JP2015182829A - Low temperature storage system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low temperature storage system which can prevent quality deterioration of an object to be stored with a simple structure and can reduce a cost required for a coolant.SOLUTION: A low temperature storage system 10 including a low temperature storage chamber 20, plural rotary stages 30 which are vertically disposed in the low temperature storage chamber 20 in such a state that the stages are so rotatable around a vertical axis as a center as to be independent from one another, and a stage drive mechanism 40 which rotates the rotary stages 30, in which each rotary stage 30 is provided with a slit 32 which vertically penetrates said each stage, the stage drive mechanism 40 has a stage drive member 41 which is vertically movable, the stage drive member 41 is provided independently from the rotary stage 30 and is so configured as to rotate the rotary stage 30 by contacting the rotary stage 30 so as to apply a force onto the rotary stage 30.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cryogenic storage system for storing a storage object at a low temperature, and in particular, a cryogenic storage for storing a drug discovery sample used in a process of discovering and designing a drug in medicine, biotechnology and pharmacy at a low temperature. About the system.

  Conventionally, as a low-temperature storage system for storing containers containing samples at a low temperature, a storage rack for storing a plurality of storage plates holding a plurality of containers in the vertical direction, and a low-temperature storage chamber of −80 ° C. or lower for storing a plurality of storage racks, A work room that is cooler than the external environment provided adjacent to the cold storage room, an entry / exit room provided adjacent to the work room, and a storage plate that is provided in the work room and is moved into and out of the storage rack There is known a low-temperature storage system including a plate transport mechanism that performs this operation and a pickup mechanism that is provided in a work chamber and can individually take out containers from a storage plate (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The plate transport mechanism has storage rack moving means for individually moving the storage rack into and out of the low temperature storage room, and storage plate moving means for individually moving the storage plate into and out of the storage rack, and is movable within the work chamber. It is configured.

  In the low-temperature storage system of Patent Document 1, when a desired container is taken out from the low-temperature storage chamber, a storage rack containing a plurality of storage plates holding a plurality of containers is extracted from the low-temperature storage chamber and then stored in the work room. Remove the storage plate from the storage plate and take out the desired container from the storage plate.

JP 2012-56730 A

  However, in the low temperature storage system of Patent Document 1, when a desired container is taken out from the low temperature storage chamber, it is necessary to extract the storage rack from the low temperature storage chamber. In the working chamber which is taken out to the working chamber and has a room temperature higher than that of the low temperature storage chamber, the temperature of containers other than the desired container also rises. As a result, the quality of the sample contained in the container may be deteriorated, and when the storage rack whose temperature has been raised is returned to the low temperature storage room, the temperature of the low temperature storage room rises and the low temperature storage room is cooled. There is a problem that a large amount of cost is required for the coolant.

  The above-described problem is that when the room temperature of the low temperature storage room is set to an ultra-low temperature such as −190 ° C. by a coolant such as liquid nitrogen, the temperature difference between the room temperature of the low temperature storage room and the room temperature of the work room is large. It becomes even more prominent.

  The present invention solves these problems, and aims to provide a low-temperature storage system that has a simple structure, prevents quality deterioration of a storage object, and reduces the cost of a coolant. It is.

  The present invention is a low-temperature storage system for storing an object to be stored at a low temperature, and a plurality of rotations arranged vertically in the low-temperature hangar in a state where they can rotate independently of each other around a vertical axis. A stage and a stage driving mechanism for rotating the rotary stage, and at least a part of the plurality of rotary stages is provided with a storage area for storing the storage target; A slit penetrating in the vertical direction is provided, the stage driving mechanism has a stage driving member movable in the vertical direction, and the stage driving member is provided independently of the rotary stage, The above-described problem is solved by being configured to rotate the rotary stage by contacting and applying force to the rotary stage. .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the rotary stages arranged above and below are rotatably provided independently of each other, and the rotary stages are rotated by providing the slits penetrating in the vertical direction in each rotary stage. By adjusting the positional relationship of each slit, it is possible to move the storage object upward through the slit, so that only a desired storage object can be obtained with a simple structure while ensuring a sufficient storage amount of the storage object. Can be removed from the cold storage.
As a result, it is possible to prevent the storage target other than the desired storage target from being taken out of the low temperature hangar and increase the temperature, prevent the quality of the storage target from being deteriorated, and return the storage target whose temperature has increased to the low temperature hangar. The rise in the internal temperature of the low temperature hangar due to can be prevented, and the cost related to the coolant for cooling the inside of the low temperature hangar can be reduced.
Further, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the storage object can be taken out from the low-temperature storage with a simple operation of transferring the storage object upward through the slit, the transfer means for transferring the storage object The structure can be simplified.
Furthermore, when rotating the rotary stage, when the power of a motor or the like is transmitted to the rotary stage using a power transmission mechanism such as a gear, a plurality of rotary stages are rotated independently from each other. It is necessary to install the power transmission mechanism in the low temperature hangar. On the other hand, in the invention according to the first aspect, the rotary stage is rotated by a stage driving member that is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction independently of the rotary stage and applies force to the rotary stage. Since the large-scale power transmission mechanism described above does not need to be installed in the low temperature storage, the structure of the apparatus can be simplified and a large storage space can be secured in the low temperature storage. Further, since a large-scale power transmission mechanism is not required, the interval between the rotary stages can be designed to be narrow, and as a result, more rotary stages can be installed in the low temperature storage.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the stage drive member also serves as the vertical transfer means for transferring the storage object in the vertical direction, so that the stage drive member moves in the vertical direction separately from the stage drive member that rotates the rotary stage. It is not necessary to provide an up-and-down direction transfer means that requires the apparatus, and the apparatus structure can be simplified.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the stage driving member has a structure in which the storage target is scooped up from the lower side, so that it is not necessary to hold the storage target by the stage driving member. Since it can be simplified, it is possible to reduce the apparatus cost and to suppress the occurrence of a malfunction of the stage drive mechanism.
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the stage driving member is provided so as to be pivotable about the vertical axis, the space for moving the stage driving member can be reduced. A large storage space can be secured in the hangar.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the stage driving member has the driving engagement portion protruding upward, so that the stage driving member can be moved from the lower side of the rotary stage to be driven. The rotary stage can be rotated.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the drive source of the stage drive mechanism is disposed outside the low temperature hangar, it is possible to prevent the temperature in the low temperature hangar from rising due to the heat generated by the drive source.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a low-temperature storage system that is an embodiment of the present invention. The top view which shows an example of a rotation stage seeing from upper direction. Explanatory drawing explaining operation | movement of the rotation stage in the 1st-3rd process at the time of taking out a desired storage object. Explanatory drawing explaining operation | movement of the rotation stage in the 4th-6th process at the time of taking out a desired storage object. Explanatory drawing explaining operation | movement of the stage drive mechanism in the 1st-3rd process at the time of taking out a desired storage object. Explanatory drawing explaining operation | movement of the stage drive mechanism in the 4th-6th process at the time of taking out a desired storage object. The perspective view which shows an example of a storage object.

  Below, the low-temperature storage system 10 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated based on drawing.

  The low-temperature storage system 10 stores a sample to be stored at a low temperature. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the low-temperature storage system 10 is maintained in a low temperature, and is disposed in the low-temperature storage 20. A plurality of disk-shaped rotary stages 30, a stage drive mechanism 40 that rotates the plurality of rotary stages 30, and a picking mechanism (not shown) that transfers the container C held on the storage plate P to another storage plate P ).

  The low-temperature hangar 20 stores samples at an ultra-low temperature such as −190 ° C. by liquid nitrogen injected into the inside thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, an opening is provided on the upper surface of the low-temperature hangar 20. An opening / closing door (not shown) is provided in the opening. As described above, by providing the opening on the upper surface of the low temperature hangar 20, it is possible to suppress the cold air in the low temperature hangar 20 from leaking to the outside and maintain the inside of the low temperature hangar 20 at a low temperature. In addition, since the low temperature storage 20 stores the sample at an ultra-low temperature using liquid nitrogen, it can be applied to a sample such as a living cell that needs to be stored at an ultra-low temperature such as -190 ° C.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of rotary stages 30 are arranged vertically in the low temperature storage 20 while being rotatable independently of each other about a common vertical axis. Each rotary stage 30 may have a different rotation axis.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each rotary stage 30 is provided with a plurality of storage areas 31 in which the trays T are arranged. Each storage area 31 is provided with a frame 31a that supports both sides of the tray T and a passage slit 31b that is formed between the frames 31a on both sides and penetrates in the vertical direction. A plurality of installation parts are provided on the tray T, and a storage plate P containing a plurality of containers C with caps containing samples is detachably installed in each installation part.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each rotary stage 30 is provided with a slit 32 penetrating in the vertical direction. The slit 32 has a shape and a size capable of passing the tray T and a plate-like member 41 described later.

  The uppermost rotary stage 30 is provided with a picking region 33 for transferring the container C held on the storage plate P to another storage plate P. Thereby, since the picking operation | work which transfers a sample to the other storage plate P can be performed in the low temperature storage 20, the temperature of a sample can be maintained at low temperature.

  The stage driving mechanism 40 rotates each rotary stage 30 independently of each other, and is provided independently from the rotary stage 30 (that is, connected to the rotary stage 30 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). Plate member 41), a lifting unit 42 that moves plate member 41 in the vertical direction, swivel unit 43 that turns plate member 41 about the vertical axis, and a motor or an actuator. And a drive source (not shown) configured to drive the elevating unit 42 and the turning unit 43. The drive source (not shown) is disposed outside the low temperature storage 20.

  The stage drive mechanism 40 has a function of moving the tray T in the vertical direction in addition to the function of rotating the rotary stage 30 described above. That is, the stage drive mechanism 40 moves the plate member 41 below the tray T to be transferred, scoops up the tray T by the plate member 41 through the passage slit 31 b of the rotary stage 30, and the slit 32 of the rotary stage 30. The tray T is moved up and down through.

  Next, an example of a method for transferring the tray T1 to be transferred will be described below with reference to FIGS. In the following description, an example in which the tray T1 arranged in the fifth storage area 31 of the second rotation stage 30 from the bottom is transferred to the picking area 33 of the thirteenth (uppermost) rotation stage 30 will be described. To do. 3 to 6, illustration of the storage plate P and the container C set on the tray T is omitted.

  First, as shown in the first step of FIGS. 3 and 5, the plate-like member 41 is moved downward through the slits 32 of the respective rotary stages 30, and the plate-like member 41 is moved to the slits 32 of the first-stage rotary stage 30. Move in.

  Next, as shown in the second step of FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, by rotating the plate-like member 41, the plate-like member 41 pushes the frame 31 a of the first stage rotary stage 30 in the circumferential direction. The rotation stage 30 of the eye is rotated, and the plate-like member 41 is moved below the tray T1 to be transferred.

Next, as shown in the third step of FIGS. 3 and 5, the plate-like member 41 is moved upward, and the driving engagement portion 41a of the plate-like member 41 protruding upward is moved to the tray T1 to be transferred. Engage with the lower surface. Thus, by engaging the driving engagement portion 41a of the plate-like member 41 with the lower surface side of the tray T1 to be transferred, not only the upper rotary stage 30 can be rotated but also the tray T1. The tray T1 can be handled stably even during other operations such as vertical movement.
Instead of the driving engaging portion 41a described above, an engaging portion (not shown) protruding downward is formed on the lower surface side of the tray T1, and the lower plate is utilized by using this engaging portion (not shown). The member 41 and the upper tray T1 may be engaged to transmit drive. Further, the drive transmission may be performed by friction between the lower plate-like member 41 and the upper tray T1 without providing the above-described driving engagement portion 41a or the engagement portion (not shown) of the tray T1. .

  Next, as shown in the fourth step of FIGS. 4 and 6, the plate-shaped member 41 is turned to rotate the second stage rotary stage 30, and the position below each slit 32 of each rotary stage 30. The tray T1 to be transferred is moved up to.

  Next, as shown in the fifth step of FIGS. 4 and 6, the plate-like member 41 is moved upward, and the tray T <b> 1 to be transferred is moved to the space above the thirteenth rotation stage 30.

  Next, as shown in the sixth step of FIGS. 4 and 6, in the space above the thirteenth rotation stage 30, after the plate member 41 is turned, the plate member 41 is moved downward. The tray T1 to be transferred is set in the picking area 33 of the thirteenth rotary stage 30.

  Finally, in the picking area 33, the desired container C is transferred from the storage plate P holding the desired container C to another storage plate P by a picking mechanism (not shown), and only the desired container C is accommodated. The stored plate P is taken out from the low temperature storage 20 by the plate-like member 41. In addition, you may take out the storage plate P from the low temperature storage 20 not with the plate-shaped member 41 but with another chuck unit or manual.

  In addition, operation | movement of the low temperature storage system 10 mentioned above is controlled by control parts, such as PLC, according to a user's instruction | indication input. Further, the above is an example of the operation of the low temperature storage system 10, and the specific operation procedure and timing are the low temperature hangar using the rotation of the rotary stage 30, the vertical transfer by the plate-like member 41, and the picking by the picking mechanism. As long as the desired container C is taken out from the inside 20, any one may be used.

  For example, in the above description, in the fourth step shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the plate-like member 41 is swung so that only the second rotary stage 30 is rotated. In this state, while engaging the plate-like member 41 with the tray T1 to be transferred, the plate-like member 41 is positioned in the slit 32 of the first-stage rotary stage 30, and the first-stage and You may comprise so that both the 2nd rotation stage 30 may be rotated.

In the embodiment described above, the storage object is described as a sample such as a living cell, but the specific type of the storage object is not limited to this.
In the above-described embodiment, the storage plate holding a plurality of containers has been described as being installed on the tray. However, the specific storage mode of the storage target is not limited to this, for example, a plurality of containers You may make it hold | maintain directly on a tray, and you may store on a tray with a storage object as it is.
In the above-described embodiment, the low temperature hangar has been described as storing the storage object at an extremely low temperature such as −190 ° C. by liquid nitrogen injected therein, but the temperature in the low temperature hangar or the inside of the low temperature hangar is cooled. The specific mode of the cooling method to be performed is not limited to this, for example, the temperature in the low temperature hangar may be set to 10 ° C. or 20 ° C., and the cooling method of the low temperature hangar may be based on electricity, Other gases such as carbon dioxide may be used as the cooling means.
Moreover, in the example shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2, although the low temperature storage is formed in the cross-sectional circle shape, the specific aspect of a low temperature storage is not limited to this, For example, a low temperature storage is formed in a cross-sectional rectangular shape. Also good.
In the above-described embodiment, the rotary stage is configured to be able to rotate 360 °. However, the rotary stage may be configured to rotate within an angular range of less than 360 °.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the storage area for storing the storage target is provided in all the rotary stages, but it is not always necessary to provide the storage area in all the rotary stages.
Further, a non-rotatable stage having a slit may be further provided above the uppermost rotary stage.
In the above-described embodiment, the stage driving member (plate-like member) that drives the rotary stage also functions as a vertical transfer unit that transfers the storage target in the vertical direction. You may provide a transfer means separately.
In the above-described embodiment, the stage driving member has been described as rotating the rotary stage by pushing the frame of the rotary stage in the circumferential direction. However, the specific aspect of the stage driving member may be any one as long as it rotates the rotating stage by contacting and applying force to the rotating stage. For example, a part of the stage driving member may be a rotating stage. The rotary stage may be rotated by hooking the rotary stage and pulling the rotary stage.
In the above-described embodiments, the stage driving member is described as being pivotable. However, the stage driving member is configured to be linearly movable in the horizontal direction, and the stage driving member is moved in the horizontal direction. You may make it apply force to a rotation stage by moving to.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Low temperature storage system 20 ... Low temperature storage 30 ... Rotary stage 31 ... Storage area 31a ... Frame 31b ... Passing slit 32 ... Slit 33 ... Picking area 40 ... Stage drive mechanism 41: Plate member (stage drive member, vertical transfer means)
41a ・ ・ ・ Driving engagement part 42 ・ ・ ・ Lifting unit 43 ・ ・ ・ Swivel unit T ・ ・ ・ Tray P ・ ・ ・ Storage plate C ・ ・ ・ Container

The present invention is a low-temperature storage system for storing an object to be stored at a low temperature, and a plurality of rotations arranged vertically in the low-temperature hangar in a state where they can rotate independently of each other around a vertical axis. A stage and a stage driving mechanism for rotating the rotary stage, and at least a part of the plurality of rotary stages is provided with a storage area for storing the storage target; The stage drive mechanism has a stage drive member that can move in the vertical direction, and the stage drive member can pivot about a vertical axis independently of the rotary stage. its upper surface is provided, along with rotating the rotary stage by applying a force to contact with the rotary stage, the storage target The stage is configured to be mounted and supported, and to be moved in the vertical direction. In the storage area of the rotary stage, a frame that supports the storage target and a passage slit that passes the stage driving member up and down are provided. The drive mechanism moves the stage drive member into the slit of the rotary stage that is one stage lower than the rotary stage that holds the storage target to be transferred, and pivots the stage drive member about the vertical axis Thus, the first stage lower rotation stage is pushed and rotated in the circumferential direction, and the stage driving member is moved below the storage target to be transferred, thereby solving the problem. Is.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the rotary stages arranged above and below are rotatably provided independently of each other, and the rotary stages are rotated by providing the slits penetrating in the vertical direction in each rotary stage. By adjusting the positional relationship of each slit, it is possible to move the storage object upward through the slit, so that only a desired storage object can be obtained with a simple structure while ensuring a sufficient storage amount of the storage object. Can be removed from the cold storage.
As a result, it is possible to prevent the storage target other than the desired storage target from being taken out of the low temperature hangar and increase the temperature, prevent the quality of the storage target from being deteriorated, and return the storage target whose temperature has increased to the low temperature hangar. The rise in the internal temperature of the low temperature hangar due to can be prevented, and the cost related to the coolant for cooling the inside of the low temperature hangar can be reduced.
Further, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the storage object can be taken out from the low-temperature storage with a simple operation of transferring the storage object upward through the slit, the transfer means for transferring the storage object The structure can be simplified.
Furthermore, when rotating the rotary stage, when the power of a motor or the like is transmitted to the rotary stage using a power transmission mechanism such as a gear, a plurality of rotary stages are rotated independently from each other. It is necessary to install the power transmission mechanism in the low temperature hangar. On the other hand, in the invention according to the first aspect, the rotary stage is rotated by a stage driving member that is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction independently of the rotary stage and applies force to the rotary stage. Since the large-scale power transmission mechanism described above does not need to be installed in the low temperature storage, the structure of the apparatus can be simplified and a large storage space can be secured in the low temperature storage. Further, since a large-scale power transmission mechanism is not required, the interval between the rotary stages can be designed to be narrow, and as a result, more rotary stages can be installed in the low temperature storage.
In addition, the stage driving member also serves as an up-and-down direction transferring means for transferring the object to be stored in the up-and-down direction. There is no need to provide it, and the device structure can be simplified.
Further, since the stage drive member has a structure in which the storage target is scooped up from the lower side, the structure of the stage drive mechanism can be simplified, for example, there is no need to hold the storage target by the stage drive member. Thus, the apparatus cost can be reduced and the occurrence of defects in the stage drive mechanism can be suppressed.
In addition, since the stage drive member is provided so as to be pivotable about the vertical axis, it is possible to reduce the space for moving the stage drive member. It can be secured greatly.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the stage driving member has the driving engagement portion protruding upward, so that the stage driving member can be moved from the lower side of the rotary stage to be driven. The rotary stage can be rotated.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the drive source of the stage drive mechanism is arranged outside the low temperature storage, it is possible to prevent the temperature in the low temperature storage from rising due to the heat generated by the drive source.

Claims (6)

A low-temperature storage system for storing storage objects at low temperatures,
A low-temperature hangar, a plurality of rotary stages arranged vertically in the low-temperature hangar in a state of being rotatable independently of each other around a vertical axis, and a stage drive mechanism for rotating the rotary stage,
A storage area for storing the storage object is provided in at least some of the plurality of rotation stages,
Each rotary stage is provided with a slit penetrating in the vertical direction,
The stage drive mechanism has a stage drive member movable in the vertical direction,
The stage drive member is provided independently of the rotary stage, and is configured to rotate the rotary stage by applying force by contacting the rotary stage. system.   The low-temperature storage system according to claim 1, wherein the stage driving member also serves as a vertical transfer unit that transfers the storage target in the vertical direction. The stage driving member is configured to support the storage object on the upper surface thereof,
The low temperature storage system according to claim 2, wherein a frame for supporting the storage object and a passage slit through which the stage driving member passes vertically are provided in the storage area of the rotary stage.   The cryogenic storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the stage driving member is provided so as to be pivotable about a vertical axis.   The low-temperature storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the stage driving member has a driving engagement portion protruding upward. The stage drive mechanism has a drive source for driving the stage drive member,
The low temperature storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the driving source is disposed outside the low temperature storage.

Images