JPS6016587A - Automatic cultivating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:An automatic cultivating device wherein a cultivating storage chamber for cultivating a culture by settled cultivation and an operating storage chamber for carrying out various operations are set separately, and they are connected by a communicating part capable of sending a culture, so that many disorders caused by a case where both chambers are in the same chamber are eliminated. CONSTITUTION:An automatic cultivating device consists of the operating storage chamber 21, the cultivating storage chamber 22, and the communicating part 23. The operating storage chamber 21 is equipped with the operating chamber 21a for carrying out necessary operations required for culture maintenance such as subculture operation, etc. in it, and the cultivating storage chamber 22 is provided with the cultivating chamber 22a for cultivating the operated culture under proper culture conditions in it. The communicating part 23 consists of a wall part to connect both the storage chambers 21 and 22 and to stop the outer part, and the conveyor 36 sent in it. The isolated rooms 51 and 61 are installed on the sides of the communicating part 23 in the interior of the operating storage chambers 21 and the cultivating storage chamber 22, and preferably the conveyors 54 and 64 for receiving and sending the culture medium 30 to the conveyor 36 are fixed in them, respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic culture device, and more particularly to an automatic culture device for automatically culturing cultured products such as cells in a constant atmosphere.

As is well known, culturing techniques for cultured materials such as cells are basic experimental techniques necessary for conducting research at the cellular level in all fields such as medicine, biology, pharmacy, and agriculture. Therefore, the present applicant has already proposed an automatic culture device that automatically performs 1c culture of cultured products such as cells (Patent Application No. 57
-39152).

As shown in FIG. 1, this conventional automatic culture device has a constant atmosphere (e.g., temperature 67° C., humidity ioo q6.
A culture chamber 3 maintained at a carbon dioxide concentration of 5 cm is provided, and a culture chamber 6 is provided with various operations for performing various operations on the culture stored in a C1 culture container (e.g., petri dish) 4. It was configured with an operating device attached to it.
This automatic culture device 1 includes the above-mentioned culture chamber 3 and this culture chamber 6.
a loading/unloading device 5 for automatically loading and unloading the container 4, a container transport table 6 for transporting the loaded container 4 to each predetermined operation position, and a container 4 for automatically loading and unloading the containers 4,
a peeling device 9 that peels cultured cells (enzyme-treated) from the growth surface by applying vibration; and a dispensing device 9 that stirs the liquid in the container 4 and dispenses it to another new container 4. 1
1 and a container supply device 12 for supplying new containers 4.
The main parts were composed of a control unit 13 for automatically controlling the operations of the various devices described above, and an observation device 14 for observing the culture in the container 4 from the outside.

The loading/unloading device 5 is provided near the center of the right side wall of the casing 2 so as to communicate the culture chamber 6 with the outside, and allows the container 4 to be moved into the culture device 1 with a simple operation. It allows automatic loading and unloading. In addition, this import/
The unloading device 5 also serves to minimize the drop in temperature and humidity within the culture chamber 3, the fluctuation of pH, and the inflow of external contaminated air when the containers 4 are loaded and unloaded.

The conventional automatic culture device #1 is configured as described above, and various operations such as the creation of a subculture system are performed in the culture chamber 6 maintained at a constant atmosphere, as well as the cultivation of the culture. was about to take place.

However, in such a conventional automatic culture device 1,
Since the operation room where various operations are performed and the culture room 6 where the culture is statically cultured are in the same room, the various operation devices installed in the culture room 6 are exposed to high temperature and humidity (temperature 67°C, humidity 100°C). %)
When exposed to an atmosphere of

In addition, the condensed water droplets dissolve carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and become acidic, increasing the risk that various operating devices will rust and malfunction.

Also, when loading and unloading the container 4 by the loading/unloading device 5,
When supplying containers and instruments to various operating devices, opening and closing of entrances and exits and supply ports causes a considerable amount of air to flow out of the culture chamber 6, which has the disadvantage of causing a decrease in the accuracy of the constant temperature and constant humidity maintenance function of the culture device 1. .

Furthermore, when the container transport platform 6 is operated in order to perform an operation on one container 4, other containers 4 that are still standing are also moved, and this movement increases the temperature and the temperature of the cell growth surface. There was a risk that this would have an unexpected adverse effect on the culture by inhibiting the healing process or promoting the detachment of mitotic cells.

In view of the above-mentioned points, an object of the present invention is to separate a culture chamber for static culture and an operating pressure for applying various operations to the culture, and to move the culture in and out between the two chambers. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic culture device which can be connected at a connection part that allows for connection.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on an illustrated embodiment. FIG. 2 shows an automatic culture device showing an embodiment of the present invention. An operating pressure 21 consisting of a casing disposed on the right side, a culture chamber 22 consisting of a casing disposed on the right side, and a connecting portion 23 connecting between the operation pressure 21 and the cultivation chamber 22. , its main parts are comprised. The operating pressure 21 is applied to an operating chamber 2 for timely applying operations necessary for culture maintenance such as passage operations to the culture.
1a is formed therein, and the culture chamber 22 stores the culture in the operation tube under appropriate culture conditions (for example, in the case of human-derived cultures, the temperature is 37°C, the humidity is 100%, and the carbon dioxide concentration is A culture chamber 22a for performing static culture at 5%) is formed inside the culture chamber 22a. The operating pressure 21 and the culture chamber 22 are connected to each other by a connecting portion 26 to a container 60 in which a culture is stored.
It is now possible to take them in and take them out, and as will be described later, they are made spatially independent of each other by a shutter mechanism.

Inside the operating pressure 21 and the culture chamber 22, there is a shaft 31.
Container conveyance table 54.4 rotatably arranged by 41
4 is provided. This container carrier 34.44 has a turntable 33.43.
, 4'3 are rotatably driven by the operating pressure 21 and a drive source (not shown) disposed inside or outside the culture chamber 22. And turntable 33
．． A plurality of mounting parts IJ' 32, 42 are fixed to the outer peripheral edge of 43 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

These mounting parts 32 and 42 are provided with a container 6o on the outer periphery of the upper surface in order to place the container 30 (for example, a petri dish) containing the culture medium 1) in such a way that it will not easily fall off. Linog-like ridge 32a having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the bottom surface
, 42a (see FIG. 6), as well as a belt conveyor 50., which will be described later. A wide radial notch 32b, 42b is formed at the outer end remote from the shaft 31.41 so that one end of the +50 mm can be fitted therein.

The belt conveyor 50.60 is mainly disposed within a housing 51.61, in which the inner surfaces of the opposing side walls of the operating pressure 21 and culture chamber 22 are attached. supporting shafts 51a, 6
The central portion is rotatably supported by 1a. The belt conveyors 50 and 60 have tails, as shown in FIG.
Frames 52, 62, which are horizontally long rod-shaped plates, are rotatably attached to the support shafts 51a, 61a, and pulleys 53a, 53b; 63a, 631 are rotatably attached to both ends of the frames 52, 62. ) and the conveyor belt (54.64), which is passed between the pulleys 53a, 53L+; 63a, 66t, and the other end of the conveyor 50.60 is
3b and 63b further include a drive bell) 55.65 is a boo! mounted on the output shaft of a drive motor (not shown).
Kake is passed between J 56 and 66. Note that the motor and pulley 56°66 rotate integrally as the frame 52.620 rotates.

The belt conveyors 50 and 60 have a housing 516
Through the openings 51b and 61b drilled in
L-shaped engaging claws 57, 67 are provided on both sides of the same end.
is fixed with the tip claw facing upward. The other ends of the belt conveyors 5''0 and 60 are provided with an opening 21b formed approximately in the center of the opposing side walls of the operating pressure 21 and culture chamber 22 so as to communicate with the connecting portion 26.

22b K extends at the opposite position 1, and a connecting part 1758.68 is fixed to the same end. This connecting member 58.68 is connected through the openings 21b and 22b,
A connecting part 24 fixed to a shutter 24, 25, which will be described later.
a.

25a.

Between one end of the belt conveyors 50, 6[] and the housings si, 6i, there are compressible coil springs 59, 6.
9 is inserted into the conveyor 50.60 due to the elasticity of the coil spring 59.69.
It has a habit of rotating counterclockwise and clockwise around the . The rotational position of the conveyors 50, 600 due to this behavior is regulated according to the opening/closing position of the shutter 24.25.
1b and 22b are closed (Fig. 4 (A) and (D)
), one end of the belt conveyor 50.60 is
It corresponds to the lower part of the paulownia mounting part 32.42 of the container transport table 34.44. In addition, the shutter 24.2
5 opens the holes 21b and 22b (Fig. 4(B)
and (C)):' 7 Hair 50,60
17) One end is a notch 52b of the mounting member 32.42,
42b ((begins to fit).

The shutters 24 and 25 are slidably arranged along the operating pressure 21 and the outer surface of the side wall of the culture chamber 22 so as to airtightly open and close the openings 21b and 22b in the connecting portion 23 from the outside. The operating pressure 21 and culture chamber 2
It is opened and closed by solenoids 26 and 27 fixed to the side walls of 2. The above connection part 2 which was cut off
6 includes the belt conveyor 50 in a horizontal state,
The belt conveyor 28 connects both ends of the belt conveyor 28 to the opening 21b so that the top surface of the belt conveyor 60 and the top surface of the belt conveyor 60 are located on substantially the same plane.
, 22b. This belt conveyor 2B, frame 29, pair of pulleys 35a,
35b and the conveyor belt 36 constitute its main body.

As described above, even if the automatic culture device of the present invention is configured:
Ru.

Next, the operation IF of this automatic culture device will be explained.

When the container 60 containing the cultured material is transferred from the operating pressure 21 to the culture chamber 22, first, rotate the turntable 36 of the container transfer table 34 and transfer it as shown in FIG. 4(A). Placement member 62 on which the container 30 is placed
is moved to position 1 facing one end of the belt conveyor 50 (hereinafter, this position will be referred to as the loading/unloading position). Next, the solenoid 26 is energized to slide the shutter 24 downward and open the opening 21b as shown in FIG. 4(B).
to be opened. At this time, the substantial open area defined by the aperture 21b and the shutter 24 is only slightly larger than the longitudinal direction Aft of the container 60, which is the minimum area necessary for the container 60 to pass through the aperture 21b. It has an open area of . When the shutter 24 slides downward, the connecting part phase'
The belt conveyor 50 is supported via 24a and 58.
It rotates clockwise around l151a against the elasticity of the coil spring 59, and one end thereof fits into the notch 2b of the mounting member 62 at the loading/unloading position. At this time, the container 60 placed on the placement member 52 is pushed up by the engaging claw 57 attached to one end of the conveyor 50, and is lifted off the placement member 62, and the one end is placed on the conveyor 50. 50 conveyor belts 54. Accordingly, a drive motor (not shown) is rotated and pulley 56. Belt 55. Boo! When the conveyor belt 54 is sent in the direction indicated by the arrow a through the j 53b, the container 30 is placed on the belt 54, passes through the aperture 51b, and is moved toward the aperture 21b. Then, the container 60 passes through the open hole 21b and enters the connecting portion 23 due to the conveying force of the belt conveyor 50, and due to the conveying force of the belt conveyor 28 disposed in the turning portion 26, It is placed on the conveyor belt 66.

Next, when the solenoid 26 is de-energized, the belt conveyor 50 moves due to the elasticity of the coil spring 59 (and therefore the support shaft 51
a in the counter-chronological direction, and retreat downward from the position where one end thereof is fitted into the notch 32b of the mounting member 62. In addition, with the rotation &C of the belt conveyor 50,
The shutter 24 slides upward, the opening 21b is closed, and the operating pressure 21 and the connecting portion 26 are again airtightly isolated.

Subsequently, when the container 60 is transferred to the front side of the opening 22b of the culture chamber 22 by the operation of the belt conveyor 28 of the connecting part 26, the solenoid 27 is energized and the state shown in FIG. 4(C) is carried out.
As shown in K, the shutter 25 is slid downward. This opens the aperture 22b. At this time, the substantial open area defined by the aperture 221) and the shutter 25 is the minimum size necessary for the container 60 to pass through the aperture 22b.

When the shutter 25 slides downward, the connecting portion 25a
, 68, the belt conveyor 60 connects to the support shaft 61a.
is rotated in the counterclockwise direction around the coil spring 69 against the elasticity of the coil spring 69, and one end thereof is fitted into the notch 42b of the mounting member 42 in the loading/unloading vertical position, and the other end is opened. Hole 2
Corresponds to 2b. Therefore, the container 60 that has entered the culture chamber 22 to pass through the opening 22b due to the conveyance force of the belt conveyor 28 is then placed on the conveyor belt 64 of the conveyor 6o by the conveyance force of the belt conveyor 60, and is then placed on the conveyor belt 64 of the same conveyor 6o, as shown by the arrow. It will be transported in the direction shown above. For this reason, container 6
0 passes through the opening 61b of the housing 61, reaches one end of the belt conveyor 6o, and rides on the claw member 67 due to the conveying force of the conveyor 60.

Next, when the power to the solenoid 27 is removed from this state, the belt conveyor 60 rotates clockwise around the support shaft 61a due to the elasticity of the coil spring 69, as shown in FIG. 4(D).
As shown in FIG.
) from the position where it was inserted. Therefore, the container 60 is placed on the mounting member 42 at the loading/unloading position.
placed on top. Further, as the belt conveyor 60 rotates 6, the shutter 25 slides upward, and the opening 22b
is closed, and the culture chamber 22 is returned to an airtight state.

In this way, the container 60 is transferred from the operation JiE 21 to the culture warehouse 22, but the operation pressure 21
Transfer of the container 60 to the container 60 is also performed in substantially the same manner by following the above-described sequential steps in reverse. Therefore, when performing some operation on the container 30 undergoing static culture in the culture chamber 22, the container 60 can be automatically transferred to the operating pressure 21 with the minimum open area and opening time, and the desired operation can be carried out. After adding , the container 60 can be automatically returned to the culture chamber 22 in the same manner.

As described above, according to the present invention, the operating pressure and the culture chamber are separated, and the two chambers are connected to each other through the connection part (C) so that the container can be freely entered and exited. The various operating devices that have been installed are not exposed to a high temperature and humidity atmosphere, and
p I-1 of water droplets in the refrigerator due to filling with carbon dioxide gas
Since there is no decrease in the temperature, there is less risk of rust occurring or malfunction in each ridge operating device, and the operating accuracy of the device is dramatically improved.

In addition, the inside of the culture chamber is kept airtight by opening and closing the supply port when supplying containers and instruments at operating pressure, so the incubator machine f1 maintains constant temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, etc. The accuracy of this will be significantly improved.

Furthermore, since the movement of the container carrier during operation affects only the culture stored in the container to be operated, there is little risk of adverse effects such as impact on other cultures that are being cultured statically.

Furthermore, since various operating devices do not enter the culture chamber, it is easy to maintain a constant atmosphere inside the culture chamber.

Since it is possible to prevent wasteful and wasteful air from flowing out of the culture chamber, temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration can be controlled efficiently, allowing for energy-saving and energy-saving operation.

Furthermore, since there is no access to the culture chamber other than the containers containing the culture, there is little risk of contamination (bacterial contamination) from outside the chamber.

Therefore, details-,! J 1mThe conventional drawbacks mentioned above are 1
Therefore, it is possible to provide an automatic culture device that is extremely convenient to use.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a main part showing an example of a conventional automatic culture device, FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view of a main part of an automatic culture device showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIGS. 4A to 4D are sectional views of main parts of the automatic culture apparatus shown in FIG. 21......Operation cabinet 22...Cultivation cabinet 23...Connection parts 24, 25...Shutters 26, 27...Solenoid 2B , 50 , 60...belt conveyor 60...
... Containers 32, 42 ... Placement parts 33, 45 ... Turntables 34, 44 ... Container transport platform Patent applicant Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd.'; Agent Fujikawa Seven Parts゛;,°ri・,1:l

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A culture device for automatically cultivating and maintaining cultures such as cells, comprising a culture chamber for statically culturing the culture while maintaining culture conditions such as temperature, humidity, gas concentration, etc. , an operation chamber for automatically performing culture operations such as the creation of a next-generation culture system, and a connection section for connecting the culture chamber and the operation chamber so that the culture can be taken in and out. An automatic culture device that is equipped with the following features.