Storage unit, storage device, and cell culture system

Abstract

To provide a storage unit, a storage device, and a cell culture system capable of easily and continuously removing workpieces while improving reliability of stored workpieces.SOLUTION: A cell culture system storage device includes: an input section; a storage section having a sliding surface that slopes downward as it moves away from the input section in the horizontal direction, allowing the workpiece to slide by gravity and storing multiple workpieces lined up in the sliding direction; a removal section having above the sliding surface a stopper that stops the workpiece, and allowing the stopped workpiece to be removed to the outside; and a restriction section that is located closer to the input section than the stopper in the sliding direction and faces the top surface of the workpiece that hits the stopper, restricting the displacement of the workpiece in the direction away from the sliding surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a storage unit, a storage device, and a cell culture system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an automatic cell culture facility including a raw material storage room for temporarily storing cells to be cultured, and automatically transporting the raw material cells passing through a raw material processing room from this raw material storage room using a transport robot.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in an automatic cell culture system that automatically transports workpieces as in Patent Document 1, it is desired that the stored workpieces are also automatically transported by a robot. However, in the above automatic cell culture system, it is necessary to be able to continuously take out the stored workpieces. Therefore, the structure of the device for storing the workpieces becomes complicated, or the operation of taking out by the transport robot becomes complicated. Furthermore, when performing the work storage operation, if damage occurs due to an unintentional overturning of the workpiece, there is a problem that the damaged workpiece may be automatically transported and cell culture may not be performed.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a storage unit, a storage device, and a cell culture system that can easily and continuously take out workpieces while improving the reliability of the stored workpieces.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A storage unit according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes an input unit into which a workpiece is inserted, a sliding surface that slopes downward as it moves away from the input unit in the horizontal direction, and that allows the workpiece inserted from the input unit to slide obliquely downward by gravity, and a storage unit that can store a plurality of the workpieces side by side in the sliding direction. The storage unit also includes a stopper that is located above the sliding surface and that stops the workpiece by hitting the front surface of the sliding workpiece, and a take-out unit that can take out the workpiece that has hit the stopper and stopped, to the outside. The storage unit further includes a regulating unit that is provided at a position closer to the input unit than the stopper in the sliding direction, that is provided so as to face the upper surface of the workpiece that has hit the stopper, and that regulates displacement of the workpiece in a direction away from the sliding surface.

[0007] A storage device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a plurality of the above-described storage units arranged vertically in multiple stages. In the storage unit provided in a lower stage than the storage unit provided in the uppermost stage, the regulating unit is provided on the lower surface of the storage unit of the storage unit arranged immediately above.

[0008] A cell culture system according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a stocker that houses the above-described storage device, a clean bench that has a liquid operation area for performing a dispensing operation on the workpiece, an incubator that has a culture area for growing cells in the culture solution housed in the workpiece, and a transfer device that is provided in the stocker and that can grip the workpiece tray and horizontally take out the workpiece from the take-out unit of the storage unit.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the storage device of the cell culture system of the present disclosure, it is possible to easily and continuously take out workpieces while improving the reliability of the stored workpieces.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] <First Embodiment> Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. The cell culture system 100 of the present embodiment is a system for performing cell culture and analysis of cells after culture unmanned and automatically.

[0012] <Cell Culture System> As shown in FIG. 1, the cell culture system 100 of the present embodiment includes a stocker 110, an incubator 130, a clean bench 140, and a pass box 150.

[0013] <Stocker> The stocker 110 is a facility for storing a plurality of workpieces W used in the incubator 130 and the clean bench 140. The stocker 110 includes at least a stocker main body 111, a storage device 112, and a transfer device 113. Although details will be described later, the workpiece W includes a workpiece main body such as a flask and a well plate, and a workpiece tray for supporting the workpiece main body. One workpiece W may include a plurality of workpiece main bodies of the same type.

[0014] The stocker main body 111 forms a storage area R1 inside. The stocker main body 111 maintains the storage area R1 in a sterile space that is higher than atmospheric pressure (positive pressure) and has a high cleanliness. The stocker main body 111 is provided with a door (not shown) that opens and closes when an operator inserts a new work W into the storage device 112.

[0015] The storage device 112 is arranged inside the storage area R1 and is capable of storing a plurality of works W. The transfer device 113 takes out a predetermined work W from among the plurality of works W stored in the storage device 112 and delivers it to the clean bench 140. As the transfer device 113, a so-called six-axis robot can be exemplified.

[0016] <Incubator> The incubator 130 is equipment for growing cells in a culture solution. The incubator 130 forms a culture area R3 that is controlled at a temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration suitable for cell culture. In the culture area R3 of the incubator 130, for example, a plurality of shaking stages (not shown) are provided, and a configuration is adopted in which a plurality of works W can be shaken. The incubator 130 has another transfer device (not shown) for automatically transferring the work W inside the culture area R3.

[0017] <Clean bench> The clean bench 140 performs various operations and processes on the work W, such as dispensing operations and extraction of waste liquid. Inside the clean bench 140, a liquid operation area R4, which is a space with a high cleanliness and in a sterile state, is formed. The clean bench 140 has another transfer device (not shown) for automatically transferring the work W inside the liquid operation area R4.

[0018] <Pass box> The pass box 150 is provided between the incubator 130 and the clean bench 140. The work W is transferred between the culture area R3 and the liquid operation area R4 through this pass box 150. The pass box 150 has a first door 150a and a second door 150b.

[0019] The first door 150a switches between a communicating state and a non-blocking state between the space inside the pass box 150 and the culture area R3. The second door 150b switches between a communicating state and a blocking state between the space inside the pass box 150 and the liquid operation area R4. The first door 150a and the second door 150b do not become open simultaneously, and thereby the culture area R3 and the liquid operation area R4 do not communicate directly with each other.

[0020] <Schematic operation of the cell culture system> In the cell culture system 100 configured as described above, cell growth is promoted by shaking the culture solution in the work W in the incubator 130. The work W in which cell growth has progressed is transferred to the liquid operation area R4 via the pass box 150. The culture solution in the work W transferred to the liquid operation area R4 is dispensed, or a medium is supplied to the work W.

[0021] On the other hand, when cell growth is performed using a new work W, for example, it is performed according to the following procedure. First, the transfer device 113 takes out a new work W from the storage device 112 and transfers it into the liquid operation area R4. In the liquid operation area R4, a medium is supplied to the new work W that does not contain the culture solution, and the culture solution is dispensed from the work W transferred from the liquid operation area R4 that contains the grown culture solution in which cell growth has progressed, into the new work W. Thereby, the operation of transplanting cells to the new work W is completed. The new work W that has undergone the transplanting operation is transferred to the incubator 130, cell growth is performed, and the above-described processing is repeated.

[0022] <Storage device> FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the storage device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a front view of the storage device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from the input port side. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the storage device 112 is composed of a plurality of storage units 10. The storage device 112 in the present embodiment includes a plurality of stages in which a plurality of storage units 10 are arranged in the vertical direction Dv. Further, the storage device 112 exemplified in the present embodiment includes a plurality of rows of storage units 10 in the horizontal direction Dh. The storage units 10 are arranged in a plurality in the vertical and horizontal directions. Note that the number of stages in the vertical direction Dv and the number of rows in the horizontal direction Dh of the storage units 10 included in the storage device 112 are not limited at all and can be appropriately set as necessary.

[0023] <Storage unit> The storage unit 10 includes a loading unit 11, a storage unit 12, an extraction unit 13, and a regulating unit 14. <Loading unit> The work W is loaded into the loading unit 11. The loading unit 11 of the present embodiment is arranged at the uppermost part of the storage unit 10. The loading unit 11 can slide the work W, for example, in the longitudinal direction of the work W. In the present embodiment, there are a plurality of types of work W, and only the same type of work W is stored in one storage unit 10. These plurality of types of work W are loaded by the operator from the loading unit 11 of the storage unit 10 corresponding to each type.

[0024] <Storage unit> The storage unit 12 has a sliding surface 12f that slopes downward as it moves away from the loading unit 11 in the horizontal direction. The sliding surface 12f can slide the work W input from the loading unit 11 obliquely downward by gravity. Further, the storage unit 12 can store a plurality of works W arranged in the sliding direction Dr of the work W. In the present embodiment, the case where the sliding surface 12f forms a plane is illustrated, but the sliding surface 12f can also be formed by arranging a plurality of rollers in the sliding direction Dr. In the following description, the side closer to the loading unit 11 in the sliding direction Dr is referred to as the upstream side Dru, and the side closer to the extraction unit 13 in the sliding direction Dr is referred to as the downstream side Drd.

[0025] The storage unit 12 of this embodiment includes a pair of side walls 12w (see FIG. 3) that rise upward (for example, vertically upward) from the left and right edges of the sliding surface 12f. The work W of this embodiment has a pair of side surfaces Wsf facing both outer sides in the left-right direction Dh. The distance between the pair of side walls 12w of the storage unit 12 is slightly larger (for example, about 1 to 2 mm) than the distance between the pair of side surfaces Wsf of the work W. As a result, the posture of the work W sliding on the sliding surface 12f is maintained, and the work W is stored in a row in one storage unit 12. Note that, for example, when the work W does not have a bilaterally symmetric shape in the left-right direction Dh, the operator inserts the plurality of works W from the input unit 11 in a certain orientation so that the left and right shapes of the plurality of works W stored side by side in the above row are aligned.

[0026] <Taking-out unit> FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the taking-out unit of the storage unit in the embodiment of the present disclosure. The taking-out unit 13 is formed so as to be able to take out the work W stored in the storage unit 12 to the outside of the storage unit 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the taking-out unit 13 is arranged at the lowermost position in the storage unit 10. In other words, the taking-out unit 13 is provided at the end of the most downstream side Drd in the sliding direction Dr of the storage unit 12. The taking-out unit 13 has a stopper 13s above the sliding surface 12f. The stopper 13s of this embodiment is formed in a flat plate shape extending vertically upward from the edge of the downstream side Drd of the sliding surface 12f, but the shape of the stopper 13s is not limited to the flat plate shape. The stopper 13s can be formed of a metal such as an aluminum alloy. The work W that has slid on the sliding surface 12f hits the stopper 13s and stops. The subsequent work W input from the input unit 11 hits the stationary leading work W and stops.

[0027] The taking-out unit 13 is configured to be able to take out the work W stored on the most downstream side Drd among the works W stored in the storage unit 10 to the outside of the storage unit 10 by the conveying device 113. Specifically, in the taking-out unit 13, an outlet 13o that is larger than the height of the work W in the vertical direction Dv is formed above the stopper 13s.

[0028] The above-described conveying device 113 (see FIG. 1) stores in advance the position information of each of a plurality of outlets 13o in association with the information on the type of the workpiece W stored therein, and automatically moves in front of the outlet 13o where the workpiece W to be taken out is stored. Then, the conveying device 113 inserts the hand 113h into the inside of the storage unit 10 from this outlet 13o, sandwiches the workpiece W arranged on the most downstream side Drd, and lifts the workpiece W in a posture inclined toward the downstream side Drd in the sliding direction Dr until it becomes a horizontal posture. The conveying device 113 then lifts the workpiece W to a height at which it can overcome the stopper 13s, and moves the lifted workpiece W in the horizontal direction (in other words, forward) away from the storage unit 10 to take out the workpiece W from the take-out portion 13 to the outside. When the workpiece W is taken out to the outside, the subsequent workpiece W stored in the storage unit 10 moves toward the downstream side Drd in the sliding direction Dr by gravity. Then, the workpiece W on the most downstream side Drd abuts against the stopper 13s, and the movement of the workpiece W stored in the storage unit 10 stops.

[0029] <Regulation Unit> The restricting part 14 restricts the displacement of the workpiece W in the direction away from the sliding surface 12f of the workpiece W that has hit the stopper 13s. As shown in FIG. 4, the restricting part 14 is provided so as to face the upper surface Wuf of the workpiece W that has hit the stopper 13s. The restricting part 14 is provided on the upstream side Dru in the sliding direction Dr with respect to the stopper 13s. When the workpiece W is introduced from the introducing part 11 in a state where the workpiece W is not stored in the storage part 12, the workpiece W that has slid on the sliding surface 12f to the downstream side Drd collides with the stopper 13s. Then, the upper end B on the upstream side Dru of the workpiece W may rotate about the upper end A of the stopper 13s and be displaced upward as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4. When the workpiece W rotates and is displaced upward in this way, the upper surface Wuf of the workpiece W comes into contact with the restricting part 14. Thereby, the displacement of the upper surface Wuf upward by more than the allowable tipping angle is restricted. The position of the restricting part 14 in the sliding direction Dr is preferably set to a position that does not hinder the removal of the workpiece W from the removing part 13. For example, the position of the restricting part 14 in the sliding direction Dr can be set to a position facing the upper surface Wuf on the most upstream side Dru of the workpiece W that has hit the stopper 13s. Note that the shape of the restricting part 14 is not limited to the illustrated shape.

[0030] In the present embodiment, among the plurality of storage units 10 in multiple stages, in the lower stage unit 10B arranged below the uppermost stage unit 10A provided at the uppermost stage, the restricting part 14 is provided on the lower surface of the storage unit 10 arranged immediately above. In other words, the lower surface 10u of the storage unit 10 arranged immediately above also serves as the restricting part 14. That is, the displacement of the workpiece W that has collided with the stopper 13s of the lower stage unit 10B upward by more than the allowable tipping angle is restricted by the lower surface 10u of the storage unit 10 arranged immediately above.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of the restricting part of the lower storage unit in the embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5, the ceiling height, which is the shortest distance between the sliding surface 12f of the lower unit 10B and the lower surface 10u of the storage unit 10 disposed immediately above the sliding surface 12f, is defined as "Ha". The height of the most upstream side Dru of the workpiece W in the state of hitting the stopper 13s and stopping is defined as "Hb". The height in the direction perpendicular to the sliding surface 12f of the stopper 13s is defined as "hb". The distance between the upper end A of the stopper 13s and the collision position B of the workpiece W that collides with the regulating portion 14 is defined as "L AB ", the length of the workpiece W in the sliding direction Dr is defined as "D", the allowable angle of fall of the workpiece W centered on the upper end A of the stopper 13s is defined as "α", and the maximum angle of fall when the workpiece W falls is defined as "β". Then, the fact that β does not exceed α is one of the establishment conditions when the lower surface 10u also serves as the regulating portion 14. That is, α and β satisfy the following formula (1).

[0032]

Equation

[0033] Here, when the distance between the collision position C of the regulating portion 14 and the workpiece W and the upper end A of the stopper 13s is defined as "L AC ", L AB and L AC are as shown in the following formula (2).

[0034]

Equation

[0035] At this time, when the inclination angle of the sliding surface 12f on which the workpiece W can slide smoothly in the storage unit 10 is defined as "θ", tanθ = (Hb - hb) / D sin(θ + β) = (Ha - + hb) / L AB is obtained.

[0036] Furthermore, another condition for the lower surface 10u to also serve as the restricting portion 14 is as follows. It is classified according to the height hb of the stopper 13s, the length D of the workpiece W, and the inclination angle θ. In other words, it is classified according to the magnitude relationship between hbcosθ, which is the height of the stopper 13s with respect to the projection plane of the workpiece W with the direction of pulling out the workpiece W as the normal line, and Esinθ, which is the height of point E. Here, point E is the center when the workpiece W rotates to a horizontal state when the workpiece W is taken out by the hand 113h.

[0037] Let the vertical stroke Dv in the up and down direction for leveling the workpiece W stopped against the stopper 13s be "Zh", the stroke for allowing the workpiece W stopped against the stopper 13s to cross over the stopper 13s be "Za", and the stroke for displacing the workpiece W upward when taking out the workpiece W from the taking-out portion 13 be "Z". When tanθ≦(hb / D), Let Z = Zh + Za = Esinθ+(hbcosθ - Esinθ). When tanθ>(hb / D), Let Z = Zh = Esinθ. And the storage device 112 is formed to satisfy the following according to the classified Z: Ha≧Hb+(Z / cosθ)···(3) Note that "ha" shown in FIG. 5 is the insertion position of the hand 113h in the present embodiment.

[0038] And the storage device 112 of the present embodiment satisfies the two establishment conditions of the above equations (1) and (3).

[0039] (Function and effect) In the above embodiment, the restricting portion 14 that restricts the displacement of the workpiece W in the direction away from the sliding surface 12f is provided on the upstream side Dru in the sliding direction Dr with respect to the stopper 13s and is provided so as to face the upper surface Wuf of the workpiece W that has abutted against the stopper 13s. ​As a result, the workpiece W can be made to slide on the sliding surface 12f by gravity, move from the loading section 11 to the unloading section 13, and a plurality of workpieces W can be sequentially stored in the storage unit 10. Further, when the workpiece W sliding by gravity collides with the stopper 13s, it is possible to effectively suppress the workpiece W from rotating and falling about the upper end A of the stopper 13s. Also, the workpiece W in the unloading section 13 can be taken out simply by lifting it upward by the hand 113h and moving it forward. Further, by taking out the workpiece W in the unloading section 13, the subsequent workpiece W can be automatically moved to the unloading section 13 by gravity. Therefore, it becomes possible to easily and continuously take out the workpiece W while improving the reliability of the stored workpiece W.

[0040] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the storage unit 10 is provided with a plurality of stages in the vertical direction Dv, and the lower-stage unit 10B below the uppermost-stage unit 10A provided at the uppermost stage has the lower surface 10u of the storage unit 10 disposed immediately above also serving as the regulating portion 14. Thereby, since the regulating portion 14 for the lower-stage unit 10B can be omitted, it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of parts of the storage device 112 while suppressing the workpiece W from falling.

[0041] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the above equations (1) and (3) are satisfied. Thereby, even in the storage device 112 that handles a plurality of types of workpieces W having different sizes, it is possible to easily improve the reliability of the stored workpiece W regardless of the size of the workpiece W, and to provide a storage device 112 capable of easily and continuously taking out the workpiece W.

[0042] <First Modification of the Embodiment> In the above-described embodiment, the case where the workpiece W is a rectangular parallelepiped that is long in the conveying direction Dr has been described as an example. However, the shape of the workpiece W can be changed as appropriate. Hereinafter, a first modification example of the above-described embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of this first modification example of the embodiment, since only the configurations of the workpiece and the restricting portion are different, the same reference numerals are given to the same portions as those in the above-described embodiment, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0043] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a workpiece in a first modification example of an embodiment of the present disclosure. The workpiece W according to this first modification example includes a workpiece main body 21 and a workpiece tray 22.

[0044] <Workpiece main body> The workpiece main body 21 in this first modification example is a flask in which a culture solution is accommodated. The workpiece main body 21 is a so-called Erlenmeyer flask, and has a bottomed cylindrical shape centered on a flask axis O1 extending in the vertical direction. Specifically, the lower outer peripheral surface of the flask 2 has a conical surface shape centered on the flask axis O1 whose diameter decreases upward, and the upper outer peripheral surface of the flask has a cylindrical shape centered on the flask axis O1. Note that a lid portion (not shown) is detachable from the opening at the upper part of the flask. Further, the flask is not limited to an Erlenmeyer flask.

[0045] The workpiece tray 22 supports the workpiece main body 21 and is capable of sliding on the sliding surface 12f. The workpiece tray 22 illustrated in this first modification example is capable of placing two workpiece main bodies 21 side by side in the sliding direction Dr. The workpiece tray 22 of this first modification example has at least a mounting plate 23, a support portion 24, and an upper frame 25.

[0046] <Mounting plate> The placement plate 23 is a member that supports the two workpiece bodies 21 from below. The placement plate 23 in this first modified example is in the shape of a rectangular flat plate in a plan view. The workpiece W is inserted from the insertion part 11 by an operator so that the longitudinal direction (the direction in which a pair of long sides extend) of the rectangular shape in the above-mentioned plan view coincides with the sliding direction Dr. The two workpiece bodies 21 are placed side by side in the longitudinal direction of the placement plate 23 and are placed closer to one side in the left-right direction Dh of the placement plate 23.

[0047] <Support part> The support part 24 is a rod-shaped member extending upward from the placement plate 23. The upper end of the support part 24 is located below the upper end of the workpiece body 21 placed on the placement plate 23. A plurality of support parts 24 are provided, and the upper ends of these support parts 24 are at the same height.

[0048] <Upper frame> The upper frame 25 is supported from below by the support part 24. The contour shape of the upper frame 25 in a plan view is a rectangular shape with the sliding direction Dr as the longitudinal direction, similar to the contour shape of the placement plate 23 in a plan view. The size of the upper frame 25 in a plan view is made equivalent to the size of the placement plate 23. The upper frame 25 is arranged parallel to the placement plate 23.

[0049] An opening 25a penetrating vertically is formed in the upper frame 25. The above-mentioned workpiece body 21 penetrates this opening 25a vertically. In other words, the upper frame 25 is arranged below the upper end of the workpiece body 21. When the workpiece W in this first modified example is conveyed by the conveying device 113, the lower surface of the upper frame 25 forms a supported surface for conveying that is supported from below by the hand 113h.

[0050] In this first modification example, the restricting portion 14 is provided so as to face the upper surface 22uf of the work tray 22 of the work W. In other words, in the work W in this first modification example, the upper surface 22uf of the work tray 22 forms the upper surface Wuf. Similar to the above-described embodiment, the restricting portion 14 restricts the upward displacement of the work W so that the maximum tilting angle of the work W that has collided with the stopper 13s does not exceed the allowable tilting angle.

[0051] Furthermore, the restricting portion 14 of this first modification example is provided at a position different from the work body 21 in the left-right direction Dh, in other words, at a position on the other side in the left-right direction Dh above the work tray 22 where the work body 21 is not arranged. Thereby, the restricting portion 14 does not interfere with the work W that slides. Note that the restricting portion 14 in this first modification example can be applied to both the uppermost unit 10A and the lower unit 10B.

[0052] (Function and effect) According to the first modification example of the above-described embodiment, even when the uppermost portion of the work W is the work body 21, the upward displacement of the work W can be effectively restricted by the restricting portion 14 without causing the restricting portion 14 to interfere with the work body 21. Also, in the case of the lower unit 10B, it is possible to suppress the upper end portion of the work body 21 from coming into contact with the lower surface 10u of the immediately upper storage unit 10. Therefore, even for a work W having a configuration like this first modification example, the reliability of the conveyance of the stored work W can be improved in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment.

[0053] <Second modification example of the embodiment> FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a storage device in a second modification example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. In the lower unit 10B of the above-described embodiment, the case where the lower surface 10u of the storage unit 10 immediately above the lower unit 10B also serves as the restricting portion 14 was exemplified. However, like the storage device 112 in the second modification example of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the restricting portion 14 may be provided with a protruding portion 14B that protrudes downward from the lower surface 10u.

[0054] By configuring as in this second modification example, when the storage unit 10 has a plurality of stages in the vertical direction Dv, depending on the height from the sliding surface 12f of the lower stage unit 10B to the lower surface 10u of the immediately upper storage unit 10 and the position of the upper surface Wuf of the work W, the length of the restricting portion 14 protruding downward from the lower surface 10u can be determined. Therefore, for example, even when the take-out port 13o (see FIG. 4) is formed large, the work W can be prevented from falling over.

[0055] <Other Embodiments> As described above, the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design changes and the like within the scope not departing from the gist of the present disclosure are also included. For example, in the above-described embodiments and each modification example, the case where the storage device 112 includes a plurality of stages of storage units 10 in the vertical direction Dv has been described. However, the storage device 112 is not limited to one having a plurality of stages of storage units 10 in the vertical direction Dv. Similarly, in the above-described embodiments and each modification example, the case where the storage device 112 includes a plurality of rows of storage units 10 arranged in the horizontal direction Dh has been described. However, the storage device 112 is not limited to one having a plurality of rows of storage units 10 in the horizontal direction Dh. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments and each modification example, the case where the storage device 112 is constituted by a plurality of storage units 10 has been exemplified. However, the storage device 112 may be constituted by one storage unit 10.

[0056] <Supplementary Note> The storage unit, storage device, and cell culture system described in each embodiment are understood as follows, for example.

[0057] (1) The storage unit 10 according to the first aspect includes an input unit 11 into which the work W is input, It has a sliding surface 12f that slopes downward as it moves away from the input section 11 in the horizontal direction. The work piece W input from the input section 11 can slide obliquely downward by gravity, and a storage section 12 that can store a plurality of the work pieces W side by side in the sliding direction Dr. It has a stopper 13s above the sliding surface 12f that stops the work piece W by hitting the front surface of the sliding work piece W, and a take-out section 13 that can take out the work piece W that has hit and stopped at the stopper 13s to the outside. A regulating section 14, 14B is provided at a position closer to the input section 11 than the stopper 13s in the sliding direction Dr and is provided so as to face the upper surface of the work piece W that has hit the stopper 13s, and regulates the displacement of the work piece W in the direction away from the sliding surface 12f.

[0058] As a result, the work piece W can be slid on the sliding surface 12f by gravity, moved from the input section 11 to the take-out section 13, and a plurality of work pieces W can be sequentially stored in the storage unit 10. Further, when the work piece W sliding by gravity collides with the stopper 13s, it is possible to effectively suppress the work piece W from rotating and falling about the upper end A of the stopper 13s. Further, by taking out the work piece W in the take-out section 13, the subsequent work piece W can be automatically moved to the take-out section 13 by gravity. Therefore, while improving the reliability of the stored work piece W, it becomes possible to easily and continuously take out the work piece W.

[0059] (2) The storage unit 10 according to the second aspect is the storage unit 10 of (1), wherein the work piece W includes a work body 21 and a work tray 22 that supports the work body 21 and can slide on the sliding surface 12f. The regulating sections 14, 14B are provided so as to face the upper surface of the work tray 22 among the work pieces W.

[0060] As a result, the regulating section 14 for the lower unit 10B can be omitted, so that while suppressing the work piece W from falling, an increase in the number of parts of the storage device 112 can be suppressed.

[0061] (3) The storage device according to the third aspect includes a plurality of storage units 10 in (1) arranged vertically in multiple stages. The storage unit 10 below the storage unit 10 provided at the uppermost stage has the restricting portion 14 provided on the lower surface of the storage unit 10 disposed immediately above it.

[0062] Accordingly, since the restricting portion 14 for the lower unit 10B can be omitted, it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of parts of the storage device 112 while suppressing the work W from falling over.

[0063] (4) The storage device according to the fourth aspect includes a plurality of storage units 10 in (1) arranged vertically in multiple stages. The restricting portion 14 of the storage unit 10 below the storage unit 10 provided at the uppermost stage includes a protruding portion 14B protruding from the lower surface of the storage unit 10 disposed immediately above it.

[0064] Accordingly, when a plurality of storage units 10 are provided in the vertical direction Dv, the length of the restricting portion 14 protruding downward from the lower surface 10u can be determined according to the height from the sliding surface 12f of the lower unit 10B to the lower surface 10u of the storage unit 10 immediately above and the position of the upper surface Wuf of the work W. Therefore, for example, even when the take-out port 13o is formed large, it is possible to suppress the work W from falling over.

[0065] (5) The storage device according to the fifth aspect is the storage device in (3). The ceiling height, which is the shortest distance between the sliding surface 12f of the lower storage unit 10 and the lower surface of the storage unit 10 disposed immediately above the sliding surface 12f, is defined as Ha. The height of the work W closest to the loading portion 11 in the state of hitting against the stopper 13s and stopping is defined as Hb. The height of the stopper 13s in the direction perpendicular to the sliding surface 12f is defined as hb. The distance between the upper end of the stopper 13s and the collision position of the work W colliding with the restricting portion 14 is defined as LAB. The length of the work W in the sliding direction Dr is defined as D. The allowable angle of the work W falling over centered on the upper end of the stopper 13s is defined as α. The maximum angle of the work W falling over is defined as β. Then, α and β satisfy the formula (1).

[0066] Accordingly, even in the storage device 112 that handles a plurality of types of workpieces W having different sizes, it is possible to provide a storage device 112 that can easily improve the reliability of transporting the stored workpiece W regardless of the size of the workpiece W.

[0067] (6) The storage device according to the sixth aspect is the storage device of (5), where the inclination angle of the sliding surface 12f of the storage unit 10 is θ, the stroke for leveling the workpiece W in a state where it has hit the stopper 13s and stopped is Zh, the stroke for allowing the workpiece W in a state where it has hit the stopper 13s and stopped to cross over the stopper 13s is Za, the stroke for displacing the workpiece W upward when taking out the workpiece W from the taking-out unit 13 is Z, and Z = Zh + Za when tanθ ≤ (hb / D), and Z = Zh when tanθ > (hb / D), and Ha ≥ Hb + (Z / cosθ) is satisfied.

[0068] Accordingly, even in the storage device 112 that handles a plurality of types of workpieces W having different sizes, it is possible to provide a storage device 112 that can easily and continuously take out the workpiece W regardless of the size of the workpiece W.

[0069] (7) The cell culture system 100 according to the seventh aspect includes a stocker 110 that houses the storage device 112 of (3) or (4), a clean bench 140 having a liquid operation area R4 for performing a dispensing operation on the workpiece body 21, an incubator 130 having a culture area R3 for growing cells in the culture solution housed in the workpiece body 21, and a transfer device 113 provided in the stocker 110 and capable of gripping the workpiece W and horizontally taking out the workpiece W from the taking-out unit 13 of the storage unit 10.

[0070] In the cell culture system 100 that automatically conveys the workpiece W in the stocker 110, performs a dispensing operation using the clean bench 140, and grows cells using the incubator 130, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of problems related to the automatic conveyance of the workpiece W and improve the reliability.

Explanation of Signs

[0071] 10…Storage unit 10A…Top unit 10B…Lower unit 10u…Bottom surface 11…Input section 12…Storage section 12f…Sliding surface 12w…Side wall 13…Output section 13s…Stopper 13o…Outlet 14…Regulation section 14B…Protrusion 21…Workpiece body 22…Workpiece tray 23…Placement plate 24…Support section 25…Upper frame 25a…Opening 100…Cell culture system 110…Stocker 111…Stocker body 112…Storage device 113…Conveyance device 113h…Hand 130…Incubator 140…Clean bench 150…Pass box Dv…Vertical direction Dh…Horizontal direction Dr…Sliding direction O1…Flask axis R1…Storage area R3…Culture area R4…Liquid operation area W…Workpiece Wsf…Side surface Wuf…Top surface

Claims

1. A loading section into which a workpiece is loaded; A storage section having a sliding surface that slopes downward as it moves away from the loading section in the horizontal direction, allowing the workpiece loaded from the loading section to slide obliquely downward by gravity and capable of storing a plurality of the workpieces side by side in the sliding direction; A stopper that is provided above the sliding surface and stops the workpiece by hitting the front surface of the sliding workpiece, and an extraction section capable of taking out the workpiece that has stopped by hitting the stopper to the outside; A regulating section that is provided at a position closer to the loading section than the stopper in the sliding direction and is provided so as to face the upper surface of the workpiece that has hit the stopper, and that regulates displacement of the workpiece in a direction away from the sliding surface; A storage unit comprising the above.

2. The workpiece includes a workpiece body and a workpiece tray that supports the workpiece body and is capable of sliding on the sliding surface; The regulating section is provided so as to face the upper surface of the workpiece tray among the workpieces. The storage unit according to claim 1.

3. The storage device includes a plurality of vertically stacked storage units according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit in a lower stage than the storage unit provided in the uppermost stage has the regulating section provided on the lower surface of the storage unit disposed immediately above. Storage device.

4. The storage device includes a plurality of vertically stacked storage units according to claim 1, wherein the regulating section of the storage unit in a lower stage than the storage unit provided in the uppermost stage includes a protruding portion that protrudes from the lower surface of the storage unit disposed immediately above. Storage device.

5. Let the ceiling height, which is the shortest distance between the sliding surface of the storage unit in the lower section and the lower surface of the storage unit arranged immediately above the sliding surface, be Ha. Let the height of the closest side to the input section of the workpiece in the state where it has hit the stopper and stopped be Hb. Let the height in the direction perpendicular to the sliding surface of the stopper be hb, and let the distance between the upper end of the stopper and the collision position of the workpiece that collides with the regulating section be L ＡＢ , let the length of the workpiece in the sliding direction be D, let the allowable angle of the workpiece's fall centered on the upper end of the stopper be α, and let the maximum angle of fall when the workpiece falls be β. Then, α and β satisfy the following equation (1) 【Number 1】 The storage device according to claim 3.

6. Let the inclination angle of the sliding surface of the storage unit be θ, the stroke for leveling the workpiece in a state where it has stopped by hitting the stopper be Zh, the stroke for allowing the workpiece in a state where it has stopped by hitting the stopper to overcome the stopper be Za, and the stroke for displacing the workpiece upward when taking out the workpiece from the extraction section be Z. When tanθ ≤ (hb / D), Z = Zh + Za; when tanθ > (hb / D), Z = Zh. The following formula (2) is satisfied: Ha ≥ Hb + (Z / cosθ) ··· (2) The storage device according to claim 5.

7. A stocker that houses the storage device according to claim 3 or 4; A clean bench having a liquid operation area for performing a dispensing operation on the workpiece. An incubator having a culture area for growing cells in a culture solution contained in the workpiece; A transfer device provided in the stocker, capable of gripping the workpiece and horizontally removing the workpiece from the take-out portion of the storage unit; A cell culture system comprising the above.

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