Object-holding device

Abstract

An object-holding device includes a container, a plate, and a dispersing mechanism. The container is configured to store a liquid, and includes an upper opening for charging an object into the stored liquid, and a bottom wall. The plate has an upper surface and a lower surface and is immersed into the liquid in a state in which the lower surface is spaced away from the bottom wall of the container, with this plate including: one or a plurality of holding portions arranged on the upper surface side and configured to carry the object; and a through hole passing through the holding portion from the upper surface to the lower surface. The dispersing mechanism is configured to form, in the through hole, a liquid flow which flows from the lower surface side toward the upper surface side to raise the object carried on the holding portion.

1 . A plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, and configured to carry an object and immerse into a liquid in a state in which the lower surface faces and is spaced away from a bottom wall of a container configured to store the liquid, the plate comprising:
 at least one holding portion being a recess opened on the upper surface and configured to carry the object; and   a through hole continuously arranged below the holding portion and passing through the plate from the upper surface to the lower surface, wherein   the holding portion includes a tubular portion having a constant opening area and an inclined portion continuously arranged below the tubular portion, the inclined portion having an opening area which decreases toward the through hole,   the tubular portion defines a space in which the object with a desired size is housed,   the inclined portion is a surface on which the object is held, and   a size of the through hole is selected to prevent the desired size of the object from passing therethrough and allow a substance smaller than the desired size to pass therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The plate according to  claim 1 , wherein
 an upper edge portion of the holding portion is connected to an upper end of the tubular portion and has an opening area which increases toward an upward direction.   
     
     
         3 . The plate according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the plate includes a plurality of holding portions that are regularly arranged,   upper edge portions of one holding portion and an adjacent holding portion are located close to each other, and   a projecting part having a ridge part is formed between the upper edge portions.   
     
     
         4 . The plate according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a thickness of a lower part of the lower surface, on which the inclined portion and the through hole are formed, is smaller than a thickness of an upper part of the upper surface on which the tubular portion is formed, in an up-down direction.