Patent Abstract:
An isolator for cultivating cells including a working chamber having a plurality of gloves arranged side by side into which operator&#39;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.

Full Description:
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&#39;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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view showing an isolator according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side cross-sectional view of the isolator; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the inside of a working chamber; 
         FIG. 4  is another top view of the inside of the working chamber; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the inside of a working chamber according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the inside of a working chamber according to a third embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the inside of a working chamber according to a fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the inside of a working chamber according to a fifth embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the inside of a working chamber according to a sixth embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a side cross-sectional view of the isolator; 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the inside of the working chamber; 
         FIG. 12  is another top view of the inside of the working chamber; 
         FIG. 13  is a front view showing an isolator according to a seventh embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  is a side cross-sectional view showing the isolator; 
         FIG. 15  is a top view showing the inside of the working chamber; and 
         FIG. 16  is another top view of the inside of the working chamber. 
     
    
    
     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. 1  is a front view showing an isolator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an isolator  10  has a glove box  11  whose inside is kept under sterile conditions, a frame  12  for supporting the glove box  11  from the lower side, an air supply blower  13  and an exhaustion blower  14  which are provided on the top surface of the glove box  11 , and a decontamination unit for decontaminating the inside of the glove box  11  with decontamination gas. 
     The inner space of the glove box  11  serves as a working chamber  16  in which works for biological derivative materials as targets such as a cell extraction work, a cell culturing work, etc. are performed. The glove box  11  has a box-shaped housing  17  which is opened at one surface thereof, and a transparent plate  18  which is formed of a rectangular glass or resin member and closes the opening of the housing  17 . The inside of the working chamber  16  is visually identified through the transparent plate  18  which is provided to the substantially overall front surface of the glove box  11 . The glove box  11  is designed in a rectangular shape which is longest in the width direction thereof. 
     The transparent plate  18  is provided with plural gloves  19 A,  19 B,  19 C,  19 D extending into the working chamber  16 , and a worker for operating and cultivating cells, etc. can perform works in the working chamber  16  by inserting his/her hands from the outside into the gloves  19 A,  19 B,  19 C,  19 D. Each of the gloves  19 A,  19 B,  19 C,  19 D is disposed at a lower position than the intermediate portion of the glove box  11  in height. In this embodiment, four gloves  19 A,  19 B,  19 C and  19 D 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 box  11 , the four gloves  19 A,  19 B,  19 C and  19 D are arranged side by side laterally in the glove box  11 , and thus two workers can perform works at the same time by inserting their both hands into the gloves  19 A,  19 B,  19 C and  19 D. The glove box  11  contains an incubator  21  (cultivating chamber) for cultivating cells accommodated therein, a pass box  22  through which articles (samples) are inserted into and taken out from the working chamber  16 , a joint box  23  to which the incubator  21  is secured, and a centrifugal machine  20 . 
     The joint box  23  is provided to one side surface  24 A at one end side in the width direction of the glove box  11 , and has a joint box door  23 A for blocking a part of the one side surface  24 A so that the one side surface  24 A is freely opened or closed. The incubator  21  is freely detachably secured to the joint box  23 . 
     The incubator  21  is a box-shaped cultivating chamber in which an environment suitable for cultivating cells is formed. The incubator  21  is designed so that the temperature and CO 2  concentration in the incubator  21  can be adjusted, and it has a function of decontaminating the inside thereof. The incubator  21  is provided with a door  21 A for closing the inside of the incubator  21  so that the inside of the incubator  21  can be hermetically sealed. The incubator  21  is secured to the joint box  23  from the outside under the state that the door  21 A faces the joint box door  23 A. When the worker accesses the incubator  21  from the inside of the working chamber  16 , the worker opens the joint box door  23 A, opens the door  21 A and then extends his/her hand to insert or take out cells accommodated in petri dish or like into/from the incubator  21 . Furthermore, under the state that the incubator  21  is detached from the joint box  23 , the joint box door  23 A is closed, and the hermetic sealing state between the inside of the working chamber  16  and the outside of the working chamber  16  is kept. 
     The pass box  22  is a front chamber used when articles are inserted into or taken out from the glove box  11 . The pass box  22  has an external door  22 B provided to the front surface side of the glove box  11  so as to be freely openable and closable, and an internal door  22 B for closing a part of the side surface of the glove box  11  so that the part can be freely opened/closed. The pass box  22  is provided to the other side surface  24 B at the other end side in the width direction of the glove box  11 . Furthermore, the pass box  22  is connected to a decontamination unit  15 . 
     When an article is carried into the glove box  11 , the external door  22 A is opened, the article is put into the pass box  22  and then the external door  22 A is closed. Under this state, the article is decontaminated by the decontamination unit  15 . Thereafter, the internal door  22 B is opened by using the gloves  19 C and  19 D, and the article is taken out from the pass box  22 , whereby the article can be carried into the glove box  11 . 
     Articles which are to be carried into the glove box  11  by using the pass box  22  contain 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 box  11  is sectioned into an operation area  25  in which cultivating works such as cultivation, operation, observation, etc. of cells are performed, and an auxiliary working area  35  in 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 machine  20 , etc. are performed as the auxiliary works. 
     Specifically, the operation area  25  is one half side portion at one side of the glove box  11  at which the incubator  21  is disposed, and the auxiliary working area is the other half side portion at the other side of the glove box  11  at which the pass box  22  is disposed. The boundary portion S between the operation area  25  and the auxiliary working area  35  is located at the intermediate portion between the two gloves  19 B and  19 C at the center side as indicated by two-dotted chain line extending in the vertical direction of  FIG. 1 . That is, the two gloves  19 A and  19   b  at the incubator  21  side are used for the works to be performed in the operation area  25 , and the two gloves  19 C and  19 D at the pass box  22  side are used for the works to be performed in the auxiliary working area  35 . A worker may insert his/her right and left hands into the two gloves  19 B and  19 C at the center portion and perform a work over the operation area  25  and the auxiliary working area  35  by using both the right and left hands. 
     In this embodiment, the half side portion (the left side portion in  FIG. 1 ) of the working chamber  16  at the incubator  21  side is used as the operation area  25  for 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 incubator  21  by using the gloves  19 A and  10 B, so that the workability can be enhanced. Furthermore, the other half side portion (the right side portion in  FIG. 1 ) of the working chamber  16  at the pass box  22  side is used as the auxiliary working area  35 , and thus the instruments, etc. which are taken out from the bass box  22  can be opened and supplied to the operation area  25  by using the gloves  19 C and  19 D, so that the workability is enhanced. 
     The centrifugal machine  20  is used for a work of separating cells, etc., and disposed at the intermediate portion in the width direction of the glove box  11 . Therefore, the centrifugal machine  20  can be used from both the sides of the operation area  25  side and the auxiliary working area  35  side. 
     Furthermore, the operation area  25  of the glove box  11  is provided with a display  26 . The display  26  is provided so as to face the transparent plate  18 , and it can display a working procedure of the cultivating work, etc. to the worker. 
       FIG. 2  is a side cross-sectional view showing the isolator  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the air supply (air suction) blower  13  and the exhaust blower  14  are provided above the glove box  11  to be arranged in the front-and-rear direction. The air supply blower  13  is disposed at the front portion of the transparent plate  18  side, and the exhaust blower  14  is disposed at the rear portion of the transparent plate  18  side. An air supply blower catalysis  28  and an air supply valve  29  for adjusting an air supply (intake) amount are connected to the air supply blower  13 . An exhaust catalysis  31  for purifying exhaust gas discharged to the outside and an exhaust valve  30  for adjusting an exhaust gas amount are connected to the exhaust blower  14 . 
     The air supply blower  13  and the exhaust gas blower  14  are insulated from each other by a partition portion  32  extending in the vertical direction ( FIG. 2 ). An air supply chamber  33  extending substantially wholly in the width direction of the glove box  11  is disposed below the air supply blower  13 , and an air supply filter  34  for collecting dust in sucked gas (air or the like) is provided between the air supply chamber  33  and the working chamber  16 . Furthermore, an exhaust chamber  36  extending substantially wholly in the width direction of the glove box  11  is provided below the exhaust blower  14 , and an exhaust filter  37  for collecting dust in exhaust gas (air or the like) is provided between the exhaust chamber  36  and the working chamber  16 . 
     An inner wall plate  40  extending substantially wholly in the width direction of the inside of the glove box  11  is provided to partition the inside of the glove box  11 . A space is formed at the lower portion and back surface portion of the inside of the glove box  11  by the inner wall plate  40 . The inner wall plate  40  is formed as if one plate member is bent, and it is constructed to have a working plate  42  (lower surface) which is disposed to be spaced from the bottom surface of the housing  17  and constitutes the bottom surface portion of the working chamber  16 , a back surface plate  43  which is disposed to be spaced from the back surface  41 B of the housing  17  and constitutes the back surface of the working chamber  16 , and a partition plate  44  for connecting the upper end of the back surface plate  43  and the upper surface of the working chamber  16 . 
     The working plate  42  is provided substantially in parallel to the bottom surface  41 A, and an exhaust hole portion  45  extending in the width direction of the glove box  11  is formed in each of the front and rear edges of the working plate  42 . The back surface plate  43  is continuous with the rear edge of the working plate  42  and extends upwardly in parallel to the back surface  41 B. The partition plate  44  extends obliquely from the upper edge of the back surface plate  43  to the front surface side, and also is connected to the lower surface of the partition portion  32 . The space surrounded by the working plate  42 , the back surface plate  43 , the partition plate  44 , and the bottom surfaces  41 A and the back surface  41 B of the housing  17  functions as an exhaust gas passage  46 , and the exhaust gas from the working chamber  16  passes through the exhaust gas passage  46  and flows to the exhaust blower  14  side. The exhaust gas passage  46  has a lower duct  46  extending at the lower side of the working plate  42  and an upper duct  46 B (exhaust duct) which is continuous with the lower duct  46 A and extends upwardly between the back surface  41 B of the housing  17  and the back surface plate  43 . The lower end of the upper duct  46 B serves as an air supply port  46 C of the upper duct  46 B. 
     Air (gas) at the outside of the glove box  11  passes through the air supply catalyst  28 , invades into the air supply chamber  33  through the air supply valve  29 , prevails over the whole area of the air supply chamber  33  in the width direction, passes through the air supply filter  34  so that dust in the air (gas) is removed, and then flows into the working chamber  16  from the upper side. The air (gas) flowing into the working chamber  16  flows from the upper side to the lower side over the whole area of the working chamber  16  in the width direction, reaches the lower duct  46 A through the exhaust hole portions  45  of the front and rear edges of the working plate  42 , flows upwardly in the upper duct  46 B, passes through the exhaust gas filter  37  and then flows into the exhaust chamber  36 . The air (gas) flowing into the exhaust chamber  36  is sucked by the exhaust blower  14 , passed through the exhaust valve  30  and the exhaust catalyst  31  and then discharged to the outside. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  are top views of the inside of the working chamber  16 .  FIG. 3  shows a state that the joint box door  23 A is closed, and  FIG. 4  shows a state that the joint box door  23 A is opened. 
     The joint box door  23 A has a hinge  23 B ( FIG. 1 ) at the lower edge thereof, and it is downwardly laid toward the working chamber  16  side around the hinge  23 B, whereby the opening state is set. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a substantially rectangular door mount recess portion  47  which is concaved downwardly is formed on the working plate  42  at the operation area  25  side. The door mount recess portion  47  is formed in conformity with the joint box door  24 A, and when the joint box door  23 A is set to the open state, the joint box door  23 A is mounted in the door mount recess portion  47  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Under the state that the joint box door  23 A is mounted in the door mount recess portion  47 , the upper surface of the joint box door  23 A is coincident with the upper surface of the working plate  42  in height, and thus the joint box door  23 A serves as a part of the working plate  42 . 
     That is, when a cultivating work is performed, the joint box door  23 A is used under the open state, and functions as a working table. The cultivating work is mainly performed on the joint box door  23 A. As described above, the joint box door  23 A is downwardly laid to be set to the open state, and mounted in the door mount recess portion  47 . Therefore, the joint box door  23 A can be prevented from obstructing the display of the display  26 , and also the joint box door  23 A can be used as a working table. 
     A wall portion is provided between the door mount recess portion  47  and the lower duct  46 A, and thus the door mount recess portion  47  does not directly intercommunicate with the lower duct  46 A. 
     The centrifugal machine  20  is covered by an lid portion  20 A which is freely openable and closable, and located below the working plate  42 . The lid portion  20 A is provided so that the surface thereof is coincident with the surface of the working plate  42  and thus serves as a part of the working plate  42 . The end  47 A of the door mount recess portion  47  is located at the incubator  21  side with respect to the centrifugal machine  20  so that it does not disturb the arrangement of the centrifugal machine  20 . 
     The exhaust hole portions  45  extend in a belt-like arrangement in the width direction of the glove box  11  along the front and rear edges of the working plate  42 , and plural holes having substantially the same diameter are formed to penetrate through the working plate  42  and arranged to be spaced from one another at a substantially equal interval. The exhaust hole portions  45  are provided to the front and rear edges of the working plate  42 , and thus they are prevented from obstructing the cultivating work and the auxiliary work. Here, the exhaust hole portions  45  may be provided by directly forming holes in the working plate  42  or by providing punching metal or a mesh-like plate at the front and rear edge portions of the working plate  42 . 
     Furthermore, the upper duct  46 B and the lower duct  46 A are provided over the whole area in the width direction of the glove box  11 . 
     Each of the exhaust hole portion  45  is configured to have an operation area side exhaust hole portion  45 A provided in the operation area  25  (an exhaust hole portion at the operation area side), and an auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portion  45 B provided in the auxiliary working area  35  (an exhaust hole portion at the auxiliary working area side). 
     The operation area side exhaust hole portion  45 A is provided so that a part thereof is overlapped with the door mount recess portion  47 , and no hole is formed at the overlap portion thereof with the door mount recess portion  47 . Specifically, the operation area side exhaust hole portion  45 A 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 portion  45 A at the front edge side, the operation area side exhaust hole portion  45 A is provided to be continuous from the boundary portion S to the incubator  21  side. However, in the operation area side exhaust hole portion  45 A, the number of holes located along the door mount recess portion  47  is set to be smaller than the number of holes located at the other portions. 
     Furthermore, the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions  45 B are provided to be continuous from the boundary portion S to the pass box  22  side ( FIG. 1 ) at both the front and rear edges. 
     That is, in the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions  45 B, a larger number of holes are formed than that in the operation area side exhaust hole portions  45 A. Therefore, in the exhaust hole portions  45 , the total opening space (the total area of the opening) of the holes in the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions  45 B is larger than the total opening space of the holes in the operation area side exhaust hole portions  45 A. Therefore, air (gas) more easily flows into the working chamber  16  at the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portion  45 B side than that at the operation area side exhaust portion  45 A. Therefore, in the working chamber  16 , air (gas) flows from the operation area  25  side at the upstream side to the auxiliary working area  35  side at the downstream side. That is, air (gas) flow in the working chamber  16  is controlled by the exhaust hole portions  45 , and the exhaust hole portions  45  function as an air (gas) flow control unit. 
     Next, the air (gas) flow in the working chamber  16  will be described. In  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 , the flow of air (gas) is represented by an arrow X. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , fresh air is supplied from the air supply chamber  33  extending in the width direction into the whole area in the width direction of the working chamber  16 . This air flows downwardly as if it is attracted by the front and rear exhaust hole portions  45 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the downwardly flowing air flow straightly downwardly in the auxiliary working area  35 , and flows into each of the front and rear auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions  45 B. In the operation area  25 , most of the downwardly flowing air flows straightly downwardly to the neighborhood of the gloves  19 A,  19 B. Below the gloves  19 A,  19 B, the flow of the air is bent to the auxiliary working area  35  side around (particularly, in the neighborhood of the working plate  42 ) as if the air is attracted to the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions  45 B, and then the air flows into each of the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions  45 B. A part of the air flowing in the operation area  25  flows into the operation area side exhaust hole portions  45 A. Thereafter, the air flowing into the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions  45 B and the operation area side exhaust hole portions  45 A is passed through the lower duct  46 A and the upper duct  46 B and discharged from the exhaust blower  14  to the outside. 
     As described above, in the glove box  11 , the total opening area of the holes of the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions  45 B is set to be larger than the total opening area of the holes of the operation area side exhaust hole portion  45 A, whereby the air flows from the operation area  25  side to the auxiliary working area  35  side. Therefore, even when dust has already occurred when the auxiliary work is performed at the auxiliary working area  35  side, this dust is made to flow to the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions  45 B by the air flowing to the auxiliary working area  35  side. Accordingly, dust can be prevented from contaminating into the place at the operation area  25  side at which the cultivating work is performed. 
     Furthermore, in the operation area  25 , the air flowing downwardly to the neighborhood of the gloves  19 A and  19 B is attracted by the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions  45 B, and the air flow is bent to the auxiliary working area  35  side around the working plate  42  below the gloves  19 A,  19 B. 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 area  35  side around the working plate  42 , thereby preventing contamination of dust. 
     Furthermore, two workers can simultaneously perform a work in the operation area  25  and the auxiliary working area  35  respectively while sharing the work by using the gloves  19 A,  19 B and the gloves  19 C,  19 D, 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 area  35 , dust caused by the package can be prevented from contaminating into the operation area  25 . 
     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 area  35  is controlled to flow from the operation area  25  side to the auxiliary working area  35  side around (particularly, in the neighborhood of) the gloves  19 A and  19 B by the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions  45 B of the exhaust hole portions  45 . Therefore, air (gas) can be made to flow from the operation area  25  side to the auxiliary working area  35  side while uniformly supplied into the working chamber  16 . Accordingly, dust caused by a package opened at the auxiliary working area  35  side is made to flow to the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions  45 B by the air (gas) stream from the operation area  25  side to the auxiliary working area  35  side, so that scattering of dirt and dust to the operation area  25  side 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 portions  45  provided to the working plate  42  in the operation area  25  and the auxiliary working area  35 . Therefore, the air (gas) flow can be controlled so that the air (gas) flows to the auxiliary working area  35  side around (particularly, in the neighborhood of) the working plate  42 , so that the air (gas) can be made to flow from the operation area  25  side to the auxiliary working area  35  side 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 chamber  16 . Furthermore, the total opening area of the holes at the auxiliary working area  35  side is set to be larger than the total opening area of the holes at the operation area  25  side, 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 incubator  21  is provided at the operation area  25  side, and thus cells operated in the operation area  25  can be easily taken out from the operation area  25  and put into the incubator  21 . Therefore, the workability is excellent. Furthermore, contamination of dirt or dust into the incubator  21  can 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 chamber  16  is sectioned into the operation area  25  and the auxiliary working area  35 . However, the present invention is not limited to this style, and the inside of the working chamber  16  may be sectioned into at least the operation area  25  and the auxiliary working area  35 . For example, a storage area for storing instruments, etc. may be provided adjacently to the auxiliary working area  35 . 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 box  22  is opened. Still furthermore, in the first embodiment, the air supply port  46 C corresponds to the lower end of the upper duct  46 B connected to the exhaust blower  14 . 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 portion  45  and a duct connected to the exhaust unit such as an exhaust blower or the like provided to the outside of the isolator  10 . 
     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 to  FIG. 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 portion  47  of the first embodiment is not provided. 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the inside of a working chamber  16  according 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 display  26  side to be opened, so that the door mount recess portion  47  of the first embodiment is not provided to the working plate  42 . The working plate  42  has an operation area side working face  55  extending to the incubator  21  side. The operation area side working face  55  is formed to that the surface thereof is coincident with the surface of the working plate  42  in the auxiliary working area  35 , and no exhaust hole portion  45  is formed on the operation area side working face  55 . The end  55 A of the operation area side working face  55  is located at the incubator  21  side with respect to the centrifugal machine  20 . The cultivating work is mainly performed on the operation area side working face  55 . 
     The operation area side exhaust hole portion  45 A is provided only around (particularly, in the neighborhood of) the boundary portion S on the working plate  42 . Furthermore, the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portion  45 B is continuously provided from the boundary portion S till the pass box  22  side ( FIG. 1 ). 
     As described above, the operation area side working face  55  having no exhaust hole portion  45  is provided in the operation area  25 , whereby the total opening area of the holes of the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions  45 B can be set to be relatively larger than the total opening area of the holes of the operation area side exhaust hole portions  45 A and thus the air flow can be controlled so that air flows form the operation area  25  to the auxiliary working area  35 . 
     Third Embodiment 
     A third embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described hereunder with reference to  FIG. 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 portion  145  varies continuously. 
       FIG. 6  is a top view showing the inside of the working chamber  16  according to the third embodiment. 
     In the third embodiment, a working plate  142  (lower surface) extending from the incubator  21  side to the pass box  22  side is provided in place of the working plate  42  of 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 plate  142  is formed to be flat over the whole surface thereof. 
     The exhaust hole portions  145  extends in the width direction of the glove box  11  along the front and rear edges of the working plate  142  respectively, and each of the exhaust hole portions  145  is formed in a belt-like shape so that the width thereof gradually increases from the incubator  21  side to the pass box  22  side. In plan view, each exhaust hole portion  145  is formed in a triangular shape to be tapered from the pass box  22  side to the incubator  21  side. That is, the total opening area of the holes of the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions  145 B formed at the auxiliary working area  35  side is set to be larger than the total opening area of the holes of the operation area side exhaust hole portions  145 A formed at the operation area  25  side. 
     As described above, by continuously varying the area of the exhaust hole portion  145 , the total opening area of the holes of the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions  145 B may be set to be larger than the total opening area of the holes of the operation area side exhaust hole portions  145 A, whereby air flow is controlled so that air flows from the operation area  25  to the auxiliary working area  35 . 
     Fourth Embodiment 
     A fourth embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to  FIG. 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 duct  146  continuous with the lower duct  46 A and the shape of the air supply port  146 C at the lower end of the upper duct  146 B are different from the shapes of the upper duct  46  and the air supply port  46 C of the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of the inside of the working chamber  16  according to the fourth embodiment. 
     In the fourth embodiment, a working plate  242  (lower surface) extending from the incubator  21  side to the pass box  22  side is provided in place of the working plate  42  of the first embodiment. Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment, the joint box door (not shown) shown in  FIG. 1  is designed to be laterally opened, and the upper surface of the working plate  242  is formed to be flat over the whole surface thereof. 
     Exhaust hole portions  245  extend over the whole length in the width direction of the glove box  11  along the front and rear edges of the working plate  242  respectively, and each of the exhaust hole portion  245  is formed in a belt-like shape to be uniform in width over the whole length thereof. 
     In the fourth embodiment, the upper duct  146  and the air supply port  146 C of the upper duct  146 B between the back surface  41 B of the housing  17  and the back surface plate  43  of the inner wall plate  40  ( FIG. 2 ) are designed to be gradually expanded in the depth direction of the glove box  11  from the incubator  21  side to the pass box  22  side. Therefore, air (gas) in the working chamber  16  easily flows to the pass box  22  side, and the air flows from the operation area  25  side to the auxiliary working area  35  side as indicated by arrows Y in  FIG. 7 . As described above, the size of the upper duct  146 B is gradually increased while shifting from the operation area  25  side to the auxiliary working area  35  side, whereby air flow is controlled so that air (gas) flows to the auxiliary working area  35  side. 
     Fifth Embodiment 
     A fifth embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to  FIG. 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 duct  246 B continuous with the lower duct  46 A and the shape of the air supply port  246 C at the lower end of the upper duct  246  are different from the shapes of the upper duct  46 B and the air supply port  46 C of the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 8  is a top view of the inside of the working chamber  16  according to the fifth embodiment. 
     In the fifth embodiment, the working plate  242  extending from the incubator  21  side to the pass box  22  side is provided in place of the working plate  42  of 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 plate  242  is formed to be flat over the whole surface thereof. 
     The exhaust hole portions  245  extend over the whole length in the width direction of the glove box  11  along the front and rear edges of the working plate  242  respectively, and each of the exhaust hole portions  245  which 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 duct  246 B and the air supply port  246 C thereof between the back surface  41 B of the housing  17  and the back surface plate  43  of the inner wall plate  40  ( FIG. 2 ) are formed only at the auxiliary working area  35  side. Accordingly, air (gas) in the working chamber  16  easily flows to the auxiliary working area  35  side, and air (gas) flows from the operation area  25  side to the auxiliary working area  35  side as indicated by arrows X in  FIG. 8 . As described above, the exhaust passage  246  at the back surface  41 B side is disposed to be tilted to the auxiliary working area  35  side, whereby the air flow is controlled so that air (gas) flows to the auxiliary working area  35  side. 
     In the fifth embodiment, the upper duct  246 B is formed at only the auxiliary working area  35  side. However, the upper duct  246 B may be disposed to be tilted to the auxiliary working area  35  side, and a part of the upper duct  246 B may be provided in the operation area  25 . 
     Sixth Embodiment 
     A sixth embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to  FIGS. 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 blower  13  is provided at the operation area  25  side and the exhaust blower  14  is provided at the auxiliary working area  35  side. 
       FIG. 9  is a front view showing an isolator  100  according to the sixth embodiment.  FIG. 10  is a side cross-sectional view of the isolator  100 . Specifically,  FIG. 10  is a side cross-sectional view at the auxiliary working area  35  side. 
     The incubator  21  is provided to one end side of the glove box  11  through the joint box  23 , and the joint box  23  is provided with a laterally-opening type joint box door  123 A which is turned to the display  26  side and opened. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the isolator  100  has the glove box  11 , and the air supply blower  13  and the exhaust blower  14  are separated from each other in the width direction of the glove box  11  by a partition member  132  provided at the intermediate portion in the width direction of the glove box  11 . The partition member  132  is located just above the boundary portion S. 
     An air supply chamber  133  and an air supply filter  134  which extend from one side in the width direction of the glove box  11  to the partition member  132  are connected to the air supply blower  13 . The air supply filter  134  is provided between the air supply chamber  133  and the working chamber  16 . Furthermore, an exhaust chamber  136  and an exhaust filter  137  which extend from the partition member  132  to the other end in the width direction of the glove box  11  are provided to the exhaust blower  14 . The exhaust filter  137  is provided between the exhaust chamber  136  and the working chamber  16 . 
     That is, in the isolator  100 , air (gas) is supplied from the air supply blower  13  at the upper side of the operation area  25  side into the working chamber  16 , and then discharged from the exhaust blower at the upper side of the auxiliary working area  35  to the outside. 
     Furthermore, the air supply filter  134  and the exhaust filter  137  are configured to be attachable/detachable to/from the front surface side of the isolator  100 . As described above, in the sixth embodiment, the air supply blower  13  and the exhaust blower  14  are arranged side by side in the width direction of the glove box  11 , and configured to be attachable/detachable to/from the front surface side of the isolator  100 , so that the maintenance performance is excellent. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , an inner wall plate  140  which extends wholly in the width direction of the glove box  11  and partitions the inside of the glove box  11  is provided in the glove box  11 , and a space is formed at the lower portion and the back surface portion of the inside of the glove box  11  by the inner wall plate  140 . The inner wall plate  140  has a working plate  342  (lower surface) constituting the bottom surface portion of the working chamber  16  which is disposed to be spaced from the bottom surface  41 A of the housing  17 , a back surface plate  143  which is provided to be spaced from the back surface  41 B of the housing  17  and constitutes the back surface of the working chamber  16 , and a partition plate  144  for connecting the upper end of the back surface plate  143  and the upper surface of the working chamber  16 . 
       FIG. 11  is a top view of the inside of the working chamber  16 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the working plate  342  is provided substantially in parallel to the bottom surface  41 A, and the front and rear edges thereof are provided with exhaust hole portions  345  extending in the width direction of the glove box  11 . The back surface plate  143  is provided to be tilted to the auxiliary working area  35  side and continuous with the rear edge of the working plate  342  and extends upwardly in parallel to the back surface  41 B of the rear edge of the working plate  342 . The partition plate  144  obliquely extends from the upper edge of the back surface plate  143  to the front surface side, and is connected to the front edge of the upper surface of the working chamber  16 . The partition plate  144  is provided so as to cover the exhaust filter  137  from the lower side. 
     The space surrounded by the working plate  342 , the back surface plate  143 , the partition plate  144 , and the bottom surface  41 A and the back surface  41 B of the housing  17  functions as an exhaust passage  346 , and exhaust gas from the working chamber  16  passes through the exhaust passage  346  and flows into the exhaust blower  14 . The exhaust passage  346  has a lower duct  46 A passing below the working plate  342 , and an upper duct  346 B (exhaust duct) extending upwardly between the back surface  41 B of the housing  17  and the back surface plate  143  and intercommunicating with the exhaust filter  137 . The upper duct  346 B intercommunicates with the working chamber  16  through only the lower duct  46 A and the exhaust hole portions  345 . The lower end of the upper duct  346  serves as an air supply port  346 C of the upper duct  346 B. 
     The air supply filter  134  is not covered by the upper duct  346 B, and the air supply blower  13  is directly connected to the inside of the working chamber  16  through the air supply filter  134 . 
     In the sixth embodiment, the upper duct  346 B connected to the exhaust blower  14  and the air supply port  346 C at the lower end of the upper duct  346 B are provided to be tilted to the auxiliary working area  35 , and thus air (gas) in the working chamber  16  flows from the operation area  25  side to the auxiliary working area  35  side. That is, the air (gas) flow in the working chamber  16  is controlled on the basis of the position of the upper duct  346 , and the upper duct  346 B functions as an air (gas) flow control unit. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , each exhaust hole portion  345  has 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 chamber  16 . 
     Each exhaust hole portion  345  has an operation side exhaust hole portion  345 A provided to the operation area  25 , and an auxiliary working side exhaust hole portion  345 B provided to the auxiliary working area  35 . Each exhaust hole portion  345  has substantially the same width over the whole width of the working chamber  16 , and thus the total opening area of the holes of the operation side exhaust hole portions  345 A is equal to the total opening area of the holes of the auxiliary working side exhaust hole portions  345 B. Here, the total opening area is equal between the operation side exhaust hole portions  345 A and the auxiliary working side exhaust hole portions  345 B are equal to each other, and this indicates that the total opening areas of the operation side exhaust hole portions  345 A and the auxiliary working side exhaust hole portions  345 B 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 chamber  16  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 9 to 11 . In  FIGS. 9 to 11 , the air (gas) flow is represented by arrows X. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , fresh air (gas) is supplied from the air supply chamber  133  through the air supply filter  134  to the upper side of the operation area  25  of the working chamber  16  by the air supply blower  13 , and this air (gas) downwardly flows as if it is attracted by the front and rear exhaust hole portions  345  as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 11 , the downwardly flowing air (gas) flows straightly downwardly to the neighborhood of the gloves  19 A,  19 B as if it is attracted to the operation side exhaust hole portions  345 A. The flow of a part of the air (gas) is bent to the auxiliary working area  35  side around (particularly, in the neighborhood of) the working plate  342  as it the air (gas) is attracted to the auxiliary working side exhaust hole portions  345 B below the gloves  19 A,  19 B, and then the air (gas) flows into the auxiliary working side exhaust hole portions  345 B. The residual air (gas) directly downwardly flows into the operation side exhaust hole portions  345 A. Thereafter, the air (gas) flowing into the auxiliary working side exhaust hole portions  345 B and the operation side exhaust hole portions  345 A is passed from the lower duct  46 A and the air supply port  346 C through the upper duct  346 B and then discharged from the exhaust blower  14  to the outside. 
     As described above, according to the sixth embodiment to which the present invention is applied, since the upper duct  346 B and the air supply port  346 C at the lower end of the upper duct  346 B of the exhaust passage  346  for exhausting air (gas) from the working chamber  16  are disposed to be tilted to the auxiliary working area  35  side, air (gas) flows to the upper duct  346 B side, and thus the air (gas) can be made to flow from the operation area  25  side to the auxiliary working area  35  side, thereby preventing dirt or dust from being scattered to the operation area  25  side. 
     Furthermore, the working plate  342  at the operation area  25  side is provided with the operation side exhaust hole portions  345 A whose total opening area is equal to that of the auxiliary working side exhaust hole portions  345 B, and thus air (gas) flows to the exhaust hole portions  345  of the operation area  25  and the auxiliary working area  35 . Therefore, an air (gas) stream flowing from the upper side to the lower side can be formed in the operation area  25  and the auxiliary working area  35 , and thus air (gas) can be uniformly supplied to both the operation area  25  and the auxiliary working area  35 . The air flow can be controlled with a simple structure that the upper duct  346 B is provided to the auxiliary working area  35  side, and thus air (gas) can be made to flow from the operation area  25  side to the auxiliary working area  35  side with a simple structure. 
     In the sixth embodiment, the exhaust hole portions  345  are provided over the whole width of the working chamber  16 . However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The exhaust hole portions  345  may be provided to at least the auxiliary working area  35  of the working plate  342 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 12 , an operation area side working face  155  on which no operation side exhaust hole portion  345 A is formed may be provided to the working plate  342  at the operation area  25  side. In this case, the air (gas) which is supplied by the air supply blower  13  and downwardly flows into the working chamber  16  is attracted to the upper duct  346 B disposed to be tilted to the auxiliary working area  35  side, and flows into the auxiliary working side exhaust hole portions  345 B as indicated by arrows X in  FIG. 12 . Accordingly, the air (gas) can be made to flow from the operation area  25  side to the auxiliary working area  35  side, thereby preventing scattering of the dust to the operation area  25  side. 
     Furthermore, in the sixth embodiment, the joint box door  123 A is configured to be laterally opened. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the joint box door  123 A may be configured to be downwardly laid to the working chamber  16  side as in the case of the first embodiment. In this case, a recess portion for mounting the joint box door  123 A may be provided to the working plate  342 , and the joint box door  123 A may be used as a working table. 
     Seventh Embodiment 
     A seventh embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to  FIGS. 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 blower  14  is provided below the working chamber  16 . 
       FIG. 13  is a front view showing an isolator  200  according to the seventh embodiment.  FIG. 14  is a side cross-sectional view showing the isolator  200 . 
     The incubator  21  is provided to one end side of the glove box  11  through the joint box  23 . The joint box  23  is provided with a joint box door  123 A which is designed to be turned to the display  26  side and opened laterally. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the isolator  200  has the glove box  11 , the air supply blower  13  is disposed above the glove box  11  and the exhaust blower  14  is disposed below the glove box  11 . 
     The air supply blower  13  is connected to the working chamber  16  through an air supply chamber  233  and an air supply filter  234 . The air supply blower  13 , the air supply chamber  233  and the air supply filter  234  are disposed at one side in the width direction of the glove box  11 , and it is located at the side of the incubator  21  with respect to the boundary portion S. 
     Furthermore, the exhaust blower  14  is connected to the bottom surface  41 A of the housing  17  from the lower side through an exhaust chamber  236  and an exhaust filter  237  (air supply port). The exhaust blower  14 , the exhaust chamber  236  and the exhaust filter  237  are disposed at the other side in the width direction of the glove box  11 , and it is located at the side of the pass box  22  with respect to the boundary portion S. 
     That is, in the isolator  200 , air (gas) is supplied from the air supply blower  13  at the upper side of the operation area  25  into the working chamber  16 , and then discharged from the exhaust blower  14  at the lower side of the auxiliary working area  35  to the outside. Furthermore, the air supply filter  234  and the exhaust filter  237  are configured to be attachable/detachable to/from the front surface side of the isolator  200 , so that the maintenance performance is excellent. 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , a working plate  442  (lower surface) for partitioning the lower portion of the glove box  11  is provided in the glove box  11 . The working plate  442  is provided substantially in parallel to the bottom surface  41 A of the housing  17  so as to be spaced from the bottom surface  41 A of the housing  17 , and constitutes the bottom surface of the working chamber  16 . 
       FIG. 15  is a top view of the inside of the working chamber  16 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the working plate  442  is provided substantially in parallel to the bottom surface  41 A, and exhaust hole portions  445  extending in the width direction of the glove box  11  are provided to the front and rear edges of the working plate  442 , respectively. An exhaust passage  446  is formed below the working plate  442 , and it is formed by a space formed between the bottom surface  41 A and the working plate  442 . The exhaust passage  446  is connected to the exhaust blower  14  through the exhaust filter  237  provided at the auxiliary working area  35  side. That is, the exhaust filter  237  functions as an air supply port of the exhaust blower  14  in the glove box  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , each exhaust hole portion  445  is designed in a belt-like shape having substantially the same width over the whole width of the working chamber  16 , and plural holes having substantially the same diameter are formed in each exhaust hole portion  445  so as to be arranged at a substantially equal interval. 
     Each exhaust hole portion  445  comprises an operation area side exhaust hole portion  445 A provided in the operation area  25 , and an auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portion  445 B provided in the auxiliary working area  35 . Each exhaust hole portion  445  has substantially the same width over the whole width of the working chamber  16 , and thus the total opening area of the holes of the operation area side exhaust hole portion  445 A is equal to the total opening area of the holes of the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portion  445 B. Here, the total opening area is equal between the operation area side exhaust hole portion  445 A and the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portion  445 B, and this indicates that the total opening area is equal between the operation area side exhaust hole portion  445 A and the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portion  445 B to the extent that the difference in total opening area therebetween does not affect the air (gas) flow of the working chamber  16 . 
     In the seventh embodiment, the exhaust blower  14  is provided at the auxiliary working area  35  side below the glove box  11 , and in connection with this structure, the exhaust filer  237  as the air supply port is connected to the exhaust passage  446  of the auxiliary working area  35 . Therefore, air (gas) in the working chamber  16  flows from the operation area  25  side to the auxiliary working area  35  side. That is, the air (gas) flow in the working chamber  16  is controlled on the basis of the position of the exhaust filter  237 , and thus the exhaust filter  237  functions as an air (gas) flow control unit. 
     Next, the air (gas) flow in the working chamber  16  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 13 to 15 . In  FIGS. 13 to 15 , the air (gas) flow is represented by arrows X. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , refresh air (gas) is supplied from the air supply chamber  233  through the air supply filter  234  into the upper portion of the operation area  25  of the working chamber  16 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , this air (gas) flows downwardly as if it is attracted by the front and rear exhaust hole portions  445 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 13 to 15 , the downwardly flowing air (gas) flows straightly downwardly to the neighborhood of the gloves  19 A,  19 B as if it is attracted by the operation area side exhaust hole portions  445 A. The flow of a part of the air (gas) is bent to the auxiliary working area  35  side around (particularly, in the neighborhood of) the working plate  442  as if the air (gas) is attracted by the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions  445 B located below the gloves  19 A,  19 B, and then the air flows into the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions  445 B. The residual air (gas) directly flows downwardly and then flows into the operation area side exhaust hole portions  445 A. Thereafter, the air (gas) flowing into the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions  445 B and the operation area side exhaust hole portions  445 A is passed through the exhaust passage  446 , the exhaust filter  237  and the exhaust chamber  236  and then discharged from the exhaust blower  14 . 
     As described above, according to the seventh embodiment to which the present invention is applied, air (gas) in the working chamber  16  flows to the exhaust filter  237  as the air supply port of the exhaust blower  14  provided below the working plate  442  at the auxiliary working area  35  side. Therefore, the air (gas) flow can be controlled on the basis of the arrangement position of the exhaust blower  14  so that the air (gas) flows from the operation area  25  side to the auxiliary working area  35  side, and scattering of dirt or dust to the operation area  25  side can be prevented by controlling the air (gas) flow in the working chamber  16  with a simple construction. 
     Furthermore, the operation area side exhaust hole portion  445 A and the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portion  445 B are equal to each other in opening area, and air (gas) flows in both the operation area  25  and the auxiliary working area  35 , 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 portions  445  are provided over the whole width of the working chamber  16 , however, the present invention is not limited to this style. The exhaust hole portions  445  may be provided to at least the auxiliary working area  35  of the working plate  442 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 16 , an operation area side working face  255  on which no operation area side exhaust hole portion  445 A is formed may be provided to the working plate  442  at the operation area  25  side. In this case, the air (gas) which is supplied by the air supply blower  13  and flows downwardly in the working chamber  16  is sucked and attracted to the exhaust filter  237  of the exhaust blower  14  disposed at the auxiliary working area  35  side, and flows into the auxiliary working area side exhaust hole portions  445 B as indicated by the arrows X in  FIG. 16 . Accordingly, air (gas) can be made to flow from the operation area  25  side to the auxiliary working area  35  side, and scattering of dirt and dust to the operation area  25  side can be prevented. 
     Furthermore, in the seventh embodiment, the joint box door  123 A is configured to be laterally opened, however, the present invention is not limited to this style. The joint box door  123 A may be configured to be downwardly laid to the working chamber  16  side as in the case of the first embodiment. In this case, the a recess portion in which the joint box door  123 A is mounted is provided to the working plate  442 , and the joint box door  123 A is used as a working table.

Technology Classification (CPC): 2