JP4218343B2 - Article supply method and article supply apparatus for chamber - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for supplying an article into a chamber in which an internal space is blocked from the outside, such as an isolator, and in particular, a state in which an article housed in a sealed container is blocked from the outside. The present invention relates to an article supply method and an article supply apparatus for a chamber that are supplied to the internal space of the chamber as it is.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There is already known an apparatus in which a processing device such as a filling machine or a plugging machine is installed inside a chamber having a sealed space such as an isolator, and processing such as filling and plugging is performed in the chamber. When processing is performed with such an apparatus installed in the chamber, it is necessary to supply articles necessary for processing such as rubber plugs from the outside into the chamber.
[0003]
As a method for supplying articles from the outside to the internal space of the chamber that is shut off from the outside as described above, a method using a sealed container as an article transfer container has been conventionally known (for example, Patent Document 1). reference). In the structure described in Patent Document 1, a lid that opens to the inside is provided in the chamber, and a lid that opens outward is provided to the sealed container, and these lids close the openings of the flanges provided in the chamber and the sealed container, respectively. It is supposed to be. Then, by aligning the flanges of the chamber and the sealed container and rotating the sealed container relative to each other, the two lids are connected to each other by the connecting structure provided on both the lids, and these connected lids are integrated. By opening to the inside of the chamber, the chamber and the inside of the sealed container are communicated, and the article in the sealed container is supplied into the chamber.
[0004]
As the sealed container for transferring the article, a container container made of relatively rigid plastic or metal and a bag container made of an easily deformable resin sheet are known. In the case of a container container, if the lid of the connecting part on the chamber side is attached to a vertical wall surface, articles cannot be put directly into the chamber from the container container. It is inclined and the lid of the connection part is attached to this inclined surface.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 3100508 (second page, FIG. 5)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the lid of the connecting portion is provided on the inclined wall surface of the chamber as described above, the articles in the container container can be supplied into the chamber, but the articles in the container container are supplied into the chamber all at once. Therefore, there is a problem that the supply amount cannot be adjusted. In addition, since the inclined wall surface is provided, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost of the chamber is increased.
[0007]
Therefore, in order to adjust the supply amount of articles into the chamber, a bag container has been conventionally used as a sealed container for article transfer. When a bag container is used, the shape and position of the container can be freely changed, so that the supply amount of articles into the chamber can be adjusted, and there is no need to provide an inclined surface on the chamber side. The manufacturing cost can be reduced.
[0008]
However, in the case of a bag container made of a flexible material, there is a risk that the bag container is torn due to scratches during transportation, and the sealed state cannot be maintained. In particular, since there are a large number of containers for transferring goods, it is difficult to inspect them one by one, and there is a risk that it is not possible to find a broken bag container.
[0009]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an article supply method and an article supply apparatus to a chamber in which the supply amount can be adjusted using a container container that does not break. Is.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of supplying an article to a chamber, wherein an opening side of a container container whose interior is sealed is coupled to a connection port provided on a wall surface of the chamber that shuts off the internal space from the outside. The connection port lid and the container side opening side lid are connected together and then integrally opened to supply the articles contained in the container container into the chamber, in particular, the wall surface of the chamber When the opening formed in is connected to the connection port by a connecting member made of a deformable material while maintaining airtightness, when the article in the container is supplied into the chamber, the connecting member is deformed. The amount of inclination of the container is adjusted.
[0011]
In the method of the present invention, since the connection port of the chamber coupled to the opening side of the container container and the opening portion of the chamber are connected by the connecting member made of a deformable material, the container container is moved together with the connection port. The amount of articles supplied into the chamber can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of inclination. And since the container side can use the container container which consists of a hard material, there is no possibility of being torn and reliability is high.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for supplying articles to a chamber, which shuts off the internal space from the outside, seals the inside of the chamber provided with a connection port on the wall surface, and connects the chamber. A container container having a lid that can be coupled to the lid of the mouth, the opening side of the container container is coupled to the connection port of the chamber, and the lid of the connection port of the chamber and the lid of the opening of the container container are connected The article is supplied to a chamber that is later opened integrally to supply the article into the chamber. In particular, the opening is formed on the wall surface of the chamber, and the connection port is made of a material that can be deformed. It is airtightly attached via a connecting member and is provided with support means for supporting the connection port.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an apparatus for supplying articles to a chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part. In this embodiment, a vial filling and plugging machine 4 is installed in a chamber (isolator) 2 that shuts off the internal space from the outside, and a rubber stopper is provided from the outside in a hopper 6 disposed in the chamber 2. Supply goods such as.
[0014]
The isolator 2 is provided with a sterilization gas supply means 8 such as a hydrogen peroxide gas generator. The sterilizing gas supply means 8 is provided in a pipe 14 that connects between a gas supply port 10 provided in the top plate 2a of the isolator 2 and an exhaust port 12 provided in the bottom wall surface 2b. A filter 16 is interposed on the supply port 10 side of the pipe 14. Valves 18 and 20 are provided on the supply port 10 side and the exhaust port 12 side of the pipe 14, respectively. By opening and closing these valves 18 and 20, the sterilization gas supply means 8 and the isolator 2 are communicated with each other. The sterilization gas is supplied or shut off, and the supply is stopped.
[0015]
An air supply blower 24 is connected to the filter 16 provided on the supply port 10 side through another pipe 22 so that aseptic air can be supplied into the isolator 2 by the operation of the air supply blower 24. It has become. The aseptic air supply pipe 22 is also provided with a valve 26. During operation of the vial filling and plugging machine 4, aseptic air is supplied downward from the ceiling of the isolator 2, and the one-way flow (when operating the device such as the vial filling and plugging machine 4 in the isolator 2 is operated. In order to prevent the dust coming out of this device from flying up, a clean error is sent downward from the ceiling of the room, and this clean air is used to press the dust downward). An exhaust blower 32 is connected to the exhaust port 12 via an exhaust pipe 30 having a valve 28. During production operation, aseptic air is fed into the isolator 2 by the air supply blower 24. The exhaust blower 32 exhausts the isolator 2.
[0016]
An opening 2d is formed slightly above the upper surface of the hopper 6 on the side wall 2c on the side where the hopper 6 of the isolator 2 is disposed. A cylindrical locking portion 2e protruding outward is provided around the opening 2d. A connection port 36 for connecting a transfer container (container) 34 whose inside is sealed is attached to the opening 2d.
[0017]
The connection port 36 includes a flange 38 that constitutes the outer peripheral portion thereof, and a lid 40 that is fitted in the flange 38 while being kept airtight. The lid 40 has a tapered surface on the outer periphery, and is in close contact with the tapered surface formed on the inner peripheral portion of the flange 38. The lid 40 is provided with a handle 40 a for opening toward the inner side of the isolator 2.
[0018]
The flange 38 of the connection port 36 has a cylindrical shape with an outer peripheral portion 38a facing the isolator 2 side, and a cylindrical engagement formed on the outer surface side of the cylindrical portion 38a and the opening 2d of the isolator 2. A tubular connecting member (flexible sleeve) 42 made of a deformable sheet-like material is mounted between the portion 2e. Both end portions of the flexible sleeve 42 are fitted to the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 38a of the flange 36 and the cylindrical locking portion 2e of the opening 2d, respectively, and are fixed airtight by clamps 44 and 46. . The flange 38 of the connection port 36 is made of a metal such as stainless steel. The flexible sleeve 42 is made of a deformable synthetic resin or the like.
[0019]
Since the connection port 36 is attached to the isolator 2 by the flexible sleeve 42, the connection port 36 hangs down as it is, and a load is applied to the flexible sleeve 42 due to the weight of the connection portion 36. Therefore, in this embodiment, a support means 48 for supporting the connection port 36 is provided. The support means 48 includes a support portion 38a that contacts the lower side of the connection port 36, and a support frame 38b that is placed on the floor surface on which the isolator 2 is disposed and supports the support portion 48a. Is kept in a vertical position. The support means 48 may be configured to support the connection port 36, and the support frame may be directly fixed to the wall surface 2c of the isolator 2. Further, the connection port 36 may be supported by being suspended from above instead of being supported from below.
[0020]
The container 34 is provided with a flange 34a on the opening side, and a lid 50 is fitted on the inner peripheral side of the flange 34a while maintaining airtightness. The flange 34a of the container 34 and the flange 38 of the connection port 36 are connected to each other when they are brought into close contact with each other and rotated relatively. Further, when the flanges 38 and 34 a are connected to each other, the lid 40 of the connection port 36 and the lid 50 of the container 34 are simultaneously connected to each other.
[0021]
The operation of the article supply device to the chamber according to the above configuration will be described. Prior to the production operation of the vial filling and plugging machine 4 installed in the isolator 2, the inside of the isolator 2 is sterilized. First, the valves 18 and 20 provided in the pipe 14 of the sterilization gas supply means 8 are opened to operate the sterilization gas supply means 8 such as a hydrogen peroxide gas generator. Further, the valve 26 of the aseptic air supply pipe 22 and the valve 28 provided on the pipe 30 of the exhaust blower 32 are closed.
[0022]
When the sterilization gas supply means 8 is operated, a sterilization gas such as hydrogen peroxide gas generated by the sterilization gas supply means 8 is sent into the isolator 2 from the supply port 10 and air in the isolator 2 from the exhaust port 12. Is sucked and circulated through the pipe 14.
[0023]
After the sterilization in the isolator 2 is performed, the vial filling and plugging machine 4 is operated. At this time, the operation of the sterilizing gas supply means 8 is stopped, and the valves 18 and 20 before and after that are closed. Then, by opening the valve 26 of the aseptic air supply pipe 22 and driving the air supply blower 24, aseptic air is supplied into the isolator 2, the valve 28 of the exhaust pipe 30 is opened, and the exhaust blower 32 is opened. To discharge the air in the isolator 2. In this way, the unidirectional flow is formed by blowing sterile air downward from the ceiling of the isolator 2.
[0024]
The inside of the isolator 2 is set to the above state, and the vial is filled with the drug by the vial filling and plugging machine 4, and then the rubber plug is plugged. When the rubber plugs stored in the hopper 6 are reduced, the rubber plugs are replenished from the outside.
[0025]
At this time, a rubber stopper sterilized in advance is accommodated in a container 34 whose interior is sterilized, and the interior of the container 34 is sealed with a lid 50. The container 34 containing the rubber plug is carried, and the flange 34a provided on the opening side thereof is brought into close contact with the flange 38 of the connection port 36 of the isolator 2. When the container 34 is rotated by a predetermined angle in this state, the flange 38 of the connection port 36 and the flange 34a of the container 34 are connected in an airtight state. Further, at the same time as the flanges 38 and 34a are coupled, the lid 40 of the connection port 36 and the lid 50 of the container 34 are coupled in an airtight state.
[0026]
Thereafter, the handle 40a of the lid 40 of the connection port 36 is manually pulled through a glove or the like provided in the isolator 2, and the lid 40 of the connection port 36 and the lid 50 of the container 34 are integrated into the inner side of the isolator 2. Remove and release. The connection port 36 of the isolator 2 and the inside of the container 34 communicate with each other, and articles such as rubber stoppers in the container 34 can be put into the isolator 2. Therefore, a necessary amount of rubber stopper is introduced into the hopper 6 by inclining the container 34 with respect to the wall surface 2c of the isolator 2 via the flexible sleeve 42.
[0027]
Since the connection port 36 connected to the container 34 is attached to the opening 2e of the isolator 2 via the flexible sleeve 42, the inclination and height of the container 34 can be freely changed. The supply amount of the rubber plug accommodated in the hopper 6 can be adjusted. Moreover, since the container container 34 can be used instead of the bag container, there is no possibility that the container is broken and the sterilized state is destroyed. Moreover, since it is not necessary to provide an inclined surface in the isolator 2, the manufacturing cost of the isolator 2 can be reduced. The flexible sleeve 42 may be a bellows having a bellows on its surface. In any case, any other material, shape, or the like may be used as long as it can be deformed and can connect the connection port 36 to the isolator 2 so as to be sealed.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the opening side of the container container whose interior is sealed is coupled to the connection port provided on the wall surface of the chamber that shuts off the internal space from the outside, and the lid of the connection port of the chamber and the container container In the method for supplying articles to the chamber, which is integrally opened after connecting the lid on the opening side of the container to supply the articles accommodated in the container container into the chamber, the opening formed on the wall surface of the chamber and the The connection port is connected to the connection port with a deformable material while maintaining airtightness, and when the article in the container container is supplied into the chamber, the inclination amount of the container container is adjusted by the deformation of the connection member. It is possible to supply articles by tilting the connecting member even by deforming the connecting member, and the supply amount of articles can be adjusted. . Moreover, since a container container can be used instead of a bag container, there is no fear of damage to the container. Since the connecting member is made of a flexible material, there is a risk of opening a hole, but since it is attached to the isolator, it can be checked by performing a leak inspection during operation. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide an inclined wall surface on the isolator, the manufacturing cost of the isolator is reduced.
[0029]
In the article supply apparatus to the chamber according to the present invention, the article supply method can be easily and reliably performed. Furthermore, by supporting the connection port with the support means, the connection port can be supported without applying a heavy load by the flexible coupling member.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the overall configuration of an article supply device into a chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a main part of an article supply device into the chamber.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Chamber (isolator)
2c Chamber wall surface 2d Chamber opening 34 Transfer container (container)
36 Connection Port 40 Connection Port Cover 42 Connecting Member (Flexible Sleeve)
50 Transfer container lid

Claims (2)

The opening side of the container container sealed inside is connected to the connection port provided on the wall surface of the chamber that shuts off the internal space from the outside, and the lid of the connection port of the chamber and the lid on the opening side of the container container are connected. In the article supply method to the chamber that is integrally opened later and supplies the article accommodated in the container container into the chamber,
When the opening formed in the wall surface of the chamber and the connection port are connected to each other while maintaining airtightness by a connecting member made of a deformable material, and the article in the container container is supplied into the chamber, the connection is made. A method for supplying articles to a chamber, wherein the amount of inclination of the container is adjusted by deformation of a member. An internal space while isolated from the outside, a chamber connecting port is provided on the wall surface thereof, thereby sealing the interior, and a container case having a lid which can be coupled to the lid of the connection port of the chamber, the container vessel The opening side of the chamber is coupled to the connection port of the chamber, and the lid of the connection port of the chamber and the lid of the opening of the container container are connected, and then integrally opened to supply the article into the chamber. In the article supply device,
An article to the chamber, characterized in that the connection port is hermetically attached to the opening formed in the wall surface of the chamber via a connecting member made of a deformable material, and supporting means for supporting the connection port is provided. Feeding device.

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