Patent ID: 8163541

Claim:
A cell culture apparatus that cultures cells using culture vessels, comprising: a culture vessel set that holds a plurality of culture vessels, the culture vessel set comprising a plurality of complementary portions receiving a respective one of the plurality of culture vessels, at least one first plate spring disposed in one of the complementary portions, the first plate spring having a bendable shape comprising a first arm and a second arm, the second arm having a middle portion and an end portion at an end opposite the first arm, the first arm operatively attached to one portion of an inner wall of the respective complementary portion, the middle portion and the end portion in contact with a side of a respective culture vessel, wherein the middle portion generates a repulsive force in a direction biasing the respective culture vessel against another portion of the inner wall facing opposite the one portion of the inner wall, and wherein the end portion engages the culture vessel, thereby generating a friction force between the culture vessel and the inner wall and the plate spring, in a direction perpendicular to the repulsive force; a mounting rack for mounting the culture vessel set; a joint having at least one liquid supply means that supplies a liquid to the plurality of culture vessels and at least one liquid recovery means that discharges a liquid from the plurality of culture vessels, wherein the liquid supply means and the liquid recovery means operate in the vertical state; a liquid inlet portion associated with the plurality of culture vessels, the liquid inlet portion connectable to the liquid supply means; a liquid outlet portion associated with the plurality of culture vessels, the liquid outlet portion connectable to the liquid recovery means; a manipulator for moving the joint and inserting the culture vessel set between the joint and the mounting rack to connect the liquid supply means and the liquid recovery means to the plurality of culture vessels; and state changing means that places the culture vessel set, the joint, and the mounting rack that are integrated into one piece in a vertical state from a horizontal state.