JP2004329029A - Apparatus for collecting suspended bacterium and method therefor - Google Patents

Apparatus for collecting suspended bacterium and method therefor Download PDF

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JP2004329029A
JP2004329029A JP2003125884A JP2003125884A JP2004329029A JP 2004329029 A JP2004329029 A JP 2004329029A JP 2003125884 A JP2003125884 A JP 2003125884A JP 2003125884 A JP2003125884 A JP 2003125884A JP 2004329029 A JP2004329029 A JP 2004329029A
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bacteria
suction
microorganisms
floating
air
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JP4431818B2 (en
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Mamoru Kokubo
護 小久保
Yasuho Ooshima
康補 大島
Jr James E Akers
イー． エイカース，ジュニア ジェームス
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Shibuya Corp
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Shibuya Kogyo Co Ltd
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Priority to JP2003125884A priority Critical patent/JP4431818B2/en
Priority to US10/794,460 priority patent/US20040185521A1/en
Priority to DE602004021522T priority patent/DE602004021522D1/en
Priority to EP04251501A priority patent/EP1460126B1/en
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
    • C12M37/00—Means for sterilizing, maintaining sterile conditions or avoiding chemical or biological contamination
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
    • C12M33/00—Means for introduction, transport, positioning, extraction, harvesting, peeling or sampling of biological material in or from the apparatus

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for collecting suspended bacteria preventing the bacteria and microorganisms from flying up in an operation chamber and readily specifying the position where the collection of the bacteria or microorganisms is carried out and to provide a method therefor. <P>SOLUTION: The operation chamber 5 maintained in an aseptic state and equipped with a filling apparatus 2 in the interior thereof is provided with a suction head 13 for holding a capturing means 14 near a filling nozzle 10B of the filling apparatus. A suction means 11 communicating through a suction passage 12 with the suction head is installed in a machine chamber 7. Air in the operation chamber is sucked with the suction means to thereby capture the bacteria suspended near the filling nozzle by the capturing means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は浮遊菌採取装置およびその方法に関し、詳しくは殺菌又は滅菌された作業室内に浮遊する菌や微生物を採取する浮遊菌採取装置およびその方法に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
今日、殺菌又は滅菌された作業室内において各種作業が行われているが、実際には上記作業室の滅菌が不十分で当該作業室内に菌や微生物が浮遊しているおそれがある。
そこで従来、上記作業の前後やその最中に作業室内を浮遊する菌や微生物を採取してこれを培養し、微生物の有無によって作業室内の無菌状態が保たれているかを検証している。
最初に、浮遊する菌や微生物を採取する装置として、菌や微生物を捕捉する捕捉手段と、この捕捉手段を保持する保持部材と、モータによって作業室内の空気を吸引する吸気手段とを備えたものが知られている。（特許文献１ないし特許文献３参照）
これらの装置は作業室内において人手により操作されたり、作業室の所定の位置に設置され、上記吸気手段によって作業室内の空気を吸引することで、捕捉手段の周囲に気流を生じさせて捕捉手段に菌や微生物を捕捉させるようになっている。
次に、作業室内を循環する空気を作業室の外部に吸引し、この空気に水蒸気を噴霧して空気中を浮遊する菌や微生物に水蒸気を付着させ、この水蒸気の中から菌や微生物を検出するようにした装置が知られている。（特許文献４参照）
【０００３】
【特許文献１】
実開昭５８−８４５５２号公報
【特許文献２】
実公平６−１３４７６号公報
【特許文献３】
特開２０００−３０４６６３号公報
【特許文献４】
特開２０００−２８３９１０号公報
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、上記特許文献１〜３の装置を滅菌又は殺菌された作業室内で使用すると、吸気手段によって吸気された空気はそのまま作業室内に排気されてしまい、作業室内の空気の流れが乱れて菌や微生物が作業室内に舞い上がる虞がある。
一方、上記特許文献４の装置では作業室内に菌や微生物が舞い上がることはないが、作業室のどの部分で菌や微生物が採取されたのかを特定することができないという問題がある。
以上の問題に鑑み、作業室内に菌や微生物が舞い上がるのを防止するとともに、菌や微生物の採取が行われた位置の特定が容易な浮遊菌採取装置及びその方法を提供するものである。
【０００５】
【課題を解決するための手段】
即ち、請求項１に記載する浮遊菌採取装置は、殺菌又は滅菌された作業室内に浮遊する菌や微生物を採取する浮遊菌採取装置において、
上記作業室の外部に設けられて作業室内の空気を吸引する吸気手段と、上記作業室内の所要の位置に配置した吸気ヘッドと、この吸気ヘッドに設けられて微生物を捕捉する捕捉手段と、上記吸気ヘッドと吸気手段とを連通する吸気通路とを備え、
上記吸気手段によって作業室内の空気を吸引することで、捕捉手段の周囲に気流を生じさせて捕捉手段で菌や微生物を捕捉させることを特徴としている。
【０００６】
また請求項５に記載する浮遊菌採取方法は、殺菌又は滅菌された作業室内に、物品処理装置と、作業室の外部に設けられて作業室内の空気を吸引する吸気手段と、上記作業室内の所要の位置に配置した吸気ヘッドと、この吸気ヘッドに設けられて微生物を捕捉する捕捉手段とを備えるとともに、上記作業室内を浮遊する菌や微生物を採取する浮遊菌採取方法であって、
上記物品処理装置の動作中であって、捕捉手段に菌や微生物を捕捉する際には、上記吸気手段を作動させて吸気ヘッドを介して作業室内の空気を吸引し、捕捉手段の周囲に気流を生じさせて捕捉手段に菌や微生物を捕捉させることを特徴としている。
【０００７】
すなわち、請求項１の発明によれば、吸気手段を作業室の外部に設置することで、吸気手段による排気が作業室内にされることはなく、作業室内の菌や微生物が舞い上がるのを防止することができる。
また捕捉手段の設けられた吸気ヘッドを作業室内の任意の位置に設置できるので、菌や微生物の捕捉された位置を容易に特定することができる。
さらに、請求項５の発明によれば、物品処理装置の動作中であって、菌や微生物を捕捉する際に吸気手段を作動させることで、吸気ヘッドを介して作業室の空気を吸引することによって生じる物品処理装置近傍での気体の流れが乱れるのを抑え、菌や微生物が物品等に付着してしまうのを防止することができる。
【０００８】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下図示実施例について説明すると、図１はアイソレータ１内に、物品処理装置としての充填装置２と、浮遊する菌を採取する浮遊菌採取装置３と、この浮遊菌採取装置３に対して所定の作業を行うロボット４とを備えたものを示し、このアイソレータ１内において上記充填装置２が無菌状態下で所定の充填作業を行うようになっている。
上記アイソレータ１は上記充填装置２や浮遊菌採取装置３の載置される無菌状態の維持される作業室５と、作業室５の上方より滅菌された空気を供給するエアチャンバ６と、充填装置２や浮遊菌採取装置３の駆動機構等が設置される機械室７によって構成されている。
上記エアチャンバ６は作業室５との間にＨＥＰＡフィルタ８を備え、エアチャンバ６から供給される空気はこのＨＥＰＡフィルタ８によって無菌の空気とされて作業室５の上方より供給される。
そしてエアチャンバ６により供給された空気は作業室５の下方より排気されて再びエアチャンバ６へと循環するようになっており、作業室５内の空気の流れを上方から下方に向けた一方向流とすることで、作業室５内に粉塵等が舞い上がらないようにされている。
次に作業室５には図示しない滅菌ガス供給装置が接続され、この滅菌ガス供給装置は過酸化水素蒸気等の滅菌ガスを作業室５内に充満させることで、作業室５内の滅菌が行われるようになっている。
そして作業室５と機械室７との間には作業室５と機械室７の雰囲気を隔離する隔壁板９が設けられ、機械室７内の空気が作業室５内に流入しないようにされている。
【０００９】
上記充填装置２として図１にはフィラ１０を示し、この他にも充填装置２は作業室５内に容器を滅菌する容器滅菌装置や容器に蓋を取り付けるキャッパ等を備えている。
そして上記フィラ１０は容器を把持するグリッパ１０Ａと、容器内に液体を充填する充填ノズル１０Ｂを備え、このフィラ１０を駆動するモータ等の駆動機構１０Ｃは上記隔壁板９に形成された貫通孔９ａを介して機械室７内に設置されており、駆動機構１０Ｃより発生する粉塵が作業室５内に飛散しないようにされている。
【００１０】
浮遊菌採取装置３は、機械室７内に設置されて作業室５内の空気を吸引する吸気手段１１と、吸気手段１１に吸気通路１２を介して接続されて作業室５内に設置された吸気ヘッド１３とを備え、上記吸気ヘッド１３には菌を採取するための捕捉手段１４が設置されている。
上記吸気手段１１は吸気を行う吸引用ブロア２１と、上記滅菌ガスを除去する触媒２２と、空気内の菌を捕捉するＨＥＰＡフィルタ２３と、吸引用ブロア２１によって吸引された空気を機械室７内に排気する排気ダクト２４とから構成されている。
上記吸気通路１２は滅菌ガスによって腐食しない材質からなるパイプ状の部材であり、上記隔壁板９に形成された貫通孔９ｂを介して一方の端を上記吸引用ブロア２１に接続するとともに、他方の端を吸気ヘッド１３に接続している。またこの吸気通路１２は吸気手段１１及び吸気ヘッド１３に着脱自在に設けられており、必要のあるときには単体で洗浄することができる構成となっている。
【００１１】
次に、上記吸気ヘッド１３及び捕捉手段１４について説明すると、吸気ヘッド１３は上記フィラ１０の充填ノズル１０Ｂ近傍に図示しないステーを用いて設置され、図２、図３に示すように吸気ヘッド１３は捕捉手段１４を載置する載置部２５と、載置部２５の上方に整流部２６とを備え、上記載置部２５の下方には上記吸気通路１２が接続される。
また上記捕捉手段１４は載置部２５及び整流部２６の間に設置され、皿状のシャーレ１４ａ内に培地１４ｂを入れたものとなっており、上記培地１４ｂに菌が捕捉した後、この捕捉手段１４を所定期間アイソレータ１の外部で培養することで、菌の有無を検出できるようになっている。
そして上記載置部２５は上記シャーレ１４ａよりも若干大径に形成されてその上面にシャーレ１４ａの載置される載置部材２５ａと、載置部材２５ａを保持するとともに、この載置部材２５ａとの間に所定の空間を形成する円筒状の保持部材２５ｂとを備え、保持部材２５ｂの下面には吸気通路１２と接続する為の接続口２５ｃが設けられている。
また上記整流部２６は上記保持部材２５ｂの外周の上面に重合する円筒状の円筒部材２６ａと、シャーレ１４ａよりも若干小径に設けられて上記培地１４ｂの表面から所定距離離隔した位置に設けられた円盤状の整流部材２６ｂと、これら円筒部と整流部２６を連結して、上記シャーレ１４ａとの間に若干の間隙を設ける断面Ｌ字型の連結部材２６ｃとから構成され、上記整流部材２６ｂには無数の貫通孔２６ｄが形成されている。
そして上記貫通孔２６ｄと、上記整流部２６における円筒部材２６ａ、整流部材２６ｂ、連結部材２６ｃとシャーレ１４ａとの間に形成される空間と、上記載置部材２５ａ及び保持部材２５ｂとの間に形成される空間と、上記接続口２５ｃとによって吸気ヘッド１３内に空気通路１３ａが形成され、作業室５の内部空間は当該空気通路１３ａ及び吸気通路１２を介して吸気手段１１と連通している。
【００１２】
また上記円筒部材２６ａは図示左方に設けられた回転軸２７によって上記保持部材２５ｂに対して水平方向に回転可能に設けられ、さらに図２に示すように保持部材２５ｂと円筒部材２６ａに互いに係合する凹凸形状２５ｄ，２６ｅを形成することで、円筒部材２６ａが保持部材２５ｂ上に位置するときには互いに回転しないようにされている。
このため、上記載置部２５上の捕捉手段１４を交換する際には、一度整流部２６を上方に移動させて上記凹凸形状２５ｄ，２６ｅの係合を解除してから、整流部２６を回転軸２７を中心に回転させる必要がある。
さらに、図４には上記整流部２６の上部を覆う蓋部材としてのオーバーキャップ２８を示し、このオーバーキャップ２８は上記ロボット４によって取り扱われ、オーバーキャップ２８は吸気ヘッド１３より取り外されると図１に示す載置台２９上に載置されるようになっている。
【００１３】
以上のように吸気手段１１を作業室５の外部となる機械室７に設けることで排気を機械室７内にすることができるので、菌が作業室５内に舞い上がってしまい、容器内に菌が侵入しまうのを防止でき、また吸気手段１１の吸引用ブロア２１より発生する粉塵が作業室５に飛散するのも防止できる。
また、吸気ヘッド１３を充填ノズル１０Ｂ近傍に設置することで、充填ノズル１０Ｂ近傍に浮遊する菌を採取するので、菌の浮遊していた位置を容易に特定することができる。
【００１４】
次に、ロボット４には従来公知の産業用ロボットが用いられ、ロボット４は上記吸気ヘッド１３の整流部２６を把持して回転軸２７を中心に回転させ、捕捉手段１４を把持してこれを新たな捕捉手段１４に交換し、上記オーバーキャップ２８を整流部２６に装着するなどの作業を自動的に行うよう、予めプログラミングされている。
またロボット４における作業室５内に露出している部分は上記滅菌ガスによって腐食しない素材によって覆われており、作業室５内を滅菌ガスによって滅菌するのと同時にロボット４表面の滅菌も行うことができる。
なお、このロボット４に代わり作業者がハーフスーツ等を着用して作業室３内の作業することも可能であるが、作業者による作業の場合にはハーフスーツにできたピンホールから菌が作業室５内に侵入する虞があり、しかも充填装置２の動作中は事故防止のため作業者による作業は困難となっている。
【００１５】
以上の構成から、上記作業室５内を浮遊する菌を採取する手順について以下に説明し、最初に上記吸気ヘッド１３に捕捉手段１４が設置されておらず、一方吸気ヘッド１３にオーバーキャップ２８が装着されている状態から説明する。
以上の状態から、ロボット４はオーバーキャップ２８を吸気ヘッド１３から取り外してこれを載置台２９上に載置し、次に吸気ヘッド１３の整流部２６を把持して一旦これを持ち上げ、１８０°回転させる。
そしてロボット４は作業室５内の所定の位置より捕捉手段１４を把持してこれを載置部２５の載置部材２５ａ上に載置し、その後上記整流部２６を元の位置に戻す。
捕捉手段１４が吸気ヘッド１３に設置されると、吸気手段１１が作動して作業室５内を浮遊する菌が吸気ヘッド１３へと吸引され、当該菌は貫通孔２６ｄを通過した後、培地１４ｂに衝突して捕捉される。
【００１６】
このとき、一部の菌が培地１４ｂに捕捉されないまま上記気体通路１３ａや吸気通路１２の内面に付着したり、そのまま吸気手段１１にまで達してしまうことがある。
しかしながら、このうち吸気手段１１にまで達した菌はＨＥＰＡフィルタ２３によって捕捉されるので、この菌が排気ダクト２４から機械室７内に飛散することはなく、一方、気体通路１３ａや吸気通路１２に付着した菌は、後述するように充填作業の終了後、作業室５内を滅菌ガスによって滅菌する際に滅菌されるようになっている。
【００１７】
そして菌の採取が所定時間行われると吸気手段１１が停止し、その後ロボット４は先程とは逆の手順で吸気ヘッド１３より捕捉手段１４を取り除き、オーバーキャップ２８を載置台２９より把持してこれを吸気ヘッド１３に装着する。
このように、オーバーキャップ２８を吸気ヘッド１３に装着することで、たとえ気体通路１３ａや吸気通路１２に菌が付着しても、これらの菌は作業室５内に進入できなくなるので、これらの菌が作業室５内に飛散してしまうのを防止することができる。
そして菌を捕捉した捕捉手段１４は密閉された状態で作業室の外部へと搬送され、所定期間培養された後に菌の有無が検出される。
そして本実施例では充填装置２の作動前、作動中、作動後に浮遊菌採取装置３によって菌の採取を行うようになっており、特に充填装置２の作動中であって、捕捉手段１４が吸気ヘッド１３に設置されている間に吸気手段１１を作動させている。
これにより、作業室５の空気を吸引することによって、充填ノズル１０Ｂ近傍での気体の流れが乱れてしまうのを抑え、菌が容器内に侵入してしまうのを極力防止することができる。
【００１８】
さらに、本実施例では充填装置２の作動前における菌の採取前と、充填装置２の作動後における菌の採取後に上記滅菌ガス供給装置によって作業室５内の滅菌を行い、これと同時に浮遊菌採取装置３の滅菌が行われる。
このとき、ロボット４は吸気ヘッド１３よりオーバーキャップ２８を取り外して載置台２９上に載置しておき、この状態で滅菌ガス供給装置から作業室５内に滅菌ガスが供給される。
滅菌ガスが供給されると、吸気手段１１が作動して作業室内の滅菌ガスが吸気ヘッド１３及び吸気通路１２を介して吸気手段１１まで吸引され、このとき捕捉手段１４によって捕捉できずに空気通路１３ａや吸気通路１２の内部に付着した菌が滅菌される。
また吸気手段１１にまで達した有害な滅菌ガスは触媒２２によって除去されるので、滅菌ガスは機械室７内に吹き出されることはなく、外部に流出したり駆動機構１０Ｃが腐食することはない。
そして所定時間が経過して、滅菌ガス供給装置が停止され、さらに所定時間経過して作業室５内より滅菌ガスが除去されると、作業室５内の滅菌が終了し、これとともに吸気手段１１による吸気も停止される。
【００１９】
なお、上記実施例では充填ノズル１０Ｂ近傍に吸気ヘッド１３を配置しているが、この他にも例えば充填装置２におけるキャッパの栓フィーダ近傍など、菌の発生が問題とされるところに吸気ヘッド１３を設置することが考えられ、このとき吸引手段１１は各吸気ヘッド１３ごとに設けるのが望ましい。
また本実施例では作業室内を浮遊する菌の採取について述べたが、この他にも作業室内を浮遊する微生物の採取も可能であることは言うまでもない。
【００２０】
【発明の効果】
作業室内に菌や微生物が舞い上がるのを防止するとともに、菌や微生物の採取が行われた位置の特定が容易な浮遊菌採取装置を提供し、また物品処理装置の作動中であって、菌や微生物を捕捉しないときにおける作業室内の気体の流れに乱れを生じさせない浮遊菌採取方法を提供するものである。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本実施例におけるアイソレータ及び浮遊菌採取装置を示す該略図。
【図２】吸気ヘッドを側面から見た断面図。
【図３】吸気ヘッドの平面図。
【図４】吸気ヘッドにオーバーキャップを装着した状態を示す側面から見た断面図。
【符号の説明】
１ アイソレータ ２ 充填装置
３ 浮遊菌採取装置 ４ ロボット
５ 作業室 ７ 機械室
１１ 吸気手段 １２ 吸気通路
１３ 吸気ヘッド １４ 捕捉手段
２８ オーバーキャップ[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for collecting floating bacteria and a method therefor, and more particularly to a device for collecting floating bacteria and a method for collecting bacteria and microorganisms floating in a sterilized or sterilized working room.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Today, various operations are performed in a sterilized or sterilized working room. However, in practice, there is a possibility that bacteria and microorganisms may be floating in the working room due to insufficient sterilization of the working room.
Therefore, conventionally, bacteria and microorganisms floating in the working room before and after or during the above work are collected and cultured, and it is verified whether or not the sterility of the working room is maintained depending on the presence or absence of the microorganisms.
First, as a device for collecting floating bacteria and microorganisms, a device equipped with capturing means for capturing bacteria and microorganisms, a holding member for holding the capturing means, and suction means for sucking air in the working chamber by a motor. It has been known. (See Patent Documents 1 to 3)
These devices are manually operated in the working room, or installed at a predetermined position in the working room, and the air in the working room is suctioned by the suction means, thereby generating an airflow around the capturing means and causing the capturing means to Bacteria and microorganisms are captured.
Next, the air circulating in the working room is sucked out of the working room, and water vapor is sprayed on the air to attach the water vapor to the bacteria and microorganisms floating in the air, and the bacteria and microorganisms are detected from the water vapor. There is known an apparatus for performing such operations. (See Patent Document 4)
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-58-84552 [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-6-13476 [Patent Document 3]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-304663 [Patent Document 4]
JP 2000-283910 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the devices of Patent Documents 1 to 3 are used in a sterilized or sterilized work room, the air sucked by the suction means is exhausted into the work room as it is, and the flow of air in the work room is disturbed and bacteria and Microorganisms may soar into the working room.
On the other hand, in the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 4, although bacteria and microorganisms do not soar into the work room, there is a problem that it is not possible to specify in which part of the work room the bacteria and microorganisms were collected.
In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for collecting suspended bacteria and a method for preventing bacteria and microorganisms from rising in a work room and easily specifying a position where bacteria and microorganisms are collected.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, the floating bacteria collecting apparatus according to claim 1 is a floating bacteria collecting apparatus that collects bacteria and microorganisms floating in a sterilized or sterilized working room,
Suction means provided outside the work chamber to suction air in the work chamber, a suction head arranged at a required position in the work chamber, a capture means provided in the suction head to capture microorganisms, An intake passage communicating the intake head and the intake means,
It is characterized in that the air in the working chamber is sucked by the suction means to generate an airflow around the capture means, and the bacteria and microorganisms are captured by the capture means.
[0006]
Further, the method of collecting floating bacteria according to claim 5 includes, in a sterilized or sterilized working room, an article processing device, an intake unit provided outside the working room and sucking air in the working room, A suction head disposed at a required position, and a capturing means provided on the suction head for capturing microorganisms, and a method of collecting floating bacteria that collects bacteria and microorganisms floating in the work chamber,
During the operation of the article processing apparatus, when capturing bacteria and microorganisms in the capturing means, the air in the working chamber is sucked through the suction head by operating the suction means, and the airflow around the capturing means is increased. And causing the capturing means to capture bacteria and microorganisms.
[0007]
That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, by installing the suction means outside the work chamber, the exhaust air from the suction means is not placed in the work chamber, and bacteria and microorganisms in the work chamber are prevented from rising. be able to.
In addition, since the suction head provided with the capturing means can be installed at an arbitrary position in the working room, the position where bacteria and microorganisms are captured can be easily specified.
Furthermore, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the air in the working chamber is sucked through the suction head by operating the suction means when the article processing apparatus is in operation and capturing bacteria and microorganisms. Thus, it is possible to suppress the gas flow in the vicinity of the article processing apparatus from being disturbed, thereby preventing bacteria and microorganisms from adhering to articles and the like.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a filling device 2 as an article processing device, a floating bacteria collecting device 3 for collecting floating bacteria, and a predetermined The figure shows a robot equipped with a robot 4 for performing a work. In the isolator 1, the filling device 2 performs a predetermined filling operation under an aseptic condition.
The isolator 1 includes a working room 5 in which the filling device 2 and the floating bacteria collecting device 3 are placed in an aseptic state, an air chamber 6 for supplying sterilized air from above the working room 5, and a filling device. 2 and a machine room 7 in which a drive mechanism of the suspension collecting apparatus 3 is installed.
The air chamber 6 includes a HEPA filter 8 between the air chamber 6 and the work chamber 5. The air supplied from the air chamber 6 is converted into sterile air by the HEPA filter 8 and supplied from above the work chamber 5.
The air supplied by the air chamber 6 is exhausted from below the working chamber 5 and circulated again to the air chamber 6, and the air flow in the working chamber 5 is directed in one direction from above to below. The flow prevents dust and the like from rising into the working chamber 5.
Next, a sterilization gas supply device (not shown) is connected to the work room 5, and the sterilization gas supply device fills the work room 5 with a sterilization gas such as a hydrogen peroxide vapor, thereby sterilizing the work room 5. It has become to be.
A partition plate 9 for isolating the atmosphere between the working room 5 and the machine room 7 is provided between the working room 5 and the machine room 7 so that air in the machine room 7 does not flow into the working room 5. I have.
[0009]
FIG. 1 shows a filler 10 as the filling device 2, and the filling device 2 further includes a container sterilizing device for sterilizing the container in the working chamber 5, a capper for attaching a lid to the container, and the like.
The filler 10 has a gripper 10A for gripping the container and a filling nozzle 10B for filling the container with liquid. A driving mechanism 10C such as a motor for driving the filler 10 is provided with a through-hole 9a formed in the partition plate 9. Is installed in the machine room 7 so that dust generated by the drive mechanism 10C is not scattered in the work room 5.
[0010]
The floating germ collection device 3 is installed in the machine room 7 and is connected to the suction unit 11 via an air intake passage 12 and installed in the work room 5. An intake head 13, and a capture unit 14 for collecting bacteria is provided on the intake head 13.
The suction means 11 includes a suction blower 21 for suctioning air, a catalyst 22 for removing the sterilizing gas, a HEPA filter 23 for capturing bacteria in the air, and an air sucked by the suction blower 21 in the machine room 7. And an exhaust duct 24 for exhausting air.
The intake passage 12 is a pipe-shaped member made of a material that is not corroded by a sterilizing gas. One end of the intake passage 12 is connected to the suction blower 21 through a through hole 9 b formed in the partition plate 9, and the other is connected to the other end. The end is connected to the intake head 13. The intake passage 12 is provided in the intake means 11 and the intake head 13 so as to be detachable, so that it can be washed alone when necessary.
[0011]
Next, the suction head 13 and the capturing means 14 will be described. The suction head 13 is installed using a stay (not shown) in the vicinity of the filling nozzle 10B of the filler 10, and as shown in FIGS. A mounting section 25 on which the capturing means 14 is mounted and a rectifying section 26 above the mounting section 25 are provided, and the intake passage 12 is connected below the mounting section 25.
The capturing means 14 is provided between the receiver 25 and the rectifying section 26 and has a medium 14b in a dish-shaped dish 14a. After the bacteria are captured in the medium 14b, the capturing is performed. By culturing the means 14 outside the isolator 1 for a predetermined period, the presence or absence of bacteria can be detected.
The mounting portion 25 is formed to have a slightly larger diameter than the petri dish 14a, and has a mounting member 25a on which the petri dish 14a is mounted, and the mounting member 25a. And a cylindrical holding member 25b forming a predetermined space therebetween, and a connection port 25c for connecting to the intake passage 12 is provided on a lower surface of the holding member 25b.
The rectifying section 26 is provided at a position slightly apart from the surface of the culture medium 14b by being provided with a cylindrical member 26a that overlaps with the upper surface of the outer periphery of the holding member 25b and a diameter slightly smaller than the petri dish 14a. It is composed of a disc-shaped rectifying member 26b and an L-shaped cross-section connecting member 26c which connects these cylindrical portions and the rectifying portion 26 and provides a slight gap between the petri dish 14a and the rectifying member 26b. Has an infinite number of through holes 26d.
The through-hole 26d, the space formed between the cylindrical member 26a, the rectifying member 26b, the connecting member 26c and the petri dish 14a in the rectifying portion 26, and the space formed between the mounting member 25a and the holding member 25b. An air passage 13a is formed in the intake head 13 by the space formed and the connection port 25c, and the internal space of the working chamber 5 communicates with the intake means 11 through the air passage 13a and the intake passage 12.
[0012]
Further, the cylindrical member 26a is provided so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction with respect to the holding member 25b by a rotation shaft 27 provided on the left side in the drawing, and further, as shown in FIG. By forming the concavo-convex shapes 25d and 26e, when the cylindrical member 26a is located on the holding member 25b, it is prevented from rotating with each other.
For this reason, when replacing the capturing means 14 on the mounting portion 25, the rectifying portion 26 is once moved upward to release the engagement of the irregularities 25d and 26e, and then the rectifying portion 26 is rotated. It is necessary to rotate around the shaft 27.
Further, FIG. 4 shows an overcap 28 as a lid member for covering the upper portion of the rectifying section 26. The overcap 28 is handled by the robot 4, and when the overcap 28 is detached from the suction head 13, the overcap 28 shown in FIG. It is mounted on a mounting table 29 as shown.
[0013]
By providing the suction means 11 in the machine room 7 outside the working chamber 5 as described above, the exhaust can be made into the machine room 7, so that the germs soar into the working room 5 and the bacteria are contained in the container. Can be prevented from entering, and dust generated from the suction blower 21 of the suction means 11 can be prevented from scattering into the work chamber 5.
Further, by installing the suction head 13 near the filling nozzle 10B, bacteria floating in the vicinity of the filling nozzle 10B are collected, so that the position where the bacteria float can be easily specified.
[0014]
Next, a conventionally known industrial robot is used as the robot 4. The robot 4 grips the rectifying unit 26 of the suction head 13 and rotates about the rotating shaft 27, and grips the capturing unit 14 and removes it. It is pre-programmed so that operations such as replacing with the new capturing means 14 and attaching the overcap 28 to the rectifying section 26 are automatically performed.
The portion of the robot 4 that is exposed in the working chamber 5 is covered with a material that does not corrode with the sterilizing gas, so that the inside of the working chamber 5 can be sterilized with the sterilizing gas and at the same time the surface of the robot 4 can be sterilized. it can.
It is also possible for the worker to work in the work room 3 by wearing a half suit or the like instead of the robot 4, but in the case of the work by the worker, the bacteria work from the pinhole formed in the half suit. There is a risk of intrusion into the chamber 5, and during the operation of the filling device 2, work by an operator is difficult to prevent accidents.
[0015]
From the above configuration, a procedure for collecting bacteria floating in the working chamber 5 will be described below. First, the capturing means 14 is not provided on the suction head 13, while the overcap 28 is provided on the suction head 13. The description will be made from the state of being mounted.
From the above state, the robot 4 removes the overcap 28 from the suction head 13 and mounts the same on the mounting table 29. Next, the robot 4 grips the rectifying portion 26 of the suction head 13 and lifts it once, and rotates it 180 °. Let it.
Then, the robot 4 grasps the capturing means 14 from a predetermined position in the work room 5 and places it on the placing member 25a of the placing section 25, and thereafter returns the rectifying section 26 to the original position.
When the trapping means 14 is installed on the suction head 13, the suction means 11 is operated to draw bacteria floating in the work chamber 5 into the suction head 13, and the bacteria pass through the through-hole 26d, and then the culture medium 14b Collised with and caught.
[0016]
At this time, some bacteria may adhere to the inner surfaces of the gas passage 13a and the intake passage 12 without being captured by the culture medium 14b, or may reach the intake means 11 as they are.
However, among them, the bacteria reaching the intake means 11 are captured by the HEPA filter 23, so that the bacteria do not scatter from the exhaust duct 24 into the machine room 7, whereas the bacteria reach the gas passage 13 a and the intake passage 12. The attached bacteria are sterilized when the inside of the working chamber 5 is sterilized with a sterilizing gas after the filling operation is completed as described later.
[0017]
When the collection of bacteria is carried out for a predetermined time, the suction means 11 stops, and thereafter, the robot 4 removes the capturing means 14 from the suction head 13 in the reverse procedure to that described above, grasps the overcap 28 from the mounting table 29, and Is mounted on the intake head 13.
By attaching the overcap 28 to the intake head 13 as described above, even if bacteria adhere to the gas passage 13a or the intake passage 12, these bacteria cannot enter the work chamber 5, and therefore, these bacteria can be prevented. Can be prevented from scattering into the working chamber 5.
Then, the capturing means 14 capturing the bacteria is transported to the outside of the working chamber in a sealed state, and after being cultured for a predetermined period, the presence or absence of the bacteria is detected.
In this embodiment, the bacteria are collected by the floating bacteria collecting device 3 before, during, and after the operation of the filling device 2, and particularly during the operation of the filling device 2, The suction means 11 is operated while being installed on the head 13.
Thereby, by sucking the air in the working chamber 5, it is possible to suppress the gas flow in the vicinity of the filling nozzle 10B from being disturbed, and to prevent bacteria from entering the container as much as possible.
[0018]
Further, in the present embodiment, the sterilizing gas supply device sterilizes the inside of the working chamber 5 before collecting the bacteria before the operation of the filling device 2 and after collecting the bacteria after the operation of the filling device 2, and simultaneously, The collection device 3 is sterilized.
At this time, the robot 4 removes the overcap 28 from the suction head 13 and mounts the overcap 28 on the mounting table 29. In this state, the sterilizing gas is supplied from the sterilizing gas supply device into the working chamber 5.
When the sterilizing gas is supplied, the suction means 11 is operated, and the sterilizing gas in the working chamber is sucked up to the suction means 11 through the suction head 13 and the suction passage 12. Bacteria adhering to the inside of the intake passage 13a and 13a are sterilized.
Further, since the harmful sterilizing gas reaching the intake means 11 is removed by the catalyst 22, the sterilizing gas does not blow out into the machine room 7, and does not flow out or corrode the drive mechanism 10C. .
After a predetermined time has elapsed, the sterilizing gas supply device is stopped, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the sterilizing gas is removed from the inside of the working chamber 5. Is also stopped.
[0019]
In the above embodiment, the suction head 13 is arranged near the filling nozzle 10B. However, the suction head 13 may be used in places where the generation of bacteria is a problem, for example, near the cap feeder of the capper in the filling device 2. In this case, it is desirable to provide the suction means 11 for each of the suction heads 13.
Further, in this embodiment, the collection of bacteria floating in the working chamber has been described, but it goes without saying that the collection of microorganisms floating in the working chamber is also possible.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
It provides a floating bacteria collection device that prevents bacteria and microorganisms from rising into the work room and makes it easy to identify the location where the bacteria and microorganisms have been collected. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for collecting suspended bacteria which does not cause a disturbance in the flow of gas in a work chamber when microorganisms are not captured.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an isolator and an apparatus for collecting suspended bacteria in the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the intake head as viewed from a side.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of an intake head.
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a state in which an overcap is attached to the intake head.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Isolator 2 Filling device 3 Suspended bacteria collection device 4 Robot 5 Work room 7 Machine room 11 Intake means 12 Intake passage 13 Intake head 14 Capture means 28 Overcap

Claims (7)

殺菌又は滅菌された作業室内に浮遊する菌や微生物を採取する浮遊菌採取装置において、
上記作業室の外部に設けられて作業室内の空気を吸引する吸気手段と、上記作業室内の所要の位置に配置した吸気ヘッドと、この吸気ヘッドに設けられて微生物を捕捉する捕捉手段と、上記吸気ヘッドと吸気手段とを連通する吸気通路とを備え、
上記吸気手段によって作業室内の空気を吸引することで、捕捉手段の周囲に気流を生じさせて捕捉手段で菌や微生物を捕捉させることを特徴とする浮遊菌採取装置。In a floating bacteria collection device that collects bacteria and microorganisms floating in a sterilized or sterilized work room,
Suction means provided outside the work chamber to suction air in the work chamber, a suction head arranged at a required position in the work chamber, a capture means provided in the suction head to capture microorganisms, An intake passage communicating the intake head and the intake means,
A floating germ collection apparatus, wherein the air in the working chamber is sucked by the suction means to generate an airflow around the capture means, and the bacteria and microorganisms are captured by the capture means. 上記作業室内に物品処理装置を設け、当該物品処理装置を駆動させる駆動機構を上記吸気手段とともに上記作業室の外部に設けることを特徴とする請求項１に記載の浮遊菌採取装置。The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an article processing apparatus is provided in the work chamber, and a driving mechanism for driving the article processing apparatus is provided outside the work chamber together with the suction unit. 作業室内の空気を作業室の外部に排気する吸気手段に設けられた排気口に、作業室を滅菌する滅菌ガスを除去する触媒を取り付けることを特徴とする請求項１又は請求項２のいずれかに記載の浮遊菌採取装置。3. A catalyst for removing a sterilizing gas for sterilizing the working chamber is attached to an exhaust port provided in an intake means for exhausting air in the working chamber to the outside of the working chamber. 3. The apparatus for collecting floating bacteria according to item 1. 吸気ヘッドを物品処理装置が物品の処理を行う物品処理位置近傍に配置することを特徴とする請求項１ないし請求項３のいずれかに記載の浮遊菌採取装置。The floating bacteria collecting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the suction head is arranged near an article processing position where the article processing apparatus processes an article. 殺菌又は滅菌された作業室内に、物品処理装置と、作業室の外部に設けられて作業室内の空気を吸引する吸気手段と、上記作業室内の所要の位置に配置した吸気ヘッドと、この吸気ヘッドに設けられて微生物を捕捉する捕捉手段とを備えるとともに、上記作業室内を浮遊する菌や微生物を採取する浮遊菌採取方法であって、
上記物品処理装置の動作中であって、捕捉手段に菌や微生物を捕捉する際には、上記吸気手段を作動させて吸気ヘッドを介して作業室内の空気を吸引し、捕捉手段の周囲に気流を生じさせて捕捉手段に菌や微生物を捕捉させることを特徴とする浮遊菌採取方法。In a sterilized or sterilized working room, an article processing apparatus, an intake unit provided outside the working room to suck air in the working room, an intake head arranged at a required position in the working room, and the intake head With a capturing means provided to capture the microorganisms provided in the, a floating bacteria collection method for collecting bacteria and microorganisms floating in the working chamber,
During the operation of the article processing apparatus, when capturing bacteria and microorganisms in the capturing means, the air in the working chamber is sucked through the suction head by operating the suction means, and the airflow around the capturing means is increased. A method for collecting floating bacteria, comprising causing bacteria and microorganisms to be captured by a capturing means. 上記吸気ヘッドに取り外し可能な蓋部材を設けて吸気ヘッドに蓋部材を装着した場合には作業室と吸気手段とが遮断されるようにし、
上記吸気手段を作動させて菌や微生物を捕捉する間と、上記吸気ヘッドの捕捉手段を新たな捕捉手段に交換する間には、上記蓋部材を取り外すことを特徴とする請求項５に記載の浮遊菌採取方法。When a lid member is provided on the suction head and the lid member is attached to the suction head, the work chamber and the suction unit are shut off,
The lid member according to claim 5, wherein the lid member is removed between the time when the suction means is operated to capture bacteria and microorganisms and the time when the capture means of the suction head is replaced with a new capture means. How to collect airborne bacteria. 作業室内を殺菌又は滅菌する間、上記蓋部材を取り外すとともに、吸気手段を作動させて作業室内の空気を吸引することを特徴とする請求項６に記載の浮遊菌採取方法。The method for collecting floating bacteria according to claim 6, wherein the sterilizing or sterilizing the inside of the working chamber removes the lid member and activates the suction means to suck the air in the working chamber.
JP2003125884A 2003-03-20 2003-04-30 Isolator Expired - Fee Related JP4431818B2 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2003125884A JP4431818B2 (en) 2003-04-30 2003-04-30 Isolator
US10/794,460 US20040185521A1 (en) 2003-03-20 2004-03-05 Microorganism sampling method and microorganism sampling device
DE602004021522T DE602004021522D1 (en) 2003-03-20 2004-03-17 Method for removing microorganisms and device for removing microorganisms
EP04251501A EP1460126B1 (en) 2003-03-20 2004-03-17 Microorganisms sampling method and microorganism sampling device

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JP2009025023A (en) * 2007-07-17 2009-02-05 Shimizu Corp Dusting amount measuring instrument of asbestos
JP2010124711A (en) * 2008-11-25 2010-06-10 Kyowa Kogyo Kk Device for catching airborne substance
KR20220038134A (en) * 2019-08-26 2022-03-25 이엠디 밀리포어 코포레이션 Fluid delivery systems for containment rooms
EP3941652B1 (en) 2019-05-18 2022-11-16 Syntegon Technology GmbH Plant for handling sensitive products, in particular packaging plant
JP7436473B2 (en) 2018-11-16 2024-02-21 パーティクル・メージャーリング・システムズ・インコーポレーテッド Particle sampling system and method for robot-controlled manufacturing barrier systems

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2009025023A (en) * 2007-07-17 2009-02-05 Shimizu Corp Dusting amount measuring instrument of asbestos
JP2010124711A (en) * 2008-11-25 2010-06-10 Kyowa Kogyo Kk Device for catching airborne substance
JP7436473B2 (en) 2018-11-16 2024-02-21 パーティクル・メージャーリング・システムズ・インコーポレーテッド Particle sampling system and method for robot-controlled manufacturing barrier systems
US11927509B2 (en) 2018-11-16 2024-03-12 Particle Measuring Systems, Inc. Particle sampling systems and methods for robotic controlled manufacturing barrier systems
EP3941652B1 (en) 2019-05-18 2022-11-16 Syntegon Technology GmbH Plant for handling sensitive products, in particular packaging plant
KR20220038134A (en) * 2019-08-26 2022-03-25 이엠디 밀리포어 코포레이션 Fluid delivery systems for containment rooms
JP2022540091A (en) * 2019-08-26 2022-09-14 イー・エム・デイー・ミリポア・コーポレイシヨン Isolator fluid transfer system
JP7362887B2 (en) 2019-08-26 2023-10-17 イー・エム・デイー・ミリポア・コーポレイシヨン Fluid transfer system for isolators
KR102603511B1 (en) 2019-08-26 2023-11-20 이엠디 밀리포어 코포레이션 Fluid delivery system for isolation rooms

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