JP2016087261A - Hermetic connection structure for hermetically connecting material transfer passage between first and second transfer spaces having two different environments - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hermetic connection structure in which a material can be transferred between a first transfer space in a non-cleaned environment and a second transfer space where various treatments are performed on a cleaned material via a material transfer opening, without being contaminated by the first transfer space.SOLUTION: A plurality of flange rings 2, 3, 5 to 8 are sequentially and hermetically mounted on a material transfer opening, from a peripheral edge on a side close to first and second transfer spaces toward the center. A connection member 10 is integrally fixed to the center opening of the innermost flange ring 8. The flange ring 8 can slide and rotate on an adjacent flange ring 6 having an inner side with which the flange ring 8 hermetically engages; and the flange ring 8 also rotates by interlocking with the connection member 10. The flange ring 8 has, on a second transfer space side, a door body 11 for opening and closing the center opening of the connection member 10, and a locking/releasing mechanism of the door body 11, and has, on a first transfer space side, an opening/closing operation member and a locking/releasing operation member of the door body 11 and a rotation handle 9 of the connection member 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention is sterilized and cleaned from, for example, a contaminated space of two spaces through a material transfer opening provided in a partition that separates the first and second transfer spaces having two different environments. When transferring to a space or vice versa, material transfer in two spaces that can be transferred between the first and second transfer spaces without interfering with each other's environment and without contaminating the materials. The present invention relates to a sealed connection structure between roads.

  For example, when manufacturing certain pharmaceuticals and chemicals, or assembling medical equipment, in a clean area that is “clean” or isolated from the outside, it is contaminated between the two environments. There is a strong requirement to transfer material into the clean area without contaminating the clean area with dust or bacteria or viruses present in the outer surrounding environment. On the other hand, in the case of a hot cell for radioactive material or an isolation chamber for bacteriological treatment, the inside of the isolation chamber is often contaminated as compared to the outside environment being cleaned.

  In recent years, in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, as with the manufacture of electronic devices, so-called clean rooms with an environment in which humans can enter and work are increasingly used, but it is very expensive. Instead of this clean room, it is possible to install a sealed room such as a glove box in which a worker puts a gloved hand in a sealed state while maintaining a sealed state and allows the work to be performed. It is increasing. However, when the glove box is used to transfer material into or out of the box, the contaminated ambient environment surrounding the glove box tends to contaminate the cleaned internal environment. In order to prevent this contamination, a separate means for preventing contamination of the internal environment is required when the material is transferred into the glove box.

  In order to meet these requirements, for example, according to Japanese Patent No. 37055839 (Patent Document 1), the first flange ring is maintained in a sealed state at the periphery of the material transfer opening formed in the barrier partitioning two different environments. The first flange ring has a central opening at the center of the ring. In addition, a door is hinged to one clean environment side of the barrier. The door swings between a position where the door is closed by sealingly engaging the central opening of the first flange ring and a standby position where the door is separated from the central opening and stands by. A transfer container such as a rigid canister is disposed on the other environment side of the barrier, and a second flange ring having an opening in the center is provided at a material discharge port of the transfer container. A flange ring is sealingly engaged with the first flange ring. A cover of the transfer container is attached to the central opening of the second flange ring in a sealed engagement state. Complementary locking means are provided on the first and second flange rings to securely fix the first and second flange rings together in a sealed engagement. The material to be transferred is either contained in a transfer container for passage through a connected isolation region, or is contained in a sterile clean isolation region to clean the material in the transfer container. It is transferred to the isolation area, or the material in the clean isolation area is hermetically transferred into transfer containers arranged in different areas of the environment.

  The door hinged to one side of the barrier in a clean environment has a closed position of a central opening that is tightly engaged with the inner periphery of the first flange ring so as not to leak, It can swing between a standby position away from the opening. The second flange ring of the transfer container provided on the other side of the barrier that is not cleaned is sealed and engaged with the first flange ring. The lid that covers the material outlet of the transfer container is sealingly engaged with the central opening of the second flange ring. Complementary locking means provided on the first and second flange rings ensure that the first and second flange rings are in tight engagement with each other.

  In the following description, the transfer example of rubber plugs in the pharmaceutical industry will be mainly described. However, the hermetic connection structure of the present invention is not limited to the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, for example, nuclear related industries, electronic equipment industries, various aseptic types. There is a need for material transfer that does not cause mixing of the internal environment of the first and second transfer spaces that have two different environments arranged through the partition walls, such as parts transfer related industries. It can be widely applied to other technical fields.

  By the way, according to the hermetic connection structure between the transfer paths of the materials in two different environments separated by the barrier disclosed in Patent Document 1, the door and the cover disposed on one side of the barrier Although the gear mechanism for operating the above-mentioned movement is arranged on the other side of the barrier, there is no description of specific operation means for manually operating the door or cover via the gear mechanism in the other environment. Absent. Further, according to Patent Document 1, the locking means at the time of closing the door is not provided with a lock releasing means for releasing the lock, the door is opened by some kind of hook, and a gap is formed between the door and the central opening. In addition, there is a concern that atmospheres of different environments existing in each space of one and the other may be mixed when the central opening is closed.

  Specific operation means by manual operation with respect to the lock means of the door and other operation members is disclosed in, for example, US Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0167442 (Patent Document 2). According to the hermetic connection structure disclosed in Patent Document 2, the first and second transfer spaces having different environments are separated by the partition wall, and the material transfer opening of the partition wall on the second transfer space side is separated. The outer peripheral edge of one flange ring is fixed to the peripheral edge while maintaining a sealed state.

  This flange ring has an opening in the center, and the inner peripheral surface of the half portion on the second transfer space side is hermetically engaged with the material supply port of the material transfer container arranged on the first transfer space side. It has a ring-shaped connecting part that can be attached and detached. On the inner peripheral surface of the half portion on the second transfer space side, a door attachment structure in which a door disposed on the second transfer space side is closely engaged with the central opening of the first connecting portion and closed. And a lock / release means for closing / closing the door, and a material for transferring the material to be transferred to the second transfer space, and sealingly detaching from the central opening of the flange ring. It has an engaging / disengaging structure that also has an engaging / disengaging structure with the funnel member.

  Thus, these doors, their lock / release means, and the operation members for operating the funnel member are all arranged on the partition wall surface on the first transfer space side. The operation member is hermetically coupled to a gear box or the like disposed on the second transfer space side through a dedicated through hole formed in the partition wall, and is disposed on the first transfer space side. In addition, each of the operation members actuates a rotation operation or the like of a door or a funnel disposed on the second transfer space side through the gear box or the like.

  By the way, for example, recent medical rubber stoppers are sterilized, washed, and dried in one tank, and the supply pipe that has been subjected to a cleaning process that is hermetically connected to the rubber stopper outlet of the tank is sealed. It is connected in a sealed state to the transfer path entrance of the sterilization chamber, and after the rubber plug after cleaning is transferred in a sealed state into the packaging bag prepared in the sterilization chamber, the packaging bag is also sent to the next process. .

  Here, the supply pipe of the rubber plug is usually bent in a U-shape, and the end face of the rubber plug outlet is inclined at an angle of 45 ° to 75 ° with respect to the horizontal plane. Moreover, the inclination angle of the end face of the outlet is fixed and cannot be changed. On the other hand, the mounting wall surface in which the rubber plug introduction port of the sealed aseptic chamber is formed is inclined at various angles, and the inclination angle cannot be changed. Under such circumstances, for example, as described in Patent Document 1 above, the end face of the rubber plug outlet port of the supply pipe is hermetically engaged and fixed to the rubber pipe inlet of the mounting wall of the sterilization chamber. In addition, the rubber plug outlet end face of the supply pipe and the rubber plug inlet opening of the aseptic chamber mounting wall face each other on the same plane, and either the rubber plug outlet end face or the rubber pipe inlet end face can be rotated. It is necessary to fix to the other party through a sealing material.

  Even if either the rubber plug outlet port end surface or the rubber plug inlet port end surface is configured to be rotatable, the total weight of the tank and the rubber plug supply pipe is extremely large, and the sterilization chamber itself cannot be moved. Therefore, both cannot be easily rotated. Therefore, at present, a dedicated lift for the tank and the rubber plug supply pipe has been used, and the tank and the rubber plug supply pipe can be moved up and down with the tank using this lift, so that the tank itself can be moved. The inclination angle of the rubber plug outlet end face of the rubber plug supply pipe is adjusted to the inclination angle of the mounting wall surface having the rubber plug inlet of the sterilization chamber. The process up to the surface matching and the process after the surface matching are performed by operating the various operation rods arranged on the first transfer space side of the mounting wall according to the procedure described in Patent Document 2, for example. Opening / closing operation, unlocking operation thereof, and engaging / disengaging operation of the funnel member. When these necessary operations are performed, either the end face of the rubber plug outlet or the end face of the rubber pipe is sealed, and the end face of the rubber stopper outlet and the end face of the rubber pipe are sealed through a sealing material. Engaging and connecting.

Japanese Patent No. 3705839 US Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0167442

  In the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, if the end of the rubber plug outlet on the tank side is configured to be independently rotatable, the rotation operation can be performed in the first transfer space. If it is provided at the end of the rubber stopper outlet, an operating member for operating another member is installed on the mounting wall surface, so that the rotating operation member separates the first and second transfer spaces from the mounting wall surface. It will be arranged in the 1st transfer space away from, and the complexity in operation cannot be avoided. On the other hand, when the rotation operation member is provided on the attachment wall surface of the sterile room, the manual operation member can be provided on the first transfer space side of the same wall surface, but other members such as doors are hinged to the attachment wall surface. Because it is coupled, the posture of the entire sterilization chamber is not changed, but only the mounting wall surface must be configured to be rotatable about the center of the material transfer opening as the center of rotation. It is extremely difficult to do.

  The present invention has been developed in view of these circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a first transfer space with a simple structure, excellent operability by hand, and an environment where human operation is possible, and a clean and sterile environment. The material can be transferred through the material transfer opening of the partition wall without being contaminated by the first transfer space between the second transfer space where various processing of the material is performed in a dust-free environment. An object of the present invention is to provide a hermetic connection structure capable of connecting the first and second transfer spaces while maintaining a sealed state.

The basic configuration of the present invention is a sterile, dust-free container that is separated from the first transfer space, which is not particularly cleaned and has an environment in which an operator can enter, and the first transfer space via a partition wall. The material can be transferred to and from the second transfer space in which various materials are processed in a clean environment without being contaminated by the environment of the first transfer space. A hermetic connection structure capable of connecting the first and second transfer spaces while maintaining a sealed state,
A material transfer opening is formed in the partition wall, and a plurality of flange rings are sequentially sealed from the periphery of the material transfer opening on the first and second transfer space sides toward the center. A central connection that is integrally fixed in a central opening portion of the flange ring that is disposed at the most central portion while maintaining a sealed state, and that is tightly engaged with and disengaged from a material outlet port disposed in the first transfer space. Comprising a ring-shaped connecting member having an opening,
An outer peripheral edge of an arbitrary flange ring among the plurality of flange rings is slidably attached to an inner peripheral edge of the flange ring adjacent to the inner periphery of which the inner peripheral edge is tightly engaged with the outer peripheral edge,
The ring-shaped connecting member is provided with a mechanism that interlocks with the rotational operation of the arbitrary flange ring that can be slidably rotated.
A door body that pivots on a part of the second transfer space side of the flange ring that can be slidably rotated, opens and closes the central connection opening of the ring-shaped connection member, and locks and opens when the door body is closed And at least a lock / release means for releasing the lock at times,
In addition to being arranged on the first transfer space side surface of the flange ring capable of sliding contact rotation, the door body opening / closing operation member and the lock / release means lock / release operation member, the connection The sealing connection structure is characterized in that it has a rotation handle for rotating the member relative to the partition wall via the flange ring capable of sliding and rotating.

  According to a most preferred aspect, the second transfer space is a sealed space completely surrounded by a barrier, the partition is provided at the center of the front barrier, and a part of the side barrier is externally provided. Gloves that can be manually operated are attached in a sealed manner. As another aspect, an arbitrary flange ring rotatable between two flange rings and the connecting member are integrated via a construction arm, and the connecting member can be rotated in synchronization with the rotation of the rotatable flange ring. It can also be done. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is inevitable that not only the structure is complicated but also the assembly work is complicated as compared with the most preferable embodiment. Therefore, in the present invention, as in the above-described basic configuration, the arbitrary flange ring is configured to be capable of rotating in a hermetically sealed manner, and a ring-shaped connecting member is fixed to the center opening of the flange ring so that the ring-shaped connection is provided. The member can be rotated in conjunction with the rotation operation of the arbitrary flange ring, and a rotary handle is provided on a part of the arbitrary flange ring.

  Preferably, when the door body is in an open state, a part of the flange ring that is slidably contactable and rotatable on the second transfer space side surface is pivotally supported at a position that does not interfere with the door body. A funnel body that rotates in the second transfer space toward the central opening of the ring-shaped connecting member, and has a large-diameter end hermetically fitted and removed from the central opening. It is good to further have a rotation operation member of the funnel arranged on the first transfer space side of the rotatable flange ring.

  Further, the door body opening / closing operation member, the door body lock / release operation member, and the funnel body rotation operation member are operably disposed on a flat portion on the same circumference of the rotatable flange ring. The rotating handle may be fixed on a non-interference area with the operation members on the same circumference. Further, the door body opening / closing operation member, the locking means lock / release operation member, and the funnel body rotation operation member are operably disposed on a flat portion on the same circumference of the rotatable flange ring. In some cases, the rotating handle is fixed to a flat portion having a larger diameter than the arrangement portion of the operation members on the concentric circle.

Effect

  Since the present invention has the above basic configuration, all other operation members including the handle are gathered on the partition wall on the first transfer space side having an environment in which an operator can enter and operate manually. The operation of the door body, the lock / release member of the door body, the funnel body, the ring-shaped connecting member, etc. arranged on the second transfer space side on the same partition becomes extremely easy. Each member can be easily operated manually at any desired timing according to a predetermined procedure because the dedicated operation members can be easily operated manually. In addition, when operating the operating members, not only when the operating members are operating, but also when the operating members are separated from each other, the connecting structure ensures the tightness and the first transfer. The environment does not mix between the space and the second transfer space.

  As a representative example of a material transfer method to which the hermetic connection structure of the present invention having the above-described structure having a funnel body is applied, for example, an outline of a transfer method of a medical rubber plug will be briefly described. Once collected in a sealed tank for sterilization washing disposed in the transfer space, sterilization and washing are performed by stirring of distilled water, and then dried. The sterilized and cleaned rubber stopper is hermetically connected to the material outlet of the sterilization cleaning sealing tank, and the inside of the pipe is maintained in a sealed state via the sterilized and cleaned rubber stopper supply pipe. It is transferred to the sealed chamber which is the second transfer space without being contaminated by the environment in the first transfer space.

  Hereinafter, as a typical embodiment of the present invention, the second transfer in which the rubber plug outlet of the rubber plug supply pipe is not contaminated by the environment of the first transfer space via the ring-shaped connecting member. A procedure for connecting to the funnel extending into the space will be described. According to this embodiment, the door body is first tightly fitted to the second transfer space side half of the connecting member, and the central connecting opening of the connecting member is in a closed state. In this state, an impermeable first hermetic cover prepared separately is moved from the first transfer space side toward the first transfer space side half of the connecting member, so that the first transfer space of the connecting member is obtained. After the first sealing cover is sealed and fixed to the central connection opening of the side half, the door body is rotated from the closed position to the standby position to open the central connection opening of the connection member, 2 Clean the inside of the transfer space again with heated steam. At the time of this sterilization cleaning, in the state where the second sealing cover prepared separately is attached and fixed to the sealing plug for sterilization cleaning and the rubber plug outlet of the rubber plug supply pipe connected to the sealing tank. Waiting at a predetermined position.

  After sterilizing and cleaning the second transfer space, the door body is rotated to close the central connection opening of the connection member. Subsequently, the sterilization sealing tank and the rubber plug supply pipe are lifted to a desired height using the lift, and at the same time, the rubber plug outlet of the rubber plug supply pipe is adjusted to a required angle, and then the first 1 Remove the airtight cover from the central connection opening of the connecting member and, at the same time, attach the inner peripheral surface of the first transfer space side half of the connecting member in a sealed manner to the flange ring fixed to the rubber plug outlet At the same time, the second hermetic cover engaged with the rubber plug outlet of the rubber plug supply pipe is engaged with the door body surface. These engaging operations are performed by rotating the rotary handle.

  Next, the door body is rotated to the standby position on the second transfer space side while carrying the second sealing cover, and the rubber plug outlet of the rubber plug supply pipe is connected to the second transfer space side via the connecting member. The rubber plug introduction port is connected while maintaining a sealed state. When this connection is completed, the funnel body operating member is operated, and the funnel body is rotated to fit tightly into the second transfer space side half of the central opening of the connecting member. When the rubber stopper discharge port of the sealed tank for sterilization is opened here, the internal rubber stopper is guided to the funnel body through the rubber stopper supply pipe and collected in the packaging bag of the second transfer space portion. . As described above, the rubber stopper is transported because it does not touch the environment of the first transport space during the transport of the first transport space, and the environment of the first transport space does not flow into the second transport space. The rubber plug is subjected to a desired treatment in the second transfer space while being kept clean. When the rubber plug supply pipe is separated from the connecting member, the procedure and operation reverse to the above-described connecting operation may be performed.

It is the front view seen from the 1st transfer space side when the funnel body is tightly inserted in the center connection opening part of the hermetic connection structure showing the typical embodiment of the present invention. It is the external appearance perspective view seen from the 1st transfer space side when the funnel body is airtightly inserted in the center connection opening part of the sealed connection structure. It is the front view which looked at the sealed connection structure from the 2nd transfer space side. It is the external appearance perspective view seen from the 2nd transfer space side when the funnel body is airtightly inserted in the center connection opening part of the sealed connection structure. FIG. 5 is an arrow view along line VV in FIG. 2. It is a disassembled perspective view of the said sealing connection structure. It is the external appearance perspective view which looked at the sealing connection structure when the door body which shows the example of other embodiment of this invention was closed from the 1st transfer space side. It is the external appearance perspective view which looked at the same embodiment example from the 2nd transfer space side.

The present invention, as mentioned in the above [Summary of the Invention] section and as described in the claims, is not particularly cleaned, and is an environment in which workers can enter and perform various operations. And a second transfer space that is separated from the first transfer space by a partition wall and is cleaned and in a completely aseptic and dust-free environment and capable of various processing of various materials. It is related with the hermetic connection structure which connects between the 1st transfer space and the 2nd transfer space which can transfer material without being polluted without being influenced by different environments.
Hereinafter, representative embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front view seen from the first transfer space side showing an example of a typical embodiment of the hermetic connection structure of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view seen obliquely from the first transfer space side, FIG. Fig. 4A is a front view seen from the second transfer space side, Fig. 4A is a three-dimensional view seen obliquely from the second transfer space side, and Fig. 4B is a partially enlarged view thereof. 5A is an arrow view along the line VV in FIG. 2, FIG. 5B is a partially enlarged view thereof, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the present embodiment. The hermetic connection structure according to the present embodiment includes a first transfer space F having an environment in which an artificial work can be performed, and a second transfer space having an environment surrounded by a barrier that can be sterilized and cleaned and can be subjected to various processes. The present invention relates to an example of a medical rubber stopper sterilization / cleaning / drying facility comprising S. Here, in the second transfer space S, the front viewed from the first transfer space side is an upward inclined surface at a required angle in the depth direction from the center in the height direction to the ceiling portion. This is a sealed space in a so-called isolation barrier chamber in which a glove (not shown) that can be inserted into the wall from one of the first transfer spaces F is attached in a sealed manner.

  In FIG. 1, the code | symbol 1 has shown the partition which consists of a transparent plate tightly fitted by the center part of the said inclined surface which comprises the front of the said isolation barrier chamber. A first material transfer opening 1a is formed in the central portion of the partition wall 1, and annular first and second flange rings 2 and 3 are annular seals on the entire front and back peripheral edges of the first material transfer opening 1a. It is fixed in a sealed manner via the member 4. The outer peripheral edge of the annular seal member 4 is sealed by the peripheral edge on the side opposite to the first transfer space of the first material transfer opening 1a of the partition wall 1 and the peripheral surface portion on the side opposite to the second transfer space of the second flange ring 3. The inner peripheral edge of the annular seal member 4 on the first transfer space side is a peripheral surface portion on the second transfer space side of the third flange ring 5, as shown in FIG. The inner peripheral edge on the second transfer space side of the annular seal member 4 is hermetically fixed to the outer diameter side step surface 6a of the stepped fourth flange ring 6 disposed on the second transfer space side and the flange. The ring 6 is hermetically fixed to the outer stepped peripheral surface 6b. Further, the second transfer space side peripheral portion of the outer diameter side half portion of the fifth flange ring 7 is hermetically fixed to the first transfer space side surface 6d of the fourth flange ring 6, and the inner diameter side half portion thereof. The portion extends to the inner diameter side space of the fourth flange ring 6.

  Further, in the annular space between the inner diameter side half of the fourth flange ring 6 and the inner diameter side step surface 6c of the fourth flange ring 6, the inner circumference of the step of the sixth flange ring 8 having an L-shaped cross section. The half part of the outer diameter side of the surface 8a is fitted so as to be slidable in the circumferential direction. On the first transfer space side surface 8b of the inner diameter side half of the step inner peripheral surface 8a, a rotary handle 9 which is the most characteristic configuration in the present invention is fixed. The rotary handle 9 is made of a solid cross-section material that is bent in a horizontal C shape, and the tip ends of both end leg portions thereof are half-inner diameter side portions of the step inner peripheral surface 8a via fixed members 9a. The first transfer space side surface 8b is fixed. On the other hand, a ring-shaped connecting member 10 which is one of the structural members important for the present invention is attached to the central opening of the sixth flange ring 8. The ring-shaped connecting member 10 is a member that tightly connects the material transfer path between the first transfer space F and the second transfer space S having different environments via the partition wall 1.

  As can be understood from FIGS. 1, 2, 5 </ b> A, and 6, the connecting member 10 in the present embodiment has an annular shape as a whole, and is directed to the first transfer space F in the thickness direction. It has a half part 10a and a second half part 10b directed to the second transfer space S. The outer diameters of the first and second half parts 10a, 10b are the same, and the inner diameter of the first half part 10a is a step. It is set to be larger than the inner diameter of the second half 10b through the portion.

  On the inner peripheral surface of the first half 10a, as shown in FIG. 6, the stepped surface 10c that is the interface with the second half 10b from the peripheral edge of the inner peripheral surface on the first transfer space side is provided. A plurality of projecting portions 10d whose projecting thickness gradually increases toward the end are intermittently formed along the inner peripheral surface with a predetermined phase difference. In the illustrated example, the phase difference is 90 °, and the four protruding portions 10d are formed. In addition, a required gap s is formed between the edge of the protruding portion 10d on the second half 10b side and the step surface 10c to form a notch 10g, and the inner wall has a diameter of The stepped surface 10c is made wider than the outer diameter surface of the stepped portion than the diameter of the peripheral surface toward the opening. On the other hand, a gap 10e having a required thickness is formed between the protrusion 10d and the step surface 10c.

  In the circumferential interval s, as will be described later, for example, a rubber plug outlet of a rubber plug supply pipe (not shown) for blocking / opening communication between the first transfer space F and the second transfer space S, for example. A tongue piece intermittently protruding outward is inserted along the outer periphery of a flange ring (not shown) fixed to the ring ring, and the ring-shaped connecting member 10 enters the gap 10e by rotation of the ring-shaped connecting member 10. The rubber plug supply pipe (not shown) is connected to the connector. On the other hand, a first hermetic cover that can be attached and detached is prepared separately at the rubber stopper outlet of the rubber stopper supply pipe. From the outer peripheral edge of the first hermetic cover, a first sealing cover when the door body 11 to be described later is closed is prepared. A plurality of tongue pieces that are engaged with and disengaged from an engagement / disengagement mechanism with the first hermetic cover formed on the surface of the one transfer space project outward. The engaging / disengaging mechanism formed on the door body surface is also substantially the same mechanism as the engaging / disengaging mechanism formed on the connecting member.

  Here, in this embodiment, the engaging / disengaging mechanism between the tongue piece protruding from the outer periphery of the flange of the rubber plug supply pipe and the connecting member 10 and the engaging / disengaging mechanism between the first sealing cover and the door body 11. Employs a bayonet engagement / disengagement mechanism for engaging / disengaging the connecting member 10 and the door body 11 by rotating the rotary handle 9 by a predetermined angle (90 °). The inner peripheral surface of the second half portion 10b of the connecting member 10 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and a door body 11 and a funnel body 15 described later are tightly fitted into the cylindrical space via a seal ring, break away.

  In the hermetic connection structure including the above members, in the present invention, as described above, the ring connection member 10 is further pivotally attached to a part of the sixth flange ring 8 on the second transfer space S side. It has a door body 11 that opens and closes the central connection opening 10f (see FIG. 3B), and has a lock / release mechanism 17 that locks when the door body 11 is closed and releases the lock when the door body 11 is opened. Yes. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the opening / closing operation member 13 of the door body 11 and the lock / release operation member of the lock / release mechanism 17 are provided on the first transfer space side flange surface of the sixth flange ring 8. 14 is provided, and the present invention further includes the above-described rotating handle 9 for rotating the connecting member 10 relative to the partition wall 1 via the sixth flange ring 8. Further, in the present embodiment, in order to further rotate toward the central connecting opening 10f of the ring-shaped connecting member 10 and to guide rubber plugs (not shown) into the second transfer space S in an integrated manner. A funnel body 15 is provided to fit into and remove from the central connection opening 10f. A funnel body rotation operation member 16 for operating the rotation of the funnel body 15 is arranged at a position facing the opening / closing operation member 13 of the door body 11 on the first transfer space side flange surface of the sixth flange ring 8. Has been.

  In this embodiment, each of the door body opening / closing operation member 13 and the funnel body rotation operation member 16 disposed on the first transfer space side is composed of an operation rod having an external screw portion at the tip, and the operation rod is the first one. 6 is inserted into the operating flange insertion hole 12 formed in the 6 flange ring 8, and each external thread portion at the tip thereof is similarly fixed to the flange surface on the second transfer space side of the 6 flange ring 8. Opening and closing of the door body 11 with respect to the central connection opening portion 10f of the connection member 10 by screwing and fixing the operation members 13 and 16 to the internal screw holes of the first and second gear boxes 13a and 16a. Operation and funnel body 15 fitting / removing operation are performed. Reference numeral 12 a denotes a frame piece that protects the periphery of the operation rod insertion hole 12. On the other hand, the lock / release operation member 14 includes an operation lever 18 as shown in FIG. 2, and by rotating the operation lever 18, the lock / release mechanism 17 shown in FIG. The door body 11 is locked and released.

  The lock / release mechanism 17 is not limited to a specific mechanism, and a conventionally well-known mechanism can also be adopted as disclosed in Patent Document 2 described above. The first lock / release member 17a (see FIG. 4) fixed to the surface of the door 11 on the second transfer space side when closed, and the second transfer space side flange portion surface of the connecting member 10 are rotatable. A second lock / release member 17b which is attached and has meshing teeth on a part of its peripheral surface, and is rotatably attached to the second transfer space side surface of the ring-shaped connecting member 10; and the sixth flange ring 8 A third lock / release member 17c having a meshing tooth that is rotated by a rotation operation of the operation lever 18 and meshes with the meshing tooth of the second lock / release member 17b on the flange surface on the second transfer space side. Have. According to the illustrated example, the second to third lock / release members 17b and 17c are rotated forward and backward by turning the operation lever 18 left and right by a required angle, and the second lock / release member 17b is moved to the first lock. The door 11 is locked / released by engaging / disengaging the lock / release member 17a.

  Now, a method for transferring a medical rubber stopper using the hermetic connection structure according to the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in addition to the door 11, the rotary handle 9, and the lock / release mechanism 17, a rubber plug is not necessarily attached to the sixth flange ring 8. A funnel body 15 is arranged to be concentrated.

  In the present embodiment, the rubber plug supply port of the rubber plug supply pipe (not shown) and the second transfer space S sterilized and cleaned through the ring-shaped connecting member 10 of the present invention are arranged. A procedure for connecting the funnel body 15 will be described. According to this embodiment, first, the door body 11 is hermetically fitted to the second transfer space side half of the central connection opening 10 f of the connection member 10, and the central connection opening of the connection member 10. 10f is in a closed state. On the other hand, a rubber plug outlet of the rubber plug supply pipe (not shown) is disposed at a portion of the second transfer space S adjacent to the central connection opening 10 f of the connection member 10. A flange ring (not shown) provided with a bayonet engagement / disengagement mechanism that sealingly engages / disengages from the opening surface of the second half 10b of the connecting member 10 on the second transfer space side is provided at the rubber plug outlet. It is fixed. A supply pipe outlet cover, which is a first hermetic cover made of an impermeable sterilization film or the like, is detachably attached to the inner peripheral surface of the flange ring via a gasket. On the outer periphery of the supply pipe outlet cover, a tongue piece that can engage with the door body 11 and the bayonet protrudes outward at a predetermined interval. Therefore, a bayonet engagement / disengagement surface on which the tongue piece formed on the supply pipe outlet cover is engaged / disengaged is formed on the second transfer space side surface of the door body 11 when the door body 11 is closed. .

  In a state in which the central connection opening 10f of the connection member 10 is hermetically closed by the door body 11, a sterile hermetic cover (not shown) that is an impermeable second hermetic cover prepared separately is first transferred. The sterilization hermetic cover is engaged with the central connection opening 10f of the connection member 10 in a sealed manner by advancing from the space side toward the first half 10a which is the first transfer space side half of the connection member 10. After being fixed, the inside of the sealed space surrounded by the door 11 and the connecting member 10 is sterilized by heating with a heating means, sterilizing gas, water vapor, etc. (not shown). When this sterilization is completed, the sterilization hermetic cover is returned to the standby position of the original second transfer space S. When the sterilization hermetic cover returns to the standby position, the rubber plug outlet of the rubber plug supply pipe having the flange ring (not shown) waiting at the standby position of the first transfer space F and the supply pipe outlet cover, A tongue piece that is advanced toward the central connection opening 10f of the connection member 10 that is closed by the door body 11 and protrudes outward from the outer periphery of the flange ring attached to the rubber plug outlet; The sixth flange is operated by fitting the notch 10g formed in the interval s between the protrusions 10d of the first half inner peripheral engagement surface of the central connection opening 10f of the connection member 10 and operating the rotary handle 9 to operate the sixth flange. The connecting member 10 is rotated through the ring 8, and the tongue piece of the flange ring of the rubber plug supply pipe is sealed in a gap 10e formed between the protruding portion 10d and the stepped surface 10c. It is engaged with both the insertion and, thereby engaged with the supply pipe outlet cover surface engaging and disengaging surface of the door body 11.

  Here, after the space between the supply pipe outlet cover and the periphery of the door body 11 is sterilized and washed, the state where the supply pipe outlet cover is engaged with the door body 11 is maintained. Then, the rotary handle 9 is rotated in the reverse direction to disengage the connecting member 10 from the flange ring of the rubber plug supply pipe. At this time, in order to disengage the connection member 10 from the flange ring of the rubber plug supply pipe while the supply pipe outlet cover is engaged with the door body 11, for example, the first of the connection member 10 is used. The circumferential length of the protruding portion 10d formed on the inner peripheral surface of the half portion and the interval s between them are 2 of the circumferential length of the protruding portion in the engagement / disengagement mechanism formed on the surface of the door body 11 and the interval therebetween. It is better to double it.

  Subsequently, the lock of the lock / release mechanism 17 is released by operating the operation lever 18 and the first operating rod 13 for opening and closing the door is operated to move the door 11 to the standby position on the second transfer space side. Until the central connecting opening 10f of the connecting member 10 is opened. At this time, the supply pipe outlet cover is held on the door body 11 while being engaged. When the opening by the door body 11 is made, the funnel body 15 is rotated from the standby position of the second transfer space S by operating the second operating rod 16 for fitting and removing the funnel body. Part is tightly fitted into the central connection opening 10 f of the connection member 10. Thus, the rubber plug outlet of the rubber plug supply pipe connected to the sterilization / cleaning tank (not shown) placed in the second transfer space S and the second transfer space S are hermetically sealed via the connecting member 10. The rubber plugs in the sterilization / cleaning tank are connected and stored in a packaging bag (not shown) disposed in the second transfer space via the rubber plug supply pipe and the funnel body 15. Thus, the environment on the side of the first transfer space where human work can be performed and the environment on the side of the clean second transfer space where sterilization and cleaning have been performed do not mix, and the rubber plug is not in the first transfer space F. It is transferred to the second transfer space S without being affected.

  In order to release the connection between the rubber plug transfer path of the first transfer space and the rubber plug transfer path of the second transfer space via the connecting member 10, each operation may be performed in the reverse order of the above procedure. . The procedure will be briefly described. After the funnel body 15 is rotated to the standby position on the second transfer space side by operating the second operating rod 16, the first operating rod 13 is operated to open the door body. The door 11 is rotated from the standby position toward the central connection opening 10f of the connecting member 10 while maintaining the state where the supply pipe outlet cover is engaged with the cover 11, and the central connection opening 10f is sealed. Close tightly. After this closing, the rotary handle 9 fixed to the sixth flange ring 8 is operated to rotate the connecting member 10 interlocked with the rotation of the sixth flange ring 8 by a predetermined angle, so that the supply to the door body 11 is performed. At the same time that the pipe outlet cover is disengaged, the supply pipe outlet cover is hermetically engaged and fixed to the flange ring fixed to the rubber stopper outlet of the rubber stopper supply pipe. At this stage, the tank moving lift (not shown) is returned to the original standby position.

  7 and 8 show another embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the funnel body 15 in the above embodiment, the second operation rod 16 that is the rotation operation member of the funnel body 15, and the second gear box 16a into which the outer thread portion of the distal end of the operation rod 16 is screwed. All of its peripheral members are excluded. Other constituent members are essentially the same as the respective constituent members in the first embodiment, and their operations and operations and procedures are the same as those in the above-described embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Partition 1a 1st material transfer opening 2 1st flange ring 3 2nd flange ring 4 Annular seal member 5 3rd flange ring 6 4th flange ring 6a Outer diameter side step surface 6b Outer step side peripheral surface 6c Inner side step surface 6d (First transfer space side) surface 7 fifth flange ring 8 sixth flange ring 8a step inner peripheral surface 8b (first transfer space side) surface 9 rotating handle 9a fixed member 10 ring-shaped connecting member 10a (first transfer space) First half 10b (on the second transfer side) second half 10c (on the second transfer space side) Stepped surface 10d Projection 10e Clearance 10f Center connection opening 10g Notch 11 Door 12 Operation rod insertion hole 12a Insertion hole frame piece 13 Opening / closing operation member (first operation rod)
13a First gear box 14 Lock / release operation member 15 Funnel body 16 Funnel body rotation operation member (second operation rod)
16a Second gear box 17 Lock / release mechanism 17a First lock / release member 17b Second lock / release member 17c Third lock / release member 18 Operation lever

Claims (7)

In a clean environment with no sterilization and no dust, separated from the first transfer space, which has not been specially cleaned, and has an environment where workers can enter, and the first transfer space through a partition wall. The first and second transfer spaces that allow the material to be transferred between the second transfer space and the second transfer space where the various processing of the material is performed without being contaminated by the environment of the first transfer space. It is a sealed connection structure that can be connected while maintaining a sealed state between,
A material transfer opening is formed in the partition wall, and a plurality of flange rings are sequentially attached in a sealed manner from the periphery of the material transfer opening on the first and second transfer space sides toward the center. A central connection that is integrally fixed in a central opening portion of the flange ring that is disposed at the most central portion while maintaining a sealed state, and that is tightly engaged with and disengaged from the material outlet port that is disposed in the first transfer space. A ring-shaped connecting member having an opening,
An outer peripheral edge of an arbitrary flange ring among the plurality of flange rings is slidably attached to an inner peripheral edge of the flange ring adjacent to the inner periphery of which the inner peripheral edge is tightly engaged with the outer peripheral edge,
The ring-shaped connecting member has a mechanism that interlocks with the rotational operation of any of the flange rings that can be slidably rotated.
A door body that pivots on a part of the second transfer space side of the flange ring that can be slidably rotated, opens and closes the central connection opening of the ring-shaped connection member, and locks and opens when the door body is closed And at least a lock / release means for releasing the lock at times,
In addition to the opening / closing operation member of the door body and the lock / release operation member of the lock / release means being disposed on the surface of the flange ring that can rotate in sliding contact with the first transfer space, the connection A rotating handle for rotating the member relative to the partition wall through the flange ring capable of sliding contact rotation;
A sealed connection structure characterized by that.   The second transfer space is a sealed space in which the periphery of the space is completely surrounded by a barrier. The partition has the partition wall at the center of the front barrier, and is part of the side barrier in the barrier. The hermetic connection structure according to claim 1, wherein manual operation gloves that can be operated from the outside are hermetically attached.   When the door body is in the open state, a part of the flange ring that is slidably rotatable on the second transfer space side surface is pivotally supported at a non-interference position with the door body, and the ring-shaped connecting member A funnel body that pivots toward the central connection opening and sealingly engages and disengages the large-diameter end with the central connection opening, and is arranged on the first transfer space side of the flange ring that can slide and rotate. The hermetic connection structure according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation operation member that rotates the funnel body.   The central connection opening of the connection member has a first transfer space side half and a second transfer space side half, and is arranged in the second transfer space on the inner peripheral surface of the first transfer space side half. An engagement / disengagement surface for sealingly engaging / disengaging the sealing lid for sealing the material outlet of the material container, and an inner peripheral surface of the second transfer space side half is a large-diameter opening of the funnel body; The hermetic connection structure according to claim 1, further comprising a fitting / removing surface that tightly fits with the door body.   The hermetic connection according to claim 3, wherein a surface on the first transfer space side of the door body at the time of closing has an engagement / disengagement structure that sealingly engages / disengages with the material outlet port of the material container. Construction.   A first transfer space on the same circumference of the flange ring in which the door body opening / closing operation member, the lock / release means lock / release operation member, and the funnel body rotation operation member can slide and rotate. It is arranged on the side surface so that it can be operated while maintaining a sealed state, and the rotary handle is fixed on the same circumference of the flange ring that can be slidably contacted and fixed at a non-interference position with other operation members. The hermetically connected structure according to claim 3.   The first transfer space side on the same circumference of the flange ring in which the operation member for opening and closing the door body, the lock / release operation member of the lock / release means, and the rotation operation member of the funnel body can be slidably rotated. It is arranged so that it can be operated while maintaining a sealed state on the surface, and the rotating handle is fixed on the surface of the first transfer space on the concentric circle and on the larger diameter side from the arrangement part of the other operation member. The hermetic connection structure according to claim 3.

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