Automatic Measuring Device

Abstract

An automatic measuring device is provided that can equalize environmental conditions for each container. [Solution] The container transfer device operates at a predetermined timing during a period when measurement processing is not being performed, to remove containers S one by one from the top of the multi-tiered container MS in the loading section 2, and to place containers S successively on top at other locations in the loading section 2 to form the multi-tiered container MS, or to remove containers S one by one from the bottom of the multi-tiered container MS in the loading section 2, and to place containers S successively below at other locations in the loading section 2 to form the multi-tiered container MS.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic measuring device for a plurality of containers in which microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi are cultured. [Background technology]

[0002] Among these types of automatic measuring devices, a petri dish handling device is one form of container handling device. Petri dish handling devices are commonly known as those built into automatic colony measuring devices and automatic colony transplant devices, and can be broadly divided into two types. One type, as described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, transfers petri dishes from a placement section on which multiple stacked petri dishes are placed to a measurement section or transplantation section, and then from the measurement section or transplantation section to another placement section or the original placement section. The other type, as described in Patent Document 3, transfers petri dishes from a placement section on which multiple petri dishes are placed side by side on a tray to a measurement section, and then from the measurement section to the original placement section. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-267642 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-121622 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-261260 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The former type has the advantage that multiple containers can be stacked and placed, thereby requiring less placement space and allowing the placement section and the entire device to be designed compactly. However, after the measurement process or transplantation process, the multi-tiered container configured in another placement section or the original placement section will have the containers in the up-down order reversed from the original multi-tiered container. Therefore, the next time the containers are transferred from the another placement section or the original placement section to the measurement section or transplantation section for the measurement process or transplantation process, the order of the measurement process or transplantation process will be reversed.

[0005] The latter type does not have the drawback of reversing the order of the measurement process or the transplantation process, but has the drawback of requiring a large mounting space because multiple containers must be placed side by side on a tray, resulting in an increase in the size of the mounting section and the entire device.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and its objective is to provide a container handling device, a container handling method, and an automatic measuring device that can prevent the order from being reversed in a multi-tiered container in which multiple containers are stacked. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The container handling device according to the present invention comprises: a container transfer device capable of transferring a container; a control circuit for controlling the container transfer device, The container transfer device is controlled by the control circuit. When transporting containers from a loading section on which a multi-tiered container made up of multiple stacked containers is placed to a predetermined location, the device operates to remove containers one by one from the top of the multi-tiered container at the loading section and place the containers one by one on top at the predetermined location to form the multi-tiered container, or to remove containers one by one from the bottom of the multi-tiered container at the loading section and place the containers one by one on the bottom at the predetermined location to form the multi-tiered container, At a predetermined timing after the last container of the multi-tiered container is removed from the placement unit, the last container is first placed at another predetermined location, and thereafter, containers are removed one by one from the top of the multi-tiered container at the predetermined location, and the containers are placed successively on top at another predetermined location to form the multi-tiered container, or containers are removed one by one from the bottom of the multi-tiered container at the predetermined location, and the containers are placed successively below at another predetermined location to form the multi-tiered container. A container handling device. Here, as one aspect of the container handling device according to the present invention, The placement unit is capable of placing a plurality of multi-tiered containers thereon, The predetermined timing is set to a time point after the last container of one or a predetermined number of multi-tiered containers is removed from the placement unit and before moving to the next multi-tiered container, or a time point after the last container of all the target multi-tiered containers is removed from the placement unit. The above configuration can be adopted. In another aspect of the container handling device according to the present invention, A temporary storage area for temporarily storing containers is set as the predetermined location. The above configuration can be adopted. In addition, as another aspect of the container handling device according to the present invention, The same location on the placement unit is set as the other predetermined location. The above configuration can be adopted.

[0008] Further, a container handling method according to the present invention includes the steps of: When transporting containers from a loading section on which a multi-tiered container made up of multiple stacked containers is placed to a predetermined location, containers are removed one by one from the top of the multi-tiered container at the loading section, and the containers are placed one by one on top at the predetermined location to form the multi-tiered container, or containers are removed one by one from the bottom of the multi-tiered container at the loading section, and the containers are placed one by one underneath at the predetermined location to form the multi-tiered container, At a predetermined timing after the last container of the multi-tiered container is removed from the placement unit, the last container is first placed at another predetermined location, and thereafter, containers are removed one by one from the top of the multi-tiered container at the predetermined location, and the containers are placed one by one on top at another predetermined location to form the multi-tiered container, or containers are removed one by one from the bottom of the multi-tiered container at the predetermined location, and the containers are placed one by one underneath at another predetermined location to form the multi-tiered container. A container handling method.

[0009] Furthermore, the automatic measuring device according to the present invention comprises: a placing section capable of placing a multi-tiered container in which a plurality of containers are stacked; a measuring device that measures the sample in the container; a container transfer device capable of transferring a container; a control circuit for controlling the container transfer device, The container transfer device is controlled by the control circuit. When transferring containers from the placement unit to the measuring device and then from the measuring device to a predetermined location, the device operates in such a way that containers are taken out one by one from the top of the multi-tiered container at the placement unit and then successively placed on top at the predetermined location to form the multi-tiered container, or containers are taken out one by one from the bottom of the multi-tiered container at the placement unit and then successively placed on bottom at the predetermined location to form the multi-tiered container, At a predetermined timing after the last container of the multi-tiered container is transferred from the placement unit to the measuring device, the last container is placed first at another predetermined location, and thereafter, containers are taken out one by one from the top of the multi-tiered container at the predetermined location, and containers are placed successively on top at another predetermined location to form the multi-tiered container, or containers are taken out one by one from the bottom of the multi-tiered container at the predetermined location, and containers are placed successively below at another predetermined location to form the multi-tiered container. It is an automatic measuring device. Here, as one aspect of the automatic measuring device according to the present invention, A temporary storage unit is provided on which a multi-tiered container having multiple containers stacked on top of each other can be placed, A temporary storage area is set as a predetermined location, A placement portion is set as another predetermined location. The above configuration can be adopted. Also, in this case, The placement unit and the temporary placement unit are container stacking devices each including a rotary table and a plurality of magazines provided at equal angular intervals around the rotation center of the rotary table, each capable of accommodating multi-tiered containers, and capable of placing a plurality of multi-tiered containers. The above configuration can be adopted. Also, in these cases, The placement section and temporary placement section are arranged on both sides of the measuring device. The above configuration can be adopted. Furthermore, in these cases, The device is provided with a housing that encloses the placement unit, the measuring device, the temporary placement unit, and the container transfer device. The above configuration can be adopted.

[0010] Furthermore, the automatic measuring device according to the present invention comprises: a placing section capable of placing a multi-tiered container in which a plurality of containers are stacked; a measuring device that measures the sample in the container; a container transfer device capable of transferring a container; a control circuit for controlling the container transfer device, The container transfer device is operated under the control of the control circuit to remove containers one by one from the top of the multi-tiered container in the mounting section at a predetermined timing during a period when measurement processing is not being performed, and to arrange the containers one by one on top at another location on the mounting section to form a multi-tiered container, or to remove containers one by one from the bottom of the multi-tiered container in the mounting section and to arrange the containers one by one underneath at another location on the mounting section to form a multi-tiered container. It is an automatic measuring device.

[0011] Here, as one aspect of the automatic measuring device according to the present invention, Equipped with an incubator to house the placement unit The above configuration can be adopted.

[0012] Furthermore, the automatic measuring device according to the present invention comprises: a mounting section capable of mounting a multi-tiered container in which a plurality of containers containing samples and having information recording media attached thereto are stacked; a measuring device that measures the sample in the container; a container transfer device capable of transferring a container; a reading device that reads the information recording medium attached to the container; a control circuit for controlling the container transfer device and the reading device; The control circuit is The container transfer device is operated to remove containers one by one from the top of the multi-tiered container at the placing section and place the containers one by one on top at a predetermined location to form the multi-tiered container, or to remove containers one by one from the bottom of the multi-tiered container at the placing section and place the containers one by one on the bottom at a predetermined location to form the multi-tiered container, a reading device for reading information from the information recording medium attached to the removed containers in sequence; Control is performed according to the information read from each information recording medium. It is an automatic measuring device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, the stacked container constructed at a predetermined location has the containers in the up-down order reversed from the original container. However, after the re-stacking process, the stacked container constructed at another predetermined location has the containers in the up-down order identical to the original container. Therefore, according to the present invention, the stacked container can be prevented from having the containers in the up-down order reversed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of an automatic measuring device incorporating a colony measuring device and a petri dish handling device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the automatic measuring device with the opening / closing cover open. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a front view of the petri dish stacking device of the automatic measuring device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the petri dish stacking device. [Figure 5]FIG. 5 is a plan view of the petri dish stacking device, the colony measuring device, and the petri dish handling device. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a left side view of FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a left side view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 8] Fig. 8(a) is an explanatory diagram of the state when the measurement process is started, and Fig. 8(b) is an explanatory diagram of Operation 1 of a series of petri dish handling operations related to the measurement process. [Figure 9] 9(a) is an explanatory diagram of operation 2. FIG. 9(b) is an explanatory diagram of operation 3. [Figure 10] 10(a) is an explanatory diagram of operation 4. FIG. 10(b) is an explanatory diagram of operation 5. [Figure 11] 11(a) is an explanatory diagram of operation 6. FIG. 11(b) is an explanatory diagram of operation 7. [Figure 12] Fig. 12(a) is an explanatory diagram of operation 8. Fig. 12(b) is an explanatory diagram of the state after the measurement process has been completed. [Figure 13] Fig. 13(a) is a flowchart of a series of petri dish handling operations related to the measurement process, and Fig. 13(b) is a flowchart of a series of petri dish handling operations related to the re-stacking process of multi-stage petri dishes formed after the measurement process. [Figure 14] Fig. 14(a) is a conceptual diagram of the multi-stage petri dish before measurement processing (the original multi-stage petri dish), and Fig. 14(b) is a conceptual diagram of the multi-stage petri dish configured after measurement processing. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a plan view including a partial cross section of an automatic measuring device according to another embodiment. [Figure 16] 16(a) and (b) are explanatory diagrams showing a case where a rotational deviation occurs in a petri dish, and Fig. 16(c) is an explanatory diagram showing a case where a rotational deviation occurs in an image of a plate due to a rotational deviation of the petri dish. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a rotation correction process for correcting rotational deviation of an image for measurement processing based on an image of a plate. [Figure 18]18(a) to 18(d) are explanatory diagrams of steps 2 and 4 in FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a flowchart of another example of rotation correction processing. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of the culture condition equalization process when a temperature gradient occurs in the vertical direction in the culture environment inside the automatic measurement device. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of the culture condition equalization process when a horizontal temperature gradient occurs in the culture environment inside the automatic measurement device. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of another use example 1. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of another example of use 2. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram of another use example 3 (sorting process based on groups). [Figure 25] FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram of group-based sorting process 1. [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram of group-based sorting process 2. [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram of group-based sorting process 3. [Figure 28] FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram of group-based sorting process 4. [Figure 29] FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram of group-based sorting process 5. [Figure 30] FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram of another use example 4 (sorting process based on measurement results). [Figure 31] FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram of a sorting process 1 based on measurement results. [Figure 32] FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram of the sorting process 2 based on the measurement results. [Figure 33] FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram of a sorting process 3 based on measurement results. [Figure 34] FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram of the sorting process 4 based on the measurement results. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] <Device configuration> A petri dish handling device built into an automatic measuring device will be described below as one embodiment of a container handling device according to the present invention, with reference to Figures 1 to 14. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which a petri dish is used as a container, but other containers such as Compact Dry (registered trademark) may also be used.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the automatic measuring device 1 includes a housing 10. The housing 10 is a frame made of aluminum or other rectangular timber with a cover attached as an exterior material. The housing 10 includes an opening / closing cover 11. A pair of opening / closing covers 11 are provided on the left and right sides of the front of the housing 10, and when opened, a Petri dish stacking device (sheath stacker) 2 is exposed in each opening, allowing multi-tiered Petri dishes to be inserted and removed.

[0017] The automatic measuring device 1 comprises an operation input unit 12 and a control circuit 13. The operation input unit 12 is a touch panel type, is located on the front of the housing 10, and receives various operations and information related to the operation of the automatic measuring device 1. The control circuit 13 is configured using a computer such as a personal computer, includes an arithmetic unit (processor) and a recording medium (semiconductor memory, hard disk, etc.), and controls the automatic measuring device 1 as a whole.

[0018] 3 and 4, the Petri dish stacking device 2 includes a rotary table 20, a rotary motor 21, and a magazine 22. The rotary table 20 is a table that can rotate around a vertical axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane as a rotation center RC. The rotary motor 21 is a motor with an angle indexing function that rotates the rotary table 20 and positions it at a predetermined angular position.

[0019] A plurality of magazines 22 are provided at equal angular intervals around the rotation center RC, and each can accommodate a multi-tiered Petri dish MS. In this embodiment, five magazines 22 are provided at five locations at 72-degree intervals around the rotation center RC (magazine numbers 1 to 5). The magazines 22 are composed of a plurality of surrounding members 23, ... that surround the Petri dishes S. In this embodiment, the surrounding members 23 are rods that extend upward from the turntable 20 at three locations at 120-degree intervals around the center of the magazine 22. The multi-tiered Petri dish MS is accommodated so as to be inscribed within the plurality of surrounding members 23, ... The number of Petri dishes S that can be accommodated in the magazine 22 is determined by the height dimension of the surrounding members 23. In this embodiment, the magazine 22 can accommodate 21 Petri dishes S, and the entire Petri dish stacking device 2 can accommodate 105 Petri dishes S.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 5, the Petri dish accumulating device 2 includes a first Petri dish accumulating device 2A and a second Petri dish accumulating device 2B. The first and second Petri dish accumulating devices 2A and 2B are arranged at a predetermined interval in the X direction, which is the left-right direction of the automatic measuring device 1. The first Petri dish accumulating device 2A is used as a placement unit for placing and storing multi-tiered Petri dishes MS. The second Petri dish accumulating device 2B is used as a temporary placement unit for temporarily placing Petri dishes S transferred from the first Petri dish accumulating device 2A. The first and second Petri dish accumulating devices 2A and 2B rotate synchronously. That is, the first and second Petri dish accumulating devices 2A and 2B angularly displace synchronously so that magazines with the same magazine number are positioned at the delivery position DP. Note that positioning the magazine 22 with the magazine number to be used (the magazine 22 with the magazine number designated by the control circuit 13) at the delivery position DP is referred to as "magazine number determination."

[0021] 5 to 7, the automatic measuring device 1 includes, in addition to the above-mentioned Petri dish stacking devices 2, 2, a colony measuring device (colony counter) 3 and a Petri dish handling device 4. The Petri dish handling device 4 includes a Petri dish transfer device (transfer robot) 5 and a Petri dish lid detaching device (detaching robot) 8. The Petri dish transfer device 5 includes a gripping device 6 and a driving device 7.

[0022] The colony measuring device 3 is a device that measures (counts) the number of microbial clumps (colonies) cultured in a petri dish. The colony measuring device 3 is disposed between the first petri dish stacking device 2A and the second petri dish stacking device 2B. The colony measuring device 3 includes a stage 30 and an imaging device (camera) 31. A plate P of a petri dish S (the petri dish S with the lid L removed) to be imaged is placed at a measurement position MP on the stage 30. The imaging device 31 is attached to and supported by a support frame 32 extending upward from the stage 30, and is disposed so that its optical axis is perpendicular to the stage 30, with the center point of the measurement position MP as its center. A control circuit 13 used as the control circuit for the colony measuring device 3 performs appropriate image processing on the image of the plate P captured by the imaging device 31, then performs a colony identification process, and then performs a colony count process based on the results of the identification process.

[0023] The gripping device 6 has a pair of claws 61, 61. The pair of claws 61, 61 grip the plate P portion of the petri dish S from both sides. The pair of claws 61, 61 are attached to the action parts of an actuator 60, which has a type in which a pair of action parts move toward and away from each other in an oscillating manner. This allows the gripping device 6 to switch between a state in which it grips the petri dish S and a state in which it releases the petri dish S.

[0024] The gripping device 6 includes a first gripping device 6A and a second gripping device 6B. The first gripping device 6A and the second gripping device 6B are located at the same position in the Y direction, which is the front-to-back direction of the automatic measurement device 1, and are arranged at a predetermined interval in the X direction. The distance between the center line of the first gripping device 6A and the center line of the second gripping device 6B in the X direction is equal to the distance between the center point of the delivery position DP of the first Petri dish accumulating device 2A and the center point of the measurement position MP in the X direction, and is also equal to the distance between the center point of the delivery position DP of the second Petri dish accumulating device 2B and the center point of the measurement position MP in the X direction. The first Petri dish accumulating device 2A, the colony measurement device 3, and the second Petri dish accumulating device 2B are arranged side by side in the X direction so that the center point of the delivery position DP of the first Petri dish accumulating device 2A, the center point of the measurement position MP, and the center point of the delivery position DP of the second Petri dish accumulating device 2B are located at the same position in the Y direction.

[0025] The drive device 7 includes a first base 70, a second base 73, and a third base 75. The first base 70 is linearly guided in the Y direction by a pair of linear guides 71, 71 arranged on the left and right sides along the Y direction, and is attached to an acting portion of an actuator 72 whose acting portion moves linearly, thereby driving the first base 70 in the Y direction. The second base 73 is attached to an acting portion of an actuator 74 whose acting portion moves linearly, thereby driving the second base 73 in the X direction. The third base 75 is attached to an acting portion of an actuator 76 whose acting portion moves linearly, thereby driving the second base 73 in the Z direction, which is the vertical direction of the automatic measuring device 1. The gripping device 6 is attached to the third base 75 directly or indirectly via a member. As a result, the gripping device 6 can move in three-dimensional space along three orthogonal axes, X, Y, and Z, within the ranges of motion of the actuators 72, 74, and 76.

[0026] The Petri dish lid attachment / detachment device 8 is a device that can attach and detach a lid L of a Petri dish S held by the gripping device 6 when the gripping device 6 is located on a line extending in the Y direction from the center point of the measurement position MP, at the lateral position TP, and at an upper position in the Z direction. The Petri dish lid attachment / detachment device 8 includes a base 81 and a head 83. The base 81 is attached to an acting portion of an actuator 82, the acting portion of which moves linearly, and is driven in the Z direction. The actuator 82 is attached to and supported by a gate-shaped support frame 80 arranged along the X direction. The head 83 is attached to an acting portion of an actuator 85, the acting portion of which moves rotationally, and is driven around an axis in the Z direction. The actuator 85 is attached to the base 81 directly or indirectly via a member. As a result, the head 83 is movable in the Z direction passing through the center of the Petri dish S held by the gripping device 6, and is capable of rotation or angular displacement around an axis in the Z direction passing through the center of the Petri dish S held by the gripping device 6.

[0027] The head 83 is equipped with a suction nozzle 84 at its tip. As a result, the Petri dish lid removal device 8 adsorbs and releases the lid L of the Petri dish S when the head 83 descends and approaches the Petri dish S held by the gripping device 6, thereby removing the lid. Note that the head 83 can rotate or angularly displace the lid L around an axis in the Z direction passing through the center of the Petri dish S held by the gripping device 6 by rotating or angularly displacing the lid L by operating the actuator 85 while holding the lid L.

[0028] The Petri dish lid attaching / detaching device 8 is equipped with a reading device 86. The reading device 86 is a device that reads information specific to a Petri dish, such as a sample name, lot information, etc., recorded on an information recording medium such as a barcode, QR code (registered trademark), or RF-ID tag attached to the top surface or peripheral side surface of the lid L of the Petri dish S or the peripheral side surface of the plate P of the Petri dish S.

[0029] <Petri dish handling operations related to measurement processing> The above configuration constitutes the automatic measuring device 1. Next, the measurement process in the automatic measuring device 1 and a series of petri dish handling operations related to this will be described.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 13(a), a series of petri dish handling operations begins with the state shown in FIG. 8(a). Operations 1 to 8 shown in FIG. 8(b) to FIG. 12(b) are repeated. The repetition continues until all of the petri dishes S,... of the multi-tiered petri dishes MS in one magazine 22 in the first petri dish accumulating device 2A have completed the measurement process and are stored in the magazine 22 with the corresponding magazine number in the second petri dish accumulating device 2B. When the measurement process for one multi-tiered petri dish MS is completed, the turntable 20 in each of the first and second petri dish accumulating devices 2A and 2B is displaced by one angular pitch, and the next magazine number is indexed. The repetition continues until all of the target multi-tiered petri dishes MS,... in the first petri dish accumulating device 2A have completed the measurement process and are stored in the magazine 22 with the corresponding magazine number in the second petri dish accumulating device 2B. Note that the number of target multi-tiered petri dishes MS may be one. 8(b) to 12(b) are performed once, and then the process proceeds to the re-stacking process described below. In this embodiment, the entire Petri dish stacking device 2 can accommodate 105 Petri dishes S, and therefore a maximum of 105 Petri dishes S can be subjected to continuous automatic measurement processing.

[0031] In operation 1, as shown in Figure 8(b), the first gripping device 6A and the second gripping device 6B move so that the first gripping device 6A is located on a line extending in the Y direction from the center point of the transfer position DP of the first petri dish accumulation device 2A and at the lateral movement position TP, and the second gripping device 6B is located on a line extending in the Y direction from the center point of the measurement position MP and at the lateral movement position TP.

[0032] 8(b), the petri dish S or the multi-tiered petri dish MS or the plate P of the petri dish S is shown at the measurement position MP and the delivery position DP of the second petri dish accumulating device 2B, but this represents the state after the repetition has progressed and the petri dish S has been transferred to the delivery position DP of the second petri dish accumulating device 2B. At the start of the measurement process, the petri dish S or the multi-tiered petri dish MS or the plate P of the petri dish S is not present at these positions.

[0033] In operation 2, as shown in Figure 9(a), the first gripping device 6A and the second gripping device 6B move forward and move so that the first gripping device 6A is positioned at the transfer position DP of the first petri dish accumulation device 2A and the second gripping device 6B is positioned at the measurement position MP.

[0034] Here, when transitioning from operation 1 to operation 2, the first gripping device 6A moves from position a to position b and then to position c-c'' (the height position of the topmost petri dish S of the multi-stage petri dish MS) as shown in FIG. 6. Also, the second gripping device 6B moves from position A to position D and position E and then to position F as shown in FIG. 7.

[0035] In operation 3, as shown in Fig. 9(b), the first gripping device 6A grips the topmost petri dish S of the multi-stage petri dish MS. Furthermore, if a plate P of the petri dish S is present at the measurement position MP, the second gripping device 6B grips it.

[0036] In operation 4, as shown in Figure 10(a), the first gripping device 6A and the second gripping device 6B retreat and move so that the first gripping device 6A is located on a line extending in the Y direction from the center point of the transfer position DP of the first petri dish accumulation device 2A and at the lateral movement position TP, and the second gripping device 6B is located on a line extending in the Y direction from the center point of the measurement position MP and at the lateral movement position TP.

[0037] Here, when transitioning from operation 3 to operation 4, the first gripping device 6A moves from position c-c'' to position b and back to position a, as shown in Figure 6. Also, the second gripping device 6B moves from position F to position G and back to position A, as shown in Figure 7. Note that if a petri dish S is present in the second gripping device 6B, at position A, the head 83 of the petri dish lid removal device 8 descends from position C to position B to release the lid L of the petri dish S, and then rises from position B to position C. This attaches the lid L to the petri dish S.

[0038] In operation 5, as shown in Figure 10(b), the first gripping device 6A and the second gripping device 6B move laterally, with the first gripping device 6A positioned on a line extending in the Y direction from the center point of the measurement position MP and at the lateral movement position TP, and the second gripping device 6B positioned on a line extending in the Y direction from the center point of the transfer position DP of the second Petri dish accumulation device 2B and at the lateral movement position TP.

[0039] In operation 6, as shown in Figure 11(a), the first gripping device 6A and the second gripping device 6B move forward and move so that the first gripping device 6A is positioned at the measurement position MP and the second gripping device 6B is positioned at the transfer position DP of the second petri dish accumulation device 2B.

[0040] Here, when transitioning from operation 5 to operation 6, the first gripping device 6A moves from position A through positions D and E to reach position F, as shown in FIG. 7. Since a petri dish S is present in the first gripping device 6A, at position A, the head 83 of the petri dish lid removal device 8 descends from position C to position B to pick up the lid L of the petri dish S by suction, and then rises from position B to position C. This removes the lid L from the petri dish S, and only the plate P of the petri dish S remains in the first gripping device 6A. In addition, the second gripping device 6B moves from position a through position b to reach positions c-c'' (a height position one petri dish higher than the top petri dish S), as shown in FIG.

[0041] In operation 7, as shown in FIG. 11(b), the first gripping device 6A releases the plate P of the petri dish S at the measurement position MP. This enables the imaging process by the imaging device 31 of the colony measuring device 3 from this point until the next operation 2. In addition, the second gripping device 6B releases the petri dish S on top of the petri dish S that has already been transferred. As a result, a multi-tiered petri dish MS is formed in the magazine 22 located at the delivery position DP of the second petri dish stacking device 2B.

[0042] In operation 8, as shown in Figure 12(a), the first gripping device 6A and the second gripping device 6B retreat and move so that the first gripping device 6A is positioned on a line extending in the Y direction from the center point of the measurement position MP and at the lateral movement position TP, and the second gripping device 6B is positioned on a line extending in the Y direction from the center point of the transfer position DP of the second Petri dish accumulation device 2B and at the lateral movement position TP.

[0043] 12(a), the petri dish S or multi-tiered petri dish MS or plate P of the petri dish S is shown at the delivery position DP and measurement position MP of the first petri dish accumulating device 2A, but this represents a state in which the petri dish S still remains in the first petri dish accumulating device 2A during the repetition. At the end of the measurement process, the petri dish S or multi-tiered petri dish MS or plate P of the petri dish S will not be present at these positions.

[0044] When moving from operation 7 to operation 8, the first gripping device 6A moves from position F through position G and back to position A, as shown in Fig. 7. The second gripping device 6B moves from positions c-c'' through position b and back to position a, as shown in Fig. 6.

[0045] 12(b), all the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS stored in the magazine 22 located at the delivery position DP of the first Petri dish accumulating device 2A are cleared, all the Petri dishes S, ... have been measured, and the measured multi-tiered Petri dishes MS are stored in the magazine 22 located at the delivery position DP of the second Petri dish accumulating device 2B. Alternatively, after the measurement process of the last Petri dish S of the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS is completed, the last Petri dish S may be returned directly to the magazine 22 located at the delivery position DP of the first Petri dish accumulating device 2A without being transferred to the magazine 22 located at the delivery position DP of the second Petri dish accumulating device 2B. In this case, the re-stacking process described below is performed on the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS stacked in the magazine 22 located at the delivery position DP of the second Petri dish accumulating device 2B following the last Petri dish S, but excluding the last Petri dish S.

[0046] <Re-stacking process> Incidentally, the measurement process is performed continuously at a predetermined time interval (a constant interval or an exponentially varying interval) in order to observe the degree of colony growth. For this reason, it is necessary to return the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS configured in the second Petri dish stacking device 2B to the original magazine 22 of the first Petri dish stacking device 2A. However, as shown in Figure 14, the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS have the petri dishes S in the reversed up-down order to the original multi-tiered Petri dishes MS. If the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS are returned as they are (by hand), the order of the measurement process will be reversed in the next measurement process. Therefore, at a predetermined timing after the measurement process, a re-stacking process as shown in Figure 13(b) is automatically performed.

[0047] In the re-stacking process, the above-mentioned operations 1 to 8 are repeated in reverse order as a return operation. Even when operations 1 to 8 are repeated in reverse order, the relay operation of the petri dish S from the second gripping device 6B to the first gripping device 6A at the measurement position MP is performed. However, naturally, the process of attaching / detaching the lid L of the petri dish S and the process of capturing images of the plate P on the petri dish S are not performed. Therefore, the total operation time is shorter than the total operation time during the measurement process.

[0048] An example of the timing of the re-stacking process is the time when, based on the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS in one magazine 22 in the first Petri dish accumulating device 2A, multi-tiered Petri dishes MS are configured in the magazine 22 of the corresponding magazine number in the second Petri dish accumulating device 2B, that is, the time before the measurement process of the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS in the next magazine 22. Another example is the time when, based on all the target multi-tiered Petri dishes MS in the first Petri dish accumulating device 2A, all the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS are configured in the second Petri dish accumulating device 2B.

[0049] In this way, by executing the re-stacking process, the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS configured in the second Petri dish accumulating device 2B are automatically returned to the first Petri dish accumulating device 2A with the top-bottom order of the Petri dishes S being the same as that of the original multi-tiered Petri dishes MS. This makes it possible to prevent the order of measurement processes in the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS from being reversed, and ensures that the order of measurement processes will be the same from the next time onwards. Furthermore, in measurement processes that are continuously performed at a predetermined time interval, the order of measurement processes will always be the same for each run. This makes it possible to keep the takt time constant.

[0050] <Scope of the invention> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0051] In the above embodiment, the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS are constructed by removing the Petri dishes one by one from the top of the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS in the first Petri dish accumulating device 2A, and then placing the Petri dishes S successively on top in the second Petri dish accumulating device 2B. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS may be constructed by removing the Petri dishes S one by one from the bottom of the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS in the first Petri dish accumulating device 2A, and then placing the Petri dishes S successively below in the second Petri dish accumulating device 2B.

[0052] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the first Petri dish accumulating device 2A and the second Petri dish accumulating device 2B are synchronized, so that the Petri dishes S stored in the magazines 22 in the first Petri dish accumulating device 2A are stored in the magazines 22 with the corresponding magazine numbers in the second Petri dish accumulating device 2B. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The first Petri dish accumulating device 2A and the second Petri dish accumulating device 2B may not be synchronized, and an arbitrary magazine 22 may be selected from the multiple magazines 22, ... of the second Petri dish accumulating device 2B.

[0053] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a second Petri dish accumulating device 2B equipped with a plurality of magazines 22, ... is used as a temporary placement section for temporarily placing the Petri dishes S transferred from the first Petri dish accumulating device 2A. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the case of one example of the above-mentioned re-stacking process (an example in which the re-stacking process is performed in units of magazines 22), the number of magazines 22 in the second Petri dish accumulating device 2B may be one.

[0054] Furthermore, the temporary placement section may be set in an empty magazine 22 of the first Petri dish stacking device 2A, rather than the second Petri dish stacking device 2B. In this case, the measurement process and the re-stacking process are performed together, with the following series of operations repeated until the measurement process for all the Petri dishes S is completed: Operation 1 → Operation 2 → Operation 3 → Operation 4 → Operation 5 → Operation 6 → Operation 7 → Operation 8 → Operation 7 → Operation 6 → Operation 5 → Operation 4 (identifying the magazine number set as the temporary placement section between Operation 4 and Operation 4) → Operation 3 → Operation 2 → Operation 1 → Identifying the original magazine number. In this case, the Petri dishes S simply move back and forth between the delivery position DP and the measurement position MP of the first Petri dish stacking device 2A. Therefore, the second Petri dish stacking device 2B is not essential.

[0055] In the above embodiment, the predetermined process is a measurement process, but the present invention is not limited to this. The predetermined process may be another process.

[0056] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the gripping device 6 includes two gripping devices, a first gripping device 6A and a second gripping device 6B. However, the present invention is not limited to this. There may be only one gripping device, and the petri dish S may be transferred between the first petri dish accumulating device 2A, the colony measuring device 3, and the second petri dish accumulating device 2B using this one gripping device.

[0057] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a three-axis drive device 7 (XYZ orthogonal axes) is used as the drive device for the petri dish transfer device 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Various known drive devices can be used. For example, if a robot arm is used as the drive device, it is possible to eliminate the need for access to the measurement position MP and the relay operation of the petri dish S from the second gripping device 6B to the first gripping device 6A at the measurement position MP during the restacking process.

[0058] 15, an incubator 15 may be provided. The incubator 15 has a structure in which the first Petri dish accumulation device 2A is enclosed by a cover (exterior plate) of a housing 10 and a partition wall 14 having an openable and closable gate 14a. Alternatively, the incubator 15 may have a structure in which the first Petri dish accumulation device 2A is enclosed by an air curtain. Alternatively, the entire inside of the housing 10 may serve as an incubator.

[0059] <Other inventions> The device configuration according to the present invention described above allows the following usage.

[0060] <Rotation correction processing in measurement processing> During handling of the petri dish S, for example, at the timing of gripping and releasing the petri dish S by the gripping device 6, it cannot be denied that rotational deviation around the vertical axis may occur in the petri dish S. As shown in Figures 16(a) and 16(b), the rotational deviation becomes apparent in the second and subsequent measurement processes after the first measurement process. When rotational deviation occurs, as shown in Figure 16(c), rotational deviation also occurs in the image of the plate P captured at the measurement position MP, and in the image for measurement process. Even if rotational deviation occurs in the image for measurement process, the number of colonies C and C' will not be counted incorrectly. However, the loss of correlation between the same colonies C and C' will prevent accurate measurement results from being obtained. Therefore, a rotation correction process such as that shown in Figure 17 can be used.

[0061] First, in step 1, the counter value n is set to 1, and the value of n=1 of the angle amount θn is set to 0 (zero). Next, in step 2, with the lid L removed from the petri dish S by the petri dish lid removal device 8, the information recording medium, such as a barcode, QR code (registered trademark), or RF-ID tag, attached to the upper surface or peripheral side of the lid L is read by the reading device 86. In the first measurement process, if the information recording medium B is not positioned at the reading center as shown in FIG. 18(b) (when a person stacks petri dishes S to form a multi-tiered petri dish MS and when placing the multi-tiered petri dish MS on the first petri dish stacking device 2A, the position of the information recording medium B is not taken into consideration, so the information recording medium B is not positioned at the reading center), the head 83 of the petri dish lid removal device 8 rotates, thereby rotating the lid L so that the information recording medium B is positioned at the reading center as shown in FIG. 18(d). After the measurement process, the lid L is attached to the plate P in the rotated state.

[0062] Next, in step 3, if n=1 (if step 3 is YES), that is, if this is the first measurement process, step 6 is executed. In step 6, the plate P is imaged at the measurement position MP, and image data of the plate P is acquired. Next, in step 7, if the angle amount θn is 0 (if step 7 is YES), step 9 is executed. In step 9, the image data and the image for measurement process generated based on it are stored in the memory unit of the control circuit 13.

[0063] Next, in step 10, the counter is counted up and the n value becomes equal to or greater than 2. If this is not the last measurement process (NO in step 11), the process proceeds to step 2, and the second and subsequent measurement processes are started.

[0064] In step 2, the information recording medium B is read by the reading device 86. However, even in the case of the second or subsequent measurement process, if a rotational deviation occurs in the petri dish S due to the handling operations up to that point, the information recording medium B will again be shifted from the reading center due to the rotational deviation that occurs in the lid L, as shown in Figure 18(c). In this case, the head 83 of the petri dish lid detaching device 8 rotates, and the lid L is rotated so that the information recording medium B is positioned at the reading center, as shown in Figure 18(d). After the measurement process, the lid L is attached to the plate P in the rotated state. In other words, a relative angular displacement occurs between the plate P and the lid L.

[0065] In step 3, if the value of n is 2 or more (if step 3 is NO), that is, in the case of the second or subsequent measurement process, the rotational deviation angle α of the lid L is detected in step 4. This is possible by acquiring information on the amount of angle of rotation of the head 83 from the encoder provided in the actuator 85. Note that in step 2, the lid L is rotated in the opposite direction by the angle α, thereby correcting the rotational deviation.

[0066] Next, in step 5, the angle amount θn is calculated. The angle amount θn is obtained by adding the rotational deviation angle α of the lid L to the previous angle amount θn-1. In other words, the angle amount θn is expressed as a relative value of the rotational deviation angle with respect to the previous angle amount θn-1.

[0067] Next, in step 6, image data of the plate P is acquired. However, if a rotational shift has occurred in the petri dish S due to the handling operations up to that point (NO in step 7), as described above, a rotational shift will also occur in the image of the plate P and, ultimately, in the image for measurement processing. Therefore, in step 8, the control circuit 13 performs a rotation correction process on the image data of either the image of the plate P, the image for measurement processing, or an intermediate image between these. The rotation correction process rotates the image data in the opposite direction by an angle θn.

[0068] Then, in step 9, the image data that has been subjected to the rotation correction process is stored in the memory unit of the control circuit 13. This series of processes is repeated until the measurement process is completed for all of the petri dishes S, ... of the multi-stage petri dish MS (YES in step 11).

[0069] In this way, the image data rotation correction process is performed using the information recording medium B attached to the lid L as an alignment mark. This eliminates rotational deviation in all measurement process images, making it possible to create a state in which they can be easily compared with each other. This also maintains the correlation of the same colonies, allowing for more advanced measurement and analysis.

[0070] Furthermore, regardless of whether or not the rotation correction process is performed in step 8, the rotation operation in step 2 is performed on the lids L of all the petri dishes S of the multi-stage petri dish MS. As a result, the information recording media B of all the lids L in the multi-stage petri dish MS can be aligned vertically in a single row.

[0071] The rotation operation of lid L in step 2 may involve rotating lid L in one direction and stopping the rotation of lid L when the reading device 86 has read the information recording medium B. In this case, too, the rotational deviation angle α of lid L can be detected by acquiring information on the previous stop position of lid L and information on the current stop position of lid L from the encoder of actuator 85.

[0072] Furthermore, if the reading device 86 (and the control circuit 13) can detect the rotational deviation angle α of the lid L using image processing such as image matching for the information recording medium B, a rotation correction process as shown in Fig. 19 may be used in which the lid L is not rotated. In this case, the angle amount θn is expressed as an absolute value.

[0073] Furthermore, the detection standard for the rotational deviation angle α of the lid L may not be the information recording medium B, but may be some kind of display medium such as numbers, letters, marks, etc., provided on the lid L.

[0074] The information recording medium or display medium may also be attached to the peripheral side surface of the plate P of the petri dish S. In this case, a rotation robot is provided to rotate the plate P. In each measurement process, the rotation robot appropriately rotates the petri dish S to make the angle of the information recording medium or display medium the same, thereby eliminating the need for steps 4, 5, 7, and 8 in Fig. 17.

[0075] An example of an automatic measuring device is: a mounting section capable of mounting a plurality of containers, each of which includes a lid provided with an information recording medium or a display medium and a plate containing a sample; a container transfer device capable of transferring a container; an imaging device for imaging a sample placed in a plate of the container; a rotating device for rotating the container lid; a reading device for reading the information recording medium or display medium attached to the lid of the container; a control circuit for controlling the container transfer device, the imaging device, the rotation device, and the reading device; the container transfer device, under the control of the control circuit, picks up the plurality of containers placed on the placement unit one by one, and transfers at least the plate of each of the picked-up containers to the imaging device; The rotation device rotates the information recording medium or the display medium attached to the lid of the removed container by a predetermined rotation angle under the control of the control circuit; The reading device reads the information recording medium or the display medium rotated to a predetermined rotation angle under the control of the control circuit, The imaging device images the sample in the transferred plate; If the container lid is rotated during the second or subsequent image capture, the control circuit stores information about the angle of rotation and rotates the captured image in accordance with the angle of rotation.

[0076] <Culture condition uniformity treatment> In the automatic measurement device 1 in which the first Petri dish stacking device 2A storing the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS is placed in a culture environment within the incubator 15 as described above (see FIG. 15), the incubator 15 is configured or controlled so that the entire interior is a uniform culture environment. However, it cannot be denied that a certain degree of non-uniformity may occur in the culture environment, such as a temperature gradient. If non-uniformity occurs in the culture environment, variations in culture conditions will occur among the Petri dishes S, ... of the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS. Therefore, a culture condition uniformization process can be used. There are two types of culture condition uniformization process.

[0077] One culture condition equalization process is for the case where a vertical temperature gradient occurs in the culture environment inside the incubator 15, as shown in Figure 20. The culture condition equalization process transfers the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS at appropriate time intervals. The transfer is performed, for example, between two different magazines 22, 22 of the first Petri dish stacking device 2A. In this case, the transfer of the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS is repeated based on a series of operations: Operation 1 (Figure 8(b)) → Operation 2 (Figure 9(a)) → Operation 3 (Figure 9(b)) → Operation 4 (Figure 10(a)) → Identification of another magazine number → Operation 3 → Operation 2 → Operation 1 → Identification of the original magazine number or yet another magazine number.

[0078] With each transfer, the multi-tiered Petri dish MS reverses the up-down order of the Petri dishes S from the original multi-tiered Petri dish MS. As a result, the Petri dish S that was previously located on the higher temperature side is transferred to the lower temperature side, and conversely, the Petri dish S that was previously located on the lower temperature side is transferred to the higher temperature side. Therefore, by periodically repeating the transfer of the multi-tiered Petri dish MS, the culture conditions in each Petri dish S can be made uniform.

[0079] The other culture condition equalization process is for the case where a horizontal temperature gradient occurs in the culture environment inside the incubator 15, as shown in Figure 21. The process is basically the same as the first culture condition equalization process. The difference is that in the second culture condition equalization process, circulating (recirculating) transfer of multi-tiered Petri dishes S is performed at multiple locations (at least two locations) based on the direction of the temperature gradient.

[0080] Each time the multi-tiered Petri dish MS is transferred, it is transferred to a location with a different temperature. As a result, all of the Petri dishes S, ... are transferred between multiple locations with different temperatures. Therefore, by periodically repeating the transfer of the multi-tiered Petri dish MS, it is possible to uniformize the culture conditions of each Petri dish S.

[0081] It goes without saying that the culture condition uniformization process can also be applied to an automatic measuring device 1 that does not include an incubator.

[0082] An example of an automatic measuring device is: a placing section capable of placing a multi-tiered container in which a plurality of containers are stacked; an incubator that houses the mounting unit; a container transfer device capable of transferring a container; a control circuit for controlling the container transfer device, The container transfer device, under the control of the control circuit, removes containers one by one from the top of the multi-tiered container on the mounting section at predetermined time intervals and places the containers on top in succession at other locations on the mounting section to form a multi-tiered container, or removes containers one by one from the bottom of the multi-tiered container on the mounting section and places the containers on bottom in succession at other locations on the mounting section to form a multi-tiered container.

[0083] <Other use case 1> Usage example 1 is shown in FIG. 22. Note that in the drawings used in the following explanations of each usage example, the illustration of the petri dish S is simplified. Starting with step 1, in step 2, a first measurement process is performed on all petri dishes S, .... Alternatively, only an image capture process may be performed without performing colony counting. Alternatively, neither counting nor image capture may be performed. At this time, a read process is performed on the information recording medium attached to all petri dishes S, .... Through this read process, the control circuit 13 identifies the group to which the petri dishes S of each tier of the multi-tiered petri dish MS belong, and the identification result is stored in the recording medium of the control circuit 13. After these processes, a multi-tiered petri dish MS is configured in the second petri dish stacking device 2B in a state where the top-bottom order of the petri dishes S is reversed from that of the original multi-tiered petri dish MS. Therefore, in step 3, a re-stacking process is performed.

[0084] Next, in step 4, a second measurement process (or a first measurement process if no measurement process was performed in step 2) is performed on the petri dishes S (A1 to A3) of one group (group A) of multiple groups (three groups A to C in this example; the same applies hereinafter in each applicable use example). In this case, measurement processes are not performed on the petri dishes S, etc. of the other groups (groups B and C). Then, when the measurement process of the last petri dish S (A3) of one group (group A) is completed, a re-stacking process is performed in step 5. The groups are classified according to the recorded information stored in the information recording medium, such as the type of sample (bacterial species, etc.), the time interval between measurement processes, the order of measurement processes, or the processing conditions for measurement processes (the same applies hereinafter in each applicable use example).

[0085] Next, in step 6, a second measurement process (or a first measurement process if no measurement process was performed in step 2) is performed on the petri dishes S (B1 to B3) of another group (group B). In this case, measurement processes are not performed on the petri dishes S, ... of the other groups (groups A and C). Then, when the measurement process for the last petri dish S (B3) of the other group (group B) is completed, a re-stacking process is performed in step 7.

[0086] Thereafter, measurement processing is similarly performed on any one of the groups of petri dishes S, ... for which the specified measurement time has arrived. Then, when the measurement processing of the last petri dish S of the group is completed, the re-stacking processing is performed. The time interval between measurement processing is group A < group B < group C.

[0087] In addition, instead of transferring the petri dish S to the second petri dish accumulating device 2B, i.e., using the second petri dish accumulating device 2B as a temporary storage area, the petri dish S may be transferred to an empty magazine 22 of the first petri dish accumulating device 2A, i.e., an empty magazine 22 with a different magazine number of the first petri dish accumulating device 2A may be used as a temporary storage area (the same applies to each applicable use example below).

[0088] <Other use case 2> Usage example 2 is shown in Figure 23. Starting from step 1, in step 2, a reading process is performed on the information recording media attached to all the petri dishes S, .... The reading process causes the control circuit 13 to identify the group to which the petri dishes S of each stage of the multi-stage petri dish MS belong, and the identification result is stored in the recording medium of the control circuit 13. After the reading process, a multi-stage petri dish MS is configured in the magazine 22 of another magazine number (magazine number B) of the first petri dish stacking device 2A, with the petri dishes S in the reversed up-down order from the original multi-stage petri dish MS. Next, in step 3, a first measurement process is performed on the petri dishes S (A1 to A3) of one group (group A). ​​In this case, no measurement process is performed on the petri dishes S of the other groups (group B and group C). After the measurement process, the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS are configured in the magazine 22 with the original magazine number (magazine number A) in a state where the up-down order of the Petri dishes S is reversed from that of the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS configured in the magazine 22 with another magazine number (magazine number B). Therefore, in step 4, a re-stacking process is performed.

[0089] Next, in step 5, the first measurement process is performed on the petri dishes S (B1 to B3) of another group (group B). In this case, measurement process is not performed on the petri dishes S, ... of the other groups (group A and group C). Then, when the measurement process of the last petri dish S (B1) of the other group (group B) is completed, a re-stacking process is performed in step 6.

[0090] Thereafter, measurement processing is similarly performed on any one of the groups of petri dishes S, ... for which the specified measurement time has arrived. Then, when the measurement processing of the last petri dish S of the group is completed, the re-stacking processing is performed. The time interval between measurement processing is group A < group B < group C.

[0091] <Other use case 3 (sorting based on groups)> The group-based sorting process refers to a process of sorting and rearranging the petri dishes S,... by group from a state in which the petri dishes S,... of each group are randomly stacked to form a multi-tiered petri dish MS, as shown in Figure 24. Sorting processes can be broadly divided into two types: sorting processes 1 to 3, in which the petri dishes S,... are sorted into groups to form a multi-tiered petri dish MS for each group, and sorting processes 4 and 5, in which the petri dishes S,... are sorted into groups to form a single multi-tiered petri dish MS. In the reading process of this sorting process, the control circuit 13 identifies the group to which the petri dishes S of each tier of the multi-tiered petri dish MS belong, and stores the identification result in a recording medium of the control circuit 13.

[0092] <Group-based sorting process 1> The group-based sorting process 1 is shown in FIG. 25. Starting from step 1, in step 2, a first measurement process is performed on all the petri dishes S, .... Alternatively, only the image capturing process may be performed without performing the colony counting process. Alternatively, both the counting process and the image capturing process may not be performed. At this time, a reading process of the information recording medium attached to all the petri dishes S, ... is performed. After these processes, the second petri dish stacking device 2B sorts the petri dishes S into groups determined by the reading results, and a multi-tiered petri dish MS is constructed for each group. In this case, the multi-tiered petri dishes MS of each group are arranged in the reverse order of the top and bottom of the original multi-tiered petri dishes MS. Therefore, in step 3, a re-stacking process is performed.

[0093] Next, in step 4, the second measurement process (the first measurement process if no measurement process was performed in step 2) is performed on the petri dishes S (A1 to A3) of one group (group A). ​​In this case, the transfer process and measurement process are not performed on the petri dishes S, ... of the other groups (groups B and C). Then, when the measurement process of the last petri dish S (A3) of one group (group A) is completed, the re-stacking process is performed in step 5.

[0094] Thereafter, measurement processing is similarly performed on any one of the groups of petri dishes S, ... for which the specified measurement time has arrived. Then, when the measurement processing of the last petri dish S of the group is completed, the re-stacking processing is performed. The time interval between measurement processing is group A < group B < group C.

[0095] In this way, the group-based sorting process 1 sorts the samples into groups to form multi-tiered petri dishes MS. Therefore, compared to the above-mentioned "Other Use Example 1," the petri dishes S, ... of the same group can be measured continuously at equal intervals.

[0096] Furthermore, if no measurement process is performed in step 2, the time intervals between measurement processes for the petri dishes S, . . . of the same group from the first measurement process can be made constant.

[0097] <Group-based sorting process 2> The group-based sorting process 2 is shown in FIG. 26. Starting from step 1, in step 2, a reading process is performed on the information recording media attached to all the petri dishes S, .... After the reading process, the petri dishes S are sorted into groups determined by the reading results and organized into magazines 22 with multiple magazine numbers (magazine numbers B, C, D) of the first petri dish stacking device 2A, and multi-tiered petri dishes MS are organized for each group. Next, in step 3, a first measurement process is performed on the petri dishes S (A1 to A3) of one group (group A). ​​In this case, the transfer process and measurement process are not performed on the petri dishes S, ... of the other groups (groups B and C). After the measurement process, the multi-tiered petri dishes MS of one group (group A) are organized in the magazine 22 with the original magazine number (magazine number A) with the petri dishes S arranged in the magazine 22 with another magazine number (magazine number B) in a state where the top-bottom order of the petri dishes S is reversed. Therefore, in step 4, a re-stacking process is performed.

[0098] Thereafter, measurement processing is similarly performed on any one of the groups of petri dishes S, ... for which the specified measurement time has arrived. Then, when the measurement processing of the last petri dish S of the group is completed, the re-stacking processing is performed. The time interval between measurement processing is group A < group B < group C.

[0099] In this way, according to group-based sorting process 2, the first measurement process can be performed after step 2 without the need for a re-stacking process, and the time interval between the measurement processes of the same group of petri dishes S, ... from the first measurement process can be made constant.

[0100] <Group-based sorting process 3> The group-based sorting process 3 is shown in Figure 27. Starting from step 1, in step 2, a first measurement process is performed on all the petri dishes S, .... Alternatively, only the image capturing process may be performed without performing the colony counting process. Alternatively, both the counting process and the image capturing process may not be performed. At this time, a reading process of the information recording medium attached to all the petri dishes S, ... is performed. After these processes, the second petri dish stacking device 2B sorts the petri dishes S into groups determined by the reading results, and a multi-tiered petri dish MS is constructed for each group. In this case, the multi-tiered petri dishes MS of each group are arranged in the reverse order of the top and bottom of the original multi-tiered petri dishes MS. Therefore, in step 3, a re-stacking process is performed.

[0101] Next, in step 4, the second measurement process (if no measurement process was performed in step 2, the first measurement process) is performed on the petri dishes S of all groups. Then, when the measurement process for the last petri dish S of all groups is completed, in step 5, the re-stacking process is performed.

[0102] Thereafter, similarly, measurement processing is performed on all groups of petri dishes S, ... each time a predetermined measurement time arrives. Then, when measurement processing for the last petri dish S is completed, re-stacking processing is performed. The time interval for measurement processing is set as group A = group B = group C.

[0103] <Group-based sorting process 4> The group-based sorting process 4 is shown in FIG. 28. Starting from step 1, in step 2, a first measurement process is performed on all the petri dishes S, .... Alternatively, only the image capture process may be performed without the colony count process. Alternatively, both the counting process and the image capture process may not be performed. At this time, the information recording media attached to all the petri dishes S, ... are read. After these processes, the second petri dish stacking device 2B sorts the petri dishes S into groups determined by the read results, and multi-tiered petri dishes MS are constructed for each group. In this case, the multi-tiered petri dishes MS of each group are reversed in the up-down order from the original multi-tiered petri dishes MS. Therefore, in step 3, a re-stacking process is performed. The re-stacking process is performed by transferring the petri dishes S, ... by group from the second petri dish stacking device 2B to the first petri dish stacking device 2A in the reverse order of the subsequent measurement process, and all the petri dishes S, ... are stacked in the same place to construct a single multi-tiered petri dish MS.

[0104] Next, in step 4, the second measurement process (the first measurement process if no measurement process was performed in step 2) is performed on the petri dishes S (A1 to A3) of one group (group A). ​​In this case, the transfer process and measurement process are not performed on the petri dishes S, ... of the other groups (groups B and C). Then, when the measurement process of the last petri dish S (A3) of one group (group A) is completed, the re-stacking process is performed in step 5.

[0105] Next, in step 6, the petri dishes S (A1 to A3) of one group (group A) are transferred to the second petri dish stacking device 2B for the measurement process of the petri dishes S (B1 to B3) of another group (group B). Following this, in step 7, a second measurement process (or a first measurement process if no measurement process was performed in step 2) is performed on the petri dishes S (B1 to B3) of another group (group B). In this case, no measurement process is performed on the petri dishes S, ... of one group (group A), and no transfer process or measurement process is performed on the petri dishes S, ... of the remaining group (group C). Then, when the measurement process of the last petri dish S (B3) of another group (group B) is completed, a re-stacking process is performed in step 8.

[0106] Thereafter, measurement processing is similarly performed on any one of the groups of petri dishes S, ... for which the specified measurement time has arrived. Then, when the measurement processing of the last petri dish S of the group is completed, the re-stacking processing is performed. The time interval between measurement processing is group A < group B < group C.

[0107] <Group-based sorting process 5> The group-based sorting process 5 is shown in FIG. 29. Starting from step 1, in step 2, a first measurement process is performed on all the petri dishes S, .... Alternatively, only the image capture process may be performed without the colony count process. Alternatively, both the counting process and the image capture process may not be performed. At this time, the information recording media attached to all the petri dishes S, ... are read. After these processes, the second petri dish stacking device 2B sorts the petri dishes S into groups determined by the read results, and multi-tiered petri dishes MS are constructed for each group. In this case, the multi-tiered petri dishes MS of each group are reversed in the up-down order from the original multi-tiered petri dishes MS. Therefore, in step 3, a re-stacking process is performed. The re-stacking process is performed by transferring the petri dishes S, ... by group from the second petri dish stacking device 2B to the first petri dish stacking device 2A in the reverse order of the subsequent measurement process, and all the petri dishes S, ... are stacked in the same place to construct a single multi-tiered petri dish MS.

[0108] Next, in step 4, the second measurement process (if no measurement process was performed in step 2, the first measurement process) is performed on the petri dishes S of all groups. Then, when the measurement process for the last petri dish S of all groups is completed, in step 5, the re-stacking process is performed.

[0109] Thereafter, similarly, measurement processing is performed on all groups of petri dishes S, ... each time a predetermined measurement time arrives. Then, when measurement processing for the last petri dish S is completed, re-stacking processing is performed. The time interval for measurement processing is set as group A = group B = group C.

[0110] An example of an automatic measuring device is: a mounting section capable of mounting a multi-tiered container in which a plurality of containers containing samples and having information recording media attached thereto are stacked; a container transfer device capable of transferring a container; a measuring device that measures the sample in the container; a reading device that reads the information recording medium attached to the container; a control circuit for controlling the container transfer device, the measuring device, and the reading device; The control circuit is The container transfer device is operated to remove containers one by one from the top of the multi-tiered container at the placing section and place the containers one by one on top at a predetermined location to form the multi-tiered container, or to remove containers one by one from the bottom of the multi-tiered container at the placing section and place the containers one by one on the bottom at a predetermined location to form the multi-tiered container, a reading device for reading information from the information recording medium attached to the removed containers in sequence; When the measurement timing corresponding to the information read from each information recording medium arrives, the container is picked up by the container transfer device and transferred to the measurement device. When a container is removed from above a multi-tiered container in the loading section, if there is a container for which the measurement timing has not yet arrived above a container for which the measurement timing has arrived, the control circuit controls the removal of the container for which the measurement timing has not yet arrived and the transfer of the removed container to a location other than where the multi-tiered container is located without measuring the container. When a container is removed from below a multi-tiered container in the loading section, if there is a container for which the measurement timing has not yet arrived below a container for which the measurement timing has arrived, the control circuit controls the removal of the container for which the measurement timing has not yet arrived and the transfer of the removed container to a location other than where the multi-tiered container is located without measuring the container.

[0111] <Other use case 4 (sorting process based on measurement results)> Sorting processing based on measurement results refers to processing in which the measurement results are classified into multiple groups according to predetermined conditions, and the petri dishes S, ... are sorted and rearranged for each group, as shown in Figure 30. Sorting processing can be broadly divided into two types: sorting processing in which the petri dishes S, ... are sorted into groups and a multi-tiered petri dish MS is constructed for each group, and sorting processing in which the petri dishes S, ... are sorted into groups and a single multi-tiered petri dish MS is constructed.

[0112] <Sorting process based on measurement results 1> Sorting process 1 based on measurement results is shown in Figure 31. Starting from step 1, in step 2, the first measurement process is performed on all petri dishes S, .... After the measurement process, the petri dishes are sorted into groups based on the measurement results in the second petri dish stacking device 2B, and multi-tiered petri dishes MS are constructed for each group. Here, the groups are classified according to the number of colonies counted in the measurement process (this also applies to each applicable use example below). In this example, the samples are separated into three groups A to C, with group A being the group with 100 or fewer colonies, group B being the group with more than 100 but less than 200 colonies, and group C being the group with 200 or more colonies. In the second Petri dish accumulating device 2B, the Petri dishes S, ... belonging to the group with the fewest number of colonies (group A) are sorted into a magazine 22 with one magazine number (magazine number A), the Petri dishes S, ... belonging to the group with the next largest number of colonies (group B) are sorted into a magazine 22 with a different magazine number (magazine number B), and the Petri dishes S, ... belonging to the group with the largest number of colonies (group C) are sorted into a magazine 22 with yet another magazine number (magazine number C). In this case, the multi-tiered Petri dishes MS of each group are reversed in the up-down order of the Petri dishes S from the original multi-tiered Petri dishes MS. Therefore, in step 3, a re-stacking process is performed. The re-stacking process is performed by transferring the Petri dishes S, ... for each group in the order of the group with the largest number of colonies from the second Petri dish accumulating device 2B to the first Petri dish accumulating device 2A, and stacking all of the Petri dishes S, ... in the same place to form a single multi-tiered Petri dish MS.

[0113] Next, in step 4, when the specified measurement time arrives, a second measurement process is performed on the petri dishes S, ... of all groups. Depending on the results of this measurement process, the group to which each petri dish S belongs is re-determined. Then, when the measurement process for the last petri dish S of all groups is completed, a re-stacking process is performed in step 5.

[0114] Next, in step 6, when a further predetermined measurement time arrives, a third measurement process is performed on the petri dishes S of all groups. Then, when the measurement process for the last petri dish S of all groups is completed, a re-stacking process is performed in step 7.

[0115] Thereafter, similarly, each time a predetermined measurement time arrives, measurement processing is performed on all groups of petri dishes S, ..., and the group to which each petri dish S belongs is determined based on the results of the measurement processing. Then, when the measurement processing for the last petri dish S is completed, a re-stacking process is performed.

[0116] In this way, sorting process 1 based on measurement results continues the measurement process for the Petri dishes S, ... (NG samples) of the group (group C) in which the number of colonies exceeds the threshold (200 in this example). Therefore, captured images and measurement results can be continuously acquired and stored, just like for samples in which the number of colonies does not reach the threshold.

[0117] In this case, since the NG sample is placed on the lower side of the multi-stage Petri dish MS, a person can immediately check the NG sample visually. This also applies to the case where the NG sample is placed on the upper side of the multi-stage Petri dish MS.

[0118] The evaluation of the number of colonies or the evaluation of the threshold value does not simply involve the total number of colonies, but can also involve, for example, the number of specific bacteria when multiple bacteria can grow.

[0119] Furthermore, instead of designating samples with a large number of colonies as NG samples, samples that do not reach a certain number of colonies after a certain time may be designated as NG samples.

[0120] <Sorting process based on measurement results 2> Sorting process 2 based on measurement results is shown in Figure 32. Sorting process 2 based on measurement results differs from sorting process 1 based on measurement results in that in sorting process 2 based on measurement results, the petri dishes S, ... (NG samples) of the group (group C) in which the number of colonies exceeds the threshold are not subject to re-stacking and remain in their sorted state. This makes it possible to eliminate the need for wasteful processes such as re-stacking the NG samples and measuring the NG samples.

[0121] In this case, the NG samples are placed separately from the multi-stage Petri dishes MS that are not NG samples, so that when a person visually checks the NG samples, they can be immediately identified.

[0122] <Sorting process based on measurement results 3> Sorting process 3 based on measurement results is shown in Figure 33. Sorting process 3 based on measurement results differs from sorting process 2 based on measurement results in that in sorting process 3 based on measurement results, when the petri dishes S, ... of groups (groups A and B) in which the number of colonies has not reached the threshold are rearranged, the petri dishes S, ... of the group with the larger number of colonies (group B) are stacked on top of the petri dishes S, ... of the group with the smaller number of colonies (group A), and are arranged at the top of the multi-tiered petri dish MS. This also makes it possible to immediately visually confirm the differences between the groups.

[0123] <Sorting process based on measurement results 4> Sorting process 4 based on measurement results is shown in Figure 34. Sorting process 4 based on measurement results is based on sorting process 3 based on measurement results, and shortens the time interval between measurements (by half in this example) and increases the number of measurements (by double in this example) for the petri dishes S, ... of the group (group B) with a larger number of colonies among the groups (groups A and B) where the number of colonies has not reached the threshold value and which may transition to the group (group C) where the number of colonies has exceeded the threshold value.

[0124] Specifically, in the Nth measurement process (step 2) and the N+1th measurement process (step 6), the petri dishes S,... of all groups (groups A and B) whose colony counts have not reached the threshold are subject to measurement, but for the petri dishes S,... of the group (group B) whose colony counts are greater, an additional measurement process (step 4) is performed in between. This allows for the early detection of petri dishes S,... (NG samples) of the group (group C) whose colony counts have exceeded the threshold.

[0125] An example of an automatic measuring device is: a mounting section capable of mounting a multi-tiered container in which a plurality of containers containing samples are stacked; a container transfer device capable of transferring a container; a measuring device that measures the sample in the container; a control circuit for controlling the container transfer device and the measuring device, The control circuit is operating the container transfer device to remove containers one by one from the top of the multi-tiered container in the placement unit, or to remove containers one by one from the bottom of the multi-tiered container in the placement unit, and transfer the removed containers to the measuring device; The measuring device measures the sample in the transferred container, The group to which each container belongs is determined based on the measurement results of the measuring device. The control circuit may cause the container transfer device to sort and place the containers in groups. The control circuit may cause the container transfer device to take out the container for which the measurement timing corresponding to the group has arrived and transfer it to the measurement device. When a container is removed from above a multi-tiered container in the loading section, if there is a container for which the measurement timing has not yet arrived above a container for which the measurement timing has arrived, the control circuit controls the removal of the container for which the measurement timing has not yet arrived and the transfer of the removed container to a location other than where the multi-tiered container is located without measuring the container. When a container is removed from below a multi-tiered container in the loading section, if there is a container for which the measurement timing has not yet arrived below a container for which the measurement timing has arrived, the control circuit controls the removal of the container for which the measurement timing has not yet arrived and the transfer of the removed container to a location other than where the multi-tiered container is located without measuring the container.

[0126] The above-mentioned “rotation correction process in measurement process”, “culture condition uniformization process”, “other use example 1”, “other use example 2”, “other use example 3”, and “other use example 4” are realized by the control of the control circuit 13. [Explanation of symbols]

[0127] 1...automatic measuring device, 10...casing, 11...opening / closing cover, 12...operation input unit, 13...control circuit, 14...partition wall, 14a...gate, 15...incubator, 2...petri dish stacking device, 2A...first petri dish stacking device, 2B...second petri dish stacking device, 20...rotary table, 21...rotary motor, 22...magazine, 23...enclosure member, 3...colony measuring device, 30...stage, 31...imaging device, 32...support frame, 4...petri dish handling device, 5...petri dish transfer device, 6...gripping device, 6A...first gripping device, 6B...second gripping device, 60...actuator Eta, 61...claw, 7...driver, 70...first base, 71...linear guide, 72...actuator, 73...second base, 74...actuator, 75...third base, 76...actuator, 8...petri dish lid removal device, 80...support frame, 81...base, 82...actuator, 83...head, 84...suction nozzle, 85...actuator, 86...reader, RC...center of rotation, S...petri dish, MS...multi-stage petri dish, P...plate, L...lid, C, C'...colony, B...information recording medium, DP...delivery position, MP...measurement position, TP...traversal position

Claims

1. a placing section capable of placing a multi-tiered container in which a plurality of containers are stacked; a measuring device that measures the sample in the container; a container transfer device capable of transferring a container; a control circuit for controlling the container transfer device, The container transfer device is operated under the control of the control circuit to remove containers one by one from the top of the multi-tiered container in the mounting section at a predetermined timing during a period when measurement processing is not being performed, and to arrange the containers one by one on top at another location on the mounting section to form a multi-tiered container, or to remove containers one by one from the bottom of the multi-tiered container in the mounting section and to arrange the containers one by one underneath at another location on the mounting section to form a multi-tiered container. Automatic measuring device.

2. Equipped with an incubator to house the placement unit The automatic measuring device according to claim 1 .

3. a mounting section capable of mounting a multi-tiered container in which a plurality of containers containing samples and having information recording media attached thereto are stacked; a measuring device that measures the sample in the container; a container transfer device capable of transferring a container; a reading device that reads the information recording medium attached to the container; a control circuit for controlling the container transfer device and the reading device, The control circuit is The container transfer device is operated to remove containers one by one from the top of the multi-tiered container at the placement unit and sequentially place the containers on top at predetermined locations to form the multi-tiered container, or to remove containers one by one from the bottom of the multi-tiered container at the placement unit and sequentially place the containers on bottom at predetermined locations to form the multi-tiered container, a reading device for reading information from the information recording medium attached to the removed containers in sequence; Control is performed according to the information read from each information recording medium. Automatic measuring device.

Images