JP2012056730A - Low-temperature storage system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low-temperature storage system allowing containers, for storing samples stored at a low temperature, to be automatically and individually taken out, and suppressing the temperature change of samples stored in other containers to prevent dew condensation and frost from being formed on the containers and storage plates.SOLUTION: A work chamber 106 includes a pickup mechanism 120 capable of individually taking out the containers 201 from the storage plates 203, and a warehousing/delivery chamber 108 is provided adjoining the work chamber 106. A plate conveying mechanism 110 is configured to individually put storage racks 104 out of a low-temperature storage chamber 105 into the work chamber 106 or vice versa, to individually put the storage plates 203 in and out of the storage racks 104, and to be movable in the work chamber 106.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cryogenic storage system for storing a container containing a sample at a low temperature, and particularly used in drug discovery, that is, a process for discovering and designing a drug in medicine, biotechnology and pharmacy. The present invention relates to a cryogenic storage system used for storing a drug discovery sample at a cryogenic temperature.

In the field of drug discovery research, it is necessary to conduct experiments for storing and analyzing large quantities of samples at low temperatures with high efficiency.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the solution in which the sample is dissolved is accommodated in a small cylindrical container 201 called a drug discovery microtube and sealed with a cap 202, and the sealed container 201 is divided into matrix-like compartments. A large number of the storage plates 203 are stored in the storage plate 203 for storage and transport.

  A low temperature where a large number of storage plates holding a plurality of containers for storing samples to be stored at low temperatures are stored using a storage rack that stores a plurality of vertical plates, and the target storage plate is automatically taken out as necessary. A storage system is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  As shown in FIG. 8, this known low-temperature storage system 500 includes a storage rack 504 that stores a plurality of storage plates 203 in the vertical direction, a low-temperature storage chamber 505 that stores a plurality of storage racks 504, and the low-temperature storage chamber 505. A work chamber 506 provided adjacent to the upper side of the storage chamber 506, and a plate transport mechanism 510 provided in the work chamber 506 for transporting the storage plate 203 and taking it in and out of the storage rack 504.

The plate transport mechanism 510 has storage rack moving means 511 for individually taking out and putting in the storage rack 504 from the low temperature storage chamber 505 to the work room 506, and storage plate moving means 512 for individually taking out and putting in the storage plate 203 from the storage rack 504. is doing.
The storage plate moving means 512 is configured to allow the storage plate 503 to be taken in and out of the storage rack 504 and to be transported.

  By moving the plate transport mechanism 510 in the work chamber 506, the storage plate 203 holding the container 201 to be taken out is provided from the low temperature storage chamber 505 to a predetermined position on the side of the work chamber 506. It is configured to convey to the plate entrance / exit 507.

US Pat. No. 6,694,767 (all pages, all figures)

Since the known low-temperature storage system 500 as described above conveys the storage plate 503 holding the container 201 to be taken out to the plate entrance / exit 507, even if there is only one container 201 to be taken out, the storage plate The entire 203 had to be taken out from the plate entrance / exit 507.
For this reason, the other containers 201 held on the same storage plate 203 are also exposed to the external environment, causing a problem that the temperature of the sample is increased.

  In addition, it is possible to reduce the influence on the sample by setting the low temperature storage chamber 505 to an ultra-low temperature state and reducing the exposure time to the external environment for a short period of time. There was a problem that a large amount of dew condensation or frost was generated in the container 201.

  Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention, that is, the object of the present invention is to automatically take out a container containing a sample stored at a low temperature, and to provide a sample contained in another container. It is intended to provide a low-temperature storage system that suppresses the influence of the temperature rise and prevents condensation and frost from forming on the container and the storage plate.

  The invention according to claim 1 is provided with a storage rack for storing a plurality of storage plates for holding a plurality of containers in the vertical direction, a low-temperature storage chamber for storing a plurality of the storage racks, and adjacent to the low-temperature storage chamber. A low-temperature storage system having a working chamber and a plate transporting mechanism that is provided in the working chamber and transports the storage plate and puts it in and out of the storage rack. Containers can be individually taken out from the storage plate into the working chamber. A storage rack moving means for individually loading and unloading the storage rack from the low-temperature storage chamber to the work chamber; and a storage / removal chamber provided adjacent to the work chamber. Storage plate moving means for individually moving the storage plate in and out of the storage rack, and configured to be movable in the working chamber. By there is obtained by solving the above problems.

  In the invention according to claim 2, in addition to the configuration of the low temperature storage system according to claim 1, the pick-up mechanism includes a storage plate transported from the loading / unloading chamber by the plate transport mechanism and a storage rack by the plate transport mechanism. The above-mentioned problems are solved by being configured so that the containers can be individually transferred between the storage plates conveyed from.

  In the invention according to claim 3, in addition to the configuration of the cryogenic storage system according to claim 1 or 2, the cryogenic storage chamber is maintained in a cryogenic environment of −80 ° C. or lower, and the working chamber However, the problem is further solved by being maintained in a low humidity environment.

  In addition to the configuration of the low-temperature storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the invention according to claim 4 includes a container for storing the sample to be stored in the low-temperature storage chamber. The above-described problem is further solved by being configured so that a plurality of stored storage plates can be accommodated by transferring them from the loading / unloading chamber to the storage rack.

  In addition to the configuration of the cryogenic storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the invention according to claim 5 includes the cryogenic storage chamber provided below the work chamber, and the pickup mechanism includes: The problem is achieved by being provided at a position where the low temperature storage chamber does not exist below the work chamber, and the storage room is provided adjacent to the position where the pickup mechanism of the work chamber is provided. It is a further solution.

  In addition to the configuration of the low-temperature storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the working chamber is maintained in a lower temperature environment than the external environment, The above-described problems are further solved.

  The low-temperature storage system according to claim 1 is provided adjacent to the storage rack for storing a plurality of storage plates for holding a plurality of containers in the vertical direction, a low-temperature storage chamber for storing a plurality of the storage racks, and the low-temperature storage chamber. And a plate transport mechanism for transporting a storage plate provided in the work chamber and for taking in and out of the storage rack, and a pickup capable of individually taking out containers from the storage plate into the work chamber A mechanism is provided, a loading / unloading chamber is provided adjacent to the work chamber, and the plate transport mechanism is a storage rack moving means for individually moving the storage rack into and out of the work chamber from the low temperature storage chamber, and the storage plate is individually removed from the storage rack. And a storage plate moving means for taking in and out of the container, and being configured to be movable in the working chamber, the container to be taken out The held storage plate is transported from the low-temperature storage chamber to the pickup mechanism, it becomes possible to be transferred out from the entry and leaving chamber is taken out separately only container to be extracted by the pickup mechanism.

  For this reason, the storage plate and other containers taken out from the low temperature storage room are not moved from the work room to the outside and are not exposed to the external environment, and are stored in other containers taken out from the low temperature storage room. The temperature change of the sample can be suppressed, and the occurrence of condensation and frost on the storage plate and other containers taken out from the low temperature storage chamber can be suppressed.

  According to the low-temperature storage system according to the second aspect, in addition to the effect exhibited by the low-temperature storage system according to the first aspect, the pickup mechanism includes the storage plate and the plate transport mechanism that are transported from the loading / unloading chamber by the plate transport mechanism. Since the container can be individually transferred between the storage plates transported from the storage rack, the empty storage plates can be transferred to the pickup mechanism by setting an empty storage plate in the loading / unloading chamber. Since it is possible to transfer only the container to be transported and taken out and transport it again to the loading / unloading chamber, the work of automatically taking out the container containing the sample stored at low temperature is more rationalized.

According to the cryogenic storage system according to claim 3, in addition to the effects exhibited by the cryogenic storage system according to claim 1 or claim 2, the cryogenic storage chamber is maintained in a cryogenic environment of −80 ° C. or lower, By keeping the working room in a low humidity environment, even if the temperature rises when the sample is taken out into the working room at an extremely low temperature of −80 ° C. or less, the storage state is not adversely affected. it can.
In addition, the greater the temperature difference between the cold storage room and the work room, the greater the occurrence of condensation and frost.However, when the work room is placed in a low humidity environment, condensation and frost are generated on containers and storage plates in the work room. Can be prevented.

  According to the low-temperature storage system according to claim 4, in addition to the effects exhibited by the low-temperature storage system according to claims 1 to 3, the plate transport mechanism includes a container for storing a sample to be stored in the low-temperature storage chamber. By storing multiple retained storage plates from the loading / unloading chamber to the storage rack and storing them, multiple containers containing samples to be newly stored are set in the loading / unloading chamber together with the storage plates. By doing so, it can be automatically transported by the plate transport mechanism and stored in the low temperature storage chamber.

  According to the cryogenic storage system according to claim 5, in addition to the effects exhibited by the cryogenic storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the cryogenic storage chamber is provided below the working chamber, and the pickup mechanism is provided. The cold storage chamber is provided below the work chamber at a position where the cold storage chamber does not exist, and the entry / exit chamber is provided adjacent to the position where the pickup mechanism of the work chamber is provided. While being able to install in the slight space of both, the movement distance of a plate conveyance mechanism can be decreased.

  According to the cryogenic storage system according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects exhibited by the cryogenic storage system according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the work room is maintained in a lower temperature environment than the external environment. As a result, the temperature rise of the sample accommodated in the container in the working chamber can be suppressed, and the occurrence of condensation and frost due to the temperature difference can be suppressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Whole side explanatory drawing of the low-temperature storage system of this invention. FIG. 2 is an overall plan view of the low-temperature storage system of FIG. 1. Operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of carrying in the empty storage plate of the low-temperature storage system of FIG. Operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of the empty storage plate movement of the low-temperature storage system of FIG. Operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of taking out the stored storage plate of the low-temperature storage system of FIG. Operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of the stored storage plate movement of the low-temperature storage system of FIG. The perspective view of the container stored in the low-temperature storage system of this invention, and a storage plate. The whole perspective view explanatory drawing of the conventional low-temperature storage system.

  The present invention includes a storage rack for storing a plurality of storage plates for holding a plurality of containers in a vertical direction, a low temperature storage chamber for storing a plurality of the storage racks, a work chamber provided adjacent to the low temperature storage chamber, A cryogenic storage system provided in a work chamber and having a plate transport mechanism for transporting a storage plate and taking it in and out of a storage rack. The work chamber is provided with a pick-up mechanism capable of individually taking out containers from the storage plate. A storage rack moving means in which a loading / unloading chamber is provided adjacent to the chamber, and the plate transport mechanism individually moves the storage rack into and out of the work room from the low temperature storage chamber, and a storage plate movement means for individually moving the storage plate in and out of the storage rack In addition, it is configured to be movable in the work chamber and can automatically take out containers containing samples stored at low temperatures. As long as it can suppress the effects of temperature rise of samples contained in other containers and prevent the formation of condensation and frost on the containers and storage plates, the specific embodiment is not limited. It doesn't matter what it is.

An embodiment of the low temperature storage system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The low-temperature storage system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention stores a storage rack 104 that stores a plurality of storage plates 203 that hold a plurality of containers 201 that store samples to be stored at a low temperature, and a plurality of the storage racks 104. A low temperature storage chamber 105, a work chamber 106 provided adjacent to the upper side of the low temperature storage chamber 105, and a plate transport mechanism 110 that transports the storage plate 203 provided in the work chamber 106 and puts it in and out of the storage rack 104. And have.

A plurality of storage plates 203 can be placed at a position where the low temperature storage chamber 105 does not exist in the lower part of the work chamber 106, and a pickup mechanism 120 capable of individually taking out and inserting the containers 201 from the respective storage plates 203 is provided. ing.
In addition, a loading / unloading chamber 108 is provided adjacent to the position where the pickup mechanism 120 of the working chamber 106 is provided, and a plate entrance 107 for loading and unloading the storage plate 203 is provided on the side facing the outside of the loading / unloading chamber 108. ing.
In the present embodiment, the loading / unloading chamber 108 is provided so as to go into the work chamber 106, and the outer surface of the loading / unloading chamber 108 and the work chamber 106 is configured to be planar.

  The plate transport mechanism 110 includes storage rack moving means 111 for individually moving a plurality of arbitrary storage racks 104 stored in the low temperature storage chamber 105 upward and downward, and arbitrary storage plates 203 stored in the storage rack 104. Storage plate moving means 112 is provided for moving in and out individually from the storage rack 104 drawn upward.

  The pickup mechanism 120 includes a plate mounting portion 122 on which a plurality of storage plates 203 can be mounted, and a pickup arm 121 having a gripping portion on which the container 201 can be individually taken out and inserted by being movable above the plate mounting portion 122. And the container 201 can be individually transferred between the plurality of storage plates 203.

  In the loading / unloading chamber 108, there is provided a plate turning table 131 on which the storage plate 203 to be carried in / out is placed and turned in a direction facing the plate entrance 107 and a direction facing the plate transport mechanism 110.

  The storage rack moving unit 111 and the storage plate moving unit 112 of the plate transport mechanism 110 are supported by a vertical moving unit 113 that can move in the horizontal front-rear direction, and the vertical moving unit 113 is orthogonal to the moving direction of the vertical moving unit 113. The entire plate transport mechanism 110 is configured to be movable in the work chamber 106 by being supported by the lateral movement means 114 that can move in the horizontal and horizontal directions.

Thus, the storage rack moving means 111 is configured to be movable between a position above the low temperature storage chamber 105, a position facing the loading / unloading chamber 108, and a position facing the pickup mechanism 120.
The storage plate moving means 112 is configured to be able to transfer the storage plate 203 to the plate mounting part 122 and the plate turning table 131 at a position facing the loading / unloading chamber 108 and a position facing the pickup mechanism 120. .

  The low temperature storage room 105 is kept in an extremely low temperature environment of, for example, −80 ° C. or less, and the work room 106 is kept in a low humidity environment isolated from the external environment in order to prevent condensation and frost. The chamber 108 is configured to be isolated from the external environment by closing the plate entrance 107.

Further, the entrance / exit chamber 108 and the work chamber 106 may also be configured to be isolated by a shutter or the like.
Further, the work chamber 106 may be kept in a lower temperature environment than the external environment to further prevent condensation and frost.
The overall shape of the low-temperature storage system 100 and the detailed shapes and structures of the components may be anything as long as the above-described operation can be performed in the above-described positional relationship.

The operation of carrying out the container 201 in the low temperature storage system 100 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.
Each component of the cryogenic storage system 100 of the present embodiment is configured to operate by a control device (not shown), and the control unit is configured to operate based on the input information regarding the container to be taken out. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the operator P places an empty storage plate 203a on the plate turning table 131 from the plate inlet / outlet 107 on the side surface of the loading / unloading chamber 108, closes the plate inlet / outlet 107, and then starts the control means. Give instructions.

First, the empty storage plate 203a carried in from the plate entrance 107 and placed on the plate turning table 131 is directed to the side facing the plate transport mechanism 110 as the plate turning table 131 turns.
In this state, the storage plate moving means 112 of the plate transport mechanism 110 takes out the empty storage plate 203a from the plate turning table 131 and transfers it to the plate mounting portion 122 of the pickup mechanism 120 as shown in FIG.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the plate transport mechanism 110 moves to the position of the storage rack 104 in which the storage plate 203 b that stores the container to be taken out is stored, and the storage rack moving means 111 moves the storage rack 104 to the low temperature storage chamber 105. The storage plate 203b is removed from the container, and the storage plate moving means 112 takes out the storage plate 203b containing the container to be taken out.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the plate transport mechanism 110 moves, and the storage plate 203 b that accommodates the container to be taken out is transferred to the plate mounting portion 122 of the pickup mechanism 120 by the storage plate moving means 112.
With the empty storage plate 203a and the storage plate 203b that accommodates the container to be taken out being placed on the plate placement portion 122 of the pickup mechanism 120, the pickup arm 121 is moved above the plate placement portion 122 to be taken out. A target container is picked up from the storage plate 203b that accommodates the container and transferred to an empty storage plate 203a.

When the transfer of the container to be taken out to the empty storage plate 203a is completed, the storage plate 203a to which the container to be taken out is transferred is transported to the loading / unloading chamber 108 in the reverse order of the above-described operation.
That is, the storage plate 203b in which only the container to be taken out is picked up is taken out again from the plate mounting portion 122 of the pickup mechanism 120 to the storage plate moving means 112 as shown in FIG. Move to the position of the storage rack 104.

  Then, the storage rack 104 accommodated by the storage rack moving means 111 is lifted upward from the low temperature storage chamber 105, the storage plate 203b is accommodated in the storage rack 104 by the storage plate moving means 112, and the storage rack 104 is stored again at a low temperature. It is stored in the chamber 105.

Next, the storage plate 203 a to which the container to be taken out is transferred is taken out from the plate mounting portion 122 of the pickup mechanism 120 by the storage plate moving means 112 of the plate transport mechanism 110 and transferred to the plate turning table 131.
Then, by rotating the plate turning table 131, the storage plate 203a on which the container to be taken out is transferred is directed to the plate entrance 107 side, and the operator P can take out from the plate entrance 107 on the side surface of the loading / unloading chamber 108. Become.

By operating as described above, the storage plate 203b that accommodates the container to be taken out is not carried out of the work chamber 106. Therefore, the influence of the temperature rise of the sample accommodated in the container is suppressed, and the container and It is possible to prevent condensation and frost from forming on the storage plate 203b.
In addition, by keeping the working chamber 106 in a low humidity environment and in a low temperature environment within the range in which the plate transport mechanism 110 and the pickup mechanism 120 operate, the influence of the temperature rise of the sample contained in the container is further suppressed, Condensation and frost can be prevented from occurring in the container and the storage plate 203b.

  Furthermore, a shutter or the like may be provided between the loading / unloading chamber 108 and the work chamber 106 so as to be spatially separated except when the storage plate 203b is transferred, which further increases the environment in the work chamber 106. It is maintained constant, and furthermore, it is possible to suppress the influence due to the temperature rise of the sample accommodated in the container and prevent the container and the storage plate 203b from forming condensation and frost.

Further, according to the low-temperature storage system 100 of the present invention, the storage plate 203 a that stores containers to be stored at a low temperature can be directly stored in the storage rack 104 and stored in the low-temperature storage chamber 105.
That is, as shown in FIG. 3, an empty storage plate 203 a placed on the plate turning table 131 from the plate entrance 107 on the side surface of the loading / unloading chamber 108, loaded from the plate entrance 107 and placed on the plate turning table 131. Is directed to the side facing the plate transport mechanism 110 as the plate turning table 131 turns.

Then, the storage plate moving means 112 of the plate transport mechanism 110 takes out the storage plate 203a from the plate turning table 131 and transfers it to the plate mounting portion 122 of the pickup mechanism 120 as shown in FIG.
In this state, the plate transport mechanism 110 moves above the storage rack 104 to be stored directly, pulls up the storage rack 104 accommodated by the storage rack moving means 111 from the low temperature storage chamber 105, and moves the storage plate moving means. The storage plate 203 a is accommodated in the storage rack 104 by 112, and the storage rack 104 is stored in the low temperature storage chamber 105.

  Furthermore, the container to be stored at a low temperature described above is individually set on an empty storage plate 203a and placed on the plate turning table 131 from the plate inlet / outlet 107 on the side surface of the loading / unloading chamber 108, so that the above-described container removing procedure can be performed. On the other hand, the transfer of the pickup mechanism 120 can be reversed and automatically stored in the storage plate 203b and stored at a low temperature.

  As described above, according to the low-temperature storage system 100 of the present invention, a container containing a sample stored at a low temperature can be automatically and individually removed, and the influence of a temperature increase of a sample stored in another container can be obtained. It is possible to prevent condensation and frost from forming on the container and the storage plate.

100, 500 ... Low temperature storage system 104, 504 ... Storage rack 105, 505 ... Low temperature storage chamber 106, 506 ... Work chamber 107, 507 ... Plate doorway 108 ... Entry / exit chamber 110 , 510 ... Plate transport mechanism 111, 511 ... Storage rack moving means 112, 512 ... Storage plate moving means 120 ... Pickup mechanism 121 ... Pickup arm 122 ... Plate mounting part 131 .. Plate turning table 201 ... Container 202 ... Cap 203 ... Storage plate

Claims (6)

A storage rack for storing a plurality of storage plates for holding a plurality of containers in the vertical direction, a low-temperature storage chamber for storing a plurality of the storage racks, a work chamber provided adjacent to the low-temperature storage chamber, and a work chamber A low-temperature storage system having a plate transport mechanism for transporting the storage plate and taking it in and out of the storage rack,
The working chamber is provided with a pickup mechanism capable of individually removing containers from the storage plate,
An entry / exit room is provided adjacent to the work room,
The plate transport mechanism has storage rack moving means for individually taking in and out the storage rack from the low temperature storage chamber to the work chamber, and storage plate moving means for individually putting in and out the storage plate from the storage rack, A low-temperature storage system configured to be movable in the work chamber.   The pick-up mechanism is configured to be able to individually transfer the containers between a storage plate transported from the loading / unloading chamber by the plate transport mechanism and a storage plate transported from a storage rack by the plate transport mechanism. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 1. The low-temperature storage room is kept in a cryogenic environment of −80 ° C. or lower,
The low-temperature storage system according to claim 1, wherein the working chamber is maintained in a low humidity environment.   The plate transport mechanism is configured to be able to transfer and store a storage plate holding a plurality of containers for storing samples to be stored in the low temperature storage chamber from the loading / unloading chamber to the storage rack. The low-temperature storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The low temperature storage chamber is provided below the working chamber;
The pickup mechanism is provided at a position where the low temperature storage chamber does not exist below the work chamber;
The low-temperature storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the storage / exiting chamber is provided adjacent to a position of the working chamber where the pickup mechanism is provided.   The cryogenic storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the working chamber is maintained in a lower temperature environment than an external environment.

Images