JP2025008630A - Sterilization unit, unit set, cell culture system, and sterilization method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a sterilization unit, a unit set, a cell culture system and a sterilization method that can improve treatment efficiency.SOLUTION: A sterilization unit includes a base plate includes: a base plate having a bottom surface extending horizontally; a sterilization device provided on the base plate and having an emitting portion that emits at least one of sterilization light and a sterilization agent; and a power supply device that supplies power for driving the sterilization device. Therein the base plate is provided above the bottom surface and below the emitting portion, and has a supported surface facing downward.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present disclosure relates to a sterilization unit, a unit set, a cell culture system, and a sterilization method.

Patent document 1 discloses a mobile sterilization device that irradiates ultraviolet light while moving to inactivate and sterilize viruses and bacteria that are attached to areas that people may come into contact with.

JP 2022-109461 A

In clean benches and the like of cell culture systems, the clean environment is destroyed during maintenance such as replacing ultraviolet lamps, making it necessary to carry out extensive sterilization work each time. Furthermore, in clean benches and the like of cell culture systems, it can be difficult for workers to access them, and it is also difficult to secure space to run a mobile sterilization device such as that described in Patent Document 1, which increases the burden on workers performing sterilization work.

The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and aims to provide a sterilization unit, a unit set, a cell culture system, and a sterilization method that can improve processing efficiency.

A sterilization unit according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a base plate having a bottom surface extending horizontally, a sterilization device provided on the base plate and having an emission part for emitting at least one of sterilizing light and a sterilizing agent, and a power supply device for supplying power to drive the sterilization device, and the base plate is provided above the bottom surface and below the emission part and has a supported surface facing downward.

The unit set according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a flask unit having a flask for containing a culture medium and a flask tray on which the flask is placed, and the sterilization unit.

A cell culture system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes the above-mentioned unit set, a stocker for storing the flask unit, a clean bench having a liquid handling area for performing dispensing operations on the flask unit, an incubator having a culture area for growing cells in the culture medium contained in the flask unit, and a liquid handling area transport device provided in the liquid handling area and capable of transporting the sterilization unit and the flask unit.

A method for sterilizing a cell culture system according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a method for sterilizing the cell culture system, in which the sterilization unit emitting at least one of sterilizing light and a germicide is transported along the same transport route as the flask unit.

The sterilization unit, unit set, cell culture system, and sterilization method disclosed herein can improve processing efficiency.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a schematic configuration of a cell culture system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flask unit according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sterilization unit according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 4 is a view of the sterilization unit according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, taken along the arrow IV in FIG. 3 . FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 1 and illustrating a sterilization method for a cell culture system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a side view of a sterilization unit in a modified example of the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a side view of a sterilization unit according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. A view of the sterilization unit according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure viewed from a second direction. 13 is a view of the sterilization unit according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure viewed from a second direction. FIG. A diagram showing a sterilization unit according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from a first direction. 13 is a view of a sterilization unit according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure viewed from a first direction. FIG.

First Embodiment
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a cell culture system 100 of this embodiment is a system that uses a flask unit 1 as a processing unit and performs unmanned and automatic cell culture and analysis of the cells after culture.

The flask unit 1 has multiple flasks 2 (for example, two in this embodiment). The flasks 2 contain cells and a culture solution containing a medium to which nutrients necessary for cell growth have been added.

<Cell culture system>
As shown in FIG. 1 , the cell culture system 100 includes a stocker 110 , a carry-in booth 120 , an incubator 130 , a clean bench 140 , a pass box 150 , a waste liquid tank 162 , a transport device 170 , and a unit set 180 .

<Stocker>
The stocker 110 is a facility for storing a plurality of flask units 1 that constitute the unit set 180. The stocker 110 has a stocker body 111, a rack 112, a first stocker door 113, and a second stocker door 114.
The stocker body 111 is a housing that forms a storage area R1 as a warehouse therein, and is made of a transparent material such as acrylic or glass.
The rack 112 is arranged in the storage area R1 and is capable of storing multiple flask units 1 arranged horizontally and vertically.

The first stocker door 113 is a door for carrying flask units 1 and the like into the stocker 110 from the outside, and can be opened and closed, for example, by sliding horizontally.
The second stocker door 114 is a door for transporting the flask unit 1 in the stocker 110 to the clean bench 140, and can be opened and closed, for example, by sliding horizontally.

<Delivery booth>
The loading booth 120 is a booth that temporarily accommodates the flask units 1 and the like immediately before they are loaded from the outside into the stocker 110. The loading booth 120 has a booth body 121 and a loading door 122.
The booth body 121 is a housing disposed adjacent to the stocker 110, and is made of, for example, a transparent material. The space within the loading booth 120 is defined as a loading area R2, which can communicate with the storage area R1 via the stocker first door 113. The inside of the loading area R2 is controlled, for example, to have a negative pressure lower than the atmosphere in the storage area R1. This prevents air, etc. within the loading area R2 from entering the storage area R1 when the stocker first door 113 is opened.
The loading door 122 is a door for loading the flask unit 1 etc. into the loading booth 120 from the outside, and can be opened and closed, for example, by sliding up and down.

<Incubator>
The incubator 130 is a facility for growing cells in a culture solution. The incubator 130 includes an incubator body 131 and a shaking stage 132.
The incubator body 131 is a housing that forms a culture area R3 therein. The culture area R3 is controlled to have a temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration suitable for cell culture. The incubator body 131 is made of, for example, a heat insulating material.
The shaking stage 132 is a device for shaking the flask unit 1. A plurality of shaking stages 132 are arranged in the culture area R3. Each of the plurality of shaking stages 132 holds a plurality of flask units 1. The shaking stage 132 is configured to be able to shake the flask unit 1 by, for example, eccentrically rotating about a vertical axis.

<Clean bench>
The clean bench 140 is a facility for performing various operations and processes on the flask unit 1. The clean bench 140 includes a clean bench main body 141, a dispensing device 143, a waste liquid extracting device 145, and a stage 149.

The clean bench main body 141 is a housing that forms the liquid handling area R4, which is a highly clean and sterile space (bio-clean room) inside. Within the clean space, air flows and circulates as a downflow from above to below. The clean bench main body 141 is made of transparent materials such as acrylic and glass.

The dispensing device 143 is installed in the clean room. The dispensing device 143 performs various dispensing operations and other processes on the flask unit 1.

Waste liquid extraction device 145 is provided in liquid handling area R4, and is a device for extracting unused culture liquid from the flask of flask unit 1 as waste liquid.
The labeling device 147 is provided in the liquid handling area R4 and is a device for labeling the flasks or trays of the flask unit 1.
Filtration device 148 is provided in liquid handling area R4, and is a device for performing a filtration process on the culture liquid.
A plurality of stages 149 are provided in liquid handling area R4. On each stage 149, a flask unit 1 is temporarily placed.

<Pass Box>
The pass box 150 is provided between the incubator 130 and the clean bench 140. The pass box 150 moves the flask unit 1 between the incubator 130 and the clean bench 140. The pass box 150 has a box body 151, a first door 152, and a second door 153.

The box body 151 is a housing formed so as to be sandwiched between the incubator body 131 and the clean bench body 141 .
The first door 152 switches between a communicating state and an unblocked state between the space within the box body 151 and the incubation area R3, for example, by opening and closing in a horizontal direction.
The second door 153 switches between a communication state and a non-communication state between the space within the box body 151 and the liquid handling area R4, for example, by opening and closing in a horizontal direction.
The first door 152 and the second door 153 are never open at the same time. This prevents direct communication between the culture area R3 and the liquid handling area R4. The flask units 1 are transferred between the culture area R3 and the liquid handling area R4 via this pass box 150.
In addition, the pass box 150 may be provided with a separate transport device (not shown) for transporting the flask unit 1. The flask unit 1 may be transported from the culture area R3 to the liquid manipulation area R4 via the pass box 150 by a second transport robot 172 provided in the culture area R3, or from the liquid manipulation area R4 to the culture area R3 via the pass box 150 by a third transport robot 173 provided in the liquid manipulation area R4. Furthermore, the flask unit 1 may be configured to be transportable between the culture area R3 and the liquid manipulation area R4 via the pass box 150 using both the second transport robot 172 and the third transport robot 173.

<Waste liquid tank>
The waste liquid tank 162 is disposed adjacent to the clean bench 140. The waste liquid tank 162 is connected to the waste liquid extractor 145 via a tube (not shown). The waste liquid is transferred from the waste liquid extractor 145 to the waste liquid tank 162 via the tube.

<Conveyor device>
The transport device 170 transports the flask unit 1 unmanned within the cell culture system 100. The transport device 170 has a first transport robot 171, a second transport robot 172, a third transport robot (transport device within the liquid handling area) 173, a fourth transport robot (transport device within the liquid handling area) 174, and a conveyor 175.

The first transport robot 171, the second transport robot 172, the third transport robot 173, and the fourth transport robot 174 are each capable of horizontal movement, rotational movement, and telescopic movement, and are configured to be able to lift and transport the flask unit 1 using a gripper G (see Figure 2) provided at the tip.

The first transport robot 171 is provided in the storage area R1. The second transport robot 172 is provided in the culture area R3. The third transport robot 173 and the fourth transport robot 174 are provided in the liquid handling area R4. The third transport robot 173 and the fourth transport robot 174 are transport devices within the liquid handling area R4 that are capable of transporting the flask unit 1 and the sterilization unit 60 (described later).

The conveyor 175 is provided within the liquid handling area R4 and transports the flask unit 1 placed on the upper surface in a horizontal direction. The conveyor 175 is arranged along the inner surface of the liquid handling area R4 body.

<Operation of the cell culture system>
In the cell culture system 100 configured as above, cell proliferation is promoted by shaking the culture solution in the flask unit 1 in the incubator 130. The flask unit 1 in which cell proliferation has progressed is transferred to the liquid handling area R4 via the second transport robot 172 and the pass box 150. The flask unit 1 transferred to the liquid handling area R4 is transferred to the dispensing device 143 via the third transport robot 173. The dispensing device 143 dispenses the culture solution and supplies the medium to the flask 2 of the flask unit 1. The dispensing device 143 may be connected to a measuring device (not shown) that measures the number of cells in the culture solution dispensed from the flask 2, analyzes the liquid properties, etc., and a medium supplying device (not shown) that supplies the medium to the dispensing device 143.

Furthermore, when cell proliferation is performed using a new flask unit 1, the following procedure is performed, for example.
That is, first, the first transport robot 171 transports the flask unit 1 on the rack 112 that does not contain culture medium into the liquid handling area R4 via the second stocker door 114. The flask unit 1 is transferred to the dispensing device 143 via the third transport robot 173, where culture medium is supplied, and the culture medium in the flask 2 of the expanded flask unit 1 where cells have expanded is dispensed into the flask 2 of a new flask unit 1, completing the subculture operation of the cells into the flask 2 of the new flask unit 1. The flask unit 1 that has undergone the subculture operation is transferred to the incubator 130, where the cells are expanded.

<Unit set>
The unit set 180 is constituted by a combination of a flask unit 1 and a sterilization unit 60.

<Flask unit>
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the flask unit according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.
As shown in FIG. 2, the flask unit 1 has a flask 2 that contains a culture medium, and a flask tray 10 on which the flask 2 is placed.

<Flask>
The flask 2 of this embodiment is a so-called Erlenmeyer flask, and has a bottomed cylindrical shape centered on a flask axis O1 extending in the vertical direction. Specifically, the outer peripheral surface of the lower part of the flask 2 has a conical surface centered on the flask axis O1, which decreases in diameter as it goes upward, and the outer peripheral surface of the upper part of the flask 2 has a cylindrical shape centered on the flask axis O1. A lid (not shown) is detachably attached to the opening at the top of the flask 2. The flask 2 is not limited to an Erlenmeyer flask.

<Flask tray>
The flask tray 10 is capable of placing two flasks 2 thereon. The flask tray 10 of this embodiment has at least a mounting plate 20, a support portion 40, and an upper frame 50. The flask tray 10 can be formed from a highly corrosion-resistant metal material such as stainless steel or a synthetic resin material.

<Placement plate>
The mounting plate 20 is a member that supports the two flasks 2 from below. The mounting plate 20 has a mounting surface 20a on which the flasks 2 are mounted. The mounting plate 20 of this embodiment is a flat plate extending in the horizontal direction, and is rectangular in plan view. In the following description, the short side direction (the direction in which a pair of short sides extend) of the rectangular shape in plan view is referred to as the first direction D1. Furthermore, the long side direction (the direction in which a pair of long sides extend) of the rectangular shape in plan view is referred to as the second direction D2. That is, the two flasks 2 in this embodiment are mounted on the mounting plate 20 side by side in the second direction D2.

<Support part>
The support part 40 is a rod-shaped member extending upward from the mounting surface 20a of the mounting plate 20. A plurality of support parts 40 (four in this embodiment) are provided. Each support part 40 is provided at one of the four corners where the short side and long side of the mounting plate 20 are connected in a plan view. The upper end of the support part 40 is located lower than the upper end of the flask 2 mounted on the mounting surface 20a. The heights of the upper ends of the plurality of support parts 40 are the same.

<Upper frame>
The upper frame 50 is supported from below by the support parts 40. The contour shape of the upper frame 50 in plan view is rectangular with the first direction D1 as the short side direction and the second direction D2 as the long side direction, similar to the contour shape of the mounting plate 20 in plan view. The size of the upper frame 50 in plan view is equal to the size of the mounting plate 20. The upper ends of the support parts 40 are connected to the lower surfaces of the four corners of the upper frame 50. As a result, the upper frame 50 is disposed above the mounting plate 20 and parallel to the mounting plate 20.

The upper frame 50 has an opening 50a that penetrates vertically. In a plan view, the opening 50a has a rectangular shape with a first direction D1 as the short side direction and a second direction D2 as the long side direction. The flask 2 placed on the mounting surface 20a penetrates the opening 50a vertically. The upper frame 50 has a first frame piece 51, a second frame piece 52, a third frame piece 53, and a fourth frame piece 54 that surround the periphery of the opening 50a.

The first frame piece 51 is located on the other side of the first direction D1 and extends in the second direction D2. The second frame piece 52 is located on one side of the first direction D1 and extends in the second direction D2. The third frame piece 53 is located on one side of the second direction D2 and extends in the first direction D1. The fourth frame piece 54 is located on the other side of the second direction D2 and extends in the first direction D1. The first frame piece 51, the second frame piece 52, the third frame piece 53, and the fourth frame piece 54 are connected to each other to form a frame shape that surrounds the flask 2 from the horizontal direction. In this embodiment, the lower surface 51a of the first frame piece 51 and the lower surface 52a of the second frame piece 52 form a flask transport supported surface that is supported from below by the gripper G when transporting the flask unit 1. These lower surfaces 51a and 52a are located above the bottom surface 1b located at the lowest position of the flask unit 1, and both face downward. The specific shape of the gripper G will be described later.

<Sterilization unit>
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the sterilization unit according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 4 is a view of the sterilization unit according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure as seen from the direction of the arrow IV in Fig. 3.
The sterilization unit 60 sterilizes the cell culture system 100. The sterilization unit 60 of the present embodiment mainly sterilizes the inside of the clean bench 140.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the sterilization unit 60 includes a base plate 61 , a battery (power supply device) 62 , a sterilizer 63 , and a reflector 64 .

<Base plate>
In this embodiment, the contour shape of the base plate 61 in a plan view is the same as the contour shape of the flask tray 10 in a plan view. That is, the contour shape of the base plate 61 in a plan view is also the same as the contour shape of the upper frame 50.

The base plate 61 includes a base plate body 65 and a supported portion 66. The base plate body 65 has a bottom surface 61b extending in the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 (in other words, the horizontal direction). The bottom surface 61b is the surface located at the lowest part of the sterilization unit 60 and facing downward. In this embodiment, the bottom surface 61b is flat. When the sterilization unit 60 is placed on, for example, a stage 149 in a clean bench 140, the bottom surface 61b contacts the upper surface of the stage 149. In this embodiment, the base plate body 65 is flat and has a smaller vertical dimension than the dimension in the first direction D1 and the dimension in the second direction D2.

The supported portion 66 has a supported surface 67 that is located above the bottom surface 61b and faces downward. This supported surface 67 is formed so that it can be supported from below by the gripper G of the conveying device 170 in the same manner as when the upper frame 50 of the flask unit 1 is supported from below by the gripper G of the conveying device 170. In other words, the base plate 61 can be transported by the conveying device 170 in the same manner as the flask unit 1.

The supported parts 66 in this embodiment are provided on one side of the first direction D1 and the other side of the first direction D1. These two supported parts 66 extend in the second direction D2 along the long side of the base plate body 65. The supported parts 66 in this embodiment are disposed at a position biased toward one side of the base plate body 65 in the second direction D2.

The supported portion 66 in this embodiment includes a vertical wall portion 68 extending upward from the upper surface of the base plate body 65, and a supported surface forming wall portion 69 extending in the second direction D2 from the upper end of the vertical wall portion 68. More specifically, the supported portion 66 has two vertical wall portions 68 spaced apart in the first direction D1, and a supported surface forming wall portion 69 formed to connect these two vertical wall portions 68, and the downward surface of the supported surface forming wall portion 69 forms the supported surface 67.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the gripper G of the transport device 170 (more specifically, the third transport robot 173 and the fourth transport robot 174) of this embodiment has a pair of arm portions 176. Each of these pair of arm portions 176 has an arm body portion 177 and a support piece portion 178. The arm body portions 177 extend parallel to each other and extend in the second direction D2 at the same positions in the up-down direction. The arm body portion 177 is displaceable between a separated position (position shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) at the same height as the supported portion 66 and spaced from the supported portion 66 in the first direction D1, and a close position (not shown) at the same height as the base plate body 65 and close to the supported portion 66.

The support piece portions 178 protrude from the opposing surfaces of the pair of arm main bodies 177 in a direction approaching each other (inward in the first direction D1). The support piece portions 178 form an upwardly facing support surface corresponding to the dimension of the above-mentioned supported surface 67 in the second direction D2. By displacing the pair of arm main bodies 177 from the separated position shown in FIG. 3 to the above-mentioned close position, the support piece portions 178 are positioned below the supported surface 67. Then, by displacing the pair of arm main bodies 177 upward from this state, the supported surface 67 is pushed up by the support piece portions 178, and the base plate 61 is lifted upward.

<Battery>
The battery 62 is provided on the base plate 61. The battery 62 is a power supply device that supplies power to the sterilization device 63. The battery 62 illustrated in this embodiment is fixed on the upper surface 65a on one side of the center of the second direction D2 of the base plate body 65. More specifically, the battery 62 is installed at a position closer to the short side on one side of the second direction D2 than the center of the second direction D2 of the base plate body 65. The battery 62 in this embodiment is a secondary battery, and can be repeatedly charged by connecting it to a charging station 70 (see FIG. 1) provided outside the clean bench 140. Note that, although an example is shown in which the battery 62 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is longer in the vertical direction than the sterilization device 63, the shape and size of the battery 62 are not limited to these shapes and sizes.

<Sterilization equipment>
The sterilization device 63 is provided on the base plate 61. The sterilization device 63 is driven by a battery 62 and emits at least one of sterilizing light and a sterilizing agent. The sterilization device 63 illustrated in this embodiment is an ultraviolet ray irradiation device 71 that emits only sterilizing light. The sterilization unit 60 of this embodiment has a first ultraviolet ray irradiation device 71A and a second ultraviolet ray irradiation device 71B as the ultraviolet ray irradiation device 71. The first ultraviolet ray irradiation device 71A and the second ultraviolet ray irradiation device 71B of this embodiment have the same shape and are arranged at intervals in the second direction D2. Specifically, the first ultraviolet ray irradiation device 71A is arranged on one side of the second direction D2, and the second ultraviolet ray irradiation device 71B is arranged on the other side of the second direction D2. The first ultraviolet ray irradiation device 71A and the second ultraviolet ray irradiation device 71B are installed on the base plate body 65.

The first ultraviolet ray irradiation device 71A and the second ultraviolet ray irradiation device 71B each include a device base portion 72 and an emission portion 73.
The device base portion 72 supports a plurality of emission portions 73. The device base portion 72 protrudes upward from an upper surface 65a of the base plate main body 65. The upper surface 72a of the device base portion 72 extends in the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. The upper surface 72a of the device base portion 72 is located at the same position in the vertical direction as the upper surface 66a of the above-mentioned supported portion 66, or is located higher than the upper surface 66a.

The emission unit 73 is composed of a light bulb or a light emitting diode capable of emitting ultraviolet light (for example, UV-C) when supplied with power. The emission unit 73 in this embodiment is attached to the device base 72 and protrudes upward from the upper surface 72a of the device base 72. The ultraviolet irradiation device 71 in this embodiment illustrates a case in which three rows of emission units 73 arranged in the second direction D2 are arranged in three rows in the first direction D1 (in other words, three rows and three columns). Note that the number and arrangement of the emission units 73 in one ultraviolet irradiation device 71 are not limited to the above configuration. Furthermore, the emission units 73 are not limited to either light bulbs or light emitting diodes, and for example, both light bulbs and light emitting diodes may be used together.

<Reflector>
The reflector 64 reflects the sterilizing light emitted from the emission unit 73. The reflector 64 in this embodiment reflects the sterilizing light emitted above the device base unit 72 and directs it downward. The reflector 64 is provided on some of the multiple ultraviolet irradiating devices 71. This embodiment illustrates a case where the reflector 64 is provided above the second ultraviolet irradiating device 71B. That is, the reflector 64 in this embodiment is disposed on the other side of the supported portion 66 in the second direction D2. As a result, the sterilizing light of the first ultraviolet irradiating device 71A is directed above the device base unit 72, while the sterilizing light of the second ultraviolet irradiating device 71B is directed above the device base unit 72, and then reflected by the lower surface of the reflector 64 and directed downward beyond the base plate 61 through both outer sides of the base plate 61 in the first direction D1.

The reflector 64 of this embodiment includes a first reflector 74, a second reflector 75, and a support 76. The first reflector 74 is disposed on the other side of the center of the base plate 61 in the first direction D1. The second reflector 75 is disposed on one side of the center of the base plate 61 in the first direction D1. The first reflector 74 and the second reflector 75 are both flat and inclined so that the further away from the center of the base plate 61 in the first direction D1 they are located, the lower they are. The first reflector 74 and the second reflector 75 are connected at the center in the first direction D1 and form an upside-down V shape when viewed from the second direction D2.

The support 76 supports the reflector 64 from below. The support 76 extends upward from the upper surface 65a of the base plate body 65. In this embodiment, the support 76 is disposed on the other side of the second direction D2 from the second ultraviolet irradiation device 71B. The support 76 is disposed in the center of the first direction D1. The upper end of the support 76 is connected to the edge of the reflector 64 on the other side of the second direction D2. In other words, the reflector 64 in this embodiment is supported by the support 76 like a cantilever. This allows the germicidal light emitted from the second ultraviolet irradiation device 71B to reach the reflector 64 without being obstructed by the support 76. In this embodiment, the reflector 64 is supported by a single support 76, but this configuration is not limited to this. For example, the reflector 64 may be supported by multiple supports 76, or the reflector 64 may be supported by multiple supports 76 like a beam with fixed ends.

<Sterilization method>
Next, a sterilization method in the cell culture system 100 having the above-mentioned configuration will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 5 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 1 and illustrating the sterilization method for the cell culture system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.
In the cell culture system 100 of this embodiment, the sterilization process in the clean bench 140 is performed using the above-mentioned sterilization unit 60.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the sterilization method in the cell culture system 100, the operator removes the sterilization unit 60 from the charging station 70, opens the carry-in door 122 of the carry-in booth 120, places the sterilization unit 60 in the carry-in booth 120, and closes the carry-in door 122. After that, the operator, for example, performs an operation input to the operation input unit (not shown) of the cell culture system 100 to start the sterilization process. Here, the sterilization unit 60 itself may be sterilized in the carry-in booth 120. In this case, for example, an ultraviolet ray irradiation unit (not shown) capable of irradiating ultraviolet rays to the sterilization unit 60 may be provided in the carry-in booth 120, or an ultraviolet ray reflection unit (not shown) may be provided in the carry-in booth 120 to reflect the ultraviolet rays emitted from the emission unit 73 of the sterilization unit 60 and irradiate the sterilization unit 60 itself.

When an operation input is made to start the sterilization process, the first stocker door 113 is opened. Then, the sterilization unit 60 placed in the loading booth 120 is lifted by the first transport robot 171 and carried into the stocker 110. When the sterilization unit 60 is carried into the stocker 110, the first stocker door 113 is closed and the second stocker door 114 is opened. The sterilization unit 60 carried into the stocker 110 is carried into the clean bench 140 by the first transport robot 171 and placed on the stage 149 near the second stocker door 114. The second stocker door 114 is then closed.

The sterilization unit 60 may start emitting sterilizing light before the sterilization unit 60 starts being transported by the transport device 170 within the clean bench 140. Examples of the timing at which the sterilization unit 60 starts emitting sterilizing light include the timing at which the unit is removed from the charging station 70, the timing at which the unit is placed in the loading booth 120, the timing at which the unit is transported into the stocker 110, and the timing at which the unit is transported into the clean bench 140. Examples of the method for setting these timings include a configuration in which the timing of power supply from the battery 62 to the sterilization device 63 is changed by a timer or the like.

In the sterilization method exemplified in this embodiment, the sterilization unit 60 continues to emit sterilizing light at least after it is carried into the clean bench 140 until it is carried out of the clean bench 140. The sterilization unit 60 is then transported through the clean bench 140 along the same route as the flask unit 1 is transported through the clean bench 140. That is, the sterilization unit 60 placed on the stage 149 is transferred to the dispensing device 143 by the third transport robot 173 and is placed within the dispensing device 143 for a predetermined sterilization time. As a result, the inside of the dispensing device 143 is sterilized by the sterilizing light emitted from the sterilization unit 60.

After completing the sterilization process in the dispensing device 143, the sterilization unit 60 is transferred to the conveyor 175 by the third transport robot 173. The sterilization unit 60 transferred to the conveyor 175 is transported by the conveyor 175 to a position where it can be handed over to the fourth transport robot 174 (to the left in FIG. 5). The sterilization unit 60 is then placed in the waste liquid extraction device 145 by the fourth transport robot 174 for a predetermined sterilization time. As a result, the inside of the waste liquid extraction device 145 is sterilized by the sterilization light emitted from the sterilization unit 60.

The sterilization unit 60 is then transferred by the fourth transport robot 174, the conveyor 175, and the third transport robot 173 onto the stage 149 near the second stocker door 114. Here, the sterilization unit 60 of this embodiment irradiates the periphery of all the transport routes transported by the third transport robot 173, the fourth transport robot 174, and the conveyor 175 with sterilizing light to perform the sterilization process.

The sterilization unit 60 is then transported to the loading booth 120 via the stocker 110 in the reverse order to the loading procedure described above, and is removed from the loading booth 120 by an operator. The sterilization unit 60 is then connected to the charging station 70 by an operator.

In this embodiment, the sterilization unit 60 is placed in the dispensing device 143 and the sterilization process is performed, but this configuration is not limited to this. For example, the sterilization process may be performed while the sterilization unit 60 is held up by the third transport robot 173 and the fourth transport robot 174. In addition, the transport route of the sterilization unit 60 within the clean bench 140 is not limited to the above route.

(Action and Effect)
According to the first embodiment, the base plate 61 of the sterilization unit 60 has a supported surface 67 that faces downward and is provided above the bottom surface 61b and below the emission part 73. This makes it possible to transport the sterilization unit 60 by supporting the supported surface 67 from below. Therefore, the sterilization unit 60 can be easily transported while preventing the sterilizing light emitted from the sterilizer 63 from being blocked by the supported surface 67, thereby improving processing efficiency.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the sterilization device 63 is an ultraviolet irradiation device 71 that emits sterilizing light, and is provided with a reflector 64 that reflects the sterilizing light. This makes it possible to reflect the sterilizing light off the reflector 64 and then irradiate the object to be sterilized. Therefore, it is only necessary to arrange the sterilization device 63 on the upper surface 65a of the base plate main body 65, which prevents the configuration of the sterilization unit 60 from becoming complicated.
Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the reflector 64 is disposed only above the second ultraviolet irradiation device 71B. Therefore, the sterilizing light emitted from the second ultraviolet irradiation device 71B can be irradiated downward, and the sterilizing light emitted from the first ultraviolet irradiation device 71A can be irradiated upward. Therefore, the sterilizing light emitted from one sterilization unit 60 can be emitted in a plurality of different directions, so that a wider area can be sterilized with one sterilization unit 60.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the outline shape of the base plate 61 of the sterilization unit 60 in a plan view is the same as the outline shape of the flask tray 10 in a plan view. This makes it possible to transport the sterilization unit 60 along the same transport route as the flask tray 10. Therefore, it becomes possible to easily sterilize objects to be sterilized around the transport route of the flask tray 10 by the sterilization unit 60.

In addition, in the first embodiment, the flask unit 1 has lower surfaces 51a, 52a that face downward and serve as supported surfaces for transporting the flask, located above the bottom surface 1b of the flask unit 1. This allows the flask unit 1 to be lifted by supporting the lower surfaces 51a, 52a from below. Therefore, the flask unit 1 can be lifted and transported in the same manner as the sterilization unit 60.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the third transport robot 173 and the fourth transport robot 174 are equipped with grippers G that can support the supported surface 67 of the sterilization unit 60 and 51a, 52a of the flask unit 1 from below. Therefore, the transport device 170 that transports the flask unit 1 and the transport device 170 that transports the sterilization unit 60 within the liquid manipulation area R4 can be shared, thereby reducing the number of transport devices 170.

<Modification of the first embodiment>
FIG. 6 is a side view of a sterilization unit in a modified example of the first embodiment of the present disclosure.
In the above first embodiment, a case has been described in which one supported portion 66 includes two vertical wall portions 68. However, the shape of the supported portion 66 is not limited to the shape of the first embodiment. For example, as in a supported portion 166 in a modified example of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 6, a supported surface forming wall portion 69 may be supported by one vertical wall portion 68 like a cantilever beam. In the modified example of this embodiment, a case is illustrated in which the edge portion of the supported surface forming wall portion 69 on the other side in the second direction D2 is supported by the vertical wall portion 68.

By configuring in this manner, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, the arm portion 276 of the gripper G can be moved horizontally in the second direction D2 to be positioned below the supported surface 67. Therefore, it is possible to omit the mechanism for displacing the arm portion 276 in the first direction D1. Note that in the above-mentioned flask unit 1, there are portions on both sides of the upper frame 50 in the first direction D1 that protrude outward beyond the support columns 76, so that the arm portion 276 can be moved horizontally in the second direction D2 to be positioned below the upper frame 50. In other words, the flask unit 1 can also be lifted and transported by the arm portion 276 in the same manner as the sterilization unit 60 of this modified example.

Furthermore, in this modified example, the supported surface 67 is formed with a positioning protrusion 67a that protrudes downward, and the upper surface of the arm portion 276 is formed with a positioning recess 67b that is recessed downward to correspond to the positioning protrusion 67a. As a result, when the supported surface 67 is supported from below by the arm portion 276, the positioning protrusion 67a enters the positioning recess 67b, and the sterilization unit 60 is prevented from being displaced in the second direction D2 relative to the arm portion 276. Note that, although the case where the positioning protrusion 67a is formed on the supported surface 67 and the positioning recess 67b is formed on the upper surface of the arm portion 276 has been exemplified, the positioning recess 67b may be formed on the supported surface 67 and the positioning protrusion 67a may be formed on the upper surface of the arm portion 276. Furthermore, the shapes of the positioning recess 67b and the positioning protrusion 67a are not limited to the above shapes as long as positioning is possible.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above only in the configuration of the sterilization device. Therefore, the same parts as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described again.
<Sterilization unit>
FIG. 7 is a side view of a sterilization unit according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.
As shown in FIG. 7 , a sterilization unit 80 of the second embodiment includes a base plate 61 , a battery 62 , and a sterilization device 63 .

<Base plate>
In this embodiment, the contour shape of the base plate 61 in a plan view is the same as the contour shape of the flask tray 10 in a plan view. That is, the contour shape of the base plate 61 in a plan view is the same as the contour shape of the upper frame 50.

The base plate 61 comprises a base plate body 65 and a supported portion 66. The supported portion 66 has a supported surface 67 that is located above the bottom surface 61b and faces downward. The supported portion 66 is provided on one side of the first direction D1 and on the other side of the first direction D1. The supported portion 66 comprises a vertical wall portion 68 and a supported surface forming wall portion 69, and the surface of the supported surface forming wall portion 69 facing downward forms the supported surface 67.

<Battery>
The battery 62 supplies power to the sterilization device 63. The battery 62 illustrated in the second embodiment is installed on an upper surface 65a on one side of the center of the base plate body 65 in the second direction D2.

<Sterilization equipment>
The sterilizer 63 is provided on the base plate 61. The sterilizer 63 is driven by a battery 62. The sterilizer 63 of this embodiment is a sterilant spraying device 81 that only sprays sterilants. Examples of sterilants sprayed from the sterilant spraying device 81 include ethanol and sodium hypochlorite solution. The sterilization unit 80 of this embodiment has a first sterilant spraying device 81A and a second sterilant spraying device 81B as the sterilant spraying device 81. The first sterilant spraying device 81A and the second sterilant spraying device 81B have the same shape.

The first disinfectant spraying device 81A and the second disinfectant spraying device 81B each include a chemical tank 82 and an ejection section 83. The chemical tank 82 stores a disinfectant therein. The chemical tank 82 is installed on the upper surface 65a of the base plate body 65. The disinfectant stored in the chemical tank 82 is supplied to the ejection section 83 by a chemical pump (not shown) or the like installed in the chemical tank 82. The ejection section 83 is installed on the chemical tank 82. The upper surface 82a of the chemical tank 82 is located at the same position as the upper surface 66a of the supported section 66 in the vertical direction, or is located higher than the upper surface 66a.

The ejection part 83 is a nozzle that can eject the germicide liquid in mist form in all directions. In this embodiment, the ejection part 83 protrudes upward from the upper surface 82a of the chemical tank 82. In this embodiment, the germicide spraying device 81 is illustrated as having one ejection part 83, but one germicide spraying device 81 may have multiple ejection parts 83.

(Action and Effect)
According to the second embodiment, the base plate 61 of the sterilization unit 80 has a supported surface 67 that faces downward and is provided above the bottom surface 61b and below the emission part 83. This allows the sterilization unit 80 to be transported by supporting the supported surface 67 from below. Therefore, the sterilization unit 80 can be easily transported while preventing the sterilizing agent emitted from the sterilization device from being blocked by the supported surface 67, thereby improving the processing efficiency.

In the second embodiment, the sterilization device 63 is a sterilization agent injection device 81 that emits a sterilization agent. This allows the sterilization agent to come into contact with the objects to be sterilized around the sterilization unit 80. In addition, a portion of the sterilization agent emitted into the air can move downward due to gravity and move below the base plate 61 of the sterilization unit 80, making it possible to sterilize objects located below the base plate 61 without using a reflector 64 or the like.

Furthermore, in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the outline shape in plan view of the base plate 61 of the sterilization unit 80 is the same as the outline shape in plan view of the flask tray 10. This makes it possible to transport the sterilization unit 80 along the same route as the transport route of the flask tray 10. Therefore, it becomes possible to easily sterilize objects to be sterilized around the transport route of the flask tray 10 by the sterilization unit 80. In addition, objects to be sterilized that become embrittled by ultraviolet light irradiation can also be sterilized.

Third Embodiment
Next, a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the third embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above only in the configuration of the sterilization unit. Therefore, the same parts as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.
FIG. 8 is a view of the sterilization unit according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure viewed from a second direction.

As shown in FIG. 8, the sterilization unit 90 according to the third embodiment includes a base plate 61, a battery 62, a sterilizer 63, and a shielding plate 85. Note that, although the reflector 64 is not shown in the third embodiment, a reflector 64 may be provided, as in the sterilization unit 60 according to the first embodiment.

The shielding plate 85 blocks the ultraviolet rays emitted from the emission part 73 of the sterilization device 63. In this embodiment, the clean bench outer wall 200 made of acrylic resin or the like is arranged near the conveyor 175. Acrylic resin becomes brittle when irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Therefore, the shielding plate 85 is arranged on the side closer to the clean bench outer wall 200 in the first direction D1 to prevent the ultraviolet rays emitted from the emission part 73 from reaching the clean bench outer wall 200. The shielding plate 85 in this embodiment is flat and extends in the vertical direction and the second direction D2, and extends upward from the upper surface of the base plate 61 closer to the clean bench outer wall 200 in the first direction D1 than the emission part 73. The length of the shielding plate 85 in the second direction D2 can be, for example, equal to the range in which the emission part 73 is arranged.

In the third embodiment, the shielding plate 85 prevents ultraviolet rays from being irradiated onto the outer wall 200 of the clean bench. However, this configuration is not limited to this. For example, if there are structures made of materials that are easily embrittled by ultraviolet rays other than the outer wall 200 of the clean bench around the transport route of the sterilization unit 60, a shielding plate having an appropriate shape may be provided at a position on the base plate 61 that can prevent ultraviolet rays from being irradiated onto the structures. In addition, the object to be shielded by the shielding plate 85 is not limited to the above-mentioned acrylic resin, as long as it is an object that is adversely affected by ultraviolet rays, such as accelerated deterioration.

<Fourth embodiment>
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that this fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above only in the configuration of the sterilization unit. Therefore, the same parts as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described again.
FIG. 9 is a view of the sterilization unit according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure viewed from a second direction.

As shown in FIG. 9, the sterilization unit 95 according to the fourth embodiment includes a base plate 91, a battery 62, a sterilization device 63, and a bracket 86. Note that the fourth embodiment does not include a reflector 64. The sterilization device 63 is an ultraviolet ray irradiation device 71, which includes a first ultraviolet ray irradiation device 71A and a second ultraviolet ray irradiation device 71B arranged side by side in the second direction D2.

The bracket 86 supports the second ultraviolet irradiation device 71B. The bracket 86 supports the second ultraviolet irradiation device 71B in a position in which the emission part 73 is positioned lower than the device base part 72 so that the germicidal light of the second ultraviolet irradiation device 71B is directed downward. In other words, the second ultraviolet irradiation device 71B of the fourth embodiment is supported by the bracket 86 so that it is in a position that is upside down compared to the second ultraviolet irradiation device 71B of the first embodiment.

The base plate body 96 has a through hole 97 that penetrates vertically. In this embodiment, the through hole 97 is formed to be slightly larger than the outer edge of the second ultraviolet irradiation device 71B in a plan view. This allows the germicidal light of the second ultraviolet irradiation device 71B to be emitted through the through hole 97 downward from the base plate body 96. Note that, although this embodiment illustrates an example in which the emission unit 73 is disposed within the through hole 97, it is sufficient that the emission unit 73 is disposed above the bottom surface 91b, and is not limited to the above-mentioned arrangement.

(Action and effect)
Therefore, according to the fourth embodiment, it is possible to irradiate the germicidal light emitted from the second ultraviolet irradiation device 71B supported on the base plate body 96 below the base plate 91 without using the reflector 64 of the first embodiment.

Fifth Embodiment
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the fifth embodiment differs from the above-mentioned embodiments only in the configuration of the sterilization unit. Therefore, the same parts as those in the above-mentioned embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described again.
FIG. 10 is a view of a sterilization unit according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure viewed from a first direction.

As shown in FIG. 10 , a sterilization unit 98 according to the fifth embodiment includes a base plate 191 , a battery 62 , a sterilization device 63 , and a side sterilization device 93 .
The contour shape of the base plate 191 in a plan view is the same as the contour shape of the flask tray 10 in a plan view, as in each of the above-mentioned embodiments.

The base plate 191 of the present embodiment includes a base plate body 196 and a supported portion 266 .
The base plate body 196 has a bottom surface 61b extending in a first direction D1 and a second direction D2 (in other words, the horizontal direction).
The supported portion 266 has a supported surface 67 that is disposed above the bottom surface 61b and faces downward. The supported surface 67 can be supported from below by a gripper G of the transport device 170.

The supported portion 266 of this embodiment includes two vertical wall portions 168 and a supported surface forming wall portion 169. The vertical wall portions 168 extend upward from two edges of the base plate body 196 in the second direction D2. The supported surface forming wall portion 169 extends in the second direction D2 across the upper edges of these two vertical wall portions 168. The supported surface forming wall portion 169 of this embodiment is formed in a flat plate shape having the same contour shape as the base plate body 196 in a plan view, and its lower surface forms the supported surface 67. The supported surface 67 is provided above the bottom surface 61b and below the emission portion 83.

The battery 62 is provided on the base plate body 196. In this embodiment, the battery 62 is located below the supported surface forming wall portion 169. The battery 62 supplies power to the sterilization device 63.

The sterilization device 63 is provided on the base plate 191. The sterilization device 63 is powered by a battery 62. In this embodiment, the sterilization device 63 is a sterilization agent spraying device 81 that sprays a sterilizing agent. In this embodiment, the sterilization unit 98 has a first sterilization agent spraying device 81A and a second sterilization agent spraying device 81B as the sterilization agent spraying device 81.

The first disinfectant sprayer 81A and the second disinfectant sprayer 81B each have an ejection section 83, a pump section 87, and a chemical tank 82. In this embodiment, the chemical tank 82 and the pump section 87 are shared by the first disinfectant sprayer 81A and the second disinfectant sprayer 81B. The chemical tank 82 is capable of storing disinfectant, and the disinfectant in the chemical tank 82 is supplied to each of the multiple ejection sections 83 by the pump section 87. The chemical tank 82 is installed on the base plate main body 65, similar to the battery 62. The ejection section 83 is installed on the supported surface forming wall section 169.

The side sterilization device 93 is provided on the base plate 191. The side sterilization device 93 is driven by the battery 62. The side sterilization device 93 of this embodiment emits ultraviolet light. The side sterilization device 93 of this embodiment is an ultraviolet lamp with the second direction D2 as the longitudinal direction, and multiple side sterilization devices 93 are arranged in the vertical direction. These side sterilization devices 93 are arranged on both sides of the sterilization unit 98 so as to sandwich the battery 62 and the chemical tank 82 in the first direction D1, and each emits ultraviolet light toward the outside of the first direction D1 (in other words, to the side). These side sterilization devices 93 are each arranged at a position spaced downward from the supported surface 67 so as not to obstruct access to the supported surface 67 by the gripper G.

According to the fifth embodiment, sterilization can be performed using the germicide emitted from the emission section 83, and the side sterilization device 93 can also perform sterilization by emitting ultraviolet light from the sterilization unit 98 to the side, i.e., toward the outside in the first direction D1. Therefore, it is possible to perform sterilization using ultraviolet light even on the surface of the object to be sterilized that extends in the vertical direction and to which the germicide emitted from the emission section 83 is unlikely to adhere.

In the fifth embodiment, an ultraviolet lamp extending in the second direction D2 is illustrated, but multiple LEDs emitting ultraviolet light may be arranged in the second direction D2. Furthermore, the side sterilization device 93 emits ultraviolet light, but may be configured to emit a sterilizing agent to the side (outside the first direction D1). Similarly, the sterilization device 63 may be configured to emit ultraviolet light. Furthermore, the arrangement of the chemical tank 82 and the battery 62 is one example and is not limited to the above arrangement. Furthermore, the chemical tank 82 and the pump unit 87 are shared by the first sterilizing agent sprayer 81A and the second sterilizing agent sprayer 81B, but the chemical tank 82 and the pump unit 87 may be provided separately.

Sixth Embodiment
Next, a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the sixth embodiment differs from each of the above-mentioned embodiments only in the configuration of the sterilization unit. Therefore, the same parts as those of the above-mentioned embodiments will be described with the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.
FIG. 11 is a view of a sterilization unit according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure viewed from a first direction.

As shown in FIG. 11 , a sterilization unit 99 according to the sixth embodiment includes a base plate 291 , a battery 62 , and a sterilization device 63 .
The contour shape of the base plate 291 in a plan view is the same as the contour shape of the flask tray 10 in a plan view, as in each of the above-mentioned embodiments.

The base plate 291 of the present embodiment includes a base plate main body 296 and a supported portion 366 .
The base plate body 296 has a bottom surface 61b extending in a first direction D1 and a second direction D2 (in other words, the horizontal direction).
The supported portion 366 has a supported surface 67 that is disposed above the bottom surface 61b and faces downward. The supported surface 67 can be supported from below by a gripper G of the transport device 170.

The supported portion 366 of this embodiment includes a vertical wall portion 268 and a supported surface forming wall portion 269. The two vertical wall portions 268 extend upward from two edges of the base plate body 296 in the second direction D2. The supported surface forming wall portion 269 extends in the second direction D2 across the upper edges of these two vertical wall portions 268. The supported surface forming wall portion 269 of this embodiment is formed in a flat plate shape having the same contour shape as the base plate body 296 in a plan view, and its lower surface forms the supported surface 67. The supported surface 67 is provided above the bottom surface 61b and below the emission portion 73.

The battery 62 is provided on the base plate body 296. In this embodiment, the battery 62 is located below the supported surface forming wall portion 269. The battery 62 supplies power to the sterilization device 63.

The sterilization device 63 is provided on the base plate 291. The sterilization device 63 is driven by a battery 62. In this embodiment, the sterilization device 63 is an ultraviolet ray irradiation device 71A, 71B. The ultraviolet ray irradiation devices 71A, 71B have an apparatus base portion 72 and an emission portion 73. The ultraviolet ray irradiation devices 71A, 71B are installed on the supported surface forming wall portion 269 with the emission portion 73 protruding upward from the apparatus base portion 72.

According to the sixth embodiment, the battery 62 is disposed below the base plate body 269. This prevents the ultraviolet light emitted from the emission section 73 from being irradiated onto the battery 62.

<Other embodiments>
Although each embodiment of the present disclosure has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design changes and the like that do not deviate from the gist of the present disclosure are also included.

For example, the emission timing of the emitters 73 and 83 may be controllable wirelessly or the like.
Furthermore, when a single sterilization unit is provided with a plurality of sterilizing agent spraying devices 81, the types of sterilizing agents sprayed from each of the sterilizing agent spraying devices 81 may be different.
Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a description has been given of the case where the battery 62 is installed on the base plate body 65, 96, 196. However, the battery 62 may be built into the base plate body 65, 96, 196, or the battery 62 may be formed in a flat plate shape and the battery 62 itself may be used as the base plate body 65.
Furthermore, the configurations of the first to fifth embodiments may be used in appropriate combination.

<Additional Notes>
The sterilization unit, unit set, cell culture system, and sterilization method described in each embodiment can be understood, for example, as follows.

(1) A sterilization unit 60, 80, 90, 95, 98, 99 of a first aspect comprises a base plate 61, 91, 191, 291 having a bottom surface 61b extending horizontally, a sterilization device 63 provided on the base plate 61, 91, 191, 291 and having an emission part 73, 83 that emits at least one of sterilizing light and a sterilizing agent, and a power supply device 62 that supplies power to drive the sterilization device 63, and the base plate 61, 91, 191, 291 is provided above the bottom surface 61b and below the emission part 73, 83 and has a supported surface 67 facing downwards.
Examples of the power supply device 62 include a battery, a solar panel, and the like.
With this configuration, the sterilization units 60, 80, 90, 95, 98, and 99 can be transported by supporting the supported surface 67 from below. Therefore, the sterilization units can be easily transported while preventing the sterilizing light and sterilizing agent emitted from the sterilization device 63 from being blocked by the supported surface 67, thereby improving the processing efficiency.

(2) The sterilization unit of the second aspect is the sterilization unit 60, 80 of (1), wherein the base plate 61 comprises a base plate main body 65 having the bottom surface 61b, and a supported part 66 provided on the base plate main body 65 and having the supported surface 67, and the sterilization device 63 is installed on the base plate main body 65.
With this configuration, the sterilizing light and sterilizing agent emitted from the sterilizing device 63 can be easily transported while preventing them from being blocked.

(3) A sterilization unit according to a third aspect is the sterilization unit 99 of (1), wherein the base plate 291 comprises a base plate main body 296 having the bottom surface 61b, and a supported portion 366 provided on the base plate main body 296 and having the supported surface 67, the supported portion 366 comprises a plurality of vertical wall portions 268 extending upward from the base plate main body 296, and a supported surface forming wall portion 269 extending between the vertical wall portions 268 and having a lower surface that forms the supported surface 67, and the sterilization device 63 is installed on the supported surface forming wall portion 269.
Such a configuration makes it possible to easily transport the sterilizing light and sterilizing agent emitted from the sterilizing device 63 while preventing them from being blocked. Furthermore, since the sterilizing light and sterilizing agent do not reach below the supported surface forming wall portion 269, the effects of the sterilizing light and sterilizing agent on articles placed below the supported surface forming wall portion 269 can be suppressed.

(4) A sterilization unit according to a fourth aspect is the sterilization unit 60 of (1), wherein the sterilization device 63 is an ultraviolet irradiation device 71 that emits the sterilizing light and is provided with a reflector 64 that reflects the sterilizing light.
With this configuration, it is possible to reflect the sterilizing light off the reflector 64 and then irradiate the object to be sterilized. This improves the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the sterilizer 63, and prevents the configuration of the sterilization unit 60 from becoming complicated.

(5) A sterilization unit according to a fifth aspect is the sterilization unit 95 of (1), wherein the base plate 91 has a through hole 97 penetrating vertically, and the sterilization device 63 emits the sterilizing light below the base plate 91 through the through hole 97.
With this configuration, it is possible to irradiate the germicidal light below the base plate 91 without using the reflector 64 .

(6) A sterilization unit according to a sixth aspect is any one of the sterilization units 90 of (1) to (5), and is provided with a shielding plate 85 that blocks the sterilizing light.
With this configuration, it is possible to prevent ultraviolet light from being irradiated onto items that would be adversely affected by ultraviolet light.

(7) The sterilization unit of the seventh aspect is any one of the sterilization units 98 of (1) to (5), and further includes a side sterilization device 93 that is located below the emission parts 73, 83 and emits sterilizing light or a sterilizing agent to the side.
With this configuration, it is possible to efficiently perform sterilization treatment even on the surface of the object to be sterilized that extends in the vertical direction.

(8) The unit set 180 relating to the eighth aspect comprises a flask unit 1 having a flask 2 for containing a culture medium and a flask tray 10 on which the flask 2 is placed, and any one of the sterilization units 60, 80, 90, 95, 98 of (1) to (7).
With this configuration, the area in which the flask unit 1 is used can be sterilized by the sterilization units 60, 80, 90, 95, and 98.

(9) The unit set 180 according to the ninth aspect is the unit set 180 of (8), in which the outline shape in a plan view of the base plates 61, 91, 191 of the sterilization units 60, 80, 90, 95, 98 is the same as the outline shape in a plan view of the flask tray 10.
By configuring in this manner, it becomes possible to transport the sterilization units 60, 80, 90, 95, and 98 along the same route as the flask unit 1.

(10) The unit set 180 in the tenth aspect is the unit set 180 of (8) or (9), wherein the flask unit 1 has flask transport supported surfaces 51a, 51b facing downward and above the bottom surface 1b of the flask unit 1.
With this configuration, it is possible to support the flask unit 1 from below the flask transport supported surfaces 51a and 51b and lift the flask unit 1. Therefore, the flask unit 1 can be lifted and transported in the same manner as the sterilization units 60, 80, 90, 95, and 98.

(11) The cell culture system 100 of the eleventh aspect comprises a unit set 180 of (8) to (9), a stocker 110 for storing the flask unit 1, a clean bench 140 having a liquid handling area R4 for performing dispensing operations on the flask unit 1, an incubator 130 having a culture area R3 for growing cells in the culture medium contained in the flask unit 1, and liquid handling area transport devices 173, 174, 175 provided in the liquid handling area R4 and capable of transporting the sterilization units 60, 80, 90, 95, 98 and the flask unit 1.
By configuring in this manner, sterilization treatment of the liquid handling area R4 within the clean bench 140 can be easily performed.

(12) The cell culture system 100 according to the twelfth aspect is the cell culture system 100 of (11), wherein the transporting devices 173, 174 within the liquid handling area are equipped with a gripper G capable of supporting the supported surface 67 and the flask transport supported surfaces 51a, 51b of the flask unit 1 from below.
With this configuration, the device for transporting flask unit 1 within liquid handling area R4 can be shared with the device for transporting sterilization units 60, 80, 90, 95, and 98. This allows the number of devices installed in liquid handling area R4 to be reduced.

(13) The cell culture system 100 of the thirteenth aspect is a sterilization method for the cell culture system 100 of (11) or (12), in which the sterilization units 60, 80, 90, 95, 98 emitting at least one of sterilizing light and a germicide are transported via the same transport route as the transport route of the flask unit 1.
This enables the sterilization units 60, 80, 90, 95, and 98 to automatically sterilize the inside of the device that is difficult for people to reach.

1...Flask unit 1b...Bottom surface 2...Flask 10...Flask tray 20...Placement plate 20a...Placement surface 40...Support portion 50...Upper frame 50a...Opening 51...First frame piece 51a, 52a...Bottom surface 52...Second frame piece 53...Third frame piece 54...Fourth frame piece 60, 80, 90, 95, 98, 99...Sterilization unit 61, 91, 191, 291...Base plate 61b, 91b...Bottom surface 62...Battery 63...Sterilization device 64...Reflector 65, 96, 196, 296...Base plate body 65a...Top surface 66, 166, 266, 366...Supported portion 67...Supported surface 67a...Positioning protrusion 67b...Positioning recess 68, 168, 268...Vertical wall portion 69, 169, 269...supported surface forming wall portion 70...charging station 71...ultraviolet irradiator 71A...first ultraviolet irradiator 71B...second ultraviolet irradiator 72...device base portion 72a...upper surface 73, 83...emission portion 74...first reflecting portion 75...second reflecting portion 76...support 81...sterilizing agent sprayer 81A...first sterilizing agent sprayer 81B...second sterilizing agent sprayer 82...chemical liquid tank 85...shielding plate 86...bracket 87...pump portion 93...side sterilizing device 97...through hole 100...cell culture system 110...stocker 111...stocker body 112...rack 113...stocker first door 114...stocker second door 120...carry-in booth 121...booth body 122...carry-in door 130...incubator 131...incubator body 132... Shaking stage 140... Clean bench 141... Clean bench main body 143... Dispensing device 145... Waste liquid extraction device 149... Stage 150... Pass box 162... Waste liquid tank 170... Transport device 171... First transport robot 172... Second transport robot 173... Third transport robot 174... Fourth transport robot 175... Conveyor 176, 276... Arm part 177... Arm main body part 177a... Opposing surface 178... Support piece part 180... Unit set 200... Clean bench outer wall R1... Storage area R2... Loading area R3... Cultivation area R4... Liquid handling area

Claims (13)

a base plate having a bottom surface extending in a horizontal direction;
A sterilization device provided on the base plate and having an emission unit that emits at least one of sterilizing light and a sterilizing agent;
A power supply device that supplies power for driving the sterilization device;
Equipped with
The base plate is
A sterilization unit is provided above the bottom surface and below the emission portion, and has a supported surface facing downward. The base plate is
A base plate body having the bottom surface;
a supported portion provided on the base plate and having the supported surface,
The sterilization unit according to claim 1 , wherein the sterilization device is installed on the base plate body. The base plate is
A base plate body having the bottom surface;
a supported portion provided on the base plate body and having the supported surface,
The supported portion is
a plurality of vertical wall portions extending upward from the base plate body;
A supported surface forming wall portion extending between the vertical wall portions and having a lower surface that forms the supported surface,
The sterilizing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the sterilizing device is installed on the wall portion forming the supported surface. The sterilization device is an ultraviolet irradiator that emits the sterilization light,
The sterilization unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a reflector that reflects the sterilizing light. The base plate has a through hole extending vertically therethrough,
The sterilization unit according to claim 1 , wherein the sterilization device emits the sterilizing light through the through hole below the base plate. The sterilization unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a shielding plate for blocking the sterilizing light. The sterilization unit according to claim 1, further comprising a side sterilization device provided below the emission section and emitting sterilizing light or a sterilizing agent to the side. a flask unit including a flask for containing a culture medium and a flask tray on which the flask is placed;
The sterilization unit according to claim 1 ,
A unit set comprising: The outline shape of the base plate of the sterilization unit in a plan view is
9. The unit set according to claim 8, which has the same contour shape as the flask tray in a plan view. The flask unit comprises:
10. The unit set according to claim 9, further comprising a downwardly facing supported surface for transporting a flask, the supported surface being above the bottom surface of the flask unit. A unit set according to claim 8;
A stocker for storing the flask unit;
A clean bench having a liquid handling area for dispensing the flask unit;
an incubator having a culture area for growing cells in a culture solution contained in the flask unit;
a liquid handling area intra-transport device that is provided in the liquid handling area and is capable of transporting the sterilization unit and the flask unit;
A cell culture system comprising: The liquid handling area transport device includes:
The cell culture system according to claim 11 , further comprising a gripper capable of supporting the supported surface and the flask transport supported surface of the flask unit from below. A method for sterilizing a cell culture system according to claim 11, comprising the steps of:
A method for sterilizing a cell culture system, comprising transporting the sterilization unit, which emits at least one of sterilizing light and a sterilizing agent, along the same transport route as the transport route of the flask unit.

Images