# Patent

## Title
Culture apparatus

## Abstract

A culture apparatus is provided which can suppress condensation on walls of a culture space and the like to suppress adverse effects on a culture material. In the culture apparatus having a culture space formed in a heat insulating box main body, a humidification water reservoir for humidifying the culture space is disposed in the heat insulating box main body. A heat transfer condensation member in which a condensation portion at one end and a cooling portion at the other end are integrated is disposed such that the cooling portion is disposed outside the heat insulating box main body, while the condensation portion is disposed inside the culture space. The condensation portion is disposed so that condensed water on the surface thereof is led into the humidification water reservoir. The cooling portion has an electronic cooling element for cooling the cooling portion by the Peltier effect, to make moisture condensed on the condensation portion and a connection portion in the vicinity of thereof flow downward into the humidification water reservoir and repeatedly usable as humidification water.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a Continuation Application of PCT/JP2014/001634 filed Mar. 20, 2014, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-059982 filed Mar. 22, 2013. The subject matter of each is incorporated herein by reference in entirety.


TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a culture apparatus that cultures a culture material such as a cell and a microorganism in a culture area.
BACKGROUND ART
There are culture apparatuses that culture materials such as cells and microorganisms in incubators. Such a culture apparatus is provided with a heater to heat the inside of the incubator in which a humidification water reservoir is put. For example, the inside of the incubator is kept at a predetermined temperature (for example, 37° C.) and a predetermined humidity (for example, 95% RH) corresponding to the predetermined temperature by controlling the heater.
For example, there is a disclosed culture apparatus that has a bottom heater for heating water in a humidification water reservoir, a heater for heating the inside of an incubator other than the humidification water reservoir, and another heater attached to a heat insulating door hinged on a heat insulating box main body in an openable and closable manner. The three kinds of heaters are independently controlled to keep the temperature of the water in the humidification water reservoir lower than the temperature inside the incubator, so that supersaturated water inside the incubator is returned to the humidification water reservoir, thus suppressing condensation (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1).
This culture apparatus is provided with a temperature sensor to detect the temperature inside the incubator and another temperature sensor to detect an ambient temperature. The three kinds of heaters are independently controlled on the basis of the detection results of the two temperature sensors.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature


    Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei. 5-227942


SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
By the way, since heaters work not for cooling but only for heating in general, for example, each of the temperature sensors requires detection accuracy to the certain extent in order to maintain the predetermine relationship between the temperature of the water in the humidification water reservoir and the temperature inside the incubator by the control of the heaters, as described in the above culture apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 1. The predetermined relationship between the two temperatures herein refers to a relationship in which the temperature of the water in the humidification water reservoir is lower than the temperature inside the incubator to such an extent that the inside of the incubator is maintained at a humidity near the density of saturated water vapor, while suppressing condensation at a place in the incubator at which a culture material is possibly affected. To realize this, however, the temperature of the humidification water reservoir becomes low, so that there is a problem in which condensation occurs around the humidification water reservoir.
The occurrence of the condensation causes a problem in which bacteria occurring in condensed water adversely affect the culture material.
The present disclosure provides a culture apparatus that can suppress condensation to suppress adverse effects on a culture material.
Solution to Problem
A culture apparatus according to this disclosure to solve the above-described problem includes: a heat insulating box main body approximately in a box shape, formed with a culture space therein for culturing a sample such as a cell and a microorganism; a humidification water reservoir disposed in a bottom of the culture space, the humidification water reservoir storing humidification water to control humidity of the culture space; and a heat transfer condensation member penetrating the heat insulating box main body in such a manner that one end is disposed inside the culture space while the other end is disposed outside the heat insulating box main body. The heat transfer condensation member is provided with an electronic cooling element for cooling the heat transfer condensation member by the Peltier effect, at a portion disposed outside the heat insulating box main body. Moisture condensed on a portion disposed inside the culture space by cooling by the electronic cooling element is led into the humidification water reservoir disposed beneath.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
The culture apparatus according to this disclosure is designed such that condensation occurs in the condensation portion, when the humidity of the culture space has reached a level at which the temperature of the condensation portion becomes a dew point from the temperature of the condensation portion of the heat transfer condensation member disposed inside the culture space and the temperature of the culture space, by cooling a cooling portion of the heat transfer condensation member disposed outside the heat insulating box main body by the electronic cooling element, and condensed moisture flows downward into the humidification water reservoir and can be repeatedly used as the humidification water. Thus, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of condensation on inner walls of the culture space and hence suppress adverse effects on a culture material.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining a culture apparatus according to an example of this disclosure in a state of opening a heat insulating door.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional explanatory view in which an incubator is seen from the right side to explain air circulation with focusing on a culture space and a duct in the culture apparatus according to the example of this disclosure.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining the relationship between a heat transfer condensation member and a humidification water reservoir in the culture apparatus according to the example of this disclosure.
FIG. 4 is a front view for explaining the relationship between the heat transfer condensation member and the humidification water reservoir in the culture apparatus according to the example of this disclosure.
FIG. 5 is a partial side cross-sectional view for explaining the relationship between the heat transfer condensation member and the humidification water reservoir in the culture apparatus according to the example of this disclosure.
FIG. 6 is a plan view for explaining the relationship between the heat transfer condensation member and the humidification water reservoir in the culture apparatus according to the example of this disclosure.
FIG. 7 is a rear view for explaining the relationship between the heat transfer condensation member and a heatsink in the culture apparatus according to the example of this disclosure.
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the relationship among the heat transfer condensation member, the heatsink, an electronic cooling element, and a heat insulating member in the culture apparatus according to the example of this disclosure.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the mounting relationship of the electronic cooling element and the heatsink on the heat transfer condensation member in the culture apparatus according to the example of this disclosure.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory view for explaining a heat pipe to be used as the heat transfer condensation member in the example of this disclosure.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional explanatory view in which the incubator is seen from the right side to explain the air circulation with focusing on the culture space and the duct in another embodiment of the culture apparatus according to the example of this disclosure.
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view for explaining the other embodiment relating to the heat transfer condensation member, the heatsink, the electronic cooling element, and the heat insulating member in the culture apparatus according to the example of this disclosure.
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the other embodiment relating to the mounting of the electronic cooling element and the heatsink on the heat transfer condensation member in the culture apparatus according to the example of this disclosure.



DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
A culture apparatus 1 according to an example of this disclosure includes: an approximately box-shaped heat insulating box main body 2 for forming a culture space 4 therein to culture a sample such as a cell and a microorganism; a humidification water reservoir 15 that retains humidification water for controlling the humidity of the culture space 4 and is disposed in the bottom of the culture space 4; and a heat transfer condensation member 35 penetrating the heat insulating box main body 2 such that a condensation portion at one end is disposed in the culture space 4 while a cooling portion at the other end is disposed outside the heat insulating box main body 2. The condensation portion is disposed such that condensed water condensed on the surface thereof is led into the humidification water reservoir 15. The cooling portion is provided with an electronic cooling element 41 for cooling the cooling portion by the Peltier effect. Moisture condensed on the condensation portion and the vicinity thereof flows downward into the humidification water reservoir 15 and is repeatedly used as the humidification water. Embodiments of this disclosure will be hereinafter described in detail based on the drawings.
The culture apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the culture apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of this disclosure has a left open door (more specifically, an outer door 7 and an inner door 3). The heat insulating box main body 2 having an opening 2A in its front face is approximately in the shape of a box formed with the culture space 4 therein to culture the sample such as a cell and a microorganism. One of the structures, as shown in the drawings, is constituted by a metal outer box 21, a heat insulating material 24 disposed inside the outer box 21, and the front side opened stainless inner box 22 disposed therein with leaving an air layer (so-called air jacket) 25. Thus, the inner box 22 forms the front side opened culture space 4 in the heat insulating box main body 2, serving as an area to culture the sample such as a cell and a microorganism. Heaters 37 are disposed on both left and right side faces, a top face, a bottom face, and a back face of the inner box 22 to heat the culture space 4.
As described above, the culture space 4 for culturing the sample such as a cell and a microorganism is formed in the heat insulating box main body 2 having the opening 2A in its front face. The heat insulating door 7 is attached in an openable and closable manner to one side (left side in the drawing) of the heat insulating box main body 2 as the outer door to keep heat out of the culture space 4 through the front face opening 2A. A loop-shaped gasket 8 with a magnet is disposed in the outer edge of the heat insulating door 7 on a back side. Closing the heat insulating door 7 brings the gasket 8 into tight contact with the outer edge of the front face opening 2A of the heat insulating box main body 2, so that the heat insulating door 7 closes the front face opening 2A in an air-tight manner and keeps outside air out of the culture space 4 through the front face opening 2A.
The culture space 4 is partitioned with the front side opened stainless inner box 22. Both the left and right side faces, the top face, and the back face of the inner box 22 are disposed in the heat insulating box main body 2 with leaving the air layer (so-called air jacket) 25 between each face and the heat insulating box main body 2. A front face opening of the inner box 22 is opened and closed with the transparent door 3 as the inner door. The culture space 4 is substantially formed from a space enclosed with the inner box 22 and the transparent door 3. The transparent door 3 is hinged on the inner box 22 at its left side in an openable and closable manner. An elastic sealing member 2B is disposed in a looped manner at the peripheral edge of the front face opening of the inner box 22. Upon closing the transparent inner door 3, the back side of the transparent inner door 3 comes into tight contact with the elastic sealing member 2B and thus closes the front face opening of the culture space 4.
The culture space 4 is partitioned vertically with a plurality of shelfs 5 (here, into five with four shelfs). If the culture apparatus 1 is, for example, a CO2 incubator, the concentration of CO2 is usually set and kept at the order of 5%, and a CO2 gas is supplied into the culture space 4 after closing the doors to control the concentration of CO2.
In the culture space 4, a duct 11 including a back duct 11A and a bottom duct 11B is disposed with leaving a space with a back wall and a bottom wall of the inner box 22, to form a gas conduit K of air containing CO2 and the like along the back face and the bottom face. To perform forced circulation of air, a gas containing CO2 and the like in the culture space 4 is sucked from a suction port 12 formed in the upper portion of the back duct 11A, and blown into the culture space 4 from outlet ports 13 provided at the front and side faces of the bottom duct 11B. A circulation blower 14 is disposed inside the duct 11 (here, at the upper portion) to perform the forced circulation of the gas containing CO2 and the like. This blower 14 is constituted by a fan 14A, a motor 14B, and a shaft 14C. The motor 14B is disposed in a machine chamber 19 on the outside back face of the heat insulating box main body 2, to be described later. The shaft 14C extends from the motor 14B disposed in the machine chamber 19 through the back face of the heat insulating box main body 2 into the gas conduit K of CO2 and the like and is coupled to the fan 14A.
As the humidification water reservoir 15 for humidifying the culture space 4, the top face opened humidification water reservoir 15 is put in the duct 11 that is on the bottom of the culture space 4 and between the bottom duct 11B and the bottom wall of the inner box 22, to store water for humidification (that is, humidification water) 16. The water is heated and evaporated by the heater 37 disposed on the outside bottom face of the metal, e.g., stainless, inner box 22. It is noted that disposing the humidification water reservoir 15 in the duct 11 and on the bottom of the culture space 4 facilitates circulating humidified gas with high efficiency through the gas conduit K of CO2 and the like, which is formed from the circulation blower 14 and the duct 11.
The machine chamber 19, which contains the motor being drive means for the circulation blower 14, gas supply means 17 for supplying the CO2 gas to the culture space 4, and an electrical component box 38 to accommodate electrical components such as a not-shown control board and the like, is formed of a rear cover 26, for covering the back face of the outer box 21, on the back face of the outer box 21 of the heat insulating box main body 2.
The gas supply means 17 includes a gas supply pipe 17A, an openable valve 17B, a filter 17C, and the like. A tip end portion of the gas supply pipe 17A faces to the gas conduit K.
The CO2 gas supplied from the gas supply pipe 17A can be ejected to control the gas concentration of the culture space 4. To obtain a bactericidal effect on the gas flowing in the culture space 4 and the water 16 in the humidification water reservoir 15, an ultraviolet lamp 27 is disposed in the gas conduit K.
As shown in FIG. 2 and the like, in order to achieve the object of this disclosure, the heat transfer condensation member 35 in which a condensation portion 31 at one end and a cooling portion 32 at the other end are integrated through a connection portion 30 is attached to a predetermined position of the culture apparatus 1. The heat transfer condensation member 35 may be any of a heat pipe in which an operating fluid is sealed, a round bar of a predetermined length made of a highly heat conductive material such as aluminum, and a flat plate of a predetermined length made of a highly heat conductive material such as aluminum.
FIG. 10 shows the structure of a heat pipe 35, which is a kind of heat transfer condensation member 35. The heat pipe 35 has a bar-shaped airtight container in which a little amount of liquid (operating fluid) is vacuum-sealed, and a capillary structure (wicks) 33 in its inner wall. The operating fluid is evaporated at the condensation portion 31 (absorbs latent heat of vaporization), and the evaporated vapor moves to the direction of the cooling portion 32. The vapor is condensed to release the latent heat of vaporization at the cooling portion 32. The condensed fluid is refluxed to the condensation portion 31 by a capillary phenomenon. Such a series of phase changes occurs in a sequential manner, thus accelerating heat transfer.
To accelerate the heat transfer in the heat transfer condensation member 35, the heat pipe 35 is preferably used. However, in a case where extremely short-time heat transfer is not necessarily required, just as with the culture apparatus 1, the heat transfer condensation member 35 may be any of the round bar of a predetermined length made of the metallic highly heat conductive material such as aluminum and silver and the flat plate of a predetermined length made of the highly heat conductive material such as aluminum and silver. In the case of aluminum, an antiproliferative effect on germs is obtained by forming an antibacterial coating on the surface of the heat transfer condensation member 35 by antibacterial plating, antibacterial alumite, or the like. It is conceivable to use a copper material for the heat transfer condensation member 35, but the copper is likely to form patina and therefore requires a plating process and the like to prevent the patina from appearing in its surface.
The following embodiments describe the case of adopting the heat transfer condensation member 35 that is made of the round bar of a predetermined length made of the highly heat conductive material such as aluminum, which is a kind of heat transfer condensation member 35.
The heat transfer condensation member 35 is attached such that the cooling portion 32 is disposed outside the heat insulating box main body 2, that the connection portion 30 is disposed in the culture space 4 in the heat insulating box main body 2 through the heat insulating box main body 2 and the inner box 22, and that the condensation portion 31 is disposed in the gas conduit K in the duct 11A. The cooling portion 32 is disposed in the machine chamber 19 of the culture apparatus 1 so as not to be damaged by external forces from the vicinity of the culture apparatus 1. It is noted that the heat transfer condensation member 35 penetrates the back face of the heat insulating box main body 2 in the example of this disclosure, but may penetrate a side face thereof.
At a portion of the connection portion 30 that penetrates the heat insulating box main body 2 and the inner box 22, the connection portion 30 is disposed at least between the metal outer box 21 and the stainless inner box 22 with the heat insulating sealing member 36 interposed therebetween. The interposition of the heat insulating sealing member 36 prevents the gas flowing through the gas conduit K from leaking and adversely affecting the culture space 4, and prevents the occurrence of condensation on a contact portion between the connection portion 30 and the inner box 22. It is also possible to reduce thermal effects on the outer box 21 and the inner box 22.
To keep the condensation portion 31 at a dew-point temperature and cause condensation on the surface of the condensation portion 31, the cooling portion 32 is cooled to an appropriate temperature. The cooling effect is transmitted to the condensation portion 31 through the connection portion 30, so that the condensation portion 31 is kept at the dew-point temperature. For this reason, an electronic cooling device 40 is attached to the cooling portion 32 to cool the cooling portion 32 to the appropriate temperature. For the sake of achieving ease of attachment, miniaturization, ease of temperature control, and the like, in an example of this disclosure, an electronic cooling element 41 called Peltier element for cooling the cooling portion 32 by the Peltier effect and a heatsink 42 for dissipating heat of the electronic cooling element 41 are provided as the electronic cooling device 40.
In the electronic cooling element 41 called the Peltier element, a plurality of p-n junction semiconductor devices constitute a cooling and heating portion. In a state where n-type semiconductors and p-type semiconductors are arrayed alternately in a lateral direction, a heat absorbing portion (cooling side) is made by coupling an end of the n-type semiconductor to an end of the adjoining p-type semiconductor with a high heat conductive plate, and a heat radiating portion (heating side) is made by coupling the other end of the n-type semiconductor to the other end of the adjoining p-type semiconductor with a high heat conductive plate. Therefore, on the basis of this relationship, the electronic cooling element 41 has a well-known structure in which the n-type semiconductors and the p-type semiconductors are connected in series as a whole.
The heatsink 42, made of aluminum, has a plate-shaped base 42A and a plurality of plate-shaped radiating fins 42B formed on the top face of the plate-shaped base 42A with leaving space in an integral manner.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the heat absorbing portion (cooling side) of the electronic cooling element 41 is attached to the top face of the cooling portion 32 of the heat transfer condensation member 35 in a heat conductive state. Thus, the cooling portion 32 of the heat transfer condensation member 35 is formed with a flat attachment surface on its top face. On the attachment surface, the cooling side of the electronic cooling element 41 is disposed with a heat radiating grease or a heat conductive member such as a thin heat conductive rubber sheet interposed therebetween. On the other hand, the plate-shaped base 42A of the heatsink 42, which functions as a radiator, is disposed on the heat radiating portion (heating side) of the electronic cooling element 41 with a heat radiating grease or a heat conductive member such as a thin heat conductive rubber sheet interposed therebetween. In this state, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, mounting screws 44 are secured to the plate-shaped base 42A of the heatsink 42 through the cooling portion 32 from below the cooling portion 32 of the heat transfer condensation member 35 for coupling. Thereby, the cooling portion 32 of the heat transfer condensation member 35, the electronic cooling element 41, and the heatsink 42 are integrated into one unit in a heat conductive state.
FIGS. 12 and 13 show another embodiment in which components indicated by the same reference numerals as those shown in FIGS. 8 to 9 have the same functions. FIG. 12 is the exploded perspective view for explaining the other embodiment relating to the heat transfer condensation member 35, the heatsink 42, the electronic cooling element 41, and the heat insulating sealing member 36. FIG. 13 is the cross-sectional view for explaining the other embodiment relating to the mounting relationship of the electronic cooling element 41 and the heatsink 42 on the heat transfer condensation member 35. In a state of attaching the heat absorbing portion (cooling side) of the electronic cooling element 41 on the top face of the cooling portion 32 of the heat transfer condensation member 35 in a heat conductive state, both left and right sides of a mounting plate 43, which is disposed below the cooling portion 32 and made of a synthetic resin with heat insulating properties, are fastened to the plate-shaped base 42A of the heatsink 42 with the mounting screws 44. Thereby, the cooling portion 32 of the heat transfer condensation member 35, the electronic cooling element 41, and the heatsink 42 are integrated into one unit in a heat conductive state.
To keep the condensation portion 31 of the heat transfer condensation member 35 at the dew-point temperature and cause condensation on the surface of the condensation portion 31, the cooling portion 32 is cooled by the electronic cooling element 41. Cooling the cooling portion 32 makes the surface temperature of the condensation portion 31 at an appropriate level, and causes condensation on the surface of the condensation portion 31. Although the cooling portion 32 is disposed on the side of the electrical component box 38 in such a position as to be little affected by heat generated by heat generating components in the electrical component box 38, the cooling portion 32 is affected by an ambient temperature of the cooling portion 32, i.e. an ambient temperature of the culture apparatus 1 and the temperature of heat generating components in the machine chamber 19, because the cooling portion 32 is disposed in the machine chamber 19 of the culture apparatus 1. The temperature effect varies the temperature of the cooling portion 32 and affects the condensation portion 31 through the connection portion 30, thus causing a state in which the condensation portion 31 is not kept at the dew-point temperature.
In this disclosure, to solve such a problem, for example, a temperature sensor TA detects variations in the ambient temperature of the cooling portion 32. A controller disposed on a control board contained in the electrical component box 38 varies a drive voltage to be applied to the electronic cooling element 41 in accordance with the temperature detected by the temperature sensor TA, so as to control in such a manner that the surface temperature of the condensation portion 31 is kept at the dew-point temperature and cause condensation on the surface of the condensation portion 31. This control may be continuous or stepwise such that, for example, the drive voltage to be applied to the electronic cooling element 41 is varied to 6V, 5V, 4V, 3V, and 2V in accordance with the ambient temperature of the cooling portion 32 of 35° C., 30° C., 25° C., 20° C., and 10° C., respectively.
It is noted that the surface temperature of the condensation portion 31 is affected by the temperature of the culture space 4 too. The occurrence of condensation on the surface of the condensation portion 31 is affected by the humidity of the culture space 4 too. For this reason, another temperature sensor TB detects the temperature of a middle portion of the culture space 4, and a humidity sensor SA detects the humidity of the middle portion of the culture space 4. The drive voltage to be applied to the electronic cooling element 41 is varied on the basis of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor TA, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor TB, and the humidity detected by the humidity sensor SA. By doing so, the cooled state of the cooling portion 32 is controlled to keep the surface temperature of the condensation portion 31 at the dew-point temperature, and condensation is made occur on the surface of the condensation portion 31, thus enabling control with higher accuracy.
As an example of such control, when a set temperature in the culture space 4 is 37° C., the drive voltage of the electronic cooling element 41 is varied so as to make the surface temperature of the condensation portion 31 of the heat transfer condensation member 35 lower than the set temperature of the culture space 4 by approximately 1.0 to 2.0° C. By way of example, when the set temperature in the culture space 4 is 37° C., if the temperature of the gas flowing through the gas conduit K is 37° C. and a relative humidity RH is 95%, the dew-point temperature is 36.07° C. When the set temperature in the culture space 4 is 37° C., if the temperature of the gas flowing through the gas conduit K is 37° C. and a relative humidity RH is 90%, the dew-point temperature is 35.08° C. By controlling the drive voltage to be applied to the electronic cooling element 41 by the controller so that the condensation portion 31 has such a dew-point temperature, a condition in which condensation properly occurs on the surface of the condensation portion 31, while no condensation occurs on the inner walls of the culture space 4 and the walls of the gas conduit K can be achieved.
As described above, by controlling the cooling effect of the electronic cooling element 41 in accordance with the detection by the temperature sensor TA, the temperature sensor TB, and the humidity sensor SA, the surface temperature of the condensation portion 31 is kept at the dew-point temperature, and condensation is made occur on the surface of the condensation portion 31. Then the condensed water is led into the humidification water reservoir 15, and reused for humidification.
As shown in FIG. 5, the connection portion 30 of the heat transfer condensation member 35 penetrates a through hole 21P of the outer box 21, the heat insulating sealing member 36, and a through hole 22P of the inner box 22, without being in contact with the outer box 21 and the inner box 22. As shown in the drawings, the heat insulating sealing member 36 is preferably a one-unit member with high hydrophobicity into which a main body portion 36A (first heat insulating sealing member 36A) and a tip sealing portion 36B (second heat insulating sealing member 36B) at a tip thereof are molded, and the heat insulating sealing member 36 is made of a polyacetal resin, by way of example. As a hydrophobic material, there may be adopted a hydrophobic rubber, a fluororesin, or the like. The main body portion 36A of the heat insulating sealing member 36 is in contact with an inner side face of a back wall of the outer box 21 so as to fill the through hole 21P at its back face, and is in contact with a back face of the back wall of the inner box 22 while penetrating the heat insulating material 24. The tip sealing portion 36B extending forward from the main body portion 36A penetrates the through hole 22P of the inner box 22 into the gas conduit K.
As shown in the drawings, the heat transfer condensation member 35 is held in an inclined state such that the connection portion 30 descends from back to front while penetrating the main body portion 36A and the tip sealing portion 36B of the heat insulating sealing member 36. The heat insulating sealing member 36 prevents the gas flowing through the gas conduit K from leaking from the position of the heat transfer condensation member 35, and prevents the adverse effects of the gas leakage on the culture space 4. The heat insulating sealing member 36 also prevents the occurrence of condensation on the inner box 22 through the connection portion 30 of the heat transfer condensation member 35, and suppresses the thermal effects of the outer box 21 and the inner box 22 on the heat transfer condensation member 35.
In order to make moisture that is condensed on the condensation portion 31 and the connection portion 30 in the vicinity thereof flow downward into the humidification water reservoir 15, the heat transfer condensation member 35 is formed with a bend portion 34 by bending downward the connection portion 30 at a portion that reaches the gas conduit K in the duct 11A. A portion of the heat transfer condensation member 35 that extends from the bend portion 34 to the condensation portion 31 is formed downward in parallel with the duct 11A corresponding thereto. Also, in order to make moisture condensed on a portion of the heat insulating sealing member 36 that extends into the duct 11, that is, moisture condensed on the tip sealing portion 36B exposed to the gas conduit K flow downward into the humidification water reservoir 15, the peripheral surface of the tip sealing portion 36B, including not only top and bottom surfaces but also left and right surfaces, takes the form of an inclined surface extending obliquely downward in a forward direction so as to extend directly above the humidification water reservoir 15.
Therefore, condensation tends to occur on the portion of the heat transfer condensation member 35 that extends from the bend portion 34 to the condensation portion 31, and the condensed moisture flows downward by gravity and drops into the humidification water reservoir 15 without dispersal. Even in a case where condensation occurs on the tip sealing portion 36B of the heat insulating sealing member 36 exposed to the gas conduit K, the condensed moisture flows downward along the inclination by gravity and drops into the humidification water reservoir 15 directly or through the connection portion 30 and the condensation portion 31, and therefore drops into the humidification water reservoir 15 without dispersal.
FIG. 11 shows another embodiment. Since components denoted by the same reference numerals as those of FIGS. 1 to 10 have the same functions, the detailed description thereof will be omitted and a different structure will be described. The heat transfer condensation member 35 shown in FIG. 11 is disposed horizontally, instead of being disposed in an inclined manner with lowering its front side. To be more specific, the heat transfer condensation member 35 is attached so as to dispose the cooling portion 32 outside the heat insulating box main body 2, dispose the connection portion 30 horizontally through the heat insulating box main body 2 and the inner box 22, and dispose the condensation portion 31 in the gas conduit K in the duct 11A. The cooling portion 32 is disposed in the machine chamber 19 of the culture apparatus 1 so as not to be damaged by external forces from the vicinity of the culture apparatus 1.
As described above, in this disclosure according to FIGS. 1 to 13, since the heat insulating sealing member 36 is disposed between the portion of the connection portion 30 that penetrates the inner box 22 and the stainless inner box 22, the heat insulating sealing member 36 prevents a leak of the gas flowing through the gas conduit K and prevents the adverse effects on the culture space 4. The heat insulating sealing member 36 also prevents condensation on a contact portion between the connection portion 30 and the inner box 22.
As in the same manner as described above, the heat absorbing portion (cooling portion) of the electronic cooling element 41 is attached to the cooling portion 32 of the heat transfer condensation member 35 in a heat conductive state. Thus, exerting the same control as described above causes condensation on the surface of the condensation portion 31, and hence the condensed water is led into the humidification water reservoir 15 and reused for humidification.
The size, shape, dimensions, number, and the like of the heat transfer condensation member to be used in this disclosure are variable in accordance with the capacity, shape, and size of the culture apparatus, the culture material, and the like.
It is noted that the above-described embodiments describe the example of this disclosure, but neither limit the invention included in the scope of the claims nor narrow the scope of the claims. The structure of each component in the example of this disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but variously modified within the technical scope described in the scope of the claims.
As described above, the culture apparatuses 1 according to the embodiments have at least the following effects.
The culture apparatus 1 according to the embodiment includes: the heat insulating box main body 2 approximately in a box shape, formed with the culture space 4 therein for culturing a sample such as a cell and a microorganism; the humidification water reservoir 15 disposed in the bottom of the culture space 4, the humidification water reservoir 15 storing the humidification water to control the humidity of the culture space 4; and the heat transfer condensation member 35 penetrating the heat insulating box main body 2 in such a manner that one end is disposed inside the culture space 4 while the other end is disposed outside the heat insulating box main body 2. The heat transfer condensation member 35 is provided with the electronic cooling element 41 that can cool the heat transfer condensation member 35 by the Peltier effect at a portion disposed outside the heat insulating box main body 2, and moisture condensed on a portion located in the culture space 4 by cooling by the electronic cooling device 41 is led into the humidification water reservoir 15 disposed beneath.
Thus it is possible to prevent condensation on inner walls of the culture space 4 (inner face of the inner box 22) and hence suppress adverse effects on a culture material.
The culture apparatus 1 according to the embodiment is further provided with the heatsink 42 (radiator) for dissipating heat generated in the electronic cooling element 41. The electronic cooling element 41 is provided on the top of a portion disposed outside the heat insulating box main body 2, and the heatsink 42 is provided on the top of the portion disposed outside the heat insulating box main body 2 through the electronic cooling element 41.
Thereby, since the heat radiating portion of the electronic cooling element 41 is positioned above, the heat dissipated from the heatsink 42 is prevented from being transmitted to the heat transfer condensation member 35, thus cooling the heat transfer condensation member 35 with high efficiency.
In the culture apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, the heat radiating grease or the heat conductive member (first heat conductive member) such as the heat conductive rubber sheet is disposed between the heat transfer condensation member 35 and the electronic cooling element 41, and the heat radiating grease or the heat conductive member (second heat conductive member) such as the heat conductive rubber sheet is disposed between the electronic cooling element 41 and the heatsink 42.
Thus, the heat conduction between the electronic cooling element 41 and the heat transfer condensation member 35 and the heat conduction between the electronic cooling element 41 and the heatsink 42 are efficiently performed.
In the culture apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, the heat insulating box main body 2 includes the approximately box-shaped inner box 22 for forming the culture space 4 by partition, and the approximately box-shaped outer box 21 enclosing the outer periphery of the inner box 22. The main body portion 36A (first heat insulating sealing member) of the heat insulating sealing member covers the portion (connection portion 30) of the heat transfer condensation member 35 that is disposed between the inner box 22 and the outer box 21, in order to prevent heat between the inner box 22 and the outer box 21 from being transferred to the heat transfer condensation member 35.
Therefore, it is possible to efficiently cool the portion disposed inside the culture space 4 by the electronic cooling element 41.
In the culture apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, the heat insulating box main body 2 includes the heat insulating material 24 disposed between the outer box 21 and the inner box 22 and inside the outer box 21. The air layer 25 is formed between the heat insulating material 24 and the inner box 22, and the main body portion 36A of the heat insulating sealing member covers at least a portion of the heat transfer condensation member 35 disposed in the air layer 25.
Thus, a portion disposed inside the culture space 4 can be efficiently cooled by the electronic cooling element 41.
In the culture apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, the tip sealing portion 36B (second heat insulating sealing member) of the heat insulating sealing member 36 is disposed between the heat transfer condensation member 35 and the inner box 22, in order to prevent heat conduction between the culture space 4 and the air layer 25.
Thus, since heat of the air layer 25 is prevented from being transmitted to the culture space 4, it is possible to stabilize temperature control in the culture space 4. Also, condensation properly occurs on a portion of the heat transfer condensation member 35 that extends from the bend portion 34 to the condensation portion 31.
The culture apparatus 1 according to the embodiment is further provided with the duct 11 and the circulation blower 14 for the forced circulation of gas such as air in the culture space 4. A portion of the heat transfer condensation member 35 that is disposed inside the culture space 4 is located in the gas conduit K of the duct 11.
Therefore, the heat transfer condensation member 35 can be located in a position invisible to a user, thus enhancing appearance.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The culture apparatus according to the example of this disclosure is configured such that the heat transfer condensation member having the condensation portion and the cooling portion is attached to a predetermined position, and for example, the inside vapor density of the culture space closing to the density of over-saturated water vapor causes condensation on the condensation portion, and the condensed moisture flows downward into the humidification water reservoir so as to be repeatedly usable as the humidification water. Therefore, the culture apparatus has the significant effects of suppressing adverse effects on a culture material by preventing the condensation, allowing operation of the culture space without the occurrence of temperature and humidity variations by operating the circular blower in the duct, and providing the economical culture apparatus without increased manufacturing costs, thus having a great deal of potential in industry.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST


    1 culture apparatus
    2 heat insulating box main body
    2A opening
    3 transparent inner door
    4 culture space
    5 shelf
    7 heat insulating door
    8 gasket
    11 duct
    11A back duct
    11B bottom duct
    14 circulation blower
    15 humidification water reservoir
    16 humidification water
    17 gas supply means
    17A gas supply pipe
    21 outer box
    22 inner box
    24 heat insulating material
    25 air layer (air jacket)
    30 connection portion
    31 condensation portion
    32 cooling portion
    33 capillary structure (wicks)
    34 bend portion
    35 heat transfer condensation member
    36 heat insulating sealing member
    36A main body portion of heat insulating sealing member (first heat insulating sealing member)
    36B tip sealing portion of heat insulating sealing member (second heat insulating sealing member)
    40 electronic cooling device
    41 electronic cooling element
    42 heatsink

## Claims

1. A culture apparatus comprising:
a heat insulating box main body having a box shape and a culture space therein for culturing a sample;
a humidification water reservoir disposed at a bottom of the culture space, the humidification water reservoir storing humidification water to control humidity of the culture space;
a heater provided inside the heat insulating box main body for heating the humidification water reservoir;
a duct disposed in the culture space and at least along a wall of the heat insulating box main body;
a heat transfer condensation member penetrating the heat insulating box main body and having a condensation portion disposed inside the duct and a cooling portion disposed outside the heat insulating box main body; and
an electronic cooling element, based on Peltier effect, disposed on the cooling portion of the heat transfer condensation member for cooling the heat transfer condensation member,
wherein moisture condensed on a surface of the condensation portion by cooling by the electronic cooling element is led into the humidification water reservoir disposed beneath the condensation portion.

2. The culture apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a radiator for dissipating heat generated by the electronic cooling element,
wherein the electronic cooling element is provided on top of the cooling portion disposed outside the heat insulating box main body, and the radiator is provided on top of the cooling portion disposed outside the heat insulating box main body through the electronic cooling element.

3. The culture apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a first heat conductive member between the heat transfer condensation member and the electronic cooling element, and a second heat conductive member between the electronic cooling element and the radiator.

4. The culture apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of the first heat conductive member and the second heat conductive member is a heat radiating grease or a heat conductive rubber sheet.

5. The culture apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first heat conductive member and the second heat conductive member are formed of the same material.

6. The culture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat insulating box main body has a box-shaped inner box for forming the culture space and a box-shaped outer box enclosing an outer periphery of the inner box, and
a portion of the heat transfer condensation member that is disposed between the inner box and the outer box is covered with a first heat insulating sealing member to prevent heat between the inner box and the outer box from being transmitted to the heat transfer condensation member.

7. The culture apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the heat insulating box main body includes a heat insulating material disposed between the outer box and the inner box and inside the outer box, an air layer is formed between the heat insulating material and the inner box, and the first heat insulating sealing member covers at least a portion of the heat transfer condensation member disposed in the air layer.

8. The culture apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a second heat insulating sealing member disposed between the heat transfer condensation member and the inner box to suppress heat conduction between the culture space and the air layer.

9. The culture apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a circulation blower for forcefully circulating gas of air in the culture space at least through the duct.

10. A culture apparatus comprising:
a heat insulating box main body having a box shape and a culture space therein for culturing a sample;
a humidification water reservoir disposed at a bottom of the culture space, the humidification water reservoir storing humidification water to control humidity of the culture space;
a heater provided inside the heat insulating box main body for heating the humidification water reservoir;
a duct disposed in the culture space and at least along a wall of the heat insulating box main body;
a heat transfer condensation member penetrating the heat insulating box main body and having a condensation portion disposed inside the duct and a cooling portion disposed outside the heat insulating box main body;
an electronic cooling element, based on Peltier effect, disposed on the cooling portion of the heat transfer condensation member for cooling the heat transfer condensation member; and
a controller configured to control, based at least on a temperature of the culture space and a humidity of the culture space, the electronic cooling element to cool the condensation portion to a temperature lower than the temperature of the culture space, a difference between the cooled condensation portion and the culture space being within a predetermined range,
wherein moisture condensed on a surface of the condensation portion by cooling by the electronic cooling element is led into the humidification water reservoir disposed beneath the condensation portion.