Automated machine for processing microbiological culture plates and corresponding processing method

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automated machine for processing culture plates, comprising an operating unit for receiving culture plates in continuous succession and performing a series of successive treatments on each culture plate. The operating unit comprises a plurality of stationary processing stations (PT1-PT8) distributed at a predetermined interval around an axis (X2) and capable of being activated at least partially simultaneously. It also comprises a rotational drive device (DER) for the culture plates relative to the processing stations, having housings distributed according to the interval of the processing stations such that a rotation of the drive device around the axis brings a given culture plate successively to each of the processing stations. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Automated machine for processing microbiological culture dishes and corresponding processing method. Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of instrumentation for biology and microbiology laboratories. More particularly, the invention relates to an automation solution for laboratory equipment adapted for reading and sorting biological or microbiological culture plates.

[0002] The invention has many applications, including but not limited to the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, veterinary and clinical sectors. Technological background

[0003] The remainder of this document focuses more specifically on describing the problems that exist in the field of food microbiological analysis. The invention is, of course, not limited to this particular application context, but is of interest to any laboratory automation solution that must address a similar or related problem.

[0004] The demand for automation of laboratory practices has increased significantly in recent years, particularly in the food industry where safety, productivity and process reliability have become paramount.

[0005] In order to guarantee consumer safety, food and its environment are regularly subjected to microbiological controls at various stages of production. The objective of these controls is to obtain, as efficiently and safely as possible, information relating to the presence or absence of pathogenic microorganisms in the food samples taken and, where applicable, information relating to the quantity of these pathogenic microorganisms, commonly referred to as "colonies".

[0006] Laboratories must process a substantial quantity of samples each day, typically between 1,000 and 10,000 Petri dishes per day, depending on their size and the requirements. However, the various stages of this processing are still mostly carried out manually by a qualified laboratory technician. To detect a given pathogenic microorganism, such as Listeria monocytogenes (the bacterium responsible for listeriosis in humans), the technician first reads the barcode affixed to the Petri dish using a barcode scanner. Then, the technician performs an analysis. The microbiological analysis of the sample involves searching for and identifying any pathogenic microorganisms. The results are then manually entered into a computer. A visual colony count can also be performed by the technician. Finally, the technician manually sorts the Petri dishes, identifying them as positive (i.e., with the presence of microorganisms) or negative (i.e., with the absence of microorganisms).

[0007] These operations are repetitive and time-consuming, potentially leading to handling errors or cross-contamination between samples, or even sample loss, which is not ideal. Furthermore, one of the needs of laboratories is to free up qualified technicians' working time so that it can be reallocated to higher value-added and less tedious tasks.

[0008] Petri dish reading devices have been available on the market for about fifteen years. Most of these devices are specifically designed for a relatively limited type of microorganism, relying on fixed and homogeneous conditions. A major limitation of these devices lies in their inability to perform all the tasks necessary for the dish reading process. In fact, the reading speed is relatively slow (typically on the order of 8 to 10 seconds) because the technician must add the steps necessary for sample identification (manual reading of the barcode and entry of the reading results).

[0009] Given the diversity of culture media, samples, and colony shapes, various parameters must be adjusted to adapt the analysis and the reporting of results. On a daily basis, even with pre-configured settings, it is necessary to adjust certain parameters to allow for accurate reading and / or counting of the colonies present in the Petri dishes. The technician is therefore required to adjust the parameters empirically.

[0010] Furthermore, in the prior art, there are automated Petri dish processing devices that combine artificial intelligence for colony identification and counting with a robotic arm for loading and unloading Petri dishes, in cooperation with a Petri dish reader. Such devices can achieve processing rates of between 100 and 150 dishes per hour, but these rates still fall short of the throughput targets of microbiological analysis laboratories, particularly in the agri-food sector where the target processing rates are typically between 700 and 900 dishes per hour (unless the number of devices in laboratories is increased, which is not feasible from a cost and space perspective). Moreover, the use of a robotic arm is relatively complex and expensive to implement.

[0011] Finally, new generations of incubators have recently been launched on the market, which are based on the integration of ultra-responsive, high-end video image sensors, designed to provide near real-time information on the presence of microbial colonies in Petri dishes. However, the processing capacity of such incubators remains limited to 500 dishes / day, resulting in a high implementation cost.

[0012] There is therefore a real need to provide an efficient, robust and versatile automation solution for reading and sorting culture boxes, and in particular one that allows achieving a higher level of productivity than existing solutions, while guaranteeing accurate and reproducible results. Description of the invention

[0013] The present invention makes it possible to propose a solution aimed at overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0014] In a particular embodiment of the invention, an automated machine for processing culture boxes is proposed, characterized in that it comprises: - a first storage carousel mounted mobile in rotation around a first axis and intended for the storage of culture boxes to be processed; - a second storage carousel mounted fixed around a second axis; - an operating unit designed to receive culture dishes in succession continues from the first carousel and performs a series of successive treatments on each of the culture plates received, said operating unit comprising: • a plurality of stationary processing stations distributed at a predetermined interval around the second axis, at least some of said processing stations being capable of being activated at least partially simultaneously, said processing stations comprising: • a receiving station designed to receive a culture box to be processed from the first carousel; • an analysis and allocation station designed to analyze the contents of the received culture box and to assign it a given type from among at least two predefined box types based on the analysis results; • at least one first and one second evacuation station intended to evacuate the culture box to the first or second storage carousel depending on the type assigned to said culture box; • a rotating drive device (DER) of the culture boxes relative to the treatment stations, said drive device comprising culture box housings distributed according to a pitch corresponding to the pitch of the treatment stations so that a rotation of the drive device around the second axis brings a given culture box successively onto each of the treatment stations.

[0015] Thus, the invention is based on a complete and efficient automation solution for all the tasks necessary for the analysis and sorting of culture plates. This approach consists of equipping the processing machine with a multi-station operating unit designed to receive culture plates in continuous succession and to automatically perform a cycle of successive treatments on each plate. All or part of the processing stations can be activated at least partially simultaneously. Each processing station fulfills a specific role in the processing cycle as the culture plates are brought to each station. This allows for the parallelization of the treatments to be performed on the plates and ultimately optimizes the processing rate, while guaranteeing accurate and reproducible analysis results.

[0016] Indeed, the duration of the treatments performed is not always identical; some treatments may be carried out simultaneously, but naturally, if a treatment has a shorter duration, it will finish before a longer treatment or begin after the start of the long treatment station. In other words, two stations with identical treatment durations will be activated completely simultaneously, whereas for two stations with different treatment durations, the short treatment station will be activated partially simultaneously with the long treatment station. Thus, according to a particular implementation, the treatment duration between two rotational training cycles of the culture dishes is defined according to the station requiring the longest treatment duration.

[0017] According to one particular embodiment, each evacuation station is dedicated to a distinct type of culture box (for example, one station is dedicated to positive boxes and a second station to negative boxes). According to another embodiment, at least two evacuation stations are dedicated to the same type of culture box (for example, two stations dedicated to "positive" boxes and a second station dedicated to "negative" boxes), which makes it possible to increase the storage capacity for a given type of culture box.

[0018] According to a particular feature, said drive device comprises an upper drive plate and a lower drive plate arranged parallel to each other and fixed to each other, the drive plates upper and lower being mounted mobile in rotation around the second axis and comprising a set of upper and lower housings for Petri dishes respectively, the upper and lower housings being regularly distributed around the periphery of the upper and lower drive plates around the second axis, and arranged opposite each other in pairs.

[0019] Thus, the machine provides a double drive plate to convey the culture boxes from one processing station to the other, with a possibility of positioning on two distinct levels, while maintaining the pairing of the bottom of the box with its lid.

[0020] According to a particular feature, said drive device further comprises an upper sliding sole mounted fixed relative to the second axis and extending partially on the lower face of the upper drive plate, and a lower sliding sole mounted fixed relative to the second axis and extending on the lower face of the lower drive plate.

[0021] According to a first implementation of the drive device, the culture boxes to be treated are each fitted with a lid attached to a base and arranged in a so-called upright position in the first carousel: - the upper housings are each equipped with a through hole sized for the passage of a culture box and whose lower end terminates in an annular shoulder sized to retain the lid in the upper housing and to allow separation of the bottom from the lid by effect of gravity in the absence of the upper sliding sole, the upper sliding sole extending partially under the upper drive plate to keep the bottom attached to the lid on at least one of the processing stations; - the lower housings are each equipped with a through hole sized for the passage of a culture box base, the lower sliding sole extending under the lower drive plate to hold the base in the lower housing;

[0022] This particular embodiment allows for the processing of culture boxes arranged upright in the first storage carousel. The upper plate is dedicated to the rotational drive of closed culture boxes or lids, depending on the processing station concerned, and the lower plate to the rotational drive of bases.

[0023] According to a particular feature, the stationary processing units further include a culture box opening unit comprising: - a movable mounted valve between at least one position of retaining the base attached to the lid and a release position allowing the base to be separated from the lid; - a manipulator mounted to move in translation between at least one position for collecting the bottom and one position for depositing the bottom on the lower plate;

[0024] the valve comprising a manipulator introduction light, said sampling position being taken when the valve is in the bottom holding position after the manipulator has passed through the valve introduction light.

[0025] According to a particular feature, said at least one first and one second evacuation station each comprise a manipulator mounted movable in translation between at least one position for taking the bottom from the lower drive plate, an intermediate position for securing the bottom with the lid at the level of the upper drive plate, and a position for depositing the bottom and the lid secured in the first or second storage carousel.

[0026] According to a particular feature, the stationary processing units further comprise at least one culture box identification unit belonging to the group comprising: a front barcode reader identification unit and a side barcode reader identification unit, said upper sliding surface covering the underside of the upper drive plate on the receiving unit and said at least one identification unit. This enables the machine to identify each culture box being processed and to associate it with its assigned type.

[0027] According to a particular feature, said at least one first evacuation station is intended to evacuate to the first carousel the culture plates for which a first type is assigned (for example plates detected negative for the presence of a microorganism sought) and said at least one second evacuation station is intended to evacuate to the second carousel the culture plates for which a second type is assigned (for example plates detected positive for the presence of a microorganism sought).

[0028] Thus, said drive device is configured to cooperate, on the one hand, with the first storage carousel for a box brought to said at least one first evacuation station and, on the other hand, with the second storage carousel for a box brought to said at least one second evacuation station. The sorting between first and second type boxes can thus be carried out completely autonomously by the machine based on the analysis results.

[0029] According to a particularly interesting feature, the culture box opening station is also designed to evacuate the boxes towards the first carousel cultures for which a third type is assigned relating to a processing problem, the manipulator (M4) of said opening station being further mounted mobile in translation between a position, among said sampling position and said depositing position, and a box evacuation position in the second storage carousel.

[0030] Thus, the machine's opening station performs two functions: first, opening culture boxes that do not present any processing problems, and second, removing problematic culture boxes from the second carousel. A "problematic" culture box is defined as one whose barcode could not be read by at least one identification station located upstream in the processing cycle, or one whose lid could not be separated from its base at the opening station. This approach allows for more thorough sorting of the culture boxes by setting aside those that pose a problem in the processing cycle.

[0031] According to a second embodiment of the drive device, the culture boxes to be treated are each fitted with a lid attached to a base and arranged in an upside-down position in the first carousel: - the upper housings are each equipped with a through hole sized for the passage of a culture box, the upper sliding sole extending partially under the upper drive plate to keep the closed culture box in an upside-down position in the upper housing on at least one of the processing stations; - the lower housings are each equipped with a through hole sized for the passage of a culture box, the lower sliding sole extending under the lower drive plate to support the bottom to hold the closed culture box in an upside-down position in the lower housing;

[0032] This embodiment allows for the processing of Petri dishes arranged upside down in the first storage carousel. Thus, the invention offers the possibility of performing processing on culture dishes that can be positioned right-side up or upside down, simply by interchanging the double drive plate. The machine according to the invention is therefore particularly versatile.

[0033] In another embodiment of the invention, a method for processing culture dishes is proposed using an automated processing machine comprising a first storage carousel, a second storage carousel, and an operating unit for receiving the culture dishes in continuous succession and for performing a series of successive treatments on each of the culture dishes, the operating unit comprising a plurality of stationary processing stations distributed at a constant pitch around an axis of rotation and a drive device for rotating the culture boxes relative to the treatment stations, said drive device comprising culture box housings distributed according to a pitch corresponding to the pitch of the treatment stations so that a rotation of the drive device around the second axis brings a given culture box successively onto each of the treatment stations to perform the following steps, in a manner at least partially concomitant: - receiving a culture box to be processed from the first carousel; - analysis of the contents of the culture box received and allocation to said box a given type from among at least two predefined box types based on the analysis results; - evacuation of the culture box whose contents have been analyzed to the first or second storage carousel depending on the type assigned to said culture box.

[0034] In another embodiment of the invention, a computer program product is proposed, comprising program code instructions for implementing the aforementioned process in any of its various embodiments, when said program is executed on a computer.

[0035] In another embodiment of the invention, a computer-readable and non-transient storage medium is proposed, storing a computer program product of the aforementioned. List of figures

[0036] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0037] [Fig.1] is a schematic representation of an automated processing machine according to a particular embodiment of the invention;

[0038] [Fig.2] is a perspective view illustrating a gearbox drive device Petri dish equipping the machine illustrated in [Fig.1];

[0039] [Fig.3] is an exploded view of the drive device illustrated in [Fig.2];

[0040] [Fig.4] is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of a housing of the device training;

[0041] [Fig.5], [Fig.6] and [Fig.7] illustrate, in schematic form and in a sequential, the step of receiving a Petri dish within the operating unit according to the invention;

[0042] [Fig.8], [Fig.9], [Fig.10] and [Fig.11] illustrate, sequentially, the step opening a Petri dish according to the invention;

[0043] [Fig. 12] schematically illustrates in a simplified way the principle of separation between the lid and the bottom of a Petri dish during the opening step according to the invention;

[0044] [Fig. 13] illustrate, in schematic form, the step of analyzing the contents of a Petri dish according to the invention;

[0045] [Fig. 14] is a partial view of the machine highlighting two positive type box evacuation stations according to the invention;

[0046] [Fig.15], [Fig.16], [Fig.17] and [Fig.18] illustrate, in schematic form and sequentially, the evacuation step of a Petri dish on one of the storage carousels according to the invention;

[0047] [Fig. 19] illustrate, in schematic form, the step of reading a front barcode according to the invention;

[0048] [Fig.20] illustrate, in schematic form, the step of reading a lateral barcode according to the invention;

[0049] [Fig.21] is an exploded view of a drive device according to a variant of realization of the invention;

[0050] [Fig.22] represents the simplified structure of a processing unit implementing the process according to a particular embodiment of the invention;

[0051] [Fig.23] is a partial view of the processing machine illustrating the principle of transferring a culture box between the storage carousel and the drive device. Detailed description of the invention

[0052] In all figures in this document, identical elements and steps are designated by the same numerical reference.

[0053] The invention is based on a complete automation solution for all the tasks necessary for reading and sorting culture plates. Its general principle consists of equipping the culture plate processing machine with a multi-station operating unit designed to receive culture plates in continuous succession and to automatically perform a cycle of successive treatments on each received culture plate. Each processing station fulfills a specific role in the processing cycle as the culture plates are brought to each station, with some of the processing stations being able to be activated at least partially simultaneously. Such automation makes it possible, among other things, to reduce the time required to read and sort culture plates, decrease the error rate and cross-contamination, and increase the processing rate.

[0054] The remainder of this document focuses more specifically on describing the invention in the context of a treatment of Petri dishes intended for laboratory use. of food microbiology. The invention is of course not limited to this particular field of application, but is of interest for all types of culture containers requiring biological or microbiological analysis.

[0055] Figure 1 shows an automated MT processing machine for Petri dishes according to a particular embodiment of the invention. The MT processing machine is shown empty, without Petri dishes, for the sake of clarity. It is a programmable machine that automatically performs repetitive tasks at high speed and with precision to sort the Petri dishes according to their analysis results. Dishes showing a positive analysis result for the presence of the microorganism(s) being sought (Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Escherichia coli, or Escherichia coli, for example) are called "positive" dishes, and those showing a negative analysis result are called "negative" dishes.

[0056] The MT processing machine comprises, more specifically, a first storage carousel CS1 mounted to rotate about a first axis XI, a second storage carousel CS2 mounted to a fixed position about a second axis X2, an operating unit arranged around the axis X2, and a human-machine interface HM. In this embodiment, the operating unit consists of eight stationary processing stations PT1-PT8 and a rotation drive device DER that enables the Petri dishes to rotate about the axis X2 relative to the processing stations PT1-PT8. All of these elements are mounted on a chassis, equipped, for example, with braked casters to facilitate movement and positioning of the machine within the laboratory.

[0057] Inside the chassis are installed the various control equipment for these elements, in particular the drive motors for the moving parts and the electronic components constituting the hardware unit controlling the machine. This control unit (not shown in the figure) is electrically connected to the mobile storage carousel CS1, to the various elements constituting the drive device DER, and to the interface HM, for the purpose of controlling these elements. The operating principle of this unit is detailed later in relation to [Fig. 22]. The CS1 storage carousel

[0058] The CS1 storage carousel is intended for storing Petri dishes to be treated. More specifically, for the purposes of the invention, this CS1 storage carousel acts both as a distribution station for the dishes to be treated and as a receiving station for the dishes that test negative for Listeria monocytogenes. The CS1 carousel has a generally cylindrical structure composed of two horizontal plates facing each other and connected by trios of vertical rods regularly distributed around the periphery of the structure around the XL axis. Each trio of rods, consisting of one rigid rod and two flexible rods arranged in a triangle, for example, is suitable for receiving a column of stacked Petri dishes. The upper part of the rod trios is made of a more flexible material than the rest to facilitate their elastic deformation when Petri dishes are inserted in batches. Alternatively, the entire rod is made of a flexible material suitable for this function. The CS 1 carousel shown here has twelve storage columns arranged at regular angles around the perimeter of the structure. Each column can hold at least forty Petri dishes, so the CS 1 carousel can hold at least four hundred and eighty dishes. The lower plate of the carousel rests on a PG sliding plate and has an opening at each of the storage columns that allows a Petri dish to pass and slide along the PG sliding plate.The CS1 carousel cooperates with a rotational drive system (for example, a stepper motor mechanically connected to a hub fixed to the lower plate) to make the carousel rotate around the XI axis relative to the PG sliding plate in a step corresponding to 1 / 12th of a turn, i.e., a step angle of 2ir / 12 in the counterclockwise direction. Note that the PG sliding plate also includes two openings, one allowing the passage of boxes to be processed from the CS1 carousel (from a storage column called the "distributor") along the vertical axis XD to the processing unit, and the other allowing the passage of negative boxes from the processing unit to the CS1 carousel (in a storage column called the "receiver") along the vertical axis XR. The CS2 storage carousel

[0059] The CS2 storage carousel is designed for storing Petri dishes positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Unlike the CS1 storage carousel, which is mounted to rotate, the CS2 carousel is fixed around the X2 axis. The CS2 carousel consists of two horizontal plates facing each other and connected by sets of vertical rods evenly distributed around the periphery of the structure, forming the columns for the positive Petri dishes in the machine. The vertical rods are flexible at their upper end to allow them to spread apart and facilitate the removal of the Petri dishes by stacking them. The CS2 carousel shown here has three receiving columns, CL1-CL3, distributed around the X2 axis, associated respectively with the PT4, PT6, and PT7 processing stations of the operating unit. The receiving column, CL1, is designed to hold "problem" dishes.The receiving columns CL2-CL3 are designed to accommodate "positive" Petri dishes. The lower plate of the carousel has an opening at each receiving column, allowing Petri dishes to pass from the operating unit to the CS2 carousel.

[0060] The multi-treatment station operating unit

[0061] The operating unit is designed to receive Petri dishes in succession continues from the CS 1 storage carousel and to perform a series of successive treatments on each of the culture boxes received, using the stationary processing stations PT1-PT8 and the DER drive device.

[0062] The operating unit comprises, for a given Petri dish: - a receiving station PT1 intended to receive the Petri dish from the storage carousel CS 1 (operating principle described later in relation to figures 5 to 7); - a front barcode reading station PT2 intended to read a barcode that may be affixed to the lid or the bottom of the Petri dish (operating principle described later in relation to [Fig. 19]); - a lateral barcode reading station PT3 intended to read the barcode that may be affixed laterally to the Petri dish (operating principle described later in relation to [Fig.20]); - a PT4 culture box opening station designed to detach the lid from the bottom of the Petri dish (operating principle described later in relation to figures 8 to 12) and to remove, if necessary, "problematic" Petri dishes; - an analysis and allocation station PT5 intended to analyze the contents of the Petri dish and to assign it a given type from among at least two predefined types of dish (positive type or negative type) according to the results of analysis (operating principle described later in relation to [Fig.13]); - two positive plate evacuation stations PT6-PT7 each intended to evacuate the Petri dish to the CS2 storage carousel in case of a positive result for the presence of listeria monocytogenes attributed to station PT5 (operating principle described later in relation to [Fig. 14]); - a negative plate evacuation station PT8 intended to evacuate the Petri dish to the CS1 storage carousel in case of a negative result for the presence of listeria monocytogenes assigned to station PT5 (whose operating principle is written later in relation to figures 15 to 18).

[0063] The PT1-PT8 processing stations are said to be "stationary" because they are fixedly mounted on the MT machine frame relative to the X2 axis. The PT1-PT8 stations are regularly distributed around the X2 axis at a pitch approximately equal to 1 / 8 of a turn, i.e. an angle pitch of 2ir / 8.

[0064] In order to increase processing speed, the PT1-PT8 processing stations and the control unit are configured, in this embodiment, so that the processing stations are likely to be activated at least partially concurrently. Indeed, processing stations with substantially identical processing durations are activated concurrently throughout their entire duration, whereas processing stations with distinct durations are activated partially concurrently (typically a short processing station will start after the start of a long processing station or will end before the end of the latter).

[0065] The operating unit further comprises a Petri dish drive device (DER) rotating around axis X2. Such a device includes eight Petri dish slots distributed at a pitch corresponding to the pitch of the processing stations PT1-PT8, i.e., a pitch of an angle 2ir / 8, so that a rotation of the DER drive device around axis X2 brings the Petri dish successively to each of the processing stations PT1-PT8. To do this, the DER drive device cooperates with a rotational drive system (detailed below) which allows the Petri dishes (arranged in the slots) to rotate discontinuously, i.e., turning step by step, in increments of an angle of 2ir / 8 relative to the lower plate of the carousel CS2.

[0066] It should be noted that the MT processing machine has as many Petri dishes in processing as there are workstations in the operating unit. All workstations operate continuously except when the DER drive device is rotating to transport the dishes from one workstation to another.

[0067] The structure of the rotational drive device according to the invention is now described in more detail in relation to figures 2 to 4.

[0068] As a preliminary point, it is important to note that Petri dishes are small, optically transparent plastic containers consisting of a base and a lid. Each of these parts has a side wall of a different diameter, with the lid wall overlapping the base wall when the dish is closed. This assembly occurs relatively without friction, so removing the lid from the base of the dish is effortless (this is also referred to as "separating" the base from the lid).

[0069] In this embodiment, the drive device DER comprises a double rotating drive plate consisting of an upper drive plate PS and a lower drive plate PI. The drive plates PS and PI are arranged parallel to each other and are joined together by connecting elements, such as spacers BL. The drive plates PS and PI are generally annular discs. They are mounted to rotate about the X2 axis by means of a rotary drive system, for example, a stepper motor mechanically connected to a central hub fixed to the PI and / or PS plate, aligned with the X2 axis. The stepper motor is configured to rotate the double stage in increments of 2 / 8 arcseconds relative to the upper (SS) and lower (SI) sliding plates of the device. The upper (SS) sliding plate is fixed to the frame relative to the X2 axis and extends partially onto the underside of the upper (SS) plate to secure the base to the lid of the Petri dishes at stations PT1, PT2, and PT3. The lower (SI) sliding plate is fixed to the frame relative to the X2 axis and extends onto the underside of the lower (PL) plate. The SS and SI sliding plates can also be equipped with through holes, depending on the processing station, sized for the passage of a manipulator (as in stations PT4, PT6, PT7, and PT8) or a backlight beam (as in station PT5), while still securing the base of the dish.

[0070] The upper plate PS comprises a series of eight upper slots, referenced Lsl-Ls8 in [Fig. 3], regularly spaced at an angle of 2ir / 8 around the periphery of the upper plate PS about the axis X2. The lower plate PI comprises a series of eight lower slots, referenced Lil-Li8, regularly spaced at an angle of 2ir / 8 around the periphery of the plate about the axis X2, the vertical axes of which coincide with those of the upper slots Lsl-Ls8. Thus, thanks to the presence of the spacers, the Lsl-Ls8 slots of the upper plate and the Lil-Li8 slots of the lower plate are arranged opposite each other in pairs so as to form upper-lower slot pairs that remain paired throughout the treatment cycle.

[0071] The upper housings Lsl-Ls8 each have a through hole sized to allow the passage of a Petri dish and terminating in an annular shoulder EA, which is shaped to retain the lid of the dish in the upper housing and to allow the bottom of the dish to pass through by gravity (in the absence of a sliding base). Figure 4 illustrates, for example, the detail of the upper housing Lsl which accommodates a Petri dish Bl. The bottom of the dish is referenced Fo and the lid of the dish, Co. In this particular embodiment, the Petri dish Bl is positioned upright in the housing Lsl. The latter comprises a through hole TT having a first conical portion (leading to a progressive reduction in cross-section), a second cylindrical portion, and terminating in an annular shoulder EA for retaining the lid.

[0072] As for the lower housings Lil-Li8, each has a through hole sized to allow the bottom of the Petri dishes to pass through the lower drive plate PI, the bottom of the dishes being held on the sliding base SL. These holes also allow the passage of a manipulator (in the case of the posts PT3, PT4, PT6, PT7 and PT8) or the passage of a rear light beam (case of post PT5).

[0073] In this particular embodiment, the drive plate PS, when the sliding plate SS is present, is used to move a complete Petri dish (base and lid assembly) to each of the treatment stations PT1, PT2, and PT8 (as with Petri dishes B1, B2, and B8 in [Fig. 2]). When the sliding plate SS is present, it is used to move only the lid of the Petri dish to each of the treatment stations PT3, PT4, PT5, PT6, and PT7 (as with Petri dishes B3 and B4). Meanwhile, the drive plate PI is used to hold the base of the Petri dishes and move it to each of the treatment stations PT3, PT4, PT5, PT6, and PT7 (as with Petri dishes B3 and B4, for example). It should be noted that transporting closed Petri dishes when the treatment allows reduces the risk of cross-contamination.

[0074] The paired alignment of the upper Lsl-Ls8 and lower Lil-Li8 compartments ensures that the lid remains paired with its base from one processing station to the next, and throughout the entire processing cycle of a Petri dish, even if the MT machine is stopped. This reduces the risk of switching the lid and / or base between different Petri dishes, thus ensuring the traceability of the analyzed sample (tracking carried by the barcode affixed to the base and / or lid of the dish).

[0075] It should be noted that the CS1 carousel and the double drive plate partially overlap on part of their respective peripheries so as to allow the distribution opening OD – at the receiving station PT1 – to be aligned with one of the pairs of housings of the drive plate and the receiving opening OR – at the discharge station PT8 – to be aligned with another pair of housings of the drive plate (as illustrated in more detail in [Fig. 23]). In other words, the CS1 carousel and the PS-PI double drive plate are partially nested so as to make the positions of their openings coincide during their respective rotations. The HM human-machine interface

[0076] The HM interface is the control panel that allows the user to communicate with the MT machine, providing instructions based on the desired processing cycle and responding to instructions sent to the microprocessor. These instructions include: the number of plates to be processed, the type of agar in the Petri dishes, imaging parameters, and the nature of the microorganisms being sought. The HM interface allows the invention to be used in automatic or semi-manual mode. Access to automatic mode allows processing of the Petri dishes to begin once they are loaded into the CSL carousel. semi-manual allows access to all processing stations and for them to be operated independently of each other. Example of machine operation

[0077] The operation of the MT machine, step by step, over a complete processing cycle and for a given Petri dish, is presented below in relation to Figures 5 to 20. These steps are implemented by a processing unit of the machine (the principle of which is detailed later in relation to [Fig. 22]).

[0078] After placing the Petri dishes in the CS1 storage carousel, the operator initiates a processing cycle via the HM interface. Care must be taken to keep at least one empty storage column available, dedicated to receiving and stacking positive Petri dishes from the operating unit. Optionally, the Petri dishes can be inserted into the storage columns not after, but before the actual placement of the CS1 and CS2 carousels on the machine frame.

[0079] It is assumed that the Petri dishes are filled with a food sample for which the presence of Listeria monocytogenes is sought.

[0080] At the beginning of the operation, in order to take up any play between the parts, the carousel CS1 and the drive device are briefly rotated so as to achieve perfect centering of the sliding plate PG and the carousel CS1 in the axis XI, and perfect centering of the double plate PS-PI in the axis X2. Sensors are provided to monitor the correct positioning of the carousels and the drive device at the start and throughout the processing cycle.

[0081] Step 1: Transfer of the Petri dish to the operating unit (Figures 5-7, 23)

[0082] The first step consists of transporting the Petri dish from the CS 1 carousel in which it is stored towards the DER drive unit at workstation PT1. To do this, the CS1 carousel and the DER drive unit are each rotated until the vertical axis associated with the storage column and the axis associated with the pair of housings on the double plate coincide with the distribution opening axis XD. Once the openings are positioned opposite each other along the XD axis, the Petri dish B1 located below the storage column is automatically transferred, under the effect of gravity acting on it, into the housing L of the upper plate PS through the distribution opening OD. The bottom of the dish then rests on the sliding surface SS.

[0083] The presence of chamfers on the outer edges of the openings of the CS1 carousel and the PS drive plate facilitates the transfer of the box (progressive passage) by limiting the risks of snagging in particular in the space located between the storage carousel and the drive plate.

[0084] The presence of the sliding sole SS serves as a support for the Petri dish (or at least the bottom of the dish) in the upper housing of the plate PSI and allows it to slide, when the upper plate PS is rotated around the axis X2 relative to the sliding sole SS.

[0085] A presence detector DP, connected to the processing unit, is arranged to detect the presence of a Petri dish in the opening OD, awaiting transfer to the next slot on the upper plate. The presence of a dish detected by the detector DP triggers the rotation of the double plate by an angular step of 2 / 8 around X2 in a counterclockwise direction (represented by arrow F in [Fig. 6]), causing the Petri dish B1 to move from station PT1 to station PT2, as well as the other dishes already present in the drive device DER to the next workstations. Once the rotation is complete, the next Petri dish in the storage column is automatically transferred to the next slot on the drive plate, and so on. The various stored Petri dishes thus arrive successively at station PT1 (movement shown by arrow J in Figures 6 and 7).

[0086] Thus the movement of the double drive plate synchronized with the transfer of a new Petri dish to the operating unit allows for automation of the movement of Petri dishes from one workstation to another, from their initial storage area to their final storage area.

[0087] Alternatively or in addition, a manipulator organ moving in translation along the XD axis may be provided to facilitate the transfer of Petri dishes from the CS1 carousel to the DER drive device.

[0088] When the last box in a storage column of carousel CS1 is transferred to the operating unit, the absence of a box detected by the DP detector causes carousel CS1 to move in an angular increment of 2 / 12 around axis XI, in order to position a new stack of boxes above the dispensing opening OD, and thus continue the continuous transfer of the culture boxes still stored in carousel CS1 to the operating unit. If the new storage column that appears above the dispensing opening OD is empty, the drive system of carousel CS1 is again activated in an angular increment of 2 / 12 around axis XI to process a new stack of boxes, and so on until all the dispensing columns have been processed.

[0089] The double plate is then actuated by the control unit to drive the Petri dish with an angular step of 2ir / 8 around the axis X2 in order to be transported from station PT1 to station PT2.

[0090] Step 2: Front-end barcode reading ([Fig. 19])

[0091] The second step consists of reading the barcode located on the lid or bottom of the Petri dish. This second step is carried out when the Petri dish is positioned at station PT2.

[0092] The PT2 station includes a first barcode reader LC-1, located on the periphery of the DER drive device and perpendicular to the axis of the XL housing, cooperating with a reflective mirror M, located above the PS plate and along the XL axis, to allow a frontal optical reading (full field or scanning) of the barcode on the lid of the Petri dish. Alternatively or in addition, the PT2 station is also equipped with a second barcode reader LC-2 located below the DER drive device and arranged to allow a rear optical reading (full field or scanning) of the barcode on the bottom of the Petri dish.

[0093] The machine's LC-1 and LC-2 barcode readers are activated when the double stage has completed its 2 / 8 rotation. The function of this workstation is to enable barcode reading and identification of the sample contained in the Petri dish, regardless of the barcode's position on the dish. The data from the barcode reading is saved in the machine's storage memory. This data allows the Petri dish to be tracked throughout the processing at the various workstations in the operating unit.

[0094] The double plate is then actuated by the pilot unit to drive the Petri dish with an angular step of 2ir / 8 around the axis X2 in order to be transported to station PT3.

[0095] Step 3: Reading the side barcode ([Fig.20])

[0096] The third step consists of reading the barcode located on the side surface of the Petri dish. This third step is carried out when the Petri dish is positioned at station PT3.

[0097] The PT3 station comprises a lateral barcode reader LC-3, positioned around the periphery of the drive device DER and perpendicular to the axis of the housing XL', and a manipulator M1 mounted to move along the XL' axis and cooperate with the LC-3 reader to enable optical reading of the barcode on the edge of the Petri dish. The manipulator M3, mounted to move between a lower position for support on the PS plate and an upper position for reading by the LC-3 reader. The manipulator M3 is also mounted to rotate about a 360-degree pivoting axis (movement indicated by arrow i), which allows the LC-3 reader to scan the entire surface of the Petri dish's edge when the manipulator M3 is in the reading position, thus ensuring barcode reading.

[0098] The double plate is then actuated by the pilot unit to drive the Petri dish with an angular step of 2ir / 8 around the axis X2 in order to be transported to station PT4.

[0099] Step 4: Opening the Petri dish or emptying (Figures 8 to 12)

[0100] The fourth step consists of detaching the lid from the bottom of the Petri dish. This fourth step is carried out when the Petri dish is positioned at station PT4.

[0101] Station PT4 includes a movable valve C4 mounted between a position for holding the bottom attached to the lid ([Fig. 8]) and a release position allowing the bottom to be detached from the lid (Figures 10-11). Station PT4 further includes a manipulator M4 mounted for translational movement along the axis X4 between a bottom dispensing position ([Fig. 9]) and a bottom dispensing position ([Fig. 11]) on the lower plate PI. Valve C4 includes an infeed port T for manipulator M4. The dispensing position is reached when valve C4 is in the bottom dispensing position after manipulator M4 has passed through the infeed port T of valve C4. Manipulator M4 cooperates with a drive motor (not shown), controlled by the control unit, which, when actuated, causes the manipulator to move vertically between the dispensing position and the bottom dispensing position.

[0102] As illustrated in [Fig. 8], upon arrival of the Petri dish, the movable flap C4 is in a horizontal position, in line with the sliding surface SS (i.e., extending under the lower surface of the upper plate PS) in order to ensure that the base Fo remains attached to the lid Co (only the lid Co is actually held in place by the upper housing Lsl of the double drive plate). At this stage, the function of the flap is to prevent the base Fo of the dish from falling, due to gravity, because of the absence of the sliding surface at position PT4. The manipulator M4, located on the axis of the inlet T of the flap, is in the lower position below the lower plate PI, in line with the sliding surface SI.

[0103] Then, as illustrated in [Fig. 9], the manipulator M4 is actuated by the control unit to move it vertically until it contacts the Petri dish Bl. At this point, the manipulator M4 is in the raised position and holds the base Fo of the Petri dish (sampling position). The movable valve C4 is then actuated by the control unit to move from its holding position (horizontal position) to its position for releasing the base of the dish (vertical position). The base Fo can then be detached from the lid Co of the dish, with the base Fo now resting on the manipulator M4.

[0104] Finally, as illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, the manipulator M4 is again actuated by the control unit to move it from its sampling position to its position for depositing the base Fo onto the lower plate of the drive device. The Petri dish opens naturally by gravity, as nothing holds the base Fo to its lid Co, which remains resting on the edges of the upper housing Lsl. This separation phase is shown schematically in [Fig. 12]. Once the manipulator M4 has reached the depositing position, the base Fo rests in the lower housing Ll of the double drive plate, while the lid Co of the dish is held in the upper housing Lsl, the vertical axis of which coincides with that of the lower housing Ll.

[0105] At this stage, the operating unit thus allows the base of the lid (containing the sample to be analyzed) to be separated from the Petri dish, while maintaining the pairing of these two elements throughout the processing cycle thanks to the double drive plate. In fact, even in the event of an unexpected machine stoppage, it remains easy to reassemble the Petri dish without risking mixing up the base and lid. The risk of errors in the processing results is therefore reduced.

[0106] Furthermore, station PT4 is configured to evacuate the Petri dish when it is considered problematic by the processing unit. "Problematic" refers to a Petri dish that could not be identified at stations PT2 and / or PT3, or a Petri dish that could not be opened at station PT4. To this end, manipulator M4 is mounted to move along the X4 axis between the aforementioned sampling position or the aforementioned dispensing position and an evacuation position in the receiving column CL1. The sampling position of manipulator M4 thus constitutes an intermediate position between a lower dispensing position and a high evacuation position. In the case of an unidentified Petri dish, for example, the valve is not activated and remains in its initial position of holding the base securely against the lid.The evacuation mechanism for a "problematic" Petri dish is then initiated (the principle of which is identical to that described later for station PT6).

[0107] The processing unit is configured to activate the manipulator M4 and / or the valve C4 in accordance with the principles described above, depending on the identification result previously obtained for the Petri dish. The double stage is then actuated by the control unit to rotate the Petri dish (base Fo and lid Co) by an angular increment of 2 / 8 around the axis X2 in order to be conveyed to station PT5. The valve C4 then returns to its initial holding position.

[0108] Step 5: Analysis of the contents of the Petri dish ([Fig. 13])

[0109] The fifth step consists of analyzing the food sample contained in the Petri dish in order to assign it a positive or negative type depending on the presence or not of the pathogens being sought. This fifth step is carried out when the Petri dish is positioned at station PT5.

[0110] The PT5 station is equipped with an imaging module comprising a light source BL, an image sensor CI, and an optically reflective mirror M'. These elements are placed in an optically opaque enclosure to block any optical phenomena that could interfere with the analysis. The processing unit is electrically connected to the light source BL and the image sensor CI for the purpose of controlling these elements and processing the results. The light source BL, the image sensor CI, and the reflective mirror M' are arranged to allow analysis by light transmission through the bottom of the box Fo. The light source BL is arranged in a backlight configuration relative to the sample. In this example, the light source BL is a light-emitting diode that emits white light with an illuminance between 800 and 6500 lux.The image sensor IC is configured to detect the light intensity received from the sample contained in the bottom of the box Fo, and convert it into an electrical signal for the driver unit. In this example, the image sensor IC is a CMOS sensor.

[0111] The processing unit is configured to control, via the control unit, the imaging device so as to allow the acquisition of an image or a series of images of the sample, the analysis of the acquired images and the assignment of the given box type according to the analysis results.

[0112] The analysis phase consists of searching, by image analysis, for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in the sample. If the analysis result is positive for the presence of the microorganism being sought, Petri dish B1 is assigned the type "positive". If the analysis result is negative, Petri dish B1 is assigned the type "negative". If the analysis result is indeterminate, Petri dish B1 is also assigned the type "positive".

[0113] Furthermore, it should be noted that if Petri dish B1 could not be identified at reading stations PT2 or PT3, Petri dish B1 is assigned the type "problematic". Similarly, if Petri dish B1 could not be opened at opening stations PT4, it is also assigned the type "problematic". The Petri dish is sorted by the machine according to the dish type assigned to it by the processing unit.

[0114] According to a particular embodiment, the analysis phase further includes the detection of the presence of microorganism colonies and the determination of the number of colonies present in the sample. Thus, a given sample, identified by its barcode, is assigned the type of box as well as information on the number of colonies detected. This data is stored in the memory of the processing unit.

[0115] Of course, various methods known to those skilled in the art for detecting or recognizing objects in an image can be used to perform image analysis and search for colonies of microorganisms, such as a learning method based on an artificial intelligence process (e.g., machine learning, supervised learning) or a method based on the application of a predefined digital filter, image segmentation, texture recognition, or even on a method of autocorrelation of image features. Those skilled in the art, knowing these methods, are able to adapt the algorithm executed at this stage of the process, particularly according to the nature of the analysis to be performed and the desired false positive or false negative rate.

[0116] The imaging module can of course be configured in other ways and include additional light sources in order to optimize lighting and light effects to facilitate the search for microorganisms.

[0117] The double plate is then actuated by the pilot unit to drive the Petri dish (bottom Fo and lid Co separate) by an angular step of 2ir / 8 around the axis X2 in order to be transported to the PT6 station.

[0118] Step 6: Evacuation of the "positive" type boxes (Figures 14 to 18)

[0119] This sixth step consists of reassembling the Petri dish and moving it to the CS2 storage carousel if the result is positive for Listeria monocytogenes. This sixth step is carried out when the Petri dish is positioned at station PT6 and when it is of the "positive" type.

[0120] Station PT6 comprises a manipulator M6 mounted to move along the discharge axis X6 between a bottom-picking position Fo from the lower plate PI (Figures 14-15), an intermediate position for securing the bottom Fo to the lid Co of the box at the level of the upper plate PS ([Fig. 16]), and a position for depositing the secured box into the storage carousel CS2 (Figures 17-18). The manipulator M6 cooperates with a drive motor (not shown), controlled by the control unit, which, when actuated, causes the manipulator to move vertically from a lower position to a higher position and vice versa. The manipulator M6 is dimensioned to be housed in the lower sliding base SI and whose stroke passes through the openings in the lower plate PI and the upper plate PS.

[0121] Upon arrival at station PT6, the bottom of the box Fo is placed on the lower plate PI while the cover Co is placed on the upper plate PS (Figures 14 and 15). The manipulator M6 is then embedded in the lower sliding surface SI so as not to hinder the movement of the bottom Fo on the sliding surface SI. On Controlled by the pilot unit, the drive motor of manipulator M6 is activated to drive its vertical movement and the upward movement of the base Fo towards the storage column C6 of carousel CS2. As it ascends, manipulator M6 passes through the opening in the upper plate PS so that the base Fo contacts the lid Co, which remains on the upper plate PS, and adheres to it with relatively little friction. To ensure smooth reassembly of the base and lid, the manipulator's speed is slowed as it passes through the upper plate PS ([Fig. 16]). Manipulator M6 continues its ascent to pass through the opening in the lower plate of carousel CS2, causing the reassembled sorting box to pass through, and then over, a pair of non-return hooks Crl-Cr2 to be stacked with the other previously processed positive Petri dishes.These anti-return hooks are hinged to allow a passive pivot connection with the carousel plate, making them mobile between a horizontal position ensuring the box is held in the CS6 storage column ([Fig. 18]) and an oblique (or even almost vertical) position allowing the box to be evacuated into the CS6 storage column ([Fig. 16]).

[0122] If the Petri dish is of a different type, it is not evacuated by the PT6 station. The manipulator M6 is not activated, and the bottom of the dish Fo and the associated lid Co remain in their respective housing.

[0123] The double plate is then actuated by the pilot unit to drive the Petri dish (bottom Fo and lid Co separate) by an angular pitch of 2ir / 8 around the axis X2 in order to be transported to the PT7 station.

[0124] Step 7: Evacuation of boxes of the "positive" type ([Fig. 14])

[0125] This seventh step is performed when the Petri dish is positioned at station PT7. This seventh step is identical to the sixth step and is implemented for a "positive" Petri dish and in cooperation with the second storage carousel CS2, when the storage column C6 is full (i.e., forty dishes stacked here) and therefore cannot accommodate any more Petri dishes. In this particular embodiment, station PT7 thus has the same function as station PT6 and acts in duplicate when the storage column associated with station PT6 is full, thereby increasing the storage capacity for positive dishes (i.e., eighty dishes here). The processing unit is configured to manage the counting of positive Petri dishes evacuated by station PT6 into column CL2 before activating station PT7 to evacuate other positive Petri dishes into column CL3.

[0126] The PT7 station comprises a manipulator M7 identical to the manipulator M6, i.e., mounted to move in translation along the evacuation axis X7, cooperating with a drive motor (not shown), controlled by the control unit. The manipulator M7 is sized to be housed in the lower sliding base SI and whose stroke passes through the openings of the lower plates PI and upper plates PS. On command from the control unit, the actuation of the drive motor causes the vertical movement of the manipulator M7 and the raising of the bottom Fo towards the storage column C6 of the carousel CS2, passing through the opening of the upper plate PS to secure itself to its cover, then passing through the opening of the lower plate of the carousel CS2, to bring the reassembled sorting box into the storage column C7 above a pair of anti-return hooks.

[0127] If the Petri dish is of a different type, it is not evacuated by the PT7 station. The manipulator M7 is not activated, and the bottom of the dish Fo and the associated lid Co remain in their respective housing.

[0128] The double plate is then actuated by the pilot unit to drive the Petri dish (bottom Fo and lid Co separate) by an angular step of 2ir / 8 around the axis X2 in order to be transported to the PT8 station.

[0129] Step 8: Evacuation of "negative" type boxes ([Fig.23])

[0130] This eighth step is carried out when the Petri dish is positioned at station PT8. This eighth step is identical to the sixth (or seventh) step and is implemented for a "negative" Petri dish in cooperation with the first CSL storage carousel

[0131] Station PT8 comprises a manipulator M8 identical to manipulator M6 (or M7), i.e., mounted to move in translation along the evacuation axis XR, cooperating with a drive motor (not shown), actuated by the control unit when a "negative" Petri dish is present at this station. Manipulator M8 is dimensioned to be housed in the lower sliding base SI and whose stroke passes through the openings in the lower plate PI and upper plate PS.On command from the control unit, the actuation of the drive motor causes the vertical movement of the manipulator M8 and the ascent of the bottom Fo towards the receiving column of the carousel CS1, passing through the opening of the upper plate PS to become attached to its cover, then passing through the opening OR of the lower plate of the carousel CS1 to bring the reassembled sorting box into the storage column and be stacked there with the other previously processed negative Petri dishes.

[0132] The double plate is then actuated by the control unit to drive the Petri dishes with an angular step of 2jt / 8 around the X2 axis as long as Petri dishes remain to be processed.

[0133] Thus, the MT machine is designed so that, depending on the type assigned to the Petri dish, it is evacuated to the first or second storage carousel, which allows for automatic sorting of the Petri dishes.

[0134] In practice, it is possible to perform a complete processing operation on a set of four hundred Petri dishes autonomously once the dishes are loaded into the CS1 storage carousel, thanks to the ingenious cooperation between the mobile CS1 storage carousel and the DER drive device, which are activated synchronously for each stack of Petri dishes to be dispensed. The number of dishes is given here simply for illustrative purposes, and a larger or smaller number can of course be considered, without departing from the scope of the invention, depending on the storage capacity of the CSL carousel. This storage capacity depends on the height and number of storage columns.

[0135] It should also be noted that the MT machine has as many Petri dishes in processing as there are workstations included in the operating unit, all workstations operating continuously except when the drive device is activated to rotate the Petri dishes relative to the different workstations.

[0136] An alternative embodiment of the Petri dish drive device according to the invention is now presented in relation to [Fig. 21]. Unlike the DER drive device, which is designed to hold Petri dishes upright ([Fig. 3]), this DER-2 drive device is designed to hold Petri dishes inverted, i.e., with the lid facing downwards and the base facing upwards. This alternative embodiment is particularly advantageous, for example, when the analysis requires that the Petri dishes remain closed throughout the process to avoid any risk of contamination of the culture medium. For instance, in mold analysis, it is essential that the culture media not be contaminated by highly volatile spores that may be present on the surface of the Petri dishes.Furthermore, because the mold filaments cover all or part of the surface of the Petri dish and can conceal different mold colonies, it is very difficult to identify and differentiate between different types of mold. Viewing the Petri dish from the bottom, by turning it over, allows for better differentiation between several types of mold because their colonies appear more clearly located beneath the filaments when observed from below.

[0137] As with the DER device, the DER-2 device comprises a double drive plate consisting of an upper drive plate PS-2 and a lower drive plate PL2, generally annular in shape, arranged in parallel and joined to each other by spacers. The DER-2 device It also includes an upper sliding plate SS-2 extending partially under the PS-2 plate and a lower sliding plate SI-2 extending under the PI-2 plate. The SS-2 and SL2 sliding plates are identical to those of the DER-2 device. The PS-2 and PL2 drive plates each have a series of eight identical slots evenly distributed around the periphery of the device and aligned vertically in pairs.

[0138] Unlike the DER device, the series of eight upper slots in the DER-2 device designed to hold Petri dishes do not have a lid retaining rim (i.e., an annular shoulder EA). In fact, each of the eight slots in the PS-2 plate includes a through hole having a first conical portion (leading to a progressive reduction in cross-section) and a second cylindrical portion sized to allow the Petri dish (base and lid) to pass through the slot. Thus, for processing Petri dishes upside down, it is sufficient to remove the PS-2 - PL2 double drive plate from the DER-2 device and replace it with the PS - PI double drive plate from the DER device, the sliding surfaces remaining identical in both embodiments.

[0139] Fig. 22 schematically and simply represents the structure of a Petri dish processing device in a particular embodiment, for example the processing unit implementing the process according to the invention (for example steps 1 to 8 described above in relation to Figures 5 to 20, 23).

[0140] This processing device 10 comprises a random access memory 130 (for example, RAM), a CPU unit 110, equipped for example with a processor or microprocessor, and controlled by a computer program stored in a read-only memory 120 (for example, ROM or a hard disk drive). At initialization, the code instructions of the computer program are, for example, loaded into the random access memory 130 before being executed by the processor of the CPU unit 110. Such a computer program allows the execution of at least one iteration of steps 1 to 8 described above (i.e., at least one processing cycle).

[0141] The processing unit 51 receives input instructions and processing start instructions (represented by arrow E) entered by the operator via the software interface. The processor of the CPI unit 51 then executes the process based on the input instructions E and outputs the corresponding control commands (represented by arrow S) to the various processing stations, according to the instructions of program 120, using the machine control unit.

[0142] This [Fig. 22] illustrates only one particular way, among several possible ways, of carrying out the various steps detailed above. Indeed, the treatment process according to the invention can be carried out interchangeably:

[0143] - on a reprogrammable computing machine (a PC computer, a processor DSP or a microcontroller) executing a program comprising a sequence of instructions; or

[0144] - on a dedicated computing machine (for example, a set of logic gates) such as an FPGA or an ASIC, or any other hardware module).

[0145] In the case where the invention is implemented on a reprogrammable computing machine, the corresponding program (i.e. the sequence of instructions) may be stored in a removable storage medium (such as, for example, a floppy disk, a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM) or not, this storage medium being readable partially or totally by a computer or a processor.

Claims

Demands

1. An automated machine for processing culture boxes, characterized in that it comprises: a first storage carousel (CS1) mounted to rotate mobile around a first axis (XI) and intended for the storage of culture boxes to be treated; a second storage carousel (CS2) fixedly mounted around a second axis (X2); an operating unit designed to receive culture plates in continuous succession from the first carousel and to perform a series of successive treatments on each of the culture plates received, said operating unit comprising: • a plurality of stationary processing stations (PT1-PT8) distributed at a predetermined interval around the second axis, at least some of said processing stations being capable of being activated at least partially simultaneously, said processing stations comprising: • a receiving station designed to receive a culture box to be processed from the first carousel; • an analysis and allocation station designed to analyze the contents of the received culture box and to assign it a given type from among at least two predefined box types based on the analysis results; • at least one first and one second evacuation station intended to evacuate the culture box to the first or second storage carousel depending on the type assigned to said culture box; • a rotating drive device (DER) for the culture boxes relative to the processing stations, said drive device including housings for culture boxes distributed according to a spacing corresponding to the spacing of the treatment stations so that a rotation of the drive device around the second axis brings a given culture box successively onto each of the treatment stations.

2. Machine according to claim 1, wherein said drive device comprises an upper drive plate (PS) and a lower drive plate (PI) arranged parallel to each other and fixed to each other, the upper and lower drive plates being mounted to rotate freely about the second axis and comprising a set of upper (Lsl-Ls8) and lower (Lil-Li8) Petri dish housings respectively, the upper and lower housings being regularly distributed around the periphery of the upper and lower drive plates about the second axis, and arranged opposite each other in pairs.

3. Machine according to claim 2, wherein said drive device further comprises: - an upper sliding plate (SS) mounted fixed relative to the second axis and extending partially on the lower face of the upper drive plate, and - a lower sliding plate (SI) mounted fixed relative to the second axis and extending on the lower face of the lower drive plate.

4. A machine according to claim 3, wherein the culture boxes to be treated are each provided with a lid attached to a base and arranged in an upright position in the first carousel, and wherein: - the upper compartments are each provided with a through hole sized for the passage of a culture box and whose lower end terminates in an annular shoulder sized to retain the lid in the upper compartment and to allow separation of the base from the lid by gravity in the absence of the upper sliding plate, the upper sliding plate extending partially under the upper drive plate to keep the base attached to the lid on at least one of the processing stations; - the lower housings are each equipped with a through hole sized for the passage of a culture box base, the lower sliding surface extending under the lower drive plate to hold the base in the lower housing;

5. Machine according to claim 4, wherein the stationary processing stations further comprise a culture box opening station (PT4) comprising: - a valve (C4) movably mounted between at least one position for holding the bottom attached to the lid and a release position allowing the bottom to be detached from the lid; - a manipulator (M4) movably mounted in translation between at least one position for picking up the bottom and a position for placing the bottom on the lower plate; the valve comprising an introduction light for the manipulator, said picking position being taken when the valve is in the position for holding the bottom after the manipulator has passed through the introduction light of the valve.

6. Machine according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein said at least one first and one second evacuation station each comprise a manipulator (M6, M7) mounted movably in translation between at least one bottom-picking position from the lower drive plate, an intermediate bottom-to-lid position at the level of the upper drive plate, and a bottom-and-lid-together deposit position in the first or second storage carousel.

7. A machine according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the stationary processing stations further comprise at least one culture box identification station belonging to the group comprising: a front barcode reader identification station (PT2) and a side barcode reader identification station (PT3), said upper sliding sole (SS) covering the underside of the upper drive plate on the receiving station and said at least one identification station.

8. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, said at least one first discharge station is intended to discharge towards the first carousel the culture boxes for which a first type is assigned and said at least one second discharge station is intended to discharge towards the second carousel the culture boxes for which a second type is assigned.

9. Machine according to claim 8, wherein the culture box opening station is further intended to evacuate to the first carousel the culture boxes for which a third type is assigned relating to a processing issue, the manipulator (M4) of said opening station being further mounted movable in translation between a position, among said picking position and said dropping position, and a box evacuation position in the second storage carousel.

10. Machine according to claim 3, wherein the culture boxes to be treated are each provided with a lid attached to a base and arranged in an upside-down position in the first carousel, and wherein: - the upper housings are each provided with a through hole sized for the passage of a culture box, the upper sliding surface extending partially under the upper drive plate to hold the closed culture box in an upside-down position in the upper housing on at least one of the treatment stations; - the lower housings are each provided with a through hole sized for the passage of a culture box, the lower sliding surface extending under the lower drive plate to support the base holding the closed culture box in an upside-down position in the lower housing;

11. A method for processing culture plates using an automated processing machine comprising a first storage carousel (CS1), a second storage carousel (CS2), and an operating unit for receiving the culture plates in succession continues and to perform a series of successive treatments on each of the culture boxes, the operating unit comprising a plurality of stationary treatment stations (PT1-PT8) distributed at a constant pitch around an axis of rotation and a rotation drive device (DER) of the culture boxes relative to the treatment stations, said drive device comprising culture box housings distributed at a pitch corresponding to the pitch of the treatment stations so that a rotation of the drive device around the second axis brings a given culture box successively to each of the treatment stations to perform the following steps, at least partially concomitantly: - receiving a culture box to be treated from the first carousel;- analysis of the contents of the received culture box and assignment to said box of a given type from among at least two predefined box types according to the analysis results; - removal of the culture box whose contents have been analyzed to the first or second storage carousel according to the type assigned to said culture box.

12. Product computer program, comprising program code instructions for implementing the method according to claim 11, when said program is executed on a computer.

13. A computer-readable, non-transient storage medium storing a computer program product according to claim 12.