JP5629502B2 - Isolator device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an isolator device, and more particularly, to an isolator device that can be used for an operation for keeping the inside in a sterile state and an operation for handling a substance that affects the human body inside.

  When working in a clean atmosphere, such as semiconductor or electronic component manufacturing or pharmaceutical manufacturing, keep the interior sterile and dust-free so that contaminants do not enter the external environment. Work is done in a clean working environment. When the work environment for performing such work is small, an isolator device that uses a chamber sealed from the outside environment and allows the worker to work from the outside of the chamber through a glove or a half suit. Used. Such an isolator device is particularly called a sterile isolator.

  On the other hand, work that deals with substances that affect the human body, such as work in the manufacturing stage of pharmaceuticals, work with highly toxic microorganisms in the fields of medicine and biology, or work with radioactive substances, affects the human body. It is necessary to protect workers from contamination with chemical substances and microorganisms that affect the environment, and to prevent these chemical substances and microorganisms that affect the human body from leaking from the work environment to the external environment. Also in such work, an isolator device that can work from the outside of the chamber sealed from the outside environment via a glove or a half suit is used. Such an isolator device is particularly called a containment isolator.

  The isolator device is airtightly shielded from the external environment in which the operator works, and also supplies external air to the chamber after cleaning it with a filter and cleans the air inside the chamber with a filter. Exhaust. Therefore, such an isolator device can basically be used as a sterile isolator or a containment isolator.

  Moreover, when using an isolator apparatus, safety | security can be improved further by adjusting the air pressure in a chamber according to the objective. That is, when used as a sterile isolator, the inside of the chamber is set to a pressure higher than the external air pressure (hereinafter referred to as positive pressure), and even if leakage from the chamber occurs, the air flows from the chamber side to the outside, so it floats from the outside. Bacteria and the like are prevented from entering the chamber.

  On the other hand, when used as a containment isolator, the inside of the chamber is used at a pressure lower than the external air pressure (hereinafter referred to as negative pressure), so that air flows from the outside into the chamber even if leakage from the chamber occurs. The chemical substances in the chamber do not contaminate the external environment.

  However, the isolator device is provided with a glass window that allows the inside of the chamber to be visually recognized from the outside, a glove on which an operator works, and an opening / closing door for carrying in and maintaining equipment in the chamber. Therefore, it is difficult to hermetically shield the chamber of the isolator device in an airtight manner, and it is conceivable that the shielding performance is destroyed during the operation of the isolator device. Furthermore, even if the air pressure in the chamber is adjusted, there is a limit to always providing a pressure difference due to various factors such as fluctuations in the external air pressure.

  In this way, if any leak occurs in the isolator device, the sterile isolator cannot maintain the sterilized and dust-free state in the chamber, and in the containment isolator, chemical substances and microorganisms handled in the chamber Will leak to the external environment.

  As a method for avoiding such a risk, in Patent Document 1 below, a negative pressure air suction path that is negative with respect to both the inside and outside of the chamber is installed on the inner peripheral edge of the joint provided in the chamber. There has been proposed a cleanliness maintenance device for an isolator device in which air passing through the inner peripheral edge of the joint is sucked by a negative pressure air suction path.

JP 2000-346418 A

  By the way, the cleanliness maintenance apparatus of the isolator apparatus proposed by the said patent document 1 provides the aseptic isolator aiming at maintaining a high aseptic / dust-free state, and provides a containment isolator. Not intended. Also, in order to maintain a high level of safety in this clean maintenance device, it is necessary to provide negative pressure air intake passages at all joints of the isolator device, which complicates the device structure and reduces the maintenance cost of the device. There was a problem that became high.

  Further, in the specification of Patent Document 1, a double wall type isolator device provided with the above-described cleaning maintenance device has been proposed, and this isolator device has an inner wall that forms a gap between the device housing. It is provided as a peripheral circuit of air, and an upward air flow is formed in the peripheral circuit, and even if contaminated air enters from the outside, it is blocked by the peripheral circuit, and the shielding performance is further improved (paragraph number 0030 of the same document specification). ~ 0031).

  This double wall type isolator device is applied to an aseptic isolator, and the air flowing in the peripheral circuit is sucked from the inside of the device, and chemical substances etc. are contained in the air in the device. It cannot be applied to containment isolators.

  Accordingly, the present invention is an isolator device that can cope with the above-described problems and can ensure high safety with a simple structure, and can maintain a high degree of sterility and dust-free state as a sterile isolator. In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide an isolator device capable of highly preventing leakage of chemical substances and microorganisms to the external environment as a containment isolator.

  In solving the above problems, the present inventors, as a result of diligent research, in the double wall type isolator device, the relationship between the partition wall provided in the chamber, the flow of air flowing in the chamber, and the position of the exhaust port provided in the chamber As a result, the inventors have found that the object of the present invention can be achieved, and have completed the present invention.

That is, according to the description of claim 1, the isolator device according to the present invention is
A work room (10);
An air supply means (20) for supplying one-way air flowing downward from above into the working chamber;
In an isolator device comprising exhaust means (30) for exhausting the one-way air from below the working chamber,
A partition wall (11a) provided in parallel with the peripheral wall (10a) of the working chamber along the unidirectional air;
A longitudinal exhaust port (18a, 18b) formed in the bottom wall (10e) of the working chamber and opening along the width direction of the lower end below the lower end of the partition ;
The air supply means includes a rectifying member (23) that forms the unidirectional air.
The rectifying member includes a frame (24) composed of a plurality of frame members (24a), and porous sheets (25a, 25b) fixed to the frame members so as to cover the upper surface and the bottom surface of the frame members. With
The frame member includes a plurality of through holes (24b) penetrating from the upper surface to the bottom surface,
The porous sheet is an opening portion of the through-hole in a portion that is in contact with and fixed to the frame member, and is either one of the upper surface opening portion and the bottom surface opening portion of the frame member. characterized that you cover the opening only.

  According to the said structure, the air of the one direction flow (what is called laminar flow) which goes to the downward direction from the upper direction is supplied by the air supply means inside the working chamber. Inside the working chamber, a partition wall is provided in a direction along the flow of the one-way air. The partition wall is formed in parallel with the peripheral wall portion of the work chamber, and the internal space of the work chamber is defined as a central space from the partition wall (hereinafter referred to as a central space) and a space between the partition wall and the peripheral wall portion (hereinafter referred to as a peripheral space). And). Accordingly, the unidirectional air flowing from the upper side to the lower side in the work chamber flows separately into the unidirectional air flowing from the upper side to the lower side in the central space and the unidirectional air flowing from the upper side to the lower side in the peripheral space. It will be.

  Further, the exhaust port provided in the bottom wall portion of the working chamber is below the lower end portion of the partition wall, that is, on the downstream side of the air in each one-way flow, and is elongated along the width direction of the lower end portion. It is open. Thus, each unidirectional air flowing in the central space and the peripheral space from the upper side to the lower side does not change the flowing direction, and is thus exhausted from the exhaust port without disturbing the laminar flow state.

  The work performed by the isolator device having the above configuration is performed in the central space, and a peripheral space is formed between the central space and the external environment. In this state, clean air supplied from the air supply means flows independently in the central space and the peripheral space, and these air are exhausted from the exhaust ports, respectively.

  Therefore, when the isolator device is used as a sterile isolator, floating bacteria and the like that have entered the surrounding space from the external environment are exhausted from the exhaust port along the clean one-way air flowing in the surrounding space. As a result, the sterile and dust-free state of the central space is not contaminated, and the high safety of the sterile isolator can be maintained.

On the other hand, when the isolator device is used as a containment isolator, chemical substances leaked from the central space to the peripheral space are exhausted from the exhaust port along clean one-way air flowing in the peripheral space. This prevents chemical substances and the like from leaking to the external environment and maintains the high safety of the containment isolator.
Moreover, according to the said structure, the air supply means has a rectifying member which consists of a frame and the porous sheet which coat | covers the upper surface and bottom face of this frame. The air supplied to the inside of the working chamber by the air supply means can pass through the porous sheet portion (the central portion of the rectifying member) of the rectifying member. A one-way flow of air from above to below is formed.
On the other hand, the portion of the frame body (peripheral portion of the rectifying member) of the rectifying member cannot pass air. In this case, it may be difficult to supply uniform unidirectional air to the entire internal space of the work chamber. Therefore, a plurality of through holes penetrating from the upper surface to the bottom surface are provided in the frame material constituting the frame body. Thereby, air can be supplied also from the part of the through-hole which penetrated the frame material.
However, even if a plurality of through holes are provided in the frame material, air does not pass through a portion where the through holes of the frame material do not open. Therefore, the air flow rate (apparent flow rate) from the entire frame member is equal to the air flow rate from the through-hole portion. Therefore, a difference is given to the number of porous sheets covered between the central portion and the peripheral portion (through-portion portion) of the rectifying member. That is, the central portion of the rectifying member is covered with a porous sheet at two locations, the top surface and the bottom surface, while the peripheral portion (the portion of the through hole) is covered with either the top surface opening portion or the bottom surface opening portion. Only cover the porous sheet.
Thus, the air passage resistance at the through-portion portion is smaller than the air passage resistance at the central portion of the rectifying member, and the air flow velocity at the through-portion portion is greater than the air flow velocity at the central portion. As a result, the air flow rate in the through-hole portion is greater than the air flow rate in the central portion. Accordingly, the difference between the air flow rate at the central portion of the rectifying member and the air flow rate (apparent flow rate) at the peripheral portion is reduced, and the air passing through the rectifying member is moved from the upper side to the lower side of the working chamber from the entire rectifying member. It becomes a unidirectional flow of air that flows toward it and flows more stably.

  Therefore, the present invention is an isolator device that has a simple structure and can ensure high safety, can maintain a high degree of sterility and dust-free state as a sterile isolator, and can be a chemical substance or microorganism as a containment isolator It is possible to provide an isolator device that can highly prevent leakage to the external environment.

According to the description of claim 2, the present invention is the isolator device according to claim 1,
Another partition wall (11b) provided in parallel with the other peripheral wall portion (10b) facing the peripheral wall portion;
Other exhaust ports (18c, 18d) that are formed in the bottom wall portion of the working chamber and open along the width direction of the lower end portion are provided below the lower end portions of the other partition walls. It is characterized by that.

  According to the above configuration, the partition walls are provided in parallel on the two peripheral wall portions facing each other of the isolator device, and the exhaust ports are opened below the lower ends of the partition walls. As a result, the one-way air flowing from the upper side to the lower side in the central space is exhausted by being divided into two exhaust ports that open in opposite directions, and the air in the working chamber flows more stably. It is discharged from the mouth.

  Therefore, also in the invention described in claim 2, the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1 can be further achieved.

According to the description of claim 3, the present invention is the isolator device according to claim 1 or 2,
The exhaust port opens at a position closer to the center of the work chamber than immediately below or directly below the lower end portion.

  According to the said structure, the exhaust port is opening near the center space from directly under or directly under the lower end part of a partition. As described above, the central space is a space where work is performed, and naturally occupies a larger volume than the surrounding space. Therefore, the flow rate of the air flowing through the central space is larger than the flow rate of the air flowing through the surrounding space, and the air in the working chamber becomes more stable by opening the exhaust port closer to the central space immediately below or directly below the lower end of the partition wall. And discharged from the exhaust port.

  Therefore, also in the invention described in claim 3, the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1 or 2 can be further achieved.

Moreover, according to the description of Claim 4, this invention is the isolator apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
The exhaust port is composed of one or more openings with respect to the partition wall,
The sum of the opening lengths in the longitudinal direction of the one or more openings is in a ratio of 50% to 100% with respect to the length in the width direction of the lower end.

  According to the said structure, the exhaust port provided in each partition may be comprised from one opening part, and may be divided and comprised in two or more openings. Furthermore, the sum total of the opening lengths in the longitudinal direction of these openings is preferably not less than a predetermined length. As a result, the air flowing along the partition wall flows more stably without being greatly changed in its direction, and is discharged from the exhaust port.

  Therefore, in the invention described in claim 4, it is possible to further achieve the same effect as that of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

Moreover, according to the description of Claim 5 , this invention is the isolator apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-4 ,
The porous sheet is a screen ridge having innumerable pores communicating between the front and back sides.

  According to the said structure, the porous sheet has innumerable pores which communicate the front and back. As a result, the air passing through the rectifying member is adjusted in flow by these pores to form stable one-way air.

Therefore, in the invention described in claim 5 , it is possible to further achieve the same effect as the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 4 .

Moreover, according to the description of Claim 6 , this invention is the isolator apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-5 ,
When supplying a predetermined amount of air to the rectifying member, in the air flowing through the rectifying member,
V1 is a flow rate of air passing through the portion where the porous sheet is covered and the porous sheet is single in the top opening or the bottom opening.
When the flow rate of air passing through the portion where the porous sheet is doubled without the porous sheet abutting on the frame member is V2,
The opening ratio X (%) of the opening covered by the porous sheet with respect to the area of the upper surface or the bottom surface of the frame material is expressed by the following formula:
X = (V2 / V1) × 100
As shown by the above, the frame member is formed by opening the through hole.

  According to the above configuration, the opening ratio X (%) of the through hole provided in the frame member is obtained by the above formula. Thus, when designing the rectifying member, the air flow in the central portion of the rectifying member is measured by measuring the flow velocity of the air in the single portion of the porous sheet and the flow velocity of the air in the double portion of the porous sheet. And the air flow rate (apparent flow rate) at the peripheral portion can be adjusted more accurately. As a result, the air passing through the rectifying member flows from the entire rectifying member to the inside of the work chamber as one-way air flowing downward from above to flow more stably.

Therefore, in the invention described in claim 6 , it is possible to further achieve the same effect as that of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 5 .

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each said means shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

It is the schematic which looked at the inside of one embodiment of the isolator device concerning the present invention from the side. It is the schematic which looked at the inside of the isolator apparatus shown in FIG. 1 from the upper surface. It is the schematic which looked at the inside of the conventional double wall type isolator apparatus from the side. It is a schematic diagram which shows a mode that air is attracted | sucked by the exhaust port of the isolator apparatus shown in FIG. It is the schematic which looked at a mode that air was attracted | sucked by the exhaust port from the side, Comprising: (A) shows the case where an exhaust port opens near the center of a chamber from right under a partition, (B) shows an exhaust port as a partition The case where it opens just below is shown. It is the schematic which looked at a mode that air was attracted | sucked when an exhaust port opens in the side wall of a chamber from the side surface. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the baffle plate of the isolator apparatus shown in FIG. It is the fragmentary sectional view which expanded the attachment part of the baffle plate shown by the circular part E of FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an isolator device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the inside of an isolator device according to the present invention as seen from the side, and an isolator device A is mounted on a base B mounted on the floor surface and the base B. It is comprised by the isolator main body C.

  The gantry B is covered with a wall made of a stainless steel metal plate, and has four (only two shown) exhaust primary filter units 31 (described later), an electrical equipment and a machine room (see FIG. (Not shown) is stored.

  The isolator main body C includes a chamber 10, an air supply mechanism 20, and an exhaust mechanism 30.

  The chamber 10 is formed of a box made of a stainless steel metal plate, and is hermetically shielded from the external environment in which the operator D works, except for the limited intake and exhaust ports. The chamber 10 includes a cleaning liquid spray nozzle and a drain groove (both not shown) for cleaning the inside.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the inside of the isolator device A as viewed from above, and inside the chamber 10, both wall portions 10 a and 10 b are respectively provided inside the front wall portion 10 a and the back wall portion 10 b of the chamber 10. A front partition wall 11a and a back partition wall 11b are disposed in parallel. Both the partition walls 11a and 11b are supported by the both side wall portions 10c and 10d so that the left and right end portions are in contact with the left and right side wall portions 10c and 10d of the facing chamber 10, respectively.

  Moreover, both the partition walls 11a and 11b provide a certain space without contacting the bottom wall portion 10e of the chamber 10 facing the lower end portion. Furthermore, both the partition walls 11a and 11b are provided with a certain space without coming into contact with a rectifying plate 23 (described later) provided below the upper wall portion 10f of the chamber 10 facing the upper end respectively (see FIG. 1).

  As described above, due to the both partition walls 11a and 11b provided in the chamber 10, the internal space 12 of the chamber 10 is defined as a space between the partition walls 11a and 11b (hereinafter referred to as a central space 12a), and both partition walls 11a, It is divided into two spaces (hereinafter referred to as peripheral spaces 12b and 12c) between 11b and both front and rear wall portions 10a and 10b.

  A transparent glass window 13 is provided on the front wall portion 10a of the chamber 10, and a transparent glass window 14 is also provided on the front partition wall 11a provided in parallel with the front wall portion 10a. Thereby, the worker D standing on the front surface of the chamber 10 can visually recognize the inside of the chamber 10 through the glass window 13 and the glass window 14 (see FIG. 1).

  The glass window 13 provided in the front wall portion 10 a has two working openings 13 a that allow communication between the outside and the internal space 12 of the chamber 10. The glass window 14 provided in the front partition wall 11a has two auxiliary openings 14a that allow the central space 12a and the peripheral space 12b to communicate with each other at a position facing the work opening 13a. A base end portion of a resin globe 15 is hermetically attached to each work opening 13a by a mounting frame 13b, and these globes 15 are also attached to each auxiliary opening 14a by an auxiliary frame 14b. The tip is inserted into the central space 12a (see FIG. 2).

  On the outside of the left side wall portion 10c of the chamber 10, ducts 16 communicating with the four exhaust primary filter units 31 housed in the frame B are provided upward along the left side surface of the chamber 10 (FIG. 2).

  In addition, two exhaust ports 18a to 18d are opened in the bottom wall portion 10e of the chamber 10 below the lower ends of the partition walls 11a and 11b (see FIG. 2). These exhaust ports 18a to 18d are provided in a longitudinal shape along the width direction of the lower end portions of the partition walls 11a and 11b, and are located closer to the center than the lower ends of the partition walls 11a and 11b, that is, the central space 12a. It is formed close.

  The air supply mechanism 20 includes an air supply blower 21 for supplying outside air into the chamber 10, an air supply filter unit 22 for filtering air supplied from the air supply blower 21, A rectifying plate 23 is provided for rectifying air supplied inside the air supply filter unit 22 and supplying the air into the chamber 10 (see FIG. 1).

  The air supply blower 21 is connected to the outside of the air supply filter unit 22 via a primary intake port 22 a (not shown) that opens in the upper wall portion of the air supply filter unit 22. The air discharged from the air supply blower 21 is supplied to the internal space of the air supply filter unit 22.

  The air supply filter unit 22 is provided in the upper portion of the chamber 10 through a secondary intake port 17 that opens to the upper wall portion 10 f of the chamber 10. The air supply filter unit 22 includes a HEPA filter 22 b for filtering the air supplied from the air supply blower 21 so as to face the secondary intake port 17. The air purified by the HEPA filter 22b is supplied to the internal space 12 of the chamber 10 via a rectifying plate 23 provided over the entire surface of the internal space 12 of the chamber 10 below the HEPA filter 22b. (See FIG. 1)

  The rectifying plate 23 has innumerable pores communicating with the front and back on the surface thereof, and makes the flow of air supplied to the chamber 10 uniform. As a result, the air supplied from the HEPA filter 22 b forms a one-way flow (so-called laminar flow) in the internal space 12 of the chamber 10 from the upper side to the lower side through the rectifying plate 23.

  The exhaust mechanism 30 is an exhaust primary filter unit 31 for purifying the air in the internal space 12 of the chamber 10, an exhaust secondary filter unit 32, and exhaust for exhausting the cleaned air to the outside of the chamber 10. Blower 33.

  As described above, four exhaust primary filter units 31 are housed in the frame B, and are respectively provided in the chamber 10 via the four exhaust ports 18a to 18d (see FIG. 2) that open to the bottom wall portion 10e of the chamber 10. Communicated with. The exhaust primary filter unit 31 includes a HEPA filter 31a for filtering the air exhausted from the exhaust ports 18a to 18d. The exhaust primary filter unit 31 is provided with an open / close door 31b for exchanging the internal HEPA filter 31a on the front and rear surfaces of the gantry B so as to be sealed and openable (see FIG. 1).

  The exhaust secondary filter unit 32 is provided in the upper part of the chamber 10 and in front of the air supply filter unit 22 and communicates with the exhaust primary filter unit 31 via the duct 16. The exhaust secondary filter unit 32 includes a HEPA filter 32 a for further filtering the air filtered by the exhaust primary filter unit 31. In addition, the exhaust secondary filter unit 32 is provided with an open / close door 32b for exchanging the internal HEPA filter 32a so as to be sealed and openable (see FIG. 1).

  The exhaust blower 33 communicates with the upper opening of the exhaust secondary filter unit 32 and is provided on the upper wall portion of the exhaust secondary filter unit 32. The exhaust blower 33 exhausts clean air filtered by the exhaust primary filter unit 31 and the exhaust secondary filter unit 32 to the outside of the chamber 10.

  Here, the flow of air during operation in the isolator device A according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  First, when the air supply blower 21 and the exhaust blower 31 are operated, the pressure of the air discharged from the air supply blower 21 is equalized in the internal space of the air supply filter unit 22 as described above. 22b. The air purified by the HEPA filter 22b forms a one-way air that flows downward from above in the internal space 12 of the chamber 10 via the rectifying plate 23. The structure and operation of the current plate 23 will be described later.

  In FIG. 1, the flow of air in the chamber 10 is described by arrows. In FIG. 1, most of the purified air supplied downward through the rectifying plate 23 passes through the central space 12 a of the internal space 12 of the chamber 10 and flows in one direction from above to below. Forms air. As a result, the air in the central space 12a on which the operator D performs work via the globe 15 flows from the exhaust ports 18a to 18d that open to the bottom wall portion 10e of the chamber 10 along a unidirectional flow from above to below. Discharged.

  Therefore, when the isolator device A is used as a sterile isolator, aseptic and dust-free air in the central space 45a is discharged from the exhaust ports 18a to 18d. On the other hand, when the isolator device A is used as a containment isolator, air containing chemicals and the like used in the operation in the central space 12a is exhausted from the exhaust ports 18a to 18d.

  In addition, other air out of the purified air supplied downward through the rectifying plate 23 passes through the peripheral spaces 12b and 12c in the internal space 12 of the chamber 10 and flows in one direction from above to below. Form air. The peripheral spaces 12b and 12c are separated from the central space 12a by the partition walls 11a and 11b, and work by the operator D is not performed.

  Therefore, not only when the isolator device A is used as a sterile isolator, but also when used as a containment isolator, clean air always flows in the peripheral spaces 12b and 12c. The clean air flowing through the peripheral spaces 12b and 12c is discharged from the exhaust ports 18a to 18d that open to the bottom wall portion 10e of the chamber 10 along a one-way flow from the top to the bottom. In such a state, the central space 12a and the peripheral spaces 12b and 12c in the chamber 10 always maintain a positive pressure with respect to the outside.

In the isolator device according to the present embodiment configured as described above, functions and effects of the partition wall and the exhaust port will be described.
(Effect of partition wall)
First, consider the case where the isolator device A is used as a sterile isolator. When leakage occurs from a joint portion provided on the front wall portion 10a of the chamber 10, for example, the mounting frame 13b provided in the opening 13a for work, and floating bacteria enter the chamber 10 from the outside, the floating bacteria And the like are discharged from the exhaust ports 18a and 18b that open to the bottom wall portion 10e of the chamber 10 along the clean air from the upper side to the lower side in the peripheral space 12b. At this time, the peripheral space 12b is separated from the central space 12a by the partition wall 11a, and suspended bacteria or the like that have entered from the leakage of the mounting frame 13b enter the central space 12a where work is performed in a sterile and dust-free state. There is no.

  Similarly, when the isolator device A is used as a sterile isolator, if leakage occurs from the joint provided in the partition wall 11a, for example, the auxiliary frame 14b provided in the auxiliary opening 14a, the peripheral space 12b is moved upward. The one-way air flowing downward from the bottom is always clean air, and even if air leaks from the leakage of the auxiliary frame 14b into the central space 12a, the aseptic / dust-free state is not contaminated.

  On the other hand, consider the case where the isolator device A is used as a containment isolator. When leakage occurs from a joint provided in the partition wall 11a, for example, the auxiliary frame 14b provided in the auxiliary opening 14a, and chemicals used in the central space 12a leak into the peripheral space 12b, the chemicals, etc. Are discharged from the exhaust ports 18a and 18b that open to the bottom wall portion 10e of the chamber 10 along the clean air from the top to the bottom in the peripheral space 12b. At this time, the peripheral space 12b is airtightly shielded from the external environment by the front wall portion 10a of the chamber 10, and chemicals leaked from the auxiliary frame 14b do not contaminate the external environment.

  Similarly, when the isolator device A is used as a containment isolator, when leakage occurs from a joint provided in the front wall 10a of the chamber 10, for example, the mounting frame 13b provided in the work opening 13a. The one-way air flowing from the upper side to the lower side in the peripheral space 12b is always clean air, and even if air leaks from the leakage of the mounting frame 13b to the external environment, the external environment is not contaminated.

  As described above, the isolator device A according to the present embodiment can ensure a high degree of safety in any case as a sterile isolator or a containment isolator.

  Here, in order to clarify the effect of the isolator device A according to the present embodiment, the air flow of the conventional double wall type isolator device will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the inside of the conventional isolator device F as seen from the side. In FIG. 3, the flow of air in the chamber 110 is described by arrows. When FIG. 3 is compared with FIG. 1, the upper end portions of both partition walls 111 a and 111 b are in contact with the upper wall portion 110 f of the chamber 110. The bottom wall 110e of the chamber 110 is not provided with an exhaust port.

  As a result, the air supplied into the chamber 110 via the rectifying plate 123 forms a one-way flow of air only from the upper side to the lower side in the central space 112a. The unidirectional air flowing from the upper side to the lower side only in the central space 112a reverses the direction of flow at the lower ends of the partition walls 111a and 111b, flows from the lower side to the upper side in the peripheral spaces 112b and 112c, and the exhaust filter unit 131, The air is exhausted to the outside by the exhaust blower 133 through 132.

  Consider the case where this conventional isolator device F is used as a sterile isolator. When leakage occurs from a joint portion provided on the front wall portion 110a of the chamber 110, for example, the attachment frame 113b provided in the work opening 113a, and the floating bacteria enter the chamber 110 from the outside, the floating bacteria Are supplied from the central space 112a and discharged to the exhaust filter units 131 and 132 provided in front of the upper portion of the chamber 110 along the clean air flowing from below to above the peripheral space 112b. At this time, the peripheral space 112b is separated from the central space 112a by the partition wall 111a, and suspended bacteria or the like that have entered from the leakage of the mounting frame 113b enter the central space 112a where work is performed in a sterile and dust-free state. There is no. This is the effect of the conventional double wall type isolator device.

  Similarly, in the case where the conventional isolator device F is used as a sterile isolator, if leakage occurs from a joint provided in the partition wall 111a, for example, the auxiliary frame 114b provided in the auxiliary opening 114a, the peripheral space 112b The unidirectional air flowing from the lower side to the upper side is clean air supplied from the central space 112a, and even if air leaks from the leakage of the auxiliary frame 114b to the central space 112a, the sterilized / dust-free state is contaminated. Never happen. This is also an effect of the conventional double wall type isolator device.

  On the other hand, consider the case where the conventional isolator device F is used as a containment isolator. When leakage occurs from a joint provided in the front wall 110a of the chamber 110, for example, the mounting frame 113b provided in the work opening 113a, the air flowing upward from below in the peripheral space 112b is a chemical substance or the like. Is supplied from a central space 112a. That is, the air that travels from the lower side to the upper side of the peripheral space 112b always contains chemical substances and the like. As a result, when leakage occurs from the mounting frame 113b, a chemical substance or the like harmful to the human body contaminates the external environment. Therefore, there is no double wall effect, and there is no difference from a normal single wall type isolator device, so that a high level of safety cannot be ensured.

Thus, even if the conventional isolator device F can ensure a high level of safety as a sterile isolator, it cannot ensure a high level of safety as a containment isolator.
(Exhaust vent effect)
Next, the operational effects of the exhaust ports 18a to 18d that open to the bottom wall portion 10e of the chamber 10 will be described. In the present embodiment, as described above, the exhaust ports 18a to 18d are in the bottom wall portion 10e of the chamber 10, and the length of the lower end portion is closer to the central space 12a than immediately below the lower end portions of the partition walls 11a and 11b. It is provided along the vertical direction.

  Here, the flow of air drawn into the exhaust ports 18a to 18d from the chamber 10 will be described with reference to FIG. Air a1 and a2 flowing downward from the upper side of the partition wall 11a (the central space 12a) from the upper side are sucked into the exhaust port 18a from the rear surface side of the partition wall 11a, and the front side (the peripheral space 12b) of the partition wall 11a is moved upward. The air b1 and b2 flowing downward from the air is sucked into the exhaust port 18a from the near side of the partition wall 11a.

  Similarly, air a3 and a4 flowing downward from the upper side of the partition wall 11a (the central space 12a) to the lower side are sucked into the exhaust port 18b from the rear surface side of the partition wall 11a, and the front side of the partition wall 11a (the peripheral space 12b). The air b3 and b4 flowing from above to below is sucked into the exhaust port 18b from the front side of the partition wall 11a.

  Thus, each exhaust port 18a-18d exists in the downward direction of the lower end part of each partition 11a, 11b, ie, the downstream side of the one-way flow air which flows downward from the upper direction, and follows the width direction of the said lower end part. Since the unidirectional air flowing in the central space 12a and the peripheral spaces 12b and 12c from the upper side to the lower side does not change the flow direction, the laminar flow state is not disturbed. The air is sucked into the exhaust ports 18a to 18d.

  Next, the positions of the exhaust ports 18a to 18d in the bottom wall portion 10e of the chamber 10 will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a state in which the air in the chamber 10 is sucked into the exhaust port 18a as viewed from the side. In FIG. 5A, the exhaust port 18a is opened closer to the central space 12a than immediately below the lower end of the partition wall 11a. In this state, the air c1 flowing from the upper side to the lower side in the peripheral space 12b is sucked into the exhaust port 18a without disturbing the laminar flow state. Similarly, air c2 and c3 flowing downward from above in the central space 12a are sucked into the exhaust port 18a without disturbing the laminar flow state.

  Here, the central space 12a is a space where work is performed as described above, and naturally occupies a larger volume than the peripheral space 12b, and the flow rate of air flowing through the central space 12a is greater than the flow rate of air flowing through the peripheral space 12b. Become more. Therefore, when the exhaust port 18a is opened closer to the central space 12a than immediately below the lower end of the partition wall 11a, the air flow near the exhaust port 18a is very stable without disturbing the laminar flow state.

  Moreover, in FIG. 5 (B), the exhaust port 18a is opened just under the lower end part of the partition 11a. In this state, the air d1 flowing from the upper side to the lower side in the peripheral space 12b is sucked into the exhaust port 18a without disturbing the laminar flow state. Similarly, air d2 and d3 flowing downward from above in the central space 12a are sucked into the exhaust port 18a without disturbing the laminar flow state. Thus, even when the exhaust port 18a is opened directly below the lower end of the partition wall 11a, the air flow in the vicinity of the exhaust port 18a is stabilized without disturbing the laminar flow state.

  On the other hand, in FIG. 6, the exhaust port 19 a opens at the lower end of the front wall portion 10 a of the chamber 10. In this state, the air e1 flowing from the upper side to the lower side in the peripheral space 12b and the air e2 and e3 flowing from the upper side to the lower side in the central space 12a are sucked into the exhaust port 19a, but many of them flow through the central space 12a. Since the air passes through the lower end of the partition wall 11a, a turbulent flow e4 is generated in the vicinity of the lower end.

  As a result, the flow of air flowing downward from above in the central space 12a and the peripheral space 12b is disturbed, and when used as a containment isolator, chemical substances contained in the air flowing from the central space 12a are contained in the chamber 10. In the vicinity of the front wall portion 10a, the surrounding space 12b is contaminated. In addition, even when used as a sterile isolator, floating bacteria or the like that have entered the peripheral space 12b from the outside flow into the central space 12a and contaminate the central space 12a.

  Further, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, the partition walls 11a and 11b are respectively provided on the front wall portion 10a and the back wall portion 10b of the isolator device A, and the exhaust ports 18a to 18b are respectively provided below the lower ends of the partition walls 11a and 11b. 18d is open. As a result, the one-way air flowing from the upper side to the lower side through the central space 12a is divided into two opposite exhaust ports (18a and 18b and 18c and 18d) and exhausted. Therefore, the air in the central space 12a can flow more stably without disturbing the laminar flow state.

  Moreover, according to the structure of this embodiment, each exhaust port provided under the lower end part of each partition 11a, 11b is comprised from two opening parts (18a and 18b and 18c and 18d), respectively. . However, each exhaust port is not limited to two openings with respect to one partition wall, and may be composed of one opening or divided into three or more openings. Also good. At this time, it is preferable that the total opening length in the longitudinal direction of these openings is equal to or greater than a predetermined length.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, in the two exhaust ports provided below the lower end of the partition wall 11a, the opening length (Y1) of the exhaust port 18a and the opening length (Y2) of the exhaust port 18b. (Y1 + Y2) is 60% with respect to the length (Z) in the width direction of the lower end of the partition wall 11a.

  On the other hand, in the two exhaust ports provided below the lower end of the partition wall 11b, the sum (Y3 + Y4) of the opening length (Y3) of the exhaust port 18c and the opening length (Y4) of the exhaust port 18d is It is 60% with respect to the length (Z) in the width direction of the lower end.

  Here, the sum total of the opening length of each exhaust port provided in the lower end portion of each partition wall is in a ratio of 50% to 100% with respect to the length in the width direction of the lower end portion of the partition wall. In addition, it is more preferable that the ratio is in the range of 60% to 100%. As a result, the air flowing along the partition wall is exhausted from the exhaust port without greatly changing its direction, and the air in the chamber 10 can flow more stably without disturbing the laminar flow state. .

As described above, in the present embodiment, the isolator device has a simple structure and can ensure high safety, and can maintain a high degree of sterility and dust-free state as a sterile isolator, and can also be a containment isolator. It is possible to provide an isolator device capable of highly preventing leakage of chemical substances and microorganisms to the external environment.
(Structure and function of current plate)
Next, in the isolator device A according to the present embodiment, the structure and operation of the rectifying plate 23 that supplies the central space 12a and the peripheral spaces 12b and 12c to the one-way air flow from the upper side to the lower side as more stable are shown in FIG. And it demonstrates according to FIG.

  As described above, the rectifying plate 23 is provided over the entire surface above the internal space 12 of the chamber 10 below the HEPA filter 22b (see FIG. 1). The current plate 23 is composed of a rectangular frame 24 made of stainless steel metal, and screen rods 25a and 25b attached to the frame 24 so as to cover the upper surface and the bottom surface of the frame 24 ( (See FIG. 8).

  The frame body 24 is assembled in a rectangular shape so that the four rectangular pipes 24 a cover the peripheral edge of the cross-sectional shape inside the chamber 10 (see FIG. 2). The rectangular pipe 24a constituting the frame body includes a plurality of through holes 24b penetrating from the upper surface to the bottom surface. The receiving member 26 for receiving the bottom surface of the frame body 24 and installing it on the side wall portions 10a to 10d of the chamber 10 is made of a stainless steel metal plate having an L-shaped cross section, and the bottom piece 26a has a through hole 24b. A similar through-hole 26b is provided at a position opposite to. (See FIG. 7). The operation of these through holes 24b and 26b will be described later.

  The screen reeds 25a and 25b are generally woven fabrics made of synthetic fiber long fibers, and innumerable pores communicating between the front and back are formed by the gap between the warp and the weft of the fabric. As a result, the air passing through the rectifying plate 23 is regulated in flow by these infinite number of pores, and forms a stable one-way air that flows from the top to the bottom in the internal space 12 of the chamber 10.

  The synthetic fiber long fibers forming the screen ridges 25a and 25b preferably have a wire diameter of 30 to 200 μm and an opening of 30 to 200 μm. In addition, any material may be used for the screen cages 25a and 25b, but in the present embodiment, polyethylene cages are used.

  The rectifying plate 23 configured as described above is installed on the upper portion of the chamber 10 together with the receiving member 26 that receives the frame body 24 from the bottom surface. First, the receiving member 26 is mounted on a small beam 10 g (see FIG. 2) partially provided on the upper part of the peripheral wall portions 10 a to 10 d of the chamber 10, and the vertical piece 26 c is placed on the peripheral wall portions 10 a to 10 a of the chamber 10. 10d is fixed in an airtight manner by a fastener 26d. The rectifying plate 23 is airtightly mounted on the L-shaped portion of the receiving member 26 from above. At this time, the current plate 23 and the receiving member 26 are fixed so that the through holes 24b and 26b communicate with each other. Such a structure facilitates cleaning and replacement of the current plate 23.

  As described above, a case is considered in which the rectifying plate 23 is installed above the internal space 12 of the chamber 10 and clean air is supplied to the internal space 12 through the rectifying plate 23. As shown in FIG. 8, air passes through a portion where the rectangular pipe 24a does not exist (hereinafter referred to as the central portion of the rectifying plate 23) and a portion where the rectangular pipe 24a exists (hereinafter referred to as the peripheral portion of the rectifying plate 23). The state is different.

  If the through hole 24b is not opened in the rectangular pipe 24a in the peripheral portion of the rectifying plate 23, air does not pass through this portion. Further, below the peripheral portion of the current plate 23, there is a peripheral space 12b divided by the partition wall 11a. As a result, the air flow rate is different between the central space 12a and the peripheral space 12b in the chamber 10. In this case, there is a possibility that a difference occurs in the state of the air flowing through the central space 12a and the peripheral space 12b, and if the laminar flow state of the air is disturbed below the chamber 10, the high safety of the isolator device A is ensured. Becomes difficult.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, the rectangular pipe 24a and the receiving member 26 of the frame body 24 are provided with the through holes 24b and 26b penetrating from the top surface to the bottom surface (see FIG. 8). As a result, air also passes through the portions of the through holes 24b and 26b penetrating the rectangular pipe 24a and the receiving member 26, so that the air can also be supplied below the peripheral portion of the rectifying plate 23.

  However, in order to maintain the strength of the frame body 24, there is a limit to the opening ratio of the through hole 24b that can be opened in the rectangular pipe 24a. Therefore, the flow rate of air from the through holes 24b and 26b is increased so that the flow rate of air from the entire peripheral portion of the rectifying plate 23 (apparent flow rate) is made close to the flow rate of air from the central portion of the rectifying plate 23. I did it. For this purpose, a difference is given to the number of screen ridges covered between the central portion and the peripheral portion (through hole portion) of the current plate 23. That is, the center portion of the rectifying plate 23 is covered with two screen rods 25a and 25b on the top surface and the bottom surface, while the peripheral portion (portion portion) has only one screen rod on the bottom opening. 25a is covered (see FIG. 8).

  As a result, the air passage resistance at the through-portion portion of the rectifying plate 23 is smaller than the air passage resistance at the central portion of the rectifying plate 23, and the air flow velocity at the through-portion 24b is the air flow velocity at the central portion. Become bigger. As a result, the air flow rate in the through-hole 24b is greater than the air flow rate in the central portion. Therefore, the difference between the air flow rate at the central portion of the rectifying plate 23 and the air flow rate (apparent flow rate) at the peripheral portion is reduced. As a result, the air passing through the rectifying plate 23 flows stably from the entire rectifying plate 23 through the internal space 12 of the chamber 10 as one-way air flowing from above to below, and the laminar flow state in the chamber is Furthermore, stable and high safety can be maintained.

Further, by adjusting the opening ratio of the through hole 24b with respect to the area of the bottom surface of the rectangular pipe 24a, higher safety can be ensured. In this method, the flow velocity of air passing through the bottom surface portion of the through-hole 24b that covers only the screen rod 25a (the portion where the screen rod is single) is V1, and the portion where the screen rod 25a and the screen rod 25b are coated (the screen rod). When the flow velocity of the air passing through the double portion is V2, the opening ratio X (%) of the through-hole 24b is expressed by the following equation:
X = (V2 / V1) × 100
Is required.

  Thus, when the rectifying plate 23 is designed, the air flow rate at the central portion of the rectifying plate 23 is measured by measuring the flow velocity of the air where the screen ridge is a single portion and the flow velocity of the air where the screen ridge is a double portion. And the air flow rate (apparent flow rate) at the peripheral portion can be adjusted more accurately. As a result, the air passing through the rectifying plate 23 flows from the entire rectifying plate 23 into the internal space 12 of the chamber 10 as one-way air flowing downward from above to flow more stably.

In carrying out the present invention, not only the above-described embodiments but also the following various modifications can be mentioned.
(1) In the above embodiment, two partition walls are provided on the front surface and the back surface of the chamber, but the number of partition walls provided in the chamber is not limited to this, and only one surface may be provided. You may make it provide in 3rd surface and 4th surface.
(2) In the above embodiment, the shape of the longitudinal exhaust port is an ellipse. However, the shape is not limited to this, and any shape such as a rectangular shape can be used as long as it opens in the longitudinal shape. Good.
(3) In the above embodiment, a hollow rectangular pipe is used as the frame material constituting the frame of the rectifying plate. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a rectangular metal rod or the like is used instead of the rectangular pipe. May be. Moreover, the cross-sectional shape may not be rectangular.
(4) In the above embodiment, the shape of the through-hole opening in the rectangular pipe constituting the flow regulating plate frame is an ellipse. However, the shape is not limited to this, and any shape such as a round shape or a rectangular shape may be used. It may be.
(5) In the above embodiment, the through-hole is formed in the rectangular pipe constituting the rectifying plate frame, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a rectangular pipe whose upper and bottom surfaces are all punched plates is used. You may make it do.
(6) In the above embodiment, screen ridges having the same wire diameter and the same mesh are used on the top and bottom surfaces as the porous sheet of the rectifying plate, but the present invention is not limited to this, and screen ridges used on the top and bottom surfaces. The wire diameters or openings may be different. In this case, for example, the difference in the air passage resistance between the single portion and the double portion may be made larger by roughening the opening of the screen ridge on the bottom side (the one attached to the frame member). it can. Further, for the porous sheet, a porous ceramic plate having communication holes may be used instead of the screen ridge.
(7) In the above embodiment, a combination of a single portion and a double portion of the screen ridge is adopted for the current plate, but is not limited to this, a combination of a double portion and a triple portion, Alternatively, any combination such as a combination of a single portion and a triple portion may be adopted.
(8) In the above embodiment, the exhaust primary filter unit is disposed below the chamber. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the exhaust primary filter unit is disposed above the chamber via a duct from the exhaust port. You may make it do.
(9) In the above embodiment, two gloves are attached to the chamber, but the number of gloves attached to the chamber is not limited to these. Further, a half suit or the like may be worn instead of the glove.
(10) In the above embodiment, the HEPA filter is used for the supply and exhaust filters, but is not limited to the HEPA filter, and a ULPA filter or other high-performance filter is installed in the chamber. What is necessary is just to select suitably according to the intended purpose of work.

  A ... Isolator device, B ... Base, C ... Isolator body, D ... Worker, 10 ... Chamber, 11a, 11b ... Bulkhead, 12 ... Internal space, 12a ... Central space, 12b ... Peripheral space, 13, 14 ... Glass window 15 ... Globe, 18a to 18d ... Exhaust port, 20 ... Air supply mechanism, 21 ... Air supply blower, 22 ... Air supply filter unit, 22b, 31a, 32a ... HEPA filter, 23 ... Current plate, 24 ... Frame Body, 24a ... Frame material, 24b, 26b ... Through hole, 25a, 25b ... Screen rod, 26 ... Receiving member, 30 ... Exhaust mechanism, 31 ... Primary filter unit for exhaust, 32 ... Secondary filter unit for exhaust, 33 ... exhaust blower.

Claims (6)

A working room,
An air supply means for supplying one-way air flowing downward from above into the working chamber;
In an isolator device comprising exhaust means for exhausting the one-way air from below the work chamber,
A partition wall provided in parallel with the peripheral wall portion of the working chamber along the unidirectional air flow,
A longitudinal exhaust opening formed in the bottom wall portion of the working chamber and opening along the width direction of the lower end portion below the lower end portion of the partition ;
The air supply means includes a rectifying member that forms the one-way air,
The rectifying member includes a frame made of a plurality of frame members, and a porous sheet fixed to the frame member so as to cover the upper surface and the bottom surface of the frame member,
The frame member comprises a plurality of through holes penetrating from the top surface to the bottom surface,
The porous sheet is an opening of the through-hole in a portion that contacts the frame member and is fixed to the frame member, and is either one of an upper surface opening portion and a bottom surface opening portion of the frame material. isolator device characterized that you cover the opening only. Other partition walls provided in parallel with the other peripheral wall portion facing the peripheral wall portion,
It is provided with the other longitudinal exhaust port formed in the bottom wall portion of the working chamber and opening along the width direction of the lower end portion below the lower end portion of the other partition wall. The isolator device according to claim 1.   3. The isolator device according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust port opens toward a center of the work chamber from directly below or directly below the lower end portion. 4. The exhaust port is composed of one or more openings with respect to the partition wall,
The sum of the opening lengths in the longitudinal direction of the one or more openings is 50% to 100% of the length in the width direction of the lower end. The isolator apparatus as described in any one of 1-3.   The isolator device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the porous sheet is a screen rod having innumerable pores communicating with the front and back.   When supplying a predetermined amount of air to the rectifying member, in the air flowing through the rectifying member,
  V1 is a flow velocity of air passing through the portion where the porous sheet is covered and the porous sheet is single in the top opening or the bottom opening,
  When the flow rate of air passing through the portion where the porous sheet is doubled without the porous sheet contacting the frame member is V2,
  The opening ratio X (%) of the opening covered by the porous sheet with respect to the area of the upper surface or the bottom surface of the frame member is expressed by the following formula:
        X = (V2 / V1) × 100
The isolator device according to claim 1, wherein the through hole is opened in the frame member.

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