Low temperature storage system

By optimizing the design of the rotating storage rack and the moving mechanism, the problem of insufficient space utilization in the cryogenic storage system is solved, achieving efficient containment and cooling effects, and reducing energy consumption and costs.

CN116457289BActive Publication Date: 2025-12-19TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202180074916.X
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2020-12-08
Filing Date
2021-09-15
Publication Date
2025-12-19
Estimated Expiration
2041-09-15

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing cryogenic storage systems suffer from imperfect space utilization between the transfer area and the storage area, resulting in low containment efficiency and cooling efficiency, and increased energy consumption.

Method used

The system employs a rotating storage rack and a moving mechanism, allowing the holding unit to move only forward and backward in the horizontal direction without intersecting the rotation axis of the rotating storage rack. Combined with a pickup platform and an auxiliary storage rack, it optimizes space utilization and cooling efficiency.

Benefits of technology

It improves the containment and cooling efficiency of cryogenic storage systems, reduces energy consumption, simplifies the structure of moving mechanisms, and lowers costs.

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Abstract

A low-temperature storage system capable of reducing an imperfect space difficult to effectively utilize with a simple configuration, improving the storage efficiency of storage objects, and not reducing the cooling efficiency. Specifically, the low-temperature storage system (100) has: a low-temperature storage (110) that stores a rotary storage rack (112); a moving mechanism that loads a storage object (W) together with a storage tube rack (H) onto a holding portion (124) to perform in-out; and a pick-up stage (114), the holding portion (124) is provided at a position where the central axis of the advance-retract movement direction of the holding portion (124) and the rotation axis (128) of the rotary storage rack (112) do not intersect, and the rotary storage rack (112) stores the storage tube rack (H) such that the direction of the storage tube rack (H) at the removal position is the same as the direction of the storage tube rack (H) on the pick-up stage (114).
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Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a low-temperature storage system for storing storage objects at low temperature, and particularly to a low-temperature storage system for storing samples and the like used in the process of discovering or designing a pharmaceutical agent at low temperature in the medical, biological engineering, and pharmaceutical fields. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the past, as a low-temperature storage system for storing a container having a sample housed therein at low temperature, a low-temperature storage system (compound library) is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1) having: a storage area (storage area 11) having a plurality of storage racks (vertical storage racks 100) for a storage tube rack (tray 10) having storage objects (small workpieces) housed therein; a stocker area (13) for performing the stocking and withdrawal of the storage objects (small workpieces) through a stocker window (12); and a transfer area (14) provided with a picking robot (20) capable of transferring a prescribed storage object (small workpiece) between the storage area (storage area 11) and the stocker area (13).

[0003] The low-temperature storage system (compound library) described in Patent Document 1 further has, in the storage area (storage area 11), a plurality of temperature sensing sensors (16) and a control device that performs the rotation and stop of the storage racks (vertical storage racks 100) that are horizontally movable along a loop track without joints, based on the output results of the temperature sensing sensors (16).

[0004] Thus, without providing an additional device such as a stirring blower, stagnation of air in the storage area (storage area 11) can be eliminated, and by the rotation of the storage racks (vertical storage racks 100), the same air flow can be brought to all of the storage objects (small workpieces) housed therein, so that the storage objects (small workpieces) can be stored at high density, and a low-temperature storage system (compound library) capable of achieving a high cooling effect can be realized.

[0005] PATENT DOCUMENT

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-269100 SUMMARY

[0007] However, the low-temperature storage system known in the above-described patent document and the like has room for further improvement.

[0008] That is, since the low-temperature storage system described in Patent Document 1 performs the transfer of the small workpieces to the trays between the transfer area and the storage area while the direction of the trays is opposite to the front of the picking robot, that is, the transfer work is performed at a position where the rotation center axis of the endless track and the trays and the picking robot are arranged in a straight line, the picking robot cannot be brought close to the end of the transfer area, resulting in the presence of imperfect spaces that are difficult to effectively use on both sides of the transfer area, and from the entire low-temperature storage system, a large installation space can be required, and the storage efficiency of the storage objects can be reduced.

[0009] Further, in the case where the transfer area is also maintained at a low temperature as in the storage area, if there are many imperfect spaces that are difficult to effectively use, the cooling efficiency can be reduced, and the energy consumption amount during cooling can be increased.

[0010] The present application is an application that solves these problems, and the technical problem to be solved is to provide a low-temperature storage system that can reduce imperfect spaces that are difficult to effectively use with a simple configuration, can improve the storage efficiency of storage objects, and does not reduce the cooling efficiency.

[0011] The low-temperature storage system of the present application is a low-temperature storage system that stores storage objects in storage racks at a low temperature, and can solve the problem by having: a low-temperature storage library that internally stores a rotary storage rack for storage objects, the storage objects being stored in the storage racks; a moving mechanism that loads and unloads the storage objects in the low-temperature storage library together with the storage racks onto a holding portion to move in and out; and a picking stage that can transfer the storage objects to the storage racks at a picking position and can deliver the storage racks to the holding portion at a delivery position, the moving mechanism having a forward and backward movement member that is configured to linearly move the holding portion in a forward and backward movement direction in which the storage objects together with the storage racks are moved in and out from the rotary storage rack, the holding portion being configured to be movable only in the forward and backward movement direction in the horizontal direction, the holding portion being disposed at a position where the center axis of the forward and backward movement direction of the holding portion and the rotation axis of the rotary storage rack do not intersect, and the rotary storage rack stores the storage racks so that the direction of the storage racks at the picking position is the same as the direction of the storage racks on the picking stage.

[0012] According to the low-temperature storage system of Technical Solution 1, since the holding portion is configured to be able to move only in the advancing and retreating movement direction in the horizontal direction, and is disposed at a position where the central axis of the advancing and retreating movement direction of the holding portion and the central axis of rotation of the rotary storage rack do not intersect, and the rotary storage rack stores the storage tube rack such that the direction of the storage tube rack at the extraction position is the same as the direction of the storage tube rack on the pick-up stage, the extraction position can be disposed at a position offset from the central axis of rotation of the rotary storage rack.

[0013] Thus, since the movement mechanism can approach the side surface inside the low-temperature storage, i.e., the inner wall of the low-temperature storage, other devices such as the pick-up stage can be effectively used in the wide space formed by the approach of the movement mechanism, or the space inside the low-temperature storage can be reduced, the space required for the installation of the low-temperature storage can also be reduced, the storage efficiency of the storage tube racks inside the low-temperature storage can be improved, and the cooling efficiency inside the low-temperature storage can also be improved.

[0014] In addition, since the rotary storage rack stores the storage tube rack such that the direction of the storage tube rack at the extraction position is the same as the direction of the storage tube rack on the pick-up stage, the movement mechanism does not need to change the direction of the storage tube rack between the pick-up stage and the rotary storage rack, so the configuration of the movement mechanism can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.

[0015] According to the configuration of Technical Solution 2, since the holding portion is configured to be able to be lifted and linearly moved in the direction of moving the storage object into and out of the rotary storage rack by the lifting and moving member and the advancing and retreating moving member, and the rotary storage rack is configured to be able to move the storage tube rack inside the rotary storage rack to the extraction position by the rotary positioning member, the holding portion can move the storage object together with the storage tube rack into and out of the rotary storage rack by only the combined movement of the height alignment with the rotary storage rack and the movement of the advancing and retreating moving member in the advancing and retreating direction at the extraction position.

[0016] Thus, the space required for the installation of the movement mechanism in the direction orthogonal to the advancing and retreating movement direction can be reduced, and the storage efficiency inside the low-temperature storage can be improved.

[0017] In addition, since the pick-up stage is configured to be able to be linearly moved from the pick-up position to the handover position by the auxiliary moving member, the storage object together with the storage tube rack can also be simply moved between the handover position and the extraction position by only the advancing and retreating movement of the holding portion by, for example, disposing the handover position on the axis of the advancing and retreating movement direction of the holding portion.

[0018] According to the configuration of the technical solution 3, since the moving mechanism includes the in-warehouse unit and the external unit, the in-warehouse unit includes the holding part, the lifting moving part, the advancing and retreating moving part, the rotating positioning part, and the auxiliary moving part, and the external unit includes the lifting transmission part, the advancing and retreating transmission part, the rotating transmission part, and the auxiliary transmission part, therefore, by arranging the lifting transmission part, the advancing and retreating transmission part, the rotating transmission part, and the auxiliary transmission part, which generate driving force, outside the low-temperature storage, the heat generated by the external unit can be inhibited from being transmitted into the low-temperature storage, the temperature rise in the low-temperature storage can be prevented, and the energy consumption for maintaining the low temperature can be inhibited.

[0019] According to the configuration of the technical solution 4, since the holding part is arranged in the in-warehouse unit closest to the picking position, in the case where a plurality of storage tube racks are arranged on the picking stage, when the storage tube rack at a position farther from the holding part is moved by the holding part, the moving distance of the picking stage and / or the holding part can be shortened, and the space for moving the picking stage and / or the holding part in the low-temperature storage can be reduced.

[0020] According to the configuration of the technical solution 5, since the rotating storage rack is configured to be able to store a plurality of storage tube racks along the rotating direction of the rotating positioning part, for the carrying in and out of the storage tube rack to the storage rack reaching the taking-out position, the holding part only needs to always move a certain amount in the advancing and retreating direction of the advancing and retreating moving part, so as to carry in and out the storage object together with the storage tube rack, and thus the fine control of the moving amount of the holding part can be omitted.

[0021] According to the configuration of the technical solution 6, since the auxiliary storage rack, which is capable of storing the storage object accommodated in the storage tube rack, is arranged below the picking stage, and the auxiliary storage rack is configured to be able to be linearly moved to the taking-out position by the auxiliary moving part, the holding part used on the rotating storage rack can be shared and does not need to be newly arranged, and thus the accommodation efficiency of the storage tube rack in the low-temperature storage can be further improved.

[0022] According to the configuration of the technical solution 7, since the auxiliary storage rack is configured to be able to store a plurality of storage tube racks along the moving direction of the auxiliary moving part, for the carrying in and out of the storage tube rack to the auxiliary storage rack reaching the taking-out position, the holding part only needs to always move a certain amount in the advancing and retreating direction of the advancing and retreating moving part, so as to carry in and out the storage tube rack, and for the auxiliary storage rack, the fine control of the moving amount of the holding part can be common to the rotating storage rack, and thus the cost related to the control of the holding part can be reduced.

[0023] According to the configuration of the technical solution 8, since the plurality of auxiliary storage racks are arranged along the moving direction of the advancing and retreating moving member, and the auxiliary moving member is configured to individually move the plurality of auxiliary storage racks at least along the moving direction of the advancing and retreating moving member, when the storage objects are moved in and out, when the desired auxiliary storage rack is moved to the extraction position, the movement of the auxiliary storage rack adjacent to the desired auxiliary storage rack on the side of the moving-in and moving-out direction of the desired auxiliary storage rack can be at least limited, and the work space in which the holding portion can actually move the storage objects together with the storage rack in and out can be ensured. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a low-temperature storage system 100 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0025] Figure 2 is a top cross-sectional view of the low-temperature storage system 100 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0026] Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the low-temperature storage system 100 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0027] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the inside of the low-temperature storage system 100 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0028] Figure 5 is a top view showing a carrying process 1 of the storage rack H of the low-temperature storage system 100 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0029] Figure 6 is a top view showing a carrying process 2 of the storage rack H of the low-temperature storage system 100 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0030] Figure 7 is a top view showing a carrying process 3 of the storage rack H of the low-temperature storage system 100 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0031] Figure 8 is a top view showing a carrying process 4 of the storage rack H of the low-temperature storage system 100 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0032] Figure 9 is a top view showing a carrying process 5 of the storage rack H of the low-temperature storage system 100 according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0033] SYMBOL EXPLANATION

[0034] 100 - cryogenic storage system; 110 - cryogenic storage chamber; 111a, 111b - opening; 112 - rotary storage rack; 113a, 113b - auxiliary storage rack; 114 - pick-up stage; 120 - in-chamber unit; 121 - lifting moving member; 122 - advancing and retreating moving member; 123a, 123b - auxiliary moving member; 124 - holding portion; 125 - lifting moving guide; 126 - advancing and retreating moving guide; 127a, 127b - auxiliary moving guide; 128 - rotary shaft; 129 - positioning unit; 130 - external unit; 131 - lifting transfer portion; 132 - lifting transfer guide; 133 - advancing and retreating transfer portion; 134 - advancing and retreating transfer guide; 135 - rotary transfer portion; 136 - rotary transfer guide; 137a, 137b - auxiliary transfer portion; 138a, 138b - auxiliary transfer guide; F - refrigerator; H - storage tube rack; W - storage object. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Hereinafter, a cryogenic storage system 100 according to one embodiment of the present application will be described based on the drawings.

[0036] In addition, for the sake of explanation, Figure 4 components and the refrigerator F related to the holding portion 124 and the operation of the holding portion 124 are not shown, Figures 5 to 8 components and the refrigerator F related to the operation of the holding portion 124 are not shown.

[0037] One embodiment of the present application, that is, the cryogenic storage system 100 is a system that stores a storage object W in a storage tube rack H at a low temperature, as shown in Figures 1 to 5 has a cryogenic storage chamber 110 that internally houses a rotary storage rack 112 and auxiliary storage racks 113a, 113b for the storage object W housed in the storage tube rack H, a refrigerator F that cools the inside of the cryogenic storage chamber 110, a moving mechanism that moves the storage object W in the cryogenic storage chamber 110 together with the storage tube rack H in and out, and a pick-up stage 114 on which a plurality of storage tube racks H can be placed and on which pick-up work is performed by a pick-up unit (not shown).

[0038] On the cryogenic storage chamber 110, opening portions 111a, 111b that are open upward are provided, the opening portion 111a is provided as a site for moving the storage tube rack H in and out of the cryogenic storage chamber 110 by a lift (not shown), and the opening portion 111b is provided as a site for moving the storage object W between a plurality of storage tube racks H on the pick-up stage 114 by a pick-up unit (not shown) described later.

[0039] The moving mechanism includes: an internal unit 120, which is fixedly installed inside the low-temperature storage chamber 110; and an external unit 130, which is installed outside the low-temperature storage chamber 110.

[0040] The storage unit 120 includes: a holding part 124 for holding a storage rack H containing a storage object W; a lifting and moving part 121 configured to lift the holding part 124; a forward and backward moving part 122 configured to move the holding part 124 linearly in the direction of moving the storage rack H containing the storage object W from the rotary storage rack 112 and the auxiliary storage racks 113a, 113b and the pick-up platform 114; and auxiliary moving parts 123a, 123b configured to move the auxiliary storage racks 113a, 113b and the pick-up platform 114 linearly from the storage position to the handover position in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the forward and backward moving part 122.

[0041] In addition, the pickup stage 114 is located near the opening 111b, i.e., at the pickup position, and a positioning unit 129 is provided at the pickup position.

[0042] The lifting and moving component 121 is configured to be able to move up and down along the lifting and moving guide 125.

[0043] The forward / backward moving component 122 is configured to move linearly along the forward / backward moving guide 126.

[0044] The auxiliary moving parts 123a and 123b are configured to move linearly along the auxiliary moving guides 127a and 127b.

[0045] The rotating storage rack 112 is configured to be circular and capable of rotating about the rotation axis 128.

[0046] The external unit 130 includes: a lifting transmission unit 131 that generates driving force for the lifting moving member 121; a forward and backward transmission unit 133 that generates driving force for the forward and backward moving member 122; a rotation transmission unit 135 that generates driving force for the rotating storage rack 112; and auxiliary transmission units 137a and 137b that generate driving force for the auxiliary moving members 123a and 123b. The lifting transmission unit 131 transmits driving force to the lifting moving member 121 via the lifting transmission guide 132, the forward and backward transmission unit 133 transmits driving force to the forward and backward moving member 122 via the forward and backward transmission guide 134, the rotation transmission unit 135 transmits driving force to the rotating shaft 128 via the rotation transmission guide 136, and the auxiliary transmission units 137a and 137b transmit driving force to the auxiliary moving members 123a and 123b via the auxiliary transmission guides 138a and 138b.

[0047] Thus, since the elevation transmission section 131, the advance and retreat transmission section 133, the rotation transmission section 135, and the auxiliary transmission sections 137a and 137b that generate driving force are always located outside the low-temperature storage 110, it is possible to suppress the transfer of heat generated by the external unit 130 to the inside of the low-temperature storage 110, and further, it is possible to prevent the rise in temperature in the low-temperature storage 110, and it is possible to suppress the amount of energy consumption for maintaining the low temperature.

[0048] The holding section 124 is provided so as to be elevated and lowered on the elevation and lowering guide 125 by the elevation and lowering member 121, and is provided so as to be advanced and retreated together with the elevation and lowering guide 125 by the advance and retreat member 122.

[0049] Further, the holding section 124 is provided at a position where the central axis of the advance and retreat movement direction of the holding section 124 and the rotation axis 128 of the rotary storage shelf 112 do not intersect.

[0050] The rotary storage shelf 112 is arranged at the storage position of the low-temperature storage 110, and is configured so that, when the storage rack H in the rotary storage shelf 112 is aligned with the extraction position, the direction of the storage rack H coincides with the advance and retreat movement direction of the holding section 124.

[0051] Thus, since the holding section 124 can be provided at a position where the storage rack H can be carried in and carried out in the advance and retreat movement direction that deviates from the rotation axis 128 of the rotary storage shelf 112, that is, at a position close to the single side wall of the low-temperature storage 110, it is possible to secure a larger space on the opposite side of the low-temperature storage 110 where the holding section 124 is provided, it is possible to efficiently arrange the auxiliary storage shelves 113a and 113b and the pick-up stage 114, and further, it is possible to improve the storage efficiency of the storage racks H in the low-temperature storage 110, and it is possible to improve the cooling efficiency in the low-temperature storage 110.

[0052] Next, the use of the low-temperature storage system 100 of the present application will be described. Figures 5 to 8 The carrying method in the low-temperature storage 110 of the storage object W stored in the storage rack H using the low-temperature storage system 100 of the present application will be described.

[0053] First, as shown in FIG. 1, the low-temperature storage system 100 of the present application is configured so that the low-temperature storage 110 is provided with the holding section 124 that is provided so as to be advanced and retreated on the advance and retreat guide 123 by the advance and retreat member 122. Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the storage rack H loaded on the rotary storage shelf 112 is rotated on the rotary storage shelf 112 with the rotation axis 128 as the center of rotation by the driving force from the rotation transmission section 135, and is aligned with the extraction position.

[0054] At this time, the holding section 124 is aligned to a predetermined height with respect to the carrying object, that is, the storage rack H on the rotary storage shelf 112 by the elevation and lowering member 121, and is moved to the extraction position by the advance and retreat member 122.

[0055] Further, the holding section 124 moved to the delivery position is raised by the vertical movement section 121 after being moved below the storage tube rack H of the carrying object by the advance and retreat movement section 122, and is moved by the advance and retreat movement section 122 in a direction to be detached from the rotary storage rack 112 while maintaining the state of holding the storage tube rack H, and further carries out the storage tube rack H from the rotary storage rack 112.

[0056] Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the auxiliary storage rack 113a holding the storage tube rack H held by the holding section 124 is moved to the handover position by the auxiliary movement section 123a, the holding section 124 is aligned to a prescribed carrying-in position of the auxiliary storage rack 113a and aligned to the height by the vertical movement section 121, and the holding section 124 is lowered after being entered into the auxiliary storage rack 113a by the advance and retreat movement section 122, whereby the storage tube rack H can be carried onto the auxiliary storage rack 113a. Figure 7 Further, as shown in FIG. 7, in the same manner, the storage tube rack H held by the holding section 124 can be moved to the handover position of the auxiliary storage rack 113b or the pickup stage 114 by the auxiliary movement section 123b, and the storage tube rack H can be carried in and carried onto.

[0057] Figure 8 Further, as shown in FIG. 7, in the same manner, the storage tube rack H held by the holding section 124 can be moved to the handover position of the auxiliary storage rack 113b or the pickup stage 114 by the auxiliary movement section 123b, and the storage tube rack H can be carried in and carried onto.

[0058] The pickup stage 114 can carry a plurality of storage tube racks H in the auxiliary movement direction, and by using a pickup unit (not shown), the transfer of the storage objects W can be performed between the storage tube racks H carried on the pickup stage 114 at the pickup position.

[0059] By the pickup unit (not shown), the storage tube rack H carrying the desired storage object W can be held again by the holding section 124, and after being handed over to the elevator (not shown) entering from the opening section 111a into the low-temperature storage 110 and being raised, the storage tube rack H carrying the desired storage object W can be taken out from the low-temperature storage 110.

[0060] Further, as shown in FIG. 8, when the elevator (not shown) enters from the opening section 111a into the low-temperature storage 110, as shown in FIG. 9, it is necessary to previously rotate the rotary storage rack 112 so as to vacate the space directly below the opening section 111a. Figure 9

[0061] Further, since the reverse action to the above-described action can be performed, the storage tube rack H can be carried in and out from the rotary storage rack 112 moved to the delivery position, the auxiliary storage racks 113a, 113b moved to the handover position, and the pickup stage 114 only by the holding section 124.

[0062] ​​As described above, since the rotary storage rack 112, the auxiliary storage racks 113a, 113b, and the pickup stage 114 are configured to enable the storage tube rack H to be carried in and out in the advancing and retreating movement direction of the holding section 124 at the handover position, the holding section 124 can carry the storage tube rack H in and out from the rotary storage rack 112, the auxiliary storage racks 113a, 113b, and the pickup stage 114 by only the movement in the two directions of the advancing and retreating movement direction and the lifting movement direction, without changing the direction of the storage tube rack H, and thus does not need to additionally provide a movement mechanism for the movement in the rotation mechanism or the auxiliary movement direction on the holding section 124, nor does it need to provide a plurality of holding sections 124, thereby enabling the storage efficiency in the low-temperature storage 110 to be improved while the cost increase is suppressed.

[0063] Further, by unifying the shape of the portion that stores the storage tube rack H on the rotary storage rack 112, the auxiliary storage racks 113a, 113b, and the pickup stage 114, the control related to the operation of the holding section 124 when the storage tube rack H is carried in and out from the rotary storage rack 112, the auxiliary storage racks 113a, 113b, and the pickup stage 114 can be made common, and the cost related to the control of the holding section 124 can be reduced.

[0064] Further, since the pickup stage 114 is provided at the pickup position near the opening 111b, the plurality of storage tube racks H in the low-temperature storage 110 can be carried to the storage tube rack H for carrying out without being taken out of the low-temperature storage 110, and thus the other storage objects W on the storage tube rack H are not heated by the heat outside the low-temperature storage 110, and the deterioration of the storage objects W can be prevented.

[0065] At this time, since the pickup stage 114 at the pickup position fixes the position of the storage tube rack H on the pickup stage 114 by the positioning unit 129, the storage object W can be securely grasped by the pickup unit (not shown) and securely carried to the storage tube rack H.

[0066] Further, since the carrying of the storage object W can be performed only near the opening 111b, the air in the low-temperature storage 110 is rarely disturbed, and only the necessary minimum heat is brought near the opening 111b of the low-temperature storage 110, and thus the temperature change in the low-temperature storage 110 can be kept to a minimum, and the deterioration of the storage objects W in the low-temperature storage 110 as a whole can be prevented.

[0067] Although the embodiments of the present application have been described above, the present application is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design changes can be made within the scope of the technical idea described in the present application.

[0068] In addition, although in the above-described embodiment, the case where the auxiliary storage rack movable in the auxiliary moving direction is provided in addition to the rotary storage rack is described as the site where the storage tube rack is stored in the low-temperature storage, the site where the storage tube rack is stored in the low-temperature storage is not limited thereto, and for example, the auxiliary storage rack can not be provided, and a plurality of rotary storage racks can be provided.

[0069] Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the rotary storage rack is configured to be rotatable about the rotation axis is described, but the configuration of the rotary storage rack is not limited thereto, and for example, as long as the direction in which the storage tube rack stored on the rotary storage rack is taken out at the taking-out position is the advance and retreat movement direction of the holding portion, the rotary storage rack can be formed in an oblong or elliptical shape.

[0070] Further, although in the above-described embodiment, the case where the holding portion is configured to carry out the storage object together with the storage tube rack by diving downward of the storage tube rack and moving in a manner to be detached from the rotary storage rack after the storage tube rack is lifted is described, the carrying method of the storage object is not limited thereto, and for example, a chuck can be installed on the holding portion, and the holding portion can be configured to carry out the carrying by clamping the storage tube rack with the chuck, and a hook can be installed on the holding portion, and the holding portion can be configured to carry out the carrying by hooking a hook hole provided on the storage tube rack.

Claims

1. A low-temperature storage system that stores an object to be stored in a storage tube rack at a low temperature, characterized by comprising: a low-temperature storage library that internally houses a rotary storage rack for an object to be stored, the object to be stored being stored in a storage tube rack; a moving mechanism that loads and unloads the object to be stored in the low-temperature storage library together with the storage tube rack onto a holding portion; and a pick-up stage that is capable of transferring the object to be stored onto the storage tube rack at a pick-up position and capable of transferring the storage tube rack to the holding portion at a handover position, wherein the moving mechanism has a forward-and-backward moving member that is provided so as to be capable of linearly moving the holding portion in a forward-and-backward moving direction that is a direction in which the object to be stored together with the storage tube rack is loaded and unloaded from the rotary storage rack, wherein the holding portion is configured to be capable of moving only in the forward-and-backward moving direction in a horizontal direction, wherein the holding portion is provided at a position where a central axis of the forward-and-backward moving direction of the holding portion and a rotation axis of the rotary storage rack, which is an object of loading and unloading of the storage tube rack, do not intersect, and wherein the rotary storage rack stores the storage tube rack so that a direction of the storage tube rack at a position at which the holding portion loads and unloads the storage tube rack, that is, a take-out position, is the same as a direction of the storage tube rack on the pick-up stage and the same as a direction of the central axis of the forward-and-backward moving direction of the holding portion.

2. The low-temperature storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that the moving mechanism has: a holding portion that holds the object to be stored together with the storage tube rack; a vertical moving member that is provided so as to be capable of vertically moving the holding portion; a forward-and-backward moving member that is provided so as to be capable of linearly moving the holding portion in a forward-and-backward moving direction that is a direction in which the object to be stored together with the storage tube rack is loaded and unloaded from the rotary storage rack; a rotary positioning member that rotates around a central axis in a vertical direction of the rotary storage rack as a rotation axis and is capable of moving the storage tube rack in the rotary storage rack to a take-out position; an auxiliary moving member that is capable of linearly moving the pick-up stage from the pick-up position to the handover position in a direction that intersects the moving direction of the forward-and-backward moving member; a vertical transmission portion that is capable of transmitting a driving force to the vertical moving member; a forward-and-backward transmission portion that is capable of transmitting a driving force to the forward-and-backward moving member; a rotary transmission portion that is capable of transmitting a driving force to the rotary positioning member; and an auxiliary transmission portion that is capable of transmitting a driving force to the auxiliary moving member.

3. The low-temperature storage system according to claim 2, characterized in that the moving mechanism includes: an in-library unit that is provided in a fixed state inside the low-temperature storage library; and an external unit that is provided outside the low-temperature storage library, wherein the in-library unit includes the holding portion, the vertical moving member, the forward-and-backward moving member, the rotary positioning member, and the auxiliary moving member, and wherein the external unit includes the vertical transmission portion, the forward-and-backward transmission portion, the rotary transmission portion, and the auxiliary transmission portion.

4. The low-temperature storage system according to claim 3, characterized in that ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The holding portion is disposed in the library cell closest to the pickup position.

5. The cryogenic storage system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein The rotary storage rack is configured to store a plurality of storage tube racks in a direction of rotation of the rotary positioning member.

6. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 2, wherein An auxiliary storage rack configured to store a storage object housed in a storage tube rack is disposed below the pickup stage, The auxiliary storage rack is configured to be linearly moved to a removal position by the auxiliary moving member.

7. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 6, wherein The auxiliary storage rack is configured to store a plurality of storage tube racks in a direction of movement of the auxiliary moving member.

8. The cryogenic storage system according to claim 6, wherein A plurality of the auxiliary storage racks are disposed in a direction of movement of the advance and retreat moving member, The auxiliary moving member is configured to individually move at least a plurality of the auxiliary storage racks in the direction of movement of the advance and retreat moving member.

Citation Information

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