Incubator

An incubator includes: an insulated box including an incubation space surrounded by multiple inner faces; a humidifying unit that humidifies an incubation space; a first heating unit that heats a first inner face among the multiple inner faces, with electric power supplied; a second heating unit that heats a second inner face, different from the first inner face, with electric power supplied; and a control unit that controls the magnitude of electric power supplied to each of the first heating unit and the second heating unit. The control unit repeatedly changes the magnitude of electric power supplied to the first heating unit at first timing, and also repeatedly changes the magnitude of electric power supplied to the second heating unit at second timing different from the first timing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to an incubator.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, incubators for cultivation of cells and microorganisms and so on, in incubation chambers have been known. Such an incubator comprises a heater for heating the inside of the incubation chamber where a humidification pan is placed, and, by controlling the heater, the inside of the incubation chamber may be maintained at a predetermined temperature (37 degrees C., for example) and also at predetermined humidity (95% RH, for example) based on the predetermined temperature, for example.

Also, there has been disclosed, for example, an incubator that includes a heating element for heating water stored in a recess formed on the bottom face, a heating element for heating the inside of the incubation chamber except for the recess, and a heating element provided on an insulated door, which is openably and closably attached to the insulated box body, and, by controlling electric power supplied to the three heating elements so as to maintain the temperature of the water in the recess lower than the temperature in the incubation chamber, supersaturated content of water within the incubation chamber is returned to the recess, thereby preventing dew condensation (see Patent Document 1).

This incubator also comprises a temperature detection device for detecting a temperature within the incubation chamber and is configured to control each of the multiple heating elements based on the detection result of the temperature detection device.

PRIOR ART REFERENCE

Patent Document

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, temperatures within the incubation chamber are not necessarily uniform. Accordingly, even when the temperature near the temperature detection device stands at a desired value, the temperature of a partial region in the incubation chamber may be relatively lower than the temperature therearound. In this case, dew condensation may be caused on the wall surface in the region of which the temperature is relatively lower than the temperature therearound. The dew condensation may cause the problem of growth of unwanted bacteria in the condensed water, which negatively affects the cultures.

The present invention is made in view of such a situation, and a purpose thereof is to provide a new technique for preventing dew condensation in an incubator.

To solve the problem above, an incubator of an embodiment of the present invention includes: an insulated box including an incubation space surrounded by a plurality of inner faces; a humidifying unit that humidifies an incubation space; a plurality of heating units that respectively heat the plurality of inner faces, with electric power supplied; and a control unit that controls the magnitude of electric power supplied to each of the plurality of heating units. The control unit periodically and repeatedly changes the magnitude of electric power supplied to the plurality of heating units, at timing different for each of the plurality of inner faces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following, the present invention will be described based on suitable embodiments with reference to the drawings. Like reference characters designate like or corresponding elements, members and processes throughout the views. The description of them will not be repeated for brevity. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims. It should be understood that not all of the features and the combination thereof discussed are essential to the invention.

First Embodiment

(Schematic Configuration of Incubator)

FIG. 1is a perspective view that shows a schematic configuration of an incubator according to an embodiment.FIG. 1shows the state where an insulated door of the incubator is open.FIG. 2is a sectional view of the incubator according to the embodiment.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, an incubator1comprises a left opening door (more specifically, an outer door and an inner door) and small doors, which are hinged double doors. In the incubator1, a space surrounded by an insulated box body2, which includes an opening2A on the front side, and a transparent door3, which is an inner door openably and closably covering the opening2A, is formed as an incubation chamber4. The transparent door3is openably and closably hinged to the insulated box body2on the left side and hermetically covers the opening2A with a gasket2B provided as a seal member on the frontage of the incubation chamber4.

The interior of the incubation chamber4is horizontally partitioned by multiple shelves5(partitioned into five by four shelves in this example). When the incubator1is used as a CO2incubator, for example, the CO2concentration is often set and maintained at about 5%, so that, after the door is closed, CO2gas is supplied into the incubation chamber4for CO2concentration control. Accordingly, multiple pairs of small doors6A and6B, which are hinged double doors, are provided for the respective sections (five pairs in this example) inside the transparent door3so that outside air is not introduced into the whole incubation chamber4partitioned into multiple sections even when the transparent door3is opened. An insulated door7is openably and closably hinged to the insulated box body2and functions as an outer door to prevent heat from entering through the opening2A of the incubation chamber4, and a gasket8containing a magnet is provided along the circumference on the back side of the insulated door7.

On the back face and the bottom face of the incubation chamber4is provided a duct11, which consists of a back duct11A and a bottom duct11B that each include a space for forming a gas passage K. In the incubation chamber4, forced gas circulation is performed, in which gas within the incubation chamber4is suctioned through a suctioning port12, formed above the back duct11A, and then expelled through an expulsion port13, provided on the right and left sides and the front side of the bottom duct11B, into the incubation chamber4. Within the duct11(an upper part inFIG. 2), a circulation blower14is provided for the forced gas circulation. The circulation blower14comprises a fan, a motor, and a shaft; the motor is disposed in a machine chamber19provided outside and on the back face of the incubation chamber4, as described later, and the shaft extends from the motor in the machine chamber19to the gas passage K, piercing the back face of the insulated box body2, to be connected to the fan.

Within the duct11and on the bottom face of the incubation chamber4, a humidification pan15for storing water for humidification (i.e., humidifying water)16is placed and heated by a heater provided outside and on the bottom face of an inner box22made of metal, such as stainless steel, so that the water is evaporated. By disposing the humidification pan15within the duct11and on the bottom face of the incubation chamber4, humidified gas can be efficiently expelled through the gas passage K, formed by the circulation blower14and the duct11, into the incubation chamber4.

On the back face of an outer box21of the insulated box body2, the machine chamber19is provided in which the motor as a driving means of the circulation blower14, a gas supplying means17for supplying CO2gas to the incubation chamber4, and electrical components, such as a control substrate, not illustrated, are disposed.

The gas supplying means17comprises a gas supply pipe17A, an on-off valve17B, and a filter17C, and the tip of the gas supply pipe17A is positioned within the gas passage K. In order to control the gas concentration in the incubation chamber4, a jet of CO2gas supplied through the gas supply pipe17A can be provided.

The insulated box body2comprises the outer box21made of metal, the inner box22made of stainless steel, an insulating material24provided between the outer box21and the inner box22and on the inner surfaces of the outer box21, and an air layer (so-called an air jacket)25provided inside the insulating material24. On the left and right sides, bottom face, top face, and back face of the inner box22, forming the incubation chamber4, heaters for heating the incubation chamber are provided as heating units (which will be described later). Heaters may also be provided on the transparent door3and the insulated door7covering the opening2A of the incubation chamber4.

FIG. 3is a schematic diagram for describing heating units in the incubator. Illustrations of members unnecessary for the description are appropriately omitted. The incubation chamber4in the aforementioned incubator1includes an incubation space of a rectangular parallelepiped shape surrounded by six inner faces. In the incubator1, six heaters26A-26F are provided as heating units for heating the respective six inner faces.

The heater26A is pasted over the outer surface of the inner face of the insulated door7. The heater26B is pasted over the outer surface of the top board. The heater26C is pasted over the outer surface of the right side. The heater26D is pasted over the outer surface of the bottom face. The heater26E is pasted over the outer surface of the left side. The heater26F is pasted over the outer surface of the back face.

FIG. 4is a block diagram that shows a configuration of a control unit that controls the heating units.FIG. 5is a timing chart that shows variation of the magnitude of electric power supplied to each of the heating units according to the first embodiment.

The incubator1of the first embodiment comprises: the insulated box body2including the incubation chamber4as an incubation space surrounded by multiple inner faces; the humidification pan15as a humidifying unit that humidifies the inside of the incubation chamber4; the heaters26A-26F that heat the respective multiple inner faces of the incubation chamber4with electric power supplied; a power supply unit28that supplies electric power; and a control unit30that controls the magnitude of electric power supplied to each of the heaters.

The control unit30repeatedly changes the magnitude of electric power supplied to the heater26A at timing t1(period T), repeatedly changes the magnitude of electric power supplied to the heater26B at timing t2(period T), repeatedly changes the magnitude of electric power supplied to the heater26C at timing t3(period T), repeatedly changes the magnitude of electric power supplied to the heater26D at timing t4(period T), repeatedly changes the magnitude of electric power supplied to the heater26E at timing t5(period T), and repeatedly changes the magnitude of electric power supplied to the heater26F at timing t6(period T).

The timing t1-t6is different from each other. Also, the period T of the repetitive change of electric power may not necessarily be the same for all the heaters. For example, a period T′ of part of the heaters may be made different from the period T of the other heaters. Further, the period T of a heater may not necessarily be always the same. For example, after electric power is changed with a period T1, it may be changed with a period T2(T2≠T1) and then changed with the period T1again.

In the first embodiment, changing the magnitude of electric power means changing the state between that where electric power is not supplied (OFF) and that where a predetermined amount of electric power is supplied (ON); however, it is not limited to such changing. For example, it may be changing the state between that where a first amount (greater than zero) of electric power is supplied and that where a second amount, greater than the first amount, of electric power is supplied.

Even though each of the temperature and humidity, detected by a sensor or the like, in a region of the incubation chamber4stands at a value within a desired range and electric power is stably supplied to each of the heaters26A-26F, the temperatures of the multiple inner faces forming the incubation chamber4are not necessarily completely uniform. Accordingly, if there is a part having a relatively low temperature in a certain region within the multiple inner faces for a long time, dew condensation may be caused in the region. In the incubator1according to the present embodiment, however, the state of heating by each heater can be repeatedly changed at different timing on each of the multiple inner faces of the incubation chamber4forming an incubation space, thereby preventing the situation where a part having a relatively low temperature continuously exists in a certain region for a long time. Consequently, dew condensation can be prevented.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 6is a timing chart that shows variation of the magnitude of electric power supplied to each of the heating units according to a second embodiment.

The control unit30according to the second embodiment repeatedly changes the magnitude of electric power supplied to the heaters26A and26F at timing t1(period T), repeatedly changes the magnitude of electric power supplied to the heaters26B and26D at timing t2(period T), and repeatedly changes the magnitude of electric power supplied to the heaters26C and26E at timing t3(period T). When the magnitude of electric power supplied to multiple heaters is repeatedly changed at the same timing, the multiple heaters may be configured as a single heater. For example, the heaters26B and26D, or the heaters26C and26E may be configured as one heater.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 7is a timing chart that shows variation of the magnitude of electric power supplied to each of the heating units according to a third embodiment.

The control unit30according to the third embodiment repeatedly changes the magnitude of electric power supplied to the heaters26A,26D, and26F at timing t1(period T), and repeatedly changes the magnitude of electric power supplied to the heaters26B,26C, and26E at timing t2(period T). When the magnitude of electric power supplied to multiple heaters is repeatedly changed at the same timing, the multiple heaters may be configured as a single heater. For example, the heaters26D and26F, or the heaters26B,26C, and26E may be configured as one heater.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 8is a timing chart that shows variation of the magnitude of electric power supplied to each of the heating units according to a fourth embodiment.

As shown inFIG. 2, the humidification pan15is disposed near the bottom face of the incubation chamber4. Therefore, the control unit30according to the fourth embodiment repeatedly changes the magnitude of electric power supplied to the heater26A at timing t1(period T), repeatedly changes the magnitude of electric power supplied to the heater26B at timing t2(period T), repeatedly changes the magnitude of electric power supplied to the heater26C at timing t3(period T), repeatedly changes the magnitude of electric power supplied to the heater26D at timing t41-t43(period T/2), repeatedly changes the magnitude of electric power supplied to the heater26E at timing t5(period T), and repeatedly changes the magnitude of electric power supplied to the heater26F at timing t6(period T).

Namely, the control unit provides control so that electric power supplied to the heater26D is greater than electric power supplied to each of the other heaters. This prevents dew condensation near the bottom face, where a temperature drop is more likely to occur because of heat consumption due to vaporization of water in the humidification pan15and a natural temperature gradient, by heating the bottom face more than the other inner faces.

Fifth Embodiment

FIG. 9is a timing chart that shows variation of the magnitude of electric power supplied to each of the heating units according to a fifth embodiment.

The control unit30according to the fifth embodiment provides control so that electric power supplied to the heater26B is less than electric power supplied to each of the other heaters. Accordingly, heating near the top board, where the temperature tends to rise, can be restrained, so that the temperatures within the incubation space can be made more uniform.

The incubator set forth above can also be expressed as follows. Namely, the incubator1comprises: the insulated box body2including the incubation chamber4surrounded by multiple inner faces; the humidification pan15that humidifies the incubation chamber4; the multiple heaters26A-26F that heat the multiple inner faces; and the control unit30that controls the magnitude of electric power supplied to each of the multiple heaters26A-26F. The control unit30controls electric power supplied to each of the multiple heaters26A-26F so as to repeatedly change the temperature distribution on the multiple inner faces at predetermined timing.

Namely, the incubator1according to each of the aforementioned embodiments repeatedly changes the temperature distribution on the multiple inner faces forming the incubation chamber4at predetermined timing, thereby preventing the situation where a part having a relatively low temperature continuously exists in a certain region for a long time. Consequently, dew condensation can be prevented.

The incubator1may be an incubator connected to another device, such as an isolator, or may be configured as a system including an isolator. Although the incubator1includes the heaters26A-26F for heating the respective six inner faces surrounding the incubation space as heating units controlled to be repeatedly changed at predetermined timing, the number and the arrangement of the heaters are not limited to those described in the embodiments. The number of the heaters may be at least two, and, with regard to the arrangement of the heaters, the six faces may not necessarily be sectioned for each inner face; for example, the inner box22may be sectioned vertically or horizontally, and two heaters for heating the respective sectioned regions may be provided. Also, the inner box22may be sectioned into regions that include the respective corners. In this way, the multiple inner faces surrounding the incubation space may be sectioned into at least two regions, and the heating units controlled to be repeatedly changed at predetermined timing may be provided to heat the respective regions.

The present invention has been described with reference to each of the aforementioned embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and also includes a form resulting from appropriate combination or replacement of the configurations in the embodiments. It is also to be understood that appropriate changes of the combination or the order of processes in the embodiments or various modifications, including design modifications, may be made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art and that such changes and modifications also fall within the scope of the present invention.