Cell culture facility and cell culture system

Abstract

To provide a cell culture facility and a cell culture system that suppress contamination of work in a clean bench while suppressing cost increase.SOLUTION: An incubator, a pass box, and a clean bench are arranged side by side in a first direction in a plan view, and stockers are arranged side by side with respect to the clean bench in a second direction in a plan view intersecting the first direction. A storage area and a liquid operation area are connectable through an opening / closing part provided at a position on the side of the clean bench closer to the pass box in the first direction. A conveyance device is provided with a main line that is provided in the clean bench and extends in the first direction. The pass box and the opening / closing part are provided on the side of the main line closer to a first end part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cell culture facility and a cell culture system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a clean system in which an incubator storage chamber for storing an incubator that communicates with the work chamber of the clean bench is provided on either the left or right side of the work chamber of the clean bench. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-204910 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When automating cell culture, it is necessary to disconnect the clean bench from the incubator, provide a stocker capable of storing a large number of workpieces, such as flask units, and transport the workpieces from the stocker into the clean bench. However, the cleanliness of the liquid handling area of the clean bench varies depending on the location. For example, if a workpiece is transported into the clean bench and passes through an area with low cleanliness, it may become contaminated. On the other hand, if one attempts to suppress the variation in cleanliness in the liquid handling area and maintain a high level of cleanliness throughout the entire system, the system configuration becomes complicated, which leads to increased costs.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide cell culture equipment and a cell culture system that can suppress cost increases while suppressing contamination of workpieces within a clean bench. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A cell culture facility according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a stocker forming a storage area for storing works, an incubator forming a culture area where a culture operation is performed on the works, a clean bench forming a liquid handling area where a dispensing operation is performed on the works, a transport device that transports the works between the stocker, the incubator, and the clean bench, and a pass box that is provided between the incubator and the clean bench and that moves the works between the liquid handling area and the culture area while maintaining the culture area and the liquid handling area in a non-communicating state, and The pass box and the clean bench are arranged side by side in a first direction in a plan view, the stocker is arranged side by side with respect to the clean bench in a second direction in a plan view that intersects with the first direction, and the storage area can be connected to the liquid handling area via an opening / closing unit provided at a position on the clean bench closer to the pass box in the first direction, the transport device is provided within the clean bench and extends in the first direction, forming a trunk line having a first end on one side in the first direction and a second end on the other side in the first direction, and the pass box and the opening / closing unit are provided on the side closer to the first end of the trunk line.

[0007] A cell culture system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a plurality of cell culture facilities, and the stockers of the plurality of cell culture facilities are arranged to face each other. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the cell culture equipment and cell culture system of the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress contamination of workpieces in a clean bench while suppressing increases in costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a cell culture facility according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a cell culture system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a cell culture system according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] First Embodiment Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The cell culture equipment 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is a system for performing unmanned and automatic cell culture and post-culture cell analysis, etc., using a workpiece W equipped with, for example, a flask as a processing unit. The flask contains cells and a culture solution containing a medium supplemented with nutrients necessary for cell growth.

[0011] <Cell culture equipment> FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a cell culture facility according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, the cell culture facility 100 includes a first stocker (stocker) 110, a second stocker (stocker) 120, an incubator 130, a clean bench 140, and a pass box 150.

[0012] <First Stocker> The first stocker 110 is a facility for storing a plurality of works W. The area inside the first stocker 110 is designated as a first storage area R1. The first storage area R1 is provided with a rack 112 capable of storing works W such as flask units. An operator can access the rack 112 from outside via an opening / closing part (not shown).

[0013] <Second Stocker> The second stocker 120 is a facility for storing the workpieces W. The second stocker 120 is provided adjacent to the first stocker 110. The area inside the second stocker 120 is defined as a second storage area R2. A refrigerator-freezer 121 and a stage 122 are provided in the second storage area R2.

[0014] The refrigerator-freezer 121 is configured to be able to switch between freezing and refrigerating items. The refrigerator-freezer 121 can accommodate items that require freezing or refrigeration, such as seed cells to be introduced into flasks and antibodies extracted after culture in flasks.

[0015] The stage 122 has a flat upper surface that forms a horizontal plane. In this embodiment, a case where a plurality of stages 122 are provided is illustrated. An operator can access the stages 122 through, for example, a window provided in the second stocker 120.

[0016] <Incubator> The incubator 130 is a facility for growing cells in a culture solution. The area inside the incubator 130 is designated as the culture area R3. The atmosphere in the culture area R3 is controlled to a temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration suitable for cell culture. The culture area R3 is provided with, for example, a shaking stage (not shown) capable of shaking multiple flask units simultaneously.

[0017] <Clean bench> The clean bench 140 is a facility for performing various liquid manipulations and processes on the workpiece W. The area within the clean bench 140 is designated as a liquid manipulation area R4. The liquid manipulation area R4 is a highly clean, sterile space (a bio-clean room). The clean bench 140 is provided with a dispensing device 141 that performs dispensing operations on the workpiece W, a waste section 142 that discharges used waste liquid and the workpiece W to the outside, and the like. The degree of cleanliness in the liquid manipulation area R4 decreases the closer it is to the waste section 142. The clean bench 140 is arranged adjacent to the first stocker 110 and the second stocker 120.

[0018] Here, a first stocker door (opening / closing portion) 110a is provided within the first stocker 110, separating the first storage area R1 and the liquid handling area R4. When the first stocker door 110a is in the open state, the first storage area R1 and the liquid handling area R4 are in a connected state, allowing the movement of workpieces W between these areas. When the first stocker door 110a is in the closed state, the first storage area R1 and the liquid handling area R4 are not in a connected state, and these areas are isolated.

[0019] Similarly, a second stocker door (opening / closing portion) 120a is provided within the second stocker 120, separating the second storage area R2 from the liquid handling area R4. When the second stocker door 120a is in the open state, the second storage area R2 and the liquid handling area R4 are in communication with each other. When the second stocker door 120a is in the closed state, the second storage area R2 and the liquid handling area R4 are in a non-communication state, and these areas are isolated from each other. In this embodiment, the first stocker 110 is disposed closer to the incubator 130 than the second stocker 120 in the first direction D1. Therefore, the first stocker door 110a is located closer to the pass box 150 than the second stocker door 120a in the first direction D1. The first storage area R1 and the second storage area R2 are controlled to have a higher pressure than the liquid handling area R4, preventing air from flowing from the liquid handling area R4 into the storage areas R1 and R2.

[0020] <Pass box> The pass box 150 is installed between the incubator 130 and the clean bench 140 so as to be in contact with them. The pass box 150 has a second pass door 150b. When the first pass door 150a is open, the culture area R3 and the area inside the pass box 150 are in communication with each other. When the second pass door 150b is open, the liquid handling area R4 and the area inside the pass box 150 are in communication with each other. Therefore, opening and closing the first pass door 150a and the second pass door 150b switches between a state in which the culture area R3 and the liquid handling area are isolated and a state in which work W can move between these areas. Note that the first pass door 150a and the second pass door 150b are never open at the same time. Therefore, the culture area R3 and the liquid handling area R4 do not communicate with each other, and the atmospheric conditions of each area are maintained.

[0021] <Conveyor equipment> A first transfer device 21 is provided in the first storage area R1. A second transfer device 22 is provided in the culture area R3. A third transfer device 23 is provided in the liquid handling area R4. A slider 123 is provided as a transfer device in the second storage area R2. Examples of the first transfer device 21, second transfer device 22, and third transfer device 23 include a transfer robot capable of transporting the workpiece W horizontally. Furthermore, by linking the opening and closing of each door with the operation of the transfer robot, the workpiece W can be transported between areas, such as from the first storage area R1 to the second storage area R2. In particular, in the second storage area R2, the slider 123 carrying the workpiece W slides through the open second stocker door 120a, allowing the workpiece W to be transported between the second storage area R2 and the liquid handling area R4. In other words, the work W can be transported between the first stocker 110, the second stocker 120, the incubator 130 and the clean bench 140 by the first transport device 21, the second transport device 22, the third transport device 23 and the slider 123, which are provided as transport devices for transporting the work W.

[0022] <Location of each area> The incubator 130, the pass box 150, and the clean bench 140 are arranged side by side in the first direction D1 in a plan view. The incubator 130 of this embodiment has a rectangular shape in a plan view. The clean bench 140 of this embodiment has a rectangular shape that is longer in the first direction D1 than the incubator 130 in a plan view. The pass box 150 of this embodiment is sandwiched between a side 130a of the incubator 130 that faces the first direction D1 in a plan view and a short side 140a of the clean bench 140 that faces the first direction D1 in a plan view. Here, FIG. 1 illustrates a case where the incubator 130 is arranged on one side of the first direction D1 (the right side in FIG. 1) and the clean bench 140 is arranged on the other side of the first direction D1 (the left side in FIG. 1). However, the incubator 130 may be arranged on the other side of the first direction D1 and the clean bench 140 may be arranged on one side of the first direction D1.

[0023] The first stocker 110 and the second stocker 120 are arranged side by side with respect to the clean bench 140 in a second direction D2 in a plan view that intersects with the first direction D1. The storage area R1 of the first stocker 110 and the storage area R2 of the second stocker 120 are capable of communicating with the liquid handling area R4 at a position on the clean bench 140 closer to the pass box 150 in the first direction D1. In other words, the first stocker door 110a and the second stocker door 120a are arranged on the side of the long side 140b of the clean bench 140 closer to the pass box 150 in a plan view. Note that the first stocker 110 exemplified in this embodiment is arranged so as to be in contact with the clean bench 140 and the incubator 130, respectively, in the first direction D1, but the first stocker 110 does not have to be in contact with the incubator 130.

[0024] <Layout inside the clean bench> The third transfer device 23 provided in the clean bench 140 forms a trunk line 143 extending in the first direction D1. In this embodiment, the trunk line 143 extends in the first direction D1 and is formed by a plurality of (for example, two) third transfer devices 23 arranged side by side in the first direction D1. This trunk line 143 is capable of transporting the workpiece W from the vicinity of one short side in the first direction D1 in the liquid operation area R4 to the vicinity of the other short side.

[0025] In this embodiment, the trunk line 143 is disposed closer to the first stocker 110 and the second stocker 120 than the center of the clean bench 140 in the second direction D2. A pass box 150, a first stocker door 110a, and a second stocker door 120a are provided on the side of the trunk line 143 closer to the first end 143a in the first direction D1. A disposal section 142 is provided on the side of the trunk line 143 closer to the second end 143b.

[0026] A dispensing device 141 that performs dispensing operations is provided midway between first end 143a and second end 143b of main line 143. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which two dispensing devices 141 are arranged side by side in first direction D1 in liquid handling area R4, but the number of dispensing devices 141 can be set as appropriate.

[0027] A workbench 144 having a flat upper surface on which a workpiece W can be placed is also installed within the clean bench 140. This workbench 144 is installed in a position where it is possible to place a workpiece W that has been carried from the storage area R1 to the liquid handling area R4. The workpiece W placed on this workbench 144 is grasped and transported by a hand (not shown) of the third transport device 23. Note that in this embodiment, only the workbench 144 is provided on which a workpiece W that has been carried from the storage area R1 to the liquid handling area R4 can be placed, but another workbench may also be provided on which a workpiece W that has been carried from the storage area R2 to the liquid handling area R4 can be placed.

[0028] In this embodiment, the workbench 144 is provided at a position where the sum of the distances from the pass box 150, the first stocker door 110a, and the first end 143a is the shortest. More specifically, the workbench 144 is provided at a position where the sum of the distance L1 between the workbench 144 and the pass box 150, the distance L2 between the workbench 144 and the first stocker door 110a, and the distance L3 between the workbench 144 and the first end 143a (L1 + L2 + L3) is the shortest. In this embodiment, the workbench 144 is provided on the opposite side of the pass box 150 across the first end 143a of the trunk line 143 in the second direction D2. The workbench 144 is also provided closer to the first stocker door 110a than the first end 143a of the trunk line 143 in the second direction D2, and is provided at a position where it overlaps with the first stocker door 110a in the first direction D1, i.e., where it faces the first stocker door 110a.

[0029] (Action and effect) In the first embodiment, the pass box 150, the first stocker door 110a, and the second stocker door 120a are arranged on the side of the trunk line 143 close to the first end 143a. This allows the side of liquid handling area R4 closer to first end 143a of trunk line 143 to be a relatively clean area that communicates with storage area R1 and culture area R3, which have higher cleanliness than liquid handling area R4. Therefore, for example, the area through which work W carried into clean bench 140 from stockers 110, 120 or work W carried into clean bench 140 via pass box 150 after shaking in incubator 130 passes can be made into a high-cleanliness area. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the contamination of the workpiece W in the clean bench 140 while eliminating the need to increase the cleanliness of the entire liquid handling area R4, thereby suppressing an increase in costs.

[0030] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the clean bench 140 is provided with a dispensing device 141 for dispensing at a position midway between the first end 143a and the second end 143b of the trunk line 143. As a result, the work W carried into the clean bench 140 from the stockers 110, 120 can be transported to the dispensing device 141 and subjected to a dispensing operation without passing through an area with a low level of cleanliness. In addition, the work W that has undergone the dispensing operation can be transported into the incubator 130 via the pass box 150 without passing through an area with a low level of cleanliness. Furthermore, for example, the work W that has finished shaking in the incubator 130 is transported from the first end 143a of the main line 143 via the pass box 150 to the dispensing device 141, so it does not pass through an area with a low level of cleanliness within the clean bench 140.

[0031] In the first embodiment, the waste portion 142 is provided on the side of the trunk line 143 close to the second end portion 143b. This allows waste section 142, which can be a source of contamination, to be located on the opposite side of pass box 150 and stockers 110, 120 in first direction D1. This prevents a decrease in the cleanliness of liquid handling area R4 on the side closer to first end 143a of main line 143. On the other hand, used work W is transported from dispensing device 141 toward waste section 142, i.e., second end 143b of main line 143, so the used work W does not pass through a highly clean area in liquid handling area R4.

[0032] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, a workbench 144 is provided on which a workpiece W carried from the storage area R1 to the liquid handling area R4 can be placed. Therefore, when a new workpiece W is transferred from the storage area R1 to the liquid handling area R4, the opening time of the first stocker door 110a can be shortened. This prevents air from flowing into the storage area R1 from the liquid handling area R4, and prevents a decrease in the cleanliness of the storage area R1.

[0033] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the workbench 144 is provided at a position where the sum of the distances L1, L2, and L3 from the pass box 150, the first stocker door 110a, and the first end 143a is the shortest distance. Therefore, the workpieces W can be transported quickly at the first end 143a of the trunk line 143.

[0034] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. This second embodiment is a cell culture system including a plurality of the cell culture equipment of the first embodiment described above. Therefore, in the description of this second embodiment, the same parts as those of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicated description will be omitted.

[0035] The cell culture system 200 in the second embodiment includes a plurality of the cell culture facilities 100 of the first embodiment. Here, the cell culture system 200 in the second embodiment includes two pieces of cell culture facilities 100, but the number of pieces of cell culture facilities 100 included in one cell culture system 200 is not limited to two and may be, for example, three or more.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cell culture system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The incubator 130, pass box 150, and clean bench 140 of the cell culture equipment 100 are arranged side by side in a first direction D1. The first stocker 110 and the second stocker 120 are arranged side by side in a second direction D2 relative to the clean bench 140. The storage area R1 can be communicated with the liquid handling area R4 via a first stocker door 110a provided on the clean bench 140 at a position closer to the pass box 150 in the first direction D1, and the storage area R2 can be communicated with the liquid handling area R4 via a second stocker door 120a provided on the clean bench 140 at a position closer to the pass box 150 in the first direction D1.

[0037] The multiple cell culture facilities 100 are arranged such that the first stocker 110 and the second stocker 120 face each other. The two cell culture facilities 100 illustrated in this second embodiment have the same configuration and are arranged to be point-symmetrical about a symmetry point O1 located near the first stocker 110 in a plan view. In FIG. 2, the two cell culture facilities 100 are arranged so that they overlap each other when rotated 180 degrees about the symmetry point O1, but it is sufficient that the first stocker 110 and the second stocker 120 are arranged so that they face each other.

[0038] (Action and effect) According to the cell culture system 200 of the second embodiment, the first stockers 110 and the second stockers 120 of the multiple cell culture equipment 100 are arranged to face each other. Therefore, the operator can easily access the plurality of cell culture facilities 100, and the burden on the operator who operates the plurality of cell culture facilities 100 can be reduced.

[0039] <Modification of the second embodiment> In the second embodiment, the case where the multiple cell culture facilities 100 have the same configuration has been described. However, the multiple cell culture facilities 100 are not limited to those with the same configuration. For example, the first stockers 110 and second stockers 120 of the multiple cell culture facilities 100 of different sizes may be arranged so as to face each other.

[0040] Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The cell culture system of this third embodiment differs in that it has an adjacent facility at the center and multiple cell culture facilities arranged around the adjacent facility. Therefore, in the description of this third embodiment, the same parts as those of the first and second embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0041] The cell culture system 300 in the third embodiment includes a plurality of cell culture facilities 100 and adjacent facilities 400. Here, the cell culture system 300 in the third embodiment is illustrated as including four cell culture facilities 100, but the number of cell culture facilities 100 included in one cell culture system 300 is not limited to four, and may be, for example, two, three, five or more.

[0042] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a cell culture system according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. The incubator 130, pass box 150, and clean bench 140 of the cell culture equipment 100 are arranged side by side in a first direction D1. The first stocker 110 and the second stocker 120 are arranged side by side in a second direction D2 relative to the clean bench 140. The storage area R1 can be communicated with the liquid handling area R4 via a first stocker door 110a provided on the clean bench 140 at a position closer to the pass box 150 in the first direction D1, and the storage area R2 can be communicated with the liquid handling area R4 via a second stocker door 120a provided on the clean bench 140 at a position closer to the pass box 150 in the first direction D1.

[0043] A plurality of cell culture facilities 100 are arranged on the same circle C1. The first stocker 110 and the second stocker 120 of the plurality of cell culture facilities 100 are arranged so as to protrude radially inward of the circle C1 relative to the clean bench 140. In other words, the first stocker 110 and the second stocker 120 are arranged closer to the center point O2 of the circle C1 relative to the clean bench 140.

[0044] Of the four cell culture facilities 100 exemplified in this third embodiment, those adjacent to each other in the first direction D1 are formed symmetrically in the first direction D1, and those adjacent to each other in the second direction D2 are formed symmetrically in the second direction D2. However, the multiple cell culture facilities 100 are not limited to those formed symmetrically in this manner, and for example, all of the cell culture facilities 100 may be formed point-symmetrically with respect to the central point O2, or may not be arranged symmetrically.

[0045] The adjacent equipment 400 is equipment that performs a process upstream or downstream of the cell culture equipment 100. The adjacent equipment 400 is arranged on the center point O2 of the circle C1. In other words, multiple cell culture equipment 100 are arranged around the adjacent equipment 400. The operating rate of one adjacent equipment 400 is lower than the operating rate of one cell culture equipment 100. The operating rate of the adjacent equipment 400 can be, for example, ¼ or less of the operating rate of the cell culture equipment 100.

[0046] (Action and effect) According to the cell culture system 300 of the third embodiment, the first stocker 110 and the second stocker 120 of the cell culture facility 100 are arranged so as to protrude from the clean bench 140 toward the adjacent facility 400 . This allows the first stocker 110 and the second stocker 120 of the cell culture equipment 100 to be located near the adjacent equipment 400, thereby enabling smooth coordination between the adjacent equipment 400 and the cell culture equipment 100.

[0047] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, a plurality of cell culture facilities 100 are arranged around an adjacent facility 400 whose operation rate is lower than that of a single cell culture facility 100. Therefore, the operation rate of the adjacent facility 400 can be relatively increased compared to when one cell culture facility 100 is provided for one adjacent facility 400.

[0048] <Other embodiments> Each embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design changes and the like are also included within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present disclosure. For example, the cell culture equipment 100 of each of the above embodiments has been described as having two stockers, the first stocker 110 and the second stocker 120. However, the number of stockers is not limited to two. For example, only one stocker or three or more stockers may be provided.

[0049] In each of the above embodiments, the case where the dispensing device 141 is provided at a position midway between the first end 143a and the second end 143b of the main line 143 has been described, but the arrangement of the dispensing device 141 is not limited to the arrangement in the above embodiments.

[0050] In each of the above embodiments, the case where waste part 142 is arranged on the side of liquid handling area R4 closer to second end 143b has been described, but the arrangement of waste part 142 is not limited to the arrangement in the above embodiments. Furthermore, waste part 142 may not be provided.

[0051] In the above third embodiment, the clean benches 140, pass boxes 150, and incubators 130 of all cell culture equipment 100 are arranged in the same direction, but the directions in which the clean benches 140, pass boxes 150, and incubators 130 are arranged may be different for each cell culture equipment 100.

[0052] <Additional Notes> The cell culture equipment and cell culture system described in each embodiment can be understood, for example, as follows.

[0053] (1) A cell culture facility 100 according to a first aspect includes stockers 110, 120 that form storage areas R1, R2 for storing work W, an incubator 130 that forms a culture area R3 where a culture operation is performed on the work W, a clean bench 140 that forms a liquid handling area R4 where a dispensing operation is performed on the work W, transport devices 21, 22, 23 that transport the work W between the stockers 110, 120, the incubator 130, and the clean bench 140, and a pass box 150 that is provided between the incubator 130 and the clean bench 140 and that moves the work W between the liquid handling area R4 and the culture area R3 while maintaining the culture area R3 and the liquid handling area R4 in a non-communicating state. The stockers 110 and 120 are arranged side by side with the clean bench 140 in a first direction D1 in a plan view, and the stockers 110 and 120 are arranged side by side with the clean bench 140 in a second direction D2 in a plan view that intersects with the first direction D1, and the storage areas R1 and R2 can be connected to the liquid handling area R4 via opening / closing units 110a and 120a provided at a position on the clean bench 140 closer to the pass box 150 in the first direction D1, and the conveying device 23 is provided within the clean bench 140 and extends in the first direction D1, forming a trunk line 143 having a first end 143a on one side of the first direction D1 and a second end 143b on the other side of the first direction D1, and the pass box 150 and the opening / closing units 110a and 120a are provided on the side closer to the first end 143a of the trunk line 143. With this configuration, the side of liquid handling area R4 closer to first end 143a of trunk line 143 can be made into a relatively clean area that communicates with storage area R1 and culture area R3, which have higher cleanliness than liquid handling area R4. Therefore, for example, the area through which work W carried into clean bench 140 from stockers 110, 120 or work W carried into clean bench 140 via pass box 150 after shaking in incubator 130 passes can be made into a high-cleanliness area. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the contamination of the workpiece W in the clean bench 140 while eliminating the need to increase the cleanliness of the entire liquid handling area R4, thereby suppressing an increase in costs.

[0054] (2) The cell culture equipment 100 according to the second aspect is the cell culture equipment 100 of (1), in which a dispensing device 141 for performing dispensing operations is provided in the clean bench 140 at a position midway between the first end 143a and the second end 143b of the main line 143. As a result, for example, the work W carried into the clean bench 140 from the stockers 110, 120 can be transported to the dispensing device 141 and subjected to a dispensing operation without passing through an area with low cleanliness. Also, the work W that has undergone the dispensing operation can be transported into the incubator 130 via the pass box 150 without passing through an area with low cleanliness. Furthermore, for example, the work W that has finished shaking in the incubator 130 is transported from the first end 143a of the main line 143 via the pass box 150 to the dispensing device 141, so it does not pass through an area with low cleanliness within the clean bench 140.

[0055] (3) The cell culture equipment 100 according to the third aspect is the cell culture equipment 100 of (1) or (2), and a waste disposal section 142 for waste disposal is provided in the clean bench 140 on the side closer to the second end 143b of the main line 143. This allows waste section 142, which can be a source of contamination, to be located on the opposite side in first direction D1 from pass box 150 and stockers 110, 120. Therefore, a decrease in the cleanliness of liquid handling area R4 on the side closer to first end 143a of trunk line 143 can be suppressed.

[0056] (4) The cell culture equipment 100 according to the fourth aspect is the cell culture equipment 100 of (1), and is provided with a work table 144 that is provided within the clean bench 140 and on which the work W that has been transported from at least the storage area R1 to the liquid handling area R4 can be placed. This configuration shortens the time that first stocker door 110a is open when a new workpiece W is transferred from storage area R1 to liquid handling area R4. This reduces the inflow of air from liquid handling area R4 into storage area R1, and prevents a decrease in the cleanliness of storage area R1.

[0057] (5) The cell culture equipment 100 according to the fifth aspect is any one of the cell culture equipment 100s (1) to (4), in which the work table 144 is provided at a position where the sum of the distances from the pass box 150, the opening / closing sections 110a, 120a, and the first end 143a is the shortest distance. With this configuration, the workpieces W can be transported quickly at the first end 143a of the trunk line 143.

[0058] (6) The cell culture system 200 according to the sixth aspect includes a plurality of cell culture equipment 100 of any one of (1) to (5), and the stockers 110, 120 of the plurality of cell culture equipment 100 are arranged to face each other. This configuration allows an operator to easily access each of the stockers 110, 120 of the multiple cell culture facilities 100, thereby reducing the burden on the operator who operates the multiple cell culture facilities 100.

[0059] (7) The cell culture system 300 according to the seventh aspect includes a plurality of cell culture equipment 100 of any one of (1) to (5), the plurality of cell culture equipment 100 being arranged on the same circle C1, and the stockers 110, 120 of the plurality of cell culture equipment 100 being arranged radially inward of the circle C1 relative to the clean bench 140. This configuration allows the stockers 110, 120 of the multiple cell culture facilities 100 to be located close to each other, thereby facilitating access for workers to the stockers 110, 120 and reducing the burden on workers.

[0060] (8) The cell culture system 300 according to the eighth aspect is the cell culture system 300 of (7), in which a plurality of the cell culture equipment 100 is arranged around an adjacent equipment 400 that performs a process upstream or downstream of the cell culture equipment 100. With this configuration, the stockers 110 and 120 of the cell culture equipment 100 can be placed near the adjacent equipment 400, so that the adjacent equipment 400 and the cell culture equipment 100 can be smoothly linked.

[0061] (9) A cell culture system according to a ninth aspect is the cell culture system 300 of (8), in which the availability of the adjacent facilities is lower than the availability of one of the cell culture facilities 100. By configuring in this way, the availability rate of the adjacent equipment 400 can be relatively increased compared to when one cell culture equipment 100 is provided for one adjacent equipment 400. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 21, 22, 23...Transportation device 21...First conveying device 22...Second conveying device 23...Third conveying device 110...First stocker (stocker) 110a...First stocker door (opening / closing section) 112...Rack 120...Second stocker (stocker) 120a...Second stocker door (opening / closing section) 121...Refrigerator-freezer 122...Stage 123...Slider 130...Incubator 130a...Around 140...Clean bench 140a...short side 140b...long side 141...Dispensing device 142...Disposal section 143…Main line 143a...first end 143b…Second end 144...Workbench 150...Pass box 150a...First pass door 150b...Second pass door 200, 300...Cell culture system C1…Circle D1…first direction D2…Second direction L1,L2,L3…distance O1...symmetric point O2…center point R1: First storage area R2: Second storage area R3: Cultivation area R4: Liquid handling area W…Work

Claims

1. a stocker that forms a storage area for storing the workpieces; an incubator forming a culture area in which a culture operation is performed on the work; a clean bench forming a liquid handling area in which a dispensing operation is performed on the workpiece; a transport device that transports the workpiece among the stocker, the incubator, and the clean bench; a pass box provided between the incubator and the clean bench, for moving the workpiece between the liquid handling area and the culture area while maintaining the culture area and the liquid handling area in a non-communicating state; Equipped with the incubator, the pass box, and the clean bench are arranged side by side in a first direction in a plan view, the stockers are arranged side by side with respect to the clean bench in a second direction in a plan view that intersects with the first direction, and the storage area can be communicated with the liquid handling area via an opening / closing part provided at a position on the clean bench closer to the pass box in the first direction, the transport device is provided in the clean bench, extends in the first direction, and forms a trunk line having a first end portion on one side in the first direction and a second end portion on the other side in the first direction; The pass box and the opening / closing unit are provided on a side closer to a first end of the trunk line. Cell culture equipment.

2. A dispensing device for dispensing is provided in the clean bench at a position midway between the first end and the second end of the trunk line. The cell culture facility according to claim 1 .

3. A waste disposal section for waste disposal is provided in the clean bench on the side close to the second end of the trunk line. The cell culture facility according to claim 1 or 2.

4. a work table provided within the clean bench and capable of placing the work carried from at least the storage area to the liquid handling area; The cell culture facility according to claim 1 .

5. The work table is provided at a position where the sum of the distances from the pass box, the opening / closing unit, and the first end is the shortest distance. The cell culture facility according to claim 4.

6. A cell culture facility according to claim 1, The stockers of the plurality of cell culture facilities are arranged to face each other. Cell culture system.

7. A cell culture facility according to claim 1, The plurality of cell culture facilities are arranged on the same circle, The stockers of the plurality of cell culture facilities are arranged radially inward of the clean bench. Cell culture system.

8. A plurality of cell culture facilities are arranged around adjacent facilities that perform processes upstream or downstream of the cell culture facilities. The cell culture system according to claim 7 .

9. The availability rate of the adjacent facility is lower than the availability rate of one of the cell culture facilities. The cell culture system according to claim 8.

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