US 6,475,776 B1 · Incubator, and method for making atmosphere uniform in incubator storage box

Abstract

Even in a case of an incubator having a sample rack of complicated shape, the internal environmental condition in the incubator is maintained uniformly, so that the reliability of biochemical treatment can be assured. It includes a storage box, the sample rack movably disposed in the storage box, a moving device for moving the sample rack, and a controller for controlling the moving device. The controller has a function of selectively controlling the positioning operation for positioning the sample rack at specified positions, and the agitating operation for moving the sample rack, and by the agitating operation for moving the sample rack, the atmosphere in the storage box is agitated to be uniform. Preferably, the sample rack has a plurality of sample tables coupled in the longitudinal direction.

Claims9

Dependent claims

An incubator comprising:

a storage box,
a sample rack movably disposed in said storage box,
a moving device for moving said sample rack, and
controller for controlling said moving device,
wherein said controller has a function of selectively controlling the positioning operation for positioning the sample rack at a predetermined position and the agitating operation for agitating the atmosphere in the storage box uniformly by moving the sample rack,
wherein said sample rack has a plurality of sample tables,
each sample table of said plurality of sample tables is coupled vertically through a coupling member,
said drive device has an elevating drive device and a rotating drive device,
said elevating drive device comprises a feed screw, an elevating member slidably mounted on said feed screw, and a Z-axis motor,
said rotating drive device comprises an R-axis motor, a rotating element cooperating with the R-axis motor, and a spline shaft coupled to the center of the rotating element,
the plurality of sample tables are coupled to the elevating member and rotating element through the coupling members,
the plurality of sample tables are moved up and down by driving of the Z-axis motor, and
the plurality of sample tables rotate about the spline shaft by driving of the R-axis motor.

10 more elements

A method for making the atmosphere uniform in a storage box of an incubator comprising the steps of:

(a) supplying the incubator,
said incubator comprising the storage box, sample rack movably disposed in the storage box and moving device for moving the sample rack,
(b) putting samples on said sample rack,
(c) setting the atmosphere in the storage box in a predetermined environment,
(d) agitating the atmosphere in the storage box by moving the sample rack, and
(e) positioning the sample rack in vertical direction.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Incubator, and method for making atmosphere uniform in incubator storage box

Life of this patent

Incubator, and method for making atmosphere uniform in incubator storage box

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9