Isolator for cell culture

An isolator for cultivating cells including a working chamber having a plurality of gloves arranged side by side into which operator's hands are inserted to operate cells, the working chamber being sectioned into at least an operation area for operating the cells, and an auxiliary working area for opening a packaged auxiliary instrument used to operate the cells, a gas supply unit that supplies gas into the working chamber so that the gas flows downwardly from an upper side in the working chamber, and a gas flow control unit for controlling the flow of the downwardly flowing gas so that the gas flows from the operation area to the auxiliary working area around the gloves, wherein the gas flow control unit has an exhaust hole portion that has an opened area for passing the gas therethrough and is provided at a lower portion of at least the auxiliary working area, and through which the gas in the auxiliary working area is exhausted.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-043551 filed on Feb. 26, 2010. The content of the application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an isolator for cell culture (cultivation).

2. Description of Related Art

An isolator containing a working chamber under a sterile environment has been used (for example, see JP-T-2001-518816; the term “JP-T” as used herein means a published Japanese translation of a PCT patent application). In the isolator, a culturing work for culture, operation, observation, etc. of cells of human bodies, animals or plants or microorganisms is performed by a worker.

In some cases, an auxiliary work such as an opening work, a seal-breaking work, etc. of instruments for experiments and chemicals is performed in an isolator. Therefore, when this auxiliary work is performed, dust or dirt occurs in some cases. Therefore, when the auxiliary work is performed, dust or dirt occurs and invades into cells or the like, whereby a culturing work is adversely affected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to attain the above object, according to the present invention, an isolator for cultivating cells, comprises: a working chamber having a plurality of gloves arranged side by side into which operator's hands are inserted to operate cells, the working chamber being sectioned into at least an operation area for operating the cells, and an auxiliary working area for opening a packaged auxiliary instrument used to operate the cells; a gas supply unit that supplies gas into the working chamber so that the gas flows downwardly from an upper side in the working chamber; and a gas flow control unit for controlling the flow of the downwardly flowing gas so that the gas flows from the operation area to the auxiliary working area around the gloves (particularly in the neighborhood of the gloves), wherein the gas flow control unit has an exhaust hole portion that has an opened area for passing the gas therethrough and is provided at a lower portion of at least the auxiliary working area, and through which the gas in the auxiliary working area is exhausted.

In the above isolator, the exhaust hole portion is provided to each of the operation area and the auxiliary working area, and the opened area of the exhaust hole portion at the auxiliary working area side is set to be larger in total opening area than the opened area of the exhaust hole portion at the operation area side.

The above isolator further comprises an air supply port that exhausts the gas from the exhaust hole portion and is disposed at the auxiliary working area side.

In the above isolator, the air supply port serves as an air supply port of an exhaust duct for exhausting the gas from the exhaust hole portion.

The above isolator further comprises an exhaust blower for exhausting the gas from the exhaust hole portion, wherein the air supply port serves as an air supply port of the exhaust blower, and the exhaust blower is provided below the lower portion of the auxiliary working area.

In the above isolator, the exhaust hole portion is provided to each of the operation area and the auxiliary working area, and the opening area of the opened area of the exhaust hole portion at the lower portion of the auxiliary working area is set to be equal to the opening area of the opened area of the exhaust hole portion at the operation area side.

In the above isolator, the exhaust hole portion comprises a belt-like member that extends in a width direction of the working chamber and has a plurality of holes formed therein.

The above isolator further comprises a cultivating chamber for cell culture that is disposed to be adjacent to the operation area.

According to the isolator of the present invention, contamination of dirt or dust into cells or the like can be prevented, and thus dirt or dust can be prevented from affecting the cultivation (culture) work such as the operation, etc. of cells or the like can be prevented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1is a front view showing an isolator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 1, an isolator10has a glove box11whose inside is kept under sterile conditions, a frame12for supporting the glove box11from the lower side, an air supply blower13and an exhaustion blower14which are provided on the top surface of the glove box11, and a decontamination unit for decontaminating the inside of the glove box11with decontamination gas.

The inner space of the glove box11serves as a working chamber16in which works for biological derivative materials as targets such as a cell extraction work, a cell culturing work, etc. are performed. The glove box11has a box-shaped housing17which is opened at one surface thereof, and a transparent plate18which is formed of a rectangular glass or resin member and closes the opening of the housing17. The inside of the working chamber16is visually identified through the transparent plate18which is provided to the substantially overall front surface of the glove box11. The glove box11is designed in a rectangular shape which is longest in the width direction thereof.

The transparent plate18is provided with plural gloves19A,19B,19C,19D extending into the working chamber16, and a worker for operating and cultivating cells, etc. can perform works in the working chamber16by inserting his/her hands from the outside into the gloves19A,19B,19C,19D. Each of the gloves19A,19B,19C,19D is disposed at a lower position than the intermediate portion of the glove box11in height. In this embodiment, four gloves19A,19B,19C and19D are horizontally arranged substantially side by side on a line so as to be spaced from one another at a substantially equal interval. That is, in the glove box11, the four gloves19A,19B,19C and19D are arranged side by side laterally in the glove box11, and thus two workers can perform works at the same time by inserting their both hands into the gloves19A,19B,19C and19D. The glove box11contains an incubator21(cultivating chamber) for cultivating cells accommodated therein, a pass box22through which articles (samples) are inserted into and taken out from the working chamber16, a joint box23to which the incubator21is secured, and a centrifugal machine20.

The joint box23is provided to one side surface24A at one end side in the width direction of the glove box11, and has a joint box door23A for blocking a part of the one side surface24A so that the one side surface24A is freely opened or closed. The incubator21is freely detachably secured to the joint box23.

The incubator21is a box-shaped cultivating chamber in which an environment suitable for cultivating cells is formed. The incubator21is designed so that the temperature and CO2concentration in the incubator21can be adjusted, and it has a function of decontaminating the inside thereof. The incubator21is provided with a door21A for closing the inside of the incubator21so that the inside of the incubator21can be hermetically sealed. The incubator21is secured to the joint box23from the outside under the state that the door21A faces the joint box door23A. When the worker accesses the incubator21from the inside of the working chamber16, the worker opens the joint box door23A, opens the door21A and then extends his/her hand to insert or take out cells accommodated in petri dish or like into/from the incubator21. Furthermore, under the state that the incubator21is detached from the joint box23, the joint box door23A is closed, and the hermetic sealing state between the inside of the working chamber16and the outside of the working chamber16is kept.

The pass box22is a front chamber used when articles are inserted into or taken out from the glove box11. The pass box22has an external door22B provided to the front surface side of the glove box11so as to be freely openable and closable, and an internal door22B for closing a part of the side surface of the glove box11so that the part can be freely opened/closed. The pass box22is provided to the other side surface24B at the other end side in the width direction of the glove box11. Furthermore, the pass box22is connected to a decontamination unit15.

When an article is carried into the glove box11, the external door22A is opened, the article is put into the pass box22and then the external door22A is closed. Under this state, the article is decontaminated by the decontamination unit15. Thereafter, the internal door22B is opened by using the gloves19C and19D, and the article is taken out from the pass box22, whereby the article can be carried into the glove box11.

Articles which are to be carried into the glove box11by using the pass box22contain instruments, etc. used for cultivating works, and for example, an injector is used as an article. The instruments such as injectors, etc. are accommodated in packages which are managed under a sterile condition.

The glove box11is sectioned into an operation area25in which cultivating works such as cultivation, operation, observation, etc. of cells are performed, and an auxiliary working area35in which auxiliary works for the cultivating work are performed. An opening work for opening packages for instruments and chemicals used for the cultivating work, an operation of the centrifugal machine20, etc. are performed as the auxiliary works.

Specifically, the operation area25is one half side portion at one side of the glove box11at which the incubator21is disposed, and the auxiliary working area is the other half side portion at the other side of the glove box11at which the pass box22is disposed. The boundary portion S between the operation area25and the auxiliary working area35is located at the intermediate portion between the two gloves19B and19C at the center side as indicated by two-dotted chain line extending in the vertical direction ofFIG. 1. That is, the two gloves19A and19bat the incubator21side are used for the works to be performed in the operation area25, and the two gloves19C and19D at the pass box22side are used for the works to be performed in the auxiliary working area35. A worker may insert his/her right and left hands into the two gloves19B and19C at the center portion and perform a work over the operation area25and the auxiliary working area35by using both the right and left hands.

In this embodiment, the half side portion (the left side portion inFIG. 1) of the working chamber16at the incubator21side is used as the operation area25for performing the cultivating work such as the operation, etc. of cells, and thus the cells used in the cultivating work can be directly carried into the incubator21by using the gloves19A and10B, so that the workability can be enhanced. Furthermore, the other half side portion (the right side portion inFIG. 1) of the working chamber16at the pass box22side is used as the auxiliary working area35, and thus the instruments, etc. which are taken out from the bass box22can be opened and supplied to the operation area25by using the gloves19C and19D, so that the workability is enhanced.

The centrifugal machine20is used for a work of separating cells, etc., and disposed at the intermediate portion in the width direction of the glove box11. Therefore, the centrifugal machine20can be used from both the sides of the operation area25side and the auxiliary working area35side.

Furthermore, the operation area25of the glove box11is provided with a display26. The display26is provided so as to face the transparent plate18, and it can display a working procedure of the cultivating work, etc. to the worker.

FIG. 2is a side cross-sectional view showing the isolator10.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the air supply (air suction) blower13and the exhaust blower14are provided above the glove box11to be arranged in the front-and-rear direction. The air supply blower13is disposed at the front portion of the transparent plate18side, and the exhaust blower14is disposed at the rear portion of the transparent plate18side. An air supply blower catalysis28and an air supply valve29for adjusting an air supply (intake) amount are connected to the air supply blower13. An exhaust catalysis31for purifying exhaust gas discharged to the outside and an exhaust valve30for adjusting an exhaust gas amount are connected to the exhaust blower14.

The air supply blower13and the exhaust gas blower14are insulated from each other by a partition portion32extending in the vertical direction (FIG. 2). An air supply chamber33extending substantially wholly in the width direction of the glove box11is disposed below the air supply blower13, and an air supply filter34for collecting dust in sucked gas (air or the like) is provided between the air supply chamber33and the working chamber16. Furthermore, an exhaust chamber36extending substantially wholly in the width direction of the glove box11is provided below the exhaust blower14, and an exhaust filter37for collecting dust in exhaust gas (air or the like) is provided between the exhaust chamber36and the working chamber16.

An inner wall plate40extending substantially wholly in the width direction of the inside of the glove box11is provided to partition the inside of the glove box11. A space is formed at the lower portion and back surface portion of the inside of the glove box11by the inner wall plate40. The inner wall plate40is formed as if one plate member is bent, and it is constructed to have a working plate42(lower surface) which is disposed to be spaced from the bottom surface of the housing17and constitutes the bottom surface portion of the working chamber16, a back surface plate43which is disposed to be spaced from the back surface41B of the housing17and constitutes the back surface of the working chamber16, and a partition plate44for connecting the upper end of the back surface plate43and the upper surface of the working chamber16.

The working plate42is provided substantially in parallel to the bottom surface41A, and an exhaust hole portion45extending in the width direction of the glove box11is formed in each of the front and rear edges of the working plate42. The back surface plate43is continuous with the rear edge of the working plate42and extends upwardly in parallel to the back surface41B. The partition plate44extends obliquely from the upper edge of the back surface plate43to the front surface side, and also is connected to the lower surface of the partition portion32. The space surrounded by the working plate42, the back surface plate43, the partition plate44, and the bottom surfaces41A and the back surface41B of the housing17functions as an exhaust gas passage46, and the exhaust gas from the working chamber16passes through the exhaust gas passage46and flows to the exhaust blower14side. The exhaust gas passage46has a lower duct46extending at the lower side of the working plate42and an upper duct46B (exhaust duct) which is continuous with the lower duct46A and extends upwardly between the back surface41B of the housing17and the back surface plate43. The lower end of the upper duct46B serves as an air supply port46C of the upper duct46B.

Air (gas) at the outside of the glove box11passes through the air supply catalyst28, invades into the air supply chamber33through the air supply valve29, prevails over the whole area of the air supply chamber33in the width direction, passes through the air supply filter34so that dust in the air (gas) is removed, and then flows into the working chamber16from the upper side. The air (gas) flowing into the working chamber16flows from the upper side to the lower side over the whole area of the working chamber16in the width direction, reaches the lower duct46A through the exhaust hole portions45of the front and rear edges of the working plate42, flows upwardly in the upper duct46B, passes through the exhaust gas filter37and then flows into the exhaust chamber36. The air (gas) flowing into the exhaust chamber36is sucked by the exhaust blower14, passed through the exhaust valve30and the exhaust catalyst31and then discharged to the outside.

FIGS. 3 and 4are top views of the inside of the working chamber16.FIG. 3shows a state that the joint box door23A is closed, andFIG. 4shows a state that the joint box door23A is opened.

The joint box door23A has a hinge23B (FIG. 1) at the lower edge thereof, and it is downwardly laid toward the working chamber16side around the hinge23B, whereby the opening state is set.

As shown inFIG. 3, a substantially rectangular door mount recess portion47which is concaved downwardly is formed on the working plate42at the operation area25side. The door mount recess portion47is formed in conformity with the joint box door24A, and when the joint box door23A is set to the open state, the joint box door23A is mounted in the door mount recess portion47as shown inFIG. 4. Under the state that the joint box door23A is mounted in the door mount recess portion47, the upper surface of the joint box door23A is coincident with the upper surface of the working plate42in height, and thus the joint box door23A serves as a part of the working plate42.

That is, when a cultivating work is performed, the joint box door23A is used under the open state, and functions as a working table. The cultivating work is mainly performed on the joint box door23A. As described above, the joint box door23A is downwardly laid to be set to the open state, and mounted in the door mount recess portion47. Therefore, the joint box door23A can be prevented from obstructing the display of the display26, and also the joint box door23A can be used as a working table.

A wall portion is provided between the door mount recess portion47and the lower duct46A, and thus the door mount recess portion47does not directly intercommunicate with the lower duct46A.

The centrifugal machine20is covered by an lid portion20A which is freely openable and closable, and located below the working plate42. The lid portion20A is provided so that the surface thereof is coincident with the surface of the working plate42and thus serves as a part of the working plate42. The end47A of the door mount recess portion47is located at the incubator21side with respect to the centrifugal machine20so that it does not disturb the arrangement of the centrifugal machine20.

The exhaust hole portions45extend in a belt-like arrangement in the width direction of the glove box11along the front and rear edges of the working plate42, and plural holes having substantially the same diameter are formed to penetrate through the working plate42and arranged to be spaced from one another at a substantially equal interval. The exhaust hole portions45are provided to the front and rear edges of the working plate42, and thus they are prevented from obstructing the cultivating work and the auxiliary work. Here, the exhaust hole portions45may be provided by directly forming holes in the working plate42or by providing punching metal or a mesh-like plate at the front and rear edge portions of the working plate42.

Furthermore, the upper duct46B and the lower duct46A are provided over the whole area in the width direction of the glove box11.

Each of the exhaust hole portion45is configured to have an operation area side exhaust hole portion45A provided in the operation area25(an exhaust hole portion at the operation area side), and an auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portion45B provided in the auxiliary working area35(an exhaust hole portion at the auxiliary working area side).

The operation area side exhaust hole portion45A is provided so that a part thereof is overlapped with the door mount recess portion47, and no hole is formed at the overlap portion thereof with the door mount recess portion47. Specifically, the operation area side exhaust hole portion45A at the rear edge side is provided only around (particularly, in the neighborhood) of the boundary portion S. In the operation area side exhaust hole portion45A at the front edge side, the operation area side exhaust hole portion45A is provided to be continuous from the boundary portion S to the incubator21side. However, in the operation area side exhaust hole portion45A, the number of holes located along the door mount recess portion47is set to be smaller than the number of holes located at the other portions.

Furthermore, the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions45B are provided to be continuous from the boundary portion S to the pass box22side (FIG. 1) at both the front and rear edges.

That is, in the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions45B, a larger number of holes are formed than that in the operation area side exhaust hole portions45A. Therefore, in the exhaust hole portions45, the total opening space (the total area of the opening) of the holes in the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions45B is larger than the total opening space of the holes in the operation area side exhaust hole portions45A. Therefore, air (gas) more easily flows into the working chamber16at the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portion45B side than that at the operation area side exhaust portion45A. Therefore, in the working chamber16, air (gas) flows from the operation area25side at the upstream side to the auxiliary working area35side at the downstream side. That is, air (gas) flow in the working chamber16is controlled by the exhaust hole portions45, and the exhaust hole portions45function as an air (gas) flow control unit.

Next, the air (gas) flow in the working chamber16will be described. InFIGS. 1,2and4, the flow of air (gas) is represented by an arrow X.

As shown inFIG. 1, fresh air is supplied from the air supply chamber33extending in the width direction into the whole area in the width direction of the working chamber16. This air flows downwardly as if it is attracted by the front and rear exhaust hole portions45.

As shown inFIG. 1, the downwardly flowing air flow straightly downwardly in the auxiliary working area35, and flows into each of the front and rear auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions45B. In the operation area25, most of the downwardly flowing air flows straightly downwardly to the neighborhood of the gloves19A,19B. Below the gloves19A,19B, the flow of the air is bent to the auxiliary working area35side around (particularly, in the neighborhood of the working plate42) as if the air is attracted to the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions45B, and then the air flows into each of the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions45B. A part of the air flowing in the operation area25flows into the operation area side exhaust hole portions45A. Thereafter, the air flowing into the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions45B and the operation area side exhaust hole portions45A is passed through the lower duct46A and the upper duct46B and discharged from the exhaust blower14to the outside.

As described above, in the glove box11, the total opening area of the holes of the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions45B is set to be larger than the total opening area of the holes of the operation area side exhaust hole portion45A, whereby the air flows from the operation area25side to the auxiliary working area35side. Therefore, even when dust has already occurred when the auxiliary work is performed at the auxiliary working area35side, this dust is made to flow to the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions45B by the air flowing to the auxiliary working area35side. Accordingly, dust can be prevented from contaminating into the place at the operation area25side at which the cultivating work is performed.

Furthermore, in the operation area25, the air flowing downwardly to the neighborhood of the gloves19A and19B is attracted by the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions45B, and the air flow is bent to the auxiliary working area35side around the working plate42below the gloves19A,19B. Therefore, the air is made to flow from the upper side to the lower side while the air is supplied as uniformly as possible, and the air flow is bent to the auxiliary working area35side around the working plate42, thereby preventing contamination of dust.

Furthermore, two workers can simultaneously perform a work in the operation area25and the auxiliary working area35respectively while sharing the work by using the gloves19A,19B and the gloves19C,19D, respectively. Therefore, the working efficiency can be enhanced, and also even when a package for an instrument or the like is opened in the auxiliary working area35, dust caused by the package can be prevented from contaminating into the operation area25.

As described above, according to the first embodiment to which the present invention is applied, the air flowing from the upper side to the lower side in the operation area and the auxiliary working area35is controlled to flow from the operation area25side to the auxiliary working area35side around (particularly, in the neighborhood of) the gloves19A and19B by the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions45B of the exhaust hole portions45. Therefore, air (gas) can be made to flow from the operation area25side to the auxiliary working area35side while uniformly supplied into the working chamber16. Accordingly, dust caused by a package opened at the auxiliary working area35side is made to flow to the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions45B by the air (gas) stream from the operation area25side to the auxiliary working area35side, so that scattering of dirt and dust to the operation area25side can be prevented, and they can be prevented from affecting the cultivating work such as the operation, etc. of cells.

Furthermore, the air flow is controlled by the exhaust hole portions45provided to the working plate42in the operation area25and the auxiliary working area35. Therefore, the air (gas) flow can be controlled so that the air (gas) flows to the auxiliary working area35side around (particularly, in the neighborhood of) the working plate42, so that the air (gas) can be made to flow from the operation area25side to the auxiliary working area35side while the air (gas) is made to flow from the upper side to the lower side to uniformly supply the air (gas) into the working chamber16. Furthermore, the total opening area of the holes at the auxiliary working area35side is set to be larger than the total opening area of the holes at the operation area25side, whereby the air flow can be controlled. Accordingly, it is not required to provide any dedicated part for controlling the air flow, and the structure can be simplified.

Furthermore, the incubator21is provided at the operation area25side, and thus cells operated in the operation area25can be easily taken out from the operation area25and put into the incubator21. Therefore, the workability is excellent. Furthermore, contamination of dirt or dust into the incubator21can be prevented.

The first embodiment is a mere embodiment of the present invention, and thus the present invention is not limited to the first embodiment.

In the first embodiment, the inside of the working chamber16is sectioned into the operation area25and the auxiliary working area35. However, the present invention is not limited to this style, and the inside of the working chamber16may be sectioned into at least the operation area25and the auxiliary working area35. For example, a storage area for storing instruments, etc. may be provided adjacently to the auxiliary working area35. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, dirt and dust are caused by opening the packages. However, the present invention is not limited to this style. For example, dirt and dust may invade into the working area when the pass box22is opened. Still furthermore, in the first embodiment, the air supply port46C corresponds to the lower end of the upper duct46B connected to the exhaust blower14. However, the present invention is not limited to this style, and the air supply port may be an intercommunication port intercommunicating with a gas exhausting unit. For example, the air supply port may be an intercommunication port between the exhaust hole portion45and a duct connected to the exhaust unit such as an exhaust blower or the like provided to the outside of the isolator10.

The other detailed constructions may be arbitrarily changed.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference toFIG. 5. In this embodiment, the same elements as the first embodiment are represented by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the door mount recess portion47of the first embodiment is not provided.

FIG. 5is a top view of the inside of a working chamber16according to the second embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the joint box door (not shown) of the first embodiment is laterally (horizontally) opened, and thus it is turned to the display26side to be opened, so that the door mount recess portion47of the first embodiment is not provided to the working plate42. The working plate42has an operation area side working face55extending to the incubator21side. The operation area side working face55is formed to that the surface thereof is coincident with the surface of the working plate42in the auxiliary working area35, and no exhaust hole portion45is formed on the operation area side working face55. The end55A of the operation area side working face55is located at the incubator21side with respect to the centrifugal machine20. The cultivating work is mainly performed on the operation area side working face55.

The operation area side exhaust hole portion45A is provided only around (particularly, in the neighborhood of) the boundary portion S on the working plate42. Furthermore, the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portion45B is continuously provided from the boundary portion S till the pass box22side (FIG. 1).

As described above, the operation area side working face55having no exhaust hole portion45is provided in the operation area25, whereby the total opening area of the holes of the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions45B can be set to be relatively larger than the total opening area of the holes of the operation area side exhaust hole portions45A and thus the air flow can be controlled so that air flows form the operation area25to the auxiliary working area35.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described hereunder with reference toFIG. 6. In the third embodiment, the same constituent elements as the first embodiment are represented by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the area of the exhaust hole portion145varies continuously.

FIG. 6is a top view showing the inside of the working chamber16according to the third embodiment.

In the third embodiment, a working plate142(lower surface) extending from the incubator21side to the pass box22side is provided in place of the working plate42of the first embodiment. In the third embodiment, the joint box door (not shown) shown with respect to the first embodiment is designed to be laterally opened, and the upper surface of the working plate142is formed to be flat over the whole surface thereof.

The exhaust hole portions145extends in the width direction of the glove box11along the front and rear edges of the working plate142respectively, and each of the exhaust hole portions145is formed in a belt-like shape so that the width thereof gradually increases from the incubator21side to the pass box22side. In plan view, each exhaust hole portion145is formed in a triangular shape to be tapered from the pass box22side to the incubator21side. That is, the total opening area of the holes of the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions145B formed at the auxiliary working area35side is set to be larger than the total opening area of the holes of the operation area side exhaust hole portions145A formed at the operation area25side.

As described above, by continuously varying the area of the exhaust hole portion145, the total opening area of the holes of the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions145B may be set to be larger than the total opening area of the holes of the operation area side exhaust hole portions145A, whereby air flow is controlled so that air flows from the operation area25to the auxiliary working area35.

Fourth Embodiment

A fourth embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference toFIG. 7. In the fourth embodiment, the same constituent elements as the first embodiment are represented by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

In the fourth embodiment, the shape of an upper duct146continuous with the lower duct46A and the shape of the air supply port146C at the lower end of the upper duct146B are different from the shapes of the upper duct46and the air supply port46C of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7is a top view of the inside of the working chamber16according to the fourth embodiment.

In the fourth embodiment, a working plate242(lower surface) extending from the incubator21side to the pass box22side is provided in place of the working plate42of the first embodiment. Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment, the joint box door (not shown) shown inFIG. 1is designed to be laterally opened, and the upper surface of the working plate242is formed to be flat over the whole surface thereof.

Exhaust hole portions245extend over the whole length in the width direction of the glove box11along the front and rear edges of the working plate242respectively, and each of the exhaust hole portion245is formed in a belt-like shape to be uniform in width over the whole length thereof.

In the fourth embodiment, the upper duct146and the air supply port146C of the upper duct146B between the back surface41B of the housing17and the back surface plate43of the inner wall plate40(FIG. 2) are designed to be gradually expanded in the depth direction of the glove box11from the incubator21side to the pass box22side. Therefore, air (gas) in the working chamber16easily flows to the pass box22side, and the air flows from the operation area25side to the auxiliary working area35side as indicated by arrows Y inFIG. 7. As described above, the size of the upper duct146B is gradually increased while shifting from the operation area25side to the auxiliary working area35side, whereby air flow is controlled so that air (gas) flows to the auxiliary working area35side.

Fifth Embodiment

A fifth embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference toFIG. 8.

In this fifth embodiment, the same constituent elements as the first embodiment are represented by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

In the fifth embodiment, the shape of the upper duct246B continuous with the lower duct46A and the shape of the air supply port246C at the lower end of the upper duct246are different from the shapes of the upper duct46B and the air supply port46C of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8is a top view of the inside of the working chamber16according to the fifth embodiment.

In the fifth embodiment, the working plate242extending from the incubator21side to the pass box22side is provided in place of the working plate42of the first embodiment. Furthermore, in the fifth embodiment, the joint box door (not shown) described with reference to the first embodiment is designed to be laterally opened, and the upper surface of the working plate242is formed to be flat over the whole surface thereof.

The exhaust hole portions245extend over the whole length in the width direction of the glove box11along the front and rear edges of the working plate242respectively, and each of the exhaust hole portions245which is formed in a belt-like shape is formed to be uniform in width over the whole length thereof.

In the fifth embodiment, the upper duct246B and the air supply port246C thereof between the back surface41B of the housing17and the back surface plate43of the inner wall plate40(FIG. 2) are formed only at the auxiliary working area35side. Accordingly, air (gas) in the working chamber16easily flows to the auxiliary working area35side, and air (gas) flows from the operation area25side to the auxiliary working area35side as indicated by arrows X inFIG. 8. As described above, the exhaust passage246at the back surface41B side is disposed to be tilted to the auxiliary working area35side, whereby the air flow is controlled so that air (gas) flows to the auxiliary working area35side.

In the fifth embodiment, the upper duct246B is formed at only the auxiliary working area35side. However, the upper duct246B may be disposed to be tilted to the auxiliary working area35side, and a part of the upper duct246B may be provided in the operation area25.

Sixth Embodiment

A sixth embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference toFIGS. 9 to 12. In the sixth embodiment, the same constituent elements as the first embodiment are represented by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

The sixth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the air supply blower13is provided at the operation area25side and the exhaust blower14is provided at the auxiliary working area35side.

FIG. 9is a front view showing an isolator100according to the sixth embodiment.FIG. 10is a side cross-sectional view of the isolator100. Specifically,FIG. 10is a side cross-sectional view at the auxiliary working area35side.

The incubator21is provided to one end side of the glove box11through the joint box23, and the joint box23is provided with a laterally-opening type joint box door123A which is turned to the display26side and opened.

As shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, the isolator100has the glove box11, and the air supply blower13and the exhaust blower14are separated from each other in the width direction of the glove box11by a partition member132provided at the intermediate portion in the width direction of the glove box11. The partition member132is located just above the boundary portion S.

An air supply chamber133and an air supply filter134which extend from one side in the width direction of the glove box11to the partition member132are connected to the air supply blower13. The air supply filter134is provided between the air supply chamber133and the working chamber16. Furthermore, an exhaust chamber136and an exhaust filter137which extend from the partition member132to the other end in the width direction of the glove box11are provided to the exhaust blower14. The exhaust filter137is provided between the exhaust chamber136and the working chamber16.

That is, in the isolator100, air (gas) is supplied from the air supply blower13at the upper side of the operation area25side into the working chamber16, and then discharged from the exhaust blower at the upper side of the auxiliary working area35to the outside.

Furthermore, the air supply filter134and the exhaust filter137are configured to be attachable/detachable to/from the front surface side of the isolator100. As described above, in the sixth embodiment, the air supply blower13and the exhaust blower14are arranged side by side in the width direction of the glove box11, and configured to be attachable/detachable to/from the front surface side of the isolator100, so that the maintenance performance is excellent.

As shown inFIG. 10, an inner wall plate140which extends wholly in the width direction of the glove box11and partitions the inside of the glove box11is provided in the glove box11, and a space is formed at the lower portion and the back surface portion of the inside of the glove box11by the inner wall plate140. The inner wall plate140has a working plate342(lower surface) constituting the bottom surface portion of the working chamber16which is disposed to be spaced from the bottom surface41A of the housing17, a back surface plate143which is provided to be spaced from the back surface41B of the housing17and constitutes the back surface of the working chamber16, and a partition plate144for connecting the upper end of the back surface plate143and the upper surface of the working chamber16.

FIG. 11is a top view of the inside of the working chamber16.

As shown inFIGS. 10 and 11, the working plate342is provided substantially in parallel to the bottom surface41A, and the front and rear edges thereof are provided with exhaust hole portions345extending in the width direction of the glove box11. The back surface plate143is provided to be tilted to the auxiliary working area35side and continuous with the rear edge of the working plate342and extends upwardly in parallel to the back surface41B of the rear edge of the working plate342. The partition plate144obliquely extends from the upper edge of the back surface plate143to the front surface side, and is connected to the front edge of the upper surface of the working chamber16. The partition plate144is provided so as to cover the exhaust filter137from the lower side.

The space surrounded by the working plate342, the back surface plate143, the partition plate144, and the bottom surface41A and the back surface41B of the housing17functions as an exhaust passage346, and exhaust gas from the working chamber16passes through the exhaust passage346and flows into the exhaust blower14. The exhaust passage346has a lower duct46A passing below the working plate342, and an upper duct346B (exhaust duct) extending upwardly between the back surface41B of the housing17and the back surface plate143and intercommunicating with the exhaust filter137. The upper duct346B intercommunicates with the working chamber16through only the lower duct46A and the exhaust hole portions345. The lower end of the upper duct346serves as an air supply port346C of the upper duct346B.

The air supply filter134is not covered by the upper duct346B, and the air supply blower13is directly connected to the inside of the working chamber16through the air supply filter134.

In the sixth embodiment, the upper duct346B connected to the exhaust blower14and the air supply port346C at the lower end of the upper duct346B are provided to be tilted to the auxiliary working area35, and thus air (gas) in the working chamber16flows from the operation area25side to the auxiliary working area35side. That is, the air (gas) flow in the working chamber16is controlled on the basis of the position of the upper duct346, and the upper duct346B functions as an air (gas) flow control unit.

As shown inFIG. 11, each exhaust hole portion345has plural holes of substantially the same diameter which are formed so as to be arranged at a substantially equal interval, and is designed in a belt-like shape having substantially the same width over the whole width of the working chamber16.

Each exhaust hole portion345has an operation side exhaust hole portion345A provided to the operation area25, and an auxiliary working side exhaust hole portion345B provided to the auxiliary working area35. Each exhaust hole portion345has substantially the same width over the whole width of the working chamber16, and thus the total opening area of the holes of the operation side exhaust hole portions345A is equal to the total opening area of the holes of the auxiliary working side exhaust hole portions345B. Here, the total opening area is equal between the operation side exhaust hole portions345A and the auxiliary working side exhaust hole portions345B are equal to each other, and this indicates that the total opening areas of the operation side exhaust hole portions345A and the auxiliary working side exhaust hole portions345B is equal to each other to the extent that the difference therebetween does not affect the air (gas) flow.

Next, the air (gas) flow in the working chamber16will be described with reference toFIGS. 9 to 11. InFIGS. 9 to 11, the air (gas) flow is represented by arrows X.

As shown inFIG. 9, fresh air (gas) is supplied from the air supply chamber133through the air supply filter134to the upper side of the operation area25of the working chamber16by the air supply blower13, and this air (gas) downwardly flows as if it is attracted by the front and rear exhaust hole portions345as shown inFIG. 10.

As shown inFIGS. 9 and 11, the downwardly flowing air (gas) flows straightly downwardly to the neighborhood of the gloves19A,19B as if it is attracted to the operation side exhaust hole portions345A. The flow of a part of the air (gas) is bent to the auxiliary working area35side around (particularly, in the neighborhood of) the working plate342as it the air (gas) is attracted to the auxiliary working side exhaust hole portions345B below the gloves19A,19B, and then the air (gas) flows into the auxiliary working side exhaust hole portions345B. The residual air (gas) directly downwardly flows into the operation side exhaust hole portions345A. Thereafter, the air (gas) flowing into the auxiliary working side exhaust hole portions345B and the operation side exhaust hole portions345A is passed from the lower duct46A and the air supply port346C through the upper duct346B and then discharged from the exhaust blower14to the outside.

As described above, according to the sixth embodiment to which the present invention is applied, since the upper duct346B and the air supply port346C at the lower end of the upper duct346B of the exhaust passage346for exhausting air (gas) from the working chamber16are disposed to be tilted to the auxiliary working area35side, air (gas) flows to the upper duct346B side, and thus the air (gas) can be made to flow from the operation area25side to the auxiliary working area35side, thereby preventing dirt or dust from being scattered to the operation area25side.

Furthermore, the working plate342at the operation area25side is provided with the operation side exhaust hole portions345A whose total opening area is equal to that of the auxiliary working side exhaust hole portions345B, and thus air (gas) flows to the exhaust hole portions345of the operation area25and the auxiliary working area35. Therefore, an air (gas) stream flowing from the upper side to the lower side can be formed in the operation area25and the auxiliary working area35, and thus air (gas) can be uniformly supplied to both the operation area25and the auxiliary working area35. The air flow can be controlled with a simple structure that the upper duct346B is provided to the auxiliary working area35side, and thus air (gas) can be made to flow from the operation area25side to the auxiliary working area35side with a simple structure.

In the sixth embodiment, the exhaust hole portions345are provided over the whole width of the working chamber16. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The exhaust hole portions345may be provided to at least the auxiliary working area35of the working plate342. For example, as shown inFIG. 12, an operation area side working face155on which no operation side exhaust hole portion345A is formed may be provided to the working plate342at the operation area25side. In this case, the air (gas) which is supplied by the air supply blower13and downwardly flows into the working chamber16is attracted to the upper duct346B disposed to be tilted to the auxiliary working area35side, and flows into the auxiliary working side exhaust hole portions345B as indicated by arrows X inFIG. 12. Accordingly, the air (gas) can be made to flow from the operation area25side to the auxiliary working area35side, thereby preventing scattering of the dust to the operation area25side.

Furthermore, in the sixth embodiment, the joint box door123A is configured to be laterally opened. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the joint box door123A may be configured to be downwardly laid to the working chamber16side as in the case of the first embodiment. In this case, a recess portion for mounting the joint box door123A may be provided to the working plate342, and the joint box door123A may be used as a working table.

Seventh Embodiment

A seventh embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference toFIGS. 13 to 16. The same constituent elements as the first embodiment are represented by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

The seventh embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the exhaust blower14is provided below the working chamber16.

FIG. 13is a front view showing an isolator200according to the seventh embodiment.FIG. 14is a side cross-sectional view showing the isolator200.

The incubator21is provided to one end side of the glove box11through the joint box23. The joint box23is provided with a joint box door123A which is designed to be turned to the display26side and opened laterally.

As shown inFIGS. 13 and 14, the isolator200has the glove box11, the air supply blower13is disposed above the glove box11and the exhaust blower14is disposed below the glove box11.

The air supply blower13is connected to the working chamber16through an air supply chamber233and an air supply filter234. The air supply blower13, the air supply chamber233and the air supply filter234are disposed at one side in the width direction of the glove box11, and it is located at the side of the incubator21with respect to the boundary portion S.

Furthermore, the exhaust blower14is connected to the bottom surface41A of the housing17from the lower side through an exhaust chamber236and an exhaust filter237(air supply port). The exhaust blower14, the exhaust chamber236and the exhaust filter237are disposed at the other side in the width direction of the glove box11, and it is located at the side of the pass box22with respect to the boundary portion S.

That is, in the isolator200, air (gas) is supplied from the air supply blower13at the upper side of the operation area25into the working chamber16, and then discharged from the exhaust blower14at the lower side of the auxiliary working area35to the outside. Furthermore, the air supply filter234and the exhaust filter237are configured to be attachable/detachable to/from the front surface side of the isolator200, so that the maintenance performance is excellent.

As shown inFIG. 14, a working plate442(lower surface) for partitioning the lower portion of the glove box11is provided in the glove box11. The working plate442is provided substantially in parallel to the bottom surface41A of the housing17so as to be spaced from the bottom surface41A of the housing17, and constitutes the bottom surface of the working chamber16.

FIG. 15is a top view of the inside of the working chamber16.

As shown inFIGS. 14 and 15, the working plate442is provided substantially in parallel to the bottom surface41A, and exhaust hole portions445extending in the width direction of the glove box11are provided to the front and rear edges of the working plate442, respectively. An exhaust passage446is formed below the working plate442, and it is formed by a space formed between the bottom surface41A and the working plate442. The exhaust passage446is connected to the exhaust blower14through the exhaust filter237provided at the auxiliary working area35side. That is, the exhaust filter237functions as an air supply port of the exhaust blower14in the glove box11.

As shown inFIG. 15, each exhaust hole portion445is designed in a belt-like shape having substantially the same width over the whole width of the working chamber16, and plural holes having substantially the same diameter are formed in each exhaust hole portion445so as to be arranged at a substantially equal interval.

Each exhaust hole portion445comprises an operation area side exhaust hole portion445A provided in the operation area25, and an auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portion445B provided in the auxiliary working area35. Each exhaust hole portion445has substantially the same width over the whole width of the working chamber16, and thus the total opening area of the holes of the operation area side exhaust hole portion445A is equal to the total opening area of the holes of the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portion445B. Here, the total opening area is equal between the operation area side exhaust hole portion445A and the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portion445B, and this indicates that the total opening area is equal between the operation area side exhaust hole portion445A and the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portion445B to the extent that the difference in total opening area therebetween does not affect the air (gas) flow of the working chamber16.

In the seventh embodiment, the exhaust blower14is provided at the auxiliary working area35side below the glove box11, and in connection with this structure, the exhaust filer237as the air supply port is connected to the exhaust passage446of the auxiliary working area35. Therefore, air (gas) in the working chamber16flows from the operation area25side to the auxiliary working area35side. That is, the air (gas) flow in the working chamber16is controlled on the basis of the position of the exhaust filter237, and thus the exhaust filter237functions as an air (gas) flow control unit.

Next, the air (gas) flow in the working chamber16will be described with reference toFIGS. 13 to 15. InFIGS. 13 to 15, the air (gas) flow is represented by arrows X.

As shown inFIG. 13, refresh air (gas) is supplied from the air supply chamber233through the air supply filter234into the upper portion of the operation area25of the working chamber16. As shown inFIG. 14, this air (gas) flows downwardly as if it is attracted by the front and rear exhaust hole portions445.

As shown inFIGS. 13 to 15, the downwardly flowing air (gas) flows straightly downwardly to the neighborhood of the gloves19A,19B as if it is attracted by the operation area side exhaust hole portions445A. The flow of a part of the air (gas) is bent to the auxiliary working area35side around (particularly, in the neighborhood of) the working plate442as if the air (gas) is attracted by the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions445B located below the gloves19A,19B, and then the air flows into the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions445B. The residual air (gas) directly flows downwardly and then flows into the operation area side exhaust hole portions445A. Thereafter, the air (gas) flowing into the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions445B and the operation area side exhaust hole portions445A is passed through the exhaust passage446, the exhaust filter237and the exhaust chamber236and then discharged from the exhaust blower14.

As described above, according to the seventh embodiment to which the present invention is applied, air (gas) in the working chamber16flows to the exhaust filter237as the air supply port of the exhaust blower14provided below the working plate442at the auxiliary working area35side. Therefore, the air (gas) flow can be controlled on the basis of the arrangement position of the exhaust blower14so that the air (gas) flows from the operation area25side to the auxiliary working area35side, and scattering of dirt or dust to the operation area25side can be prevented by controlling the air (gas) flow in the working chamber16with a simple construction.

Furthermore, the operation area side exhaust hole portion445A and the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portion445B are equal to each other in opening area, and air (gas) flows in both the operation area25and the auxiliary working area35, so that an air (gas) stream flowing from the upper side to the lower side can be formed to both the areas and thus air (gas) can be uniformly supplied to both the areas.

In the seventh embodiment, the exhaust hole portions445are provided over the whole width of the working chamber16, however, the present invention is not limited to this style. The exhaust hole portions445may be provided to at least the auxiliary working area35of the working plate442. For example, as shown inFIG. 16, an operation area side working face255on which no operation area side exhaust hole portion445A is formed may be provided to the working plate442at the operation area25side. In this case, the air (gas) which is supplied by the air supply blower13and flows downwardly in the working chamber16is sucked and attracted to the exhaust filter237of the exhaust blower14disposed at the auxiliary working area35side, and flows into the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions445B as indicated by the arrows X inFIG. 16. Accordingly, air (gas) can be made to flow from the operation area25side to the auxiliary working area35side, and scattering of dirt and dust to the operation area25side can be prevented.

Furthermore, in the seventh embodiment, the joint box door123A is configured to be laterally opened, however, the present invention is not limited to this style. The joint box door123A may be configured to be downwardly laid to the working chamber16side as in the case of the first embodiment. In this case, the a recess portion in which the joint box door123A is mounted is provided to the working plate442, and the joint box door123A is used as a working table.