JP2009022221A - Incubator system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an incubator system capable of flexibly corresponding to various kinds of culture conditions. <P>SOLUTION: The incubator system allows an observation unit having an observation part for observing a sample in a culture container, and at least one of a storage unit having a storage part for storing the culture container and a conveyance unit having a conveyance part for conveying the culture container to be installed in the interior of a thermostatic chamber by selecting at least one of them. The incubator system is also equipped with a unit base having a tightening part for positioning each of the observation unit, the storage unit and the conveyance unit in the interior of the thermostatic chamber, and a second storage unit capable of being positioned and fixed in the unit base instead of at least one of the conveyance unit and the storage unit, and having a second storage part having a storage capacity larger than that of the storage part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an incubator system including at least one of an observation unit, a storage unit, and a transport unit, and an incubator.

Conventionally, an incubator is known as an automatic culture apparatus (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such an incubator, the culture container is automatically stored and transported. In addition, some have a microscope for observing a sample cultured in such an incubator.
JP 2004-180675 A

  As for culture using an incubator, there are various variations such as a culture target, the number and types of containers to be cultured, and the number of samples that need to be observed with a microscope. In order to cope with such variations, if an incubator having a different capacity or configuration is prepared according to the culture conditions, the installation space increases and the cost also increases. In addition, there are many requests to control and use a plurality of incubators in the same environment, but it is difficult to control the environments of a plurality of incubators to be the same because there are individual differences depending on the type of incubator.

  An object of this invention is to provide the incubator system which can respond | correspond flexibly to various culture conditions.

  The incubator system of the present invention includes at least one of an observation unit including an observation unit that observes a sample of a culture vessel, a storage unit including a storage unit that stores the culture vessel, and a transfer unit including a transfer unit that transfers the culture vessel. An incubator system that can be selected and installed inside a temperature-controlled room, and includes a fastening portion that positions each of the observation unit, the storage unit, and the transport unit inside the temperature-controlled room A second storage unit including a base and a second storage unit that can be positioned and fixed to the unit base instead of at least one of the transport unit and the storage unit and has a storage capacity larger than the storage unit; Is provided.

  In addition, Preferably, you may have the electrical contact part provided in the connection part of each unit of the said observation unit, the said conveyance unit, the said storage unit, and the said 2nd storage unit, and the said unit base.

  Preferably, the incubator includes a recognition unit that recognizes a type of unit fixed through the electrical contact unit, and at least the observation unit and the transport unit according to a recognition result by the recognition unit. You may provide the control part which controls one side.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the incubator system which can respond flexibly to various culture conditions can be provided.

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

  1 and 2 are schematic front views showing the entire configuration of the incubator of the first embodiment. The incubator is composed of a first housing 10 and a second housing 11.

  The first housing 10 is stacked on the upper side of the second housing 11. A temperature-controlled room 12 covered with a heat insulating material is formed inside the first housing 10. The front side of the first housing 10 forms an opening 10a. And this opening part 10a is obstruct | occluded by the double door front door 13 so that opening and closing is possible. In addition, a loading / unloading port 15 through which a culture vessel 14 (well plate, flask, dish, etc.) can pass is formed at a position below the front door 13 on the right side of the first housing 10. The carry-in / out port 15 is closed by an automatic door 17 that is slid by a drive mechanism 16 so as to be opened and closed. An external sensor 18 for detecting the values of environmental parameters outside the temperature-controlled room 12 (for example, temperature, humidity, oxygen dioxide concentration, oxygen concentration, nitrogen concentration, etc.) is disposed outside the first housing 10. ing.

Inside the temperature-controlled room 12 of the first housing 10, an internal sensor 22 for detecting the value of an environmental parameter inside the temperature-controlled room 12, a transfer stocker unit 23, a container transfer unit 24, a sample stocker unit 25, The microscope unit 26 is accommodated. Each unit is fixed to the bottom surface of the temperature-controlled room 12 via a unit base 60. Details of each unit and details of the unit base 60 will be described later. Further, the inside of the temperature-controlled room 12 is maintained in a constant atmosphere (for example, temperature 37 ° C., humidity 90%, CO ₂ concentration 5%) by an environmental control mechanism (not shown).

  On the other hand, the control unit 50 is stored in the second housing 11.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the relationship between the control unit 50 and each part of the incubator. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the control unit 50 includes a CPU 51, an operation unit 52, a display panel 53, and an information storage unit 54. The CPU 51 is connected to the drive mechanism 16, the external sensor 18, the internal sensor 22, the container transport unit 24, the sample stocker unit 25, and the microscope unit 26. The CPU 51 controls each of the above parts according to a predetermined program.

  The operation unit 52 has input means such as a keyboard, and operates each unit of the incubator via the CPU 51. That is, the CPU 51 performs operations such as loading / unloading of the culture container 14 into / out of the temperature-controlled room 12, observation of a sample of the culture container 14, and transportation of the culture container 14 within the temperature-controlled room 12 based on input from the operation unit 52. Execute. Here, the instruction of the operation unit 52 includes both an instruction by a user's direct input and an instruction set in advance by a program. The operation unit 52 is also used for inputting information on a sample to be cultured.

  The display panel 53 outputs and displays the environmental conditions of the temperature-controlled room 12 output from the CPU 51. The display panel 53 is a display that displays information stored in an information storage unit 54 to be described later, information related to operation of the incubator, and the like. The display panel 53 is preferably installed at a position and height that are easier for the user to see. The display panel 53 is preferably configured to be tiltable by a tilt mechanism in order to improve the visibility for the user.

  The information storage unit 54 is a memory for storing information such as information on a sample to be cultured (cells and the like) and observation results of the sample acquired by the microscope unit 16. In addition to sample-specific information such as sample type, medium composition information, initial number of samples, medium replacement frequency, and passage period, sample information includes information indicating the type of culture vessel and samples. It includes manager information, culture experiment information (experiment name), sample culture history information, and the like.

  Next, details of each unit will be described.

(1) Transport stocker unit 23
The transfer stocker unit 23 is arranged on the left side in the temperature-controlled room 12 when viewed from the front of the first housing 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the inside of the transfer stocker unit 23 is partitioned vertically by a plurality of shelves 23 a. The transfer stocker unit 23 can store the culture container 14 horizontally. As shown in FIG. 4, the transport stocker unit 23 of the present embodiment is ten pieces in the z direction (up and down direction of the first casing 10) and three pieces in the y direction (depth direction of the first casing 10) (total). 30) culture vessels 14 can be stored.

  In the present embodiment, the culture container 14 is placed on the tray-shaped holder 27 and handled in order to facilitate transport by the container transport unit 24 described later. A support piece 27 a is formed on the outer periphery of the holder 27 so as to face outward. Details of the conveyance of the culture vessel 14 will be described later.

(2) Container transport unit 24
The container transport unit 24 is arranged in the center of the temperature-controlled room 12 when viewed from the front of the first housing 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the container transport unit 24 includes a rectangular base 28 that is long in the y direction, a vertical frame 29 that extends in the z direction, and a transport arm unit 30 that supports the holder 27. .

  A vertical frame 29 is attached to the base 28 so as to be movable in the y direction. The position of the vertical frame 29 in the y direction is detected by a position sensor 31. A first motor 32 for driving the vertical frame 29 in the y direction is fixed to the outside of the base 28.

  The vertical frame 29 is composed of two guide rails arranged in parallel. A transfer arm unit 30 is attached between the vertical frames 29 so as to be movable in the z direction. The transfer arm unit 30 is moved by a screw shaft (not shown) built in one of the vertical frames 39. Further, a second motor 33 for driving the transfer arm unit 30 in the z direction and a position sensor 34 for detecting the position of the transfer arm unit 30 in the z direction are fixed to the vertical frame 29. Note that the position of the second motor 33 changes in the y direction as the vertical frame 29 moves.

(3) Sample stocker unit 25
The sample stocker unit 25 is installed in the vicinity of the carry-in / out entrance 15 on the right side in the temperature-controlled room 12 as viewed from the front of the first housing 10 and on the front side of the microscope unit 26 described later. As shown in FIG. 6, the sample stocker unit 25 includes a transport table 25 a on which the holder 27 can be placed, and a motor unit 25 b that reciprocates the transport table 25 a to the outside of the carry-in / out port 15.

  When there is an instruction to carry out the culture vessel 14 from the operation unit 52, the CPU 51 operates the drive mechanism 16 to open the automatic door 17. And CPU51 drives the motor unit 25b of the sample stocker unit 25, and carries the culture container 14 and the holder 27 of the conveyance table 25a out of the temperature-controlled room 12 outside. Similarly, when there is an instruction to carry in the culture container 14 from the operation unit 52, the CPU 51 drives the motor unit 25b of the sample stocker unit 25 to carry the culture container 14 and the holder 27 of the transfer table 25a into the temperature-controlled room 12. Then, the CPU 51 operates the drive mechanism 16 to close the automatic door 17.

(4) Microscope unit 26
The microscope unit 26 is disposed on the right side in the temperature-controlled room 12 when viewed from the front of the first housing 10 and on the back side of the sample stocker unit 25 described above. As shown in FIG. 7, the microscope unit 26 includes a sample table 38 on which the culture vessel 14 and the holder 27 are placed, an illumination device 39 arranged in a state of projecting above the sample table 38, and the sample table 38. The objective lens unit 40 disposed on the opposite side of the illumination device 39 and the imaging unit 41 including an imaging element (not shown) are provided. The sample stage 38 is configured to be able to move the holder 27 in the x direction, the y direction, and the z direction. The lighting device 39 illuminates the culture vessel 14 from above.

  When there is an instruction to observe the culture vessel 14 from the operation unit 52, the CPU 51 operates the microscope unit 26 to observe the sample in the culture vessel 14. At this time, the CPU 51 illuminates the sample with the illumination device 39 of the microscope unit 26. Then, the CPU 51 moves the sample table 38 in accordance with an instruction from the operation unit 52, and takes an image of the sample by the imaging unit 41. Thereby, it is possible to observe the sample at an arbitrary position of the culture vessel 14.

  Next, how to fix each unit described above using the unit base 60 will be described. Each unit is fixed to the bottom of the temperature-controlled room 12 via the unit base 60 as described above.

  The unit base 60 is fixed in advance to the bottom of the temperature-controlled room 12. As shown in FIG. 8, the unit base 60 includes a pin 61 and a tap hole 62 corresponding to the unit to be fixed. Three pins 61 are provided along one corner of the outer periphery of each unit according to the bottom surface dimensions of each unit. The pin 61 is used for positioning a unit fixed to the unit base 60. Further, the tap holes 62 are respectively provided at the four corners of the portion corresponding to each unit according to the bottom surface dimension of each unit. That is, four tapped holes 62 are provided for each unit. The tap hole 62 is used when the unit is fixed to the unit base 60. Further, the tap hole 62 includes an electrical contact portion (not shown) therein. That is, the connection between the control unit 50 described in FIG. 3 and each unit (the container transport unit 24, the sample stocker unit 25, and the microscope unit 26) is through this electrical contact portion. Note that the hole into which the pin 61 is inserted and the tap hole 62 are non-through holes in order to ensure the sealing property of the temperature-controlled room 12.

  On the other hand, a tapped hole is provided on the bottom surface of each unit at a position corresponding to the tapped hole 62 of the unit base 60 described above. That is, the unit base 60 and each unit are designed and manufactured in advance in association with each other.

  When fixing each unit to the unit base 60, the side surface of the unit to be fixed is used as a positioning reference surface, and the bottom side surface of the unit to be fixed is pressed against the three pins 61 of the unit base 60. Perform positioning. After the positioning, the bottom surface of the unit to be fixed and the tap hole 62 of the unit base 60 are fastened and fixed by screws 63.

  In the example of FIG. 8, an example in which the three pins 61 are used for positioning is shown, but a positioning member such as an L-shaped member may be used.

  As described above, the configuration in which the transfer stocker unit 23, the container transfer unit 24, the sample stocker unit 25, and the microscope unit 26 are housed in the temperature-controlled room 12 is the most common configuration (hereinafter, (Referred to as “basic configuration”), which is optimal for culturing while observing each of a wide variety of samples. On the other hand, in culturing using an incubator, a small variety of samples selected based on the result of culturing while observing each of the above-described various types of samples may be cultured in large quantities. In this case, it is not necessary to observe each of the samples, but it is required to store a large amount of the culture container 14. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a large-capacity shelf unit 55 that can accommodate a large amount of culture containers 14 is prepared.

  The large-capacity shelf unit 55 is arranged at the center and the left part in the temperature-controlled room 12 when viewed from the front of the first housing 10. As shown in FIG. 9, the inside of the large-capacity shelf unit 55 is partitioned vertically by a plurality of shelves 55a. However, unlike the shelf 23a of the transfer stocker unit 23 described in FIG. 4, the shelf 55a does not need to be provided for each culture vessel 14. This is because the culture container 14 stored in the large-capacity shelf unit 55 does not need to be transported and observed. The shelf 55a of the large-capacity shelf unit 55 can horizontally store a stack of five culture vessels 14. As shown in FIG. 9, the large-capacity shelf unit 55 of the present embodiment has 5 × 5 = 25 pieces in the z direction (up and down direction of the first housing 10) and in the y direction (depth direction of the first housing 10). Four culture containers 14 can be accommodated in the x direction (left and right direction of the first housing 10). The large-capacity shelf unit 55 has a problem that it is difficult to put in and out the culture container 14 while accommodating a large amount of the culture container 14. Therefore, in order to facilitate the insertion and removal of the culture container 14, it is preferable that the left and right shelves 55a be slid in the x direction and pulled out.

  Furthermore, a tapped hole is provided on the bottom surface of the large-capacity shelf unit 55 at a position corresponding to the tapped hole 62 of the unit base 60 described above. That is, the unit base 60 and the large capacity shelf unit 55 are designed and manufactured in advance in association with each other. When fixing the large-capacity shelf unit 55 to the unit base 60, first, the transfer stocker unit 23 and the container transfer unit 24 are removed from the unit base 60. At this time, the container transport unit 24 may be removed after attaching a fixing member such as an adapter to the movable part (the vertical frame 29, the transport arm part 30 and the like). This is because if the movable portion of the container transport unit 24 is displaced, it may hinder subsequent use. Next, the side surface of the large-capacity shelf unit 55 is used as a positioning reference surface, and the large-capacity shelf unit with respect to the pin 61 corresponding to at least one of the transport stocker unit 23 and the container transport unit 24 in the unit base 60. Positioning is performed by pressing the side surface of the bottom of 55. Then, after positioning, the bottom surface of the large-capacity shelf unit 55 and the tap hole 62 of the unit base 60 are fastened and fixed with screws 63. FIG. 10A shows a layout of the basic configuration. FIG. 10B shows a case where the large-capacity shelf unit 55, the sample stocker unit 25, and the microscope unit 26 are stored in the temperature-controlled room 12. The layout is shown.

  As described above, the configuration (FIG. 10B) in which the large-capacity shelf unit 55, the sample stocker unit 25, and the microscope unit 26 are accommodated in the temperature-controlled room 12 is a large amount of small-sized samples. Ideal for culturing. In this case, one culture vessel 14 is arranged on the sample stage 38 of the microscope unit 26 and the culture vessel 14 is observed by the microscope unit 26, so that the culture vessel 14 in the large-capacity shelf unit 55 It can be used as a standard of the culture state.

  Instead of the large-capacity shelf unit 55, a small-capacity shelf unit 56 having a storage capacity as compared with the large-capacity shelf unit 55 may be prepared. The small-capacity shelf units 56 are, for example, 5 × 5 = 25 in the z direction (up and down direction of the first casing 10), four in the y direction (depth direction of the first casing 10), and in the x direction (first This is a unit that can store one (a total of 100) culture vessels 14 in the horizontal direction of the housing 10, and has the same dimensions as the container transport unit 24. By removing the container transport unit 24 from the basic configuration (FIG. 10A) and attaching the small-capacity shelf unit 56, the storage capacity of the culture container can be increased. FIG. 11A shows a layout of the basic configuration, and FIG. 11B shows a transport stocker unit 23, a small-capacity shelf unit 56, a sample stocker unit 25, and a microscope unit in the temperature-controlled room 12. The arrangement | positioning figure at the time of accommodating 26 is shown. Also in the configuration shown in FIG. 11B, a large-capacity shelf unit can be obtained by arranging one culture vessel 14 on the sample stage 38 of the microscope unit 26 and observing the culture vessel 14 with the microscope unit 26. It can be used as a standard of the culture state in the culture container 14 in 55. The small-capacity shelf unit 56 may be configured so that the transfer stocker unit 23 has the same size and can be stored in the temperature-controlled room 12 instead of the transfer stocker unit 23. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which removes the stocker unit 23 for conveyance and the container conveyance unit 24 from the basic structure shown to Fig.10 (a), and attaches two small capacity | capacitance shelf units 56. FIG.

  Here, there is a desire to increase the number of culture containers as a guide for the culture state while accommodating a large amount of culture containers 14. That is, as described in FIGS. 10 and 11 described above, if at least one of the transfer stocker unit 23 and the container transfer unit 24 is removed from the basic configuration shown in FIG. The reference culture vessel 14 is only one culture vessel 14 arranged on the sample stage 38 of the microscope unit 26. There is a high risk that only this one culture vessel 14 is used as a standard for the culture state. In such a case, there is a demand for increasing the number of culture vessels used as the standard for the culture state described above.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, a transfer sample stocker unit 57 that can be exchanged with the sample stocker unit 25 may be prepared. The transport sample stocker unit 57 is a unit having the same dimensions as the sample stocker unit 25. Similarly to the sample stocker unit 25, the right side in the temperature-controlled room 12 when viewed from the front of the first housing 10, and a microscope unit 26 described later. Can be installed in the vicinity of the carry-in / out entrance 15. In addition, as shown in FIG. 12, the transport sample stocker unit 57 includes a transport table 57a on which the holder 27 can be placed, and a motor unit 57b that reciprocates the transport table 57a to the outside of the carry-in / out port 15. The two shelves 57c are vertically divided into three sections. Therefore, the transport sample stocker unit 57 can be used for transporting the culture container into and out of the temperature-controlled room 12, and the transport sample stocker unit 57 is transported by the container transport unit 24 and observed by the microscope unit 26. The three culture containers 14 housed in can be used as a guide for the culture state. FIG. 13A shows a layout of the basic configuration, and FIG. 13B shows a container transport unit 24, a small-capacity shelf unit 56, a transport sample stocker unit 57, and a microscope in the temperature-controlled room 12. The arrangement | positioning figure at the time of accommodating the unit 26 is shown.

  In addition, instead of storing the culture vessel 14 that serves as a guide for the culture state in the transport sample stocker unit 57, the internal configuration of the transport stocker unit 23 may be changed. For example, most of the transfer stocker unit 23 is a shelf that cannot transfer the culture vessel 14 (see the large-capacity shelf unit 55), and only a portion of the shelf that can transfer the culture vessel 14 (the transfer stocker unit 23). In this way, it is possible to increase the number of culture vessels 14 that are used as a guide for the culture state while increasing the storage capacity.

  As described above, various units can be selectively fixed to the bottom surface of the temperature-controlled room 12 via the unit base 60. As in the case of replacement, when the removed unit is fixed again, positioning and fixing can be easily performed while maintaining reproducibility.

  Finally, the operation of the CPU 51 when the unit is replaced will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When recognizing that the unit has been replaced via the electrical contact portion of the unit base 60 (step S1), the CPU 51 determines the type of the unit fixed to the unit base 60 (step S2). And CPU51 selects the control mode of each unit according to the combination of the unit fixed to the unit base 60 (step S3). For example, in the case of the basic configuration shown in FIG. 10A, the CPU 51 relates to the container transport unit 24 “between the transport stocker unit 23 and the microscope unit 26” and “the transport stocker unit 23 and the sample stocker. The control mode that enables the conveyance between the unit 25 and the unit 25 is selected. Further, for the microscope 26, the CPU 51 selects a control mode in which the culture container 14 transported from the transport stocker unit 23 by the container transport unit 24 can be observed.

  As shown in FIG. 13B, the container transport unit 24, the microscope unit 26, the small-capacity shelf unit 56, and the transport sample stocker unit 57 are stored in the temperature-controlled room 12. In this case, the CPU 51 selects a control mode that enables only the conveyance between the conveyance stocker unit 23 and the microscope unit 26 with respect to the container conveyance unit 24. Further, for the microscope 26, the CPU 51 selects a control mode in which the culture container 14 transported from the transport sample stocker unit 57 by the container transport unit 24 can be observed.

  Then, the CPU 51 instructs each unit of the control mode selected in step S3 (step S4), and ends the process when the unit is replaced.

  The unit that can be fixed to the unit base 60 is not limited to the above example. For example, another microscope unit having a different internal configuration (such as a microscopic method) from the microscope unit 26 may be prepared. Also, an environmental control unit including a temperature adjusting device including a Peltier element, a humidity adjusting spray device, a gas introduction unit for adjusting the carbon dioxide concentration, oxygen concentration, and nitrogen concentration in the temperature-controlled room 12 may be prepared. good. In addition, a dosage unit for automatically adding a reagent or the like to the sample in the culture container may be prepared. In any case, each unit and the unit base 60 may be designed and manufactured in association with each other in advance.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, at least one of the observation unit, the storage unit, and the transport unit, at least one of the incubator, the observation unit, the storage unit, and the transport unit is positioned and fixed. And a second storage unit including a second storage unit that can be positioned and fixed inside the temperature-controlled room instead of at least one of the transport unit and the storage unit, and has a larger storage capacity than the storage unit. Is provided. Therefore, various culture conditions can be flexibly handled by appropriately replacing the unit fixed inside the temperature-controlled room. In particular, it is possible to use one incubator for a plurality of applications by exchanging the units, and to cope with various culture conditions in the same environment. In addition, by replacing the units described in the present embodiment, the layout in the temperature-controlled room 12 can be freely changed, and high reproducibility when returning to the original layout can also be realized.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, an electrical contact portion is provided at a connection portion between each unit and the unit base, and the type of the unit fixed via the electrical contact portion is recognized. And at least one of an observation part and a conveyance part is controlled according to a recognition result. Therefore, the control can be automatically switched according to the unit fixed inside the temperature-controlled room.

  In this embodiment, the unit base 60 is fixed to the bottom surface of the temperature-controlled room 12 in advance, and each unit is fixed via the unit base 60. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the unit base 60 may be fixed to the side surface or the upper surface of the temperature-controlled room 12 in advance, and each unit may be fixed via the unit base 60. The environmental control unit described above is optimal for this configuration.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the unit base 60 is fixed in advance to the bottom surface of the temperature-controlled room 12 is shown. However, the unit base 60 can be attached and detached, and can be replaced as appropriate according to the unit to be fixed to the unit base 60. Also good. In this case, a positioning member and a fixing member similar to those described in the fixing of each unit in the present embodiment when the unit base 60 is attached / detached may be provided.

It is a front view of the incubator of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the state which opened the front door of the 1st housing | casing in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the relationship between the control unit 50 and each part of an incubator. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the stocker unit 23 for conveyance. 2A is an internal configuration diagram of the front side of the container transport unit 24, and FIG. 2B is an internal configuration diagram of a side surface of the container transport unit 24. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a sample stocker unit 25. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a microscope unit 26. FIG. It is a figure explaining the unit base. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the large capacity shelf unit. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of a unit. It is another figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of a unit. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the sample stocker unit 57 for conveyance. It is another figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of a unit. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of CPU51 when a unit is replaced | exchanged.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Constant temperature chamber, 14 ... Culture container, 15 ... Carrying in / out port, 16 ... Drive mechanism, 17 ... Automatic door, 18 ... External sensor, 22 ... Internal sensor, 23 ... Stocker unit for conveyance, 24 ... Container conveyance unit, 25 ... Sample stocker unit, 26 ... microscope unit, 50 ... control unit, 51 ... CPU, 52 ... operation unit, 54 ... information storage unit, 55 ... large capacity shelf unit, 60 ... unit base, 57 ... sample stocker unit for conveyance

Claims (3)

Select at least one of an observation unit including an observation unit for observing a sample of the culture container, a storage unit including a storage unit for storing the culture container, and a transport unit including a transport unit for transporting the culture container, An incubator system that can be installed inside a temperature-controlled room,
A unit base having a fastening portion for positioning each of the observation unit, the storage unit, and the transport unit inside the temperature-controlled room;
A second storage unit including a second storage unit that can be positioned and fixed to the unit base instead of at least one of the transport unit and the storage unit and has a storage capacity larger than that of the storage unit. An incubator system featuring. The incubator system according to claim 1,
An incubator system comprising an electrical contact portion provided at a connection portion between each unit of the observation unit, the transport unit, the storage unit, and the second storage unit and the unit base. The incubator system according to claim 2,
The incubator controls a recognition unit that recognizes the type of unit fixed through the electrical contact unit, and controls at least one of the observation unit and the transport unit according to a recognition result by the recognition unit. An incubator system characterized by comprising a section.

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