JPH1146517A - Trapping mechanism and air adsorption type conveyor unit for artificial seed production system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air adsorption type conveyor unit, which carries a tissue-cultured material adsorbed by a nozzle, wherein liquid induced from the nozzle together with air is removed while keeping driving efficiency of the air pressure source at a high level. SOLUTION: This conveyor unit carries a tissue-cultured material in a culture solution held by a container to an inlet opening of a nozzle cap in a process unit while it is attracted to and adsorbed by an inducing nozzle under a vacuum created by a vacuum generator, wherein a filter 75 is attached by a filter holder 75a at below a cap 73 which closes an opening 71a in the upper section of housing 71 in such a way to close an inducing port 73e only while keeping an exhaust port 73d open. The filter 75 is partly exposed to a space R in the housing 71 via a through-hole 75c in the filter holder 75a, and a trap whose opening 73h of the exhaust port 73d is directly exposed to the space R in the housing 71 is provided between the inducing nozzle and vacuum generator.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a trapping mechanism used for removing a liquid in a gas when sucking and discharging a gas, and an artificial seed in which a tissue culture such as an adventitious embryo is encapsulated and encapsulated. The present invention relates to an air absorption type transfer unit for transferring a tissue culture in a manufacturing process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when a target space is decompressed or evacuated, a vacuum pump is connected to the space to suck air in the space, which is generally called vacuum evacuation. When the liquid is sucked together with the air, water droplets or the like adhere to the air pipe connecting the space and the vacuum pump,
The liquid is sucked up to the vacuum pump, causing a failure or breakage.

[0003] When depressurizing or evacuating a target space under the condition that the aseptic condition must be maintained, if water drops or the like adhere to the air pipe as described above, dust and the like in the air cause this. Adsorbed by water droplets, etc., causes air pollution, damages the aseptic condition, and causes lumps enlarged by the attachment of dust etc. to form in the air piping, causing clogging, resulting in failure or breakage of the vacuum pump. There is also a risk of leading.

[0004] Therefore, when depressurizing or evacuating the target space as described above, a trap mechanism is provided in the middle of the air pipe to remove the liquid sucked together with the air, and the vacuum pump is provided with a trap mechanism. Often, only air is supplied.

[0005] The present applicant has previously disclosed a method and apparatus for producing an artificial seed in which a tissue culture such as an adventitious embryo is encapsulated in a gelling agent capable of gelling by a chemical reaction. As a means for transporting between locations, when a technique for adsorbing a tissue culture to a nozzle using suction pressure of air was proposed, as a related technique, a tissue culture before transport was immersed. A trap mechanism suitable for preventing the liquid from being sucked by the nozzle together with the tissue culture was proposed.

In the trap mechanism proposed by the present applicant, a filter for liquid removal formed of a porous material having air permeability is disposed inside the trap container, and the filter is used as a boundary to form a filter inside the trap container. Is divided into a space above the filter and a space below the filter, the suction air from the nozzle is introduced into the lower space in the trap container without substantially passing through the filter, and the suction air introduced into this lower space is The suction pressure from the vacuum pump causes the filter to pass substantially through the filter and into the upper space in the trap container, and then to the outside of the trap container to guide it toward the vacuum pump.

[0007] Substantially passing the above-mentioned filter means that air passes through fine holes of the filter.
The phrase "substantially does not pass through the filter" means that the liquid only passes through a tube or the like penetrated into the inside of the filter, and that the liquid does not pass through the fine holes of the filter.

[0008] Naturally, the upper opening of the trap container is closed by a lid attached thereto, and the inside of the trap container is completely sealed from the outside of the trap container. In addition, the driving loss of the vacuum pump during evacuation is prevented.

[0009]

The trapping mechanism proposed by the applicant of the present invention, like the trapping mechanism of the same kind in other fields, removes the liquid sucked together with the air inside the container to remove the liquid. The idea was to focus on sucking only the air that had been removed into the vacuum pump side, so preventing vacuum pump drive loss during evacuation was achieved by simply closing the container. I was just stopped.

Therefore, the part for separating the air and the liquid and the part for sealing the container are structurally separated from each other, so that the container has a large capacity. As a result, after the vacuum pump is operated, the inside of the container is removed. However, it takes a lot of time for the transfer nozzle to be able to adsorb the tissue culture after being decompressed and evacuated, and even if the angled container is sealed, the drive loss of the vacuum pump is completely reduced. There was room for further improvement in improving the operation efficiency of the vacuum pump.

As described above, since the trap mechanism proposed by the present applicant is based on the same concept as the same type of trap mechanism in other fields, the same type of trap mechanism in other fields is also used. Needless to say, there is room for further improvement in improving the driving efficiency of the vacuum pump.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the case where air is sucked, such as in the case where the target space is depressurized and evacuated. For example, when air is sent into a certain space, if liquid is sent together with the air to be sent Even if the trap mechanism is used because of the hindrance, if the capacity of the container is increased, the air is sent to the downstream side of the container after the air is filled in the container. It is necessary to increase the capacity, and there is, of course, room for further improvement in the drive efficiency of the drive source.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
A first object of the present invention is to provide a trap mechanism capable of removing liquid in a gas sucked and discharged by a pneumatic source while keeping the driving efficiency of the pneumatic source high.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an artificial seed in which a tissue culture such as an adventitious embryo is encapsulated with a gelling agent having a gelling function by a chemical reaction. Production of artificial seeds which can remove liquid sucked together with air from nozzles while keeping the driving efficiency of the pneumatic source high when tissue cultures are adsorbed to nozzles and transported between desired locations using a nozzle An object of the present invention is to provide an air suction type transfer unit for an apparatus.

[0015]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a trap mechanism for removing a liquid in a gas sucked and discharged by a pneumatic source. A container into which the gas to be sucked and discharged is introduced from the upper opening, a lid closing the opening, and the gas formed in the lid and introduced into the container from outside the container. And an outlet through which the gas formed in the lid and passed from the inside of the container to the outside of the container passes, and the container with the lid closed with the opening closed And a filter that is disposed so as to cover the outlet and allows the gas to pass therethrough, and a part of the filter is exposed to a space inside the container. The inlet is the lid Characterized in that in a state of closing the mouth is exposed to the space inside the container.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the trap mechanism according to the present invention, the inlet is formed by vertically penetrating the lid in a state where the opening is closed. .

Further, in the trapping mechanism according to the present invention, the lower surface inside the container may be located at a predetermined position on the lower surface from a peripheral portion of the lower surface in a horizontal direction orthogonal to a vertical direction of the container. The distance from the opening in the vertical direction has a slope that gradually increases, and the container has a drain passage communicating with a predetermined location on the lower surface to the outside of the container. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the trap mechanism of the present invention, the opening is opened in a lid portion facing the space inside the container with the opening of the lid closed. And the opening is displaced in the horizontal direction from a lid portion corresponding to the predetermined portion in the lid portion in a state where the opening is closed.

Further, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air-absorbing transfer unit for an artificial seed manufacturing apparatus, wherein the enclosure container is provided with a culture solution stored therein. Advance the supply chip to the supply point near the opening,
The inclusions such as the adventitious embryos immersed in the culture solution are pulled up from the culture solution to the outside of the culture solution while being placed on the supply chip, and the inclusions on the supply chip are removed. At the supply point, the transport nozzle that has been made negative pressure by the transport pneumatic source is suction-held, and while the transport nozzle is being transported, the enclosed material that is sucked and held by the transport nozzle is coated with the coating material. In the artificial seed manufacturing apparatus for transferring to the coating section, the trapping mechanism according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 is provided in a pneumatic tube connecting the transfer pneumatic source and the transfer nozzle, The inlet of the trap mechanism is communicated with the transport nozzle, and the outlet of the trap mechanism is communicated with the pneumatic source for transport.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the lid having the inlet through which gas passes when introduced into the container is in a state in which the upper opening of the container is closed. Therefore, this lid is located on the upper side of the container, and furthermore, a filter that allows the passage of gas while the opening of the container is closed by the lid is partially provided in the space inside the container. The filter is disposed so as to be exposed and covers the inlet of the lid, and the outlet of the lid is exposed to the space inside the container, so that the filter contacts the portion of the lid that is located on the space side inside the container. Therefore, no gap is formed between the lid and the lid, and a space inside the container is generated only below the portion near the inlet of the lid and below the filter.

The gas introduced from the inlet goes directly to the inside of the container without passing through the filter, and then passes from the space inside the container to the outside of the container via the outlet through the filter. On the other hand, the liquid introduced together with the gas from the inlet goes directly to the inside of the container without passing through the filter, and at the bottom of the space inside the container located below the outlet and the filter. Will fall and be stored by its own weight.

Accordingly, even if the liquid is introduced into the container together with the gas, only the gas is led out of the container through the outlet through the filter, and the liquid is stored inside the container. It is possible to prevent the liquid from being led out of the container, and furthermore, the space inside the container is created only below the filter and the lid near the inlet, and the space between the filter and the lid is formed. Since the space inside the container is kept to a minimum, the time required for depressurizing and evacuating the container and the time required to achieve a gas-filled state are shortened, and the driving of the drive source Efficiency can be improved.

Further, according to the trap mechanism of the present invention, the liquid introduced into the container together with the air moves the inlet of the lid closing the upper opening of the container from the upper side to the lower side. Therefore, the efficiency at which the liquid introduced into the space inside the container falls due to its own weight is increased, and the removal of the liquid from the gas can be more reliably achieved.

Further, according to the trap mechanism of the present invention, the liquid introduced into the space inside the container and dropped by its own weight is allowed to fall on the lower surface inside the container at a predetermined position on the lower surface due to its inclination. Since the liquid is accumulated, the accumulated liquid can be efficiently discharged to the outside of the container through a drain passage communicating from a predetermined portion of the lower surface to the outside of the container.

Further, according to the trap mechanism of the present invention described in claim 4, a predetermined position on the lower surface inside the container,
The opening of the inlet of the lid located on the inner space side of the container,
Since the position is shifted in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction of the container, the liquid introduced together with the gas up to the opening of the introduction port drops by gravity and reaches a position other than a predetermined position on the lower surface inside the container. Becomes

Therefore, even if the internal space of the container is kept to a minimum, the liquid removed from the gas inside the container is concentrated by its own weight and falls at a predetermined location on the lower surface, and the liquid that can pass through the drain passage is An amount of liquid exceeding the amount is stored inside the container, and it is possible to prevent the liquid level from rising and overflowing.

Further, according to the air suction type transfer unit for an artificial seed manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, even if the transport nozzle sucks the culture solution, the sucked culture solution is supplied to the trap mechanism. Stored inside the container,
Since the flow from the trap mechanism to the pneumatic source for transport is prevented, the culture solution sucked by the transport nozzle is prevented from reaching the pneumatic source for transport, and the pneumatic source for transport is broken or damaged. It is possible to reliably prevent such a situation.

Further, the space inside the container is created only below the filter and the lid near the inlet, and there is no space between the filter and the lid. By driving the transfer pneumatic source, the time required for depressurizing and evacuating the inside of the container is shortened by driving the transfer pneumatic source, and the drive efficiency of the transfer pneumatic source during transfer of the enclosure by suction holding of the transfer nozzle Can be improved.

[0029]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The trap mechanism of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings together with an air-suction type transfer unit for an artificial seed production apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an artificial seed manufacturing apparatus having an air suction type transfer unit employing a trap mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. The manufacturing apparatus includes a main body 3, a coating tank 5, a trap 7, and the like.

As shown in a plan view in FIG. 2, the main body 3 is provided with a supply unit 31 for supplying a tissue culture as an artificial seed, and a tissue culture supplied from the supply unit 31 is coated with a gelling agent. A processing unit 33, a transport unit 35 for transporting the tissue culture from the supply unit 31 to the processing unit 33, and a gantry 37 to which the supply unit 31, the processing unit 33, and the transport unit 35 are attached.

The gantry 37 has a substantially rectangular substrate 37a.
FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 3, and a substantially L-shaped shelf 37 b disposed above the board 37 a, three columns 37 c erected from the board 37 a and supporting three corners of the shelf 37 b. And a wall plate 37d that stands upright from a substantially middle portion of the board 37a in the front-rear direction and supports a portion near the front end of the shelf board 37b.

As shown in FIG. 1, the supply unit 31 has a culture container 31a, a supply rod 31b, and an air cylinder 31c.

The inside of the culture vessel 31a (corresponding to an enclosure) has a lower half in a mortar shape and an upper half in a cylindrical shape, as shown in FIG. A drain hole 31e for horizontally communicating the inside and the outside of the culture vessel 31a is formed in the upper half thereof, and a drain hole 3e is formed in the inside of the culture vessel 31a.
The culture solution L is stored with the lower edge of 1e as the highest position of the liquid level L1, and the tissue culture S (corresponding to the inclusion) in the culture solution L
Is immersed.

A male screw portion 31f is formed at the lower portion of the culture vessel 31a, and a rod hole 31g for vertically connecting the inside and the outside of the culture vessel 31a is formed substantially at the center of the male screw section 31f. It is penetrated.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the culture container 31a is provided with a support plate 37e horizontally protruding from a wall plate 37d.
A fitting portion 37 shown in FIG.
f, the nut-shaped fixing ring 37 inserted from below into the fitting portion 37f with the male screw portion 31f inserted from above.
g is screwed onto the male screw portion 31f and tightened, so that it is detachably attached to the support plate 37e.

The supply rod 31b is connected to the culture vessel 31.
a, the tissue culture S in a above the liquid level L1 of the culture solution L;
In other words, it is for pulling out the culture solution L, has an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the rod hole 31g of the culture vessel 31a, is inserted from below into this rod hole 31g, and is provided with a supply rod. Supply tip 3 at the end of 31b
1h is attached.

As shown in a partially enlarged front view of FIG. 5, the supply chip 31h has a mortar-shaped concave portion 31j at the tip, and the concave portion 31j has an enlarged portion of the supply chip 31h in FIG. As shown in the plan view, eight drain grooves 31k
Are formed radially, and each drain groove 31k has a bottom surface extending substantially horizontally, as shown in FIG. 5, or gradually descends as it approaches the outer peripheral surface of the supply chip 31h. It is slightly inclined in the opposite direction to the recess 31j.

The air cylinder 31c includes a supply rod 3
1b, the supply tip 31h is moved between an extension position H1 (corresponding to a supply point) above the upper edge of the culture container 31a shown in FIG. 4 and a retreat position H3 that does not protrude into the culture container 31a. The piston rod (not shown) is attached to the base end of the supply rod 31b by a joint member 31m.
As shown in FIG. 3, the upper end of the air cylinder 31c is supported by a support frame 37h protruding horizontally from a wall plate 37d below the support plate 37e.

As shown in FIG. 4, the culture vessel 31a
In the portion near the lower end of the rod hole 31g, there is a rod hole 31g.
A sealing O-ring 31n for preventing leakage of the culture solution L from between the feed rod 31b and the supply rod 31b is screwed into the drain hole 31e of the culture vessel 31a. The hose 31p is connected from the outside.

As shown in FIG. 2, the processing unit 33 has a supply cylinder 33a, an extrusion cylinder 33b, a supply amount adjusting unit 33c, and a processing nozzle 33d.

As shown in an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the processing unit 33 in FIG. 7, the supply cylinder 33a has check valves 3 at both ends of a passage 33f formed through the cylinder body 33e.
3g and 33h, respectively, and a piston passage 33j is inserted from the middle of the passage 33f to the side of the cylinder body 33e.
The piston passage 33j
A piston 33k is provided in the inside.

The check valves 33g and 33h are provided with a check valve 33.
g so as to allow passage of fluid flowing toward the check valve 33h through the passage 33f, and to prevent passage of fluid in the opposite direction from the check valve 33h toward the check valve 33g via the passage 33f. It is configured.

Accordingly, the supply cylinder 33a moves from the check valve 33h to the outside of the passage 33f by moving the piston 33k in the piston passage 33j so as to approach the passage 33f, whereby the pressure of the fluid in the passage 33f rises. , Piston 3
The amount of fluid flowing out according to the movement stroke of 3k flows out, and the piston 33k moves in the piston passage 33j away from the passage 33f, so that the pressure of the fluid in the passage 33f drops and the passage from the check valve 33g passes through the check valve 33g. An amount of fluid according to the movement stroke of the piston 33k flows into 33f.

Reference numeral 37j in FIG. 3 denotes a mounting bolt inserted through the shelf 37b from below and screwed to the cylinder body 33e of the supply cylinder 33a.

As shown in an enlarged plan view of FIG. 8 and a partially cut-away enlarged side view of FIG.
33m dual rod air cylinder
And a piston rod 3 at one end of the cylinder body.
And a joint member 33n connected to an end of the 3D.
The base of the piston 33k is connected detachably.

The supply amount adjusting section 33c includes an adjusting block 33p screwed to the other end of the cylinder body, and an adjusting bolt 33r screwed into the adjusting block 33p.
And the adjusting bolt 3 located outside the adjusting block 33p.
A stopper nut 33s screwed to the 3r portion and an adjusting block 33 so as to abut against the tip of the adjusting bolt 33r.
p, and an end of the piston rod 33D opposite to the side to which the joint member 33n is connected in a state where the adjustment block 33p is screwed to the cylinder body of the air cylinder 33m. The part is inserted in the rod hole 33t.

The supply amount adjusting section 33c adjusts the screwing amount of the adjusting bolt 33r into the adjusting block 33p so that the end of the piston rod 33D abuts on the tip of the adjusting bolt 33r inside the rod hole 33t. Is changed to the piston passage 33j of the piston 33k connected to the piston rod 33D via the joint member 33n.
The movement stroke in the inside is adjusted, and after the adjustment, the stopper nut 33s is tightened and applied to the adjustment block 33p, so that the adjustment bolt 33r is adjusted to the adjustment block 33p.
To the current screwing position.

The processing nozzle 33d (corresponding to a coating portion)
The nozzle block 3 connected to the check valve 33h as shown in FIG.
3v, and a nozzle cap 33w attached to the upper surface of the nozzle block 33v.

On the upper surface of the nozzle block 33v, there is formed a concave portion 33x having a circular shape in plan view whose inner diameter decreases stepwise toward the lower surface side.
Is opened below the nozzle block 33v through a through hole 33y penetrating through the bottom, and the minimum diameter portion of the concave portion 33x has a passage 33z formed in the nozzle block 33v, a check valve 33h, Through the passage 33f of the supply cylinder 33a.

The nozzle cap 33w has a valve body 33A projecting into the recess 33x while being attached to the upper surface of the nozzle block 33v. The valve body 33A has a nozzle cap 33v on the upper surface of the nozzle block 33v. The insertion hole 33 which is located concentrically with the through hole 33y with the 33w attached.
B is vertically penetrated with the same inner diameter as the through hole 33y, and is provided outside the valve body 33A and inside the minimum diameter portion of the concave portion 33x at the through holes 33y, 33z, and the charging hole 33B, respectively. An annular gel accommodating chamber 33C that communicates is defined.

The processing nozzle 33d is connected to the passage 33z.
When the fluid that flows into the gel storage chamber 33C through the gel storage chamber 33C is filled with the fluid, the fluid further flows into the gel storage chamber 33C through the passage 33z, so that the space between the valve body 33A and the recess 33x is formed. Vertical gap V formed in an annular shape
The fluid in the gel storage chamber 33C flows out through the through hole 33y through the through hole 33y, and further inflow of the fluid into the gel storage chamber 33C stops, so that the outflow of the fluid from the gel storage chamber 33C to the through hole 33y causes the fluid to flow out. The viscosity and the surface tension are also hindered by the gap V functioning as a kind of flow control valve, so that the fluid stays in the gel storage chamber 33C and the gel storage chamber 33C
Most of the fluid that has flowed out into the through-hole 33y becomes spherical due to its own weight and drops, and the remaining part of the fluid remains in the through-hole 33y as a film.

The processing nozzle 33d is supported by a cylinder body 33e of a supply cylinder 33a via a check valve 33h. As shown in FIG.
j is removed from the cylinder body 33e, the piston 33k is removed from the joint member 33n, and the tube 53 (see FIG. 1) described later is removed from the check valve 33g, so that it can be removed from the shelf 37b together with the supply cylinder 33a. It is configured to be able to.

As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer unit 35 includes a magnet type rodless air cylinder 35a,
It has a support frame 35b and a suction nozzle 35c.

The rodless air cylinder 35a has a hollow rod 35 arranged in parallel with the guide shaft 35d.
By switching the air supply direction to the e, a piston with a magnet (not shown) reciprocates in the hollow rod 35e, and follows the piston, as shown in a partially cut-away enlarged side view in FIG. Slider 3 with magnet through which shaft 35d and hollow rod 35e are inserted
5f is the guide shaft 35d and the hollow rod 3
It is configured to reciprocate while being guided by 5e, and both sides thereof are fixed on a shelf 37b of the gantry 37.

A screw hole 35t is formed substantially at the center of the upper surface of the slider 35f, as shown in an enlarged plan view of the rodless air cylinder 35a in FIG.
2 and FIG. 13 shows a rodless air cylinder 35.
As shown in the enlarged side view of a, positioning pins 35v are provided upright on the upper surface of the slider 35f at equal intervals from the screw hole 35t.

The support frame 35b has a substantially L-shape with long sides arranged in the front-rear direction as shown in an enlarged plan view in a state of being attached to the rodless air cylinder 35a in FIG. As shown, a substantially middle portion of the long side portion in the front-rear direction is disposed on the slider 35f, and is detachably attached to the slider 35f by a mounting bolt 35g.

As shown in an enlarged plan view of a single product, a bolt hole 35w corresponding to the screw hole 35t of the slider 35f is provided at a portion of the long side portion of the support frame 35b where the mounting bolt 35g is inserted, as shown in an enlarged plan view of a single product. Are formed, and the positioning pins 3 of the slider 35f are provided before and after that.
Two positioning holes 35x corresponding to 5v are formed.

The support frame 35b includes a slider 35
f of each positioning pin 35v corresponding to each positioning hole 35
x, and the mounting bolt 35g inserted through the bolt hole 35w is screwed into the screw hole 35t of the slider 35f, so that the long side portion of the support frame 35b extends in the front-rear direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the slider 35f. So that it is positioned with respect to the slider 35f.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, a sterilizing filter 3 is provided on a short side portion located at the rear of the support frame 35b.
5h, and a union joint 35j having three connection ports 35k, 35m, and 35n is provided at a boundary between the short side and the long side, and inside the union joint 35j. Are three connection ports 35k, 35m, 3
There is provided a passage (not shown) for communicating 5n with each other.

As shown in FIG. 11, the suction nozzle 35c (corresponding to a transport nozzle) is attached to the front end of the support frame 35b with its tip facing downward, and as shown in FIG. Tube 3 at 35m connection port
5p, the tip of the suction nozzle 35c sucks in the tissue culture S, or a plurality of tissue cultures S
Are formed in a size corresponding to the tissue culture S so as not to be simultaneously sucked and adsorbed.

The connection port 35k of the union joint 35j is connected to a sterilization filter 35h via a tube 35r. The sterilization filter 35h is connected to a tube 35s and a shelf plate 37b as shown in FIG. The transfer unit 35 is connected to a pneumatic source (not shown) via the valve 37k. When the positive pressure air is supplied from the pneumatic source as needed, the transfer unit 35 is sterilized by a sterilization filter 35h. Then, it is configured to be ejected from the suction nozzle 35c via the union joint 35j.

The transport unit 35 moves the support frame 35b back and forth together with the slider 35f by means of the rodless air cylinder 35a, so that the extension position H1 of the supply tip 31h just above the culture container 31a.
And the position just above the input hole 33B formed in the nozzle cap 33w of the processing nozzle 33d.
5c is configured to move horizontally.

The coating material tank 5 contains a gelling agent J (corresponding to a coating material) for coating the tissue culture S, and is sealed by a lid 51. A tube 53 having one end connected to the check valve 33g of 33a is inserted, and the other end of the tube 53 reaches near the bottom surface inside the coating tank 5.

Further, another tube 5 is attached to the lid 51.
5 is inserted, and one end of the tube 55 is disposed in the coating tank 5 at a position very close to the lid 51 so as not to reach the liquid level J1 of the gelling agent J.

The coating material tank 5 is configured such that the internal gelling agent J is supplied through the tube 53 to the check valve 33g of the supply cylinder 33a by the pressure of the positive pressure sterilizing air supplied from the tube 55 to the inside. It is configured to be pressure-fed.

The trap 7 (corresponding to a trap mechanism)
As shown in the enlarged vertical sectional view of FIG.
1, a cap 73, a filter 75, and a drain valve 77.

The housing 71 (corresponding to a container) has an upper opening 71a, and a bottomed space R is defined inside the housing 71 which communicates with the outside of the housing 71 through the opening 71a. The lower surface 71b inside the housing 71 is substantially inclined such that the distance in the vertical direction from the opening 71a gradually increases from the peripheral portion in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction of the housing 71 toward the center. It is formed in an inverted spherical shape.

The housing 71 has a lower surface 7.
A drain hole 71c that extends downward from the horizontal center (corresponding to a predetermined portion on the lower surface) of 1b, and a drain hole 71d that connects the lower end of the drain hole 71c to a side portion near the lower end of the housing 71 are formed. In the present embodiment, the drain hole 71c and the drain hole 71d constitute a drain passage in the claims.

The cap 73 (corresponding to a lid) seals the opening 71a of the housing 71, and the cap 73 closes the opening 71a of the housing 71 with a thin portion 73a and a thick portion 73b. Housing 7
The lower surface located inside 1 is formed in a step shape,
An opening 71 of the housing 71 is provided at a peripheral portion of the cap 73.
A flange 73c is formed to be screwed to the housing 71 when sealing a.

The thin portion 73a of the cap 73 has a discharge port 73d, the thick portion 73b of the cap 73 has a suction port 73e, and the opening 71a is vertically sealed with the cap 73 closed. Each of them is formed so as to extend and communicate between the inside and the outside of the housing 71 in which the opening 71a is closed by the cap 73.

The discharge port 73d is connected to the housing 71.
The suction port 73e is disposed so as to be located immediately above the drainage hole 71c and at a location horizontally spaced from the housing 71 in the horizontal direction from directly above the drainage hole 71c. .

Further, the cap 7 located outside the housing 71 with the opening 71a of the housing 71 sealed is provided.
3, union joints 73f and 73g are attached to the discharge port 73d and the suction port 73e, respectively, and as shown in FIG.
Is connected to the connection port 35n of the union joint 35j of the support frame 35b via the tube 73c,
The union joint 73f of the discharge port 73d is connected to a tube 73d.
Is connected to the vacuum generator 37m of the shelf 37b.

In this embodiment, the vacuum generator 37m corresponds to the pneumatic source in the claims, and the tubes 35p, 73c, 73d and the union joint 35j constitute the pneumatic tube in the claims. Have been.

As shown in FIG. 16, the filter 75 is made of a porous material such as a commercially available sponge.
The filter 75 is attached by a filter holder 75a and a screw 75b so that the filter 75 covers a part of the filter 75, and another part of the filter 75 is formed inside the housing 71 by a through hole 75c formed in the filter holder 75a. It is exposed in the space R.

The through hole 75c of the filter holder 75a
Is configured to extend over the extension of the discharge port 73d in a state where the filter holder 75a is attached to the lower surface of the cap 73 with the screw 75b attached to the lower surface of the cap 73. The lower surface of the filter holder 75a and the lower surface of the thick portion 73b of the cap 73 are located on substantially the same plane, and the suction port 73e on the lower surface side of the cap 73.
The opening 73h is directly exposed to the space R inside the housing 71.

The drain valve 77 is configured such that a ball valve (not shown) inside opens and closes a passage (not shown) by twisting a knob 77 a. It is attached to the housing 71 so as to communicate with the hole 71d.

Reference numeral 9 in FIG. 1 denotes a sample receiver disposed at a portion of the substrate 37a directly below the through hole 33y of the processing nozzle 33d in the substrate 37a.
A hardening agent (not shown) is stored inside.

In the present embodiment, the transport unit 35 and the trap 7 constitute an air-absorbing transfer unit for an artificial seed producing apparatus according to the present invention.

Next, the operation (operation) of the artificial seed manufacturing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

When starting the production of artificial seeds, first, the tissue culture S is put into the culture container 31a together with the culture solution L. At this time, while the culture solution L is being put, the liquid level L1 is drained. When the culture solution L reaches the hole 31e, even if the culture solution L is further supplied, it flows out from the drain hole 31e through the drain hose 31p to the drain receiver, and the liquid level L1 is increased.
Is always kept below the lower edge, so that it is not necessary to be conscious of how much the culture solution L can be inserted.

Since the tissue culture S has a specific gravity sufficiently higher than that of the culture solution L, the tissue culture S does not flow out together with the culture solution L from the drain hole 31e to the drain receiver through the drain hose 31p.

Then, simultaneously with the introduction of the tissue culture S and the culture solution L into the culture container 31a, the pushing cylinder 3
Piston rod 33D by air cylinder 33m of 3b
The piston 33k is moved away from the passage 33f in the piston passage 33j by moving its end until it comes into contact with the tip of the adjustment bolt 33r. Gelling agent J pumped
Through the check valve 33g to fill the inside of the passage 33f with the gelling agent J.

Further, the piston rod 33D is moved by the air cylinder 33m of the push-out cylinder 33b to move the piston 33k to a position closest to the passage 33f in the piston passage 33j, thereby increasing the pressure in the passage 33f. The gelling agent J flows into the gel storage chamber 33C of the nozzle block 33v via the check valve 33h and the passage 33z by an amount corresponding to the movement stroke of the piston 33k.

Then, the gelling agent J flowing into the gel accommodating chamber 33C is connected to the valve body 33A of the nozzle cap 33w and the concave portion 3A.
It flows out into the through-hole 33y through the upper and lower gaps with 3x, gradually changes into a spherical shape by its own weight, and is dropped into the sample receiver 9 immediately below the through-hole 33y, and then slightly gelled at the opening of the through-hole 33y. Agent J remains as a film.

In this embodiment, the nozzle cap 33
w insertion hole 33B and nozzle block 33v through hole 33
The inner diameter of y and the shape and size of the upper and lower gap V between the valve element 33A of the nozzle cap 33w and the concave portion 33x are determined by taking into consideration the viscosity of the gelling agent J, within the passage 33f associated with the movement of the piston rod 33D. In the negative pressure state, the gel containing chamber 3
The gap V prevents the gelling agent J from flowing into the through hole 33y in the 3C, and the gelling agent J is set to a value that allows the gelling agent J to stay in the gel storage chamber 33C.

Next, the supply rod 31b is contracted by the air cylinder 31c to move the supply tip 31h to the retracted position H3.
Position. Then, the culture container 3 having a mortar shape
The tissue culture S collected in the center by the lower half of 1a is placed on the concave portion 31j of the supply tip 31h.

Therefore, in this state, the suction nozzle 35c is connected to the supply tip 3 by the rodless air cylinder 35a.
The supply tip 31h is moved from the retracted position H3 to the extended position H1 by the air cylinder 31c, and the culture in the culture container 31a is continued while the tissue culture S is placed on the concave portion 31j. The supply chip 31h is projected upward from the liquid level L1 of the liquid L.

At this time, the culture solution L in the culture container 31a scooped up in the concave portion 31j flows out of the supply tip 31h through the drainage groove 31k, and remains in the concave portion 31j. There is no.

Then, the supply tip 31h is moved to the extension position H1.
Is reached, the vacuum generator 37m is operated to bring the suction nozzle 35c into a fluid suction state. Then, only one tissue culture S placed on the concave portion 31j of the supply tip 31h is sucked and sucked by the suction nozzle 35c.

Since the tip of the suction nozzle 35c is formed according to the size of the tissue culture S, the tissue culture S is not placed on the recess 31j of the supply tip 31h at the tip of the suction nozzle 35c. Except in cases, only one tissue culture S is always sucked and adsorbed.

The operation of the vacuum generator 37m to bring the suction nozzle 35c into the fluid suction state even before the supply tip 31h is moved from the retracted position H3 to the extended position H1 by the air cylinder 31c. Good.

Then, when only one tissue culture S placed on the concave portion 31j of the supply tip 31h is sucked and sucked by the suction nozzle 35c, the supply rod is supplied by the air cylinder 31c while the vacuum generator 37m is operated. 31b is contracted to move the supply tip 31h from the extension position H1 to the retreat position H3, and the rodless air cylinder 35
The suction nozzle 35c is moved from the extension position H1 of the supply tip 31h to a position directly above the injection hole 33B of the nozzle cap 33w by a.

Next, the operation of the vacuum generator 37m is stopped, and the air pressure source is operated to supply positive pressure air to the suction nozzle 35c.
The positive pressure air is ejected toward 3B, and the suction nozzle 35
The tissue culture S adsorbed to the tip of the c is sucked by the suction nozzle 35c.
Of the tissue culture S dropped onto the gelling agent J in the through hole 33y which is a film.

Subsequently, the piston rod 33D is moved by the air cylinder 33m of the push-out cylinder 33b to move the piston 33k to a position closest to the passage 33f in the piston passage 33j, thereby increasing the pressure in the passage 33f. Is flowed into the gel storage chamber 33C of the nozzle block 33v via the check valve 33h and the passage 33z by an amount corresponding to the movement stroke of the piston 33k.

Then, the gelling agent J flowing into the gel accommodating chamber 33C is connected to the valve body 33A of the nozzle cap 33w and the concave portion 3A.
The gelling agent J that has flowed out into the through hole 33y through the upper and lower gaps with the 3x and becomes a coating in the through hole 33y reaches the tissue culture S that has reached the gelling agent J, and the input hole from the suction nozzle 35c. 3
While containing the air in the injection hole 33B jetted to 3B, the shape gradually changes to a spherical shape by the jet pressure of this air and the own weight of the gelling agent J.

Then, the spherical gelling agent J containing the tissue culture S and the air bubbles is dropped into the sample receiver 9 immediately below the through-hole 33y, and immersed in the hardening agent inside to react and gelate. Agent J hardens to form an artificial seed.

After the above operation is completed, the operation of the air pressure source is stopped to stop the supply of positive pressure air to the suction nozzle 35c, and then the suction nozzle 35c is supplied by the rodless air cylinder 35a. 31h to the extension position H1 and the air cylinder 3 of the pushing cylinder 33b.
3m of operation moves the piston 33k to the piston passage 33j.
The passage 33f is separated from the inside passage 33f by the gelling agent J flowing from the coating tank 5 through the check valve 33g.
Fill the inside.

Then, the suction nozzle 35c is moved to the extended position H of the supply tip 31h by the rodless air cylinder 35a.
1 and the suction nozzle 35c is brought into a suction state of the fluid by the operation of the vacuum generator 37m, and thereafter, the retracted position H3 of the supply tip 31h by the air cylinder 31c.
The artificial seeds manufactured in the hardener in the sample receiver 9 are sequentially stored by repeating the movement from the to the extension position H1 and the subsequent operation as described above.

As described above, the suction nozzle 35
Even if the culture solution L adheres to the tissue culture S to which c has been adsorbed, the culture solution L is drawn into the trap 7 after being sucked into the suction nozzle 35c and stays at the bottom in the housing 71. At the time when the tissue culture S is dropped from the nozzle 35c to the input hole 33B of the nozzle cap 33w, the possibility that the culture solution L is still attached to the tissue culture S is extremely low.

Further, the portion of the dropped tissue culture S that passes through the inside of the processing nozzle 33d until it reaches the gelling agent J of the through hole 33y that has become a coating is filled with the nozzle cap 33w. Only inside the hole 33B,
Since the injection hole 33B does not have a valve function unlike the nozzle plunger 143 of the conventional seed analog producing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 19, the amount of the gelling agent J corresponding to one artificial seed is set. It is not necessary to increase the vertical length of the injection hole 33B to some extent in order to make the droplet drop while making it spherical.

Therefore, the possibility that the culture solution L has adhered to the tissue culture S is extremely low from the beginning, and even if it does, the vertical length of the input hole 33B through which the tissue culture S passes is small. When the tissue culture S is dropped from the suction nozzle 35c into the input hole 33B, the input hole 33
No tissue culture S adheres to B.

Then, after the use of the artificial seed producing apparatus 1 is started, when the portion that comes into contact with the tissue culture S or the gelling agent J is to be sterilized, the tissue culture S or the culture solution L in which the tissue culture S is immersed is removed. For the culture container 31a that comes into contact with the drain screw 31p, the fastening ring 37g to the male screw portion 31f is loosened and removed from the support plate 37e of the gantry 37.
The supply rod 31b and the supply tip 31h that come into contact with the tissue culture S or the culture solution L in the culture container 31a are removed together with the joint member 31m from the piston rod of the air cylinder 31c.
Sterilize by itself.

For the suction nozzle 35c that comes into contact with the tissue culture S, the mounting bolt 35g is removed and the support frame 35b is removed from the slider 35f of the rodless air cylinder 35a, and further, from the connection port 35n of the union joint 35j. While removing the tube 73c, the tube 35r is removed from the sterilization filter 35h, and the support frame 35b and the sterilization filter 3 on the support frame 35b are removed.
Sterilize together with 5h and the union joint 35j.

On the other hand, as for the supply cylinder 33a and the processing nozzle 33d of the processing unit 33 which come into contact with the gelling agent J, the mounting bolt 37j is removed, the cylinder body 33e of the supply cylinder 33a is removed from the shelf 37b, and the extrusion cylinder 33b, the base of the piston 33k is removed from the joint member 33n, and the check valve 3
Coating tank 5 and its lid 51 connected to 3 g, and
Sterilization is performed together with the tube 55 connected to the lid 51 and the piston 33k removed from the joint member 33n.

In the artificial seed manufacturing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the supply unit 31 of the main body 3 and the processing unit 3
3, and the drive sources of the operating parts in each unit of the transport unit 35 are the air cylinders 31c and 33m and the rodless air cylinder 35a, all of which use compressed air as a power source. The control for operating according to the operation described above is sufficiently possible with a simple configuration and contents of a sensor for detecting the position of each rod and a general sequencer for performing sequence processing according to the detection result. is there.

The trap 7 is provided with the vacuum generator 3
When 7m is operated as required and a negative pressure is generated, the fluid sucked from the suction nozzle 35c is discharged to the union joint 35j,
Tube 73c, union joint 73g, and suction port 7
It is drawn into the housing 71 via 3e.

[0108] Among the fluid drawn into the housing 71, the liquid drops by its own weight from the opening 73h of the suction port 73e toward directly below, which is an extension in the direction in which the suction port 73e extends, and the housing 71 After reaching the peripheral portion of the lower surface 71b, it flows into the drainage hole 71c due to the inclination of the lower surface 71b and stays inside the housing 71.

On the other hand, among the fluid drawn into the housing 71, the gas is converted into the through-hole 75c of the filter holder 75a by the negative pressure generated by the operation of the vacuum generator 37m.
Through the filter 75 to the outlet 73d, and further, the union joint 73f and the tube 7 of the outlet 73d.
After 3d, it is drawn into the vacuum generator 37m side.

The liquid separated from the gas inside the housing 71 and flowing into the drainage hole 71c and staying there is
If necessary, the knob 77a is twisted to open the ball valve of the drain valve 77, and is discharged to the outside of the housing 71 through the drain hole 71d and the drain valve 77.

Accordingly, the culture solution L attached to the tissue culture S
Even if is sucked into the suction nozzle 35c, the culture solution L is drawn into the trap 7 and stays at the bottom in the housing 71, and does not reach the vacuum generator 37m ahead.

As described above, according to the artificial seed manufacturing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the tissue culture S in the culture solution L in the culture container 31a is sucked by the negative pressure generated by the operation of the vacuum generator 37m. The processing unit 33 is sucked and sucked by the nozzle 35c.
When transporting to the charging hole 33B of the nozzle cap 33w, the trap 7 is interposed between the suction nozzle 35c and the vacuum generator 37m, and the liquid sucked together from the gas inside the trap 7 is separated and removed. The configuration was adopted.

For this reason, when the tissue culture S in the culture container 31a is sucked and sucked by the suction nozzle 35c and transported to the input hole 33B of the nozzle cap 33w of the processing unit 33, it adheres to the tissue culture S. Even if the suction nozzle 35c sucks the culture solution L sucked by the suction nozzle 35c or the suction nozzle 35c sucks the culture solution L in the culture vessel 31a for some reason, the sucked culture solution L Since the liquid is retained at the bottom of the housing 71 and does not reach the vacuum generator 37m ahead of the housing 71, the vacuum generator 37m is reliably prevented from being broken or damaged by the culture solution L sucked by the suction nozzle 35c. can do.

In addition, the artificial seed producing apparatus 1 of this embodiment
According to this, as a configuration for removing the liquid from the gas by the trap 7, a filter is provided on the lower surface side of the cap 73 that seals the upper opening 71 a of the housing 71 so that the discharge port 73 d is opened and only the suction port 73 e is closed. The filter 75 is attached by a filter holder 75a, and a part of the filter 75 is connected to the housing 7 through a through hole 75c of the filter holder 75a.
1 and the opening 73 h of the discharge port 73 d is directly exposed to the space R inside the housing 71.

Therefore, no useless space is defined between the cap 73 and the filter 75,
The space R inside the housing 71 is defined only below the vicinity of the suction port 73e of the third unit 73 and below the filter 75, and the volume of the space R is reduced. The time required for the inside of the housing 71 to reach a required negative pressure by vacuuming can be shortened, and the driving efficiency of the vacuum generator 37m can be improved.

In this embodiment, the case has been described where the lower surface 71b inside the housing 71 is formed in a substantially inverted spherical shape. However, the shape of the lower surface 71b is not limited to this, and for example, the drain hole 71c is the lowest. Any other shape, such as a substantially mortar-shaped (inverted conical) shape, which has a gradually increasing distance from the opening 71a in the vertical direction toward the center from the horizontal peripheral portion of the housing 71, etc. Needless to say, the shape may be any of the above.

In the present embodiment, the vacuum generator 37m
Culture container 31 using the negative pressure generated by the operation of
The culture solution L sucked and sucked together with the gas by the suction unit 35c employed in the transfer unit 35 which sucks and adsorbs the tissue culture S in a through the suction nozzle 35c and transfers the tissue culture S to the input hole 33B of the nozzle cap 33w of the processing unit 33. Although the trap 7 for removing the water has been described as an example, the trap mechanism of the present invention is not limited to the artificial seed manufacturing apparatus 1 as in the present embodiment. It is needless to say that the present invention can be widely applied to a case where air is sucked to reduce the pressure and vacuum, or a case where air is sent into a certain space and a liquid flowing therewith is removed from the flow of air.

[0118]

As described above, according to the trap mechanism of the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a trap mechanism used for removing liquid in a gas sucked and discharged by a pneumatic source. A container into which the gas to be sucked and discharged is introduced from the upper opening, a lid for closing the opening, and the gas formed in the lid and introduced into the container from the outside of the container passes therethrough An inlet, an outlet formed in the lid, through which the gas led out of the container from the inside of the container passes, and the inside of the container with the lid closed at the opening. A filter disposed to cover the outlet, and configured to allow the gas to pass therethrough, wherein a part of the filter is exposed to a space inside the container; The mouth closes the opening with the lid It has a configuration which is exposed in the space of the interior of the container in the state.

For this reason, since the lid having an inlet through which gas passes when introduced into the container is in a state of closing the upper opening of the container, the lid is placed on the upper side of the container. A filter that allows gas to pass therethrough, with the opening of the container closed by the lid, is disposed so as to be partially exposed to the space inside the container, and the inlet of the lid is Since the outlet of the lid is exposed to the space inside the container, the filter is in contact with the portion of the lid located on the space side inside the container, so that no gap is formed between the filter and the lid. The space inside the container is generated only below the portion near the inlet of the lid and below the filter.

The gas introduced from the inlet goes directly to the inside of the container without passing through the filter, and then passes from the space inside the container to the outside of the container through the outlet through the filter. On the other hand, the liquid introduced together with the gas from the inlet goes directly to the inside of the container without passing through the filter, and at the bottom of the space inside the container located below the outlet and the filter. Will fall and be stored by its own weight.

Therefore, even if the liquid is introduced together with the gas into the interior of the container, only the gas is led out of the container through the outlet through the filter, and the liquid is stored inside the container. It can be prevented from being led out of the container, and furthermore, only a space is created inside the container below the filter and the lid near the inlet, and there is space between the filter and the lid. Since it does not occur, the space inside the container is kept to a minimum, shortening the time required for depressurizing and evacuating the inside of the container and the time required for achieving a gas-filled state, and the driving efficiency of the drive source Can be improved.

Further, according to the trap mechanism of the present invention described in claim 2, the introduction port is formed so as to penetrate the lid in a state where the opening is closed in a vertical direction of the container. And

For this reason, the liquid introduced into the container together with the air passes from the upper side to the lower side through the inlet of the lid closing the upper opening of the container. The efficiency with which the liquid introduced into the container falls due to its own weight can be increased, and the removal of the liquid from the gas can be more reliably achieved.

Further, according to the trapping mechanism of the present invention, the lower surface inside the container is arranged such that the lower surface of the lower surface extends from the peripheral edge of the lower surface in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction of the container. A configuration in which a distance in the vertical direction from the opening gradually increases toward the location, and a drain passage communicating with the outside of the container from a predetermined location on the lower surface is formed in the container. And

Therefore, the liquid introduced into the space inside the container and dropped by its own weight is accumulated on the lower surface inside the container at a predetermined position on the lower surface due to its inclination. The accumulated liquid can be efficiently discharged to the outside of the container via the drain passage communicating with the outside of the container.

According to the trap mechanism of the present invention described in claim 4, the introduction port opens to the lid portion facing the space inside the container with the opening of the lid closed. An opening is provided, and the opening is displaced in the horizontal direction from a lid portion corresponding to the predetermined portion in the lid portion in a state where the opening is closed. .

For this reason, the opening of the inlet of the lid located on the inner space side of the container is displaced in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction of the container with respect to a predetermined position on the lower surface inside the container. Therefore, the liquid introduced together with the gas to the opening of the introduction port falls and reaches a position other than a predetermined position on the lower surface inside the container by its own weight.

Therefore, even if the internal space of the container is kept to a minimum, the liquid removed from the gas inside the container is concentrated by its own weight and drops at a predetermined location on the lower surface, and the liquid that can pass through the drain passage is An amount of liquid exceeding the amount is stored inside the container, and it is possible to prevent the liquid level from rising and overflowing.

Further, according to the air-absorbing transfer unit for an artificial seed producing apparatus of the present invention described in claim 5, the bottom of the bottomed enclosed container in which the culture solution is stored is removed from the bottom.
A supply chip is advanced to a supply point near the opening of the enclosure, and an enclosure such as an adventitious embryo immersed in the culture solution is removed from the culture solution while being placed on the supply chip. The culture solution is pulled out of the culture solution, and the enclosure on the supply chip is sucked and held at the supply point by a transfer nozzle that has been set to a negative pressure by a transfer pneumatic source, and the transfer is performed while transferring the transfer nozzle. In an artificial seed manufacturing apparatus for transferring an enclosed material sucked and held by a nozzle to a coating unit for coating the enclosed material with a coating agent, a pneumatic tube connecting the transport pneumatic source and the transport nozzle is provided. The trap mechanism according to any one of Items 1, 2, 3, and 4, wherein the introduction port of the trap mechanism communicates with the transport nozzle, and the outlet port of the trap mechanism communicates with the pneumatic source for transport. The configuration was adopted.

Therefore, even if the transport nozzle sucks the culture solution, the sucked culture solution is stored inside the container of the trap mechanism, and the culture solution is passed from the trap mechanism to the side of the pneumatic source for transport. Since the flow is prevented, the culture solution sucked by the transport nozzle can be prevented from reaching the transport pneumatic source, and the transport pneumatic source can be reliably prevented from being broken or damaged.

Further, the space inside the container is formed only below the filter and the cover near the inlet, and no space is formed between the filter and the cover. By driving the transfer pneumatic source, the time required for depressurizing and evacuating the inside of the container is shortened by driving the transfer pneumatic source, and the drive efficiency of the transfer pneumatic source during transfer of the enclosure by suction holding of the transfer nozzle Can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an artificial seed manufacturing apparatus having an air suction type transfer unit employing a trap mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the artificial seed production device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the artificial seed manufacturing apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the supply unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partially cut-away enlarged front view of the supply chip of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the supply chip of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the processing unit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the extrusion cylinder of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a partially cut-away enlarged side view of the extrusion cylinder of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the processing unit of FIG. 2;

11 is a partially cut-away enlarged side view of the transport unit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged plan view of the rodless air cylinder of FIG. 2;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged side view of the rodless air cylinder of FIG. 2;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged plan view in a state where the support frame of FIG. 2 is attached to a rodless air cylinder.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged plan view of a single support frame of FIG. 2;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the trap of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Artificial seed production device 31a Culture container (enclosure container) 31h Supply tip 33d Processing nozzle (coating part) 35c Suction nozzle (transport nozzle) 35j Union joint (pneumatic tube) 35p, 73c, 73d Tube (pneumatic tube) 37m Vacuum generator (pneumatic source) 7 Trap (trap mechanism) 71 Housing (container) 71a Housing opening 71b Housing lower surface (container lower surface) 71c Drain hole (drain passage) 71d Drain hole (drain passage) 73 Cap (lid) 73d Outlet (outlet) 73e Inlet (inlet) 73h Inlet opening (inlet opening) H1 Extended position (supply point) J Gelling agent (coating agent) L Culture solution R Housing inner space (container) Internal space) S Tissue culture (inclusion)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A trap mechanism used for removing a liquid in a gas sucked and discharged by a pneumatic source, comprising: a container into which the sucked and discharged gas is introduced from an upper opening; A lid to be closed; an inlet formed in the lid, through which the gas introduced from the outside of the container to the inside of the container passes; and an inlet formed in the lid, from the inside of the container to the outside of the container. An outlet through which the derived gas passes, and a lid portion that is the lid and is located inside the container with the opening closed, disposed so as to cover the outlet, A filter that allows passage, a part of the filter is exposed to a space inside the container, and the inlet is the space inside the container with the lid closing the opening. Characterized by being exposed to Trap mechanism. 2. The trap mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the inlet is formed so as to penetrate the lid in a state where the opening is closed in a vertical direction of the container. 3. An inner bottom surface of the container, in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction of the container, a distance from the opening in the vertical direction from the opening from a peripheral portion of the lower surface toward a predetermined portion of the lower surface. The trap mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the trap mechanism has a gradually increasing inclination, and the container has a drain passage communicating with a predetermined portion of the lower surface to the outside of the container. 4. The introduction port has an opening that opens to a lid portion facing the space inside the container in a state where the opening is closed, wherein the opening is closed. 4. The trapping mechanism according to claim 3, wherein a position is shifted in the horizontal direction from a lid portion corresponding to the predetermined portion in the lid portion in a state where the opening is closed. 5. A supply chip is advanced from the bottom of a bottomed enclosure containing a culture medium therein to a supply point near an opening of the enclosure, and is immersed in the culture medium. An inclusion such as an adventitious embryo is pulled up from the culture solution to the outside of the culture solution while being placed on the supply chip, and the inclusion material on the supply chip is transported at the supply location at the supply space. Adsorbed and held by the transport nozzle that has been made negative pressure by the pressure source,
In the air suction type transfer unit for an artificial seed manufacturing apparatus, which transfers an enclosure that is adsorbed and held by the transport nozzle while transporting the transport nozzle to a coating unit that coats the enclosure with the coating agent, A trap mechanism according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 is interposed in a pneumatic tube connecting the carrier and the transport nozzle, and the introduction port of the trap mechanism communicates with the transport nozzle, and the trap An air suction type transfer unit for an artificial seed manufacturing device, wherein the outlet of the mechanism is communicated with the pneumatic source for conveyance.