JP4529259B2 - Isolator - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
The present invention relates to an isolator that performs processing by storing an object to be processed in a sealed chamber isolated from the outside, and in particular, for sterilizing the inside of a chamber by supplying a sterilizing gas to diffuse the sterilizing gas. It is related with the structure of a fan.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The isolator is designed to be sterilized by supplying sterilization gas from a sterilization gas supply device into a chamber having a sealed space inside, but the sterilization gas sent into the chamber spreads throughout the chamber. Thus, the required number of small fans for sterilizing gas diffusion are installed in the chamber.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The diffusion fan installed in the chamber is used when sterilizing the inside of the chamber, but it is necessary to prevent this diffusion fan from getting in the way when performing aseptic work inside the chamber after sterilization. . Therefore, there is a problem that the volume of the chamber has to be increased by the installation space of the diffusion fan. In addition, if substances harmful to the human body such as powder are processed in the chamber and the powder adheres to the fan, it must be washed away later. Therefore, a waterproof fan has to be used, and there is a problem that the cost is high.
[0004]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an isolator that does not obstruct the diffusion fan when performing aseptic work and does not need to increase the volume inside the chamber. Is. In addition, even when processing toxic powder, powder does not adhere to the diffusion fan, so there is no need to clean the diffusion fan, and an isolator that can be easily cleaned inside the chamber is provided. It is intended to do.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The isolator according to the present invention includes a chamber sealed inside, a supply port provided in the chamber to which a sterilizing gas supply means is connected, an exhaust port provided in the chamber and exhausting gas in the chamber, A sterilization gas diffusion fan provided in the chamber, and sterilizes by supplying sterilization gas into the chamber from the sterilization gas supply means, and further, in a notch hole formed in the chamber A storage box having an opening in an airtight state is provided on the outside of the chamber, an open / close lid capable of blocking the opening is provided, and the diffusion fan is stored in the storage box and outside the storage box When the inside of the chamber is sterilized, the opening / closing lid is opened and the diffusion fan is installed. Is projected to the serial storage box outside the chamber is obtained by the actuate.
[0008]
Furthermore, the isolator according to claim 2 is configured such that the diffusion fan is connected to the storage box and the opening / closing lid via a lever so that the opening and the opening lid is opened and the outside is exposed to the outside from the storage box. .
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of an isolator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a space sealed inside is formed on a horizontal support base 1a of a machine frame 1 raised from a floor surface by an upright support column. A chamber 2 is installed. A sterilization gas introduction chamber 4 is provided on the top surface 2a of the chamber 2, and a filter 6 is attached therein. A supply pipe 8 is connected to the introduction chamber 4 above the filter 6, and a sterilization gas supply device (not shown) for supplying a sterilization gas such as hydrogen peroxide gas is connected to the supply pipe 8. ing. The hydrogen peroxide gas supplied from the sterilization gas supply device enters the introduction chamber 4 through the supply pipe 8, passes through the filter 6, and then is supplied into the chamber 2 from the supply port 2 b of the chamber 2. An air intake / exhaust unit having the same structure as that of Japanese Patent Application No. 11-232896 is accommodated inside the machine casing 1, and the sterilizing gas is passed through these air intake / exhaust units as described above. The sterilizing gas sent from the supply device is supplied into the chamber 2 and discharged.
[0010]
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the top surface 2a of the chamber 2 is formed with a hole 2c cut out in a square shape, and a storage box 12 for storing the diffusion fan 10 is airtightly mounted on the hole 2c. Is attached to hold. A lid 14 that can be opened and closed is provided at the opening 12 a of the storage box 12. One end 14a of the opening / closing lid 14 is rotatably connected to one side of the storage box 12 via a fulcrum shaft 16, and when opened, as shown by a solid line in FIG. At the time of closing, as shown by a two-dot chain line in the figure, the opening 12a of the storage box 12 is sealed in a horizontal state. The movable end 14 b is fixed in a closed state by fastening with the nut 18.
[0011]
The diffusion fan 10 stored in the storage box 12 is attached to a pair of long rotating levers 20 and 22 whose one ends are rotatably connected to both side walls (upper and lower side walls in FIG. 2) of the storage box 12. . The two rotary levers 20 and 22 are formed with long holes 20a and 22a, and mounting pins 24 and 26 fixed to both sides of the diffusing fan 10 via brackets 23 and 25 are the long holes 20a and 22a. 22a is engaged.
[0012]
Two levers 28 and 30 are fixed to the opening / closing lid 14 at a right angle, and the front end portions of the right angle levers 28 and 30 are end portions of brackets 23 and 25 attached to the diffusion fan 10 ( It is connected so as to be relatively rotatable toward the right end portion in FIG. Therefore, the diffusion fan 10 can be moved up and down in conjunction with the opening and closing lid 14 by opening and closing the opening and closing lid 14. When the diffusion fan 10 is raised most, it does not protrude at all in the chamber 2 and is completely stored in the storage box 12 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. Further, when it is lowered, it projects completely downward from the opening 12a of the storage box 12 as shown by a solid line in FIG.
[0013]
When the diffusing fan 10 moves up and down through the right angle levers 28 and 30 by opening and closing the opening / closing lid 14, the rotating levers 20 and 22 are rotated, and the connecting pins 24 and 26 are connected to the elongated holes 20a and 20a as the rotation is performed. Move in 22a.
[0014]
The operation of the isolator having the above configuration will be described. When the inside of the chamber 2 is sterilized, the lock (nut 18) of the opening / closing lid 14 is removed and opened. When the opening / closing lid 14 is pulled down, the diffusion fan 10 connected to the opening / closing lid 14 via the right angle levers 28, 30 is pulled out from the storage box 12 as shown by the solid line in FIG. Like the conventional stationary diffusion fan, the chamber 2 is suspended from the top surface 2a.
[0015]
As described above, the diffusion fan 10 is suspended in the chamber 2, and from the sterilization gas supply device (not shown) through the supply pipe 8, the introduction chamber 4, and the filter 6 to the chamber 2 through the supply port 2 b of the chamber 2. Hydrogen peroxide gas is supplied. On the other hand, gas or the like in the chamber 2 is discharged from an exhaust port (not shown). When the hydrogen peroxide gas is supplied into the chamber 2 and sterilized in this way, the diffusion fan 10 exposed in the chamber 2 is rotated so that the hydrogen peroxide gas is evenly distributed throughout the chamber 2. And sterilize completely.
[0016]
When performing aseptic work in the chamber 2, the movable end 14 b (lower end in FIG. 3) side of the openable opening / closing lid 14 is pushed up. When the opening / closing lid 14 rotates upward, the diffusion fan 10 connected to the right angle lever 28 is also lifted and raised. When the diffusing fan 10 protrudes downward, the connecting pins 24 and 26 are engaged with the distal ends of the long holes 20a and 22a of the rotary levers 20 and 22, but as the diffusing fan 10 rises, it rotates. As the levers 20 and 22 rotate, the levers 20 and 22 move toward the inside of the long holes 20a and 22a. Then, at the position where the diffusion fan 10 is most raised, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3, the diffusion fan 10 is completely accommodated in the storage box 12, and the rotary levers 20, 22 are substantially horizontal. In addition, the opening / closing lid 14 covers the opening 12a of the storage box 12, and the right angle lever 30 is vertical. In this state, when the movable end 14 b of the opening / closing lid 14 is locked by the nut 18, the inside of the storage box 12 is sealed, and there is almost no protrusion in the chamber 2.
[0017]
Since the diffusion fan 10 is accommodated in the storage box 12 provided outside the chamber 2 in this way, the workability is good without interfering with the work. Further, it is not necessary to increase the volume of the chamber 2, which is advantageous in terms of space and can reduce costs.
[0018]
Since the diffusion fan 10 is stored in the storage box 12 as described above, and the storage box 12 is sealed with the opening / closing lid 14, even when working with harmful substances such as powder, Since powder or the like does not adhere to the diffusion fan 10, it is not necessary to perform cleaning, and a general general-purpose fan that is not waterproof can be used, which is low cost. Further, when the inside of the chamber 2 is cleaned, since the diffusion fan 14 is stored in the sealed storage box 12, cleaning is easy.
[0019]
In the above embodiment, the storing operation of the diffusing fan 10 by manually opening and closing the opening / closing lid 14 is manually performed. Further, although the diffusion fan 10 can be taken in and out of the storage box 12, it can be fixed inside the storage box 12. However, in this case, since a space for suction is required, the storage box 12 must have a sufficient size with respect to the diffusion fan 10. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the storage box 12 was attached to the top | upper surface 2a of the chamber 2, it is also possible to attach to the side wall. Further, the number of diffusion fans 10 to be attached can be selected as appropriate.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a chamber whose inside is sealed, a supply port provided in the chamber and connected to a sterilizing gas supply means, and provided in the chamber, the gas in the chamber is discharged. An isolator having an exhaust port and a sterilizing gas diffusion fan provided in the chamber, and supplying a sterilizing gas from the sterilizing gas supply means into the chamber so that the inside of the chamber is a sterile atmosphere is formed in the chamber . A storage box having an opening in an airtight state in the cutout hole is provided outside the chamber, an opening / closing lid capable of blocking the opening is provided, and the diffusion fan is stored in the storage box When the inside of the chamber is sterilized, the open / close lid is movably attached to the chamber protruding outside the storage box. Since opening to the diffusion fan so as to operate so as to protrude into the exterior of the chamber of the storage box, spread fan when the sterile work unobtrusive, the chamber in order to provide a diffuse fan There is no need to increase the internal volume.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of an isolator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, showing a storage box and a diffusion fan provided in the isolator.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view as seen from the side of the storage box and the diffusion fan.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view as seen from the front of the storage box and the diffusion fan.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Chamber 2b Supply port 10 Diffusion fan 12 Storage box 12a Opening 14 Opening / closing lid

Claims (2)

A chamber with a sealed interior, a supply port provided in this chamber and connected to a sterilization gas supply means, an exhaust port provided in the chamber for discharging gas in the chamber, and a sterilization provided in the chamber In an isolator comprising a gas diffusion fan and supplying a sterilizing gas from the sterilizing gas supply means into the chamber to make the inside of the chamber a sterile atmosphere,
A storage box having an opening in an airtight state in a notch hole formed in the chamber is provided on the outside of the chamber,
An opening / closing lid capable of blocking the opening is provided, and the diffusion fan is movably attached to a state of being housed in a storage box and a state of protruding into a chamber outside the storage box,
When the inside of the chamber is sterilized , the isolator is operated by opening the opening / closing lid and causing the diffusion fan to protrude into the chamber outside the storage box . 2. The isolator according to claim 1 , wherein the diffusion fan is connected to a storage box and an opening / closing lid through a lever so that the diffusion fan is opened to the outside as the opening / closing lid is opened.

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