JPS6352870A - Robot - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] A sampler installed at the tip of a robot's hand is configured to be sterilized and sterilized by resistance heating, thereby automating transplantation work in microbial culture.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a robot, particularly a robot suitable for transplanting microorganisms in microbial culture.

In the industrial field that deals with microorganisms (bioindustry), microorganisms such as bacteria are propagated on a flat culture medium made in a petri dish (glass dish with a lid: also called a petri dish), and colonies ( Colonies (clumps of microorganisms on a culture medium) are often picked up and transplanted to other petri dishes.

Automation of this work is desired from the viewpoints of accuracy, labor saving, and prevention of danger to the human body, but from the viewpoint of improving quality, sufficient measures must be taken to prevent the contamination of germs. It is necessary to give a lecture.

[Conventional technology]

Transplantation of microorganisms has traditionally been done manually using a platinum rod.

In this case, in order to prevent the contamination of bacteria, colonies 5 obtained by culturing on the culture medium 4 in the Petri dish 3 are transferred to the culture medium 4' in the other Petri dish 3', as shown in FIG.
Before transplanting the platinum rod 6 to be used, the platinum rod 6 to be used was heated with a gas burner 7 to sterilize it.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the conventional example, all of the two tasks are done manually, so
(l) Low work efficiency, (2) Training of workers, and (3) Contamination of the environment and microorganisms by dust and germs generated by workers.

There were other problems such as (4) human safety for workers and (5) fear of fire caused by the gas burner.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve these problems.

[Means for solving problems]

The robot according to the present invention is used for the transplantation of microorganisms in the cultivation of microorganisms such as bacteria, and includes a hand 1 having a collecting device a10 made of metal at the tip, and a collecting device 1.
0 by utilizing its electrical resistance.

[Effect]

By using a robot to transplant microorganisms, human hands are eliminated, and the sampler that comes into direct contact with the microorganisms is heated using its own resistance.
The above problems (+11 to (4)) have been solved by using a robot, and the above problem (5) has been solved by employing resistance heating.

〔Example〕

The configuration and functions of the embodiment will be explained below with reference to the configuration diagram shown in FIG.

The robot's hand 1 is composed of a gripping part 11 for gripping a platinum collector IO, a wrist 12, a forearm 13, an elbow 14, and an upper arm 15, and the heating means 2 is composed of a power source 21 and a fixed electrode 22. , one terminal of the power supply 21 is connected to the fixed electrode 22, and the other terminal is connected to the other electrode 11d (described later) provided inside the grip part 11 through the inside of the upper arm 15, elbow 14, forearm 13, and wrist 12 (see FIG. 3). ) to the base of the collector 10.

3 is a petri dish in which microorganisms have been cultured, and the petri dish 3 is observed by an industrial television camera 30 and the obtained image information is processed by an image processing unit 31.
The position of colony 5 to be transplanted inside is detected.

Next, the robot brings the tip of the collector 10 into contact with the fixed electrode 22 for a predetermined period of time.

The sampler 10 made of platinum is a conductor and has a resistivity of about 10.6Ωm, so the tip of the sampler 10 is connected to a fixed electrode 2.
2, it is resistance heated and sterilized and disinfected.

When the sterilization and disinfection process is completed, the tip of the collector 10 is positioned at the colony 5 to be transplanted and bacteria are picked up according to a movement command given from the control unit 32 based on the position data output from the image processing unit 31. Then, it is placed in the culture medium of the Petri dish 3' to be transplanted, and the transplantation of bacteria is completed.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the main parts including the collector 10, the grip part 11, and the fixed electrode 22. In addition to the reference numerals explained in FIGS. 1 and 2, 10a is fixed to the base of the collector 100. An insulating member 1la-1id is a component of the grip part 11, lla is a holder that detachably holds the sampler IO via the insulating member 10a, and 11b is a heat insulating material that fixes the holder 11a to the grip main body 11C. (Ceramics)′! The M fixed member 11d is the other electrode connected to the other terminal of the power source 21, and 23a is an insulating member that holds the fixed electrode 22.

In addition to the sampler 10, other parts that come into direct contact with or face microorganisms, such as the two gripping parts 11, the wrist 12, the forearm 13, the elbow 14, and the upper arm 15, are all dust-proofed.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, by automating the transplantation work of microorganisms using the robot according to the present invention.

In addition to improving work efficiency, preventing environmental and microbial contamination, improving safety, and preventing fires, etc.

The effects of cost reduction and quality improvement can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the main parts of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example. In the figure. ■ is the hand, 10 is the collector. 2 is a heating means, and 21 is a power source. 3 and 3' are petri dishes, and 4 and 4' are incubators. 5 indicates a colony.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A hand (1) which is used for transplantation of microorganisms in the cultivation of microorganisms such as bacteria, and which has a collector (10) made of metal at the tip thereof, and a collector (10) that is connected to its electric resistance. A robot characterized in that it is equipped with a heating means (2) that performs resistance heating.