Incubator for high-throughput environmental variables, culture apparatus, and culture method

Abstract

An incubator 4 (fig.4) for providing high throughput environmental variables comprises a housing 41 containing a plurality of racks 47 arranged in a linear array, each rack defining placement holes 48

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of microbial culture, in particular to an incubator for high-throughput environmental variables, a culture apparatus, and a culture method. BACKGROUND

[0002] A microbial incubator is an apparatus specially designed to provide a controlled environment for promoting growth of microorganisms. Incubators are important for biological research, medical testing, quality control in the food industry, and other fields. According to different requirements, the microbial incubator can adjust internal illumination, temperature, humidity and even gas composition (such as a carbon dioxide concentration), so as to meet the optimal growth conditions for particular microorganisms. In a research process of microbial culture, the effects of ambient changes such as temperature and illumination on growth of microorganisms need to be researched. Conventional incubators are typically limited to providing a single, uniform set of environmental conditions for microbial culture at any given time. To study the effects of a series of changes in environmental conditions or different combinations of environmental variables on microbial culture, multiple groups of tests need to be set up to culture the microorganisms for multiple times, which results in low efficiency of the tests and an increase in uncertainty of test results. SUMMARY

[0003] An objective of the present disclosure is to provide an incubator for high-throughput environmental variables, a culture apparatus, and a culture method, thereby solving a problem that an existing incubator simulates a single environmental variable and cannot implement cross culture of environment variables, and having advantages of safe and convenient pipetting and convenient operation.

[0004] To achieve the purpose, the present disclosure provides an incubator for high-throughput environmental variables, including a housing. Several racks are disposed in a linear array inside the housing, several placement holes for placing culture tubes are formed in each of the racks along a length direction of the racks, heat insulation pads are disposed between the racks and between the rack and the housing, a heating structure for heating the culture tubes is independently disposed inside each of the racks, a light strip is disposed on a base at a bottom of the housing, the light strip is located directly below the placement holes, and the light strip is disposed perpendicularly to the racks.

[0005] In a further embodiment, each of the placement holes is of a structure with openings at both ends of the placement hole, a limit plate is disposed at a bottom of each of the placement holes, a hole into which a bottom of each of the culture tubes is inserted is formed in a middle of the limit plate, and an aperture of the hole is less than an outer diameter of the culture tubes.

[0006] In a further embodiment, the heating structure includes a heating plate and a temperature control probe, the heating plate and the temperature control probe are respectively disposed on partition plates on both sides of the rack, the rack is made of a high thermal conductivity material; a temperature control chip and a light control chip are disposed on the base, the temperature control chip is electrically connected to the temperature control probe and a digital display control apparatus; the light control chip is electrically connected to the light strip and a digital display control apparatus, and the digital display control apparatus is disposed outside the housing.

[0007] In a further embodiment, a cover is disposed above the housing, a gear is rotatably disposed on the housing, a second motor that drives the gear to rotate is disposed on the housing, a rack that engages with the gear is disposed on the cover, and a guide rail that plays a guiding role for sliding of the cover is disposed on a top of the housing.

[0008] In a further embodiment, a battery for supplying power to the incubator is disposed on the base, a Bluetooth module is disposed on the base, and the Bluetooth module is electrically connected to a digital display control apparatus.

[0009] A culture apparatus including the foregoing incubator for high-throughput environmental variables includes a storage chamber for placing the incubator, an operation platform is disposed on an outer side of the storage chamber, and a pipetting mechanism is disposed above the operation platform.

[0010] In a further embodiment, the storage chamber includes a frame with an opening on at least one side, several partition plates are disposed in parallel and spaced apart vertically inside the frame, several first guide seats are disposed on each of the partition plates, each of the partition plates is divided into several placement areas for placing the incubator by the first guide seats, one side of each of the first guide seats close to the placement areas is provided with an inclined surface that is inclined inward gradually from top to bottom, several first support plates for supporting the incubator are disposed above the partition plate, a gap for inserting a lifting fork into a bottom of the incubator is disposed between the first support plates, a first moving module that drives the lifting fork to move between the storage chamber and the operation platform is disposed on the frame, a first wireless power supply module is disposed on the frame, a wireless power supply module receiving end adapted to the first wireless power supply module is disposed on the housing of the incubator, and the wireless power supply module receiving end is electrically connected to the digital display control apparatus disposed on the housing.

[0011] In a further embodiment, second guide seats that divide the operation platform into several operation areas are disposed on the operation platform, one side of each of the second guide seats close to the operation areas is provided with an inclined surface that is inclined inward gradually from top to bottom, second support plates for supporting the incubator are disposed at a bottom of each of the operation areas, a second wireless power supply module is disposed on the operation areas, a wireless power supply module receiving end adapted to the second wireless power supply module is disposed on the housing of the incubator, and the wireless power supply module receiving end is electrically connected to the digital display control apparatus disposed on the housing; and a second moving module is disposed on the operation platform, and the pipetting mechanism is disposed on the second moving module through a slot.

[0012] In a further embodiment, the pipetting mechanism includes a pipette, the pipette is clamped on a slot, a piston is disposed inside the pipette, the piston is sealed and slidably connected to an inner wall of the pipette, a screw that drives the piston to lift is disposed inside the pipette, the screw is rotatably connected to the piston, the screw is in threaded connection with a top cover on a top of the pipette, a first motor that drives the screw to rotate is disposed at a top of the screw, a needle is disposed at a bottom of the pipette, and a heating coil is disposed inside the needle; and an embedded water cavity is disposed on a side wall of the pipette, the water cavity is in communication with a bottom of an internal cavity of the pipette, the water cavity is in communication with a water inlet disposed on the side wall of the pipette, the water inlet is connected to a circulating pump through a water inlet pipe, the circulating pump is connected to a clean water tank through a connecting pipe, the circulating pump and the clean water tank are both disposed on the operation platform, a sewage tank is disposed on the operation platform, and a drainage outlet for draining water in the sewage tank is disposed on the operation platform.

[0013] A culture method of the foregoing culture apparatus includes the following steps:

[0014] SI: placing the incubator on the operation platform, supplying power to the incubator via the second wireless power supply module on the operation platform and the wireless power supply module receiving end on the housing, and inserting the culture tube into the placement hole of the rack;

[0015] S2: driving the pipette to move above the culture tubes via the second moving module, so that the needle passes through a sealing plug above the culture tube to pipette into the culture tube;

[0016] S3: moving the pipette to an upper part of the sewage tank via the second moving module, feeding the clean water in the clean water tank into the water cavity by means of the circulating pump through the connecting pipe and the water inlet pipe, cleaning interiors of the piston, the pipette, and the needle, storing sewage in the sewage tank after cleaning, and heating and disinfecting the needle via the heating coil;

[0017] S4: closing an opening at a top of the incubator via the housing after pipetting is completed, driving the lifting fork to move to an upper part of the operation platform via the first moving module, inserting the lifting fork into the bottom of the incubator between the second support plates, the first moving module lifting the incubator via the lifting fork, moving the incubator away from the operation platform, placing the incubator in the placement area of the storage chamber via the lifting fork, inserting the lifting fork into the placement area between the first support plates, placing the incubator on the first support plate, and the first wireless power supply module supplying power to the incubator by means of the wireless power supply module receiving end; and

[0018] S5: setting a temperature and illumination in the incubator via the digital display control apparatus, so as to culture.

[0019] Therefore, the incubator for high-throughput environmental variables, the culture apparatus, and the culture method in the present disclosure have the following advantages and positive effects.

[0020] First, the racks are disposed in the incubator, and the racks are partitioned by means of the heat insulation pads; the heating plate and the temperature control probe are disposed inside the racks, so as to facilitate independent temperature setting of each of the racks and facilitate to research culture conditions at different temperatures.

[0021] Second, an LED light strip is disposed on the base at the bottom of the housing, and the LED light strip is located directly below the placement hole, so as to provide illumination for the culture tube. A grid-like structure is formed in the incubator because the LED light strip is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the rack. Each culture tube is located at different temperatures and different illumination conditions, so as to facilitate culture research under high-throughput environment variable conditions.

[0022] Third, the first wireless power supply module is disposed on the frame in the present disclosure, and the wireless power supply module receiving end is disposed on the housing of the incubator, so as to supply power to the incubator located in the placement area by means of the first wireless power supply module. The second wireless power supply module is disposed on the operation area, and power is supplied to the incubator located in the operation area by means of the second wireless power supply module. The incubator is provided with the battery, so as to ensure the power supply stability of the incubator.

[0023] Fourth, the embedded water cavity is disposed on the side wall of the pipette; and the piston, the pipette, and the needle are cleaned with clean water, so as to avoid contamination of the next pipetting culture tube. The heating coil is disposed inside the needle. The heating coil heats and disinfects the needle to prevent contamination of a culture solution.

[0024] The technical solution of the present disclosure is further described in detail through the following accompanying drawings and embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 is a structure diagram of an incubator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a first sectional structure diagram of an incubator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a second sectional structure diagram of an incubator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a structure diagram of a culture apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 5 is a sectional structure diagram of a storage chamber in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 6 is a structure diagram of a back of a storage chamber according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 7 is a structure diagram of an operation platform according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 8 is a local structure diagram of an operation platform according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0033] FIG. 9 is a structure diagram of a pipetting mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] Reference numerals in accompanying drawings:

[0035] 1: storage chamber; 11: frame; 12: partition plate; 13: placement area; 14: first guide seat; 15: first support plate; 16: first wireless power supply module; 17: first moving module; 18: lifting fork;

[0036] 2: operation platform; 21: operation area; 22: second guide seat; 23: second support plate; 24: second wireless power supply module; 25: circulating pump; 26: clean water tank; 27: sewage tank; 28: connecting pipe; 29: water inlet pipe; 210: drainage outlet; 211: second moving module; 212: slot;

[0037] 3: pipetting mechanism; 31: pipette; 32: top cover; 33: screw; 34: first motor; 35: piston; 36: needle; 37: water cavity; 38: water inlet; 39: heating coil;

[0038] 4: incubator; 41: housing; 42: cover; 43: guide rail; 44: gear; 45: rack; 46: second motor; 47: rack; 48: placement hole; 49: heat insulation pad; 410: culture tube; 411: sealing plug; 412: heating plate; 413: temperature control probe; 414: LED light strip; 415: limit plate; 416: wireless power supply module receiving end; 417: battery; 418: Bluetooth module; 419: temperature control chip; 420: light control chip; 421: digital display control apparatus; and 422: base. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0039] In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that the orientation or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "upper", "lower", "inside" and "outside" are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the drawings, or are the orientation or positional relationships when the product of the invention is conventionally placed in use, just for facilitating the description of the present disclosure and simplifying the description, but not for indicating or hinting that the indicated apparatus or element must be in a specific orientation and be constructed and operated in the specific orientation, the terms cannot be understood as the restriction of the present disclosure. In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that unless otherwise explicitly specified and defined, the terms such as "dispose", "install", and "connect" should be generally understood, for example, they can be fixedly connected, and also can be detachably connected or integrally connected; they can be mechanically connected, and also can be electrically connected; and the components can be directly connected and also can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and they can be internal communication between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present disclosure can be understood according to specific conditions.

[0040] The following describes implementations of the present disclosure with reference to the following accompanying drawings.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, an incubator for high-throughput environmental variables includes a housing 41. The housing 41 is of a rectangular structure with an opening in the top. Several strip-shaped racks 47 are disposed in a linear array inside the housing 41. Several placement holes 48 for placing culture tubes 410 are formed in the rack 47 along a length direction of the rack 47. An aperture of the placement hole 48 is slightly larger than an outer diameter of the culture tube 410. The placement hole 48 is of a structure with openings at both ends, and a limit plate 415 is fixedly disposed at a bottom of the placement hole 48. A hole into which a bottom of the culture tube 410 is inserted is formed in a middle of the limit plate 415, and an aperture of the hole is less than an outer diameter of the culture tube 410. The limit plate 415 improves the stability of placing the culture tube 410 in the housing 41, and allows a bottom of the culture tube 410 to protrude from the limit plate 415, so as to facilitate illumination for the culture tube 410.

[0042] Heat insulation pads 49 are disposed between the racks 47, and between the rack 47 and the housing 41. The heat insulation pad 49 partitions the adjacent racks 47, so as to reduce mutual temperature influence between the adjacent racks 47, thereby facilitating independent setting and control for temperatures on each rack 47. Each rack 47 is internally independently provided with a heating structure for heating the culture tube 410. The heating structure includes a heating plate 412 and a temperature control probe 413, and the heating plate 412 and the temperature control probe 413 are respectively fixedly disposed on partition plates 12 on both sides of the rack 47.

[0043] The heating plate 412 is configured to heat the rack 47, so as to provide a set temperature for each rack 47, thereby facilitating research on culture conditions at different temperatures. The temperature control probe 413 is configured to detect a temperature of the rack 47. When the temperature of the rack 47 is higher than a set value, the power of the heating plate 412 is decreased or the heating plate 412 is turned off via the digital display control apparatus 421. When the temperature of the rack 47 is lower than the set value, the power of the heating plate 412 is increased or the heating plate 412 is turned on via the digital display control apparatus 421. A temperature of the rack 47 is maintained at a specified temperature, so that the temperature stability of the rack 47 is improved.

[0044] The rack 47 is made of a high thermal conductivity material, which improves a heat conduction effect and improves temperature uniformity of the culture tubes 410 located on the same rack 47.

[0045] A light strip is disposed on the base 422 at the bottom of the housing 41, and the light strip is located directly below the placement hole 48. The light strip is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the rack 47. The light strip is an LED light strip 414, and is configured to provide illumination for the culture tube 410. A grid-like structure is formed in the incubator 4 because the LED light strip 414 is disposed perpendicularly to the rack 47. Each culture tube 410 is located at different temperatures and different illumination conditions, so as to facilitate culture research under high-throughput environment variable conditions.

[0046] A temperature control chip 419 and a light control chip 420 are disposed on the base 422. The temperature control chip 419 is electrically connected to the temperature control probe 413 and the digital display control apparatus 421. The light control chip 420 is electrically connected to the light strip and the digital display control apparatus 421. The digital display control apparatus 421 is disposed outside the housing 41. The digital display control apparatus 421 is of an existing structure. The digital display control apparatus 421 is connected to the light control chip 420, the temperature control chip 419, the LED light strip 414, a temperature probe, and the heating plate 412 by using an existing technology as required.

[0047] A cover 42 is disposed above the housing 41. A gear 44 is rotatably disposed on the housing 41 through a bearing. A second motor 46 that drives the gear 44 to rotate is disposed on the housing 41. A rack 45 that engages with the gear 44 is fixedly disposed on the cover 42. The cover 42 slides along the housing 41 via the gear 44 and the rack 45, so as to close or open the opening in the top of the housing 41. A guide rail 43 that plays a guiding role for sliding of the cover 42 is disposed on the top of the housing 41.

[0048] A battery 417 that supplies power to the incubator 4 is disposed on the base 422. A Bluetooth module 418 is disposed on the base 422, and the Bluetooth module 418 is electrically connected to a digital display control apparatus 421 by using the existing technology as required. The incubator 4 in communication with a computer or a portable mobile device via the Bluetooth module 418.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 4, a culture apparatus including the incubator 4 for high-throughput environmental variables includes a storage chamber 1 for placing the incubator 4. An operation platform 2 is disposed on an outer side of the storage chamber 1, and a pipetting mechanism 3 is disposed above the operation platform 2. The culture tube 410 on the operation platform 2 is subjected to pipetting via the pipetting mechanism 3.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the storage chamber 1 includes a frame 11 with an opening on at least one side, and a plurality of partition plates 12 are fixedly disposed in parallel and spaced apart vertically inside the frame 11. Several first guide seats 14 are fixedly disposed on the partition plate 12, and the partition plate 12 is divided into several placement areas 13 for placing the incubator 4 by the first guide seats 14. A bottom size of the placement area 13 is slightly larger than a size of the incubator 4, so that the incubator 4 is just placed in the placement area 13. One side of each of the first guide seat 14 close to the placement area 13 is provided with an inclined surface that is inclined inward gradually from top to bottom, and the incubator 4 is positioned via the inclined surface, so that the incubator 4 is stably and accurately placed in the placement area 13. Several first support plates 15 for supporting the incubator 4 are fixedly disposed above the partition plate 12. A gap for inserting a lifting fork 18 into a bottom of the incubator 4 is disposed between the first support plates 15, so that the incubator 4 is placed in or taken out of the placement area 13 via the lifting fork 18.

[0051] A first moving module 17 that drives the lifting fork 18 to move between the storage chamber 1 and the operation platform 2 is disposed on the frame 11. The first moving module 17 is of an existing structure, and can implement three-dimensional movement of the lifting fork 18 on X, Y, and Z axes. A first wireless power supply module 16 is disposed on the frame 11, and a wireless power supply module receiving end 416 adapted to the first wireless power supply module 16 is disposed on the housing 41 of the incubator 4. The wireless power supply module receiving end 416 is electrically connected to the digital display control apparatus 421 disposed on the housing 41. Power is supplied to the incubator 4 located in the placement area 13 via the first wireless power supply module 16.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, second guide seats 22 that divide the operation platform 2 into several operation areas 21 are fixedly disposed on the operation platform 2, and one side of the second guide seat 22 close to the operation area 21 is provided with an inclined surface that is inclined inward gradually from top to bottom, so that the incubator 4 is accurately placed in the operation area 21. Second support plates 23 for supporting the incubator 4 are disposed at a bottom of the operation area 21, and the lifting fork 18 passes between the second support plates 23, so as to take the incubator 4 out of the operation area 21. A second wireless power supply module 24 is disposed on the operation area 21, and power is supplied to the incubator 4 located in the operation area 21 via the second wireless power supply module 24.

[0053] A second moving module 211 is disposed on the operation platform 2, and the pipetting mechanism 3 is disposed on the second moving module 211 via a slot 212. The second moving module 211 is of an existing structure, and can implement three-dimensional movement of the pipetting mechanism 3 on X, Y, and Z axes.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 9, the pipetting mechanism 3 includes a pipette 31, and the pipette 31 is clamped on the slot 212. A piston 35 is disposed inside the pipette 31. The piston 35 is a rubber plug. The piston 35 is sealed and slidably connected to an inner wall of the pipette 31, so as to absorb a culture solution into the pipette 31 or extrude a culture solution out of the pipette 31. A screw 33 that drives the piston 35 to lift is disposed inside the pipette 31, and the screw 33 is rotatably connected to the piston 35 via a bearing. The screw 33 is in threaded connection with a top cover 32 on a top of the pipette 31, and a first motor 34 that drives the screw 33 to rotate is disposed at a top of the screw 33. The first motor 34 drives the piston 35 to move up and down via the screw 33. A needle 36 is disposed at a bottom of the pipette 31, and the needle 36 can penetrate a sealing plug 411 above the culture tube 410. The sealing plug 411 is made of elastic rubber. After the needle 36 is pulled out, a sealing performance of the sealing plug 411 is maintained, so as to avoid the culture tube 410 from being subjected to external contamination. A heating coil 39 is disposed inside the needle 36. The heating coil 39 heats and disinfects the needle 36.

[0055] An embedded water cavity 37 is disposed on a side wall of the pipette 31, and the water cavity 37 in communication with a bottom of an internal cavity of the pipette 31. The water cavity 37 is in communication with a water inlet 38 disposed on the side wall of the pipette 31. The water inlet 38 is connected to a circulating pump 25 through a water inlet pipe 29, and the circulating pump 25 is connected to a clean water tank 26 through a connecting pipe 28. The circulating pump 25 and the clean water tank 26 are both disposed on the operation platform 2. A sewage tank 27 is disposed on the operation platform 2, and a drainage outlet 210 for draining water in the sewage tank 27 is disposed on the operation platform 2. Clean water in the clean water tank 26 enters the water cavity 37 through the connecting pipe 28 and the water inlet pipe 29, so as to clean the piston 35, the pipette 31, and the needle 36, thereby avoiding contamination of the next pipetting culture tube 410.

[0056] A culture method of the foregoing culture apparatus includes the following steps:

[0057] SI: The incubator 4 is placed on the operation platform 2, power is supplied to the incubator 4 via the second wireless power supply module 24 on the operation platform 2 and the wireless power supply module receiving end 416 on the housing 41, and the culture tube 410 is inserted into the placement hole 48 of the rack 47.

[0058] S2: The pipette 31 is driven to move above the culture tube 410 via the second moving module 211, so that the needle 36 passes through a sealing plug 411 above the culture tube 410 to pipette into the culture tube 410.

[0059] S3: The pipette 31 is moved to an upper part of the sewage tank 27 via the second moving module 211, the clean water in the clean water tank 26 is fed into the water cavity 37 via the circulating pump 25 through the connecting pipe 28 and the water inlet pipe 29, interiors of the piston 35, the pipette 31, and the needle 36 are cleaned, sewage is stored in the sewage tank 27 after cleaning, and the needle 36 is heated and disinfected via the heating coil 39.

[0060] S4: An opening at a top of the incubator 4 is closed via the housing 41 after pipetting is completed. The first moving module 17 drives the lifting fork 18 to move to an upper part of the operation platform 2. The lifting fork 18 is inserted into the bottom of the incubator 4 between the second support plates 23. The first moving module 17 lifts the incubator 4 via the lifting fork 18. The incubator 4 is moved away from the operation platform 2. The incubator 4 is placed in the placement area 13 of the storage chamber 1 via the lifting fork 18. The lifting fork 18 is inserted into the placement area 13 between the first support plates 15. The incubator 4 is placed on the first support plate 15. The first wireless power supply module 16 supplies power to the incubator 4 via the wireless power supply module receiving end 416.

[0061] S5: A temperature and illumination in the incubator 4 are set via the digital display control apparatus 421, so as to culture.

[0062] Therefore, the incubator for high-throughput environmental variables, the culture apparatus including the incubator for high-throughput environmental variables, and the culture method of the culture apparatus in the present disclosure are adopted, thereby solving a problem that an existing incubator cannot implement cross culture of environment variables, and having advantages of safe and convenient pipetting and convenient operation.

[0063] Finally, it should be noted that the foregoing embodiments are merely intended to describe the technical solutions of the present disclosure, but not to limit the present disclosure. Although the present disclosure is described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they may still make modifications or equivalent replacements to the technical solutions described in the present disclosure. However, these modifications or equivalent replacements shall not cause the modified technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An incubator for high-throughput environmental variables, comprising a housing, wherein a plurality of racks are disposed in a linear array inside the housing, a plurality of placement holes for placing culture tubes are formed in each of the racks along a length direction of the racks; heat insulation pads are disposed between the racks and between the racks and the housing, a heating structure for heating the culture tubes is independently disposed inside each of the racks; a light strip is disposed on a base at a bottom of the housing, the light strip is located directly below the placement holes, and the light strip is disposed perpendicularly to the racks.

2. The incubator for high-throughput environmental variables according to claim 1, wherein each of the placement holes is of a structure with openings at both ends of the placement hole, a limit plate is disposed at a bottom of each of the placement holes, a hole into which a bottom of each of the culture tubes is inserted is formed in a middle of the limit plate, and an aperture of the hole is less than an outer diameter of the culture tubes.

3. The incubator for high-throughput environmental variables according to claim 1, wherein the heating structure comprises a heating plate and a temperature control probe, the heating plate and the temperature control probe are respectively disposed on partition plates on both sides of the rack, the rack is made of a high thermal conductivity material; a temperature control chip and a light control chip are disposed on the base, the temperature control chip is electrically connected to the temperature control probe and a digital display control apparatus; the light control chip is electrically connected to the light strip and a digital display control apparatus, and the digital display control apparatus is disposed outside the housing.

4. The incubator for high-throughput environmental variables according to claim 1, wherein a cover is disposed above the housing, a gear is rotatably disposed on the housing, a second motor that drives the gear to rotate is disposed on the housing, a rack that engages with the gear is disposed on the cover, and a guide rail that plays a guiding role for sliding of the cover is disposed on a top of the housing.

5. The incubator for high-throughput environmental variables according to claim 1, wherein a battery for supplying power to the incubator is disposed on the base, a Bluetooth module is disposed on the base, and the Bluetooth module is electrically connected to a digital display control apparatus.

6. A culture apparatus comprising the incubator for high-throughput environmental variables according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a storage chamber for placing the incubator, wherein an operation platform is disposed on an outer side of the storage chamber, anda pipetting mechanism is disposed above the operation platform.

7. The culture apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the storage chamber comprises a frame with an opening on at least one side, a plurality of partition plates are disposed in parallel and spaced apart vertically inside the frame, a plurality of first guide seats are disposed on each of the partition plates, each of the partition plates is divided into a plurality of placement areas for placing the incubator by the first guide seats, one side of each of the first guide seats close to the placement areas is provided with an inclined surface that is inclined inward gradually from top to bottom, a plurality of first support plates for supporting the incubator are disposed above the partition plates, a gap for inserting a lifting fork into a bottom of the incubator is disposed between the first support plates, a first moving module that drives the lifting fork to move between the storage chamber and the operation platform is disposed on the frame, a first wireless power supply module is disposed on the frame, a wireless power supply module receiving end adapted to the first wireless power supply module is disposed on the housing of the incubator, and the wireless power supply module receiving end is electrically connected to the digital display control apparatus disposed on the housing.

8. The culture apparatus according to claim 6, wherein second guide seats that divide the operation platform into a plurality of operation areas are disposed on the operation platform, one side of each of the second guide seats close to the operation areas is provided with an inclined surface that is inclined inward gradually from top to bottom, second support plates for supporting the incubator are disposed at a bottom of each of the operation areas, a second wireless power supply module is disposed on the operation areas, a wireless power supply module receiving end adapted to the second wireless power supply module is disposed on the housing of the incubator, and the wireless power supply module receiving end is electrically connected to the digital display control apparatus disposed on the housing; and a second moving module is disposed on the operation platform, and the pipetting mechanism is disposed on the second moving module through a slot.

9. The culture apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the pipetting mechanism comprises a pipette, the pipette is clamped on a slot, a piston is disposed inside the pipette, the piston is sealed and slidably connected to an inner wall of the pipette, a screw that drives the piston to lift is disposed inside the pipette, the screw is rotatably connected to the piston, the screw is in threaded connection with a top cover on a top of the pipette, a first motor that drives the screw to rotate is disposed at a top of the screw, a needle is disposed at a bottom of the pipette, and a heating coil is disposed inside the needle; and an embedded water cavity is disposed on a side wall of the pipette, the water cavity is in communication with a bottom of an internal cavity ofthe pipette, the water cavity is in communication with a water inlet disposed on the side wall of the pipette, the water inlet is connected to a circulating pump through a water inlet pipe, the circulating pump is connected to a clean water tank through a connecting pipe; the circulating pump and the clean water tank are both disposed on the operation platform, a sewage tank is disposed on the operation platform, and a drainage outlet for draining water in the sewage tank is disposed on the operation platform.

10. A culture method of the culture apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9, comprising the following steps:SI: placing the incubator on the operation platform, supplying power to the incubator via the second wireless power supply module on the operation platform and the wireless power supply module receiving end on the housing, and inserting the culture tube into the placement hole of the rack;S2: driving the pipette to move above the culture tubes via the second moving module, so that the needle passes through a sealing plug above the culture tube to pipette into the culture tube;S3: moving the pipette to an upper part of the sewage tank via the second moving module, feeding the clean water in the clean water tank into the water cavity by means of the circulating pump through the connecting pipe and the water inlet pipe, cleaning interiors of the piston, the pipette, and the needle, storing sewage in the sewage tank after cleaning, and heating and disinfecting the needle via the heating coil;S4: closing an opening at a top of the incubator via the housing after pipetting is completed, driving the lifting fork to move to an upper part of the operation platform via the first moving module, inserting the lifting fork into the bottom of the incubator between the second support plates, the first moving module lifting the incubator via the lifting fork, moving the incubator away from the operation platform, placing the incubator in the placement area of the storage chamber via the lifting fork, inserting the lifting fork into the placement area between the first support plates, placing the incubator on the first support plate, and the first wireless power supply module supplying power to the incubator by means of the wireless power supply module receiving end; andS5: setting a temperature and illumination in the incubator via the digital display control apparatus, so as to culture.AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS:-09 02 26WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An incubator for high-throughput environmental variables, comprising a housing, wherein a plurality of racks are disposed in a linear array inside the housing, a plurality of placement holes for placing culture tubes are formed in each of the racks along a length direction of the racks; heat insulation pads are disposed between the racks and between the racks and the housing, a heating structure for heating the culture tubes is independently disposed inside each of the racks; a light strip is disposed on a base at a bottom of the housing, the light strip is located directly below the placement holes, and the light strip is disposed perpendicularly to the racks.

2. The incubator for high-throughput environmental variables according to claim 1, wherein each of the placement holes is of a structure with openings at both ends of the placement hole, a limit plate is disposed at a bottom of each of the placement holes, a hole into which a bottom of each of the culture tubes is inserted is formed in a middle of the limit plate, and an aperture of the hole is less than an outer diameter of the culture tubes.

3. The incubator for high-throughput environmental variables according to claim 1, wherein the heating structure comprises a heating plate and a temperature control probe, the heating plate and the temperature control probe are respectively disposed on partition plates on both sides of the rack, the rack is made of a high thermal conductivity material; a temperature control chip and a light control chip are disposed on the base, the temperature control chip is electrically connected to the temperature control probe and a digital display control apparatus; the light control chip is electrically connected to the light strip and a digital display control apparatus, and the digital display control apparatus is disposed outside the housing.

4. The incubator for high-throughput environmental variables according to claim 1, wherein a cover is disposed above the housing, a gear is rotatably disposed on the housing, a first motor that drives the gear to rotate is disposed on the housing, a rack that engages with the gear is disposed on the cover, and a guide rail that plays a guiding role for sliding of the cover is disposed on a top of the housing.

5. The incubator for high-throughput environmental variables according to claim 1, wherein a battery for supplying power to the incubator is disposed on the base, a Bluetooth module is disposed on the base, and the Bluetooth module is electrically connected to a digital display control apparatus.

6. A culture apparatus comprising the incubator for high-throughput environmental variables according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a storage chamber for placing the incubator, wherein an operation platform is disposed on an outer side of the storage chamber, and09 02 26a pipetting mechanism is disposed above the operation platform.

7. The culture apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the storage chamber comprises a frame with an opening on at least one side, a plurality of partition plates are disposed in parallel and spaced apart vertically inside the frame, a plurality of first guide seats are disposed on each of the partition plates, each of the partition plates is divided into a plurality of placement areas for placing the incubator by the first guide seats, one side of each of the first guide seats close to the placement areas is provided with an inclined surface that is inclined inward gradually from top to bottom, a plurality of first support plates for supporting the incubator are disposed above the partition plates, a gap for inserting a lifting fork into a bottom of the incubator is disposed between the first support plates, a first moving module that drives the lifting fork to move between the storage chamber and the operation platform is disposed on the frame, a first wireless power supply module is disposed on the frame, a wireless power supply module receiving end adapted to the first wireless power supply module is disposed on the housing of the incubator, and the wireless power supply module receiving end is electrically connected to the digital display control apparatus disposed on the housing.

8. The culture apparatus according to claim 6, wherein second guide seats that divide the operation platform into a plurality of operation areas are disposed on the operation platform, one side of each of the second guide seats close to the operation areas is provided with an inclined surface that is inclined inward gradually from top to bottom, second support plates for supporting the incubator are disposed at a bottom of each of the operation areas, a second wireless power supply module is disposed on the operation areas, a wireless power supply module receiving end adapted to the second wireless power supply module is disposed on the housing of the incubator, and the wireless power supply module receiving end is electrically connected to the digital display control apparatus disposed on the housing; and a second moving module is disposed on the operation platform, and the pipetting mechanism is disposed on the second moving module through a slot.

9. The culture apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the pipetting mechanism comprises a pipette, the pipette is clamped on a slot, a piston is disposed inside the pipette, the piston is sealed and slidably connected to an inner wall of the pipette, a screw that drives the piston to lift is disposed inside the pipette, the screw is rotatably connected to the piston, the screw is in threaded connection with a top cover on a top of the pipette, a second motor that drives the screw to rotate is disposed at a top of the screw, a needle is disposed at a bottom of the pipette, and a heating coil is disposed inside the needle; and an embedded water cavity is disposed on a side wall of the pipette, the water cavity is in communication with a bottom of an internal cavity of09 02 26the pipette, the water cavity is in communication with a water inlet disposed on the side wall of the pipette, the water inlet is connected to a circulating pump through a water inlet pipe, the circulating pump is connected to a clean water tank through a connecting pipe; the circulating pump and the clean water tank are both disposed on the operation platform, a sewage tank is disposed on the operation platform, and a drainage outlet for draining water in the sewage tank is disposed on the operation platform.

10. A culture method of the culture apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9, comprising the following steps:SI: placing the incubator on the operation platform, supplying power to the incubator via the second wireless power supply module on the operation platform and the wireless power supply module receiving end on the housing, and inserting the culture tube into the placement hole of the rack;S2: driving the pipette to move above the culture tubes via the second moving module, so that the needle passes through a sealing plug above the culture tube to pipette into the culture tube;S3: moving the pipette to an upper part of the sewage tank via the second moving module, feeding the clean water in the clean water tank into the water cavity by means of the circulating pump through the connecting pipe and the water inlet pipe, cleaning interiors of the piston, the pipette, and the needle, storing sewage in the sewage tank after cleaning, and heating and disinfecting the needle via the heating coil;S4: closing an opening at a top of the incubator via the housing after pipetting is completed, driving the lifting fork to move to an upper part of the operation platform via the first moving module, inserting the lifting fork into the bottom of the incubator between the second support plates, the first moving module lifting the incubator via the lifting fork, moving the incubator away from the operation platform, placing the incubator in the placement area of the storage chamber via the lifting fork, inserting the lifting fork into the placement area between the first support plates, placing the incubator on the first support plate, and the first wireless power supply module supplying power to the incubator by means of the wireless power supply module receiving end; andS5: setting a temperature and illumination in the incubator via the digital display control apparatus, so as to culture.T +44(0)30 0300 2000A

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