A carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of cell culture technology, and particularly to a carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture. It includes an incubator body with a rotatable door and a glass door positioned between the incubator body and the door. An inner chamber is installed inside the incubator body. Placement and retrieval mechanisms are installed on the inner walls of both sides of the inner chamber. The placement mechanism has detachably mounted, equally spaced, stacked support mechanisms, and a detachably mounted, circulating placement component. This invention separates the inner and outer chambers of the inner chamber through the glass door and the transfer mechanism. During the removal of culture dishes containing culture medium, and when placing culture dishes back into the inner chamber after testing, the cooperation of the glass door and the transfer mechanism prevents the inner and outer spaces of the inner chamber from becoming connected, ensuring that the culture medium in the culture dishes always within the inner chamber is not affected by the external environment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of cell culture technology, and more particularly to a carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture. Background Technology

[0002] Carbon dioxide incubators are widely used in cell and tissue culture and the culture of certain special microorganisms. They are commonly used in cell kinetics research, collection of mammalian cell secretions, carcinogenic or toxicological effects of various physical and chemical factors, antigen research and production, culture of hybridoma cells to produce antibodies, in vitro fertilization (IVF), stem cells, tissue engineering, drug screening and other research fields.

[0003] When observing the number of cells in the initial culture medium, the culture personnel usually need to take the culture medium out of the incubator and place it at the bottom of the microscope for observation, which is quite troublesome. Moreover, the initial culture medium needs to be cultured in a sterile environment. During the process of the culture personnel taking it out and putting it in, some bacteria inevitably enter the culture medium, which makes it inconvenient for the normal culture of immune cells. Therefore, a carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture is proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention proposes a carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture, comprising an incubator body, a door and a glass door rotatably mounted on the incubator body, the glass door being located between the incubator body and the door, an inner chamber installed inside the incubator body, a placement mechanism and a pick-and-place mechanism installed on the inner walls of both sides of the inner chamber, a detachably mounted support mechanism with equally spaced stacked support mechanisms, a detachably mounted circulating placement assembly with culture dishes conveyed in a ring on the circulating placement assembly, a transfer mechanism installed on the side of the glass door away from the incubator body, and the pick-and-place mechanism pushing culture dishes pushed out from the circulating placement assemblies at different heights into the transfer mechanism after adjusting their height.

[0006] Preferably, the circulating placement assembly includes a circulating placement frame, guide rollers are evenly laid on the bottom inner wall of the incubator body, the circulating placement frame is provided with a positioning port, an electric push rod is fixedly installed on the circulating placement frame, a two-claw flexible gripper is fixedly installed at the piston rod end of the electric push rod, the carrying mechanism includes two trays, the same frame is detachably installed on the two trays, and a positioning block adapted to the positioning port is fixedly installed on the top of the frame.

[0007] Preferably, the circular placement frame includes a horizontal frame and two vertical frames. The ends of the two vertical frames near the horizontal frame are fixedly connected to the horizontal frame via right-angle frames. An intermediate frame is fixedly installed between the two reversing frames. The number of intermediate frames is greater than or equal to one. The intermediate frame includes a reversing frame and two vertical frames. The ends of the two vertical frames near the horizontal frame are fixedly connected to the reversing frame. The vertical frames on both sides are connected to the vertical frames through the same reversing frame. When the number of intermediate frames is greater than one, the two adjacent vertical frames on two adjacent intermediate frames are connected on the side away from the circular placement frame through the same reversing frame. A pick-up and put-out opening is provided at the center of the side of the circular placement frame away from the intermediate frame.

[0008] Preferably, pins are fixedly installed on both sides of the tray, and the placement mechanism includes four brackets fixedly installed on the inner walls of both sides of the inner box. Two brackets are fixedly installed on each side of the inner box. Multiple placement openings are opened on the brackets in a linear distribution. The four pins on the two trays are respectively inserted into the corresponding placement openings on the same horizontal plane.

[0009] Preferably, the picking and placing mechanism includes two linear modules fixedly installed on the inner walls of both sides of the inner box. The same horizontal plate is fixedly installed on the slider of the two linear modules. A carrier plate is fixedly installed on the top of the horizontal plate. Two limiting plates are fixedly installed on the carrier plate. The two limiting plates are arranged in an outward V-shape on the side near the placing mechanism.

[0010] Preferably, the picking and placing mechanism further includes a connecting frame fixedly installed on the inner wall of the top of the inner box, and an electric push rod II is fixedly installed at the bottom of the connecting frame, and a two-jaw flexible gripper II is fixedly installed at the piston rod end of the electric push rod II.

[0011] Preferably, a receiving box for accommodating the transfer mechanism is fixedly installed through the door. The glass door has a passage opening. The transfer mechanism includes a transfer box fixedly installed on the side of the glass door away from the main body of the incubator. The transfer box has a rectangular opening on the side near the glass door that communicates with the passage opening. A second retrieval opening is provided on the top inner wall of the rectangular opening. A U-shaped plate is slidably installed inside the transfer box. Round rods are fixedly installed on both sides of the U-shaped plate. Both round rods pass through the transfer box and are slidably connected to the transfer box. A stopper plate is detachably installed inside the second retrieval opening.

[0012] Preferably, a ventilation hole is provided on the inner wall of the inner box on the side away from the glass door, and a fan is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the inner box on the side away from the glass door.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0014] This invention separates the inner and outer parts of the inner box using a glass door and a transfer mechanism. During the process of taking out the culture dish containing the culture medium and when placing the culture dish back into the inner box after testing, the cooperation of the glass door and the transfer mechanism prevents the inner and outer spaces of the inner box from becoming connected, ensuring that the culture medium in the culture dish that is always inside the inner box is not affected by the external environment.

[0015] The specially shaped circular placement frame can hold more culture dishes in the same area, and can be used with multiple guide rollers to ensure that each culture dish can move in a closed path, so that the position between two adjacent culture dishes does not change. At the same time, it can be used to remove the designated culture dish from the circular placement frame through the cooperation of the pick-and-place mechanism, electric push rod 1 and two flexible jaws 1. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture proposed in this invention.

[0017] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of a carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture proposed in this invention.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture proposed in this invention.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the placement mechanism and support mechanism in a carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture proposed in this invention;

[0020] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a circulating placement component and culture dish in a carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture proposed in this invention;

[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture proposed in this invention;

[0022] Figure 7 This is an exploded view of the transfer mechanism in a carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture proposed in this invention, and a partial structural schematic diagram of the glass door.

[0023] Figure 8 This is a top view of a circulating placement frame in a carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture proposed in this invention, and a schematic diagram of the movement path of the culture dish on the circulating placement frame.

[0024] Figure 9 This is an exploded top view of a circulating placement frame in a carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture, as proposed in this invention.

[0025] Figure 10 This is a top view of another configuration of the circulating placement frame in a carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture proposed in this invention.

[0026] In the diagram: 1. Incubator body; 2. Door; 21. Container box; 3. Glass door; 31. Passage port; 4. Inner chamber; 41. Ventilation hole; 42. Fan; 5. Placement mechanism; 51. Support; 52. Placement port; 6. Loading mechanism; 61. Tray; 62. Pin; 63. Positioning block; 64. Frame; 7. Circulating placement assembly; 71. Circulating placement frame; 711. Horizontal frame; 712. Middle frame; 7121. Vertical frame one; 7122. Reversing frame one; 713. Reversing frame two; 71 4. Vertical frame 2; 715. Right-angle frame; 72. Positioning port; 73. Guide roller; 74. Pick-up and drop-off port 1; 75. Electric push rod 1; 76. Two-jaw flexible gripper 1; 8. Pick-up and drop-off mechanism; 81. Linear module; 82. Horizontal plate; 83. Carrier plate; 84. Limiting plate; 85. Electric push rod 2; 86. Two-jaw flexible gripper 2; 87. Connecting frame; 9. Transfer mechanism; 91. Transfer box; 92. Rectangular opening; 93. Pick-up and drop-off port 2; 94. U-shaped plate; 95. Round rod; 96. Stopper plate; 10. Petri dish. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] Please refer to Figures 1-10 This invention provides a technical solution: a carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture, comprising an incubator body 1, a door 2 and a glass door 3 rotatably mounted on the incubator body 1, the glass door 3 being located between the incubator body 1 and the door 2, an inner chamber 4 installed inside the incubator body 1, a placement mechanism 5 and a pick-and-place mechanism 8 installed on the inner walls of both sides of the inner chamber 4, a detachably mounted support mechanism 6 with equally spaced stacked arrangement on the placement mechanism 5, a detachably mounted circulating placement assembly 7, a circulating placement assembly 7 conveying culture dishes 10 in a ring, a transfer mechanism 9 installed on the side of the glass door 3 away from the incubator body 1, and the pick-and-place mechanism 8 pushing culture dishes 10 pushed out from the circulating placement assembly 7 at different heights into the transfer mechanism 9 after adjusting the height.

[0029] Furthermore, the humidity inside the inner box 4 can be adjusted by using a humidification device on the bottom inner wall of the inner box 4.

[0030] The circulating placement component 7 includes a circulating placement frame 71. Guide rollers 73 are evenly laid on the bottom inner wall of the incubator body 1. The circulating placement frame 71 is provided with a positioning port 72. An electric push rod 75 is fixedly installed on the circulating placement frame 71. A two-claw flexible gripper 76 is fixedly installed at the piston rod end of the electric push rod 75. The support mechanism 6 includes two support plates 61. The same frame 64 is detachably installed on the two support plates 61. A positioning block 63 adapted to the positioning port 72 is fixedly installed on the top of the frame 64.

[0031] Furthermore, the multiple guide rollers 73 on the same circular placement frame 71 are driven by the same drive device.

[0032] The circular placement frame 71 includes a horizontal frame 711 and two vertical frames 714. The ends of the two vertical frames 714 near the horizontal frame 711 are fixedly connected to the horizontal frame 711 via right-angle frames 715. An intermediate frame 712 is fixedly installed between the two reversing frames 713. The number of intermediate frames 712 is greater than or equal to one. The intermediate frame 712 includes a reversing frame 7122 and two vertical frames 7121. The ends of the two vertical frames 7121 near the horizontal frame 711 are fixedly connected to the reversing frame 7122. The vertical frames 714 and the vertical frames 7121 on both sides are connected by the same reversing frame 713. When there is more than one intermediate frame 712, the two adjacent vertical frames 7121 on two adjacent intermediate frames 712 are connected by the same reversing frame 713 on the side away from the circular placement frame 71. A pick-up and put-out opening 74 is provided at the center of the side of the circular placement frame 711 away from the intermediate frame 712.

[0033] Furthermore, the guide rollers 73 on the second reversing frame 713 and the first reversing frame 7122 can transport the culture dish 10 in the opposite direction to the incoming direction, while the guide rollers 73 on the right-angle frame 715 can transport the culture dish 10 in the direction perpendicular to the incoming direction.

[0034] like Figures 8-10 As shown, depending on the different sizes of the inner box 4 and frame 64, different lengths of horizontal frame 711, vertical frame 2 714 and reversing frame 1 7122 can be used to adjust the longitudinal width of the circular placement frame 71.

[0035] By using different numbers of intermediate frames 712 and reversing frames 713, as well as different lengths of horizontal frames 711, the horizontal length of the cyclic placement frame 71 can be adjusted.

[0036] Both sides of the tray 61 are fixedly installed with pins 62. The placement mechanism 5 includes four brackets 51 fixedly installed on the inner walls of both sides of the inner box 4. Two brackets 51 are fixedly installed on each side of the inner box 4. Multiple placement openings 52 are opened on the brackets 51 in a linear distribution. The four pins 62 on the two trays 61 are respectively inserted into the corresponding placement openings 52 on the same horizontal plane.

[0037] The pick-and-place mechanism 8 includes two linear modules 81 fixedly installed on the inner walls of both sides of the inner box 4. The same horizontal plate 82 is fixedly installed on the slider of the two linear modules 81. A carrier plate 83 is fixedly installed on the top of the horizontal plate 82. Two limiting plates 84 are fixedly installed on the carrier plate 83. The two limiting plates 84 are arranged in an outward V-shape on the side near the placement mechanism 5.

[0038] Furthermore, since the two limiting plates 84 are arranged in an outward V-shape on the side near the placement mechanism 5, it is convenient to push the petri dish 10 from the pick-up / placement port 74 between the two limiting plates 84.

[0039] The pick-and-place mechanism 8 also includes a connecting frame 87 fixedly installed on the top inner wall of the inner box 4. An electric push rod 85 is fixedly installed at the bottom of the connecting frame 87, and a two-jaw flexible gripper 86 is fixedly installed at the piston rod end of the electric push rod 85.

[0040] Furthermore, the two-claw flexible gripper 76 and the two-claw flexible gripper 86 only need to grip a local side of the culture dish 10 to move the culture dish 10.

[0041] A receiving box 21 for accommodating the transfer mechanism 9 is fixedly installed through the door 2. A passage 31 is opened on the glass door 3. The transfer mechanism 9 includes a transfer box 91 fixedly installed on the side of the glass door 3 away from the incubator body 1. A rectangular opening 92 connected to the passage 31 is opened on the side of the transfer box 91 near the glass door 3. A second take-out opening 93 is opened on the top inner wall of the rectangular opening 92. A U-shaped plate 94 is slidably installed inside the transfer box 91. Round rods 95 are fixedly installed on both sides of the U-shaped plate 94. Both round rods 95 pass through the transfer box 91 and are damped and slidably connected to the transfer box 91. A stopper plate 96 is detachably installed inside the second take-out opening 93.

[0042] A ventilation hole 41 is provided on the inner wall of the inner box 4 on the side away from the glass door 3, and a fan 42 is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the inner box 4 on the side away from the glass door 3.

[0043] In this embodiment: When in use, the culture dish 10 containing the culture medium can be placed in the circulation placement frame 71, and multiple culture dishes 10 can be placed in the circulation placement frame 71. Each culture dish 10 can be labeled. When culturing the culture medium, the box door 2 and the glass door 3 are closed, so that the inner box 4 is in a closed state. By starting the fan 42, airflow is sent into the inner box 4 through the ventilation hole 41, so that the carbon dioxide concentration in all parts of the inner box 4 is more uniform.

[0044] When it is necessary to remove the designated culture dish 10 from the target circulation placement component 7, the box door 2 is opened and the glass door 3 is closed. At this time, the inside and outside of the inner box 4 are not connected due to the obstruction of the glass door 3. The two linear modules 81 drive the horizontal plate 82 to adjust the height of the carrier plate 83 to be flush with the bottom inner wall of the target circulation placement frame 71. Then, the designated culture dish 10 is transported to the pick-up and put-out port 74 by the multiple guide rollers 73 on the circulation placement frame 71. Then, the electric push rod 75 on the circulation placement component 7 is extended so that it clamps the designated culture dish 10 through the two-jaw flexible gripper 76 and pushes the culture dish 10 out of the pick-up and put-out port 74 and moves it onto the carrier plate 83. Then, the two-jaw flexible gripper 76 releases the culture dish 10 and the electric push rod 75 is reset.

[0045] Then, control the two linear modules 81 to move the carrier plate 83 and the designated culture dish 10 on it to the highest point. Then, control the extension of the electric push rod 85 to make the two flexible claws 86 clamp the designated culture dish 10 on the carrier plate 83 and push the culture dish 10 through the through port 31 and the rectangular port 92 into the transfer box 91 and into the U-shaped plate 94. Then, the two flexible claws 86 release the culture dish 10 and the electric push rod 85 reset.

[0046] Then, by pushing and pulling the U-shaped plate 94 with two round rods 95, the designated label culture dish 10 is moved to the underside of the stopper plate 96. After opening the stopper plate 96, the designated label culture dish 10 in the U-shaped plate 94 can be taken out from the second pick-up port 93. At this time, due to the obstruction of the U-shaped plate 94, the rectangular opening 92 will not be connected to the external environment through the open pick-up port 93. Then, the culture medium in the removed designated label culture dish 10 can be tested.

[0047] After the culture medium in the designated culture dish 10 has been tested, if it needs to be returned to its original position, the tested culture dish 10 can be placed into the transfer box 91 through the open pick-and-place port 93 and placed into the U-shaped plate 94. Then, the pick-and-place port 93 is blocked by the stopper plate 96. Then, by pushing and pulling the round rod 95, the U-shaped plate 94 moves the culture dish 10. When the inner walls of the two sides of the opening of the U-shaped plate 94 are flush with the inner walls of the two sides of the rectangular opening 92, the electric push rod 85 is extended, so that the two flexible claws 86 pass through the through port 31 and the rectangular opening 92 to clamp the culture dish 10 located in the U-shaped plate 94. Then, the electric push rod 85 is shortened. When the two flexible claws 86 move the culture dish 10 to the carrier plate 83, the two flexible claws 86 release the culture dish 10 and the electric push rod 85 is reset.

[0048] Then, by controlling the two linear modules 81, the horizontal plate 82 moves the culture dish 10 on the carrier plate 83 after testing to the target height, so that the carrier plate 83 is flush with the bottom inner wall of the target height circulation placement frame 71. Then, the electric push rod 75 on the circulation placement component 7 is extended, so that the electric push rod 75 drives the two flexible jaws 76 to clamp the culture dish 10 on the carrier plate 83. Then, the electric push rod 75 is shortened, and the two flexible jaws 76 will drive the culture dish 10 through the pick-and-place port 74 and fall back onto the circulation placement frame 71. At the same time, the culture dish 10 can push away the two culture dishes 10 that were originally on the circulation placement frame 71 at the pick-and-place port 74 and fall between the two culture dishes 10. Finally, the culture dish 10 after testing can fall back into its original position.

[0049] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture, comprising an incubator body (1), characterized in that: The incubator body (1) is rotatably mounted with a door (2) and a glass door (3). The glass door (3) is located between the incubator body (1) and the door (2). An inner box (4) is installed inside the incubator body (1). A placement mechanism (5) and a pick-and-place mechanism (8) are installed on the inner walls on both sides of the inner box (4). A support mechanism (6) is detachably mounted on the placement mechanism (5) and is stacked at equal intervals. A circulating placement component (7) is detachably mounted on the support mechanism (6). A petri dish (10) is conveyed in a ring on the circulating placement component (7). A transfer mechanism (9) is installed on the side of the glass door (3) away from the incubator body (1). The pick-and-place mechanism (8) can push the petri dish (10) pushed out from the circulating placement component (7) at different heights into the transfer mechanism (9) after adjusting the height. The circulating placement assembly (7) includes a circulating placement frame (71), and guide rollers (73) are evenly laid on the bottom inner wall of the incubator body (1). The circulating placement frame (71) is provided with a positioning port (72). An electric push rod (75) is fixedly installed on the circulating placement frame (71). A two-claw flexible gripper (76) is fixedly installed at the piston rod end of the electric push rod (75). The carrying mechanism (6) includes two trays (61). The same frame (64) is detachably installed on the two trays (61). A positioning block (63) that matches the positioning port (72) is fixedly installed on the top of the frame (64). The circular placement frame (71) includes a horizontal frame (711) and two vertical frames (714). The two vertical frames (714) are fixedly connected to the horizontal frame (711) at the end near the horizontal frame (711) via right-angle frames (715). An intermediate frame (712) is fixedly installed between the two reversing frames (713). The number of intermediate frames (712) is greater than or equal to one. The intermediate frame (712) includes a reversing frame (7122) and two vertical frames (7121). The two vertical frames (7121) are fixedly connected to the horizontal frame (711) at the end near the horizontal frame (711). 1) One end is fixedly connected to the first reversing frame (7122). The second vertical frame (714) and the first vertical frame (7121) on both sides are connected by the same second reversing frame (713). When there is more than one middle frame (712), the two adjacent first vertical frames (7121) on the adjacent middle frames (712) are connected by the same second reversing frame (713) on the side away from the circular placement frame (71). The circular placement frame (71) is provided with a pick-up and put-out port (74) at the center of the side away from the middle frame (712).

2. The carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both sides of the tray (61) are fixedly installed with pins (62). The placement mechanism (5) includes four brackets (51) fixedly installed on the inner walls of both sides of the inner box (4). Two brackets (51) are fixedly installed on each side of the inner box (4). Multiple placement openings (52) are opened on the brackets (51) in a linear distribution. The four pins (62) on the two trays (61) are respectively inserted into the corresponding placement openings (52) on the same horizontal plane.

3. A carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture according to claim 1, characterized in that: The picking and placing mechanism (8) includes two linear modules (81) fixedly installed on the inner walls of both sides of the inner box (4). The same horizontal plate (82) is fixedly installed on the slider of the two linear modules (81). A carrier plate (83) is fixedly installed on the top of the horizontal plate (82). Two limiting plates (84) are fixedly installed on the carrier plate (83). The two limiting plates (84) are arranged in an outward V-shape on the side near the placing mechanism (5).

4. A carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture according to claim 3, characterized in that: The picking and placing mechanism (8) also includes a connecting frame (87) fixedly installed on the top inner wall of the inner box (4). The bottom of the connecting frame (87) is fixedly installed with an electric push rod (85), and the piston rod end of the electric push rod (85) is fixedly installed with a two-claw flexible gripper (86).

5. A carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture according to claim 1, characterized in that: The door (2) is fixedly installed with a container (21) for accommodating the transfer mechanism (9). The glass door (3) has a passage opening (31). The transfer mechanism (9) includes a transfer box (91) fixedly installed on the side of the glass door (3) away from the incubator body (1). The transfer box (91) has a rectangular opening (92) connected to the passage opening (31) on the side near the glass door (3). The top inner wall of the rectangular opening (92) has a second take-out opening (93). A U-shaped plate (94) is slidably installed inside the transfer box (91). Round rods (95) are fixedly installed on both sides of the U-shaped plate (94). Both round rods (95) pass through the transfer box (91) and are damped and slidably connected to the transfer box (91). A stopper plate (96) is detachably installed inside the second take-out opening (93).

6. A carbon dioxide incubator for cell culture according to claim 1, characterized in that: A ventilation hole (41) is provided on the inner wall of the inner box (4) away from the glass door (3), and a fan (42) is fixedly installed on the inner wall of the inner box (4) away from the glass door (3).

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