JP2019089577A - Aseptic container processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a processing device configured such that a gas G supplied into an isolator 2 easily flows straight downward.SOLUTION: An interior of a housing 6 is partitioned into an isolator 2 in which conveying means 8 and a filling device 3 are disposed, and a gas circulation chamber 5 adjacent thereto. The conveying means 8 has a rake 12 for intermittently conveying containers 4, and the rake 12 is moved via a link mechanism 22 along a conveying direction in a predetermined movement locus. Both servo motors 31, 32 serving as a driving source of the link mechanism 22 are disposed in the gas circulation chamber 5 outside the isolator 2. Accordingly, a large circulation space 20 allowing the gas G to easily circulate, is secured in a position adjacent to the filling device 3 and the conveying means 8. When a blower 17 is operated, the gas G flows into the isolator 2 from a supply port 6Da, then circulates straight downward in the large circulation space 20, and then is discharged from a discharge port 6Ea on a bottom side to the gas circulation chamber 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a sterile container processing apparatus, and more particularly to a sterile container processing apparatus suitable for filling a container with a chemical solution, for example, in an isolator.

  Conventionally, a sterile container processing apparatus has been known in which a container is filled with a drug solution in an isolator (sterile working chamber) (for example, Patent Document 1).

Patent No. 4190067

In the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, the inside of the isolator is made to have a positive pressure than the outside, so that the invasion of microorganisms into the inside of the isolator is prevented. To this end, a gas supply port is provided on the ceiling of the isolator and a gas discharge port is provided on the lower portion of the side wall of the isolator, and a duct connecting the discharge port and the supply port is disposed outside the isolator. It is what was supposed to be.
Moreover, in the apparatus of patent document 1, it becomes a structure which arrange | positions the drive means of a filling apparatus on the downward side of the floor of an isolator. As a result, in Patent Document 1, since the duct is configured to protrude outward of the wall surface of the isolator, there is a problem that the size of the apparatus is increased and the restriction on the layout is increased.
Moreover, in the apparatus of Patent Document 1, when the gas is supplied into the isolator from the supply port on the upper side, the gas flows as an oblique air flow toward the exhaust port on the lower side, and the gas is There is a problem that the object collides and turbulence is generated in the isolator.

In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present invention described in claim 1 is a process for applying a required treatment to an isolator whose inside is maintained in a sterile condition, a transport means for transporting a container in the isolator, and a container in the isolator. Equipment and
The sterility is to supply the gas into the isolator and distribute the gas from the top to the bottom of the isolator while performing the required treatment on the container by the above processing apparatus and evacuating the gas from the outlet to the outside of the isolator In the container processing device,
A supply port for supplying a gas to the isolator is formed above the transport means and the processing device in the isolator, and the discharge port is formed below the transport means and the processing device in the isolator.
The drive source of the transfer means is disposed outside the isolator to drive the transfer means through the drive transfer means, and the gas in the isolator is discharged from the supply port on both sides of the container transfer path in the isolator. It is characterized in that a distribution space is secured to facilitate distribution to the
According to the second aspect of the present invention, on the premise of the configuration of the first aspect, the supply port is formed in the ceiling of the isolator, and the discharge port is formed in the floor of the isolator. An outlet is provided with a gas flow chamber for communicating the exhaust port and the supply port at a position adjacent to a filter for purifying gas and an isolator, and the drive source is provided in the gas flow chamber.
Further, according to the present invention described in claim 3, based on the configuration of claim 1 or claim 2, the transport means has a lake having a plurality of engaging recesses for engaging with the container, and The rake includes a link mechanism intermittently moved in the transport direction and a direction intersecting the transport direction, and a servomotor as the drive source for operating the link mechanism, and the link mechanism is operated by the servomotor. After the engagement concave portion is engaged with the container, the transfer operation is performed to move the container downstream by moving the container in the conveying direction, and the return from the container by separating the engaging concave from the container and then returning to the upstream side in the conveying direction It is characterized by repeating operation and.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, based on the configuration of the third aspect, the processing apparatus is a filling apparatus for filling a container with a chemical solution, and the filling apparatus includes a predetermined number of filling nozzles. When the lake is stopped in the filling zone, the plurality of containers held in the engaging recess of the lake are simultaneously filled with the chemical solution by the filling nozzle.

According to the configuration of claim 1, there is no need to project a duct or the like outside the wall surface of the isolator, so the degree of freedom in design when installing the device is increased, and the entire device is miniaturized. Can. Further, the flow of the gas supplied to the isolator is a straight flow with the flow space directed downward, and turbulent flow is less likely to occur. Therefore, the gas can be smoothly circulated in the isolator.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the entire apparatus can be miniaturized, and the gas in the isolator can be smoothly circulated downward.
According to the structure of Claim 3, generation | occurrence | production of dust can be suppressed and a several container can be conveyed in a conveyance direction.
According to the configuration of claim 4, since the plurality of containers can be simultaneously filled with the chemical solution in the filling zone, it is possible to provide an aseptic container processing apparatus with high processing capacity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows one Example of this invention. The top view of the principal part of FIG. The enlarged view of the principal part of FIG.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated embodiment. In FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 is a sterile container processing apparatus disposed in a building, and the sterile container processing apparatus 1 is filled in a filling zone A in the isolator 2 The apparatus 3 can simultaneously fill six containers 4 with a chemical solution.
The sterile container processing apparatus 1 includes a housing 6 in which an isolator 2 and a gas flow chamber 5 are connected and sealed therein, and a container 4 disposed in the isolator 2 for conveying the container 4 on the carrier rail 7 in length. Transport means 8 intermittently transporting along the direction, a timing screw 11 disposed on the adjacent upstream side of the transport means 8 to deliver the container 4 to the rake 12 of the transport means 8, and the rake 12 in the filling zone A A filling device 3 which is disposed on the upper side and fills the six containers 4 stopped in the filling zone A with a chemical solution, and a control device 13 which controls the operation of the conveying means 8, the timing screw 11 and the filling device 3 etc. And have.

A partition wall 6C is provided between the front wall 6A and the back wall 6B in the sealed housing 6, and the isolator 2 is defined on the front wall 6A side with respect to the partition wall 6C.
A ceiling plate 6D is provided across the upper portion of the partition wall 6C and the front wall 6A, and a floor plate 6E is provided across the lower portion of the partition wall 6C and the front wall 6A. A sealed space surrounded by the front wall 6A, the partition wall 6C, the ceiling plate 6D, the floor plate 6E, and a pair of side walls of the housing 6 (not shown) is the isolator 2, and the inside of the housing 6 adjacent to the isolator 2 is The remaining internal space is the gas flow chamber 5. That is, in the gas flow chamber 5, the upper space 5A above the ceiling plate 6D, the back space 5B between the partition wall 6C and the back wall 6B, and the lower space between the floor plate 6E and the bottom of the housing 6 The spaces 5A to 5C are always in communication with each other.

In the ceiling plate 6D, an opening 6Da for supplying a gas G into the isolator 2 is formed, and the HEPA filter F1 is provided on the ceiling plate 6D to cover the opening 6Da from the lower side. A screen S is disposed adjacent to the lower side of the HEPA filter F1. When the gas G in the upper space 5A is supplied from the opening 6Da into the isolator 2, it is rectified by passing through the HEPA filter F1 and the screen S.
The floor plate 6E is formed with an opening 6Ea for discharging the gas G in the isolator 2 to the outside, and a HEPA filter F2 for purifying the gas G is provided in the lower space 5C on the lower surface of the floor plate 6E. Further, above the opening 6Ea in the isolator 2, a lid 16 which is moved up and down by the air cylinder 15 is disposed. The operation of the air cylinder 15 is controlled by the controller 13.
At the time of the filling operation in which the container 4 is filled with the chemical solution by the filling device 3, as shown in FIG. 1, the air cylinder 15 is not operated and the lid 16 is stopped at the rising end position separated from the opening 6Ea. In this state, the opening 6Ea is open. On the other hand, when replacing the HEPA filter F2 after the end of the filling operation, first, the air cylinder 15 is operated by the control device 13 and the lid 16 is lowered to the lowering end and fitted in the opening 6Ea Therefore, the opening 6Ea is sealed. In this state, the operator opens the open / close door 6F provided at the lower part of the front wall 6A to replace the HEPA filter F2. When the replacement work is completed, the operator closes the open / close door 6F, and the control device 13 stops the operation of the air cylinder 15. Therefore, the air slider 15 and the lid 16 are opened by rising to the original rising end position. The part 6Ea is opened (the state of FIG. 1).

A blower 17 as gas supply means is disposed at the upper end of the back space 5B in the gas flow chamber 5, and the operation of the blower 17 is controlled by the control device 13.
As shown in FIG. 1, when the blower 17 is operated by the control device 13 in a state where the opening 6Ea is opened, the gas G as a pressure fluid from the blower 17 passes through the upper space 5A and from the opening 6Da It is fed toward the isolator 2. Thereafter, the gas G fed through the HEPA filter F1 and the screen S into the isolator 2 flows downward in a straight line in the isolator 2 and then the HEPA filter F2 from the opening 6Ea of the floor plate 6E. It passes through and is discharged to the lower space 5C. Thereafter, the gas G passing through the HEPA filter F2 and discharged to the lower space 5C rises in the back space 5B toward the blower 17 and is again fed into the isolator 2 by the blower 17 There is. Thus, when the blower 17 is operated, the gas G as the pressure fluid is circulated in the gas flow chamber 5 and the isolator 2 in the direction of the arrow.
When the gas G is fed to the isolator 2 by the blower 17, the inside of the isolator 2 is maintained at a positive pressure rather than the outside (atmospheric pressure). As described above, since the pressure in the isolator 2 is positive, dust is prevented from entering the isolator 2, and the gas G supplied to the isolator 2 is purified through the HEPA filter F1. The inside of the isolator 2 is kept sterile.
A work glove 18 is provided at a predetermined position on the front wall 6A, and the worker inserts a hand into the work glove 18 when required, and works in the isolator 2 while observing the inside of the isolator 2 through the glass window of the front wall 6A. It can be done.

The transfer rail 7 is horizontally provided at a predetermined height over the entire area in the isolator 2 and each container 4 is placed on the transfer rail 7 at a position upstream in the transfer direction (not shown). ing.
The timing screw 11 is disposed in the upstream region of the linear conveyance rail 7, and the rake 12 of the conveyance means 8 is disposed in the adjacent downstream region. A region on the center side in the longitudinal direction of the lake 12 above the transport rails 7 is a filling zone A.
The timing screw 11 is disposed on one side of the transport rail 7 on the front wall 6A side, and on the opposite side of the timing screw 11 with the transport rail 7, a side guide 21A supporting the side surface of the container 4 is provided. It is arranged.
A side guide 21B for supporting the side surface of the container 4 is also disposed on one side of the conveyance rail 7 on the adjacent downstream side of the timing screw 11, and on the opposite side of the side guide 21B across the conveyance rail 7, the container A rake 12 is disposed which intermittently conveys 4 along the longitudinal direction (conveying direction) of the conveying rail 7.
The rotation of the timing screw 11 is controlled by the control device 13, and the control device 13 causes the timing screw 11 to rotate at a required time and then to temporarily stop at a predetermined timing. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, a total of six containers 4 are engaged with the timing screw 11 in one longitudinal row, and are temporarily stopped in that state.

In this embodiment, the rake 12 is moved to the moving end on the upstream side in the transport direction, as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 2, at the positions of the six containers 4 engaged by the timing screw 11 and stopped. By approaching 4, the six engagement recesses 12 A formed in the rake 12 are engaged with the container 4.
In this state, the side surfaces of the six containers 4 are held from both sides by the engagement concave portion 12A of the timing screw 11 and the rake 12, and in this state, the control device 13 rotates the timing screw 11 again and at the same time the link mechanism 22. The rake 12 is synchronously moved downstream in the transport direction via the. As a result, the six containers 4 engaged with the rotating timing screw 11 and engaged with the engagement recess 12A of the rake 12 are conveyed to the downstream side of the rake 12 in the conveying direction. As described above, since the side guide 21B is disposed on the opposite side of the lake 12, each container 4 conveyed to the adjacent downstream side of the timing screw 11 in this way is supported on the side by the side guide 21B, And, it is held by the engagement recess 12A of the rake 12. In this state, the six containers 4 are intermittently transported by the lake 12 toward the filling zone A, so that the six containers 4 temporarily stopped in the filling zone A are filled with the chemical solution by the filling device 3 It has become.
The rake 12 causes the two link mechanisms 22 and 22 to engage the engaging recess 12A with the container 4 and move it to the moving end on the downstream side in the conveying direction, and thereafter, from the container 4 to the engaging recess 12A. A return operation to return to the moving end on the upstream side in the transport direction and to approach the container 4 is repeated.
In the present embodiment, six containers 4 are provided by repeating the switching operation between the rotation and temporary stop of the timing screw 11 and the conveyance operation and return operation along the conveyance direction of the rake 12 by the link mechanisms 22 and 22. The transport rails 7 are intermittently transported in a single longitudinal row from the position of the timing screw 11 to the downstream side sequentially from the position of the timing screw 11 in units.
Thus, when the containers 4 are transported to the filling zone A in units of six and temporarily stopped, the filling device 3 is configured to simultaneously fill the six containers 4 with the drug solution.
The opening 6Da as a supply port of the gas G to the isolator 2 described above is provided at a position above the transport rail 7, and the opening 6Ea as a discharge port of the gas G is a lower side of the transport rail 7. Is located in The opening 6Ea as the discharge port is formed on the lower side of the link mechanisms 22 and 22 in the transport means 8, and the gas G can flow to the position adjacent to the link mechanisms 22 and 22 and the filling device 3 A large distribution space 20 is secured. As a result, when the gas G flows into the isolator 2 from the opening 6Da, the gas flows through the flow space 20 on the side of the transfer rail 7 downward in a straight line, and the gas from the opening 6Ea through the HEPA filter F2 It is discharged to the distribution room 5.

Next, the filling device 3 includes a total of six filling nozzles 24 arranged at equal pitches in the longitudinal direction (conveying direction) of the conveyance rail 7, and an elevating mechanism 25 for moving the filling nozzles 24 up and down. . Each filling nozzle 24 is disposed above the transport rail 7 in the filling zone A, and each filling nozzle 24 is in communication with the chemical solution supply source 27 via the conduit 26 by the controller 13 by the controller 13 The operation is to be controlled. When the lifting mechanism 25 is stopped at the rising end, the filling nozzle 24 is closed, and the lower end of the filling nozzle 24 is supported above the container 4.
On the other hand, when a total of six containers 4 are transported by the rake 12 to the filling zone A and temporarily stopped, the six filling nozzles 24 are lowered by the lifting mechanism 25 to the lowering end. As a result, the lower end portion of the filling nozzle 24 is inserted into the container 4 and the filling nozzle 24 is opened, so that the container 4 is filled with the chemical solution.
As soon as filling of a predetermined amount of chemical solution into the container 4 is completed, the six filling nozzles 24 are raised by the elevation mechanism 25 to the rising end, so that the lower end of the filling nozzle 24 is withdrawn from the container 4 before rising. Return to position. Immediately after that, the rake 12 moves a predetermined amount to the downstream side in the transport direction and pauses again. As a result, the six containers 4 after the completion of filling are delivered to the adjacent downstream side of the filling zone A, while the new six empty containers 4 are carried into the filling zone A and stopped. The container 4 is filled with the chemical solution by the filling nozzle 24 as described above.
Thus, every six containers 4 are intermittently transported to the filling zone A intermittently by the lake 12 and filled with the chemical solution by the filling nozzle 24, and the container 4 after filling is adjacent to the downstream of the moving region of the lake 12. It is sent out to the side.
Thereafter, the container 4 filled with the chemical solution is further transported downstream on the transport rail 7 by the operator or another transport means, and a cap is attached to the mouth of each container 4.

Next, the transport means 8 will be described. The transport means 8 engages with the containers 4 in units of 6 and intermittently transports the downstream side in the transport direction, and a link for moving the lake 12 along a predetermined movement trajectory A mechanism 22 and a first servomotor 31 and a second servomotor 32 serving as drive sources of the link mechanism 22 are provided.
The rake 12 is horizontally supported at a predetermined height by the link mechanisms 22 and is movable in the transport direction and in the direction crossing the rake 12. An engagement recess 12A to be engaged is formed.
As described above, the side guide 21B is disposed on the opposite side of the rake sandwiching the transfer rail 7, and when the container 4 engages with the engagement recess 12A of the rake 12 and is intermittently transferred The side surface of the container 4 is supported by the side guide 21B.

Two link mechanisms 22 having the same configuration are disposed in the isolator 2 and the operation of both servomotors 31 and 32 for the two link mechanisms 22 is controlled by the control device 13 to make the rake 12 Is to repeat the above-mentioned transfer operation and return operation.
The present embodiment is characterized in that the rake 12 and the link mechanism 22 are disposed in the isolator 2, while the servomotors 31 and 32 as drive sources are disposed in the gas flow chamber 5.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the rectangular support plate 33 is horizontally fixed to the lower part of the partition wall 6C in the isolator 2 and the above-mentioned transfer rail is provided above the support plate 33 via a bracket or the like. 7 and a side guide 21B are disposed. Further, the base (upper part) of the air cylinder 15 is connected to the lower surface of the support plate 33.
A box-shaped cover 34 is fixed over the upper surface of the support plate 33 and the partition wall 6C, and the link mechanism 22 is disposed on the cover 34.
As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 3, a cylindrical support member 35 is fitted at its lower end in a central through hole of the cover 34, and a cylinder 36 is provided inside the support member 35 via bearings 36, 36. The rotary shaft 41 is rotatably supported. In addition, a rotating shaft 43 is rotatably supported on the inner side of the rotating shaft 41 via bearings 42, 42.
An annular seal member 44 is mounted between the upper end inner peripheral portion of the cylindrical support member 35 and the outer peripheral portion of the rotary shaft 41, whereby dust generated by the bearing 36 is scattered into the isolator 2. To prevent. Further, for the same purpose, an annular seal member 44 is mounted between the upper end inner peripheral portion of the cylindrical rotating shaft 41 and the outer peripheral portion of the rotating shaft 43.
When the rotary shafts 41 and 43 are rotated forward and reverse, the link mechanism 22 is moved, and the rake 12 connected to the link mechanism 22 moves in the transport direction and in the direction intersecting with it along a predetermined movement trajectory. That is, the rake 12 is configured to repeat the transport operation and the return operation described above.

The link mechanism 22 includes four arms 45A to 45D, four pins 46A to 46D disposed at required positions, and bearings 47A to 47D provided at positions of the respective pins 46A to 46D.
A pin 46C is fixed to the upper end outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical rotation shaft 41, and the upper portion of the pin 46C is rotatable in the central cylindrical portion of the arm 45D by a bearing 47C.
The base of the arm 45B is fitted to the upper end of the rotary shaft 43 projecting upward from the rotary shaft 41, and the pin 46A is fixed to the tip of the arm 45B. The upper portion of the pin 46A is rotatable in the recess at one end of the arm 45C via the bearing 47A.
A pin 46B is fixed to one end of the arm 45D, and the upper portion of the pin 46B is rotatable in a recess at the end of the arm 45C via a bearing 47B.
A cylindrical portion 45Da is formed at the other end of the arm 45D, and a pin 46D fixed to the base of the rake 12 is rotatably supported in the cylindrical portion 45Da of the arm 46D via a bearing 47D.

The internal space of the cover 34 is in communication with the back space 5B of the gas flow chamber 5 via the opening 6Ca of the partition wall 6C. The outer periphery of the lower end of the rotary shaft 41 is located in the cover 34, and the gear 48 is fitted to the outer periphery of the lower end of the rotary shaft 41. The gear 48 is interlocked with the gear 51 of the second servomotor 32 in the gas flow chamber 5 via an intermediate gear 49 disposed in the opening 6Ca.
The lower end portion of the rotating shaft 43 is also positioned within the cover 34, and the gear 52 is fitted to the lower end portion of the rotating shaft 43. The gear 52 is interlocked with the gear 54 of the first servomotor 31 in the gas flow chamber 5 via an intermediate gear 53 disposed in the opening 6Ca.
Both servomotors 31 and 32 are arranged at adjacent upper and lower positions so that their axes are located on the same straight line in the vertical direction. Both servomotors 31 and 32 are disposed in the gas flow chamber 5 at an adjacent position, not in the isolator 2 or its lower side.

In the present embodiment, two link mechanisms 22 having the same configuration are disposed in parallel in the isolator 2 and they are synchronized by the control device 13 to perform the same motion.
That is, by synchronizing and controlling the operation of both servomotors 31 and 32 in both link mechanisms 22 by the control device 13, the rotation shafts 41 and 43 of both link mechanisms 22 are rotated forward and reverse at predetermined timing. Thus, the rake 12 is repeatedly moved along a predetermined movement trajectory.
That is, after the rake 12 approaches the container 4 on the conveyance rail 7 at the moving end position on the conveyance direction upstream side in the conveyance direction and engages the engagement recess 12A with the container 4, the movement end on the conveyance direction downstream side A transport operation of moving to a position by a predetermined distance, and a recovery operation of returning to the moving end position on the upstream side in the transport direction after being separated from the container 4 on the transport rail 7 after the transport operation are repeated. As a result, after six containers 4 are engaged with the engagement recess 12A of the rake 12, it is possible to intermittently transport the transport rail 7 on the transport rail 7 downstream in the transport direction.
In this embodiment, by providing the motors 31, 32 serving as the drive source of the transport means 8 in the gas flow chamber 5, which is the outside of the isolator 2, the configuration around the filling device 3 and the link mechanism 22 in the isolator 2 is It is simplified. As a result, a large flow space 20 in which the gas G tends to flow straight downward is secured at the adjacent position of the filling device 3 and the link mechanisms 22, 22.
The basic configuration of the transporting means 8 using the rake 12 and the link mechanism 22 for moving the rake 12 is already known, for example, from Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2014-223960.

In the above configuration, since the blower 17 is operated with the lid 16 in the isolator 2 removed from the opening 6Ea, the gas G of positive pressure is transmitted from the opening 6Da to the isolator 2 through the HEPA filter F1 and the screen S. Are fed to Thereafter, the gas G which has flowed into the isolator 2 linearly passes downward in the flow space 20 next to the transfer rail 7, the filling device 3 and the link mechanisms 22 and 22, and then the HEPA from the lower opening 6Ea The gas is discharged to the lower space 5C of the gas flow chamber 5 via the filter F2. Thereby, the inside of the isolator 2 is maintained in a sterile state, and the filling operation into the container 4 is performed in this state.
That is, the containers 4 are sequentially placed on the conveyance rail 7 on the upstream side of the conveyance rail 7 and the timing screw 11 is rotated. Further, the servomotors 31, 32 of both link mechanisms 22, 22 in the transport means 8 are synchronously rotated at a predetermined timing in forward and reverse directions.
Therefore, since the rake 12 repeats the transport operation and the return operation described above, the containers 4 are engaged with the engagement concave portion 12A of the rake 12 in units of six, and intermittently from the position of the timing screw 11 to the downstream side Transported to
When every six containers 4 are intermittently transported to the filling zone A by the lake 12 and temporarily stopped, the filling nozzles 24 of the filling device 3 simultaneously fill the six containers 4 with the chemical solution. Thereafter, the six containers 4 filled with the chemical solution are transported by the lake 12 to the downstream side of the filling zone A.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the gas flow chamber 5 is provided at a position adjacent to the isolator 2 and the servomotors 31 and 32 are disposed there. Further, as a result, a large flow space 20 in which the gas G can easily flow straight downward in the isolator 2 is secured. Therefore, when the gas G flows into the isolator 2 from the opening 6Da, the gas G flows through the flow space 20 toward the lower opening 6Ea as a straight air flow. According to this embodiment, the gas in the isolator does not form an oblique air flow as in the above-described conventional apparatus, and moreover, the gas does not abut the floor plate 6E to cause turbulent flow. Therefore, the gas G in the isolator 2 smoothly flows downward, and then is exhausted to the gas flow chamber 5 from the opening 6Ea.
Further, in the present embodiment, since the gas flow chamber 5 is connected to the back surface of the isolator 2 and the duct does not protrude from the side wall of the isolator 2, the aseptic container processing apparatus 1 is compared with the prior art. As a result, the size of the container can be reduced, and the degree of freedom in layout when installing the aseptic container processing apparatus 1 can be increased.
Although the embodiment described above describes the case where the filling device 3 is provided as a processing device in the isolator 2, a capper for attaching a cap to the container 4 may be provided as a processing device instead of the filling device 3. . Further, in the above embodiment, the capper may be disposed in the isolator 2 on the downstream side of the filling device 3 in the transport direction.

1 .. Aseptic container processing apparatus 2 .. Isolator 3 .. Filling apparatus (processing apparatus) 4 .. Container 6Da .. Opening (supply port) 6Ea .. Opening (discharge port)
8. Transportation means 12. Rake 17. Blower 20. Distribution space 22. Link mechanism 31. First servomotor (drive source)
32. 2nd servo motor (drive source) F2 .. HEPA filter

Claims (4)

An isolator which maintains the inside of the container in a sterile condition, transport means for transporting the container in the isolator, and a processing unit for performing the required processing on the container in the isolator;
The sterility is to supply the gas into the isolator and distribute the gas from the top to the bottom of the isolator while performing the required treatment on the container by the above processing apparatus and evacuating the gas from the outlet to the outside of the isolator In the container processing device,
A supply port for supplying a gas to the isolator is formed above the transport means and the processing device in the isolator, and the discharge port is formed below the transport means and the processing device in the isolator.
The drive source of the transfer means is disposed outside the isolator to drive the transfer means through the drive transfer means, and the gas in the isolator is discharged from the supply port on both sides of the container transfer path in the isolator. An aseptic container processing apparatus characterized by securing a distribution space for facilitating distribution to the market. A supply port is formed on the ceiling of the isolator, the above-mentioned outlet is formed on the floor of the isolator, and the above-mentioned outlet and the above-mentioned supply port are located adjacent to the filter and the isolator for purifying gas at the outlet. Equipped with a gas flow chamber to communicate
The sterile container processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving source is provided in the gas flow chamber. The transport means operates a rake having a plurality of engagement recesses engaged with the container, a link mechanism for intermittently moving the rake in the transport direction of the container and a direction intersecting the transport direction, and operating the link mechanism And a servomotor as the drive source;
When the link mechanism is actuated by the servomotor, the rake engages the engagement recess with the container and then moves downstream in the transport direction to transport the container, the transport operation for transporting the container, and the engagement recess from the container The sterile container processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a return operation of returning to the upstream side in the transport direction after repeating the separation is repeated. The processing apparatus is a filling apparatus for filling a container with a chemical solution, and the filling apparatus includes a predetermined number of filling nozzles, and when the lake is stopped in the filling zone, the engaging recess of the lake is The sterile container processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of held containers are simultaneously filled with the chemical solution by the filling nozzle.

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