JP4973946B2 - incubator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an incubator that generates and maintains a certain environment when culturing cells and the like.

  The environment for culturing cells is mainly managed by three indicators of temperature, humidity, and CO2. For example, in terms of temperature, a heater that heats the interior of the warehouse, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the interior of the warehouse, and an output of the temperature sensor, the heater is configured to maintain the interior temperature at a predetermined target temperature. And a temperature control unit that drives the culturing device, and maintains the culture environment in the cabinet at the set temperature.

JP 2006-014675 A

  Here, in the incubator, in addition to environmental control, sterilization (sterilization) in the incubator is also an important operation, and conventionally, sterilization by ultraviolet rays or pasteurization by heating at around 90 ° C. is performed.

In general, the temperature at which cells are cultured is approximately 42 ° C. or lower, and the sterilization temperature is approximately 100 ° C. The temperature adjustment unit appropriately adjusts the temperature in the cabinet using these two temperatures as target temperatures.
Further, in order to prevent an excessive increase in the temperature due to a failure of the temperature sensor or the like, an excessive increase prevention circuit using a thermostat or the like is provided.

However, this thermostat normally performs a protective operation based on the highest temperature (sterilization temperature) in the storage, and cannot perform a protective operation against an excessive increase in culture temperature during the culture operation.
That is, when the temperature in the storage chamber rises during the sterilization operation, the thermostat operates when the sterilization temperature is greatly exceeded (for example, 100 ° C.), and the heater is stopped. When the internal temperature rises, even if a predetermined culture limit temperature (for example, 42 ° C.) is exceeded, the thermostat does not operate and the cells being cultured are killed.

  The present invention eliminates the disadvantages of the conventional apparatus as described above, and has a simple configuration of an incubator capable of performing an operation for preventing an increase in sterilization temperature as well as an increase in culture temperature. This is intended to be realized.

In order to achieve such an object, the invention of claim 1 includes a heater for heating the interior of the cabinet, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the cabinet, and an output of the temperature sensor to set the temperature in the cabinet to a predetermined level. In an incubator having a temperature adjustment unit that drives the heater so as to maintain the target temperature,
Detecting the temperature in the chamber or the heating temperature of the heater, and preventing the overheating that cuts off the power supply to the heater when this temperature reaches the operating temperature set based on the culture temperature and sterilization temperature of the incubator Circuit,
A control unit for setting a target temperature of the incubator culture temperature and sterilization temperature for the temperature control unit and selecting an operating temperature of the over-rise prevention circuit;
Prepared ,
The overheating prevention circuit is connected in series with the first thermostat set to the operating temperature based on the culture temperature, and set to the operating temperature based on the sterilization temperature. A second thermostat and a switch circuit that selectively short-circuits both ends of the first thermostat;
The control unit controls selective opening / closing of the switch circuit according to a target temperature set in the temperature adjusting unit .

  Thus, the overheat prevention circuit includes a first thermostat set to the first operating temperature, a second thermostat connected in series with the first thermostat and set to the second operating temperature, A switch circuit that selectively short-circuits both ends of the thermostat on the lower operating temperature side, and the first and second operating temperatures are set based on the culture temperature and the sterilization temperature, respectively. For temperature rise, short-circuit both ends of the thermostat set to the low temperature side to operate only the thermostat set to the high temperature side, and set to the low temperature side for temperature rise during the culture operation The thermostat can be operated first, and not only can the sterilization temperature rise too much, but it can also be used to prevent the excessive increase in culture temperature. Kill.

  Hereinafter, the incubator of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory view showing an embodiment of the incubator of the present invention. 1A is a plan view, and FIG. 1B is a longitudinal sectional view. As shown in the figure, a door 11 is provided on a side surface of the cylindrical container 1. A heater 2 is attached to the outer periphery including the upper surface and the bottom surface of the container 1 to heat the container 1. For example, a silicon rubber heater is used as the heater 2.

The temperature in the chamber (inside the container) is detected by the temperature sensor 3. In addition, a first thermostat 4 and a second thermostat 5 are attached to the heater 2.
In addition, the 1st thermostat 4 and the 2nd thermostat 5 operate | move by sensing the temperature of the inside or the heater 2, and the attachment position is not restricted to the position shown in figure.

  FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration in the incubator of the present invention. The power source 10 (for example, AC 100V), the temperature adjustment unit 20, the temperature sensor 3, and the heater 2 constitute a temperature control system that maintains the temperature in the cabinet at a predetermined target temperature. Further, in order to prevent the internal temperature from rising excessively, an excessive rise prevention circuit 30 including a first thermostat 4, a second thermostat 5, and a switch circuit 6 is added.

In the overheating prevention circuit 30, the operating temperature of the first thermostat 4 is set to, for example, a culture limit temperature of 42 ° C. with reference to the culture temperature. In addition, the second thermostat 5 has an operating temperature set to, for example, 100 ° C. based on the sterilization temperature.
The switch circuit 6 is connected in parallel with the low temperature side thermostat (first thermostat 4), and selectively short-circuits both ends thereof.

The control unit 40 sets a target temperature for the temperature adjustment unit 20 and selects an operating temperature of the over-rise prevention circuit 30.
The selection of the operating temperature in the excessive rise prevention circuit 30 is performed by controlling the opening / closing of the switch circuit 6.

The operation of the incubator configured as described above is as follows.
First, during the culture operation, the control unit 40 sets the target temperature (culture temperature) of the temperature adjustment unit 20 to 37 ° C., for example. Further, the switch circuit 6 in the over-rise prevention circuit 30 is opened. Therefore, in the over-rise prevention circuit 30, the first thermostat 4 and the second thermostat 5 are inserted in series, but the operating temperature (42 of the lower temperature side thermostat (first thermostat 4)). ° C) is the substantial operating temperature of the over-rise prevention circuit 30.

The temperature adjustment unit 20 receives the output of the temperature sensor 3 and drives (automatically controls) the heater 2 so that the temperature in the refrigerator reaches the target temperature of 37 ° C.
Therefore, the inside of the refrigerator is maintained at a temperature (37 ° C.) optimum for culture.

  Here, when the temperature inside the warehouse rises due to a failure of the temperature sensor 3 or the like, the first thermostat 4 operates when the temperature inside the warehouse reaches 42 ° C., and the power supply to the heater 2 is cut off. To do.

For this reason, the internal temperature does not exceed the culture limit of 42 ° C., and the cells being cultured can be protected from being killed.
It is effective to generate an alarm or the like in conjunction with the operation of the over-rise prevention circuit 30 (first thermostat 4).

  Next, in the sterilization operation, the control unit 40 sets the target temperature (sterilization temperature) of the temperature adjustment unit 20 to 95 ° C., for example. Further, the switch circuit 6 in the over-rise prevention circuit 30 is closed. Accordingly, in the over-rise prevention circuit 30, the first thermostat 4 is short-circuited, and only the second thermostat 5 is inserted. For this reason, the operating temperature (100 ° C.) of the high temperature side thermostat (second thermostat 5) becomes the substantial operating temperature of the over-rise prevention circuit 30.

The temperature adjustment unit 20 receives the output of the temperature sensor 3 and drives (automatically controls) the heater 2 so that the temperature in the refrigerator reaches the target temperature of 95 ° C.
Therefore, the inside of the refrigerator is maintained at a temperature necessary for sterilization (95 ° C.).

  Here, when the temperature inside the warehouse rises due to a failure of the temperature sensor 3 or the like, the second thermostat 5 operates when the temperature inside the warehouse reaches 100 ° C., and the power supply to the heater 2 is cut off. To do.

For this reason, the internal temperature does not exceed 100 ° C., and the heater 2 and the incubator themselves can be protected from danger due to overheating.
The first thermostat 4 is operated when the internal temperature reaches 42 ° C., and the contact is opened. However, since both ends of the first thermostat 4 are short-circuited by the switch circuit 6, The first thermostat 4 does not cut off the power supply to the heater 2.

  Here, the switch circuit 6 is of a fade-safe type (becomes OFF in case of failure) for safety.

  As described above, it is possible to realize an incubator capable of performing an operation for preventing an increase in temperature not only for an excessive increase in sterilization temperature but also for an increase in culture temperature.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing another embodiment of the over-rise prevention circuit 30. In the example shown in the figure, the overheating prevention circuit 30 has three operating temperatures.
For example, when the incubator has three target temperatures such as the sterilization temperature, the first culture temperature, and the second culture temperature, the overheating prevention circuit 30 also has three operation temperatures according to these target temperatures. It is desirable to perform a protective operation with

  When the target temperature set in the temperature controller 20 is 30 ° C. (first culture temperature), 37 ° C. (second culture temperature), or 95 ° C. (sterilization temperature), the operation of the first thermostat 41 The temperature T1 is set to 35 ° C., the operating temperature T2 of the second thermostat 42 is set to 42 ° C., the operating temperature T3 of the third thermostat 51 is set to 100 ° C., and the first to third thermostats 41, 42, 51 are connected in series. Inserted into.

  The switch circuits 61 and 62 are connected in parallel to the low temperature side thermostats 41 and 42, respectively, and selectively short-circuit between both ends thereof.

  The control unit 40 sets the target temperature for the temperature adjustment unit 20 and selects the operating temperature (T1, T2, T3) of the over-rise prevention circuit 30 as in FIG.

In the control unit 40, the operation according to each operation state is as follows.
When the target temperature of the temperature controller 20 is set to the first culture temperature (30 ° C.) during the culture operation, both the switch circuits 61 and 62 in the over-rise prevention circuit 30 are opened. Therefore, in the overheating prevention circuit 30, the first to third thermostats 41, 42, 51 are inserted in series, and the operating temperature T1 (35 of the lower temperature side thermostat (first thermostat 41)). ° C) is the substantial operating temperature of the over-rise prevention circuit 30.

  When the target temperature of the temperature control unit 20 is set to the second culture temperature (37 ° C.) during the culture operation, the switch circuit 61 in the over-rise prevention circuit 30 is closed, and the switch circuit 62 Is in an open state. Therefore, in the overheating prevention circuit 30, both ends of the first thermostat 41 are short-circuited, and the operating temperature T2 of the lower temperature thermostat (second thermostat 42) among the remaining thermostats 42, 51. (42 ° C.) is a substantial operating temperature of the over-rise prevention circuit 30.

  Further, in the sterilization operation, when the target temperature of the temperature adjustment unit 20 is set to the sterilization temperature (95 ° C.), both the switch circuits 61 and 62 in the over-rise prevention circuit 30 are closed. Accordingly, in the over-rise prevention circuit 30, the first and second thermostats 41 and 42 are short-circuited, and only the third thermostat 51 is inserted, and the high-temperature side thermostat (third thermostat 51) is inserted. The operating temperature T3 (100 ° C.) is a substantial operating temperature of the over-rise prevention circuit 30.

  As described above, when the combination of the thermostat and the switch circuit that selectively short-circuits both ends thereof is appropriately added, the over-rise prevention circuit 30 can be operated at an arbitrary number of operating temperatures.

It is a structure explanatory view showing one example of the incubator of the present invention. It is a circuit diagram which shows an example of the circuit structure in the incubator of this invention. FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing another embodiment of the excessive rise prevention circuit 30.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 11 Door 2 Heater 3 Temperature sensor 4, 41, 42, 5, 51 Thermostat 6, 61, 62 Switch circuit 10 Power source 20 Temperature control part 30 Overheating prevention circuit 40 Control part

Claims (1)

A heater for heating the interior of the chamber, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the chamber, and a temperature adjusting unit for driving the heater so as to maintain the temperature in the chamber at a predetermined target temperature based on the output of the temperature sensor. In the incubator you have,
Detecting the temperature in the chamber or the heating temperature of the heater, and preventing the overheating that cuts off the power supply to the heater when this temperature reaches the operating temperature set based on the culture temperature and sterilization temperature of the incubator Circuit,
A control unit for setting a target temperature of the incubator culture temperature and sterilization temperature for the temperature control unit and selecting an operating temperature of the over-rise prevention circuit;
Prepared ,
The overheating prevention circuit is connected in series with the first thermostat set to the operating temperature based on the culture temperature, and set to the operating temperature based on the sterilization temperature. A second thermostat and a switch circuit that selectively short-circuits both ends of the first thermostat;
The incubator , wherein the control unit controls selective opening and closing of the switch circuit according to a target temperature set in the temperature adjusting unit .

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