28 and the fixed clamping member 27; Air cylinders 29 are provided.
And a transmission moving means 31 composed of an inverted T-shaped link arm member is mounted and fixed to an end of the cylinder holding plate 30 provided along the width direction of the cylinder holding plate 30. Fixed holding member 27, movable holding member 28 mounted on cylinder holding plate 30
And the air cylinder 29 are connected to the link arm member 31.
It is provided so as to be movable between the lid closing position and the lid opening position of the cultivation container 8 via the (transmission moving means 31). In this case, the link arm member 31 is provided.
Is rotatably provided via a support shaft 32 provided in the machine frame 1.

A drive cylinder 33 is provided below the transport mechanism 2, and the tip of a rod 34 provided on the drive cylinder 33 is pivotally attached to the end of the link arm member 31 to be connected and fixed. In addition, a connecting rod 35 is provided between an end of the link arm member 31 and a piece 25A fixed to a cylinder support plate 25 which is reciprocally movable along the guide rod 26. Are pivotally attached to each other and connected and fixed.

In this embodiment, the lid for reciprocating the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 between the lid closing position and the lid opening position of the cultivation container 8 in accordance with the lid opening / closing operation of the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 by the driving cylinder 33. Opening / closing drive means and a seed supply drive means for reciprocating the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 between a position where the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 is detached from the mouth position of the cultivation container 8 and a position on the mouth of the cultivation container 8 are also used. With this configuration, the opening operation of the lid opening and closing mechanism 12 and the operation of moving the liquid seed supply mechanism 13 over the mouth of the cultivation container 8 are operated in synchronization with each other, and the lid opening and closing mechanism is operated. 12 and the liquid seed supply mechanism 13 are connected to the cultivation container 8.
Is configured to be operated in synchronization with the moving operation of separating from the mouth position.

In the first embodiment, in the liquid inoculum inoculation device, a lid opening / closing mechanism 12 for opening and closing the lids 7 of the cultivation containers 8 in a unit of horizontal line with reference to the substantially central position of the main body of the inoculum inoculation device. The liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 that injects and inoculates the liquid inoculum B into the cultivation containers 8 in a horizontal row unit is a set, and two sets of lid opening and closing mechanisms 12 and 12 and the liquid inoculum supply mechanisms 13 and 13 are symmetrical. Is provided, in other words,
In the inoculum inoculation area, the lid opening and closing mechanisms 12, 1 arranged in two rows
2 and liquid inoculum supply mechanisms 13 and 13 arranged in two rows. In some cases, a set of a lid opening / closing mechanism and a liquid inoculum supply mechanism of the same form without being provided symmetrically is provided. May be configured to be installed in duplicate.

Next, the operation of the liquid inoculum inoculation device in the above-described configuration will be described. First, a container 9 containing a predetermined number of cultivation containers 8 with lids 7 is placed on the transport mechanism 2 and the container 9 is transferred. When the container 9 reaches the seed inoculation area, the transport surface of the transport mechanism 2 is moved. The position of the front end of the container 9 is regulated and stopped and held by a stopper pin 10A provided on a stopper mechanism 10 that moves up and down so as to be able to move up and down. A series of inoculation steps are configured to operate. (See FIG. 2) In this case, the position of the shoulder of the cultivation container 8 in the container 9 is regulated in advance by the container positioning mechanism 11, or the lid 7 is linked to a series of inoculation steps at the time of inoculation. Is provided so as to position and hold the cultivation container 8 when the opening and closing operation is performed.

When the cultivation container 8 is positioned and fixed, the state of FIG. 10 is changed to the state of FIG. 11 by the operation of the air cylinder 29, and the lids of the cultivation containers 8 positioned and arranged in the horizontal row located at the frontmost row. 7 and the lids 7 of the cultivation containers 8 positioned at the third row and arranged in a horizontal row unit are pressed from the upper surface by the respective movable clamping members 28, and the fixed clamping members provided on the lower surface. The lid 7 is held between the movable holding member 27 and the movable holding member 28.

Next, after the positioning by the container positioning mechanism 11 is performed and the lid 7 is clamped and held, as shown in FIG. The cover 7 is rotated by the movement of the rod 34, the cover 7 is rotated to the cover open position by the cover opening and closing mechanism 12 attached to the link arm member 31, and the link arm member 31 is rotated in synchronization with the cover opening operation. A piece 25A attached to and fixed to the cylinder support plate 25 via a connecting rod 35 attached to the end moves along a guide rod 26 provided on the main body frame 1 side. The four spray nozzles 14 provided in the liquid seed supply mechanism 13 by the movement,
The cultivation container 8 is moved to the mouth portion position, that is, right above the cultivation container 8 from which the lid 7 is removed. (See FIG. 3, FIG. 7, FIG. 12, etc.)

Subsequently, the injection nozzle 14 approaches or is inserted into the mouth of the cultivation container 8 by the operation of the air cylinder 24. (See FIGS. 4 and 8)

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 9 and FIG.
Cultivation container 8 in a horizontal row unit with lid 7 opened when
The liquid inoculum B is sprayed into the culture medium C in a row unit through the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13, and the open cultivation container 8 is filled with the liquid inoculum B and inoculated.

At this time, the internal pressure in the seed container 17 is increased by applying air pressure to the seed container 17 by a pressurized gas supply mechanism 19 comprising a compressor or the like. Is pushed out to the pipe 16 on the side of the injection nozzle 14 and pressurizes the tube 18 at the time of injection of the liquid inoculum B, that is, although not shown, to open and shut off the injection opening / closing valve provided inside the injection nozzle 14. The liquid inoculum B is injected from the injection nozzle 14 by supplying air by the gas supply mechanism 19A and opening the injection opening / closing valve.

After the liquid inoculum B has been filled by the injection nozzle 14 in a predetermined amount, the return operation of the air cylinder 24 causes the injection nozzle 14 to move away from the mouth of the cultivation container 8,
Thereafter, by the return operation of the rod 34 of the drive cylinder 33, the injection nozzle 14 is retracted from the position of the cultivation container 8 and returned, and at the same time, the horizontal return cultivation container inoculated with the liquid inoculum B by the rotation return operation of the lid opening and closing mechanism 12. 8 lid 7 is fitted.

Accordingly, by sequentially operating a series of steps by the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 and the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13, the cultivation container 8 in the front row and the third in the transfer direction of the container 9 in the inoculum inoculation area. The cultivation containers 8 in the rows can be inoculated in horizontal row units.

Then, when a series of inoculation steps based on the cultivation container 8 in the front row is completed, the stopper pin 10A that has stopped and held the front end of the container 9 is moved to the air cylinder 10
The container 9 once moves downward through B and then returns upward, and when the transport mechanism 2 operates, the container 9 is transported in the unloading direction. By the transfer operation of the container 9, the stopper pin 10 A which initially stopped and held the front end of the container 9 also attempts to return upward, but the stopper pin 10 A which has been stopped and held until now by the transport operation of the container 9. Has its upper end portion abutting against the bottom portion of the container 9. However, the stopper pin 1
Since the upward urging force of 0A is set to be weak, the container 9 can be smoothly transported without hindering the transportation of the container 9, and the other stoppers provided in the next row of the stopper mechanism 10 The front end side of the container 9 is stopped and held by the pins 10A.

Further, when the container 9 is stopped, a series of inoculation steps based on the second row of the cultivation container 8 are performed by the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 and the liquid seed inoculation mechanism 13 as described above. The cultivation containers 8 in the second row and the cultivation containers 8 in the fourth row can be inoculated as shown in FIG. 14, whereby all the cultivation containers 8 in the container 9 can be inoculated.

When the inoculation process of all the cultivation containers 8 in the container 9 is completed, as shown in FIG. 15, the stopper pin 10A of the stopper mechanism 10 is connected to the air cylinder 10B.
, The container 9 containing the inoculated cultivation container 8 is transferred by the transport mechanism 2 to the unloading side, and the cultivation container 8 is newly inoculated. Is supplied from the carry-in side of the transport mechanism 2 to continuously perform the inoculation operation.

Accordingly, the lid opening / closing mechanism 1 is arranged in a plurality of rows (two rows in the embodiment) sequentially with respect to the cultivation containers 8 in units of one row.
2. The cultivation containers 8 housed in the container 9 are repeatedly arranged in a row by repeating the opening operation of the lid 7 by the liquid inoculation device 2, the inoculation operation of the liquid inoculum B by the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13, and the closing operation of the lid 7 by the lid opening and closing mechanism 12. It is possible to continuously inoculate, thereby increasing the efficiency of the inoculation work of the liquid inoculum B, and to perform the opening and closing operation and the inoculation operation of the lid 7 of the cultivation container 8 in one horizontal row. The opening time of the lid 7 of the cultivation container 8 can be shortened as much as possible, and the invasion of various bacteria can be suppressed.

FIGS. 16 to 20 show the second embodiment of the present invention.
This embodiment shows an example in which the basic form is almost the same as that of the above-described first embodiment. A container 9 in which a plurality of cultivation containers 8 are arranged and stored in a substantially central position of the machine casing 1 is arranged. Is transported from the loading side to an area where the inoculum is inoculated, and the cultivation container 8 is intermittently transported by the transport mechanism 2 together with the container 9 in the inoculation area of the inoculum. In this case, the cultivation containers 8 are accommodated in the container 9 arranged in six columns and four rows, and are sent via the transport mechanism 2 when the cultivation containers 8 reach an appropriate inoculum inoculation area. A stopper mechanism 10 for stopping the incoming container 9 is provided. The stopper mechanism 10 has stopper pins 10A arranged in three rows in the transport direction.

The intervals between the stopper pins 10A arranged in three rows are arranged in accordance with the intervals between the cultivation containers 8 arranged in a column of the cultivation containers 8 accommodated in the container 9. Each of the stopper pins 10A is provided so as to be always and independently urged toward the upper side of the transport mechanism 2 and, similarly to the above-described first embodiment, is provided via an air cylinder 10B as a driving means. It is provided movably up and down.

In the second embodiment, a lid opening / closing operation for opening / closing the lids 7 in the unit of one row arranged in the front row of the cultivation container 8 in which six columns and four rows are stored in the container 9. Mechanism 12 and 4 based on the front row in container 9
The lid opening / closing mechanism 12 that opens and closes the lid 7 of the cultivation container 8 arranged in the row is arranged in two rows.

The lid opening and closing mechanisms 12 arranged in two rows
In accordance with the above, the inoculum supply mechanism 13 for injecting and inoculating the liquid inoculum B at the front row position of the cultivation container 8 and the fourth row position with respect to the front row in the container 9 is arranged in two rows. It is configured.

In the second embodiment, in the liquid inoculum inoculation device, a lid opening / closing mechanism 12 for opening and closing the lid 7 of the cultivation containers 8 in horizontal rows and the liquid inoculum B are injected into the cultivation containers 8 in horizontal rows. The inoculation and inoculation of the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 constitutes a set, and the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 and the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 of the same form are installed in two rows.

In the second embodiment having the above-described structure, the lids 7 are arranged in a horizontal row unit arranged at the frontmost row position of the cultivation container 8 by the operation of the lid opening / closing mechanisms 12 arranged in two rows.
And when the lids 7 are opened in the first row and the fourth row, the lids 7 are opened in the front row and the fourth row where the lids 7 are opened in the first row and the fourth row. As shown in FIG. 17, the culture medium C in the cultivation container 8 in one horizontal row unit is sprayed through the spray nozzle 14 of the liquid seed supply mechanism 13 in which the liquid seed bacteria B are arranged in two rows in each row unit. And
The opened cultivation container 8 is filled with the liquid inoculum B and inoculated, and after this inoculation, the lid 7 is closed by the return operation of the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 so that the cultivation container 8 is closed. A series of inoculation steps is completed.

When a series of inoculation steps based on the cultivation container 8 in the front row is completed, the stopper pin 10A that has stopped and held the front end of the container 9 is moved to the air cylinder 10
The container 9 is temporarily moved downward via B and then returned upward, and the transport mechanism 2 is intermittently operated, so that the container 9 is intermittently transported by the transport mechanism 2. At this time, in the first inoculation step, the stopper pin 10A, which has stopped and held the front end of the container 9, returns upward and the stopper pin 10A comes into contact with the bottom surface of the container 9, but the stopper pin 10A moves upward. Since the elastic urging force of the stopper mechanism 10 is set to be weak, the container 9 can be intermittently transported without hindering the transport of the container 9, and the other stopper pins 10A arranged in the next row of the stopper mechanism 10 (positioned at the center). The front end side of the container 9 is stopped and held by the stopper pin 10A). (See Fig. 18)

When the container 9 is stopped, the lids 7 of the cultivation containers 8 arranged in the second and fifth rows of the cultivation containers 8 in the container 9 are respectively opened and closed in two rows. The opening / closing operation is performed by the mechanism 12 and, as shown in FIG. 18, the liquid inoculum B is ejected by the injection nozzles 14 of the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 similarly arranged in two rows.
Is injected and inoculated into the cultivation containers 8 arranged in the second row and the fifth row, and then the lid 7 is closed by the return operation of the lid opening / closing mechanism 12, whereby the cultivation vessels in the second row are 8
A series of inoculation steps on the basis of is completed.

When a series of inoculation steps based on the cultivation containers 8 in the second row is completed, the stopper pins 10A, which stop and hold the front end of the container 9, similarly go down once and then go up. The container 9 is intermittently transported by the transport mechanism 2 by operating the transport mechanism 2. At this time, the stopper pins 10A located on the front side and the center side come into contact with the bottom surface of the container 9 when returning upward, but the upward biasing force of the stopper pins 10A is set to be weak. Therefore, the container 9 can be intermittently transported without hindering the transport of the container 9 itself. By this transport, the front end side of the container 9 is stopped and held by the stopper pins 10A arranged in the front row. (See FIG. 19)

When the container 9 is stopped by the stopper pin 10A positioned at the front row in the transport direction,
The lids 7 of the cultivation containers 8 arranged in the third row and the last sixth row of the cultivation vessels 8 in the container 9 are opened and closed by respective lid opening and closing mechanisms 12 arranged in two rows. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 19, the injection nozzles 1 of the respective liquid seed supply mechanisms 13 similarly arranged in two rows
4, the liquid inoculum B is injected and inoculated into the cultivation containers 8 arranged in the third and sixth rows, and then the lid 7 is closed by the return operation of the lid opening and closing mechanism 12.
A series of inoculation processes based on the cultivation containers 8 in the third row is completed, and as a result, the inoculation operation process is completed for the culture media C of all the cultivation containers 8 in the container 9.

When the inoculation operation process is completed for the culture medium C of all the cultivation containers 8 in the container 9, the stopper pins 1
At the same time that the container 9 is transferred to the unloading side by the operation of the transport mechanism 2 and the container 9 containing the cultivation container 8 to be newly inoculated is transferred to the transport mechanism 2 at the same time as the lowering of 0A.
Inoculation work can be performed continuously by supplying from the loading side. (See FIG. 20)

Therefore, also in the second embodiment, the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 is sequentially arranged in a plurality of rows (two rows in the embodiment) with respect to the cultivation containers 8 in a unit of horizontal row, similarly to the first embodiment. Based on the repetition of the opening operation of the lid 7, the inoculation operation of the liquid inoculum B by the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13, and the closing operation of the lid 7 by the lid opening / closing mechanism 12, the cultivation containers 8 housed in the container 9 are continuously arranged in a row. The inoculation operation of the liquid inoculum B can be improved, and the opening and closing operation of the lid 7 of the cultivation container 8 and the inoculation operation are performed in one horizontal row. The opening time of the lid 7 of the container 8 can be shortened as much as possible, and the invasion of various bacteria can be suppressed.

In the above-described embodiment, the number of cultivation containers 8 to be stored in the container 9 is 4 in the first embodiment.
, Four rows, and in the second embodiment, six rows and four rows were set as examples, and the size and shape of the cultivation container and the lid or the size and form of the container were described. Due to the difference, the number of pieces stored in the container may be different. However, in the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 arranged in two rows in one horizontal row as in the above-described embodiments, the liquid inoculum inoculation according to the present invention is performed. As the number of pieces accommodated in the container 9 in the apparatus, an even number N is desirable for columns.

In other words, in the two-row lid opening / closing mechanism 12 or the liquid seed supply mechanism 13, since the inoculation operation is always performed in even rows, the switching operation is performed by adjusting the number of columns in the inoculation process to the even number N. If the number of the cultivation containers 8 is an odd number, only the injection operation of the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 operating on the rearmost side in the final step in the container 9 is performed. It is possible to cover the suspension.

In the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 arranged in two rows as in each of the above-described embodiments, the number of the cultivation containers 8 housed in the container 9 is an even number N, and A second lid opening / closing mechanism that opens / closes the lid 7 of the cultivation container 8 in units of horizontal rows based on the installation position of the first lid opening / closing mechanism 12 that opens / closes the lid 7 of the located cultivation container 8 in units of horizontal row. Even if the number of columns of the cultivation containers 8 accommodated in the container 9 changes by setting the positional relationship of 12 to the (N / 2) +1 column positions, the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 is installed. When the position is the number of columns of the cultivation containers 8, for example, N = 8, the installation position of the second lid opening / closing mechanism 12 is (8/2) + 1 = 5, that is, the cultivation containers 8 corresponding to the fifth row. The cultivation container in the container 9 by setting according to the position of It can be the automatically performed two rows at a time inoculation operations at predetermined intervals cultivation container 8 while intermittently transported in a horizontal row units.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. In order to inoculate based on the container 8, the container 9 is stopped by a stopper mechanism 10 that stops based on the front end of the container 9 as a means for intermittently setting transfer and stop while sending the container 9 by the transport mechanism 2. However, for example, the operation of the transport mechanism 2 may be set to determine the stop position of the transport mechanism 2 only by controlling the rotation of the motor without using the stopper mechanism 10.

In the embodiment, the detection means for stopping the cultivation container 8 at a predetermined position in the inoculum inoculation area is as follows.
Although the operation of the transport mechanism 2 was controlled by reading the position of the front end of the container 9 with the detection sensor, for example, the detection sensor is arranged in a positional relationship where the cultivation container 8 is transported,
The cultivation container 8 may be detected by the detection sensor, and the transfer of the transport mechanism 2 may be stopped when the cultivation container 8 reaches a predetermined inoculum inoculation area based on the detection signal.

A container positioning mechanism 11 for positioning and holding the cultivation container 8 when opening and closing the lid 7 while adjusting the position of the cultivation container 8 in the container 9 is provided. 8 may be a rail-shaped holding member for holding and holding the shoulder, or an arm-shaped holding plate may be movably provided. At least when the lid 7 is opened and closed, the cultivation container 8 is regulated. What is necessary is just to hold | maintain.

As the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 in the embodiment, the lid 7 of the cultivation container 8 which is positioned and arranged in a horizontal line is composed of a pair of fixed clamping members 27 and a clamping shaft capable of clamping the lid 7 from the upper and lower surfaces thereof. An air cylinder 29 for moving the movable holding member 28 forward and backward, and holding and releasing each of the lids 7 in a horizontal row unit between the movable holding member 28 and the fixed holding member 27 is provided. Was provided,
In addition to applying a lid opening / closing mechanism composed of a pinching claw, a lid moving unit is provided for detaching the lid 7 from the cultivation container 8, and the lid 7 detached by the operation of the lid moving unit is removed. The cultivation container 8 may be configured to reciprocate between a lid closed position and a lid open position.

When the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 is reciprocated between a position at which the liquid inoculation mechanism 13 is detached from the position of the mouth of the cultivation container 8 and a position on the mouth of the cultivation container, the lid opening and closing mechanism 12 is used in the embodiment. The injection nozzle 14 provided in the liquid seed supply mechanism 13 is connected to a driving cylinder 33 so as not to hinder the operation.
Is arranged so as to be able to reciprocate in the horizontal direction along the guide rod 26 by the operation of, and vertically reciprocate by the air cylinder 24 so as to approach and separate from the cultivation container 8 from a position directly above the cultivation container 8. Although it was provided and configured as possible, only a structure in which the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 is reciprocated in the horizontal direction may be adopted in some cases. A structure in which the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 is moved up and down at a position directly above the cultivation container 8 in accordance with the positional relationship may be adopted. In this case, the liquid inoculation mechanism 13 is set so as not to hinder the operation of the lid opening and closing mechanism 12. Just do it.

In each of the above embodiments, maintenance,
For inspection or sterilization, the injection nozzle 14, pipe 16, tube 18, etc. on the side that supplies the liquid inoculum B need to be replaced (washed), disinfected, etc. (if necessary). It is configured such that it can be easily and manually replaced by a fixing means such as.

Further, the setting position of the injection nozzle 14 is provided so as to be adjustable in accordance with the height and size of the cultivation container 8 and the positional relationship of the cultivation container 8 to be accommodated in the container 9. , The liquid inoculum B can be sprayed well and inoculated.

When the liquid inoculum B in the inoculum storage container 17 runs out, the tube or pipe is connected to another inoculum storage container 17 filled with the inoculum B, thereby connecting the inoculum storage container 17 to the inoculum storage container 17. The replacement work can be performed favorably, and in some cases, a plurality of
And when the liquid inoculum B in the inoculum storage container 17 is exhausted, the operation can be easily performed by switching the valve.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the lid opening / closing drive means for reciprocating the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 between the lid closing position and the lid opening position of the cultivation container 8;
3 is constituted by the drive cylinder 33, which also serves as a liquid seed supply driving means for reciprocating between a position separated from the mouth position of the cultivation container 8 and a position on the mouth of the cultivation container 8. Each drive means may be provided individually, and may be operated using a drive means such as a cam mechanism or a motor as the drive means.

[0074]

As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a container in which a plurality of cultivation containers are arranged vertically and horizontally is supplied from the loading side, and the cultivation containers are unloaded while being intermittently transferred. A transport mechanism for transporting the container to the side, and the lid of the cultivation container in the container intermittently transported by the transport mechanism is opened and closed in units of a horizontal row, and arranged in a plurality of rows at a predetermined interval. A liquid inoculum arranged in a plurality of rows to supply a predetermined amount of liquid inoculum into the cultivation container, respectively, to the cultivation container in a unit of a horizontal row in which a lid is opened and closed by the lid opening and closing mechanism in a plurality of rows. A liquid inoculum inoculation device characterized by comprising a supply mechanism, wherein a predetermined amount of liquid inoculum is placed in the cultivation container with respect to a cultivation container in a horizontal row unit whose lid is opened by a plurality of lid opening and closing mechanisms. Liquid inoculum supply arranged in multiple rows Since the lid is closed by the lid opening / closing mechanism at the mouth of the cultivation container in a unit of horizontal row in which the lid is opened by the lid opening / closing mechanism in a plurality of rows after the inoculation, and the lid is closed, It can improve the efficiency of filling and inoculating liquid inoculum.In addition, it is possible to suppress invasion of various bacteria by shortening the opening time of the lid as much as possible, and it is inoculated with intermittent transfer of the transport mechanism. The cultivation containers in other horizontal rows are not stored in the container by repeating the opening operation of the lid by the lid opening / closing mechanism, the inoculation operation of the liquid inoculum by the liquid inoculum supply mechanism, and the closing operation of the lid by the lid opening / closing mechanism. Cultivation containers can be continuously inoculated in horizontal row units, and after the inoculation, the cultivation containers in the containers are favorably transferred to the unloading side by the transport mechanism. It is possible.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the lid opening and closing mechanisms for opening and closing the lids of the cultivation containers in a horizontal row are arranged in two rows at a predetermined interval. The liquid inoculum supply mechanism is arranged in two rows in accordance with the lid opening / closing mechanism, whereby the lids are simultaneously opened in two rows in units of one horizontal row, and the liquid inoculum supply mechanism is arranged in two rows. After filling and inoculation, the lids can be closed with respect to the two rows of cultivation containers opened by the lid opening / closing mechanism, so that inoculation efficiency can be increased and invasion of various bacteria can be suppressed as much as possible.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the cultivation container lids arranged in units of the front row, which are intermittently transported by the operation of the transport mechanism, are arranged in the first row, and the third row is arranged in the third row. The lid of the cultivation container arranged in the second column of the cultivation container which is opened and closed by the lid opening and closing mechanism in which the lids of the cultivation container are arranged in two rows, and then intermittently transferred by the transport mechanism; The cultivation containers in the container are efficiently inoculated into the cultivation containers in the containers in accordance with the intermittent transfer of the transport mechanism by opening and closing the lids of the cultivation containers arranged in the eyes and the lid opening and closing mechanism arranged in two rows. be able to.

Further, in the invention of claim 2, in the invention of claim 4, the number of cultivation containers housed in the container is an even number N, and the lid of the cultivation container is opened and closed in units of one horizontal line. Based on the lid opening / closing mechanism in the row, the positional relationship of the lid opening / closing mechanism in the second row that opens and closes the lid of the cultivation container in units of one horizontal row is set to (N / 2) +1 column positions. By this, even if the number of columns of cultivation containers accommodated in the container changes, by setting the installation position of the lid opening and closing mechanism in accordance with the number of columns of cultivation containers, the cultivation containers in the container are intermittently transferred. The cultivation containers can be automatically inoculated in two rows at predetermined intervals in horizontal row units.

In the invention of claims 1 to 4, according to the invention of claim 5, the liquid seed supply mechanism moves synchronously on the mouth of the cultivation container with the opening operation of the lid by the lid opening / closing mechanism. And, after supplying the liquid inoculum to the cultivation container by the liquid inoculum supply mechanism, the closing operation of the lid by the lid opening and closing mechanism and the movement operation of detaching the liquid inoculum supply mechanism from the mouth position of the cultivation container are operated in synchronization. By doing so, it is possible to increase the efficiency of inoculation of the liquid inoculum, and it is possible to minimize the opening time of the lid of the cultivation container and suppress the invasion of various bacteria.

According to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, in the invention of the sixth aspect, the lid opening / closing mechanism moves the lid between the lid closing position and the lid opening position of the cultivation container according to the lid opening / closing operation of the lid opening / closing mechanism. A lid opening and closing drive mechanism for reciprocating movement, and a seed bacteria supply driving mechanism for reciprocating the liquid inoculum supply mechanism between a position at which the liquid seed cell supply mechanism is detached from the mouth position of the cultivation container and a position on the mouth of the cultivation container, thereby opening and closing the lid. A series of operations such as a liquid inoculum inoculation operation can be stably performed.

Further, in the invention of claims 1 to 6, according to the invention of claim 7, in order to supply the liquid inoculum to the liquid inoculum supply mechanism, the inoculum storage container for storing the liquid inoculum is provided. Thus, the liquid inoculum can be sequentially supplied from the inoculum storage container, and the inoculum can be inoculated with a stable supply of the inoculum as compared to the inoculum using the conventional culture medium.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the entire configuration of a liquid inoculum inoculation apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a main part of the liquid inoculum inoculation apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a main part showing an operation state of a lid opening / closing mechanism and a liquid seed supply mechanism of the liquid seed inoculation apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a waist showing a state in which an injection nozzle of the liquid inoculum supply mechanism in FIG. 3 is moved downward toward a cultivation container.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a main part showing a state where the liquid inoculum is ejected from an ejection nozzle after the liquid inoculum supply mechanism is moved toward the cultivation container side.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a main part of the liquid seed supply mechanism when the lid is closed, corresponding to FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a main part of the liquid seed supply mechanism when the lid is opened, corresponding to FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a main part showing a state in which the injection nozzle of the liquid inoculum supply mechanism corresponding to FIG. 4 is moved closer to the cultivation container side.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a main part showing a state of spraying liquid bacteria by a spray nozzle of a liquid seed machine supply mechanism corresponding to FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a main part of a lid opening / closing mechanism corresponding to FIG. 2;

11 is a side view showing an operation state (lid holding state) of a movable holding member in the lid opening / closing mechanism of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a main part showing a state in which a lid of the cultivation container is removed from a state in which the lid is sandwiched in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an inoculation step showing a state in which a liquid inoculum is inoculated based on a cultivation container in the front row as a reference.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of an inoculation step showing a state in which a liquid inoculum is inoculated with reference to a second row of cultivation containers.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a container transport state after completion of the inoculation step of all the cultivation containers in the container.

FIG. 16 is a front view showing a main part of a liquid inoculum inoculating apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of an inoculation step showing a state in which a liquid inoculum is inoculated based on the cultivation containers in the front row as a reference.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of an inoculation step showing a state in which a liquid inoculum is inoculated with reference to the second row of cultivation containers.

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of an inoculation step showing a state in which a liquid inoculum is inoculated with reference to the third row of cultivation containers.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a container transport state after completion of the inoculation step of all the cultivation containers in the container.

[Explanation of symbols]

B Liquid inoculum C Culture medium D Electromagnetic valve 1 Machine frame 2 Transport mechanism 3 Operation panel 4 Sprocket wheel 5 Endless chain 6 Motor 7 Lid 8 Cultivation container 9 Container 10 Stopper mechanism 10A Stopper pin 10B Air cylinder 11 Container positioning mechanism 12 Lid opening and closing mechanism 13 Liquid seed supply mechanism 14 Injection nozzle 15 Liquid seed injection cylinder 16 Pipe 17 Seed storage container 18 Tube 19, 19A Pressurized gas supply mechanism 20, 20A Filter 21 Nozzle fixing member 22 Nozzle mounting member 23 Support plate 24 Air cylinder 25 Cylinder support plate 26 guide rod 27 fixed clamping member 28 movable clamping member (clamping rod) 29 air cylinder 30 cylinder holding plate 31 link arm member (transmission moving means) 32 support shaft 33 drive cylinder (lid opening / closing driving means, inoculum) Supply driving means) 34 rod 35 connecting rod

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] November 26, 2001 (2001.11.
26)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Full text

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Document Name] Statement

[Title of the Invention] Liquid inoculum inoculation device

[Claims]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inoculum inoculation apparatus for inoculating a culture medium filled in a mushroom cultivation container with a mushroom inoculum.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for artificially cultivating mushrooms using a culture medium containing a sawdust or rice bran as a main component and a nutrient source, a culture medium is filled in a cultivation container, sterilized, and the filled cultivation is performed. After inoculating seeds of mushrooms such as enoki mushroom and maitake in a container, cover the mouth of the cultivation container with a lid, close the container, and cultivate the bacteria under predetermined temperature and humidity conditions for industrial cultivation. There is a way to do that.

[0003] In this case, when inoculating the inoculum, in order to increase the work efficiency of the inoculation operation, the inoculation can be performed while placing each container on the transport conveyor without removing the cultivation container one by one from the container. Inoculation device
For example, JP-A-63-258519 and JP-A-63-258519
-258520.

In this inoculation apparatus, the inoculum itself is generally propagated in a inoculum bottle in a culture medium in which a nutrient is blended with sawdust or rice bran as a main component. The seed bottle was housed upside down and mounted on the body frame side, and in this state, the seed bottle was rotated, and the seed shaft was rotated from the mouth of the seed bottle with a scraping blade. The inoculated seeds are scraped out by a scraping blade while being inserted and gradually raised while rotating the scraping shaft, and the seeded seeds are filled into the cultivation container via a hopper or the like.

[0005]

In the above-mentioned prior art, the filling amount of the inoculum generally sets the rotation time of the scraping shaft according to the kind of the mushroom to be cultivated. In some cases, the amount of seeds scraped out may differ due to the difference between the outside diameter of the mouth and the outside diameter of the trunk, or the seeds themselves in the seed bottle are solid, so when the seeds are scraped out The size of the inoculated fungus (sawdust) may vary,
The filling amount of the inoculum may vary, and in particular, when the inoculum amount of the inoculum is less than a predetermined amount, it is expected that the mycelium of the inoculum is difficult to propagate in the cultivation container, and it takes a long time to culture.

In order to avoid this, it is conceivable to detect the amount of the inoculated bacteria by using, for example, a photoelectric sensor to detect the amount of the inoculated bacteria. However, the detection accuracy varies due to contamination of the sensor and its mounting portion. There is a fear.

In the above-mentioned prior art, the lids of a plurality of cultivation containers are opened in a container in a row and a column, respectively, by lid opening / closing means, and the containers are moved forward together with the cultivation containers while the lids are open. While transferring to the installation position of the inoculum filling mechanism, filling and inoculating the cultivation container with the inoculated fungus scraped by the inoculum filling mechanism, through the step of closing the lid while retreating the container after the inoculation A series of inoculum inoculation operations is completed.

However, since time is required for switching between each process such as opening the lid of the cultivation container, filling the inoculum, and closing the lid of the cultivation container, the lid opening time becomes longer when inoculating the inoculum. There is also a problem that various bacteria floating in the external atmosphere easily enter the cultivation container.

Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and aims at improving the inoculation work efficiency while keeping the supply amount of the inoculum supplied to the cultivation container substantially constant. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid inoculum inoculating apparatus capable of performing stable inoculum filling.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a container in which a plurality of cultivation containers are arranged vertically and horizontally is supplied from a loading side, and the containers are transferred to an unloading side while intermittently transferring the cultivation containers. A transport mechanism for transporting, and a lid of the cultivation container in the container intermittently transported by the transport mechanism is opened and closed in units of horizontal rows, and the horizontal row units are arranged as a set in a plurality of rows at predetermined intervals. Lid opening and closing mechanism,
A liquid inoculum supply mechanism arranged in a plurality of rows for supplying a predetermined amount of liquid inoculum to the cultivation container of each horizontal one row unit with the lid opened by the plural rows of lid opening and closing mechanisms, respectively, in the cultivation container. It is a liquid inoculum inoculation device characterized by comprising.

Further, in the invention of claim 2, according to claim 1, the lid opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the lid of the cultivation container in a horizontal row unit is arranged in two rows at a predetermined interval. A liquid inoculum inoculation apparatus characterized in that the liquid inoculum supply mechanism is arranged in two rows in accordance with an opening / closing mechanism.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the cultivation container lids are arranged in a unit of one row in the front row and intermittently transferred by the operation of the transport mechanism, and are arranged in the third row. A cultivation container lid arranged in the second column of the cultivation container, which is opened and closed by the lid opening / closing mechanism in which the cultivation container lids are arranged in two rows and then intermittently transferred by the transport mechanism; A liquid inoculum inoculator characterized by being opened and closed by a lid opening and closing mechanism in which the lids of the cultivation containers arranged in two rows are arranged in two rows.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the number of the cultivation containers housed in the container is set to an even number N, and the lid of the cultivation container located in the front row is opened and closed in units of one horizontal line. Based on the installation position of the first lid opening / closing mechanism that operates, the positional relationship of the second lid opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the lid of the cultivation container in horizontal row units is set to the (N / 2) +1 column position. It is a liquid inoculum inoculation device characterized by comprising.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any of the first to fourth aspects, the opening operation of the lid opening and closing mechanism and the operation of moving the liquid seed supply mechanism over the mouth of the cultivation container are synchronized. A liquid inoculum inoculation device, wherein the inoculation operation of the lid opening and closing mechanism and the movement operation of detaching the liquid inoculum supply mechanism from the mouth position of the cultivation container are operated in synchronization with each other. It is.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the lid opening / closing mechanism reciprocates between the lid closing position and the lid opening position of the cultivation container according to the lid opening / closing operation of the lid opening / closing mechanism. The lid opening / closing drive mechanism to be moved, and the inoculum supply drive mechanism to reciprocate the liquid inoculum supply mechanism between a position where the liquid inoculation is released from the mouth position of the cultivation container and a position on the mouth of the cultivation container. It is a liquid inoculum inoculation apparatus characterized in that:

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, a seed storage container is provided for storing the liquid inoculum for supplying the liquid inoculum to the liquid inoculum supply mechanism. A liquid inoculum inoculation device characterized by the above-mentioned.

[0017]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of cultivation containers are housed in a container in a row and in a row, and the lids of the cultivation containers housed in the container are arranged in a row and in a predetermined row. A predetermined amount of liquid inoculum is cultivated in each horizontal row of cultivation containers, each of which is opened by a lid opening / closing mechanism arranged in a plurality of rows at intervals and each lid is opened by the plurality of rows of lid opening / closing mechanisms. It is supplied and inoculated respectively through the liquid seed supply mechanism arranged in a plurality of rows in the container,
After the inoculation, the lid is closed by the lid opening / closing mechanism arranged in a plurality of rows with respect to the mouth of the cultivation vessel comprising a plurality of rows, each of which is a set of cultivation vessels in a horizontal row in which the lid is open. Therefore, the filling and inoculation efficiency can be improved, and the other one row unit that is not inoculated due to the intermittent transfer of the transport mechanism is arranged as a set and arranged in a plurality of rows at predetermined intervals. The cultivation container is stored in the container by performing a series of repetitive operations of opening and closing the lid by the lid opening / closing mechanism, inoculating the liquid inoculum by the liquid inoculum supply mechanism, and closing the lid by the lid opening / closing mechanism. The cultivation containers that can be inoculated can be continuously inoculated with a plurality of rows of cultivation containers in a unit of one horizontal row, and after the inoculation step is completed, the cultivation containers in the containers are planted by the transport mechanism. Container is transferred to the carry-out side.

According to the first aspect, in the second aspect,
A lid opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the lid of the cultivation container in a horizontal row unit is provided in two rows at a predetermined interval, and a liquid seed supply mechanism is provided in two rows in accordance with the lid opening / closing mechanism. As a result, the lids are simultaneously opened in two rows in units of one horizontal row, the liquid inoculum is supplied and inoculated by the liquid inoculum supply mechanism arranged in two rows, and then the two rows of cultivation containers opened by the lid opening and closing mechanism are opened. In this case, the lid can be closed, and the inoculation efficiency can be increased, and invasion of various bacteria can be suppressed as much as possible.

According to claim 2, in the invention of claim 3,
The lid opening / closing mechanism in which the cultivation container lids arranged in the front row and the cultivation containers arranged in the third row, which are intermittently transferred by the operation of the transport mechanism, and the cultivation vessel lids arranged in the third row are arranged in two rows. A lid in which the cultivation vessel lids arranged in the second row of the cultivation vessels that are opened and closed and then intermittently transported by the transport mechanism and the cultivation vessel lids arranged in the fourth row are arranged in two rows. The opening / closing operation by the opening / closing mechanism has an effect that the cultivation container in the container can be efficiently inoculated with the liquid inoculum in synchronization with the intermittent transfer of the transport mechanism.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect,
The number of cultivation containers to be stored in the container is set to an even number N, and the cultivation containers are set on the basis of the installation position of the first lid opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the lids of the cultivation containers located in the front row in horizontal rows. By setting the positional relationship of the second lid opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the lids in units of one horizontal row at the position of (N / 2) +1 columns, the vertical position of the cultivation containers accommodated in the container Even if the number is changed, by setting the installation position of the lid opening and closing mechanism in accordance with the number of columns of the cultivation container, the cultivation containers are intermittently transported in the container, and the cultivation containers are spaced at predetermined intervals in a horizontal row unit There is an effect that the inoculation operation can be automatically performed two rows at a time.

According to claims 1 to 4, claim 5
According to the invention, the liquid inoculum supply mechanism moves in synchronization with the opening of the cultivation container along with the opening operation of the lid by the lid opening and closing mechanism, and then supplies the liquid inoculum to the cultivation container by the liquid inoculum supply mechanism, By operating the closing operation of the lid by the lid opening and closing mechanism and the moving operation of detaching the liquid inoculum supply mechanism from the position of the mouth of the cultivation container in synchronization, it is possible to increase the inoculation work efficiency of the liquid inoculum, The opening time of the lid of the container can be shortened as much as possible to suppress invasion of various bacteria.

In claims 1 to 5, claim 6
According to the invention, a lid opening / closing drive mechanism for reciprocating the lid opening / closing mechanism between a lid closing position and a lid opening position of the cultivation container in accordance with the lid opening / closing operation of the lid opening / closing mechanism, and a liquid inoculum supply mechanism for opening / closing the cultivation container. Combined with a seed supply drive mechanism that reciprocates between the position separated from the part position and the position on the mouth of the cultivation container, a series of operations such as opening and closing the lid and inoculating the liquid seed are stabilized. There is an effect that can be performed.

In claims 1 to 6, claim 7
According to the invention, in order to supply the liquid inoculum to the liquid inoculum supply mechanism, the inoculum storage container storing the liquid inoculum is provided, so that the liquid inoculum can be sequentially supplied from the inoculum storage container, It is possible to reduce the number of cumbersome operations such as replenishment and replacement, and to increase the efficiency of inoculation.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the liquid inoculum inoculation apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. A transport mechanism 2 composed of a conveyor is provided over substantially the entire length of the machine frame 1 of the liquid inoculum inoculation apparatus main body, and the transport mechanism 2 is provided so as to be able to start and stop by operating a switch on an operation panel 3. A plurality of sprocket wheels 4 are respectively supported on both end sides of the frame 1, and an endless chain 5 is stretched in parallel between the sprocket wheels 4 provided on both ends of the machine frame 1, and is connected to the drive source side. The rotation force of the motor 6 is transmitted to the sprocket wheel 4.

Then, a cultivation container 8 filled with a culture medium C such as sawdust or rice bran and sealed with a lid 7 is placed in a column 4 for example.
And a plastic container 9 containing four rows are placed on the chain 5 of the conveyor mechanism 2 consisting of a conveyor at the transfer start end, and when the transfer mechanism 2 is started, the chain 5 travels to move the container 9 to the transfer end side. It can be transported toward.

The transport mechanism 2 provided in the machine frame 1 transfers a container 9 containing a plurality of cultivation containers 8 arranged in rows and columns from the loading side to an area for inoculating the inoculum, and inoculating the inoculation area for the inoculum. Is configured to intermittently transfer the cultivation container 8 together with the container 9. in this case,
In this embodiment, a stopper mechanism 10 having a stopper pin 10A is provided as means for stopping the container 9 sent via the transport mechanism 2 when the cultivation container 8 reaches an appropriate inoculum inoculation area. , Container 9
There is provided a container positioning mechanism 11 that can position and hold the cultivation container 8 when the lid 7 is opened and closed while adjusting the position of the cultivation container 8 in the inside.

In this case, the interval between the stopper pins 10A provided on the stopper mechanism 10 of the container 9 for stopping the container 9 at a predetermined position is aligned in a column of the cultivation containers 8 stored in the container 9. The stopper mechanism 1 is arranged in two rows in accordance with the intervals of the cultivation containers 8.
Each of the 0 stopper pins 10A is provided so as to be vertically movable via an air cylinder 10B as a driving means, and each of the stopper pins 10A is always independently biased upward from the transport surface of the transport mechanism 2 independently. It is provided.

The cultivation container 8 positioned and arranged in the seed inoculation region by the container positioning mechanism 11 is provided with a lid opening / closing mechanism 12 for opening and closing the lid 7 of the cultivation container 8 at a position above the seed inoculation region. In this embodiment, a lid opening / closing mechanism 12 for opening / closing a horizontal row of lids 7 arranged at the front row of a cultivation container 8 containing four columns and four rows in a container 9; A lid opening / closing mechanism 12 that opens and closes the lids 7 of the cultivation containers 8 arranged in the third row based on the front row in 9 is arranged in two rows.

Further, the lids 7 are arranged in a single horizontal row in the front row of the cultivation container 8 by the operation of the lid opening / closing mechanisms 12 arranged in two rows, and the horizontal single row of covers 7 are arranged in the third row. At the time of opening, the culture medium C in the cultivation container 8 in the front row and the horizontal row unit in which the lid 7 is opened in the horizontal row unit arranged in the front row and the third row and the lid 7 is opened in the horizontal row unit in the third row, The liquid inoculum B is injected in each row unit through the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 arranged in two rows, and the open cultivation container 8 is filled with the liquid inoculum B and inoculated. After this inoculation, the lid 7 is closed to the cultivation container 8 by the return operation of the lid opening / closing mechanism 12, and then the container 9 is intermittently transferred by the transport mechanism 2, and the second row and the fourth column of the cultivation container 8 in the container 9 are transferred. Put the lid 7 of the cultivation container 8
It is opened and closed by the lid opening and closing mechanisms 12 arranged in a row, and the liquid inoculum B is sprayed by the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 similarly arranged in two rows, inoculated into the cultivation container 8 and stored in the container 9. After the inoculation of the culture medium C of all the cultivation containers 8 is completed, the transport mechanism 2 transfers the container 9 to the unloading side.

The liquid inoculum supply mechanisms 13 arranged in two rows for supplying the liquid inoculum B according to the present invention into the cultivation container 8 include a liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 which includes an upper portion through which the cultivation container 8 passes. A liquid inoculum injection cylinder 15 having the same number of injection nozzles 14 as the four cultivation containers 8 in the horizontal row is installed on the side, and each of the liquid inoculum injection cylinders 15 has a flexible shape. The pipe 16 is connected to and fixed to the side of the inoculum storage container 17 for accommodating the liquid inoculum B, and the inside of the liquid inoculum injection cylinder 15 is
Although not shown, an injection opening / closing valve for supplying and shutting off the liquid inoculum B is provided, and a tube 18 for supplying air for opening and closing this injection opening / closing valve is provided with a liquid inoculum injection cylinder 15 having an injection nozzle 14. It is configured to be attached and fixed to

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
And a pressurized gas supply mechanism 19 such as a compressor to apply air pressure into the inoculum storage container 17 through the filter 20 to supply the fuel to the injection nozzle 14 side. Supply of the liquid inoculum B provided inside the liquid inoculum injection cylinder 15;
In order to operate the injection on / off valve for shutting off, a pressurized gas supply mechanism 19A including a compressor or the like for supplying air to the injection on / off valve is provided.
A and a liquid seed germ injection cylinder 15 provided with an injection opening / closing valve
The tube 18 is connected between the filter 20A and the filter 18 via a filter 20A, and an electromagnetic valve D for supplying and shutting off air as a pressurized gas is interposed between the filter 20A and the liquid seed injecting cylinder 15. .

In this case, the filters 20, 20A are provided for purifying the air sent from the pressurized gas supply mechanisms 19, 19A.
It is configured such that no germs enter the inside 7 or no germs enter the inside of the liquid seed injecting cylinder 15.

In accordance with the number of the cultivation containers 8 in the unit of one horizontal row, the liquid seed injecting cylinders 15 provided with the four injection nozzles 14 provided in the liquid seed injecting mechanism 13 are each provided with a nozzle fixing member 21. The nozzle mounting member 22 is detachably fixed to and held by a plate-shaped nozzle mounting member 22. The nozzle mounting member 22 is removably mounted and fixed to a support plate 23. The support plate 23 reciprocates in the vertical direction by the operation of the air cylinder 24. The air cylinder 24 is movably provided, and is fixed on a cylinder support plate 25. A guide rod 26 provided on the main body frame 1 side is provided with a piece 25 </ b> A fixed to the lower end of the cylinder support plate 25. Are arranged so as to be able to reciprocate horizontally in the direction of the arrow.

Each of the lid opening and closing mechanisms 12 for opening and closing the lids 7 of the cultivation containers 8 arranged in two rows in the inoculum inoculation area is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-103542, previously proposed by the present applicant. As shown in the figures, the pair of fixed holding members 27 and a pair of holding shafts, which make it possible to hold the lids 7 of the cultivation containers 8 positioned and arranged in a horizontal line from the upper surface side and the lower surface side, are included. A movable clamping member 28 is provided, the movable clamping member 28 is movable forward and backward, and each lid 7 is clamped between the movable clamping member 28 and the fixed clamping member 27 in a row in a row and released. Air cylinders 29 serving as opening / closing members are provided. Each of the cylinders 29 is mounted and fixed on a cylinder holding plate 30 provided along the width direction of the machine frame 1 of the inoculation device main body, and an inverted T-shaped link arm member is attached to an end of the cylinder holding plate 30. A fixed holding member 27, a movable holding member 28, and an air cylinder 29 mounted on the cylinder holding plate 30 are fixed to the link arm member 31 (transmission moving means 31).
The cultivation container 8 is provided so as to be movable between a lid closing position and a lid opening position via the cultivation container 8. In this case, the link arm member 31 is provided with a support provided on the machine frame 1. It is provided rotatably via a shaft 32.

A drive cylinder 33 is provided below the transport mechanism 2, and the tip of a rod 34 provided on the drive cylinder 33 is pivotally attached to the end of the link arm member 31 to be connected and fixed. In addition, a connecting rod 35 is provided between an end of the link arm member 31 and a piece 25A fixed to a cylinder support plate 25 which is reciprocally movable along the guide rod 26. Are pivotally attached to each other and connected and fixed.

In this embodiment, the lid for reciprocating the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 between the lid closing position and the lid opening position of the cultivation container 8 in accordance with the lid opening / closing operation of the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 by the driving cylinder 33. Opening / closing drive means and a seed supply drive means for reciprocating the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 between a position where the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 is detached from the mouth position of the cultivation container 8 and a position on the mouth of the cultivation container 8 are also used. With this configuration, the opening operation of the lid opening and closing mechanism 12 and the operation of moving the liquid seed supply mechanism 13 over the mouth of the cultivation container 8 are operated in synchronization with each other, and the lid opening and closing mechanism is operated. 12 and the liquid seed supply mechanism 13 are connected to the cultivation container 8.
Is configured to be operated in synchronization with the moving operation of separating from the mouth position.

In the first embodiment, in the liquid inoculum inoculation device, a lid opening / closing mechanism 12 for opening and closing the lids 7 of the cultivation containers 8 in a unit of horizontal line with reference to the substantially central position of the main body of the inoculum inoculation device. The liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 that injects and inoculates the liquid inoculum B into the cultivation containers 8 in a horizontal row unit is a set, and two sets of lid opening and closing mechanisms 12 and 12 and the liquid inoculum supply mechanisms 13 and 13 are symmetrical. Is provided, in other words,
In the inoculum inoculation area, the lid opening and closing mechanisms 12, 1 arranged in two rows
2 and liquid inoculum supply mechanisms 13 and 13 arranged in two rows. In some cases, a set of a lid opening / closing mechanism and a liquid inoculum supply mechanism of the same form without being provided symmetrically is provided. May be configured to be installed in duplicate.

Next, the operation of the liquid inoculum inoculation device in the above-described configuration will be described. First, a container 9 containing a predetermined number of cultivation containers 8 with lids 7 is placed on the transport mechanism 2 and the container 9 is transferred. When the container 9 reaches the seed inoculation area, the transport surface of the transport mechanism 2 is moved. The position of the front end of the container 9 is regulated and stopped and held by a stopper pin 10A provided on a stopper mechanism 10 that moves up and down so as to be able to move up and down. A series of inoculation steps are configured to operate. (See FIG. 2) In this case, the position of the shoulder of the cultivation container 8 in the container 9 is regulated in advance by the container positioning mechanism 11, or the lid 7 is linked to a series of inoculation steps at the time of inoculation. Is provided so as to position and hold the cultivation container 8 when the opening and closing operation is performed.

When the cultivation container 8 is positioned and fixed, the state of FIG. 10 is changed to the state of FIG. 11 by the operation of the air cylinder 29, and the lids of the cultivation containers 8 positioned and arranged in the horizontal row located at the frontmost row. 7 and the lids 7 of the cultivation containers 8 positioned at the third row and arranged in a horizontal row unit are pressed from the upper surface by the respective movable clamping members 28, and the fixed clamping members provided on the lower surface. The lid 7 is held between the movable holding member 27 and the movable holding member 28.

Next, after the positioning by the container positioning mechanism 11 is performed and the lid 7 is clamped and held, as shown in FIG. The cover 7 is rotated by the movement of the rod 34, the cover 7 is rotated to the cover open position by the cover opening and closing mechanism 12 attached to the link arm member 31, and the link arm member 31 is rotated in synchronization with the cover opening operation. A piece 25A attached to and fixed to the cylinder support plate 25 via a connecting rod 35 attached to the end moves along a guide rod 26 provided on the main body frame 1 side. The four spray nozzles 14 provided in the liquid seed supply mechanism 13 by the movement,
The cultivation container 8 is moved to the mouth portion position, that is, right above the cultivation container 8 from which the lid 7 is removed. (See FIG. 3, FIG. 7, FIG. 12, etc.)

Subsequently, the injection nozzle 14 approaches or is inserted into the mouth of the cultivation container 8 by the operation of the air cylinder 24. (See FIGS. 4 and 8)

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 9 and FIG.
Cultivation container 8 in a horizontal row unit with lid 7 opened when
The liquid inoculum B is sprayed into the culture medium C in a row unit through the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13, and the open cultivation container 8 is filled with the liquid inoculum B and inoculated.

At this time, the internal pressure in the seed container 17 is increased by applying air pressure to the seed container 17 by a pressurized gas supply mechanism 19 comprising a compressor or the like. Is pushed out to the pipe 16 on the side of the injection nozzle 14 and pressurizes the tube 18 at the time of injection of the liquid inoculum B, that is, although not shown, to open and shut off the injection opening / closing valve provided inside the injection nozzle 14. The liquid inoculum B is injected from the injection nozzle 14 by supplying air by the gas supply mechanism 19A and opening the injection opening / closing valve.

After the liquid inoculum B has been filled by the injection nozzle 14 in a predetermined amount, the return operation of the air cylinder 24 causes the injection nozzle 14 to move away from the mouth of the cultivation container 8,
Thereafter, by the return operation of the rod 34 of the drive cylinder 33, the injection nozzle 14 is retracted from the position of the cultivation container 8 and returned, and at the same time, the horizontal return cultivation container inoculated with the liquid inoculum B by the rotation return operation of the lid opening and closing mechanism 12. 8 lid 7 is fitted.

Accordingly, by sequentially operating a series of steps by the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 and the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13, the cultivation container 8 in the front row and the third in the transfer direction of the container 9 in the inoculum inoculation area. The cultivation containers 8 in the rows can be inoculated in horizontal row units.

Then, when a series of inoculation steps based on the cultivation container 8 in the front row is completed, the stopper pin 10A that has stopped and held the front end of the container 9 is moved to the air cylinder 10
The container 9 once moves downward through B and then returns upward, and when the transport mechanism 2 operates, the container 9 is transported in the unloading direction. By the transfer operation of the container 9, the stopper pin 10 A which initially stopped and held the front end of the container 9 also attempts to return upward, but the stopper pin 10 A which has been stopped and held until now by the transport operation of the container 9. Has its upper end portion abutting against the bottom portion of the container 9. However, the stopper pin 1
Since the upward urging force of 0A is set to be weak, the container 9 can be smoothly transported without hindering the transportation of the container 9, and the other stoppers provided in the next row of the stopper mechanism 10 The front end side of the container 9 is stopped and held by the pins 10A.

Further, when the container 9 is stopped, a series of inoculation steps based on the second row of the cultivation container 8 are performed by the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 and the liquid seed inoculation mechanism 13 as described above. The cultivation containers 8 in the second row and the cultivation containers 8 in the fourth row can be inoculated as shown in FIG. 14, whereby all the cultivation containers 8 in the container 9 can be inoculated.

When the inoculation process of all the cultivation containers 8 accommodated in the container 9 is completed, as shown in FIG. 15, the stopper pin 10A of the stopper mechanism 10 is once lowered by the air cylinder 10B, and The container 9 that has returned upward and that has stored the inoculated cultivation container 8 by the transport mechanism 2 is transferred to the unloading side, and the container 9 that has newly stored the cultivation container 8 to be inoculated.
Is supplied from the loading side of the transport mechanism 2 so that the inoculation operation can be performed continuously.

Accordingly, the lid opening / closing mechanism 1 is arranged in a plurality of rows (two rows in the embodiment) sequentially with respect to the cultivation containers 8 in units of one row.
2. The cultivation containers 8 housed in the container 9 are repeatedly arranged in a row by repeating the opening operation of the lid 7 by the liquid inoculation device 2, the inoculation operation of the liquid inoculum B by the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13, and the closing operation of the lid 7 by the lid opening and closing mechanism 12. It is possible to continuously inoculate, thereby increasing the efficiency of the inoculation work of the liquid inoculum B, and to perform the opening and closing operation and the inoculation operation of the lid 7 of the cultivation container 8 in one horizontal row. The opening time of the lid 7 of the cultivation container 8 can be shortened as much as possible, and the invasion of various bacteria can be suppressed.

FIGS. 16 to 20 show the second embodiment of the present invention.
This embodiment shows an example in which the basic form is almost the same as that of the above-described first embodiment. A container 9 in which a plurality of cultivation containers 8 are arranged and stored in a substantially central position of the machine casing 1 is arranged. Is transported from the loading side to an area where the inoculum is inoculated, and the cultivation container 8 is intermittently transported by the transport mechanism 2 together with the container 9 in the inoculation area of the inoculum. In this case, the cultivation containers 8 are accommodated in the container 9 arranged in six columns and four rows, and are sent via the transport mechanism 2 when the cultivation containers 8 reach an appropriate inoculum inoculation area. A stopper mechanism 10 for stopping the incoming container 9 is provided. The stopper mechanism 10 has stopper pins 10A arranged in three rows in the transport direction.

The intervals between the stopper pins 10A arranged in three rows are arranged in accordance with the intervals between the cultivation containers 8 arranged in a column of the cultivation containers 8 accommodated in the container 9. Each of the stopper pins 10A is provided so as to be always and independently urged toward the upper side of the transport mechanism 2 and, similarly to the above-described first embodiment, is provided via an air cylinder 10B as a driving means. It is provided movably up and down.

In the second embodiment, a lid opening / closing operation for opening / closing the lids 7 in the unit of one row arranged in the front row of the cultivation container 8 in which six columns and four rows are stored in the container 9. Mechanism 12 and 4 based on the front row in container 9
The lid opening / closing mechanism 12 that opens and closes the lid 7 of the cultivation container 8 arranged in the row is arranged in two rows.

The lid opening and closing mechanisms 12 arranged in two rows
In accordance with the above, the inoculum supply mechanism 13 for injecting and inoculating the liquid inoculum B at the front row position of the cultivation container 8 and the fourth row position with respect to the front row in the container 9 is arranged in two rows. It is configured.

In the second embodiment, in the liquid inoculum inoculation device, a lid opening / closing mechanism 12 for opening and closing the lid 7 of the cultivation containers 8 in horizontal rows and the liquid inoculum B are injected into the cultivation containers 8 in horizontal rows. The inoculation and inoculation of the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 constitutes a set, and the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 and the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 of the same form are installed in two rows.

In the second embodiment having the above-described structure, the lids 7 are arranged in a horizontal row unit arranged at the frontmost row position of the cultivation container 8 by the operation of the lid opening / closing mechanisms 12 arranged in two rows.
And when the lids 7 are opened in the first row and the fourth row, the lids 7 are opened in the front row and the fourth row where the lids 7 are opened in the first row and the fourth row. As shown in FIG. 17, the culture medium C in the cultivation container 8 in one horizontal row unit is sprayed through the spray nozzle 14 of the liquid seed supply mechanism 13 in which the liquid seed bacteria B are arranged in two rows in each row unit. And
The opened cultivation container 8 is filled with the liquid inoculum B and inoculated, and after this inoculation, the lid 7 is closed by the return operation of the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 so that the cultivation container 8 is closed. A series of inoculation steps is completed.

When a series of inoculation steps based on the cultivation container 8 in the front row is completed, the stopper pin 10A that has stopped and held the front end of the container 9 is moved to the air cylinder 10
The container 9 is temporarily moved downward via B and then returned upward, and the transport mechanism 2 is intermittently operated, so that the container 9 is intermittently transported by the transport mechanism 2. At this time, in the first inoculation step, the stopper pin 10A, which has stopped and held the front end of the container 9, returns upward and the stopper pin 10A comes into contact with the bottom surface of the container 9, but the stopper pin 10A moves upward. Since the elastic urging force of the stopper mechanism 10 is set to be weak, the container 9 can be intermittently transported without hindering the transport of the container 9, and the other stopper pins 10A arranged in the next row of the stopper mechanism 10 (positioned at the center). The front end side of the container 9 is stopped and held by the stopper pin 10A). (See Fig. 18)

When the container 9 is stopped, the lids 7 of the cultivation containers 8 arranged in the second and fifth rows of the cultivation containers 8 in the container 9 are respectively opened and closed in two rows. The opening / closing operation is performed by the mechanism 12 and, as shown in FIG. 18, the liquid inoculum B is ejected by the injection nozzles 14 of the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 similarly arranged in two rows.
Is injected and inoculated into the cultivation containers 8 arranged in the second row and the fifth row, and then the lid 7 is closed by the return operation of the lid opening / closing mechanism 12, whereby the cultivation vessels in the second row are 8
A series of inoculation steps on the basis of is completed.

When a series of inoculation steps based on the cultivation containers 8 in the second row is completed, the stopper pins 10A, which stop and hold the front end of the container 9, similarly go down once and then go up. The container 9 is intermittently transported by the transport mechanism 2 by operating the transport mechanism 2. At this time, the stopper pins 10A located on the front side and the center side come into contact with the bottom surface of the container 9 when returning upward, but the upward biasing force of the stopper pins 10A is set to be weak. Therefore, the container 9 can be intermittently transported without hindering the transport of the container 9 itself. By this transport, the front end side of the container 9 is stopped and held by the stopper pins 10A arranged in the front row. (See FIG. 19)

When the container 9 is stopped by the stopper pin 10A positioned at the front row in the transport direction,
The lids 7 of the cultivation containers 8 arranged in the third row and the last sixth row of the cultivation vessels 8 in the container 9 are opened and closed by respective lid opening and closing mechanisms 12 arranged in two rows. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 19, the injection nozzles 1 of the respective liquid seed supply mechanisms 13 similarly arranged in two rows
4, the liquid inoculum B is injected and inoculated into the cultivation containers 8 arranged in the third and sixth rows, and then the lid 7 is closed by the return operation of the lid opening and closing mechanism 12.
A series of inoculation processes based on the cultivation containers 8 in the third row is completed, and as a result, the inoculation operation process is completed for the culture media C of all the cultivation containers 8 housed in the container 9. .

When the inoculation operation process is completed for the culture medium C of all the cultivation containers 8 housed in the container 9,
At the same time when the stopper pin 10A is lowered,
The container 9 is transferred to the unloading side by the operation of and the inoculation operation can be continuously performed by supplying the container 9 containing the cultivation container 8 to be newly inoculated from the loading side of the transport mechanism 2. . (See FIG. 20)

Therefore, also in the second embodiment, the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 is sequentially arranged in a plurality of rows (two rows in the embodiment) with respect to the cultivation containers 8 in a unit of horizontal row, similarly to the first embodiment. Based on the repetition of the opening operation of the lid 7, the inoculation operation of the liquid inoculum B by the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13, and the closing operation of the lid 7 by the lid opening / closing mechanism 12, the cultivation containers 8 housed in the container 9 are continuously arranged in a row. The inoculation operation of the liquid inoculum B can be improved, and the opening and closing operation of the lid 7 of the cultivation container 8 and the inoculation operation are performed in one horizontal row. The opening time of the lid 7 of the container 8 can be shortened as much as possible, and the invasion of various bacteria can be suppressed.

In the above-described embodiment, the number of cultivation containers 8 to be stored in the container 9 is 4 in the first embodiment.
, Four rows, and in the second embodiment, six rows and four rows were set as examples, and the size and shape of the cultivation container and the lid or the size and form of the container were described. Due to the difference, the number of pieces stored in the container may be different. However, in the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 arranged in two rows in one horizontal row as in the above-described embodiments, the liquid inoculum inoculation according to the present invention is performed. As the number of pieces accommodated in the container 9 in the apparatus, an even number N is desirable for columns.

In other words, in the two-row lid opening / closing mechanism 12 or the liquid seed supply mechanism 13, the inoculation operation is always performed in even rows, so that the number of columns arranged for the inoculation process is switched by matching the even number N. The operation can be easily performed. If the number of the cultivation containers 8 is odd, if the number of the cultivation containers 8 is odd, only the injection operation of the liquid seed supply mechanism 13 that operates on the rearmost side in the final process in the container 9 is performed. It is possible to cover this by stopping.

In the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 arranged in two rows as in each of the above-described embodiments, the number of the cultivation containers 8 housed in the container 9 is an even number N, and A second lid opening / closing mechanism that opens / closes the lid 7 of the cultivation container 8 in units of horizontal rows based on the installation position of the first lid opening / closing mechanism 12 that opens / closes the lid 7 of the located cultivation container 8 in units of horizontal row. Even if the number of columns of the cultivation containers 8 accommodated in the container 9 changes by setting the positional relationship of 12 to the (N / 2) +1 column positions, the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 is installed. When the position is the number of columns of the cultivation containers 8, for example, N = 8, the installation position of the second lid opening / closing mechanism 12 is (8/2) + 1 = 5, that is, the cultivation containers 8 corresponding to the fifth row. The cultivation container in the container 9 by setting according to the position of It can be the automatically performed two rows at a time inoculation operations at predetermined intervals cultivation container 8 while intermittently transported in a horizontal row units.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. In order to inoculate based on the container 8, the container 9 is stopped by a stopper mechanism 10 that stops based on the front end of the container 9 as a means for intermittently setting transfer and stop while sending the container 9 by the transport mechanism 2. However, for example, the operation of the transport mechanism 2 may be set to determine the stop position of the transport mechanism 2 only by controlling the rotation of the motor without using the stopper mechanism 10.

In the embodiment, the detection means for stopping the cultivation container 8 at a predetermined position in the inoculum inoculation area is as follows.
Although the operation of the transport mechanism 2 was controlled by reading the position of the front end of the container 9 with the detection sensor, for example, the detection sensor is arranged in a positional relationship where the cultivation container 8 is transported,
The cultivation container 8 may be detected by the detection sensor, and the transfer of the transport mechanism 2 may be stopped when the cultivation container 8 reaches a predetermined inoculum inoculation area based on the detection signal.

A container positioning mechanism 11 for positioning and holding the cultivation container 8 when opening and closing the lid 7 while adjusting the position of the cultivation container 8 in the container 9 is provided. 8 may be a rail-shaped holding member for holding and holding the shoulder, or an arm-shaped holding plate may be movably provided. At least when the lid 7 is opened and closed, the cultivation container 8 is regulated. What is necessary is just to hold | maintain.

As the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 in the embodiment, the lid 7 of the cultivation container 8 which is positioned and arranged in a horizontal line is composed of a pair of fixed clamping members 27 and a clamping shaft capable of clamping the lid 7 from the upper and lower surfaces thereof. An air cylinder 29 for moving the movable holding member 28 forward and backward, and holding and releasing each of the lids 7 in a horizontal row unit between the movable holding member 28 and the fixed holding member 27 is provided. Was provided,
In addition to applying a lid opening / closing mechanism composed of a pinching claw, a lid moving unit is provided for detaching the lid 7 from the cultivation container 8, and the lid 7 detached by the operation of the lid moving unit is removed. The cultivation container 8 may be configured to reciprocate between a lid closed position and a lid open position.

When the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 is reciprocated between a position at which the liquid inoculation mechanism 13 is detached from the position of the mouth of the cultivation container 8 and a position on the mouth of the cultivation container, the lid opening and closing mechanism 12 is used in the embodiment. The injection nozzle 14 provided in the liquid seed supply mechanism 13 is connected to a driving cylinder 33 so as not to hinder the operation.
Is arranged so as to be able to reciprocate in the horizontal direction along the guide rod 26 by the operation of, and vertically reciprocate by the air cylinder 24 so as to approach and separate from the cultivation container 8 from a position directly above the cultivation container 8. Although it was provided and configured to be possible, only a structure that reciprocates the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 in the horizontal direction may be adopted depending on the case, and the cultivation container 8 accommodated in the container 9 may be used. According to the positional relationship of the inoculum inoculation area in a horizontal row unit,
A structure in which the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 is moved up and down directly above the cultivation container 8 may be employed. In this case, the liquid inoculum supply mechanism 13 may be set so as not to hinder the operation of the lid opening and closing mechanism 12. .

In each of the above embodiments, maintenance,
For inspection or sterilization, the injection nozzle 14, pipe 16, tube 18, etc. on the side that supplies the liquid inoculum B need to be replaced (washed), disinfected, etc. (if necessary). It is configured such that it can be easily and manually replaced by a fixing means such as.

Further, the setting position of the injection nozzle 14 is provided so as to be adjustable in accordance with the height and size of the cultivation container 8 and the positional relationship of the cultivation container 8 to be accommodated in the container 9. , The liquid inoculum B can be sprayed well and inoculated.

When the liquid inoculum B in the inoculum storage container 17 runs out, the tube or pipe is connected to another inoculum storage container 17 filled with the inoculum B, thereby connecting the inoculum storage container 17 to the inoculum storage container 17. The replacement work can be performed favorably, and in some cases, a plurality of
And when the liquid inoculum B in the inoculum storage container 17 is exhausted, the operation can be easily performed by switching the valve.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the lid opening / closing drive means for reciprocating the lid opening / closing mechanism 12 between the lid closing position and the lid opening position of the cultivation container 8;
3 is constituted by the drive cylinder 33, which also serves as a liquid seed supply driving means for reciprocating between a position separated from the mouth position of the cultivation container 8 and a position on the mouth of the cultivation container 8. Each drive means may be provided individually, and may be operated using a drive means such as a cam mechanism or a motor as the drive means.

[0074]

As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a container in which a plurality of cultivation containers are arranged vertically and horizontally is supplied from the loading side, and the cultivation containers are unloaded while being intermittently transferred. A transport mechanism that transports the container to the side, and the lid of the cultivation container in the container intermittently transported by the transport mechanism is opened and closed in horizontal row units, and at predetermined intervals with the horizontal row units as a set. A lid opening / closing mechanism arranged in a plurality of rows, and a predetermined amount of a liquid inoculum is supplied into the cultivation vessel for each horizontal row of cultivation vessels whose lids are opened by the plurality of rows of lid opening / closing mechanisms. A liquid inoculum inoculation device characterized by comprising a liquid inoculum supply mechanism disposed in a plurality of rows, each of which has a lid opened by a plurality of rows of lid opening and closing mechanisms with a horizontal one-row unit as a set. Cultivation volume per row A predetermined amount of liquid inoculum is supplied and inoculated via a liquid inoculum supply mechanism arranged in a plurality of rows in the cultivation container, and the lid is opened by the lid opening and closing mechanism in a plurality of rows after the inoculation. Since the lid is closed by the lid opening and closing mechanism at the mouth of the cultivation container, it is possible to increase the efficiency of filling and inoculating the liquid inoculum,
In addition, it is possible to suppress the invasion of various bacteria by shortening the opening time of the lid as much as possible, and at a predetermined interval with other horizontal row units not inoculated due to intermittent transport of the transport mechanism as a set. The opening and closing operation of the lid by the lid opening / closing mechanism, the inoculation of the liquid inoculum by the liquid inoculum supply mechanism, and the closing operation of the lid by the lid opening / closing mechanism are sequentially performed on the cultivation containers arranged in plural rows by a series of repeated operations. Thereby, the cultivation containers housed in the container can continuously inoculate a plurality of rows of cultivation containers in a horizontal row unit as a set, and after the completion of the inoculation step, cultivation in the container by the transport mechanism. The container can be successfully transferred to the unloading side.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the lid opening and closing mechanisms for opening and closing the lids of the cultivation containers in a horizontal row are arranged in two rows at a predetermined interval. The liquid inoculum supply mechanism is arranged in two rows in accordance with the lid opening / closing mechanism, whereby the lids are simultaneously opened in two rows in units of one horizontal row, and the liquid inoculum supply mechanism is arranged in two rows. After filling and inoculation, the lids can be closed with respect to the two rows of cultivation containers opened by the lid opening / closing mechanism, so that inoculation efficiency can be increased and invasion of various bacteria can be suppressed as much as possible.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the cultivation container lids arranged in units of the front row, which are intermittently transported by the operation of the transport mechanism, are arranged in the first row, and the third row is arranged in the third row. The lid of the cultivation container arranged in the second row of the cultivation container, which is opened and closed by the lid opening and closing mechanism in which the lids of the cultivation container are arranged in two rows and then intermittently transferred by the transport mechanism, and the fourth row The cultivation containers in the container are efficiently inoculated with the cultivation containers in the container in accordance with the intermittent transfer of the transport mechanism by opening and closing the lids of the cultivation containers arranged in the eyes and the lid opening and closing mechanism arranged in two rows. There is an effect that can be.

Further, in the invention of claim 2, in the invention of claim 4, the number of cultivation containers housed in the container is an even number N, and the lid of the cultivation container is opened and closed in units of one horizontal line. Based on the lid opening / closing mechanism in the row, the positional relationship of the lid opening / closing mechanism in the second row that opens and closes the lid of the cultivation container in units of one horizontal row is set to (N / 2) +1 column positions. By this, even if the number of columns of cultivation containers accommodated in the container changes, by setting the installation position of the lid opening and closing mechanism in accordance with the number of columns of cultivation containers, the cultivation containers in the container are intermittently transferred. There is an effect that the inoculation operation can be automatically performed two rows at a time while the cultivation containers are arranged in a row at predetermined intervals.

In the invention of claims 1 to 4, according to the invention of claim 5, the liquid seed supply mechanism moves synchronously on the mouth of the cultivation container with the opening operation of the lid by the lid opening / closing mechanism. And, after supplying the liquid inoculum to the cultivation container by the liquid inoculum supply mechanism, the closing operation of the lid by the lid opening and closing mechanism and the movement operation of detaching the liquid inoculum supply mechanism from the mouth position of the cultivation container are operated in synchronization. By doing so, it is possible to increase the efficiency of inoculation of the liquid inoculum, and it is possible to minimize the opening time of the lid of the cultivation container and suppress the invasion of various bacteria.

According to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, in the invention of the sixth aspect, the lid opening / closing mechanism moves the lid between the lid closing position and the lid opening position of the cultivation container according to the lid opening / closing operation of the lid opening / closing mechanism. A lid opening and closing drive mechanism for reciprocating movement, and a seed bacteria supply driving mechanism for reciprocating the liquid inoculum supply mechanism between a position at which the liquid seed cell supply mechanism is detached from the mouth position of the cultivation container and a position on the mouth of the cultivation container, thereby opening and closing the lid. There is an effect that a series of operations such as a liquid seed inoculation operation can be performed stably.

Further, in the invention of claims 1 to 6, according to the invention of claim 7, in order to supply the liquid inoculum to the liquid inoculum supply mechanism, the inoculum storage container for storing the liquid inoculum is provided. Thereby, the liquid inoculum can be sequentially supplied from the inoculum storage container, and the number of cumbersome operations of replenishing and replacing the inoculum can be reduced as compared with the conventional method. In addition, it is possible to stably inoculate and to inoculate and to improve the inoculation work efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the entire configuration of a liquid inoculum inoculation apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a main part of the liquid inoculum inoculation apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a main part showing an operation state of a lid opening / closing mechanism and a liquid seed supply mechanism of the liquid seed inoculation apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a waist showing a state in which an injection nozzle of the liquid inoculum supply mechanism in FIG. 3 is moved downward toward a cultivation container.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a main part showing a state where the liquid inoculum is ejected from an ejection nozzle after the liquid inoculum supply mechanism is moved toward the cultivation container side.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a main part of the liquid seed supply mechanism when the lid is closed, corresponding to FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a main part of the liquid seed supply mechanism when the lid is opened, corresponding to FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a main part showing a state in which the injection nozzle of the liquid inoculum supply mechanism corresponding to FIG. 4 is moved closer to the cultivation container side.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a main part showing a state of spraying liquid bacteria by a spray nozzle of the liquid seed machine supply mechanism corresponding to FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a main part of a lid opening / closing mechanism corresponding to FIG. 2;

11 is a side view showing an operation state (lid holding state) of a movable holding member in the lid opening / closing mechanism of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a main part showing a state in which a lid of the cultivation container is removed from a state in which the lid is sandwiched in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of an inoculation step showing a state in which a liquid inoculum is inoculated into the cultivation containers in the front row and the third row, respectively, based on the cultivation vessels in the front row.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of an inoculation process showing a state in which a liquid inoculum is inoculated into a second-row cultivation container and a fourth-row cultivation container with reference to a second-row cultivation container. It is.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a container transport state after completion of the inoculation step of all the cultivation containers in the container.

FIG. 16 is a front view showing a main part of a liquid inoculum inoculating apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an inoculation step showing a state in which a liquid inoculum is inoculated into the cultivation container in the front row and the cultivation container in the fourth row, respectively, based on the cultivation vessel in the front row in the second embodiment. It is a schematic diagram.

FIG. 18 is a view showing a state in which a liquid inoculum is inoculated into the second-row cultivation container and the fifth-row cultivation container with reference to the second-row cultivation container in the second embodiment. FIG.

FIG. 19 is a view showing a state in which a liquid inoculum is inoculated in the third-row cultivation container and the sixth-row cultivation container with reference to the third-row cultivation container in the second embodiment. FIG.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a container transportation state after the inoculation step of all the cultivation containers in the container according to the second embodiment.

[Description of Signs] B Liquid Seed B C Incubator D Solenoid Valve 1 Machine Frame 2 Transport Mechanism 3 Operation Panel 4 Sprocket Wheel 5 Endless Chain 6 Motor 7 Lid 8 Cultivation Container 9 Container 10 Stopper Mechanism 10A Stopper Pin 10B Air Cylinder 11 Container Positioning Mechanism Reference Signs List 12 lid opening and closing mechanism 13 liquid seed supply mechanism 14 injection nozzle 15 liquid seed injection cylinder 16 pipe 17 seed storage container 18 tube 19, 19A pressurized gas supply mechanism 20, 20A filter 21 nozzle fixing member 22 nozzle mounting member 23 support plate 24 air Cylinder 25 Cylinder support plate 26 Guide rod 27 Fixed clamping member 28 Movable clamping member (clamping shaft) 29 Air cylinder 30 Cylinder holding plate 31 Link arm member (transmission moving means) 32 Support shaft 33 Drive cylinder Cover opening and closing drive means, an inoculum feed drive means) 34 rod 35 connecting rod

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Claims (7)

[Claims] A transport mechanism for supplying a container containing a plurality of cultivation containers arranged in rows and columns from a loading side, and transporting the containers to an unloading side while intermittently transferring the cultivation containers,
A lid opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the lids of the cultivation containers in the container intermittently transferred by the transport mechanism in a horizontal row, and is disposed in a plurality of rows at a predetermined interval, and a lid opening / closing of the plurality of rows. A liquid inoculum supply mechanism disposed in a plurality of rows for supplying a predetermined amount of liquid inoculum to the cultivation container in a horizontal row unit with a lid opened by a mechanism, respectively. Liquid inoculum inoculation equipment. 2. A lid opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the lid of the cultivation container in a horizontal row unit is arranged in two rows at a predetermined interval, and the liquid seed supply mechanism is arranged in accordance with the lid opening / closing mechanism. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the two rows are arranged.
3. The liquid inoculum inoculation device according to 1. 3. A lid of a cultivation container arranged in a unit of a horizontal row of a front row, which is intermittently transported by the operation of the transport mechanism,
The cultivation containers arranged in the second row of the cultivation containers that are intermittently transported by the transport mechanism when the lids of the cultivation containers arranged in the third row and the lid opening / closing mechanism arranged in two rows are operated. 3. The inoculum according to claim 2, wherein the lid is opened and closed by a lid opening / closing mechanism in which the lids of the cultivation containers arranged in the fourth row are arranged in two rows. 4. The installation position of a first lid opening / closing mechanism that operates even if the number of cultivation containers housed in the container is an even number N, and the lid of the cultivation container located in the front row is opened and closed in units of one horizontal row. The positional relationship of the second lid opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the lid of the cultivation container on a horizontal row basis with reference to (N / 2)
The liquid inoculum inoculation device according to claim 2, wherein the inoculum is set at a position of +1 column. 5. An operation of opening the lid opening / closing mechanism and an operation of moving the liquid inoculum supply mechanism above the mouth of the cultivation container, and simultaneously operate the closing operation of the lid opening / closing mechanism and the liquid inoculum. The liquid inoculum inoculation device according to claim 1, wherein the supply mechanism operates in synchronization with a movement operation of detaching the supply mechanism from an opening position of the cultivation container. 6. A lid opening / closing drive mechanism for reciprocating a lid opening / closing mechanism between a lid closing position and a lid opening position of a cultivation container in accordance with a lid opening / closing operation of the lid opening / closing mechanism, and the liquid seed supply mechanism comprises: 6. The inoculum supply drive mechanism that reciprocates between a position detached from the mouth position of the cultivation container and a position on the mouth of the cultivation container is also used. Liquid inoculum inoculation equipment. 7. A liquid storage medium according to claim 1, further comprising a seed storage container storing liquid seeds for supplying the liquid seeds to the liquid seed supply mechanism. Seed inoculation device.