JP2005278570A - Storing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a storing apparatus, such as an incubator, equipped with at least one motor in a chamber thereof, capable of keeping the inside of the chamber at a prescribed temperature, regardless of position. <P>SOLUTION: This storing apparatus has the chamber 11, wherein a transport mechanism for transporting containers which hold samples is arranged in the chamber 11, a plurality of motors 82, 83, 84 used for power sources of the transport mechanism is supplied with electric power from a driving and controlling device 6 installed outside the chamber 11, and the driving and controlling device 6 cuts off electric power supply circuits to drivers 67, 68, 69 for the motors 82, 83, 84 in a period in which operation of the transport mechanism is stopped. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a storage device that stores a sample on a container inside a chamber adjusted to a predetermined environmental condition, such as an incubator.

Conventionally, incubators have been used to culture various microorganisms and cells. The incubator includes an openable / closable chamber, and a plurality of shelves are provided inside the chamber, and a plurality of microplates can be accommodated in each shelf. The chamber is provided with an environmental adjusting device for adjusting environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and CO ₂ concentration in the chamber. By setting appropriate environmental conditions, the culture of the sample on the microplate can be performed. Done.
For example, temperature adjustment is performed by controlling on / off of a plurality of planar heaters arranged on the inner wall surface of the chamber, and the inside of the chamber is maintained within a predetermined temperature range (for example, 37 ° C. ± 0.5 ° C.). Is done.

  In such an incubator, in order to check the state of the sample during culture, the microplate is taken out of the chamber, and the sample is observed and analyzed with a microscope or the like. At that time, the chamber door must be opened. Therefore, there is a problem that the environmental conditions in the chamber greatly change.

Therefore, an incubator has been proposed in which the microplate can be transported between the microplate insertion opening established in the chamber and each microplate housing in the chamber, and the microplate is automatically inserted into and removed from each microplate housing. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
According to the incubator, since a small microplate insertion port may be opened in the chamber, the environmental conditions in the chamber do not change greatly when the microplate is inserted and removed.
JP-A-11-89559

However, in an incubator in which a microplate transport mechanism is provided inside the chamber, a motor serving as a power source is provided in the chamber, and this motor becomes a local heat source. Then, there was a problem of deviating from a predetermined temperature range.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to maintain the inside of a chamber within a predetermined temperature range regardless of the location in a storage device such as an incubator in which one or a plurality of motors are provided inside the chamber.

The storage device according to the present invention stores a sample on a container inside a chamber adjusted to a predetermined environmental condition. Here, the container means a container having various shapes such as a plate-shaped one, a bottomed cylindrical one, and the like. For things, it means the inside.
A drive mechanism including at least one motor is disposed inside the chamber, and a drive control device is connected to the drive mechanism, and electric power is supplied from the drive control device to the motor. Shuts off the power supply path to the motor within the operation stop period of the drive mechanism.
Here, the temperature of the inside of the chamber (11) is adjusted by heater on / off control.

In the storage device of the present invention, since the power supply to the motor serving as a local heat source is stopped within the operation stop period of the drive mechanism, the heat generation from the motor is eliminated. As a result, the temperature inside the chamber (11) is uniformly adjusted, and a predetermined temperature range is maintained even in a place near the motor.
During operation of the drive mechanism, electric power is supplied to the motor, and the motor becomes a local heat source. Generally, in the storage device such as an incubator, the operation period of the drive mechanism is much shorter than the operation stop period. Therefore, the temperature can be sufficiently adjusted by the temperature adjusting function inside the chamber.

In a specific configuration, the drive mechanism is a transport mechanism for transporting the container in a chamber.
In addition, the drive control device (6) is operated for a time corresponding to the time required for the operation of carrying the container in from the outside of the chamber (11) or the operation of carrying out the container from the inside of the chamber (11) to the outside. The power supply path is shut off during the operation stop period.
Since the amount of heat generated from the motor is proportional to the energization time of the motor, that is, the time required for the container carrying-in operation or the container carrying-out operation, according to the specific configuration, only the time corresponding to the amount of heat generated from the motor The energization is stopped. Therefore, even when the container carrying-in operation or the container carrying-out operation takes a long time, the heat generated from the motor is sufficiently diffused during the subsequent motor energization stop period, and the inside of the chamber is adjusted to a uniform temperature.

In a specific configuration, the drive control device (6) includes a motor driver for driving the motor, a power source for supplying power to the motor driver, and an opening / closing means interposed between the power source and the motor driver. The power supply path is shut off by opening the opening / closing means.
According to the specific configuration, the power supply path to the motor is cut by cutting only the power line connecting the power source and the motor driver without cutting the power line and the control signal line connecting the motor driver and the motor. Can be blocked.

Further, in a specific configuration, the drive control device (6) transports the container during the operation of carrying in the container from the outside of the chamber (11) or the operation of carrying out the container from the inside of the chamber (11). An initialization operation for positioning the table at a predetermined initial position is executed.
According to the specific configuration, even if the function for recognizing the motor stop position (rotation angle) is temporarily lost by temporarily stopping the power supply to the motor within the operation stop period of the transport mechanism, Since the initialization operation is executed and the transfer table is reset to the initial position (origin position), there is no problem in the subsequent transfer operation.

In a more specific configuration, the drive control device (6) controls the cutoff time of the power supply path so that the internal temperature of the motor case in which the motor is accommodated is kept higher than the external temperature. .
Normally, in the incubator, since the inside of the chamber is maintained at a relative humidity of 95% or more, there is a risk that water vapor in the chamber may enter the motor case, and the relative humidity in the motor case may be 95% or more. There is sex. In such a case, there is a possibility that condensation occurs in the motor case even if the temperature in the motor case changes slightly.
According to the specific configuration, the internal temperature of the motor case is kept higher than the external temperature, so that the relative humidity in the motor case is kept low, and condensation in the motor case is prevented.

  According to the storage device of the present invention, even in a configuration in which one or a plurality of motors are provided inside the chamber, the inside of the chamber can be maintained within a predetermined temperature range regardless of the location.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention in an incubator will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the incubator (1) according to the present invention has a chamber in which an opening (10) is formed on the front surface and the opening (10) can be opened and closed by a front opening / closing door (12). (11), and an incubator automatic assembly (2) is accommodated in the chamber (11), and a microplate is loaded into the insertion port (13) opened on the side wall of the chamber (11). The mechanism (4) is connected.

The chamber (11) is provided with an environmental adjustment device (not shown) for adjusting the temperature, humidity and CO ₂ concentration in the chamber at the back of the chamber (11). An air outlet (not shown) having a fan for blowing out the environmental adjustment gas obtained from the environmental adjustment device toward the central space in the chamber has been established. Here, the temperature adjustment in the chamber (11) is performed by on / off control of a plurality of planar heaters (not shown) disposed on the inner wall surface of the chamber, and the chamber has a predetermined temperature range ( For example, it is maintained at 37 ° C. ± 0.5 ° C.).

A microplate insertion opening (13) is opened on the side wall of the chamber (11), and a side opening / closing door (16) having an opening (161) at a position corresponding to the microplate insertion opening (13) is opened and closed. The side opening / closing door (16) includes a shutter mechanism (not shown) for opening and closing the microplate insertion opening (13) as will be described later.
Further, a microplate loading mechanism (4) for loading the microplate (31) into the chamber (11) is connected to the side wall of the chamber (11) on the outlet side of the microplate insertion port (13). Yes.
Further, a bar code reader (15) for reading a bar code attached to the micro plate (31) on the micro plate carrying mechanism (4) is supported on the side of the micro plate carrying mechanism (4). Yes.

As shown in FIG. 4, the incubator automatic assembly (2) has a microplate transport unit (2a) installed on a base (21) and a pair of left and right stacker units on both sides of the microplate transport unit (2a). (2b) (2b) is arranged and the microplate transport unit (2a) and each stacker unit (2b) (2b) can be individually removed from the base (21) as shown in FIG. It is.
The microplate transport unit (2a) is configured by installing a microplate transport device (5) having a transport table (50) on a machine base (51). Each stacker unit (2b) is configured by arranging a stacker holder (23) on a drawer base (22), and the stacker holder (23) includes a plurality of stackers (3) for accommodating microplates. They are arranged in the front-rear direction (Y-axis direction).

As shown in FIG. 2, with the incubator automatic device assembly (2) housed in the chamber (11), the microplate transport device (5) is located at the center of the space in the chamber (11). A plurality of stackers (3) are arranged in the spaces on both sides.
A water storage pan (60) for providing moisture to the air in the chamber (11) is disposed below the incubator automatic device assembly (2).

  The drawer bases (22) and (22) of the two stacker units (2b) and (2b) are respectively known to engage with rails (29) and (29) on the base (21) to reciprocate in the front-rear direction. A slide mechanism (not shown) is built in, and the microplate transport unit (2a) is pulled out of the chamber (11) by opening the front door (12) of the chamber (11) as shown in FIG. I can do it.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the microplate transport device (5) of the microplate transport unit (2a) is provided with a plurality of motor boxes (58) and (59) that house motors serving as power sources.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the electric wiring of the drive system of the incubator. As a power source, a carry-in / out motor (8) and a shutter drive motor (81) are provided outside the chamber (11). In the chamber (11), an X-direction motor (82), a Y-direction motor (83), and a Z-direction motor (84) which are power sources of the microplate transport device (5) are arranged. In the chamber (11), a transport table position detection sensor (85) is provided for detecting the position of the transport table in the initialization operation.
The five motors (8), (81), (82), (83), and (84) each have an encoder for detecting a rotation angle.

A drive control device (6) is connected to the five motors (8), (81), (82), (83), and (84). The drive control device (6) includes five motor drivers (65), (66), (67) that should supply power and control signals to the motors (8), (81), (82), (83), and (84), respectively. 68) (69) and a motor driving power source (7) for supplying electric power to each motor driver (65) (66) (67) (68) (69).
An electric power supply path (power supply path) extends directly from the motor drive power supply (7) to the carry-in / out motor (8) and the drivers (65) and (66) of the shutter drive motor (81). On the other hand, the power supply path from the motor drive power source (7) to the drivers (67), (68), (69) of the X direction motor (82), the Y direction motor (83), and the Z direction motor (84) includes: A relay circuit (71) is interposed.

The motor controller (63) is connected to the five motor drivers (65), (66), (67), (68), and (69), and the control signals supplied from the motor controller (63) are Accordingly, the five motors (8), (81), (82), and (83) are rotationally driven by a rotational angle corresponding to the control signal.
The transfer table position detection sensor (85) operates upon receiving power from the sensor drive power supply (72), and the output signal of the transfer table position detection sensor (85) is supplied to the sensor information input unit (64).

In the loading and unloading operations of the microplate, an operation command is given from the operation command input unit (61) to the operation control unit (62), and the operation control unit (62) responds to the five motors (8) ( 81), (82), and (83) are generated, and these control signals are supplied to the motor controller (63).
Further, in the initialization operation, the operation control unit (62), based on the sensor information on the position of the transfer table obtained from the sensor information input unit (64), the three motors (82) ( 83) Create control signals for controlling (84) and supply these control signals to the motor control section (63).
Further, the operation control unit (62) of the drive control device (6) creates a control signal for opening the relay circuit (71) during the operation stop period during which the microplate is not carried in and out, and the relay circuit To (71).

6 and 7 show a control procedure of the operation control unit 62 in the microplate loading operation.
First, in step S1 in FIG. 6, it waits for an operation command, and in step S2, it is determined whether or not a carry-in operation command has been issued. If the determination is yes, the process proceeds to step S3 to determine whether or not the standby time has ended. If the determination is no, the relay circuit is kept off (closed) in step S4. Repeat the determination of S3. As will be described later, the waiting time is set to a time corresponding to the time required for the previous loading / unloading operation (motor operation time), and the waiting time from the end of the previous loading / unloading operation (step S21 in FIG. 7). The timing has been started.

If it is determined as YES in step S3, the process proceeds to step S5, and measurement of the motor operating time is started. Subsequently, after the relay circuit is turned on (opened) in step S6, the initialization operation is started in step S7. When it is determined in step S8 that the initialization operation has been completed, a shutter opening operation is started in step S9.
Thereafter, when it is determined in step S10 that the shutter opening operation has been completed, the process proceeds to step S11 to start the operation of taking the microplate into the cabinet. When it is determined in step S12 that the capturing operation has been completed, the process proceeds to step S13 in FIG. 7 and the shutter closing operation is started.

  Thereafter, when it is determined in step S14 that the shutter closing operation has been completed, the microplate transport is started in step S15, and when it is determined in step S16 that the transport operation has been completed, the process proceeds to step S17. Then, the operation of storing the microplate in the predetermined stacker is started, and when it is determined in step S18 that the storage operation has been completed, the process proceeds to step S19 to start the operation of returning the conveyance table to the initial position. .

  Thereafter, when it is determined in step S20 that the operation of returning the transport table to the initial position is completed, the relay circuit is turned off in step S21, and then the measurement of the motor operating time is terminated in step S22. In step S23, after calculating the standby time from the motor operation time, the process returns to step S1 in FIG. 6 and the same procedure is repeated. For example, when the motor operation time is 1 minute, the standby time is set to 9 minutes, and the standby time is made proportional to the motor operation time.

  According to the above control procedure, the motor energization time is measured by the processing of steps S5 to S22, and the relay circuit is opened at least for the standby time corresponding to the energization time until the next carry-in operation or a later-described carry-out operation is started. During this period (steps S21 to S5), the power supply to the motor driver is stopped.

8 and 9 show a control procedure of the operation control unit 62 in the microplate unloading operation.
First, in step S31 in FIG. 8, the operation command is awaited. In step S32, it is determined whether or not a carry-out operation command has been issued. If the determination is yes, the process proceeds to step S33 to determine whether or not the standby time has ended. If the determination is no, the relay circuit is kept off (closed) in step S34. The determination of S33 is repeated. As will be described later, the waiting time is set to a time corresponding to the time required for the previous loading / unloading operation (motor operation time), and the waiting time from the end of the previous loading / unloading operation (step S49 in FIG. 9). The timing has been started.

When it is determined as YES in step S33, the process proceeds to step S35, and measurement of the motor operating time is started. Subsequently, after the relay circuit is turned on (opened) in step S36, the initialization operation is started in step S37. Then, when it is determined in step S38 that the initialization operation has been completed, in step S39, an operation of taking out the microplate from the stacker is started.
Thereafter, when it is determined in step S40 that the take-out operation has been completed, the process proceeds to step S41, and the operation of conveying the microplate toward the insertion port is started. When it is determined in step S42 that the transport operation has been completed, the process proceeds to step S43 in FIG. 9 to start the shutter opening operation.

  Thereafter, when it is determined in step S44 that the shutter opening operation has been completed, in step S45, an operation for unloading the microplate is started, and in step S46, it is determined that the unloading operation has been completed. If it is determined that the shutter closing operation is started in step S47, and it is determined in step S48 that the shutter closing operation has been completed, the processing proceeds to step S49 and the relay circuit is turned off.

  Thereafter, the measurement of the motor operating time is finished in step S50. In step S51, after calculating the standby time from the motor operating time, the process returns to step S31 in FIG. 8 and the same procedure is repeated. For example, when the motor operation time is 1 minute, the standby time is set to about 9 minutes, and the standby time is made proportional to the motor operation time.

  According to the above control procedure, the motor energization time is measured by the processing of steps S35 to S50, and the relay circuit is opened at least for the standby time corresponding to the energization time until the next carry-out operation or the aforementioned carry-in operation is started. During this period (steps S49 to S35), the power supply to the motor driver is stopped.

  In general, in an incubator, the loading and unloading operations of a microplate are frequently performed once to several times in several days to several weeks, and the time required for the loading and unloading operations is about 20 to 30 seconds. In most cases, the power supply to the motor driver is stopped during the period when the loading and unloading operations of the microplate are not performed. Further, even when the carry-in and carry-out operations are frequently performed, the power supply to the motor driver is stopped at least during the standby time corresponding to the energization time.

  Therefore, the electric power is supplied to the motor driver and the motor becomes a local heat source for a short time, and most of the time, there is no heat from the motor. As a result, the temperature of the interior of the chamber (11) is uniformly adjusted by the operation of the environment adjusting device, and as a result, a predetermined temperature range (for example, 37 ° C. ± 0.5 ° C.) is maintained even in a place close to the motor.

FIG. 10A shows the temperature change RA12 in the microplate housing part farthest from the motor and the temperature change RD1 in the microplate housing part closest to the motor when electric power is always supplied to the motor driver as in the prior art. Is.
As shown in the figure, the temperature change RD1 in the microplate housing part closest to the motor is higher than the temperature change RA12 in the microplate housing part farthest from the motor, and is within a predetermined temperature range (37 ° C. ± 0.5 ° C. ).

On the other hand, FIG. 10 (b) shows a case where the microplate is farthest away from the motor when the power supply to the motor driver is stopped (the operation time is about 1 minute, the power supply stop time is about 9 minutes) as in the present invention. The temperature change RA12 in a part and the temperature change RD1 in the microplate accommodating part nearest to a motor are represented.
As shown in the figure, the temperature change RD1 in the microplate housing part closest to the motor is slightly higher than the temperature change RA12 in the microplate housing part farthest from the motor, but in a predetermined temperature range (37 ° C. ± 0.5 ° C. ).

  As described above, according to the incubator according to the present invention, even in a configuration in which a plurality of motors are provided inside the chamber, the inside of the chamber can be maintained within a predetermined temperature range regardless of the location.

FIG. 11A shows the result of measuring the temperature and humidity in the motor case in a state where the energization to the motor is stopped, and FIG. 11B shows the result in the motor case where the energization to the motor is continued. It shows the results of measuring temperature and humidity.
As shown in FIG. 11A, in the energization stop state, the humidity in the motor case gradually increases. This is because water vapor in the chamber has entered the motor case. On the other hand, in the energization continuation state of FIG. 11B, the humidity in the motor case hardly increases. This is because the temperature in the chamber increases due to the heat generated by the motor, and the humidity (relative humidity) in the motor case decreases accordingly.

Therefore, in the incubator according to the present invention described above, the electric power is supplied to the motor driver for the minimum necessary time even during the period when the carry-in and carry-out operations are not performed, and the temperature inside the motor case If control is performed to keep the temperature higher than the temperature, dew condensation in the motor case due to water vapor entering from the outside of the case can be prevented.
As a result, it is possible to prevent the circuit in the motor case from being damaged.

In addition, each part structure of this invention is not restricted to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible within the technical scope as described in a claim. For example, the drive control device (6) is not limited to the configuration installed outside the chamber, but can be installed inside the chamber.
In addition, the motor energization control according to the present invention is not limited to the drive motor of the transport mechanism, but for example, a drive motor for driving a sample observation camera and a focus adjustment provided in the chamber, and a gas in the chamber are circulated. It can be applied to various motors to be installed in the chamber, such as a fan drive motor.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the drive system of the incubator which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of an incubator. It is a perspective view of the state where the stacker unit was pulled out from the chamber. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an incubator automation device assembly. It is an exploded perspective view of an incubator automatic device assembly. It is a flowchart which shows the first half of the control procedure of carrying-in operation. It is a flowchart which shows the second half of the control procedure of carrying-in operation. It is a flowchart which shows the first half of the control procedure of carrying out operation | movement. It is a flowchart which shows the second half of the control procedure of carrying out operation. It is the graph which compared the temperature change in a chamber with the past and this invention. It is the graph which compared the change of the temperature in a motor case, and humidity with the presence or absence of electricity supply to a motor.

Explanation of symbols

(11) Chamber
(6) Drive control device
(7) Motor drive power supply
(71) Relay circuit
(67) Motor driver
(68) Motor driver
(69) Motor driver
(82) X direction motor
(83) Y direction motor
(84) Z direction motor

Claims (8)

  In a storage device for storing a sample on a container inside a chamber adjusted to a predetermined environmental condition, a driving mechanism including at least one motor is disposed inside the chamber, and the driving mechanism includes A drive control device is connected, and electric power is supplied from the drive control device to the motor, and the drive control device shuts off a power supply path to the motor within an operation stop period of the drive mechanism. Storage device.   The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the inside of the chamber is temperature-controlled by heater on / off control.   The drive control device comprises a motor driver for driving the motor, a power source for supplying power to the motor driver, and an opening / closing means interposed between the power source and the motor driver, and opening the opening / closing means. The storage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the power supply path is cut off.   The storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the drive control device shuts off the power supply path during a subsequent operation stop period for a time corresponding to a time required for the operation of the drive mechanism.   The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism is a transport mechanism for transporting the container in a chamber.   The drive control device is configured to supply the power supply path during a subsequent operation stop period for a time corresponding to a time required for an operation of carrying the container from the outside of the chamber into the inside or an operation of carrying out the container from the inside of the chamber to the outside. 6. The storage device according to claim 5, wherein the storage device is cut off.   The drive control device performs an initialization operation of positioning a container transport table at a predetermined initial position during an operation of carrying a container from the outside of the chamber into the inside or an operation of carrying out the container from the inside of the chamber to the outside. The storage device according to claim 5 or 6 to be executed.   The drive control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the drive control device controls a cutoff time of the power supply path so that an internal temperature of the motor case in which the motor is accommodated is kept higher than an external temperature. The storage device described in 1.

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